Blurb

The last ice cap has melted, and the world is on the brink of collapse. A deadly force—Terra Electrica—has been unleashed. It feeds on electricity. It is infecting civilization.

In this chaotic, rapidly changing reality, 12-year-old Mani has lost her family and community to the Terra Electrica. Armed only with some ancestral wisdom and a powerful, ancient wooden mask she was never meant to inherit so soon, she suddenly finds herself responsible for the fate of the world.

Can Mani piece everything together and harness her newfound powers in time to save humanity?

Review

Mani’s father has left her in a cave whilst he goes to find food. He has not returned a month later so she is forced to leave the cave to find something to eat and look for him. She comes across the research centre and one scientist but she has been told they are the enemy and dangerous. What should she do?

She decides she has to interact with the scientist to survive. He has food and shelter. She then discovers she is infected by the deadly force that has killed so many, including her mother. Why is she not ill, or dead? Can she trust the scientist who says he will help her find her father or is his objective much more sinister?

Mani decides to try on the mask she has brought with her. Why did she feel she had to bring it? It is not essential to her survival. Or is it? When she puts it on, she has visions and meets some spirit animals who try to guide her. Frustratingly for Mani, they are not good at answering her direct questions but make her ask even more questions and give her lots to think about. She has a lot to learn about herself and the world.

She uses all her understanding of her people’s stories and traditions to help her work out what she needs to do.

Antonia’s writing carries powerful messages. There is power in stories, beliefs and traditions handed down through generations but there are also those who are selfish and/or greedy and would try to gain personally from something that could help everyone. However, there is always hope.

Thank you to Neem Tree Press and @The_WriteReads for the ARC in exchange for this review.