The Continent

Written by Keira Drake

Narrated by Fiona Hardingham

Have we really come so far, when a tour of the Continent is so desirable a thing? We’ve traded our swords for treaties, our daggers for promises—but our thirst for violence has never been quelled. And that’s the crux of it—it can’t be quelled. It’s human nature.

For her sixteenth birthday, Vaela Sun receives the most coveted gift in all the Spire—a trip to the Continent. It seems an unlikely destination for a holiday: a cold, desolate land where two nations remain perpetually locked in combat. Most citizens lucky enough to tour the Continent do so to observe the spectacle and violence of battle, a thing long vanished in the peaceful realm of the Spire. For Vaela, the war holds little interest. As a talented apprentice cartographer and a descendant of the Continent herself, she sees the journey as a dream come true: a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve upon the maps she’s drawn of this vast, frozen land.

But Vaela’s dream all too quickly turns to nightmare as the journey brings her face-to-face with the brutal reality of a war she’s only read about. Observing from the safety of a heli-plane, Vaela is forever changed by the sight of the bloody battle being waged far beneath her. And when a tragic accident leaves her stranded on the Continent, Vaela finds herself much closer to danger than she’d ever imagined—and with an entirely new perspective as to what war truly means. Starving, alone and lost in the middle of a war zone, Vaela must try to find a way home—but first, she must survive.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins UK Audio
• Release date: Mar 27, 2018
• ISBN: 9780263927962

Keira Drake

Keira Drake is a full-time author and enjoys writing poetry and music in addition to novels. She is an avid gamer with a soft spot for titles that feature epic and astounding storytelling. When not writing or gaming, Keira is likely reading, napping, golfing, drawing or spending time with her sweet, sassy daughter. She lives in Utah and loves it, but is a native Californian and will remind you of that fact at every opportunity.

Reviews for The Continent

[janarose1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Vaela lives in the Spire. A land who has outlawed war and violence and has striven to provide its citizens with not only basic needs but comfortable lifestyles. For her birthday, Vaela receives a tour to the continent. The continent is a war ravaged land, where death and destruction is ingrained deep into their society. When their touring aircraft develops engine trouble, Vaela escapes by means of the only escape pod. She watches while the aircraft crashes, killing her entire family. Alone and hungry, Vaela ventures from the escape pod, only to be captured by the natives.This was a very interesting premise, with a well developed world. The characters were fascinating. I would love to read more based in this world. I see this book branching out and evolving into a multiple series, multiple timelines adventure. Overall, highly recommended.