Tim Lebbon’s latest thriller pits a group of adventurous explorers against Mother Nature as they attempt to cross through a wilderness that is guarding itself against all human intervention.
In a dystopian future, the earth has been parceled out, with some large tracts of land completely closed off to the public. With the hope of reversing the damage inflicted on the planet, entire populations have been relocated away from these Virgin Zones, to allow the environment a chance to rebuild itself. The most mysterious and impenetrable of these zones is Eden. But a group of ultramarathon runners is about to cross its threshold in an attempt to become the only people in Virgin Zone history to pass through Eden and live.
While the action-packed plot will keep readers glued to the page, it’s this motley team of characters that lend the book its heart. The story is told mostly through the perspective of Jenn, a fierce athlete whose fearless love for adventure takes her all over the world. She is joined by Dylan, her father and the team’s level-headed leader; Aaron, her longtime boyfriend; Cove, the risk-taking explorer; Lucy, her best friend and confidante; and Selina, the scientist of the group, whose appreciation for nature is an emotional and intellectual exercise. Though they enter Eden as a team, they will quickly be driven to the limits of their faith in each other and their abilities to withstand the elements—both natural and unnatural.
Eden is brilliantly paced, with each new section introduced by a piece of “genuine” text, such as reports from the United Zone Council and excerpts from National Geographic magazine. As the group is driven to confront their greatest fears and challenges, the tension continues to mount up until the novel’s exciting conclusion. This is a true page-turner that seamlessly blends elements from various genres, from horror and science fiction to classic adventure tales.
