Part of Gone, book 5
First published 2012
One year has passed since every adult vanished from Perdido Beach. The kids trapped inside the FAYZ have battled hunger, deception, and plague, but now they confront their most terrifying adversary. The entity called the Darkness spreads its influence, plunging their dome prison into complete blackness. Without light, their deepest fears take physical form and their cruelest impulses break free. The fragile society they built crumbles as panic spreads through their ranks. Some kids turn on each other while others struggle to protect the innocent. In this lightless world, survival depends not just on physical strength but on conquering the terror that lives inside each of them. Even as their community falls apart, a core group refuses to surrender. They fight to preserve what remains of their humanity and shield the vulnerable members of their band. The cost grows steeper with each passing day, but their determination to survive and care for each other burns bright against the encroaching shadow.
Genres: dystopia, adventure, action, apocalyptic
Vibes: dark, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: found-family, power-struggle
Setting: Perdido Beach
Period: One Year After
509 pages · Hardcover · HarperCollins
Content warnings: violence