Lane is a bounty hunter for Erebus’ corrupt government, his life a constant battle against past demons. Framed for murder, Lane is offered one option to avoid the death penalty: rejoin the army and partake in a covert operation to the apocalyptic world of Hemera, Erebus’ sister planet.

A century after the nuclear conflict that ended mankind’s third age, Hemera has now sent a distress signal to its sister: the president has awoken, and he’s calling for aid. Early intelligence reports indicate the mission will be straightforward, that Hemera is a vacant shell with all forms of life and hostility extinguished.

They are wrong.

Bandits control the dead lands, but there are things much worse waiting for Lane and his squadron once they enter the city walls. Having lived with the nightmares of his shattered past, Lane must now face the mutated horrors of mankind’s future in the toughest battle of his life. – Goodreads.com

Another Dylan J. Morgan book – another thrilling read!  A combination of sci-fi, horror, and post-apocalyptic elements, The Dead Lands is a gritty, action-packed novel.

From the beginning, the reader knows the mission to Hemera is expected to fail and it doesn’t take long for the characters to realize the same thing – but that doesn’t stop them from fighting for survival, making it easy to root for most of them.  Some, I was rooting for the mutants to tear into.  The novel is full of conflict – not only between the characters themselves, but also with what they encounter on Hemera.

I’ve always liked this author’s writing style – clear and concise, no wasted words and he has a gift for descriptive writing, allowing the reader to picture Hemera and everything the characters experience (the smells are revolting – I don’t think these guys got a breath of fresh air throughout the novel).

There’s a somewhat surprising twist at the end and I’m glad to know a sequel is in the works.  Highly recommended for readers who enjoy sci-fi, thrillers, action, and a touch of horror.

I received a copy of this book through Rosie’s Book Review Team in exchange for an honest review.