It is the end of the world and it seems that Joy didn’t get a heads-up. Without any idea of what is happening to the country and nobody to turn to for answers, she finds herself in a precarious position. Hundreds of people are being herded onto trains destined for an undisclosed location and Joy just wants to escape. Getting away could be possible, but everything around her seems to be in ruins and she might not survive what the world has become. Before Joy can make a move, an injured man, a baby boy, and a reticent young girl are left in her custody. Deciding it’s better to bend than break, she chooses to play family in a bid to save herself. As the train heads off on a long journey, information is at a premium and paranoia prevails. The train eventually deposits its harried passengers at the gates of a domed oasis known only as Haven. Haven is meant to be mankind’s future, a new start for these privileged few pioneers, but not everyone can forget what has been lost. Unable to set aside the murderous cost of this salvatory town, Joy and her ersatz family try to fit into Haven just enough to find out the truth behind the atrocities that have been committed in the name of progress.
If you enjoy a compelling dystopian story mired in chaos and intrigue, Departure is for you! There is no clickity-clack as this roller coaster ascends its steep incline of dangerous secrets and chilling suspense. No, this story starts fast, drops quickly, and moves with an undeniable velocity toward a hazy destination. Despite a general lack of characterization, Joy proves to be a resilient woman whom readers will feel a kinship with. Her persistence gets her in trouble but helps fuel the pervasive atmosphere of anxiety and mistrust. Side characters are integral to the story’s progression, giving the town of Haven the feel of a real community, though one infected with distrust and surrounded by armed guards. But it is Joy’s tenacity that drives the plot. Her relentless search for answers breaks open some of the darker deceits coloring Haven and threatens her forged friendships. Hop aboard this claustrophobic train ride and get ready for Departure, a delightfully disconcerting novel that will remind you why you love dystopian thrillers so much.
