Alexandra Oliva's debut novel plunges readers into a gripping exploration of survival and human resilience against the backdrop of extreme conditions. Her prose masterfully builds suspense, delving into the psychological depths of characters facing ultimate challenges. Oliva paints vivid landscapes of the wild while probing profound questions about human nature when stripped bare by crisis. Her writing is incisive and thought-provoking, prompting reflection on our own vulnerabilities and strengths.
Set in a near-future world, the story follows a protagonist grappling with her origins, born under questionable circumstances. As she embarks on a quest for truth, she uncovers unsettling answers that challenge her understanding of herself and her past. This suspenseful thriller blends emotional depth with a gripping narrative, compelling readers to confront the complexities of identity and the weight of hidden secrets.
'A clever, well-executed, high-concept, high-octane affair. What makes The Last One such a page-turner is Zoo herself: practical, tough-minded and appealing' Guardian She wanted an adventure. She never imagined it would go this far. TWELVE CONTESTANTS When Zoo agrees to take part in a new reality TV show, In The Dark, she knows that she will be tested to the limits of her endurance. Beating eleven competitors in a series of survival tasks deep in the forest will be the ultimate challenge before she returns home to start a family. A GAME WITH NO END As the contestants are overcome by hunger, injury and psychological breakdown, the mind games to which Zoo is subjected grow dark beyond belief. This isn't what she signed up for: the deserted towns and gruesome props. Is this a game with no end? alone and disoriented, Zoo must summon all her survival skills - and learn new ones as she goes ...'Clever in its concept and gripping in its delivery ...Haunting, moving and remarkable' Karen Joy Fowler 'Taut, tense and at times almost unbearably real' Ruth Ware 'A fiercely imagined tale of the human psyche under stress' Justin Cronin
"She wanted an adventure. She never imagined it would go this far. It begins with a reality TV show. Twelve contestants are sent into the woods to face challenges that will test the limits of their endurance. While they are out there, something terrible happens--but how widespread is the destruction, and has it occurred naturally or is it man-made? Cut off from society, the contestants know nothing of it. When one of them--a young woman the show's producers call Zoo--stumbles across the devastation, she can imagine only that it is part of the game"--Provided by publisher.