Title: Terra Electrica: The Guardians of the North
Author: Antonia Maxwell
Page Length: 288
Publication Date: July 4, 2024
Publisher: Neem Tree Press
Synopsis: Book 1 in an action-packed dystopian adventure series set in the near-future post-melt Arctic.
The last ice cap has melted, and the world is on the brink of collapse. A deadly force—Terra Electrica—has been unleashed. It feeds on electricity. It is infecting civilization.
In this chaotic, rapidly changing reality, 12-year-old Mani has lost her family and community to the Terra Electrica. Armed only with some ancestral wisdom and a powerful, ancient wooden mask she was never meant to inherit so soon, she suddenly finds herself responsible for the fate of the world.
Can Mani piece everything together and harness her newfound powers in time to save humanity?
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, including Amazon, and I may earn a small commission, at no cost to you, if you purchase through my links.
A post-apocalyptic coming-of-age story, Terra Electrica follows Mani, a courageous and adventurous girl who lives in a cave with her father after losing her mother and entire village to a deadly disease. When Mani’s father leaves to replenish their food supply, he implores Mani to stay in their cave, but after 29 days, her food runs out, and her father hasn’t come back. Mani decides to leave the cave in search of him.
Mani’s always been told that the scientists at a nearby laboratory are evil, but when she encounters one named Leo, she begins to reevaluate what she knows. She’s an interesting protagonist with a unique perspective, and I like how her physical journey parallels her internal one. Mani grows so much over the course of the story, and it’s interesting to see how much her character changes while still holding onto her core beliefs. Her journey is filled with danger and adventure, and the entire story has a high-stakes feel to it, especially considering she and Leo have something in common – they’re both infected but not ill, and they could be the key to saving humanity.
I enjoyed this quick-paced middle grade read. It has vivid world-building, which really immerses you into the story, and the magical elements are fantastic. The plot is unique, too, and includes action, mystery, and relevant environmental issues. And though the dystopian world is a bit bleak, and there are some heavier topics included, it’s balanced well with dynamic characters and some touching relationships. Oh, and a polar bear named Ooshaka and a mask that’s more than it seems. So fun!
Special thanks to The Write Reads and Neem Tree Press for having me on the tour!
Antonia Maxwell is a writer and editor based in North Essex and Cambridge, UK. With a degree in Modern Languages and a long-standing career as a book editor, she has a lifelong curiosity for language and words, and a growing fascination in the power of story – the way it shapes our lives and frames our experience.
