Kester finally feels safe after getting most of his animals to safety and surviving the human cullers’ constant attacks. He has fulfilled his promise and his dad has manufactured medicine that will help the animals with him and those left behind in the Last Wild.

His relief is short lived as it’s only a week later when a helicopter roars above them, letting them know they weren’t safe after all. They target Kester’s new friend Polly, accusing her of having a secret. She has been hiding something so important that Kester and his animals are all at risk if she doesn’t give it up to the authorities.

Kester is surprised, and even more so when Polly is suddenly gone. She might be gruff and prickly but she has become important to him. He sets off to find her, and runs into a gang of children he has met before. They have a hideout in the centre of the sparkling city of Premium, and they too have heard of a secret weapon. They are keen to fight back at the Corporation that has taken over their world.

Like Kester they have no idea what it really is, but believe it is what they need to return the world to how it was. The situation becomes even worse when Kester escapes the gang only to find himself deep underground facing more animals than he’d ever dreamed off, let alone still alive. These animals are the opposite of his Last Wild. They are The Dark Wild and have their own leader. He is after one thing – REVENGE.

Kester is up against an impossible wall of problems. His dad and his animals have been taken while he was gone. Polly is still missing. No one knows what secret she was keeping and how it can possibly help, and a huge group of animals have begun attacking the city.

Overwhelmed, Kester wonders whether he can do anything to save his world. Is everything lost?

Kester has come a long way since being a small mute boy in a hospital, hiding from everyone. His powers to talk to animals in his head has saved many from a terrible virus, and he has made a human friend along the way. With Polly missing and his beloved Wild and father at risk, he has to step up to the challenges that brings.

With hope of finding a secret weapon he forges through street gangs, vicious dogs, foxes and starlings who are all bent on revenge. He is increasingly stronger and steadfast in his belief of a better world.

This episode shows a flip side of The Last Wild. Sure there are plenty of human villains, some we know and hate from the first book in the series. But unlike Kester’s animals, the animals of The Dark Wild are angry, and ready to tear humans limb from limb after the treatment they have received over their lives.

Kester’s closest friends remain by his side, but he often has to face problems on his own without his beloved General and Stag. The settings are more complicated in this episode, and many more characters are introduced. But if you’re like me, you’ll be eager to get your hands on the last book in this Dystopian series – The Wild Beyond.

Author – Piers Torday

Age – 9+

Read more reviews of books in this exciting series (Click on a Cover)

(2014, Animals, Action, Secret, Series, Courage, Future, Dystopian, Bullies, Blended Family, Revenge, Steel teeth, Rat, Dog, Waste Dump Home, Street Kids, Ada, Flood, Animal attack)