Dread Chaser - by Lauren Thoman (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The Last of Us meets The Mandalorian in this post-apocalyptic speculative young adult novel about a teenage bounty hunter whose mission to catch the target of a lifetime begins to unravel everything he thought he knew about his world.

Over a century after a series of cataclysmic disasters wiped out most life on Earth, survival in the Expanse is a daily battle. No one knows that better than eighteen-year-old Diesel, who lost his family years ago and now earns his keep as a dust chaser--tracking down the people no one else can find, even when they'd rather stay hidden.

But when Diesel's assigned a mysterious and dangerous new target that comes with the largest bounty he's ever seen, he worries that this time he may be in over his head. Accompanied by his hulking dog, Gloom, Diesel sets out across the climate-ravaged Stormlands, determined to claim the bounty before anyone else can. But nothing about this job is business as usual: leads are few, competition is fierce, and every clue that he uncovers only raises more questions.

Worse, the monstrous Dreads that roam the Expanse are increasing in number, making each day more dangerous than the last. Pursued by old rivals and unsettled by whispers of secret organizations that challenge his understanding of the world, Diesel will have to decide which he'd rather chase: his mark or the truth.

About the Author

Lauren Thoman writes speculative fiction for teens and adults, including You Shouldn't Be Here and I'll Stop the World, which was selected for publication in 2023 by six-time Emmy nominee Mindy Kaling through her eponymous imprint, Mindy's Book Studio. Lauren's pop culture writing has appeared in numerous online outlets including Parade and Vulture. Lauren lives outside of Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and two children in a house full of dogs and fish. When she's not writing, she's probably on the hunt for tacos or coffee, poking around her flowerbeds, or buried underneath a pile of dogs. Learn more at LaurenThomanWrites.com.