The Deadlands: Hunted - by Skye Melki-Wegner (Hardcover)

About the Book

"An unlikely group of dinosaur misfits discover a deadly secret and must band together to save their herbivore kingdoms from doom at the hands of ruthless carnivores."--

Book Synopsis

When a fallen star transforms dinosaurs into thinking, speaking warriors, five unlikely exiles become the last hope for survival. For fans of Wings of Fire and Warriors.

"My favorite middle grade book of the year." --New York Times-bestselling author Amie Kaufman

Battle rages between the dinosaur kingdoms of Cretacea.

When the Fallen Star struck, it brought death and despair, ash and toxic rain. But some dinosaurs survived . . . and were changed. Their minds grew alert. They learned to speak. To dream. To wage war.

As the two remaining dinosaur kingdoms fight for territory, Eleri, the disgraced son of a prince, is exiled from his home for saving an enemy soldier. Banished to the merciless Deadlands, a terrifying desert full of tar pits, poisonous gas, and ruthless carnivores, he must join forces with a group of questionable allies--including the enemy soldier he saved--to avoid becoming prey.

When Eleri and his fellow exiles discover the horrific truth behind the war, the unlikely heroes must do all they can to save their kingdoms from a lurking predator. . . and a secret plot that might destroy them all.

Pick this up if you love:
- heart-filled, action-packed books
- a lovable crew of misfits
- stories about courage and friendship
- pre-historical adventures

Review Quotes

"This is my favorite middle grade book of the year . . . Full of heart, I would have inhaled a series like this as a kid--I did as an adult. It's the full package." --New York Times-bestselling author Amie Kaufman

"A claw-biting epic fantasy full of family drama, clever humor, nonstop action, weighty themes, and of course, the coolest band of misfit dinosaurs around." --John David Anderson, author of Ms. Bixby's Last Day and Posted

"A fast-paced trilogy opener . . . will undoubtedly spark interest among Jurassic enthusiasts, and the engaging adventure will entice readers." --Publishers Weekly

"A terrific series opener . . . The world building is exquisite, with intricate mythologies, governments, and histories in place. The growing rapport between species is a delight, and though the focus is on friendship and family, there are deeper meditations on morality and war. A treat for any dinosaur devotee." --Booklist

About the Author

Skye Melki-Wegner started writing as soon as she could hold a pen. She was immediately drawn to fantasy--and soon her notebooks overflowed with dragons, pixies, and wizards. After graduating with an honors degree in law, she traded in practicing law for writing fantasy novels. Her first middle-grade trilogy, The Deadlands, draws inspiration from her time working in a museum (where some of her colleagues were dinosaurs).