The Deadlands: Hunted - by Skye Melki-Wegner

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

Wings of Fire meets Jurassic Park in this action-adventure middle grade debut series by Skye Melki-Wegner about five outcasts--and former enemies--who are the only hope to save their warring kingdoms from impending doom.

"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.

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).