Wattys Shortlist 2022 - In the shadow of a ruined world, survival comes at a cost. Decades after modified radiation bombs decimated the earth, the survivors of New Australia live in fractured Zones-regions ruled by scarcity, controlled by gangs, and governed by fear. The bombs didn't just destroy cities; they unleashed two devastating plagues. D.V.B, a deadly airborne illness, wiped out millions. But M.A.D was worse-a mind- warping disease that turns victims into violent, flesh-hungry predators. In the RedZone, where hope is a luxury and danger is routine, Violet Warrendale has learned to hide in plain sight. By day, she's the reluctant daughter of a prominent gang leader. By night, she's Viper-a deadly ghost in the underworld, wanted for assassination. Vi has only one goal: escape Lake Darling and disappear. For good this time. But when the military storms the RedZone and abducts everyone under twenty-eight, her plan shatters. Imprisoned in a Reproduction Facility-where survival means obedience-Vi must conceal her identity from the enemy. Worse, her cellmate is the gangster responsible for her brother's disappearance. With enemies on every side, secrets buried deeper than the fallout, and a rebellion brewing in the blood-soaked cracks of the system, Vi has a choice: stay hidden, or burn it all down. ... Enemies to Lovers Young Adult Post Apocalyptic Mature (18+) ...

When someone dies mysteriously during a Psych experiment, Rhiannon becomes enmeshed in a conspiracy that includes both the survivors and the killer. ***** Short on cash, Rhiannon Ford signs up to take part in a social psychology experiment based on group think. But when a participant dies under mysterious circumstances, and the story surrounding that death seems mired in conflicting lies, she's quickly drawn into a web of conspiracies that merge urban legends, rivalries, and the very psychological principle the test was about. When everyone is lying, how can Rhiannon find the truth? ***** [[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]