The world as we know it ended 209 years ago. From a desert wasteland springs a single kingdom, ruled by a tyrannical King and trapped in an endless war against the shadowy desert warriors. As a desperate bid to save what remains of humanity, society has been split into two distinct classes, nicknamed the Court and the Commons. For an oppressed population on the brink of revolution, a common thief could be the last hope. Up until now, Kay has survived by her wits alone. Reckless and impulsive, wanted by the King's guard, Kay has become known as the Runner. Using the city's rooftops as her personal domain, she manages to keep one step ahead of the King with one hand buried in the purses of the courtiers. Driven by the plight of the commoners and the unjust death of her family, Kay seizes the chance to graduate from small-time thievery to full-scale rebellion. Her opportunity comes in the form of Will, a wealthy ex-soldier with a dark past. Plucked from the streets and thrown into the shimmering palace court, Kay must use her every strength to blend into a world where she doesn't belong, closer to the enemy than she ever thought she would be.

It's the real world, but it isn't. Secrets and dangers lurk below the surface - as well as slavers, strange creatures and a shifting wasteland where humans were once gods. You just need to open your eyes to see past the illusion. You just need to wake up. Meet Anna - a 21 year old cardigan-wearing English major - whose world falls apart when she stumbles home slightly drunk and sees a man dissolve into thin air. From there, hijinks ensue - as hot baristas, Hierarchs, slavers and acid rain make sure to severely disrupt the last year of her degree. She's uncovered a dangerous new world - but soon realises that the truest danger is inside her own skin. *** Jake gazed at me with his pale green eyes and reclined backwards onto his elbows. I realised that the metal on his hands continued up his forearms under his long-sleeved shirt. It was as if his skin had been stripped away, revealing nothing but a machine underneath. “You are a Waker. So am I. And we’re in the unworld right now. Welcome.” He grinned at me without any humour. “We’re in the middle of a war, and you and me are the soldiers on the front line.” For a few long moments I couldn’t speak. Then I cleared my throat and said, “You and I.” *** Follow her journals, music and thoughts as she realises that it isn't real. Anna's Music : http://8tracks.com/users/annawakes Annawakes on Tumblr : http://annawakes.tumblr.com *** Updated weekly! *** (One thousand thank yous to Minnah - an amazing designer and friend - who made this glorious cover (http://winklevines.tumblr.com/) and another thousand thank yous to another bestie, Georgia (http://whatthehellisawinchester.tumblr.com/), a social media goddess and marketing grad who has inspired and directed the various multi-media aspects of Awake.) xx