To change the world, first they have to find each other.

Like the Bible says, an eye for an eye... To prevent the world from descending into the chaos of terrorism, scientists and governments devised a foolproof deterrent: if you cause a death, you too will die when your NAC, your neuro-activated chip, bursts inside your skull. Quick, painless, and simple-it works. Every time. No one now dares risk taking a life. The politicians say they have saved the world, creating a perfect global society where everyone can feel safe and secure.

Unless, that is, you're deemed a threat to this perfect order...

Despite efforts to conform, Talon and Sofia are removed from high school and ripped from their lives in Ridge Crest. The lifelong friends find themselves alone and in separate and alien environments where they feel discarded, distrusted, and despised.

Talon is enslaved in a labor camp where the warden wants him dead. And while Talon tries to figure out the source of this wrath, he also needs to survive the punishing work, the harsh sun, and the suicide-killer stalking him day and night if he's to keep the promise he made to Sofia-to stay alive. At the Technology Lab, Sofia is determined to find out the location of the remote center where Talon is interred and hopes the notorious "Shadow," whose mere proximity brings danger, really does want to help her escape and connect with the disconnects.

Meanwhile, the head of the NAC Program, General Stafford, knows it's time to deal with the increasing threat of the disconnects, who have managed to escape the law of kill and be killed. He'll need the help of Sofia and Talon to achieve his goal. But that doesn't mean he needs them alive.

A sci-fi thriller-adventure set in the near future, STUNG posits today's question of whether security or freedom is more important to society and how the next generation either bends to society's will or fights to sow the seeds of change. Suitable for young adults (16+ years) and adults who enjoy stories of enduring friendship and loyalty at their heart.

"A really interesting concept... The characters work really well and the concept is terrifying " - 5-star NetGalley review

"I found certain elements of this book quite unsettling " - 5-star NetGalley review

Trigger warnings: features elements of separation anxiety, loss of a loved one, bullying, and loss of life (non-graphic).

Stung - pocket, Engelska, 2024