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As the daughter of zoologists, Sarah understands what it takes to survive in the Kalahari. What she doesn’t understand is how to talk to people — especially people her own age. When five teens are brought to her home camp for an educational safari and her father goes missing shortly after, it’s up to Sarah to keep them all alive and lead them to safety.
But battling dehydration and starvation isn’t the worst thing the teens find themselves facing. After a terrifying, unprovoked attack by a silver lion, Sarah finds herself questioning everything she thought she knew about the natural world.
The chilling truth behind the lion’s metallic appearance suddenly pits them against more than just the relentless Kalahari. A highly contagious and deadly virus threatens the entire area. Worse, there are dangerous men on the prowl desperate to keep the virus a secret.
Kalahari is a fast-paced tale that blends sci-fi elements with a survival story set in the harsh, semi-desert setting of the Kalahari.
The strongest part of the story is indeed the setting. Jessica Khouri does a terrific job creating an atmospheric book that transports readers. As terrified as I was for the characters, I couldn’t help but also relish the sights and sounds of southern Africa.
Unfortunately, in such an action-packed story, there doesn’t seem to be much time for characterization. I found many of the characters to be flat. Even the romance, while cute enough, felt unnecessary. As the story progressed, however, I did warm up to some of the characters. And it’s hard not to admire Sarah for her survival skills. Her sheer determination, despite the odds and her struggles with fresh grief, really made me root for her.
Overall, Kalahari is a high-suspense novel full of atmospheric descriptions that makes it perfect for nature lovers and wannabe adventurers alike. And if you’re anything like me, you may find yourself reading late into the night to find out how the story ends.
Rated: Moderate. There are around 6 uses of mild language. Violence is rarely described in detail and borders on mild; however, there is a lot of it. Characters are shot and one man commits suicide. Animals are used for testing by a science corporation, and Sarah and the gang learn of how they were slaughtered when an experiment goes wrong. A sci-fi virus causes irreversible madness. A character recounts the story of a woman who was killed by bees. Characters hunt and fight to survive. There are a few sexual innuendos. Characters kiss.
