4.5★s
The Land of Fences is the third book in the Winter series by award-winning Australian teacher and author, Mark Smith. For some months, Finn, Kas, Ray and the dog, Rowdy have been living, in a world now so different, an idyllic existence: hunting and growing food, swimming and surfing. They know it probably can’t last, and when Ray puts batteries in the portable radio, they hear an “official” broadcast: Authorities have organised the area into zones, and appointed leaders. Power seems to be sporadically restored, and Kas worries her subdermal Siley tracker will soon again be functional.

When two friends, made during the previous winter’s skirmishes with the Wilders and the No-landers, arrive, the news they bring is not good. Wilder Ben Ramage, the man certain to hold a grudge against them all, has been made the Regional Commissioner of their zone, with his deputy, the hated Tusker and the support of the Army. Kas and Finn, J.T and Daymu know they need to leave Angowrie before they are flushed out.

But their escape doesn’t go according to plan, and Finn and J.T. find themselves separated from their Siley girls. Help comes from unexpected quarters, but against sound advice, they decide to travel to Wentworth to mount a daring rescue. It will involve a long trek to the hub and close calls with pursuers before crossing seemingly impenetrable boundary fences.

Smith’s trilogy beautifully illustrates that, even in a first-world country, an apocalyptic event can result in opportunists seizing power by force. And when that apocalyptic event depletes the numbers of the defence forces, those opportunists might be appointed by virtue of that position and use it to make arbitrary decisions that affect the lives of their opponents: corruption at its basest level. Do right and good eventually win out?

Smith’s young protagonists are often surprisingly mature, and while their youth provides energy and resilience, their lack of life experience occasionally means they misplace trust and make poor decisions. At seventeen, Finn recognises this: “It seems my life since the virus has been a string of quick decisions. I never know whether they’re right or wrong until things either go pear-shaped or they don’t. Mostly they’re guesses. But I’m getting better at making them.” Readers will find it hard not to invest in these characters.

Smith gives the reader a fast-paced finale to this excellent YA trilogy. Finn and co are clever and resourceful, brave and loyal, and very determined. Again, this last installment has heroes and villains (and, yes, some violence), humour and heartache, and plenty of excitement. It may be branded Young Adult, but it is certain to be enjoyed by older readers as well. An excellent conclusion from this talented author.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Text Publishing.