The Water Thief

Hell hath no fury like a ratter scorned.

In a post-apocalyptic world where purified water means life and rainwater means death, ratters struggle to survive while highsiders live in luxury. 

When River Quinn, a fiery eighteen-year-old ratter, is released from a decade-long sentence for stealing water for her dying father, she travels home to reunite with her mother--only to discover her mother is gone, and the very highsider who sent her to the Pen now owns her land. With a ragtag group of friends by her side, River sets out to even the score.  

THE WATER THIEF is the first in a dystopian trilogy that boasts a diverse cast of characters trying to survive a world devastated by climate change. This ROBIN HOOD retelling addresses our planet's health, the cost of living, and the wealth disparity between classes to give this age-old story a new face. Readers of THE HUNGER GAMES and DIVERGENT will appreciate River’s gritty personality and imperfections, making her human and relatable.  

Let the Games begin

On the streets of East Haven, River Quinn is training tirelessly with her loyal friend, Ruthless, desperate to prevent Lysander's niece, Scarlett Hood, from winning the wealth and political influence awarded in the Guardian Games. When an unexpected knee injury jeopardizes River's ability to qualify, it risks her chances of blocking Lysander's play for power. If things couldn't get any worse, new details regarding her mother's death are revealed, and River sees red.

Meanwhile, the handsome high side doctor, Addax Tate, keeps an annoyingly close eye on River and offers help. But for someone who relies on no one but herself, it's a lot to ask. River wants to trust him, but can you ever truly trust a highsider? 

What's a ratter to do when caught in rising waters?

In her attempts to stop the highsiders from oppressing the labor class, River Quinn is competing to win a seat as an advocate. Racing through the stands at Amherst's Guardian Games, she narrowly escapes capture after qualifying for the semi-finals. She returns to Defiance Outpost with one thing on her mind--discovering if Addax has betrayed her.

Protests and unrest spread among the labor class while people look to her for direction, but the further she travels on her defiant path, the less confident she is. River needs all the help she can get if the ratters survive Lysander's desperate grab for power. But can River and her friends weather the storm to build the world they've been fighting for—or will they die trying?