The Quarterlands

De: Xanthe Walter

Narrado por: Matt Addis

Can their love survive the truth?

Josiah is facing the ultimate showdown against his powerful enemy, but the stakes have never been higher. If he fails, he'll lose not only Alex but also his freedom.

As he finally solves Elliot Dacre's murder, he also uncovers the devastating secret Alex has hidden from everyone. An explosive showdown forces them to confront the truth about each other, but will it shatter their bond beyond repair?

Don't miss the explosive finale of the Dark Water series where the truth that lurks in the Quarterlands has the power to tear their lives apart.

Dark Water. Deadly Secrets. Dangerous Love.

London, 2095. Sixty years after rising seas drowned the old world, a corrupt system of servitude keeps the new one afloat.

Josiah believed he'd escaped the Quarterlands forever. But his pursuit of justice drives him back to the one place he swore he'd never return—home.

Meanwhile, Alex surrenders to his captor's desires, playing a dangerous game of deception. But as the charade corrodes his sanity, their relationship twists into something monstrous.

When Josiah's relentless investigation finally uncovers Alex's most deeply buried secret, it threatens to destroy everything between them.

In this searing finale, the past demands its reckoning. Can there be any future for these two shattered men, or will the truth destroy them both?

©2025 Xanthe Walter (P)2025 Xanthe Walter

*Spoilers* Series Review

It feels wrong to say I enjoyed this series because of how incredibly dark it is. It deals with several heavy themes including rape, prostitution, systematic abuse and slavery. I strongly encourage readers to review the TW beforehand as these subjects are portrayed graphically on page. This series made me think, it made me feel. I’m an avid reader, and love to immerse myself in new worlds, to get to know the characters. But rarely do I have actual physical reactions to books. This book made me cry, made my stomach hurt from dread, made my chest hurt from anguish because I was so upset at what was happening, and how unfair it was.

The series is a dark, dystopian portrayal of the world set in the 2080/2090s. It takes place in what once was the UK, which following the collapse of modern society (as we knew it), implemented a system of Indentured Servitude (IS) to help cope with the aftermath of the collapse, subsequent wars and the evolving geographical landscape. The novels are told from two POVs with differing timelines. There’s Josiah who narrates the present as it unfolds, and Alex who narrates events in the past leading up to the present. The chapters alternate one after another throughout the books (Past, Present, Past, etc.). Each book picks up immediately where the last left off within the respective timelines. Normally, I don’t like when books use this format. I typically find it jarring and disconnects me from the story. The author, however, does a remarkable job of weaving the past narration into the present, and it delivers the intended emotional effect. The reader in essence sees the present day, experiences how characters are struggling with what occurred though not knowing exactly what has happened. It creates a sense of foreboding as the reader first learns the cruel depravity of Alex’s life. Then, it just creates dread, disgust and anguish because the readers know what is going to happen but are helpless to stop it. These books are physically painful to read at times. There were points where my stomach and chest physically hurt because I was so overwhelmed with what was happening to Alex.

We start off in the present. Josiah, a homicide investigator, is called to the murder scene of a famous photographer, Dacre. He is prior military and still grieving the loss of his husband who was murdered seven years earlier. He is well respected by his colleagues as an efficient and capable investigator, though very closed off and isolated in his grief. We learned that Dacre owns Alex’s IS contract. Alex is immediately arrested for suspicion of murder. The second chapter propels us back in time several years earlier to when Alex is a young college student. As first impressions go, Alex is seen as a self-centered playboy living off his father’s money and privilege, and overall is not very likable. The reader is initially led to believe Alex has very little, if any, redeeming qualities. His grandfather pioneered a technology paramount to the country’s survival after the collapse, which allowed the family to become quite wealthy. Alex gained notoriety in the media when he was blamed for the crash killing his mother and crippling his older brother Charles, a beloved Olympic gold medalist. Although he doesn’t seem to recognize it himself, Alex clearly struggles with guilt and lack of self-worth, and copes with sex and a mildly addictive euphoric drug called Croc. I focus primarily on Alex because it really is HIS story. Alex is what kept me invested. We learn more about Josiah’s past in the military, his marriage to Peter and his life following Peter’s murder. This helps us understand Josiah more, as he undoubtedly plays a huge role in Alex’s life, but everything centers around Alex.

This series is not a romance. I don’t care what labels or genres are attached in the description. There is a minor subplot of romance between Alex and Josiah which I think was handled well in terms of the circumstances surrounding its conception and later development. Alex imprinted on Josiah during a traumatic event and spent years viewing his as a savior. Having been forced to use sex as a survival mechanism for so long, it became part of Alex, and whether he realized it or not, that played a role in their relationship. I think they made the right decision to end their relationship so Alex could prioritize his recovery. I also think it was the right decision to not start a new relationship while either was an IS. In the end, they do come together again and ultimately get married (The series ends with their engagement. Marriage comes in the novella). However, as I said before, it is not a romance. Do not go into this book believing it to be or expecting a romance. In my opinion, this novel is more a portrayal/commentary on modern day slavery and the systems that enable it by depicting the brutal reality of sex trafficking and corruption of power/influence.

I’m gonna miss this series

I can’t believe it’s over😭

When I first started this series, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I wasn’t sure if I liked it. It took a few chapters to get the hang of it but once I did I couldn’t put it down!

Alexander, Josiah and Tyler became part of my life as if they were real. My love for Alex and Joe grew stronger the more the story went on. The way their fates intertwined from the beginning was exceptionally well written. I normally don’t like too many flashbacks but Xanthe did it in such a way that it was seamlessly executed.

I HATE Tyler! I think he got off too easily after he everything he did to Alex. My only consolation is that in the end he fell head over heels for Alex and was never reciprocated. That makes me happy😆

Alexander must be the strongest character I’ve ever read. I still can’t fathom he was able to live through all the abuse and trauma he went through. To be honest, I’d have given up the moment he saw Tyler’s true colors.

Alex was such a complexed character yet Xanthe wrote him as such a relatable person. One with many flaws and virtues. He was too good for his own good and eventually that was his downfall.

Josiah was just as complex but at least he knew when to draw the line. He wanted justice for Alex and went to the extreme to get it even when it caused a drift between them.

Ultimately, his love for Alex was greater than his promise to his father. He did what he needed to do to make sure Alex was free and that he became his own person.

It might have taken the universe to bring them together and then take them apart, but in the end their love was stronger. Joe was the only person who could make Alex really love somebody.

I’m gonna have serious withdrawals from this series. Such a fantastic conclusion.

Explosive Finish to a Stellar Story

This review is for the whole series as Audible is not letting me review the other 3 books even though I listened to them.
I love this series. There is so much thought into how the future world is and it's not the run of the mill scenario.

Alex has to be one of the most complex characters I've ever read about. The struggles he goes through from a young age to adulthood are heart wrenching. He endures so much and never gives up. Not many people could do this. His devotion to his brother is astounding, even though Charles doesn't deserve it. His reason for living to give Solange justice is remarkable. Always wanting his mother but just out of reach, His fathers love. Josiah's love. He's the most hated man but it's all a lie and the pain and suffering he goes through because of the lie is so sad. Tyler is an awful human being who exploited everyone around him but most of all Alex.

Josiah is strong, confident, sexy, driven but also lonely and in pain for the loss of his late husband. He is driven for justice and then Alex falls into his lap and he finds a purpose, finally, after Peter's death to start living again. Josiah is such a big character with strong morals but then will break them for his code of conduct. He is very honorable.

The whole IS system is an interesting idea, Floating cities. Ducks for vehicles. Very creative on the authors part.

Josiah and Alex do get a happy ending and I am so giddy for that. They are so good together. Josiah was the first man to want nothing from Alex. They both gave so much to each other and helped heal old wounds.

This is not always a happy story and there are some heavy parts to it. With all the cruelty and sadness it was still worth all the hours put into listening to all 4 books. There are happy moments too and they shine the brightest. Now if your looking for smexy scenes there are some. Some not so good but Josiah and Alex together = chefs kiss.

Matt Addis is a new to me narrator and he did a phenomenal job.

I received the first two audios from the author and possibly the third (jeez I cannot remember). I am grateful for the author's generosity. This story will live rent free in my brain for a long time and I will defiantly be doing a re-listen.

Great Ending!!!

This Narrator 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 he absolutely K!lled it!

There were so many mind blowing revelations in this last book. While I was definitely suspecting the duck crash secret I wasn’t suspecting the why. Not many authors are able to make it where I am just completely blown out of the water.

And Elliot’s murder!! NEVER would’ve guessed it.

So well written, fantastic job all around!

Fantastic!

I absolutely love this series!! It is one of the few I listened to as often as possible. I usually save my audiobooks for work and riding in my car but this series I listened to everywhere it wasn’t considered rude -and sometimes I didn’t even care about that! LOL! I rarely leave reviews and the previous books in this series will just get a short one (because I’m leaving this one for the whole series). I will definitely listen to this again and then likely a third time!