No Safe Water

Post-Apocalyptic Disaster Saga of an American Family Surviving a World-Changing Algae Bloom (Toxic Tides, Book 1)

By: Riley Miller, Grace Hamilton

Narrated by: Maxwell Zener

No one saw it coming. One day, the rivers flowed. The next, they were poison.

For Hazel Northrup, it’s the day she escapes the only world she’s ever known—a fanatical water-worshipping cult deep in the Oregon wilderness. With her little brother in tow, she flees into a dying world, vowing to keep him safe from both the toxic wasteland and the ruthless men hunting them.

Miles away, a remote research team discovers something far worse than silence: water that kills. Stranded and grieving, scientist Emily, survivalist Bash, and their last remaining colleague make a desperate bid to escape the forest—only to collide with Hazel and Caleb.

Forced into an uneasy alliance, the group must navigate a world unravelling by the hour. Wildfires rage. Disease spreads. And the cult, still hoarding clean water, is rising as a brutal new power.

With supplies dwindling and the last safe haven miles away, survival isn’t guaranteed.

The further they go, the clearer it becomes: this isn’t just a disaster. It’s a collapse.

©2025 Relay Publishing (P)2025 Relay Publishing

No Safe Water

This is a very emotional story, the characters are great and I enjoyed their intriguing tale.

The narration was good.

great story

I really enjoyed this audio book it captivated my imagination and then kept going. this is the beginning of a great series i can't wait for more!!

A tense and human story!

Riley Miller and Grace Hamilton deliver a tense and human story about survival when the world’s water turns deadly, and Maxwell Zener’s narration brings every moment to life with real emotion. I really liked how the book balanced the chaos of a poisoned world with the fragile bond between Hazel and her brother. The mix of cult fanaticism, science, and desperate hope made this feel eerily believable and hard to step away from.

Couldn't recommend more!

I devoured this audiobook in two sittings. The world goes sideways fast here, but what hooked me most was the human side: likable, layered characters making impossible choices and holding tight to each other when everything else unravels. The story building is excellent—tense, vivid, and easy to follow without ever feeling simple. I felt what each character was feeling; it genuinely felt like I was trudging through every setback and small victory with them.
Audiobook notes: the narration is spot-on. Clear, well-paced delivery; distinct, consistent character voices (including age and attitude shifts you can hear instantly); and smooth tone changes that ratchet up the urgency in all the right places. Production quality is clean—no distracting artifacts—and the performance keeps momentum without rushing emotional beats. It’s one of those listens where you keep finding excuses for “just one more chapter.”
If you like grounded, character-driven survival fiction with a rising sense of dread and hope in equal measure, this is a must. I can’t wait to listen to Book 2.