HOTET – THE THREAT
By Mats Söderlund
Jenny is eleven years old when her father goes missing. They are attacked by a group of armed strangers during a mountain hike. Jenny is taken captive but manages to escape, while her father vanishes without a trace. Several years later Jenny and her siblings find out what really happened on the mountain and who the strangers really were. But that is just the beginning…
The Threat is the first part in a trilogy set in an imminent future where climate disasters have become part of everyday life and where the lack of water leads to war. Sweden and Finland are the new, water-owning superpowers and migrant workers from mainland Europe travel to the north. The digital flux is constantly present and every little action or event is registered and logged. Yet there is an ancient secret hidden among all of this: a secret that may threaten the entire humanity. And not only the human race…
The Threat was nominated for Norrlands Litteraturpris 2019.
ABOUT THE BOOK
First published by Rabén&Sjögren, Sweden 2018
REVIEWS
“Hotet” must be the most thorough and ambitious construction of a YA novel I’ve read in a very long time […] Söderlund really succeeds in the art of tying all the knots together, the smallest ones with the unbelievable big ones.
Dagens Nyheter
Successful combination of climate politics, teenage anxiety and magic […] To dip the toes in Söderlund’s universe is inspiring in itself… “Hotet” is something so improbable as a […] pulse increasing read about climate politics, without moral lecturing. Both climate activists and Swedish teachers do wisely to keep their fingers crossed for a success.
Göteborgs-Posten
A thrilling dystopian novel for young adults, the first out of three, where world politics, climate threats, myths and everyday life are mixed in a complex story.
Skånska Dagbladet
I appreciate the fact that Söderlund doesn’t only imitate blockbuster book series for young adults, but bringing new and original ideas to the genre.
SvD
A masterful new environmental dystopia.
Borås Tidning
A wonderful mixture of fairytale, struggle between good and evil, future and poetry. I’ve never read anything like this before. […] I recommend this book, since it captures the reader from the first page to to the very last one.
Bokslukaren/Maria Bohlin
Where to begin? What a book! So many layers. It’s fantasy, sci-fi, folk tale, poetry, politics and a declaration of love turned into a hell of a gripping and interesting story. Do I even need to say that I long to read the next book? Such an amazing crossover that feels so damn real. […] to resume it briefly it’s current, thrilling and beautiful. Just read it.
Boklunga
RIGHTS SOLD TO
Czech Republic, Dobrovsky & Omega
Italy, Scritturapura
Sweden, Rabén & Sjögren
BOOKS
Children’s & YA
