After foreign powers launch a coordinated digital assault against the United States, society collapses into chaos. Markets implode, violence consumes the streets, and competing factions seize power in the vacuum left behind.
Amidst this turmoil, Feonix Cheenoma, a brilliant editor from D.C.'s poorest ward, survives by trusting no one and keeping her knives close. When she lands a job at Station 7-the last independent news network standing against government propaganda and billionaire manipulation-it feels like she's finally found something worth living for.
But when a promise to her dying uncle leads Feonix to enter a ruthless competition to become the station's next director, she discovers dark secrets within Station 7, threatening to shatter everything she believes in.
When competitors begin to die mysteriously, a deadly maze of lies closes in around her-forcing her to question her instincts, her allies, and even her growing feelings for James Han, the maddening rival whose warnings may be the only thing keeping her alive.
Now Feonix faces an impossible choice: shelter inside Station 7's fortress of lies-or gamble her life exposing a truth the world may not want to hear.
The Herd-When Democracy Falls is a gripping, fast-paced dystopian thriller exploring power, truth, and survival amid societal collapse. Perfect for fans of grounded speculative fiction with a sociopolitical edge, think Station Eleven, Parable of the Sower, or The Hunger Games.
As a former diplomat and current journalist, Jenny Abamu has reported across the country, lived in countries around the world, embedded with intelligence circles, and sat across tables from leaders negotiating peace-and propaganda. This series is her attempt to pull back the curtain on the systems that govern public perception, exploring what happens not just when democracy fails but how it might be rebuilt. She is a Livingston award finalist, Investigative Reporters and Editors award finalist, and she runs a newsletter that bridges fiction with real-world policy analysis and media critique. This electrifying debut launches an unforgettable trilogy.
Industry Reviews
Truth in a World of Lies
"Wow, this book kept me up all night! "The Herd" feels scarily real with its broken America in 2065. I loved Feonix-she's tough but relatable as she fights to save the last honest news station. The whole contest thing reminded me of Hunger Games but with more grown-up problems. The romance with James had me totally invested (even when I wanted to smack him for being so arrogant!). What really got me though was how close to reality it feels-like this could actually happen with all the fake news we're dealing with now. If you're like me and miss YA dystopian books but want something more mature, this is perfect. I'm already dying for the next book in the series!"
The Herd blew me away
"A sharp, thrilling collision of dystopia, politics, and raw emotion. Feonix is the fierce, complex heroine we've been waiting for. It's Hunger Games grown up-with stakes that feel terrifyingly close to reality. Gripping, smart, and impossible to put down. I'm all in for this series."
Excellent reflection of how media can influence your perception of reality
"Someone needs to make this into a movie. The author takes her political experience and dials it up to the Sci-fi setting. Reading this as pure fiction, it satiates my appetite for a well written dystopia novel that has its ups and downs but kept me glued throughout."
