WHEN DARK
WORLDS RISE
It’s dangerous to leave.
Outside the secret shack where Sala and her friends have been hiding, foraging among the burnt-out ruins of a raided land, heartless scavengers will kill for any technology they find. Vicious tree cats stalk the night for prey. And giant water-ants have overrun Palude’s carnivorous tree swamps. But when the love of her life needs help, Sala has no choice but to trade everything they possess for his freedom.
She’s not the only one making decisions of course. As ecosystems collapse, and everyday life fractures, desperate leaders will risk everything for control. Soon, no amount of sacrifice can stop the poison of lies and betrayals set to bring the explosive world of Palude to its limits. Sala’s courage to kindle hope from the ashes will only do so much.
The greatest enemy always hides within.
*****
“Edge-of-your-seat please-survive action in a deftly drawn world as savage as any enemy. I couldn’t put this book down.“
*****
“Smooth, poetic, and immersive prose, with a deep romance and contemporary parallels impossible to ignore.“
*****
“If you love sci fi and action/adventure, this book is for you. I highly recommend. 5/5 stars!“
*****
“When Dark Worlds Rise questions both the choices we face today and the future we still have the power to shape.”
*****
“Danger lurks everywhere… Every moment grabs… This final instalment pulls it all together with tension, high-stakes, and grace.”
New Release!
YA Novel (for all adults, 13yrs+) – Science Fantasy – RRP$21.99 – ISBN: 9781922858825 (print)
Harvard Reference: “Shapter, Z. (2026) When Dark Worlds Rise. Australia: MidnightSun Publishing.”
Pick Up A Copy!
AUSTRALIANS BUY IT HERE:
print – pick up a copy at whichever bookstore is closest to you! It’s online too, with retailers such as: Booktopia | Amazon.com.au | Angus & Robertson | Dymocks | Boomerang Books | QDB | Abbeys / Galaxy Bookshop | Collins Booksellers | Harry Hartog
ebook [still to come] – Booktopia | Amazon.com.au
WORLD BUY IT HERE:
[still to come]
print – MidnightSun Publishing
ebook – Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk
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Readers’ Gallery
Video Clips
What They’re Saying…
Teachers’ Notes
Book Club Notes
Readers’ Gallery
Video Clips
Meet: The Fauna
Cover Reveal
What They’re Saying…
“When Dark Worlds Rise, like the best speculative fiction, reminds us that individual actions matter, and that even amongst overwhelming turmoil, ecological exploitation and official corruption, a more sustainable world can still be built.” Dr Craig Cormick OAM, Children’s Book Council of Australia (ACT) Ambassador, author of the Shadow Master series
“Vividly imagined, relatable, gripping, When Dark Worlds Rise questions both the choices we face today and the future we still have the power to shape.” Gisela Ervin-Ward, literacy specialist & author of True South
“Edge-of-your-seat please-survive action in a deftly drawn world as savage as any enemy. I couldn’t put this book down. Smooth, poetic, and immersive prose, with a deep romance and contemporary parallels impossible to ignore. If you love sci fi and action/adventure, this book is for you. I highly recommend. 5/5 stars!” USA Today Bestselling Author Dionne Lister
“Danger lurks everywhere… an entirely new level of betrayal, intrigue, and danger threatens to destroy everything… This final instalment pulls everything together with tension, high-stakes, and grace. While the already very deadly creatures promise constant harm, Sala and her friends find themselves up against a more difficult enemy. Secrets are exposed and evil intentions come to light. Every moment grabs as she’s forced to decide what she is really ready to sacrifice. Then, there is betrayal, and the waters of who to trust grow murky, too. So, nothing is clear, keeping the reader wondering the entire way through. This last book rounds off the series in a thrilling and satisfying way, and leaves a bit of food for thought as well.” Bookworm for Kids
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Teachers’ Notes
DOWNLOAD HERE – Teachers’ Notes:
• cover the key curriculum areas of English, Humanities and Social Sciences
• analyse literary techniques, narrative form and worldbuilding
• examine speculative fiction writing
• offer Analytical, Imaginative, Discursive, Multimodal and EALD task options to cater for different ability levels and learning styles, along with marking criteria suggestions.
• engage in discussion around contemporary issues and themes:
- –> Scapegoating & Collective Blame
- –> Confirmation Bias
- –> Economic Dependency
- –> Social Responsibility
- –> Technology
- –> Sustainability
- –> Value of Life
- –> Courage
- –> Love (Family, Friendship, Relationships)
- –> Identity and Belonging
Introduction to Text
Set on a planet of carnivorous tree swamps and giant water-ants, When Dark Worlds Rise portrays a world where land and resources are alarmingly scarce. Survival depends on the various cultural groups of Palude putting aside their conflicting ideologies and cooperating to transfer their limited resources between communities established on a saltwater lake, in freshwater swamps, and the only dry farmland atop towering ‘hillfarms’.
However, most remain resentful of what other groups have and have not, resulting in constant intercultural tensions and rivalries. So when a worldwide crisis puts a stop to any and all exchanges, those tensions break, divide, condemn and abandon communities to the threat of attack – both by desperate others, and by the many lethal creatures that inhabit Palude.
Speculating on the disservice we do ourselves by succumbing to scapegoating and collective blame, and how confirmation bias makes us vulnerable to manipulation by avaricious others, the story draws subtle parallels with contemporary society to expose a deep lack of societal cohesion and resilience. The novel’s protagonist, Sala, is particularly tempted by the opportunity blame provides to ignore the truth she owes herself, and she is increasingly disadvantaged by the limitations sustained by her negative approach.
A thought-provoking page-turning adventure, the story champions the power of hope, critical thinking, and constructive problem-solving. As Sala faces the consequences of a devastating deception she inadvertently enabled, When Dark Worlds Rise also explores themes of belonging, identity, and courage. Its dramatic climax not only challenges Sala with issues of responsibility and personal sacrifice, but raises questions about the value of human life, the future of effective governance, and how we can all make a difference.
Book Club Notes
DOWNLOAD HERE – Book Club Notes invite readers to enjoy this exhilarating science fantasy adventure with self-reflection and resilience at its heart, while also discussing narrative form and worldbuilding, examining speculative fiction writing, and engaging in discussion around contemporary issues and themes.
When Dark Worlds Rise is an accessible read that will appeal to contemporary and speculative readers alike, adults and young adults, exploring topics such as scapegoating, collective blame, confirmation bias, societal rivalries, family, identity, and self-actualisation.
Why not make your book club meeting even more special and arrange a chat with the author?
Find out more about the author too, with her FAQ, About Zena, and pages on Movies, Reading, Potatoes, Chocolate, Frogs, Travel, Ants, and Driving.
