Beyond These Walls Series by Michael Robertson

For many, surviving national service is the prize, but for Spike, it’s only the beginning. He needs more freedom than is given to the average citizen in Edin. He needs to win the next protectors' apprenticeship. Without it, he can't be with Matilda. And what is a life, no matter how safe, without love? Spike Johnson has enjoyed the freedom and safety of a youth living in Edin. The diseased hordes outside the city’s walls might as well be on the other side of the planet... moreFor many, surviving national service is the prize, but for Spike, it’s only the beginning. He needs more freedom than is given to the average citizen in Edin. He needs to win the next protectors' apprenticeship. Without it, he can't be with Matilda. And what is a life, no matter how safe, without love? Spike Johnson has enjoyed the freedom and safety of a youth living in Edin. The diseased hordes outside the city’s walls might as well be on the other side of the planet. He spends as much time as he can with his best friend, and the girl he loves, Matilda. But all of that’s about to change. Tomorrow, Spike turns eighteen. In two days' time, he has to go on national service and fight in the war against the diseased for six months. Only half the cadets come back alive. But he needs to do more than survive. Matilda is due to go on national service at the same time. Faced with the prospect of losing her life and her love, she also has to leave behind a little brother who needs her. A lot can go wrong in the six months she’ll be away for. For the average citizen, national service marks the end of freedom. For those who survive, their life becomes one confined to their home district. They work in their district, live in their district, and fall in love with someone from their district. Matilda is from a different district to Spike. Falling for someone from another district is the pursuit of protectors, politicians, and fools. Spike isn’t a fool and has no desire of becoming a politician. His only route to freedom is to win the next protectors’ apprenticeship. With just one cadet from every national service cycle being picked for the program, Spike is going to have to be better than all of those around him to stand a chance. Without it, he can't be with Matilda. Without Matilda, he has nothing. And with Matilda needing to get back to her brother as soon as she can, she can't increase their chances of success by fighting for the apprenticeship too. The battle for Spike's and Matilda's future happiness rests squarely on his shoulders. But before they get to that, they both need to make sure they survive ... Protectors is the first gripping book in the Beyond These Walls post-apocalyptic series. If you like breath-taking action with high-stakes, and characters who risk everything for freedom, then you’ll love Michael Robertson’s thrilling novel!!! less

Trapped in a pitch-black basement, the enemy desperate to get in from above, Olga and her friends must find a way to freedom.Trapped in a maintenance shaft in the guards’ block, Joni, her daughter, and Ralph now need to take control of the place.Trapped in a prison of his own making, not that he regrets his decision, Hawk now must win over a community of thousands who blame him for the loss of their homes and those they loved... moreTrapped in a pitch-black basement, the enemy desperate to get in from above, Olga and her friends must find a way to freedom.Trapped in a maintenance shaft in the guards’ block, Joni, her daughter, and Ralph now need to take control of the place.Trapped in a prison of his own making, not that he regrets his decision, Hawk now must win over a community of thousands who blame him for the loss of their homes and those they loved.The odds are against them all, and with the diseased spreading through the south and the prison, they’re all running out of time. less