regret was for people with nothing to defend people who had no water lynn knows every threat to her pond drought a snowless winter coyotes and most importantly people looking for a drink she makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty or doesnt leave at allconfident in her own abilities lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest having a life means dedicating it to survival and the constant work of gathering wood and water having a pond requires the fortitude to protect it something mother taught her well during their quiet hours on the rooftop rifles in handbut wisps of smoke on the horizon mean one thing strangers the mysterious footprints by the pond nighttime threats and gunshots make it all too clear lynn has exactly what they want and they wont stop until they get itwith evocative spare language and incredible drama danger and romance debut author mindy mcginnis depicts one girls journey in a barren world not so different than our own