The Withered Ground. The Soil That Dreamed Us, #1

The old world is a memory, swallowed by dust and neglect. In a post-apocalyptic Australia, survivors wander through the ruins of a long-failed civilization, clinging to fading traditions and the desperate hope of finding sustenance. Jett Riley, a resourceful young scavenger, navigates the vast, dust-choked plains, haunted by the ghosts of a forgotten past. His path crosses with Rory Macleod, a pragmatic and gruff builder who believes in the tangible work of his hands, and Willow Blake, a quiet elder who preserves the ancient rhythms and stories of the land, drawing strength from traditions others have forgotten.
They face relentless environmental hazards-scorching sun, dust storms that blot out the sky, and the constant threat of collapsing infrastructure. Fragmented survivor groups, driven by desperation, pose their own dangers. The Withered Ground is a raw, unflinching look at the end of an old world. It's a story of clinging to life amidst collapsing systems, haunted plains, and the profound challenge of finding meaning when everything has turned to dust.
But even in the desolation, the soil remembers, and a flicker of human resilience endures.