Skip to content

The story follows 18-year-old Shana, who discovers her younger sister, Nessie, has succumbed to a strange malady. Nessie is awake but unresponsive, walking with "inexorable determination" toward an unknown destination.

As the flock wanders, they are hunted by an ultraviolent militia and investigated by scientists from the CDC, including Benji Ray, who discovers a spreading fungus related to the condition. Key Themes & Reception

The book explores contemporary American anxieties, including political radicalization, the rise of militias, and the fragility of societal structures.

While primarily a sci-fi/dystopian thriller, it incorporates elements of horror, AI, and family drama.

Nessie is not alone; she is soon joined by a growing "flock" of sleepwalkers from across the United States.

Shana and others, known as "shepherds," follow the flock to protect their loved ones from a society collapsing into fear and violence.

Reviewers on The StoryGraph and Babelio highlight several core elements: