Rating 5/5

Oasis is a blend of Science Fiction, Thriller and Archeology. The story revolves around 6 teens or young adults and how they survive under mysterious circumstances.

The author has done a very good job of describing all the events leading up to their ultimate move.

Alif (main protagonist) takes her friends to spend the summer at a dig site in Dubai which is managed by her Archeologist father. Her parents have been estranged for a while. She live with her dad in Melbourne and Her mother in UK pursuing her career. She thought she had made peace with that situation until her deepest desire is brought forward and made into a reality upon her encounter with the Oasis.

Tommy is an assistant to her father and also her long time crush. Since he always adorns a serious focussed stature,  she kept her urges to move forward within limits. He is also a much favored assistant by her father with him being orphaned.

On their way to the dig site, they hear rumors of the place being haunted due to a meteor crash some time ago, but the story around it was not very convincing to be accepted as truth. But on their first day, they encounter something weird. A french tourist who was supposed to be lost at least a couple of years ago in the desert, wanders to their site cabin in a dehydrated state. He also communicates something bizzare to Alif which adds fuel to her curiosity

Following that event on the same night, they hear an approaching sandstorm, Alif hearing her being summoned by someone resembling her father rushes out and navigates with greater difficulty. Even her friends along with Tommy follow her so as not to lose her out in such bad weather. But little did they know that all of them will get thrown so far far from their campsite that it will leave him in despair.

Amidst the hot desert, out of nowhere they spot an oasis which seem like an answer to their prayers but with ulterior motives. They are sense something watching their every move in the desert, but chose to not pay head and focus on filling their stomach with fruits and water. Alif refers to the being as Queen of Giants based on her dreams. After a day or 2 in the oasis, all of them are messed up in some way. They start doubting each other and develop mild animosity. They also frequently trance out making them support the desires of the sentient being hosting them at the oasis.

All their inner demons are brought to surface along with fulfillments of their most inner desire which makes them feel in support of their reactions. But for Minh and a little of Luke, no one else realize that they are being manipulated and that the being is feeding on their emotions and desires.

They also get to glimpse a version of reality where all their desires are fulfilled and their yearning to relish and enjoy it growing more leading them to approve of the symbiotic relationship as required by the alien being.

The selfish nature of people is described beautifully when each person accepts to do anything and go to any lengths for their desire to be fulfilled.

Wonderful story and definitely in my list of re-reads.