Reviewed by Scott Cahan for Readers' Favorite

Solar Fury by E. A. Chance is about the end of civilization as we know it as a result of a solar flare. The story follows a young mom named Riley and her teenage daughter Julia as they get stranded at a hotel in Washington DC after the solar flare hits. They are hundreds of miles from their home and Riley’s other two small children. This is the story of Riley and Julia’s journey through a broken world trying to reach the rest of their family. They are joined by a man named Coop that Riley met in DC before the flare. When disaster strikes the planet, she and Coop barely know each other but their friendship evolves as they help each other through one hardship after another.

I’ve read many books over the years with a similar scenario; the world falls apart and our hero or heroine must travel across the country to reach a particular destination. Solar Fury by E.A. Chance is easily the best of the bunch that I’ve read. There are two reasons why I think this book rises above the rest. One, the author is relentless in the way she gives her characters one trouble after another. Just when you think the danger is over, something else happens. This book kept me guessing from start to finish, wondering how the three main characters were going to survive. The second great thing about this book is the complicated relationships between the three main characters. The author did a great job of showing us how traumatic situations affect human beings both inwardly and outwardly. The strains put on the relationships among the characters are interesting and realistic. Solar Fury is a fast-paced story of fragile human beings working together to overcome overwhelming obstacles.

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

The World Without Flags by Ben Lyle Bedard is a post-apocalyptic sequel to the first installment, The World Without Crows. While the entry novel certainly props up its sequel, the book reads perfectly well as a stand-alone as it follows protagonist Kestrel, also known as Birdie, through her first-person narrative. Birdie and a communal group of survivors are in a perpetual fight against a devastating worldwide plague aptly named the Worm, a parasitic invertebrate that infects its hosts through water and renders them either catatonic or a “crack” into a zombie-like state. The ravaged landscape of what used to be the United States is broken down into pockets of body politic clusters that are incredibly and justly terrified of new outbreaks. A war of power brews between two of these pockets: the Stars and the Gears. When Eric, a man Birdie regards as family, falls ill, Birdie is pushed to the limit to save him against all odds in a new world that offers no mercy.

Ben Lyle Bedard does an excellent job of crafting a fresh story in the dystopian genre with The World Without Flags. The world-building is exceptional and there are no holds barred when it comes to the horror and more violent aspects, offering instead a visually brutal prospect that is reminiscent of The Clockwork Orange in its gritty, terrifying depictions. A prime example of this is the pyres established to burn the dead, who are first pulverized by worms that internally devour hosts, and excreted by flame as it licks away at what's left of a human body. The body count is high and any attachment a reader might have to the ancillary characters will be as short-lived as those who become infected. I loved Birdie's tenacity and the fact that she is a young black woman. I was also impressed by Bedard's pragmatic approach to Birdie's feelings, especially how cognizant she is of a romantic attachment being preposterous even if control over caring is impossible. It's refreshing when an author bends closer to realism. It is the restraint that is the hallmark of a seasoned writer, which Bedard clearly is.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Enemy of the Gods: Sometimes, Dreams are Overrated is a work of science fiction and paranormal fiction penned by author C. Hofsetz. The premise of the novel works with the idea that the realm in which we go to dream is a different but parallel reality altogether, known as Pangea. Here, a race of alien god-like creatures resides, but when they call upon the help of prisoner Zeon on Earth, they expect him to help them with their war. Neuroengineer Zeon knows little of the consequences of failure for without a world in which to dream, the whole of the human race would die.

Exciting, conceptual, gripping and fascinating, this is a novel that ticks all the boxes for a truly alien science fiction experience. Subverting so many of the traditional norms about alien wars, conquest and contact has enabled author C. Hofsetz to create a serious, credible and often quite frightening type of alien ‘god’. Their presence gives chills to the reading experience at every appearance, and the description and struggles of Zeon in between make the whole novel rush by at a breakneck pace. There’s plenty of personal drama for the conflicted Zeon, who is a well-drawn and relatable hero that readers can get behind but also be fascinated by his skills and his past. Scenery descriptions also have that fantastic cinematic quality, making them larger than life and easily imagined in readers’ minds. Overall, Enemy of the Gods is a superb novel with much to offer both casual and hardcore science fiction readers.

Reviewed by Edilyn Trinidad for Readers' Favorite

Nicole Mabry’s Past This Point is a dystopian novel about a virus that swept the United States East Coast. The main protagonist, Karis Hylen, found herself trapped inside the quarantine area with dwindling food supplies and only her dog Zeke as her company. She watched in horror as the situation deteriorated, leaving her desperate to escape. As the days passed, cabin fever became another enemy to be conquered as well as the smell of rotting corpses that hung the air. Past This Point is filled with nerve-wracking scenes as Karis not only has to fight her fears but also the worst side of humanity that a pandemic can bring out. It’s a story of finding one’s true self amid daunting adversities.

Nicole Mabry’s Past This Point is a must-read! I found myself relating to Karis Hylen and loving how resourceful she is. The story is so realistic, I was biting my nails while reading it. Nicole Mabry described how a pandemic can bring out the best and the worst in people. It’s a wake-up call that tells us nothing is permanent and the comforts that we have now could be gone in a flash. It also reminded me how lucky I’ve been so far and I took notes of what Karis did to survive, just in case. I was inspired by the development of Karis’ character. I might just take a leaf out of her book in terms of strengthening my stamina; you never know how long we’ll be in this mess.

Reviewed by Maureen Dangarembizi for Readers' Favorite

The Girl Who Found The Sun by Matthew S. Cox is a YA sci-fi fantasy set in a futuristic Earth. After decades of world leaders ignoring environmental threats, the planet is finally brought to its knees when the insects die out and a climatic disaster hits. Humanity is nearly wiped out. Less than two hundred people remain in an underground Arc and they are the last of humanity. At least that's what Raven Wilder has been taught all her life. As an engineer who keeps the Arc from falling apart, she's aware of their home's failing systems. The situation is brought to a head when her six-year-old daughter gets sick and a trip to the surface proves that the ground may not be as toxic as they have been led to believe. Raven must not only face her fears but break a centuries-old belief system.

I really loved The Girl Who Found The Sun, not only because I love science fiction but it could not be more relevant than at this particular point in human history. Matthew S. Cox takes a birds-eye view of what could happen if we continue to ignore the planet's environmental woes. The fact that Raven is living at least six generations after an environmental melt-down makes her the perfect judge for this generation. She's part of the generation that has been affected by other people's ignorance and thinks it's stupid to ignore such signs. Make no mistake, this book is not preachy but an entertaining history of what could happen if humanity doesn't wake up. I loved the characters in this book and the plot is thought-provoking. Lovers of the CW's The 100 will love this book.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

See These Bones is a fascinating dark work of science fiction and dystopia, and was penned by author Chris Tullbane. The central figure in this would-be heroic tale is Damian Banach, an eighteen-year-old who discovers that he has inherited a deadly and undesirable superpower from his murderous father, David. At the Academy of Superheroes in Los Angeles, David hopes to escape the tragedy of the Crows and their penchant for necromancy, but the accompanying silent ghost of his mother suggests that his haunted days are far from over. But once at the Academy, there are more people to despise him, and far greater challenges waiting than he could ever have imagined.

Recommended for mature young adults and adult readers due to some swearing and violence, this is a realistic and emotive look at the dark side of superpowers, which grabs its readers from page one. Author Chris Tullbane puts heart and soul into Damian, giving us the deadly backstory to the fascinating Crows, and the dark destiny that awaits the hero will have readers empathizing with so much. Alongside this superb character work (which extends into the whole Academy and its inhabitants), there is a great consideration for magical realism, mixing superheroes into Los Angeles with realistic and amusing consequences. The dialogue, too, is suitably snappy but not overdone, keeping this a fun sci-fi conceptual piece, but also a relevant dystopian drama. Overall, See These Bones is a must-read for any dark superhero fiction fan seeking an original new tale.

Reviewed by Kim Anisi for Readers' Favorite

The world’s population has been reduced to a more manageable level thanks to a deadly version of common influenza. In the dystopian novel Gone to Ground by Cheryl Taylor, this means that people have to move closer together and live in so-called APZs (Authorized Population Zones). As in they have no choice. Everyone who refuses to move is branded some sort of rebel, either forced to move or simply removed from society (i.e. killed). When Maggie’s time comes to move to an APZ with her son Mark, she decides that it’s not the future she wants for herself and her son. From her work as a journalist, she remembers the stories about an isolated ranch, somewhere near a canyon. The two flee, but they are not the only ones who know about that ranch. One of the cowboys who originally lived in the area also decided to settle down there as the ranch has everything needed to live. Maggie and Mark arrive first but have little knowledge of ranch life. When O’Reilly turns up, life takes a turn for the better thanks to his knowledge. But then it also takes a turn for the worse. Because O'Reilly has knowledge the government doesn’t want to come out, and they’ll stop at nothing to find and silence him.

In the beginning, I thought Gone to Ground by Cheryl Taylor would be too much of a “western/cowboy” type of dystopia. However, I do enjoy survival stories in dystopian worlds, especially when they aren’t too unrealistic, which this plot isn’t – it could very well one day be like that, considering the world we currently live in! Fortunately, this is a wonderfully entertaining story with just the right amounts of everything: some romance – but not cheesy and not overdone; lots of wild places, realistic survival problems (e.g. how to store enough water for an emergency); a small cast of well-written, engaging characters and a plot that kept you turning the pages. My favorite character, I have to admit and hope the author won’t curse me for it, is Houdini. He stole the show. He’s a true star, and I hope Maggie’s attitude isn’t a reflection of what the author thinks of that magnificent character. You’ll have to read the book yourself to find out more about the most entertaining and heroic character of the book.

Reviewed by Amy Raines for Readers' Favorite

In Survivors of the Sun, a post-apocalyptic thriller written by Mia Kingslie, everything is gone. The power, the water, any means of communication and there’s barely enough food left to ration. Georgia’s husband, Nathan, is missing and she has to decide what to do next to ensure the survival of her loved ones. With the world now in shambles, reeking of devastation, Georgia ventures out to find some place safe with better resources. People in desperation have turned to vandalizing and looting for the things they need to survive by whatever means necessary in this post-apocalyptic world. Can Georgia lead her loved ones to safety before they become victims of this new and violent world? Will she be reunited with Nathan or is he gone forever? How long can Georgia keep her loved ones safe from those that would hurt them? Will they ever find out what set off this apocalypse to begin with?

Survivors of the Sun by Mia Kingslie is a riveting, well-written story with a plot that gets more and more interesting as horrifying events unfold in a world that has been turned upside down. The characters are highly developed with personal traits that add momentum to the story. I recommend Survivors of the Sun to anyone who enjoys reading about what the world would be like if everything suddenly changed and the survivors had to learn how to fend for themselves or die trying. I love how Kingslie does not spare the reader the horrible details in the plot's events as they unfold. I hope to read many more stories by this skilled author in the future. A wonderful story!

Reviewed by Kristy Vee for Readers' Favorite

No Freedom by Inge-Lise Goss is a suspense novel with a splash of something for everyone. It’s fantasy, sci-fi, dystopian, romance, and mystery all wrapped up into one imaginative, futuristic tale. In a society where it’s considered normal for human-like cyborgs to walk among us and even hold positions of high authority, most believe the ways of the old world have been destroyed by hackers and have accepted things for how they are…except for a rebel few. Because it’s forbidden by The Institute to date below an individual's social stratum, legal clerk Paislee Hobson is struggling to find real love. After her heart-wrenching breakup with Tate, she begins a contractual relationship with a handsome and attentive android named Pellegrin. She soon realizes that he’s controlling her and can’t say or do anything without listening devices monitoring her every move. She must decide, and fast, if she can continue living life this way or join in the fight to defeat those in power for not only her freedom, but for those she cares about most.

No Freedom grabs you from the first paragraph! I can honestly say that out of the dozens of books I’ve read this year, No Freedom is one of the top two. I loved it. The author did a great job at making it feel realistic despite it being a fantasy/sci-fi read. It seems scarily predictive of what our future could hold as a society if we allow those in charge to act out their evil agenda and take away our rights and ability to communicate. The engaging plot, excellent writing style, grammar, and punctuation make this a five-star read (and higher if I could). This is a future movie!

Reviewed by Kim Anisi for Readers' Favorite

If you love dystopia, but also love fantasy and dragons, then Radioactive Evolution by Richard Hummel might be the novel you’ve been waiting for. We are introduced to Jared Cartwright, who is an explorer traveling around the desolate continent to find boosters (I’ll leave the explanation about that to the book itself) and other useful items to keep him alive. When he explores an underground tunnel, he finds something that will turn out to be the most valuable item he ever found in his life. While the rich lead an easy life in floating cities (either in the sky or on islands), people like Jared have to fight for their survival on a daily basis, either in colonies or on their own. It seems like Jared has found something that would give him an edge over everyone else: a dragon and a special connection that helps him to overcome obstacles that would otherwise have been the end of him. It is a world in which even fluffy rabbits can turn into lethal opponents and fellow humans do not always have the best intentions.

It is November, and I have read dozens of books this year. I hadn’t come across one I’d call my favourite book of the year until I read Radioactive Evolution by Richard Hummel. It is an unusual mix of fantasy, dystopia, coming of age, adventure, and a little bit of (gentle) horror. I didn’t expect to be drawn into this novel after reading the description, but once I started, I was hooked. I just couldn’t put it down. I loved that it was actually a decent sized novel, not short like many first books in a series. This is quality writing with an unusual plot, interesting characters, surprising twists, shocking developments and also some humor that fits the situations. I loved how the bond between Jared and Scarlet developed; it really is something special and I’m looking forward to reading how these adventures continue. While there is a lot left to happen, a lot to discover and a lot to experience, the novel does not end on a cliffhanger that makes you want to strangle the author. I’m really pleased I picked up this novel and I’m not sure whether I’ll come across anything better this year (2018). Also a thumbs up to the quality of editing.