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Recommend this book:
The After War
Book One of The After War Series
Brandon Zenner
2019 Honorable Mention
444 Pages
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Fiction - Dystopia
Reviewed by Ray Simmons for Readers' Favorite
I’ve got good news for people who are fans of post-apocalyptic war stories. The After War by Brandon Zenner is the first book in The After War Series that will go down as one of the best in the genre. The writing is so good that you will feel you are right there in the ruins with these great characters, making decisions that will shape the destiny of the human race. These are stories of survival, but just as important, they are stories of hope. I’ve read a few post-apocalyptic tales, both individual stories and series dealing with this all too probable possibility, and The After War is one of the best I have read. It is rich in detail and the characters are fully human, with all the strengths and weaknesses that come with that. The After War grew on me, as I think Brandon Zenner intended it to do. Page by page, it introduces this strange new world to us. Then Zenner shows us the hard decisions that these survivors must come to grips with.
For the most part, the characters are always what attracts me most to a novel and The After War has some great ones, major and minor. I liked the two cousins most of all. Brian and Steve reminded me of the relationships I have had with relatives and friends over the years. Other characters like Simon and Carolanne were interesting but the cousins fascinated me. The plot is important in a story like this and Brandon Zenner handles plot well. There is a sense of building to something, and the wonders of this new reality are peeled off layer by layer. The setting is great and very believable. Everything is done well. You will like this book and find it hard to wait for the next one.
I’ve got good news for people who are fans of post-apocalyptic war stories. The After War by Brandon Zenner is the first book in The After War Series that will go down as one of the best in the genre. The writing is so good that you will feel you are right there in the ruins with these great characters, making decisions that will shape the destiny of the human race. These are stories of survival, but just as important, they are stories of hope. I’ve read a few post-apocalyptic tales, both individual stories and series dealing with this all too probable possibility, and The After War is one of the best I have read. It is rich in detail and the characters are fully human, with all the strengths and weaknesses that come with that. The After War grew on me, as I think Brandon Zenner intended it to do. Page by page, it introduces this strange new world to us. Then Zenner shows us the hard decisions that these survivors must come to grips with.
For the most part, the characters are always what attracts me most to a novel and The After War has some great ones, major and minor. I liked the two cousins most of all. Brian and Steve reminded me of the relationships I have had with relatives and friends over the years. Other characters like Simon and Carolanne were interesting but the cousins fascinated me. The plot is important in a story like this and Brandon Zenner handles plot well. There is a sense of building to something, and the wonders of this new reality are peeled off layer by layer. The setting is great and very believable. Everything is done well. You will like this book and find it hard to wait for the next one.
Recommend this book:
Exiles' Escape
Book Two of Old Men and Infidels
W. Clark Boutwell
2019 Honorable Mention
366 Pages
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Fiction - Dystopia
Reviewed by Melinda Hills for Readers' Favorite
Will Butler, the “Old Man” Dr. Jesse Johnstone, and rebel Malila Chiu continue on their quests for their respective governments in Exiles’ Escape, Book 2 of the Old Men and Infidels series by W. Clark Boutwell. The Unity and the RSA are heading for a major conflict and each side needs all the information they can get. They also need dedicated fighters to bring the resolution to a satisfactory end, obviously with different outcomes for opposing forces. Malila works through the underground to try to escape back to the Outlands, Jesse works again with the military and Will goes undercover for the RSA while others step up to do their part in providing information. Lieutenant General Jourdaine of the Unity knows that things are not what they seem. Malila is not gone, but the question is whether she still poses a threat. Without connection to the CORE, it doesn’t seem likely, but now is not the time to take chances. Even with the help of the Higgins' in the passageways under the transportation belts, Malila is on the run for her life, trying to stay one step ahead of recapture.
Pieces fall into place as the strategies play out, setting the stage for the next volume and full-blown war. Strong writing, fantastic imagination and detailed sub-plots make Exiles' Escape a great read. Focusing on individual characters makes the book seem like a series of vignettes, each interesting and intriguing. The pace within each section is good, action is exciting with unexpected twists, and the characters experience some interesting revelations that help determine their paths. Although Exiles’ Escape is not at its best as a stand-alone volume, I'd encourage readers to grab Outland Exile first to set the whole story in its rightful context. This dystopian series about rebuilding after civil war provokes thoughts regarding government oversight in life and the role of the individual in society. Begin at the beginning and you will have a rewarding literary experience.
Will Butler, the “Old Man” Dr. Jesse Johnstone, and rebel Malila Chiu continue on their quests for their respective governments in Exiles’ Escape, Book 2 of the Old Men and Infidels series by W. Clark Boutwell. The Unity and the RSA are heading for a major conflict and each side needs all the information they can get. They also need dedicated fighters to bring the resolution to a satisfactory end, obviously with different outcomes for opposing forces. Malila works through the underground to try to escape back to the Outlands, Jesse works again with the military and Will goes undercover for the RSA while others step up to do their part in providing information. Lieutenant General Jourdaine of the Unity knows that things are not what they seem. Malila is not gone, but the question is whether she still poses a threat. Without connection to the CORE, it doesn’t seem likely, but now is not the time to take chances. Even with the help of the Higgins' in the passageways under the transportation belts, Malila is on the run for her life, trying to stay one step ahead of recapture.
Pieces fall into place as the strategies play out, setting the stage for the next volume and full-blown war. Strong writing, fantastic imagination and detailed sub-plots make Exiles' Escape a great read. Focusing on individual characters makes the book seem like a series of vignettes, each interesting and intriguing. The pace within each section is good, action is exciting with unexpected twists, and the characters experience some interesting revelations that help determine their paths. Although Exiles’ Escape is not at its best as a stand-alone volume, I'd encourage readers to grab Outland Exile first to set the whole story in its rightful context. This dystopian series about rebuilding after civil war provokes thoughts regarding government oversight in life and the role of the individual in society. Begin at the beginning and you will have a rewarding literary experience.
Recommend this book:
Saturn
The Cassini Division
Joseph W. Hudgens
2019 Finalist
401 Pages
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Fiction - Dystopia
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Saturn: The Cassini Division is a work of fiction in the science fiction and action/adventure sub-genres and was penned by author Joseph W. Hudgens. Written for adult audiences due to some mild references to sex and infrequent usage of adult language, this complex and engaging work takes science fiction in a fascinating and thought-provoking new direction. In a far-flung future, we find ourselves with successful protagonist Victor J. Lugo, whose efforts in the world of stem-cell farming and working with the human gene have taken him far. But as his sudden rise to fame is halted by a dangerous finger of blame, we follow Lugo on a nail-biting adventure of intrigue and thrills to discover the source of the problem before it ruins his life.
Author Joseph W. Hudgens has created a conceptually rich science fiction adventure tale that takes elements of thriller and corporate mystery into its complex and rewarding plotline. The beats of the story are well spaced and exceedingly well planned to give both Victor and ourselves the chance to piece elements together without being spoon-fed, which results in a sophisticated and adult feel to the tale overall. I also enjoyed the overarching theme of the consequences of growing human body parts and interfering with the human gene and stem cells, which is presented in a fascinating way that shows both sides of the coin. Overall, Saturn: The Cassini Division is an intriguing work that shows plenty of sophistication and will be sure to please casual and hard core science fiction readers alike.
Saturn: The Cassini Division is a work of fiction in the science fiction and action/adventure sub-genres and was penned by author Joseph W. Hudgens. Written for adult audiences due to some mild references to sex and infrequent usage of adult language, this complex and engaging work takes science fiction in a fascinating and thought-provoking new direction. In a far-flung future, we find ourselves with successful protagonist Victor J. Lugo, whose efforts in the world of stem-cell farming and working with the human gene have taken him far. But as his sudden rise to fame is halted by a dangerous finger of blame, we follow Lugo on a nail-biting adventure of intrigue and thrills to discover the source of the problem before it ruins his life.
Author Joseph W. Hudgens has created a conceptually rich science fiction adventure tale that takes elements of thriller and corporate mystery into its complex and rewarding plotline. The beats of the story are well spaced and exceedingly well planned to give both Victor and ourselves the chance to piece elements together without being spoon-fed, which results in a sophisticated and adult feel to the tale overall. I also enjoyed the overarching theme of the consequences of growing human body parts and interfering with the human gene and stem cells, which is presented in a fascinating way that shows both sides of the coin. Overall, Saturn: The Cassini Division is an intriguing work that shows plenty of sophistication and will be sure to please casual and hard core science fiction readers alike.
Recommend this book:
Ruins of Fate
The Omni Towers Series, Prequel
Jamie A. Waters
2019 Finalist
176 Pages
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Fiction - Dystopia
Reviewed by Kris Moger for Readers' Favorite
Ruins of Fate: The Omni Towers, Prequel by Jamie Waters takes place after a world similar to Earth now is devastated by environmental disasters. Forced to sift through dangerous ruins just to survive, the main character, Skye, struggles to maintain her precarious place in a scavenging camp. As well, she must protect her young son who is considered a burden by the camp’s leader. During a particularly risky hunt for supplies, she and her partner Leo save a young girl, who not only might ruin Skye’s place in the camp but brings with her a mystery that might completely alter everyone’s future.
For me, Ruins of Fate by Jamie Waters delivered a fantastic adventure. I enjoy reading good dystopian stories, especially ones dealing with an Earth-type world with a touch of mystery and magic. This book is filled with compelling characters, danger, and more. Waters weaves together her ideas to create a driving plot that makes the book hard to put down. The more I read, the more I wanted to read. Ruins of Fate is the perfect set-up for a series that dystopian fans would love. The author is a talented writer and works her skills to build a world so real that it’s almost an unnerving prophecy of what the future might hold if Earth’s environment falls apart. However, at no point did I find it preachy, which would have weighed the story down. The journey of Skye and those around her has just the right amount of intimate detail and action.
Ruins of Fate: The Omni Towers, Prequel by Jamie Waters takes place after a world similar to Earth now is devastated by environmental disasters. Forced to sift through dangerous ruins just to survive, the main character, Skye, struggles to maintain her precarious place in a scavenging camp. As well, she must protect her young son who is considered a burden by the camp’s leader. During a particularly risky hunt for supplies, she and her partner Leo save a young girl, who not only might ruin Skye’s place in the camp but brings with her a mystery that might completely alter everyone’s future.
For me, Ruins of Fate by Jamie Waters delivered a fantastic adventure. I enjoy reading good dystopian stories, especially ones dealing with an Earth-type world with a touch of mystery and magic. This book is filled with compelling characters, danger, and more. Waters weaves together her ideas to create a driving plot that makes the book hard to put down. The more I read, the more I wanted to read. Ruins of Fate is the perfect set-up for a series that dystopian fans would love. The author is a talented writer and works her skills to build a world so real that it’s almost an unnerving prophecy of what the future might hold if Earth’s environment falls apart. However, at no point did I find it preachy, which would have weighed the story down. The journey of Skye and those around her has just the right amount of intimate detail and action.
Recommend this book:
Voice of the Elders
Greg Ripley
2018 Finalist
294 Pages
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Fiction - Dystopia
Reviewed by K.J. Simmill for Readers' Favorite
Rohini had worked hard to get where she was, but she had never imagined her first day in the Youth Assembly, a program focused on the development of sustainable energy, would go quite the way it did. Just as the session started, aliens appeared, delivered a message of hope, and requested ambassadors to accompany them back to their home world when they return. They asked for recommendations, but these aliens, known as The Elders, had their own delegates in mind and Rohini is amongst them. Not all of the global players are on board with this apparent cure for the energy and farming crisis caused by global warming; in fact, some will go to extremes to jeopardize the mission before it even starts. Rohini finds herself in the cross-hairs. She had been worried about the aliens' intentions, but she should have concerned herself with those closer to home, for it is they who pose the real threat and it seems there is no line they won’t cross.
Voice of the Elders by Greg Ripley presents an amazing tale with a deep rooted and very important message. The world is in crisis, energy is running out, global warming is worsening and, despite being given a solution, there are those who oppose change, and the reason is greed. Fossil fuel tycoons see a threat to the bottom line, and are intent on preventing an advancement that would impact their riches. A great story that is clearly geared to make the reader think, not only about energy, but their own views and what they can do. Clearly, a lot of research has gone into this book, and it introduces many historical references, as well as touching on some of the principles of Taoism, mediation, and philosophy. The characters are relatable, and there is no shortage of conflict - you will love, you will hate, and you will feel outrage. Sit down, and lose yourself in some great scene settings and a gripping adventure.
Rohini had worked hard to get where she was, but she had never imagined her first day in the Youth Assembly, a program focused on the development of sustainable energy, would go quite the way it did. Just as the session started, aliens appeared, delivered a message of hope, and requested ambassadors to accompany them back to their home world when they return. They asked for recommendations, but these aliens, known as The Elders, had their own delegates in mind and Rohini is amongst them. Not all of the global players are on board with this apparent cure for the energy and farming crisis caused by global warming; in fact, some will go to extremes to jeopardize the mission before it even starts. Rohini finds herself in the cross-hairs. She had been worried about the aliens' intentions, but she should have concerned herself with those closer to home, for it is they who pose the real threat and it seems there is no line they won’t cross.
Voice of the Elders by Greg Ripley presents an amazing tale with a deep rooted and very important message. The world is in crisis, energy is running out, global warming is worsening and, despite being given a solution, there are those who oppose change, and the reason is greed. Fossil fuel tycoons see a threat to the bottom line, and are intent on preventing an advancement that would impact their riches. A great story that is clearly geared to make the reader think, not only about energy, but their own views and what they can do. Clearly, a lot of research has gone into this book, and it introduces many historical references, as well as touching on some of the principles of Taoism, mediation, and philosophy. The characters are relatable, and there is no shortage of conflict - you will love, you will hate, and you will feel outrage. Sit down, and lose yourself in some great scene settings and a gripping adventure.
Recommend this book:
Miguel Traveler #1
The Man from Texas
Daniel McFatter
2018 Finalist
450 Pages
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Fiction - Dystopia
Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite
Miguel Traveler #1: The Man From Texas by Daniel McFatter takes us on a broad, sweeping science fiction/dystopian/philosophical/contemporary literature journey through the past, the present and the future. Miguel Morgan wakes up in the womb of a machine that he instinctively understands is his new mother. Once violently released from her warm embrace, Miguel takes the reader on a journey through a West Texas of the future, known now as the Outfar. During his adventure he will encounter, befriend and try to assist some of the few remnants left of humanity. This is a future world of fear and horror – where the few good humans left are terrorised by evil, zombie-like creatures afflicted with the laughing sickness. As time progresses, we journey back with Miguel to current times as he recalls how he ended up in this place and he begins to question who or what he now is, plus his purpose in this harsh, new world.
I found Miguel Traveller #1: The Man From Texas to be an absolute breath of fresh air, especially as a debut novel from Daniel McFatter. The characters, especially the irrepressible and very identifiable Crunchy, were both endearing and believable. I loved that Miguel was himself a fatally flawed character and was constantly questioning why he was given the responsibilities and power he clearly had. There was a strong philosophical thread flowing through the story that I found compelling. Based principally on the teachings of Taoism and of Buddha, but stretching through to include those of the modern “new age” thought as expressed in The Secret and The Law of Attraction, this deep thinking by the main character gave the story a greater depth and impact than just a dystopian thriller would have done. McFatter, in my opinion, beautifully tied together the different threads of the story and in good dramatic fashion left the reader wanting more at the end. I am sure this is just the first of a series on Miguel and his journeys, so I am looking forward to seeing Daniel McFatter’s next iteration of this character.
Miguel Traveler #1: The Man From Texas by Daniel McFatter takes us on a broad, sweeping science fiction/dystopian/philosophical/contemporary literature journey through the past, the present and the future. Miguel Morgan wakes up in the womb of a machine that he instinctively understands is his new mother. Once violently released from her warm embrace, Miguel takes the reader on a journey through a West Texas of the future, known now as the Outfar. During his adventure he will encounter, befriend and try to assist some of the few remnants left of humanity. This is a future world of fear and horror – where the few good humans left are terrorised by evil, zombie-like creatures afflicted with the laughing sickness. As time progresses, we journey back with Miguel to current times as he recalls how he ended up in this place and he begins to question who or what he now is, plus his purpose in this harsh, new world.
I found Miguel Traveller #1: The Man From Texas to be an absolute breath of fresh air, especially as a debut novel from Daniel McFatter. The characters, especially the irrepressible and very identifiable Crunchy, were both endearing and believable. I loved that Miguel was himself a fatally flawed character and was constantly questioning why he was given the responsibilities and power he clearly had. There was a strong philosophical thread flowing through the story that I found compelling. Based principally on the teachings of Taoism and of Buddha, but stretching through to include those of the modern “new age” thought as expressed in The Secret and The Law of Attraction, this deep thinking by the main character gave the story a greater depth and impact than just a dystopian thriller would have done. McFatter, in my opinion, beautifully tied together the different threads of the story and in good dramatic fashion left the reader wanting more at the end. I am sure this is just the first of a series on Miguel and his journeys, so I am looking forward to seeing Daniel McFatter’s next iteration of this character.
Recommend this book:
It Takes Death to Reach a Star
Stu Jones, Gareth Worthington
2018 Honorable Mention
323 Pages
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Fiction - Dystopia
Reviewed by Justine Reyes for Readers' Favorite
In the year 2251, the world as we know it is gone, taken by ignorance and greed. It Takes Death to Reach a Star by Stu Jones and Gareth Worthington is a post-apocalyptic dystopian novel about Mila Solokoff, Demitri Stasevich, and respectively the malevolent Vedmak. Mila and Demitri lead separate lives in the same city, a city in the frozen wastelands of northern Siberia called Etyom. A city where people are separated by classism and conflict. Mila belongs to the Robusts, a lower class society that is starved of the privileges which the Graciles have all to themselves, Graciles like Demitri. However, Demitri isn’t like the rest of them; he’s got a dirty little secret which has nothing to do with his illegal drug use. Funnily enough, the pair are thrown together to make a decision that could alter the lives of all the people in Etyom.
It can’t be a coincidence that Etyom takes place in Russia, because some of the best sci-fi novels come from famous Russian authors like the Strugatsky brothers who wrote Roadside Picnic and Dmitry Glukhovsky who created the Metro books. “The world has changed, but the people in it didn’t.” I cannot fathom how Stu Jones and Gareth Worthington created this masterpiece. I am awestruck at how well developed their characters are and how vivid and immersive is the world they have built. It’s so oddly surreal, yet all of it is brilliantly woven together in this fictional post-apocalyptic world. Fans of this genre would be well advised to pick up a copy of It Takes Death to Reach a Star.
In the year 2251, the world as we know it is gone, taken by ignorance and greed. It Takes Death to Reach a Star by Stu Jones and Gareth Worthington is a post-apocalyptic dystopian novel about Mila Solokoff, Demitri Stasevich, and respectively the malevolent Vedmak. Mila and Demitri lead separate lives in the same city, a city in the frozen wastelands of northern Siberia called Etyom. A city where people are separated by classism and conflict. Mila belongs to the Robusts, a lower class society that is starved of the privileges which the Graciles have all to themselves, Graciles like Demitri. However, Demitri isn’t like the rest of them; he’s got a dirty little secret which has nothing to do with his illegal drug use. Funnily enough, the pair are thrown together to make a decision that could alter the lives of all the people in Etyom.
It can’t be a coincidence that Etyom takes place in Russia, because some of the best sci-fi novels come from famous Russian authors like the Strugatsky brothers who wrote Roadside Picnic and Dmitry Glukhovsky who created the Metro books. “The world has changed, but the people in it didn’t.” I cannot fathom how Stu Jones and Gareth Worthington created this masterpiece. I am awestruck at how well developed their characters are and how vivid and immersive is the world they have built. It’s so oddly surreal, yet all of it is brilliantly woven together in this fictional post-apocalyptic world. Fans of this genre would be well advised to pick up a copy of It Takes Death to Reach a Star.
Recommend this book:
FINAL NOTICE
What would you do if you knew you had one week to live?
Van Fleisher
2018 Honorable Mention
352 Pages
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Fiction - Dystopia
Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite
Final Notice by Van Fleisher is an intelligently imagined and expertly crafted novel with an original concept. Vijay Patel, a doctor and mathematician, has just created a revolutionary invention, a health watch that predicts within 10 – 30 days when someone will die. This could be great news for many people, allowing them to fix whatever they need to fix and prepare for death peacefully. But the certainty in regards to when people would die creates anxiety in some, a deep sense of purpose in others, and the desire for revenge in a few. Readers are introduced to very compelling cast of characters, including an eighty-nine-year-old man in a retirement home, a senator, a climate scientist, an FBI agent, and many others.
Combining dark and biting humor, satire, and suspense, Van Fleisher creates a story with characters that are sophisticated and that reveal a lot about human nature. There is a memorable cast of characters, each facing the Final Notice, aware that they will die soon, and it is interesting to see how they plan to spend their last days. The reader will be surprised by the quirkiness in character development and in aspects of the plot. There is an unpredictability in the plot that makes it intriguing and exciting, with surprises that readers won’t see coming. I enjoyed the concept — strong and original — behind the plot. The conflict is mostly existential and psychological and the author uses it to drive the plot. Van Fleisher is a master entertainer who knows how to feed the reader’s curiosity. You can’t stop reading this book once you start it.
Final Notice by Van Fleisher is an intelligently imagined and expertly crafted novel with an original concept. Vijay Patel, a doctor and mathematician, has just created a revolutionary invention, a health watch that predicts within 10 – 30 days when someone will die. This could be great news for many people, allowing them to fix whatever they need to fix and prepare for death peacefully. But the certainty in regards to when people would die creates anxiety in some, a deep sense of purpose in others, and the desire for revenge in a few. Readers are introduced to very compelling cast of characters, including an eighty-nine-year-old man in a retirement home, a senator, a climate scientist, an FBI agent, and many others.
Combining dark and biting humor, satire, and suspense, Van Fleisher creates a story with characters that are sophisticated and that reveal a lot about human nature. There is a memorable cast of characters, each facing the Final Notice, aware that they will die soon, and it is interesting to see how they plan to spend their last days. The reader will be surprised by the quirkiness in character development and in aspects of the plot. There is an unpredictability in the plot that makes it intriguing and exciting, with surprises that readers won’t see coming. I enjoyed the concept — strong and original — behind the plot. The conflict is mostly existential and psychological and the author uses it to drive the plot. Van Fleisher is a master entertainer who knows how to feed the reader’s curiosity. You can’t stop reading this book once you start it.
Recommend this book:
CRISIS
Convulsive Part 1
Marcus Martin
2018 Bronze Medal
199 Pages
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Fiction - Dystopia
Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite
When first the International Space Station’s crew dies and then all Earth's satellites are wiped out, the powers that be realize something disastrous is about to strike Earth. With communications and power gone, the thin veneer of a civilized society rapidly begins to crumble as the citizenry begins to do whatever it takes to survive. Add in a pandemic that is rapidly culling the population and you have the premise for Marcus Martin’s dystopian novel, Convulsive Part 1. Lucy and her partner, Dan, are better placed than most to survive. Dan’s father, who is high up in the government, had already warned him something was about to happen and Dan had wisely stockpiled food and supplies to ensure their survival. As the civil authorities in San Francisco struggle to cope with the overwhelming problems, Lucy and Dan must survive at all costs until Dan’s father can organize a way out for them and others.
Convulsive Part 1 is the first part of a serialized set of novels, so as a standalone book it fails to answer many questions, but sets up very well the continuation of the story for the next installment. Although I’m not personally a great fan of this style of serialization, author Marcus Martin does an excellent job of building the action to a crescendo and leaving the reader wanting more, which at the end of the day is the whole point of this type of story. I liked Martin’s writing style, which is simple, straightforward, and rapidly moved the action along. The characters could well have been more deeply explored, especially the two principals, Dan and Lucy, as well as their relationship, but at the heart of the story is the dystopian battle for survival and, on that level, the author did a very good job of carrying the reader along at a steady clip. This is a good beginning to a series and I see Convulsive Book 2 is already available, so readers who enjoy this first part will not have to wait to find out what happens next, which is always a bonus.
When first the International Space Station’s crew dies and then all Earth's satellites are wiped out, the powers that be realize something disastrous is about to strike Earth. With communications and power gone, the thin veneer of a civilized society rapidly begins to crumble as the citizenry begins to do whatever it takes to survive. Add in a pandemic that is rapidly culling the population and you have the premise for Marcus Martin’s dystopian novel, Convulsive Part 1. Lucy and her partner, Dan, are better placed than most to survive. Dan’s father, who is high up in the government, had already warned him something was about to happen and Dan had wisely stockpiled food and supplies to ensure their survival. As the civil authorities in San Francisco struggle to cope with the overwhelming problems, Lucy and Dan must survive at all costs until Dan’s father can organize a way out for them and others.
Convulsive Part 1 is the first part of a serialized set of novels, so as a standalone book it fails to answer many questions, but sets up very well the continuation of the story for the next installment. Although I’m not personally a great fan of this style of serialization, author Marcus Martin does an excellent job of building the action to a crescendo and leaving the reader wanting more, which at the end of the day is the whole point of this type of story. I liked Martin’s writing style, which is simple, straightforward, and rapidly moved the action along. The characters could well have been more deeply explored, especially the two principals, Dan and Lucy, as well as their relationship, but at the heart of the story is the dystopian battle for survival and, on that level, the author did a very good job of carrying the reader along at a steady clip. This is a good beginning to a series and I see Convulsive Book 2 is already available, so readers who enjoy this first part will not have to wait to find out what happens next, which is always a bonus.
Recommend this book:
What Survives of Us
Colorado Chapters Book One
Kathy Miner
2018 Silver Medal
351 Pages
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Fiction - Dystopia
Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
What Survives of Us by Kathy Miner is a supernatural dystopian thriller that begins where most of the rest of the human population ends, with the surviving 1% following a worldwide epidemic of plague. “It was untreatable. There was no vaccine. It was 99-100% fatal.” Miner's introductions include the characters followed in the plot, who are each given their own point of view within the story: Naomi, Jack, Grace, Quinn, and Piper. As the survivors descend into chaos, two interesting twists emerge. The first is that those who have outlived the virus cannot outrun the violent and destructive demise of humanity. Brutality and complete degradation run rampant, with rape, murder, and torturous revenge fueling those who are left. The second is that those same people have all been imparted with unique powers. How they choose to use it – and abuse it – is up to them.
What Survives of Us is the first in Kathy Miner's Colorado Chapters series and, as a note of warning, it does end with a cliffhanger. Thankfully, this isn't nearly as painful as what happens within the pages of this exquisitely written novel, since book two, Where the Light Enters, has already been released. Miner has taken an overly saturated genre and reinvigorated it with a skilled balancing act of realism and the supernatural. The darkness and whole abandonment of morality are laid bare with not even the most likable characters spared...which is where the realism seeps in. All of the usual tropes are cast off as Miner builds a world that, superhuman abilities aside, is likely to be a more accurate representation of moral descent than any I have read before. There's no question that this series will appeal to lovers of Stephen King's The Stand, giving rise to a formidable new author who is deserving of the comparison in every regard.
What Survives of Us by Kathy Miner is a supernatural dystopian thriller that begins where most of the rest of the human population ends, with the surviving 1% following a worldwide epidemic of plague. “It was untreatable. There was no vaccine. It was 99-100% fatal.” Miner's introductions include the characters followed in the plot, who are each given their own point of view within the story: Naomi, Jack, Grace, Quinn, and Piper. As the survivors descend into chaos, two interesting twists emerge. The first is that those who have outlived the virus cannot outrun the violent and destructive demise of humanity. Brutality and complete degradation run rampant, with rape, murder, and torturous revenge fueling those who are left. The second is that those same people have all been imparted with unique powers. How they choose to use it – and abuse it – is up to them.
What Survives of Us is the first in Kathy Miner's Colorado Chapters series and, as a note of warning, it does end with a cliffhanger. Thankfully, this isn't nearly as painful as what happens within the pages of this exquisitely written novel, since book two, Where the Light Enters, has already been released. Miner has taken an overly saturated genre and reinvigorated it with a skilled balancing act of realism and the supernatural. The darkness and whole abandonment of morality are laid bare with not even the most likable characters spared...which is where the realism seeps in. All of the usual tropes are cast off as Miner builds a world that, superhuman abilities aside, is likely to be a more accurate representation of moral descent than any I have read before. There's no question that this series will appeal to lovers of Stephen King's The Stand, giving rise to a formidable new author who is deserving of the comparison in every regard.
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