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 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.

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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.