Audio Book Review: The Darkest Winter, Savage North Chronicles, Book 1, by Lindsey Pogue

I liked the supernatural element that added to this post-apocalyptic survival story.

The Darkest Winter
A Post-Apocalyptic Adventure
Savage North Chronicles
Written by Lindsey Pogue
Narrated by Sarah Ruth Thomas & Luis Bermudez

Run Time 15h
Release Date: October 8, 2020
Publisher: Lindsey Pogue
Genre: Paranormal, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher Description
The Virus spread. Billions died. The Ending began.
A group of orphaned misfits.
The wildlands of the last frontier.
Superhuman abilities, harrowing adventures, and heartbreaking secrets.
Elle - Haunting shadows are nothing new to Elle St. James, she’s been running from them all her life. But since the outbreak spread from the lower forty-eight, new monsters lurk in the darkness. After Elle wakes from the fever, capable of horrific deeds, she fears she’s one of them. When she stumbles upon four orphans, Elle’s forced to discover what happens when her greatest fear becomes her darkest secret and her only hope of surviving.
Jackson - After the world goes mad and takes his family with it, Jackson Mitchell tosses aside his badge and decides a bottle of bourbon and the depths of despair are preferable to any semblance of living. All of that changes, however, when a group of young survivors are in dire need of his help and Jackson sacrifices his blissful oblivion in order to keep them safe. As they trek further away from the collapsing cities, Jackson must rely on his knowledge of the backcountry and the traditions of his people, or succumb to the dangers of the Alaskan wilderness.
Brought together under the worst possible circumstances, Elle and Jackson must face the inexplicable realities of the new world. Their past lives are over, and the arctic isn’t all that’s savage anymore.

Review:
A virus has killed Billions. But some survived. Of those who survived the fevers, some are realizing they have unusual, super human abilities. Elle is one of these. She set off to find her sister but instead she stumbles upon four orphans struggling to survive the trauma of losing everyone around them. Elle feels compelled to be the adult who must step up to help them. But she needs to protect them from her own secret.

Jackson has lost his wife and unborn child not to the virus but to a crazed intruder. His initial reaction is to drown his sorrows in a bourbon bottle. He finds his friend and begins to come back to life. He is intent on meeting his friend at a designated point, but along the way he finds Elle and her young charges. Reluctantly he realizes he must help them if they are to survive. He agrees to escort them, at least part of the way, sharing his survival knowledge with them.

Elle and Jackson had no intent to seek a relationship but it is hard to avoid when they find themselves thrown together trying to protect a small group of survivors. Elle learns that others have new abilities and that she may have to rely on her own ‘powers’ to fight back. How will her charges and Jackson react when they see her powers in use?

I liked the different personalities of the main and minor characters. They also get aid from a family in the wilderness that lives totally off the grid that gives a new perspective to the dangers of society. I felt there were areas of unrealism in the travels but it was overall a good story. I recommend this to fans of post-apocalyptic who would also like the paranormal elements.

Audio Notes: This is a story where dual narration worked well. Sarah Ruth Thomas & Luis Bermudez did a good job with the female and male voices. They both delivered distinct character voices and appropriate emotional energy. I enjoyed the audio entertainment.

Source: April 18, 2021 purchased at Chirp for $3.99. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, and 2023Season goals.