Audible Book Review: The Traveler Series, A Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian Adventure: Books 1-3 by Tom Abrahams

I liked this series that focuses on one man's survival and ‘battles’ with the enemy.
The Traveler Series
A Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian Adventure: Books 1-3
By: Tom Abrahams
Narrated by: Kevin Pierce

Length: 21 hrs and 56 mins
Release date: 03-06-19
Publisher: Piton Press LLC
Genre: Adventure, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
The first three books in the Traveler series in one bundle!
Book One: Home
He thought he was prepared. He thought his family was safe. He was wrong.
Five years after a pneumonic plague killed two-thirds of the world’s population, army veteran Marcus Battle is isolated. He’s alone with his guns, his food, and the graves of his wife and child.
Unaware of the chaos that’s befallen everything outside of his central Texas ranch land, Marcus lives a Spartan life. If anyone steps onto his property he shoots first and never ask questions.
But when a woman in distress, chased by marauders, seeks asylum, Marcus has a decision to make.
Does he throw her to the wolves to protect himself, or does he help her and leave the shelter and protection of home?
Book Two: Canyon
He’s homeless. He’s on the run. and he wants revenge.
Marcus Battle has left behind his home.
Now he’s on a seemingly impossible mission to find a missing child. But can he balance that responsibility with his deep, primal desire to exact revenge on the men who destroyed his solitary existence?
The world he discovers on his journey isn’t the one he remembers before a pneumonic plague called the Scourge killed two-thirds of the world’s population. It is lawless, depraved, and far deadlier than the disease which created it.
Battle made a promise to find that child. It’s a promise he regrets more acutely with every step of the journey where he is as much the hunter as he is the hunted.
Book Three: Wall
He survived the scourge. He escaped the cartel. Now he faces the wall.
In the chaos of a global plague, evil took hold. Governments fell, the good became servants, and the Cartel rose to power.
A wall was built to contain the wasteland and keep the evil at bay. Now an organized resistance wants change. They're willing to fight for it and they've asked Marcus Battle to help.
The last thing Battle wants is another war. But if that's what it takes to gain freedom and safe passage to the other side of the wall, he'll take aim and fire.
©2019 Piton Press LLC (P)2019 Piton Press LLC

Review:
Marcus Battle, a retired army vet, thought he had prepared to protect his family. But he couldn’t save his wife and young son when the plague (the scourge) swept across the world and came to his door. Marcus has survived five years alone on his isolated ranch with his hoarded supplies of food and guns, his fences and special protections, and the ghosts of his family.

Then the outside world intrudes on his solitude. An apparently abused and frightened woman, Lola, works her way into his property but with her comes trouble. He eliminates most of the threats but one man escapes to go back to his cartel boss to reveal that a man is living outside the control of the bosses. Not only do they want to retrieve their property, Lola, they are targeting Marcus. They just have no clue what a Battle they will face. (Sorry – the name reference is just too hard to resist.)

This is a bundle of the first three books in the series. Home introduces Marcus and tells about his Home. Canyon follows Marcus as he and Lola escape to join a rebellion group, the Dwellers, living in the mountains. The third book, Wall, shares how Marcus helps in the fight between the Cartel and the Dwellers. Then Marcus and a few friends are escorted to the Wall to hopefully find a new start in the world to the north. I liked reading the first three books together.

The author does a good job blending personal issues with danger and violence. Abrahams uses alternating present events with flash back chapters to fill in the history, both of Battle at home with his family and Battle saving another soldier in Syria. I liked Marcus Battle’s character with his firmness and emotional struggles to reconnect with other people. His character pretty much overshadows everyone else although we do get to learn some of the history of a handful of the bad men. The story is sadly plausible in the aspect that a Cartel system could take over if government forces pull out.

I recently read a spin off story, Unprepared, The Scourge, about the beginning of the plague.. I think this series is a little stronger for entertainment. I do plan to continue with the next bundle, books 4 through 6. I recommend this to fans of post-apocalyptic, dystopian with lots of fight action.

Audio Notes: Kevin Pierce does his usual excellent job of narration. He provides distinct voices and fitting energy and emotion. The narration added to my enjoyment of the story.

Source: November 2019 Audible purchase $7.49. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook and 2021 Alphabet audio goals.

#NetGalley Audio Book Review: Ever Winter by Peter Hackshaw

This is a suspenseful dystopian, revenge story with strong characters.
Ever Winter
By: Peter Hackshaw
Narrated by: Dan Stevens

Length: 9 hrs and 58 mins
Release date: 01-26-21
Publisher: Podium Audio
Genre: Adventure, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
Narrated by award-winning actor Dan Stevens (Beauty and the Beast, FX’s Legion) Ever Winter is a vivid and eloquent story of loss, rehabilitation, and revenge set in a post-apocalyptic ice world.
Far from the savage remnants of humanity, Henry and his family have managed to survive the grip of desolate, perpetual winter on a vast tundra that was once an ocean teeming with life. When the family is discovered, their peaceful existence is shattered and their lives changed forever.
Henry’s siblings are kidnapped, leaving him alone in the ruins of their home. Broken, altered, and tormented by all that has befallen him, he is driven to wreak vengeance upon those who assume him dead...by any means necessary.
Fans of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road or Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven will enjoy the raw, emotional pull of debut author Peter Hackshaw’s writing.
©2020 Peter Hackshaw (P)2021 Podium Audio

Review:
Henry is a teen raised with his younger sisters and brothers in a solitary family. His parents made a choice to go into the wilderness in the vast tundra, once an ocean, where they struggle to survive the perpetual winter. Henry’s father taught him to stay alive, scavenge, and provide food for the family. One day they found a recently dead body in the snow. They scavenged from the body as that is the way of the wild. This act led to another man showing up at their home while Henry and his father were out. They return to find the man charming the younger girls although their mother is cautious. Henry’s father sends the man on his way and warns the family that they need to relocate.

Henry, his sister Mary, and their father make a remarkable find of a supply ship frozen in the former ocean. Henry remains behind intent on opening a container. When he returns home, he finds the home on fire, his mother and infant son killed and his father dying. His siblings have been kidnapped and Henry swears to find and rescue them.

But what can a young boy do against a community led by brutal, evil men and women? His first attempt meets with failure and he is dragged out to the snow and left to die. Surprisingly, another young boy sneaks out to try to help. Then an android entity arrives to treat his injuries and bring him back to the ship to be nursed back to health. In the process, Henry is changed and trained to become a warrior who might be able to face the savage community where his sisters reside.

The story started just a bit slowly, but I was soon wrapped into Henry’s world and cheering for the family’s, specifically Henry’s, survival. I liked the AI companion and the other feline companion that Henry managed to befriend.

Peter Hackshaw created a fascinating, if brutal, world, and then added historic (to Henry but not the reader/listener) elements including a surprise vehicle. Admittedly the story is harsh with deprivation, violence, and evil. Some sensitive readers might be offended by some of the scenes. I cringed a few times but, overall, I appreciated the author’s ability to weave a tale of personal determination in a harsh world. I recommend this to readers who like dystopian and can handle the evil elements that might exist in a broken-down society. I would be interested in reading more by Mr. Hackshaw.

Audio Notes: Dan Stevens does an excellent job with the narration. He provides distinct voices and accents that fit the characters. The narration added to my enjoyment of the story and I would be glad to listen to more stories narrated by Mr. Stevens.

Source: 2021 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2021NetGalley and 2021Alphabet goals.

Audible Book Review: Commune: Book Two by Joshua Gayou

This is another spot on entry in this dystopian, post-apocalyptic series.
Commune: Book Two
Commune Series 2
By: Joshua Gayou
Narrated by: R.C. Bray

Length: 15 hrs and 2 mins
Release date: 04-03-18
Publisher: Joshua Gayou, Blue Heron Audio
Genre: Action, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
2019 Independent Audiobook Award Winner for Apocalyptica
Survival can be a lonely existence...or not. The reality of the situation always comes down to a simple decision: What kind of world do you want to build?
The survivors have come to settle in the mountains of Wyoming, fighting day in and day out to establish a home for themselves in a near-empty world. Things are good at first; scavenging is a workable, short-term solution that seems to be providing all they need.
But they know that it’s only a matter of time before the food runs out. They need to scramble to find a sustainable solution before the clock stops, and for a little handful of people up in the mountains, the odds don’t seem very favorable.
Further south, a new band of people migrates across the map, running on fumes and searching desperately for a place to settle. All around them, as resources run thin, the world grows colder and more violent.
It’s getting worse out there, always getting worse, and it’s starting to look like survival might just depend on how violent they’re willing to get.... ©2017 Joshua Gayou (P)2018 Joshua Gayou

Review:
Brian, a member of the Jackson Commune, continues his character interviews in this episode. The primary character discussed is Blake Gibson, formerly SSgt Gibs. Gibs is a wonderful character and, as Gayou states in the intro, he did his best to make Gibs a true to life Marine Sergeant. Gibs is clearly well read and well spoken but he comes with the full blown rough language of a Marine.

This book provides Gibs the opportunity to tell about the misfit survivors that he gathered in his ‘bus’ as they struggled through Colorado. They scavenged along the way and hoped to find good supplies in Denver but found trouble instead. Gibs describes their losses and harrowing escape before he explains how they ended up in Jackson, Wyoming where he was fortunate to meet Jake, the leader of the commune. In the early days there weren’t outsiders aware of the location of the secluded cabin and surroundings. Once Gibs arrived with his busload of people the occupants grew from three to over twenty. It was important that everyone find a task they could perform to contribute to the community.

The story goes from desperate gun fight to methodical, planning and working toward long term (at least past winter) survival. Some interviews are shared from Amanda and a few others which gives a break from all Gibs. In spite of the potty mouth, I enjoyed the fighting action and the prepper development activities. I am looking forward to book 3. I recommend this book and series to readers who enjoy real to life post-apocalyptic stories.

Audio Notes: R.C. Bray is a great narrator for this work. He captures the voices and personalities of the characters. His narration enhanced the book for me. I plan to continue to listen to the audio versions.

Source: 05/17/2020 Two Audible Credit choices for April. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook and 2021Alphabet Audio goals.

Commune: Book One Review, 4.5.

#NetGalley Book Review: Evolving Elizah: Initiatum by C. J. Hall

I enjoyed this dystopian thriller.
Evolving Elizah: Initiatum
by C.J. Hall

ASIN : B08MCHV973
Publisher : IngramSpark (December 1, 2020)
Publication date : December 1, 2020
File size : 2348 KB
Print length : 227 pages
Genre: Dystopian, Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.

Elizah (Liz) Goeff was born into a world much like the one we know today, but she doesn’t remember it. It’s all gone now, covered in ash after a series of natural disasters threw North American civilization into a death spiral. Now Liz’s world is the Green Grow 3, a lush space farm orbiting Earth designed to feed humanity until the planet can heal itself.

Review:
Liz doesn’t remember a lot before natural disasters destroyed much of North America’s ground surface and civilization broke down. She does remember her older brother, Jackson, who doted on her and helped teach her before life got so hard that he left an 8 year old Liz with their mother and strode off to join the New Generation, an activist group seeking a way to distribute food and aid to survivors. Jackson promised to return but never did. After years of searching through the Green Grow depot stations, Liz is convinced Jackson is dead. That is her past.

Now, not quite 25, Liz is a shuttle pilot living on the Green Grow 3, a space farm, orbiting earth while they try to figure a way to survive and share the food supply with people besieged by the hostile New Generation forces on earth. Liz needs to make a surface mission to retrieve certain supplies for an antimatter propulsion drive for the ship. The drive is necessary to take the ship out of the range of New Generation weapons. But danger awaits on the ground and now on the ship as there are apparently spies who have infiltrated the crew and are causing sabotage.

Liz makes the needed run to the surface but before she can leave the depot, she is hailed by starving refuges outside the gate. The group of 52 is running from a band of New Generation brutes who will savagely hunt them down. Liz makes a snap decision (another one) and rescues the people, bringing them to the ship with her.

Now there are more reasons to worry about spies and tensions build. Before Seth can put into place the plans to orderly move the ship out of orbit, an attack occurs, and a surprise enemy hails the ship and especially Liz. What can Liz do to help find the infiltrators and keep the crew and “her 52” safe?

The story follows Liz and tracks her past and her growth as she struggles along the perilous journey of survival... and betrayal. There is intrigue among the characters and I especially liked the intermittent scenes of The Scientist who is plotting assassination. I was surprised when the identity is revealed as the book ends. Although the book ending is set to continue with the next book, I enjoyed how it got to that point. There is plenty of action and intrigue and just a touch of romance. I recommend this to dystopian sci fi fans.

Source: 2020 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021NetGalley and 2021Alphabet goals.

#NetGalley Book Review: Came A Horseman, A Hard Ride In A Fierce World by Paul McHugh

This mixes some philosophy with mystery and action in an interesting dystopian society.
Came A Horseman, A Hard Ride In A Fierce World
by Paul McHugh

ASIN : B08Q1VMH6G
Publisher : ElkHeart Books (December 20, 2020)
File size : 3689 KB; 261 pages
Genre: Dystopian, Mystery
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.

Ten years after Earth's electronics were fried by an immense solar flare, most human technology has turned useless and civilization has begun to fail. But one thriving pocket is a valley on California's coast, where farmers in a religious cult dwell. A tribe of local hunters protect them. But this arrangement gets upended when a young refugee, Kyle Skander, wrecks his kayak there as he seeks to paddle north to Arcata. Kyle finds himself accused of murdering a young woman from the commune. To win freedom, he must find the real killer. His combative personality and a background in logic and philosophy helps Kyle make headway at this task. His investigation begins to uncover the valley's deepest secrets. Then, buried rivalries erupt into a battle that alters forever this enclave's fate.
"Came A Horseman" re-imagines the Western as a post-apocalyptic adventure, with a murder mystery at the heart of its plot.

Review:
Kyle was a professor before technology crashed and society disintegrated into groups trying to survive. Kyle left his beloved wife in Arcata to travel south to rescue her father, Roy. Roy had become Kyle’s mentor in all things philosophy from the logic thinking of Socrates to the war strategies of Sun Tzu. Kyle will use these lessons through his adventure. After reaching Roy, Kyle sets out in a kayak to return home, hoping to avoid the land-based dangers. Instead, he crashes onshore during a storm.

He finds himself on a reclusive commune with several cooperative tribes. The main community consists of farmers in a religious cult. Above their town are the horse stables with a handful of stablemen. Then moving further up the mountain there is the rough tribe of hunter warriors and tree dwellers. When Kyle stumbles into the farmer town, he becomes the prime suspect of a recent murder. After the local Sayer decides that Kyle may not be the murderer, he is given the opportunity to prove his innocence by investigating the crime.

Initially, Kyle is met with skepticism, reluctance, and resentment. But he begins to win others over as he treats them with respect while showing bravery, commitment, and effective, successful techniques. Just as Kyle is prepared to expose the true murderer, a new danger arrives on the scene in the form of a convoy of men seeking to take over the commune.

I generally prefer to be entertained in an adventure rather than having to push my mind to thinking. However, this adventure combines a variety of characters and an interesting mystery while requiring concentration to find the way through the philosophical arguments and discussions of strategy. The full package is ultimately engaging. I recommend this to fans of dystopia and mystery with the understanding that it involves philosophical arguments.

Source: 2020 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021NetGalley and 2021Alphabet goals.

Audible Book Review: World Made By Hand, Book 1, by James Howard Kunstler

This is the first book in an interesting character driven dystopian series.
World Made by Hand: The World Made by Hand Novels, Book 1
By: James Howard Kunstler
Narrated by: Jim Meskimen

Series: World Made By Hand, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins
Release date: 08-23-10
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Dystopian, Sci Fi, Speculative Fiction
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
In The Long Emergency, celebrated social commentator James Howard Kunstler explored how the terminal decline of oil production combined with climate change had the potential to put industrial civilization out of business. In World Made by Hand, an astonishing work of speculative fiction, Kunstler brings to life what America might be, a few decades hence, after these catastrophes converge.
The electricity has flickered out. The automobile age is over. In Union Grove, a little town in upstate New York, the future is nothing like people thought it would be. Life is hard and close to the bone. Transportation is slow and dangerous, so food is grown locally at great expense of time and energy, and the outside world is largely unknown. There may be a president, and he may be in Minneapolis now, but people aren’t sure. The townspeople’s challenges play out in a dazzling, fully realized world of abandoned highways and empty houses, horses working the fields and rivers, no longer polluted, and replenished with fish.
This is the story of Robert Earle and his fellow townspeople and what happens to them one summer in a country that has changed profoundly. A powerful tale of love, loss, violence, and desperation, World Made by Hand is also lyrical and tender, a surprising story of a new America struggling to be born - a story more relevant now than ever.
©2008 James Howard Kunstler (P)2010 Blackstone Audiobooks

Review:
Robert Earle is old enough to remember life before technology started to fail and bombs eliminated live as known in the 21st century. Now there is only limited electric power, food is grown locally, transportation is mostly horse and cart or walking, and life is generally hard. Robert lost his wife and daughter to illness in a two year period. Five years later his nineteen-year-old son took off to find out what was left of the world. There are no phones or mail service to stay in touch. It is enough of a struggle to get clean water and barter for supplies without running into violence.

Robert goes on a trade run to the local ‘trading post’ (think a dump taken over by a gang). He ran into a young man, Sean, who is there with his dog. Since the guard won’t allow Sean in with the dog, Robert agrees to pick up Sean’s list. But before the transactions are complete, gun shots are heard and Robert returns to the entrance to find Sean and his dog shot to death. Although the guard claims self-defense, clearly there is a problem with the trading gang but there is no one in town to investigate, arrest or pursue the murder. There is a Chief of Police/Sheriff but he said he “wouldn’t serve if elected” and has continued to drink and live up to that promise.

A new religious group, consisting of 70 or so members led by Brother Jobe, has arrived in town. Brother Jobe is prepared to push for more control in the community. Soon, at a duly called town meeting, the existing, do-nothing mayor is fired, and Robert is elected as the new mayor. Robert’s friend, Loren, the existing Pastor, is elected to replace the Chief of Police. Robert and Loren are at least willing to take their positions seriously but before they take up their tasks, Robert is asked to join a rescue team to travel down the river to find a boat of local men who took trade goods to another city. They do manage to find the men but retrieving them ends in violence.

When the team returns with the men, there is a celebration. While most of the community attends the festival, the trader gang members travel through town apparently looting and intimidating people who remained in their homes. One of those intimidated is Sean’s widow who has moved in as Robert’s housekeeper after her house burned down.

Robert and Loren have a jailed prepared. They arrest Brother Jobe for shaving people without consent. Then they attempt to arrest the trading gang leader which ends in a violent confrontation. The town situation is changing and Robert, Loren, Brother Job and the others have to juggle to find their way in this strange new life.

This dystopian story focuses on personal and relational issues as the survivors struggle to continue life and find an acceptable level of community. I wasn’t thrilled by the female characters who are given lesser roles bordering on sex objects. The descriptions are lyrical at times and I liked the title phrase. I found the overall story interesting if not totally compelling. I do have the next three books and plan to continue to listen over the next few months.

Audio Notes: Jim Meskimen is a new-to-me narrator and I think he does a good job. His voice seems to fit Robert and he gives appropriate accent and energy to the characters. The audio enhanced my engagement in the story.

Source: Audible Plus Catalog December 2020. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook and 2021Alphabet goals.

Audible Book Review: Wool (Silo #1; Wool 1-5) by Hugh Howey

I enjoyed this creative dystopian sci fi.
Wool
Silo, #1; Wool, #1-5
By: Hugh Howey
Narrated by: Amanda Sayle

Series: The Silo Saga, Book 1
Length: 17 hrs and 43 mins
Release date: 04-09-13
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
In a ruined and toxic landscape, a community exists in a giant silo underground, hundreds of stories deep. There, men and women live in a society full of regulations they believe are meant to protect them. Sheriff Holston, who has unwaveringly upheld the silo’s rules for years, unexpectedly breaks the greatest taboo of all: He asks to go outside.
His fateful decision unleashes a drastic series of events. An unlikely candidate is appointed to replace him: Juliette, a mechanic with no training in law, whose special knack is fixing machines. Now Juliette is about to be entrusted with fixing her silo, and she will soon learn just how badly her world is broken. The silo is about to confront what its history has only hinted about and its inhabitants have never dared to whisper. Uprising. ©2012 Hugh Howey (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Something catastrophic happened to the world leaving the land and air toxic and people living for centuries underground. The people are not told much about the history but they are directed to follow the rules of ‘the order’. The mayor and sheriff are the apparent enforcers of rules. Each floor of the 150 or so levels has different tasks identified by different color uniforms like blue for mechanics, green for hydroponics, yellow for supplies and more. Juliette is a mechanic working in the lower levels of the silo community. Juliette is adept at keeping the machinery going and solving problems, including the mystery of a death that occurred in her levels. When Sheriff Holston asks for the forbidden – to go outside –Juliette is proposed to become his successor.

The long-time mayor and deputy sheriff are good with this pick, but the head of IT, Bernard, had other plans. After all, he is the one with the secrets and the greatest desire for control. Juliette tries to resist the job assignment but finds a reason to accept – a puzzle to solve. As she pieces together information, she begins to suspect conspiracy, treachery and serious secrets being kept from the community.

Juliette is accused of murdering her friend – a young man helping her to gather information. Her friends in mechanics don’t believe she is responsible, and they try to help her. Now Juliette has to struggle to survive while her friends plan an uprising. What will happen within the silo and what mysteries will be found outside?

I was a little confused when the story first started but after a chapter or so I was able to settle into the direction of the dystopia. I was impressed by the creative world building and I really liked several of the characters, especially Juliette and her friends. The past history is revealed slowly and presents some issues for consternation. It is interesting and I found some bits that brought up thoughts of political power today. I became invested with the lives of the characters and will be continuing the series with the next book, Shift. I recommend this to fans of imaginative dystopia.

Audio Notes: Amanda Sayle does a good job with parts of the narration. The voices are mostly distinct and the moods and emotional energy of the characters are appropriately portrayed. However, a couple of the voices, such as a whiny Bernard, are awful. I am glad I had the audio as the omnibus (five books together) is long. I am glad to see that book two has a really strong narrator and I look forward to continuing the series in audio.

Source: 2017 Audible Daily Deal $3.95. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Catalyst Downward Cycle by J K Franks

This is a good beginning of a post-apocalyptic series, though not stellar.

Catalyst Downward Cycle
by J K Franks
Narrated by: Steven Varnum

Series: Catalyst, Book 1
Length: 12 hrs and 8 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 11-28-16
Language: English
Publisher: J K Franks
Genre: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
In the first five minutes, more than a million people will die.... That’s just the beginning of the nightmare.
The super solar storm wasn’t supposed to hit Earth - the odds were against it. And yet it did, and everything changed. The storm causes a global blackout. Society begins to come apart as the planes begin falling from the sky and all traces of normal vanish. Scott Montgomery watches helplessly as pandemonium consumes the world around him. But the loss of electrical power is just the first of the problems facing the survivors in the chaos that follows.
Soon, they discover the loss of electricity was just the beginning of their problems. In a land without laws and few consequences for their actions, individuals must come to terms with their darkest fears and desires. What will Scott do when he learns the draconian plans one secret group has for regaining control and ensuring their own vision for the new world?
Catalyst is a shockingly realistic tale of how society copes when the world is thrust back to a time before technology. If you are a fan of Steve Konkoly, Tom Abrahams, or A. American, you will love this audiobook.
©2016 J K Franks (P)2016 J K Franks

Review:
Scott is a computer analyst who lives in a solitary life in a small, rather isolated community on the Gulf. Scott became a bike enthusiast and a loner after a failed marriage. Scott isn’t a prepper although he is familiar with the group because his brother is one. Scott quickly recognizes the devastating impact of the solar flare that disables all electric systems in America and around the world. Scott isn’t sure how he will survive especially after he uncovers secret government plans regarding the recovery efforts.

Scott is fortunate to stumble upon three other men who are ready to band together for survival. Jack is a gritty ex-con turned preacher who is ready to help those who are ready to help themselves and he won’t take guff from anyone. Bartos is a rugged lineman who is more than prepared to defend and protect his friends. Todd is a former warrior with skills that can help with planning strategies while protecting the gathering band. These new friends see in Scott an intelligent, steady man who has valuable information and one who can help lead other men and women to work together for common good.

Scott is surprised when Todd volunteers to help him travel several hundred miles away to try to find and retrieve his niece who is in college. They are surprised to find a strange militaristic group controlling the campus. Will they be able to sneak Scott’s niece out safely? And what sort of community can they develop at their small town?

I did enjoy this overall story. Scott is a reluctant leader who needs a lot of help to succeed. He finds that help in interesting rather gritty comrades. Their communications were peppered with foul language which bothered me but wasn’t why I didn’t find the work compelling. I felt the story started slowly and plodded along. The story is realistic but seems to skip sections of development as the survivors gather. I’m not quite sure if it was the narration or the POV that made this seem like a lot of tell rather than show. There could have been more time spent on developing the community before they face a violent gang directed by an arrogant man of privilege.

I acknowledge that the story is worth listening to and continuing in the series. The problem is, with so many other series in this genre, this wouldn’t be my first choice. I do recommend this for readers/listeners who enjoy this genre.

Audio Notes: Steven Varnum does a fair job providing voices, but I think he could have provided a little more energy. I think this is partially the nature of the material. I still love listening to audio as it moves stories along for me.

Source: 9/18/18 Audible Credit. This qualifies for 2020 TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Configured by Jenetta L. Penner

This is an engaging dystopian sci-fi.

Configured
The Configured Trilogy, Book 1
By: Jenetta L. Penner
Narrated by: Lillie Ricciardi

Series: The Configured Trilogy, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 25 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 11-03-17
Language: English
Publisher: Jenetta Penner
Genre: Dystopian, Sci-Fi, Teen
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
There will come a day when love will mark you as a traitor. In a society where emotions are nothing and function is everything, Avlyn Lark is just trying to blend in. She's lucky to be alive, unlike her twin brother Ben who died when they were four. And she's lucky to have been taken from her biological parents and assigned to a Level Two family. But mastering her emotions? That's a problem, especially when a rebel bomb blows up a building right in front of her. Then on Configuration Day, Avlyn's official transition to adulthood, she starts seeing strange visions. And instead of being placed with a low-level tech company where she could hide away, she's hired by Genesis Technologies, the government firm that monitors every citizen. Now, instead of blending in, Avlyn fears she'll be exposed for what she really is. If Gen Tech finds out how deeply she feels, it will ruin her life. And if they find out about her secret meetings with a mysterious but handsome member of the rebel forces, her life will be more than ruined. It will be over.
©2016. 2017 Jenetta Penner (P)2017 Jenetta Penner

Review:
Avlyn lives in a world where emotions are forbidden. The government, Direction, selects who will advance from a mundane Level One worker to become a more prestigious, important, and privileged Level Two. Avlyn lost her twin brother Ben to a virus when they were young. Then she was moved from her biological parents to be raised in a Level Two family.

When Avlyn attends her Configuration Day appointment, she begins to experience strange visions. Although Avlyn tried to maintain a low profile, she is assigned as a tech worker in the powerful government firm that monitors every citizen. She can’t speak to anyone about her concerns and her confused emotions. Avlyn struggles with her position and instructions to make a sensible, program-directed life match.

Avlyn witnessed a bomb attack and is disturbed by the reporting that is delivered to the public. Soon she finds herself approached by an underground rebel group that is preparing a revolution to expose the lies of the current leader and restore freedoms to the people. Part of Avlyn doesn’t want to be involved, but another part longs to express the emotions she has hidden. And then there is the surprising secret skill she discovers that will change her path.

Ms. Penner does a good job of developing the conflicted emotions of the protagonist. I also liked the two young male interests who complicate her life. Both young men have a role in her struggles until the end of the book that stops at a point that clearly leaves a lot open for the next book in the series. I look forward to the next books in the series. I recommend this to fans of young adult, dystopian stories.

Audio Notes: Lillie Ricciardi delivers the narration with clear voices and a fitting emotional level. The narration enhanced the story for me.

3/28/2020 Audible One March Credit. This qualifies for 2020Audiobook goal.

Audible Book Review: Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse

This is an entertaining fantasy with a female protagonist.

Trail of Lightning
By: Rebecca Roanhorse
Narrated by: Tanis Parenteau

Series: The Sixth World, Book 1
Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 08-07-18
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Dystopian, Fantasy, Native American
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
The sudden rising waters of a climate apocalypse have destroyed most of the planet…yet out of these waters, Dinétah, a former Navajo reservation, has been miraculously reborn. Listen along as Tanis Parenteau's impeccable narration, capturing the rhythms of Navajo speech, fully envelopes you into the Sixth World.
When Dinétah needs help finding a missing girl, Maggie - a monster hunter and supernatural killer - is its last, best hope. Trail of Lightning follows our heroine as she walks the land alongside gods, heroes of legend, and monsters alike. Reluctantly, she enlists the aid of an unconventional medicine man, and together they travel Dinétah, unraveling clues from ancient legends and trading favors with tricksters. As Maggie discovers the truth behind the killings, she will have to confront her past if she wants to survive - for what she uncovers about the monster she is sent to find is much more terrifying than anything she could imagine.
©2018 Rebecca Roanhorse (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Maggie lives in a post-apocalyptic world that is rebuilding after a massive wave wiped out much of earth. Maggie is a fringe outsider in a group known as Dinétah, a former Navajo reservation that has survived in the deserts of what used to be Southwestern US.

As a young girl, Maggie lost her grandmother to monsters. She was rescued by a man who is viewed as a supernatural, immortal monster hunter who appears with a thunderbolt. He helped Maggie to learn and develop her own supernatural clan powers as he trained her to be a monster hunter. She was enamored and believed he was her mate until one day he questions her motives and walks away. Months later Maggie continues to hope he will return.

In the meantime, Maggie takes jobs to hunt monsters and rescue people from monsters when she can. After failing to get anyone else to respond, a family calls in Maggie to rescue their daughter from an unknown monster.

Maggie discovers a monster unlike any she has seen. She seeks advice from one of her few friends in town. The grandfatherly man, Tah, encourages Maggie to accept his grandson, Kai, a training witch doctor, as a partner. Kai explains that the monster appears to be a creature created by a powerful witch doctor.

Maggie is soon visited by the trickster, Coyote, who directs Maggie to fulfill a quest for him which will deliver a tool to uncover the person who is creating the monsters. Reluctantly Maggie allows Kai to join her as they investigate the monsters. They seek out ancient legends and face danger and death before Maggie ends up lured into a deadly confrontation.

I liked the world-building which includes connections to Native American traditions and legends. Maggie is a very tough young woman, full of angst, and I did not find her to be a totally sympathetic character. I liked Kai but he is also hiding secrets. The ending of this book includes a climax that leaves a cliff hanger for the next book. The dystopian is heavier on fantasy and romantic conflict but is entertaining enough that I may look to pick up book 2 in the future.

Audio Notes: Tanis Parenteau does a very good job with the narration. I liked her natural accent and distinct voices for the characters. The audio production enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 2/2/2019 Audible Daily Deal $2.95. This qualifies for 2020TBR, 2020Audiobook and 2020Alphabet goals.

Audio Book Review: Starfire by Jenetta Penner

This a good beginning for a YA sci-fi thriller.
Starfire
The Starfire Wars, Book 1
By: Jenetta Penner
Narrated by: Rebecca Johnson

Length: 5 hrs and 25 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 01-03-20
Language: English
Publisher: Jenetta Penner
Genre: Alien, Dystopian, Teen and Young Adult, Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
A lush, new world. A reluctant passenger. A stranger with swirling cyan eyes.
Cassiopeia loathes the idea of leaving her withering home to settle the lush new planet, Arcadia - Earth’s salvation.
Two years ago, her mother died in a horrible accident, and leaving Earth means leaving her memory behind.
But Cassi’s father is the architect of this new, grand civilization, and she has no choice but to go.
So when a terrorist attack strikes and her father is killed, her world falls into complete chaos.
Cassi is plunged into a reality of dark secrets and lies. Everything about Arcadia proves to be a sham, and a war spanning the stars is looming.
Enter a gorgeous, mysterious, and undeniably dangerous boy...
Who either wants to help Cassi...
Or destroy her.
Dreamers and lovers will crave this star-crossed romance and adventure set in a new world.
Listen to Starfire today!
©2018 Jenetta Penner (P)2019 Jenetta Penner

Review:
Cassi isn’t one of the many people from earth who are happy to be on a space ship to colonize a new planet, Arcadia. Cassi’s parents are scientists who were instrumental in locating a compatible planet and arranging for the colonization program from crowded Earth. Sadly Cassi’s mother died in an accident so only Cassi and her father, Richard Foster, plan to move into the new settlement. Shortly before landing Cassi inadvertently hears an altercation between her father and his nemesis, the President of the Board, Elizabeth Hammond. They disagree on how to move forward with development on the new planet with Foster seeking to protect the existing culture and Hammond leading the greedy interests to exploit the mines of the planet.

As the colonists prepare to celebrate the landing, an unprecedented explosion kills Foster and others near the speakers’ platform. Hammond refuses to explain what happened, leaving the event shrouded in mystery and leaving Cassi determined to find out if her father is really dead.

Cassi was in the room when the explosion took place. She had just had an encounter with a strange young man with eyes flashing cyan. When she wakes Cassi finds a new friend, Max, trying to help her. But she has a vague memory of the stranger who pulled her away from the fire. Soon she will begin to wonder who she can trust to help her or who will lead to her destruction.

I would describe this as writing clearly geared to young adult audiences. I did enjoy the sci fi elements and the alien conflict even though I felt many characters, including Cassi, were not deeply developed. Cassi just assumed some companions were safe to share her secrets with while ignoring that some may well have been seeking to betray her. The romance is a quick crush of young love and light contact which is fitting for YA level. Although I am not pulled in by the romance, I am curious to see what develops as the war among the conflicting colonists and the hidden, conflicted aliens progresses. I would be interested in reading book 2.

Audio Notes: Rebecca Johnson does a good job with the narration. Her voice and reading match the YA characters. The narration made it an easy, quick listen.

Source: January 2020 Audible Code from the Author. This qualifies for 2020Audiobook and Author Review goals.

Book Review: Civilly Disobedient (Calm Act Genesis Book 1) by Ginger Booth

I liked this short dystopian prequel.
Civilly Disobedient (Calm Act Genesis Book 1)
by Ginger Booth

File Size: 3840 KB
Print Length: 52 pages
Publication Date: August 18, 2016
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
ASIN: B01KOXYB2K
Genre: Dystopian, Political Fiction, Sci Fi, Short Story
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

The storms before the Calm.
Resourceful programmer Dee Baker is getting worried about climate change. Food prices are skyrocketing, the drought out west deepening, and the storms won’t quit. When her intrusive Fortune 100 media employer forbids her to attend the worsening riots, Dee defies them to visit a rally, and see for herself what they’re trying to hide.
Civilly Disobedient is a short prequel to the Calm Act series.

Review:
Dee Baker, a resourceful programmer with a good job, is annoyed when her employer announces that the staff are forbidden from attending any of the increasingly violent climate protests. Dee already suspects that her media employer is suppressing the truth regarding troubles in their world. She doesn’t always like to toe the line and tends to have a rebellious streak.

Dee decides to sneak into a protest to see what is really going on. She manages to get a seat on a bus loaded with a participating group that has a legal permit for the event. She soon learns that there are many other groups that are attending without permission. The crowd greatly exceeds the numbers that were planned but apparently the police anticipated the overly zealous mob.

Dee finds herself caught up in the moving masses and at risk of being arrested. Can she get out of the mob safely or will she lose her job for this impulsive adventure?

I found this short story to be well written with an engaging character and consistent flow. My attention was quickly engaged and held throughout the adventure. The plot direction isn’t fully clear for the rest of the series but I enjoyed this prequel enough to want to know where the story will go. Readers who enjoy the dystopian genre may wish to try this out.

Source: 2016 Free Kindle. This qualifies for 2019TBR and #SciFiMonth 2019 goals.

Audible Book Review: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

I have mixed reactions to this.
The Handmaid's Tale
By: Margaret Atwood
Narrated by: Claire Danes

Series: The Handmaid's Tale, Book 1
Length: 11 hrs and 1 min
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 01-01-12
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Dystopian, Fantasy, Literary Fiction
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
Audie Award, Fiction, 2013
Margaret Atwood's popular dystopian novel The Handmaid's Tale explores a broad range of issues relating to power, gender, and religious politics. Multiple Golden Globe award-winner Claire Danes (Romeo and Juliet, The Hours) gives a stirring performance of this classic in speculative fiction, one of the most powerful and widely read novels of our time.
After a staged terrorist attack kills the President and most of Congress, the government is deposed and taken over by the oppressive and all-controlling Republic of Gilead. Offred, now a Handmaid serving in the household of the enigmatic Commander and his bitter wife, can remember a time when she lived with her husband and daughter and had a job, before she lost even her own name. Despite the danger, Offred learns to navigate the intimate secrets of those who control her every move, risking her life in breaking the rules in hopes of ending this oppression.
Cover Art by Fred Marcellino. Used with permission of Pippin Properties, Inc.
Explore more titles performed by some of the most celebrated actors in the business in Audible’s Star-Powered Listens collection.
©1985 Margaret Atwood (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Before she was named Offred (her non-identity name), she used to have a job, a husband and a child. One day all the working women were fired, their funds frozen and given into the control of a male. Fearing their child will be taken away, her husband and she tried to sneak out of town with their child. They are caught and separated.

Now Offred is part of the first generation of women who are relegated to certain limited tasks: society spouse of a privileged leader, housekeeper (a ‘Martha’), a housemaid, a handmaiden to serve as a surrogate to birth children for the society women, or a unwoman sent to struggle to survive in the colonies. Offred has had a healthy child and is young enough to have more so she is assigned to be a handmaiden.

She is moving into a new family with a high-ranking Commander and his wife. She hopes they will be nice but instead finds he is taciturn and the wife is bitter, most likely jealous. If Offred can become pregnant all will be pleased and she will secure her future. If she does not become pregnant then she may become an unwoman.

The society and Offred’s traumatic situation is revealed through her journal entries as though they are contemporaneous although they cannot be as such thoughts are not allowed to be voiced. The handmaidens are not allowed to talk to others except in limited situations and certainly, they are not allowed to have paper and pen, much less write out their thoughts.

Offred’s trauma and confliction are understandable since she lived in a free America before the violent overthrow. She struggles not knowing what has happened to her family and her best friend. Slowly she learns about a quiet underground rebellion but how can she know who to trust? There are plenty of secret lives behind the public ones and Offred becomes embroiled in the secrets despite the great risks. The intrigues build until an anticipated unmasking that comes with twists in the final consequences.

The tasks of women in this society seemed to be justified by twisted views from biblical teachings, however, it is never explained how these views became so skewed. The story presents some moral dilemmas which are thought-provoking. It is engaging although difficult emotionally. Reading the book blurb gives a quick history of the government overthrow which I don’t recall being explained until the informative Historical Notes which is basically the epilogue.

I was pulled in from the start by the beautiful writing prose. The story is focused on Offred and Atwood builds a strong conflicted character. However – apparently intentionally -- Atwood fails to fill out where the society goes. It isn’t clear what happens to Offred, much less the rest of the women in this horrible world. I was disappointed by all of the questions left unexplained at the end. It isn’t clear to me that Offred’s story is wrapped up in the sequel. I’m not sure how to recommend this except to say that it is a dark dystopia and many readers really liked it.

Audio Notes: Claire Danes’ superb narration enhances this unhappy tale. She delivers the work as though she is there reading, if not writing, the thoughts. The emotional delivery captures the depression and repressed anger and frustration. I am glad that I listened to this to this and do recommend the audio if you are planning to read this.

Source: 11/25/18 Audible Sale $5.95. This qualifies for 2019TBR and 2019Audiobook goals.

#NetGalley Book Review: A Book Without Dragons by Olivia Berrier

This is a unique and engaging reading. Spread the word.
A Book Without Dragons
by Olivia Berrier

File Size: 364 KB
Print Length: 256 pages
Publication Date: May 21, 2016
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
ASIN: B01F6HYV60
Genre: Dystopian, Fantasy, Mystery
My Rating:  4.5 of 5.0

This book contains no dragons. It does, however, contain individuals who Willow Ayers believes would benefit from the addition of some magical creatures. A broken marriage, a failed career, an abusive home: the people around Willow are trapped inside problems so isolating they can only be expressed by constantly changing tenses and writing styles. It is not the sort of book Willow would read; he prefers fantasy novels with consistent styles and happy endings.

But this is not a fantasy book, and Willow’s idea to bring about his own ‘happily ever after’ is crumbling. Decades ago, he saw the way humanity relied on so many flawed systems—Internet, GPS, cell phones, electronic banking—and created Unitime, the perfect system to unite all systems. Now his Satellites are malfunctioning, and what seemed an innocent glitch in technology might prove to be something darker, something infinitely more dangerous.

Even so, Willow believes people can overcome such things, even though it seems as unlikely as a book that starts in five different writing styles, but ends in just one.

Review:
Here are the characters identified by subsections in the first chapter:
The Police Chief With No Stories
The Wife Who Answers Phones
The Waitress Who Failed to be a Nurse.
A Dog Who Is A Good Dog
The Scientist in Charge of Unitime

Willow is one of the scientists who developed Unitime, a satellite system that controls all electronics and was put into place 14 years before. The system provided free energy and set the world on the path of a peaceful easy-going life with minimal crime and discontent. But now in 2054, suddenly the clocks are wrong – which means something has gone wrong with the Unitime system.

The government, communication, banking and other systems are breaking down. People go on strike or get relieved of work, frustrations and tempers mount. Crime and violence erupt with the chaos of having no control.

The world is hunting for Willow, depending on him to find the glitch in the system and fix it. They can’t even return to the old NASA satellites without getting the Unitme system fixed to launch them. Willow is working on simulations and reading a fantasy novel called Quest for the Enchanted Dragon while waiting for results. But he has a secret that could throw the world into more chaos – if that is possible.

The book starts with a little confusion as the seemingly unrelated characters are introduced with the point of view (first person, second person, third person) and tense (past, present and even future), changing with each character. I was pulled into the mystery and the plot ride as the flawed characters grew on me and their lives become woven together. I even loved Cider, the dog. The story is engaging and unique and well worth the read – well done. I recommend it to readers who like their sci fi with mystery or their mystery with fantasy and readers who just love to be entertained! Spread the word!

Source: NetGalley 2018. This qualifies for 2018 NetGalley Challenge.

Audible Book Review: The Wolves of Winter by Tyrell Johnson

This is an engaging dystopian with a different twist.

The Wolves of Winter by Tyrell Johnson
Narrated by: Jayme Mattler
Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 01-02-18
Language: English
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Genre: Action & Adventure, Dystopian, Fantasy
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
A captivating tale of humanity pushed beyond its breaking point, of family and bonds of love forged when everything is lost, and of a heroic young woman who crosses a frozen landscape to find her destiny, this debut novel is in a postapocalyptic tradition that spans The Hunger Games and Station Eleven but blazes its own distinctive path.
Forget the old days. Forget summer. Forget warmth. Forget anything that doesn't help you survive in the endless white wilderness beyond the edges of a fallen world.
Lynn McBride has learned much since society collapsed in the face of nuclear war and the relentless spread of disease. As the memories of her old life continue to haunt, she's been forced to forge ahead in the snow-drifted Canadian Yukon, learning how to hunt and trap and slaughter.
But her fragile existence is about to be shattered. Shadows of the world before have found her tiny community - most prominently in the enigmatic figure of Jax, who brings with him dark secrets of the past and sets in motion a chain of events that will call Lynn to a role she never imagined.
Simultaneously a heartbreakingly sympathetic portrait of a young woman searching for the answer of who she is meant to be and a frightening vision of a merciless new world in which desperation rules, The Wolves of Winter is enveloping, propulsive, and poignant.
©2017 Tyrell Johnson. All rights reserved. (P)2017 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Review:
Lynn was sixteen when her family walked away from their home in Alaska society to live in the Yukon wilderness. Her father was dead and her mother, brother, uncle and a friend seek to escape the threat of nuclear war and the more present threat of a deadly flu virus. Lynn has had to learn to live off the land by honing her hunting and trapping skills. She also has to deal with unscrupulous neighbors who steal game and make unwanted advances. Rarely do strangers come near their small community (four cabins) so she is surprised to stumble upon an injured man with a dog.

Lynn is fascinated by Jax who brings excitement of tales from the world beyond. But he also brings danger as there are forces who are chasing him. And once they learn about Lynn, they will want to capture her too.

I enjoyed how this post-apocalyptic/dystopian story developed with a natural disaster which is different from zombie and . It is told from Lynn’s first person view so you have the struggles and memories of a young woman who has no real society other than her family. She struggles with being isolated and seeks to learn more about those who survived the pandemic. But she soon learns that she may not be safe…and she may be special.

The story is engaging and kept me interested until the end as I rooted for Lynn and Jax. The writing is lovely, clear and direct with strong descriptions. I also liked the chapter opening quotes from Walt Whitman. I recommend this to readers who enjoy young adult, natural dystopian.

Audio Notes: Jayme Mattler is a new to me narrator. She does a spot-on job with the narration, providing the appropriate aged voice for Lynn. She also does a good job on Jax and the other characters. She carries the energy of the book and the narration enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Source: 2018 Audible Sci Fi Sale $4.95. This qualifies for 2018 Audiobook Challenge.

#NetGalley Book Review: The After War by Brandon Zenner

This is an engaging post-apocalyptic story.
The After War: (Book One of The After War Series)
by Brandon Zenner

File Size: 4254 KB
Print Length: 445 pages
Publication Date: October 20, 2016
ASIN: B01JMS9CA4
Genre: Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0.

Two years have passed since humankind faced extinction: Two cousins are leaving the protection of their underground bunker for the first time, after a cataclysmic war and unrelenting disease ravaged the earth. On the other side of North America, a young survivalist is leaving the seclusion of his cabin deep in the woods, traveling with his aging canine companion, Winston. For individual reasons, these men are traveling east, where the fragmented lives of a small number of survivors will soon be decided by the choices of a corrupt few. Although they are not yet aware, the strength that resides inside them will soon be tested, and destiny will call for their fates to be forever intertwined. "A fierce post-apocalyptic story of war and loss, of nature's vengeance, of survival in the face of overwhelming odds." - Manhattan Book Reviews

Review:
Brian and Steve are best friends/cousins. They have lived together for two years in a well-supplied bunker hoping to survive the plague and chaos that hit America. Steve is a huge ‘bear’ of a fellow who goes in to red rages. He relies strongly on Brian to help him deal with day to day living and navigating when people are around. They were unhappy to leave friends on the surface but they promised to stay hidden for two years and then set out on their goal. They are to travel to collect Steve’s sister, Bethany, from her bunker states away. Then they are to continue east to find Bethany and Steve’s Uncle who was in the military and had some foreknowledge of the troubles to come.

Simon and his dog, Winston, emerge from a secluded cabin in the Canadian woods on the edge of America. They too are headed east to meet up with his wealthy, political family who sent him off shortly before the devastating war began two years earlier. Simon is a skilled naturalist who embraces nonviolence but is also an adept tracker with hidden warrior abilities.

Both character groups (and that includes wonderful Winston) face danger, evil and heart ache as they travel. There are some calm experiences but those don’t last long. Eventually their paths will intersect as they come together in a tense battle to save their communities from a brutal, megalomaniac, evil tyrant.

The first part of the book follows the travelers in alternating chapters fill in their histories as well as their encounters on the journey. The second part shows the communities where they arrive and find a chance at home and future. The writing moves well with good action set with mostly realistic scenes and dialogue. There are some situations which aren't fully believable such as Simon’s successful hunt first time out and Brian and Steve dumping food cans at the edge of their camp and being generally careless in their travels. On the other hand, I really liked the tidbits of natural food spources and cures the author shares through Simon’s character.

All of the main characters are well developed and had me rooting for their success. The chaos, devastation, greed and survival by theft and violence seem all too real and plausible. There are secondary characters in the mercenary tribes who are terrifyingly evil. I was able to guess some of the problems that would be faced but there were some surprise events too. It was a nice change to have a story with real (sadly enough) evil rather than zombies. There is violence and some, but not excessive, foul language.

This is a strong post-apocalyptic/dystopia story that kept my attention from beginning to end. I recommend this to readers who enjoy the genre.

Source: 2017 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2018TBR, NetGalley and Alphabet Challenges.

#NetGalley Book Review: Consent of the Governed by Bernard LoPinto

This is a dystopian with political subcomments.

Consent of the Governed
by Bernard LoPinto

File Size: 2429 KB
Print Length: 107 pages
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc (September 1, 2017)
ASIN: B073XZ8QRF
Genre: Dystopian, Political
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

It’s 2029, and the United States has fallen under the sway of an oppressive government where all citizens’ rights have
been stripped, Red Shirt platoons patrol the streets, and people die for voicing opinions. Into this chaos step Sid and Annie Winthrop. The elderly couple sets out on a deadly journey of revenge against the Red Shirts who murdered their son.
Red Shirt members Victor and Brooklyn have devoted their young lives to the cause of the president in protecting the nation. When attacks on their home town leave dozens of Red Shirts dead, Victor must help his superiors find the vigilante.
At their darkest moment, each couple finds a common bond in their suffering and must decide where their loyalties lie.

Review:
Sid and Annie Winthrop are children of the late 60s and 70s. Annie left her strict and strife-ridden home when they objected to her teen-aged rebellion. She moved in with Sid and they became a couple who stayed together for over 50 years. They remember the days when people got to speak in public freely and could vote for their representatives.

Times have changed. A dictatorial president has declared martial law and suspended the constitution, taking away many freedoms that Americans have taken for granted. The president set up an enforcement group of young thugs called the Red Shirts. They are not allowed to carry guns but they carry batons and swing them with vigor if anyone tries to speak out negatively against the current government.

The Red Shirts bludgeoned Sid and Annie’s son to death and the couple are ready to fight back. Although the youth do not know the history of freedom, there is a good group of older folks who remember and know the truth.

The author tells the tale between two love stories: Sid and Annie and a young couple who are members of the local Red Shirt troop. I enjoyed this engaging political dystopian and cautionary commentary. There are clear implications toward specific leaders, but I didn’t let that bother me. The writing is direct and the message reminds us not to take freedoms lightly. I recommend this to readers who enjoy political dystopians.

Source: NetGalley 2017. This qualifies for 2018TBR, Take Control, NetGalley and Alphabet Challenges.

Audible Book Review: Golden Son, Red Rising Trilogy, Book II, by Pierce Brown

This is an intense series with well-developed characters, complex world building and wonderful narration.

Golden Son
Book II of the Red Rising Trilogy
By: Pierce Brown
Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds

Series: Red Rising, Book 2
Length: 19 hrs and 2 mins
Unabridged
Publisher: Recorded Books
Genre: Dystopian, Fantasy, Sci Fi
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
With shades of The Hunger Games, Ender's Game, and Game of Thrones, debut author Pierce Brown's genre-defying epic Red Rising hit the ground running and wasted no time becoming a sensation. Golden Son continues the stunning saga of Darrow, a rebel forged by tragedy, battling to lead his oppressed people to freedom from the overlords of a brutal elitist future built on lies. Now fully embedded among the Gold ruling class, Darrow continues his work to bring down Society from within.
A life-or-death tale of vengeance with an unforgettable hero at its heart, Golden Son guarantees Pierce Brown's continuing satuts as one of fiction's most exciting new voices.
©2015 Pierce Brown (P)2015 Recorded Books

Review:
Darrow was born in the low, slave caste of the reds. Although he had frustrations at unfair treatment, he would have been happy living his life with his young wife, Ieo and their children. Darrow would have given up after Eo was killed by their Gold master, but others took control of his life and destiny. He was reshaped to become one of the Golds, the ruling race, so that he could help to lead a rebellion from a place of strength.

Darrow has successfully climbed through the training and institution programs to accept a close position to the very man who killed Eo. Along the way Darrow has developed a group of loyal followers, the howlers, as well as making extreme enemies of a competitive ruling house. He has given up a possible chance at love to continue his deception and ambitious climb. His work is lonely as with every step there are those who would eliminate him and those who would betray him.

This second book takes Darrow on a vicious roller coaster of highs and lows, loyalty and betrayal. There are allies who are admittedly enemies and enemies who are covertly allies. It is a remarkable ide of imagination and intrigue with well-developed characters and complex world building.

I spent several nights up late listening to this engaging story. I highly recommend the series to fans of other world, dystopian battles for equality.

Audio Notes: Tim Gerard Reynolds does a masterful job on the narration. He makes Darrow and the other characters, as well as the intensity of the situations, come alive. If you like audio, this is a series and narrator not to be missed.

Source: Audible 2017 Credit Purchase. This qualifies for my 2018TBR, Audiobook and Alphabet Challenges.

Audible Book Review: Red Rising by Pierce Brown

Oh boy! This is a wonderfully gripping story.

Red Rising

Written by: Pierce Brown

Narrated by: Tim Gerard Reynolds

Length: 16 hrs and 12 mins

Series: Red Rising, Book 1

Unabridged Audiobook

Release Date:01-28-14

Publisher: Recorded Books

Genre: Dystopian, Fantasy, Sci Fi

My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary

Darrow is a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he works all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of Mars livable for future generations. Yet he spends his life willingly, knowing that his blood and sweat will one day result in a better world for his children. But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity reached the surface generations ago. Vast cities and sprawling parks spread across the planet.

Darrow - and Reds like him - are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class. Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute, a proving ground for the dominant Gold caste, where the next generation of humanity's overlords struggle for power. He will be forced to compete for his life and the very future of civilization against the best and most brutal of Society's ruling class. There, he will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies...even if it means he has to become one of them to do so.

©2013 Pierce Brown (P)2014 Recorded Books

Review:
Darrow is a Red who are the lowest, the slaves, in the caste society system on their planet. The Golds are the ruling class, governing with arrogance and impunity.

The Reds live and work underground, drilling the mines they believe ‘will someday make the surface of Mars livable for future generations’. Darrow likes his dangerous mining job and he is the best. Although he and his clan have exceeded the others, the incentive award is always given to a more favored clan. Darrow shrugs this off, but his young, spirited wife, Eo, objects. She challenges him to take a stand and live for more.

Eo rebels in a forbidden act and becomes a martyr. Darrow seeks to end his own life but is tricked, revived and shown that the society he knows is built on lies. He is asked to become a tool of rebellion. He is to be transformed into a Gold so he can infiltrate the enemy.

After his painful transformation, Darrow passes the entry tests and is admitted to the Gold Training Institute where the top students go through a draft selection to become a group under the governing Gold houses. Darrow is an unknown but has done well enough in the preliminaries to be picked early by the house of Mars, because of his underlying rage tendencies.

The eight houses of students are placed in a community where they must attempt to protect their own house standard while capturing the others. The ‘games’ are overseen, rather loosely, by the house proctors who watch from ‘Olympus’, and occasionally provide supplies and aid

Darrow makes friends and enemies before the draft and after. The first test for everyone is shocking. Then the survivors must pull together to find a leader, the primus, to direct them toward victory. Clearly, the primus of each house will be in a favored position for selection once the games are concluded. Darrow is intent on being primus of his house although it pits him against the son of one of the top ruling houses of Golds.

Darrow faces many struggles – first to survive and then to win. He must learn to control his rage as he tries to outwit others. Some friends become enemies and he is never totally sure whom he can trust. He discovers treachery and corruption. He doesn’t intend to comply with the corrupt plans of the proctors. He intends to win in the end … if only he can survive the betrayal of friends and the assassination attempts of the interfering proctors.

This is a gripping story with great world building and interesting character development. I was quickly pulled into the story and cared about several characters. There is brutality, loss and sadness with only a few scenes to celebrate – like the surprising twist before the game ends. I was a little surprised by Darrow’s choice at the very end but it makes absolute sense for what he needs to do for his people, the Reds. I will be getting the next book soon. I recommend this to fans of dystopia stories and The Hunger Games with the caution that this is dark and brutal.

Audio Notes: Tim Gerard Reynolds does a wonderful job narrating. He provides voices and emotions that bring the characters alive and moves the story forward. This is engaging listening entertainment and I plan to listen to the rest of the series.

(I note that the ebook/print has a map at the beginning that shows the battle fields and might be of interest to listeners.)

This is another from my Audible shelf. It qualifies for Mount TBR, Audio Book Challenge and "R" in my Alphabet Challenge.

Book Review: When the English Fall by David Williams

This is well written, insightful and engaging.

When the English Fall
by David Williams

File Size: 1687 KB
Print Length: 255 pages

Publisher: Algonquin Books (July 11, 2017)
ASIN: B01JKHTN8I
Genre: Dystopian, Religious, Science Fiction
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

A riveting and unexpected novel that questions whether a peaceful and nonviolent community can survive when civilization falls apart.
When a catastrophic solar storm brings about the collapse of modern civilization, an Amish community in Pennsylvania is caught up in the devastating aftermath. Once-bright skies are now dark. Planes have plummeted to the ground. The systems of modern life have crumbled. With their stocked larders and stores of supplies, the Amish are unaffected at first. But as the English (the Amish name for all non-Amish people) become more and more desperate, they begin to invade Amish farms, taking whatever they want and unleashing unthinkable violence on the peaceable community.
Seen through the diary of an Amish farmer named Jacob as he tries to protect his family and his way of life, When the English Fall examines the idea of peace in the face of deadly chaos: Should members of a nonviolent society defy their beliefs and take up arms to defend themselves? And if they don’t, can they survive?
David Williams’s debut novel is a thoroughly engrossing look into the closed world of the Amish, as well as a thought-provoking examination of “civilization” and what remains if the center cannot hold.

Review:
I was immediately drawn to this when I noted the genre and blurb. I have been reading a lot of post-apocalyptic stories and find some are more realistic than others. This one could happen and is different because of the setting and characters.

This story is told in the form of diaries found on an Amish farm outside of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Jacob, the father of the family, shares of the struggle his family has been experiencing. Their 14-year-old daughter, Sadie, has been suffering from seizures, mostly nightmares, but not always at night. Sadie doesn’t understand either but she thinks she has had a strange premonition ability, knowing things before they actually happen. During her trance episodes, she has been muttering “they fall, they fall” and speaking of “Jimmy” although there is no Jimmy in the community.

Jacob’s diaries reflect how the people of the Order “are never really apart, as much as we choose to set ourselves different from the world that surrounds us.” He explains how the Amish people live simple lives, focusing on their faith and trust in God. They avoid many modern conveniences, such as televisions and phones and most equipment that relies on electricity. They use horses and buggies or wagons rather than vehicles and they farm using mostly older, nonmechanical equipment.

A night comes when there are flashing lights in the sky and Sadie notes that “they fall”, like angels falling. A young man rides from farm to farm delivering news. The word spreads that a solar flare has occurred which has taken out the power grid that the “Englishers”, as they call those not of the Order, rely on. At first there is no immediate impact on the Amish communities but it isn't long before the military arrives to take food to the nearby towns.

All too soon the looting and violence of the English towns begins to encroach into the peaceful community. How will the pacifist people respond to the theft and violence? How do they protect themselves? I really like how David Williams handles this dilemma with beautiful writing and insight into the Amish community. It is realistic and fitting. This is a quick read and I would like to read more. I recommend this to those who are interested in the Amish people and how they might react when a disintegrating society starts to bring its ills into their territory. 

I received this from the publisher through NetGalley. It qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge and "W" in Alphabet Soup Challenge.