The thrilling conclusion to the epic saga!A mysterious crack appears in the sky. Anyone who looks directly at it goes blind. What's worse, they also turn insane with a vicious urge to kill.
As the crack grows bigger, more people are transformed into "blinders." The authorities struggle to keep things from spiraling.
But there's no cure. No prevention. Not even an explanation.
I write stories about the apocalypse so that I don't need to work a real job. I grew up reading Stephen King and still haven't fully recovered. I'm currently ending the world in my new series Under the Breaking Sky.
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Alright, so this review is not exactly for the book itself. It's moreso for the ending to the series.
The book itself was still just a 4 ⭐️ read.
The series is definitely a 5⭐️ and per usual, I still have my gripes. I definitely think this series could have just been a long book with basically books 4 and 6 (loved book 5) and definitely 7 being cut down or taken out. I started this series out only reading 2 books at a time, but wanted to finish the series so I binged it almost in one day. I had 8 hours of solid listening to go (at 3.5 times the speed, if you're wondering how I managed to get 5 or 6? idk, done so fast) which led me to see how repetitive they were. I will do spoilers down below, read at your own risk. Nothing will be plot revealing, but it'll be some details about the series.
Despite the death of a certain character that I felt was absolutely unnecessary and unfair...I loved the conclusion to this series. It was wrapped up beautifully. This series as a whole was a twist on a zombie apocalypse that delved deeper into the nature of humanity in such a tangible way. This was such a refreshing read too, as I love the zombie apocalypse theme but often have a hard time finding media about it that doesn't take the brutality and character losses to an unnecessarily drastic level. This series had the perfect balance of the classic zombie apocalypse danger and hope.
I do love me some truly flawed people and a wild rollercoaster of a plot. They are actively dealing with very real human problems in a wackass world. This apocalypse was like a giant group therapy session in the worst way possible😂. I still got quite attached to many characters with it being faced paced/people come and go easily. My only issue is I wish I understood the Gods(?) a bit more. but maybe that was a part of the plan, because man I was psychologically going through it right along with the characters. There is a prequel so maybe that will give me more context on just .... why? how? what? 🥲 I really need more info
Here’s what I thought about Blind Evil and reflections on the overall series:
Negatives: • There are way too many characters, like Nick, Nora, and Steffie. Their storylines felt unnecessary, and I think removing them would have tightened the narrative. • Fewer characters could have allowed for deeper internal thought and emotional complexity. The characters’ reactions felt too straightforward, especially given the heavy themes of trauma. • I’ve mentioned this before but using sexual violence against females as a plot device feels lazy (especially from male authors). If it doesn’t serve a key purpose, it seems exploitative for shock value rather than impactful.
Positives: • Despite the critiques, I liked having a female lead. Even though I didn’t fully connect with Gina and found her preachy at times. • I appreciated the conclusive ending. It wrapped things up, even if not every answer was given which worked well. • This isn’t your typical zombie apocalypse story. It was refreshing to read something that approached the genre from a different angle.
Whilst there is definitely room for more complexity of emotion and thought from the characters, Blind Evil brings the series to a nice close. Clausen is clearly skilled at bringing together complex stories and action.
I started these books with a bit of trepidation as they seemed to approach the apocalypse genre in a different direction, but they were brilliant!
A crack appears in the sky, which turns everyone into blind, angry zombies. What isn't there to like! I liked how it all played out and what the "crack" actually was and who/what was behind it. There was also no favourites in here, everyone seems to get damaged in some painful way, or even killed. A great balance.
My only point would be that it probably didn't need to drag on for 8.5 books. But, I also didn't really notice it to be honest, there was always something happening.
What can I say? This ending, book 8 of 8 in the series was well written. I feel that every character was given a fair ending so to speak. Again, I say this series reminds me a lot of Stephen King's "The Stand". Not exactly like it but has many similar elements to it. I didn't want it to end but I also didn't want the good people to suffer like they were continuing to be. So the ending is also welcomed. Hopefully, (maybe) the characters surviving will be in a future book with Franz getting his proper ending as well.
Title: Blind Evil Author: Nick Clausen Pages: 201 Genre: Post Apocalyptic Survival Thriller Rating: 4/5
Book Blurb:
A mysterious crack appears in the sky. Anyone who looks directly at it goes blind. What's worse, they also turn insane with a vicious urge to kill. As the crack grows bigger, more people are transformed into "blinders." The authorities struggle to keep things from spiraling. But there's no cure. No prevention. Not even an explanation. Only blind hate.
Review: This is the final book in the Under the Breaking Sky series and what a ride this has been! I’m really quite sad that the journey is now coming to an end, but I have to say, I was very eager to also find out how things would pan out. I still had a sense of doom when I began the read and I did really hope for some happiness at the end!
Once more in this instalment we are hit with action packed scenes, the build up is exciting but tense and Nick creates an atmosphere throughout. I will also say, Nick knows how to floor you and tug on your heart strings, he can be quite ruthless with his characters and you never know what to expect and it’s safe to say I did genuinely feel scared for some of the characters at times.
Nick creates many characters and somehow, he manages to bring them all together and give you closure for everyone. I have loved seeing them all develop and I love that Nick wrapped things up, although… the ending did leave me questioning whether there was an opening for all this to happen again.
What a ride this really has been, such a unique take on an apocalyptic thriller, Nick is a fantastic author who knows exactly what to do to keep you hooked in and on the journey with him. I can’t wait to find out what’s in store next in Nick’s writing world!
While all good things must end – this series goes out with a huge bang! I can’t describe the anticipation I was experiencing as I started the Blind Evil audiobook; I’m sure listening to Blind Fate and Blind Hate the same day played a big part in that anticipation.
The end of a series is always a bittersweet experience, it means you are going to have to say goodbye to friends you have come to rely on for entertainment over the course of the previous books. It also means the action that you have come to crave will be ending soon not to mention that not all your friends might not make it to the “finish line.”
This penultimate episode in the Under the Breaking Sky series isn’t just action-packed, but revelations are made that bring several questions I’ve had since the beginning in focus as the answers are revealed. While getting to the end of this series was bittersweet, it was more than satisfying and there were several twists to the story in this episode that were not just surprising but sent this episode in unexpected directions.
If you have been reading or listening to this series, you owe it to yourself to experience this final installment and find out if all your favorite or not so favorite characters make it to the end. Of course, I can’t fail to give credit to Spencer Dillehay for his massive contribution to this story and series. I’ve begun to look for more series that Spencer has narrated.
Overall, this was a fantastic and original series. It was impossible to stop reading and I gave myself a migraine almost everyday from reading too much but it was worth it. I loved the concept of the extraterrestrial, otherworldly godlike entities and using a mental illness like schizophrenia to illustrate how psychiatry often does just lock people up and throw away the key, pumping them with meds till they’re comatose—because I do, actually, believe that a lot of hallucinations are actually real contact with something we just don’t understand yet.
Anyways, the main criticism I have is the language—if there’s something that the author could take for the next book he writes, it would be to use a thesaurus: the overuse of “sneer” “growl” “muttered” and a few others were kind of driving me crazy. It’s a shame, too, because those words could have been extremely powerful if used sparingly.
10/10 recommend though. Even though the repetitive words drove me crazy. I’m trying to be a normal human being here and not obsess over the grammar and vocabulary.
I will say that this was quite a ride, and I will be checking out more of Clausen's work.
Not everyone survives, but that's okay. We don't always get/want a perfect happy ending, because then it cheapens the story. I will say that my earlier prediction was somewhat accurate. I believed this was a play on the rapture from Christianity, and that was kind of true. The entities on the other side of the crack were/are not human, and demonic of sorts. The entity Frej reminds me of that creature from the short film of "VHS" where the cult leader births the anti-christ. At least that's how I envisioned Frej in my head.
All in all it was a thrill ride with the amount of twists, and turns in the plot. Things I didn't think would happen actually did happen. I genuinely didn't know what to expect. I will definitely be recommending this to other readers.
After an incredible 72 hours worth of binging I have completed this 8.5 book journey!
Some thoughts -
This didn’t need to be 8.5 books, some fat could have been trimmed - especially the extended ghost bits mid book and some of the repetitive back and forth the characters went through. Overall I’m pleased with the characters that made it to the end, though can we have a moment of silence for Patrick & Nick!
Multiple female characters experiencing SA/CSA as their trauma/ghost was unnecessary - especially Camilla, it added absolutely nothing to the story or her storyline or character development and I thought that was sloppy writing.
Overall, a strong series with its ups and downs, I will certainly be checking out more of the authors work!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I have been waiting with baited breath for this ending and it did NOT disappoint!! I was happy to see Tommy redeem himself and Mark too. I was not a lover of Mark initially but he grew on me. Gina was the big surprise, making a difference when it mattered most!
I love how creative the author was with this storyline and I whipped through this book like a starving woman, desperately wanting more!!
I won't ruin the ending for those reading or interested in reading. Just know this is a fantastic story with a lot of twists so you might want to buckle up!!
Thanks for not killing my character off, Nick!! You're my favorite!!
Audiobook: I thought that book 8 was as entertaining as the other books in the "Under The Breaking Sky" series. Once the audiobook started, I had to listen until the end. This was the last book in the series, and the end was both sweet and bitter. I've enjoyed my time with the characters that inhabited this series. I'm glad that I know what has happened to them and there were some momentous rollercoaster moments. It was also sad as my time with them has come to an end. Spencer Dillehay's narration was entertaining, and his performance enhanced the entertainment of the story. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review.
I finally finished the final book in this series. It was not the best I’ve ever read, but it was interesting enough that I finished the whole series. I mostly got this book because I could get the whole series for one credit on Audible. And at the time, all my other choices were on a wait list.
It was a typical good versus evil. Most of the characters were likable and even when they were doing something bad, i kept rooting for them to change their minds. Also, even though there were a lot of characters to keep track of, it was written so I didn’t get them confused when the story jumped from character to character. I would read more by this author.
By far one of the best apocalyptic type series I’ve ever read. There’s 8 books in the series and I sped through them because I couldn’t get enough! Nicholas is an incredible story teller. His novels are full of substance and no fluff. I can’t think of one instance during this series or any of his others that I found myself skipping paragraphs because there was no purpose in them. No unnecessary details. The character development in this series is surprising but makes sense. I love that no character is “safe” in his series. It makes the story unpredictable.
Just finished this book which is the last in the series. I'm glad I started them late so I never had to wait long between books. I really liked the characters and the author did a great job of giving you enough information about them to make them real and allow you to like or dislike traits and or behaviors. Good apocalyptic series different than most but definitely good reading.
This set of books was mesmerizing, unique and totally unpredictable. As usual with Nick Clausen, the characters are so real that the reader feels part of the story. So much excitement! Yet, the ending, while a surprise, was still believable and wrapped things up nicely. It was a satisfying ending to an incredibly fun, thrilling read. Kudos to Mr. Clausen! Cannot wait to read your next imaginative story!
Yes, there are some parallels with The Stand, but only in tropes and themes you can find in a lot of apocalyptic literature. The deaths of some of the characters will hit hard since they’ve been around for so many pages. I’m glad I have finished this series, which felt more like one story in installments, but man… Sometimes the stories that make you think, cry, etc hit you the hardest.
This one wasn't AS terrible as the prior books, but still... I don't think I liked how it ended. I'm honestly surprised I made it through the whole series. I don't have it in me to write a long review this time, but go back to the other books and see my reviews on those and they all still apply here.
Almost 60 hours of listening to these audiobooks later, my biggest conclusion is that I'll never read another Nick Clausen book again.
The series as a whole builds extremely well. The characters have differing personalities and burdens to carry. It is refreshing to see that not the true heroes of the story are not the biggest or strongest, but the ones that have conquered adversity and hardship. A great read from a great author. Keep it up Nick!
I’ve read a lot of science fiction, horror, etc. So in many ways there’s an expectation of how the story will go, but this series definitely defied my predictions. Just when I thought I had the next event figured out, surprise. Read it, it’s about aliens who use our human pain and dark secrets to fuel their existence and take Earth for themselves. Read it.
I read this series pretty quickly because I was hooked and immediately invested in the plot and characters. The story is unique and dives into a part of humanity that is rarely explored in apocalyptic literature. Excellent writing and flow. I’m officially a fan.
This series were the first ones I have read that I truly kept reaching for whenever I had a spare minute!. The characters were believable and emotion inducing. I am looking forward to reading Nick's next book(s). As soon as I finish this review, I will be browsing for my next encounter with the imagination of Nick Clausen.
I've been waiting patiently for this final book to be finished because I truly cared about the characters. Nick kept me completely enthralled throughout the series and I was happy with the ending. I'm looking forward to the next one.
I really enjoyed this series. Been following it from the very start. Can't wait to read more of Nick Clausen's other series and to watch his style develop further.
What an incredible series. Nicks mind is truly impressive and I thoroughly enjoy reading any and all of his stories. There is never anything predictable about them and they are engaging all the way through from start until finish.
Omg I never expected to be addicted to this series like I was. Masterfully wrote, suspenseful, and had me hanging on the edge since the first book. Amazing series, and loved it
I have left this to the last book of the of set ,and all I can say every book I read I could not wait to download the next one ,they are absolutely brilliant and are so absorbing that I wish that there was more ,I now have to get my next fix ???
In the last 2 weeks I read all 8 books and the prequel. I couldn't put it down. It takes place over a very short time but it's packed with character growth, love, terror, and heartbreak. If you're a fan of The Stand, I highly recommend this series.
Absolutely loved the entire series. The action sequences were easy to follow along with the characters were real and in-depth. Absolutely loved all the references to The Stand. Ready to see what else this author has to offer.