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Primordial World #1
Primordial World: Book 1
This hostile world is their prison.After an experiment gone wrong, the modern world has been ripped apart and thrust into the Late Cretaceous Period, leaving these survivors stranded without any hope of escape. Ridley, a descendant of the original settlers, has no recollection of life outside of this primordial environment and its deadly inhabitants.A Harrowing Journey Lies Ahead…
When her father mysteriously disappears, Ridley will do anything to find him, even if it means risking her own life by entering an extreme endurance race hosted by the city of Vancouver. With only her loyal canine companion Loki at her side, she ventures into unknown lands rife with savage prehistoric beasts and cutthroat competitors in pursuit of the ultimate prize.
Primordial World is part of the Primordial Universe and continues the story several years into the future. The first series is called Primordial Earth and can be read separately or as part of the collection. Click now for a heart-pounding sci-fi thriller filled with action, suspense, and unexpected twists – perfect for fans of post-apocalyptic tales!
When her father mysteriously disappears, Ridley will do anything to find him, even if it means risking her own life by entering an extreme endurance race hosted by the city of Vancouver. With only her loyal canine companion Loki at her side, she ventures into unknown lands rife with savage prehistoric beasts and cutthroat competitors in pursuit of the ultimate prize.
Primordial World is part of the Primordial Universe and continues the story several years into the future. The first series is called Primordial Earth and can be read separately or as part of the collection. Click now for a heart-pounding sci-fi thriller filled with action, suspense, and unexpected twists – perfect for fans of post-apocalyptic tales!
342 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 12, 2023
About the author
Baileigh Higgins
111 books439 followersSouth African writer and coffee addict, Baileigh Higgins, lives in the Free State with hubby and best friend Brendan and loves nothing more than lazing on the couch with pizza and a bad horror movie. Her unhealthy obsession with the end of the world has led to numerous books on the subject and a secret bunker only she knows the location of.
Visit her website at www.baileighhiggins.com for more information on her upcoming projects, new releases, and giveaways. Sign up for her Newsletter and get your Free Ebook, Tales from the Apocalypse, today.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
May 13, 2023
Excellent
This is such a great book. A young woman longing for her freedom and to be treated like an adult runs away from home. She then begins an endurance race that will prove to be the adventure of a lifetime. I can't wait to read the next one.
This is such a great book. A young woman longing for her freedom and to be treated like an adult runs away from home. She then begins an endurance race that will prove to be the adventure of a lifetime. I can't wait to read the next one.
May 14, 2023
A well-written sequel!!
Characters that are like old friends whom you have grown to love.
Dinosaurs in a primordial world.
A wolf named Loki. Friend and protector of Ridley: A young girl who grows with each adversity.
All that and more makes a great story that needs to be told.
Read it , it's following stories And of course read the start of the story in the Primordial Earth series. You will not be sorry.!!
Thank you Baileigh Higgins.
Characters that are like old friends whom you have grown to love.
Dinosaurs in a primordial world.
A wolf named Loki. Friend and protector of Ridley: A young girl who grows with each adversity.
All that and more makes a great story that needs to be told.
Read it , it's following stories And of course read the start of the story in the Primordial Earth series. You will not be sorry.!!
Thank you Baileigh Higgins.
January 16, 2025
amazing new take on dinosaur books
Amazing book with new take on a dinosaur book, I would have like some more world building but definitely a good book to read with good character development.
Amazing book with new take on a dinosaur book, I would have like some more world building but definitely a good book to read with good character development.
May 27, 2023
in apocalyptic journey back into prehistoric times
This is a apocalyptic prehistoric adventure story. Scientist were playing around with things they probably should not have been. They’re tinkering treated time Reyes that ripped entire cities in parts of cities and towns around the world in through the back into prehistoric times of the dinosaurs. Thousands of people around the world were thrown back with the cities. The story is the continuation of the original series approximately 25 to 30 years later. Many of the characters from the original story are hear as parents and the adventure in the lost world continues. Excellent cast of characters and always entertaining storyline. Check it out
This is a apocalyptic prehistoric adventure story. Scientist were playing around with things they probably should not have been. They’re tinkering treated time Reyes that ripped entire cities in parts of cities and towns around the world in through the back into prehistoric times of the dinosaurs. Thousands of people around the world were thrown back with the cities. The story is the continuation of the original series approximately 25 to 30 years later. Many of the characters from the original story are hear as parents and the adventure in the lost world continues. Excellent cast of characters and always entertaining storyline. Check it out
June 2, 2023
Higgins blends a plausible portrayal of sustainable post-apocalyptic society with dinosaurs, creating a survival adventure that has an edge of realism without drowning in technical minutiae.
Note: while the author is blessed with a spiffing surname we are unrelated by blood or marriage.
The events of this novel take place after Higgins’ Primordial Earthseries. Potential spoilers lurking in the verdant undergrowth ahead.
Decades ago, a scientific accident cast portions of the modern world back to the Cretaceous Period, forcing humans to build new settlements with only what they can scavenge from the buildings that came with them or create from scratch while avoiding the dangerous animals that surround them. When Ridley’s father goes missing while on a scavenging expedition and neither the settlement’s scouts nor visiting trade caravans report any leads, she resolves to find him herself. An advertisement for a yearly wilderness endurance race starting in the remains of Vancouver offers a way to win enough money to fund a search expedition—but even if she and her pet wolf Loki can get there in time, how can a teenager win a race that has killed experienced runners?
Higgins’ setting blends post-apocalyptic tropes with those of monster adventure, positing human settlements that exist in safer pockets amid dinosaurs and other megafauna, carefully balanced between decades of learning how to survive without access to Twenty-First Century industry and infrastructure, and decades of depleting the caches of modern medicines and other supplies that came with them.
While, as Higgins herself states, her portrayal of the indigenous fauna might occasionally sometimes sacrifice utter authenticity in service of drama, the deviations from current accepted scientific theories on behaviour, range, and time period of various dinosaurs and other creatures are subtle enough that they are likely only to be noticeable to highly knowledgeable readers and even then unlikely to be annoying to any reader who has accepted the fantasy of humans being cast millions of years into the past.
The various human settlements and societies are a plausible speculation on how a random cross-section of people from the continental United States might have build new lives after being separated from the industrialised world. While some readers might disagree with some of Higgins’ precise choices on what modern technology is still available and what has needed to be replaced with other approaches, it is very much a realistic post-apocalyptic world rather than one filled with fetishwear-clad road gangs.
The novel opens with a narration on the events of the Primordial Earth series which bridges into the starting point of this plot. While definitely toward the exposition end of the scale rather than seamlessly integrated into natural character dialogue, it is not long and the tone is casual rather than academic; thus, it is unlikely to seem unbearably dry—even to readers coming to this novel fresh from the last in the previous series.
Although Higgins’ style (as with all her books) often errs on the side of a fuller explanation rather than leaving the reader to infer the broader picture, the narrative becomes more personal once the initial set-up is past and features a variety of fast-paced action and engaging situations. Thus, all but readers most distracted by exposition are likely to remain immersed.
The main plot, while not nearly as bleak a story of an untrained teen entering an endurance race through predator-infested terrain as it might be, does not stint on the arduousness of the task or rely on Ridley being an undiscovered prodigy at anything.
In parallel with the main thread of Ridley sneaking off without her mother’s agreement and her participation in the race, Higgins intersperses scenes of her mother Rebel trying to chase after her while succumbing to a respiratory disease that needs unavailable modern medicine to cure, and her father Seth attempting to overcome the situation that has prevented him returning to his family. In addition to providing further foundation for Ridley’s abilities and offering different visions of enduring for family, these grant the reader other perspectives on the setting without diluting Ridley’s narrative with greater exposition.
As Seth and Rebel are both main protagonists of the Primordial Earth series, readers familiar with those might understand their behaviour and abilities better, along with feeling more strongly both Ridley’s claims that she should have the same freedom Rebel did at her age and Rebel’s desire to protect her from the risks she faced as a youth. However, Higgins provides enough context in conversations and internal dialogue that readers coming to this novel without having read the previous series will not be lost.
While the main and personal narratives do reach a meaningful milestone, so readers are not left on a cliffhanger, the overarching plot of restoring the family to a single happy unit is not resolved and so this has the clear feel of the start of a series rather than a standalone book.
Ridley is a sympathetic protagonist. While she has the narrower worldview and sense of her own immortality that are common to teenagers, she is loyal and willing to work hard for her goals; thus, she does not feel arrogant or over-entitled.
Seth and Rebel similarly feel like flawed but decent humans rather than stereotypes or convenient contrasts for Ridley’s beliefs and methods.
The supporting cast display a plausible range of personalities and drives that reflect the pressure to be pro-social that their situation imposes while not ignoring that the potential benefits of being a good citizen don’t always outweigh the conscious and unconscious inclinations toward selfishness or prejudice.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel. I recommend it to readers seeking a post-apocalyptic adventure that is more about survival than cinematic fights.
I received a free copy from the author with a request for a fair review.
Note: while the author is blessed with a spiffing surname we are unrelated by blood or marriage.
The events of this novel take place after Higgins’ Primordial Earthseries. Potential spoilers lurking in the verdant undergrowth ahead.
Decades ago, a scientific accident cast portions of the modern world back to the Cretaceous Period, forcing humans to build new settlements with only what they can scavenge from the buildings that came with them or create from scratch while avoiding the dangerous animals that surround them. When Ridley’s father goes missing while on a scavenging expedition and neither the settlement’s scouts nor visiting trade caravans report any leads, she resolves to find him herself. An advertisement for a yearly wilderness endurance race starting in the remains of Vancouver offers a way to win enough money to fund a search expedition—but even if she and her pet wolf Loki can get there in time, how can a teenager win a race that has killed experienced runners?
Higgins’ setting blends post-apocalyptic tropes with those of monster adventure, positing human settlements that exist in safer pockets amid dinosaurs and other megafauna, carefully balanced between decades of learning how to survive without access to Twenty-First Century industry and infrastructure, and decades of depleting the caches of modern medicines and other supplies that came with them.
While, as Higgins herself states, her portrayal of the indigenous fauna might occasionally sometimes sacrifice utter authenticity in service of drama, the deviations from current accepted scientific theories on behaviour, range, and time period of various dinosaurs and other creatures are subtle enough that they are likely only to be noticeable to highly knowledgeable readers and even then unlikely to be annoying to any reader who has accepted the fantasy of humans being cast millions of years into the past.
The various human settlements and societies are a plausible speculation on how a random cross-section of people from the continental United States might have build new lives after being separated from the industrialised world. While some readers might disagree with some of Higgins’ precise choices on what modern technology is still available and what has needed to be replaced with other approaches, it is very much a realistic post-apocalyptic world rather than one filled with fetishwear-clad road gangs.
The novel opens with a narration on the events of the Primordial Earth series which bridges into the starting point of this plot. While definitely toward the exposition end of the scale rather than seamlessly integrated into natural character dialogue, it is not long and the tone is casual rather than academic; thus, it is unlikely to seem unbearably dry—even to readers coming to this novel fresh from the last in the previous series.
Although Higgins’ style (as with all her books) often errs on the side of a fuller explanation rather than leaving the reader to infer the broader picture, the narrative becomes more personal once the initial set-up is past and features a variety of fast-paced action and engaging situations. Thus, all but readers most distracted by exposition are likely to remain immersed.
The main plot, while not nearly as bleak a story of an untrained teen entering an endurance race through predator-infested terrain as it might be, does not stint on the arduousness of the task or rely on Ridley being an undiscovered prodigy at anything.
In parallel with the main thread of Ridley sneaking off without her mother’s agreement and her participation in the race, Higgins intersperses scenes of her mother Rebel trying to chase after her while succumbing to a respiratory disease that needs unavailable modern medicine to cure, and her father Seth attempting to overcome the situation that has prevented him returning to his family. In addition to providing further foundation for Ridley’s abilities and offering different visions of enduring for family, these grant the reader other perspectives on the setting without diluting Ridley’s narrative with greater exposition.
As Seth and Rebel are both main protagonists of the Primordial Earth series, readers familiar with those might understand their behaviour and abilities better, along with feeling more strongly both Ridley’s claims that she should have the same freedom Rebel did at her age and Rebel’s desire to protect her from the risks she faced as a youth. However, Higgins provides enough context in conversations and internal dialogue that readers coming to this novel without having read the previous series will not be lost.
While the main and personal narratives do reach a meaningful milestone, so readers are not left on a cliffhanger, the overarching plot of restoring the family to a single happy unit is not resolved and so this has the clear feel of the start of a series rather than a standalone book.
Ridley is a sympathetic protagonist. While she has the narrower worldview and sense of her own immortality that are common to teenagers, she is loyal and willing to work hard for her goals; thus, she does not feel arrogant or over-entitled.
Seth and Rebel similarly feel like flawed but decent humans rather than stereotypes or convenient contrasts for Ridley’s beliefs and methods.
The supporting cast display a plausible range of personalities and drives that reflect the pressure to be pro-social that their situation imposes while not ignoring that the potential benefits of being a good citizen don’t always outweigh the conscious and unconscious inclinations toward selfishness or prejudice.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel. I recommend it to readers seeking a post-apocalyptic adventure that is more about survival than cinematic fights.
I received a free copy from the author with a request for a fair review.
May 15, 2023
Primordial World Book 1 is the story of how Ridley, in all too common teenager fashion, rebels against her overly protective and controlling mother, Rogue. She, along with her pet wolf, Loki, runs away from her home at the Zoo. Embarking on the ultimate adventure, one that will prove to her mom ,once and for all, that she has what it takes to survive as an independent adult in the Primordial World.
We follow Ridley’s journey as she prepares for and then enters the most challenging endurance race, one that will pit her against highly trained and experienced competitors that everyone claims she can’t possibly hope to beat. The race will push her very mind and body to their breaking point, especially if she isn’t properly prepared for what it will demand of her.
Surrounded by family, friends, and strangers that doubt her ability to succeed at the young age of 18, Ridley is determined to prove all of their assumptions about her wrong. Along the way she faces multiple dangers and discovers that true strength is not only found in the weapons and training that she possesses, but also in the size of her own heart.
We follow Ridley’s journey as she prepares for and then enters the most challenging endurance race, one that will pit her against highly trained and experienced competitors that everyone claims she can’t possibly hope to beat. The race will push her very mind and body to their breaking point, especially if she isn’t properly prepared for what it will demand of her.
Surrounded by family, friends, and strangers that doubt her ability to succeed at the young age of 18, Ridley is determined to prove all of their assumptions about her wrong. Along the way she faces multiple dangers and discovers that true strength is not only found in the weapons and training that she possesses, but also in the size of her own heart.
October 11, 2025
I downloaded this for free on my kindle not realizing it is a continuation of the series Primordial Earth by the same author. While It might have been nice to have read that one first since it concerns the main character’s (Ridley) mother (Rogue), I don’t think it is required to enjoy the book. I enjoyed reading this book about the adventures a young girl has along with her wolf friend in an adventure race set in a prehistoric period with dinosaurs roaming around. The book has a surprise ending to the race but also sets up a cliffhanger ending involving Ridley’s father (Seth).
May 24, 2023
This was a really enjoyable first book in this follow on dinosaur dystopian adventure! A great read, fast paced action & tension all the way through! Great plot, good well thought out characters! I must say Ridley did really remind me of her mother, Rogue, when she was young & stubborn from the previous series. There is a little angst due to the main characters age. Overall a really good read & I will for sure read the next part to see where this will go! I do recommend!
May 18, 2023
Loved it. This is the start of the next generation where the daughter of a previous hero takes up the reigns of all new adventures. Our new adventurer, 18 year old Ridley, takes off on an adventure with only her companion "Loki". She learns how to survive the dinosaur era her own way.
Highly recommended
Highly recommended
June 9, 2023
She's done it again, pure brilliance dinosaurs and time shift. If you read the previous series then you will know the characters. This is set about 20 years later and based around Seth and Rogues daughter Ridley she's a rebellious one! Bear and Jessica are a good part of it as well. Seth is missing and Rogue isn't well at all. Mix it all together and boom 💥💥💥💥
July 6, 2023
Baileigh Higgins is a master of her craft and she doesn't disappoint with this first book in her new Primordial World Series. This features Ridley, Rogue and Seth's daughter who were the main characters of the Primordial Earth Series. It still takes place after a shift that sent part of the world back to prehistoric times in the land of the dinosaurs. Lots of action and great characters.
July 25, 2023
4 Stars
Primordial World brings back the characters from the first series Primordial Earth. Although Rogue is now older with a rebellious daughter (just like her) and naturally they don't get along. When Seth disappears the daughter, Ridley enters a dangerous race to try to win enough money to mount a search.
Primordial World brings back the characters from the first series Primordial Earth. Although Rogue is now older with a rebellious daughter (just like her) and naturally they don't get along. When Seth disappears the daughter, Ridley enters a dangerous race to try to win enough money to mount a search.
November 16, 2023
Great read
I was so happy that the stories continued from Primordial Earth series. I was so glad to catch up with Rogue and Seth. Ridley is a wonderful character and Loki is her faithful companion. This story is full of action and emotional content. I would recommend this story to any reader that enjoys action packed adventures.
I was so happy that the stories continued from Primordial Earth series. I was so glad to catch up with Rogue and Seth. Ridley is a wonderful character and Loki is her faithful companion. This story is full of action and emotional content. I would recommend this story to any reader that enjoys action packed adventures.
June 18, 2024
An interesting read but a bit flawed. I think the theme and storyline were interesting but, to my mind, the characters were more like caricatures - no real shades of gray, so to speak. They need more depth and I would like a more complete sense of motivations and nuanced personalities. But I will read the next book in the series with the hope that some of my criticisms might be addressed.
November 29, 2024
Great read!!!
I live science fiction..... no doubt about it. And I totally love good science fiction. This book is fabulous. The author makes you feel as though you are right there. The characters are as real as your best friends. I cannot recommend this book any higher.....so very good!
I live science fiction..... no doubt about it. And I totally love good science fiction. This book is fabulous. The author makes you feel as though you are right there. The characters are as real as your best friends. I cannot recommend this book any higher.....so very good!
May 18, 2023
What an exciting and thrilling story set in a prehistoric world. I love it. Ms Higgins definitely knows how to hold your attention right to the end. Really looking forward to what's in store for Ridley in the next book.
August 18, 2023
Fascinating
This is a very good and fascinating story. I enjoy everything that Baileigh writes I believe this is the best that I have read so far. I highly recommend reading this book.
This is a very good and fascinating story. I enjoy everything that Baileigh writes I believe this is the best that I have read so far. I highly recommend reading this book.
October 2, 2023
Amazing
This book hooks you and it's hard to put it down. The characters come to life and you will find them running around in your head as they go through their daily life.
Had a really hard time putting it down. Ended up reading it in a single night.
This book hooks you and it's hard to put it down. The characters come to life and you will find them running around in your head as they go through their daily life.
Had a really hard time putting it down. Ended up reading it in a single night.
November 10, 2023
A little boring
I found this tale a little boring. Each character missing depth. The Shift which moved everyone back in time was not explained to my satisfaction. The enjoy to the wolf was not explained.
I found this tale a little boring. Each character missing depth. The Shift which moved everyone back in time was not explained to my satisfaction. The enjoy to the wolf was not explained.
September 11, 2024
Wow! What a great read! I have read the full series of Primordial Earth and lived them. This starts about 10 years after the las book of “World” ends. Same characters, just a bit older. What’s not to love!
December 5, 2024
Unique time shift story.
Interesting story with a unique approach to time the shift. The plot seemed predictable, but had enough setbacks to keep it exciting. The friction between mother and daughter drove the story forward even when the action lagged. I enjoyed it.
Interesting story with a unique approach to time the shift. The plot seemed predictable, but had enough setbacks to keep it exciting. The friction between mother and daughter drove the story forward even when the action lagged. I enjoyed it.
December 10, 2024
mind blowing YA read
I was trying to find a book that maybe I could read with my dinosaur loving son and I definitely found the series for us he tells me what the dinosaurs are to help my knowledge too ❤️
I was trying to find a book that maybe I could read with my dinosaur loving son and I definitely found the series for us he tells me what the dinosaurs are to help my knowledge too ❤️
January 28, 2025
This should have been perfect for me (modern humans living in a prehistoric world), but the writing didn't do it for me. Characters had zero depth and the writing was bogged down by the author explaining every little thing.
DNF
DNF
April 23, 2025
Teenage read.
If you’re a fan of the hunger games series then you’re probably going to love this series. It moves along with a clear storyline that Is geared towards a younger audiences.
If you’re a fan of the hunger games series then you’re probably going to love this series. It moves along with a clear storyline that Is geared towards a younger audiences.
March 10, 2026
Unusual dystopian thriller!
Primordial World, book 1, has engaging characters and a thrill filled storyline that makes this very unusual dystopian a true page turner. I highly recommend it.
Kindle Unlimited
Primordial World, book 1, has engaging characters and a thrill filled storyline that makes this very unusual dystopian a true page turner. I highly recommend it.
Kindle Unlimited
May 28, 2023
Going to be a great series
Judging by the previous series Primordial Earth, and the first book in Primordial World, this is going to be a great series.
Judging by the previous series Primordial Earth, and the first book in Primordial World, this is going to be a great series.
June 11, 2023
great book.
Really enjoyed this book. Read the Primordial Earth Series, which was great also. The characters are all really well developed
Really enjoyed this book. Read the Primordial Earth Series, which was great also. The characters are all really well developed
September 28, 2023
Awesome
A great series that I know I will re-read in the future! Read the Primordial Extinction series first, although its not necessary!
A great series that I know I will re-read in the future! Read the Primordial Extinction series first, although its not necessary!
November 1, 2023
Rated 3.5*
April 11, 2024
Seems like it’s going to be a good series. Read first one and enjoyed it quite a bit
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews