The Lost Year

The Less Years #2

by C.K. Oldfield

Six years after the Less Years returned, the nameless son of Magnus and Mariam — now the sheriff of his new community — has built a new world. A world he shares with his daughter Winter and friends new and old. A world of more.

But Less is coming.

After a devastating raid, the Sheriff and his community are decimated. People are stolen. Friends are killed. Wounded, and with his home in ruins, the Sheriff must abandon his quiet life and give chase.

With the help of some unlikely allies, they leave a trail of death and destruction in pursuit of justice. And vengeance.

But it’s a race against the clock. Because no one survives the Less Year long...

Genres: Dystopia

344 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2023

About the author

Chris was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada but grew up in small-town Ontario. After spending his teenage years playing in punk bands and working on an organic farm, he headed off to university where — after dropping out to move to a monastery in Japan — he eventually earned a BA in history.

During his time at university, he had a few pieces of poetry published and wrote a couple of plays that were brought to life on stage. It was there where the idea for The Less Year took root.

After spending a decade traveling the world, Chris returned to writing, eventually diving back into The Less Year with reckless abandon.

When he’s not traveling the world or visiting friends and family in Canada, Chris can be found on his quiet island in Western Sweden.

Reviews

[Joe Foxford · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet,”

So I was lucky enough to read the Beta version of the lost year back in April after I devoured the less year. Everybody knows that I am the biggest fanboy over this franchise and will shout it from the roof tops, but let me say if I thought the first book was 10/10 this is like 100/10, similarly to book one, I swallowed this whole in a day.

We pick up a few years after the end of less, with Magnus’ Son, his daughter and a few familiar faces living in New Hope, a settlement away from the original township which we spent much of the first book in. We also have a whole new host of survivors (Team Cass) that add their own style to the story, but don’t worry similar to book one you won’t have to remember them all for long because you know 🔨🔨🔨.

We also have a new set of antagonists (and some old ones) that threaten to destroy everything Magnus’ Son, Ax and co have built in the time jump.

This book is bloodier and deadlier than its predecessor and still manages to break your heart and leave you with a million questions which we can look forward to in book three.

The story focuses on Magnus son and a band of survivors after losing everything travelling to retrieve those taken from them, we also meet some memorable faces from this first book along the way, I don’t want to spoilt too much because it’s something you need to experience as blind as possible. Chris has such a way with words that you think you’re heading in one direction and you’re suddenly facing backwards and upside down and wonder what the hell just happened.

We explore more of the world that was left behind and see how others have managed to survive when everything else fell apart.

There’s battles, there’s blood and there’s plenty of blunt force trauma to sink your hammers into.

I could pick zero faults with this sequel, the only issue is that book three doesn’t already exist but there are short stories that can fill the void for you.

Whilst the sequel answers some questions left over some of the original survivors of book one it also asks a hundred more. I cannot wait to find out what else is to come.

If you enjoyed battle royale, the hunger games, death maze or anything where you basically kill to survive this book is for you. It doesn’t rely on violence to tell the story, there is no filler all the characters play their part and they play it so well. Everything and everyone is there for a reason and honestly I can’t wait for more of you to experience this world.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy. CRAP. New faces as well as old in this story, and we get to see how Magnus’ son is the sheriff of this new town. He makes all the decisions now and keeps people safe or .. not. Kind of a mix of maze runner and hunger games without any filler. I really enjoyed this!

[Lesley Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this next instalment, it made me cry twice but left me with hope at the end… ready for the next one!

Dystopian fiction, great characters, bleak but hopeful

[Steve T · Rating 4 out of 5]

C.K. Oldfield’s The Lost Year is the second installment of his post-apocalyptic series, The Less Years. It’s an action packed story that takes place six years after the first book. For a Book 2, which typically lags and does little beyond setting up the series finale, The Lost Year instead ups the ante with more action and, if you've read the first book, more hammers!

Our nameless hero, AKA Magnus and Mariam’s son, becomes the sheriff of his rebuilding town of New Hope. Things are beginning to look better, until the peace is shattered by a devastating attack on the community. People are taken away, friends are murdered, and our protagonist is left for dead.

But you can't keep a good man down and that's when Sheriff NoName sets out on a brutal quest to track down the bad guys, driven by a need to both save and avenge his people. Along the way he falls into some awkward alliances as he prepares to face his brutal enemies.

If you’re into fast-paced bloody tales about what happens after civilization ends, then you would probably enjoy The Lost Year. Also being the second book in the series, starting with the first book (The Less Year) is a must. Both books are quick reads and for a series that is not one of my go-to genres, I was turning pages with anticipation. Lots of unanswered questions await the final installment, along with what I imagine to be a very big final showdown.

Both books are available on Kindle Unlimited.

Book 3, The Last Year, will be released on on July 1, 2024.

[Ashley Piontek · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Lost Year" by C.K. Oldfield is a masterful achievement, earning a resounding five stars for its extraordinary storytelling and emotional depth. The novel unfolds in a dystopian setting where chaos reigns, amplifying the personal struggles of Magnus's son, who grapples with the weight of his father’s legacy amidst a crumbling society. Oldfield’s portrayal of this tumultuous world is both vivid and unsettling, immersing readers in a landscape where every decision feels fraught with peril.

Magnus’s son is a richly developed character, and his journey through this dystopian mayhem is portrayed with nuance and empathy. The interplay between his internal conflicts and the external chaos provides a compelling exploration of identity, resilience, and moral ambiguity. Oldfield’s writing is evocative, capturing the raw intensity of his characters' experiences while maintaining a sense of hope and redemption.

C.K. Oldfield's talent as a Canadian indie author shines brightly through this work. Having known him for over 30 years, I’ve always admired his dedication to crafting profound and engaging narratives. "The Lost Year" is a testament to his exceptional skill and storytelling prowess. His ability to blend complex characters with a gripping dystopian backdrop results in a novel that is both thought-provoking and unforgettable. I eagerly look forward to his future works and am confident that his storytelling will continue to captivate and inspire. Five stars for a truly remarkable read!

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a lot of the world building done this book had more room for story. And where in the first book I had some problems with the writing style (too many adjectives /overly descriptive for my style) in this book I either settled more in to it or it was done less or better. After quite some gruesome events the Lost Year still was able to top it with more extreme trauma and violence. But also I got to like some characters I didn't expect I would like, especially Tom. I even let out a little tear for him at some point. While there is an ending of sorts at the end this book also really feels as a setup for the next one, so I'm eager to see how that one unfolds.

Edit: forget to mention, I like the inclusion of gay/non-binary characters and people of color. I didn't notice this in the first book so I think the author made some conscious effort here

[James Slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Boy got past The Less Year yet at this time he still hasn't chosen a name, however; he has become the sheriff of the new encampment. As sheriff he has to make the hard decisions, especially those that will keep others safe and sometimes that means taking lives. He's learned to tame the savage beast in his veins... But have The Less Years really gone? Or does he find himself in the most brutal battle of his life to try and protect his family and friends. Pick up this book. It's definitely recommended!

[Nikki Houghton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dystopian mayhem at its finest. Why is the third (next) episode not available yet we ask ourself-hurry up, Winter needs rescuing and I’m aghast that Beckett’s daughter is still lingering somewhere in the back pages - bring her back to the light, please, and asap Oldfield, before I set my Mutt on you. PS yes, good reader, there’s a DOG in the second book. Replacing the rooster and the goat, of course, but nevertheless the quintessential necessity of the greatest novels. A dog makes a book, and that’s a fact.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did also really enjoy this second part to this fast paced, action packed series! Well written, lots of ups & downs, that you live through with the characters! Well written, good ideas, need I say more! A great read!

[Betterman77 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! this was better then the first so Im gonna have to go straight into book 3, absolutely incredible, characters old and new all written so well , some moments hit very hard and definitely had my eyes a little watery a few times ,I will judge every distopian novel I read against this series.

[Allison Valentine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be prepared for a humdinger of a ride

WOW, The Lost Year had me completely hooked from the very beginning. There were times in the book that had me jumping up and shouting profanity ( but in a very good way).
Its been several years since The Less Year and Magnus son is the sheriff of the town New Hope. The community is small but strong, we have familiar faces in the story including his daughter Willow, Ax and someone that isn't entirely welcome but I won't give any spoilers as to whom.
There are some new faces aswell including Cass who is a force to be reckoned with.

The book explores more of the world beyond New Hope but with it becomes the danger of being discovered.
There is more brutal bloodshed in this book but it doesn't distract from the storyline.
Whit a new wave of enemies to look forward to including some old adversaries can Magnus son and co protect their community from further bloodshed or will they lose the fight?
It certainly has a humdinger of an ending.
With so many questions left unanswered I'm looking forward to book 3!