What do you think?
Rate this book
Down The Path #1
Down The Path
Hundreds of years after the collapse of civilization, the world Cooper lives in is bleak. Burdened with an impossible prophecy since birth, he is asked to save what remains of his small village by venturing outside the walls and facing the unknown on a journey that no one has ever survived. All he is looking for is hope, but he finds so much more...
183 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 18, 2012
20 people are currently reading
333 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
October 23, 2014
Found this through a friend of a friend on FB of all places, although the first friend came from GR, so it makes sense. This is self-published & while it won't replace On the Beach or Earth Abides on the classic lists, it's pretty good. It reads a bit like a fable in its simplicity, but that was OK. It didn't get bogged down with a lot of details & made a great point of just how much knowledge we take for granted. The only real complaint I have is that it is more of a novella, part one of at least two & left me on a cliff. Since it's only $3 for the Kindle edition, that would be the way to go. I got mine signed by the author, though.
April 13, 2013
Travis Morhman writes with a laid back style that I found comforting and enjoyable. Down The Path has shades of Earth Abides and Huckleberry Finn blended together, yet remains its own adventure.
The hero is Cooper, a charming young man, refreshingly full of innocence. We see the world through his eyes and at times is full of beauty and wonder. At other times we see horrors, but his innocence carries us through them with only a few squirms.
It is an unknown number of generations after a nuclear holocaust and things are rough for mankind. Much knowledge is lost, but we find humans to be compassionate and decent, far from any decent into savagery. This is one of the elements that made the story charming to me, despite the harsh nature of the post apocalypse, the dystopian elements were only present in the background.
I Look forward to following Travis' growth as an author, as well as following Cooper as his journey takes him further Down The Path.
The hero is Cooper, a charming young man, refreshingly full of innocence. We see the world through his eyes and at times is full of beauty and wonder. At other times we see horrors, but his innocence carries us through them with only a few squirms.
It is an unknown number of generations after a nuclear holocaust and things are rough for mankind. Much knowledge is lost, but we find humans to be compassionate and decent, far from any decent into savagery. This is one of the elements that made the story charming to me, despite the harsh nature of the post apocalypse, the dystopian elements were only present in the background.
I Look forward to following Travis' growth as an author, as well as following Cooper as his journey takes him further Down The Path.
May 1, 2013
I put off doing this review for a little bit because I wanted to think a bit about why I liked this story so much. It's not a particularly complex tale, nor is it an unusual concept. It's a post-apocalyptic YA adventure starring Cooper, an unusual red-haired lad. Cooper's city is dying, and he must go outside the city walls, something that has never been successfully accomplished before, and try to find a way to save his friends and fellow city dwellers.
The first reason I like this is the character development. That's a big thing for me, and Mohrman has done it in spades. I found myself identifying with the way Cooper thought and acted through the whole story. His actions and motivations are very believable, and expertly written.
The second reason I liked this story so much is (it will stun some people to see me say this) it was completely clean. This is one of the first YA stories I have read in a long time that are truly appropriate for younger readers. There is no bad language, no suggestive themes, and I would feel comfortable reading this to my kids when they are old enough to understand some of the contextual concepts that might be a little too difficult for them to grasp (they're 2 and 4, but they'll be having this one read to them in 4 or 5 years).
Lastly, like all great stories, Down the Path is not about an event like the apocalypse or the time after, but about people. The post apocalyptic setting is relevant for context, but it's a great story because of the ways the characters interact.
Down the path is astonishingly well written for a first book from a young author just getting started. The level of writing is more on par with an established author writing a side project under a pseudonym. Great story Mr. Mohrman! As I write this review, I am already half way through Further: Down the Path 2, and the skill level has if anything improved. There were a few editing errors here and there, but the story was good enough to keep me reading right past them without being yanked back out of it by the OCD grammar nazi living in my head.
The first reason I like this is the character development. That's a big thing for me, and Mohrman has done it in spades. I found myself identifying with the way Cooper thought and acted through the whole story. His actions and motivations are very believable, and expertly written.
The second reason I liked this story so much is (it will stun some people to see me say this) it was completely clean. This is one of the first YA stories I have read in a long time that are truly appropriate for younger readers. There is no bad language, no suggestive themes, and I would feel comfortable reading this to my kids when they are old enough to understand some of the contextual concepts that might be a little too difficult for them to grasp (they're 2 and 4, but they'll be having this one read to them in 4 or 5 years).
Lastly, like all great stories, Down the Path is not about an event like the apocalypse or the time after, but about people. The post apocalyptic setting is relevant for context, but it's a great story because of the ways the characters interact.
Down the path is astonishingly well written for a first book from a young author just getting started. The level of writing is more on par with an established author writing a side project under a pseudonym. Great story Mr. Mohrman! As I write this review, I am already half way through Further: Down the Path 2, and the skill level has if anything improved. There were a few editing errors here and there, but the story was good enough to keep me reading right past them without being yanked back out of it by the OCD grammar nazi living in my head.
June 9, 2013
Down the Path is set in a post-apocalyptic world full of despair. Cooper was raised in an isolated town that is dying slowly despite their best efforts to survive. The birth rate has dropped, the death rate has increased, and food sources are limited. Additionally, anyone who visits the town has died of an unknown disease and anyone who has left has never returned. In a last ditch effort, the town rallies together to send Cooper away to save them all. Armed with the best the town could offer, Cooper travels south to gather information and resources. Meanwhile the town’s faith dwindles as the population shrinks and food sources dry up. With the odds stacked against him, can Cooper survive and bring help in time?
Mohrman’s day job as a botanist shows through in his writing. His love and admiration for nature comes through strongly in Cooper’s perceptions as he experiences new plants, animals, and ecosystems. Witnessing Cooper adapt to his environment and identify the potential resources for his town was satisfying, and I continued to hope for his success throughout the trials he faced on his journey. I found myself really soaking in the world that Mohrman created while appreciating the beauty and fierceness of nature, however, I felt that the end came rather abruptly.
Down the Path is an easy, well-paced read, and I think it would be particularly enjoyable for nature lovers and connoisseurs of survival tales. I was immediately transported from my “first world problems” to a fresh perspective on life.
Mohrman’s day job as a botanist shows through in his writing. His love and admiration for nature comes through strongly in Cooper’s perceptions as he experiences new plants, animals, and ecosystems. Witnessing Cooper adapt to his environment and identify the potential resources for his town was satisfying, and I continued to hope for his success throughout the trials he faced on his journey. I found myself really soaking in the world that Mohrman created while appreciating the beauty and fierceness of nature, however, I felt that the end came rather abruptly.
Down the Path is an easy, well-paced read, and I think it would be particularly enjoyable for nature lovers and connoisseurs of survival tales. I was immediately transported from my “first world problems” to a fresh perspective on life.
April 13, 2013
I picked up "Down The Path" during a free promotion on Amazon, and was not disappointed. The first couple of chapters drew me in - the characters and landscape were easy to picture in my imagination, and right away you picked out characters who you could root for. It wasn't obvious to me at first what had caused the lifestyle that the characters were living, but it is now clear to me that this story is set in the aftermath of a nuclear incident.
I enjoyed guessing at the new things that Cooper discovered as he made his way south, spiders/ticks, rodents/squirrels, catfish, etc. Things we take for granted, having always known they exist. The journey itself reminded me a little of Huckleberry Finn, but that may just have been the young age of the character, and the raft that he built.
I think the thing I enjoyed most about the story is that it was hopeful. Most post-apocalyptic novels are so dreary and sad, and though Cooper and his friends have all lived difficult lives, most of them still carry a spark of hope for a better life, and want to help their fellow man. There was no real violence in the story, just a boy and his dog (loved all the dogs in the story), setting out on a quest, hoping to save themselves, and their people.
I look forward to reading the next book in this mini-series, and am crossing my fingers for Cooper, John, Lupe, and the kind people from the Village.
I enjoyed guessing at the new things that Cooper discovered as he made his way south, spiders/ticks, rodents/squirrels, catfish, etc. Things we take for granted, having always known they exist. The journey itself reminded me a little of Huckleberry Finn, but that may just have been the young age of the character, and the raft that he built.
I think the thing I enjoyed most about the story is that it was hopeful. Most post-apocalyptic novels are so dreary and sad, and though Cooper and his friends have all lived difficult lives, most of them still carry a spark of hope for a better life, and want to help their fellow man. There was no real violence in the story, just a boy and his dog (loved all the dogs in the story), setting out on a quest, hoping to save themselves, and their people.
I look forward to reading the next book in this mini-series, and am crossing my fingers for Cooper, John, Lupe, and the kind people from the Village.
July 10, 2013
Travis Mohrman’s Down the Path is a pleasant tale of hope and survival. The story takes place centuries after some form of apocalypse has occurred. A community of people have lost hope as their numbers have been steadily declining from sickness and lack of reproduction. Our lead character, Cooper, is the people’s last hope as he ventures outside the confines of their sanctuary to seek out resources and/or other signs of life. No one who has left has ever returned and lived. As a self-published and first book, it could have benefited from further editing or beta readership. That being the case, however, the flaws are not so glaring that they take away from the story in the least. I enjoyed it so much that I dove straight into the second one (Further Down the Path) within seconds of finishing and thus my review is a bit tardy. I liked how Mohrman put so much of himself into this story. The survival techniques are genuine and the feel of the entire adventure benefits from this fact. It is nice to have an author write about what they truly know and love.
April 7, 2013
Good, good, good!
December 30, 2024
I try very hard to go easy on books that I got as part of "free e-book" specials. I understand that many of these books are by amateur writers, and they often don't have the benefit of a publishing company, editors, or agents to help them. But there is a limit to the amount of grace I'll allow a self-published e-book, and sadly Down the Path wore out that grace. It's an earnest idea, but sadly an ill-executed one.
Cooper lives in a dying, decaying village on the shores of a lake, watching his community dwindle slowly to nothing. When he's chosen to go on a journey to find other settlements, he collects supplies and information and sets off on his expedition. Along the way he encounters illness, the threat of starvation, and his own sense of isolation... and he knows chances are high that he might not make it home.
Compared to a lot of post-apocalyptic books, this one is almost cozy in feel. The author doesn't spend a lot of time dwelling on the ruined state of the world or what caused the downfall of civilization, but instead focuses on Cooper's journey and his slow learning of the world around him. I actually liked this take on a post-apocalyptic story, and feel this would have been a nice antidote to The Road back when I first read that horror-show.
That said... actually getting through this book could be a chore. The writing is quite simplistic, riddled with errors (even self-published authors need an editor!), and repetitive in the words it uses. We get it, carp are mushy, find another word to describe them. Also I find it odd that Cooper would know about things like crawdads but not ticks. I can understand not knowing what a catfish is if you've never seen one before, but surely his people have encountered ticks before if the honeysuckle their community is surrounded in is rife with them.
This was an earnest idea, but the execution was quite lackluster. I hope the author has improved his game since writing this.
Cooper lives in a dying, decaying village on the shores of a lake, watching his community dwindle slowly to nothing. When he's chosen to go on a journey to find other settlements, he collects supplies and information and sets off on his expedition. Along the way he encounters illness, the threat of starvation, and his own sense of isolation... and he knows chances are high that he might not make it home.
Compared to a lot of post-apocalyptic books, this one is almost cozy in feel. The author doesn't spend a lot of time dwelling on the ruined state of the world or what caused the downfall of civilization, but instead focuses on Cooper's journey and his slow learning of the world around him. I actually liked this take on a post-apocalyptic story, and feel this would have been a nice antidote to The Road back when I first read that horror-show.
That said... actually getting through this book could be a chore. The writing is quite simplistic, riddled with errors (even self-published authors need an editor!), and repetitive in the words it uses. We get it, carp are mushy, find another word to describe them. Also I find it odd that Cooper would know about things like crawdads but not ticks. I can understand not knowing what a catfish is if you've never seen one before, but surely his people have encountered ticks before if the honeysuckle their community is surrounded in is rife with them.
This was an earnest idea, but the execution was quite lackluster. I hope the author has improved his game since writing this.
October 28, 2018
Fascinating and well written. The concept hooked me early on and the main character kept me going. The story ends earlier than I'd like, but with the sequel already out I'm excited to jump into it and see how these characters get along. A very pleasant read from an author I had never heard of before.
April 12, 2019
Enjoyed the book. Interesting story and take on potential future. Just one question, does anyone proofread? There were a number of wording errors, like they just did spell check, i.e., bad instead of bed, and another dozen or so mistakes.
August 26, 2019
Short, but good
Finally! A post apocolyptic book without violence, misogyny, or evil people. It was nice to jar read about a kid in the woods.
Finally! A post apocolyptic book without violence, misogyny, or evil people. It was nice to jar read about a kid in the woods.
January 24, 2025
Short but enjoyable. Read as a teenager. Fantasy but easy to follow. Not always the case with Fantasy.
February 28, 2013
I found this book by happy accident, which makes up for days when I don't find a thing of interest. I enjoyed Down The Path very much. It's said that any journey is at least as important as the destination, and this story illustrates that well.
Cooper is an engaging character. He's been told all his life that he is special - simply because of the color of his hair. That's a good indication that his community has been isolated for a very long time. Cooper realizes that "special" brings responsibility to others, and is willing to undertake a dangerous journey into the unknown for the good of his failing community. He's also curious, and intelligent enough to know that embarking on this trip will boost the morale of the community, whether he survives to return or not. This makes him determined to survive, and learn all that he can. Finding other people would be a bonus, but isn't a sure thing. He journeys for the chance to learn. There's a great deal for him to learn.
This journey is a real adventure for both Cooper and the reader. And when he finds his destination, the reading is even more fun. Some of these characters are - well, real characters. Loved the brewers. Loved the dogs. I'm sure I'll love the sequel.
Yes, there's a typo or two, none of which mattered. It certainly did not detract from the story one bit. I mention it only because it's already been mentioned elsewhere. In decades of reading, I have yet to see a single book that was perfect, either digital or print.
Five stars means there was nothing about this story that I didn't enjoy. I look forward to the next part of Cooper's adventure.
Cooper is an engaging character. He's been told all his life that he is special - simply because of the color of his hair. That's a good indication that his community has been isolated for a very long time. Cooper realizes that "special" brings responsibility to others, and is willing to undertake a dangerous journey into the unknown for the good of his failing community. He's also curious, and intelligent enough to know that embarking on this trip will boost the morale of the community, whether he survives to return or not. This makes him determined to survive, and learn all that he can. Finding other people would be a bonus, but isn't a sure thing. He journeys for the chance to learn. There's a great deal for him to learn.
This journey is a real adventure for both Cooper and the reader. And when he finds his destination, the reading is even more fun. Some of these characters are - well, real characters. Loved the brewers. Loved the dogs. I'm sure I'll love the sequel.
Yes, there's a typo or two, none of which mattered. It certainly did not detract from the story one bit. I mention it only because it's already been mentioned elsewhere. In decades of reading, I have yet to see a single book that was perfect, either digital or print.
Five stars means there was nothing about this story that I didn't enjoy. I look forward to the next part of Cooper's adventure.
October 2, 2014
It's always a delight to discover a new author, particularly one like Travis Mohrman who has taken the popular genre of post-apocalyptic fiction and come up with something fresh.
The novel begins hundreds of years after the "end of the world as we know it" with Cooper, a young man whose red hair marks him for a special destiny. The residents of Cooper's enclosed community seldom leave its borders...and when they do, the few who come back are diseased and don't survive for long. The community's birth rate is plunging, and the life expectancy is falling. To save the colony from extinction, Cooper sets off to try to find help. Along the way he meets man's best friend, a dog named Lupe who joins him on his journey and helps him survive the wilds.
Unlike many novels set in a post-apocalyptic world, the primary message of Down the Path is hope. Cooper is a likable character, willing to sacrifice himself if necessary for the good of his community, but also determined to do his best to survive. This is a kinder and gentler novel of the apocalypse, and as a bonus, beer plays a major role. What more can you ask for?
As some of the other reviewers have noted, there are grammatical and spelling mistakes throughout, but that's par for the course for an indie author without a publishing house and editors to hone the rough edges. These issues don't take away from enjoyment of the story itself.
I look forward to reading the sequel, Further Down the Path, this weekend.
The novel begins hundreds of years after the "end of the world as we know it" with Cooper, a young man whose red hair marks him for a special destiny. The residents of Cooper's enclosed community seldom leave its borders...and when they do, the few who come back are diseased and don't survive for long. The community's birth rate is plunging, and the life expectancy is falling. To save the colony from extinction, Cooper sets off to try to find help. Along the way he meets man's best friend, a dog named Lupe who joins him on his journey and helps him survive the wilds.
Unlike many novels set in a post-apocalyptic world, the primary message of Down the Path is hope. Cooper is a likable character, willing to sacrifice himself if necessary for the good of his community, but also determined to do his best to survive. This is a kinder and gentler novel of the apocalypse, and as a bonus, beer plays a major role. What more can you ask for?
As some of the other reviewers have noted, there are grammatical and spelling mistakes throughout, but that's par for the course for an indie author without a publishing house and editors to hone the rough edges. These issues don't take away from enjoyment of the story itself.
I look forward to reading the sequel, Further Down the Path, this weekend.
October 23, 2013
Mohrman walks us through the aftermath of a nuclear fallout through the eyes of a innocent young man. I'm a reader that likes to be on the edge of my seat. I want the story fed through a fire hose. But once I set those demands aside and relaxed into the story, I fell into step with Mohrman's easy pace and experienced the discovering the wild, of fishing crawdads out of the mud and smelling wort from a homemade brewery. Mohrman gives us a taste of innocence reborn after disaster, how wonder can be discovered through the eyes of an ambitious young man. Sit back and enjoy the ride.
September 14, 2014
I really enjoyed this book! It is the first dystopian story I have read that focuses on the hope and good in people, rather than how horrible we can be to each other when bad things happen. This made the book a very pleasant read! I'm not much of an outdoor woman, and for as much as I have read stories with people surviving off the land, I was surprised at some of the unique survival details. I'm not sure I would make it on my own the way Cooper does. Nicely done Mr. Travis Mohrman!
November 14, 2019
I finished Down The Path late last night and liked it so much that, 30 seconds later, I immediately bought Further so I could continue with Cooper on his journey - all without leaving the cosiness of my bed on a cold autumn night. Loved the story, the characters, the humour - and any book with beer in is fine by me!
April 26, 2013
I'm thinking there is another book in this series because I really need to know what happens, Travis. I enjoyed this story, and the very image-evoking descriptions of the land and the icky-ness of the ticks, which I will continue to hate long after reading the book. I'll be looking up the author to see what else is out there.
May 17, 2013
Good read. I found myself getting really attatched to the characters and am looking forward to finding out what happens to them in the next book. The author describes some objects and places in the book from a point of view of a community who has lost some knowledge, which was really interesting. It was constantly trying to guess what he might be describing.
July 13, 2014
This is wonderful post-apocalyptic story. It is reminiscent of The Road, but the author takes you on a different type of journey. Violence comes in many forms, and nature being one of them.
Beautifully written, with wonderful descriptive details of the characters, landscape and brewing beer. I am looking forward to reading the next in the series, Further Down the Path
Beautifully written, with wonderful descriptive details of the characters, landscape and brewing beer. I am looking forward to reading the next in the series, Further Down the Path
April 9, 2013
I loved this book. Most post apocalyptic novels are very dark and depressing... This one shines the light of hope on a world very different from the one we know today. The characters are well developed, and "real".
September 6, 2013
Great book. Detail of post apocalyptic world is detailed so well that you are able to picture all of the places Cooper experiences as if you are there with him. An amazing, positive book about not just surviving, but living a rewarding life as you do.
July 5, 2014
This novel hooked me from the start, but lost some momentum towards the end. I liked the main character Cooper and the way the story was told. I just missed a bit of action, but maybe the second part will make up for this.
May 22, 2013
Needs serious editing and a thesaurus. I have difficulty believing that anyone proofread this story at all. A good idea ruined by horrible editing and overly simplistic and repetitive language.
September 24, 2013
enjoyable read. It started off slow and i was thinking that I might not even finish it but once the main character started his journey the story picked up. Looking for book 2 now.
October 18, 2013
Not the best book I've ever read by far. But not a complete waste of time. It just moved so slow that it didn't hold my interest even enough to want to read the next one.
January 3, 2014
Really a great first novel. I'll be looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
February 5, 2015
AUDIOBOOK - My first book by Travis Mohrman, and won't be my last. I enjoyed this story and look forward to seeing what else is in store for Cooper and the rest of the villages.
May 27, 2013
Good read but I found Coopers journey to be a bit too easy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews