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Apocalypse Survivors - Norwood #2
War Parade: Apocalypse Survivors
“That’s the thing about war, it doesn’t just come along when the timing is best for you. All it takes is a spark, a catalyst, an action, a misunderstanding, a sideways glance or a gesture. That’s how quickly everything can change. Someone strikes. Fate sealed. Once everyone realises it’s on, well, it’s on.”
Zoe Survivor
When a comet smashes into Earth, survival comes down to one simple factor. Luck. But when the world around you has changed so irrevocably that the past seems like someone else’s dream, the very definition of luck lies purely in the eye of the beholder.
In the second instalment of his Apocalypse Norwood series, award-winning author Matt J Pike looks beyond the horror of survival day to tackle the question of what comes next.
For Zoe Carter and her crew, the answer is chaos. In the days since 12/4, her band of longtime friends and newfound allies has been caught up in a battle for survival. One that’s waging across multiple fronts, as Adelaide’s survivor groups face off in an increasingly vicious and desperate standoff for resources.
But the biggest danger comes from within, as Norwood’s ruthless new leader looks to impose his will on the people in means both fair, foul and fatal. But he’s not the only one with weapons at his disposal and a vision for how the future should look. And people can only be pushed so far.
Zoe Survivor
When a comet smashes into Earth, survival comes down to one simple factor. Luck. But when the world around you has changed so irrevocably that the past seems like someone else’s dream, the very definition of luck lies purely in the eye of the beholder.
In the second instalment of his Apocalypse Norwood series, award-winning author Matt J Pike looks beyond the horror of survival day to tackle the question of what comes next.
For Zoe Carter and her crew, the answer is chaos. In the days since 12/4, her band of longtime friends and newfound allies has been caught up in a battle for survival. One that’s waging across multiple fronts, as Adelaide’s survivor groups face off in an increasingly vicious and desperate standoff for resources.
But the biggest danger comes from within, as Norwood’s ruthless new leader looks to impose his will on the people in means both fair, foul and fatal. But he’s not the only one with weapons at his disposal and a vision for how the future should look. And people can only be pushed so far.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 2, 2023
About the author
Matt J. Pike
32 books53 followers*Matt donates money from each book sold to find a cure for Rett Syndrome, a neurological condition his youngest daughter has*
Like the legendary R M Williams, Matt was born in Jamestown in rural South Australia. But that’s where the remarkable similarities between these two end. While Reginald went from bushman to world renowned millionaire outback clothing designer, Matt is a complete dag who was lured by the city lights of Adelaide. Kindergarten in the big smoke was a culture shock, but it is here he first discovered his love of storytelling.
In high school that love found an outlet in a series of completely unflattering cartoons about fellow students and teachers alike. He survived long enough to further his art into a successful career in multimedia design but, like a zombified leech, the lure of the written word gnawed at him, forcing him to pen his first novel, the award-winning sci-fi comedy epic, Kings of the World. It was followed the next year by Amazon Australia dystopian sci-fi best-seller Apocalypse: Diary of a Survivor.
Matt donates part-proceeds of each book sold to find a cure for Rett Syndrome, a neurological condition the youngest of his three children, Abby, has. As a gorgeous Rett angel, Abby cannot walk, talk or use her hands in a meaningful way. So, not only is each of your book purchases a ticket to fantastically rounded, character driven, hilarious and poignant sci-fi awesomeness, it wraps you in a warm feeling that you’ve made a difference to people who deserve your help the most. Like the zombified leech it’s a no-brainer.
Like the legendary R M Williams, Matt was born in Jamestown in rural South Australia. But that’s where the remarkable similarities between these two end. While Reginald went from bushman to world renowned millionaire outback clothing designer, Matt is a complete dag who was lured by the city lights of Adelaide. Kindergarten in the big smoke was a culture shock, but it is here he first discovered his love of storytelling.
In high school that love found an outlet in a series of completely unflattering cartoons about fellow students and teachers alike. He survived long enough to further his art into a successful career in multimedia design but, like a zombified leech, the lure of the written word gnawed at him, forcing him to pen his first novel, the award-winning sci-fi comedy epic, Kings of the World. It was followed the next year by Amazon Australia dystopian sci-fi best-seller Apocalypse: Diary of a Survivor.
Matt donates part-proceeds of each book sold to find a cure for Rett Syndrome, a neurological condition the youngest of his three children, Abby, has. As a gorgeous Rett angel, Abby cannot walk, talk or use her hands in a meaningful way. So, not only is each of your book purchases a ticket to fantastically rounded, character driven, hilarious and poignant sci-fi awesomeness, it wraps you in a warm feeling that you’ve made a difference to people who deserve your help the most. Like the zombified leech it’s a no-brainer.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 27, 2026
💬 “And maybe that was the most shocking part of everything that played out that morning. Everyone was realising in a shared experience that the world had changed even further again and maybe this was the first glimpse that it was so unrecognisable from what had been that there was almost no going back.”
This is the 2nd instalment in the Apocalypse Survivor series and we are back with Zoe and crew as they continue to navigate life on the Norwood side and boy is it packed with tension and chaos.
Fat man is even more twisted and evil than what I originally thought, he is ruthless and barbaric in the name of war and no one is safe against his ‘Narcs’. The whole Keep, Kill, Exile is shocking and what they found in the basement... 👀
That ending got me good and a job well done here Matt – there was a character that I kept getting bad vibes from, but I still told myself that ‘nah, I’m wrong’.. well, well, well – I guess I should trust my gut after all.
I was so hopeful for Zoe and the crew, I felt like I was one of them and I felt utterly betrayed, right there alongside them.
There’s a moment where a character from the Apocalypse series pops up and I did get excited at seeing them again – Matt, your truly have given me a bunch of characters in your books, that feel like friends.
I found it really cool that Matt also included the tunnels that run under Norwood and surrounds – this is a true fact and good to know, if we are ever in an apocalypse situation here in Adelaide.
I also must mention the Author Q+A that is in the back of all of Matt’s book, it is such a cool insight into his brain and seeing his thoughts into the stories he creates – more authors should do this!
Up next in the series is Reign on the Parade and I already having it sitting on my TBR for next month.
This is the 2nd instalment in the Apocalypse Survivor series and we are back with Zoe and crew as they continue to navigate life on the Norwood side and boy is it packed with tension and chaos.
Fat man is even more twisted and evil than what I originally thought, he is ruthless and barbaric in the name of war and no one is safe against his ‘Narcs’. The whole Keep, Kill, Exile is shocking and what they found in the basement... 👀
That ending got me good and a job well done here Matt – there was a character that I kept getting bad vibes from, but I still told myself that ‘nah, I’m wrong’.. well, well, well – I guess I should trust my gut after all.
I was so hopeful for Zoe and the crew, I felt like I was one of them and I felt utterly betrayed, right there alongside them.
There’s a moment where a character from the Apocalypse series pops up and I did get excited at seeing them again – Matt, your truly have given me a bunch of characters in your books, that feel like friends.
I found it really cool that Matt also included the tunnels that run under Norwood and surrounds – this is a true fact and good to know, if we are ever in an apocalypse situation here in Adelaide.
I also must mention the Author Q+A that is in the back of all of Matt’s book, it is such a cool insight into his brain and seeing his thoughts into the stories he creates – more authors should do this!
Up next in the series is Reign on the Parade and I already having it sitting on my TBR for next month.
December 16, 2023
Book 2 of its series and a sequel series to "Apocalypse: Diary of a survivor"
I love these books.
Continuing the story from the "villains" pov, this one ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger (cue internal screaming and me also loving it at the same time!)
The citizens of Norwood are repeatedly under seige from "outsiders" and their leader, Terry, is busy painting himself as their hero. The feelings of some of the citizens are definitely not that he is their hero and they are desperately trying to come up with a way to overthrow him.
This book has a bit of everything, with plenty of suspense, violence, and friendships forged in battle.
4/5 only because, for me, book 1 (The Parade) was better.
I love these books.
Continuing the story from the "villains" pov, this one ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger (cue internal screaming and me also loving it at the same time!)
The citizens of Norwood are repeatedly under seige from "outsiders" and their leader, Terry, is busy painting himself as their hero. The feelings of some of the citizens are definitely not that he is their hero and they are desperately trying to come up with a way to overthrow him.
This book has a bit of everything, with plenty of suspense, violence, and friendships forged in battle.
4/5 only because, for me, book 1 (The Parade) was better.
November 19, 2023
If you thought the first book was a journey, wait until you read this! We're back, after the intense ending of book one and find our people dazed, stunned, and just trying to get through one hour at a time. How will they come back from this? Who will they become? What will the Parade look like under new leadership?
Strap in, you're in for a ride.
Strap in, you're in for a ride.
May 19, 2024
The Parade: Apocalypse Survivors and War Parade: Apocalypse Survivors 2
Welcome to the new world of Adelaide post apocalypse. A deadly comet, teaming up with a shattering tsunami determines the fate of Adelaide, Australia and the entirety of planet earth as we know it. The Parade and War Parade invite the reader to take part in the journey of shell shocked survivors of Adelaide’s iconic Norwood Parade during the days after Armageddon has crudely stomped on the world. This isn’t a case of not looking up, but looking around and navigating a radically changed world.
Reluctant leader Zoe Carter tells of life after 12/4 as survivors’ find their way – and their place - along the precinct of Norwood Parade, now unrecognisable under its blanket of thick grey ash and gloomy grey sky that has taken the sunlight hostage. After the cataclysmic ejecta that interrupted human existence, the shell shocked inhabitants of surrounding suburbs migrate towards the Parade: to help, to plunder, to lead, to follow, to mourn, to hope, and some to betray.
Zoe is a reluctant hero in the grey ashy shadows, and she is stunned at the atrocities committed by some of her fellow humans as their villainous personalities are let loose, Mad-Max style. She is haunted by the cruelties she finds herself capable of. Zoe is a tad flummoxed to find herself being a leader combined with the thug life... for the greater good. In a fight for survival after the comet-smashes-planet event, is anyone a clear cut hero or obvious villain?
Written in both first and third person the survivors of 12/4 are existing in a life that doesn’t come with a handy ‘Armageddon: A dummies survival guide’ or an afternoon off to watch Netlfix and chill. The new world hopes for clean drinking water, hot showers, a speaker to play catchy tunes such as Jimmy Eats World The Middle (spoiler alert: the tune playing is a success!), or not being shot in the back – or front – by a narc. Or even worse, a friend.
The mix of sci-fi, dystopian and dramatic storytelling is interspersed with a smattering of humour, dismay and hope. The characters are a mix of relatable rogues, traumatised desperados, power hungry narcissists, unlikely alliances and allies, scoundrels and humble crusaders.
Readers of Matt J Pike’s may just encounter the symmetry crossover with the Global Ebook award winning Apocalypse: Diary of a Survivor series.
Themes – apocalypse/armageddon, friendship, relationship, survival, societal control, connection, human nature, trust, leadership, abuse of power, free will, fear, family, love.
Content Warnings – death, grief, guns, profanity, betrayal, verbal and physical violence and abuse.
Welcome to the new world of Adelaide post apocalypse. A deadly comet, teaming up with a shattering tsunami determines the fate of Adelaide, Australia and the entirety of planet earth as we know it. The Parade and War Parade invite the reader to take part in the journey of shell shocked survivors of Adelaide’s iconic Norwood Parade during the days after Armageddon has crudely stomped on the world. This isn’t a case of not looking up, but looking around and navigating a radically changed world.
Reluctant leader Zoe Carter tells of life after 12/4 as survivors’ find their way – and their place - along the precinct of Norwood Parade, now unrecognisable under its blanket of thick grey ash and gloomy grey sky that has taken the sunlight hostage. After the cataclysmic ejecta that interrupted human existence, the shell shocked inhabitants of surrounding suburbs migrate towards the Parade: to help, to plunder, to lead, to follow, to mourn, to hope, and some to betray.
Zoe is a reluctant hero in the grey ashy shadows, and she is stunned at the atrocities committed by some of her fellow humans as their villainous personalities are let loose, Mad-Max style. She is haunted by the cruelties she finds herself capable of. Zoe is a tad flummoxed to find herself being a leader combined with the thug life... for the greater good. In a fight for survival after the comet-smashes-planet event, is anyone a clear cut hero or obvious villain?
Written in both first and third person the survivors of 12/4 are existing in a life that doesn’t come with a handy ‘Armageddon: A dummies survival guide’ or an afternoon off to watch Netlfix and chill. The new world hopes for clean drinking water, hot showers, a speaker to play catchy tunes such as Jimmy Eats World The Middle (spoiler alert: the tune playing is a success!), or not being shot in the back – or front – by a narc. Or even worse, a friend.
The mix of sci-fi, dystopian and dramatic storytelling is interspersed with a smattering of humour, dismay and hope. The characters are a mix of relatable rogues, traumatised desperados, power hungry narcissists, unlikely alliances and allies, scoundrels and humble crusaders.
Readers of Matt J Pike’s may just encounter the symmetry crossover with the Global Ebook award winning Apocalypse: Diary of a Survivor series.
Themes – apocalypse/armageddon, friendship, relationship, survival, societal control, connection, human nature, trust, leadership, abuse of power, free will, fear, family, love.
Content Warnings – death, grief, guns, profanity, betrayal, verbal and physical violence and abuse.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews