The Change of Seasons

299 Days #7

by Glen Tate

The Change of Seasons is the seventh book in the 299 Days series, where summer has ended and reality has set in at Pierce Point. For many people, this means scrambling to survive the long winter with even less food. Some were smart enough to spend the summer preparing for the changing season and the expanding effects of the Collapse; others were not so smart, and their desperation and fear grows stronger by the day.
Grant Matson reflects with pride on how he has provided for his family while guiding Pierce Point into a community that functions well on its own. Celebrating this accomplishment, Grant and others join to offer the community a Thanksgiving dinner, which is met with gratitude and exhilaration. This mood is short-lived, however, as circumstance quickly begin to unravel, beginning with the disappearance of a beloved community member, followed shortly by a self-defensive killing by another.
The situation is just as bleak, or worse, in other parts of Washington State and the country, as innocent people are imprisoned and murdered, women and children become commodities, and what is left of the government looks even less like the once-beloved United States of America.
As the threat of a civil war becomes imminent, Grant, the Team, and the 17th Irregulars at Marion Farm bond over their duty to protect the country and are soon a fully-formed combat-ready unity, excited to go into combat but uncertain of what will happen to them. Grant dreads what he knows is coming, but he understands that he has been called to sacrifice - potentially his life and probably his marriage - to stop the Loyalists from hurting more people.

Genres: Fiction, Dystopia, Post Apocalyptic, Survival, Apocalyptic

215 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2013

Reviews

[Bruce · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Lisa Matson character sinks to a new level of petty stupidity. In fact, so much so that I'm unable to "suspend disbelief", and it kicks me out of the story. I can't believe that any mother, upon arriving at a scene where her teen-age daughter has just gone through an incredibly traumatic experience, decides to start an argument with her husband instead of consoling her daughter. Instead, the daughter is asked to leave the cabin so they can fight in private. (All details withheld to avoid a spoiler, but I had to express my dissatisfaction somehow.)

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book in the 299 series (disclaimer - each "book" in this series is actually a chapter in a large story. There is not a natural beginning/end to these books and they do not stand alone)...

If you have read my other reviews of this series, I started off liking it well enough, but have lost interest as the series moves along. (And this is not a series or storyline that moves quickly, that is deliberate on the part of the author...but it is less engaging as a reader.)

The writing is average, the characters flat, and the storyline is .... wanky. While the author started the series by expressing an interest in writing a storyline that is different than all the other apocalyptic collapse stories by writing about a "slow, partial collapse" scenario...he ends up going all the same places visited by the other books out there. There are evil federal detention camps, roving gangs, power-corrupt politicians, etc... and everything is colored with a good/evil. The "good guys" are thoughtful, deliberate, but not perfect and the bad guys are...well, bad guys/evil government.

Spoiler alert:

The book ends with one of the paper-cut out pro-government characters (a flaky, anti-gun low level administrator) casually ordering a mass execution of ~2000 detainees...
The book and the writing just does not make that happen convincingly. Instead it makes it happen conveniently...presumably so it can justify the irregular actions/war in the next book.

Weak.

Once again, I would warn potential readers of this series to reconsider even starting. I am considering putting it down, and its only my inner OCD (I've made it this far) and that I have paid for the remaining books...that have me continuing...

[Brad Theado · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow, what a let down. After reading 6 great books in a row, #7 was a big disappointment. Where was the conflict? Where was the story? This book read a lot like a James Wesley Rawles novel. Way too much detail, not enough story.

I enjoyed the Thanksgiving section of the book and it was timely for the time of year that the book was released but did we really need several chapters on eating turkey?

The author is a good writer and I will continue reading the series because I am way too invested not to. (Investment is the right word too because this ebook cost me $9.95.) I just hope that we get back to the main story line and stop jumping from one POV to another throughout the book.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. War is coming, and Grant has to keep his military position hidden from his wife while running a training camp at Pierce Point. Talk about a juggling act! He also has to deal with the day to day stuff at the town in addition to trying to make Thanksgiving happen for the town and his soldiers. Tate does an excellent job of balancing the diverse characters and events ramping up toward the next book. I must say for a "Middle of the Series Book" this was one of the best I've ever read.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seventh in the 299 Days series a slightly slow start winds into a stage-setting series of stories as the community transitions. Not the strongest in the series but seems to fit well.

[Cathy Trumbo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stuffs getting serious now!!!! Yikes.

[Cali · Rating 3 out of 5]

almost done with this story line.

[Joshua Friesen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I understand each book is like a chapter, but this one is the slow one that tests your patience.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story leading up to ???? I'm glad to read these books!