Ruined World

Surviving the End #5

by Grace Hamilton

Trust is the first casualty of war… Disaster has struck the McDonald family. Everything they’ve built since the fall of civilization has been destroyed by a devastating fire. They’ve lost their community, supplies, and even loved ones. The death of Mike and James hits hardest of all. The other survivors are scattered. There’s nothing left. All that remains is the indomitable will to survive. Jodi is lucky enough to have several family members survive the fire as they take to the road to find their new home. In this harsh new world, other survivors are often the greatest threat and trust must be earned. But the dangers of traveling America after the EMP force their hand. The missionaries of Helios seem to have good intentions and offer the weary group safe refuge in their enclave. But Jodi’s unease grows as they move farther from the burned village, and the missionaries reveal their zealous ideology. Soon, Jodi will discover just how far the missionaries will go to control their new guests. And by that time, it may be too late to escape ….

Genres: Post Apocalyptic

408 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 8, 2023

About the author

Grace Hamilton is the prepper pen-name for a bad-ass, survivalist momma-bear of four kids, and wife to a wonderful husband. After being stuck in a mountain cabin for six days following a flash flood, she decided she never wanted to feel so powerless or have to send her kids to bed hungry again. Now she lives the prepper lifestyle and knows that if SHTF or TEOTWAWKI happens, she’ll be ready to help protect and provide for her family.

Combine this survivalist mentality with a vivid imagination (as well as a slightly unhealthy day dreaming habit) and you get a prepper fiction author. Grace spends her days thinking about the worst possible survival situations that a person could be thrown into, then throwing her characters into these nightmares while trying to figure out "What SHOULD you do in this situation?"

It’s her wish that through her characters, you will get to experience what life will be like and essentially learn from their mistakes and experiences.

Reviews

[Sandra "Jeanz" · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved all the covers for this book series, they fit the individual books well, with each new cover having an image representing a scene from within the book very well. The covers also all tie well together and I bet they look amazing on a bookstore/library shelf!

After the way Burned World ended, I couldn’t wait to read more about these characters I had grown to love would cope being separated from family members. Would this harsh world divide and conquer the remaining survivors or would they pick themselves up, literally dust themselves down and get on with this latest horrific set back. Its not just the material losses, it’s the betrayal surrounding James’ death, and how the fire started that are particularly hard to swallow. Great characters have met sad ends in this series with James murdered and hi killer still at large. Then there is Mike who helps to save his mother and niece before succumbing to the water himself and drowning. I guess you could say he was murdered just as much as James, was as if the fire hadn’t been started the chain of events that led to his drowning would not have occurred. It is hitting Beth particularly hard that she has not been able to give her family members what she calls a decent burial. James was a partner to Beth whom she loved dearly and Mike, her son who she had thought she was going to lose when he got his cancer diagnosis, then he fought hard and survived, only to drown helping her and Kaylee.

The family starts of the book split into three parts, Beth, Amelia & Kaylee, Shane & guide dog Ruby and finally Jodi, Owen, Katie, Violet, Corbin and Greyson. It seems like the family are heading in all different directions that are leading them further apart instead of reuniting them. I think initially it is Shane that has it worst as he is totally on his own until one particularly bright moment amidst all the devastation is when Ruby, Violet’s guide dog finds Violet’s father Shane. Ruby is the reason to continue and fight his burns injury pains and the reminder of his family being out there somewhere that Shane needs. When Shane loses consciousness, it is Ruby who stays with him, guards him, awakens him and helps to battle on. Its not overly long until Shane & Ruby are found by family matriarch Beth, her granddaughter in law Amelia and her granddaughter Kaylee. Of course, they are all happy to be reunited, and it seems to have a really good effect of Kaylee being reunited with one of her parents. It soon becomes apparent that the adults in the group all have quite different ideas of what they should be doing, from staying put by the lake hoping the rest of the family will turn up soon, to actively searching for the other family members. However, Beth makes one thing known she needs to bury James, as well as retrieve Mike’s body and bury him too, she will not rest until this is done.

Jodi, Owen, little Katie, Violet, and Corbin with their now prisoner Greyson are heading towards the area the religious sect have their settlement. They soon come across two citizens of Helios, the religious order they were making their way to for help. They need food, shelter and medical attention which they are more than willing to work for. Then it is their plan to return back into the now burnt landscape and wilderness to search for their missing family members. They are all clear on their plan but it doesn’t help Jodi feel more and more uneasy the further away from Hickory Falls they get and once they arrive in Helios that uneasiness only increases.

Helios is a rather strange cult like community, they are ruled by a male leader called Amun Ra whose immediate helpers are named Luminance Flare, Dash etc. It is clear this is a male ruled faction of survivors. Everyone is expected to work, in return they receive food, shelter and any medical help they need. The newcomers soon fit into their new schedule grateful to be taken in and given help. At the start of every day Katie is whisked away to the nursery where she is locked in with those that work there until the end of work bell is sounded when she can be collected to go back to her own family. The thing that really irks Jodi is the work division, the whole “men’s work” and “women’s work”. When there’s an issue with access and Jodi suggests a bridge design, she has built before and knows will work she is ignored, yet when she sends Owen with the same suggestion he is treat like some sort of saviour/hero!! Jodi’s discomfort of this women obey kind of living soon puts a target on her back and has her labelled a trouble maker. Jodi and her family discuss ways of making an exit from Helios.
On another occasion Jodi speaks up warning the elders of the Helio community that Greyson is not trustworthy, she is partially ignored. To make amends for his mother speaking out of turn, Owen volunteers to be with Greyson on the work detail. Once away from the others and in the small group of 4, Greyson once again shows his true evil and attacks first the two young men from Helios and kills them then attacks and leaves Owen for dead. Owen and the two Helio men are found and returned to Helios. Amun Ra says a trial will be held. In a strange turn of events despite Jodi warning that Greyson wasn’t to be trusted, Amun Ra blames the death of his two men on Owen and sentences him to “face the sun”. He will be locked in a cage on top of the temple for 4 days and nights.

In a strange twist the fact that Violet is partially sighted makes the people of Helios think she is gifted as she can only see shades of light/dark meaning she sees the shades of light in people. She is soon and a type of sun Princess. Violet has been feeling useless so when offered all this extra attention she naturally begins to enjoy it, and tries to use it to help have her brother Owen releases from his cage in the sun.

This book is really action packed with each set of survivors facing different dangers whilst trying to decide the best way forward to find their missing family members. The two groups end up finding each other again just at a pivotal time. It turns out Greyson has had a hand in bringing the family back together. It’s certainly touch and go at certain points in the book as to if the family in Helios will ever escape Helios, or will the rest of the family be lured in too.
Theres a lot of guilt going round in this book too. The guilt of having to use fire to escape Helios, the guilt of bringing Greyson to an unsuspecting community, Owens guilt at missing the signs Greyson was going to double cross him and the work team killing the two Helios men. Theres also a theme of betrayal, Greyson leading both sets of the separate groups of family members to Helios whilst not giving them the full story of what they are walking into. The inklings of betrayal of Violet as she enjoys the attention and feeling of importance that the people of Helios give her when her family seem to disregard her. Then the feelings of betrayal the reunited family feel at how they had to use fire to escape Helios and its residents when some of them had been nice to them. However, there is also the betrayal of those in charge in Helios as they use tricks and words twisting to get the family to bend to their will. Corbin and Owen betrayed by a Helios resident that they thought could see their point of view and help them leave Helios peacefully. There was also loss in this book, James and Mike had to be buried, another integral family character dies and their loss is devastating, all the more so as its at a point in the book when you think things have started to look better for the family. Then there’s Greyson, the bad guy, the fire starter, the one that murdered James, who seemed drawn like a magnet to Corbin. Did Greyson just need the love and care of a good family coming from a poor life situation like Corbin? Or was he always going to be a lost cause? Though things don’t look good for him towards the end of this book, stranger things of happened and he has a habit of popping up right when the family are so desperate that they give him another chance to prove he can be good.

My immediate thoughts were, Wow, what a journey these characters go on in this book, both individually and as a group. Sadly, we also say goodbye to one of the main characters, their loss will be felt strongly along with the losses from the previous book. This family has reunited but there have been many casualties they have certainly not escaped unscathed.

Summing up, Wow! What a book! I can't wait to read more about these surviving characters, and where their journey will take them. Will it be to safety or more terror? Will it be just their family alone or will they meet others to build a community with? The possibilities are endless!!

[Marceline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've immensely enjoyed the series so far and even though I had some concerns delving into this, I absolutely loved this new entry. The suspense during action scenes were wonderfully orchestrated in my opinion.

The concerns I had were about the religious aspects because when I've read other series by other authors who chose to go that route, their take on it was honestly a turn off to me with certain aspects or writing style. I know it's just a trope, evil cult with evil leader brainwashing the masses, but I liked that for the most part this cult was fairly nonviolent and I even liked that it wasn't some evil version of a Jesus incarnate cult.

The character growth has been good as well. I feel like Owen has come into his own in this book, and that Katie has managed to mature a bit with everything happening.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[J.L. Huffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who doesn’t love a creepy cult group inserted into the middle of a post-apocalyptic story? The question is, will our characters escape their clutches?

[Cath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book five of the Surviving the end series and the survivors of Hickory Falls find themselves separated from each other in the panic of trying to escape the huge fire which destroyed the town and lots of the land all around. One group is Beth, who has lost her husband James and son Mike, Amelia and young Kaylee, another is Shane, who is on his own with Ruby who is Violet’s guide dog, whilst the biggest group is Jodi, Violet, Corbin and Owen, with his young daughter Katie, and a prisoner Greyson, who was responsible for the fire! The latter group have been found by a couple of weird people, from a religious group called Helios, missionaries Ghama and Taiyo, who have offered to take them to the safety of their group’s compound and have been good at looking after their wounds and providing them with food and water. Jodi begins to realise they have very set ways about male and female roles and it begins to jar with her, but they need the help they can provide for now and believe they can leave later on, once they have managed to recover somewhat. Now, it is hard to trust anyone and they can only hope that all of their family can be reunited and are in fact all alive. Beth has already lost two important members of her immediate family and wants to ensure they get buried, but first there group are heading to the lake, in the hope other family may have made their way there. They come across one group of people they know somewhat, but are immediately surrounded and Beth’s suitcase taken off them. The group act wild and start pulling all of Beth’s stuff out, which doesn’t go down very well. Amelia pulls the broken gun out that Kaylee found in a ditch and force them to return their items before getting away from these people, who are acting like wild animals!

Jodi’s group reach a bridge that should have taken them over a small river and ravine, only to find it has been washed away and they have a bit further to go, to get around it. Jodi tells the missionaries that she has a way of rebuilding the bridge, but they won’t listen to her idea and insist on leaving. When Jodi tells one of the men to suggest it, Ghama suddenly listens and calls it a wonderful idea! This reinforces Jodi’s worries about this Helios group and that they may have problems the longer they stay with them! Shane finds his burns are making him feel worse as time goes by and without any food or water, he is getting weaker by the hour. He is trying to find the lake, to see if others have made it there as well, but ends up collapsing by some rocks at the shore, being sick from some dirty water he drank in desperation. Beth, Amelia and Kaylee find him, having spotted Ruby moving around slightly, but she refuses to leave him. Back at the Helios compound, they have been welcomed by the group, who are all wearing the same robes, and given a hut to stay in with two bedrooms. They are soon put to work, with Jodi sent to work only with the women, Kaylee taken to a nursery where the door is locked from the inside and the windows shuttered, whilst Owen and Corbin are taken to help rebuild the bridge with a men’s group. Their prisoner Greyson is also taken along to be given a chance to redeem himself, still chained to the cart thankfully. Unfortunately, he seems to be getting the missionaries on his side, by helping as an accident occurs, which on closer examination, could have been caused by him deliberately! When they need more wood, two of the Helios group are chosen to go with Greyson and Owen, who is responsible for holding onto Greyson’s chain. Greyson acts all helpful, until he turns about face in an instant, catching the others unawares, leaving two of them dead and another almost so! Owen was the only one to survive and is to be judged for his lack of action in stopping Greyson from killing two of the Helios family, no matter he had no chance to and was almost killed himself.

Violet is seen by the sun worshipping group as a gift, to only be able to see light and dark makes her someone to put on a pedestal and worship. She enjoys some of this adulation and praise, but doesn’t allow herself to be completely taken in by what is happening, especially when her own family speak of what’s happening with them. It is nice to not think of her blindness as a disability for once. Matters take a turn for the worse for the group as the leader of Helios punishes one of them and as luck would have it, Beth’s group met up with the escaped Greyson and were told the location of the rest of their family. Their hopes to be reunited will have a few twists and turns before it can possibly be achieved. The groups are going to find out just what Helios would do if you go against them and how you can never trust anyone, no matter how much you believe they may be on your side! A harsh ending to this episode, with more loss and a surprising method bringing the family back together, but still with one more to go. A harsh world, with so much changed, and only those of your own family that you can truly trust with your lives as they find out. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruined World is the fifth book in the Surviving the End series by Grace Hamilton. I have loved every book in the Surviving the End series. If I had to pick a favorite, I am not sure I could, but there is one thing I know for sure: that Ruined World was an excellent book. I loved everything about it from the first page to the last.

Ruined World had so much action and suspense that I couldn’t tear myself away. Reading Ruined World was like watching a movie or TV show. And speaking of this I have to say that I would very much love to see Ruined World as well as all the books in the Surviving the End series made into a TV show or movie but especially a TV show as it would last longer. I love books and TV shows like Ruined World. I could watch TV shows like this over and over and never get tired of them.

There was so much going on in Ruined World that it kept me on my toes and racing to the end as I couldn’t turn those pages fast enough. The world-building in the Surviving the End series was remarkably well done. I have loved every book by Grace Hamilton that I have read. I can’t wait to read more.

I can’t wait to read the next, Stormy World in the Surviving the End series to see where Beth, Shane, Jodi, and all the others go on their journey next. What is waiting for them around the corner?

When we last left Beth, Shane, Jodi, Violet, and Owen they had just escaped the fire that destroyed their home and town. While trying to escape the fire they were separated.

Beth, Kaylee, and Amelia make it out together and head to the lake as they believe the others will go. Shane makes it out alone but later runs into Ruby, Violet’s seeing-eye dog. Jodi makes it out with Owen, his daughter, Katie, and Corbin.

Beth, Kaylee, and Amelia make it to the lake and find Shane and Ruby. Shane is sick from drinking dirty water filled with ash. They make a plan to go looking for the rest of their family.

Jodi, Owen, Violet, and Corbin meet a group of missionaries after escaping the fire. The missionaries are good to them giving them food and water. They even offer to let them stay with them until they can heal. But Jodi doesn’t trust the leader. There is just something off about him. Jodi can’t quite put her finger on what it is but the closer they get to the compound the less Jodi trust them.

Will the McDonald family find their way back to each other? What will they have to endure along the way?

I highly recommend Ruined World to all post-apocalyptic fans! Grab a copy of Ruined World today!

[Nancy Parkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put it down for long!

I don't know how she does it, but Grace Hamilton has the knack to keep you living the story! With the trauma of living through the devastating fire and getting separated while escaping, wondering what happened to the rest of their family nucleus, to the separate family groups determination to find their loved ones, Grace Hamilton wove a storyline that kept me reading. And when I couldn't read because of my own obligations, I longed to pick up the book and leave my obligations behind!
I have read a number of her books with the same results every time! I'm already trying to figure out what I must do vs reading the next book in the series!
The addition of Grayson in their lives added a whole different twist because of his evil mind and his ability to get them to trust him. Until he betrayed them again.
Get ready to spend more time reading this series than meeting your obligations!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The McDonalds are back in Ruined World book five of the Surviving the End series. I recommend you start this series from book one Crumbling World to understand what the McDonalds have been through fully. This family has been through so much in this series and I can't imagine surviving everything they have. Grace Hamilton knows how to write a realistic and captivating storyline. This addition to the series is great, from the gripping storyline and believable characters to the unexpected twists and dangers. I can't wait to read the final book in this series to see how the story ends. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

[Wool-And-Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Der fünfte Teil über Shaun und seine Familie

Hickory Falls steht in Flammen und es gibt nur noch eine Rettung, die Flucht. Dabei wird die Familie getrennt und nicht alle überleben sie.

Meine Meinung

Dies ist der fünfte Teil der Serie und ich empfehle sie der Reihe nach zu lesen, es lohnt sich definitiv, denn sie sind spitze.

Es ist eine Dystopie wie ich sie mir sehr gut vorstellen könnte.

Der Schreibstil liest sich leicht und flüssig und die Personen und Handlungen werden sehr gut erklärt und verständlich beschrieben. Das Buch ist von Beginn an spannend und interessant und bleibt es bis zum Schluss. Sehr zu empfehlen.

5 Sterne und eine klare Kaufempfehlung.

[Tahnia Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the aftermath of the fire started by Greyston, Beth, Jodi, Violet, Owen, Corbin, and Kaylee find themselves trapped in the compound of a cult. Shane, Amelia, and Katie travel to the lake to wait for the rest of their family where they have a run-in with another survivor who shoots Amelia, though she doesn't know it at the time. This story is full of the love of family and has plenty of action, ending with a cliffhanger. Very highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book in a box set via Bookfunnel and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Raine McLeod · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listening to a man who has intentionally murdered multiple people and intentionally started a forest fire (that also killed people) say “that hurts like heck” when he’s hit in the face with a large stick is so unserious and I can’t even.

I’m not saying you HAVE to swear, I’m saying “hell” isn’t a swear and also that “OW THAT HURT” would be more effective and less stupid.

I think the author is Mormon.

[Jeanne Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a lot of books written by Grace Hamilton; she is one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to read more of her books.

This is the fifth book in the Surviving the End Series; the story continues from the previous book and needs to be read in order.

I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy this fifth part to this exciting series! An incredible idea, the earth eventually getting it's revenge perhaps! With a little help! Good ideas, a good selection of characters. Quite high levels of angst, but still an enjoyable read!

[Kay Mack · Rating 5 out of 5]

it just keeps getting better!

Oh boy! I’ve shed so many tears throughout this book and the rest of the series. There’s not much lasting peace and joy for Beth and her family but they keep on. Survival is the name.

[Joan L Huffman MD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruined World

Who doesn’t love a creepy cult group inserted into the middle of a post-apocalyptic story? The question is, will our characters escape their clutches?

[Rachel Joi Maples · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely recommend the Surviving the End series … book 5 “Ruined World” by Grace Hamilton was great and cannot wait for more by this author

[Vikas Jadon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Book, The whole series is great.

[Caroline 'relaxing with my rescue dogs' · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do admit I love Grace Hamilton's books and devour them when one comes out, I thought I had read all the series but somehow this series had escaped me. It took me a while to get into it as a result as I wasnt aware of the backstory, but now I will just go and back and read them as I want to know more about the people and how they got here and then where they go.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Update review - I am relistening to this as have found the first three books and it makes a lot more sense and even better at the world building and relationships than when I read it as a standalone.

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

End of the world and after the disaster books hold a certain fascination to me. Life as we know it can change in an instant as it does for the characters in Grace Hamilton's series. I have read alot of her books and they are all fresh, no retelling the same story over and over. The fact that she can write so many unique versions of a catastrophe means I am well educated on how to get from point a to point b before, during and after an event.

I'm not quite sure how Grace Hamilton manages to keep her stories fresh and her characters realistic, but as long as she keeps writing them, I'll keep reading them.