Reckoning

Ravaged Dawn #2

by Marcus Richardson, Mike Kraus

America's farmland continues to wither away, and while Jordyn has been tasked with gathering the data needed to find a cure, the mistrust of ordinary citizens may be her undoing. Abby and Pike, meanwhile, continue to face their own challenges, one trying to reach the mainland while the other must decide how to keep his family safe in the face of a rising danger.

Tired of the usual post-apocalyptic fare? Welcome to your new addiction, from best-selling author Mike Kraus, writing with Marcus Richardson!

In a matter of days, America's breadbasket has turned to ash - not from fire, but from a botanical infection that spreads on the wind and can destroy thousands of acres of grain in an hour.

In Cold Valley, Wyoming, Pike Warren watches from his ranch as his small town spirals into anarchy and chaos. Torn between the love of his community and responsibility to his family, he has to make unthinkable choices, all while hoping his wife can somehow make it home safely.

A thousand miles away on Vancouver Island, Abby Warren's survival skills are being put to the test on a 'alone in the wilderness' reality TV show, but the dream of a lifetime quickly turns into a nightmare. Faced with an impossible decision to either wait for help or embark on a perilous journey home to her husband and children, she must navigate a crumbling society and find the strength to battle not just nature, but human nature as well.

Stranded in the Midwest while studying this new threat, USDA Field Agent Jordyn Wells races against time to find a cure to the disease that threatens to bring the nation to its knees. Friends are few and far between, enemies are around every corner, and her science may not be enough to keep the nation from succumbing to starvation.

432 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 15, 2023

Reviews

[Corinne Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reckoning book 2 continues with the thrills and dramas. Great story, great characters, still hooked.

[Pam Shelton-Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This continues to be a fairly good series, but in this book, there is much less action and focus on the bacteriophage (though Jordyn does have a potentially viable epiphany). Most of the action is about the biker-thief gang and their determination to take over the ranch and kill everyone there. I really struggle with Pike. He continually challenges, argues and hesitates when he doesn't like the message. He even does this in while under attack. Dude, shut up and listen and make a choice. I generally like Sheriff Walsh, but when he shows up at the ranch where they barely prevailed and finds a long time friend and member of the community has been murdered, his main concern about the number of dead attackers is how much paperwork will be involved. Really?? Abby's story is a bit more interesting, though she has quite a journey ahead of her. I like the good people she has met. I do hope the issues with the bacteriophage come back as that is the crux of the disaster. I also give the author some points for knowing about William Marshal.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reckoning - a review by Rosemary Kenny.

As America's crop lands succumb to a merciless blight, millions are starving and survivors are becoming feral in the wake of a tsunami of death and destruction.
Against this dystopian backdrop, three strong central characters, Abby Warren, star of a TV reality show, rancher Pike Warren and USDA Agent Jody West, a scientist trying to find an antidote to the blight, hope to find a way back to some remaining semblance of civilisation, as law and order become things of the past.

Will they and their loved ones come through against unimaginable trials and horrors, or is this the end of life as they once knew it?
Find out in Reckoning:Ravaged Dawn Book 2 by Mike Kraus by getting a copy today!

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really brilliant second part to this very well written apocalyptic series! I really like all of it, the characters are good, well thought out, the same with the plot, which had me completely absorbed in the situations & perils the characters find themselves in. Great pace & action, great levels of excitement & tension, a brilliant read! I finished it in one day as I found it so enjoyable! A great story!

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Travel and preparation

Abby is working her way toward home. She overcomes some problems and makes some friend on her journey. Those at the ranch are under attack but fight back while trying to find ways to protect it and the animals on it.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a matter of hours all the crops has been destroyed which will leave many going hungry. There will be some who will charge huge money to those who are in need. Fights will break out and life could get problematic. What will happen? See how it will go

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing, not to be missed. Grain ravaged, what Will America do, how will they eat. Full of action to keep you reading to wonder how this will ever be solved. Well written, with characters that won’t disappoint.

[Linda Burchfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Double R Ranch and Vancouver what a mix

The battle of the ranch was won and the fires put out and Abby is heading home but she is battling for her live too. What is next for Double R and Abby I don't know but I will find out.

[Charles Sexton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Finally, the good seems to be winning. Book three will probably upend what I have just read.
Great series. Must be read.