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Refuge #1-5

Refuge Omnibus Edition

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Refuge, New Hampshire, is a small town. The kind found on postcards. Their biggest concern is the rowdy summertime revelers making their way up from Massachusetts and New York. And with most of the town's residents in neighboring Ashland, for the Fourth of July fireworks show, Refuge is quieter than usual. That is, until the Baptist church's bell starts ringing-on its own. The bell chimes faster and faster, reaching a frenetic pace, as though rung by the Devil himself. But the bell is just the beginning. The air shimmers. The night-time sky fills with a burning red aurora. The moon, previously a crescent, is now full. And just hours after dusk, the sun returns to the sky, revealing an endless desert where there was once a mountainous pine forest. Led by ex-Army Ranger turned surrealist painter, Griffin Butler, Sheriff Rebecca Rule and her deputy, Helena Frost, the residents of Refuge must weather an ever changing onslaught of otherworldly dangers while trying to uncover how and why the landscape beyond town shifts every time the church bell tolls. As a sequence of horrific events threaten to destroy the town, the residents must band together, search for answers and find a way to defend their homes, or Refuge will be lost. REFUGE is a serialized novel, co-authored by #1 Amazon.com horror author, Jeremy Bishop, and five other authors, including Amazon.com bestsellers Kane Gilmour and David McAfee, USA Today bestseller, Robert Swartwood, and newcomer Daniel Boucher. The story was released in five parts, every two weeks beginning in late 2013, but it is now available as one complete novel. So read for the individual parts or the whole completed novel. Either way, you're in for a creepy ride.

507 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 12, 2014

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About the author

Jeremy Bishop

22 books101 followers
Pseudonym for Jeremy Robinson

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5 stars
299 (48%)
4 stars
200 (32%)
3 stars
95 (15%)
2 stars
15 (2%)
1 star
4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
Profile Image for Natasa.
407 reviews23 followers
June 29, 2015
This was an awesome read. I really like the idea that all 5 stories have been written by different authors and all combined into a great book.
If I understood the author's note at the end there might be more coming and I'd love that very much.

A big thank you to Mark for recommending it :)
Profile Image for Paul.
347 reviews76 followers
December 28, 2014
I forgot I read this book earlier this year. I guess it's fair that since I forgot I read it until 10 pages on to say it merits between 2.5 and 3 stars.
Profile Image for Julie Carter.
1,028 reviews13 followers
March 31, 2026
I have listened to this series before through the separate audiobooks, but it is much more enjoyable having them all together in one book. This is such a good story, it would be great to have a second season at some point!
Profile Image for Soo.
2,951 reviews348 followers
May 4, 2017
Recently, I've come across several series that are written by a group of writers. The idea is fascinating! It makes me think of some of the partnered stories I've written in the past. Refuge is a series written by five authors and each of them have a distinct style. They did a nice job of keeping the characters consistent but had some discrepancies with expressing them either in speech or action. It could be a little jarring.

Refuge is a small New England town that doesn't have a lot going on. The most excitement occurs in the summer as people travel through town for other destinations. It was just another lazy summer night when the church bell begins to toll on it's own. The ringing becoming faster and louder until it was the only thing you could hear. When it stops, a gusty wind full of sand covers the town in grit, strange creatures attack and the locals find themselves thrown in a jarring landscape of what should be there and should not.

What's happening?
Where are they?
What's hunting them?

The stranded locals and others struggle to figure out what's going on and survive in the ever changing circumstances that doesn't pause long enough to let anyone truly breath. The rules have changed and all their lives are in danger.

The beginning sets up several key characters and you get a solid idea of who they are. The loyal Sheriff Rebecca Rule, Deputy Helena Frost, the artist Griffin Butler, his daughter, Charlie the town drunk, the reverend and others will have to overcome personal differences and issues in order to work together.

I haven't seen any hint of the series continuing. I hope it does! I would like to know what happens with the next ringing of the bell. Will any of them survive? The series is a cool mix of science, fantasy and haunting terrors. I want to make a comparison to two TV shows but I won't. It would be a total spoiler.
Profile Image for Jimmy A Ford.
25 reviews3 followers
March 25, 2026
Mr. Robinson (and friends) have done a great job.

I've been a fan of Jeremy Robinson books since the first one I was lucky enough to find. This collaboration will not let you down. Even tnough there are several authors involved with this book, you'd never know it because the transition is so seamless. Very good story, along with believable characters make this an interesting read. I would highly recommend that you give it a try and I dont think any of you that love sciency/monstery/militaryish kinds of books will be anywhere near disappointed. I am very interested in where the next installment will take me and my imagination to, and very much looking forward to the trip
5 reviews
July 29, 2020
This is a clever concept, very well executed. The characters are generally likeable, their actions and reactions under the harrowing, and mind-bending new realities they are forced to endure, are fairly believable.
This book showcases what Jeremy Robinson does so well, write fast paced, tension filled action scenes, and creates horrifying monsters. I know if he, and Kane Gilmour team up, it will be worth reading, and whilst i have yet to read anything by the other collaborators in refuge, i plan to seek out the works in the future.
113 reviews1 follower
July 27, 2024
Refuge is weird book

Anyone who reads Jeremy Robinson's books knows that things go sideways and very bizarre. Weird things can happen. This book was just a little. No wait. A whole lot of weird. Written as a serial. The book came across as somewhat jumbled in my opinion and really seemed to have little depth compared to most of the others. It's a good book though. I mean Jeremy Robinson wrote the thing! But this book just wasn't my mojo. You should read it though you might like it more than me.
Profile Image for Brandie Lea Slicer.
337 reviews4 followers
January 26, 2019
Waiting for Season 2!

This was a great series! I felt like I was streaming a show on Netflix! Full of Science Fiction, Horror, stories of love and loss, and community coming together to face unspeakable acts of destruction and madness on their town. Not really a spoiler, but at the end of the the 5th story it does note "end of Season 1," so I would really love to see more stories come from these writers with Jeremy Robinson.
380 reviews10 followers
September 21, 2019
REFUGE by , well it has Jeremy Bishop's name as the aurthor, but it is a novel composed of the five following writers:
Jeremy Robinson
Daniel S. Boucher
Robert Swartwood
David McAfee
Kane Gilmore
All great writers who have come together to compose a thrilling book of science fiction. Each writer has continued the story of the town of Refuge, that is being transported between dementions of space. An excellent job of story telling between all involved.
Profile Image for PAMELA A. LANGELIER.
30 reviews
August 1, 2021
Fantastic! Couldn't put it down! Loved all of the characters, the incredible storyline, and even the ending. A must read.....several times! I love Jeremy Robinson and he sure picked a great bunch of author's to work with!!

Fantastic! Couldn't put it down! Loved all of the characters, the incredible storyline, and even the ending. A must read.....several times! I love Jeremy Robinson and he sure picked a great bunch of author's to work with!!
19 reviews
January 27, 2020
Fun and relentless action

A breakneck paced book that keeps you breathless until the end. It was cool imagining the different authors picking up the pieces of the previous story and moving on. It's not the deepest of stories, but a fun read nonetheless. I'll probably tune in to the next version.
Profile Image for Chad.
14 reviews4 followers
June 19, 2022
Creative story

What better thing can you say about a book than it was entertaining and I wished for more information on what was an already long book. The character development was the highlight of the story. By the end you really cared for all of them and what would happen to them.
Profile Image for Dee Haddrill.
1,939 reviews32 followers
September 6, 2018
This is a terrifying, exciting, action-packed adventure ride through the eyes of a small New England town! I listened to this via Audible and Jeffrey Kafer does a wonderful job in bringing Jeremy Bishop’s words (and, of course, those of his amazing co-authors) to life!!!
6 reviews
March 4, 2022
Great read!

This book kept me hooked. I was some what skeptical with the knowledge that there would be other writers and styles, but it flowed great and I really enjoyed it! Looking forward to more books by Jeremy Robinson!
Profile Image for Crooked Bard.
2 reviews
May 11, 2025
It was pretty good, I enjoyed being able to read all the novellas in one book instead of separately, and enjoyed the input from the different authors in collab with Robinson. It also reminded me of Stephen King's Under the Dome and The Stand novels - inspo, maybe?
Profile Image for Kelly.
273 reviews1 follower
April 22, 2018
The final words made me feel less cheesy for thinking, "Man this would make a cool cable series." lol

A romping great tale. Highly recommend for horror/Sci fi fans.
32 reviews
November 22, 2018
Refuge

How many worlds do you want to visit. All with some human touches. Why is this happening. Why doesn’t it stop.
Profile Image for Darren Dilnott.
296 reviews4 followers
February 2, 2019
Pure sc-fi alt world brilliance. A wild, and brutal ride with dashes of humour. Superb characterisation.
Profile Image for Deborah Satterlee.
9 reviews
June 4, 2019
Great book. Fresh, original, fast paced, couldn't put it down. Waiting for the sequel.
Profile Image for Max Greene.
40 reviews1 follower
September 9, 2019
Great story. Great characters

Jeremy Robinson is a long time favorite but I’ll be be reading some novels by the rest of these authors as well. Thoroughly enjoyed this one.
Profile Image for Julia.
26 reviews2 followers
September 20, 2019
Good story

This was a fast paced crazy story! Hope more stories to come!!!!!! It's about crazy worlds in our world! Thanks
Profile Image for Andy.
3 reviews
October 25, 2019
These books were awesome and would make a great movie !!

10 reviews1 follower
November 2, 2021
Awesome

Loved the fast paste read. Good book
really hope the come with a second!! Cant wait for the season 2.
Profile Image for Liz.
26 reviews
November 6, 2021
Wow! This book had my interest from the beginning. A few errors in editing kept me from giving 5 stars.
2 reviews
January 12, 2022
Great read!

Interesting storyline - creative and fast-paced. I thoroughly enjoyed this! On the same level as Stephen King. I highly recommend!
Profile Image for Ren.
10 reviews
April 23, 2022
So much fun

I really do love shared worlds. This is such a fun ride. You'll enjoy the town of Refuge! Waiting for the TV series
Profile Image for Dennis.
498 reviews6 followers
April 27, 2023
Very decent story. Well written and thought out. Narrator was pretty good too but those excessive bongs of the church bell were annoying. Overall a good listen.
20 reviews
October 8, 2025
wild ride

Hard to put down, but wow, what a ride!
This was a great escape but be sure you don’t forget to breathe.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews