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Refuge #1-5
Refuge Omnibus Edition
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
107 people are currently reading
210 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
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 :)
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 :)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!!
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!!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!!!
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!
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!
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?
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.
A romping great tale. Highly recommend for horror/Sci fi fans.
October 30, 2018
Excellent adventure.
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.
How many worlds do you want to visit. All with some human touches. Why is this happening. Why doesn’t it stop.
February 2, 2019
Pure sc-fi alt world brilliance. A wild, and brutal ride with dashes of humour. Superb characterisation.
June 4, 2019
Great book. Fresh, original, fast paced, couldn't put it down. Waiting for the sequel.
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.
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.
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
This was a fast paced crazy story! Hope more stories to come!!!!!! It's about crazy worlds in our world! Thanks
October 25, 2019
These books were awesome and would make a great movie !!
March 16, 2021
Great fun, all 5! 2. "part" the best
November 2, 2021
Awesome
Loved the fast paste read. Good book
really hope the come with a second!! Cant wait for the season 2.
Loved the fast paste read. Good book
really hope the come with a second!! Cant wait for the season 2.
November 6, 2021
Wow! This book had my interest from the beginning. A few errors in editing kept me from giving 5 stars.
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!
Interesting storyline - creative and fast-paced. I thoroughly enjoyed this! On the same level as Stephen King. I highly recommend!
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
I really do love shared worlds. This is such a fun ride. You'll enjoy the town of Refuge! Waiting for the TV series
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.
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.
Hard to put down, but wow, what a ride!
This was a great escape but be sure you don’t forget to breathe.
April 6, 2019
This book was originally published in 5 parts. The following are the reviews for each part, compiled together here.
Night of the Blood Sky:
Small town New Hampshire. July 4th. Most of the town is emptying out to go to the fireworks in a nearby town, a few are staying behind to either get drunk or get frisky. Nothing too earth shattering.
And then the church bell starts ringing... without anyone pulling it!
When the bell stops ringing, the town itself appears to be the same... except that somehow everything outside the borders of the town has... changed. Buckle in your seatbelts, because things are about to get wild!
Darkness Falls (w/ Daniel S. Boucher):
Book 2 of the Refuge Saga opens with a new primary character waking up from a drunken stupor to the new "reality" of life in Refuge. The church bell has once again sounded, and now a darkness has fallen, along with ash falling like snow and covering everything. Thanks to Book 1 taking care of the setup, this book dives right in to the mystery and action. More creepy, more monsters, and more heartache than Book 1, this is an excellent continuation of the series!
Lost in the Echo (w/ Robert Smartwood):
This series just keeps getting better and better. Each book building on the last, in this one we finally get a few answers, including the last words of the book.
In this one, Refuge starts out fairly peacefully - a welcome respite from the dark and ash of the previous book. Frost decides the town needs heavier weapons in case big bads like the ash monsters come back, and the only place that might have what they need is the abandoned National Guard depot on the edge of town.
But is it really abandoned?
Ashes and Dust (w/ David McAfee):
The Refuge Saga continues, this time the town gets transported to a world that is barren and dusty, possibly from some sort of nuclear explosion that seems to have originated from where Refuge now sits.
But then, the monsters are discovered, along with some startling revelations...
Excellent episode, and def sets up this season's season finale in book 5...
Bonfires Burning Bright (w/ Kane Gilmour):
This series was GREAT. You start off in a not untypical small NH town that happens to have a few high tech upgrades - the entire town has been switched to solar power, for example, putting the local electrician out of business. The town is getting ready for July 4, including most of the town going to the next town over to watch the fireworks.
And then, the local church bell starts ringing... (Minor point that I'm unsure about: Where I live in the South, there are FAR more than one church per town!)
When the bell stops ringing, the world outside of City Limits is completely different... and very strange. This starts a sequence that repeats throughout the series, with the town bell ringing and the town transporting to a new world filled with its own mysteries and dangers. Along the way, the people remaining in the town are just trying to survive - and later trying to figure out exactly what is happening and how to stop it. By the end of Season 1, they find out WHAT is happening, and even a bit of HOW it is happening...
But how can they stop it? CAN they stop it? Will they ever return home? How will they know it is actually home? All of this needs answered, and for those answers we must wait for Season 2 (at least!)...
Night of the Blood Sky:
Small town New Hampshire. July 4th. Most of the town is emptying out to go to the fireworks in a nearby town, a few are staying behind to either get drunk or get frisky. Nothing too earth shattering.
And then the church bell starts ringing... without anyone pulling it!
When the bell stops ringing, the town itself appears to be the same... except that somehow everything outside the borders of the town has... changed. Buckle in your seatbelts, because things are about to get wild!
Darkness Falls (w/ Daniel S. Boucher):
Book 2 of the Refuge Saga opens with a new primary character waking up from a drunken stupor to the new "reality" of life in Refuge. The church bell has once again sounded, and now a darkness has fallen, along with ash falling like snow and covering everything. Thanks to Book 1 taking care of the setup, this book dives right in to the mystery and action. More creepy, more monsters, and more heartache than Book 1, this is an excellent continuation of the series!
Lost in the Echo (w/ Robert Smartwood):
This series just keeps getting better and better. Each book building on the last, in this one we finally get a few answers, including the last words of the book.
In this one, Refuge starts out fairly peacefully - a welcome respite from the dark and ash of the previous book. Frost decides the town needs heavier weapons in case big bads like the ash monsters come back, and the only place that might have what they need is the abandoned National Guard depot on the edge of town.
But is it really abandoned?
Ashes and Dust (w/ David McAfee):
The Refuge Saga continues, this time the town gets transported to a world that is barren and dusty, possibly from some sort of nuclear explosion that seems to have originated from where Refuge now sits.
But then, the monsters are discovered, along with some startling revelations...
Excellent episode, and def sets up this season's season finale in book 5...
Bonfires Burning Bright (w/ Kane Gilmour):
This series was GREAT. You start off in a not untypical small NH town that happens to have a few high tech upgrades - the entire town has been switched to solar power, for example, putting the local electrician out of business. The town is getting ready for July 4, including most of the town going to the next town over to watch the fireworks.
And then, the local church bell starts ringing... (Minor point that I'm unsure about: Where I live in the South, there are FAR more than one church per town!)
When the bell stops ringing, the world outside of City Limits is completely different... and very strange. This starts a sequence that repeats throughout the series, with the town bell ringing and the town transporting to a new world filled with its own mysteries and dangers. Along the way, the people remaining in the town are just trying to survive - and later trying to figure out exactly what is happening and how to stop it. By the end of Season 1, they find out WHAT is happening, and even a bit of HOW it is happening...
But how can they stop it? CAN they stop it? Will they ever return home? How will they know it is actually home? All of this needs answered, and for those answers we must wait for Season 2 (at least!)...
July 22, 2014
Usually when there’s a large collaboration among authors, you get an anthology of short stories or a disconnected novel—not so with “Refuge.” What you get is an intense, seamless, adrenaline-filled tornado of a story.
The book takes place in Refuge, New Hampshire. It’s a close-knit community with a few characters thrown in: the town drunk, the overzealous pastor preaching damnation, and the real estate agent who seems better fit for New York than small-town, New Hampshire.
Everything in Refuge is “normal”…until it isn’t!
The church bell tolls without warning, bonging faster and louder with every beat. When it finally stops, a hellacious fury has descended on the town.
Everything has changed.
Although the town stays the same, the environment around it is different—wrong. The pastor thinks it’s the work of the devil, the retired scientist thinks Refuge is no longer on earth, and the sheriff is trying to keep everyone calm.
What they don’t know is what type of life is present outside of town. That soon changes. Everything outside of town is deadly.
Each time the church bell sounds, Refuge is sent into another unknown environment. With each new world comes more death and heartache. “Refuge” will grab and amaze you. With every change of environment, you’ll change your mind about who is good and who is evil. Not until the end will you know who is who.
“Refuge” is multi-layered. Like “Dante’s Inferno,” the closer you get to the core, the more frightening it is. The impact is physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual.
As the people of Refuge try to get back “home,” you’ll start to wonder what and where home really is.
The team of writers has done the impossible; they have weaved a tapestry of word and emotion into a quilt of brilliance. The only thing better than the story is the end.
A must read for every thriller, sci-fi, fantasy, and horror fan. Everyone should read “Refuge”!
Reviewed by J.M. LeDuc, author of “Sin” published by Suspense Publishing, an imprint of Suspense Magazine
The book takes place in Refuge, New Hampshire. It’s a close-knit community with a few characters thrown in: the town drunk, the overzealous pastor preaching damnation, and the real estate agent who seems better fit for New York than small-town, New Hampshire.
Everything in Refuge is “normal”…until it isn’t!
The church bell tolls without warning, bonging faster and louder with every beat. When it finally stops, a hellacious fury has descended on the town.
Everything has changed.
Although the town stays the same, the environment around it is different—wrong. The pastor thinks it’s the work of the devil, the retired scientist thinks Refuge is no longer on earth, and the sheriff is trying to keep everyone calm.
What they don’t know is what type of life is present outside of town. That soon changes. Everything outside of town is deadly.
Each time the church bell sounds, Refuge is sent into another unknown environment. With each new world comes more death and heartache. “Refuge” will grab and amaze you. With every change of environment, you’ll change your mind about who is good and who is evil. Not until the end will you know who is who.
“Refuge” is multi-layered. Like “Dante’s Inferno,” the closer you get to the core, the more frightening it is. The impact is physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual.
As the people of Refuge try to get back “home,” you’ll start to wonder what and where home really is.
The team of writers has done the impossible; they have weaved a tapestry of word and emotion into a quilt of brilliance. The only thing better than the story is the end.
A must read for every thriller, sci-fi, fantasy, and horror fan. Everyone should read “Refuge”!
Reviewed by J.M. LeDuc, author of “Sin” published by Suspense Publishing, an imprint of Suspense Magazine
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews