This is the End: The Post-Apocalyptic 7 Book Box Set

by J. Thorn

This is the End includes:

~Slow Burn: Zero Day, Book 1 by Bobby Adair

~The Retreat #1: Pandemic by Craig DiLouie with Stephen Knight and Joe McKinney

~Diary of the Displaced - Book 1 - The Journal of James Halldon by Glynn James

~Earthfall by Stephen Knight

~Contamination Prequel (Post-Apocalyptic Zombie Series) by T.W. Piperbrook

~Affliction Z: Patient Zero (Post Apocalyptic Thriller) by L.T. Ryan
~Reversion: The Inevitable Horror (The Portal Arcane Series - Book I) by J. Thorn

Genres: Horror, Science Fiction, Zombies, Fiction, Amazon, Post Apocalyptic, Science Fiction Fantasy

1211 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 4, 2014

About the author

Want a story that’s rooted in a fundamental aspect of being human?

I believe reading dark fiction can be healing. My overriding mission is to connect with you through my art, and I hope to inspire you to do the same. I’m a word architect and driven visionary. I’m obsessed with heavy metal, horror films and technology. And I admire strong people who are not afraid to speak their mind.

I grew up in an Irish Catholic, working class family and was the first to go to college. I didn’t have expensive toys, so I used my own imagination for entertainment. And then I abused alcohol for entertainment. I spent the first thirty years of my life convincing myself I wasn’t an addict and the last ten worrying about all the potential threats the substances hid from me.

Anxiety and depression are always hiding in the corner, waiting to jump me when I start to feel happiness.

I had to break through family programming and accept the role of the black sheep. In my 30s I started writing horror and formed a heavy metal band while my family rolled their eyes, sighed and waited for the “phase” to end.

I spent years paralyzing myself with self-loathing and criticism, keeping my creativity smothered and hidden from the rest of the world. I worked a job I hated because that’s what Irish Catholic fathers do. They don’t express themselves, they pay the damn mortgage. I may have left my guilt and faith behind long ago, but the scars remain.

My creativity is my release, my therapy and my place to work through it all. I haven’t had a drink in a long time, but the anxiety and depression are always lurking. Writing novels and songs keeps it at bay. I scream over anxiety with my microphone and I turn my guitar up loud enough to drown out the whispers of self-doubt.

I hope to leave a legacy of art that will continue to entertain and enrich lives long after I’m gone. I want others to see that you don’t have to conform to the mainstream to be fulfilled.

Don’t be afraid of the dark. Embrace it.

Experience:
By the end of 2014, J. Thorn will have published over one million words and sold over 100,000 ebooks, worldwide.

J. Thorn is a Top 100 Most Popular Author in Horror, Science Fiction, and Fantasy (Amazon Author Rank). In March of 2014 Thorn held the #5 position in Horror with his childhood idols Dean Koontz and Stephen King at #4 and #2 respectively. He is an official, active member of the Horror Writers Association and a member of the Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers. J. is a contributor to disinformation.com and a staff writer for HeavyPlanet.net as well as a founding board member of the Author Marketing Institute.

Thorn earned a B.A. in American History from the University of Pittsburgh and a M.A. from Duquesne University. He has spent the last twenty years researching mysticism and the occult in colonial American history.

Reviews

[John Podlaski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a genre overflowing with books, new books published daily. This collection of 7 different zombie books and writers in one book piqued my interest and I decided to take a chance. Unfortunately, there is no summary available for any of the books in the package which caused me to start reading a title that I had absolutely no idea of what to expect. As it were, if the first couple chapters didn't grab my attention or interest I moved on to the next story in the collection. Some reviewers offered rave reviews to certain books and admit they had clumsy or slow starts...unfortunately, these were books that didn't grab me from the start and I never finished them. I did find four of the stories enjoyable: Affliction Z, Earthfall, Contamination Prequal and Slow Burn, which all deserve 4 and 5 star ratings. Their stories are much different from the majority of books in the genre...there is an apocalypse, of course, but the survivors and victims are much different The price of the entire collection is a pittance to what you might spend to purchase them individually - this book is guaranteed to keep your attention for several hours or more. A couple of those books I finished are book-one of a series - I do plan on adding them to my collection. Thank you for the opportunity to read through this collection. Highly recommended!

John Podlaski, author
Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Bobby Adair. SLOW BURN. My favourite ever zombie series. Fourth time Ive read it. 5 stars.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ James Halldon. DIARY OF THE DISPLACED. Lots to love, sci-fi , creatures and the dead. 5 stars.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ L.T Ryan. AFFLICTION Z. Not the first time I’ve read it. 5 stars

❤️❤️❤️❤️ 💛Stephen Knight. EARTHFALL. Good post apocalyptic fiction. 4.5 stars

❤️❤️❤️❤️ T.J Piperbrooke CONTAMINATION BOOK ZERO. Good story. Have read before. Still don’t know why anyone would leave food and safety. 4 stars

❤️❤️❤️. Craig Di Louie THE RETREAT: PANDEMIC. Not bad but I’mnot into military perspective and it felt like a rip-off of a graphic novel by Garth Ennis. 3 Stars

❤️❤️ J Thorn. REVERSION Not well written, in my opinion, boring, weird, and almost DNF.

[Joel Kleehammer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another collection that my awesome wife bought me so I would be stocked up on things to read. Here is a roundup of my various status updates to make one (somewhat) coherent review:

Slow Burn: Zero Day by Bobby Adair
"Sometimes, a half-bottle of breakfast tequila just isn't enough to deal with the day's reality." It was awesome. It was both seriously good and very funny, like Shaun of the Dead meets World War Z (with a little Outbreak thrown in). This is the story of your deadbeat stoner friend in the zompocalypse. I highly recommend it. Great ending, too, although I admit I was a little mad. Check it out.

The Retreat #1: Pandemic by Craig DiLouie with Stephen Knight and Joe McKinney
It was enjoyable but not great. I liked the idea, but the military writing was off. It was a mix of a little military knowledge and a lot of bad Viet Nam movies.

Diary of the Displaced - Part 1 by Glynn James
That was amazing. The whole time I was wondering where the story would lead. There were so many possibilities that I couldn't be sure. Great storytelling and vivid descriptions made this a very good story.

Earthfall by Stephen Knight
I think it might be the best story in this collection. The writing was very good, including descriptions of military operations and tactics (which is generally cheesy in most stories). The premise was good and the ending allowed the reader to picture the possible future without wrapping it up with a little bow.

St. Matthews by T.W. Piperbrook
I thought I knew exactly where this story was going from the very beginning, but I thought wrong. I applaud the author on keeping the back-story back and not letting out to much from the beginning. I also give a big WTF for what was actually going on.

Affliction Z: Patient Zero by L.T. Ryan
The writing was really good, and the balance of suspense and horror kept the book moving along nicely. This is a great mixture of zombies, dark ops, and government conspiracy. It will leave you wondering whether the story was real or imagined, maybe even after you made your mind up.

Reversion: The Inevitable Horror by J. Thorn
This story was trippy. It’s hard to explain without spoilers. Things were so unclear for so long that I almost stopped reading it. I guess it was supposed to be building tension, but I felt like it was just avoiding story development. I liked the end, so I’m glad I stuck with it.

[Frank · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent collection of apocalyptic novels. These authors were new to me but they are fairly established; most with a series or two under their belt. All except one are first books in a series so the collection is a bit of a tease. :-)
The stand-alone (Earthfall) was good and there were a few others I will continue with (Slow Burn, The Retreat, Diary of the Displaced, Contamination, and Affliction Z: Patient Zero, ). Well worth the price!

[Livvy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 1 – Slow Burn: Zero Day.
4 star's

Great read. Easy to follow. virus is little different there are different types of infected. Zed and Murphy are slow Burns which they got lucky their between human/infected but act normal. Zed and Murphy was tossed after helping people out. And trying to stay alive and finding safely.

The Retreat #1: Pandemic
4.5 Star's

I have no clue want to say about this infected virus totally different. I won't call them zombies but they are in way with eating and attacking people. Also this gives military side of view and not the regular people (I guess they all turned in killer laughing clowns). They was all over the place who was leading or not. And you don't have to worry about liking or disliking characters because they dead new characters replace them.

Diary of the Displaced - Book 1 - The Journal of James Halldon 5 Star's
This one had little bit of everything not just zombie things. Had other creatures more of fantasy/sci-fi. I liked it. Had something new every page.

Earthfall.
4.5 Star's

All characters well done and plot of the story.
No zombies which is great. Yes some humans are deformed for the war bomb's who didn't have a chance to seek shelter or had no where to hide.
People underground needed some item's after earthquake. On the way they find out that they aren't the only one's. Bad thing's happen on their mission. The only thing that bugged me the most was that the both teams didn't move in at the same time or fall be hide just little. But fall back and sat waited way behind where something can happen to either teams where they can't help each other on team.
Other then that it was a great book

Contamination book zero.
4.5 Star's

We have someone trying to play god or jusStar'sn a mad man and also the follower in the group who are trying to teach the world a lesson. They started releasing virus in the food and water system that turn people into killers in a small town that we know of right now.
But I did have problem with the fact that Dan and his daughter flees from safe house that his fake Friend who was a part of this group. The house had everything food and weapons. There was no way for anyone human or zombie can get inside to get them so way did they even take off and put them in danger in the first place just to get out of town. That's bugging the crap out of me.....
Other then that it was great book.

Affliction Z: Patient Zero
4 Star's

I really enjoyed this one. There is few things that needed more like air force PJ they very trained but in this story they was stomped all over or put down. Also about how some of the men from Tuck's team dead that was little unbelievable. I can see if they jumped up grabbed their leg they fell then zombie type thing got hold of their neck's. But other then that I loved the plot and where the story series going in the future. I'll wait on buying more until it's comes out in a book set that's how I like getting series.

Reversion: The Inevitable Horror book 1
4 Star's

Okay story. Little different and weird. I was confused at the beginning it did pick up. Even though the story got better. I wasn't really feeling it but I still finished it. Still going getting good rating for good plot all that

[Jenette Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read(s)

These books were quick easy reads. I thought it was going to be 10 books in sequence instead of 10 separate books. I really enjoyed all of them. Definitely thinking about delving into the sequels.

[allan graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always a good way to find new authors

[Paul Madsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was left hanging

I enjoyed each tale in the collection. However each left me unforfilled as the each was left hanging. Leaving the reader begging for more

[Kel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Collection

Wish I’d managed to get each collection but this one was very much worth it. Highly recommend it so grab your copy when you can.

[Lourdes Vega · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this series and hated when they were all gone.

[Mkittysamom · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. Slow Burn: Zero Day 1 - Bobby Adair ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Box Set
2. The Retreat #1: Pandemic by Craig DiLouie; Stephen Knight; Joe McKinney ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Box Set
3. Diary of the Displaced - Book 1 - The Journal of James Halldon - Glynn James⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Box Set
4. {***Earthfall - Stephen Knight⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️}
{Really liked this one but is it a single??}
5. Contamination Prequel- TW Piperbrook⭐️⭐️⭐️ Box Set
6. Affliction Z: Patient Zero -L.T. Ryan⭐️⭐️⭐️ Box Set
7. Reversion: The Inevitable Horror (The Portal Arcane Series I) -J. Thorn ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Box Set

[Ralph Wark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Up and down but a great buy for 99 cents

Like most anthologies, the writing varies, or specifically my reaction varies. I think it's a great value and a way to easily discover other writers, and I did. Naturally all are first book of three or so, a way to get you wanting book two. Flynn James "Diary of the Displaced" is a good tale that starts slowly, but the entire series is available for 99 cents. I already own it and am reading the eighth book in James's "Arisen" series, highly recommended.

The two discoveries here were L.T. Ryan's "Affliction Z, great story, I've already bought book two, and queued the third. I've had Bobby Adair's "Slow Burn" trilogy in my wish list, and now have to buy it, excellent first book.

As to the plots, check them out, not enough space to summarize them here. Besides, it's only 99 cents......

[Bonnie Calhoun · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bleck! The first two stories were good dystopian type stories that made me want to read more of those two. But then the rest of them are either sci-fi or people eating zombie type stories. I really don't like those so I skimmed the rest and put it down. Time to move on to another book.

Not finishing this one.

[Araldia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting collection of post-apocalyptic ideas.

Most of these books are not your usual post-apocalyptic tropes, and the few that do follow a more traditional zombie path deviate in unexpected and delightful ways. A balanced collection of novels and short stories, that has me eager to move on to the second Post-Apocalyptic Box Set.

[Virginia Aikens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly Hits

Sometimes these collections are extremely hit or miss, but I felt this one contained mostly hits. The books had some pretty interesting ideas and novel approaches to material that sometimes gets a little stale from over used of classic tropes. I only paid 99 cents, so it was definitely worth the asking price.

[Mildred mccraw · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gruesome, wasted time

Gruesome, wasted time

this should have a rating of zero. unadulterad trash. this series should not have been
published in any form.
when I find out how I will delete it from my kindle my mind.

[Aden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good

It is always hard to give box sets a fair rating. As with most, this set had stories ranging from amazing and interesting to confusing and a bit slow. The styles vary enough that I would be willing to bet that most people would find something they enjoy inside.

[Robbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jim finished Book 1 on 2-9, read the other six and finished on 2-16. He enjoyed the series and gave between 4.2 and 4.8 stars.

[Anastasia Cannon]

Loved having the first book of multiple series of similar genres.

[Bob Nicholas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay

just okay couldn't really get into it. had to force myself to finish it. maybe I'll read the next one

[Ann Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had to take a break. Will get back soon.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seven books! Most of these were pretty good, one or two were less than stellar, but since I picked it up for 99 cents, I am not unhappy.

[virginia tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read

Kept me wanting more read it quickly. Well written, characters were visible to me , let me create their images in my mind.

[Sandi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not a zombie apocalypse kinda person. It was pretty much gratuitous nastiness and sticky philosophy.

[Mike Engelhardt · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first book is OK. Then it goes on a tangent......