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Shattered Dawn #1
Torn Apart
A mysterious illness sweeps across the country, isolating a father and son from their home and family. Death stalks them at every turn and they must fight tooth and nail to return to their loved ones.
The #1 best-selling and most prolific post-apocalyptic author Mike Kraus - working with best-selling author Kenny Soward - brings a new gripping tale of destruction, survival and humanity like no one else can.
A father and son trip to a concert in Florida turns into a hellscape when people start dying - in violent fashion - all around them. Barely escaping from the chaos, they are soon surrounded by death and destruction, with every route home blocked by new challenges.
Back home in Kentucky, the same scenes play out, revealing that the mysterious deaths are not localized, but are part of a larger disaster that has spread across the continental United States in a systematic fashion.
With food and water supplies being suspected as the chief cause of the deaths, the millions who have died in the first few hours are soon joined by hundreds of millions more, some succumbing to the illness while even more die from thirst and starvation.
As threats close in on the survivors of this disaster, one truth becomes only the bravest and most tenacious will survive.
*****
Mike Kraus & Muonic Press are the #1 producing and selling indie press publishing post-apocalyptic tales, for good reason. Since capturing audience’s attention with Final Dawn in 2012, Kraus has captivated and delighted his readers, both with his solo projects like Epoch's End, The End of All things, Surviving the Fall and No Sanctuary, and with his co-authored projects with authors like Justin Bell, Kate Pickford, Tara Ellis, Stacey Upton, Stephanie Mylchreest and others on titles such as Zero Hour, MELT, Flashpoint and Weathering the Storm.
The #1 best-selling and most prolific post-apocalyptic author Mike Kraus - working with best-selling author Kenny Soward - brings a new gripping tale of destruction, survival and humanity like no one else can.
A father and son trip to a concert in Florida turns into a hellscape when people start dying - in violent fashion - all around them. Barely escaping from the chaos, they are soon surrounded by death and destruction, with every route home blocked by new challenges.
Back home in Kentucky, the same scenes play out, revealing that the mysterious deaths are not localized, but are part of a larger disaster that has spread across the continental United States in a systematic fashion.
With food and water supplies being suspected as the chief cause of the deaths, the millions who have died in the first few hours are soon joined by hundreds of millions more, some succumbing to the illness while even more die from thirst and starvation.
As threats close in on the survivors of this disaster, one truth becomes only the bravest and most tenacious will survive.
*****
Mike Kraus & Muonic Press are the #1 producing and selling indie press publishing post-apocalyptic tales, for good reason. Since capturing audience’s attention with Final Dawn in 2012, Kraus has captivated and delighted his readers, both with his solo projects like Epoch's End, The End of All things, Surviving the Fall and No Sanctuary, and with his co-authored projects with authors like Justin Bell, Kate Pickford, Tara Ellis, Stacey Upton, Stephanie Mylchreest and others on titles such as Zero Hour, MELT, Flashpoint and Weathering the Storm.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 29, 2024
About the author
Kenny Soward
89 books163 followersWelcome to my little space out on the web. I'm Kenny Soward, and I'm an author, musician, and once IT guy. I write books in many sub-genres of Science Fiction and Fantasy, including post-apocalyptic, military science fiction, epic fantasy, and horror. I'm influenced by authors such as Stephen King, George R. R. Martin, Anne Rice, J.K. Rowling, Mark Lawrence, Dan Simmons, Robin Hobb, Robert McCammon, Larry Correia, and Mike Kraus.
I love all kinds of movies and shows from Battle Star Galactica (reboot) to the Walking Dead. There's nothing I won't try.
I grew up in Kentucky in a small suburb just south of Cincinnati, Ohio, listening to hard rock and playing outdoors. In those quiet 1970's streets, I jumped bikes, played Nerf football, and came away with many scars.
My grandfather and many of my uncles and cousins served in the United States Military, and my father was a Kentucky State Trooper. Their efforts taught me the meaning of sacrifice and gratitude. I've always had an avid curiosity about the world around me, and I hope my enthusiasm for life carries over into my stories, even the dark ones.
I love all kinds of movies and shows from Battle Star Galactica (reboot) to the Walking Dead. There's nothing I won't try.
I grew up in Kentucky in a small suburb just south of Cincinnati, Ohio, listening to hard rock and playing outdoors. In those quiet 1970's streets, I jumped bikes, played Nerf football, and came away with many scars.
My grandfather and many of my uncles and cousins served in the United States Military, and my father was a Kentucky State Trooper. Their efforts taught me the meaning of sacrifice and gratitude. I've always had an avid curiosity about the world around me, and I hope my enthusiasm for life carries over into my stories, even the dark ones.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 19, 2024
Decent story, I look forward to book 2.
September 16, 2024
where was the editor?
This book is obviously a self published book. How it got so many stars is beyond me. I can only think it was bots. If I heard Holly call one more person “honey”……It just didn’t go anywhere and it was so surface level. The characters were flat and I found myself hoping one of them would get sick just for some emotion. I was skimming it and I could skip ahead 10 pages and still know exactly what was going on. I couldn’t finish it. I usually don’t write reviews but I had to on this one.
This book is obviously a self published book. How it got so many stars is beyond me. I can only think it was bots. If I heard Holly call one more person “honey”……It just didn’t go anywhere and it was so surface level. The characters were flat and I found myself hoping one of them would get sick just for some emotion. I was skimming it and I could skip ahead 10 pages and still know exactly what was going on. I couldn’t finish it. I usually don’t write reviews but I had to on this one.
March 17, 2024
Wow... just WOW! Fantastiic! I finished this read at about 2 a.m. this morning and was all set to go right on to Book 2 of the Shattered Dawn series. Oh no! It's not available at Amazon yet so I had to preorder-- can't wait to start reading! This was a fast, super exciting read with family characters all struggling to survive. I'm almost 75 and I LOVE reading post apocalyptic thrillers. TORN APART had me on the edge of my seat page after page!
September 13, 2024
I tried to finish
I've never read a book that took 3 or more pages explaining the steps of mundane tasks. I never knew that taking out the trash had so many steps involved! Ruined what could have been a good story.
I've never read a book that took 3 or more pages explaining the steps of mundane tasks. I never knew that taking out the trash had so many steps involved! Ruined what could have been a good story.
April 12, 2024
A great book.
A brilliant read, I totally and thoroughly loved it. It's got a great place to it and plenty going on that kept me reading.
A brilliant read, I totally and thoroughly loved it. It's got a great place to it and plenty going on that kept me reading.
March 18, 2024
Torn Apart - a review by Rosemary Kenny.
Bob and Jimmy Summer flee from a showground when musicians on stage suddenly start convulsing, struggling for breath, vomiting and collapsing, while summoned paramedics follow suit, as do an increasing number of other bystanders.
It seems that vast areas of the USA including Kentucky have been struck by a deadly sickness, that Holly and her kids see at first hand in a neighbour's home where she's been asked to help a dying man.
When elder daughter Sam calls in a panic from the ferris wheel ride at the same showground, Holly decides to take swift action, and she and her other daughter Reagan head off there to the rescue.
Will they be in time?
Read the thrilling post-apocalyptic survival epic, Shattered Dawn's series-opener, Torn Apart, by Kenny Soward and Mike Kraus to see what happens next!
Bob and Jimmy Summer flee from a showground when musicians on stage suddenly start convulsing, struggling for breath, vomiting and collapsing, while summoned paramedics follow suit, as do an increasing number of other bystanders.
It seems that vast areas of the USA including Kentucky have been struck by a deadly sickness, that Holly and her kids see at first hand in a neighbour's home where she's been asked to help a dying man.
When elder daughter Sam calls in a panic from the ferris wheel ride at the same showground, Holly decides to take swift action, and she and her other daughter Reagan head off there to the rescue.
Will they be in time?
Read the thrilling post-apocalyptic survival epic, Shattered Dawn's series-opener, Torn Apart, by Kenny Soward and Mike Kraus to see what happens next!
April 11, 2024
An excellent collaboration
Torn Apart takes off like a shot from the first chapter and doesn't let up. Honestly, I couldn't put it down. This series has the potential to be Kraus' best work yet. The characters, as in all of Kraus' works, are believable and endearing. The writing and plot structure are excellent. I'm not as familiar with Howard's works as Kraus, but I think its time to acquaint myself with more of them. 5/5 stars!
Torn Apart takes off like a shot from the first chapter and doesn't let up. Honestly, I couldn't put it down. This series has the potential to be Kraus' best work yet. The characters, as in all of Kraus' works, are believable and endearing. The writing and plot structure are excellent. I'm not as familiar with Howard's works as Kraus, but I think its time to acquaint myself with more of them. 5/5 stars!
April 29, 2024
I read Mike Kraus’s No Tomorrow series and liked all 4 books. I read this because part took place in my hometown,Daytona Beach. But I thought this had too much foaming of the mouths, vomit, crackling broken glass, corpses, and not much action. When there was action it was good. Not sure I will continue with the series. I skimmed a lot because it was boring. Daily chores on the farm. Really?
July 27, 2024
Another apocalypse book filled with inane to get to book 2
Nothing new or interesting - just dialogue word-count filler to please some publisher commitment for a series by the "best selling author." These things ought to come with a disclaimer - "Don't waste your time unless you're a masochistic soap opera fan."
Nothing new or interesting - just dialogue word-count filler to please some publisher commitment for a series by the "best selling author." These things ought to come with a disclaimer - "Don't waste your time unless you're a masochistic soap opera fan."
March 15, 2024
This was a really great read! I really enjoyed all of it, great idea, really well done, well written, good levels of action & tension, I liked the characters & really I can't think of anything I did not like! I do recommend!!
March 15, 2024
Another outstanding beginning to a great series to come. A mysterious illness sweeps across the country. A father and son separated from their family. People dying everywhere, can the cause be found out quickly before there are more deaths. Full of questions with no answers. Definitely gripping.
September 12, 2025
Lots of action.
This story moved very quickly, with plenty of action and suspense. I liked the main characters and the story had a good plot. There was no foul language or sex, but there was some violence.
This story moved very quickly, with plenty of action and suspense. I liked the main characters and the story had a good plot. There was no foul language or sex, but there was some violence.
October 8, 2025
A Good One
This author is new to me. That being said, I enjoyed the book. However, please don't read and eat at the same time!
This author is new to me. That being said, I enjoyed the book. However, please don't read and eat at the same time!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews