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As Darkness Ends
Redbacks
As Darkness Ends is a non-linear series. As such, you can read the books in any order! When a devastating global earthquake strikes, James Cole narrowly escapes the crumbling New York City skyscrapers with the help of a mysterious person. Now one of the precious few survivors, James’s goal is to get home to his wife through a locked-down Manhattan. But when an inexplicable darkness begins blanketing the city, deadly creatures appear and begin hunting anybody they can find. With James and his companion the only ones capable of fighting, they’ll put their lives at stake once more in order to save the last of the survivors.
108 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 28, 2012
11 people want to read
About the author
Aaron Crocco
6 books43 followersAaron Crocco can be summed up as a writer, but complicating this further is the fact that he's a huge geek, Apple fanboy, and loves Back to the Future so much that he owns a Delorean. In the mid-2000′s his writing spark was reignited and he's been tearing up the keyboard ever since.
Aaron’s debut sci-fi thriller novel SPIRIT HACKERS explores the intersection of technology and the afterlife. His thriller CHRONO VIRUS rocked readers in 2012 with its original take on space travel. In 2013 he released the tie-in story CHRONO VIRUS: FALL OF THE HORIZON. Aaron's apocalyptic debut series AS DARKNESS ENDS explores the end of the world from many points of view.
Aaron hails from Long Island, NY and enjoys hockey, rock & roll, coffee, and way too much ice cream.
Visit him online at www.AaronCrocco.com.
Aaron’s debut sci-fi thriller novel SPIRIT HACKERS explores the intersection of technology and the afterlife. His thriller CHRONO VIRUS rocked readers in 2012 with its original take on space travel. In 2013 he released the tie-in story CHRONO VIRUS: FALL OF THE HORIZON. Aaron's apocalyptic debut series AS DARKNESS ENDS explores the end of the world from many points of view.
Aaron hails from Long Island, NY and enjoys hockey, rock & roll, coffee, and way too much ice cream.
Visit him online at www.AaronCrocco.com.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 11, 2012
It becomes increasingly tricky to innovate a fairly well-explored fiction genre, and the idea of a zombie apocalypse is no exception - zombies are fast or slow, voodoo or viral, after your brains or simply any iron-rich tissue of the body, a tool for a gorefest or an allegory for society. Sometimes it seems like, in the overal body of work involving zombies, it's all been done.
Then Aaron Crocco comes along and gives us something new.
Redbacks is book 2 of his As Darkness Ends series, but can be read standalone (although, having read it as an ARC to review, I want to go back and read book 1). It begins with the world ending - or so it seems to some of the characters. An earthquake shakes not just most of Manhattan, where protagonist James Cole works, but the actual entirety of the earth. James manages to avoid upheaving streets and crumbling skyscrapers, and post-quake bands together with a survivor who saved his life in order to try to get through the city to make his way back to his estranged wife.
Then they discover that buckled streets and precarious architecture and infrastructure are far from their biggest worry - the eponymous, violent antagonists of the tale appear, wreaking havoc and killing survivors, moving in animal-like packs, though they clearly used to be human.
And all of this under a sky unnaturally darkening under a black cloud moving to cover the earth.
It's a quick-paced adventure with roots in zombie literature and religious apocalyptica alike, and one I quite enjoyed - it grabbed me from the quaking get-go and dragged me along through the ruins of one of the great cities of the world, to a conclusion that I honestly never saw coming.
Then Aaron Crocco comes along and gives us something new.
Redbacks is book 2 of his As Darkness Ends series, but can be read standalone (although, having read it as an ARC to review, I want to go back and read book 1). It begins with the world ending - or so it seems to some of the characters. An earthquake shakes not just most of Manhattan, where protagonist James Cole works, but the actual entirety of the earth. James manages to avoid upheaving streets and crumbling skyscrapers, and post-quake bands together with a survivor who saved his life in order to try to get through the city to make his way back to his estranged wife.
Then they discover that buckled streets and precarious architecture and infrastructure are far from their biggest worry - the eponymous, violent antagonists of the tale appear, wreaking havoc and killing survivors, moving in animal-like packs, though they clearly used to be human.
And all of this under a sky unnaturally darkening under a black cloud moving to cover the earth.
It's a quick-paced adventure with roots in zombie literature and religious apocalyptica alike, and one I quite enjoyed - it grabbed me from the quaking get-go and dragged me along through the ruins of one of the great cities of the world, to a conclusion that I honestly never saw coming.
March 29, 2012
Redbacks is the second book in the As Darkness Ends series. The series is a 6-book novelette showcasing the end of the world. It is written following the main character James Cole and what he endures in New York City when a massive, global earthquake strikes.
Now one of the precious few survivors, James’s goal is to get home to his wife through a locked-down Manhattan. But when an inexplicable darkness begins blanketing the city, deadly creatures appear and begin hunting anybody they can find. With James and his companion the only ones capable of fighting, they’ll put their lives at stake once more in order to save the last of the survivors.
The story runs parallel to the first book, which follows Travis Hunter, who has a specific, important mission in the series. You can read book 2 independently from book 1, as the story is written with the points of view of the characters. They do meet each other in both books, and I loved how the author ties it together.
I really enjoyed this book! It is quick, action packed, and engaging throughout the whole book. It has zombie as well as spiritual apocalyptic themes, which I loved. I can’t wait to read the third book.
Now one of the precious few survivors, James’s goal is to get home to his wife through a locked-down Manhattan. But when an inexplicable darkness begins blanketing the city, deadly creatures appear and begin hunting anybody they can find. With James and his companion the only ones capable of fighting, they’ll put their lives at stake once more in order to save the last of the survivors.
The story runs parallel to the first book, which follows Travis Hunter, who has a specific, important mission in the series. You can read book 2 independently from book 1, as the story is written with the points of view of the characters. They do meet each other in both books, and I loved how the author ties it together.
I really enjoyed this book! It is quick, action packed, and engaging throughout the whole book. It has zombie as well as spiritual apocalyptic themes, which I loved. I can’t wait to read the third book.
March 28, 2012
An earthquake brings New York City, and the world, to its knees. James Cole is saved by Tuckey, who befriends him in the chaotic aftermath. James is focused on trying to go home to his wife, but then darkness descends, demonic creatures appear, and all Hell breaks loose.
So we have an apocalyptic, end of days scenario. I liked the concept of the cataclysmic events and destruction of much of the human race, coupled with a supernatural angle. I didn't say "religious" angle, as the author was careful not to pin down specific religious deities or beliefs...it's a spiritual walk for any faith. The story is about good vs. evil. Demons and darkness and dread, oh my!
This is a fast-action, quickly-moving novella that doesn't stop to breathe...much like the characters' lives. There is good detail about the destruction; you are able to see and feel the grit.
I'm not typically drawn to novellas for the simple reason that they tend to have a quick pace that doesn't allow me to get to know my characters, or immerse me in the story. This story was no different.
I found the writing very basic. This is a tension-filled story, yet it was not written in a way that made me feel tense. There were times I didn't believe some of the emotions, because I didn't *feel* what the character was supposedly feeling. The beginning of the story, especially, seemed to try too hard. The author's descriptive prose fell far short of its goal, resulting in clunky sentences that didn't flow naturally, causing me to re-read them to get the jist of the author's intent. Run-on sentences were another issue for me.
I'm not quite sure I understood the end. Again, the fast, novella pace could be to blame. I would have liked things to slow down so I could absorb what was happening, especially with the wrap-up.
So, fast-paced, good concept; however, it could have better execution. At least for me. If you like your stories shorter rather than longer, you may give this one a try, and if you like action-filled, fast-paced stories, Redbacks may be just the kind of pace that you like.
So we have an apocalyptic, end of days scenario. I liked the concept of the cataclysmic events and destruction of much of the human race, coupled with a supernatural angle. I didn't say "religious" angle, as the author was careful not to pin down specific religious deities or beliefs...it's a spiritual walk for any faith. The story is about good vs. evil. Demons and darkness and dread, oh my!
This is a fast-action, quickly-moving novella that doesn't stop to breathe...much like the characters' lives. There is good detail about the destruction; you are able to see and feel the grit.
I'm not typically drawn to novellas for the simple reason that they tend to have a quick pace that doesn't allow me to get to know my characters, or immerse me in the story. This story was no different.
I found the writing very basic. This is a tension-filled story, yet it was not written in a way that made me feel tense. There were times I didn't believe some of the emotions, because I didn't *feel* what the character was supposedly feeling. The beginning of the story, especially, seemed to try too hard. The author's descriptive prose fell far short of its goal, resulting in clunky sentences that didn't flow naturally, causing me to re-read them to get the jist of the author's intent. Run-on sentences were another issue for me.
I'm not quite sure I understood the end. Again, the fast, novella pace could be to blame. I would have liked things to slow down so I could absorb what was happening, especially with the wrap-up.
So, fast-paced, good concept; however, it could have better execution. At least for me. If you like your stories shorter rather than longer, you may give this one a try, and if you like action-filled, fast-paced stories, Redbacks may be just the kind of pace that you like.
May 23, 2013
This review is for the Kindle edition ebook.
Excitement, danger, apocalypse. They go together, and this has it all.
The earthquake hit the earth. A man seeking shelter and help disappeared. As others struggle to put meaning to their lives, the puzzle starts coming together. Not all who survived are what they were. Those not changed by the strangers path must struggle against those that were changed.
In taking a subject like the apocalypse and zombies, there are too many books out there already that repeat the subject matter. We all know the world ends as we know it, the zombies take over, and humanity all but disappears. Aaron Crocco has taken this subject in a different direction. In what promises to be a fantastic series, he is giving us two different stories that tie together very well.
These are short books, they can be read in a day or two. They are well written, and might cause you to grimmace in pain for the characters. The questions left by the first book of this series begin to get answered, and the reader knows all will be revealed by the end of the series.
I could easily recommend this to those who like a short horror story that won't keep anyone awake all night. I am looking forward the the rest of this series.
Excitement, danger, apocalypse. They go together, and this has it all.
The earthquake hit the earth. A man seeking shelter and help disappeared. As others struggle to put meaning to their lives, the puzzle starts coming together. Not all who survived are what they were. Those not changed by the strangers path must struggle against those that were changed.
In taking a subject like the apocalypse and zombies, there are too many books out there already that repeat the subject matter. We all know the world ends as we know it, the zombies take over, and humanity all but disappears. Aaron Crocco has taken this subject in a different direction. In what promises to be a fantastic series, he is giving us two different stories that tie together very well.
These are short books, they can be read in a day or two. They are well written, and might cause you to grimmace in pain for the characters. The questions left by the first book of this series begin to get answered, and the reader knows all will be revealed by the end of the series.
I could easily recommend this to those who like a short horror story that won't keep anyone awake all night. I am looking forward the the rest of this series.
April 20, 2012
Nobody wakes up thinking they're going to die today.
James Cole just survived a world-wide earthquake. Together with Tucky, James sets off to find his wife and make sure she's safe. When a darkness creeps up over the city, James and Tucky find strange creatures coming out as well. Since there are so few left to fight, James decides to join in the battle with the Redbacks. A chance meeting with Travis Hunter gives him a clue about the darkness, and James vows to take out the source of the Redbacks - Travis himself.
Book two of As Darkness Ends, Redbacks gives a lot more action than the first book. By following James around, the reader gets to experience the effects of the Encautum on the survivors and how they react to the Redbacks.
In this quick-paced story the apocalypse continues, forcing survivors to fight the zombie-like creatures brought on by the darkness.
James Cole just survived a world-wide earthquake. Together with Tucky, James sets off to find his wife and make sure she's safe. When a darkness creeps up over the city, James and Tucky find strange creatures coming out as well. Since there are so few left to fight, James decides to join in the battle with the Redbacks. A chance meeting with Travis Hunter gives him a clue about the darkness, and James vows to take out the source of the Redbacks - Travis himself.
Book two of As Darkness Ends, Redbacks gives a lot more action than the first book. By following James around, the reader gets to experience the effects of the Encautum on the survivors and how they react to the Redbacks.
In this quick-paced story the apocalypse continues, forcing survivors to fight the zombie-like creatures brought on by the darkness.
March 12, 2012
Loved this book. I read book one in this series as well. It was great to follow another character and feel/see their plight. It was also great to see the melding of the character in book one and the character in book two's stories. I loved being able to experience it from their perspectives which were of course different. Each book builds upon the previous one. I know there are going to be like 6 total so I am so very excited for the next ones in the series so I can see the whole picture and all the different perspectives.
The story is very much something that I think a lot of people think about and it definitely makes you think. Even though this is a fictitious book you can - at least I can - see how it could really happen.
I was easy to follow and I had no troubles envisioning what was taking place in the story.
The story is very much something that I think a lot of people think about and it definitely makes you think. Even though this is a fictitious book you can - at least I can - see how it could really happen.
I was easy to follow and I had no troubles envisioning what was taking place in the story.
September 6, 2012
Redbacks is the second book in the "As Darkness Ends" series. The first book focused on Travis Hunter who has a specific job to do in the apocalypse sequence. Redbacks continues the saga from the eyes of James Cole, who has banded together with a small group of survivors. The story runs parallel to Travis Hunter's story and shows the immediate aftermath of the earthquake. Emotions are concentrated and personal. While the reader has a sense of what is happening globally and why, these survivors only have what is immediately available to them. The sense of helplessness mixed with a need to DO SOMETHING is palpable. The story is absorbing and fast paced. At the end of this installment you will say "AHHHHH! Don't end yet!" Where is book three? I need book three.
March 25, 2012
Redbacks, the second book in the "As Darkness Ends" series is even better than the first. The author this time tells what was happening while the events of the first book where happening. This time, the character that gave Travis Hunter the radio in the first book is fleshed out and we see what happens to James Cole and the survivors from the tent after the earthquake. We see James and his struggle to get off of Manhattan all while trying to survive the new havoc reeked by Travis. The story is fast paced and engaging. It also leaves the reader wanting more. Can't wait to read the next volume of the "As Darkness Ends" saga.
August 11, 2016
A fun, fast-paced zombie apocalypse!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews