The Shattered Ones

The Aftermath #1

by Brigitte Cromey

NO ONE EVER CARED MUCH ABOUT THIS TERRITORY

Gabriel just wants to do his job and be left alone. The alien oppressors of his childhood may be gone, but their legacy of unearthly technology, nightmarish monsters, and ordinary people developing Shattered powers still lingers. With the violent past threatening to become a bloody present, Gabriel joins forces with the other members of his base—men and women of the Earth Defense Force who successfully pushed the xenos back into space eight years ago.

Seven veterans. One rookie. None of them ever had the families they dreamed of, but battle forges a bond stronger than blood. When the unthinkable happens, Gabriel must trust his newfound family, find his own courage, and embrace the truth he’s always known—that even the worst places and most broken people deserve someone who’s willing to fight for them.

Genres: Science Fiction, Dystopia, Found Family

317 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 25, 2024

About the author

Brigitte Cromey has been known to daydream so heavily that a gong must be rung to retrieve her. (This annoys her family, who can never be sure if she’s actually heard what they’ve just said to her.)

When not submerged in worlds of her own making, she can be found cooking with bizarre ingredients, reading entire books in a single sitting, dressing her children up as fairies and knights, and occasionally responding to the world with kindness tainted by cynicism.

Brigitte lives in Southern Arizona with her husband and children. Should you encounter her, the kettle will always be on.

Reviews

[Amelie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful story.

“Staring down the darkness makes it easier to see all the things we stand to lose.”

I highlighted so many parts in The Shattered Ones. Seriously. My Kindle notebook is stuffed full of excellent quotes, and feelsy quotes, and hilarious quotes, and just plain awesome quotes.

First of all, the overall vibe of the book captivated me. It’s got a wonderfully unique and atmospheric setting, being in the Arizona desert. The desert sci-fi worldbuilding is perfectly fitting and very cool (and then it’s also very cool how Gabriel treasures taking notes in a physical notebook amidst all the tech). And the genre blend is also so good. Genre-blending under the speculative fiction umbrella has become one of my new favorite things in recent years, so this post-apocalyptic meets dystopian meets science-fiction meets superhero story meets a-tiny-bit-of-Western hits the spot. The Shattered superpowers are vivid, gripping, and generally fantastic, and I really admired and appreciated how the author defines the characters’ limits realistically and believably, saddling the Shattered with the risk of Burnout. (Something that’s rather relatable in real life, too, I must say.)

Then. I just have to say. The Food. If you know, you know. German apple strudel, roasting marshmallows, tacos, posole, pancakes, kartoffelpuffer, chili, lebkuchen, cornbread, agua de jamaica, chorizo, paletas, and plenty of coffee and hot chocolate…the book makes me hungry. And gives me a craving for delicious beverages. I can almost guarantee that if you read it, it will do the same for you. So yes. (And Brigitte included a couple of the recipes in the back of the book, so that’s super fun, too!)

But beyond the food descriptions themselves, there’s just nothing like sharing a meal with people you love, people you belong to and who belong to you, and this book had that found-family fellowship in abundance.

And the characters…oh, the characters. I love them dearly. They’re all distinct and spirited and alive, each with specific, fun traits and talents. Eye-patched, techy, German, hair-streaked-pink cook Deadeye. Gentle yet intense sharpshooter Bandit. Mischievous and sarcastic Russian Shattered, Judge. Committed and compassionate medic Josephine. Passionate Tara and steady Caleb. The sensitive, determined, full-of-quiet-strength main character, Gabriel/Gabe. All of the characters’ voices are unique to them, and I was always immersed in the natural, engaging dialogue.

These people share meals. Hugs. Movie nights. Jokes. Pillow fights. Battles. Lives. They’re a family, and nothing will stop them from protecting each other and working together to stand up for those who cannot protect themselves.

Basically, I just love crew stories so, so much. (And all of the communication! The good conversations! The processing! Yes!)

The author also very compassionately and thoughtfully depicts trauma, something that impressed me so much. She certainly doesn’t shy away from depicting the darkness and grit of war, rebellion, and loss (as it should be), but she doesn’t dive too far into certain elements of that trauma. And I thought that was very wise and respectful of her. So many kudos to Brigitte for her sensitive handling of the darkness and for spotlighting hope in a commonly grimdark genre.

Then there’s the theme of the book as a whole. And oh, Gabe…he’s a character I just want to hug tightly. (Though his found family isn’t the least bit stingy about hugs, so I’m glad they have that covered.) Trusting the wrong person got him hurt, but he so badly doesn’t want to survive on his own. And he still loves telling and collecting stories, getting to know people and learning about their lives, which is a part of him I loved, too. Gabriel’s quest and longing to really belong is hard and painful, but he’s still clinging to the promise of healing, the promise that’s still there, even though it often feels like a desert sunrise shrouded by clouds over the desert he loves so much. His journey is something that made me think and renewed my hope.

A few times during the book, I had a bit of trouble following the plot, but that could just be a me thing. Overall, the storyline is absorbing and well-planned, and it was also so unique and interesting to follow a plot that happened after the first rebellion. (Which made me sad that I couldn’t meet Michael. He sounded great.) Plus, the action scenes are top-notch.

To land the plane here before I keep rambling on and on, Brigitte has marketed The Shattered Ones with comps of The Bad Batch and early Marvel movies, and the book 100% has the heart and energy of those two things. (And then there’s an added element of storms, so I was thinking of a Southwest Stormlight Archive a bit, too.) So if you love Clone Force 99, those early tales of the Avengers, and/or unique, hopeful stories in general, The Shattered Ones may be exactly what you’re looking for. I know I’m glad I read it. I can’t wait to own it. And I can’t wait for the rest of the stories in the Aftermath.

🌮 heads-up: this book has a PG-13 rating for a bit of language 🌮

* The author very kindly sent me an eARC of this book, but all thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

[Jewel Windall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original review

5+ stars, and The Shattered Ones is now in my top three books. Everything about it, from the characters, the world, even the pacing of it, just felt so very REAL.

I don’t know how to accurately sum up my thoughts. So I’m going to scream for a moment.

AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH MY HEARTTTTTTTTTTT

Ehem. Is it healthy to have this level of love for a book?

First off, go check out Amelie’s review of this, because she single handedly convinced me to buy this, and I agree with everything she said.

It’s been a while since I immediately connected with a book. Since I’ve wanted to cry for the characters. Since I felt immersed in a world. But The Shattered Ones did it.

The characters… where do I begin? *hugs them all* I love Tara and Caleb, the husband and wife duo who had my heart from the beginning. I love Judge, with his need to control, weird t-shirts, and snark that lifts everyone’s mood. I love artistic, techy, and one eyed Deadeye. I love Bandit, the sniper/captain who holds the team together and looks out for Gabe. I love Josephine, who patiently patches them up every time. I love quiet Logan, who fights for his dear family. I love this crew.

And Gabriel. He’s so raw and real and I just want to give him a hug. My heart… I love Gabe. He was broken, he had his flaws, and he was the perfect character.

The plot was paced very very well. There was just the right amount of action vs bonding time with the crew and training (Can I say that I LOVED the training scenes??). There was just enough backstory through memories and hints without it feeling overwhelming, and when that backstory and breakdowns did come, I was ready to cry.

And guys, I have a heart of stone when reading.

Ach, I just loved it all. The atmosphere, the training, the hugs, the movie nights, the fights with the Blood Angels and the little fights over how to properly cook marshmallows, the cooking, the THEME—

How did I forget theme? Theme is a must have for me. And it was weaved into this story so effortlessly.

I love a good story about being willing to FIGHT. Fighting for people who can’t fight for themselves, fighting against the darkness. THIS BOOK HAS IT.

This book was beautiful.

* * *

Second reread and review

“There’s some good in this world, and it’s worth fighting for.”

I needed this book right now. Before I said it was in my top three books. I was wrong. This is my favorite book.

This is my comfort book. This is the book that inspires me. This is the book that ripped out my heart and pieced it back together.

I almost cried SO many times this reread.

Words aren’t enough to explain how I feel about this book. This burning feeling of hope, this bond these characters with each other, this love and sacrifice gripping each page.

Judge was one of my favorite characters this time. I didn’t realize until the reread how close he and Gabe got. He grew so much.

Tara and Caleb also had me in a tighter chokehold. Guys I love them. I love them so much.

Gabriel had my heart just like last time. There could not be a better MC for the book.

Brigitte, thank you… thank you a million times for writing this.

[Brigitte Cromey]

I toss a lot of buzzwords around when I market this series.

Sci-fi. Dystopian. Post-apocalyptic. Technology and superpowers.

God help me, I even compare it to things like the early Marvel films, the Bad Batch series, and the Halo video game franchise.

They’re all good words. They serve to pigeon-hole this story into the correct niches, to better identify its ideal readers. There’s just one thing more I’d like to convey, and that’s its heart.

See, most people hear the words "post-apocalyptic" and "dystopian" and balk at the idea of yet another world steeped in hopelessness and brutality. These stories often take a massive scale, with the fate of all humanity (or at least those who survived the zombies) at stake—and that’s where The Shattered Ones deviates from the norm.

This story takes a near-future world touched by global cataclysm and focuses not on the macro scale but the micro—on one life, and a tiny corner of the map that no one cares about other than the people who love it too much to leave. While set against a backdrop of high stakes for the region, the story is ultimately about Gabriel’s personal journey from fear to bravery, and eventually the willingness to sacrifice himself for the place he loves.

There’s peril and action aplenty, but this story is tempered with softness—with the smell of desert rain, the laughter of friends around a firepit, and the strength of someone’s arms around you as you let yourself cry for the first time in years.

Dystopian fiction often means a hopeless tone and objectionable content passed off as "gritty realism", but not here. Not on my watch. At its heart, The Shattered Ones is a story of unexpected courage, of an outsider being welcomed into a family, of bleeding hope into darkness and chaos, and of a broken but beautiful place with people worth fighting for.

Thanks for hearing my heart for this story. I hope you'll consider preordering, and I hope you'll enjoy.

[Chloë Mali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read Two:
I'm simply never getting over this book, thanks. After reading it the first time, I could not stop thinking about it. It lives rent free in my mind now, and I'm totally okay with that. I decided that this would be a great book to annotate for the first time, and that was a really good decision, because I adored rereading it slowly and highlighting all the fluffy, funny, and bittersweet moments. I've never read a book with characters THIS vivid, and there are so many scenes that just run in my head like a movie, which is really impressive given that I no longer have a very vivid imagination and have difficulty picturing anything when I read. I still need everyone I know to read The Shattered Ones (PLEASE) and I cannot wait for book two to release!


Read One:
Favorite read of 2025 so far. Oh. My. Goodness.
I had really high expectations for this one. It's been recommended to me on multiple different occasions after I asked for found family dynamics and when I was searching for comp titles for my WIP. This checks alllll the boxes. And I was BLOWN OUT OF THE WATER. The dynamics between the whole team are just so pure and wholesome, and the world-building is amazing. I don't read military style fiction super often but I really, really liked how it was done in this one. I cannot WAIT for the next book and I need everyone I know to read this book immediately, please and thanks. :D

[Laurel (Yeetarandomwriter) Burgess · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books.

I will probably update this review after a more recent read through, but this was my first impression after reading a super early ARC:

The Shattered Ones shattered my expectations and scattered me in the lives of heroes, where healing, courage, laughter, aliens, food, the beauty of Arizona and love warmed my heart in a poof of cyan power.

Have fun convincing me these characters aren't real, because they felt real, and I love them.

This book means a lot to me now. It's the re-readable kind. The recomendable kind. The chuck at your friends and scream at them until they read it kind of book.

If you like Marvel movies, the X-Files tv show, the Halo video game, or just want to read a really great book, allow me to nudge this one at you. You won't regret it. :)

[A.M. Reynwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, don’t mind me. I’m just over here screaming. It’s fine. . .

But seriously, this book is AMAZING. High caliber in emotional depth, character, and charm. I’m hooked for life. There are some hard things dealt with in these pages, but the darkness is challenged by light, and this scrappy crew of mismatched but found family is precious! The determination, courage, and grit to fight back and against the odds is felt and inspiring. I was gripped by the story, too, never knowing I needed a low sci-fi high spec ops in the desert until I read the first page, and now I’m in for the long haul.

There’s also a soup recipe in the back, so . . . Bonus points. (It’s a really tasty soup)

[K.M. Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I start off with a screech about how good this book was? Because this was a really good book.

A friend read this book and recommended it to me, saying how the main character Gabriel is very similar to my character Jayesh from After Atlantis. You know the type: the inexperienced kid, lonely, insecure, really wants to belong but doesn't know how? Yeah, I'm a sucker for that kind of character. Also, it's the aftermath of an alien invasion? It's post apoc instead of dystopian? And also found family? Shut up and take my money.

It starts out as a military outpost in the desert outside of Tucson. The aliens are gone, but a gang called the Blood Angels has moved in and is using alien tech against the military and civilians. Gabriel is dispatch, stares at screens all day, but is always writing down the stories from the Shattered he's working with. To him they're superheroes, the super powered people who drove off the aliens. He's also very good at what he does, and everyone in the base likes him, although he doesn't know it. But he so, so badly wants to belong. I wanted to hug him and wrap him in a soft blanket, except I know what happens to these kinds of characters and I was here for it.

Honestly, the author was kinder to Gabriel than I would have been. He didn't suffer nearly as much as I expected, and it has a good ending, although left open for more books. There's some loose ends that need further books to explore (like all those stories he's writing down at the end). But overall, this is a fun book with a group of superpowered characters working together and becoming friends, like the best kind of supernatural TV show. It's also inspired by XCOM 2, and I went OH, because I knew it was based on SOMEthing. I know a fanfic when I smell it because it has so much love poured into the characters. Highly recommend, will watch this author with great interest.

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stories make me who I am, or rather, they show me parts of myself that have always been there, I just didn’t know it. And there’s a big part of me that was hiding in this book, in the main character Gabe. I related to his fear, his struggle to feel included, to overcome the feeling that people were just tolerating him, not that they actually liked him. But this crew, man; they did! I love them all so much, and their interactions are the best.

The sharing of stories, of memories good and bad, to bolster each other up and demonstrate that none of them are alone… It’s a beautiful kind of community, of found family, and it filled an ache in my soul. It’s similar to the reason I write, and read—to know that I’m not alone. To share pieces of my heart with others, and take pieces of theirs into mine.

And this story didn’t just make me feel things, it’s a full ride! We’ve got pulse-pounding fights, explosions, blood, good cooking, and fabulous character development and growth! Whew! What more could you want?? I’m in love with these characters, and this world—/their/ world—and I can’t wait to see more of it!

[Kristen Bazen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young man with a broken past tries to find his place among legends...

I'm not sure how a sci-fi stole my heart, but this one did. Even with the large cast, every character was unique and relatable, and I fell in love with each one. The development of their relationships throughout the story give this book such strength.

I also loved the vivid desert setting, the bits of Spanish, Gabe's journey from fear and isolation to courage and trust, the banter and camaraderie, the slow, sweet moments, the heart-pounding action...well, pretty much everything!

Even when a beloved squad member dies, I couldn't be mad because the scene of self-sacrifice was so beautiful and powerful. It made me think of John 15:13.

This book was so refreshingly wholesome in the best possible way.

[Savanna Huff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oftentimes, I love the characters in books. Sometimes I wish I could meet them in my world. Rarely have I EVER wanted to hop into a fantasy world and live there with the characters myself (especially if there is a high probability that I would die)...
And yet, these characters are so amazing as people that that is exactly what I want to do with this one.

This story seriously includes the incredible comradery of a good BJJ gym, a good understanding of "good" and "evil", displays of truest love, fantastic character depth, realistic depictions of injuries and human limits in general, loads of hope, deep personal conflict, good-natured humor, great family dynamics, and descriptions that set it all in a world I have no trouble believing in.

Beyond the tropes, the writing is excellent. I'm sure improvement could have been made SOMEWHERE, but I really can't think of where it would be. I laughed, I gasped, and I even cried for a bit there. I could see it all, I could feel it all... oh man, this was so so epic.

As far as content warnings go:
The characters swore a lot (would honestly have been weird if they didn't), but no actual swear words that I remember actually made it into the text that I remember. There is ZERO smut at all. I remember no graphic gore.
With that being said, many many people die in this. Mostly soldiers we never actually meet, but people nonetheless. There are memories of traumatic experiences, displays of violence, blood, that kind of thing. Though violence was not written for its own sake, but rather that of tha plot, it might be rather intense for those who do not do well with low levels of tolerence to such things.
I personally draw the line at a certain point when the violence in books gets too rough, but it was fine for me here.

All that to say this book is pretty clean.

The only thing about The Shattered Ones that I really did not like is the fact that I have to wait for book 2. I feel like I NEED to know what happens. There are some things that I want to see resolved ASAP. I got so many answers in book 1, but then so many questions that I cannot have answers for until book 2.

Anyway. Read this book if you don't mind being sucked into something fantastic that you may accidentally binge read in one day. I need more people to know about this book. There is seriously a sad lack of people for me to squeal about this with.

[S.H. Dontell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is absolutely one of the best books I have ever read. It started slowly, but bit by bit I grew more and more attached to the story and the characters until I was officially obsessed. Basically the book and I were in a slow burn. And it's just. So good.
The location is so VIVID and beautifully described, and I adore all parts of it. It's so naturally described, you fall in love with the desert by the end.
The plot was fascinating—post alien apocalypse? With the warriors of the first fight going up against gangs and the remnants of the first war? Sign me UP. The Shattereds powers are really interesting, and I love how there's an even balance between Shattered and just regular characters.
Speaking of characters THE CHARACTERS. I AM OBSESSED I could spend this entire review ranting about them. Gabriel was painfully relatable to me on some levels—in the starting, when he doubts his place with his crew, and thinks they wouldn't really want him around? That HURT, and I love how much of this book was spent proving him wrong.
Also, Bandit. The Dad of All Time. I am obsessed with him. But also Caleb and Tara my beloved power couple and Deadeye the LEGEND and Josephine is so sweet and Logan is just some guy but I would die for him and JUDGE. I love Judge. He's amazing, and a little gremlin in the best way.
Another thing I love about this book is that, while there is romance (and I am DEEPLY obsessed with it) the core of this book is about family. About Gabriel's arc of finding a new family and trusting in those bonds he's building. It's absolutely beautiful, and exactly the kind of book for me.
Ahhh, what else is there to say? So much, if I'm being honest. I cried multiple times, ESPECIALLY in Stage Nineteen. I am truly obsessed, and I cannot WAIT for more of this series or from this author!!

[Grace Soto · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Heartwarming" probably isn't the first word that comes to mind when you think of the post-apocalyptic genre, but The Shattered Ones might just change that. Don't get me wrong, it's still packed with action and set in a fascinating world--Earth struggling to pick herself up after routing a brutal alien occupation. But on a deeper level, this story is about finding a reason to hope against all odds, and embracing love and community amidst loss and grief, about pushing past the fear to protect what matters most.

While many books claim the "found family" trope, it's safe to say this one really means it. Cromey was right to claim The Bad Batch as a comp title and the whole book reads like a Tell Tale video game: immersive, raw, filled with characters you don't want to leave behind at the end.

Although I did struggle a bit with all the central characters (5-7 at any given time), the book does have a handy cast list at the back and only had to reference it a couple times. The pacing wavers between a casual stride and an all-out sprint. This felt more video-gamey to me than annoying. And trust me, those action scenes *really* make up for any lagging in between. The balance between action and dialogue feels pretty natural overall.

This book was a 4.5 ⭐ for me and I can't wait to see what's next for Gabe and his family!

[Amelia E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh gosh my heart 😭

This book was so good, I absolutely loved it. The found family was found family-ing and I love every single one of the Base 36 main crew 🥹 Judge is my favoriteeee

The world building is super cool, I haven’t read many post-apocalyptic books but if they’re all like this then I need more. The Shattered powers are really fun ahhh

And THE LORE
The veteran heroes’ history
AHHHH

Oh also I did NOT see the one major plot twist coming, which is really funny bc I feel like it should have been obvious but I was totally shocked lolol which was amazing

I wish some specific members of the found family had more interactions and uhhhh my heart may have gotten ripped out at least once. But like I love this book. So much. This is, like, exactly what I want in a book. Pls go read it. Thank you.


Content warnings: I would call this PG-13, there’s some cursing and definitely lots of violence lolol but the tiny parts that could be considered romance are totally clean

[Timberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book pulled me out of a reading slump and made me rediscover my love of reading. Finished in two days (it’s that gripping!), I was immediately ready for a reread. The characters were very well thought out and I grew to care about each one. The world building was fantastic! I definitely recommend!
After I finish a reread, I will come back with a more in-depth review.

[Liz Koetsier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fantastically fun. It has been a long time since I have read sci-fi, and this was reminiscent of my good ol' college days binging Aaron Allston X-Wing novels. Full of tension and laughter. I haven't decided who my favorite is yet but I now have a guppy in my aquarium named Judge. :D

[Julia Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Amazing

I have no idea why I waited so long to read this. This book is epicness itself. From start to finish, it's a wild ride.
I only hope the next book isn't too far behind.

[Kaitlyn Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Endorsement: "Blending apocalyptic sci-fi with the superpowers of Stranger Things, Cromey has given us a found-family team of combative comradery that you'll be cheering for from page one."

[Sydney Witbeck · Rating 3 out of 5]

My rating: 3.75/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐

BOOKISH YAYS!
*The cover. I cannot get over how lovely it is! I’ve given up not judging books by their covers at this point. A book’s cover is it’s first impression, and this one made a very good impression on me!

*The character development. There are 8 main characters in this book and several more minor ones. Sometimes with a large cast, especially in the fantasy genre, it is hard not to only focus on your main character, and the others recede to the background or may display stereotypes of certain people/behaviors. (the villain, the sidekick, the mentor, etc) However, each main character had a distinct personality and voice. Gabe, Bandit, and Tara were my favorite characters by far!

*The worldbuilding was very complex and well-rounded. Worldbuilding (or lack thereof) can make or break a story, and I enjoyed certain aspects in The Shattered Ones such as the sci-fi desert vibes, the way characters interacted with technology, and the layers of history and backstory which are revealed throughout.

*Gabe's first-person narrative. There were times when I felt like he fell into a bit of the stereotypical “I’m an orphan; therefore, I don’t deserve love/I can’t let myself care for others” YA protagonist, overall, he had a good story arc and raw voice which pulled me in. He had a good arc as well, his journey taking him to a place where he had to confront the lies he believed and step up to face his fears.

*Caleb & Tara’s relationship as husband and wife was so sweet. Under the joking, you could see they deeply cared for each other. They complemented (and complimented) each other so well. I wanted them to be able to go back to their quiet, safe life so badly!

*The Shattered abilities were cool! For some reason, it reminded me of Star Wars?1

BOOKISH OKAYS:
*While I loved the friendships present throughout this book (especially Caleb & Tara’s and Bandit & Gabriel’s), I had a hard time with the fact that 80% of the friendship we see is people “bantering” or using sarcasm. There were serious moments, but they felt too overshadowed.

*Some of the worldbuilding felt a bit overwhelming, but this may be because I haven’t read a lot of sci-fi or dystopian stories. From the ending, it seems that the author will write another book and so some questions may be answered there.

*I wish there had been more of a faith element to this book. I feel it could have helped develop several of the characters. At one point, a character is mentioned as praying his friends are safe. But we never see Who he prays to, and it’s never mentioned again.

BOOKISH NAYS:
*Swearing. Okay, this was the main reason for the lowered rating. I went into this book expecting a clean, YA read. And for the most part, it delivered. Now, characters do say things like “stupid” and “idiot” which I personally don’t care for. There are also mentions of d*** several times as well as how YA fiction usually covers language - by referring to it without the words - “cursed,” “swore a blue streak,” “I didn’t know the words but they must have been swearing,” etc. This seems to be the main reaction of the adult characters in The Shattered Ones whenever they are mad. One character in particular seemed to have this reaction. And towards the end, this ramped up (b*****d, p****d off, etc. 😭) It felt as though once you were invested enough in the story to keep going to the end (because it does ramp up, and I was very invested) the characters could speak freer because you would ignore it to get to the end? So that was a bit of a let-down.

OVERALL…
This was an interesting read. I wish there hadn’t been instances of swearing, as I probably would have given it a 4 or 4.5 star rating then. Apart from that, I am glad I read it. It reminded me that I haven’t read much sci-fi outside of CS Lewis’ Space Trilogy!

[Amber Gabriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Shattered Ones is an exciting dystopian sci-fi adventure with themes of found family and self-sacrifice. I devoured it in one sitting.
Despite being ravaged and abandoned by aliens, the earth remains habitable for humans whose greatest enemy is still, as it always has been, themselves. Due to alien processes called "fields" and "dampening," which were not fully explained, some humans have broken through a wall, or "shattered," to access new powers and abilities. While the new government tries to maintain order, a gang called The Blood Angels vies for control of the American southwest, specifically Arizona. When the higher ups turn a blind eye, the small, local defense team determines to protect the people they know and love. I mean, who else would want dusty, dry Arizona anyway? If they don't stand up for their homeland, no one will.
The story is told in first person through the eyes of a young recruit with a traumatic past. Gabriel's childhood losses forced him to turn to books to escape, and he becomes a collector of stories. Through his curiosity, the reader discovers much of the history of the other characters and the world as it now exists. How this talent evolves as his circumstances change shows his growth and maturation as a reluctant hero.
Many characters are introduced in the first couple of chapters, but once I got them straight, I loved all of them. There are homey, domestic moments interspersed with action scenes, gunfights, leftover alien spawn, and training sessions. There are light hints at romance, but nothing more than hand holding on the page. Rare instances of swearing. Much death, and some blood, but it's not really gory as super powers are used to take out the bulk of the enemy.
If you ever wondered what earth would be like after War of the Worlds; if you would like Starship Troopers without the bugs, love triangle, or space travel; or a dystopian version of the Hobbit without elves and with aliens instead of orcs, then you would like this book. This is not my normal genre, so I'm reaching for comps, but it makes me want to read more, and I will definitely check out the next book.

[Sojourner · Rating 5 out of 5]

You want dystopian sci-fi, action/adventure with dashing heroes? This is it. You want found-family warm fuzzies like Firefly? Hit this up. Sick of grim-dark? You’re at the right place.

I appreciate the uniquely millennial perspective of being a kid when the world shattered, and coming of age when most of the battles have been fought and you’re surrounded by fading heroes, disillusionment, division, and confusion. The world is incredibly real: difficult with shades of grey, and an intensely loyal grounding in the American Southwest. But somehow, the characters make it wholesome; genuinely trying to do the right thing with the crap hand they’ve been dealt, and building a found family that reminds me a little of Firefly with their warm-hearted shenanigans.

The MC has a lot of growing up to do, but he gets there, and there are so many delightful characters to fall in love with.

[Gabriella Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

SO GOOD!

I definitely enjoyed this book! Great worldbuilding, lovable characters, strong themes, and loads of believable action! I found The Shattered Ones from a book trailer on social media that one of my favorite authors shared, and I knew right away that it was going on my TBR. Having read it now, I’m so, so glad I saw it and saved it. Can’t wait for the next one!!

[Charis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super unique sci-fi book loaded with action, superpowers, and found family. It took me awhile to get into, mostly trying to figure out who was who and what was happening, but I eventually got into things.

I love the setting. The Arizona atmosphere threw me right into the story, and the post-apocalyptic vibes were divine.

The Shattered Ones tackles themes like grief, strength, teamwork, and moving forward. It’s a powerful story, and I hope there’s more coming soon!

[Michelle Emmanuelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a hot minute since I've read a sci-fi/dystopian book, and The Shattered Ones was the perfect reintroduction. Even though we're looking at the aftermath of a great battle that ravaged Earth, the heart and soul of this book is so encouraging. I typically stay away from dystopian because it tends to make me feel sad and disheartened, but The Shattered Ones was such a breath of fresh air. Like Gabriel, I felt like I was an outsider welcomed into a family, like someone who was scared to face the world but found courage and hope.


Story: 5/5

Worldview: 4/5

Story

The story here was phenomenal. At first we met quite a lot of characters, but I couldn't help but smile at every new face. Gabriel knew them from stories of his youth; he knew them as his heroes, and his wide-eyed excitement was infectious. Also, even though I knew this was the first book in a series, I had to double-check because I thought maybe I had missed a prequel or something. It was confusing at first to have so many things referenced that I didn't know, but I loved it by the end because the whole book just felt alive. I really felt like I was looking at the aftermath of something big. I felt like an outsider with Gabriel, only to know what it's like to trust and find family.

Worldview

This is not a Christian book, but it has really nice themes. I saw courage bleed through the pages, and hope raise its head after crushing losses. I really loved the cozy feel as well. I've been to Arizona, but seeing the landscape through Gabriel's eyes really made me feel like it was a home long-since forgotten.

Worldview lost a star because there was a few instances of cursing that I did not know was in the book (darn, darn it), probably about half a dozen. There were no innuendos. Actually, I liked that there wasn't any romance in the book here. I felt like it allowed the reader to focus on the heart of the story. We could root for the future of the world and not necessarily the future of a couple.

Spoilers

Now, I'm going to get a bit spoilery here, so if you don't want spoilers you can ignore the rest of this review. About halfway through the book, when Gabriel gets his powers, he is referred to as an empath/empathic. I know that's typically a New Age thing, but because it was within the context of sci-fi/mutation, I was okay with that context. It's kind of like with superhero movies I have a different suspension of disbelief. There are also pop culture references (Star Wars, D&D, movies, etc).

Overall Thoughts

Overall, a great read, and I will absolutely be picking up the next books in the series! If you like dystopian but want to read a book with a different heart than the norm, I highly recommend The Shattered Ones. I received a free copy of this book but opinions expressed are my own :D

[J. Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

UGH this was such a good book!!! The found family was INSANE, and had serious Star Wars Rebels vibes (which is one of the HIGHEST compliments I can give a found family lol)!!! The plot? Fabulous. The characters? Even BETTER!!! Gabriel was such a sweet, real, funny, and kind protagonist. Judge my actual beloved. Bandit has such dad energy, and Josephine was just COOL. So was Logan, he was Just Some Guy, in the BEST way. Like, he was super chill and nice and I just LIKE him. AUGH AND CALEB AND TARAAAAAA!!!! Also, Deadeye. I want to be her when I grow up. I cannot recommend this book enough, even though it made me cry. Worth it

[Emmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A reluctant hero, within a military hopeful-dystopian, within a YA coming of age story rotating around found family and a love of the deserted places of the world.

Loss, insecurity, wanting to belong, humour, action and a healthy dose of comfortable (found) family moments around the table make up a big part of this book.

I'm going to let my favourite quotes from the book do the talking, below, and at the bottom you'll find some content warnings:

''It wasn't all bad, Gabriel,' she insisted. And we have a chance to make sure that what happened to you won't happen to anyone else.''

''Even if this desert never sees rain again, and the cities dry up under the sun with no resources left to scavange, the people in this region deserve someone who's willing to die protecting them.' I took a deep breath. 'Even if that person has to be me.''

'Grief left holes in places I hadn't expected.'

''You really are scared all the time. How do you manage?'
'There's more things in life than just fear.''

''I don't know what's with everyone in this squad. None of you have an ounce of common sense or self-preservation.''

Content warnings
Coarse language: none
Violence & gore: moderate violence, very mild gore
Sexual content: none

*I received a free copy from the author. This did not influence my review or rating

[M.H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first installment in Cromey’s hopeful dystopian/sci-fantasy series is an intelligent and heartfelt character-driven adventure you don’t want to miss!

The cast is memorable and well developed, with a likable main character in Gabriel. His arc is excellent. The supporting cast is vibrant, with each bringing a lot to the table. I loved Deadeye, Bandit, and Caleb in particular. Oh, and Judge. Heck, who am I kidding? I loved them all.

The action is nice and tight, bridging scenes of heartfelt character interaction that scream found family in all the best ways. It’s a fun and quick, yet thought-provoking read, asking hard questions in a healing way. At times, it feels almost cozy. At others, the action ramps up and leaves you reeling—in the best way. It’s a great balance.

The writing is solid. The pace really hits its stride after the first few chapters, and after that I found myself sucked in and eager to read on. If you relish hopeful reads, lush desert settings, fascinating powers, and found family, don’t miss this one!

Content: Gun violence/death. Occasional strong language. No spice/steam.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Jane Austin said, “if I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more.”

That’s how I feel about this book. I’ve tried, yet I’m physically incapable of writing a review that expresses how much I love this book and how much these characters mean to me.

They mean a lot. Incase you couldn’t tell by the Jane Austin quote. So I guess I’ll leave it at that. Read this book please. You will laugh. You will cry. You’ll be wrapped up into the arms of this cosy found family. This is hopeful dystopian at its finest. Trust me when I say you don’t want to miss it.

[K.E. Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. It's been a bit since I've read a post apocalyptic book and they're always fun to read. This one had some Old Guard and Annihilation vibes. The group of characters all felt unique and fleshed out. It definitely hurt when Judge died. I would have liked the Blood Angels to have been fleshed out a bit more; it kind of felt like they were one-dimensional antagonists. If you like dystopic worlds and found families, you'll enjoy this book.

[Liberty Sain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good. I'd recommend it to anybody who likes sci-fi. The only problem with it was that it ended when I least expected it.

[Allison Hilleson]

Full review coming