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After the Fallout: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller
The world has gone dark. And now danger lurks in the shadows…
After a massive EMP attack cripples the West Coast, civilization collapses overnight. Claire’s only focus is finding her sister Lydia—before it’s too late. With chaos erupting around every corner, Claire is forced to team up with the last person she ever her ex-husband. But in a world without rules, trust is a luxury they can't afford.
Meanwhile, miles away in the remote wilderness, Lydia awakens in the wreckage of a plane crash—alone, injured, and pregnant. But this isn’t just any pregnancy. Lydia is carrying a child for one of the country’s most powerful and ruthless families... and now they want her back. Alive is optional.
Armed with nothing but the survival skills their father taught them, the sisters must navigate a landscape where the only thing more dangerous than nature is the people still left in it. Their reach the family’s old homestead and ride out whatever’s coming.
The road to each other is dangerous—but it’s the only one worth taking.
After a massive EMP attack cripples the West Coast, civilization collapses overnight. Claire’s only focus is finding her sister Lydia—before it’s too late. With chaos erupting around every corner, Claire is forced to team up with the last person she ever her ex-husband. But in a world without rules, trust is a luxury they can't afford.
Meanwhile, miles away in the remote wilderness, Lydia awakens in the wreckage of a plane crash—alone, injured, and pregnant. But this isn’t just any pregnancy. Lydia is carrying a child for one of the country’s most powerful and ruthless families... and now they want her back. Alive is optional.
Armed with nothing but the survival skills their father taught them, the sisters must navigate a landscape where the only thing more dangerous than nature is the people still left in it. Their reach the family’s old homestead and ride out whatever’s coming.
The road to each other is dangerous—but it’s the only one worth taking.
710 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 13, 2025
310 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Grace Hamilton
141 books294 followersGrace Hamilton is the prepper pen-name for a bad-ass, survivalist momma-bear of four kids, and wife to a wonderful husband. After being stuck in a mountain cabin for six days following a flash flood, she decided she never wanted to feel so powerless or have to send her kids to bed hungry again. Now she lives the prepper lifestyle and knows that if SHTF or TEOTWAWKI happens, she’ll be ready to help protect and provide for her family.
Combine this survivalist mentality with a vivid imagination (as well as a slightly unhealthy day dreaming habit) and you get a prepper fiction author. Grace spends her days thinking about the worst possible survival situations that a person could be thrown into, then throwing her characters into these nightmares while trying to figure out "What SHOULD you do in this situation?"
It’s her wish that through her characters, you will get to experience what life will be like and essentially learn from their mistakes and experiences.
Combine this survivalist mentality with a vivid imagination (as well as a slightly unhealthy day dreaming habit) and you get a prepper fiction author. Grace spends her days thinking about the worst possible survival situations that a person could be thrown into, then throwing her characters into these nightmares while trying to figure out "What SHOULD you do in this situation?"
It’s her wish that through her characters, you will get to experience what life will be like and essentially learn from their mistakes and experiences.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
August 13, 2025
An EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) attack on any country would, in all likelihood, severely disrupt and potentially collapse modern society. Immediately following the attack, widespread panic and chaos would ensue as people realise the extent of the damage and the limitations of their resources. Infrastructure, including transportation (modern vehicles that rely on electronics would be rendered inoperable), communication, and the electrical grid would be crippled, leading to a cascade of negative consequences, not least feral behaviour.
This then is the backdrop for “After the Fallout”, which follows a group of survivors, each with their own backstory, most of them with one thing in common, needing to be reunited with their families.
The only thing on Claire’s mind is finding her sister Lydia - unfortunately that will mean teaming up with her ex husband and she’s not sure how that will pan out, but they have a long journey on foot and there are some very dangerous people around, so they’ll have to try and make it work.
Somewhere out in the wilderness, Lydia’s plane has literally dropped out of the sky, into a lake and she’s not only injured but also pregnant. Lydia is carrying this baby for a powerful and ruthless family and they’ll do anything to get her back, and it’s not because they have any feelings for her, indeed she was on the plane because they’d kidnapped her!
Both Claire and Lydia have excellent survival skills, as taught by their father, but will that be enough to save them in this new lawless dog eat dog world?
The storyline is told from the perspectives of a group of characters, each of them given a voice to relate their own feelings and emotions. They’re all likeable (apart from the bad guys of course), the good guys are relatable, and there were many times when I had to question what I would have done in the various frightening situations they found themselves in.
A terrific post apocalyptic story that had me gripped from the start. Recommended.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Relay Publishing for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
This then is the backdrop for “After the Fallout”, which follows a group of survivors, each with their own backstory, most of them with one thing in common, needing to be reunited with their families.
The only thing on Claire’s mind is finding her sister Lydia - unfortunately that will mean teaming up with her ex husband and she’s not sure how that will pan out, but they have a long journey on foot and there are some very dangerous people around, so they’ll have to try and make it work.
Somewhere out in the wilderness, Lydia’s plane has literally dropped out of the sky, into a lake and she’s not only injured but also pregnant. Lydia is carrying this baby for a powerful and ruthless family and they’ll do anything to get her back, and it’s not because they have any feelings for her, indeed she was on the plane because they’d kidnapped her!
Both Claire and Lydia have excellent survival skills, as taught by their father, but will that be enough to save them in this new lawless dog eat dog world?
The storyline is told from the perspectives of a group of characters, each of them given a voice to relate their own feelings and emotions. They’re all likeable (apart from the bad guys of course), the good guys are relatable, and there were many times when I had to question what I would have done in the various frightening situations they found themselves in.
A terrific post apocalyptic story that had me gripped from the start. Recommended.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Relay Publishing for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
August 7, 2025
☆☆☆☆☆
POST-APOCALYPTIC MARVEL! FAMILY BONDS, SACRIFICE, HARDSHIPS, LOVE, LOSS & COMPASSION
After the fallout by Grace Hamilton is definitely one of those books that will hit the top best lists. It's an award winner in the making. During a time that most families, friends, communities, and cities are falling apart after an EMP attack hits the U.S., the characters in the story come together not only to survive but because of the love they share for each other and their compassion for others.
Grace has brought a story of a family's determination to protect their loved ones at all costs to themselves. The characters are clearly brought to life on the pages in a way that leaves you feeling like you know and understand their hardships and their struggles as they work together to survive everything from a plane crash, traveling through wilderness without supplies with only their wits and persistence to connect with their family. They endure a lack of food, shelter, criminals, thieves, and murderers, and even wildlife confirming mankind is not at the top of the food chain.
The Taylor family, Rob, Lydia, Claire, Alejandro, Bobby are a family, who like any family, who have their own relationship challenges but their love for each other and their willingness to place their lives on the line for each other to come together across long distances (long and time consuming due to the lack of modern transportation which was taken out due to the EMP) to reunite at Grandpa Rob's homestead outside of Allendale, California. Rob, being a prepper, has a small farm and has had the foresight to stock and prepare for an off-the-grid and self-sufficient life.
The hardships the family faces during their trek to Rob's farm only bring them closer together. This is a story of a family's love, a family with high morals, friendships built in a time when it would be so easy to become cynical towards others keeping those you do not know at arms' length or at the distance of the range of your bullets. The compassion that is shown to those who have even been the cause of their hardships and even the loss of their loved ones shows that even at the loss of society that there is still hope.
This is a very good story that is action-packed, intriguing, and suspenseful. It's touching at times and you will find yourself drawn into the story from the first paragraph to the final page and you will be wanting to know what's going to happen to the Taylor family and their friends and you'll be jonesing for the next book in this series.
I have really enjoyed reading this book and hope you will also.
Quotes:
"Maybe you should write greeting cards. 'Congratulations on the apocalypse. Good luck.'"
What a Hallmark moment!
"Real leaders build trust, not fear. That's how you really protect people."
"Hope's a hard thing to hold onto these days. Without it, what's the point of doing anything at all?"
POST-APOCALYPTIC MARVEL! FAMILY BONDS, SACRIFICE, HARDSHIPS, LOVE, LOSS & COMPASSION
After the fallout by Grace Hamilton is definitely one of those books that will hit the top best lists. It's an award winner in the making. During a time that most families, friends, communities, and cities are falling apart after an EMP attack hits the U.S., the characters in the story come together not only to survive but because of the love they share for each other and their compassion for others.
Grace has brought a story of a family's determination to protect their loved ones at all costs to themselves. The characters are clearly brought to life on the pages in a way that leaves you feeling like you know and understand their hardships and their struggles as they work together to survive everything from a plane crash, traveling through wilderness without supplies with only their wits and persistence to connect with their family. They endure a lack of food, shelter, criminals, thieves, and murderers, and even wildlife confirming mankind is not at the top of the food chain.
The Taylor family, Rob, Lydia, Claire, Alejandro, Bobby are a family, who like any family, who have their own relationship challenges but their love for each other and their willingness to place their lives on the line for each other to come together across long distances (long and time consuming due to the lack of modern transportation which was taken out due to the EMP) to reunite at Grandpa Rob's homestead outside of Allendale, California. Rob, being a prepper, has a small farm and has had the foresight to stock and prepare for an off-the-grid and self-sufficient life.
The hardships the family faces during their trek to Rob's farm only bring them closer together. This is a story of a family's love, a family with high morals, friendships built in a time when it would be so easy to become cynical towards others keeping those you do not know at arms' length or at the distance of the range of your bullets. The compassion that is shown to those who have even been the cause of their hardships and even the loss of their loved ones shows that even at the loss of society that there is still hope.
This is a very good story that is action-packed, intriguing, and suspenseful. It's touching at times and you will find yourself drawn into the story from the first paragraph to the final page and you will be wanting to know what's going to happen to the Taylor family and their friends and you'll be jonesing for the next book in this series.
I have really enjoyed reading this book and hope you will also.
Quotes:
"Maybe you should write greeting cards. 'Congratulations on the apocalypse. Good luck.'"
What a Hallmark moment!
"Real leaders build trust, not fear. That's how you really protect people."
"Hope's a hard thing to hold onto these days. Without it, what's the point of doing anything at all?"
August 8, 2025
The cover depicts a scene from in the book quite well and is eye-catching enough to stand out on a book shelf in a store, so I think it does its job well.
I have read other books, different series by this author so I am always eager to check out anything new she releases, so was excited to start reading After The Fallout.
Lydia has been kidnapped and is shackled to the luxury airplane seat she is sitting in, relying on the kindness of a co-pilot for a sip of a drink. The brute of a guard who is watching her doesn’t care and even argues about removing her shackles to allow her to use the planes toilet. Lydia doesn’t think things can get any worse for her, she is pregnant, the baby she carries isn’t hers. She naively agreed to be a surrogate for the rich, powerful and ruthless Hartley family. They have decided they want her where they can see her and keep an eye on their baby. The brute of a guard finally relents and releases her from her constraints so she can go to the bathroom, Lydia looks around to see if there is anything useful that may later aid her escape but there is nothing of use, just when she thinks she is doomed, things go from bad to worse and the plane suddenly loses power and has to be crash landed into a lake in the wilderness. Lydia and the co-pilot survive the crash landing, now they need to survive the harsh landscape and get to civilisation, but with Lydia being 4 months pregnant and co-pilot Danny having an injured leg its going to be a slow and painful process. Lydia plans on getting to her father, Rob’s farm/homestead where she left her son Bobby.
Meanwhile Lydia’s sister Claire is at the divorce lawyers office with her soon to be ex-husband Alejandro, when suddenly the power goes off and there is chaos with a vehicle smashing through the lawyers office window heading towards Claire, but Alejandro pulls her aside and saves her. Claire has had a mysterious text from her sister from a plane and if all the powers and technology has stopped Claire worries her sister could be hurt and alone so she plans on going to find her. When Alejandro offers to come along she agrees but when he gets involved helping others around them she tells him she is going home to pack and she will not wait forever for him! Claire knows that when army veteran Alejandro see someone who needs help he finds it hard to walk on by. Claire also doesn’t know how Alejandro will cope with the surrounding chaos as he has PTAD from serving in Afghanistan. Claire sets off on her own and is attacked, a man called Malloy saves her just as Alejandro arrives on the scene. Malloy says he is a park ranger, is heading in the same direction and he will help them find Lydia. Of course Claire jumps at the offer, but Alejandro and his service dog, Dusty are wary of Malloy, wondering if he can really be trusted?
Rob Turner, Claire & Lydia’s father is well prepared for almost anything, he can easily live quite well off-grid. Rob is the type who keeps himself to himself but he eventually “warms up” to his teen grandson Bobby, teaching him how to do the many chores about the place. When the grid goes down and his somewhat irritating neighbour comes snooping around in his car that is still working, Rob gets rid of him, hiding the fact he is injured due to a recent fall whilst trying to repair a roof. He doesn’t want anyones pity, help or advice. However, when Bucks wife Sandra has a fall and is seriously hurt, he finds himself gathering his first aid supplies and patching her up as best he can. After this Buck & Sandra and Rob & Bobby create their own little family and could live quite happily but since the chaos theres a group in town who have formed a militia and taken over Big Eds shooting supplies, most of Allendale and seem to want to take over more of the area too. Initially Rob and his group try to keep their distance but when Sophia the daughter of the leader of the group turns out to be friends with Bobby via the homeschool network, they slowly become reeled in. Especially when Sophia turns up scared, battered, and bruised they immediately offer her a safe haven which of course ramps up the tension with her father and those on the Carrington Farm.
There is plenty of action and hardship such as the plane crash, bear attacks, lack of food and other dangers along the way. The two sisters manage to meet up along the way and finally make it to their father’s home just in time for the fight against the Carrington Farm Militia.
I really enjoyed reading this one, there’s plenty of likeable characters and some not so likeable. I hope I haven’t revealed too much about the book plot but without revealing some details it is difficult to review the book thoroughly. I hope this encourages you to read the book for yourselves. Though the characters do go through danger and hardships it isn’t all doom and gloom, I adored the nickname that Lydia has already given the baby she is carrying and becoming increasingly attached to, “Little Guac”. I loved the amusing, sometimes insulting banter between Buck and Rob who soon call a truce and become firm friends or as Buck insists become family after Rob & Bobby help Sandra. I agreed with Alejandros feeling towards Malloy I felt weird vibes from him even though he “saved” Claire, there was just something about him, you couldn’t quite put your finger on. Another character I had mixed feelings about was Agata, she immediately jumped to the wrong conclusion about Lydia, Danny, Claire and Alejandro and stalked them, warning shots are fired that then get out of hand and one character is shot and killed. Despite this Agata is asked if she wants to join them on their journey. In one way I wanted to hate Agata for killing an adored character, yet when she apologises and you look at things from her point of view and the circumstances they are all in you can’t help but feel a little sorry for her.
My immediate thoughts upon finishing the book were that After The Fallout is a great start to another potentially enthralling post-apocalyptic series by Grace Hamilton.
Summing up the book has fantastic characters that you couldn’t help but become attached to. Theres both good and bad characters, some I was glad to see killed off, one was an accidental shooting and such a shame as it ended a budding romance for two characters. I really loved and enjoyed the family dynamics between Rob, Bobby, Lydia, Claire and Alejandro. Despites being the cause of one of my favourite characters demise I can’t help really liking Agata and can see her fitting in with the wider “family” group that includes Buck and Sandra.
I’m definitely eager to read more and am intrigued as to where the family will go if they leave the family farm, maybe back to Agata’s farm? Maybe there’s a romance on the horizon for Rob & Agata. At this stage in the series there are so many ways the plot can take the characters.
I have read other books, different series by this author so I am always eager to check out anything new she releases, so was excited to start reading After The Fallout.
Lydia has been kidnapped and is shackled to the luxury airplane seat she is sitting in, relying on the kindness of a co-pilot for a sip of a drink. The brute of a guard who is watching her doesn’t care and even argues about removing her shackles to allow her to use the planes toilet. Lydia doesn’t think things can get any worse for her, she is pregnant, the baby she carries isn’t hers. She naively agreed to be a surrogate for the rich, powerful and ruthless Hartley family. They have decided they want her where they can see her and keep an eye on their baby. The brute of a guard finally relents and releases her from her constraints so she can go to the bathroom, Lydia looks around to see if there is anything useful that may later aid her escape but there is nothing of use, just when she thinks she is doomed, things go from bad to worse and the plane suddenly loses power and has to be crash landed into a lake in the wilderness. Lydia and the co-pilot survive the crash landing, now they need to survive the harsh landscape and get to civilisation, but with Lydia being 4 months pregnant and co-pilot Danny having an injured leg its going to be a slow and painful process. Lydia plans on getting to her father, Rob’s farm/homestead where she left her son Bobby.
Meanwhile Lydia’s sister Claire is at the divorce lawyers office with her soon to be ex-husband Alejandro, when suddenly the power goes off and there is chaos with a vehicle smashing through the lawyers office window heading towards Claire, but Alejandro pulls her aside and saves her. Claire has had a mysterious text from her sister from a plane and if all the powers and technology has stopped Claire worries her sister could be hurt and alone so she plans on going to find her. When Alejandro offers to come along she agrees but when he gets involved helping others around them she tells him she is going home to pack and she will not wait forever for him! Claire knows that when army veteran Alejandro see someone who needs help he finds it hard to walk on by. Claire also doesn’t know how Alejandro will cope with the surrounding chaos as he has PTAD from serving in Afghanistan. Claire sets off on her own and is attacked, a man called Malloy saves her just as Alejandro arrives on the scene. Malloy says he is a park ranger, is heading in the same direction and he will help them find Lydia. Of course Claire jumps at the offer, but Alejandro and his service dog, Dusty are wary of Malloy, wondering if he can really be trusted?
Rob Turner, Claire & Lydia’s father is well prepared for almost anything, he can easily live quite well off-grid. Rob is the type who keeps himself to himself but he eventually “warms up” to his teen grandson Bobby, teaching him how to do the many chores about the place. When the grid goes down and his somewhat irritating neighbour comes snooping around in his car that is still working, Rob gets rid of him, hiding the fact he is injured due to a recent fall whilst trying to repair a roof. He doesn’t want anyones pity, help or advice. However, when Bucks wife Sandra has a fall and is seriously hurt, he finds himself gathering his first aid supplies and patching her up as best he can. After this Buck & Sandra and Rob & Bobby create their own little family and could live quite happily but since the chaos theres a group in town who have formed a militia and taken over Big Eds shooting supplies, most of Allendale and seem to want to take over more of the area too. Initially Rob and his group try to keep their distance but when Sophia the daughter of the leader of the group turns out to be friends with Bobby via the homeschool network, they slowly become reeled in. Especially when Sophia turns up scared, battered, and bruised they immediately offer her a safe haven which of course ramps up the tension with her father and those on the Carrington Farm.
There is plenty of action and hardship such as the plane crash, bear attacks, lack of food and other dangers along the way. The two sisters manage to meet up along the way and finally make it to their father’s home just in time for the fight against the Carrington Farm Militia.
I really enjoyed reading this one, there’s plenty of likeable characters and some not so likeable. I hope I haven’t revealed too much about the book plot but without revealing some details it is difficult to review the book thoroughly. I hope this encourages you to read the book for yourselves. Though the characters do go through danger and hardships it isn’t all doom and gloom, I adored the nickname that Lydia has already given the baby she is carrying and becoming increasingly attached to, “Little Guac”. I loved the amusing, sometimes insulting banter between Buck and Rob who soon call a truce and become firm friends or as Buck insists become family after Rob & Bobby help Sandra. I agreed with Alejandros feeling towards Malloy I felt weird vibes from him even though he “saved” Claire, there was just something about him, you couldn’t quite put your finger on. Another character I had mixed feelings about was Agata, she immediately jumped to the wrong conclusion about Lydia, Danny, Claire and Alejandro and stalked them, warning shots are fired that then get out of hand and one character is shot and killed. Despite this Agata is asked if she wants to join them on their journey. In one way I wanted to hate Agata for killing an adored character, yet when she apologises and you look at things from her point of view and the circumstances they are all in you can’t help but feel a little sorry for her.
My immediate thoughts upon finishing the book were that After The Fallout is a great start to another potentially enthralling post-apocalyptic series by Grace Hamilton.
Summing up the book has fantastic characters that you couldn’t help but become attached to. Theres both good and bad characters, some I was glad to see killed off, one was an accidental shooting and such a shame as it ended a budding romance for two characters. I really loved and enjoyed the family dynamics between Rob, Bobby, Lydia, Claire and Alejandro. Despites being the cause of one of my favourite characters demise I can’t help really liking Agata and can see her fitting in with the wider “family” group that includes Buck and Sandra.
I’m definitely eager to read more and am intrigued as to where the family will go if they leave the family farm, maybe back to Agata’s farm? Maybe there’s a romance on the horizon for Rob & Agata. At this stage in the series there are so many ways the plot can take the characters.
August 1, 2025
After the Fallout is the first book in Grace Hamilton’s new series, Survivors of the New Dawn, and it provides an excellent beginning. The story is told through the perspectives of many characters as they make their way to safety after the fallout, searching for a secure place and family.
After a widespread power outage, Claire is determined to rescue her sister Lydia, who was abducted by people pretending to be someone they are not. Lydia's plane crashed into a lake, and she's one of the few survivors, along with the co-pilot, Danny.
Claire and her ex-husband Alejandro set out on a mission to find Lydia, joined by a man named Malloy. Meanwhile, the aftermath of the blackout has led to the rise of dangerous individuals seeking control. Stores have been looted, leaving people struggling to find food and supplies. The survivors are wary and unsure of whom they can trust.
Claire and her pregnant sister Lydia, together with Alejandro and Danny, are trying to reach the old family homestead. Along the way, they face many challenges; at one point, they are forced to run from a raging fire visible in the distance.
Elsewhere, Rob and his grandson Bobby are fighting to survive and maintain their farm. Rob worries about his daughters but can't reach them. He hopes his daughters have the skills to live off the land and endure, but the threat of perilous people looms. Rob tries to keep Bobby and himself safe, but it's a constant challenge.
As always, Grace Hamilton has done it again; she has crafted another brilliant story and a fantastic start to a new series. I was hooked from the first page. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, which happens every time I read stories like After the Fallout, especially a book by Grace Hamilton. I am eager to read the upcoming book, After The Escape, in this brand-new series, Survivors of the New Dawn, to find out what awaits everyone as their journeys continue.
If you enjoy reading dystopian and post-apocalyptic stories, I highly recommend grabbing a copy of After the Fallout today and starting a new adventure in this series.
After a widespread power outage, Claire is determined to rescue her sister Lydia, who was abducted by people pretending to be someone they are not. Lydia's plane crashed into a lake, and she's one of the few survivors, along with the co-pilot, Danny.
Claire and her ex-husband Alejandro set out on a mission to find Lydia, joined by a man named Malloy. Meanwhile, the aftermath of the blackout has led to the rise of dangerous individuals seeking control. Stores have been looted, leaving people struggling to find food and supplies. The survivors are wary and unsure of whom they can trust.
Claire and her pregnant sister Lydia, together with Alejandro and Danny, are trying to reach the old family homestead. Along the way, they face many challenges; at one point, they are forced to run from a raging fire visible in the distance.
Elsewhere, Rob and his grandson Bobby are fighting to survive and maintain their farm. Rob worries about his daughters but can't reach them. He hopes his daughters have the skills to live off the land and endure, but the threat of perilous people looms. Rob tries to keep Bobby and himself safe, but it's a constant challenge.
As always, Grace Hamilton has done it again; she has crafted another brilliant story and a fantastic start to a new series. I was hooked from the first page. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, which happens every time I read stories like After the Fallout, especially a book by Grace Hamilton. I am eager to read the upcoming book, After The Escape, in this brand-new series, Survivors of the New Dawn, to find out what awaits everyone as their journeys continue.
If you enjoy reading dystopian and post-apocalyptic stories, I highly recommend grabbing a copy of After the Fallout today and starting a new adventure in this series.
August 7, 2025
Volume I
This has a Volume I and Volume II included in this book. Volume I has 46 chapters. I found Vol I to be a really nice start to this series. There are 5 main characters in this volume and each chapter is from a different characters POV. I found that I enjoyed reading it this way because at times, you saw the exact same event but from 2 or 3 views which really added a lot to how each character. I’m really hoping that in Volume II we find out more about Alejo. So far he’s my favorite character - very complex, brooding, lethal when needed.
I also liked the introspection that Claire and Lydia’s father has had while with Bobby. I don’t think he should change his ways but he is acknowledging why he doesn’t get along with people.
Volume II
Volume II of this book has 44 chapters.
So Volume II begins right where Volume I left off so there’s no wondering about how long it’s been between. I found this Volume to be more emotionally draining (in a good way) than the first. When you read a book like this, you can’t expect that nothing will happen to the main characters/family and this book is no exception. I’m trying to make sure I don’t have any spoilers so I don’t want to go into too much detail.
One thing through both Volumes that has bothered me a little bit is Alejo’s dog. He’s a service dog for a Veteran suffering from PTSD. So that means the dog has EXTENSIVE training to ensure he helps his human at all times through all situations. This dog seems……..too hyper?……is maybe the best way to phrase it. Multiple times throughout the book the dog has been running around, sniffing at things, eating random food off floors, and having to be called back by Alejo. Now given the seriousness of all the situations in the book, maybe it’s overwhelming for the dog just like it is for the humans but I expected a more mature acting, serious dog I guess.
Also - I’m not sure if this is just Book 1 of the series and it has 2 Volumes in it or if Volume I is Book 1 and Volume II is Book 2. There better be more books based on the way this one ended because it has left a lot up in the air without conclusions!
Overall though, I’d give it 4 stars. I will read ANYTHING by this author!
This has a Volume I and Volume II included in this book. Volume I has 46 chapters. I found Vol I to be a really nice start to this series. There are 5 main characters in this volume and each chapter is from a different characters POV. I found that I enjoyed reading it this way because at times, you saw the exact same event but from 2 or 3 views which really added a lot to how each character. I’m really hoping that in Volume II we find out more about Alejo. So far he’s my favorite character - very complex, brooding, lethal when needed.
I also liked the introspection that Claire and Lydia’s father has had while with Bobby. I don’t think he should change his ways but he is acknowledging why he doesn’t get along with people.
Volume II
Volume II of this book has 44 chapters.
So Volume II begins right where Volume I left off so there’s no wondering about how long it’s been between. I found this Volume to be more emotionally draining (in a good way) than the first. When you read a book like this, you can’t expect that nothing will happen to the main characters/family and this book is no exception. I’m trying to make sure I don’t have any spoilers so I don’t want to go into too much detail.
One thing through both Volumes that has bothered me a little bit is Alejo’s dog. He’s a service dog for a Veteran suffering from PTSD. So that means the dog has EXTENSIVE training to ensure he helps his human at all times through all situations. This dog seems……..too hyper?……is maybe the best way to phrase it. Multiple times throughout the book the dog has been running around, sniffing at things, eating random food off floors, and having to be called back by Alejo. Now given the seriousness of all the situations in the book, maybe it’s overwhelming for the dog just like it is for the humans but I expected a more mature acting, serious dog I guess.
Also - I’m not sure if this is just Book 1 of the series and it has 2 Volumes in it or if Volume I is Book 1 and Volume II is Book 2. There better be more books based on the way this one ended because it has left a lot up in the air without conclusions!
Overall though, I’d give it 4 stars. I will read ANYTHING by this author!
August 14, 2025
I love Grace Hamilton as an author! After the Fallout was an amazing book. Lots of action and descriptive enough to be able to visualize the story! Would definitely recommend this book!!
July 25, 2025
Grace Hamilton is one of my favorite authors. I prefer to get a series all at once and just binge thru them, but the opportunity to read one of Grace’s newest series in advance was more temptation than I could stand.
The opening blurb about an EMP hitting and two sisters trying to reunite and an ex-husband entering the mix did not match the opening chapters at all. The characters are the same, but the story line is already advanced - the sisters are reunited and the ex husband and wife are getting along great. Confusing, it read much more like a book 2 than a book 1. I read the blurb for book 2 and it isn’t the same as the book I read as an advance copy either.
That aside…the story line is great. One sister on the run from an abusive relationship and finding feelings for the pilot of their plane that crashed in the woods. The other sister reuniting with her ex-husband while searching for the plane wreck. Now they are all on their way to join their dad at his homestead outside a small town. The dad, his grandson and two friends are adjusting to life without power and trying to deal with the militia that have taken over their small town and neighboring property.
The characters are all likeable, realistic, and easy to understand. The setting is northern CA. I am always amazed at the distances people can cover on foot!
Overall - highly recommend. If you haven’t read Grace Hamilton before you probably won’t have the same confusion I did with the opening, and you are definitely in for a treat!
Genre(s): post apocalyptic,
Bad Language: none
Intimate Scenes/Reference: none
Violence: mild, nothing descriptive or gorey
Substance Abuse: none
Mental Health: sadness, depression, nothing overwhelming
Addiction: none.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The opening blurb about an EMP hitting and two sisters trying to reunite and an ex-husband entering the mix did not match the opening chapters at all. The characters are the same, but the story line is already advanced - the sisters are reunited and the ex husband and wife are getting along great. Confusing, it read much more like a book 2 than a book 1. I read the blurb for book 2 and it isn’t the same as the book I read as an advance copy either.
That aside…the story line is great. One sister on the run from an abusive relationship and finding feelings for the pilot of their plane that crashed in the woods. The other sister reuniting with her ex-husband while searching for the plane wreck. Now they are all on their way to join their dad at his homestead outside a small town. The dad, his grandson and two friends are adjusting to life without power and trying to deal with the militia that have taken over their small town and neighboring property.
The characters are all likeable, realistic, and easy to understand. The setting is northern CA. I am always amazed at the distances people can cover on foot!
Overall - highly recommend. If you haven’t read Grace Hamilton before you probably won’t have the same confusion I did with the opening, and you are definitely in for a treat!
Genre(s): post apocalyptic,
Bad Language: none
Intimate Scenes/Reference: none
Violence: mild, nothing descriptive or gorey
Substance Abuse: none
Mental Health: sadness, depression, nothing overwhelming
Addiction: none.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 14, 2025
This is a really great start to what looks to be a very enjoyable series! A well thought out plot, I found the style of writing a little different to the previous series by this writer, which was a nice change. Lots of tension, some action & a good group of characters made this an enjoyable read!
August 13, 2025
"After the Fallout: Survivors of the New Dawn Book 1" is an incredible and captivating start to the series. Grace Hamilton kicks things off with an action-packed, multisite dive into a post-EMP world. She fills this setting with well-crafted characters. It's intense, engaging, and leaves readers excited for the next installment.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 12, 2025
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August 8, 2025
This is another "not to miss" EMP first story in a new series from Grace Hamilton. Faced with impossible odds in a world that has gone dark, Claire teams up with her ex-husband to find her pregnant sister who was on a private jet at the time of the EMP. The story is told from basically three main points - Clair and her search for her sister and what she encounters; Lydia and how she struggles to survive after crashing in the wilderness with only the co-pilot as the additional survivor; and Claire and Lydia's father and Lydia's son who are on a homestead in California. This is a story of courage and resourcefulness from all three fronts. The characters are well developed and the story is certainly entertaining and holds the reader's interest. Highly recommend!
I read an advanced copy of this book prior to publication.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 8, 2025
This is another "not to miss" EMP first story in a new series from Grace Hamilton. Faced with impossible odds in a world that has gone dark, Claire teams up with her ex-husband to find her pregnant sister who was on a private jet at the time of the EMP. The story is told from basically three main points - Clair and her search for her sister and what she encounters; Lydia and how she struggles to survive after crashing in the wilderness with only the co-pilot as the additional survivor; and Claire and Lydia's father and Lydia's son who are on a homestead in California. This is a story of courage and resourcefulness from all three fronts. The characters are well developed and the story is certainly entertaining and holds the reader's interest. Highly recommend!
I read an advanced copy of this book prior to publication.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 15, 2025
An EMP story that shows how quickly life as we know it ends and how people react.
The book also illustrates that things like books and paper maps are essentials along with water, food and shelter. To a certain extent the book shows how people's own fears and inadequacies may turn them into aggressors.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
The story of a sister trying to find her younger sister who was in a plane that crashed and how she finds her can at times stretch credulity but it holds the plot together.
I enjoyed the book and its many characters. Including the goad: the 2 sisters and their group trying to reach their father who is a survivalist who has skills to survive in the new decimated United States.
The book also illustrates that things like books and paper maps are essentials along with water, food and shelter. To a certain extent the book shows how people's own fears and inadequacies may turn them into aggressors.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
The story of a sister trying to find her younger sister who was in a plane that crashed and how she finds her can at times stretch credulity but it holds the plot together.
I enjoyed the book and its many characters. Including the goad: the 2 sisters and their group trying to reach their father who is a survivalist who has skills to survive in the new decimated United States.
August 8, 2025
Great characters and a really engaging story. I just finished After the Fallout and really enjoyed it! The characters were super well-written—I found myself getting attached to them quickly, and I genuinely cared about what happened to them. The writing flowed really well and kept me hooked the whole way through.It’s got all the tension and survival elements you'd expect from a post-apocalyptic story, but it also has a lot of heart. If you're into character-driven stories with solid pacing, definitely give this one a shot! I received an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
August 15, 2025
An EMP has left them without power and she needs to find her sister. The darkness will bring dangers to everyone around her and some gangs will try to rule all. It is not going to be easy for her but she will do anything to find her sister. See how she gets on
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a great first book
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a great first book
August 12, 2025
It was written in different perspectives, along the sisters, there were a couple more. It was a bit different at first, but after a while you get the hang of it. I really did not like that Claire always took Malloy's site in a fight instead of her ex who she loved. I liked Lydia, she was my kind of girl, hands on and great in hairy situations. There were a lot of action and a pretty good description what happened when we don't have any electricity. All in all a really good solid story with lost, family, forgiveness and love, so it's not your typical romantic story.
August 7, 2025
EMP Chaos Sparks a Relentless Fight for Life
Grace Hamilton’s After the Fallout: Survivors of the New Dawn – Book 1 delivers a tense, character-driven entry into the post-apocalyptic survival genre, blending high-stakes action with the interpersonal drama of families and strangers forced together in crisis. Set against the immediate aftermath of a catastrophic electromagnetic pulse (EMP) event, the novel alternates between multiple point-of-view characters whose fates begin to converge as society’s infrastructure collapses.
The narrative opens with Lydia Taylor, a pregnant surrogate in the custody of the wealthy but morally dubious Hartley family, aboard their private jet. What begins as an uneasy flight quickly spirals into disaster when an unexplained power loss sends the aircraft plunging toward the Eldorado Forest. Parallel storylines introduce Lydia’s sister Claire—reeling from a divorce and increasingly concerned by Lydia’s cryptic messages—Rob, a gruff survivalist grandfather living off-grid with his teenage grandson Bobby, and Malloy, a ruthless fixer with dangerous clients. As the EMP knocks out power, communications, and vehicles across the country, each character must confront both immediate dangers and the grim realization that rescue may never come.
Hamilton explores survival under sudden systemic collapse, the fragility of modern society, and the moral compromises people make under pressure. The EMP event functions as both a plot catalyst and a thematic device, stripping away technological security to expose human resourcefulness—or lack thereof. Family loyalty, distrust of outsiders, and the clash between independence and cooperation recur throughout the narrative. The novel also examines the tension between self-preservation and altruism, particularly through Lydia’s reluctant heroism.
The ensemble cast is varied and well-drawn, each representing a distinct facet of survival mentality. Lydia is resourceful yet vulnerable, Claire is determined but untested, Rob embodies hardened preparedness, and Bobby reflects youthful naivety giving way to responsibility. Even antagonists such as Malloy are fleshed out beyond one-dimensional villainy, making the interpersonal conflicts as compelling as the physical threats. Settings shift from the claustrophobic confines of a failing aircraft to rural isolation and chaotic urban streets, each rendered with tactile detail that grounds the escalating tension.
The book maintains a brisk pace, with frequent shifts in perspective that keep tension high and the stakes immediate. The opening plane sequence is especially gripping, and Hamilton sustains momentum through well-timed revelations and cliffhangers. While the constant POV changes occasionally interrupt deeper emotional immersion, they serve the broader purpose of building a layered, panoramic view of the crisis.
Hamilton’s prose is clear, direct, and well-suited to the urgency of the story. She favors short, active sentences during action sequences, effectively conveying panic and immediacy. Dialogue feels natural and distinct to each character, and the technical descriptions of survival tactics are accessible without bogging down in jargon. The structure—rotating short chapters between characters—mirrors the fragmented uncertainty of an unfolding disaster.
Among the novel’s strengths are its strong opening hook, well-paced suspense, and grounded depiction of survival challenges. The multiple plotlines create anticipation for inevitable intersections, and the character dynamics feel authentic. On the downside, the book occasionally leans on familiar tropes of the survival genre, and some secondary characters risk being defined more by function than depth. Readers seeking radical innovation in apocalyptic fiction may find the beats predictable, though the execution remains solid.
After the Fallout: Survivors of the New Dawn – Book 1 succeeds as a tense, accessible entry point into a serialized survival thriller. It achieves its goal of immersing readers in the chaos of societal collapse while introducing characters worth following into subsequent volumes. Fans of Grace Hamilton’s previous EMP and survival series, or readers of Franklin Horton and A. American, will find familiar pleasures here. Recommended for those who enjoy character-driven, multi-threaded disaster fiction.
Voluntary review of a free advance review copy.
Grace Hamilton’s After the Fallout: Survivors of the New Dawn – Book 1 delivers a tense, character-driven entry into the post-apocalyptic survival genre, blending high-stakes action with the interpersonal drama of families and strangers forced together in crisis. Set against the immediate aftermath of a catastrophic electromagnetic pulse (EMP) event, the novel alternates between multiple point-of-view characters whose fates begin to converge as society’s infrastructure collapses.
The narrative opens with Lydia Taylor, a pregnant surrogate in the custody of the wealthy but morally dubious Hartley family, aboard their private jet. What begins as an uneasy flight quickly spirals into disaster when an unexplained power loss sends the aircraft plunging toward the Eldorado Forest. Parallel storylines introduce Lydia’s sister Claire—reeling from a divorce and increasingly concerned by Lydia’s cryptic messages—Rob, a gruff survivalist grandfather living off-grid with his teenage grandson Bobby, and Malloy, a ruthless fixer with dangerous clients. As the EMP knocks out power, communications, and vehicles across the country, each character must confront both immediate dangers and the grim realization that rescue may never come.
Hamilton explores survival under sudden systemic collapse, the fragility of modern society, and the moral compromises people make under pressure. The EMP event functions as both a plot catalyst and a thematic device, stripping away technological security to expose human resourcefulness—or lack thereof. Family loyalty, distrust of outsiders, and the clash between independence and cooperation recur throughout the narrative. The novel also examines the tension between self-preservation and altruism, particularly through Lydia’s reluctant heroism.
The ensemble cast is varied and well-drawn, each representing a distinct facet of survival mentality. Lydia is resourceful yet vulnerable, Claire is determined but untested, Rob embodies hardened preparedness, and Bobby reflects youthful naivety giving way to responsibility. Even antagonists such as Malloy are fleshed out beyond one-dimensional villainy, making the interpersonal conflicts as compelling as the physical threats. Settings shift from the claustrophobic confines of a failing aircraft to rural isolation and chaotic urban streets, each rendered with tactile detail that grounds the escalating tension.
The book maintains a brisk pace, with frequent shifts in perspective that keep tension high and the stakes immediate. The opening plane sequence is especially gripping, and Hamilton sustains momentum through well-timed revelations and cliffhangers. While the constant POV changes occasionally interrupt deeper emotional immersion, they serve the broader purpose of building a layered, panoramic view of the crisis.
Hamilton’s prose is clear, direct, and well-suited to the urgency of the story. She favors short, active sentences during action sequences, effectively conveying panic and immediacy. Dialogue feels natural and distinct to each character, and the technical descriptions of survival tactics are accessible without bogging down in jargon. The structure—rotating short chapters between characters—mirrors the fragmented uncertainty of an unfolding disaster.
Among the novel’s strengths are its strong opening hook, well-paced suspense, and grounded depiction of survival challenges. The multiple plotlines create anticipation for inevitable intersections, and the character dynamics feel authentic. On the downside, the book occasionally leans on familiar tropes of the survival genre, and some secondary characters risk being defined more by function than depth. Readers seeking radical innovation in apocalyptic fiction may find the beats predictable, though the execution remains solid.
After the Fallout: Survivors of the New Dawn – Book 1 succeeds as a tense, accessible entry point into a serialized survival thriller. It achieves its goal of immersing readers in the chaos of societal collapse while introducing characters worth following into subsequent volumes. Fans of Grace Hamilton’s previous EMP and survival series, or readers of Franklin Horton and A. American, will find familiar pleasures here. Recommended for those who enjoy character-driven, multi-threaded disaster fiction.
Voluntary review of a free advance review copy.
August 30, 2025
I very much enjoyed this novel, after forcing myself to wade through a slow middle section. The hook of the novel — a woman in a human trafficking situation whose plane loses power and crash lands because of an EMP — was compelling and Hamilton delivered on the promise of this hook with Lydia and Danny’s compelling characters and high-stakes situation.
I also enjoyed getting to know Claire, after having met her and her soon-to-be-ex husband coming out of the divorce attorney office at the same time as the EMP hits. We never learn what causes the EMP and the main characters seem to know what to do maybe more than your typical citizen.
The two narratives meld together with the introduction of a villain out to use Claire to find her sister Lydia for his clients, the ones who trafficked Lydia in the first place. This portion of the narrative was great and I had a tough time putting the book down to go to bed. We hit a fitting conclusion at around 50% of the novel, making me wonder what in the world we would do for the second half. It felt like that could’ve been the end of the book, but it wasn’t.
This is where the narrative got bogged down in survival details to me. I forced myself through it and I ended up with a second full-novel worthy plot thread and temporary resolution, which I won’t spoil. I received an advance review e-copy for free from the publisher and am leaving this review voluntarily.
After The Fallout is classed as a post-apocalyptic fiction / disaster fiction book on Amazon, but billed by the author as “survival or prepper fiction.” I would agree with the survival / prepper descriptor more so than the post-apoc classification as the novel didn’t quite meet post-apoc genre expectations — (1) the plot stalled out at around 55%-75% which isn’t characteristic of the PA genre, (2) survival tips and practices took up a disproportionately large segment of narrative, and (3) the book is substantially longer than other newer releases in the post-apoc genre. I felt like this could’ve been divided into two separate books, so know you’re getting a two-for-the-price-of-one deal here.
Why is there no 4.5? I gave After the Fallout 5* simply because it didn’t deserve 4* for what I saw as elements not quite par with my own genre expectations. I genuinely enjoyed the characters, narrative, and the settings (which were described in perfect detail so the reader felt like they were there) in the first half and then again from about 75% onward, and if readers reframe their perspective that this is two books in one, I feel like even die-hard PA genre readers will enjoy this book.
I also enjoyed getting to know Claire, after having met her and her soon-to-be-ex husband coming out of the divorce attorney office at the same time as the EMP hits. We never learn what causes the EMP and the main characters seem to know what to do maybe more than your typical citizen.
The two narratives meld together with the introduction of a villain out to use Claire to find her sister Lydia for his clients, the ones who trafficked Lydia in the first place. This portion of the narrative was great and I had a tough time putting the book down to go to bed. We hit a fitting conclusion at around 50% of the novel, making me wonder what in the world we would do for the second half. It felt like that could’ve been the end of the book, but it wasn’t.
This is where the narrative got bogged down in survival details to me. I forced myself through it and I ended up with a second full-novel worthy plot thread and temporary resolution, which I won’t spoil. I received an advance review e-copy for free from the publisher and am leaving this review voluntarily.
After The Fallout is classed as a post-apocalyptic fiction / disaster fiction book on Amazon, but billed by the author as “survival or prepper fiction.” I would agree with the survival / prepper descriptor more so than the post-apoc classification as the novel didn’t quite meet post-apoc genre expectations — (1) the plot stalled out at around 55%-75% which isn’t characteristic of the PA genre, (2) survival tips and practices took up a disproportionately large segment of narrative, and (3) the book is substantially longer than other newer releases in the post-apoc genre. I felt like this could’ve been divided into two separate books, so know you’re getting a two-for-the-price-of-one deal here.
Why is there no 4.5? I gave After the Fallout 5* simply because it didn’t deserve 4* for what I saw as elements not quite par with my own genre expectations. I genuinely enjoyed the characters, narrative, and the settings (which were described in perfect detail so the reader felt like they were there) in the first half and then again from about 75% onward, and if readers reframe their perspective that this is two books in one, I feel like even die-hard PA genre readers will enjoy this book.
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August 21, 2025After The Fallout
Grace Hamilton
There is danger everywhere it is hidden by the shadows. An EMP has taken down the grid on the West Coast. The attack has left the West Coast dark. Claire is determined to find her sister Lydia. She may not like him; she may detest him but working as a team with her ex-husband is the smart thing to do.
What Claire doesn’t know is that Lydia was in a plan crash. She wakes up injured, pregnant and all alone. Lydia is pregnant with a child the father is a member of an influential, controlling and brutal family. They don’t care whether she is dead or alive, but they want her back. Lydia was on the plane because she had been kidnapped by the family. Both Clair and Lydi were well trained by their father; if anyone is going to survive it is these two strong women.
Citizens are showing their true nature. They are frightened, leading to pandemonium once they realize how dire their situation really is. The electrical grid is damaged, there are limited resources, most vehicles are inoperable, communication is down, leading to panic and anarchy.
There is a group of survivors most searching for their families. Each person has their own story. Claire is focused on finding Lydia. She is so desperate she agrees to team up with her ex-husband.
This tale is told from the point of view of several of the survivors; they share their fears, feelings and emotions. Most of the survivors are likable. This is a great read. I like what my husband calls the end of the world genre, however it is actually dystopia and post-apocalyptic.
I received a digital copy from NetGalley. My reviews are my unbiased opinions.
Grace Hamilton
There is danger everywhere it is hidden by the shadows. An EMP has taken down the grid on the West Coast. The attack has left the West Coast dark. Claire is determined to find her sister Lydia. She may not like him; she may detest him but working as a team with her ex-husband is the smart thing to do.
What Claire doesn’t know is that Lydia was in a plan crash. She wakes up injured, pregnant and all alone. Lydia is pregnant with a child the father is a member of an influential, controlling and brutal family. They don’t care whether she is dead or alive, but they want her back. Lydia was on the plane because she had been kidnapped by the family. Both Clair and Lydi were well trained by their father; if anyone is going to survive it is these two strong women.
Citizens are showing their true nature. They are frightened, leading to pandemonium once they realize how dire their situation really is. The electrical grid is damaged, there are limited resources, most vehicles are inoperable, communication is down, leading to panic and anarchy.
There is a group of survivors most searching for their families. Each person has their own story. Claire is focused on finding Lydia. She is so desperate she agrees to team up with her ex-husband.
This tale is told from the point of view of several of the survivors; they share their fears, feelings and emotions. Most of the survivors are likable. This is a great read. I like what my husband calls the end of the world genre, however it is actually dystopia and post-apocalyptic.
I received a digital copy from NetGalley. My reviews are my unbiased opinions.
August 17, 2025
What a great dystopian, apocalypse story! This book follows a group of characters who are related and in different locations at the start of the book and follows them all trying to make it back to each other post apocalypse. The characters were all so relatable and had their own unique personalities, strengths, and obstacles to overcome. Some of the pacing of the book felt a little slow and I was expecting a little more action but towards the end, a lot comes to a head! I found myself rooting for my favorite characters and LOVED the relationship and interaction between Danny and Lydia the best. This is a longer book that I wasn't prepared for since I opted into the ARC on Kindle and it took me a few more days to finish than I originally hoped. So just know you are in for a heck of a story where there is a lot of character development. This is not a bloody, gory, zombie apocalypse horror story. It is much more of a realistic scenario that could unfold. The book does not end in a HEA but does give some resolution with enough left open for another book! I'm curious to know if society ever gets better, the problems the apocalypse caused ever resolve, and if things ever get back to normal. As a Floridian of over 20yrs, and reading this during hurricane season, I am compelled to take stock of my own "prep/survival" hurricane kit! This book left me thinking all the "WHAT IFS"! This book may have turned me into a bit of a prepper now but I'm here for it LOL!
PS. I low key wanted Agata to die! IFKYK!
PS. I low key wanted Agata to die! IFKYK!
October 20, 2025
Excellent Start To New Post-EMP Survival Thriller Series!
After The Fallout, book 1 in the Survivors Of The New Dawn series, is a great start to a new series and actually features 2 entire books. The story follows Lydia, Rob, Bobby, Claire, Alejandro, A family, along with Buck, Sandra, Danny, Sophia and Agata. Though there are complicated pasts between many of the characters and some are met under the worst circumstances imaginable, they all pull together to survive a brutal new world. Rob, Lydia and Bobby have the most character growth, but Claire and Alejandro also come a long way over the course of the book(s).
Given the extended, 2 storyline format, we get to know the characters well and they're very well developed by the cliffhanger ending. The narrative is realistic and well constructed. Hamilton always does a great job of believable world building and this is no exception. The dialog is realistic given the extreme situations the characters face. This is a great start to a series that immediately leaves the reader wanting more! 5/5 stars! Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys unpredictable apocalyptic survival thrillers, especially fans of post-EMP survival thrillers. Even readers who might not generally read post apocalyptic fiction will be drawn in by the excellent writing quality!
After The Fallout, book 1 in the Survivors Of The New Dawn series, is a great start to a new series and actually features 2 entire books. The story follows Lydia, Rob, Bobby, Claire, Alejandro, A family, along with Buck, Sandra, Danny, Sophia and Agata. Though there are complicated pasts between many of the characters and some are met under the worst circumstances imaginable, they all pull together to survive a brutal new world. Rob, Lydia and Bobby have the most character growth, but Claire and Alejandro also come a long way over the course of the book(s).
Given the extended, 2 storyline format, we get to know the characters well and they're very well developed by the cliffhanger ending. The narrative is realistic and well constructed. Hamilton always does a great job of believable world building and this is no exception. The dialog is realistic given the extreme situations the characters face. This is a great start to a series that immediately leaves the reader wanting more! 5/5 stars! Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys unpredictable apocalyptic survival thrillers, especially fans of post-EMP survival thrillers. Even readers who might not generally read post apocalyptic fiction will be drawn in by the excellent writing quality!
August 16, 2025
First of all, this is a very long book, which means it took me much longer to read than I originally expected, but it was worth every minute spent withing the pages of this book. Be prepared for a book loaded with violence and bloodshed, there are gun battles and there is a lot of death. As always, this author has created very realistic and compelling characters. Her thoroughly detailed personalities and motives keep the reader engrossed without being dragged out to the point of boredom. Plot twists kept me guessing what would happen next, but it is also easy to follow this story without getting bogged down in minutiae. Finally, I will admit that the small sunshine and rainbows part of myself was horrified by some of the more disturbing interactions and reactions following the disaster, while my cynical self said; yep, that is exactly what will happen! This is a fantastic, must-read post-apocalyptic thriller that I highly recommend to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC provided by Hidden Gems.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC provided by Hidden Gems.
September 4, 2025
I really enjoyed After the Fallout! From the very beginning, the story pulled me in with its fast pace and sense of urgency. The characters felt real, and I liked how Grace Hamilton showed both the emotional and practical struggles of surviving after everything falls apart.
What I loved most was the mix of action and family dynamics—it wasn’t just about survival, but also about the bonds that hold people together in tough times. The suspense kept me turning the pages, and I found myself caring about what happened to each character.
Overall, this was an exciting, thought-provoking read that kept me hooked from start to finish. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys post-apocalyptic or survival stories.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What I loved most was the mix of action and family dynamics—it wasn’t just about survival, but also about the bonds that hold people together in tough times. The suspense kept me turning the pages, and I found myself caring about what happened to each character.
Overall, this was an exciting, thought-provoking read that kept me hooked from start to finish. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys post-apocalyptic or survival stories.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 18, 2025
Wow, just when you thought you'd read every dystopian and post-apocalyptic storyline out there, Grace Hamilton gives us another great one. This journey is taken by two sisters determined to reunite at their old family homestead. Claire and her ex-husband, Alejandro, set out to rescue her sister Lydia, who was taken by some not so good people. This is page turning read and a great start to the Survivors of the New Dawn series, and I can't wait to read the next book to find out what happens next. The writing is descriptive and well done, the characters are well developed, and the ending left me ready for the next book. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.
August 24, 2025
End of the world and after the disaster books hold a certain fascination to me. Life as we know it can change in an instant as it does for the characters in Grace Hamilton's series. I have read alot of her books and they are all fresh, no retelling the same story over and over. The fact that she can write so many unique versions of a catastrophe means I am well educated on how to get from point a to point b before, during and after an event.
I'm not quite sure how Grace Hamilton manages to keep her stories fresh and her characters realistic, but as long as she keeps writing them, I'll keep reading them.
I'm not quite sure how Grace Hamilton manages to keep her stories fresh and her characters realistic, but as long as she keeps writing them, I'll keep reading them.
August 13, 2025
I loved reading After the Fallout. The characters are really well developed and well written, which I find especially important in apocalypse stories. The story itself is engaging and descriptive, and I was hooked from the first page. This is the first book I've read by this author, and it's one of the better apocaplypse stories I've read. I can't wait to read more in this series, and by this author overall. I highly recommend After the Fallout to readers who enjoy apocolyptic stories!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 14, 2025
This was a good read, not great. I felt that some of the characters were cliche to the point that I could predict what was going to happen. It seemed like the book was geared toward peppers and their lot who dream of a scenario where all their prepping will be worth it. Lydia seemed a very shallowly developed character and it seemed like the end of book 2 was rushed. Agata we an unnecessary character and the relationship with Buck and Rob seemed forced with unanswered questions about Bucks wife. Overall it kept me interested but it wasn’t a home run for me.
August 14, 2025
Grace Hamilton always provides an exciting story and is my favourite go to author of post apocalypse books. After The Fallout is one of my latest reads and there’s enough danger and action to satisfy even me. The characterisation is diverse and has depth. There’s plenty of subtext, and family is highly important. Survival is not assured but possible in a cohesive group of courageous individuals. I like that!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 17, 2025
I've read a lot of books written by Grace Hamilton; she is one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to read more of her books.
This is the first book in the Survivors of the New Dawn Series; it is a stand-alone book. The story is about Claire & her ex-husband teaming up together to find her sister.
This is the first book in the Survivors of the New Dawn Series; it is a stand-alone book. The story is about Claire & her ex-husband teaming up together to find her sister.
October 17, 2025
More than I expected
I got this book, thinking it delved into more of the actual events of an imagined apocalypse, but was pleasantly surprised by its approach to the more human side of events. The characters were well developed and engaging. I'm a visual reader as in my mind pictures what I'm reading and this book offered plenty to spark the imagination.
I got this book, thinking it delved into more of the actual events of an imagined apocalypse, but was pleasantly surprised by its approach to the more human side of events. The characters were well developed and engaging. I'm a visual reader as in my mind pictures what I'm reading and this book offered plenty to spark the imagination.
December 23, 2025
Great characters along with dogs! Plot rocks!
I love a well plotted book full of surprises! The characters are well planned and real. I love the dogs and horses! Cantankerous oldsters always have wisdom and military veterans are full of surprises! Can not wait for the next novel!
I love a well plotted book full of surprises! The characters are well planned and real. I love the dogs and horses! Cantankerous oldsters always have wisdom and military veterans are full of surprises! Can not wait for the next novel!
August 13, 2025
I always immensely enjoy this authors books and this one is no exception. It has everything I love from end of the world survival drama. A plane crash, bear attack and no food. It keeps you on your toes sensing danger. I can't wait for the next book.
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