August of the People: Book I of the Eternity's Sunrise Saga

by V.F. Aubrey

You can run from the past...but in the near future, you can't hide.
August Dividale has a dangerous secret. Two warring histories brew within him, and they're about to collide.

Now nineteen years old, he grew up an orphan among the People, a hunter-gatherer band living in the wild northwestern rainforests of North America, 500 years after the elites fled the planet. They make a precarious, isolated living by hunting de-extinct Ice Age megafauna, released before the Fall. While August struggles to prove his worth to them, his secret origin is about to resurface and threaten his new home.

August's big chance to show that he's not just a strange, foreign kid comes when he's chosen to lead the annual mastodon hunt, but the event is soured by the discovery of an ancient-looking spearhead, recently made. The People, already alarmed by this foreboding omen, are shocked by the entrance of two unusual-looking soldiers into their winter village, barely alive after traveling from a distant, surviving industrial city called Libernia. They tell a gruesome tale of their legion slaughtered by half-human beasts. The Council selects August to guide a rag-tag group back across the mountains to make contact and assess the threat.

During the expedition, it is not only saber-toothed tigers, marauder groups, and drowned cities that will threaten their survival. August's past is intimately linked to the ongoing war between Libernia and those whom the pre-Fall scientists chose to resurrect from extinction, against nature's will. To save his adopted family, he’ll have an impossible to join forces with an ancient enemy, reborn into the world, or align with the malevolent forces that destroyed it in the first place.

Either way, he'll decide the fate of those he loves, along with the future of life on the planet.

V.F. Aubrey’s relentlessly entertaining, YA science fiction adventure August of the People combines the genetic engineering science of Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park, the detailed world-building and engrossing relationships of Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games, and the low-tech future of Kass Morgan’s The 100.

Paperback and Hardcover editions include a special sneak peek at Book II of the Eternity’s Sunrise The Immortal City, coming February 2026 - available for pre-order now.

418 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 15, 2025

About the author

V.F. Aubrey is an archaeologist who writes stuff! Some of his favorite authors who have been the most influential on his work include Patrick O'Brian, Philip Pullman, Emily St. James Mandel, Larry McMurtry, Bernard Cornwell, Ursula K. Le Guin, Yuval Noah Harari, James Clavell, and Elena Ferrante.

Reviews

[Sebastian Micheals · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Magnificent World created by V F Aubrey, the unique nature of world building is second to none, a blend of a destroyed world, and the most beautiful blend of tribes with a rich culture that has been created by a sanctuary of four different cultures and traditions, all with a sense of belonging together to stay connected and protected.

This book has a number of historical elements, including some magical stories from ancient ancestors, that they all cherish, including some differences between each other, the characters that make up this rich story has a special place and relationship, each being described in detail in the story itself, key characteristics make the adventures every bit more complex than any previous.

The author has created a magnificent book which many adventures in which he describes the journey and adventures of his own making, the epic story is a magnificent, magical masterwork leaving reader eager for more, and not being able to explore more than this one story contained in his debut novel.

This book contains a clarity of narrative, allowing your imagination to create the accompanying imagery, this is one author to watch, as great stories are to come from this literary style and master, and this debut novel will be an excellent book that will make an audiobook of magical fantasy novels in the future.

It’s been written by V F Aubrey, follow his writings and social media audience to help create a great following he deserves.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a strong start to the Eternity's Sunrise Saga series, it had that element that I was wanting from the description. I enjoyed the scifi element and how good the genetic engineering was used in this and learning about this world. V. F. Aubrey was able to create something that worked well in the genre and kept the reader engaged and wanting more.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Clay Waterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting page turner. Very well written. I didn’t know what to expect going in, but I really enjoyed this book.

[Larry Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good Debut Novel!

I read a pre-publication ARC issue of this novel. ‘August Of The People’ launches the reader into a very well written action scene, bringing the characters into fully detailed focus as the story unfolds. A post apocalypse realm gradually reveals itself, enveloping our engagement with the characters and their involvement with a deeply drawn mystery. The author (an Anthropologist) deftly develops the human and animal characters with a minimum of exposition, while retaining a rich and satisfying, emotional field.

The underpinning spiritual landscape is handled with an interesting blend of known and unknowable streams, welded nicely into a cohesive flow. The ‘built world’ which carries the story, expands further to encompass the survivors, the inhabitants of the last city and various other darkly interesting forms and forces, human and animal, building a lovely sense of tension as the chapters unfold.

I particularly enjoyed the author’s skillful drawing of the various characters in the past-future-past, circular timeframe of the back-story. This book is easily accessible to devotees of the modern Dystopian genre, including the central battle scenes, which are rich with human triumph, folly and hubris. The ending is a very satisfying moment, leading us onward towards the next episode in the series, due later in 2025. Highly recommended!

[Sebastian Michaels · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book with adventure, chills and thrills, and the world building and character development are both fantastic and the detail is incredible in every aspect.

This is one surprising read that I couldn’t resist reading after the first chapter, with fun creations, this time a debut author has done something incredible and exceptional in this book.

The world after a cataclysmic disaster and how the people are faced, with betrayal and injustice, with sinister consequences for many, along with old creatures returning to life as their hunted, they add a fun twist to the story that makes for a fun read, which is possibly why this debut novel gets a 5-stars review as it does everything to satisfy its readers and goes beyond.

This is one author who has great things planned, and I for one, can’t wait to see what’s next.

[Scott MacAllister · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this debut novel, Aubrey has done a fantastic job with both the world building and pacing. Inhabiting a setting that is both familiar and surreal, August of the People is a heart touching coming of age story set in an age whose time has ironically already come and gone. Part thriller and part broader mystery, AotP is an examination of the friendships, traditions, and communities that make us human, and the strength and courage required to venture forth into the unknown when those facets of humanity come under threat. This was a fantastic read, and I excitedly look forward to whatever might come next from Aubrey. Five stars.

[S.S. Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aubrey’s talent is settled in his world building. His use of plain language helps draw in young readers and captivate them in a primal futuristic society. A yearning to know more about the world is left, perfect for the start of a series. We will need to come back and learn more about what caused the collapse of civilization.
The cool thing with this tale, is it's both a little science fiction, and a little paleontology. If you have a teen or young adult that likes ice age stuff, dinosaurs, and sci-fi this is a great book to gift them.

[J.A. Bryden · Rating 5 out of 5]

August of the People is a gripping sci-fi tale set in a future Ice Age world that feels alive and epic. It's Jurassic Park meets Breath of the Wild. (It also had a slight Horizon Zero Dawn feel about it.)
Brave teens navigate a land of revived mammoths and find themselves with tough choices. Featuring great characters with their own heart and struggles that really pull you into the story.
A brilliant story by an Indie Author.

[J.F. Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping YA Sci-Fi with Depth and Heart

August for the People is a fantastic mix of post-apocalyptic adventure, prehistoric creatures, and futuristic secrets. V.F. Aubry builds a vivid world full of danger and emotion, with a protagonist you’ll root for from the start. The blend of science fiction and survival is perfect for teens and adults alike. Can’t wait for Book II!

Note: I listened to this Kindle novel with the help of SIRI.

[Brandon Pilcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's quite a cool post-apocalyptic world that V.F. Aubrey has built, with resurrected Ice Age animals, Neanderthal tribes, evil pseudo-Roman imperialists, and android priests. The author's knowledge of anthropology also shows in his portrayal of both the human hunter-gatherer and Neanderthal cultures. If I have any major complaints, it's that it's not until the very end where we get to see the saber-toothed cats advertised on the cover, but I guess the author was saving them for the climax.

[David Gomez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a strong debut (I believe?) book. It had some unique and interesting worldbuilding and sci-fi concepts I've not seen or heard of before. The plot was pretty simple and standard, but the complex character interactions and connections was fun, it felt like a combination of Game of Thrones and Horizon Zero Dawn. The main character August was very strongly written, and the side characters were very well implemented. Had a really fun time.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author transforms you into the future and takes you on an epic journey. Can’t wait to see what the next book has in store.

[Zan Puig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really excited for the sequel!