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Eli: A Town at War
Eli Cooper's father is dying. His dog has cancer. And the world just went dark.
The super EMP killed the grid, stranding his father in a St. Marys hospital without power. All Eli has left is his grandfather's Pennsylvania homestead and the grim determination to defend it.
He just wants to be left alone.
But when a warlord named Vorn executes the town's leadership and crowns himself king of St. Marys, Eli can't look away. He rescues Sandra—the local vet—from the bloodbath and brings her to his fortified property.
It's a decision that puts them both in Vorn's crosshairs.
Vorn isn't some opportunistic thug. He's a former Special Operations veteran with tactical brilliance and zero mercy. His militia, Hell's Enforcers, is expanding. And they're coming for the man who defied him.
Eli has his grandfather's journal. His weapons. His land. And a fierce loyalty to the few things he has left.
But loyalty won't be enough when survival demands ruthlessness.
In the Warlord Territories, the only law is power.
Book 1 in the Dark Warlord Territories series. Can be read as a standalone or as a companion to the Dark A Kerrigan Survival Saga.
Dark Warlord Territories
A Town at War (Book 1)
Into the Fray (Book 2)
Forged in Fire (Book 3)
Dark A Kerrigan Survival Saga
ECHOES OF THE DARK A Kerrigan's Quest (Book 1)
DARK A Kerrigan's Journey (Book 2)
VEILED Kerrigan's Redemption (Book 3)
FADING Kerrigan's Legacy (Book 4)
TIDES OF Kerrigan's War (Book 5)
ECHOES OF THE Matt Groover’s Tale *Novella
The super EMP killed the grid, stranding his father in a St. Marys hospital without power. All Eli has left is his grandfather's Pennsylvania homestead and the grim determination to defend it.
He just wants to be left alone.
But when a warlord named Vorn executes the town's leadership and crowns himself king of St. Marys, Eli can't look away. He rescues Sandra—the local vet—from the bloodbath and brings her to his fortified property.
It's a decision that puts them both in Vorn's crosshairs.
Vorn isn't some opportunistic thug. He's a former Special Operations veteran with tactical brilliance and zero mercy. His militia, Hell's Enforcers, is expanding. And they're coming for the man who defied him.
Eli has his grandfather's journal. His weapons. His land. And a fierce loyalty to the few things he has left.
But loyalty won't be enough when survival demands ruthlessness.
In the Warlord Territories, the only law is power.
Book 1 in the Dark Warlord Territories series. Can be read as a standalone or as a companion to the Dark A Kerrigan Survival Saga.
Dark Warlord Territories
A Town at War (Book 1)
Into the Fray (Book 2)
Forged in Fire (Book 3)
Dark A Kerrigan Survival Saga
ECHOES OF THE DARK A Kerrigan's Quest (Book 1)
DARK A Kerrigan's Journey (Book 2)
VEILED Kerrigan's Redemption (Book 3)
FADING Kerrigan's Legacy (Book 4)
TIDES OF Kerrigan's War (Book 5)
ECHOES OF THE Matt Groover’s Tale *Novella
319 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 30, 2024
87 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Joseph A. Sackett
14 books38 followersJoseph A. Sackett, a Minnesota native, spent over 20 years serving as an intelligence analyst in the military and later for the Joint Special Operations Command. He holds advanced degrees in Intelligence Studies and Geospatial Intelligence. His research focuses on the vulnerabilities of the U.S. power grid. Inspired by a conversation about the potential repercussions of an EMP attack, Joseph penned his first book to raise public awareness about this critical issue. When he's not writing or studying history, Joseph enjoys reading about combat veterans, supporting the veteran community, and spending time with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 30, 2025
I went into this book blind and was pleasantly surprised! I had not read this authors work before and now I cannot wait to read more from this author. This book definitely makes you think and consider a lot of things on what could happen. I was hooked from the beginning.
May 14, 2025
The lack of written reviews on this book considering how many 5 stars there are is strange.
Anyway, solid enough storyline which is the only thing that kept me going. The amount of typos in this really bugged me and continuously pulled me out of the story, they seemed to get worse the further into the book I went. Coyotes is already plural, ‘coyotes’ve’ nearly made me have an aneurysm. I really thought maybe this book was self published by the author seems to be under a small publishing house, who’s doing the proofreading?
When the protagonist is in a hardware store gathering supplies we get a list of what each item could be useful for - PLEASE I KNOW WHAT DUCT TAPE, PARACORD AND TARPAULIN can be used for. I don’t need a sentence after each find explaining their everyday mundane uses. Find me some tampons and talk to me about using it to stem blood flow or something, turn the everyday into something cool during an apocalyptic setting.
There’s a solid story here + I really like Eli & I feel Sandra has the potential to be a kick ass female lead but it took most of the book to get anywhere and then it ended so I’m still on shaky ground getting to know them both. The explanation for how Vorn cane to be is really vague and loose & I didn’t buy that he would pit brother against brother when his entire issue stemmed from being ‘abandoned’ by his own brother, seemed odd to me. I’m committed now and will read on but if Ted dies I may just riot, he’s my favourite.
Anyway, solid enough storyline which is the only thing that kept me going. The amount of typos in this really bugged me and continuously pulled me out of the story, they seemed to get worse the further into the book I went. Coyotes is already plural, ‘coyotes’ve’ nearly made me have an aneurysm. I really thought maybe this book was self published by the author seems to be under a small publishing house, who’s doing the proofreading?
When the protagonist is in a hardware store gathering supplies we get a list of what each item could be useful for - PLEASE I KNOW WHAT DUCT TAPE, PARACORD AND TARPAULIN can be used for. I don’t need a sentence after each find explaining their everyday mundane uses. Find me some tampons and talk to me about using it to stem blood flow or something, turn the everyday into something cool during an apocalyptic setting.
There’s a solid story here + I really like Eli & I feel Sandra has the potential to be a kick ass female lead but it took most of the book to get anywhere and then it ended so I’m still on shaky ground getting to know them both. The explanation for how Vorn cane to be is really vague and loose & I didn’t buy that he would pit brother against brother when his entire issue stemmed from being ‘abandoned’ by his own brother, seemed odd to me. I’m committed now and will read on but if Ted dies I may just riot, he’s my favourite.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Intense, Brutal, and Unforgettable
Eli: A Town at War by Joseph Sackett is a post-apocalyptic masterpiece that delivers both emotional depth and unflinching brutality. Sackett paints a world on the edge of collapse with stunning clarity—every shattered street, every desperate choice, every flicker of humanity feels painfully real.
Eli’s journey through this fractured landscape is gripping from start to finish. He’s a protagonist you root for not because he’s perfect, but because Sackett makes his vulnerability, determination, and quiet strength shine through even in the harshest moments. The brutality of the world around him is never gratuitous—it serves the story, heightens the stakes, and makes every small victory feel monumental.
What sets this novel apart is how it balances bleakness with hope. Amid the ruins, Sackett finds space for connection, loyalty, and the stubborn belief that people can still choose to do what’s right.
A beautifully written, fiercely intense, and emotionally resonant read. I couldn’t put it down.
Intense, Brutal, and Unforgettable
Eli: A Town at War by Joseph Sackett is a post-apocalyptic masterpiece that delivers both emotional depth and unflinching brutality. Sackett paints a world on the edge of collapse with stunning clarity—every shattered street, every desperate choice, every flicker of humanity feels painfully real.
Eli’s journey through this fractured landscape is gripping from start to finish. He’s a protagonist you root for not because he’s perfect, but because Sackett makes his vulnerability, determination, and quiet strength shine through even in the harshest moments. The brutality of the world around him is never gratuitous—it serves the story, heightens the stakes, and makes every small victory feel monumental.
What sets this novel apart is how it balances bleakness with hope. Amid the ruins, Sackett finds space for connection, loyalty, and the stubborn belief that people can still choose to do what’s right.
A beautifully written, fiercely intense, and emotionally resonant read. I couldn’t put it down.
January 8, 2026
love Eli
Great story, good characterization, enough so you understand the characters, I really enjoy seeing how different authors see how society devolves. Definitely recommended, couldn’t put it down.
Great story, good characterization, enough so you understand the characters, I really enjoy seeing how different authors see how society devolves. Definitely recommended, couldn’t put it down.
January 20, 2026
Oh Review Eli
Pretty good book. Different than the usual EMP disaster books...not a soldier or a marine just a guy. Looking forward to the next book already qued up to read.
Pretty good book. Different than the usual EMP disaster books...not a soldier or a marine just a guy. Looking forward to the next book already qued up to read.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews