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Eli: Into the Fray
HE CAME HOME TO A BODY ON HIS FLOOR. THEN THE REAL STORM HIT.
Eli Cooper fought his way home through a blizzard expecting to find Sandra and his dog Ted by the fire. The chimney is cold, the house is empty, and there’s a body on the living room floor that wasn’t there when he left.
Eli knows who’s behind it, and he knows the man won’t stop. Ending it means heading back out into a storm that has buried every road, through the Blackthorn Ridges, where the snow doesn’t give back what it takes.
In St. Marys, Selene Navarro watches the Hell’s Enforcers drag her grandmother into the snow with the rest of the old and the sick. Silas Rourke is the one giving the orders. From that moment, Selene wants one thing, and she’ll do whatever it takes to get close enough to kill him.
Silas has a dead brother to answer for, and he knows exactly who to blame. While Eli is lost in the storm, Silas is already on his way to the people Eli left behind.
And by the time Eli finds his way home, there may be no one left to save.
This winter, kindness gets you killed.
From bestselling author Joseph Sackett, Into the Fray is Book 2 of Dark Warlord Territories, an EMP survival series set in the Pennsylvania mountains. For readers of Kyla Stone and Michael Hopf who like their post-apocalyptic fiction brutal and personal.
*Amazon Top 100*
*Kindle All-Star Award Winner*
Eli Cooper fought his way home through a blizzard expecting to find Sandra and his dog Ted by the fire. The chimney is cold, the house is empty, and there’s a body on the living room floor that wasn’t there when he left.
Eli knows who’s behind it, and he knows the man won’t stop. Ending it means heading back out into a storm that has buried every road, through the Blackthorn Ridges, where the snow doesn’t give back what it takes.
In St. Marys, Selene Navarro watches the Hell’s Enforcers drag her grandmother into the snow with the rest of the old and the sick. Silas Rourke is the one giving the orders. From that moment, Selene wants one thing, and she’ll do whatever it takes to get close enough to kill him.
Silas has a dead brother to answer for, and he knows exactly who to blame. While Eli is lost in the storm, Silas is already on his way to the people Eli left behind.
And by the time Eli finds his way home, there may be no one left to save.
This winter, kindness gets you killed.
From bestselling author Joseph Sackett, Into the Fray is Book 2 of Dark Warlord Territories, an EMP survival series set in the Pennsylvania mountains. For readers of Kyla Stone and Michael Hopf who like their post-apocalyptic fiction brutal and personal.
*Amazon Top 100*
*Kindle All-Star Award Winner*
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 7, 2025
About the author
Joseph A. Sackett
23 books52 followersJoseph A. Sackett is a bestselling author and Kindle All-Star Award winner with more than a dozen novels in print. He writes post-apocalyptic fiction and horror.
A retired veteran with over twenty years in America's special operations community, he worked alongside SOCOM, JSOC, and MARSOC and deployed with them into hostile environments. He brings that to every firefight, every survival decision, and every moral line his characters have to cross.
His post-apocalyptic work blends the brutal intensity of Pierce Brown with the relentless pacing of Kyla Stone. His horror draws from the dark corners explored by Joe Hill and the visceral tension of David Sodergren.
If you want stories that hit hard and stay with you, you're in the right place.
Originally from Minnesota, Joseph now lives in Florida with his fiancée, where he runs Ravaged Realms LLC and continues building his universe of broken worlds and the people trying to survive them.
Want a free post-apocalyptic thriller? Get Echoes of the Fallen at https://go.ravagedrealms.com/9gm
Signed copies, the full catalog and more: https://ravagedrealms.com
A retired veteran with over twenty years in America's special operations community, he worked alongside SOCOM, JSOC, and MARSOC and deployed with them into hostile environments. He brings that to every firefight, every survival decision, and every moral line his characters have to cross.
His post-apocalyptic work blends the brutal intensity of Pierce Brown with the relentless pacing of Kyla Stone. His horror draws from the dark corners explored by Joe Hill and the visceral tension of David Sodergren.
If you want stories that hit hard and stay with you, you're in the right place.
Originally from Minnesota, Joseph now lives in Florida with his fiancée, where he runs Ravaged Realms LLC and continues building his universe of broken worlds and the people trying to survive them.
Want a free post-apocalyptic thriller? Get Echoes of the Fallen at https://go.ravagedrealms.com/9gm
Signed copies, the full catalog and more: https://ravagedrealms.com
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 21, 2026
Joseph does an amazing job at writing great characters and great posts apocalyptic themes! I’m hooked on Eli story
December 10, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Sad, Gut-Wrenching, Action-Packed, and Full of Strong New Characters
Eli: Into the Fray delivers a powerful blend of heartbreak and high-intensity adventure, and Joseph Sackett takes things a step further by introducing new characters who genuinely elevate the story. The book is packed with sad and gut-wrenching moments that hit unexpectedly hard, grounding the action in real emotional stakes. Eli’s struggle feels raw and human, and the narrative doesn’t shy away from the pain that shapes him.
The action is relentless—in the best way. Whether it’s chaotic confrontations, tense escapes, or sudden bursts of danger, Sackett keeps the momentum high without losing sight of the story’s deeper themes.
What really stands out this time, though, is the introduction of new characters who arrive with real purpose. Each one has a distinct personality, a clear motivation, and a growth arc that feels earned. Their development adds fresh layers to the world, creating relationships and conflicts that make the emotional moments even more impactful.
Some scenes could benefit from smoother pacing or a bit more detail, sometimes descriptive words felt a little repetitive, which keeps it from reaching five-star perfection—but it’s still a gripping and memorable read.
Eli: Into the Fray delivers a powerful blend of heartbreak and high-intensity adventure, and Joseph Sackett takes things a step further by introducing new characters who genuinely elevate the story. The book is packed with sad and gut-wrenching moments that hit unexpectedly hard, grounding the action in real emotional stakes. Eli’s struggle feels raw and human, and the narrative doesn’t shy away from the pain that shapes him.
The action is relentless—in the best way. Whether it’s chaotic confrontations, tense escapes, or sudden bursts of danger, Sackett keeps the momentum high without losing sight of the story’s deeper themes.
What really stands out this time, though, is the introduction of new characters who arrive with real purpose. Each one has a distinct personality, a clear motivation, and a growth arc that feels earned. Their development adds fresh layers to the world, creating relationships and conflicts that make the emotional moments even more impactful.
Some scenes could benefit from smoother pacing or a bit more detail, sometimes descriptive words felt a little repetitive, which keeps it from reaching five-star perfection—but it’s still a gripping and memorable read.
May 16, 2025
Book 1 & book 2 should have been edited down into a single book, there’s way too much filler here and then insane short bursts of violent action. I get that the author is trying to create a kick ass protagonist but the ordeals he’s suffered, especially as an ordinary man are a lot and the pace is relentless. Less typos in this book which I was glad to see but some sprinkled throughout the text.
Also can Ted get a fucking break 😩 he’s got cancer, he’s elderly, he wounded his leg saving Sandra and now he’s been shot and he’s out in the depths of winter in the wilderness in SNOW actively bleeding and in pain, no food water medication. The chips are really stacked against him and I’m not sure why he’s getting such a harsh ride, he’s the best boy and doesn’t need to be beaten when he’s already down to prove that point.
I will be continuing the series when other books are released because despite my moans there’s a solid story here and I’m invested in Eli, Sandra & Selene.
Also can Ted get a fucking break 😩 he’s got cancer, he’s elderly, he wounded his leg saving Sandra and now he’s been shot and he’s out in the depths of winter in the wilderness in SNOW actively bleeding and in pain, no food water medication. The chips are really stacked against him and I’m not sure why he’s getting such a harsh ride, he’s the best boy and doesn’t need to be beaten when he’s already down to prove that point.
I will be continuing the series when other books are released because despite my moans there’s a solid story here and I’m invested in Eli, Sandra & Selene.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews