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After the Flash: A Ravaged Skies Novel: Book 1 of the Michael Connors story
What would you do to survive the apocalypse?
What begins as a typical summer day ends in disaster when a massive solar flare strikes the Earth, burning out all electronic devices around the planet and plunging the world into darkness.
Mike, a determined father, fights to survive and find his daughter. Living in a Los Angeles neighborhood struggling to adapt to the brutal new reality, he becomes a reluctant leader, working with neighbors to secure food, water, and safety against the threats of martial law, rampant disease, and human greed. As he navigates a collapsing world filled with devastating loss, betrayal, and violence, Mike's journey is both physical and emotional. Driven by love and guilt, he builds alliances with survivors while clashing with ruthless authorities.
This book is part of the Ravaged Skies Universe, a shared world with 15 apocalyptic authors. All books and series can be read as standalones, though observant readers may pick up on connections!
What begins as a typical summer day ends in disaster when a massive solar flare strikes the Earth, burning out all electronic devices around the planet and plunging the world into darkness.
Mike, a determined father, fights to survive and find his daughter. Living in a Los Angeles neighborhood struggling to adapt to the brutal new reality, he becomes a reluctant leader, working with neighbors to secure food, water, and safety against the threats of martial law, rampant disease, and human greed. As he navigates a collapsing world filled with devastating loss, betrayal, and violence, Mike's journey is both physical and emotional. Driven by love and guilt, he builds alliances with survivors while clashing with ruthless authorities.
This book is part of the Ravaged Skies Universe, a shared world with 15 apocalyptic authors. All books and series can be read as standalones, though observant readers may pick up on connections!
233 pages, Paperback
Published January 29, 2025
About the author
Marie Lanza
35 books18 followersMarie Lanza writes fast-paced horror and thrillers. She is the author of post-apocalyptic series Fractured, the short story series The Colony, along with other short stories part of larger Anthologies.
She also writes in various genres as a ghostwriter bringing others' visions to life. Marie is always creating, whether it’s for a new book series, feature film, or television. She currently resides in Los Angeles, California with her husband and two daughters.
She currently resides in Los Angeles, California with her husband and two daughters.
To learn about upcoming book releases and projects for Marie Lanza, visit her website.
She also writes in various genres as a ghostwriter bringing others' visions to life. Marie is always creating, whether it’s for a new book series, feature film, or television. She currently resides in Los Angeles, California with her husband and two daughters.
She currently resides in Los Angeles, California with her husband and two daughters.
To learn about upcoming book releases and projects for Marie Lanza, visit her website.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 1, 2026
Excellent book that had me hooked right from the beginning. Deep characters evolving as the world devolves around them, such a beautiful tension that comes from every direction-- the setting of the world after a solar flare destroys nearly all the electronics, the community trying to help one another and survive, and the nemesis of villainous looters plus corrupt governments that rise up in the absence of order. Treat yourself to this amazing read!
February 2, 2025
Another stellar perspective into the Ravaged Skies universe
After the Flash is a post-CME survival thriller. Mike, the primary protagonist is the focus of the story, trying to get to his daughter, with Mike and his trusted friends fighting both to stay alive and to evade an out of control cop running the city with draconian measures, including execution for most any crime and confiscation of alk pets for food, all the while raiding houses for supplies and sitting on a major cache of food. After the Flash is the darkest Ravage Skies book, with things going out of hand seemingly in a matter of hours post-event. The authority figures are the most crooked, self serving and capricious in the universe to date. Highly recommended for fans of Post-EMP/CME survival thrillers, as its a great introduction into Ravaged Skies, as well as anyone who loves a goid thriller! 5/5 stars! Ravaged Skies keeps getting better and I can't wait to see how some of the story line converge!!
After the Flash is a post-CME survival thriller. Mike, the primary protagonist is the focus of the story, trying to get to his daughter, with Mike and his trusted friends fighting both to stay alive and to evade an out of control cop running the city with draconian measures, including execution for most any crime and confiscation of alk pets for food, all the while raiding houses for supplies and sitting on a major cache of food. After the Flash is the darkest Ravage Skies book, with things going out of hand seemingly in a matter of hours post-event. The authority figures are the most crooked, self serving and capricious in the universe to date. Highly recommended for fans of Post-EMP/CME survival thrillers, as its a great introduction into Ravaged Skies, as well as anyone who loves a goid thriller! 5/5 stars! Ravaged Skies keeps getting better and I can't wait to see how some of the story line converge!!
March 4, 2025
I really like Mike!
This a great start to what promises to be a really good series. Mike is like a lot of men that most of us know or knew at some point in our lives. Happily married until a collision took his wife, so mired in his grief he turns to a bottle to cope. Along the way he loses custody of his young daughter.
We start just as he is granted legal custody, much to dismay of his wife’s parents. Before he can even think of his victory the world comes to a screeching halt. We follow Mike as he tries to help his little neck of the world try to survive all while trying to figure out how he’s making the 150 mile trip to try to find his daughter.
It’s a battle that is going to be epic, I have no doubt. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of his story.
This a great start to what promises to be a really good series. Mike is like a lot of men that most of us know or knew at some point in our lives. Happily married until a collision took his wife, so mired in his grief he turns to a bottle to cope. Along the way he loses custody of his young daughter.
We start just as he is granted legal custody, much to dismay of his wife’s parents. Before he can even think of his victory the world comes to a screeching halt. We follow Mike as he tries to help his little neck of the world try to survive all while trying to figure out how he’s making the 150 mile trip to try to find his daughter.
It’s a battle that is going to be epic, I have no doubt. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of his story.
June 16, 2026
Slowly making my way through all my impulsive (zombie/emp) book purchases. After reading a series by this author just recently I thought I'd also give this one a go.
Being brutally honest I have never read a book written in a male's POV before, and I have no idea why, it's just not something I go searching for. So this was a new concept to me and one I really enjoyed.
I liked Mike and connected with his character, he had this rough exterior but delve deeper and he had a soft side which not many got to see and I liked that about him. A simple man, who enjoyed the simple things in life.
This starts off with Mike in court patiently waiting to hear the verdict if he gets full custody of his ten year old daughter who has been in the care of her grandparents since the death of Mike's wife which is when his life spiralled out of control as he hit the bottle hard and he lost custody of her.
As he's granted custody and is at home making things right for her to come and live with him, things change in an instant and the world comes to a screeching halt as a massive solar flare hits and destroys everything in its wake.
Neighbors he'd never spoken to become close allies as they try and keep their wee neighbourhood safe as corrupt men erupt from the ashes of evil and force control on survivors, taking vehicles, and food making them reliant on them.
We see Mike struggling under this corrupt new world but ever present in his mind is getting his daughter. But to do that things need to be in order in his nighbourhood before he makes the treacherous journey into no mans land.
Being brutally honest I have never read a book written in a male's POV before, and I have no idea why, it's just not something I go searching for. So this was a new concept to me and one I really enjoyed.
I liked Mike and connected with his character, he had this rough exterior but delve deeper and he had a soft side which not many got to see and I liked that about him. A simple man, who enjoyed the simple things in life.
This starts off with Mike in court patiently waiting to hear the verdict if he gets full custody of his ten year old daughter who has been in the care of her grandparents since the death of Mike's wife which is when his life spiralled out of control as he hit the bottle hard and he lost custody of her.
As he's granted custody and is at home making things right for her to come and live with him, things change in an instant and the world comes to a screeching halt as a massive solar flare hits and destroys everything in its wake.
Neighbors he'd never spoken to become close allies as they try and keep their wee neighbourhood safe as corrupt men erupt from the ashes of evil and force control on survivors, taking vehicles, and food making them reliant on them.
We see Mike struggling under this corrupt new world but ever present in his mind is getting his daughter. But to do that things need to be in order in his nighbourhood before he makes the treacherous journey into no mans land.
February 16, 2025
When a massive solar flare hits sending the world into darkness, we have people banding together to survive and look out for each other and unfortunately but not surprising we have other groups who want the power and control over others at any cost. This book deals with Mike's journey to reunite with his young daughter hundreds of miles away and helping his neighbours to protect themselves and survive against the odds. I'm looking forward to more of his story. This is a new author to me and I will definitely be reading more of her work.
January 31, 2025
Great book
I really enjoyed this book! It is 3rd in a series of books written by 15 authors all set in the same world. I think this a great concept and look forward to reading more in the Ravaged Skies universe!
I love everyday characters that find a way to work together. There has been a catastrophic event that no one saw coming.
This book has great character development and such a great story.
I look forward to reading more by this author.
I really enjoyed this book! It is 3rd in a series of books written by 15 authors all set in the same world. I think this a great concept and look forward to reading more in the Ravaged Skies universe!
I love everyday characters that find a way to work together. There has been a catastrophic event that no one saw coming.
This book has great character development and such a great story.
I look forward to reading more by this author.
April 2, 2026
After the Flash
This was a quick easy read that came across with a straightforward style of writing. You've got your good guys and bad guys that act how you expect, and a dog who as far as we know had no training but acts like the perfect dog. This is a series so this book is just the beginning of Mike and Bears story.
This was a quick easy read that came across with a straightforward style of writing. You've got your good guys and bad guys that act how you expect, and a dog who as far as we know had no training but acts like the perfect dog. This is a series so this book is just the beginning of Mike and Bears story.
January 31, 2025
could not put this book down!!
Really good!! I could not put this book down!! This book was exciting!! It also made me angry!! People can be so rude!!
I’m looking forward to the next book!! This was my first time reading a book by this author!! Very good!
Really good!! I could not put this book down!! This book was exciting!! It also made me angry!! People can be so rude!!
I’m looking forward to the next book!! This was my first time reading a book by this author!! Very good!
February 8, 2025
Enjoyed it
This was a very enjoyable week With believable characters and a believable situation. Mike is a flawed character that rises to the occasion during EMC Event. I'm looking forward to the next book.
This was a very enjoyable week With believable characters and a believable situation. Mike is a flawed character that rises to the occasion during EMC Event. I'm looking forward to the next book.
September 12, 2025
I find this author inching closer and closer to my list of favorite apocalyptic authors. She has a knack for keeping me tense and on the edge of my seat. Every time I think there is a lull the tension intensifies. I love it.
June 11, 2026
Brilliant start
I really enjoyed this book. I’ve been enjoyed the ravaged skies books and this one didn’t disappoint. I’ve not read anything by this author before but her style of writing makes the story come alive!
I really enjoyed this book. I’ve been enjoyed the ravaged skies books and this one didn’t disappoint. I’ve not read anything by this author before but her style of writing makes the story come alive!
February 1, 2025
a page turner!
The book is exciting and fun to read. I hope this never comes true in real life! It seems like it could.
The book is exciting and fun to read. I hope this never comes true in real life! It seems like it could.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews