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Utter Darkness: A Post Apocalyptic CME/EMP Survival Thriller
A massive solar superstorm. A nationwide blackout. A family torn apart.
The most powerful solar superstorm ever to hit Earth plunged the world into chaos, leaving society crumbling in its wake. For Colorado-based NOAA scientist Carson Carlisle, the storm is his worst nightmare come true—a disaster he saw coming too late to warn the nation. As communication networks collapse and the power grid fails, Carson’s mission shifts from preventing catastrophe to protecting those he loves.
In Washington, D.C., his sister Willow is thrust into a city spiraling into lawlessness. Every street corner hides a new threat as she fights to survive while desperately trying to reunite with her boyfriend, Knox—a man who has the skills to endure but may not have the time to escape.
Meanwhile, their mother, Bee, a fiercely independent retiree in Arkansas, refuses to abandon her home even as her small community fractures under the weight of fear and desperation. Armed with grit, determination, and an unyielding spirit, she emerges as an unexpected leader as her neighbors confront mounting threats and impossible choices.
As the nation descends into anarchy, Carson, Willow, Knox, and Bee are forced to confront their darkest fears, their deepest weaknesses, and their unbreakable connections to one another. But survival comes at a cost--and they’ll have to decide how much of themselves they’re willing to sacrifice to save the people they love.
Utter Darkness, book one in the Black Sky Event series, is a gripping tale of courage, sacrifice, and the relentless fight for hope in a world gone dark.
The most powerful solar superstorm ever to hit Earth plunged the world into chaos, leaving society crumbling in its wake. For Colorado-based NOAA scientist Carson Carlisle, the storm is his worst nightmare come true—a disaster he saw coming too late to warn the nation. As communication networks collapse and the power grid fails, Carson’s mission shifts from preventing catastrophe to protecting those he loves.
In Washington, D.C., his sister Willow is thrust into a city spiraling into lawlessness. Every street corner hides a new threat as she fights to survive while desperately trying to reunite with her boyfriend, Knox—a man who has the skills to endure but may not have the time to escape.
Meanwhile, their mother, Bee, a fiercely independent retiree in Arkansas, refuses to abandon her home even as her small community fractures under the weight of fear and desperation. Armed with grit, determination, and an unyielding spirit, she emerges as an unexpected leader as her neighbors confront mounting threats and impossible choices.
As the nation descends into anarchy, Carson, Willow, Knox, and Bee are forced to confront their darkest fears, their deepest weaknesses, and their unbreakable connections to one another. But survival comes at a cost--and they’ll have to decide how much of themselves they’re willing to sacrifice to save the people they love.
Utter Darkness, book one in the Black Sky Event series, is a gripping tale of courage, sacrifice, and the relentless fight for hope in a world gone dark.
354 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 29, 2025
671 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 18, 2025
Now I gotta wait for book 2? I received this as an ARC and I'm so glad. This was an interesting book. To follow Carson, Willow, Knox, Bee. So many characters to love and hate. Near the end of this book I was just so upset for what happens - for a lot of what happens actually.
There were a few parts that I felt weren't needed but the story itself was good. These are my preferred genre of books and I was so pleased with this one.
If you enjoy post apocalyptic and survival you'll enjoy this one.
There were a few parts that I felt weren't needed but the story itself was good. These are my preferred genre of books and I was so pleased with this one.
If you enjoy post apocalyptic and survival you'll enjoy this one.
May 3, 2025
WOW!! THIS WAS FANTASTIC!!!
I read a lot of Apocalyptic,Survival and Dystopian books, and I’ve read Payne’s Gateway To Chaos series, which was AWESOME, but THIS BOOK is BRILLIANT and BRUTAL!! It’s so realistic and you can see this happening. I recently started an apocalyptic thriller series about a CME and it’s good, but this one really made me understand what a CME (Coronal Mass Ejection) really is, and I’d never heard of the Carrington Event that took place in 1859 until this book!! I love learning these things!!
Anyway, that might not intrigue everyone, but it doesn’t have to, because this book has great characters that you will get wrapped up in, worry about, cry for and sometimes even scream at. I really felt the fear, the terror, that these people were feeling as the world around them is falling apart. Desperation and fear brings out the worst in humanity, and it brings out the worst in the worst people too. Gangs, bullies, preying on people who are already so scared and desperate.
Our main characters are trying so hard to focus on finding their families and saving them, but they find it heartbreaking to not be able to help everyone. These characters are flawed just like everyone else, but they aren’t monsters and they’re finding it hard to cope with having to become something they’re not in order to survive.
I was lucky enough to get an arc, but don’t fret because it release at the end of the month and you can preorder the ebook now. If you enjoy Apocalyptic Survival Thrillers that you find hard to put down, then you DEFINITELY need to check this one out!! I am so excited to read book two!!!
I read a lot of Apocalyptic,Survival and Dystopian books, and I’ve read Payne’s Gateway To Chaos series, which was AWESOME, but THIS BOOK is BRILLIANT and BRUTAL!! It’s so realistic and you can see this happening. I recently started an apocalyptic thriller series about a CME and it’s good, but this one really made me understand what a CME (Coronal Mass Ejection) really is, and I’d never heard of the Carrington Event that took place in 1859 until this book!! I love learning these things!!
Anyway, that might not intrigue everyone, but it doesn’t have to, because this book has great characters that you will get wrapped up in, worry about, cry for and sometimes even scream at. I really felt the fear, the terror, that these people were feeling as the world around them is falling apart. Desperation and fear brings out the worst in humanity, and it brings out the worst in the worst people too. Gangs, bullies, preying on people who are already so scared and desperate.
Our main characters are trying so hard to focus on finding their families and saving them, but they find it heartbreaking to not be able to help everyone. These characters are flawed just like everyone else, but they aren’t monsters and they’re finding it hard to cope with having to become something they’re not in order to survive.
I was lucky enough to get an arc, but don’t fret because it release at the end of the month and you can preorder the ebook now. If you enjoy Apocalyptic Survival Thrillers that you find hard to put down, then you DEFINITELY need to check this one out!! I am so excited to read book two!!!
April 29, 2025
Raises the bar for post-CME survival series openers!
Utter Darkness is the 1st book in the Black Sky Event series, and introduces us to a family desperately trying to find loved ones and come together in the aftermath of a CME which cripples global infrastructure. Members of the family (and a cat hilariously carried through most of the book) have very different levels of preparation for such an event. The writing is what makes this such a standout! Despite all the similar books recently from the Ravaged Skies universe, Utter Darkness is head and shoulders above my previous favorite in the genre The Hat Trick, which was excellent in every way, yet still outdone by Utter Darkness. The characters are so good and varied, the dialogue is perfectly matched to the plot, pace and specific events/environments. Nothing is even slightly out of place. I found Knox to have the most amusing adventure, with Sophia, and with Bee a close second. This is the genre defining book in the Post-CME survival thriller genre, even if you've never been interested in apocalyptic survival thrillers, this one should be calling your name, and if you've already heard of it, the wait for today must have been awful! 5/5stars! Highly, highly, highly recommended for all adult audience. Really, this is a literary experience you don't want to miss out on, just ensure you have time to finish it before you start it, the book cost me most of a night of sleep, I couldn't put it down, you won't want to put it down either!!
Note: Read originally as an ARC reader
Utter Darkness is the 1st book in the Black Sky Event series, and introduces us to a family desperately trying to find loved ones and come together in the aftermath of a CME which cripples global infrastructure. Members of the family (and a cat hilariously carried through most of the book) have very different levels of preparation for such an event. The writing is what makes this such a standout! Despite all the similar books recently from the Ravaged Skies universe, Utter Darkness is head and shoulders above my previous favorite in the genre The Hat Trick, which was excellent in every way, yet still outdone by Utter Darkness. The characters are so good and varied, the dialogue is perfectly matched to the plot, pace and specific events/environments. Nothing is even slightly out of place. I found Knox to have the most amusing adventure, with Sophia, and with Bee a close second. This is the genre defining book in the Post-CME survival thriller genre, even if you've never been interested in apocalyptic survival thrillers, this one should be calling your name, and if you've already heard of it, the wait for today must have been awful! 5/5stars! Highly, highly, highly recommended for all adult audience. Really, this is a literary experience you don't want to miss out on, just ensure you have time to finish it before you start it, the book cost me most of a night of sleep, I couldn't put it down, you won't want to put it down either!!
Note: Read originally as an ARC reader
May 25, 2025
Something’s Missing
All the right elements but something just did not grip me. I’m not sure If it was the bouncing between Bee in Arkansas constantly checking her physical appearance while trying to entertain the neighborhood and protect Andrea and her baby, Carson and Julie riding bikes though Colorado, or Willow and Knox trying to reconnect. I didn’t feel much for any particular character. I was semi hopeful Carson would fall for Julie, but he is too focused on his girlfriend’s cat. Even though she is probably dead from a plane crash. The details are there but not the gripping heart piece.
All the right elements but something just did not grip me. I’m not sure If it was the bouncing between Bee in Arkansas constantly checking her physical appearance while trying to entertain the neighborhood and protect Andrea and her baby, Carson and Julie riding bikes though Colorado, or Willow and Knox trying to reconnect. I didn’t feel much for any particular character. I was semi hopeful Carson would fall for Julie, but he is too focused on his girlfriend’s cat. Even though she is probably dead from a plane crash. The details are there but not the gripping heart piece.
June 27, 2025
Darkness
As families try to unite after a CME, some much is happening everywhere. Carson, Julie, Bee, Willow, Knox, and the people they encounter along the way as they try to runite as a family is proving difficult. The utter chaos is a challenge. Most people did no have time to prepare for the event but are just trying to survive. This is the first novel in the series and can be read as a standalone but will people survive and what type of quality of life will the survivors have? Very good novel and gives the reader food for thought.
As families try to unite after a CME, some much is happening everywhere. Carson, Julie, Bee, Willow, Knox, and the people they encounter along the way as they try to runite as a family is proving difficult. The utter chaos is a challenge. Most people did no have time to prepare for the event but are just trying to survive. This is the first novel in the series and can be read as a standalone but will people survive and what type of quality of life will the survivors have? Very good novel and gives the reader food for thought.
July 30, 2025
This is a good start to the series. There were some minor editing issues, mostly with punctuation. I liked most of the characters,-Carson and Julie trying to get south in Colorado and Willow and Knox. I’m a little less keen on Bee who seems to be sleepwalking and relying on charm to weather the apocalypse. Willow is lucky she ran into Guynn and I’m astonished that after everything she has seen, she worries about looting a store to get items crucial to survival. I am interested in what happens, so on to book 2.
May 10, 2025
Black Sky Event, Book 1
Another great book! I'm looking forward to book 2 in this series.
I really enjoy reading this author's books. I have read all of her books and pre-order any new ones coming out.
Another great book! I'm looking forward to book 2 in this series.
I really enjoy reading this author's books. I have read all of her books and pre-order any new ones coming out.
May 22, 2025
Heading for safety
This is another book you hate to put down. T.L. Payne is an excellent Apocalyptic author. I look forward to book two ,which I got today. Traveling on to further adventures.
This is another book you hate to put down. T.L. Payne is an excellent Apocalyptic author. I look forward to book two ,which I got today. Traveling on to further adventures.
June 6, 2025
Utter disappointment
I rarely stop reading a book once I start. But this one is so filled with overly dramatic, improbable things I couldn't take it. Reads like an adolescent comic book. Cheap trash, sorry I downloaded it.
I rarely stop reading a book once I start. But this one is so filled with overly dramatic, improbable things I couldn't take it. Reads like an adolescent comic book. Cheap trash, sorry I downloaded it.
August 12, 2025
started out ok
Devolved into an annoying mess. The characters were annoying and one-dimensional. It kinda seemed like every bad guy was Mexican? Slightly racist, and pushing a big agenda against AI. I hate it too, but it was over the top. I won't be continuing the series.
Devolved into an annoying mess. The characters were annoying and one-dimensional. It kinda seemed like every bad guy was Mexican? Slightly racist, and pushing a big agenda against AI. I hate it too, but it was over the top. I won't be continuing the series.
May 4, 2025
This was an enjoyable EMP end of the world adventure! Good energy, lots of action & some interesting ideas. I do like the characters & found I finished in no time at all! A good fun read!
May 8, 2025
UTTER DARKNESS BOOK 1
Really enjoyed the storyline. Carson Willow and Knox make a good group. Bea Carson’s mother is something else. I can picture her in my mind.
Really enjoyed the storyline. Carson Willow and Knox make a good group. Bea Carson’s mother is something else. I can picture her in my mind.
May 16, 2025
enjoyed it
Good read, well written. I plan to read the next in the series when it is released in the near future.
Good read, well written. I plan to read the next in the series when it is released in the near future.
May 27, 2025
utter darkness
Wow! This one kept me on my toes the whole book. Can’t wait to start the next one. Trust me, it’s that good!
Wow! This one kept me on my toes the whole book. Can’t wait to start the next one. Trust me, it’s that good!
June 30, 2025
Light
A good read. Kept my interest. The characters are strong and believable. The situations are what you would think would happen.
A good read. Kept my interest. The characters are strong and believable. The situations are what you would think would happen.
July 26, 2025
Best read
This book is the best read I've had this summer. I'm looking forward to the next book which I have on my Kindle. I love the new reading pattern in this book.
This book is the best read I've had this summer. I'm looking forward to the next book which I have on my Kindle. I love the new reading pattern in this book.
August 15, 2025
Thought provoking story and great characters with a lot of action.
September 22, 2025
Action packed!
This series would make a great movie series. I am on book 4, and can't read fast enough to see what happens next. One of the best series I've read so far.
This series would make a great movie series. I am on book 4, and can't read fast enough to see what happens next. One of the best series I've read so far.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews