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Commune #7
Commune 7: Bloody Sun: Commune, Book 7
The hit Commune series is back with book seven! Rejoin some of your old favorites and plenty of unforgettable new ones on another deadly romp through post-apocalyptic America.
Books has settled the Smoky Mountains following the events of the Territory Wars. His freehold doesn't have much worth trading that neighboring settlements need, but he and many other inhabitants don't necessarily consider this a bad thing. The low economic desirability of their freehold is what has allowed them to avoid fighting.
The forces of Washington DC under Commodore Antony Kraemer have launched the reclamation of the Reformed United States of America. They've sent envoys to the major freeholders with the message that they are expected to rejoin the union—or else.
Most Freeholders see Kraemer as just another warlord, intending to resist with violence. And while Books' new pacifist path may work for him, war is coming.
Books has settled the Smoky Mountains following the events of the Territory Wars. His freehold doesn't have much worth trading that neighboring settlements need, but he and many other inhabitants don't necessarily consider this a bad thing. The low economic desirability of their freehold is what has allowed them to avoid fighting.
The forces of Washington DC under Commodore Antony Kraemer have launched the reclamation of the Reformed United States of America. They've sent envoys to the major freeholders with the message that they are expected to rejoin the union—or else.
Most Freeholders see Kraemer as just another warlord, intending to resist with violence. And while Books' new pacifist path may work for him, war is coming.
- GenresPost Apocalyptic
Audible Audio
Published May 6, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 22, 2025
I wanted to like it, but I can't finish it. There's too much senseless violence against kids in this for me to stomach.
May 15, 2025
These Commune B collaborations ruin the great work done by Joshua Gayou. This book was going along well until the story you thought you signed up for went down a back alley and came out on a very boring thoroughfare. If you’ve ever driven through Ohio, this is what it was like for the second half of the book. Exceptionally mundane. I thought the story was great until the attack. Afterwards, though, the story completely lacked direction. You have Book and Bug, two great characters. You have Jake. Yet our protagonist is none of those people; it is a know-it-all kid who doesn’t have a clue what he’s doing (much like the authors). I love the commune books not written by Ford, but this is not those books
May 28, 2025
The book is fine but it removes any semblance of hope for any character caught in the story.
October 21, 2025
Commune meets Cormac Maccarthy.
Gruesome stuff 1-2 of the story
Gruesome stuff 1-2 of the story
February 9, 2026
Rather than try to review each book individually I'm reviewing the series as a whole. I am a voracious reader and this type of book - end of the world/post apocalyptic - is one of my favorite genres to read so I was excited when I found another 7 book series I could enjoy. Boy was I in for a shock.
The only reason I can review this entire series is because I have a form of OCD when it comes to reading Once I start a book, or series, I feel a compulsion to finish it, otherwise I could have saved myself a few weeks of time and this book definitely would have gone into the DNF (did not finish) pile where it deserved to be.
I feel the author at some point must have gotten feedback at some point that they weren't descriptive enough or needed to expand their books and expound on things further. Reading these books the author appears to use every descriptive word they know in every single paragraph for every character. Two characters having a conversation that could take place in 4-5 sentences instead take place over 6-7 paragraphs and 10 pages. By the time you get through it your mind is going "What in the world did I just read"? The book is full of nothing more than page after page of word vomit that has you going "WHY?!?!?"
Character development overall is sorely lacking. For some of the characters, they are military/former military, former gang members, etc. and it easy to understand their mindset and behavior. However, for the rest of the characters you may know their former profession such as a teacher, housewife, etc. and that is all you get. What drives them, understanding their mindset, and why they make some of the choices they do are a mystery. This is what the author missed an opportunity. They could have removed inane dialog that adds nothing to the book and focused on helping us understand the characters to make them relatable so we are invested in the story.
There is no real continuity between the 7 books. As one book ends you naturally think the next book is going to continue the story but it will read almost like an entirely different story and may eventually loop back around and (very) loosely tie into the "main" story. In the last book you're reading it, and lost, because it just starts with no preface as to what is going on and suddenly you find out 5 chapters or so in that suddenly the timeline has jumped forward 12 years with nothing to indicate what has happened.
Finally when it comes to the overall plot, at various points some of the main characters has things they are struggling with, or want to accomplish, and then the series ends and you have at least 3 major plot lines that just die with no resolution to what happened to the characters or things they were striving to accomplish.
As someone who has read literally thousands of books throughout the years and worked with independent authors as a beta/proof reader I can honestly say this is the worst series I have ever read in my life.
The only reason I can review this entire series is because I have a form of OCD when it comes to reading Once I start a book, or series, I feel a compulsion to finish it, otherwise I could have saved myself a few weeks of time and this book definitely would have gone into the DNF (did not finish) pile where it deserved to be.
I feel the author at some point must have gotten feedback at some point that they weren't descriptive enough or needed to expand their books and expound on things further. Reading these books the author appears to use every descriptive word they know in every single paragraph for every character. Two characters having a conversation that could take place in 4-5 sentences instead take place over 6-7 paragraphs and 10 pages. By the time you get through it your mind is going "What in the world did I just read"? The book is full of nothing more than page after page of word vomit that has you going "WHY?!?!?"
Character development overall is sorely lacking. For some of the characters, they are military/former military, former gang members, etc. and it easy to understand their mindset and behavior. However, for the rest of the characters you may know their former profession such as a teacher, housewife, etc. and that is all you get. What drives them, understanding their mindset, and why they make some of the choices they do are a mystery. This is what the author missed an opportunity. They could have removed inane dialog that adds nothing to the book and focused on helping us understand the characters to make them relatable so we are invested in the story.
There is no real continuity between the 7 books. As one book ends you naturally think the next book is going to continue the story but it will read almost like an entirely different story and may eventually loop back around and (very) loosely tie into the "main" story. In the last book you're reading it, and lost, because it just starts with no preface as to what is going on and suddenly you find out 5 chapters or so in that suddenly the timeline has jumped forward 12 years with nothing to indicate what has happened.
Finally when it comes to the overall plot, at various points some of the main characters has things they are struggling with, or want to accomplish, and then the series ends and you have at least 3 major plot lines that just die with no resolution to what happened to the characters or things they were striving to accomplish.
As someone who has read literally thousands of books throughout the years and worked with independent authors as a beta/proof reader I can honestly say this is the worst series I have ever read in my life.
December 6, 2025
I LOVE the characters that Joshua Gayou has brought to life. I get so involved in listening to RC Bray narrate these characters that I genuinely mourn with them and for them (Billy! Books!!)
David is a great new character and I love the dynamic with Jake (but Jake is just a cool character anyway) The new troop of characters bring another dimension and I find myself invested into who they are and their stories as well.
I wasn't ready for this book to end.
I will be forever thankful to my husband who first listened to Commune and said, "You should listen to this book, I think you'd really like it." I have been hooked since.
Looking forward to book 8 as I NEED more.
David is a great new character and I love the dynamic with Jake (but Jake is just a cool character anyway) The new troop of characters bring another dimension and I find myself invested into who they are and their stories as well.
I wasn't ready for this book to end.
I will be forever thankful to my husband who first listened to Commune and said, "You should listen to this book, I think you'd really like it." I have been hooked since.
Looking forward to book 8 as I NEED more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2025
(audio)
I usually dont write reviews on sequels as you should know by X-books what to think about it for yourself... so this is more for author:
Devon: stop it with the whole chapters of megalomaniacal bad guy cute-sy banter-threatening dialogue. 1 per book is more than enough.
Joshua: i can only assume this colab was for the money / you wanted to provide content at pace your publisher/fans demand. If you do it again you will loose me. Did you even read this before it was released / you approved this?
I usually dont write reviews on sequels as you should know by X-books what to think about it for yourself... so this is more for author:
Devon: stop it with the whole chapters of megalomaniacal bad guy cute-sy banter-threatening dialogue. 1 per book is more than enough.
Joshua: i can only assume this colab was for the money / you wanted to provide content at pace your publisher/fans demand. If you do it again you will loose me. Did you even read this before it was released / you approved this?
June 25, 2025
This series stands out with its character focus and witty dialogue spoken into our ears by the amazing RC Bray. The post apocalypse adventures continue and do not disappoint. Emotion and vivid realism make this book one more banger for the collection.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews