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The Growing Dark - End of Seasons 1:
It grows faster than fire. It kills faster than disease. And it cannot be stopped.
From 4-million-copy bestselling author Mike Kraus comes an explosive new thriller End of Seasons.
In the rugged Colorado Rockies, three generations - grandfather Charlie, father Steven and grandson Jack - are on their yearly camping trip when they receive a mysterious text message from home warning of a strange catastrophe. With communications down and half of the country standing between them and home, every mile becomes a battle for survival and a race to get home before the world is swallowed by the mysterious new threat.
Meanwhile, at their family farm in Virginia, Stacey Winters, her daughter Grace, her mother Caroline, and her sister-in-law Lindsey struggle to prepare for the nightmare sweeping toward them. As society unravels, they must protect their home and somehow fortify against an enemy that cannot be explained, reasoned with or stopped.
With each passing hour, the threat grows farther, faster, and deadlier.
There are no second chances.
There is only survival... or extinction.
*****
Developed by Mike Kraus and written by Mike Kraus and Aiden Cross, End of Seasons is a 6-book thriller series that is guaranteed to leave you sleepless as you turn "just one more page" well into the night.
A prolific author with dozens of series to his name, Kraus arrived on the fiction scene in 2012, with his smash hit FINAL DAWN, which sold a quarter-million copies in its first year. Since then he's authored and co-authored dozens of other series like The End of All Things, Epoch's End, Surviving the Fall, FOLIANT, Zero Hour, MELT and more. Mike's currently sold over 4 million books and counting.
From 4-million-copy bestselling author Mike Kraus comes an explosive new thriller End of Seasons.
In the rugged Colorado Rockies, three generations - grandfather Charlie, father Steven and grandson Jack - are on their yearly camping trip when they receive a mysterious text message from home warning of a strange catastrophe. With communications down and half of the country standing between them and home, every mile becomes a battle for survival and a race to get home before the world is swallowed by the mysterious new threat.
Meanwhile, at their family farm in Virginia, Stacey Winters, her daughter Grace, her mother Caroline, and her sister-in-law Lindsey struggle to prepare for the nightmare sweeping toward them. As society unravels, they must protect their home and somehow fortify against an enemy that cannot be explained, reasoned with or stopped.
With each passing hour, the threat grows farther, faster, and deadlier.
There are no second chances.
There is only survival... or extinction.
*****
Developed by Mike Kraus and written by Mike Kraus and Aiden Cross, End of Seasons is a 6-book thriller series that is guaranteed to leave you sleepless as you turn "just one more page" well into the night.
A prolific author with dozens of series to his name, Kraus arrived on the fiction scene in 2012, with his smash hit FINAL DAWN, which sold a quarter-million copies in its first year. Since then he's authored and co-authored dozens of other series like The End of All Things, Epoch's End, Surviving the Fall, FOLIANT, Zero Hour, MELT and more. Mike's currently sold over 4 million books and counting.
235 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 30, 2025
783 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 10, 2025
This is a great start to the series, a really enjoyable, high action & energy adventure. I do like this writers style, always a good fun read! I will look forward to the next part & do recommend!
July 13, 2025
Loved this book so much. The story is believable and the characters completely relatable. Loved the family dynamics and their determination in the face of this ever growing fungus. can't wait for book 2 and 3.
August 8, 2025
For the first time, I found myself actually disliking a Mike Kraus book. This was just endless, and rather mindless conversational detail about grocery shopping, bread making, hiking and camping nonsense in a world that no one, not one of the characters, seems to understand can no longer make any sense.
In particular, I found the development from a "lab (?) error in containment in Virginia to a focus of activity in and around Denver, Colorado environs to be somewhat of an existential goof-how and why is that supposed to have happened? There's also at least a battalion of military aircraft zooming overhead, at regular intervals. Where are they going and what will they do when they arrive? There's such a tiny amount of story plot development. There's a fungus. It's self-sustaining and appropriating all forms of life providing nutrient as it seems to move beyond the speed of any normal fungal lifeform. It apparently eats anything, even buildings, cars, wildlife and roadways. How? Why? With what aim? Where did it come from?
This is a badly told tale of nothing more than the bogey man beneath the bed.
In self defense, I paged through enormous amounts of just utter inanities and muttered lists of what to buy, what to plunder, what to home preserve and what to bury in the sand, just in case they need it.
I found it inane, pointless and really, just word count to reach about 240 ppgs on kindle.
I don't recommend it and I won't be reading the next installment.
In particular, I found the development from a "lab (?) error in containment in Virginia to a focus of activity in and around Denver, Colorado environs to be somewhat of an existential goof-how and why is that supposed to have happened? There's also at least a battalion of military aircraft zooming overhead, at regular intervals. Where are they going and what will they do when they arrive? There's such a tiny amount of story plot development. There's a fungus. It's self-sustaining and appropriating all forms of life providing nutrient as it seems to move beyond the speed of any normal fungal lifeform. It apparently eats anything, even buildings, cars, wildlife and roadways. How? Why? With what aim? Where did it come from?
This is a badly told tale of nothing more than the bogey man beneath the bed.
In self defense, I paged through enormous amounts of just utter inanities and muttered lists of what to buy, what to plunder, what to home preserve and what to bury in the sand, just in case they need it.
I found it inane, pointless and really, just word count to reach about 240 ppgs on kindle.
I don't recommend it and I won't be reading the next installment.
June 13, 2025
This has an interesting premise (made me think of the Last of Us a bit), but I found some parts confusing. Initially we are told there is a problem with a research complex in Blacksburg, Montgomery County, Virginia. How, then, did this become a deadly threat in Colorado too? It makes no sense that the internet and phones would grind to a halt so quickly. I like that Lindsey is an expert of sorts in fungus, but would she not be better contacting other experts to collaborate instead of just focusing on the issue from the kitchen? There are times that the prose is distractingly detailed, but overall the writing is good as is the editing. I am curious about this so will continue with book 2
May 9, 2025
The Growing Dark - a review by Rosemary Kenny.
Mike Kraus and Aiden Cross' End Of Seasons series-opener, The Growing Dark, sees a mutant fungus kill every living thing, in a tidal wave of death that's witnessed by 3 generations of the Winters menfolk.
Back at home on the family farm, the Winters women wake to danger on their doorstep...what do they do?
It's tense, dynamic action all the way through to the cliffhanger ending, and The Growing Dark will certainly keep you on the edge of your seat.
Grab your copy today!
Mike Kraus and Aiden Cross' End Of Seasons series-opener, The Growing Dark, sees a mutant fungus kill every living thing, in a tidal wave of death that's witnessed by 3 generations of the Winters menfolk.
Back at home on the family farm, the Winters women wake to danger on their doorstep...what do they do?
It's tense, dynamic action all the way through to the cliffhanger ending, and The Growing Dark will certainly keep you on the edge of your seat.
Grab your copy today!
July 7, 2025
Page turning, hair raising!
Another terrific apocalyptic novel! Aiden Cross and Mike Kraus have written a zombie outbreak story -- without the zombies. Although I've seen this basic storyline many times, the novelty of the not-zombies had me a few pages in. This collaboration also resulted in scene descriptions more expansive than usual and a cast of very human characters. The action is well written, well timed and, well, pretty terrifyingly believable. This, Book 1, ends in a cliffhanger. I'm off to read Book 2 right now!
Another terrific apocalyptic novel! Aiden Cross and Mike Kraus have written a zombie outbreak story -- without the zombies. Although I've seen this basic storyline many times, the novelty of the not-zombies had me a few pages in. This collaboration also resulted in scene descriptions more expansive than usual and a cast of very human characters. The action is well written, well timed and, well, pretty terrifyingly believable. This, Book 1, ends in a cliffhanger. I'm off to read Book 2 right now!
May 23, 2025
Brilliant start!
So engrossed in this story that I almost cried when I realised it was the end! Can't wait to get my hands on the next one. Mike Kraus has this knack of making each series different - you'd think there'd be a limit to post
apocalyptic stories, but Mike hasn't found it yet! Each new series is a must read! Brilliant story, excellent characterisation and descriptions, making this another winner.
So engrossed in this story that I almost cried when I realised it was the end! Can't wait to get my hands on the next one. Mike Kraus has this knack of making each series different - you'd think there'd be a limit to post
apocalyptic stories, but Mike hasn't found it yet! Each new series is a must read! Brilliant story, excellent characterisation and descriptions, making this another winner.
July 27, 2025
The Growing Dark by Mike Kraus and Aiden Cross is a fast-paced post-apocalyptic thriller and the first book in the End of Seasons series. It follows three generations of a family trying to survive a mysterious and deadly crisis sweeping across the U.S. With dual storylines set in Colorado and Virginia, the book delivers high tension, strong characters, and nonstop suspense. A gripping start to a new survival saga from a bestselling indie author.
May 7, 2025
Wow ! I thought this was a great start to this new series. Each chapter had the tension building and I was on tenterhooks wondering when the spores were going to impact the family that was separated at the time that everything fell apart. Well worth reading, very likeable characters and a thrilling storyline. Really looking forward to the next book. I absolutely recommend starting this series.
June 19, 2025
Fungus apocalypse
This apocalypse story was very creepy. An enemy that consumes everything in its wake, with no real way to stop it.
This is not the first Mike Kraus book I’ve read. His stories are always fast paced and exciting.
What a cliffhanger this book has!!! I just hope Charlie gets better in the next book. He started out as a smart wise grandpa, in the last chapter he was TSTL. Come on Charlie!!!
This apocalypse story was very creepy. An enemy that consumes everything in its wake, with no real way to stop it.
This is not the first Mike Kraus book I’ve read. His stories are always fast paced and exciting.
What a cliffhanger this book has!!! I just hope Charlie gets better in the next book. He started out as a smart wise grandpa, in the last chapter he was TSTL. Come on Charlie!!!
July 13, 2025
Too many words
Describing things not related to the story line and not contributing to character development. I got to where I was skimming ahead through those parts until I got to some substance. Padding the word count much? Other wise Mike Krause collaborations usually are based on original and unique plots in which our world could be eliminated.
Describing things not related to the story line and not contributing to character development. I got to where I was skimming ahead through those parts until I got to some substance. Padding the word count much? Other wise Mike Krause collaborations usually are based on original and unique plots in which our world could be eliminated.
March 8, 2026
Not much plot
This author seems to delight in describing EVERY, SINGLE, DETAIL. I mean there was one entire paragraph describing a cast iron pot. He describes front steps, porch posts. This made it difficult to read and also took away from the plot. I am not sure I can go another round.
This author seems to delight in describing EVERY, SINGLE, DETAIL. I mean there was one entire paragraph describing a cast iron pot. He describes front steps, porch posts. This made it difficult to read and also took away from the plot. I am not sure I can go another round.
May 27, 2025
So hard to put down
The beauty of this new series is that it's a whole new entity that is raging war on humanity. Such a new apocalyptic spawn hell bent on the destruction of life as we know it. Only the well-prepared will survive.
The beauty of this new series is that it's a whole new entity that is raging war on humanity. Such a new apocalyptic spawn hell bent on the destruction of life as we know it. Only the well-prepared will survive.
June 3, 2025
In the Rugged Colorado Mountains, strange things are happening. Danger everywhere, no place to hide. Will there be any survivors and how will they manage. As always a series that you be able to resist.
October 12, 2025
Growing Dark
This book was really good. The ending made me want to read the next book in the series straight away. The description of the fungus and the speed it travels is described so well. You can picture it.
This book was really good. The ending made me want to read the next book in the series straight away. The description of the fungus and the speed it travels is described so well. You can picture it.
May 16, 2025
A good read with a new virus but along the same lines of others. Good characters and plot so far but not a lot of action.
June 1, 2025
Good start to this series!
June 10, 2025
Good Read
Once again, good characters, good story as i have come to expect from Mike Kraus Worst part - waiting for the next book in the series. :).
Once again, good characters, good story as i have come to expect from Mike Kraus Worst part - waiting for the next book in the series. :).
August 27, 2025
Great book and certainly want to read the others now !
September 14, 2025
Great suspense
Love this book so far. Suspenseful but believable. Can't wait for book 2! Different from other books like this. Highly recommend.
Love this book so far. Suspenseful but believable. Can't wait for book 2! Different from other books like this. Highly recommend.
September 18, 2025
good read.
This book is scary because after COVID, we know now more than ever, there are people in labs playing with fungi and diseases.
This book is scary because after COVID, we know now more than ever, there are people in labs playing with fungi and diseases.
May 25, 2025
The fungus
This is different from most of Mr. Kraus's books. The fungus is a new thing that his characters face. It started out and quickly takes us into action. Book two will takes further into this horror.
This is different from most of Mr. Kraus's books. The fungus is a new thing that his characters face. It started out and quickly takes us into action. Book two will takes further into this horror.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews