Darkest Light - A Ravaged Skies Novel

by A.M. Geever

IN THE END, THE ONLY LAW IS SURVIVAL.

A solar superstorm shatters civilization overnight. Now, the price of survival is written in blood.

U.S. Marshal Cody Greer is stranded deep in the Montana wilderness with a fugitive in tow, where the line between lawman and outlaw begins to blur.

Emma Greer, alone at home with her infant daughter, barely knows her new neighbors but she sees what others can't: they must organize or perish.

After a betrayal ended his military career, former Army Ranger Caleb Frost chose a different path: robbing banks. Now, his luck is about to run out.

When yesterday's enemies might be tomorrow's salvation, can they find their way through the darkness beneath the Ravaged Skies?

Darkest Light delivers gritty realism and brutal choices in this character-driven novel with heroes who bleed for every inch. Perfect for fans of William Stone (Surviving the Fall), Jack Hunt (EMP Survival), and Tara Ellis (The Forgotten Coast), Darkest Light plunges readers into a world where ordinary people, stripped of everything familiar, must rebuild their world—and themselves.

Ravaged Skies: One Apocalypse. One Shared World. Fifteen Best-Selling Authors.

When a devastating solar storm plunges the world into darkness, regular men and women face the unthinkable: a world without power. From the untamed American West to the jungles of Africa, the ancient British Isles to New England’s salt-sprayed shores, humanity faces its darkest hour beneath the Ravaged Skies.

Learn more: ravagedskies (dot) wordpeddlersociety (dot) com

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358 pages, ebook

First published July 3, 2025

About the author

A.M. Geever is the award-winning author of The Undead Age and Steel City Apocalypse zombie apocalypse adventures. She also writes gritty post-collapse fiction in her Fire in the Sky series, where a solar flare brings modern civilization to its knees. A sci-fi enthusiast who dreamed of Starfleet command, she loves to write about impossible choices, no-win scenarios, and bad behavior. She shares her home with her husband, two cats with impeccable manners, and a pair of Blue Heeler/Catahoula hellhounds who have two speeds: fast and snuggle.

Get your FREE disaster tales at amgeever.com

Connect on social media @amgeever

Media inquires: anne@amgeever.com

Reviews

[Gail Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author via Story Origin.

I couldn’t put this book down and would have given it considerably more than five stars if I could.

This is a post apocalyptic story with a difference. It tells of Emma and Cody Greer and Caleb Frost. The men are on opposite sides of the law, one sent to bring in the other for justice to be served. Emma, left alone in her new house in a strange town with a new baby, has to adapt to survive.

Much of this story tells of ordinary people and the trials that they encounter when all modern technology is knocked out by a solar event and CME. It really got me looking at my life and how easy it is with running fresh water and power taken for granted.

This is a well written story. The characters are so believable that I found I didn’t want anything bad to happen to them. I was willing everything to be back to normal for them.

[Sloop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another ALL OUT THRILLER from AM Geever!

I have read Geever’s UnDead Age trilogy and the first two releases of the Steel City Apocalypse series and I have been patiently waiting for the next installment, a little behind in my newsletters along with most other details of my life, only to wake up, tune in and discover she has branched out into another post-apocalyptic series!

I ripped right into it, brushing aside a wobbling tower of TBR books, and slid right back in the groove. Geever’s effortless style and whip-snap twists FLEW right by me like a Hollywood production.

There is a generous but balanced mix of “oh, shit!” high stakes action, thorough, realistic, and consistent character development, with slices of practical, real world concerns, smoothly blended together into a neat and tidy package.

Maybe most important to me is the SINCERITY of this story! So often I feel like I like a book’s *skin* but not so much its innards. Geever’s novels are neither shallow NOR pretentious. Populated with a mix of like-able and unlikeable characters experiencing unthinkable circumstances the way real people might actually behave is SO satisfying, but is often, in some other works, overplayed and cheap. With this frame, the CME that thrusts contemporary Idaho decades into the past is its skin, the people and their behavior and reactions are the innards.

In Darkest Light you get the whole thing! The real deal! A crafty, gritty, thoughtfully designed trek through people’s real yearnings when all the chips are down, facing the unthinkable, living down danger, discovering what they are really made of, exploring and interrogating their conscience.

I loved it!

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this suspense. The idea of all electrical components becoming instantly inoperative is something we don’t consider the implications of in society today. The situation that US Marshall Cody and detainee Caleb find themselves in makes one think about absolutes and what is the true measure of a person. Emma and baby Grace face other challenges -in a new place, insecure food and water sources while dealing with the demands of an infant. Watching society slowly devolve into violent tribalism turning on each other is a cautionary tale for the rest of us to reflect on. The relationship growth between so many of the characters was satisfying and a ray of hope in an otherwise dark situation. The cliffhanger ending has me anxiously waiting to see what happens next!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook: I was enthralled in this story from the opening paragraphs until the very end. The tale reminded me once again of how human beings often have preconceived ideas about others until those individuals are forced by circumstances to struggle together against almost insurmountable odds. I liked Cody Greer, his wife Emma, and Caleb Frost as their stories became tangled like a skein of yarn. When the story ended on a cliffhanger, I was upset as now I have to wait for the next book to find out the rest of the story. I was entertained by Bobby Garrison's narration as his performance kept my attention. I was given a copy of the audiobook. I volunteered, without financial gain, to post this review which reflected my honest opinions regarding this audiobook.

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love stories like Darkest Light, a tale that grabbed my attention from the first page and held it right until the end. Once I started reading Darkest Light, I didn’t want to stop for anything. It is one of the most thrilling EMP narratives I have ever encountered.

When I began reading Darkest Light, I was hooked immediately, but the more I read, the more mesmerizing it became, especially when the solar storms struck. At that point, the action picked up speed and didn't pause for a minute. For me, the story's atmosphere grew more intense at that point, and I found myself turning the pages quickly.

The descriptions were so well done that I could feel the excitement the characters experienced. I felt as if I was there with them every step of the way. There were so many twists and turns that kept the pages spinning. The world-building is phenomenal.

When the EMP hit, U.S. Marshal Cody Greer was escorting a fugitive when their plane crashed. After the crash, Caleb had to depend on Cody for help; his leg was broken in the incident.

Emma Greer, Cody’s wife, was home alone with their 10-week-old baby daughter when the lights went out. After figuring out what was happening, Emma began filling everything she could find with water before it stopped running.

After his career was ruined, ex-Army Ranger Caleb Frost turned to a life of bank robbery. Caleb had been on the run for a while when he was caught. It broke Caleb’s heart to miss out on being with his niece and nephew while he was fleeing.

I can’t wait to explore more in this ravaged world in Fire in the Sky! I highly recommend Darkest Light to all disaster-related fans! Grab a copy of Darkest Light today!

[Amy Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me feeling so many different emotions. It's about a solar flare storm that acted like an EMP. So everything went down and is not working. There are a lot of struggles that take place and people try to learn what happened and how to adapt. It's a very good book and I really need book 2 already!

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really great read! I loved all of it! Great ideas, interesting characters, I was up late reading as I really needed to see what happened next! Always a good sign I think. I do recommend & can't wait for the next part!

[Ethan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book! I met A.M. Geever at a convention a few weeks ago. The book cover interested me so I went to her table and spoke with her. Once she explained to me what the book was about, I knew I had to try it and I am glad I did.

I loved how there were multiple characters perspectives as well as how it was all interconnected, yet it was easy to follow. The best thing about this story for me, is how realistic this is. Everything in this book can happen today, tomorrow or later, but it can happen.

Very well written book and I look forward to reading her other books, so please give this book a shot!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

great!!

Very good story!! Kept me on the edge of my seat!! One of the best Ravaged Skies books!! I really hope book 2 is on the way!!

[skip pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally!

Well worth reading. Good story line, and the author doesn't repeat over and over what is happening and why. Well written.

[A.M. Geever]

Dear Reader,

This book is a little different from what I usually write (zombies anyone?) and I honestly think it's the best book I've written to date.

If you’re looking for something cozy, this probably isn’t it. Darkest Light opens with a hostage crisis and spirals down from there. It’s intense, it’s raw, and it asks a lot of the people who survive it.

I loathe spoilers, but I will say that if you’re into…

*messy moral dilemmas and moral gray areas
*survival when the world goes dark—literally
*character transformation and redemption arcs
*fractured families and the fight to find (or protect) them
*enemies forced to cooperate (hello, U.S. Marshal + fugitive)
*found family that forms in the face of disaster
*disaster fiction with heart

Then this book might be your thing.

Darkest Light was exciting—and honestly, intimidating—to write. It’s my first foray into EMP disaster fiction, and I threw everything I love into it: tension, grit, heart, and characters who don’t always do the right thing, but who are trying.

I’m especially proud of the dynamic between Cody and Caleb. These are two men on opposite sides of the law, both carrying secrets, both trying to protect what matters most. Watching their relationship shift in the face of catastrophe? That was, by far, the best part to write.

Emma—Cody’s wife—is holding down the home front with a newborn as society collapses around her and she’s a quiet kind of badass.

This is the beginning of a new series, Fire in the Sky, part of the Ravaged Skies shared world. It’s available now in paperback and ebook, and if you’re in Kindle Unlimited, you can read it there too.

If any of this sounds like your kind of story, I hope you’ll give it a try. And if you do, I’d love to hear what you think. 💬

Thank you so much for reading, and for supporting a book that lit a fire in me while I wrote it.

— Anne ❤️

[Melissa Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darkest Light is an intense, emotional, and deeply realistic survival novel that completely pulled me in from the start. The author paints a terrifyingly believable picture of a world brought to its knees by a massive solar storm, leaving civilization in ruins overnight. What I loved most is that it doesn’t rely on flashy apocalypse tropes, it feels real. Every scene, every choice, every fear feels grounded in what real people might face if the lights went out for good. The world is brutal, but the storytelling is rich and layered, filled with moments that remind you how fragile and resilient human nature can be.

The characters are what truly make this story shine. Cody Greer, the U.S. Marshal stranded in the Montana wilderness, struggles between upholding the law and simply surviving, especially when forced to rely on the very fugitive he’s supposed to arrest. His wife, Emma, faces her own battles at home, isolated with her baby and a group of neighbors who barely know each other. Watching her evolve into a quiet, determined leader was incredibly moving. And then there’s Caleb Frost the disgraced soldier turned criminal whose path to redemption is one of the most gripping arcs I’ve read in a long time. Each storyline feels authentic, with raw emotion and tough moral choices that make you question what you’d do in their place.

The writing is gritty yet beautiful, filled with tension, realism, and just enough hope to keep you hanging on. I couldn’t stop reading, it felt like living through the collapse of society one heartbeat at a time. By the end, I didn’t just care about who survived; I cared about what they stood for. Darkest Light isn’t just an apocalypse story, it’s a powerful exploration of humanity, resilience, and the thin line between darkness and light. This book lingers long after the final page, and I’d recommend it to anyone who loves raw, character-driven survival fiction that feels hauntingly possible.

[Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first and only complain is that I needed to have a female voice in this audiobook, the story was faultless and to be honest I was rooting for Caleb, and I can see that far down the story he will face his nightmare… I did like the characters, they felt real and likeable, in here we have a couple with a new baby that had to move miles away from any family support, to make things worse this new couple had the husband in a plane during the CME, and to be fair, where he with someone else than not Caleb, he would have died… after this we see the story through Emma the wife and young mother, Cody her husband and the Marshall that was in the plane getting Caleb to face justice. And with this CME everything changed for everyone… what was sure got very uncertain, and Caleb only wants to get back to his sister and her 2 children….

I did like it, and the person that was reading the audiobook did a good job, like I said, I only missed not having a female voice to read Emma point of view, and other females in the story, but it was a good experience, last year I have read another ARC with a plane crash, but the person was so prepared for that event, that it almost looked like they were sport billy with a bag of wonders, like I said, I did enjoy this story way more, because the characters felt real and likeable.

Ohhh a trigger warning, it's a serious story, people die… some you’re not expecting them to, and others feel like a blow, but when and how is for me to know and for you to find out.

Thank you StoryOrigin for the free AAC, and this is my honest opinion.

[Mandy Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darkest Light: An Audiobook Review
​If you're looking for a post-apocalyptic thriller that's going to glue your headphones to your ears, you need to grab Darkest Light right now. Seriously, this book hooked me from the very first minute, and I couldn't stop listening.
​The central concept is brilliantly executed: a devastating, instantaneous EMP hits, and suddenly, three people's lives are torn apart. You've got U.S. Marshal Cody Greer, his fugitive detainee, Caleb Frost, and Cody's wife, Emma, who is home with their newborn. They're instantly separated by the chaos.
​What follows is an intense and deeply human story. It's a powerful test of survival, forcing the Marshal and the captive to reluctantly rely on each other to survive, while Emma is out there fighting for her own life and her baby’s, completely alone.
​The action is relentless, the twists come fast, and the author does a phenomenal job of building a completely believable world that unravels in the blink of an eye. The emotional stakes are incredibly high, and it really makes you think about how quickly our society could crumble.
​If you love a top-tier disaster novel that's full of suspense and heart, make sure you download Darkest Light. It's a gripping, must-read listen. And honestly? I'm already counting down the days until the next book in the series drops!
​Disclaimer: I did receive an advance copy of this audiobook from the author, but my enthusiasm is 100% my own!

[Voracious Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

U.S. Marshall Cody Greer is away from home collecting a fugitive when a solar super storm hits leaving him stranded with no easy means to get back to his family. There is no electricity, computers, cell phones, etc. These conditions are bringing out the worst in some people making it dangerous to be away from your home. Now Cody worrying about his wife and baby has to survive and find a way to get back to them.

This was a good book. A.M. Geever did a wonderful job of showing the bad and the good in people under these conditions. The story showed the growing relationship between Cody and his fugitive Caleb and how they had to learn to trust each other in order for them to get back to where they belonged. I liked the way she showed that sometimes bad things happen to good people who then sometimes lose their way but can then find it again. She also showed the different ways people chose to pull together to survive. There were the ones who pulled together by pitching in and making sure everyone had their best chance to survive. Then there were the ones that resorted to violence and keeping strangers in need away.

The characters in this book were mostly relatable. The ones I couldn't really relate to were ones that I could at least see why they did the things they did.

I received an ARC of this book. My thoughts are voluntarily shared.

[Anima · Rating 5 out of 5]

An all too real situation that the world is not prepared to experience. A solar event causes catastrophic issues with electronics, healthcare, water, everything. The icing on the cake is Emma’s husband is a US Marshall escorting a bank robber when everything hits. She’s left alone with a 10 week old baby, a new home and community. It’s amazing how well some communities can rally for each other and others turn chaotic. Their story is told in the view of each of our main characters as they struggle and champion their way to each other. I found myself reading this quickly and imagining what my own community would do for each other. It’s a scary reality and a well written fictional story that is definitely a possibility. I was able to read an advanced copy and zipped through it to leave my voluntary review.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Gripping story
An engaging read that definitely kept my attention. I thought the plot was spot on as to what could actually happen when such an event took place. A catastrophe seems to bring out the best and the worst in people. Three different POVs made it interesting as to each of the main characters thoughts. There were some tense situations, heartfelt moments and an active and moving plot never knowing what was going to happen next. The writing had a great flow, the characters were all relatable, likable and had good depth to them. Highly recommend to read. Cliffhanger ending and I am looking forward to the next installment. I received this book for free and voluntarily reviewed.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not at all a fan of post-apocalyptic thrillers. But at least this one doesn't have zombies! I agree with the authors grandmother about that. I'm so glad this book is finished. It was so well written. So real. With real characters, real problems, real scary situations. The narration of Bobby Garrison brought it all to life. 5 stars for him. 4 stars for the book bc it has a very sharp cliffhanger. I might have to get book 2, even tho I don't want to. I need to find out how these wonderful people fair.

I was gifted this Audiobook from the author through Story Origin. This is my honest review.

[Lori Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received as any audio review copy from Story Origin, this is an honest review. Beautifully narrated by Bobby Garrison... Darkest Light is a harrowing realistic falling into dystopian thrill ride as the convenient world that's been known to Emma, Cody and Caleb suddenly no longer exists. Survival is on a knife's edge as humanity both comes together to help one another at the same rips itself apart; and showing the darker scars that desperation brings forth. Who anyone once was doesn't matter but what each person can do going forward into the unknown.

Highly recommended.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a massive solar flare throws what should have been an easy job of transporting a fugitive, U.S. Marshal Cody Greer needs former Army Ranger Caleb Frost (the fugitive) to help him get home to his wife Emma and his infant daughter. During the harrowing journey they form an uneasy friendship as Cody realizes Caleb isn't the criminal he thought he was. Will they make it and what will they find when they get there? What a cliffhanger ending, looking forward to more.

[Matt Egan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Among the very best in the genre!

Darkest Light, the first book in the Fire In The Sky series, is easily in the upper echelon of apocalyptic post-CME survival thrillers. The story focuses on the survival of Cody, Emma and Grace Greer during and in the immediate aftermath of the CME. Joining the story is Caleb, A fugitive bank robber who Cody is supposed to be escorting to a prison when their plane crashes. At the same time, the fabric of society unravels as people come to the cold realization that help isn't coming any time soon. The book features the best and worst if human nature, often from unexpected places and does a simply exceptional job of pointing out and examining the grey areas of morality that one might expect to face in such a scenario. The writing is flawless, with flawed empathic and most importantly believable characters, dialog that fits the story perfectly and pacing that perfectly matches up with the plot. I went into this book with fairly high expectations, already knowing the quality of Geever's previous books and was still floored by just how good it was. It officially takes over for The Hat Trick as my favorite book in the Ravaged Skies universe, not an easy feat! 5/5 stars. Highly, highly recommended for Ravaged Skies fans, fans of apocalyptic survival thrillers and anyone else who might be interested in expertly written, unpredictable thrillers with heart in abundance. I can even go as far as saying I'm recommending the book to friends in real life, something that I've only done for TL Wayne's genre defining Black Sky Event series. Darkest light is among the best books I've read this year and the wait for the next installment will be excruciating, especially given the massive cliffhanger ending. Don't miss out on one of the mist enjoyable reading experiences of the year!!!

[irv Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book keeps you wondering what was going on.

The husband was a US Marshal sent to pick up a prisoner in Idaho , but his wife was not happy leaving again . He was suppose to be day off but it did not happen and this is wear the author takes you on a ride . The author did a good job with the book , keeps you wondering.

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A U.S. Marshall and a bank robber join forces to get back to family.

Brilliant!!!
This book is a gripping page turner. It sucks you in and holds onto you to the very last page.

I think it might be the best book I've read this year.

[Erin Stetler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was different from the types of books I usually read, but I absolutely loved this one. Most of the characters were relatable and I loved how the story showed how different types of people can pull together during difficult times to survive. Loved this one and definitely recommend.

[Courtney Santos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new subject for me under this author. She does and amazing job it was so hard to put it down! The characters are real and so are their emotions and reactions when they realize they’re on their own. What will they do? How far are they willing to go? Pick it up and find out!

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

I really enjoyed this book. The characters are well developed and the story is great .
So many end of the world books have mostly bad people. This book shows us how people can work together

[Chris Bower · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is part of a series where multiple books intertwine. Many different authors and is quite a clever idea. This book has a lot of interesting characters and a few twists I enjoyed… and one heck of a cliffhanger ending! I’m not giving anything away, but it is definitely worth reading!

[Karilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! I really enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down! This is a brand new author for me and I look forward to reading more.

[Brandi Hutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another stellar book from A.M. Geever! Highly recommend!

[Rosa Wise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

The characters are so believable and well written. The storyline is easy to understand and very conceivable. Really enjoyed reading it. Looking forward to the next book.