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The Phoenix Project #1
The Phoenix Project
Love, deception, and conspiracies in a post-apocalyptic America, this is how dystopia is created.
Book One in The Phoenix Project Series
Andie Somers has finally found a perfectly balanced life. After leaving her high pressure position in a genetic research lab, she’s now found solace in nursing. Too bad the balance doesn’t last long. One night Andie’s life is thrown off kilter when a suspected seismic event occurs.
Now, Andie is going home to find her family, even if that means escaping a hospital on lockdown and abandoning some of the city’s most critical patients. She may never work as a nurse again but she doesn’t dwell on that thought for long when she can’t reach her husband and daughter. There is one thing on her mind and that is to get home.
Fleeing a city that’s been thrust into chaos isn’t easy, and since it seems most things electronic no longer work, including every vehicle around her, Andie makes the decision to walk the forty miles north to her home. She meets Adam on the highway. Running into a Phoenix local wasn’t in her plan, but two heads are better than one and with the havoc surrounding them what better partner to have at her side than one with a military background?
If only she had forewarning to the secrets Adam harbors. Andie’s life is about to change forever. She thought making it home was the hard part, but getting there is just the beginning.
7/15/2013 Newly Edited Second Edition
Reading Order:
1. The Phoenix Project
2. The Reformation
3. Revelation
4. Inception (Winter 2014)
Book One in The Phoenix Project Series
Andie Somers has finally found a perfectly balanced life. After leaving her high pressure position in a genetic research lab, she’s now found solace in nursing. Too bad the balance doesn’t last long. One night Andie’s life is thrown off kilter when a suspected seismic event occurs.
Now, Andie is going home to find her family, even if that means escaping a hospital on lockdown and abandoning some of the city’s most critical patients. She may never work as a nurse again but she doesn’t dwell on that thought for long when she can’t reach her husband and daughter. There is one thing on her mind and that is to get home.
Fleeing a city that’s been thrust into chaos isn’t easy, and since it seems most things electronic no longer work, including every vehicle around her, Andie makes the decision to walk the forty miles north to her home. She meets Adam on the highway. Running into a Phoenix local wasn’t in her plan, but two heads are better than one and with the havoc surrounding them what better partner to have at her side than one with a military background?
If only she had forewarning to the secrets Adam harbors. Andie’s life is about to change forever. She thought making it home was the hard part, but getting there is just the beginning.
7/15/2013 Newly Edited Second Edition
Reading Order:
1. The Phoenix Project
2. The Reformation
3. Revelation
4. Inception (Winter 2014)
260 pages, ebook
First published February 28, 2013
105 people are currently reading
844 people want to read
About the author
M.R. Pritchard
50 books165 followersM. R. Pritchard is a two-time Kindle Scout winning author and her short story "Glitch" has been featured in the 2017 winter edition of THE FIRST LINE literary journal. She holds degrees in Biochemistry and Nursing. She is a northern New Yorker transplanted to the Gulf Coast of Florida who enjoys coffee, mint chocolate, cloudy days, and reading on the lanai.
Visit her website MRPritchard.com and sign up for her newsletter. You'll get a monthly newsletter with updates, day to day shenanigans, and book deals.
Visit her website MRPritchard.com and sign up for her newsletter. You'll get a monthly newsletter with updates, day to day shenanigans, and book deals.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 24, 2014
Glass Jawed author... http://secretlifeofatownie.blogspot.c...
Please see the authors website on this title Where she sends her readers out after the two star reviewers (mostly me admittedly) and takes my lines out of context. As you will read it you can see she has deleted some of the most offensive statements but reading this will still send out the fans to make a"not helpful" there by stacking her books ranking/rating.
Goodreads note: I wrote this review for Amazon, and rather than write a second review for GR I posted it here.
Please Be advised that the 2 star (didn't like it), and 1 stars (hated it) reviews of this product on Amazon have been targeted with "not helpful" votes.
Never the less, my rating-review will not be changed. This bullish practice says more about those who 'vote' then the actual votes.
I am stepping away from the pack on this story. Not only did I not enjoy it, I actually had to force myself to finish it.
I have said before and will now again, I accept that each reader will have a different reading experience and hence a different opinion of a book. I see where the pack of reviewers have placed this book. I shake my head because it so far from my experience/opinion.
Here are some of the reasons why:
The whole story is told in first person narration. I find this to be off-putting and was unable to slip inside the world of the story to mentally see the events unfold. I was left on the outside listening to Andie make excuses for inexcusable choices.
In case I did not make this clear already, the characters are horrible! Poorly written, often stereotypical which includes the cookie cutter villains.
The main character is shallow, weak willed, morally questionable and frankly I disliked her so much that I kinda hoped she would die at the end.
Through out the story the M.C. is judging the action of the other Sovereigns yet she acts no different then they do, in that her choices are as equally corrupt.
Let me tell you about the questionable choices of our Main Character Andie a little bit more so you might see why I found her character to be distasteful.
When the story first starts, she says how her husband Ian is the only man she has been with, the love of her life, and so on. Yet when she finds out that he is being controlled by the town council (aka Sovereigns) she allows him to remain in a drug induced state, slaving away to the council while she begins her affair with Adam. She never once tries to free her husband, pull the contaminated cans of food off the shelf, or even give him non-drugged food. Wow, now if that doesn't say love, I do not know what does.
Instead she chooses to become a council ruler for her daughters sake, wink wink.
I, for one, would not want to be married to the main character nor have her as a neighbor, nor as my nurse, sister or well anything.
As for the kind of mother she is, everyone tells her that her daughter is a genius, but somehow she never knew this. She keeps saying she is choosing her fate (as a Sovereign) for her daughter but a good mother would get her daughter to safety, not stick around town and set up a select breeding program for the community.
For me, if I can not get behind a character to cheer them on then the whole plot runs sour quickly.
The book was labeled as science fiction but folks let me be honest with you, this is little more then a fantasy about how a female researcher `has too' drop her man (well that is being too nice I should say 'chooses to'), sleep with/beside and make out with a stranger, and start up a selective breeding program for her town's citizens to participate in... When all these choices backfire she flees the town.
As a serious science fiction novella this plot does not work. However, since all the male characters seem to be sexually attracted to Andie, with just a little more work this could easily be turned into an erotic novella which might be worth reading?
Do I recommend this book. No.
Please see the authors website on this title Where she sends her readers out after the two star reviewers (mostly me admittedly) and takes my lines out of context. As you will read it you can see she has deleted some of the most offensive statements but reading this will still send out the fans to make a"not helpful" there by stacking her books ranking/rating.
Goodreads note: I wrote this review for Amazon, and rather than write a second review for GR I posted it here.
Please Be advised that the 2 star (didn't like it), and 1 stars (hated it) reviews of this product on Amazon have been targeted with "not helpful" votes.
Never the less, my rating-review will not be changed. This bullish practice says more about those who 'vote' then the actual votes.
I am stepping away from the pack on this story. Not only did I not enjoy it, I actually had to force myself to finish it.
I have said before and will now again, I accept that each reader will have a different reading experience and hence a different opinion of a book. I see where the pack of reviewers have placed this book. I shake my head because it so far from my experience/opinion.
Here are some of the reasons why:
The whole story is told in first person narration. I find this to be off-putting and was unable to slip inside the world of the story to mentally see the events unfold. I was left on the outside listening to Andie make excuses for inexcusable choices.
In case I did not make this clear already, the characters are horrible! Poorly written, often stereotypical which includes the cookie cutter villains.
The main character is shallow, weak willed, morally questionable and frankly I disliked her so much that I kinda hoped she would die at the end.
Through out the story the M.C. is judging the action of the other Sovereigns yet she acts no different then they do, in that her choices are as equally corrupt.
Let me tell you about the questionable choices of our Main Character Andie a little bit more so you might see why I found her character to be distasteful.
When the story first starts, she says how her husband Ian is the only man she has been with, the love of her life, and so on. Yet when she finds out that he is being controlled by the town council (aka Sovereigns) she allows him to remain in a drug induced state, slaving away to the council while she begins her affair with Adam. She never once tries to free her husband, pull the contaminated cans of food off the shelf, or even give him non-drugged food. Wow, now if that doesn't say love, I do not know what does.
Instead she chooses to become a council ruler for her daughters sake, wink wink.
I, for one, would not want to be married to the main character nor have her as a neighbor, nor as my nurse, sister or well anything.
As for the kind of mother she is, everyone tells her that her daughter is a genius, but somehow she never knew this. She keeps saying she is choosing her fate (as a Sovereign) for her daughter but a good mother would get her daughter to safety, not stick around town and set up a select breeding program for the community.
For me, if I can not get behind a character to cheer them on then the whole plot runs sour quickly.
The book was labeled as science fiction but folks let me be honest with you, this is little more then a fantasy about how a female researcher `has too' drop her man (well that is being too nice I should say 'chooses to'), sleep with/beside and make out with a stranger, and start up a selective breeding program for her town's citizens to participate in... When all these choices backfire she flees the town.
As a serious science fiction novella this plot does not work. However, since all the male characters seem to be sexually attracted to Andie, with just a little more work this could easily be turned into an erotic novella which might be worth reading?
Do I recommend this book. No.
March 12, 2013
The PHOENIX PROJECT is a slim sci-fi novel about a possible future born from a deep recession in the United States. While the author's knowledge of neonatal care is obvious, the story takes too long to get to the main plot line. I do, however, like that we return to this knowledge later (kudos). A vague similarity to THE ROAD exists in that why things happened is not necessarily as important to the story line other than that they did happen. Unlike THE ROAD, however, the specific reasons for the manipulation of the populous, encompassing the terror of big brother, denial of freedoms, loss of family, forced eugenics, intrude and prevent a smoother read. Constant reminders of the outside world render what is happening in this enclave less believable based on what the heroine knows. And we know what she knows because this is written in the first person.
What was important was the heroine's attempts to manage her future and save her daughter. On some level, she does an admirable, logical job of trying to maintain family. On other levels, she flails. As revelations tumble out at the end of the novel, my reasons for being unable to embrace her are born out: no man seems able to resist her innate charms (black street youth, the old squeeze, the improbable new squeeze, the evil bad guy, her savior from the second banana bad guy); she's smart and talented beyond her years, yet barely uses that intellect to understand then undermine the ramifications of what she is doing; she can take beatings beyond reason and still keep on ticking. Sadly, the other major characters lack depth. Also, read fast. You may not fall into some of the plot holes that exist whenever a megalomaniac tightens his grip on people and place. I do like the rise of the bad guy's power represented through the conference room changes (kudos - Shades of the breakfast scene montage in CITIZEN KANE.)
Grammatical hiccups occur too often, though none are killers. However, the sequel-setting epilogue is an unnecessary information dump, wrapping up some things to make the ending palatable. The author missed a huge opportunity to make a moral, political, ethical statement by not providing enough information throughout the story to allow the ambiguity at the end to led to fevered discourse. Phoenix is a slightly better than average story that missed an opportunity to be a seminal work of fiction, a solid "3". This author does bear watching for future books.
What was important was the heroine's attempts to manage her future and save her daughter. On some level, she does an admirable, logical job of trying to maintain family. On other levels, she flails. As revelations tumble out at the end of the novel, my reasons for being unable to embrace her are born out: no man seems able to resist her innate charms (black street youth, the old squeeze, the improbable new squeeze, the evil bad guy, her savior from the second banana bad guy); she's smart and talented beyond her years, yet barely uses that intellect to understand then undermine the ramifications of what she is doing; she can take beatings beyond reason and still keep on ticking. Sadly, the other major characters lack depth. Also, read fast. You may not fall into some of the plot holes that exist whenever a megalomaniac tightens his grip on people and place. I do like the rise of the bad guy's power represented through the conference room changes (kudos - Shades of the breakfast scene montage in CITIZEN KANE.)
Grammatical hiccups occur too often, though none are killers. However, the sequel-setting epilogue is an unnecessary information dump, wrapping up some things to make the ending palatable. The author missed a huge opportunity to make a moral, political, ethical statement by not providing enough information throughout the story to allow the ambiguity at the end to led to fevered discourse. Phoenix is a slightly better than average story that missed an opportunity to be a seminal work of fiction, a solid "3". This author does bear watching for future books.
March 17, 2013
I picked up this ebook when it was on promotion in UK Kindle free chart. I'm not sure what attracted me - probably it was the sample of the first chapter. The writing is succinct, powerful and given an interesting edge, because - unusually, alas - this is a SF novel written by a woman and featuring sympathetic, well-described female protagonist. There isn't much out there with this kind of characterisation quality. The main character has her foibles and her limitations. She's motivated as a mother and as a scientist.
I found the earlier scenes - i.e. those prior to the 'reveal' - to comprise the most engaging part of the novel. The pace slows up somewhat in later chapters but it's still, overall, an impressive debut novel. A few typos (which I've noted and will tell the author about; these might well be gone by the time you read it), and I would probably give the book 4 stars if I weren't the first person in the UK to write a review - but I figured what the hell.
Overall, then, compelling book with a cracking first third, slightly less interesting middle, and a great ending. It's quite clear that this author is very talented. I'd bet subsequent books will be very good indeed.
I found the earlier scenes - i.e. those prior to the 'reveal' - to comprise the most engaging part of the novel. The pace slows up somewhat in later chapters but it's still, overall, an impressive debut novel. A few typos (which I've noted and will tell the author about; these might well be gone by the time you read it), and I would probably give the book 4 stars if I weren't the first person in the UK to write a review - but I figured what the hell.
Overall, then, compelling book with a cracking first third, slightly less interesting middle, and a great ending. It's quite clear that this author is very talented. I'd bet subsequent books will be very good indeed.
March 21, 2013
This book was my introduction into the world of indie authors self-publishing, and it was a positive one!
Usually typos and grammatical errors in books really irritate me, but here they didn't, I guess because I knew beforehand there was no professional editor taking money to comb through it and tweak it. My feeling usually is "That's annoying because the editor should have caught that!" But in "The Phoenix Project", other than jolting me momentarily from total immersion in the story every now and again, these issues hardly touched me.
For some reason it did take me about 50 pages or so to start to get into the story, but then I was hooked and it reeled me completely in, to the point where I hardly put the thing down before finishing it. The plotline was compelling and original, and the pacing was spot-on.
For those who remark that there wasn't enough characterization in some instances, I feel like there is as much as there can be when a story is told with a first person point of view in the present tense. All we know about these characters is what Andie sees and hears. And I think this is an appropriate way to write the story that "The Phoenix Project" tells. We only discover things as Andie discovers them, adding to the mystery and intrigue.
This was definitely a fun read, and I look forward to the sequel. Under normal circumstances I may have given this one a solid 3 stars, but it earned an additional one for the author's extra efforts to bring her world to life on her own - I am thoroughly impressed! Since the majority of the advertising for this book will be through readers' recommendations, it is my hope that the stellar ratings this book is receiving will help draw more people to it. It is a good story and it deserves to be read - you won't be disappointed.
Usually typos and grammatical errors in books really irritate me, but here they didn't, I guess because I knew beforehand there was no professional editor taking money to comb through it and tweak it. My feeling usually is "That's annoying because the editor should have caught that!" But in "The Phoenix Project", other than jolting me momentarily from total immersion in the story every now and again, these issues hardly touched me.
For some reason it did take me about 50 pages or so to start to get into the story, but then I was hooked and it reeled me completely in, to the point where I hardly put the thing down before finishing it. The plotline was compelling and original, and the pacing was spot-on.
For those who remark that there wasn't enough characterization in some instances, I feel like there is as much as there can be when a story is told with a first person point of view in the present tense. All we know about these characters is what Andie sees and hears. And I think this is an appropriate way to write the story that "The Phoenix Project" tells. We only discover things as Andie discovers them, adding to the mystery and intrigue.
This was definitely a fun read, and I look forward to the sequel. Under normal circumstances I may have given this one a solid 3 stars, but it earned an additional one for the author's extra efforts to bring her world to life on her own - I am thoroughly impressed! Since the majority of the advertising for this book will be through readers' recommendations, it is my hope that the stellar ratings this book is receiving will help draw more people to it. It is a good story and it deserves to be read - you won't be disappointed.
September 16, 2015
This is my first one star review....In fact I even turned on my computer for this. I was really enjoying this dystopian series. It was a nice and simple read and then I read this" You carry a bad gene. You know this though, spinal muscular atrophy. Any child you bring into this world will most likely suffer a horrible, incurable death."
REALLY? I'm wondering if you just googled #1 genetic killers in babies and actually put any research into it. I can assure you that SMA type 1 is the #1 genetic killer in babies but did you know that quite a few babies live well into adult hood with type 1? Or how about SMA II or SMA III and lastly adult onset SMA. I mean seriously if you put any research into flawed genes you would see that 1 in 40 are carriers of SMA. That does NOT translate to producing a SMA child at all. I truly feel for any teen (since adults know better) that reads this and has SMA.
If your going to use a real genetic flaw at least do your research. I'm truly beyond disgusted.
REALLY? I'm wondering if you just googled #1 genetic killers in babies and actually put any research into it. I can assure you that SMA type 1 is the #1 genetic killer in babies but did you know that quite a few babies live well into adult hood with type 1? Or how about SMA II or SMA III and lastly adult onset SMA. I mean seriously if you put any research into flawed genes you would see that 1 in 40 are carriers of SMA. That does NOT translate to producing a SMA child at all. I truly feel for any teen (since adults know better) that reads this and has SMA.
If your going to use a real genetic flaw at least do your research. I'm truly beyond disgusted.
March 17, 2013
I wasn't expecting a great deal when I picked this up, a lot of the post recession/evolving dystopian future novels I've come across lately have been resoundingly average cashing in on the latest fad like vampire books of the twilight era.
Thankfully, my expectations were wrong - this book is actually good, really good. At the beginning we learn about Andie (Andromeda) Somers and her job in a laboratory which she quits in disgust after an altercation with her manager. From here we follow her to her role as a nurse pulling the night shift an then... unforeseen events occur and the main thrust of the plot begins as elements of society fold and others rise.
I was a little concerned it might start to get predictable and follow predefined plot lines but thankfully it stays fresh and keeps you interested leaving open questions, providing some answers then leaving more open questions which have you turning page after page to see where thing are heading.
Thankfully, my expectations were wrong - this book is actually good, really good. At the beginning we learn about Andie (Andromeda) Somers and her job in a laboratory which she quits in disgust after an altercation with her manager. From here we follow her to her role as a nurse pulling the night shift an then... unforeseen events occur and the main thrust of the plot begins as elements of society fold and others rise.
I was a little concerned it might start to get predictable and follow predefined plot lines but thankfully it stays fresh and keeps you interested leaving open questions, providing some answers then leaving more open questions which have you turning page after page to see where thing are heading.
June 5, 2013
This book was awesome on so many levels. Excellent story plot, amazing characters, and absolutely addictive. The idea for the story is a great one, interesting and thought provoking. The characters are realistic, you feel like you know them and want to know more about them!On a personal note, I love that the dog is included - I know I wouldn't leave my pet behind either :) Sometimes when I read books I "zone" or skip over sections that are "too wordy". Not the case with this book. Perfect amount of description so you know what is going on, but doesn't ramble on to bore you. The sense of humor, wit, sarcasm is phenomenal. Not many authors can pull that off so well. There is adventure, intellegince, action, family, and just enough romance to make it interesting and believable - but not so much that I want to puke, blush or roll my eyes. It is clear that the author definitely has talent and I look forward to reading more.
May 27, 2014
So before I read this book I actually read reviews on it which is something I don't usually do because I don't want it to taint my view of it. So unfortunately I went into the book a little wary...but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. It turned out to be one of those books that I couldn't put down, even at 2:00 o'clock in the morning. I'm very excited to start the second book, which I did at 2:00 o'clock in the morning after finishing the first one and finally had to forced myself to put it down. I do have to say there are aspects of this that remind me of what could have be the VERY beginnings of the Divergent series, which I have already read. I highly recommend this book especially if you enjoy the Divergent series and the Hunger Games.
August 28, 2014
The newly edited Second Edition of The Phoenix Project is ready!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BN1EFCE
Kindle eBook on sale for $0.99 from 12/28-12/30/2013
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BN1EFCE
Kindle eBook on sale for $0.99 from 12/28-12/30/2013
March 16, 2013
Amazing! Loved it!
Read
January 20, 2014Interesting
June 25, 2014
Very nicely written book - gradually leads you to the solutions.
And written as a novel - a page turner
And written as a novel - a page turner
August 2, 2024
Andie Somers is a brilliant genetic scientist who turned neonatal nurse working the night shift in the small town of Phoenix in upstate New York. Towards the end of her fairly uneventful shift, it’s reported that an earthquake has knocked out power and everyone must stay at their assigned units.
Driven by a need to get home to her husband and toddler daughter, she sneaks out of the hospital realizing that she will probably lose her nursing license for abandoning her patients. But that is the least of her worries as the stark reality of what is going on outside grips her.
Not only is all the power out but so are all electronic devices, cellphones, and vehicles. This is no earthquake. She is forty miles from home and makes the journey on foot, meeting Adam along the way.
This is an absolutely amazing book and written by an author with degrees in both biochemistry and nursing, so her science is sound. The characters are well written, the storyline is fresh and given our current political climate and global unrest is completely plausible. I found it to be fast-paced, and difficult to put down. I rarely commit to a series that is longer than three books but given the nature of this one it is on my list of strong buys!
Driven by a need to get home to her husband and toddler daughter, she sneaks out of the hospital realizing that she will probably lose her nursing license for abandoning her patients. But that is the least of her worries as the stark reality of what is going on outside grips her.
Not only is all the power out but so are all electronic devices, cellphones, and vehicles. This is no earthquake. She is forty miles from home and makes the journey on foot, meeting Adam along the way.
This is an absolutely amazing book and written by an author with degrees in both biochemistry and nursing, so her science is sound. The characters are well written, the storyline is fresh and given our current political climate and global unrest is completely plausible. I found it to be fast-paced, and difficult to put down. I rarely commit to a series that is longer than three books but given the nature of this one it is on my list of strong buys!
July 2, 2022
Wow. Just wow!
I burned through this amazing story! The plot was excellent. End of the world meets crazy bad guy billionaire. He is trying to redo the world with genetic science. You cannot put down! Read this book when you have time. Loved it. Can’t wait for more.
I burned through this amazing story! The plot was excellent. End of the world meets crazy bad guy billionaire. He is trying to redo the world with genetic science. You cannot put down! Read this book when you have time. Loved it. Can’t wait for more.
September 8, 2017
I would give it 3.5 stars if I could. A good book. A good storyline but perhaps a little far frm my usual genre so I gave it a 4...
January 20, 2019
Ugh. So bad I didn't read the epilogue. I didn't care what happened to the main character - or any others. I didn't want to read the 2nd book (which is currently free).
A female author - hey! Hopefully a strong female lead!
No.
A female author - hey! Hopefully a strong female lead!
No.
January 24, 2019
Depressing.
Dystopian futures require thought and logic. Thirty pages of sadness and death is NOT enjoyable and I see no point to this novel. A waste of time.
Dystopian futures require thought and logic. Thirty pages of sadness and death is NOT enjoyable and I see no point to this novel. A waste of time.
May 1, 2016
I suppose everything will make sense by the time one gets to the fifth and final book in this series. After reading book 1, it sure doesn't.
Andie, our heroine, is pretty weak-minded and not someone to admire much. She abandons her post in the NICO after an earthquake (or EMP, or missile, whatever), not trusting her husband enough to take care of their little girl (it's a weird relationship, anyway -- the book starts with her whining about her beloved husband sitting on his ass while things like giving the little girl a bath or cooking need to be done). Then she manages to slog home, walking 40 miles with an ex Marine, Adam, she picks up along the way (after saving him from a bunch of, you guessed it, black thugs. Like there are so many black gangs in that part of New York State).
She makes it home to Phoenix (New York, near Lake Ontario as far as I could tell), finds her husband and daughter missing and the cupboards filled with canned food, but manages to forage food in her little garden ... Ian shows up, brain-dead, apparently, from whatever was in the food. The ex Marine is from the same town and returning after a tour of duty to mourn the loss of his parents and sister in an accident.
Fast forward. Andie and Adam are captured by the local army or whatever they're supposed to be. Turns out the mad scientist behind everything wanted Andie all along because she was also a genetics scientist who quit the profession because men were mean to her. So mad scientist Crane convinces Andie to proceed with a bunch of genetics experiments on the local population in exchange for getting to keep her daughter by her side. In essence, she agrees to set up and conduct a eugenics program. Talk about ethically challenged -- geez.
She relies on the Big Strong Man to rescue her from various encounters, such as with a pack of starving wolves unleashed on her by some deranged captain (why he had a hate-on for her isn't even remotely explained), and in between attacks of various sorts continues to comply, completely her pairing program, abandoning her husband, screwing around with Big Strong Man Adam ... I dunno.
It was just interesting enough to keep me reading because I was wondering what's behind the setup, but boy was I disappointed that the ending of part one didn't resolve or explain a damned thing. An inexplicable rescue.
I did get book two because it was free -- maybe I'll actually read it after I finish a couple of other books first.
It has the bones of a good dystopian tale, and maybe it does get better. Maybe it will all make sense if I read the other four books. But the lead character is such a wimp an so morally challenged she's repugnant to me so I don't know if I'll ever bother.
Andie, our heroine, is pretty weak-minded and not someone to admire much. She abandons her post in the NICO after an earthquake (or EMP, or missile, whatever), not trusting her husband enough to take care of their little girl (it's a weird relationship, anyway -- the book starts with her whining about her beloved husband sitting on his ass while things like giving the little girl a bath or cooking need to be done). Then she manages to slog home, walking 40 miles with an ex Marine, Adam, she picks up along the way (after saving him from a bunch of, you guessed it, black thugs. Like there are so many black gangs in that part of New York State).
She makes it home to Phoenix (New York, near Lake Ontario as far as I could tell), finds her husband and daughter missing and the cupboards filled with canned food, but manages to forage food in her little garden ... Ian shows up, brain-dead, apparently, from whatever was in the food. The ex Marine is from the same town and returning after a tour of duty to mourn the loss of his parents and sister in an accident.
Fast forward. Andie and Adam are captured by the local army or whatever they're supposed to be. Turns out the mad scientist behind everything wanted Andie all along because she was also a genetics scientist who quit the profession because men were mean to her. So mad scientist Crane convinces Andie to proceed with a bunch of genetics experiments on the local population in exchange for getting to keep her daughter by her side. In essence, she agrees to set up and conduct a eugenics program. Talk about ethically challenged -- geez.
She relies on the Big Strong Man to rescue her from various encounters, such as with a pack of starving wolves unleashed on her by some deranged captain (why he had a hate-on for her isn't even remotely explained), and in between attacks of various sorts continues to comply, completely her pairing program, abandoning her husband, screwing around with Big Strong Man Adam ... I dunno.
It was just interesting enough to keep me reading because I was wondering what's behind the setup, but boy was I disappointed that the ending of part one didn't resolve or explain a damned thing. An inexplicable rescue.
I did get book two because it was free -- maybe I'll actually read it after I finish a couple of other books first.
It has the bones of a good dystopian tale, and maybe it does get better. Maybe it will all make sense if I read the other four books. But the lead character is such a wimp an so morally challenged she's repugnant to me so I don't know if I'll ever bother.
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October 24, 2015Great series start
Andromeda heads to her usual shift as a NICU nurse at a hospital in a large city not knowing that her life is about to be forever changed. What would you do if suddenly the power goes out everywhere and neither phones nor cars are accessible? Andromeda is torn between staying to care for sick patients and wondering about her daughter and husband 40 miles away. A story of about family, sacrifice, and a hidden motives. I highly recommend this book for fellow fans of dystopian literature.
Andromeda heads to her usual shift as a NICU nurse at a hospital in a large city not knowing that her life is about to be forever changed. What would you do if suddenly the power goes out everywhere and neither phones nor cars are accessible? Andromeda is torn between staying to care for sick patients and wondering about her daughter and husband 40 miles away. A story of about family, sacrifice, and a hidden motives. I highly recommend this book for fellow fans of dystopian literature.
April 18, 2015
I started reading this book without much expectation (it was a freebie and I grabbed it without paying much attention since the cover was cool, heh). Once I got reading, however, it sucked me in and I stayed up too late reading it. Now I'm hooked and want to read the rest, so . . . it gets a higher score than usual. :)
June 21, 2015
Read this book in four days...great job Meridith!!! Started the second book in the series...so for just as good...this series is a must read for everyone!!!
October 2, 2015
This book sounds great! I hope to win, read it and enjoy the story ... If I win, the review will be updated once I finish the book :)
August 9, 2018
Good motivator for devops, agile, etc. driven by an example company/story. A bit cheesy and repetitive at the end. Repetition seems to be a thing for self-help style books.
June 9, 2016
A bad text book, a bad novel, but combined it's a fun and illustrative read.
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