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Empty Earth
Imagine having to leave everyone you care about and being forced to live primitively, fighting for your life and food every day. This happens to Eva after she is ripped from her family and taken away. In this post-apocalyptic novel, you join her on an adventure of terror, education, and love. This action-packed story shows what life could be like in a global warming catastrophe, as a convulsing land, sky, and sea empty the earth of most of the human species, and the few despairing remnants from once mighty nations stare death in the face every day of their shattered lives.
Eva, a rebel, is not willing to accept being a slave for what’s left of an American government that now controls through intimidation and bribes nearly every aspect of the lives of the remainder of its submissive, frightened citizens. Far from everything she held dear at home in San Diego, she finds herself a prisoner in an enclosure in the Arctic where the government has placed her and thousands of other young people like her in a dreadful concrete world to prepare food for those in charge and for climate scientists, who are working night and day to come up with a remedy to the “the warming” through technology. Constantly facing punishment for disobeying the rules, Eva’s life is traumatic and grim. To make matters even worse, she is forced to keep silent throughout her long workday, which adds to her feeling of loneliness and separation and makes her desperately miss the normal life she once knew before her world along with everyone else’s world turned upside down.
Through extraordinary circumstances, she meets Adam in the neighboring British enclosure, and at night they are able to see each other’s face, and they talk in low voices to avoid being discovered. It isn’t long before they fall in love, although it grieves them to admit that thick concrete walls will keep them forever apart.
Eva doubts the climate scientists in the Arctic can come up with a solution to the horrific weather, even a temporary one. If they do, she senses that it will be limited because they have no cure for the cause of climate change. Alone in her room, she suddenly realizes that she may have a permanent answer literally within her grasp, as she reads faded letters from her grandfather. She had found a stack of these letters in a box her mother gave her before she was taken away. Although it is difficult to initially decipher her grandfather’s meaning in his letters, she is slowly able to progress in her understanding of what he is trying to communicate to her.
When she becomes willing to face the harsh elements outside, Eva urges Adam to join her in finding a way to escape so that they can be together and to find her parents and grandfather. Adam, fearing that the wild weather or wild creatures will kill them sooner or later on the outside, wants them to stay inside their prison walls. He knows the enclosures provide scarcely any life at all for them, but he thinks this may be the best they can do in their now ruined world.
If they found a way to escape, Eva knows there would be no turning back. They would have to set out on a long and harrowing journey facing the elements and unknown dangers all the way from the top of Canada to the United States and then possibly an even longer journey to their final destination, wherever that might be.
Will they decide to risk it all outside the enclosures, or will they stay where they are? Eva, feeling both excited and terrified at this perilous crossroad for the two of them, trusts with all her heart that grandfather has gotten it right.
If not, there is no hope for them, and Adam and Eva -- and the rest of mankind – may soon be swept into the ash heap of history, leaving nothing behind but an empty earth.
Eva, a rebel, is not willing to accept being a slave for what’s left of an American government that now controls through intimidation and bribes nearly every aspect of the lives of the remainder of its submissive, frightened citizens. Far from everything she held dear at home in San Diego, she finds herself a prisoner in an enclosure in the Arctic where the government has placed her and thousands of other young people like her in a dreadful concrete world to prepare food for those in charge and for climate scientists, who are working night and day to come up with a remedy to the “the warming” through technology. Constantly facing punishment for disobeying the rules, Eva’s life is traumatic and grim. To make matters even worse, she is forced to keep silent throughout her long workday, which adds to her feeling of loneliness and separation and makes her desperately miss the normal life she once knew before her world along with everyone else’s world turned upside down.
Through extraordinary circumstances, she meets Adam in the neighboring British enclosure, and at night they are able to see each other’s face, and they talk in low voices to avoid being discovered. It isn’t long before they fall in love, although it grieves them to admit that thick concrete walls will keep them forever apart.
Eva doubts the climate scientists in the Arctic can come up with a solution to the horrific weather, even a temporary one. If they do, she senses that it will be limited because they have no cure for the cause of climate change. Alone in her room, she suddenly realizes that she may have a permanent answer literally within her grasp, as she reads faded letters from her grandfather. She had found a stack of these letters in a box her mother gave her before she was taken away. Although it is difficult to initially decipher her grandfather’s meaning in his letters, she is slowly able to progress in her understanding of what he is trying to communicate to her.
When she becomes willing to face the harsh elements outside, Eva urges Adam to join her in finding a way to escape so that they can be together and to find her parents and grandfather. Adam, fearing that the wild weather or wild creatures will kill them sooner or later on the outside, wants them to stay inside their prison walls. He knows the enclosures provide scarcely any life at all for them, but he thinks this may be the best they can do in their now ruined world.
If they found a way to escape, Eva knows there would be no turning back. They would have to set out on a long and harrowing journey facing the elements and unknown dangers all the way from the top of Canada to the United States and then possibly an even longer journey to their final destination, wherever that might be.
Will they decide to risk it all outside the enclosures, or will they stay where they are? Eva, feeling both excited and terrified at this perilous crossroad for the two of them, trusts with all her heart that grandfather has gotten it right.
If not, there is no hope for them, and Adam and Eva -- and the rest of mankind – may soon be swept into the ash heap of history, leaving nothing behind but an empty earth.
272 pages, Paperback
First published August 18, 2014
10 people are currently reading
1055 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 17, 2025
Awesome Story
This is one of those novels that you simply cannot stop reading, because everything feels completely unpredictable. I really enjoy stories that talk about love in chaotic times, when everything feels difficult and the relationship becomes the anchor that keeps us connected to the present and to reality.
In this case, it is very interesting to see how love and the strong bond between the main characters make everything feel possible. I felt especially connected to the story because I consider myself a romantic person, and I enjoy seeing how love, when put into action, has the power to transform everything. This book is a clear example of that.
In addition, the story does not focus only on romance, but also includes action, mystery, and suspense, which makes it even more engaging. One of the things I appreciated the most is the way the book is organized. Its structure makes it easy to read and allows the reader to connect with the story very quickly.
This is one of those novels that you simply cannot stop reading, because everything feels completely unpredictable. I really enjoy stories that talk about love in chaotic times, when everything feels difficult and the relationship becomes the anchor that keeps us connected to the present and to reality.
In this case, it is very interesting to see how love and the strong bond between the main characters make everything feel possible. I felt especially connected to the story because I consider myself a romantic person, and I enjoy seeing how love, when put into action, has the power to transform everything. This book is a clear example of that.
In addition, the story does not focus only on romance, but also includes action, mystery, and suspense, which makes it even more engaging. One of the things I appreciated the most is the way the book is organized. Its structure makes it easy to read and allows the reader to connect with the story very quickly.
March 12, 2025
I absolutely enjoyed this book for three main reasons. First of all, the author puts so much effort into the cover that I didn't hesitate for a second to dive into its contents. Secondly, the writing style is not only evocative and entertaining but also thought-provoking. Finally, the story seems predictable but when all seems lost, new unexpected twists and turns emerge; these blew me away.
The story centers on two main characters; Eva and Adam are prisoners in an Arctic prison. The hostile climate, the coldness of their cells and the injustices they have experienced will not discourage them from fighting for their freedom.
The fact that the book emphasizes climate catastrophes seems to me to be a sublime advance. In this way every reader can become aware of how little we care for the planet.
The story centers on two main characters; Eva and Adam are prisoners in an Arctic prison. The hostile climate, the coldness of their cells and the injustices they have experienced will not discourage them from fighting for their freedom.
The fact that the book emphasizes climate catastrophes seems to me to be a sublime advance. In this way every reader can become aware of how little we care for the planet.
March 12, 2025
This book was so different and amazing. I absolutely adore Eva since it was so refreshing to see her inner strength that is so different from most other tales I have read which had a similar approach or theme.
I am convinced that this is one of the best books I have ever read due to many reasons. Firstly, its characters are way too well put together. They are entertaining and appealing. Secondly, the narrative style chosen by the author is something else. With clear vocabulary and language, the author conveyed a lot. Last but not least, the storyline has an ending I was not expecting. This made me love the story even more since I did not only enjoy the narrative all along, but I also enjoyed a proper ending.
I am convinced that this is one of the best books I have ever read due to many reasons. Firstly, its characters are way too well put together. They are entertaining and appealing. Secondly, the narrative style chosen by the author is something else. With clear vocabulary and language, the author conveyed a lot. Last but not least, the storyline has an ending I was not expecting. This made me love the story even more since I did not only enjoy the narrative all along, but I also enjoyed a proper ending.
March 12, 2025
The world couldn't be more upside down, while in prison Eva discovers Adam, who is imprisoned in the neighboring British compound. The two share long talks and their love is exposed. But both will fight to get out of that prison so they can be together. As humanity moves ever closer to extinction, Eva must choose: surrender to a slow death in captivity or risk everything for a chance to live beyond the walls.
This fiction is undoubtedly extraordinary, I really liked the way author McManus wrote it, the characters are very well described and the plot has twists and turns that are great and take the reader by surprise. Also, in my opinion, love stories always make reading more enjoyable and pleasant.
This fiction is undoubtedly extraordinary, I really liked the way author McManus wrote it, the characters are very well described and the plot has twists and turns that are great and take the reader by surprise. Also, in my opinion, love stories always make reading more enjoyable and pleasant.
February 20, 2025
Thanks to Goodreads and the author for sharing a copy of this e-book.
I thought the book was well written, a love story In a dystopian post-apocalyptic world. The characters of Eva and Adam were appropriate for a young couple starting out their relationship in a new, albeit life threatening world. Their idealistic expectations of love changed as the story progressed. Getting a glimpse of the US states along their journey, and how they changed following global warming, was alarming, and also eye-opening. However, the story left the reader with hope for survival of the human race and relationships.
I thought the book was well written, a love story In a dystopian post-apocalyptic world. The characters of Eva and Adam were appropriate for a young couple starting out their relationship in a new, albeit life threatening world. Their idealistic expectations of love changed as the story progressed. Getting a glimpse of the US states along their journey, and how they changed following global warming, was alarming, and also eye-opening. However, the story left the reader with hope for survival of the human race and relationships.
December 23, 2025
A mesmerising novel
This is a mesmerising post-apocalyptic romance penned by Rick McManus. This fiction revolves around Eva and Adam’s true love that fights against everything and strives to survive anything. Their lives are in danger due to the possible end of the world but together they opt for living instead of dying.
I´d say that it’s a story painted in grey; while I was reading, I could picture the devastating and miserable places where the characters have been-. That’s thanks to the way the author describes in detail every single place. I liked his style and the themes that he touches, such as freedom, family, encounter, courage and faith-.. It’s highly recommended.
This is a mesmerising post-apocalyptic romance penned by Rick McManus. This fiction revolves around Eva and Adam’s true love that fights against everything and strives to survive anything. Their lives are in danger due to the possible end of the world but together they opt for living instead of dying.
I´d say that it’s a story painted in grey; while I was reading, I could picture the devastating and miserable places where the characters have been-. That’s thanks to the way the author describes in detail every single place. I liked his style and the themes that he touches, such as freedom, family, encounter, courage and faith-.. It’s highly recommended.
December 27, 2025
Empty Earth completely pulled me in from the first chapter. The quiet, broken world felt so real, and the romance growing inside it was surprisingly tender and hopeful
December 27, 2025
I didn’t expect to feel this emotional reading a post-apocalyptic story. The love story was beautifully written and gave the empty world real meaning
December 27, 2025
The atmosphere in Empty Earth is haunting and beautiful at the same time. As readers, we felt deeply connected to the characters and their journey.
Toronto Arts and Culture Book Club
Toronto Arts and Culture Book Club
December 27, 2025
What we loved most was how human this story felt. The apocalypse is the backdrop, but the emotions are front and center.
Toronto Arts and Culture Book Club
Toronto Arts and Culture Book Club
December 27, 2025
The author did an amazing job showing how love can become a lifeline in a world that has fallen apart. We couldn’t put it down.
Toronto Arts and Culture Book Club
Toronto Arts and Culture Book Club
January 6, 2026
As a reader with Toronto Arts And Culture Book Club, I found this book engaging from start to finish. The writing flows beautifully and keeps you invested in the story.
January 6, 2026
This was a thoughtful and enjoyable read. Toronto Arts And Culture Book Club readers appreciate books like this that spark conversation and linger in your mind.
January 6, 2026
I loved how immersive this book was. It’s the kind of story Toronto Arts And Culture Book Club members enjoy discussing long after finishing the last page.
January 6, 2026
A compelling read with strong moments throughout. Toronto Arts And Culture Book Club readers would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a satisfying book.
January 6, 2026
This was an enjoyable read with an interesting story. The characters felt real, and the writing kept me engaged from beginning to end.
January 6, 2026
This book held my attention and delivered a meaningful reading experience. As part of Toronto Arts And Culture Book Club, I truly appreciated its depth
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January 7, 2026Scam writer
January 7, 2026
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January 7, 2026
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January 6, 2026
This book proves that even after everything is lost, love can still survive. I loved the balance between survival, loneliness, and romance.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews