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MAELSTROM: The Silent Tide Book 1:
It was designed to save the world. Instead, it drowned it.
From 4.5-million-copy-selling author Mike Kraus, writing with Stacey Upton, comes a new series that's guaranteed to keep you turning page after page after page....
EcoGlide was supposed to change the world. A breakthrough in clean oil extraction, it was designed to be safe and efficient. But when the compound is deployed for the first time in the field, something goes terribly wrong.
As entire cities vanish, families are ripped apart and survivors are forced to make unthinkable choices.
A stranded scientist clings to life in the aftermath of a failed warning.
A mother battles through a drowning city to save her daughter.
And in the Colorado mountains, a man and his dog find that safety comes at a deadly price.
The rules have changed. And for those still alive, the real nightmare is just beginning....
**********
Having sold over four and a half million books, Mike Kraus & Muonic Press are the #1 producing and selling indie press publishing post-apocalyptic tales, and for good reason. Since capturing audience’s attention with Final Dawn in 2012, Kraus has captivated and delighted his readers, both with his solo projects like Epoch's End, The End of All things, Surviving the Fall and No Sanctuary, and with his co-authored projects with authors like Stephanie Mylchreest, Justin Bell, Kate Pickford and others. The Silent Tide is a 6-book series.
From 4.5-million-copy-selling author Mike Kraus, writing with Stacey Upton, comes a new series that's guaranteed to keep you turning page after page after page....
EcoGlide was supposed to change the world. A breakthrough in clean oil extraction, it was designed to be safe and efficient. But when the compound is deployed for the first time in the field, something goes terribly wrong.
As entire cities vanish, families are ripped apart and survivors are forced to make unthinkable choices.
A stranded scientist clings to life in the aftermath of a failed warning.
A mother battles through a drowning city to save her daughter.
And in the Colorado mountains, a man and his dog find that safety comes at a deadly price.
The rules have changed. And for those still alive, the real nightmare is just beginning....
**********
Having sold over four and a half million books, Mike Kraus & Muonic Press are the #1 producing and selling indie press publishing post-apocalyptic tales, and for good reason. Since capturing audience’s attention with Final Dawn in 2012, Kraus has captivated and delighted his readers, both with his solo projects like Epoch's End, The End of All things, Surviving the Fall and No Sanctuary, and with his co-authored projects with authors like Stephanie Mylchreest, Justin Bell, Kate Pickford and others. The Silent Tide is a 6-book series.
- GenresFiction
328 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 8, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 9, 2026
A fresh way for the world to end!!
MAELSTROM: book 1 in the Silent Tide series by Stacy Upton and Mike Kraus, explains how a biological surfactant, "EcoGlide", meant to make drilling less dangerous and more environmentally friendly. Needless to say, it does not go to plan, with the EcoGlide, reacts violently when exposed to ground contamination, something not tested for in the lab. This forces a diverse group of people around the nation try to survive: Iona, a researcher at Virginia tech, Garrett hiking in the mountains, Tests and Hannah, a mother and daughter trapped in a flooded Manhattan and more. The writing is exceptionally well done, with Upton and Kraus each complimenting the other's writing styles, creating a whole that truly is better than the sum of its parts! Overall, 5/5 stars, highly recommended for fans of apocalyptic survival fiction, especially if the reader is already a fan of Kraus and/or Upton, but that's not the only audience that will find a connection with MAELSTROM, the writing is good enough to entice anyone willing to give the book a try!
Note: read as an ARC reader
MAELSTROM: book 1 in the Silent Tide series by Stacy Upton and Mike Kraus, explains how a biological surfactant, "EcoGlide", meant to make drilling less dangerous and more environmentally friendly. Needless to say, it does not go to plan, with the EcoGlide, reacts violently when exposed to ground contamination, something not tested for in the lab. This forces a diverse group of people around the nation try to survive: Iona, a researcher at Virginia tech, Garrett hiking in the mountains, Tests and Hannah, a mother and daughter trapped in a flooded Manhattan and more. The writing is exceptionally well done, with Upton and Kraus each complimenting the other's writing styles, creating a whole that truly is better than the sum of its parts! Overall, 5/5 stars, highly recommended for fans of apocalyptic survival fiction, especially if the reader is already a fan of Kraus and/or Upton, but that's not the only audience that will find a connection with MAELSTROM, the writing is good enough to entice anyone willing to give the book a try!
Note: read as an ARC reader
April 14, 2026
This has an interesting premise for an apocalyptic level disaster. I do like the science to make sense and whether the underlying principles would actually cause this event, there was a effort in explaining it. I was a bit bothered that this enterprise that was so financially crucial to the company Cargon would allow the final testing to be done by a sole scientist in some isolation. Also found it not very credible that this company would deploy the new bacteria/tech on all of their drill sites worldwide instead of a limit live test in one place. Too much would be at stake in the real world to throw caution to the wind. However, a sensible approach would have made for a more limited and less interesting apocalypse. For the most part, I liked the main characters, especially Tessa who while running for her own life and trying to reach her daughter was still willing to save as many others as she could. On to book 2
June 26, 2026
Most frightening and brilliantly written apocalypse story!
I read an endless number of apocalyptic books because I enjoy stories of how regular people face fear and daunting circumstances. How they overcome the slide into losing humanity and decency. Too often the plot lines are so formulaic and decisions so irrational that I skip sections or just give up on the book. This book has intelligent and strong characters that are well developed. The premise of the disaster is pretty far out there but the events are terrifying and even better, completely unpredictable. I love every minute!
I read an endless number of apocalyptic books because I enjoy stories of how regular people face fear and daunting circumstances. How they overcome the slide into losing humanity and decency. Too often the plot lines are so formulaic and decisions so irrational that I skip sections or just give up on the book. This book has intelligent and strong characters that are well developed. The premise of the disaster is pretty far out there but the events are terrifying and even better, completely unpredictable. I love every minute!
January 14, 2026
I did really enjoy this book! A really great but scary idea, well written, so far I like the main characters & find the storyline intriguing. Good levels of tension & some action which keeps the plot moving forward & the reading experience quite intense. I can't wait for the next part! I do recommend!
March 4, 2026
Can't believe I read the whole thing.
Ok...bacteria that reproduce. Cool idea. The rest? Good lord it dragged on and on. Speed read a bunch of it. Not sure why I did. NOT a satisfying "end". Did like the characters though. Seemed real to me. Also, who doesn't like a dog.
Ok...bacteria that reproduce. Cool idea. The rest? Good lord it dragged on and on. Speed read a bunch of it. Not sure why I did. NOT a satisfying "end". Did like the characters though. Seemed real to me. Also, who doesn't like a dog.
March 9, 2026
How things can go wrong. Invented to make drilling easier and safer, everything goes wrong. Everyone is in danger , how will anyone survive this disaster. Impossible to stop reading until you find out what happens. Don’t miss out.
March 30, 2026
An Angle to the end of the world in thought of until now
Stacy Upton is a powerful writer, and combined with Mike Kraus you have a #1 Bestseller. This book is well thought out! I have enjoyed it immensely !!
Stacy Upton is a powerful writer, and combined with Mike Kraus you have a #1 Bestseller. This book is well thought out! I have enjoyed it immensely !!
March 19, 2026
Interesting read
Found the differing storylines a bit confusing but a well thought out end of world scenario
Will be getting next book now
Found the differing storylines a bit confusing but a well thought out end of world scenario
Will be getting next book now
April 23, 2026
Fracking material becomes water 9 like disaster. Several groups are followed in this epic EOTWAWKI.
Kindle Libby library book read with Alexa audio app..
Kindle Libby library book read with Alexa audio app..
April 29, 2026
Just Ok
A little odd and scenes just seemed unrealistic but still an ok book. Will try the next one to see if it gets any better.
A little odd and scenes just seemed unrealistic but still an ok book. Will try the next one to see if it gets any better.
May 21, 2026
Frightening concept of what could happen if science goes wrong. Great characters and plot and nice action.
June 20, 2026
Maelstrom: The Silent Tide. Book 1
This book is a easy read. Exciting and fast paced. I had trouble putting it down. Love the characters and the plot
This book is a easy read. Exciting and fast paced. I had trouble putting it down. Love the characters and the plot
July 26, 2026
Water, Water, Water
An interesting plot structure. Water is both healthy and deadly. Upton and Kraus have a unique take on Post-apocolyptic litetature.
An interesting plot structure. Water is both healthy and deadly. Upton and Kraus have a unique take on Post-apocolyptic litetature.
January 11, 2026
Maelstrom - a review by Rosemary Kenny.
Maelstrom demonstrates how life can change in a matter of hours and how fragile it is.
The all-action storyline by Stacey Upton and Mike Kraus gives a riveting description of massive, worldwide flooding caused by toxic, mutated algae that
destroys all in its path.
Maelstrom is set out in long chapters titled with characters and locations; each gives a varied POV, centred on the events facing widely-separated members of the Clement family, as they try to reunite and reach safety.
An exciting opener for The Silent Tide survival-thriller series. Get your copy of Maelstrom today...and tell all your disaster-movie loving friends not to miss it!
Maelstrom demonstrates how life can change in a matter of hours and how fragile it is.
The all-action storyline by Stacey Upton and Mike Kraus gives a riveting description of massive, worldwide flooding caused by toxic, mutated algae that
destroys all in its path.
Maelstrom is set out in long chapters titled with characters and locations; each gives a varied POV, centred on the events facing widely-separated members of the Clement family, as they try to reunite and reach safety.
An exciting opener for The Silent Tide survival-thriller series. Get your copy of Maelstrom today...and tell all your disaster-movie loving friends not to miss it!
May 21, 2026
The Flood of Noah Microbiology-Style
A well written book offering a novel way for our world to find its way to apocalypse. The characters are textured, well developed by the authors. Maelstrom offered an interesting read that beckoned every time the book sat unopened for too long.
A well written book offering a novel way for our world to find its way to apocalypse. The characters are textured, well developed by the authors. Maelstrom offered an interesting read that beckoned every time the book sat unopened for too long.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews