The Prepper

Voices of the Apocalypse #2

by Simone Pond

Voices of the Apocalypse Series.
The Prepper is the second short story in the series.

Arvada, Colorado. Critter Holt had been pinning after Mona Hendricks since they were kids. He trusted she’d come around––when the moment was right. He didn't know that moment would be during Senior Week when the world was coming to an end.

The series includes ten short stories. Each tale transpires in a different city around the United States––all encountering the repercussions of the Repatterning, also known as the man-made apocalypse.

The collection was inspired by the New Agenda book series, which includes The City Center, The New Agenda and The Mainframe. Sign the mailing list for upcoming releases and monthly giveaways at simonepond.com.

Genres: Young Adult

24 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 27, 2015

About the author

Author of hard-to-put-down, action-packed dystopian and fantasy. Also known as Simone DeBlasio Stier.

Reviews

[Sandra "Jeanz" · Rating 5 out of 5]

INITIAL THOUGHTS
Approaching this novella i am looking forward to meeting some more great characters and learning how they are coping with the Repatterning.

MY REVIEW
I bought and downloaded an e-copy of this novella from Amazon UK. The cover of this book features a long figure moving away from a building that is on fire. Which is a scene from the novella. Would this cover make me pick this novella up in a bookstore? I think it would, but it would be due partly to the title too, as I love dystopian/post apocalyptic genre books.
The main characters in this novella are a male tennager named Critter who has had a crush on a teenaged girl called Mona for two years. They started kindergarten together and things began well they were friends. Mona even gave him the nickname of Critts. . . but as they got older Mona ended up in the cool kids group and Critter. . . well Critter was more in the misfits group. Mona is a cheerleader and is dating a sporty jock boyfriend who has a fast car to take her to school and back. Critter goes to and from school on his skateboard.
The teens are just going through the motions at school, occasionally turning up to classes sometimes going straight home after getting an attendance mark. It's when Critter and Mona are sat in their english that the explosions and fires begin. Critter grabs Mona's hand and takes her with him to the hideaway where he and his fellow "Preppers" have stashed their bug out bags. They then wait to see who else turns up at the meeting point. . .
So did I enjoy the novella? I did enjoy it a lot and I am hoping that I will perhaps read more about these characters in Simone's The New Agenda Series.
Would I recommend the novella? Yes, though I am reading these novella's first, I feel they are giving me necessary background and circumstances that will be relevant in The New Agenda Series too. The Voice Of The Apocalypse Novellas are certainly making me want to read The New Agenda Series even more!
Would I want to read another novella from the series? Definitely, I sat and read this in the Doctors waiting room whilst my mum had her cataract operation and immediatley went on to the next novella.
Would I want to read other books by this author? Yes, for sure. This Voices Of The Apocalypse Series is making me want to read The New Agenda series even more!

[Amie's Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE PREPPER

Author: Simone Pond

Type of Book: eBook

Length: 24 pages

Genre: Post-Apocalyptic Young Adult Fiction

Release Date: January 27, 2015

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Mona Hendricks is a seventeen year old, red-haired beauty and Critter Holt has been in love with her since Kindergarten.

Critter has a plan. He and his small circle of friends may be outcasts at their high school, but they don't care. Their classmates call them "Preppers" as if it were a dirty word. Critter couldn't care less. He would much rather be prepared than popular.

Who do you think has a better chance of surviving The Repatterning? The "Preppers" or the spoiled rich kids who rely on their money and their popularity to get through life? And who will rescue Mona when the crap hits the fan?

Simone Pond's writing talent astounds me. THE PREPPER is only 24 pages long and yet somehow she has packed the story with so much depth that readers cannot help but empathize with the characters. Her short stories draw the reader into her world and don't let go. I dare anyone to read just one of her stories. Her writing is like that commercial for Lay's potato chips. 'Betcha can't read just one.'

I have read most of the stories in the Voice of the Apocalypse series (and will have read them all shortly) and the one thing they all have in common (besides the obvious) is that I could easily each one of these stories being expanded into full length novels and I would want to read every one of them.

If you have not yet read any of Simone's books or short stories yet, then YOU ARE MISSING OUT!

I may have only discovered Simone Pond's books and stories a year ago, but she has earned a spot in my list of favorite authors. I highly recommend reading any and all of her works of fiction.

I rate THE PREPPER as 5 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

To read more of my reviews visit http://amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com

To learn more about Simone Pond go to www.simonepond.com

[Nancy Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second short story in the Voices of the Apocalypse that features Critter and his friends preparing for their escape from the Repatterning. When the bombs start to drop, Critter grabs his best friend Mona out of the rubble to come with him. A good back-story for Pond's New Agenda YA dystopian series.

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favourite read in the series so far, a great little twist and turn conundrum for those in the midst of the apocalyptic happenings occurring due to the New Agenda re-patterning... Along with the first in the short story series I feel these could easily be in one book, a bit like World War Z a list/recording of those who survived and of those who didn't' but their recording of the events did.

If this story series were ever to be made into a film, it is the short stories that would be adapted. Minimum effort for maximum effect, a mantra for life.

10/10

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if the paranoid survivalists had a point? What if freedom became illusory and the government wanted to get you? Who would you want with you? For one "prepped" skateboarder is the girl he's loved since kindergarten. Will,she choose him in time? Love this series. Highly recommend Ms. ponds's work.

[Jenni Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Critter is Great!

So this is the second book in the voices of the apocalypse short stories and I am amazed at the character depth that is within such a short amount of pages. I felt a connection with these characters pretty deep. Critter was written extremely well and the relationship with Mona was believable. Definitely recommend these short stories!

[Shawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short tale of life as the final phases of the Repaterning tells the story of a boy spurned by love turning to doom's day prepping. If you haven't read the City Center series, you'll probably find this story lacking as it doesn't provide much depth of character, but if you've read the series, and, like me, ate it up, this little morsel is just enough to keep you wanting more.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

​The Prepper is another short story of Simone Pond's in the Voices of the Apocalypse. This one is about teenagers who are smart enough to realize all is not as it seems with the Repatterning and make plans. This is a good stand alone story but fits so well with the rest of the series.

[Michelle McPherson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Prepped-VOTA book 2

Again a great short story. I actually hope I will hear more about these characters in future books, I like Critter already.

[Dina_s · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 of Voices of the Apocalypse: tantalising glimpses of survivors and resistance of the Repatterning. This one gives us redemption of the nerds and the conspiracy theorists!