Apocalypse Weird: The Serenity Strain

Serenity #1

by Chris Pourteau

Multiple hurricanes wreak unprecedented devastation on Houston, Texas. The Serenity Six—genetically altered test subjects for a viral strain known as Serenity—escape the state prison in Huntsville to gorge their appetite for murder on society’s survivors. They soon become the acolytes of Id, a being of immense power and wanton appetites, who steps into our reality to prosecute mankind and destroy morality. And one family steps up to the fight—a family experiencing its own turmoil caused by a contentious divorce. The Stand meets 28 Days Later in this epic tale of genetic manipulation gone awry. There’s no such thing as an ordinary hero.

Genres: Post Apocalyptic

Kindle Edition

First published February 20, 2015

About the author

Chris Pourteau is the bestselling author of the sci-fi thriller novels of the SynCorp Saga (co-authored with David Bruns), the post-apocalyptic Serenity Strain novels, and the military sci-fi collection Tales of B-Company. His first novel, Shadows Burned In, earned the 2015 eLit Book Awards Gold Medal for Literary Fiction. The Lazarus Protocol, the first novel in the SynCorp Saga, placed in the Top Ten in Read Freely's 2018 50 Best Indie Book of the Year contest; it was the highest-rated Sci-Fi novel in the contest.

He’s also edited and curated bestselling short story collections including the two animal-centric collections Tails of the Apocalypse and Tails of Dystopia (with Samuel Peralta), as well as Bridge Across the Stars, a collection of Sci-Fi stories from indie and traditionally published authors published by Sci-Fi Bridge, which Chris co-founded.

His dayjob is editor-in-chief for the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, which researches cutting-edge technologies across the transportation spectrum. Chris Pourteau is the bestselling author of the sci-fi thriller novels of the SynCorp Saga (co-authored with David Bruns), the post-apocalyptic Serenity Strain novels, and the military sci-fi collection Tales of B-Company. His first novel, Shadows Burned In, earned the 2015 eLit Book Awards Gold Medal for Literary Fiction. The Lazarus Protocol, the first novel in the SynCorp Saga, placed in the Top Ten in Read Freely's 2018 50 Best Indie Book of the Year contest; it was the highest-rated Sci-Fi novel in the contest.

He’s also edited and curated bestselling short story collections including the two animal-centric collections Tails of the Apocalypse and Tails of Dystopia (with Samuel Peralta), as well as Bridge Across the Stars, a collection of Sci-Fi stories from indie and traditionally published authors published by Sci-Fi Bridge, which Chris co-founded. His dayjob is editor-in-chief for the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, which researches cutting-edge technologies across the transportation spectrum.

When he’s not writing, editing, or working the dayjob, Chris loves exercising regularly, watching shows like Star Trek and Stranger Things, and reading his favorite authors. Those include Bernard Cornwell, Stephen King, George R.R. Martin, Edgar Allan Poe, and Max Collins. He lives in Texas with his wife, son, and two dogs. (He’s a HUGE dog person, by the way.)

Find out more about Chris and his writing through his newsletter. Sign up and get free stuff at https://chrispourteau.com/newsletter.

Reviews

[Eamon Ambrose · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Apocalypse Weird series continues with a contribution from Shadows Burned In author Chris Pourteau. This time the action takes place in Houston, Texas where a huge weather event brings the city to its knees, pummelled by several hurricanes simultaneously. Throw in a bunch of escaped prisoners enhanced by a backfired experimental drug, and a family falling apart at the seams and the stage is set for a nail-biting thriller of epic proportions.
Once again, Pourteau shows strong signs of an emerging talent as a master of tension, blending elements of science and horror perfectly, at a breakneck pace, building each set piece quickly but accurately and adding just enough well-crafted character development to make us care enough for the main protagonists, fearing for their well-being, and feeling all the more uneasy as the pscyhopathic Serenity Six draw closer, led by the chillingly dangerous Marsten.
Dr. Davros, who was responsible for creating the Serenity drug and barely survives the escape of the prisoners is a wonderfully ambiguous character throughout, never fully revealing his intentions. We’re never sure if he wants to atone for his mistakes or simply observe the consequences unfold, but it’s clear he still plays an important part in the development of the story.
Oh, and demons, we’ve got demons. Anyone who has read any of the other books in the series knows about The 88 – a band of supernatural ne’er-do-wells gleefully intent on accelerating the oncoming apocalypse and Pourteau introduces his, named Id, who takes a shine to Marsten and the Serenity Six and aims to recruit them for her own ends.
It’s also an interesting and accurate portrayal of the dynamics of a crumbling family and examines ties that even after a break-up are almost impossible to sever. It also takes a hard look at the lengths a person will go to to protect their family in such extreme circumstances.
Having read most of the Apocalypse Weird novels that have been released at this point, I have to say that this was one of my favourites so far and I look forward to the continuation of this story arc.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

This is a solid novel from an author that continues to impress me. An excellent contribution to the Apocalypse Weird universe and cool enough to make me ready for the sequel. But I can't understand why anyone would want to live in Houston.

[Michael Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Note: I received an advanced reader's copy of this book from the author for review.]

Although we've been to Texas before, in Michael Bunker and Nick Cole's Texocalypse Now, that story was focused on five-year hence in the Apocalypse Weird bookverse. This gives Chris Pourteau a chance to establish how, exactly, the Lone Star State got so wonderfully f'ed up and what some of the survivors went through.

Pourteau's entry is a wonderful hodge-podge of maniacs, genetic manipulation, and a struggle to survive. Our main protagonists are a separated couple and their daughter, this family forced to reunite under the looming threat of a series of hurricanes. All of this combines to create a cli-fi thriller with some dashes of horror that works tremendously well, and at the time of this writing, might even be my personal favorite in the Apocalypse Weird series thus far.

To top it off, Pourteau introduces the demon Id, a specter birthed in the eye of a hurricane and who has a penchant for frying hapless victims with bolts of lightning. I'm looking forward to her taking on an expanded role in future volumes, but she's established nicely here and I really dug the formation of a Charles Manson-esque cult devoted to her.

At it's core, The Serenity Strain is all about family drama. Whether it's the anxiety generated from a feuding couple forced into confined spaces and relearning how to cope as a family unit in the wake of separation and distrust, or the burgeoning creation of a twisted hierarchy between the escaped prisoners as they seek Id. It's really compelling stuff and the twin tales work as counterpoint to the other, helping to elevate what could have simply been a tried-and-true good-versus-evil story into something that's far more emotionally resonant. Getting to know both of these "families" makes the powerful finale especially meaningful.

I also have to give props to Ben Adams, who created a couple illustrations for the book, one of Id and one of the book's primary antagonist's, Maestro. They're really beautiful work! (I'm not sure if his art appeared any of the other AW titles, but finding them in this particular ARC was a wonderful surprise). Adams is also responsible for the stunning cover to Michael Bunker's forthcoming Brother, Frankenstein, so be sure to check out his work. He's got lots of talent!

[Kari Kilgore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always been a bit of a weather junkie, so the initial hook of multiple hurricanes in The Serenity Strain had me from the beginning. Of course I never quite saw the fruit of one of those storms coming, but that's one of the pleasures of this story. Just when you think you have a handle on what a character will or will not do, Chris Pourteau points you in a different direction and gives you a firm push. Like with many of the best stories, the supernatural parts are scary, but what really does the reader in is the way a regular old human acts, good and bad.

[Garek Godrik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buckle up for this great read. Chris Pourteau has brought a whole new, frighteningly real world into existence with The Serenity Strain. Well researched and well written, this story gripped me and wouldn't let me go.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sad to say that I'm in the minority with this book. I enjoyed it, BUT...

Let me start by saying that this is still definitely worth reading and it adds another dimension to the Apocalypse Weird universe that I want to read more about. I found the subject matter interesting, particularly when viewed in light of the author's note that most the science (save the actual virus) that would allow the "Serenity Six," to happen does actually exist. I also liked the fact that the NOAA announcement that Mark and his family hear is actually (for the most part) taken directly from the announcement that went out just prior to Hurricane Katrina. Those bits of realism make me appreciate the book a bit more. I also enjoyed the three story lines that Chris Pourteau ties together at the end. I wanted to know more about Lauryn and Megan's survival in this new world. I kind of want to smack Stavros for being a one-dimensional egghead scientist who only wants to find out WHY Serenity didn't work on Marsten, but I also understand that he doesn't have a lot to lose anymore. And I completely hate the remaining three members of the "Serentiy Six," but someone has to be the bad guys, right?

Pourteau starts with a great premise and I enjoyed the first half of the book. But I felt he was extremely heavy handed with the menacing descriptions and ominous foreshadowing. I found myself rolling my eyes at what felt like the literary equivalent of being bludgeoned with a frying pan. From what I understand, these books are meant to have a kind of comic book feel to them. But comics aren't frequently bogged down with so much detail.

I don't read extremely fast, nor do I have a lot of time to spend reading. So I may not have finished this book in one sitting anyway. But because I disliked Porteau's descriptive style, about halfway through, I put it down for two days because I just didn't want to read anymore for a bit. I did pick it up and I really like how he pulled everything together in the end. Maybe my enjoyment of this book suffered some because I read the books by Nick Cole just before this. In those books, descriptions and foreshadowing is applied in a very light, deft manner. But of course, I understand that's just one of the hazards of reading a series authored by several people. Each one isn't going to have the same finesse or tone.

I hope that the next installment of the Serenity Strain isn't quite so entrenched in the details and captures more of that comic book feel. The ease of the first three books I read in the series are what really drew me to them and made me purchase all of them. And I think that if that is applied to the Serenity Strain story arc, it could easily become one of my favorites.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read in the Apocalypse Weird series. By the halfway point, I was sure that was right. Apocalypse. Weird. Definitely weird. If this book is a good measure of the assortment of stories, there won’t be any of the ordinary apocalypse elements in the universe created by the authors involved. Not that there actually is such a thing, yet, but I’d say the hurricanes that open this story and wreck such havoc get close to it, and that’s before the last hurricane spawns an entity.

She’s supposed to be a goddess, but is much closer to a demon. Even so, she is not the direct cause of the apocalypse, as it seems that she is attracted to this world by the fuel she requires, in the form of undiluted evil. That evil is found in six prison inmates, victims of a gene alteration experiment that didn't go well. On the other side of the coin are a small family and a determined scientist, each of which have a different tie to the prison inmates. There are a fair number of characters involved, and all of them are portrayed very well. I particularly liked the dynamics of the relationships between Megan, Lauryn, and Mark, including the relationship each of them has with the dog.

This book contains several different elements—the weather, detailed realistically; the virus and gene experiment, projected from current research and known science; the goddess/demon Id, pure fantasy; and the behavior of humans as they’re cast into roles for a confrontation between good and evil. Chris Pourteau does an excellent job of weaving the elements together to produce a fast-paced story that’s dark and scary.

Despite the great images that give the cover its classic comic book appearance, be aware that this book is not suitable for children. Another thing to note is that this is the first installment of a larger story. At the end of this book, a battle has been decided, but the war is not over. Although this book can be read separately from the other books in the Apocalypse Weird universe, the story will obviously be continued in another book. The ending is not a cliffhanger, though. I’m first in line to read a good series, but I like to know about it before I open the first book, so I’m passing that info on. Having read this book, I will want to read what happens next.

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Aly Abell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Serenity Strain is an enjoyable, fast-paced novel that will leave you wanting more of the story. After a prologue consisting of a blog posting from the scientist leading human trials on a gene therapy intended to reduce violent tendencies of jailed offenders, The Serenity Strain opens with a normal day in the life of Mark Hughes as he gets ready to go to work at the Houston traffic management center. But the normal day quickly becomes unusual, as three different tropical systems are found to have the potential to make a direct hit on the Houston area. Mark’s estranged wife Lauryn works at the correctional facility in Huntsville, where the most violent prisoners in the state are housed and where geneticists Eamon Stavros is beginning to discover failures in gene therapy trials.

As the storms focus their fury on the Houston area, the violent prisoners from the experimental trial escape and travel south towards Houston, leaving a trail of death and destruction as they go. Meanwhile, Mark and Lauryn walk towards with their teenage daughter the northern suburbs, to escape the quickly deteriorating situation in Houston and to check on a family member. The personification of one of the storms, known as the goddess Id, is also moving towards the northern suburbs. The prisoners, Id, the geneticist Stavros, and the family all converge in Conroe, Texas, where an exciting battle ensues.

As with the other books in the Apocalypse Weird universe, plenty of room is left for a sequel. I am looking forward to the next installment. I did notice that there were some possible inconsistencies with the other Apocalypse Weird books. In The Dark Knight and Immunity, many unsettling things have already happened by the time the Darkness falls. In The Serenity Strain, the characters seem to be unaware of the nuclear explosion and zombie outbreak in California; life is moving along as it normally would in preparation for a major storm. Even after the Darkness hits the Houston area, it is not immediately apparent that anything is going on other than a Katrina-like storm system. But this is really a minor quibble that does not detract from the excitement of The Serenity Strain.

I received an Advance Reading Copy in exchange for a review.

[Carol Kean · Rating 4 out of 5]

A SCIENCE EXPERIMENT GONE WRONG unleashes a genetic Pandora’s Box in “Stormbreak (The Serenity Strain Book 1)” by Chris Pourteau. Hoping to heal violent prisoners and make them more docile, a professor engineers the Serenity Virus. He inadvertently creates six super-psychopaths instead. Snappy dialogue, vivid characters, and taut prose keep the pace fast and furious.

In “Stormbreak,” three apocalyptic hurricanes ravage the Earth. A nympho villainess known as Id lures the mutant felons to her new stronghold in Texas, where they gain followers, escalate the carnage, and celebrate their psychopathy with public displays of carnal glee. Is anything sane and human left? Yes. Her name is Lauryn. A cold, sober corrections official, she’s forced to team up with her cheating husband, their teen daughter, and the family dog while searching for survivors in the aftermath of the hurricanes.

At this point in almost every apocalyptic novel, I marvel at how people risk life and limb to get to a ruined town in hopes of finding Mom still alive. Don’t do it! Don’t go there! But they never listen, and bad things always come of it.

That’s one reason I rarely spend much time summarizing plots. The other is that I’m accused of too many spoilers, no matter how many details and events I’m leaving out. That said, of course I’ll warn readers that someone is gonna die. You know this. I know you know this! Doesn’t anyone else get angry at authors who coerce you into entering the world that hatched inside their heads, get us to care about these imaginary friends of his, only to bump off some of them?

Fists of rage shaking at Chris Pourteau, I will pass over in silence the carnage and the body count, and focus on the part that hooked me in the first place: the science.

The Serenity Virus itself doesn’t exist, Pourteau informs us in the Afterword, but most of the genetic stuff Dr. Eamon Stavros tinkers with is scary-real. With Stavros and his creator, Pourteau, I believe “the promise for science eradicating illness and behavioral issues from humanity has never been greater than it is stormbreaktoday,” but it’s a long, dark road to the cure. It’s one thing to discover our genetic impulse control center, as French and Finnish researchers have with the HTR2B gene, not to mention the Chinese, MAGE, or MIT-developed “multiplex automated genome engineering” technology used for cutting and pasting genetic sequences. It’s another thing to try controlling that biological control center.

Pourteau makes good use of a classic theme in science fiction—“the danger from tinkering with the inner workings of the body’s clock, the most miraculous (and delicately balanced) of machines ever created.” He also pulls us, far too deftly for my comfort, into the horror of being a human in the path of a hurricane.

“Ah, for the days when our greatest worries were simpler,” he quips in that Afterword, “less about a genetic genie escaping a laboratory bottle and more about how best we could avoid Mother Nature’s wrath. Maybe, when you think about it, hurricanes aren’t so bad after all.”

Oh, yes they are. At least in this story, they’re as bad as Peter Marsten, the ringleader of the prisoners infected with the failed Serenity Strain.

Stunned civilians stumble out of their homes, pillage the remnants of gas stations and WalMarts, and hide from, fight, or join the marauding “Serenity Strain” felons. Lauryn is tough enough to battle the felons who were once under her charge, but now they have a queen who blew in with the storms, a powerful temptress known as Id.

... A New Threat Emerges
IT TAKES MORE THAN ONE battle to win a war, though, and “Ironheart (The Serenity Strain Book 2)” brings us to the next stage. “Ironheart,” continues the theme of ordinary people becoming heroes, even the pompous Herr Professor Stavros. Colt is a mysterious newcomer foreseen by the suddenly intuitive, mysterious teen daughter, Megan. While the sleazy Id and Marsten’s army of escaped prisoners move south to enslave the Bayou City, a new threat comes from another corner of the multiverse. Id speaks ominously (well, for her, it’s gleefully) of “He Who Is Yet to Come,” but by the end of Book 2, we’re left shaking our fists at Pourteau and demanding that “He” will hurry it up in Book 3.

Much as Id grates on me—a tribute to the author, one must concede—I have to say no antihero is more authentic and annoying than Eamon Stavros, who is quickly humironheartbled in Book 1. I can’t help but love his passion for science, his ability to say “I was wrong.” Maybe in Book 3, he’ll figure out what turned his test subjects into even more dangerous, homicidal, psychopathic human beings. Meanwhile, he still talks too much and still irks Lauryn in Book 2. I have great hopes for him. Anyone that annoying is certain to become endearing, eventually. (At least, that’s how it works in fiction; sadly, in real life, it generally takes years, if not whole lifetimes, to learn to love certain neighbors, co-workers or family members.)

Have I failed to convey the horror of not one, but three, massive hurricanes ravaging the planet? Pourteau, a lifelong resident of the Texas Gulf Coast, recreates the dry, lifeless tone of an automated announcer warning terrified listeners of the impending disaster. “Can you imagine hearing that come over your radio before the bad weather hit?” he writes (again with the Afterword to Book One; bear with me). “Sometimes, life hands us events far more horrific than anything the most creative of fiction writers could ever come up with.”

Hence the old saw, “Truth is stranger than fiction.”

In all, this series is a thorough mixing of hard science fiction and a bit of fantasy. At the root is genetic mutation, which has always been hard science fiction fodder, and the too believable aftermath of three major hurricanes. Megan’s mysticism may not be typical of our favorite genre, but Colt fits right in, regardless of where he really came from. (Yes, I know, it’ll come out in Book 3. Or else. You listening, Pourteau?)

Even if “Ironheart” reminds you of Stephen King’s “The Stand,” or Tolkien’s villain in “Lord of the Rings,” Pourteau leaves us no doubt as to his passion for science fiction. Before he worked as a lab technician helping to recover one of Christopher Columbus’ ships, then as a technical writer and editor, Pourteau was a die-hard Star Trek fan. Now he’s co-host of the new “Geeks of a Certain Age (GoaCA)” podcast with Hank Garner. Two buddies in their 40s talk about stuff they’ve loved since they were twelve and spread their passion for All Things Geek. Google it.

Between the podcast and the prose, the complex characters, the intriguing plot, and quiet interludes of introspection in between all the battles, bloodlust and just plain lust, it’s no mystery how a middle-aged geek from Texas got me to read the kind of book I normally avoid.

[Ed Gosney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apocalypse Weird: The Serenity Strain by Chris Pourteau is an exciting blend of science, mysticism, and the struggles of a broken family. The science and mysticism come as a no-brainer when you’re reading a series of interrelated novels in a world gone apocalyptic. But the soul of The Serenity Strain is the Hughes family.

Mark Hughes has moved out, and his estranged wife, Lauryn, and teen daughter, Megan, soon find themselves in need of help from Mark after a devastating series of hurricanes hits Houston. The problem is, along with the storms, something else blew into town. A powerful being, she calls herself ID, and gathers some escaped prisoners—who are part of a genetic experiment—from the facility where Lauryn works. Meanwhile, the scientist behind the experiment is determined to hunt them down and find out just where things went wrong.

This is a more-than-worthy addition to the Apocalypse Weird series of books, and Pourteau puts a lot of heart and soul into The Serenity Strain. I’m ever hopeful that he’ll continue where he left off, because I am looking forward to reading more of what happens in his apocalyptic corner of the world. I highly recommend it.

[Seamus · Rating 5 out of 5]

The major bonus of the concept of the Apocalypse Weird (AW) world for me is that there are so many gifted authors writing in the 'sandbox', each with their own unique style and drawing on their own local knowledge and background. In this particular book Chris is writing in his own home territory Texas.......

....Crazy stuff Chris..... Have you spoke to someone about these dark images that you have?

No honestly, this book is really amazing & the devastation of poor old Houston by multiple hurricanes is superbly described..... bringing back not too old memories of New Orleans and the suffering and chaos!

Furthermore, just like the other five books in AW (four of which also come out today, 23 February), there are related EVENTS taking place in their stories. Lets just wait and see which of our heroes & villains will cross paths with each other on down the road!?

But, of me personally, the most important aspect of this story of the challenges which arise for a broken family, as they try to become 'un-broken' in order to survive and adapt to this very weird apocalypse!

[Wojik Romanovicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intense well-crafted story that builds to a page turning crescendo.

The arrogance of science coupled with the wrath of Mother Nature brings Southeast TX to its knees. The Maestro, a guinea pig for the Serenity Strain, is a formidable and disturbing representation of evil who, with a following of equally twisted convicts, is hellbent on carrying out his prophesied mission. The arrival of the worship evoking goddess Id establishes the hierarchy of evil and promises the coming of a being darker and more evil still.

The deck is stacked against the estranged family who, not of want but seemingly of destiny, is placed in the path of unfathomable challenge and circumstance. Together, with the family dog and ultimately a seemingly inevitable partnership with the scientific author of the Serenity Strain, they stand toe to toe with sheer evil.

Chris Pourteau does a masterful job with his rendition of the Apocalypse Weird world. I hereby mandate this one as a must read!

[LordTBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If I co-authored a paper with God on all this, I wonder if He'd want first position as co-author?"

The Serenity Strain is another AW world book that just gets it. Three hurricanes hitting the same city in succession, leaving only flooding and destruction in their wake. Inmates treated as guinea pigs and injected with a serum to stave off violent inhibitions which, in turn, only make matters worse. A family, torn apart by hatred and infidelity, coming together to survive when there is no alternative in sight. A celestial being, only known as Id, bringing the good news that their savior 'He Who Is To Come' is approaching and will quicken his pace with an increase in humanity's destruction. What's not to like? Pick up this book, either as another fantastic read in Apocalypse Weird or even just as a standalone. You won't regret it!

[AnneHope · Rating 5 out of 5]

It blew my mind away... This was my 4th AW book to read and I loved it. I am from the Houston area and have lived through hurricane evacuations, flooding and topped-over trees so I could immediately connect with the scene. But, my reasons for loving this book went well beyond the familiar setting. Chris does a fantastic job of describing the tangled web of emotions that comes in separated or divorced families. He expertly used the chaos of a prison break, 3 massive storms and a broken family to draw the reader along into his tale. His characters are humans living on the edge of the unknown and they stay appealingly human as he slowly strips away all their stability through the course of the storms and the chaos that erupts afterward. Chris Porteau is a brilliant and educated author (whoop!) and I highly recommend this book as well as the rest of his portfolio.

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast moving and exciting, The Serenity Strain is a cracking mix of disaster movie and post-apocalyptic thriller. The overall plot felt like something Stephen King would put together - it's got that combination of everyday people being dropped into an extreme situation with a few supernatural twists thrown in to liven things up even more.

The writing is great too, there's a couple of passages in particular that I can't really talk about (no spoilers here) but I went back and reread them, just because they were so well put together.

Overall, a fast paced read that just kept dragging me back for one more chapter. Highly recommended and I can't wait for the sequel.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reviewing the first six books of the Apocalypse Weird as an advance reader I continue to be delighted. It's great how well the stories relate in their common back story and yet each of the threads all tell their own interesting story. Good character development and interesting storytelling makes for a book you won't want to stop reading. I didn't want to stop reading and I didn't want it to end. Give me more, please.

[Lois McNabb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is a bit different than the others in the Apocalypse Weird world but no less enjoyable. Actually , I can see this one as a big screen adaptation.

A broken family experiences love, hate, hope and loss at the hands of apocalyptic storms and the criminal element that is brought about by governmental failure.

The criminals are quite interesting. The Maestro leaves me disturbed but the scariest part is the Serenity Immunizations and the science behind it.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was simply a great read! It started off with a bang and the excitement just kept building. I found the multiple hurricanes scary enough but the failed attempt to control antisocial behavior through genetic manipulation gave me shivers (partly because I believe we're on the verge of that type of "therapy"). If you like thrills and chills, this is the book for you!

I received this book as an ARC.

[Jack Biderman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris has written an engaging, well thought out, well written thrill ride that keeps the reader on the edge of the seat from start to finish. I have not been disappointed since starting to read the series of books in the Apocalypse Weird universe. Chris takes us through the devastation of not one but multiple hurricanes and the survivors' attempts to navigate to a place of safety in a world gone mad. Genetic manipulation mixed with the supernatural leads to one great horror yarn.

[Wilson Geiger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad at all, as far as apocalypses go. I was a bit distracted by the viewpoint changes in the middle of scenes, and some of the action was a stretch, but the worst part of this, for me, was Megan, the daughter. Teenage angst doesn't have to be a thing when her world is falling apart. We get it. She's teenage angsty.

I don't want to spoil too much, but this is well written, and covers most of its bases. A few slight flaws draw it back, but I still plan to check out the next Serenity book.

[Stefano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of the Apocalypse Weird series, the Serenity Strain is as enjoyable as the other volumes, I particularly liked the three dimensional characters and the Easter eggs throughout the story that point to multimedia content on the internet.
I will surely look forward to future instalments by this author.

[C.J. Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cross-posted from AMZ:

I read this book in a little over a day. There are definitely some bloody, difficult moments to read, but none of it was excessive. Lauryn is a well-layered protagonist and Martensen is a terrifying protagonist. I'm looking forward to the next story. Porteau's writing is strong, his characterization excellent, and the level of background exactly right. Great read!

[Ingrid Smythe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read in one sitting, says it all.

[Robert Defrank · Rating 4 out of 5]

The hurricanes that ravage the shared universe of Apocalypse Weird has unleashed horrors from beyond the spheres.

I feel ambiguous about this installment of the Apocalypse Weird shared universe. The first book was an excellent tale of a family’s struggle to survive during and after a hurricane, and tension built as the ‘patients’ escaped their confines and began their rampage.

The starting concept for the specific nature of the subhuman rampagers was intriguing, instead of the walking dead or a diet drug that turns people into cannibals, we have an attempt to genetically rewrite the DNA of murderers which backfires.

There are some elements of the greater storyarc that may prove invaluable, and the intro of a character from the novel Tunnel Rats was the most intriguing element of the second, but the story in the second book feels padded and the amount of villain perspectives didn’t add to the story.

Well-written, and like all the Apocalypse Weird books it has a strong sense of place, and the characters are the strongest suit. The author starts off with one character, only to see what I assumed would be a supporting character move into a heroic role. Likewise, the author could have easily made Stavros a stereotypical egghead character, but instead he rises to the occasion.

However, the villains themselves never gelled with me. I didn’t find them worth the amount of words they got, and the overtly supernatural element, the goddess of chaos and appetite, I did not find alien and overwhelming.

[Frances · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly wasn't a fan of the first Apocalypse Weird book, but the Serenity Strain looked interesting (massive storms, social breakdown, bit with a dog), so I grabbed it and a couple of others and decided to check this one out.

Fairly tightly plotted, a slight pulp gloss over the violence (this is not a complaint; I'm trying to be descriptive of the fact that there's no gleeful dwelling on some of the stuff that happens), and for something that says on the tin that it's part of an ongoing world, fairly nearly wrapped up.

The story arcs mentioned in the jacket were pretty well handled. I found myself really liking the family dynamics of Our Protagonists. That said, I'd have liked a bit more of a reason for the Serenity virus to have played out the way it did; I was left with the vaguely annoyed feeling that I was supposed to just assume that science had gone horribly wrong because it was science. Still, everything that happened with the bad guys after that flowed pretty naturally, so I'll call that a small quibble.

Overall: fun read, and I may grab the next in the Serenity series.

Warning: if you're reading the book on your phone, the cleverly inserted links don't display well and required me to enter a name and email address each time to see the content. Not sure I'll bother clicking AW links again; fortunately, the story stood well on its own.

[Aletia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Chris' writing. Having read his other works, I am always surprised with how vivid he portrays brutal violence. It helped make the evil more monstrous. And it is about the Apocalypse. It will not all be sunshine and roses when the world falls apart.

I read this story when it first released last year. I re read it so as not to miss anything when I read the sequel, Ironheart. Which just came out Friday May the 13th.

If you have not read Chris Pourteau, you should. He writes a fantastic story and keeps you turning the page.

[Cmoore · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many hurricanes unleashed on Huston, and a plague. Can a family survive the weird.
I love this series. And Chris Pourteau's take. The imagery in this book is so beautiful, it made me happy. And the Easter eggs, fantastic.
I'm beginning to think that all eBooks should be interactive, because why not. If a bunch of indie authors can do it with a start-up publishing company why can't/won't other eBook publishers do it.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this!

I read this book in a little over a day. There are definitely some bloody, difficult moments to read, but none of it was excessive. Lauryn is a well-layered protagonist and Martensen is a terrifying protagonist. I'm looking forward to the next story. Porteau's writing is strong, his characterization excellent, and the level of background exactly right. Great read!

[Colby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written and gripping tale. This makes me wish that the AW label would have continued on. I would have liked to have seen where these talented authors were going as the varied storylines intersected and wove their horrors together. As it stands, the Multiverse is dead, but many of the solitary universes will continue on, and they are all worth reading.

[Dryw Hart · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book takes a hard and unexpected turn about 40% of the way in. It's not bad, but it's jarring to be reading one type of book that suddenly becomes another.

Well written and reasonably engaging with a strong ending. The book still stands on its own despite being part of a series, but encourages you to keep reading.