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Deserted Lands #1.1
Toils and Snares
Untouched by a global pandemic killing over 95% of the population, Sam's family fears a mutated virus and the people who have survived. Is this apocalypse an act of God? They may escape into the wilderness to a place of safety as civilization dies around them, but then how can they escape each other and their pasts?
This parallelequel to ALL IS SILENCE begins slightly earlier and ends slightly later, but tells a smaller, family story.
This parallelequel to ALL IS SILENCE begins slightly earlier and ends slightly later, but tells a smaller, family story.
184 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 28, 2015
16 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Robert L. Slater
12 books109 followersRobert L. Slater is a teacher/writer living in Bellingham, Washington. His stories and poetry have appeared in many small press publications. His first novel, All Is Silence: A Deserted Lands novel, was released in early 2014. He has a should’ve-been-a doctorate B.A. in Theatre/Education, Spanish and History minors and a M.A. in Educational Technology. He sings, plays guitar, acts/directs in regional theatres, cooks, reads, practices Taekwon Do, writes plays, songs, and stories. He has six children, and two grandchildren. His motto is Robert Heinlein’s “Specialization is for Insects.”
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 1, 2015
I thoroughly enjoy apocalyptic stories. So I knew I was bound to like this short story that goes along with Slater's A Deserted Land series. But I like this particular dystopian story because it has many attributes that set it apart from other apocalyptic storylines and worlds.
What I enjoyed so much about Toils and Snares is that it has very genuine and authentic characters. The author offers us a very realistic depiction of what it would possibly be like to transition our ordinary yet dysfunctional lives into a pandemic world suffering the end of society as we know it.
How would we realistically respond to such a pandemic? I doubt, like in most dystopian stories, that we would suddenly be so well accustomed to the new world we live in that we become massively in tune with this new setting. Just because we now live in an apocalyptic world doesn't mean we don't struggle with the same things we do as human beings, the same things we struggled with when our world was stable. How would we deal with our normal day to day dysfunctions and stresses? Who would we become and will we like who we become?
Those are the kinds of questions I ask myself as I am reading Toils and Snares. It's not just HOW are we going to survive in this apocalypse? It is how are we going to adjust, cope, and grow into the people that we need to be to survive this apocalypse, and move forward beyond the life we had to leave behind.
I love this short story and see it as a great addition to the other novels in the series, an awesome read!! Bravo!
What I enjoyed so much about Toils and Snares is that it has very genuine and authentic characters. The author offers us a very realistic depiction of what it would possibly be like to transition our ordinary yet dysfunctional lives into a pandemic world suffering the end of society as we know it.
How would we realistically respond to such a pandemic? I doubt, like in most dystopian stories, that we would suddenly be so well accustomed to the new world we live in that we become massively in tune with this new setting. Just because we now live in an apocalyptic world doesn't mean we don't struggle with the same things we do as human beings, the same things we struggled with when our world was stable. How would we deal with our normal day to day dysfunctions and stresses? Who would we become and will we like who we become?
Those are the kinds of questions I ask myself as I am reading Toils and Snares. It's not just HOW are we going to survive in this apocalypse? It is how are we going to adjust, cope, and grow into the people that we need to be to survive this apocalypse, and move forward beyond the life we had to leave behind.
I love this short story and see it as a great addition to the other novels in the series, an awesome read!! Bravo!
December 29, 2015
This is how you reinvigorate a genre!
There have been some great stories (Dies the Fire and The Stand, I’m looking at you) depicting the end of civilization and subsequent rise from the ashes. Unfortunately, as the genre has become more and more popular in film and television, fewer good stories have come along and the genre has settled into the realm of one dimensional action/adventure. I remember watching movie previews before a big budget action extravaganza a while back. In an obvious display of jumping on the bandwagon, 100% of the previews were set in some kind of post-apocalyptic dystopia. My skull hurt from the related eye rolling. At that moment I became totally and utterly bored with the apocalypse.
Enter Robert L. Slater to surprise me by adding something interesting, entertaining, and moving to the genre. With Toils and Snares, the author of the A Deserted Land series skillfully presents a story about emotionally rich and believable characters who just so happen to be dealing with survival, emotions, and family at the end of the world.
Slater’s novella tells the gripping, on the edge of your seat, tale about the Herman family as they flee from the horror of a decimated and riotous Portland, OR. The family’s survival is nothing short of miraculous. Furthermore, another child is on the way. Not taking anything for granted, the family decides to retreat to Lake Quinault hoping for a safe haven. The family soon learns that nowhere is completely safe. Medicine and medical expertise is hard to come by and violent anarchy has become prevalent. Add honest emotions, familial dynamics, and strong parental instincts and you’ve got a thoughtful tale masterfully balanced with action and feeling.
Slater’s biggest strength is his ability to make the reader care for his characters. The cast members of Toils and Snares are believable and likable. Setting Toils and Snares apart from the rest, characters never serve as the simple archetypes commonly found in this overly commercialized genre. I was invested in the characters and always wanted the best for them. I celebrated their victories and was devastated by their losses. Having unique voices and perspectives; characters function far beyond their roles in the action. It’s through the eyes of the characters that this reader was drawn into and understood their world.
If I have one criticism of Toils and Snares, it’s that the structure is too linear and offers few surprises. I feel the author may have missed opportunities to set up some mystery and tension within the plot. Not that the story lacks tension. Slater’s excellently drawn character dynamics provide plenty of that and the character drama is very satisfying.
Overall, Toils and Snares is a fantastic rainy day read. If you haven’t read two published editions of Slater’s A Deserted Land series, this novella is a perfect entry point.
There have been some great stories (Dies the Fire and The Stand, I’m looking at you) depicting the end of civilization and subsequent rise from the ashes. Unfortunately, as the genre has become more and more popular in film and television, fewer good stories have come along and the genre has settled into the realm of one dimensional action/adventure. I remember watching movie previews before a big budget action extravaganza a while back. In an obvious display of jumping on the bandwagon, 100% of the previews were set in some kind of post-apocalyptic dystopia. My skull hurt from the related eye rolling. At that moment I became totally and utterly bored with the apocalypse.
Enter Robert L. Slater to surprise me by adding something interesting, entertaining, and moving to the genre. With Toils and Snares, the author of the A Deserted Land series skillfully presents a story about emotionally rich and believable characters who just so happen to be dealing with survival, emotions, and family at the end of the world.
Slater’s novella tells the gripping, on the edge of your seat, tale about the Herman family as they flee from the horror of a decimated and riotous Portland, OR. The family’s survival is nothing short of miraculous. Furthermore, another child is on the way. Not taking anything for granted, the family decides to retreat to Lake Quinault hoping for a safe haven. The family soon learns that nowhere is completely safe. Medicine and medical expertise is hard to come by and violent anarchy has become prevalent. Add honest emotions, familial dynamics, and strong parental instincts and you’ve got a thoughtful tale masterfully balanced with action and feeling.
Slater’s biggest strength is his ability to make the reader care for his characters. The cast members of Toils and Snares are believable and likable. Setting Toils and Snares apart from the rest, characters never serve as the simple archetypes commonly found in this overly commercialized genre. I was invested in the characters and always wanted the best for them. I celebrated their victories and was devastated by their losses. Having unique voices and perspectives; characters function far beyond their roles in the action. It’s through the eyes of the characters that this reader was drawn into and understood their world.
If I have one criticism of Toils and Snares, it’s that the structure is too linear and offers few surprises. I feel the author may have missed opportunities to set up some mystery and tension within the plot. Not that the story lacks tension. Slater’s excellently drawn character dynamics provide plenty of that and the character drama is very satisfying.
Overall, Toils and Snares is a fantastic rainy day read. If you haven’t read two published editions of Slater’s A Deserted Land series, this novella is a perfect entry point.
April 29, 2015
Samuel, his pregnant wife Annie, and their two kids, decide to flee the pandemic that is wiping out humanity not only in their hometown of Portland but around the globe. But first they need to collect Sam's daughter Maria and her boyfriend James -- despite Annie's bitter history with the former, and Samuel's doubts about the latter. Slater's complex, richly human drama of a family facing their personal demons in the midst of Apocalypse, will touch your heart and keep you turning pages. Fans of his previous Deserted Lands YA novel, "All is SIlence," may find "Toils and Snares" a change of pace, as it is not so focused on young adults as it is a drama for all ages.
June 8, 2016
Although Toils and Snares takes place in a world ravaged by a terrible virus that is taking out a significant percentage of the population, much of the drama involves a blended family with a lot of problems, that needs to find a way to work together to survive. Anna's character drove me a little crazy, but I think she was meant to do that, as her and her step daughter began to reconcile and help each other. Kudos to Slater for writing such a realistic (and suspenseful) child birth scene. By the end of the book I was very hooked and felt like it all ended a little too early, but in a good way!
May 21, 2015
An apocalyptic novel with an actual storyline, instead of just people dying and turning into zombies. Robert Slater takes the reader on the road with a family who is hoping to get to a cabin owned by their grandfather and outrun the disease that is killing everyone. The novel shows the families struggle to stay alive and the everyday drama that can happen when people who don't always like each other have to ban together to survive. An interesting take on the apocalyptic theme.
September 24, 2015
This is a short read, but does a superior job of telling a gripping story of a family trying to survive an epedimic that is killing people everywhere. They decide to flee and hope to reach a place where they can survive . Sam loads up his pregnant wife and two children and head out for a place they once were familiar with. His oldest daughter Maria and her boyfriend follow in a vehicle behind them. The story moved at a fast pace and is well written.
The author does a great job of showing the animosity from Anna, Samuel's wife to Maria, his daughter from another marriage. Their conflict is a great addition to the story. This is not just a story of trying to survive , but of rebuilding relationships and forgetting about the past. As you read the book, you immerse yourself in the family's fight for survival as well as trying to rebuild a place to feel safe. I loved the trials they faced as the author keeps you glued to the story with realism. Although the book ended rather abruptly, I am hoping for another book that follows these well developed characters.
I received a copy of this book from Librarything for an honest review.
The author does a great job of showing the animosity from Anna, Samuel's wife to Maria, his daughter from another marriage. Their conflict is a great addition to the story. This is not just a story of trying to survive , but of rebuilding relationships and forgetting about the past. As you read the book, you immerse yourself in the family's fight for survival as well as trying to rebuild a place to feel safe. I loved the trials they faced as the author keeps you glued to the story with realism. Although the book ended rather abruptly, I am hoping for another book that follows these well developed characters.
I received a copy of this book from Librarything for an honest review.
October 18, 2015
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Amidst a flood of dystopian, post-apocalyptic fiction, Toils and Snares stands out for quite a few reasons, especially the skillful character development. These are likable, human people trying to find the best way out of the destruction of everything they have known. Trying to reach a secluded cabin in the Pacific Northwest is the best way Samuel can think of to preserve the vitality of his family. I found the title to be a good choice, with its reference to Amazing Grace, the Christian hymn, and the need for spiritual guidance in harsh, desperate times. Recommended.
Amidst a flood of dystopian, post-apocalyptic fiction, Toils and Snares stands out for quite a few reasons, especially the skillful character development. These are likable, human people trying to find the best way out of the destruction of everything they have known. Trying to reach a secluded cabin in the Pacific Northwest is the best way Samuel can think of to preserve the vitality of his family. I found the title to be a good choice, with its reference to Amazing Grace, the Christian hymn, and the need for spiritual guidance in harsh, desperate times. Recommended.
May 5, 2016
Slater is a masterful storyteller. This book sucks you in more and more with every page you turn. The characters and their individual struggles and prejudices are effortlessly knit together with an end-of-the-world plot that hovers constantly in the shadows without being in your face. Something about this story reminds me of The Road, and I think it’s just the haunting sense that the worst is yet to come for all the characters still caught up in the nitty-gritty of their love / hate relationships with each other and the complicated history they share. I did not want this book to end and I’ll definitely be checking out more from this author. Highly recommend if you enjoy survival stories with well-developed characters.
September 29, 2015
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book it gripped me from beginning to end and had a great storyline of a family during an apocalyptic time. It had me sitting on the edge of my seat holding my breath. I would continue to read books by this author because of his great story telling. This book is a must read.
October 17, 2015
I enjoyed this book, which I received free in exchange for an honest review.
Good story, character development. Appearance of potential villians twice with no outcome was odd. And having the internet working to discover a key facet of the story was strange, given that it seemed civilization was done for.
But still a good read and touching.
Good story, character development. Appearance of potential villians twice with no outcome was odd. And having the internet working to discover a key facet of the story was strange, given that it seemed civilization was done for.
But still a good read and touching.
June 8, 2015
I won this book in exchange for and honest review. The thing I love about the giveaways is it gives me the chance to me a new author one I may not have chosen on my own. This was a great story. I found myself riding right along holding my breathe. Great read.
August 17, 2019
Convincing and real family portrait
In one sentence, this book is about: a family running off to a cabin in the woods as a plague kills most of the population.
This book is pretty clean – no sexual situations and just a bit of swearing.
It is not a YA novel like All Is Silence. The main characters are adults.
I don’t want to write a spoiler, but I think people should know that not every character gets an HEA. You don’t want to read this while depressed. It does have a solid ending, no cliffhanger.
I really liked this. The characters and situations felt very real. The people have strengths and flaws. I saw family dynamics that matched some of my own experience. It’s convincing and real. This isn’t about greater issues of society but rather the microcosm of a single extended family. We don’t get to choose family! Families are messy, but they still care about and are there for each other.
If you like apocalyptic / post-apocalyptic stories, I highly recommend it.
(Originally posted only at Amazon)
In one sentence, this book is about: a family running off to a cabin in the woods as a plague kills most of the population.
This book is pretty clean – no sexual situations and just a bit of swearing.
It is not a YA novel like All Is Silence. The main characters are adults.
I don’t want to write a spoiler, but I think people should know that not every character gets an HEA. You don’t want to read this while depressed. It does have a solid ending, no cliffhanger.
I really liked this. The characters and situations felt very real. The people have strengths and flaws. I saw family dynamics that matched some of my own experience. It’s convincing and real. This isn’t about greater issues of society but rather the microcosm of a single extended family. We don’t get to choose family! Families are messy, but they still care about and are there for each other.
If you like apocalyptic / post-apocalyptic stories, I highly recommend it.
(Originally posted only at Amazon)
March 27, 2023
The apocalypse has happened. People are dying everywhere and nobody knows what the real reason is except for it's a virus wrecking the planet. For one family, it means uprooting everything they've ever known and going to the only place that they feel safe. Once they are there they band together and make their safe haven a very safe retreat for them all, though just because they are in a safe spot, doesn't mean that danger and death is not still lurking around... To me this was a very good read and I would recommend it to anyone who looks to spend a few hours getting lost in a book.
June 13, 2022
great story line
Suspense, thrilling and a good read. Wished it had continued on as it ends too quickly with a lot of questions unanswered. However, I really enjoyed the story
Suspense, thrilling and a good read. Wished it had continued on as it ends too quickly with a lot of questions unanswered. However, I really enjoyed the story
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews