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Emergence: The Restraint Series Two: A Post Apocalyptic Survival Thriller
The compound is behind them. The river is in front of them. The thing that’s coming is already among them.
Elias has led his survivors to a hydroelectric mill on a river the Dominion hasn’t mapped. It should have been a foothold. Instead, it’s a trap they built themselves. The infected near the water have stopped hunting—now, they’re gathering. They’re listening. They’re waiting for the current to turn.
But the real threat is inside the wire.
Mara is changing. The nurse who held the group together is moving faster than humanly possible and reading rooms before a word is spoken. Elias has known her since the first camp fell. He doesn’t know the woman standing next to him now.
When the Dominion captures Aaron, an administrator named Victor Kade begins asking very specific questions about the mill. Kade isn't a warlord; he’s a man with a quiet voice and a failing system, and he knows exactly what the water is doing to the living.
Three forces are converging on the river. Only one of them can be reasoned with.
It isn’t the one in the room.
The Restraint Series Two
Reserve your copy today!
Elias has led his survivors to a hydroelectric mill on a river the Dominion hasn’t mapped. It should have been a foothold. Instead, it’s a trap they built themselves. The infected near the water have stopped hunting—now, they’re gathering. They’re listening. They’re waiting for the current to turn.
But the real threat is inside the wire.
Mara is changing. The nurse who held the group together is moving faster than humanly possible and reading rooms before a word is spoken. Elias has known her since the first camp fell. He doesn’t know the woman standing next to him now.
When the Dominion captures Aaron, an administrator named Victor Kade begins asking very specific questions about the mill. Kade isn't a warlord; he’s a man with a quiet voice and a failing system, and he knows exactly what the water is doing to the living.
Three forces are converging on the river. Only one of them can be reasoned with.
It isn’t the one in the room.
The Restraint Series Two
Reserve your copy today!
482 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 23, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is book 2 in the Restraint series and is 41 Chapters long. Book 1 had 98 chapters so this one is a little less than half as long. It does pick up exactly where book 1 ended so I HIGHLY recommend reading in order because there is a lot going on that you won’t understand if you didn’t read book 1.
I would rate the first half of the book as 3 stars and the last half of the book as 5 stars (honestly more like 10 stars but 5 is as high as I can go based on the rating system), so I’m averaging it to a 4 star rating.
I’m rating the first half lower than the second because there’s a lot going on, but not, if you know you what I mean. Less action but more information gathering, building systems, getting settled. Which is needed. The first half is absolutely needed to set up the second half but it does make for slower reading.
The second half……WOW! Loved it! The second half shows why the first half was important. The second d half also deals with a lot of emotional fallout due to things that happen.
Based on what I said in my first review - we do find it more about what is happening to Mara. I do feel like there are others in the group that are being ignored. Some of this due to the secrecy within the group/certain people and some I think because people don’t want to talk about what scares them. What makes them afraid. We also really get to meet Victor. Like really meet. He was more of a shadow in book 1 and here he has stepped into the light…..so to speak.
I’m not going to do any spoilers, but……but what happened at the end had me crying. I did not like it and I think it is going to make book 3 more exposed and more fractured within the group. The Mara/Elias thing already has shown the cracks but this will test people in a way they hadn’t been tested before.
Great second book and cannot wait til book 3!
I would rate the first half of the book as 3 stars and the last half of the book as 5 stars (honestly more like 10 stars but 5 is as high as I can go based on the rating system), so I’m averaging it to a 4 star rating.
I’m rating the first half lower than the second because there’s a lot going on, but not, if you know you what I mean. Less action but more information gathering, building systems, getting settled. Which is needed. The first half is absolutely needed to set up the second half but it does make for slower reading.
The second half……WOW! Loved it! The second half shows why the first half was important. The second d half also deals with a lot of emotional fallout due to things that happen.
Based on what I said in my first review - we do find it more about what is happening to Mara. I do feel like there are others in the group that are being ignored. Some of this due to the secrecy within the group/certain people and some I think because people don’t want to talk about what scares them. What makes them afraid. We also really get to meet Victor. Like really meet. He was more of a shadow in book 1 and here he has stepped into the light…..so to speak.
I’m not going to do any spoilers, but……but what happened at the end had me crying. I did not like it and I think it is going to make book 3 more exposed and more fractured within the group. The Mara/Elias thing already has shown the cracks but this will test people in a way they hadn’t been tested before.
Great second book and cannot wait til book 3!
Review of advance copy
The compound is behind them or so they thought. The concept of this book is survival but I felt it took on a bit of a paranormal aspect too. I was thrilled with the story that kept me glued in the survival and well being of each and every character.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I did enjoy this story, I felt it needed a little more editing or polish to make it a really great read. I do always love a zombie story, so on that side great! Saying that interesting ideas & scenarios, a fun read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews