Brink

The Ruin Saga #2

by Harry Manners

The end-of-the-world adventure returns!

Pick up where Ruin left off with Brink, part II of the epic journey. The ideal read for any die-hard apocalypse fan.

Earth has been almost silent for forty years. The apocalypse left behind only fragments of civilisation, surrounded by a sea of barbarism.
But now the true End is in sight: the horizon is alight with burning villages, two cities lie in the shadow of an army gathering in the North, intent on ending the old world forever. And somewhere, a supernatural force is on the move, pushing its servants into place: a young girl with special powers, and a man whose destiny might decide the fate of all.
While ominous swarms of pigeons plague the sky, the world grows quieter, and dark forgotten secrets are revealed – secrets of betrayal, love, and obsession – the army in the North prepares to leave.

The Ruin Saga continues…

Genres: Post Apocalyptic

562 pages, Paperback

First published June 19, 2015

Reviews

[Nadine Matheson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awaiting the sequel to Ruin was similar to the anticipation of waiting for a summer blockbuster when you’re a teenager but after reading the prologue it is quite clear that this is something different. Brink is not just a rehash of Ruin or a revisitation of old characters. All of the characters, most notably, Alex, Norman and Billy are on the move, emotionally and physically and it is apparent that there is something deep and beyond their understanding that is driving them.

Since ‘The End’, Alex and co have been in an existential limbo but a new twist in Manners tale is that perhaps those who did not ‘survive’ may be in an alternate limbo. This brings forth even more unanswered questions that we’re keen for Manners to answer. You always knew that there was more to Alex and something only known to him that was driving him. Brink presents to us another question; what else did Alex witness when he began his journey all those years ago.

Brink is the continuation of a saga, which sees the growth not only of the characters and the story but also of Harry Manners and his ability to entrench his readers into a harrowing but believable world. Manners also shows us a side to Alex that wasn’t apparent in Ruin and that is Alex’s ruthlessness but he counterbalances this well in the unsettling scenes where we witness the fear in Alex. Even more harrowing is James transition from an adoring, attentive and bright younger brother to a wicked and barbaric man, whose exterior is a perfect reflection of his tortured and twisted soul. James removal of his scarf and the violent nature of the people around him was unnerving and was reminiscent of how I felt when reading Cormac McCarthy’s The Road.

I would describe Brink as a transitory tale in the middle of a saga. The tension in Brink is cranked up from the beginning at level 10 and remains at that level until you reach the end – which is met either with relief that you can now have a break or annoyance that we haven’t yet reached the end of the Ruin saga.

[Norma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brink continues where Ruin finished; it can be read as a stand alone but, given that new characters are here introduced whilst the old ones continue, it is better to start with volume one. Also without the preceding volume much of the ever building tensions and swirling into a dream like quality would be missed and probably lessen the impact of this ongoing story.
The setting is some forty years after a mysterious event made vanish almost all of the world's population.Now the survivors who have formed a new semblance of civilisation are again under attack but this time by a ruthless army of their own kind. As the small groups struggle, and fail, to defend themselves, it becomes apparent that all is not as it seems and is far bigger and more complex than a fight for this known world alone.
Harry Manner's writing style is simultaneously dashingly modern naive and old fashioned, a bit strange but perfectly fitting the adventure.And adventure it is. The characters stand out with startlingly clarity and descriptions can be quite visceral in the reading.
I have several problems with some of the content, not least the amount of slaughter and the passivity of captured victims so why the five stars? I simply could not give it less. The whole swirled around my imagination such that even my most disliked aspects only added to the increasing feelings of fear and unreality engendered by the story and the feeling that something huge is about to happen. I was captivated by this book in just the same way those victims were by their bloodthirsty captors, made slave by it and I could not stop reading.
It is unlike anything I have read before - read it and judge for yourself.

[Jacquelyn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Into darkness!!!
Mr. Manner's writing is a dream to read. After reading book one I was looking forward to reading book two, and I was not disappointed. Brink continues where Ruin left off so that the reader don't feel like they are missing something. Now that the survivors have formed a new or what they are calling a home to live, they are under attack by a ruthless army of their own kind. In each story the characters grow into their own to keep the reader intrigued and coming back for more. It is true that this book left me with some unanswered questions, but that is the fun of saga. More questions you have you will keep returning to find the answers. So come take a ride on the unruly side of the apocalypse.
I was given this book in exchange for my honest review (LOP) Goodreads.com

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.I found myself immersed in the story by the first chapter.The book centers around Alex,his family and community of fellow survivors,Alex the flawed leader is determined to restore the old world despite the consequences.The authors depiction of a medieval society and the struggle between the forces of good and evil is engrossing.There is exquisite world building and character development.I can't wait to read the next installment in the series.I highly recommend this book to fans of the post apocalyptic genre.

[Ceh131973 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a few books by Harry Manners and have enjoyed them all but The Ruin Saga just leaves me wanting more. I would compare it to S.M. Stirling's Change books which are some of my favorite. Mr. Manners does such a good job with character development that you feel that you actually know these people an are invested in what happens to them. Brink continues the story that was left off in Ruin and is just as good if not better. My only gripe is that I have to wait for more.

[[ J o ]]

Read the first book in the Ruin Saga, Ruin. 2 Stars: written well with nice flow, but it never interested me and I dislike all the characters, therefore will not continue with the series.