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Primordial Dawn: Book 1
Humans are no longer at the top of the food chain.The sky splits, the ground shakes, and half of Clarissa's campus disappears into a jungle that hasn't existed for seventy-five million years. Within hours, the first student is dead. With no power, no phones, and no rescue coming, she has one hope that her brother is still alive and fighting his way to her.
With a group of strangers and whatever they can scavenge, Clarissa fights to carve out a refuge on the edge of Missoula. But raptors stalk the streets, desperate survivors are turning on each other, and every supply run could be the last. Can she hold her makeshift family together until Dean arrives, or will the city's new predators pick them off one by one?
If you love post-apocalyptic survival, lost worlds, and terrifying dinosaurs, you won't be able to put down this gripping sci-fi survival series. Start your journey today and discover how it all began in Primordial Dawn, the prequel series to Primordial Earth and Primordial World!
With a group of strangers and whatever they can scavenge, Clarissa fights to carve out a refuge on the edge of Missoula. But raptors stalk the streets, desperate survivors are turning on each other, and every supply run could be the last. Can she hold her makeshift family together until Dean arrives, or will the city's new predators pick them off one by one?
If you love post-apocalyptic survival, lost worlds, and terrifying dinosaurs, you won't be able to put down this gripping sci-fi survival series. Start your journey today and discover how it all began in Primordial Dawn, the prequel series to Primordial Earth and Primordial World!
308 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 13, 2026
About the author
Baileigh Higgins
104 books446 followersSouth African writer and coffee addict, Baileigh Higgins, lives in the Free State with hubby and best friend Brendan and loves nothing more than lazing on the couch with pizza and a bad horror movie. Her unhealthy obsession with the end of the world has led to numerous books on the subject and a secret bunker only she knows the location of.
Visit her website at www.baileighhiggins.com for more information on her upcoming projects, new releases, and giveaways. Sign up for her Newsletter and get your Free Ebook, Tales from the Apocalypse, today.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 16, 2026
Higgins and Jooste blend the dangers of powerful predators with the dangers of losing one’s support structure, creating post-apocalyptic fiction that features dramatic combat without sacrificing realism.
Note: while one of the authors is blessed with a spiffing surname we are unrelated.
When a strange cataclysm slices through the campus and surrounding area, leaving thick jungle in place of the hills of Montana, Clarissa and the others who remain scrabble to understand what has happened and what do to. Initially, an intact building offers shelter from the Cretaceous predators stalking the surrounding area but with barely any food or other supplies simply remaining inside isn’t an option. After a foraging expedition goes wrong, Clarissa and those with her are forced to seek new shelter; but with no idea which other areas of modern Montana are also part of this strange world and some survivors willing to steal or even kill to protect what supplies they find, any destination they choose might lead to death.
This novel is set prior to the events of Higgins’ Primordial Earth and Primordial World series but neither reveals twists within them nor has any twists revealed, so can be read before or after them.
The book opens on the same morning as Primordial Dawn: The Prequel and relates the events of the same period from the perspective of Clarissa, the sister of Dean the prequel’s protagonist, and those around her. As this book and the prequel reveal the answer to each protagonist’s uncertainty over whether the other was also pulled through time, they do each technically remove a source of tension from the other; however, the authors do a skilled job of capturing the commonality of the setting while making the two narratives separate in both tone and information; thus, readers who have read the prequel will not feel this book retreads ground they know.
As this is a novel rather than a novella, events of the parallel narrative are generally related in finer grain; they also do not have a clearly defined end point they aiming working toward. This slants the tone more toward gritty daily survival rather than the slightly more adventure feeling of the prequel. In addition to adding longer term threats such as less serious injuries still reducing ability and posing risk, this adds a strategic layer of assessing where to go and whether to risk a second visit to a previously dangerous area that was all but absent in Dean’s quest to reach Clarissa’s campus.
While the plot captures the way that longer-term consequences can be just as serious as immediate peril, the authors do not shy away from the extreme lethality of dinosaurs and humans, meaning that even characters who have a significant part in the narrative or even scenes from their perspective cannot be assumed to be safe from a sudden death.
As with many of Higgins’ solo works, characters are able to turn a diversity of pre-apocalypse skills and knowledges to good use—for example, Clarissa’s study of medieval history provides insights into sieges that can be turned to defending a house; however, the authors skilfully balance this with the visceral impact of the unknown, avoiding intellectual knowledge of the abilities and behaviours of certain dinosaurs becoming a reliable protection from the paralysing fear of encountering them in reality.
Clarissa is a highly sympathetic protagonist, determined enough to keep her group alive without doing bad things that readers will feel she has earned her successes without discovering deep enough wells of competence or selflessness that she feels like a paragon rather than a real person.
The supporting cast, especially those who are on page before and after the time-rip, remain consistent in their underlying desires and drives while displaying both that the instinctive drive to survive can overwhelm politeness and morals, and that if someone is suddenly placed in a very different circumstance the coping behaviours they have developed might—willingly or not—collapse.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel. I recommend it to readers seeking post-apocalyptic fiction that balances fast-paced action and growing tension.
I received an advanced copy from one of the authors with a request for a fair review.
Note: while one of the authors is blessed with a spiffing surname we are unrelated.
When a strange cataclysm slices through the campus and surrounding area, leaving thick jungle in place of the hills of Montana, Clarissa and the others who remain scrabble to understand what has happened and what do to. Initially, an intact building offers shelter from the Cretaceous predators stalking the surrounding area but with barely any food or other supplies simply remaining inside isn’t an option. After a foraging expedition goes wrong, Clarissa and those with her are forced to seek new shelter; but with no idea which other areas of modern Montana are also part of this strange world and some survivors willing to steal or even kill to protect what supplies they find, any destination they choose might lead to death.
This novel is set prior to the events of Higgins’ Primordial Earth and Primordial World series but neither reveals twists within them nor has any twists revealed, so can be read before or after them.
The book opens on the same morning as Primordial Dawn: The Prequel and relates the events of the same period from the perspective of Clarissa, the sister of Dean the prequel’s protagonist, and those around her. As this book and the prequel reveal the answer to each protagonist’s uncertainty over whether the other was also pulled through time, they do each technically remove a source of tension from the other; however, the authors do a skilled job of capturing the commonality of the setting while making the two narratives separate in both tone and information; thus, readers who have read the prequel will not feel this book retreads ground they know.
As this is a novel rather than a novella, events of the parallel narrative are generally related in finer grain; they also do not have a clearly defined end point they aiming working toward. This slants the tone more toward gritty daily survival rather than the slightly more adventure feeling of the prequel. In addition to adding longer term threats such as less serious injuries still reducing ability and posing risk, this adds a strategic layer of assessing where to go and whether to risk a second visit to a previously dangerous area that was all but absent in Dean’s quest to reach Clarissa’s campus.
While the plot captures the way that longer-term consequences can be just as serious as immediate peril, the authors do not shy away from the extreme lethality of dinosaurs and humans, meaning that even characters who have a significant part in the narrative or even scenes from their perspective cannot be assumed to be safe from a sudden death.
As with many of Higgins’ solo works, characters are able to turn a diversity of pre-apocalypse skills and knowledges to good use—for example, Clarissa’s study of medieval history provides insights into sieges that can be turned to defending a house; however, the authors skilfully balance this with the visceral impact of the unknown, avoiding intellectual knowledge of the abilities and behaviours of certain dinosaurs becoming a reliable protection from the paralysing fear of encountering them in reality.
Clarissa is a highly sympathetic protagonist, determined enough to keep her group alive without doing bad things that readers will feel she has earned her successes without discovering deep enough wells of competence or selflessness that she feels like a paragon rather than a real person.
The supporting cast, especially those who are on page before and after the time-rip, remain consistent in their underlying desires and drives while displaying both that the instinctive drive to survive can overwhelm politeness and morals, and that if someone is suddenly placed in a very different circumstance the coping behaviours they have developed might—willingly or not—collapse.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel. I recommend it to readers seeking post-apocalyptic fiction that balances fast-paced action and growing tension.
I received an advanced copy from one of the authors with a request for a fair review.
October 14, 2026
You'll Be Hooked By Page 3!
Primordial Dawn, book 1, not including the prequel, of the new Primordial series cowritten by Marcus Boosted and Balleigh Higgins, begins the story of a group of students who find themselves inexplicably trapped in the late cretacious period. The book takes off like a shot and the tension never lets up. Expect the unexpected from the characters, some do good, others, not so much. The descriptions of the environments and creatures are crystal clear, as is the gore. Overall, 5/5 stars! Highly recommended for any reader with an interest in dinosaurs, paleontology, jungle survival and any reader interested in eagerly awaiting the next installment in what promises to be a very entertaining series!
Note: read as an ARC reader
Primordial Dawn, book 1, not including the prequel, of the new Primordial series cowritten by Marcus Boosted and Balleigh Higgins, begins the story of a group of students who find themselves inexplicably trapped in the late cretacious period. The book takes off like a shot and the tension never lets up. Expect the unexpected from the characters, some do good, others, not so much. The descriptions of the environments and creatures are crystal clear, as is the gore. Overall, 5/5 stars! Highly recommended for any reader with an interest in dinosaurs, paleontology, jungle survival and any reader interested in eagerly awaiting the next installment in what promises to be a very entertaining series!
Note: read as an ARC reader
October 18, 2026
Sooooo amazing!!!! This is book 1 in The Genesis Series and this series is the prequel to the authors Primordial Earth and Primordial World Series. Simply amazing. This book also has a prequel which is very much worth reading. In the prequel you meet Dean, Tommy, Beth, and several others, many of which make their way into book 1.
I have loved dinosaurs since I was a kid so this series (and the other primordials) have been fascinating to read. There is so much about the plant and animal life in addition to the actual survival situations the characters find themselves in.
I cannot wait for book 2!
I have loved dinosaurs since I was a kid so this series (and the other primordials) have been fascinating to read. There is so much about the plant and animal life in addition to the actual survival situations the characters find themselves in.
I cannot wait for book 2!
October 20, 2026
Back in time when the shift occurred, before Primordial World and Earth. A group of students is trapped on highschool grounds, when the earth shifts and most of it instantly is thrown into prehistoric times. Our heroes not only have to realise what happened but also have to survive amongst dinosaurs and against fellow survivors. This promises to be another very entertaining series by Baileigh Higgins.
October 19, 2026
Wow! Baileigh does it again. New characters new area omg. I’m not going to name them but the are very different. So this is how it started or is it. Fast action and the storyline is gr8. I love to try t figure out what’s next but I’m no writer. Get this book and the series will be awesome I know it from past books. Hurray BH.
October 20, 2026
This was a very enjoyable read! I do always love the start of the apocalypse, for me it's the most interesting part. A great story of survival in an ancient world full of terrifying predators. An interesting group of characters, which I found myself truly hoping would find a way to survive in this frightening world! A good fun read!
October 17, 2026
This one right from the start was really hard to put down. I've always found Baileigh's stories hard to put down and always looking forward to the next book. Being thrown back into prehistoric times and the way the story is told you can actually visulise being there.
Highly recommended
Highly recommended
October 17, 2026
Excellent
This book is intense right from the start. The sudden shift was scary and then a quick introduction to The animals in the new world as well. I like the characters to. I'm certainly looking forward to the next book.
This book is intense right from the start. The sudden shift was scary and then a quick introduction to The animals in the new world as well. I like the characters to. I'm certainly looking forward to the next book.
October 27, 2026
PRIMORDIAL!
Great characters, great storyline, and of course dinosaurs (feathery ones). Thank you Baileigh and Marc for another series of the primordial environment. Keep up the dino -mite stories.
Great characters, great storyline, and of course dinosaurs (feathery ones). Thank you Baileigh and Marc for another series of the primordial environment. Keep up the dino -mite stories.
October 27, 2026
well written possibilities
Story is very practical in its presentation. A very likely scenario for what probably would happen in reality. Having read the rest of the series I’m anxious to see how she ties them together.
Story is very practical in its presentation. A very likely scenario for what probably would happen in reality. Having read the rest of the series I’m anxious to see how she ties them together.
October 28, 2026
I love this series
Just like the 2 series before this one, Primordial Earth and Primordial World, it’s full of action, character development and surprises. I don’t like killing off characters but it makes sense, it’s a rough world when dinosaurs rule!
Just like the 2 series before this one, Primordial Earth and Primordial World, it’s full of action, character development and surprises. I don’t like killing off characters but it makes sense, it’s a rough world when dinosaurs rule!
October 29, 2026
What a great book. Who doesn't like dinosaurs ? Our main characters have fallen into another time where danger lurks behind every bush. Very descriptive and exciting and will have you on the edge of your seat. Another great story Ms Higgins. Can't wait for the next book.
November 2, 2026
Gripping story line. Fast moving pace, good survivalist story. Well written, engaging, belivable characters. Not too gruesom but there are passages describing people dying so not ideal for small children.
November 4, 2026
good story!
I enjoyed the format. the author didn't get distracted trying to convince me how time travel might happen, it just did. the struggles the group faces seem realistic, certainly believable under the circumstances.
enjoyable read.
I enjoyed the format. the author didn't get distracted trying to convince me how time travel might happen, it just did. the struggles the group faces seem realistic, certainly believable under the circumstances.
enjoyable read.
October 26, 2026
Wow, just finished this book. Intense! Great characters, and action packed with dinosaurs. You can feel the tension.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews