What do you think?
Rate this book
Static
What controls us? Is it Fear? Anger? Hope? Every day these emotions influence our decisions, some more than others. Wren Burton, one of the top architects in Chicago, has never let anything stand in the way of providing a better life for her family, but those choices haven’t been without sacrifice. And when the power shuts down across the city, which submerges the masses into chaos and cuts her family in half, tough decisions are only the beginning.
110 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
79 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
About the author
James Hunt
167 books228 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
James Hunt's passion for writing began at an early age. While his journal of yesteryear may never be the work of great fiction, he's been working hard every day since then to bring pages to life. James has well over a decade of writing under his belt, but his professional career in literature didn't take off until 2014.
James currently lives in Orlando, FL and when he's not pounding away at the keyboard you can find him at the theater or somewhere outside enjoying the beautiful Florida weather.
James Hunt's passion for writing began at an early age. While his journal of yesteryear may never be the work of great fiction, he's been working hard every day since then to bring pages to life. James has well over a decade of writing under his belt, but his professional career in literature didn't take off until 2014.
James currently lives in Orlando, FL and when he's not pounding away at the keyboard you can find him at the theater or somewhere outside enjoying the beautiful Florida weather.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
February 23, 2017
From 0 to 60 in no time flat. This story took me at a breakneck speed through the mayhem of a city under attack. Following a family determined to survive, I held my breath as they navigated through one life threatening situation after another.
If you want to get carried away in a thrilling, action-packed fight for survival, read this one!
If you want to get carried away in a thrilling, action-packed fight for survival, read this one!
January 30, 2018
Quick paced action but very amateurish writing. The events are too unrealistic. It’s like the author didn’t stop to think what might “actually” happen in an event like this and rather decided to create improbable motivations for the protagonists. I just didn’t buy it. Also, I wish people would stop using five stars to rate books they think are only good. I’m sorry, but this book doesn’t deserve the same rating as the Lord of the Rings or Romeo and Juliet.
July 12, 2017
Could have been developed better
Too many typos, great storyline but weaker plot. Very good description of scenes but difficult to read due to main character's injuries and everyone else's injuries
Too many typos, great storyline but weaker plot. Very good description of scenes but difficult to read due to main character's injuries and everyone else's injuries
October 23, 2019
This book was a good interesting read. The book is well written and keeps your interest. I always enjoy reading James Hunts books and recommend reading.
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.
January 1, 2022
Good story and great action. Character are well written. Already started book 1. This one is zero. Can’t wait to see where the story leads.
Great narration by Tia Rider.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review
Great narration by Tia Rider.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review
April 5, 2018
Very short piece with one tough female main character.
June 14, 2018
Just not believable.
August 9, 2018
Hold on to your seat!
Awesome book and series! ! I had a difficult time putting it down to work or go to sleep. It grabs your attention and never lets go!!
Awesome book and series! ! I had a difficult time putting it down to work or go to sleep. It grabs your attention and never lets go!!
May 6, 2019
No clue where this falls in the series? I'm considering it three, but they all melded into mindless, violent sludge for me. Not a fan.
March 16, 2023
Nonstop Action
Enjoyed this one! Get past the 1st chapter and it is just nonstop action. Not your typical emp/teotwaki full on invasion.
Enjoyed this one! Get past the 1st chapter and it is just nonstop action. Not your typical emp/teotwaki full on invasion.
August 25, 2017
Wren is collecting her kids from school and thinking about her decision to divorce husband Doug when the power grid goes down and multiple car accidents start to happen. An ambulance takes them to the hospital but she can't contact paramedic Doug or son Zack. Panic sets in when she sees on TV a group of armed terrorists closing in on the hospital and tries to get her daughters to the locked ICU ward as the shots start in the hospital building. Now she must escape the terrorists, find her son and husband and get out of the city.
I've read other apocalypse books by this author so when I saw the prequel to another series by him going free, I just had to grab it. What I like about this author is that he gives you just enough description to let you imagine the scene in your head and feel the danger they are in but there is no excess waffle to send you to sleep. He just gets on with the story and it is always delivered at a fast pace. He builds up tension well, has exciting action scenes and delivers a good story. I also like the way he writes his characters. Wren is a dedicated mother who is focused on saving her kids. She is a normal woman who has to be smart and brave to survive the disaster and you can really relate to her. The other characters I feel are written realistically as well and the writer has you rooting for them all, which is important to me in a book. If I don't care about the characters, I don't care what happens to them and often disengage from the book.
Wren gets her kids safely to the hospital after the crash and is pretty alarmed to see the TV coverage of the terrorists in the street. It only takes a few seconds to realise how close they are to the hospital and by the time she gets her girls ready to move, gunfire and screaming can already be heard. The outbreak of violence in the hospital is nicely written and you can feel the fear and chaos around the people fleeing in all directions to try and find safety. Wren has the brains to realise that only ICU is secured and tries to lead other survivors in that direction. However finding sanctuary is only a temporary safety when the terrorists start setting bombs to blow up the whole hospital. The next priority is to find an exit that leads outside and avoids the terrorists. I loved the whole hospital part of the story as there was real tension to it. I don't want to say too much and ruin the plot for anyone who decides to read it!
The other issue for Wren is where her son is. She knows that he didn't go to school but she has no idea where he is and can't contact him. She can't go looking for him until she finds safety for the girls and finds out where he is. Her best hope is to get to a nearby fire station where Doug once worked and hope to contact Doug and perhaps use their equipment to trace where Zack's phone is. Zack meanwhile has his own problems, injured, scared and alone. The attempt to rescue him is also interesting and tense, with the dangers of terrorists or armed civilians lurking on the streets or people looking to steal rescue vehicles to save themselves.
My one real niggle was the slightly dumb plan for escape from the hospital which alerts every terrorist in the hospital to the fact that survivors are trying to escape. Still, we are talking about ordinary people trying to think up a plan, not military personnel with tactical training so I guess some of their choices are going to be a bit dumb at times!
This is a short novella that is the ideal introduction to a new fast paced series. I certainly enjoyed it enough to grab the omnibus edition which has books one and two for 99p. Bargain! Grab this prequel free and the next two books for 99p on Amazon UK! So now I will be able to follow more of Wren's upcoming adventures! I recommend this to fans of apocalypse and disaster fiction.
I've read other apocalypse books by this author so when I saw the prequel to another series by him going free, I just had to grab it. What I like about this author is that he gives you just enough description to let you imagine the scene in your head and feel the danger they are in but there is no excess waffle to send you to sleep. He just gets on with the story and it is always delivered at a fast pace. He builds up tension well, has exciting action scenes and delivers a good story. I also like the way he writes his characters. Wren is a dedicated mother who is focused on saving her kids. She is a normal woman who has to be smart and brave to survive the disaster and you can really relate to her. The other characters I feel are written realistically as well and the writer has you rooting for them all, which is important to me in a book. If I don't care about the characters, I don't care what happens to them and often disengage from the book.
Wren gets her kids safely to the hospital after the crash and is pretty alarmed to see the TV coverage of the terrorists in the street. It only takes a few seconds to realise how close they are to the hospital and by the time she gets her girls ready to move, gunfire and screaming can already be heard. The outbreak of violence in the hospital is nicely written and you can feel the fear and chaos around the people fleeing in all directions to try and find safety. Wren has the brains to realise that only ICU is secured and tries to lead other survivors in that direction. However finding sanctuary is only a temporary safety when the terrorists start setting bombs to blow up the whole hospital. The next priority is to find an exit that leads outside and avoids the terrorists. I loved the whole hospital part of the story as there was real tension to it. I don't want to say too much and ruin the plot for anyone who decides to read it!
The other issue for Wren is where her son is. She knows that he didn't go to school but she has no idea where he is and can't contact him. She can't go looking for him until she finds safety for the girls and finds out where he is. Her best hope is to get to a nearby fire station where Doug once worked and hope to contact Doug and perhaps use their equipment to trace where Zack's phone is. Zack meanwhile has his own problems, injured, scared and alone. The attempt to rescue him is also interesting and tense, with the dangers of terrorists or armed civilians lurking on the streets or people looking to steal rescue vehicles to save themselves.
My one real niggle was the slightly dumb plan for escape from the hospital which alerts every terrorist in the hospital to the fact that survivors are trying to escape. Still, we are talking about ordinary people trying to think up a plan, not military personnel with tactical training so I guess some of their choices are going to be a bit dumb at times!
This is a short novella that is the ideal introduction to a new fast paced series. I certainly enjoyed it enough to grab the omnibus edition which has books one and two for 99p. Bargain! Grab this prequel free and the next two books for 99p on Amazon UK! So now I will be able to follow more of Wren's upcoming adventures! I recommend this to fans of apocalypse and disaster fiction.
January 15, 2019
Wren Burton, is a mixture of strength and weaknesses. Her love for her family is what controls her and gives her at times super human strength, but it feels to me like a kind of selfish love. I know she would do anything for her kids, but it still feel like most of her life she has put herself first. She finds herself in a chaotic city and rushed around trying to save her family members with little thought to herself, but she doesn't think about anyone else either. Yes, she does let her body take a beating, but I can only think of one time she makes a sacrificial act to save her children. I don't really like her character much.
March 1, 2017
Wanting more
I love it had me reading it in two days that I was busy . kept me wanting to see what happens next. Wish I had more of it.
I love it had me reading it in two days that I was busy . kept me wanting to see what happens next. Wish I had more of it.
March 10, 2016
This story is based in Chicago. Wren, the main character is married to Doug a Chicago EMT but their marriage is anything but good. As Wren leaves work to pick up her girls, she finds that nothing will be the same tomorrow for today everything is going to hell fast. Wren must find a way out of Chicago but not before she finds every one of her 3 children. She needs to find her son and possibly her husband but her children come first. Her girls are with her but in grave danger as terrorists attack the city. Her son who has been skipping school is anywhere. Her husband or soon to be Ex is working out in the city while terrorists attack it. Wren not only gets a lot of injuries but also inflicts a few on her way out. Pretty good story with lots of twists. This is book 0 or a series so I am sure many answers will come in the next book. It is fast paced and seems to be based solely on Wren in this book.
February 24, 2016
"Great characters; great story premise"
Extremely well written thriller with a dominant female lead. Wren Burton will let nothing stand in her way and is fiercely protective of her family. The full extent of the cause for the dramatic events that shut down Chicago and lead to terrorist attacks on the weak and vulnerable is not entirely revealed in the 80 pages of this prequel to what I assume will be a full series; nevertheless, the story so far is full of tense nerve-shredding action. If the subsequent stories are as well handled, then this series could be on your screens very soon.
Extremely well written thriller with a dominant female lead. Wren Burton will let nothing stand in her way and is fiercely protective of her family. The full extent of the cause for the dramatic events that shut down Chicago and lead to terrorist attacks on the weak and vulnerable is not entirely revealed in the 80 pages of this prequel to what I assume will be a full series; nevertheless, the story so far is full of tense nerve-shredding action. If the subsequent stories are as well handled, then this series could be on your screens very soon.
February 18, 2016
This story was action packed.
But, just because a word is in a thesaurus, doesn't mean it should be used in a story.
And I have a huge problem with people who use 's without any idea of whether it should be used. I can see where people might get confused over the its it's issue. But trucks vs. truck's? If a person doesn't know, then a person shouldn't be publishing.
And that's just the beginning of the issues with this story. Well, at least it was free.
But, just because a word is in a thesaurus, doesn't mean it should be used in a story.
And I have a huge problem with people who use 's without any idea of whether it should be used. I can see where people might get confused over the its it's issue. But trucks vs. truck's? If a person doesn't know, then a person shouldn't be publishing.
And that's just the beginning of the issues with this story. Well, at least it was free.
February 11, 2016
Alpha Mom protects her cubs...
This first installment in an expected Trilogy (or more, if this is Book 0) is a heart-pounding action packed SHTF short read that presumably sets the premise for what follows in Book 1 and beyond. Gritty, violent, with danger and death at every turn. Can't wait to start Book 1.
This first installment in an expected Trilogy (or more, if this is Book 0) is a heart-pounding action packed SHTF short read that presumably sets the premise for what follows in Book 1 and beyond. Gritty, violent, with danger and death at every turn. Can't wait to start Book 1.
February 28, 2016
This short read is packed with action and will leave you wanting more.
Wren Burton is thrust into a crisis and needs to save her family. There's a new threat at every turn and Wren is determined to conquer them all. With so few dominant, tough, well-written female leads, this short story is a must read.
Wren Burton is thrust into a crisis and needs to save her family. There's a new threat at every turn and Wren is determined to conquer them all. With so few dominant, tough, well-written female leads, this short story is a must read.
March 1, 2016
Great Read!
If you're like me, the fall of civilization is a scary thought. No electricity means a lot more than just no lights. These days it means almost everything would be different. The main character, Wren, is a mom that will stop at nothing to protect her family. I can relate to that completely. Very well written. Looking forward to reading the next in the series.
If you're like me, the fall of civilization is a scary thought. No electricity means a lot more than just no lights. These days it means almost everything would be different. The main character, Wren, is a mom that will stop at nothing to protect her family. I can relate to that completely. Very well written. Looking forward to reading the next in the series.
July 31, 2016
Wow, what an intense read! I couldn't stop reading it, finished it, going right on to the next book, before I realized that I wanted to write a review. I've never read a book like this, and I don't want to give any details, but it reminded me some of what's been happening around the world lately, it gives me the shivers!
February 9, 2016
Ready for Book One
OK. Now I need to know what happens next. The 24-like pacing is a bit too much but still an exciting book. Hope the follow-on books stop and examine what life is like in this world.
OK. Now I need to know what happens next. The 24-like pacing is a bit too much but still an exciting book. Hope the follow-on books stop and examine what life is like in this world.
March 18, 2016
Were people paid to give this rubbish 4+ stars? It read like it was computer generated- mindnumbingly boring and lifeless. I can't conceive this book making it past an editor and actually being published! It's so poorly written, downright painful on the brain.
February 20, 2016
A good read with an incredibly fast pace. A grid down scenario in Chicago and Wren tries to save her two daughters, find her teenage son, and reunite with her husband. Well written with another installment available!
March 27, 2016
Book zero
Loved this first book...cannot wait to find out what happens next to Wren and her daughters....Terrorist take over Chicago and detonate an EMP over the city....on to the next book
Loved this first book...cannot wait to find out what happens next to Wren and her daughters....Terrorist take over Chicago and detonate an EMP over the city....on to the next book
April 9, 2016
Killer cliffhanger ending!
James Hunt has written a believable EMP thriller with a killer cliffhanger ending. Glad I bought the entire series. The waiting for more would make my reading resolution unbearable
James Hunt has written a believable EMP thriller with a killer cliffhanger ending. Glad I bought the entire series. The waiting for more would make my reading resolution unbearable
April 17, 2016
Good
This is a very good book. It's full of excitement, action , more action,and danger at every turn . The characters are strong and the story line is scary good hope this never happens. So grab your copy and enjoy reading.
This is a very good book. It's full of excitement, action , more action,and danger at every turn . The characters are strong and the story line is scary good hope this never happens. So grab your copy and enjoy reading.
February 5, 2016
Holy Cow!
What a ride! Super action packed and exciting...almost too exciting! I can't wait to read book 2 and find out about the terrorists and what is going on in Chicago.
What a ride! Super action packed and exciting...almost too exciting! I can't wait to read book 2 and find out about the terrorists and what is going on in Chicago.
February 14, 2016
Terrifying
Couldn't put it down. My heart is racing.
Can't wait for the next book. It's so real I ran to look out the window
Couldn't put it down. My heart is racing.
Can't wait for the next book. It's so real I ran to look out the window
February 17, 2016
It was the perfect start to a new series full of angst and so many other emotions.
February 24, 2016
An excellent amped up thrill ride. I really enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews