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High Road Cross
America has fallen. Long live Americus.
100 years after America split apart, is one lone outcast the world's last chance at peace?
In a war-torn post apocalyptic America, Bill does not have a choice. To save what he loves, he must find and stop a deadly transhuman soldier gone rogue — his own biological father. And for that, he must become what he despises.
Says William Z.J. Holloway, aka Bill, aka Ace: "Bring it on."
100 years after America split apart, is one lone outcast the world's last chance at peace?
In a war-torn post apocalyptic America, Bill does not have a choice. To save what he loves, he must find and stop a deadly transhuman soldier gone rogue — his own biological father. And for that, he must become what he despises.
Says William Z.J. Holloway, aka Bill, aka Ace: "Bring it on."
- GenresPost Apocalyptic
248 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 19, 2016
15 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
T.S. Vale
9 books79 followers Hi, fellow reader. Thanks for stopping by!
I’ve loved and practiced the art and science of "writing" my entire life. I've published and been recognized for both fiction and non-fiction, commercially and independently.
Another thing I love — no surprise, probably, to most of you who’ve found your way here — is reading. I’m an avid book fan and have been honored to work with, support, and learn from some amazing authors.
Both as a writer and a reader, my top genre love is what I often refer to as speculative fiction — that is, science fiction and fantasy, in all their many variations. My tastes are broad but it’s easy to note post-apocalyptic SF / fantasy, dystopian SF / fantasy, historical fiction, epic SF / fantasy, and technological SF / fantasy as top favorites in those fields.
Manifesting new worlds and telling characters’ stories has been my great and lifelong passion. I’m exceedingly grateful that it’s a passion that has provided some of you out there with some entertainment and even some inspiration. Thanks for letting me know about that: I truly appreciate it. Keep on reading!
I’ve loved and practiced the art and science of "writing" my entire life. I've published and been recognized for both fiction and non-fiction, commercially and independently.
Another thing I love — no surprise, probably, to most of you who’ve found your way here — is reading. I’m an avid book fan and have been honored to work with, support, and learn from some amazing authors.
Both as a writer and a reader, my top genre love is what I often refer to as speculative fiction — that is, science fiction and fantasy, in all their many variations. My tastes are broad but it’s easy to note post-apocalyptic SF / fantasy, dystopian SF / fantasy, historical fiction, epic SF / fantasy, and technological SF / fantasy as top favorites in those fields.
Manifesting new worlds and telling characters’ stories has been my great and lifelong passion. I’m exceedingly grateful that it’s a passion that has provided some of you out there with some entertainment and even some inspiration. Thanks for letting me know about that: I truly appreciate it. Keep on reading!
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 25, 2016
Intellectual apocalyptic science fiction with a gritty, realistic tone...
TS Vale is a really unique voice. She writes pretty "intellectual" science fiction and fantasy, but I never bog down in it, and it moves fast, despite some heavy concepts she can throw your way.
My own biases... she also plays around a lot with sex/gender in her worlds, as well as moral ambiguity and difficult choices, which I love. She doesn't go down the neverending-dark rabbithole like some books do, however, by making everything dark and all the characters devoid of any redeeming qualities (I confess, I grow tired of that pretty quick). Her characters... well, some of them, heh... really want to make a better world, and generally are fighting for the greater good in extremely difficult circumstances.
She's also one of those writers whose worlds really stick in my mind. There's a grittiness and realism to them that stays with me.
I've only read the first part of this new series so far, but I was really hooked. It ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, fair warning, but she sets up the world and characters really well, and I loved the main character, Bill ("Ace"), and his crazy family. I also definitely want to know more!
TS Vale is a really unique voice. She writes pretty "intellectual" science fiction and fantasy, but I never bog down in it, and it moves fast, despite some heavy concepts she can throw your way.
My own biases... she also plays around a lot with sex/gender in her worlds, as well as moral ambiguity and difficult choices, which I love. She doesn't go down the neverending-dark rabbithole like some books do, however, by making everything dark and all the characters devoid of any redeeming qualities (I confess, I grow tired of that pretty quick). Her characters... well, some of them, heh... really want to make a better world, and generally are fighting for the greater good in extremely difficult circumstances.
She's also one of those writers whose worlds really stick in my mind. There's a grittiness and realism to them that stays with me.
I've only read the first part of this new series so far, but I was really hooked. It ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, fair warning, but she sets up the world and characters really well, and I loved the main character, Bill ("Ace"), and his crazy family. I also definitely want to know more!
May 29, 2017
This was not an easy read - that is not to say that it was not a worthwhile one.
At the very beginning of this novel, it took me a bit to get into the mindset required. I had, not trouble perhaps, but challenges with understanding the way the characters interacted.
I rated it quite highly - 4 stars from me is what I consider Excellent.
Vale plays with language and culture quite a bit in this dystopian speculative fiction piece - in ways I quite appreciate. The technology mentioned in the story is very "not explained" - in a way which makes me as a reader feel not that it isn't thought out, but that it isn't explained because the mystery of it is part of the story.
I would not have minded more "action" - but the way the story is constructed, the action that does take place has a very heavy psychological feel to it. Sex & Romance is treated well - I feel that this is a story intended for adults, though it's not so graphic at any point that it feels like an "adult" story. On the contrary, there is very little that could be considered graphic - the lack of it though, and the way it's treated in prose makes it feel much more important to the characters involved.
I'll read sequels to this story for sure, and would happily recommend it to anyone who enjoys dystopian fiction.
At the very beginning of this novel, it took me a bit to get into the mindset required. I had, not trouble perhaps, but challenges with understanding the way the characters interacted.
I rated it quite highly - 4 stars from me is what I consider Excellent.
Vale plays with language and culture quite a bit in this dystopian speculative fiction piece - in ways I quite appreciate. The technology mentioned in the story is very "not explained" - in a way which makes me as a reader feel not that it isn't thought out, but that it isn't explained because the mystery of it is part of the story.
I would not have minded more "action" - but the way the story is constructed, the action that does take place has a very heavy psychological feel to it. Sex & Romance is treated well - I feel that this is a story intended for adults, though it's not so graphic at any point that it feels like an "adult" story. On the contrary, there is very little that could be considered graphic - the lack of it though, and the way it's treated in prose makes it feel much more important to the characters involved.
I'll read sequels to this story for sure, and would happily recommend it to anyone who enjoys dystopian fiction.
February 24, 2017
Kindle Unlimited very dystopian sorta sci-fi though that may be redundant in a way. Usually don't read too much of this type thing and coming off a litrpg and a comedic type space opera type is a weird mix, but the story held up, just took me a while to make my brain shift, not writer's fault. Definitely get the feel of that world.
June 8, 2017
One of the few books that I have enjoyed reading recently. Very well written and very well thought out and crafted. The characters are well written and the story unfolds like a movie in my mind. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
July 6, 2017
Written with a vernacular that reminds me of Firefly/Serenity the first 3 chapters were slow going as I adjusted to the flow of the language. I found it to be a very good story with some very original characters and situations.
October 25, 2016
I'm a picky reader. If a book doesn't pull me in by the middle of the second chapter, I move on. I want to be fully immersed, transported to a new world. I want to care about the character's plight even if I wouldn't have them over for dinner. This author satisfies my hunger for a great plot, characters so affecting I feel I might run into them on the street and exceptional prose. Great imaginative world making of a character who goes to the far reaches of what he capable of sacrificing and enduring to achieve a better world. True hero's journey with some amazing, compelling scenes. This author is a brilliant writer and does not disappoint. Highly recommended. READERS WARNING: Start this epic book on a day off work -- you will not put it down.
April 17, 2017
It's a weird dystopian future very different from most apocalypse novels I have read. It felt like a real life where things don't always add up and you're continually try to find a balance point.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews