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The Dead Room Trilogy #2
The Dead World
I am Bennett Ashby. And I am not the savior. 322 years after the apocalypse, a miraculous find—an old journal—haunts those left behind. The words inside tear down every belief about their past, leaving nothing but a pile of questions behind. If Ashby wasn’t the one who saved them, who was? Was their entire world built on lies? Bennett Ashby never set out to be the savior of anything, let alone the world. He only wanted to get ahead, and finding a cure for cancer was his key. But when the creation turns on the master, Ashby soon realizes he’s in over his head. The only thing he knows for certain is if the nanobots are not controlled, they will soon usher in the dead world.
175 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 21, 2016
131 people are currently reading
190 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Erickson
33 books304 followersI really hate writing these in third person. So hey! I'm Stephanie. I have all kinds of books including post-apocalyptic, dystopian, and paranormal romance. This is my first venture into clean rom-com, and I gotta tell ya, I loved it. I have 12 books planned for the Calendar Girls standalone series, so buckle up, buttercups! It's gonna be a fun ride, and I do hope you'll join me!
What else do you want to know? My husband can usually be found sailing the skies as an airline captain, and my daughter is TEN now (::commence sobbing at the cruel passage of time::)!
I love to connect with readers, so please reach out any time! With nice things of course. Please don't troll me LOL. I have kindof a sharp tongue and little restraint when provoked. It's not cute.
www.facebook.com/stephmerickson
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What else do you want to know? My husband can usually be found sailing the skies as an airline captain, and my daughter is TEN now (::commence sobbing at the cruel passage of time::)!
I love to connect with readers, so please reach out any time! With nice things of course. Please don't troll me LOL. I have kindof a sharp tongue and little restraint when provoked. It's not cute.
www.facebook.com/stephmerickson
www.instagram.com/authorsmerickson
www.stephanieericksonbooks.com
And, I have a newsletter! Sign up for exclusive access to giveaways, updates on new books, and sales!
https://mailchi.mp/stephanieericksonb...
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
January 2, 2017
3.5 stars!
A good read again. It was a good insight this time into how the apocalypse started and how the world ended. However, our survivors in the future are ready to go back to the mainland. Can they do it? I don't know, the third book will tell us when it arrives! Hurry please!!
Simple but effective writing again, I like her style of writing, it pulls you straight into the story.
I look forward to the final book in the trilogy.
A good read again. It was a good insight this time into how the apocalypse started and how the world ended. However, our survivors in the future are ready to go back to the mainland. Can they do it? I don't know, the third book will tell us when it arrives! Hurry please!!
Simple but effective writing again, I like her style of writing, it pulls you straight into the story.
I look forward to the final book in the trilogy.
February 15, 2020
A great continuation
This book is a little different in that it alternates between the present and the past to show what happened, but it does it wonderfully. I'm hooked and want to see what happens next!
This book is a little different in that it alternates between the present and the past to show what happened, but it does it wonderfully. I'm hooked and want to see what happens next!
January 21, 2020
Better than the first book. Not really well written but not too bad, i found Ashby to be unbelievable as a character.
April 26, 2018
This dragged a little but was still a good book, especially the ending was quite intriguing.
March 20, 2017
This book is slightly better than the first book in the series, but not enough to merit a 4th star. I found the Ashby character to be poorly written - and not believable. There are many plot holes.
November 3, 2020
Ah... So we get some backstory on the apocalypse which has quite a bit of plot holes. Also, the survivors plan to leave the island based on a journal left behind by the instigator of said apocalypse and that is essentially the key to rebuilding humanity.
Honestly, the pacing was off and it was a quick read. A greater page length could've helped flesh out the novel. Give it some for body. Ashby and Mendi are a bit 'meh' as characters and the islanders initiate a new leadership regime to the joy of the island folk (although they seem just to acquiesce to the command of anyone in charge really. Well, idk I don't suppose they would revolt but actually the head elder selected a murderer (according to some people) as an elder so ... yah). Surprised the other elders didn't contest the head elder for the title as head huncho but I guess its not my story.
This is what I mean, their is no foundation, no backbone to the story. I'll spare the nit-picking and plot holes and just rate it 2 stars.
Honestly, the pacing was off and it was a quick read. A greater page length could've helped flesh out the novel. Give it some for body. Ashby and Mendi are a bit 'meh' as characters and the islanders initiate a new leadership regime to the joy of the island folk (although they seem just to acquiesce to the command of anyone in charge really. Well, idk I don't suppose they would revolt but actually the head elder selected a murderer (according to some people) as an elder so ... yah). Surprised the other elders didn't contest the head elder for the title as head huncho but I guess its not my story.
This is what I mean, their is no foundation, no backbone to the story. I'll spare the nit-picking and plot holes and just rate it 2 stars.
January 18, 2020
This is the second book in the series and you’ll definitely want to read the first book of the series before you read this one.
I thought that it was quite interesting that this book focuses primarily on the years leading up to the apocalypse and how it came to be. I did struggle a bit to really like any of the characters, which ultimately made it a bit harder to get into the story. Overall, I thought the concept was great and I love how the author had an original concept of an apocalypse.
I thought that it was quite interesting that this book focuses primarily on the years leading up to the apocalypse and how it came to be. I did struggle a bit to really like any of the characters, which ultimately made it a bit harder to get into the story. Overall, I thought the concept was great and I love how the author had an original concept of an apocalypse.
January 10, 2018
I bought this book straight away after getting the first one at a deal price and leaving it a 4 star review. I'm rather wary of sequels, especially when the first book was on a deal - they usually end up disappointing, however this one was as good as the original.
June 6, 2021
Sci-fi
As a general rule, I don't like series, since I have many books queued up. The book was good, but at first it took me a while to figure what was going on. A recap in the beginning would have helped
As a general rule, I don't like series, since I have many books queued up. The book was good, but at first it took me a while to figure what was going on. A recap in the beginning would have helped
September 29, 2023
unexpected good series so far
First book was good but the second has taken the story to new heights expanding the whole direction of the story. Looking forward to reading the conclusion.
First book was good but the second has taken the story to new heights expanding the whole direction of the story. Looking forward to reading the conclusion.
October 26, 2016
The hope for the future is our resiliance
The story unfolds is the path to a new future on the horizon. Roll on February we book three comes out
The story unfolds is the path to a new future on the horizon. Roll on February we book three comes out
July 25, 2017
Fantastic!
Boy, did this book deliver on it's promise! I loved how the author merged the before and now threads of the story. Looking forward to part 3.
Boy, did this book deliver on it's promise! I loved how the author merged the before and now threads of the story. Looking forward to part 3.
January 6, 2020
I’m loving this series!!
For anyone using iBooks to read though - download the kindle app. All 3 are available there, but not on iTunes !
For anyone using iBooks to read though - download the kindle app. All 3 are available there, but not on iTunes !
March 13, 2017
Already downloaded Alive!
October 5, 2016
I got a free copy for my honest review but of course I had to buy a copy as well. This is book two in the series and it explains the how's and whys of the people from book one. It goes back and forth from the current situation and the past explaining the cause of their society now. Dystopia is a good description of the plot but you are so into the story you don't realize the end of the book is here. I truly enjoyed this book. I can't wait to see what and how it ends in the third book.
October 11, 2016
Bennett Ashby was a brilliant and ambitious man. He desperately wanted to eclipse his friend, Christian Mendelsohn. Bennett was an engineer who has been successful creating nanobots used by NASA. While Mendi was making great strides curing cancer. Even though they were best friends Bennett was consumed by jealousy. He began using his bots to target cancer cells. He would do anything to triumph, even take shortcuts in his research. Bennett achieved his goal until his creations ran amok and started killing. Can he stop them from destroying the world? This is a shocking story of one man's obsession with fame and fortune. I was pulled in from the first page. The plot is all too real. Stephanie Erickson did a wonderful job combining past and present day. The characters are well written, their actions believable and the outcome realistic. I can't wait to read book three in The Dead Room Trilogy. I need to find out what happens next.
September 26, 2016
I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
This series continues to get better and more interesting. The story flips between present day on a remote island and the time the Dead World began. We see what drove Bennett Ashby to create his small C-bots and in the end what led to the destruction of the world as we know it. Meanwhile in the present day of the book, we see the islanders discover their truth and plan to return to the mainland. Just as all this comes to a head, we are left waiting for the series conclusion in Alive. I can't wait to see what happens to our characters. Do they find anyone else that may or may not have survived the destruction like them? The story makes you think about what we are doing with nano-bots today and how scary they really can be. Recommend this book, but you will need to read the Dead Room first.
This series continues to get better and more interesting. The story flips between present day on a remote island and the time the Dead World began. We see what drove Bennett Ashby to create his small C-bots and in the end what led to the destruction of the world as we know it. Meanwhile in the present day of the book, we see the islanders discover their truth and plan to return to the mainland. Just as all this comes to a head, we are left waiting for the series conclusion in Alive. I can't wait to see what happens to our characters. Do they find anyone else that may or may not have survived the destruction like them? The story makes you think about what we are doing with nano-bots today and how scary they really can be. Recommend this book, but you will need to read the Dead Room first.
November 28, 2016
Man... I didn't expect that!!!
"Bots" ended the world!!! I'm not sure if I really expected that at the end of the 1st book. I didn't explain the explanation of this sequel. The author wrote the story in a way which made the time jumps easy to read- I appreciate. I wanted to love and hate every character at on point or another, and some how connected to each of them. I few things I hope to find out in the next book is who was responsible for making Ashby a God? How did they get so many to survivors to not pass the stories along. Will Mason connect with Lehman? The sky people, are they still up there? Too many questions! I will say, the reason I did not give this book "5 stars" is because I felt some science was missing, and it would have been cool to read the story from the terrorists view, even small chapter. But still, I will patiently await the last of three.
"Bots" ended the world!!! I'm not sure if I really expected that at the end of the 1st book. I didn't explain the explanation of this sequel. The author wrote the story in a way which made the time jumps easy to read- I appreciate. I wanted to love and hate every character at on point or another, and some how connected to each of them. I few things I hope to find out in the next book is who was responsible for making Ashby a God? How did they get so many to survivors to not pass the stories along. Will Mason connect with Lehman? The sky people, are they still up there? Too many questions! I will say, the reason I did not give this book "5 stars" is because I felt some science was missing, and it would have been cool to read the story from the terrorists view, even small chapter. But still, I will patiently await the last of three.
September 30, 2016
I enjoyed this book so much. It was much better than the first one for me for sure. This installment gave you a extensive look into the past - really gave the background as to how everything came about. It was done in such a way going from past to present that you didn't miss a step. Very well done!! The characters have certainly grown on me as well. You want them to succeed and feel each emotion when then don't as well as when then do. You get truly invested in the story. I found myself trying to figure out how the help them, thinking of things for them to do and waiting to see if that is what they decided. That made it even more interesting for me. I so can't wait to see what happens in the final book!
September 25, 2016
*received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review*
The first one left on a mild cliffhanger, so it was nice getting to continue the story. This was a good one. I like the author's style of writing, consistent with subtle excitement. Like molasses. The past and present POVs kept me on my toes, which helped a lot because the island was losing its momentum a bit for me. It was a nice, clean Dystopian world, if that's even possible. I like the chaos Erickson created, a bunch of nanos eating up the world. Recommended if you like slow paced books that really get you into the character's shoes.
The first one left on a mild cliffhanger, so it was nice getting to continue the story. This was a good one. I like the author's style of writing, consistent with subtle excitement. Like molasses. The past and present POVs kept me on my toes, which helped a lot because the island was losing its momentum a bit for me. It was a nice, clean Dystopian world, if that's even possible. I like the chaos Erickson created, a bunch of nanos eating up the world. Recommended if you like slow paced books that really get you into the character's shoes.
September 26, 2016
The Children of Wisdom series is my favorite series from Stephanie Erickson, but my favorite individual book of hers was The Dead Room. I say 'was' because The Dead World just took that honor! I cannot tell you how much I love this book! The Dead Room left us hanging at just the right point in the story and The Dead World picked up the storyline and took it in for a touchdown! I love this book and I love this series! A definite page turner that I couldn't put down until I read the very last word! This is a very unique dystopian novel and Stephanie's writing style is in a class all by itself. You have to read this series!!!!
October 2, 2016
This is the second book in the series. This one goes more into the history of Ashby and his best friend Mendi and how he built the Dead Room. Dead Room is from the first book and has a special place with the islanders. Also, the people on the island have decided to go home to the mainland since Ashby has left clues and instructions to help them, but I don't think a sunk boat and death by electrocution was in the plan.
But mostly it shows what can happen if your best friend takes something from you.
All in all a great book, gets you ready for the last book in the series, can't wait for it to come out.
But mostly it shows what can happen if your best friend takes something from you.
All in all a great book, gets you ready for the last book in the series, can't wait for it to come out.
October 5, 2016
I really like this series. The Dead Room was a good start but I enjoyed The Dead World even more and how it alternated between the past and the present (300 years after the problems with the "bots" started). I don't want to give a summary of the story--don't want to give any spoilers away. I can almost see how Ashby's invention could work...and it did...until things got out of hand. I am looking forward to the next book (Alive) and see how it all ends. I did receive this book as an arc in exchange for an honest review.
February 6, 2017
Better. I must say, this one was better than the first. It didn't feel quite as flat, though I still feel there could be more to it. Create more of an emotional connection with the characters... but maybe I've just been spoiled in my reading lately.
This book ties up some major loose ends that the first purposely left open. The story still kept me captivated. Though again, it seems like certain major events were rushed through, leaving the feeling that it could have been more.
I will be watching for the third and final book to be released, as the story itself has captivated me enough.
This book ties up some major loose ends that the first purposely left open. The story still kept me captivated. Though again, it seems like certain major events were rushed through, leaving the feeling that it could have been more.
I will be watching for the third and final book to be released, as the story itself has captivated me enough.
January 27, 2017
Well I can honestly say this book was NOT predictable at all!! So many things happened that I wasn't expecting at all. It was a story that kept you on the edge of your seat and you just didn't have any idea what would happen next!! If that is the type of book you like you'll love this series. Stephanie Erickson did an exceptional job on this book. You need to read this, you won't be disappointed at all!!
September 30, 2016
The second book in the Dead room series does not disappoint. You will get the story of the origin of the world destroying bots at the time the small island of survivors learns the truth of there existence. Many questions will be answered but you will be left waiting for the final book wondering, are there more survivors?
October 9, 2016
ARC REVIEW
wow, just wow. the turn of events in this book kept me on my toes. Ashby isn't who wet tight he was. but to be honest, it's not like he did everything in purpose and I find myself not hating him. idk. . I Betty much enjoyed this book and sing everything unfold. can't wait for Alive. great job Stephanie Erickson!
wow, just wow. the turn of events in this book kept me on my toes. Ashby isn't who wet tight he was. but to be honest, it's not like he did everything in purpose and I find myself not hating him. idk. . I Betty much enjoyed this book and sing everything unfold. can't wait for Alive. great job Stephanie Erickson!
September 26, 2016
I loved this book!!!!! I am a fan of many genres and I live to read about the future. I love authors with imaginations that take us far beyond our realm of experience. This book was so great!!! I totally fell in love all over again! I received this book for a fair and honest review
October 4, 2016
Stephanie Erickson is one of my favorite authors. She never fails to deliver and continues to surprise me in every book. Her imagination amazes me and when I'm reading her stories I feel like I am right there with the characters. Can't wait to see what comes next!!!
October 6, 2016
I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fast easy read for me. Great continuation of the first book and I'm now anxiously waiting for the next.
I highly recommend this series and this author.
This was a fast easy read for me. Great continuation of the first book and I'm now anxiously waiting for the next.
I highly recommend this series and this author.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews