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Final Dawn #1-10
Final Dawn Box Set: The Final Dawn Omnibus - Seasons 1-3
When the end of the world arrived, it came not with a bang, as most expected, but with more of a "pfft" instead. Humanity has been torn asunder and brought to the edge of total annihilation in less than an hour. For those who died, it was a quick death, so fast that their brains didn't have time to process the pain signals from their nerves. For those who survived, the true horror is about to begin as they struggle to not only stay alive, but come to grips with the shocking realization about what - and who - was responsible. Final Dawn is a thrilling post-apocalyptic series that follows the journey of four people who survived the end of days. Leonard McComb - A grizzled veteran of the New York City sanitation department, trapped underground in the city's vast sewer system when the world ended. Nancy Sims - An accountant, traveling across the plains of the Midwest towards a new job, caught in the middle of nowhere, destruction all around her. Marcus Warden - A self-made millionaire from New York, vacationing in a national forest of West Virginia when the bombs fell. Rachel Walsh - A wife and mother whose family is swept away in the blink of an eye, struggling with her loss and the dawning realization of what may have truly transpired to bring about the end of the world. Final Dawn is a thrilling post-apocalyptic series by long time author Mike Kraus. If you like fast paced action, edge of your seat suspense and impossible odds, you will love this, the Final Dawn Complete Series! Final Dawn Omnibus (The Final Dawn Boxed Set) Season 1 (Episodes 1-5) Season 2 (Episodes 6-10) Season 3 (Episodes 11-13) Nearly 300,000 words in total!
649 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 26, 2017
1157 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
April 3, 2025
Mike Kraus adds a nice twist to the end of the world dystopian novel.
Definitely looking forward to ordering my next book from Mike.
Great character development and a true page turner.
Definitely looking forward to ordering my next book from Mike.
Great character development and a true page turner.
August 31, 2017
Good writing, bad story/characters/plot. The writer is obviously talented, he writes well but that's where the talent ends.
The characters are bland and 2 dimensional. Main female lead is a bitch and seems to magically be infallible (with no training or previous experience. She was just born knowing everything and being able to operate anything, I suppose). There is NO character development besides the beginning introductions.
The story is action packed but in a rhyme-without-reason way which makes it very boring. There's nothing worse than the characters being in a pickle and suddenly, from left field, it all works out. That plot is fine once but only once not every couple chapters. It got to the point where I wanted to skip ahead when things started going wrong because I knew there was going to be some random thing that would pull them out of trouble.
The bad guys had even worse character development than the good guys. They were seriously as demented as anyone could imagine. All of them infallible, powerful, and talented yet they all lack one majorly important thing, A REASON! I was so tired of bad guys just popping up and needing to toss all reason aside to kill! kill! kill! YAWN
I really tried to finish this, I really did. I got to 92% and couldn't go any further. If you love action, suspense, and apocalypse but you need it to have half-assed believable characters and reasonable story plot this is not the book for you. Yes, THE BOOK, because it's not a box set it's 1 book.
The characters are bland and 2 dimensional. Main female lead is a bitch and seems to magically be infallible (with no training or previous experience. She was just born knowing everything and being able to operate anything, I suppose). There is NO character development besides the beginning introductions.
The story is action packed but in a rhyme-without-reason way which makes it very boring. There's nothing worse than the characters being in a pickle and suddenly, from left field, it all works out. That plot is fine once but only once not every couple chapters. It got to the point where I wanted to skip ahead when things started going wrong because I knew there was going to be some random thing that would pull them out of trouble.
The bad guys had even worse character development than the good guys. They were seriously as demented as anyone could imagine. All of them infallible, powerful, and talented yet they all lack one majorly important thing, A REASON! I was so tired of bad guys just popping up and needing to toss all reason aside to kill! kill! kill! YAWN
I really tried to finish this, I really did. I got to 92% and couldn't go any further. If you love action, suspense, and apocalypse but you need it to have half-assed believable characters and reasonable story plot this is not the book for you. Yes, THE BOOK, because it's not a box set it's 1 book.
March 17, 2017
A Very good read
A different take on the end of the world as we know it. A tight cast of characters, well developed. The ultimate hero is a woman in spite two strong men who could easily have filled the role. She lives with guilt. Having lost her husband and daughter to the weapon she helped develop and inadvertently unleashed on the world. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
A different take on the end of the world as we know it. A tight cast of characters, well developed. The ultimate hero is a woman in spite two strong men who could easily have filled the role. She lives with guilt. Having lost her husband and daughter to the weapon she helped develop and inadvertently unleashed on the world. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
April 29, 2018
Final Dawn Box Set review
Final Dawn Omnibus is a box set which contains Seasons 1-3 in this post apocalyptic series written by author Mike Kraus.
Final Dawn Omnibus is a box set which contains Seasons 1-3 in this post apocalyptic series written by author Mike Kraus.
July 18, 2018
It's an interesting story, but I found it hard to keep myself interested enough to bring myself to wanting to read it so it was slow going. I didn't finish and don't see myself wanting to.
The story progresses way too slow and jumps around far too much. Every other chapter follows a different character, which normally would be fine, but not enough happens around those characters in those chapters before you're ripped away to follow someone else. The chapters should have been longer or there should have been two or three chapters before jumping around.
Also, on that same note, the beginning of the book was extremely annoying how each chapter end. It was as if the author couldn't think of any natural way for chapters to transition to one another so a good chunk of the beginning chapters are end with the characters blacking out, then picking up with the next character, who will black out at the end, so on and so forth.
The time in the book doesn't flow naturally either. It also jumps all over the place. One character's chapter would be taking place on a Tuesday, the next chapter you're three days in the past, and next chapter you're a week ahead. So between the book jumping around between characters so frequently that you can't really get invested, it also doesn't flow chronologically.
Since I didn't finish the book, I don't understand the creature that hunts the people in the book, but it was lame. Only one character had any idea of what's going on, but, in the time I spent reading, she didn't give any hint. She was also a sort of super character, which was pretty dumb, too.
The mystery did not add to my enjoyment to the story. It took away a lot. I only brought myself to read as much as I did because I wanted to understand, but it dragged on too much that I just stopped caring and couldn't bother bringing myself to finish.
The story progresses way too slow and jumps around far too much. Every other chapter follows a different character, which normally would be fine, but not enough happens around those characters in those chapters before you're ripped away to follow someone else. The chapters should have been longer or there should have been two or three chapters before jumping around.
Also, on that same note, the beginning of the book was extremely annoying how each chapter end. It was as if the author couldn't think of any natural way for chapters to transition to one another so a good chunk of the beginning chapters are end with the characters blacking out, then picking up with the next character, who will black out at the end, so on and so forth.
The time in the book doesn't flow naturally either. It also jumps all over the place. One character's chapter would be taking place on a Tuesday, the next chapter you're three days in the past, and next chapter you're a week ahead. So between the book jumping around between characters so frequently that you can't really get invested, it also doesn't flow chronologically.
Since I didn't finish the book, I don't understand the creature that hunts the people in the book, but it was lame. Only one character had any idea of what's going on, but, in the time I spent reading, she didn't give any hint. She was also a sort of super character, which was pretty dumb, too.
The mystery did not add to my enjoyment to the story. It took away a lot. I only brought myself to read as much as I did because I wanted to understand, but it dragged on too much that I just stopped caring and couldn't bother bringing myself to finish.
March 19, 2020
I know I am behind most people in reading these books, but now that I am not working and can’t go much else than read, I am very happy to have found Mike Kraus and the whole post-apocalyptic series. I know ther are probably considered SciFi but sine the time these were written (2012) until the time I read them (2020) the world has changed so much that something like this could happen. I did all 3 books together. I would have hated to finish 1 and have to wait until the next, etc. I am normally a fast reader, but I took my time with there to make sure I didn’t miss anything. We have 4 main characters from different places in the country and with different backgrounds who end up finding each other. When the EMP and Nuclear Blasts happen, it doesn’t just happen in America,but around the world. I was hooked from the beginning, so many twists, so good to see different people working together. It was action-packed, at times scary, but sure wall wrriten story and well developed characters, I am thrilled that I found it. I had read another one that had Zombies and it wasn’t for me. I say as smart as kids are today age 15 and up would really enjoy this book set like I did. I will be reading more of Mike Kraus. He is really great in this genre.
August 27, 2018
A Wild and Wonderful Roller Coaster (I) could not put down
Wow, from the first chapter when the world as they knew it Ended, and we are first introduced to the new AI , I was drawn in. The words provided pictures I could picture of the silver mass in the distance is moving as a flock of birds. Our technologies today talk of nanobots as something we shall embrace, well not in my life hopefully never. I can imagine this type of scenario to become a reality i wonder if we could rise from.
Mike Kraus, has an ability to open today's issues, put pen to paper, bring to life ' what if ' . If this is your first Post Apocalyptic book of your hundredth. I honestly believe you will enjoy this one. I will re-read this series again sometime this year, and I know I will still enjoy it. I have with another of his books, Surviving the Fall series. I am a fan.
Wow, from the first chapter when the world as they knew it Ended, and we are first introduced to the new AI , I was drawn in. The words provided pictures I could picture of the silver mass in the distance is moving as a flock of birds. Our technologies today talk of nanobots as something we shall embrace, well not in my life hopefully never. I can imagine this type of scenario to become a reality i wonder if we could rise from.
Mike Kraus, has an ability to open today's issues, put pen to paper, bring to life ' what if ' . If this is your first Post Apocalyptic book of your hundredth. I honestly believe you will enjoy this one. I will re-read this series again sometime this year, and I know I will still enjoy it. I have with another of his books, Surviving the Fall series. I am a fan.
January 10, 2021
One of My All Time Favorites!
From the development of an AI that begins to develop its own " set of rules and priorities " that just may not include the human race....to the scientists with ethics and brilliance that developed this AI with the hopes they could work together to clean and renew our planet...all to be derailed and corrupted and sent on a rogue mission by a brilliant but psychotic and corrupt powerful government official in charge of deep cover black ops. This is a story that spans many volumes and finds the Russian military working with the Americans and the rest of the world to try to stop the the annihilation of humanity. Don't plan on getting a whole lot of rest....this one will keep you reading into the wee hours of the morning!
From the development of an AI that begins to develop its own " set of rules and priorities " that just may not include the human race....to the scientists with ethics and brilliance that developed this AI with the hopes they could work together to clean and renew our planet...all to be derailed and corrupted and sent on a rogue mission by a brilliant but psychotic and corrupt powerful government official in charge of deep cover black ops. This is a story that spans many volumes and finds the Russian military working with the Americans and the rest of the world to try to stop the the annihilation of humanity. Don't plan on getting a whole lot of rest....this one will keep you reading into the wee hours of the morning!
June 22, 2021
I love the premise of an apocalypse. But this book just didn’t ring true, not scary enough for me. Not that I really want to be scared but at least it lacked intensity. I understand the author really wanted to read the book, but it needed more voices. Real women’s voices and authentic accents. But I’m sure that’s expensive to pay for production wise. And the most annoying thing was with every chapter the announcement of who was in the chapter and where it was and when it was, like we weren’t following the book.
I struggled with Rachel’s character.How she had so many different skill sets. And I would’ve liked to of done why. Why did all this happen. And what was in it for why it happened.
But I finished it. I was listening on Audible which made it a little easier I think to get through.
I struggled with Rachel’s character.How she had so many different skill sets. And I would’ve liked to of done why. Why did all this happen. And what was in it for why it happened.
But I finished it. I was listening on Audible which made it a little easier I think to get through.
January 19, 2018
A-MAZ-ZING! Well worth the read.
I went into this it knowing what to expect. Got the omnibus through my Prime membership and I just paced myself. The characters were engaging, the story non-stop and I can tell the author has a feel for what he does and a heart to make what’s in his head flow well on paper.
Definitely take the time to read this as one 647 page book.
I’m so happy the first book I’ve read for pleasure in quite a few years was this one. It even forced me to get a Kindle Unlimited membership so i can continue reading the next series that revolves around the Final Dawn saga (this is a positive thing!).
I went into this it knowing what to expect. Got the omnibus through my Prime membership and I just paced myself. The characters were engaging, the story non-stop and I can tell the author has a feel for what he does and a heart to make what’s in his head flow well on paper.
Definitely take the time to read this as one 647 page book.
I’m so happy the first book I’ve read for pleasure in quite a few years was this one. It even forced me to get a Kindle Unlimited membership so i can continue reading the next series that revolves around the Final Dawn saga (this is a positive thing!).
June 12, 2017
A Unique TEOTWAWKI
I enjoy the whole post apocalyptic genre regardless of the cause of the world as we know it. However the more unique or plausible the scenario in a story told well, the more I enjoy it. This book did that better than I'd expected once I became more engaged in it. I did find it a bit too disjointed in both the plot and characters in the first few chapters but am glad I persevered because once the characters and story line fell into place it became a good read that I'd recommend to others who enjoy this genre.
I enjoy the whole post apocalyptic genre regardless of the cause of the world as we know it. However the more unique or plausible the scenario in a story told well, the more I enjoy it. This book did that better than I'd expected once I became more engaged in it. I did find it a bit too disjointed in both the plot and characters in the first few chapters but am glad I persevered because once the characters and story line fell into place it became a good read that I'd recommend to others who enjoy this genre.
July 29, 2018
Renegade bots and the end of the world
When I got this book, I didn't know what story would unfold but this is definitely not your usual everyday end of the world story. The characters are very realistic, just imagine you're living your everyday life and then boom the world as you knew it no longer exists and what's more it has ended in the most unexpected way.
The story of itself takes you from one action pack and suspenseful episode to the next and I'm looking forward to continuing reading the next part of this story in the Arkhangelsk series
When I got this book, I didn't know what story would unfold but this is definitely not your usual everyday end of the world story. The characters are very realistic, just imagine you're living your everyday life and then boom the world as you knew it no longer exists and what's more it has ended in the most unexpected way.
The story of itself takes you from one action pack and suspenseful episode to the next and I'm looking forward to continuing reading the next part of this story in the Arkhangelsk series
August 11, 2017
What if scientists are not so careful .
I gave this a great rating because it has a most unusual story . The twists and turns, the unexpected friends, change of location . I enjoyed the lead character having a full life as a wife mother scientists and not taking a any bull from anyone. Seeing the travel from different points of views of the people whose life's were in danger and how may have reacted in the same situation.
I gave this a great rating because it has a most unusual story . The twists and turns, the unexpected friends, change of location . I enjoyed the lead character having a full life as a wife mother scientists and not taking a any bull from anyone. Seeing the travel from different points of views of the people whose life's were in danger and how may have reacted in the same situation.
August 12, 2018
So glad I discovered this author!
Mike is very good at the post apocalyptic genre and I definitely recommend this Omnibus. I don’t usually pay for books if I can help it - I know, cheapskate lol! - but after reading the samples , have HAD to get these! The stories are pretty unique to post apocalyptic thrillers and I never got the ‘here we go again’ feeling that you can get with other writers. Definitely a keeper!
Mike is very good at the post apocalyptic genre and I definitely recommend this Omnibus. I don’t usually pay for books if I can help it - I know, cheapskate lol! - but after reading the samples , have HAD to get these! The stories are pretty unique to post apocalyptic thrillers and I never got the ‘here we go again’ feeling that you can get with other writers. Definitely a keeper!
June 5, 2018
Great story and cast of characters
Though fiction, this story is almost plausible. It captured my interest early on and kept it throughout the books. If you like end of civilization themes, this is a good one. I prefer such stories with a Christian theme; however the characters are dedicated to the cause and succeed in their mission.
Though fiction, this story is almost plausible. It captured my interest early on and kept it throughout the books. If you like end of civilization themes, this is a good one. I prefer such stories with a Christian theme; however the characters are dedicated to the cause and succeed in their mission.
September 26, 2019
Thrilling, exciting and entertaining
Sorry to read the loss of one of the main characters, but Mr. Krause stays true to the story by doing so. I’ve read this non-stop for several days while cooped up at home a with a cold. It’s made the time pass while I feel lousy and it’s very entertaining besides. Please keep writing Mr. Krause. You’re my kind of author! God bless.
Sorry to read the loss of one of the main characters, but Mr. Krause stays true to the story by doing so. I’ve read this non-stop for several days while cooped up at home a with a cold. It’s made the time pass while I feel lousy and it’s very entertaining besides. Please keep writing Mr. Krause. You’re my kind of author! God bless.
April 4, 2020
Great Reading
Good reading, kept me at the edge of my seat. The characters were very believable and so was the storyline. I had to remind myself several times throughout the book, it was only fiction although I won't put it pass any country nowadays to be experimenting with this same type of scenario. God help us all.
Good reading, kept me at the edge of my seat. The characters were very believable and so was the storyline. I had to remind myself several times throughout the book, it was only fiction although I won't put it pass any country nowadays to be experimenting with this same type of scenario. God help us all.
May 12, 2017
A FINE TALE OF CRAZY, SOUPED UP ROBOTS IT IS...
Hello, this is quite the interesting story. Definitely not your everyday apocalypse. Very well written and entertaining to read. Thanks.
Hello, this is quite the interesting story. Definitely not your everyday apocalypse. Very well written and entertaining to read. Thanks.
June 21, 2017
Final Dawn
What a fantastic read, excellent, I could hardly put it down, only had time to sleep and eat, then back to the book, a lot of twists and turns, and interesting characters during the journey, definitely 5 stars!
What a fantastic read, excellent, I could hardly put it down, only had time to sleep and eat, then back to the book, a lot of twists and turns, and interesting characters during the journey, definitely 5 stars!
November 20, 2017
Consistent story
Well paced never leaving you waiting in the wings for the next bit of action. Consistent extension of current science of the day. Likeable characters and despicable advesary. A real page turner.
Well paced never leaving you waiting in the wings for the next bit of action. Consistent extension of current science of the day. Likeable characters and despicable advesary. A real page turner.
February 13, 2018
Middle of the road read
Not horrible not great, has moments of interest and other moments where the story flat lines, interesting take on the apocalypse but fell short in some areas.
Not horrible not great, has moments of interest and other moments where the story flat lines, interesting take on the apocalypse but fell short in some areas.
July 22, 2018
Life
This rating is the best I can pick. This is a great as t story. It was wrote in way it was easy to read. It keep your attention . It was great the way all worked together.
The way you wrote Rachel's end tears came to my eyes.
This rating is the best I can pick. This is a great as t story. It was wrote in way it was easy to read. It keep your attention . It was great the way all worked together.
The way you wrote Rachel's end tears came to my eyes.
November 23, 2018
Long, convoluted, and FUN!
It took fifty pages to hook me, but the author has a way of drawing you in and suspending your disbelief. I truly enjoyed the storyline once I got into it.
It took fifty pages to hook me, but the author has a way of drawing you in and suspending your disbelief. I truly enjoyed the storyline once I got into it.
February 16, 2019
As good the second time
I read this series a year or so ago and loved so decided to read it again. The characters are like old friends and it was as exciting the second time I read it as the first.
I read this series a year or so ago and loved so decided to read it again. The characters are like old friends and it was as exciting the second time I read it as the first.
March 18, 2019
Survival at it's finest
What you are writing is very interesting enjoyable to read. I will continue to read more from you and your other writers as I really enjoy the he'll out them.
What you are writing is very interesting enjoyable to read. I will continue to read more from you and your other writers as I really enjoy the he'll out them.
April 28, 2019
What we do
Science wants to develop artificial intelligence but after reading this am not sure it is a good idea. This is a different setting and happening s . Think you will be completely under it's spell.
Science wants to develop artificial intelligence but after reading this am not sure it is a good idea. This is a different setting and happening s . Think you will be completely under it's spell.
July 1, 2019
Hard to put down!
Fascinating story lines and liked following the different characters. I kept saying just one more chapter - but would read until I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer!
Fascinating story lines and liked following the different characters. I kept saying just one more chapter - but would read until I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer!
March 23, 2021
Enjoyed it immensely
When the AI gets a life of its own, look out. Well done series here. Try this author out if you haven’t already. You will not be disappointed. I read the entire series start to finish. Getting ready to buy the next series now!
When the AI gets a life of its own, look out. Well done series here. Try this author out if you haven’t already. You will not be disappointed. I read the entire series start to finish. Getting ready to buy the next series now!
August 8, 2021
Worth reading again.
The characters were fabulously real. The plot new and fresh. The books were meaty but not too short or long. I felt like I was tearing across the country with them. I got lost in the world. I will be back reading it in a months time. Thank you!
The characters were fabulously real. The plot new and fresh. The books were meaty but not too short or long. I felt like I was tearing across the country with them. I got lost in the world. I will be back reading it in a months time. Thank you!
October 31, 2022
I only got 30 pages in and I have already decided I don’t want to read anymore. I thought it was supposed to be a post massive nuclear strike book. But now there is some kind of creature. Also all the people have vanished except for a very select few, but the cows are ok? Doesn’t make sense.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews