What do you think?
Rate this book
After the EMP Saga #1
Darkness Begins
If the power grid fails, how far will you go to survive?
Madison spends her days tending plants as an agriculture student at the University of California, Davis. She plans to graduate and put those skills to work only a few hours from home in the Central Valley. The sun has always been her friend, until now.
When catastrophe strikes, how prepared will you be?
Tracy starts her morning like any other, kissing her husband Walter goodbye before heading off to work at the local public library. She never expects it to end fleeing for her life in a Suburban full of food and water. Tackling life’s daily struggles is one thing, preparing to survive when it all crashes down is another.
The end of the world brings out the best and worst in all of us.
With no communication and no word from the government, the Sloanes find themselves grappling with the end of the modern world all on their own. Will Madison and her friends have what it takes to make it back to Sacramento and her family? Can Tracy fend off looters and thieves and help her friends and neighbors survive?
The EMP is only the beginning.
Madison spends her days tending plants as an agriculture student at the University of California, Davis. She plans to graduate and put those skills to work only a few hours from home in the Central Valley. The sun has always been her friend, until now.
When catastrophe strikes, how prepared will you be?
Tracy starts her morning like any other, kissing her husband Walter goodbye before heading off to work at the local public library. She never expects it to end fleeing for her life in a Suburban full of food and water. Tackling life’s daily struggles is one thing, preparing to survive when it all crashes down is another.
The end of the world brings out the best and worst in all of us.
With no communication and no word from the government, the Sloanes find themselves grappling with the end of the modern world all on their own. Will Madison and her friends have what it takes to make it back to Sacramento and her family? Can Tracy fend off looters and thieves and help her friends and neighbors survive?
The EMP is only the beginning.
252 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 3, 2017
2115 people are currently reading
758 people want to read
About the author
Harley Tate
47 books159 followersWhen the world as we know it falls apart, how far will you go to survive?
Harley Tate writes edge-of-your-seat post-apocalyptic fiction exploring what happens when ordinary people are faced with impossible choices.
Subscribe to Harley's newsletter for two exclusive prequels you can't get anywhere else: www.harleytate.com/subscribe
The end of life as we know it brings out the best and worst in all of us. The apocalypse is only the beginning.
Harley Tate writes edge-of-your-seat post-apocalyptic fiction exploring what happens when ordinary people are faced with impossible choices.
Subscribe to Harley's newsletter for two exclusive prequels you can't get anywhere else: www.harleytate.com/subscribe
The end of life as we know it brings out the best and worst in all of us. The apocalypse is only the beginning.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
November 14, 2018
Ah, vacation.
It's no secret I'm a sucker for the apocalypse, and after seeing how America treats one of it's natural-resource vacationlands, my feeling is that we're all doomed. I had been saving this freebie for this exact mood, so on my last night of vaca, I treated myself to opening it up.
I could not put it down.
Simply written, it tells the tale of Madison and Tracy, a daughter and her mother, right before a massive sunflare erupts and coincides with a solar storm that will create a massive EMP (a premise used in the tv show Dark Angel to interesting effect). Alternating between the two viewpoints, we experience the change from a naive, optimistic college student, to that of her more jaded mother. Madison's understanding of the crisis comes about through one of her astrophysics-geeky friends, and she alerts her mother to what might be going on. Tracy has her concerns amplified by a friend and by a quick update from her pilot husband. Because it's spring break, Madison's campus is mostly deserted, with just her and three friends hanging around.
One of the genre pitfalls is the risk of explano-babble. Tate does have to resort to a bit in the beginning, but in fairness, its done reasonably organically. Actually, the set-up seems semi-believable; a natural but statistically improbable combination of events that is small enough that it would be reported in specialist journals and geeky news feeds, but unappreciated by the general public. It was overly-coincidental when Tracy ran into a parallel explainer, but I'm willing to forgive. The character needed a corroberator to overcome the character's--and by extension, the reader's--disbelief. Madison having three other friends around her also gives the narrator a chance to demonstrate three other reactions to the news.
The writing is straightforward, but it suits the equally straightforward plot. The series is more like a novella installment; both books that I've read so far have a complete and satisfying arc, but also point the way toward a new challenge.
“Say all of this is true. That some massive solar storm is coming our way and about to knock out the power. How long do we have to prepare?” Tucker glanced at his watch. “Seventeen hours and counting.”
Hesitations include the aforementioned explano-babble and perhaps the wish that we lingered a bit longer on the initial twenty-four hours of disbelief and reaction. I could have used a bit more evocative language, but that's a fine line, and coming off a book that was excessive in it's imagery, it was a welcome change.
Overall, I was hooked, and went on to the next the same night. I'm sure I amused the crowd at the hotel's tiki bar as I read, but really, tell me it wasn't a perfect moment: a warm Florida night, with steady breezes from the ocean, a melting cocktail by my side, a comfortable lounge chair and me and Kindle under the half-hidden moon.
Three and a half sun-flares, rounding up.
I was positive this came to my attention through one of my friends, but when I look into friend reviews, it appears not. Amazon review after a deal? No idea. Serendipity, I guess.
It's no secret I'm a sucker for the apocalypse, and after seeing how America treats one of it's natural-resource vacationlands, my feeling is that we're all doomed. I had been saving this freebie for this exact mood, so on my last night of vaca, I treated myself to opening it up.
I could not put it down.
Simply written, it tells the tale of Madison and Tracy, a daughter and her mother, right before a massive sunflare erupts and coincides with a solar storm that will create a massive EMP (a premise used in the tv show Dark Angel to interesting effect). Alternating between the two viewpoints, we experience the change from a naive, optimistic college student, to that of her more jaded mother. Madison's understanding of the crisis comes about through one of her astrophysics-geeky friends, and she alerts her mother to what might be going on. Tracy has her concerns amplified by a friend and by a quick update from her pilot husband. Because it's spring break, Madison's campus is mostly deserted, with just her and three friends hanging around.
One of the genre pitfalls is the risk of explano-babble. Tate does have to resort to a bit in the beginning, but in fairness, its done reasonably organically. Actually, the set-up seems semi-believable; a natural but statistically improbable combination of events that is small enough that it would be reported in specialist journals and geeky news feeds, but unappreciated by the general public. It was overly-coincidental when Tracy ran into a parallel explainer, but I'm willing to forgive. The character needed a corroberator to overcome the character's--and by extension, the reader's--disbelief. Madison having three other friends around her also gives the narrator a chance to demonstrate three other reactions to the news.
The writing is straightforward, but it suits the equally straightforward plot. The series is more like a novella installment; both books that I've read so far have a complete and satisfying arc, but also point the way toward a new challenge.
“Say all of this is true. That some massive solar storm is coming our way and about to knock out the power. How long do we have to prepare?” Tucker glanced at his watch. “Seventeen hours and counting.”
Hesitations include the aforementioned explano-babble and perhaps the wish that we lingered a bit longer on the initial twenty-four hours of disbelief and reaction. I could have used a bit more evocative language, but that's a fine line, and coming off a book that was excessive in it's imagery, it was a welcome change.
Overall, I was hooked, and went on to the next the same night. I'm sure I amused the crowd at the hotel's tiki bar as I read, but really, tell me it wasn't a perfect moment: a warm Florida night, with steady breezes from the ocean, a melting cocktail by my side, a comfortable lounge chair and me and Kindle under the half-hidden moon.
Three and a half sun-flares, rounding up.
I was positive this came to my attention through one of my friends, but when I look into friend reviews, it appears not. Amazon review after a deal? No idea. Serendipity, I guess.
July 28, 2025
I'm usually all about zombies, but this author kept getting recommended to me and I've not really got that many EMP reads under my belt. So thought why not..
I’ve had this one on my iPad for months, tried to get into it once before, put it down, to picking it up today and reading it in no time at all.
Definitely got the heart pumping and the angst levels rejoicing on this cold winters day, so many nail biting moments, clueless people, others wanting what others have, the usual threats and a close group of friends comprehending what's happening in the world. The end of the world as they knew it has come to an end, and within a blink of an eye humanity has left the building.
I’ve had this one on my iPad for months, tried to get into it once before, put it down, to picking it up today and reading it in no time at all.
Definitely got the heart pumping and the angst levels rejoicing on this cold winters day, so many nail biting moments, clueless people, others wanting what others have, the usual threats and a close group of friends comprehending what's happening in the world. The end of the world as they knew it has come to an end, and within a blink of an eye humanity has left the building.
April 24, 2019
I kind of have a bit of the prepper in me.
Not the bunker full of MREs type of prepper but I have enough ration packs to last a week, maybe 2 if I'm careful. I have a pretty serious first aid kit. Basically I believe in climate change and the extreme weather events we are experiencing around the world right now are going to increase in severity and frequency. I'm not paranoid but I'm not stupid either and I'm ready for those disruptions.
That part of me loves reading these survivalist type of books but there are some that are good and some that are kind of terrible.
Kendra Elliot's Mercy Kilpatrick books are great, Rhiannon Frater's The World Dies books are great, Sarah Lyons Fleming The City series and even something like In the Barren Ground by Loreth Anne White are great. Love them.
This on the other hand is kind of terrible. After an EMP the world goes to hell in a hand-basket. Humanity is divided into two groups. Murdering psychopaths are the biggest group. That's pretty much everyone who isn't in the Sloane family. And damn those democrats and their gun laws that keep honest hardworking white people like the Sloanes from legitimately killing democrat voting, prius driving liberals in self defence.
No. I wasn't all that impressed.
Not the bunker full of MREs type of prepper but I have enough ration packs to last a week, maybe 2 if I'm careful. I have a pretty serious first aid kit. Basically I believe in climate change and the extreme weather events we are experiencing around the world right now are going to increase in severity and frequency. I'm not paranoid but I'm not stupid either and I'm ready for those disruptions.
That part of me loves reading these survivalist type of books but there are some that are good and some that are kind of terrible.
Kendra Elliot's Mercy Kilpatrick books are great, Rhiannon Frater's The World Dies books are great, Sarah Lyons Fleming The City series and even something like In the Barren Ground by Loreth Anne White are great. Love them.
This on the other hand is kind of terrible. After an EMP the world goes to hell in a hand-basket. Humanity is divided into two groups. Murdering psychopaths are the biggest group. That's pretty much everyone who isn't in the Sloane family. And damn those democrats and their gun laws that keep honest hardworking white people like the Sloanes from legitimately killing democrat voting, prius driving liberals in self defence.
No. I wasn't all that impressed.
Read
December 14, 2025Rating; minus 25 on a scale of minus 15 to plus 5.
I doubt that anyone will read this but hopefully should anyone, it will be helpful. The book is an undeniably poor effort but is a good example of Kindle Unlimited fare.
Before I begin, I require a visit to the YouTube. This was made made possible by Doctor Who/They Break My Heart, Anark, Lore Saga AI, Red Glasgow, WhatMichaelaReads, A Lil Bit Mads, Reads with Rachel, Philosophy Tube, Welcome to Ukraine, The Gaze, Fit Danielle Reads,
NCMI, Russian Media Monitor, Tale Foundry, Keffals, FAFO, Chris Norlund, Kirkpattiecake, Sailing Melody, Terrible Writing Advice, Ukraine Matters, Lady of the Library, Isaac Arthur, Ben and Emily, Words in Time, NanyaCim, Quinn's Ideas, Lily Simpson, Kozak Muzon, Lexi AKA NewlyNova, Shannon Makes, J Draper, Break N Remake,
The Ritual Kitchen with Laura May, Karolina Zebrowska, Mr Newberger's AI Funnies, Voices of the Past, Book Chats with Shelley, Library Ladder, Epimetheus, Joe Blogs, Fantasy and World Music by the Fletchers, Eileen, Kyiv Independent, Supertanskiii, The Interesting Times, Deerstalker Pictures, Silicon Curtain, Jake Broe,
Cruising Alba, The Great War, Megalith Hunter, Kiko1006, What Do They Know - Songs Sped up, Cruising Crafts, Smack the Pony, Narrowboat Pirate, Mercado Media, Ro Ramdin, May, Some More News, It's Black Friday, NerdForge, Jared Henderson,
Agro Squirrel Narrates, Deck of DM Things, Dominic Noble, Survival Lilly, Shaun, Fit 2B Read, Inside Russia, Fall of Civilisations, Battle Order, Hildegard Von Blingin, Northern Narrowboaters, Cruising Crafts, HBomberGuy, SciFi Odyssey, Cold Fusion, Physics Girl, up and Atom, Dark Docs, Eugenia from Ukraine, Shoeonhead, Jess Owens, Partners in Crime, Marsh Family, Naughty Nana DUZ, Well Deck Diaries.
I recently saw an idiot who whilst insulting an essayist, complain to her that I mention channels with other trans creators. Lack of introspection and determined incivility are the hallmark of the Snowflake. Trigger warning then.
The channels I list include architect, language historian, mathematician, intersex, tall, political historian, Scottish, blond, bi, economist, communist, model painter, cis, older, archaeologist, marine biologist, farmer, trans, Kenyan, science educator, boater, physicist, queer, pensioner, anarchist, WOC, married, asexual, military boardgamer, lumber yard worker, primatologist, mathematician, cosplayer, culture critic, lesbian, German, chess player. paleontologist and other creators known as Women.
Almost as damaging to limited world view are the Welsh, other LGBTQI+, socialist, boat restorer, redhaired, writer, chemist, other BIPOC, model builder, wood worker, political commentator, fashion historian, RPG player, Australian, BookTuber, miniatures painter, military historian, philosopher, Irish, zoologist and others known (outside the USA) as Human Beings.
Should the voices insist still, I suggest emergency therapy, immediate development of a hobby (not to include abusing women which is mental illness) or adoption of Jainism.
My feelings towards these poorly socialised are similar to that of the 13 Ukrainian marines defending Snake Island when ordered to surrender by the Russian navy. Their famous recorded response was "Russian warship, go f@ck yourself". Glory to Ukraine. Glory to the Heroes. Crimea is Ukraine.
Once more unto the book, dear friends. This is a splendid example of white nationalist post apocalyptic fantasy. I was disgusted by the first chapter and by 20% in gave up on the book. This was hardly the worst of several similar which I mistakenly attempted.
As usual with this subgenre, the most lax Gun laws in the industrialised world are onerous. There is early in, exposition on the need of universal gun ownership by the right people.
The book's theme was "To buy guns today with no practice, no training in safety or other is good". One must be armed to put down the brown hordes who will certainly materialise and one mustn't assume a white male will be available to save you.
Other reviewers have written, they came for an adventure story not a gun rant. I read the reviews about the flatness of the characters. Of personalities, there are none.
The weird decision making and the implausible interactions are a perfect partnership. If you were expecting a plot, you will be disappointed. One reader corrected me on another book review. The member consensus seems that plot holes, contrivance and character depth are unimportant.
I now understand how my dissatisfaction may not make sense to certain readers.
Claes Rees Jr aka cgr710 now ka Clayton R Jesse Jr and Matthew H both wrote comments, since masked. They had nothing to say about the wonders of this book. They seem only concerned that a review which criticises gun rants is bad. This was my first encounter with Claes.
Jakob wrote a comment that the book had degenerated into an even more painful experience and that I judged correctly to not waste more time with this offensive drivel.
Claes Rees Jr aka cgr710 now ka Clayton R Jesse Jr does not know the origins of his own name, which is just as well lest he claim and shame a noble ancestry. His whingeing of being unfairly treated for having his arrogant comments addressed directly, was sad.
Matthew H had no book marked read on his new shelves and neither this book nor any other by this writer. It is as if his profile were an artefact to permit his response. He was apoplectic and so unarmed with vocabulary, he was only able to repeat several times how wrong my review was. The account seems to have since been removed.
Claes Rees Jr mistakenly imagined that I required his permission to mock this silly fiction, the writer or glorification of US gun culture. To clarify my opinion of the book's theme, I despise the NRA (an interesting history there), the culture which it supports and unlike the US police or probably the majority of US gun owners, I have faced drawn guns. Having survived the experience several times, I assure you it is an unpleasant experience.
Unlike Claes and Matthew, I am outraged by the needless death of schoolchildren, non-whites or women at the hands of gun armed maniacs with racist, misogynistic and often fascistic worldviews.
Examples of the social good that is gun use in the US.
"I was afraid for my life", has been a successful police defence in every murder of US citizens for decades with no consequence. Perhaps a courage test might be introduced in their recruitment.
A Vietnamese secondary school student in a Seattle mall, working with a textbook on a mall bench was killed by a policeman. This after a white shopper reported that she felt threatened by the teen's pen and paper. This was some nine to ten years ago. No consequences.
Black teenagers were shot through a windshield from the hood of their vehicle in stalled traffic by an angry white off duty policeman who claimed that he was disrespected by their loud music. No consequences.
A black motorist was shot to death in front of his children during a traffic stop (no reason given for the stop) after informing the police on camera, as is required that he legally possessed a weapon in his car. No consequences.
A twelve year old black Ohio child was killed two seconds (according to cruiser footage) after police arrived at an empty playground because of a call that he was playing with a toy gun. Both officers claimed that he seemed at least 18 (?). It seems that is the new legal age for murdering black citizens. No consequences.
That privilege has been extended to non-black citizens, Zimmerman comes to mind. He was acquitted of the stalking and murder of a black teenager who was on his way home at night. The shooter was quite the Florida hero.
A Chicago woman removed her former boyfriend from her home. He called police because she was crazy in having him leave. The woman answered her door from a shower in bath towel and was shot and killed immediately by two policemen. Both boyfriend and victim were white. The boyfriend's only response to a reporter's question was "they didn't have to shoot her" complete with pout. The police seemed to consider her towel a dangerous weapon. No consequences.
There is in the US, a specialty financial industry supporting jurisdictions' bond issues for settlement of wrongful death payments. No scandal.
I watched a video of a Texas scandal from a year ago of 370+ policemen refusing to enter a school building with a single shooter killing youngsters. A small Latina mother was not allowed to enter the school. She worked round to the rear of the building climbed a fence, raised a window, led her child's class to safety. She was then threatened with arrest by officers from some of the several jurisdictions involved, who backed down as they realised they were being filmed.
After 77 minutes of inactivity, the death of nineteen children and two teachers, police finally entered the building. When I first read that account, it was a two day local story, not even a state wide scandal. No federal investigation was launched and no consequences.
Imagine the reaction, had that shameful cowardice occurred in Bordeaux, Hamburg or Glasgow.
I need another stepaway. This section was brought to you by Doctor Who/Never Cruel or Cowardly, SK Media, Swell Entertainment, Barry's Economics, Sarah Z, Mercado Media, A Day of Small Things, Squire, Dr Becky, Some More News, Silicon Curtain, ChunkyMark, Council of Geeks, CarolinaWren, New Enlightenment with Ashley,
Jonathan Koan, Nikki Carreon, Mrs Betty Bowers, Cruising Crafts, Agro Squirrel Narrates, Red Viburnam Song, Installation00, Perun, With Cindy, Chess Vibes, Vlad Vexler, Viva La Dirt League, Words in Time, Just in Time Worldbuilding, Larry & Paul, Nelda Teresa, Apostolic Majesty, Books N Cats, Rachel Oates, Scotland History Tours, Annamarie Forcino, ThroneOfPages, Sally's Economics, Fit Danielle Reads,
Think Ukraine, NFKRZ, Hat Historian, Preston Stewart, ALLShorts, Amie's Literary Empire, The Juice Media, Nicole Raflee, Historian's Craft, Times Radio, Interesting Times, Zoe Bee, MoAn Inc, Anton Petrov, Cold Fusion, Gutsick Gibbon, Ben G Thomas, Kings and Generals, Garron,
Brandon Fisichella, Atun Shei Pictures, Randy Rainbow, Dominic Noble, Supertanskiii, Hello Future Me, Double Down News, Delamer, Off Grid Life, Mark Fisher, Munecat, Cossack and Caucasus Sword Dance, Liz Webster, Guard the Leaf, Gary's Economics, Tara Farms, Let's Turnitupworld, Hej Sokoly.
Consider treating as a hostile site. 😐
Goodreads discourse does not exist. I wrote a short negative review of Powers of the Earth by Travis Corcoran.
He self-described as libertarian (now anarcho capitalist without millions), advocate for the return of chattel slavery (popular position in the USA it seems with prison labour supplemented by the new forced labour prisons being created for homeless, RV or van detainees. With US history and Republican public statements, generational slavery must be on the cards), veteran, employee of an unnamed US and admirer of the war criminal Putin (popular opinion in the current government and many of its supporters).
The book's story was that of a heroic rich twat enlisting the military in overthrow of the US government in order that he not pay taxes. Originally blurbed as similar to a Heinlein classic, it is actually a poorly written imitation of "Atlas Shrugged" set on the moon.
I wrote that the theme (common in Unlimited selections) was dangerous, unhealthy and now prophetic. Just my communist judgement.
Travis and six fellow patriots were incensed by my review. They invested a year in comments demanding my engagement. None were defence of the book but instead were judgement of my intelligence, an interesting belief that white males created all history, slavery was a social good which should return, that women have no place in science fiction readership, that failure to engage was evidence of my narcissism and more.
Such a generous outpouring of new information did much to mitigate disappointment in there not being an answer to the origin of humans in the America's.
I do not enjoy irony and they do not recognise it.
The same Claes Rees Jr above, delivered the final comment. After referencing the contents of my last exchange with a Goodreads friend, he grandly declared that They had "won" (?).
I discovered that these patriots and fellow Snowflakes had launched a year long campaign of horrible racist, misogynistic and similar comments against apparently every female creator of channels which I mentioned (it continues still).
The physicist, midteen boater and her mother, artist, pensioner and other creators were not charmed.
Of course the world's overabundance of unpleasantness was increased and They did deliver a splendid self-portrait of the snowflake (badly socialised, self-important US man-child) to a multinational audience. I imagine that on balance was Victory.
Goodreads discourse is a wonder. Fortunately there are BookTubers to discuss more useful reader sites.
Ominous music begins. 😊 The membership include comment clouds like these and worse. They probably feel emboldened with the Republican Party ascension. Comment gangs exist in Romantasy, Romance, science fiction and non-fiction. Their activity include the doxxing, stalking, threats and more.
After the Powers review, Kindle/Goodreads gave my limited message history over to those madmen. This was used to request through Pine Gap Centre that Australian Security Services interrogate the one friend whom I occasionally messaged. While the attempt at my personal history failed, there were two outraged customers.
Amazon was unconcerned until we began sharing our experience. Their response was to mask all the nasty or threatening comments, return my page format and options to normal, remove all lurkers whom I was not previously Allowed to remove, etc but not a single email to acknowledge the several years of harassment or gods forbid release of certain mad employees.
For a detailed study of Amazon customer service failure, I direct the reader to YouTube "Fit Danielle Reads". Her ordeal stunned me, even after my experience.
Recently a seventh ex-employee of EBay was sentenced for harassment of a couple who produce a small ecommerce channel deemed unkind to EBay. They were awarded millions and the ex-employee had been the EBay Chief of GLobal Security or some such. With the rise of US data firms, these are things to think about.
I have several suggestions for a safer experience.
Remove any personal information from profile and avoid messaging. Remove those friends who never post. These lurkers are likely monitors for gangs or employee dummies, not admirers. Given the Goodreads penchant for Altering customer pages, the screenshot of the odd, ugly or threatening are invaluable.
Kindle is the more serious threat. Do Not use Files, Calendar, Email or Contacts. I had tested Email for data transfer, removed it minutes later and changed the password. I received a notification perhaps six months later that They were unable to Sign Into my Email. Make of that what you will.
I was also subjected to a hacking attempt in the same period above.
Do Not purchase Amazon ebooks. You own only your device, not downloads. Even use of your Kindle is controlled by Amazon as I discovered. Had I known any of the above, I'd not have entered Amazon's sphere.
There are many BookTubers who discuss alternative tablet and ebook vendors, as well as alternatives to ebook purchase.
All Silk searches should of course, be innocuous and non-critical.
To implement the above cost notching, to not might well do. These mental employees and members lack any non-Randian morality, know nothing of sanity or social norms. Most importantly they are US patriots. Ominous music ends. 😊
Be safe my friend and may we all find Good Reading. 🤗
Some favourites.
NCMI, Authors Behaving Badly, Ben and Emily, Bobbing Along, Think That Through, Kazachka, Tom Nicholas, SandRhoman History, KernowDamo, Nerdy Kathi, Prime of Midlife, Sailing Melody, Dadvocate, Angela Collier, Geo Girl, Sabine Hossenfelder,
Prime of Midlife, May, Sub Brief, Cruising Alba, Northern Narrowboaters, Long Shot Wargaming, Miniminuteman, Lindsay Nikole, Danielle Kristy, Lindsay Ellis, Long Shot Wargaming, Dark Docs, Dark Seas, The Planet D,
Isaac Arthur, Alex Fleev, Julie Nolke, What Vivi did next, Paleo Analysis, Part Time Hobbit, What Vivi did next, Claus Kellerman POV,
Jessie Gender, Steve Shives, Leftist Cooks, Bella Ciao - Kutuzov, Kathy's Flog in France, Icarus Project, Confused Adipose, Owen Jones, The Roads with Belle, Central Crossing, Briefed, Ship Happens, Tod Maffin,
Magical Molly, Institute of Art and Ideas, NerdForge, SchizoKitzo, Rather Oates, Nicole Rudolph, Don't F@ck with Ukraine, OrangeRiver, the Shades of Orange, Biz, DW News, Royal Institution, The Bands of HM Royal Marines, Maky Abugu, Cambrian Chronicles.
I wish you a sunny morning, a pleasant afternoon, a cosy evening, a wonderful night and may we all continue learning.
Allow Others to speak in your name, adopt the Their sins.
My grandmother
I doubt that anyone will read this but hopefully should anyone, it will be helpful. The book is an undeniably poor effort but is a good example of Kindle Unlimited fare.
Before I begin, I require a visit to the YouTube. This was made made possible by Doctor Who/They Break My Heart, Anark, Lore Saga AI, Red Glasgow, WhatMichaelaReads, A Lil Bit Mads, Reads with Rachel, Philosophy Tube, Welcome to Ukraine, The Gaze, Fit Danielle Reads,
NCMI, Russian Media Monitor, Tale Foundry, Keffals, FAFO, Chris Norlund, Kirkpattiecake, Sailing Melody, Terrible Writing Advice, Ukraine Matters, Lady of the Library, Isaac Arthur, Ben and Emily, Words in Time, NanyaCim, Quinn's Ideas, Lily Simpson, Kozak Muzon, Lexi AKA NewlyNova, Shannon Makes, J Draper, Break N Remake,
The Ritual Kitchen with Laura May, Karolina Zebrowska, Mr Newberger's AI Funnies, Voices of the Past, Book Chats with Shelley, Library Ladder, Epimetheus, Joe Blogs, Fantasy and World Music by the Fletchers, Eileen, Kyiv Independent, Supertanskiii, The Interesting Times, Deerstalker Pictures, Silicon Curtain, Jake Broe,
Cruising Alba, The Great War, Megalith Hunter, Kiko1006, What Do They Know - Songs Sped up, Cruising Crafts, Smack the Pony, Narrowboat Pirate, Mercado Media, Ro Ramdin, May, Some More News, It's Black Friday, NerdForge, Jared Henderson,
Agro Squirrel Narrates, Deck of DM Things, Dominic Noble, Survival Lilly, Shaun, Fit 2B Read, Inside Russia, Fall of Civilisations, Battle Order, Hildegard Von Blingin, Northern Narrowboaters, Cruising Crafts, HBomberGuy, SciFi Odyssey, Cold Fusion, Physics Girl, up and Atom, Dark Docs, Eugenia from Ukraine, Shoeonhead, Jess Owens, Partners in Crime, Marsh Family, Naughty Nana DUZ, Well Deck Diaries.
I recently saw an idiot who whilst insulting an essayist, complain to her that I mention channels with other trans creators. Lack of introspection and determined incivility are the hallmark of the Snowflake. Trigger warning then.
The channels I list include architect, language historian, mathematician, intersex, tall, political historian, Scottish, blond, bi, economist, communist, model painter, cis, older, archaeologist, marine biologist, farmer, trans, Kenyan, science educator, boater, physicist, queer, pensioner, anarchist, WOC, married, asexual, military boardgamer, lumber yard worker, primatologist, mathematician, cosplayer, culture critic, lesbian, German, chess player. paleontologist and other creators known as Women.
Almost as damaging to limited world view are the Welsh, other LGBTQI+, socialist, boat restorer, redhaired, writer, chemist, other BIPOC, model builder, wood worker, political commentator, fashion historian, RPG player, Australian, BookTuber, miniatures painter, military historian, philosopher, Irish, zoologist and others known (outside the USA) as Human Beings.
Should the voices insist still, I suggest emergency therapy, immediate development of a hobby (not to include abusing women which is mental illness) or adoption of Jainism.
My feelings towards these poorly socialised are similar to that of the 13 Ukrainian marines defending Snake Island when ordered to surrender by the Russian navy. Their famous recorded response was "Russian warship, go f@ck yourself". Glory to Ukraine. Glory to the Heroes. Crimea is Ukraine.
Once more unto the book, dear friends. This is a splendid example of white nationalist post apocalyptic fantasy. I was disgusted by the first chapter and by 20% in gave up on the book. This was hardly the worst of several similar which I mistakenly attempted.
As usual with this subgenre, the most lax Gun laws in the industrialised world are onerous. There is early in, exposition on the need of universal gun ownership by the right people.
The book's theme was "To buy guns today with no practice, no training in safety or other is good". One must be armed to put down the brown hordes who will certainly materialise and one mustn't assume a white male will be available to save you.
Other reviewers have written, they came for an adventure story not a gun rant. I read the reviews about the flatness of the characters. Of personalities, there are none.
The weird decision making and the implausible interactions are a perfect partnership. If you were expecting a plot, you will be disappointed. One reader corrected me on another book review. The member consensus seems that plot holes, contrivance and character depth are unimportant.
I now understand how my dissatisfaction may not make sense to certain readers.
Claes Rees Jr aka cgr710 now ka Clayton R Jesse Jr and Matthew H both wrote comments, since masked. They had nothing to say about the wonders of this book. They seem only concerned that a review which criticises gun rants is bad. This was my first encounter with Claes.
Jakob wrote a comment that the book had degenerated into an even more painful experience and that I judged correctly to not waste more time with this offensive drivel.
Claes Rees Jr aka cgr710 now ka Clayton R Jesse Jr does not know the origins of his own name, which is just as well lest he claim and shame a noble ancestry. His whingeing of being unfairly treated for having his arrogant comments addressed directly, was sad.
Matthew H had no book marked read on his new shelves and neither this book nor any other by this writer. It is as if his profile were an artefact to permit his response. He was apoplectic and so unarmed with vocabulary, he was only able to repeat several times how wrong my review was. The account seems to have since been removed.
Claes Rees Jr mistakenly imagined that I required his permission to mock this silly fiction, the writer or glorification of US gun culture. To clarify my opinion of the book's theme, I despise the NRA (an interesting history there), the culture which it supports and unlike the US police or probably the majority of US gun owners, I have faced drawn guns. Having survived the experience several times, I assure you it is an unpleasant experience.
Unlike Claes and Matthew, I am outraged by the needless death of schoolchildren, non-whites or women at the hands of gun armed maniacs with racist, misogynistic and often fascistic worldviews.
Examples of the social good that is gun use in the US.
"I was afraid for my life", has been a successful police defence in every murder of US citizens for decades with no consequence. Perhaps a courage test might be introduced in their recruitment.
A Vietnamese secondary school student in a Seattle mall, working with a textbook on a mall bench was killed by a policeman. This after a white shopper reported that she felt threatened by the teen's pen and paper. This was some nine to ten years ago. No consequences.
Black teenagers were shot through a windshield from the hood of their vehicle in stalled traffic by an angry white off duty policeman who claimed that he was disrespected by their loud music. No consequences.
A black motorist was shot to death in front of his children during a traffic stop (no reason given for the stop) after informing the police on camera, as is required that he legally possessed a weapon in his car. No consequences.
A twelve year old black Ohio child was killed two seconds (according to cruiser footage) after police arrived at an empty playground because of a call that he was playing with a toy gun. Both officers claimed that he seemed at least 18 (?). It seems that is the new legal age for murdering black citizens. No consequences.
That privilege has been extended to non-black citizens, Zimmerman comes to mind. He was acquitted of the stalking and murder of a black teenager who was on his way home at night. The shooter was quite the Florida hero.
A Chicago woman removed her former boyfriend from her home. He called police because she was crazy in having him leave. The woman answered her door from a shower in bath towel and was shot and killed immediately by two policemen. Both boyfriend and victim were white. The boyfriend's only response to a reporter's question was "they didn't have to shoot her" complete with pout. The police seemed to consider her towel a dangerous weapon. No consequences.
There is in the US, a specialty financial industry supporting jurisdictions' bond issues for settlement of wrongful death payments. No scandal.
I watched a video of a Texas scandal from a year ago of 370+ policemen refusing to enter a school building with a single shooter killing youngsters. A small Latina mother was not allowed to enter the school. She worked round to the rear of the building climbed a fence, raised a window, led her child's class to safety. She was then threatened with arrest by officers from some of the several jurisdictions involved, who backed down as they realised they were being filmed.
After 77 minutes of inactivity, the death of nineteen children and two teachers, police finally entered the building. When I first read that account, it was a two day local story, not even a state wide scandal. No federal investigation was launched and no consequences.
Imagine the reaction, had that shameful cowardice occurred in Bordeaux, Hamburg or Glasgow.
I need another stepaway. This section was brought to you by Doctor Who/Never Cruel or Cowardly, SK Media, Swell Entertainment, Barry's Economics, Sarah Z, Mercado Media, A Day of Small Things, Squire, Dr Becky, Some More News, Silicon Curtain, ChunkyMark, Council of Geeks, CarolinaWren, New Enlightenment with Ashley,
Jonathan Koan, Nikki Carreon, Mrs Betty Bowers, Cruising Crafts, Agro Squirrel Narrates, Red Viburnam Song, Installation00, Perun, With Cindy, Chess Vibes, Vlad Vexler, Viva La Dirt League, Words in Time, Just in Time Worldbuilding, Larry & Paul, Nelda Teresa, Apostolic Majesty, Books N Cats, Rachel Oates, Scotland History Tours, Annamarie Forcino, ThroneOfPages, Sally's Economics, Fit Danielle Reads,
Think Ukraine, NFKRZ, Hat Historian, Preston Stewart, ALLShorts, Amie's Literary Empire, The Juice Media, Nicole Raflee, Historian's Craft, Times Radio, Interesting Times, Zoe Bee, MoAn Inc, Anton Petrov, Cold Fusion, Gutsick Gibbon, Ben G Thomas, Kings and Generals, Garron,
Brandon Fisichella, Atun Shei Pictures, Randy Rainbow, Dominic Noble, Supertanskiii, Hello Future Me, Double Down News, Delamer, Off Grid Life, Mark Fisher, Munecat, Cossack and Caucasus Sword Dance, Liz Webster, Guard the Leaf, Gary's Economics, Tara Farms, Let's Turnitupworld, Hej Sokoly.
Consider treating as a hostile site. 😐
Goodreads discourse does not exist. I wrote a short negative review of Powers of the Earth by Travis Corcoran.
He self-described as libertarian (now anarcho capitalist without millions), advocate for the return of chattel slavery (popular position in the USA it seems with prison labour supplemented by the new forced labour prisons being created for homeless, RV or van detainees. With US history and Republican public statements, generational slavery must be on the cards), veteran, employee of an unnamed US and admirer of the war criminal Putin (popular opinion in the current government and many of its supporters).
The book's story was that of a heroic rich twat enlisting the military in overthrow of the US government in order that he not pay taxes. Originally blurbed as similar to a Heinlein classic, it is actually a poorly written imitation of "Atlas Shrugged" set on the moon.
I wrote that the theme (common in Unlimited selections) was dangerous, unhealthy and now prophetic. Just my communist judgement.
Travis and six fellow patriots were incensed by my review. They invested a year in comments demanding my engagement. None were defence of the book but instead were judgement of my intelligence, an interesting belief that white males created all history, slavery was a social good which should return, that women have no place in science fiction readership, that failure to engage was evidence of my narcissism and more.
Such a generous outpouring of new information did much to mitigate disappointment in there not being an answer to the origin of humans in the America's.
I do not enjoy irony and they do not recognise it.
The same Claes Rees Jr above, delivered the final comment. After referencing the contents of my last exchange with a Goodreads friend, he grandly declared that They had "won" (?).
I discovered that these patriots and fellow Snowflakes had launched a year long campaign of horrible racist, misogynistic and similar comments against apparently every female creator of channels which I mentioned (it continues still).
The physicist, midteen boater and her mother, artist, pensioner and other creators were not charmed.
Of course the world's overabundance of unpleasantness was increased and They did deliver a splendid self-portrait of the snowflake (badly socialised, self-important US man-child) to a multinational audience. I imagine that on balance was Victory.
Goodreads discourse is a wonder. Fortunately there are BookTubers to discuss more useful reader sites.
Ominous music begins. 😊 The membership include comment clouds like these and worse. They probably feel emboldened with the Republican Party ascension. Comment gangs exist in Romantasy, Romance, science fiction and non-fiction. Their activity include the doxxing, stalking, threats and more.
After the Powers review, Kindle/Goodreads gave my limited message history over to those madmen. This was used to request through Pine Gap Centre that Australian Security Services interrogate the one friend whom I occasionally messaged. While the attempt at my personal history failed, there were two outraged customers.
Amazon was unconcerned until we began sharing our experience. Their response was to mask all the nasty or threatening comments, return my page format and options to normal, remove all lurkers whom I was not previously Allowed to remove, etc but not a single email to acknowledge the several years of harassment or gods forbid release of certain mad employees.
For a detailed study of Amazon customer service failure, I direct the reader to YouTube "Fit Danielle Reads". Her ordeal stunned me, even after my experience.
Recently a seventh ex-employee of EBay was sentenced for harassment of a couple who produce a small ecommerce channel deemed unkind to EBay. They were awarded millions and the ex-employee had been the EBay Chief of GLobal Security or some such. With the rise of US data firms, these are things to think about.
I have several suggestions for a safer experience.
Remove any personal information from profile and avoid messaging. Remove those friends who never post. These lurkers are likely monitors for gangs or employee dummies, not admirers. Given the Goodreads penchant for Altering customer pages, the screenshot of the odd, ugly or threatening are invaluable.
Kindle is the more serious threat. Do Not use Files, Calendar, Email or Contacts. I had tested Email for data transfer, removed it minutes later and changed the password. I received a notification perhaps six months later that They were unable to Sign Into my Email. Make of that what you will.
I was also subjected to a hacking attempt in the same period above.
Do Not purchase Amazon ebooks. You own only your device, not downloads. Even use of your Kindle is controlled by Amazon as I discovered. Had I known any of the above, I'd not have entered Amazon's sphere.
There are many BookTubers who discuss alternative tablet and ebook vendors, as well as alternatives to ebook purchase.
All Silk searches should of course, be innocuous and non-critical.
To implement the above cost notching, to not might well do. These mental employees and members lack any non-Randian morality, know nothing of sanity or social norms. Most importantly they are US patriots. Ominous music ends. 😊
Be safe my friend and may we all find Good Reading. 🤗
Some favourites.
NCMI, Authors Behaving Badly, Ben and Emily, Bobbing Along, Think That Through, Kazachka, Tom Nicholas, SandRhoman History, KernowDamo, Nerdy Kathi, Prime of Midlife, Sailing Melody, Dadvocate, Angela Collier, Geo Girl, Sabine Hossenfelder,
Prime of Midlife, May, Sub Brief, Cruising Alba, Northern Narrowboaters, Long Shot Wargaming, Miniminuteman, Lindsay Nikole, Danielle Kristy, Lindsay Ellis, Long Shot Wargaming, Dark Docs, Dark Seas, The Planet D,
Isaac Arthur, Alex Fleev, Julie Nolke, What Vivi did next, Paleo Analysis, Part Time Hobbit, What Vivi did next, Claus Kellerman POV,
Jessie Gender, Steve Shives, Leftist Cooks, Bella Ciao - Kutuzov, Kathy's Flog in France, Icarus Project, Confused Adipose, Owen Jones, The Roads with Belle, Central Crossing, Briefed, Ship Happens, Tod Maffin,
Magical Molly, Institute of Art and Ideas, NerdForge, SchizoKitzo, Rather Oates, Nicole Rudolph, Don't F@ck with Ukraine, OrangeRiver, the Shades of Orange, Biz, DW News, Royal Institution, The Bands of HM Royal Marines, Maky Abugu, Cambrian Chronicles.
I wish you a sunny morning, a pleasant afternoon, a cosy evening, a wonderful night and may we all continue learning.
Allow Others to speak in your name, adopt the Their sins.
My grandmother
April 13, 2018
My daughter read this book and loved it, so I told her I would give it a go. I loved it too!! It kept me on the edge of my seat thinking what will happen next. My favorite character is the mom. This book gives you ideas on what you will need of something like this were to happen. I need to get my ads in gear and stock up.
I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
January 13, 2020
I really enjoyed this one. It had moments that were a little YA for my tastes, but I thought about rounding my final rating up just because it was good enough that I finished it in one sitting. I’ll definitely continue the series.
May 25, 2019
I read a lot of these apocalypse books and it amazes me how many have the dumbest female characters in them. This one was exactly the same. Tracy was the best of the characters and she at least tries to get herself organised when she becomes aware of the danger that they might be facing. She goes and stocks up with food and supplies, though why she cares if a woman she hardly knows thinks that her stocking up is weird is beyond me. I'm more interested in how she deduces from a vague text from her daughter that she should check online for any sign of trouble in space. I can forgive her because she is a character I didn't actually hate and the situatios she got into were interesting enough to read about. Brianna, travelling companion of Madison, is well aware how dangerous things are going to get and she is capable of looking after herself and surviving.
What a pity about Madison and Wanda. Wanda is a work colleague of Tracy and Tracy decides to give her a lift home, worried that harm might come to her on the streets alone. Wanda doesn't seem to take in anything that Tracy tells her about losing the power long term, and she keeps on about getting back to her flat for a shower. I was ready to throttle her as she just wasn't getting it at all. It took forever for her to finally wake up and smell the power cut, but even then she tells Tracy she can't cook and has no skills to offer. Then we get to Madison, the college student. She knows less than Jon Snow but is forever bleating that her friends are overreacting to everything, the supplies aren't needed, things are fine, looting is bad and so on. She doesn't listen either and can't seem to grasp the chaos around them. Madison is guiding her friends to her family home but can't seem to manage not to get them lost. She 'forgets' that the park is a dangerous place at night because of gang warfare and lets Brianna park there, almost getting them all killed. But it is her whining that drove me mad!
I'm not sure how I managed to finish this book but I'm not reading on with the series!
What a pity about Madison and Wanda. Wanda is a work colleague of Tracy and Tracy decides to give her a lift home, worried that harm might come to her on the streets alone. Wanda doesn't seem to take in anything that Tracy tells her about losing the power long term, and she keeps on about getting back to her flat for a shower. I was ready to throttle her as she just wasn't getting it at all. It took forever for her to finally wake up and smell the power cut, but even then she tells Tracy she can't cook and has no skills to offer. Then we get to Madison, the college student. She knows less than Jon Snow but is forever bleating that her friends are overreacting to everything, the supplies aren't needed, things are fine, looting is bad and so on. She doesn't listen either and can't seem to grasp the chaos around them. Madison is guiding her friends to her family home but can't seem to manage not to get them lost. She 'forgets' that the park is a dangerous place at night because of gang warfare and lets Brianna park there, almost getting them all killed. But it is her whining that drove me mad!
I'm not sure how I managed to finish this book but I'm not reading on with the series!
June 5, 2018
I've read six After the EMP series. They all have problems and don't rise to my being able to recommend any of them. They were interesting enough for me to read. Especially since they only cost me a buck or two each. The author definitely has an ax to grind. (To be fair many of these after disaster stories do.) Several of his particular axes rubbed me the wrong way. Many times he will have characters be convinced not to do something, but if his particular main character decides to do it, it suddenly becomes the thing to do. There is a lot of, surviving is the point of all of morality. His characters are very uneven. Many times they do things because that would give the story more conflict rather than this is how it would work in the real world. His impatience for any alternate theories for how to live one's life bothered me a great deal. Still, I read six of them and am reading the seventh. Take that for what it's worth.
November 21, 2017
Short
Fast read. I found some of the characters to be a little unbelievable. I mean really, why is it that in the start of these kind of books is there almost always someone in the group that is super rich that can afford to buy a truck full of supplies for everyone? If these are supposed to be about the even day average American, well most of us just don't have a rich buddy.
Other than that I did enjoy the book.
I recommend reading the series on KU though.
Fast read. I found some of the characters to be a little unbelievable. I mean really, why is it that in the start of these kind of books is there almost always someone in the group that is super rich that can afford to buy a truck full of supplies for everyone? If these are supposed to be about the even day average American, well most of us just don't have a rich buddy.
Other than that I did enjoy the book.
I recommend reading the series on KU though.
March 28, 2018
I LOVE Post Apocalyptic stories. EMP stories can be terrifying and they’re usually my favorites.
Not this one tho. The writing itself felt immature, like a high school kid wrote it. The story itself was predictable and wasn’t believable at all.
Reviews that called this book “Brilliant” had me more intrigued than the actual book.
I will not read any more of this series
Not this one tho. The writing itself felt immature, like a high school kid wrote it. The story itself was predictable and wasn’t believable at all.
Reviews that called this book “Brilliant” had me more intrigued than the actual book.
I will not read any more of this series
October 9, 2017
3.5 stars. I enjoyed this fast, short book, excepting the whining about how "strict" gun laws are in California. Sigh. But other than that one small point, an enjoyable read. I bought this one and the next two for $0.99 each on a kindle sale. I look forward to the next one.
July 10, 2024
A decent enough apocalyptic story, kept my intetest, I may or may not continue the series....
May 11, 2018
So far I am very hooked on this series. I read this book in less then 24 hrs. Action on every page. I just bought "Darkness Grows", book 2 in this series. I am really enjoying the characters and how they interact with one another. The book makes you think about how it might be in the event of an actual apocalypse.
It is May 11th 2018, Two books have been added to the series, and I want to re-read the series before I read those two newer books. So far I am enjoying it as much as the first time.
It is May 11th 2018, Two books have been added to the series, and I want to re-read the series before I read those two newer books. So far I am enjoying it as much as the first time.
September 8, 2017
This is a brilliant read, I really enjoyed it. I was hooked from the beginning and couldn't put it down. The storyline of an EMP was quite plausible and the characters were interesting and believable. I liked the alternating chapters between a mother and her daughter and how they each saw events play out and how they reacted. The book was well written, fast paced, and had lots of action and tense drama. A very realistic story. Looking forward to the next book!
January 31, 2018
Contrived and totally unbelievable
If you like characters that make the absolute worst decisions, unbelievable situations, and cliché writing, then you will love this book. I couldn't get half way through it. There are much better written books out there.
If you like characters that make the absolute worst decisions, unbelievable situations, and cliché writing, then you will love this book. I couldn't get half way through it. There are much better written books out there.
December 26, 2017
A Good Beginning To An AMP Series
An AMP followed by a CME, or a mass corona eruption, causes power to be out resulting in terminal darkness, chaos, and the beginning of the end for some people. A college student and her friends who know what has happened are prepared for the worst and head to her home. Each character has a story to share. The series takes us through their fight to survive. I cannot wait to read the entire series. This is well written and scary because it could come true.
An AMP followed by a CME, or a mass corona eruption, causes power to be out resulting in terminal darkness, chaos, and the beginning of the end for some people. A college student and her friends who know what has happened are prepared for the worst and head to her home. Each character has a story to share. The series takes us through their fight to survive. I cannot wait to read the entire series. This is well written and scary because it could come true.
May 18, 2024
Read this and get ready.
Well, let me just put my ol' doomsday hat back on for a minute. This Could happen today, tomorrow, a year from now... ten or a hundred years from now. Or never. But Obama hinted it could happen September '24. He produced a movie about it. And folks have been writing clear books about it for ages. Don't be stupid. Get ready and learn a skill. Do some canning and start a garden. I wish guns had never been invented but they are so learn how to safely use one. Darkness is coming. Buy some rice and tint your windows!
Well, let me just put my ol' doomsday hat back on for a minute. This Could happen today, tomorrow, a year from now... ten or a hundred years from now. Or never. But Obama hinted it could happen September '24. He produced a movie about it. And folks have been writing clear books about it for ages. Don't be stupid. Get ready and learn a skill. Do some canning and start a garden. I wish guns had never been invented but they are so learn how to safely use one. Darkness is coming. Buy some rice and tint your windows!
August 9, 2018
A surprisingly good book. Great characters and great story line.
I'm currently reading the second in the series and really getting into the plot.
I'm currently reading the second in the series and really getting into the plot.
January 12, 2018
This was a pretty fast read for me, I enjoyed it. It didn't get as detailed as some books like this that I have read
December 18, 2017
Apocalyptic Survival
This is a really good read . I like all the characters they are very relatable. The author doesn’t over explain things but gives enough detail so it draws you in.
This is a really good read . I like all the characters they are very relatable. The author doesn’t over explain things but gives enough detail so it draws you in.
December 19, 2017
Great start
Liked the beginning. Good round up if characters I like Harley's style and mix of female characters. Room for everybody so far
Liked the beginning. Good round up if characters I like Harley's style and mix of female characters. Room for everybody so far
January 2, 2018
Good read, already started the second book and plan on reading all books in the series. Great characters, character development, and story line. Not your average macho-man Survival Thriller - most of the book is from one of the female character's perspective. Normal people, range of ages and experience, surviving a massive EMP. It's a page turner and keeps you asking for more.
November 21, 2017
This was a great beginning novel for this series. There is a quiet build up as the event takes out the lights. I’m thankful every character isn’t a major prepped & armed to the teeth. Each character seems believable & genuine.
I could see getting into the situations they faced in the book. When Tracy or Madison is dealing with a problem, they struggle with it. They don’t automatically have every answer. They make mistakes or have doubt. Just a nice way to handle this book without going over the top. If the rest is as good as the first, I’m reading the series.
I could see getting into the situations they faced in the book. When Tracy or Madison is dealing with a problem, they struggle with it. They don’t automatically have every answer. They make mistakes or have doubt. Just a nice way to handle this book without going over the top. If the rest is as good as the first, I’m reading the series.
November 6, 2018
This is a pretty simple the-world-as-we-know-it-is-ending book--it's a fast, easy read. There are some timeline issues in the second half, where it would have made more sense to put certain chapters following different characters in a different order, and there are also some editing issues that editors like me will be driven a little crazy by (especially early in the book), but it's pretty clean and fast.
It's not, however, something with enough depth to really be more than a fast escape, and I'm afraid there wasn't nearly enough depth here to keep me interested enough to read further into the series or read more of Tate's work. I'm guessing that you probably wouldn't be mad at yourself for downloading it if you bought the ebook or picked it up as an escape read, but you'd probably also find it pretty forgettable and predictable.
So, no, I'm afraid it's not something I'd recommend.
It's not, however, something with enough depth to really be more than a fast escape, and I'm afraid there wasn't nearly enough depth here to keep me interested enough to read further into the series or read more of Tate's work. I'm guessing that you probably wouldn't be mad at yourself for downloading it if you bought the ebook or picked it up as an escape read, but you'd probably also find it pretty forgettable and predictable.
So, no, I'm afraid it's not something I'd recommend.
May 23, 2018
I enjoyed this 3 book series, the author has developed all of his characters fully, some you like more than others (just like in real life). The first book opens with the Solar EMP and it's immediate aftermath and of course everybody's first thought is focused on getting home, just like in real life everyone is frightened, they make mistakes, things go wrong. With exception of two characters the others are all still pretty idealistic in expecting the best from their fellow man, this slowly changes throughout this and the next two books, it has to... if they are going to survive, that is not to say the they become aggressors but they do become aggressively defensive!
I liked the series, so many indie authors can't construct a sentence nor can they spell and in some cases they really don't seem to care:-)
I liked the series, so many indie authors can't construct a sentence nor can they spell and in some cases they really don't seem to care:-)
September 7, 2018
I love the idea for this book. Apocalypse stories always get my attention. I really didn't like the characters though. They were all pretty flat. Tracy seemed OK, although her friend got on my nerves. Tracy's daughter, Madison, is a whiny little moron. I found myself wishing her friends would just abandon her. Why on earth would she go out to a neighborhood meeting she learned about from a man who was going to rob her (or worse)? I also don't see why her big, strong friend let the neighbor man grab her either. When her mother showed up and put a gun to they guy's head, I was thrilled...until she just let him walk away. He aimed a shotgun at her CHILD, but as soon as he lowered the gun, everything was all rainbows and kittens! Did they even disarm him? I would have taken his gun! I don't think I'll read the second book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2018
Gripping, engaging, page-turning read. Had me from the first page until the last. So excited about this series, because I really like the main characters and how realistically the author portrays how difficult so many decisions would be in such a situation.
It also gives so much excellent info about the types of things one would need. I know so many who would not even have a clue about what had happened, let alone how to survive without electricity!
I also very much appreciate that this was a "clean" read!
Going to start book 2 of the series, immediately! ~
It also gives so much excellent info about the types of things one would need. I know so many who would not even have a clue about what had happened, let alone how to survive without electricity!
I also very much appreciate that this was a "clean" read!
Going to start book 2 of the series, immediately! ~
October 7, 2017
Great reading
I really enjoyed this first book in the series and about to start the next installment. Written from the point of view of non preppers that are at least smart enough to take steps necessary to survive in a post apocalyptic world. I will give a review of each book as I finish it and a series review when I finish all the books. In the last year I have read over 100 post apocalyptic or dystopian novels and Harley Tate is on the way to being one of my favorite authors.
I really enjoyed this first book in the series and about to start the next installment. Written from the point of view of non preppers that are at least smart enough to take steps necessary to survive in a post apocalyptic world. I will give a review of each book as I finish it and a series review when I finish all the books. In the last year I have read over 100 post apocalyptic or dystopian novels and Harley Tate is on the way to being one of my favorite authors.
May 9, 2017
This was a great book. The situations of the characters in their varying stages of acceptance of the event as well as the adversity they face was very strong and well paced. I don't have a problem with the fact that sometimes the character seemed to understand what was happening and sometimes to revert to a pre-event mindset as I think that would happen to a lot of people in a real situation. My only complaint is that book 2 is not available yet.
March 10, 2024
DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME
This book was so bad I laughed through the majority of it. It had to have been written by a teenager. The characters were portrayed as extremely ignorant at best and the dialogue was more fit for junior high kids. I seriously laughed through how bad it was. Please save yourself the time and money.
This book was so bad I laughed through the majority of it. It had to have been written by a teenager. The characters were portrayed as extremely ignorant at best and the dialogue was more fit for junior high kids. I seriously laughed through how bad it was. Please save yourself the time and money.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews