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EMP Lodge #5

Dark Redemption

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In a brutal world, sometimes forgiving yourself is the hardest part of survival…

Megan Wolford knows surviving this new post-EMP world means facing ever-changing threats. It has been months since Wyatt’s brother Jack was killed, and his newborn son shows signs of an illness no one at the lodge can cure. Megan blames herself for Jack’s death, so when the opportunity to help his son, Jack Jr., arrives in the form of a wounded US soldier guarding a mysterious box, she’ll do anything to redeem herself. The soldier is desperate to deliver the package to the National Recovery Unit, and Megan agrees to take on the mission in exchange for medical care for Jack Jr.

There’s just one problem: Mark Doyle, a ruthless former special ops soldier who would rather die than see the world return to what it was before the strike. Thriving in chaos, Doyle works for what’s left of the U.S. government to fuel his addiction to pain meds, but the last thing he wants is for the box to reach its destination. Delivery could signal the end of this now broken world.

Now, the group must battle their way through a ruined city filled with desperate gangs and scarce supplies to reach the NRU headquarters—all with a sick baby. But getting there will be just the beginning… they’ll soon discover the box contains a secret none of them bargained for.

312 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 12, 2017

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About the author

Grace Hamilton

138 books293 followers
Grace Hamilton is the prepper pen-name for a bad-ass, survivalist momma-bear of four kids, and wife to a wonderful husband. After being stuck in a mountain cabin for six days following a flash flood, she decided she never wanted to feel so powerless or have to send her kids to bed hungry again. Now she lives the prepper lifestyle and knows that if SHTF or TEOTWAWKI happens, she’ll be ready to help protect and provide for her family.

Combine this survivalist mentality with a vivid imagination (as well as a slightly unhealthy day dreaming habit) and you get a prepper fiction author. Grace spends her days thinking about the worst possible survival situations that a person could be thrown into, then throwing her characters into these nightmares while trying to figure out "What SHOULD you do in this situation?"

It’s her wish that through her characters, you will get to experience what life will be like and essentially learn from their mistakes and experiences.

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5 stars
253 (54%)
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141 (30%)
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55 (11%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
Profile Image for Fred Barnes.
316 reviews41 followers
January 5, 2025
WHAT A MIND-BLOWING BOOK FULL OF TWISTS AND TURNS WHICH WILL KEEP YOUR INTEREST THROUGHOUT

Dark Redemption: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Saga Filled With Fascinating Characters & Prepper Info (EMP Lodge Series Book 5) by Grace Hamilton is a well written tell of a group of people who in the aftermath of an EMP band together to survive each obstacle thrown their way.

The characters are clearly brought to life, and you will find yourself glued to the pages to see what happens next and whether they will survive the challenges they face.

Our heroes are the Morris family and their little group lead by Megan and Wyatt who risk their lives at every turn to protect their family and friends and even go out of their way to take in injured and desperate people. Sometimes, this act of kindness works for the greater good for their little group, and at other times, it places them at risk.

If you enjoy a book that the heroes are everyday good people with good morals, this book at series is for you. I have really enjoyed the first five books in the series and have already started started the sixth and last one. I hope you, too, will find yourself enjoying this book and series.

Quotes:
"Death is a part of life. We don't like it and we don't want to accept it, but if we want to survive and thrive, we have to."

"You have to hold on to what's still here and make every minute you're here count. Hug your loved ones and treasure every memory you make with them."
Profile Image for Darcy.
14.4k reviews543 followers
August 19, 2021
This group has been through a lot, but I felt like this one was the worst yet. The baby, Jack's baby was sick and there wasn't anything they could do. The group decided to take a chance and go out in the world when they had something valuable to trade for the baby's medical care. During the days long journey they encountered bad, some good and almost lost it all along the way. Finally they end up where they belong, bargain for the care and it all goes to hell to fast. In the meantime those left at home are on their guard and just when they let it down, one of them overhears something that will change everything. This one ended on a huge cliff hanger for everyone, glad I have the next book ready to go.
5 reviews
December 28, 2022
Sigh

I've been really enjoying this series but realized while reading this one that there has just been too much death for me to give it 5 stars. While we all know if this were to happen in the world there would be death and destruction, these books are for entertainment at this point. To become vested in a group of core characters only to have them picked off one by one when it does not contribute to the plot and actually takes away from it. It seems to be done for shock value which is unnecessary and the same feeling could be gained with shock over detailed descriptions of abandoned neighborhoods and ruined cities. If the writer were to ask themselves what the plot gained from each death they may understand how the reader feels losing characters pointlessly throughout. I don't typically write reviews yet I've enjoyed this authors series as well as past works and this seems to be a new trend of killing off core characters which I'm hoping they'll rethink of I'll most likely rethink my next purchase.
Profile Image for Elite Group.
3,112 reviews53 followers
January 3, 2018
“I can’t believe you guys are giving up” Megan seethed. I know it’s risky but we can’t give up and let JJ get sicker. We aren’t saying that, but we do need to think more about whether the risk is worth the reward. Wyatt explained.”

In a post-apocalyptic world where no electricity exists, humanity is being pushed to the brink of extinction by their ignorance which the modern world gave birth to. Megan Wolford is one of a lucky few survivors who has successfully weathered the sudden change in circumstances to become self-sufficient. However, all is not well as the youngest member of the group (Willow’s new baby) is very sick and, without the doctors or modern medicine, a way to save him is weighing on everyone’s mind. So, when a stranger appears in their lives providing a solution to this very problem - with the caveat that they must undertake a dangerous journey into the heart of a city to deliver a mystery package - everyone is cautious and suspicious of the newcomer but what choice do they have?

Grace Hamilton’s 5th book in her Dark Redemption series is a steady-paced action, sci-fi adventure in a deeply immersive and highly developed post-apocalyptic world. Usually reading the 5th book of a series is a daunting prospect as the reader can quickly find himself lost and confused. However, Grace’s style of writing with frequent character internal monologue and narrator-style explanations of various aspects of the highly detailed world makes the book easy to simply pick up and enjoy the suspense-filled journey in the footsteps of an unlikely mix but organised band of survivors. It was a thrilling and highly suspenseful book that will have me (and you) reaching for her other instalments in the series in no time.

Alex

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
340 reviews
March 6, 2018
Willow announced she was pregnant in last book and JJ (jack jr) was born. The delivery went well but JJ is sick. Brenda thinks he has a heart murmur. The team is continually making runs trying to find medicine. On the way back, they come across an army convoy and rescue one soldier. He is holding a black box and saying it has to get to Ravena NRC (the military base there).
In the mean time, Henry and Emma show up at the lodge. MEgan is thrilled because she thought the dam she burst killed them. It did kill Linda but turned out her cancer had returned and she was dying.
Megan, Wyatt, Willow, JJ and Bryan and ? take off for the city. They are waylaid by a rogue pill popping soldier. He was originally trying to get the box to the govt and wants the reward for it. He killed ? in cold blood to take it. The group is helped by a family living in their basement but I do think they end up getting to the dad and son-in-law killed.
They end up delivering the box but turns out the soldier, Neil, who had it was really working for the Russians and the box had a virus that blew up the whole facility.
They were able to confirm that JJ had a heart murmur and that Neil was a bad guy. The story ends with Albert walking in on NEil using his ham radio and Neil pulls a gun on him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Christian.
82 reviews
January 30, 2018
[My review is for the audiobook format narrated by Andrew Tell.]

It's been more than a year since the EMP changed Megan's world and everyone's way of life. The group occupying the lodge is eking out a difficult, yet peaceable, existence, except new baby JJ is not well -- he needs serious medical intervention that has, thus far, been impossible to find. A potentially dangerous outsider offers a chance, albeit a slim one, of accessing medical care for JJ. The journey towards hope will be a tremendous task for Megan and her friends, and it will risk all of their lives. How far should they push their luck, and who, if anyone, can they trust along the way?

I enjoyed this installment of the EMP Lodge series. As far as post-apocalyptic stories go, it's fairly tame. Plenty of ''right vs. wrong'' and ''good vs. evil'' scenarios.  Narration by Andrew Tell serves as an enhancement to the story, with a pleasant voice and tone. Overall, pretty good! I plan to continue on with the remainder of the series.

I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge. This review is unbiased and the opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.
Profile Image for Cheryl.
2,426 reviews68 followers
November 3, 2017
Huge improvement from book four in the series

I really had my doubts about going ahead and reading this book based on book four of the EMP LODGE series. But book five delivered.

The people at the lodge end up finding a wounded soldier while out trying to find supplies - and he is carrying a mysterious box.

Part of the group is talked into taking the box to a city a few days travel from the lodge to a government installation, hoping to trade the box for medical care for Willow's sick baby.

There's a lot more action in this book, more character development and an exciting storyline. And there was quite a bit of good prepper info too.

The only problem I found with the book is that it has a terrible cliffhanger ending. Boo...

I received this book from Relay Publishing through Net Galley in exchange for my unbiased review - and I bought a Kindle copy too.
Profile Image for Erin.
67 reviews
June 7, 2020
Again how FREAKING STUPID CAN YOU BE?!

I don't see the us government playing Russian roulette (Russian lol) with that kind of equipment it's so IDIOTIC AND UNREALISTIC! Besides who would bring a baby in to complete a terrorist operation bargaining for help? Its so dumb and oh let's just let our guard down with this sketchy trained soldier around our kids don't giving him full access to our security measures! Will these people EVER LEARN?! Megan is totally on my nerves and this series I'd just getting to be too irritating giving me indigestion. Dont know if I'll be continuing. UGH! What a waste of time! And WHY OH WHY DO THEY ALWAYS HAVE TO KILL SOMEONE! Mc's people in EVERY book. Uncalled for and useless to the storyline. UGH! PULLING MY HAIR OUT!
127 reviews1 follower
November 29, 2022
Book Review:
“Dark Redemption: EMP Series Book 5” by Grace Hamilton
Grace Hamilton must be a gardener par excellence! She writes about many gardening tips. Two examples: 1. One character in this novel instructs others about how to make “compost tea” which we do too. By the way, the stuff stinks to high heaven after remaining in the warm summer sun for a week or two. The plants, however, thrive on the rich nutrients. 2. The character, Rosie, explains why she uses Epson Salts (magnesium sulfate) on their plants. I do too. I spray it on my young tomato plants to obtain a higher yield of healthy tomatoes.
The mystery of the metal box is solved, and it is nothing like I could have guessed.
Great reading! I am moving on now to read the sixth and last novel in this excellent series.

Profile Image for Polly Krize.
2,134 reviews44 followers
October 31, 2017
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have been reading each of the books in this series as they were available. Installment #5 does to disappoint, as it brings back the characters from previous episodes and introduces new ones. As the group battles its way through a desolate landscape and into ruined cities, their endurance and strength is tested yet again, with a new twist.
Profile Image for Cherye Elliott.
3,397 reviews24 followers
April 28, 2018
Book 5

The saga continues. Megan certainly has the hero complex but that is okay. Wyatt is a good man. Enough said about him. You have to read the book to see why.
The pampering of Willow is getting old fast. She needs to toughen up. Bad things happen. Embrace it. Her husband has been gone for over a year. Yet they still coddle her. Will you see a light bulb go off in her head?

Enjoying the series. Looking forward to reading the last book
Profile Image for Robert Chapman.
501 reviews54 followers
October 13, 2018
This is the fifth book in the EMP Lodge series. I know I sound like a broken record in my reviews of this series, but it is what it is... The story continues to slow role to the extreme.

Once again the villain in this story is built up to an uber bad guy and then dispatched quickly. One good point is the plot twist at the end of the book that I won't spoil in this review.

I'm into book six now and the end is in site.
1,477 reviews25 followers
June 24, 2021
Dark Redemption. Grace Hamilton

The struggles continues as Megan , Wyatt and other family members and friends continue to fight the chaos and despair from the EMP. Returning from a nearby town foraging for medical supplies they observe what appears to be an attack on a military convoy. Everyone is dead except one soldier in need of urgent medical attention. What follows is a tale of bravery, tragic loss and deceit. Another excellent read in this series!!
295 reviews
March 1, 2020
Incredible imagination!

Can’t wait to read the next book to see how the author ties everything up. This book was exciting, thrilling, and just wonderfully written! Of course there is sadness just as there has been throughout the series, but not always predictable. Ms. Hamilton has kept it so interesting with the interaction between main characters and villains.
Profile Image for Vikas Jadon.
331 reviews
November 6, 2025
I love this genre of books but was fed up with the books where there is no focus on survival and survival skills and only mindless violence is the whole story. Although this book series also has violence but there is a good portion where people are focusing on survival by using various survival skills. The writing is ok, could have been better. But I liked this series and will recommend.
444 reviews1 follower
October 3, 2018
The suspense!

I love these books. It's really incredible what the group can overcome together. The way it's written just sucks you in and has you rooting for them to persevere and survive.
336 reviews1 follower
October 6, 2019
Great series

Really enjoying this series. The computer virus “end of the world” scenario is a little far fetched to me though, so not sure if I’ll enjoy the ending of the series as much as I enjoyed the first 4 books.
147 reviews2 followers
October 7, 2019
Starting to get "Deathed Out".

There are no "sacred cows" in these stories. With the exception of a very few, any and all characters are prone to die at any point. This is probably a lot more realistic than many authors portray, but it does cause a little fatigue for the reader.
94 reviews3 followers
October 23, 2020
On pins and needlex

Just when you thought the series was going to get stale,you are thrown for a loop. I don't know how Grace has done it again. With regret looking forward for the last book in the series
Profile Image for Red.
501 reviews8 followers
January 10, 2018
Excellent series. Lots of survival hints that I think could be true...but no response from author when I asked.
170 reviews
January 18, 2018
Exciting

Another good adventure in the series. This one was a page turner and now I have to order the next in the series to see what happens!
13 reviews
April 6, 2019
Top book

This series just keeps getting better and better. Exciting all the way. Can't wait to see the next one. Great!
824 reviews7 followers
September 21, 2019
Good but

This is a good storyline but I really hate cliffhangers at the end of a book. Luckily for me, another book in the series is available now.
Profile Image for Sue Stinnett.
1,374 reviews3 followers
June 14, 2020
Outstanding

Mystery and intrigue that will keep you reading until the very end. Is anyone who they claim to be? How will they find a cure for MY and manage to stay alive.
140 reviews1 follower
July 28, 2020
Holy Shit!

This story just keeps getting better! Too many OMG moments to keep track. Can’t wait to grab the next! Grace, as always! Awesome job!
Profile Image for Dorie Groff-Brady.
101 reviews
August 26, 2020
Wow ! What can I say. This series has been amazing. All the characters draw you into the story. It makes you laugh and also cry with them.
422 reviews56 followers
December 20, 2020
Plot thickens

All kinds of factions are trying to control the outcome of America and the lodge group. Megan having trouble with the guilt from her decisions.
Profile Image for G S.
573 reviews5 followers
January 3, 2022
DARK REDEMPTION BOOK 5

Another great read. I just wish Megan would smarten up and stop trying to rule everything. Another one lost, so sad.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews

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