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Surviving the Fall #5

The Burning Fields

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New enemies are on the horizon in Virginia as an unexpected visitor appears to Dianne and the children. Rick, meanwhile, faces a beautiful but dangerous journey through the Rocky Mountains. As Damocles continues to wreak havoc across the globe the stage is being set for the end of civilization as we know it.

Surviving the Fall is a thrilling post-apocalyptic episodic series that focuses on Rick and Dianne Waters and how they each deal with the apocalypse. Stranded across the country away from his family, Rick must travel from California to Virginia to reunite with his wife and children, all while struggling to comprehend and deal with the horrors along the way.

At home with her three children when she experiences the beginning of the end in a dramatic and deadly fashion, Dianne Waters has experience as a prepper and survivalist, but not even years of training and preparation have readied her for the darkness that comes with the end of the world. Now she must draw upon those skills to protect her loved ones and fight back against those who come against her and her family.

Surviving the Fall will feature 14 episodic (25k-30k words in length) books that are full of action, suspense and drama as Rick and Dianne struggle to survive the end of days. Episodes will be published every 2-3 weeks.

70 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 22, 2017

445 people are currently reading
112 people want to read

About the author

Mike Kraus

517 books320 followers

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5 stars
258 (44%)
4 stars
222 (37%)
3 stars
89 (15%)
2 stars
17 (2%)
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0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
Profile Image for Louie the Mustache Matos.
1,427 reviews141 followers
January 14, 2023
This continuing serial is great. It's generally a quick fast-paced read, but sometimes it slows down for world building exposition and character development. The narrative flows well with the ebb and flow of events sometimes crashing in on your psyche and other times wrapping slow, wispy, choking tendrils around you. The Burning Fields is book 5 in the Surviving the Fall post apocalyptic series. In this one an unexpected visitor appears to Dianne and the kids and she must decide quickly how she will react to a potential danger. While Rick must make his way through the Rocky Mountains, the extinction level event, Damocles, continues to wreak havoc around the world.
Profile Image for Henry.
881 reviews79 followers
November 17, 2023
Good installment. This series is addictive.
Profile Image for  ✰  Charlie  ✰ Chisholm.
1,984 reviews22 followers
February 5, 2018
This series just gets better with each part.. it is so well written the storyline is so interesting. That ending though. Can’t wait to start book 6. Poor Rick is still trying to get home to his wife and kids.. not knowing what he is going find when he does get there.
Dianne is protecting her home and family. I really like her character.
Onto book 6 now
Profile Image for Susan.
1,455 reviews
August 23, 2017
The Burning Fields is the fifth book in the Surviving the Fall series. This can be read as a standalone but should not be. It will make more sense if you have read the first four books plus it has a cliffhanger ending. There is a lot of violence, it is an apocalyptic thriller, so it might not be suitable for more sensitive readers.

The book blurb adequately describes the storyline so I'm not going to repeat all of that info here. This is an apocalyptic thriller filled with people trying to survive in a country and world gone crazy. This story includes a lot of twists and turns. As usual, everything is not as it seems. I look forward to reading more of this series.

My only complaint is that these are short episodes. You just get really engaged in the story and characters and you are to the cliffhanger and have to wait for the next one to be published. But they are so good, and the author writes them fairly quickly so you don't have to wait too long. I received a copy of this story from the author and chose to leave a review for other readers.
137 reviews
May 29, 2019
I'm coming back and writing these reviews after I've read a couple more installments so the details are a bit fuzzy since all the books kind of merge together in a way.

I remember loving Rick's chapters which is a bit weird since I usually enjoy Dianne's a bit more. For some reason, I enjoy the lul moments in the series a lot more than the heavy action, so seeing Rick have to drive/survive in the humvee was very interesting to me. I really liked seeing Dianne prep more The president's chapters were also super interesting, a contrast from the previous books.

I also have to add that the writing is getting better as the series progresses, which is good to see since that a bit of an issue for me in the previous installments.
1,187 reviews4 followers
January 10, 2021
While on the road home, Rick witnesses a plane crash. Dianne and the children continue to shore up security and receive some unexpected visitors.

This is the fifth book in the post apocalyptic series, Surviving the Fall. The characters continue to grow and develop, taking some time to reflect on the events occurring around them. The storyline is filled with action and drama. I read the book in one sitting as I found it difficult not to find out what was next. I am enjoying the series, the grit Dianne shows is inspiring. I like the character interaction and dialogue. I can hardly wait to find what is in store for the Waters family next.
Profile Image for Cheri.
416 reviews
September 11, 2017
before I get to the meat of my review I just want to say, The characters are on their way to being well rounded and the world building is pretty good.

The story its self-moves much to slow, the new thing in books these days is a continuing story line from one book to the next
I am not a fan, I want there to be some sort of closure. I understand series I like them. but this new trend you can't call them a series.
Profile Image for Julie Powell.
Author 72 books324 followers
June 25, 2021
I have the box set of this series and book five continues the struggle against the consequences of the event.

We follow Rick and Dianne's separate journeys, not knowing if they will see each other again. There are some new characters and worrying threats.

A good writing style except for the annoying 'off of' - please, it's just 'off' or 'from'. This error is jarring in otherwise great storytelling.

However, I still recommend it.
Profile Image for Jeff Siegmund.
248 reviews6 followers
April 22, 2024
Rick continues his journey through Utah and the Rockies as he tries to get to his family in Virginia.

At home, Dianne and kids are further hardening their farm and consolidating their food. The Statler's, neighbors in Virginia, return from a trip away and will be joining Dianne at their farm.

What's left of the Government is being assembled at The Cheyenne Mountain Complex as part of the Countinuity of Government directive.
Profile Image for Paul Madsen.
507 reviews4 followers
November 4, 2017
Good plot

As I have read this series of book I have enjoyed the plot so far. The authors comments after each segment is interesting as he tells us the readers some of what things to his imagination. Having read other books of this post apocalyptic theme this one has held its own. I do wish each segment was longer or one big book.
Profile Image for P J Van Benthusen.
465 reviews1 follower
January 23, 2021
I am really enjoying this series!

What a roller coaster ride. Poor Rick travelling alone. He's seeing the good, the bad, and the ugly of society. What a surprise he has in store. Love that Jane is back. Glad Diane has friends who have arrived. I think she's going to need them. Can't wait for the next book!
143 reviews3 followers
October 6, 2017
World ending bad people come out

This is the same basic plot of 99 percent of these stories. I haven't given up, but I would like something that didn't involve half the people becoming some sort of gangster trying to rape, pillage, rob, and enslave everyone around them.
195 reviews2 followers
February 4, 2018
The Series is Getting Bettet

This book in the series settles in with Rick traveling all the way through Colorado to Cheyenne Mountain unscathed physically but not mentally. Harsh reality is setting in. Dianne has been busy fortifying the homestead
Profile Image for Jann Weinrich.
36 reviews
March 11, 2018
Great reading

I enjoy the action and suspense of the post apocalyptic nation and how quickly life, that I take for granted, breaks down. As well as D worrying about keeping life as normal as possible for her children.
Profile Image for Dorothy Brooks Johnson.
1 review
July 2, 2019
I would have rated this 5 plus stars because of it's content, but I need this under one roof because I have ADHD really bad and it's difficult to stay on track when you are doing a million other things. So it at all possible when it becomes one book please let me know.

DJohnson
Profile Image for Tammy.
103 reviews
July 20, 2022
The burning fields

This book was hard to keep track of everything going on for some reason but it was good to read. I think it was a little confusing at times but I did get some good out of it
Profile Image for Erin Rogoff.
491 reviews1 follower
May 23, 2024
The plot twist at the end of the book had my jaw dropping wide open with little to no recovery for thirty seconds, at least! I didn't expect [character's name] to be such a high-priority figure for the United States government! I don't want to say I knew [character's name] would make a return, but I had a hunch, nonetheless. Fabulous in a sci-fi dystopian way! Kudos to Mike Kraus for writing such an intense, action-packed, end-of-the-world thriller (and thank you to Chris Abernathy for narrating this series)! Not that I'd want to see billions across the world die after a worldwide cyberattack connected to the Internet, but I'd still want to test my survival skills by diving into this series yesterday! I mean it, this book was that great! This series should be picked up by some sci-fi producer and made into a whole multilayered, multiple-season TV show! I find Rick and Dianne Waters so relatable as I am a survivalist as well (not yet on their level); I so admire the value in family, love, and loyalty Rick and Dianne have for one another; and theorizing how the world will end, this is quite possible, which is spooky but thrilling in an exclusive sci-fi scenario. Will I be devouring the rest of this series? Are you kidding me? Are you really asking me? YES!!
16 reviews2 followers
September 2, 2017
Great read! C

Really enjoying this series. Fast easy read.
Can hardly wait for the next book. Wish I didn't have to wait.
215 reviews4 followers
September 17, 2017
Great

Top notch story telling as usual. One of my all time favorite authors. Keeps it plausable and entertaining. A very good story.
1,044 reviews2 followers
September 19, 2017
Review

Inventive, well written, fun likeable characters, action packed, and a story that very easily could become reality. The author writes with sound conviction.
Profile Image for Vicki.
443 reviews
October 7, 2017
It was good, I would have give it 5 stars if it all in one book. I hate waiting for the next chapter, especially when there is only 6 so far and there supposed to be 14.
8 reviews
December 1, 2017
I hate cliff hangers

Good story but dam hell of a hanger.
You got me need to read more.
Buying now. Reminds me when I was little, the chapter ended and I cried one more.....
Profile Image for Mrs.R.S.Levermore.
13 reviews
December 19, 2017
Still on edge.

Have read this book and cannot wait to read book 6, it's a great read for anyone who has an interest in post apocalyptic story's.
340 reviews
March 6, 2018
Rick is making his way through the mountains. Dianne is working at home to protect the family and fortify their home.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
216 reviews3 followers
June 24, 2018
Book 5

Continuing story of the Waters family separated by a computer super virus. Rick in LA. Diane and kids in Virginia. Loved it!
4,416 reviews28 followers
August 16, 2018
The Burning Fields review

The Burning Fields is the fifth post apocalyptic book in the Surviving the Fall series written by author Mike Kraus.
158 reviews
August 27, 2017
Loved it! Could not put it down. Can't wait to read more and see how Rick, Dianne and the rest manage to survive ... or if they do at all. I received a copy for an honest review and, honestly, I LOVED it !!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews

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