Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
A month into the apocalypse, would you still be alive?

Colt survived an emergency landing, a standoff with a rogue militia, and more than his share of bullets. With the threat of danger around every corner, leaving the city is his only choice. But with seven people relying on him, Colt discovers the forest is deadlier than the streets.

If you lose everything, can you summon the strength to go on?

As the city fades into the distance, Dani hopes her luck is changing. But a catastrophic accident turns everything upside down. Grief-stricken and desperate, she must summon the strength to carry on, even when the odds—and her friends—are stacked against her.

The end of the world brings out the best and worst in all of us.

Starvation, dehydration, and danger lurk behind every tree. If Colt, Dani, and the rest of their group can’t put tragedy behind them, it might be the end of their journey. With guilt and anguish tearing them apart, an unexpected visitor becomes their only hope.

The EMP is only the beginning.

Chaos Gains is book six in the After the EMP series, a post-apocalyptic thriller series following ordinary people trying to survive after a geomagnetic storm destroys the nation’s power grid.

242 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 8, 2017

811 people are currently reading
112 people want to read

About the author

Harley Tate

47 books160 followers
When 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.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
664 (57%)
4 stars
359 (31%)
3 stars
103 (8%)
2 stars
16 (1%)
1 star
6 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
Profile Image for carol. .
1,750 reviews9,931 followers
July 1, 2018
The one where Everything Goes to Hell (despite it being only Day 30 post-electromagnetic pulse) Because Some People Just Can't Freaking Cope Already.

In this installment, the team decides to leave the militia-run town. I immediately appreciated characters who knew when to cut ties with a town instead of fight an overwhelming force, because I was a little afraid the former Navy SEAL, Colt, would want to topple the forces of oppression. Another aspect that was a positive standout were the strategies for sourcing food and fuel early on, one of the main components of apocalypse stories. Later, however, it skimps on detail when food issues come up again near the end, relying on a Tate still seems to struggle with balancing scenes in context of overall plot, as there far too much page detail of a Humvee crossing a stream. Maybe his point was that it contributed to the mental stress of the group, but I'm not sure the writing was up to the task. I'm convinced, Tate; you know your types of Humvees. Can we get back to the relationships and finding food?

I was less enamored of plotting here. While leaving the town started off well, problems along the way occasionally annoyed as they were as in-group focused as external. Blaming the protagonists continues as an eye-rolling plot strategy. And somehow, despite it being Day 30, On the other hand, much like in book three, things don't always work out despite the best planning. Still, I feel like it was all a little stacked for Day 30 or so.

Okay, I admit it; I've overdosed. But there's only one more, and then I can let my Kindle Unlimited trial expire!

And one of these days, I need to get around to writing my own damn apocalypse novel.
Profile Image for Michele Rene.
141 reviews66 followers
May 20, 2018
"I’ve learned that family isn’t what’s written on your birth certificate or determined by your last name. It’s about finding like-minded people to share life’s burdens. People you can trust" words to remember by Walter

I'm not going to lie, I cried several times reading this book. You might want to have some Kleenex ready.

I'm off to the next book, I can't wait to see how this series ends.
Profile Image for Meg McGregor.
4,080 reviews81 followers
February 2, 2024
I don't give 5 stars to many of the books I read! But this one certainly has earned each and every star!

I have often wondered - how I would react - if all of a sudden, the power went out, and stayed out!

I know that most people, including myself, do NOT have the skillset to live in a world without electricity!

I think living in post EMP society would be extremely dangerous and frightening!

Mr. Tate keeps you on the edge of your seat!

The novel follows the adventures of Colt Potter, a U. S. Marshall, and Dani - a young girl who loses the only family she loves.

Both of them must learn to cope within the restraints of post EMP! Violence, food shortages, cruelty, selfishness; but also courage, determination, and acceptance make this a story to be read!

Now they have a little family of survivors and have decided to face this new world together. I can hardly wait to read the next book.


I was so upset when so many of the characters died in this book. Especially M_______. I think she would have been a great friend to have!

I am excited that characters from the first six books are in the last trilogy. I will be reading the Hope series as soon as I get them from the library!

I have to admit that after I finished reading this book, I did the following:
a. Took a nice long hot shower.
b. Microwaved some popcorn for a snack.
c. Sat down and cuddled my dog, for over an hour, while I watched a DVD!

See? I don't think I would make it very far into the kind of future Mr. Tate has created! But I would certainly try.

Profile Image for Cheri.
416 reviews
December 12, 2017
before I reached the halfway point in the book I was really hoping that Melody would jump into the creek. She is so irritating .. always whining and blaming everyone else. You would think she was the 15-year-old instead of Dani. Larkin is new to the group but I like him. I hope there is something good coming for Dani and Colt. They deserve it.
252 reviews1 follower
March 25, 2018
Still enjoying. In fact I started the next book the minute I finished this one. A lot of hard emotional scenes in this book and some things that I think could have been played out a little more but all in all a good read.
Profile Image for Jeff.
378 reviews3 followers
May 27, 2023
Spoilers here!!!
The escape from Eugene finally came. Leaving was problematic but not the battle I anticipated. I liked the turn actually. The river crossing reminded me of The documentary The Long Way Around. It was a motorcycle trip around the world that included these crazy river crossings in Siberia. Good job Harley.

The leaving wasn’t without danger & tragedy. Wow! Some of this was shocking, especially after the way the Sloane’s trip to Truckee took place. I’ve liked it all.

Now I’m ready for the joining of the groups. Where will this go now?!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
104 reviews7 followers
November 27, 2017
Keeps improving

There's a lot to like in this latest visit to a Post-EMP United States.

First, the author's writing and plot development continue to.improve. And, the editing job was excellent -- a very big step above most other Kindle books!

No plot details revealed here -- but author Tate does a super job in keeping the story and plot lines quite genuine. The good guys are not all expert shots while also being impossible for the bad guys to hit.

Another big plus was the depiction of how in a post-EMP, chance plays a larger role than preppers would like to admit. Along the same lines, this story illustrates well how unwise decisions carry high costs...stupid is expensive, for many, if not all. Finally, I am impressed with how the author portrayed the many, often-complicated moral choices forced upon people on such dire circumstances.

A delight to read. Recommended for all, including pre-teens.

BTW, I am really liking this series, and the plotting suggests it could go for a very long while. I sure hope so.
Profile Image for Stonebender.
94 reviews16 followers
June 6, 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.
89 reviews1 follower
June 13, 2024
Chaos Evolves

This is not in anyway my typical interest in story lines. I would normally find this genre as depressing but I can't put any of the books down, I'm invested in the relations, the people, the hardships and the challenge of fighting to survive. Some of the characters I can relate to and want to smack them for not getting "the picture" of kill or be killed as the new way of life. Some I want to adopt, others I'd just really like to around them and admire them for their true grit.

I'd really like to personally know the author because they have a very creative imagination and I would find it fascinating how they can go from describing a villain to hero and teenager to more mature adults, and bring it together so captivating and convincing. I can see this as a movie or tv series.

Highly recommend.
24 reviews1 follower
February 7, 2020
I have to say, the deaths of practically everyone but Colt and Dani, and the random car crash at the end all seemed so utterly pointless and unnecessary to the entire cast of this trilogy. They deserved to survive and help out in the final trilogy given the crap they've gone through. Melody's random fit near the end, and randomly falling down a ravine to die seemed to come out of nowhere and really didn't serve any purpose but to get rid of the character that could've been useful in the final trilogy. It was quite stupid if I may say so. I know, end of the world, but man, everyone just died relatively quickly in the last third of the book. It. Made the emotional investment of the lädt two books seem worthless.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ceh131973.
554 reviews5 followers
January 15, 2018
In this sixth book in the series the characters and their relationships continue to evolve. Some for good others not so much. The quest for a safe place and survival comes full circle just as all seems lost. Colt and Dani run into another man just trying to survive and keep his family alive. He is familiar to Colt. The pilot from the plane. This is where books 1-3 and 4-6 merge. Looking forward tosee what happens next.
Profile Image for Donna.
1,536 reviews36 followers
February 20, 2018
Colt, Dan I and Sloane

A car accident, a thinning of the group. A lot happens in this one and I can't say I will miss any of the ones we lost. I'm not sure how a person is thrown from a car and survives with almost no injuries. I'm not sure how someone can be so delusional as we witness, but no loss. Can't wait to start the next one and if it isn't the end I'm going to have major withdrawals.
3,198 reviews26 followers
January 20, 2019
An HT. SYFY. Novel (ATEMP-6)/Escape From Eugene

HT. has. penned. The 6th novel in the A EMP. series.The group from Eugene decide it's time to hit the bricks. They pack everything they can into the Humvee and head for Lake Tahoe. They make it halfway before running out of diesel fuel. They switch to used cooking oil. They continue on. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
67 reviews2 followers
October 7, 2021
Militia is not a Rouge military force

Great book except for the authors use of the term militia as a rouge military force. MILITIA IS THIS COUNTRY means a non military force of loyal citizens formed to protect themselves and assist the military.to use it his way is propaganda an occupation army or government would use to discredit a local civilian fighting force of and by the people. Otherwise a great book to many books have happy endings where everyone lives.
195 reviews2 followers
December 31, 2017
A Story of Determination to Survive

Fighting against Jarvis means knowing when to retreat. Leaving Eugene, Oregon is a decision made to survive but a tragedy strikes making those left question the future. Meeting a helpful friend aids in the next part of the journey. Now we read the next book to follow the adventure.
140 reviews3 followers
November 11, 2018
Good story with sad really sad elements

The journey from Eugene, Oregon, was a bit fraught but nothing like the journey towards Lake Tahoe. Even at the end of the world, it isn't a good idea to blow through an intersection at high speed. It made me glad to see the return of Walter to the story.
279 reviews3 followers
August 6, 2020
Book 6 was also really good. They have made it to Northern California Forest. There has been much more action and more deaths. Dani and Colt are still hanging in there. Colt says she is the only family he has and she seems happy to be treated as a daughter. Who knows what is in the last three books? I really love this series.
4 reviews
November 12, 2017
#6

This was a great read. I think it was the best of the six so far. I could not put it down. I was in suspense of what was going to happen next. Can not wait for the next book in this series.
65 reviews2 followers
November 15, 2017
Excellent book and series

In my humble opinion this series as a masterpiece. I have read well over a hundred books in this genre and this series is among the top. Keep writing Harley and I’ll keep reading.
Profile Image for Pam Shelton-Anderson.
1,939 reviews66 followers
November 24, 2017
This continues to be an excellent series. My main quibble with this installment is that there are a lot of characters who meet their demise, but it felt more like the story ran out of a purpose for them rather than their deaths added a lot to the story. I look forward to the next book .
216 reviews3 followers
December 20, 2017
Book 6

The story continues of a day by day tale Of survivors of an EMP. These are different characters than the first three books but just as enticing. If you not read the first five please go back and start at the beginning. This journey is well worth the trip.
8 reviews
December 31, 2017
Great read! Thank God it's fiction!. Life in this fictional world is rough.

Leaves me looking forward to the next book in the series. Credible events and situations brought together two stories well.
Profile Image for  ✰  Charlie  ✰ Chisholm.
1,984 reviews22 followers
February 13, 2018
It just gets better and better.
Sadly, we lost some characters. I was a bit sad we have a new character who I am liking him so far.
I think this book is my favourite out of all of them so far so much going on. Another well written book and cannot wait to read the next book.
614 reviews2 followers
June 21, 2018
Loss

Si-Fi adventure as we try to survive as the world has turned upside down. Who is friend and who is enemy? It has become hard to decide. Running across country looking for safety. Great Series!!
336 reviews1 follower
October 22, 2019
Great apocalyptic series

It’s hard to find an author that doesn’t write about only bloodshed and violence. This series has great characters and storyline. Looking forward to the next book
Profile Image for Vikki Vaught.
Author 12 books159 followers
January 21, 2021
My Musings

This edition to this series is too sad. So much loss, and while it does end on a positive note, it didn't really help me move forward from the devastation. Happy ☺reading 📚!
171 reviews1 follower
November 14, 2017
Good read

Enjoyed book 6 of this series. Continuation of the struggle to survive of Colt, Dani and their new found friend Walter.
4 reviews
November 15, 2017
Intense action!

The saga continues as the band of survivors escapes from Eugene. Plenty of action and plot twists in this volume. Walter Sloane makes a new appearance.
3 reviews
November 27, 2017
Very enjoyable

Loved the characters & the drama. Light learning & thinking regarding horticulture & weapons. I look forward to book 7
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.