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The Last War #1
The Last War
San Francisco is collapsing. The McNamara family is scattered across a city at war. They’re riding the hard edge of a civilization facing extinction and they are far from safe. With the population in swift decline, life has become a death sentence. The McNamara’s are an ingenious, resilient bunch, however, and they refuse to take the collapse of the modern world lying down.
Desperate to save her family, her life in constant peril, Saint Francis Memorial ER nurse, Cincinnati McNamara, is tackling a new, morally bankrupt reality. As the modern world crumbles before her eyes, she will fight for a husband who will stop at nothing to protect his family, a teenage daughter who will do anything to forget the horrors she’s survived, and a brother who is fresh out of the military and shaped by a war he just left behind.
Cornered in the killing fields, stuck between three evils and forced to fight, this once ordinary family will attempt the extraordinary: they’ll try to escape a world now backsliding into a nightmarish landscape more reminiscent of the stone ages than the once famed city by the bay.
The Last War is a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat thriller about an ordinary group of survivors struggling to escape San Francisco in the face of insurmountable odds, an abysmal loss of life and the dawn of a new, post-apocalyptic dark age.
Desperate to save her family, her life in constant peril, Saint Francis Memorial ER nurse, Cincinnati McNamara, is tackling a new, morally bankrupt reality. As the modern world crumbles before her eyes, she will fight for a husband who will stop at nothing to protect his family, a teenage daughter who will do anything to forget the horrors she’s survived, and a brother who is fresh out of the military and shaped by a war he just left behind.
Cornered in the killing fields, stuck between three evils and forced to fight, this once ordinary family will attempt the extraordinary: they’ll try to escape a world now backsliding into a nightmarish landscape more reminiscent of the stone ages than the once famed city by the bay.
The Last War is a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat thriller about an ordinary group of survivors struggling to escape San Francisco in the face of insurmountable odds, an abysmal loss of life and the dawn of a new, post-apocalyptic dark age.
206 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 13, 2017
769 people are currently reading
220 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
January 15, 2018
The title is misleading (EMP survival thriller). San Francisco is mostly destroyed by drones and the EMP does not happen until the end. The drones were kind of an interesting twist on disaster but you never know who/what is operating them and the characters jump to the conclusion it must be AI wiht no evidence at all (maybe they recently watched Terminator). Stanton, the husband, starts out wanting to be the protector, but wilts so badly he is a zero by the middle of the book and I kept forgetting he was even there. The main character, a nurse, is so conflicted and wanting to protect her daughter to the extent of resisting allowing her to learn how to protect herself. Rex, the brother, is a young vet who suddenly appears and rather than help the family survives, keeps disappearing. He is a war vet yet gets faint from seeing his own blood? San Francisco is being systematically leveled by the drones so why would this family remain there for any length of time, rather than try to escape the city? That goes for the gangs wanting to build their empire there. I just could not get engaged with these characters at all.
January 20, 2018
Well, the summary was a touch misleading but frankly I feel more mislead by the other reviews then the summary.
I didn't feel like I really knew the main character, and her family that well. The author kept hammering the same things over and over and over about the main character's husband, daughter, brother, and the main character herself but, well, that still didn't show me much a lot about any of them, just a lot of telling. Also,
I didn't like them either -I was not rooting for them in the end, I kinda wanted them all to die right down to the teen daughter.
For once I'd like to see one of these types of books not have any military or medical characters, especially with That part right there was the worst for me, because it didn't really feel all that true that someone who does a job like an ER nurse would be so willing so soon to take lives,
Speaking of that last point, by the end of the book I was so damn tired about reading how every gang banger they met was a murderous rapist. Like, yeah, gangs are a problem and I wouldn't want to meet any members in the event of an apocalypse, buuuuuut they also have families and are people too, even if some/a lot/most of them do very bad things. We didn't see any female or younger gang bangers, which would have helped flesh the gang bangers out a little more. Would the husband have reacted so harshly if it'd been a scared 12 year old being prompted by an older gang member to say those things?
I did like that it was fairly brutal, and didn't shy away from showing the harsh realities of living scared and hungry -.
I was entertained enough to finish, but I'm not going to bother getting the free copy of and going by the second books description I'm not going to be picking it up either.
More like a 2.5/5 It felt like the author started out posting this to a blog first, then combined all the postings into a book. It needed WAY WAY more editing! It didn't flow that well, things were repeated, there was a lot of telling, and there were a handful of errors that were missed including a 1st to 3rd POV change.
I didn't feel like I really knew the main character, and her family that well. The author kept hammering the same things over and over and over about the main character's husband, daughter, brother, and the main character herself but, well, that still didn't show me much a lot about any of them, just a lot of telling. Also,
I didn't like them either -I was not rooting for them in the end, I kinda wanted them all to die right down to the teen daughter.
For once I'd like to see one of these types of books not have any military or medical characters, especially with That part right there was the worst for me, because it didn't really feel all that true that someone who does a job like an ER nurse would be so willing so soon to take lives,
Speaking of that last point, by the end of the book I was so damn tired about reading how every gang banger they met was a murderous rapist. Like, yeah, gangs are a problem and I wouldn't want to meet any members in the event of an apocalypse, buuuuuut they also have families and are people too, even if some/a lot/most of them do very bad things. We didn't see any female or younger gang bangers, which would have helped flesh the gang bangers out a little more. Would the husband have reacted so harshly if it'd been a scared 12 year old being prompted by an older gang member to say those things?
I did like that it was fairly brutal, and didn't shy away from showing the harsh realities of living scared and hungry -.
I was entertained enough to finish, but I'm not going to bother getting the free copy of and going by the second books description I'm not going to be picking it up either.
More like a 2.5/5 It felt like the author started out posting this to a blog first, then combined all the postings into a book. It needed WAY WAY more editing! It didn't flow that well, things were repeated, there was a lot of telling, and there were a handful of errors that were missed including a 1st to 3rd POV change.
November 4, 2024
This book was a disappointment to me. I found too many problems with the whole premise of the apocryphal event against humanity and the series of events that befell our family, it's just plain stupid.
spoilers here...
One book in and I will not continue this series.
spoilers here...
One book in and I will not continue this series.
December 12, 2017
✨Dark, Devine& Deadly addictive ✨
Marvelously dark, gritty, and amazingly well conveyed. The characters are appealing and diverse. The way the story is told is unusual and very innovative, bringing forth daunting scenes, making the reader consider what their response would have been.
About those events taking place, I found the perfect metaphor: “Addictive, like Dark chocolate, not because its sweet but because it has a refined complex perfection, somewhere between full flavored, well developed richly divine, with a tang of bitterness, a touch of sweet and a undefined allure that is hard to pinpoint exactly what it might be, but still, its Divine! That is exactly how this book comes around to me.
This is a series that I’m looking forward to reading, expectations of the other books will be tough to match or surpass especially since I expect excellence and ingenious writing from this author.
A genuine stellar example of when post apocalyptic (P.A) book gets under your skin, and deliver the equivalent of a series of perfect roundhouse kicks straight into your inner core.
Survival of the smartest, not the fittest, is modern Darwinism , its referred to as Social Darwinism. Its a very real concept, and currently very much in motion even if some are unaware. The marvel of Ryan Schows book is that regardless of where you are in life, your age, level of knowledge and skills its always perfect.
That is a hallmark of a excellent writer. When they can connect and convey to the reader without limitations.
So like with this book as with the Devine Dark chocolate, its perfection created. All that remains is to indulged , and enjoy.
Marvelously dark, gritty, and amazingly well conveyed. The characters are appealing and diverse. The way the story is told is unusual and very innovative, bringing forth daunting scenes, making the reader consider what their response would have been.
About those events taking place, I found the perfect metaphor: “Addictive, like Dark chocolate, not because its sweet but because it has a refined complex perfection, somewhere between full flavored, well developed richly divine, with a tang of bitterness, a touch of sweet and a undefined allure that is hard to pinpoint exactly what it might be, but still, its Divine! That is exactly how this book comes around to me.
This is a series that I’m looking forward to reading, expectations of the other books will be tough to match or surpass especially since I expect excellence and ingenious writing from this author.
A genuine stellar example of when post apocalyptic (P.A) book gets under your skin, and deliver the equivalent of a series of perfect roundhouse kicks straight into your inner core.
Survival of the smartest, not the fittest, is modern Darwinism , its referred to as Social Darwinism. Its a very real concept, and currently very much in motion even if some are unaware. The marvel of Ryan Schows book is that regardless of where you are in life, your age, level of knowledge and skills its always perfect.
That is a hallmark of a excellent writer. When they can connect and convey to the reader without limitations.
So like with this book as with the Devine Dark chocolate, its perfection created. All that remains is to indulged , and enjoy.
March 7, 2021
⏱ Sixty second, no spoiler summary
Drones have attacked San Francisco leaving mass casualties in their wake. Cincinnati, her husband Stanton and teenage daughter, Macy are trying to survive the onslaught while also avoiding being killed by scavenging humans. They bunker down in an apartment but know they can’t stay there forever without running out of water and food. And also while keeping under the radar of the drones and the fake police who are roaming the city.
👍🏻Turn Ons
Fast paced and a great voice. I went out of order and read The Age of Embers series first, which is a companion series to this, but I don’t think it much matters. I loved discovering some characters from that series as I read this.
👎🏻 Turn Offs
Not really anything. I quite enjoyed this!
👵🏻 Safe to talk about with Grandma?
There is no f-words in this book, and minimal other cussing. There is a LOT of blood and gore in this book so if your grandma doesn’t like that, then no. There is references to rape. A lot of death happens in graphic detail. My grandma probably wouldn’t go for this.
⭐Rating ⭐
Five stars! I love that this is a series and I’m excited to see what happens. I kind of know where we went up because I read the other series, but I’m looking forward to seeing how we get there. If you like edge of your seat, end of world thrillers, you’ll enjoy this book.
Title & Author: The Last War by Ryan Schow
Format: Kindle (Kindle Unlimited)
Read:2/28/21-3/7/21
Rating: Five stars
Drones have attacked San Francisco leaving mass casualties in their wake. Cincinnati, her husband Stanton and teenage daughter, Macy are trying to survive the onslaught while also avoiding being killed by scavenging humans. They bunker down in an apartment but know they can’t stay there forever without running out of water and food. And also while keeping under the radar of the drones and the fake police who are roaming the city.
👍🏻Turn Ons
Fast paced and a great voice. I went out of order and read The Age of Embers series first, which is a companion series to this, but I don’t think it much matters. I loved discovering some characters from that series as I read this.
👎🏻 Turn Offs
Not really anything. I quite enjoyed this!
👵🏻 Safe to talk about with Grandma?
There is no f-words in this book, and minimal other cussing. There is a LOT of blood and gore in this book so if your grandma doesn’t like that, then no. There is references to rape. A lot of death happens in graphic detail. My grandma probably wouldn’t go for this.
⭐Rating ⭐
Five stars! I love that this is a series and I’m excited to see what happens. I kind of know where we went up because I read the other series, but I’m looking forward to seeing how we get there. If you like edge of your seat, end of world thrillers, you’ll enjoy this book.
Title & Author: The Last War by Ryan Schow
Format: Kindle (Kindle Unlimited)
Read:2/28/21-3/7/21
Rating: Five stars
June 7, 2018
Survival?
My favorite genre...post apocalyptic & zombies? No zombies here but that's okay...This storyline sucks you in & it was all I could do keeping up with these characters! The author really has a handle on them...I feel like I know each one. Stanton, Cincinnati, Macy & Rex...they carry this book nicely.
Evidently, our A.I. drones have decided they are smarter than us They are destroying San Francisco & there's not much anyone can do about it. Cin, a nurse, & Stanton her executive style husband are trying to find their daughter. Will they succeed? Will they find each other? Is there any hope of survival?
This book is full of action, good scenes, way too many bad scenes & people who have lost their minds!
I like this author. He has a flair for the dramatic & he certainly knows how to tell a story! I'm gonna be searching for the next book..😊
My favorite genre...post apocalyptic & zombies? No zombies here but that's okay...This storyline sucks you in & it was all I could do keeping up with these characters! The author really has a handle on them...I feel like I know each one. Stanton, Cincinnati, Macy & Rex...they carry this book nicely.
Evidently, our A.I. drones have decided they are smarter than us They are destroying San Francisco & there's not much anyone can do about it. Cin, a nurse, & Stanton her executive style husband are trying to find their daughter. Will they succeed? Will they find each other? Is there any hope of survival?
This book is full of action, good scenes, way too many bad scenes & people who have lost their minds!
I like this author. He has a flair for the dramatic & he certainly knows how to tell a story! I'm gonna be searching for the next book..😊
April 2, 2018
Starts Great
Lot's of action in the first part. The family finds a place to stay and then the next 99% of the book is...........hormonal anxiety? Is this author a male? Think so. The narration is from a mother with a teenage daughter. A lengthy and detailed description of the fall of humanity, anxiety and self pity from the mom narrator. At the last few chapters action begins again but, there is still the internal dialog filled with shell shock and the ever present Mommy fear.......Rape of my baby! My baby this, my baby that. At the last pages a new character emerges leaving questions galore. The action parts and story line are interesting. I believe there is talent here. Really though, BUCK UP BUTTERCUP.
Next book, not for me.
Lot's of action in the first part. The family finds a place to stay and then the next 99% of the book is...........hormonal anxiety? Is this author a male? Think so. The narration is from a mother with a teenage daughter. A lengthy and detailed description of the fall of humanity, anxiety and self pity from the mom narrator. At the last few chapters action begins again but, there is still the internal dialog filled with shell shock and the ever present Mommy fear.......Rape of my baby! My baby this, my baby that. At the last pages a new character emerges leaving questions galore. The action parts and story line are interesting. I believe there is talent here. Really though, BUCK UP BUTTERCUP.
Next book, not for me.
January 18, 2022
Gritty Apocalyptic Thriller
A tale of human courage and resolve set against the worst of circumstances: the utter breakdown of society due to the assault of an unknown and powerful enemy. No vestiges of security, let alone law and order, remain, which leaves our affluent urbanite family of three to figure out how to survive despite being wholly unprepared for such a calamity.
Great characters, both hero and villain. Tightly written (though with more internal dialog than I normally care for). I can almost feel the ash and grime and smell the death and blood.
Disturbing. Yet addictive. Hadn't planned on buying the next volume, but . . .
A tale of human courage and resolve set against the worst of circumstances: the utter breakdown of society due to the assault of an unknown and powerful enemy. No vestiges of security, let alone law and order, remain, which leaves our affluent urbanite family of three to figure out how to survive despite being wholly unprepared for such a calamity.
Great characters, both hero and villain. Tightly written (though with more internal dialog than I normally care for). I can almost feel the ash and grime and smell the death and blood.
Disturbing. Yet addictive. Hadn't planned on buying the next volume, but . . .
June 12, 2018
Above Average
Always enjoy a good end-of-the-world tale and this one's not but....but it's vague. Probably more of an explanation of the drones emergence would have helped. Maybe that's yet to come but some early visions of how they came about would have helped. And the idea of escaping in a helicopter with drones everywhere was not the smartest move the "driver" with the localized EMP could have made. Don't think a military man would honestly try that under the circumstances. All in all it was interesting enough to move to the next level.
Always enjoy a good end-of-the-world tale and this one's not but....but it's vague. Probably more of an explanation of the drones emergence would have helped. Maybe that's yet to come but some early visions of how they came about would have helped. And the idea of escaping in a helicopter with drones everywhere was not the smartest move the "driver" with the localized EMP could have made. Don't think a military man would honestly try that under the circumstances. All in all it was interesting enough to move to the next level.
August 14, 2018
I just read this whole 6 book apocalyptic series. It is a great series and I am now waiting on the final book to see how it all ends. The books give us many different people in many different areas of the country and then brings them all together in an unbelievable, but believable way. There are some problems with syntax and a some words are in the wrong place and some are repeated. But I am not here to talk about editing, because the truth is it does not affect or detract from the story which I can not seem to put down.
January 27, 2018
Interesting Take on the Apocalypse
AI causes the apocalypse - kind of like The Terminator. At first I wasn't sure if I would like the premise, but it grew on me. So, a big plus for the plot. The characters are well developed and interesting. The action is non-stop and well written. The proofreading could be better but is not a major issue. All in all, I am planning on reading both Zero Hour and Book #2.
AI causes the apocalypse - kind of like The Terminator. At first I wasn't sure if I would like the premise, but it grew on me. So, a big plus for the plot. The characters are well developed and interesting. The action is non-stop and well written. The proofreading could be better but is not a major issue. All in all, I am planning on reading both Zero Hour and Book #2.
February 27, 2019
Wow! Wow! WOW!..was hooked with the first page and by the time I hit the second chapter I knew I was in for a ride. Ryan Schow is a great story teller and it feels like I’m right in the middle of his tale. It’s a good thing I bought the entire series. Already into the second book in the series and had trouble putting it down to write this review. This genre is my favourite and Ryan Schow is now one of my favourite authors. Gotta go.....back to book 2............
April 12, 2019
Kind of annoying
Mom can't handle armeggedon by Skynet and spends the entire book panicked or depressed with spurts of anger. Lots of moping over her poor, innocent, child and how she cant believe her husband can kill people. Sure, people would really be like that if it happened, but I don't want to read about them. Stuck with it to the end, hoping there would be some character development, but nope, whiny to the last. Will skip further books in this series.
Mom can't handle armeggedon by Skynet and spends the entire book panicked or depressed with spurts of anger. Lots of moping over her poor, innocent, child and how she cant believe her husband can kill people. Sure, people would really be like that if it happened, but I don't want to read about them. Stuck with it to the end, hoping there would be some character development, but nope, whiny to the last. Will skip further books in this series.
December 28, 2019
The last war
I’m sitting here, a 69 year old widow, asking myself, “Why do I like this genre of fiction so much?” No answer. I suppose it’s the idea that it could actually happen and how would we survive? These characters seem like normal people and yet they completely change in a short amount of time. I like Schow’s writing and his imagination but I doubt they would have as much snarky chatter as they do. Probably my age, a generational thing.
I’m sitting here, a 69 year old widow, asking myself, “Why do I like this genre of fiction so much?” No answer. I suppose it’s the idea that it could actually happen and how would we survive? These characters seem like normal people and yet they completely change in a short amount of time. I like Schow’s writing and his imagination but I doubt they would have as much snarky chatter as they do. Probably my age, a generational thing.
March 20, 2022
The last war
What a brilliant read . Fast paced roller coaster ride . Drones are attacking cities destroying everything and killing on a mass scale . No one knows who is behind the attacks . The McNamaras have managed to save their daughter and survive in the bombed out city . The drones are not the only threat ,the street gangs are also on the prowl and they must fight to keep the family alive .
What a brilliant read . Fast paced roller coaster ride . Drones are attacking cities destroying everything and killing on a mass scale . No one knows who is behind the attacks . The McNamaras have managed to save their daughter and survive in the bombed out city . The drones are not the only threat ,the street gangs are also on the prowl and they must fight to keep the family alive .
February 16, 2018
A new take on how the world ends which I enjoyed, Drones attacking, Cincinnati's crying got a bit old, but I can understand it, I mean the world was ending and even though she was a Nurse used to keeping emotions tidy she was also used to having money and food. I will be reading the next in the series.
May 5, 2021
Book got my attention completely!
I thoroughly enjoyed the whole book. Fast pace. Constant action. First person narrative from mom who was brave and fierce as the story unfolded. I highly recommend this book. Looking forward to reading ithe whole series and much more from this author.
I thoroughly enjoyed the whole book. Fast pace. Constant action. First person narrative from mom who was brave and fierce as the story unfolded. I highly recommend this book. Looking forward to reading ithe whole series and much more from this author.
January 6, 2022
Standard Apocalypse Novel by a better than average author. Keep reading .........
Yes pretty standard but with good potential. This was on the short side where the reader gets to know the characters and gets a sense of the author's writing style to make a determination about getting more books. An introduction to Ryan Schow.. It worked as I will read more.
Yes pretty standard but with good potential. This was on the short side where the reader gets to know the characters and gets a sense of the author's writing style to make a determination about getting more books. An introduction to Ryan Schow.. It worked as I will read more.
June 6, 2023
Fast-paced.
A great introduction to a series and it certainly sets the pace for the whole book. There is no let-up it just constantly moves forward like an express. It’s set around a family of five with the odd outsider thrown in and just as quickly back out. It’s an enjoyable book and worth reading.
A great introduction to a series and it certainly sets the pace for the whole book. There is no let-up it just constantly moves forward like an express. It’s set around a family of five with the odd outsider thrown in and just as quickly back out. It’s an enjoyable book and worth reading.
June 26, 2018
I love good Apocalyptic books, they are my favorites . I have to say the first half was very fast paced, hard to know the characters. But, it slowed a little and fleshed them out. I really like it, bought the series, so on to the next one.
August 18, 2018
The last war
I read this book before....didn't realize it until Macy took off the woman's pants with the fuchsia paints. Good read. Good story of a family adjusting to living in a strange number world.
I read this book before....didn't realize it until Macy took off the woman's pants with the fuchsia paints. Good read. Good story of a family adjusting to living in a strange number world.
June 23, 2019
Ryan Schow is a terrific writer. I read the entire series straight through. The characters are very well drawn, and the sense of a post apocalyptic San Francisco setting is especially poignant for anyone who has visited.
March 24, 2021
Not worth the time
The entire book was about a family breaking down, not finding a way to survive. Cannot understand how they stayed alive with all the whining. Writing was stilted. Did a lot of skimming. Waste of my time.
The entire book was about a family breaking down, not finding a way to survive. Cannot understand how they stayed alive with all the whining. Writing was stilted. Did a lot of skimming. Waste of my time.
December 30, 2021
The end of the world as we know it set intimately in San Francisco. If you know the city, this book produces incredibly graphic imagery. SF is a microcosm of what is apparently going on elsewhere in the US and maybe the world. Definitely reading in the next one.
March 19, 2022
Entertaining!
A fun, fast-paced read that keeps you on your toes. But also slows down at just the right moments for a breather, and to remind you that your own humanity will start to crumble when the world around you is doing the same.
A fun, fast-paced read that keeps you on your toes. But also slows down at just the right moments for a breather, and to remind you that your own humanity will start to crumble when the world around you is doing the same.
October 2, 2022
I did really enjoy this exciting, EMP end of the world adventure! Well written, a great story idea as well as a good plot! I liked everything about this, a great read! I will definitely read the next in this series!
July 19, 2023
Great story
Without ruining it, this was a great start for the series. Well written and excellent descriptions, I really enjoyed this story of an apocalyptic future. Very realistically done.
Without ruining it, this was a great start for the series. Well written and excellent descriptions, I really enjoyed this story of an apocalyptic future. Very realistically done.
January 4, 2018
Good story
No zombies. Just humans who were monsters. Glad the family survived to go on and find other survivors like them.
No zombies. Just humans who were monsters. Glad the family survived to go on and find other survivors like them.
February 25, 2018
Good book
Read all of the books in order to really enjoy. Characters are realistic and get better and better. Storyline continues to grow and develop.
Read all of the books in order to really enjoy. Characters are realistic and get better and better. Storyline continues to grow and develop.
May 30, 2018
Goid read
I enjoyed this book a lot. It has a bit of a different take on the apocalypse. The characters are real and relatable.
I enjoyed this book a lot. It has a bit of a different take on the apocalypse. The characters are real and relatable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews