No Light Beyond

by L. Douglas Hogan

Mason Loss was a single father separated from his seven-year-old daughter, Lydia Nicole, when the United States was suddenly devastated by several massive coordinated EMP attacks. Having sustained life-threatening injuries in his search for her, he awakens from a two-year coma to find that the world is not the way he left it. To make the situation worse, Yellowstone has erupted and expelled an ancient microscopic organism that threatens the course of human survival. Now Mason must traverse the ashy suburban landscape in search of his now nine-year-old daughter. Along the way, he discovers a far more terrifying enemy than humankind can safely manage.

Genres: Post Apocalyptic

215 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 15, 2018

About the author

L. Douglas Hogan is a U.S.M.C. veteran with over twenty years in public service. Among these are three years as an anti-tank infantryman, one year as a Marine Corps Marksmanship Instructor, ten years as a part-time police officer, and eighteen years working in state government doing security work and supervision. He has been married over twenty years, has two children, and is faithful to his church, where he resides in southern Illinois.

Reviews

[Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review is for the audiobook format.

An interesting twist on today's EMP stories.

It's a matter of debate what the real world consequences might be of an EMP attack on the U.S., but in No Light Beyond, detonation of the manmade weapon triggers an additional disaster, one originating from within the planet itself. It is through the resulting destruction that devoted father Mason must set forth to  search for his kidnapped daughter, Lydia.

Serving only to complicate an already dangerous and fragile existence, roving gangs of thieves and cannibals consistently thwart Mason's efforts to locate Lydia. But Mason will find an angel in this hell who will reinvigorate his resolve to destroy all the evil beings that stand between him and his daughter... that is, if Mason can keep ahold of the fraying threads of his sanity -- and his humanity.

Several mispronounciations were sprinkled throughout the narration, but they didn't affect my understanding. Also, parts of sentences were repeated on a couple of occasions, as if they were missed during the audio editing process. Otherwise, Chelsea Stephens gives a good performance. Overall, this was a pretty good book, and offered an interesting twist on today's popular EMP stories.

I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge. My review is unbiased and the opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

[Pam Shelton-Anderson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried so hard but just could not finish this and I don't like not being able to finish what I start. I put it aside and came back to read more and then just could not continue. First of all, I could not believe that the dad who has been in a coma for two years after the onset of a disaster would be able to wake up (or even be kept alive with such diminishing resources for so long) and be fully functional enough to set out on a quest. He someone manages to quickly find his daughter who is not badly harmed in all that time but is surrounded by evil people everywhere. It was not really clear to be exactly what the Flash was...the title says Post-Atomic but no one seemed to be worried about fallout so maybe it was just an EMP. There is mention of Yellowstone too but not much change in weather, ash falling etc so what was that? And there there are zombies now? I don't like everything-but-the-kitchen-sink post-apocalyptic stories as they start to stretch any ability to believe or follow the story. There were also issues with grammar, dialogue etc. I give the author credit for being able to write a book, but it was not for me.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the book entertaining mostly. but with alot of faults. the diary/journal Mason was writing to his daughter should NOT have included " I kissed shamika(I have no idea how to spell her name) and I liked it" like a Katy Perry song. I found the book otherwise pretty okay.

I would probably not continue with the series. I didn't like the characters names. and Mason was 2 dimensional. and the "love story" was instalove which I'm not a fan of.

I think with some editing and adding to the depth of the characters and actually forming relationships and not just instalove I think it could much better.

[Johnny Jacks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story pulls at your heart strings and grips your soul from beginning to end. Hogan's latest dystopian tale is loaded with the emotion, tension, and conflict we seek in every story of this kind. Any father who's ever had a sweet little daughter to protect and love, will feel the pain that his protagonist, Mason, contends with to find the evil men who kidnapped his little girl and get her back. Hogan also presents an interesting and much different physical world than I've encountered in many books of this genre. Great job.

[Deedra · Rating 5 out of 5]

It may be the end of the world.An emp and a volcano spewing lava and toxins hits the earth.A man gets to his house in time to see hid daughter abducted.He finds her and loses her many times,but he always tries again.A disease spreads throg the population turining people into monsters.The way is fraught with danger and terror.Chelsea Stephens narrates it nocely.I was given this book by the narrator,author or publisher free for an honest review.

[Cherye Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Infection

This book is not what I expected. I was thinking Walking Dead, Zombies, something way out there. Nope. The main premise is love, loyalty, dedication and family.

The storyline grabbed me in slowly and poof I am with the group looking for Mason's daughter. I am fighting, I am I definitely will give this book five stars.

Enjoy the read.

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

This author is new to me and I really did enjoy this book. I'm hoping that he will write a second book in this series to continue the story further!

[Peggy Pancherz · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Shelley L Correll-Pietsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apocalyptic terror on many levels

An EMP followed by the Yellowstone eruption rounded out by the scariest of all zombies: fast & screaming. WOW & well done!

[odedo1 Audio book worm. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must admit that the author have surprised me with this creation, it is very well written and so much different from all the boring zombies stories that popped up every where.
A really good book and an excellent performance.
Once you start with this book it's almost impossible to take brakes, you just can't wait to see what's going to happen next all the way to the end.

Fully and absolutely recommended !!!


Got this audiobook for free for reviewing.