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Sanctuary #2
Unshaken
Biblical apocalypse or alien invasion? Either way, John is about to have a bad day.
John Stark is often described as surly. He’s quiet by nature and prefers training dogs for Search and Rescue to an office job. So, when an earthquake collapses a building in Virginia Beach, he answers the call, even though one of the alien ships hovers only a few miles away.
Though the aliens have been inactive for weeks, his wife wants to move farther from them. But when the aliens attack, it is nothing like anyone expected. Now John needs to find his way back to his wife, but the apocalypse stands in the way.
John Stark is often described as surly. He’s quiet by nature and prefers training dogs for Search and Rescue to an office job. So, when an earthquake collapses a building in Virginia Beach, he answers the call, even though one of the alien ships hovers only a few miles away.
Though the aliens have been inactive for weeks, his wife wants to move farther from them. But when the aliens attack, it is nothing like anyone expected. Now John needs to find his way back to his wife, but the apocalypse stands in the way.
134 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 25, 2018
152 people are currently reading
126 people want to read
About the author
Pauline Creeden
76 books575 followersPauline Creeden is an award-winning author, horse trainer, and overall book ninja. She becomes the main character in each of her stories, and because she has ADD, she will get bored if she pretends to be one person for too long.
Armored Hearts, her joint effort with author Melissa Turner Lee, has been a #1 Bestseller in Christian Fantasy and been awarded the Crowned Heart for Excellence by InDtale Magazine. Her debut novel, Sanctuary, won 1st Place Christian YA Title 2013 Dante Rosetti Award and 2014 Gold Award for First Place YA Horror Novel.
Armored Hearts, her joint effort with author Melissa Turner Lee, has been a #1 Bestseller in Christian Fantasy and been awarded the Crowned Heart for Excellence by InDtale Magazine. Her debut novel, Sanctuary, won 1st Place Christian YA Title 2013 Dante Rosetti Award and 2014 Gold Award for First Place YA Horror Novel.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 22, 2022
Unshaken by Pauline Creeden is a short novella that really doesn't go anywhere. It's part of a longer narrative that seems to blend biblical apocalypse, with zombies, and alien invasion. Some of the characters are OK, but the story seems a little preachy (I'm a seminary student so that's saying something) revolving around the apocalypse described in the book of Revelations. I'm OK with theological elements when they're accurate and these do not accord with the Bible as I read it. I really couldn't lose myself even though Creeden has merit as an author. The dialogue seemed real to the characters she created, but again the story doesn’t seem certain what it wants to be. I would say avoid, unless you're into biblical mashups that are semi-accurate and skirt both the horror and science fiction genres.
March 19, 2018
It's no secret that I'm a fan of any kind of monster story, so the alien Shisa in Creeden's Sanctuary series makes this a fun read for me! Though the aliens' true intentions are unknown, it seems that their sole purpose is to wreak as much havoc as possible on humans.
I'll admit I'm not a fan of the main characters—well, actually, half of the couple. Anna annoyed me. She had an overbearing personality—at least when it comes to religion. I related more to John, and his search and rescue partner, Harvey, who were my favorite characters, with Harvey in a slight lead on John. What can I say? I'm a dog person through and through.
It took a few chapters to get to the action since these are new characters in the Sanctuary series, but once we get there, Creeden doesn't let up on the action and suspense.
Read this collection if:
• You enjoy a unique combination of aliens and zombies.
• You enjoy fast-paced suspense.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I'll admit I'm not a fan of the main characters—well, actually, half of the couple. Anna annoyed me. She had an overbearing personality—at least when it comes to religion. I related more to John, and his search and rescue partner, Harvey, who were my favorite characters, with Harvey in a slight lead on John. What can I say? I'm a dog person through and through.
It took a few chapters to get to the action since these are new characters in the Sanctuary series, but once we get there, Creeden doesn't let up on the action and suspense.
Read this collection if:
• You enjoy a unique combination of aliens and zombies.
• You enjoy fast-paced suspense.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
February 16, 2018
Unshaken really drew me in.... This is a biblical apocalypse type book including aliens, zombies and good people as well as dogs, trying to save others. It's very well written and comes across more like a thriller. The characters in this book are believable and the plot is very good. I highly recommend this book and am looking forward to reading some of Pauline Creeden's other books along this line.
August 14, 2018
Many, many years ago while I was a student at Colorado State University, I enrolled in a science fiction class. At the same time, I started dating a woman who went to a very fundamentalist church. I joined the church so I could spend more time with her, and I spent a lot of time reading Revelations because of how trippy that book is. The final project for the scifi course was to write a scifi short story, and I decided that it would be fun to write a scifi story that incorporated large chunks of Revelations. I thought it was a pretty clever and original idea, my professor did not agree, taking points off for being derivative and for following the source material so closely that it barely qualified as an original work. At the time, that feedback really stung, but it was also completely valid. I didn't challenge the grade, accepting a "C" as appropriate.
Pauline Creeden earns a low rating for exactly the same reason. Unshaken is a far too literal interpretation of Revelations - beings who are either aliens or angels attack the earth, somehow dim the sun to 2/3rd of its brightness and heat, unleash plagues and turn people into zombies (so they yearn for death but can never find it, a la Revelations 9:6), earthquakes ravage the land. The main protagnoist is an agnostic, but his wife is a devout Christian who is trying to make everyone else around her see that it is the end times.
Sound familiar?
Pauline Creeden earns a low rating for exactly the same reason. Unshaken is a far too literal interpretation of Revelations - beings who are either aliens or angels attack the earth, somehow dim the sun to 2/3rd of its brightness and heat, unleash plagues and turn people into zombies (so they yearn for death but can never find it, a la Revelations 9:6), earthquakes ravage the land. The main protagnoist is an agnostic, but his wife is a devout Christian who is trying to make everyone else around her see that it is the end times.
Sound familiar?
June 26, 2018
Interesting storyline. Anna was annoying at times. I'll give the other book another chance.
February 10, 2018
What can I say about Unshaken: a Sanctuary Novel... No really, what can I say about how much I loved it without giving away this fantastic story!!! I am 100% obsessed with everything that Pauline Creeden has written and the Sanctuary Series is one of my favorite series.
Unshaken follows and older married couple post alien invasion. John, a search and rescue loner, and his wife Anna, who believes that they are experiencing the rapture. Separated, they try to figure out a way back to each other and a survival plan to stay clear of the aliens and the Shisa. Along the way, with the help of their well trained German Shepards, they start to learn a thing or 2 about the alien invaders. Can they survive when the dangers start to grow? Where do you go when no place is safe from the deadly Shisa?
I found the beginning of Unshaken slightly slow but I honestly feel like that was because I spent the good first 2 chapters trying to remember what happened in Sanctuary and Survivor and I should have known better. While it's clear that these 3 stories fit into a much bigger picture, each is it's own amazing arc. Like the other 2 stories in this series Unshaken is fast passed and nearly impossible to put down. With aliens, zombies and biblical lore Unshaken, at least for me, hits all the genres that make for an amazing story and series! I cannot wait till the next instalment but until then I will have to go back and reread this amazing series to prepare for the next fantastic arc, Silence.
I was given a copy of this book for my 100% honest opinion.
Unshaken follows and older married couple post alien invasion. John, a search and rescue loner, and his wife Anna, who believes that they are experiencing the rapture. Separated, they try to figure out a way back to each other and a survival plan to stay clear of the aliens and the Shisa. Along the way, with the help of their well trained German Shepards, they start to learn a thing or 2 about the alien invaders. Can they survive when the dangers start to grow? Where do you go when no place is safe from the deadly Shisa?
I found the beginning of Unshaken slightly slow but I honestly feel like that was because I spent the good first 2 chapters trying to remember what happened in Sanctuary and Survivor and I should have known better. While it's clear that these 3 stories fit into a much bigger picture, each is it's own amazing arc. Like the other 2 stories in this series Unshaken is fast passed and nearly impossible to put down. With aliens, zombies and biblical lore Unshaken, at least for me, hits all the genres that make for an amazing story and series! I cannot wait till the next instalment but until then I will have to go back and reread this amazing series to prepare for the next fantastic arc, Silence.
I was given a copy of this book for my 100% honest opinion.
June 20, 2018
I downloaded this book for free thinking I'd try something out of my normal genres. Well, maybe that was not such a good idea. It was a short book and when it ended I realized that it was a series and this was not the first book. I've had a hard time trying to find what order this book comes in the series, but I definitely know why it just felt like it started in the middle of something. Because it did!
If you like zombies, then more than likely you'll like this book. It's a far-fetched novel about the coming tribulation and the different things that will happen. I didn't quite think it was Biblical, but I guess that's her take on the Book of Revelation. I did actually get into the book and wanted to know what happens, but I got really tired of the wife of the main character and thought she made some pretty bad decisions, but that generally goes with horror stories...I mean if people didn't make the stupid decision to run upstairs or to the basement to get away from the monster/psycho, then the story would pretty much end. So I can see why she wrote it that way. The writing wasn't bad. And truth be told, I am a little curious about reading the first two books to see how it all began. But I doubt I will. Zombies are not my thing.
But it was exciting, in a horror/zombie kinda of way. So, like I said, it's not my genre, but it may be yours.
If you like zombies, then more than likely you'll like this book. It's a far-fetched novel about the coming tribulation and the different things that will happen. I didn't quite think it was Biblical, but I guess that's her take on the Book of Revelation. I did actually get into the book and wanted to know what happens, but I got really tired of the wife of the main character and thought she made some pretty bad decisions, but that generally goes with horror stories...I mean if people didn't make the stupid decision to run upstairs or to the basement to get away from the monster/psycho, then the story would pretty much end. So I can see why she wrote it that way. The writing wasn't bad. And truth be told, I am a little curious about reading the first two books to see how it all began. But I doubt I will. Zombies are not my thing.
But it was exciting, in a horror/zombie kinda of way. So, like I said, it's not my genre, but it may be yours.
July 12, 2021
Not For Me
The idea or storyline was interesting an alien invasion with some type of beasts that attacked and turned only humans into zombie type creatures. My problem was the characters and religious overtones in the story. The author tied the alien invasion in with book of revelations. One of the characters Anne was very devout and in my opinion very judgemental. Anne also made dumb decisions that put the other characters in danger and her actions were based on her beliefs not on what was best for everyone to survive. I have no problems with religion but an alien invasion being part of the book of revelations was too much for me especially if it is written in a way that seems judgement towards others who believe differently. I will not continue with this series.
The idea or storyline was interesting an alien invasion with some type of beasts that attacked and turned only humans into zombie type creatures. My problem was the characters and religious overtones in the story. The author tied the alien invasion in with book of revelations. One of the characters Anne was very devout and in my opinion very judgemental. Anne also made dumb decisions that put the other characters in danger and her actions were based on her beliefs not on what was best for everyone to survive. I have no problems with religion but an alien invasion being part of the book of revelations was too much for me especially if it is written in a way that seems judgement towards others who believe differently. I will not continue with this series.
August 11, 2019
Read as part of the “Murder & Mayhem” omnibus.
This story revolves around Jack who is a search and rescue dog handler. He is a very busy man these days, as aliens have arrived, partially destroyed the sun, and earthquakes have flattened most cities. The aliens are floating their space ships above most cities and military bases, and send down “soldiers” who run a round biting humans which causes them to bleed out and become zombies.
Yes, aliens, zombies, and biblical apocalypses. All a bit odd, and it turns out this is part one of a series, so you don’t get an ending, rather our heroes driving off to the next city...
This story revolves around Jack who is a search and rescue dog handler. He is a very busy man these days, as aliens have arrived, partially destroyed the sun, and earthquakes have flattened most cities. The aliens are floating their space ships above most cities and military bases, and send down “soldiers” who run a round biting humans which causes them to bleed out and become zombies.
Yes, aliens, zombies, and biblical apocalypses. All a bit odd, and it turns out this is part one of a series, so you don’t get an ending, rather our heroes driving off to the next city...
November 26, 2024
It's easy to see what this book was trying to do, and that is was inspired by the book of Revelations. Unfortunately, the story stuck too closely to the biblical source material, and the author didn't take the opportunity to do something more interesting with it. The presence of aliens is pretty much the extent of the sci-fi elements. It doesn't delve enough into the necessary elements to be either a horror or a thriller. The symbolism was extremely heavy-handed, to the point of feeling excessive. The ending was anti-climactic and overall, it felt like the story wasn't sure what it was meant to be.
June 7, 2018
Unshaken is a Sanctuary story. It can be read as a standalone but it does end in a soft cliffhanger for another book. There is violence. This is an interesting storyline involving aliens, zombies, beasts, and maybe even an apocolyptic ending. I'll be interested to see where the story goes from here.
July 18, 2019
I devoured this book like zombies eat brains. Lol
This is a different take on the tribulation. It’s a mid-trib story of the end of the world. The rapture hasn’t taken place yet but the Alien demons are pouring out the bowls of judgement on the earth.
The characters are great and your heart breaks for those attacked by the demon dogs and turned into zombies.
Is there a 2nd book yet?
This is a different take on the tribulation. It’s a mid-trib story of the end of the world. The rapture hasn’t taken place yet but the Alien demons are pouring out the bowls of judgement on the earth.
The characters are great and your heart breaks for those attacked by the demon dogs and turned into zombies.
Is there a 2nd book yet?
May 15, 2020
I received this book for free!
I was looking for distopian books and I got what I looking for. I was not aware the zombie tag, but this book present comfortable amount of them. And also aliens in there.
This is the first book what I read from the Sanctuary series and it is not the first in chronology.
So it will be fun to read the other books.
I was looking for distopian books and I got what I looking for. I was not aware the zombie tag, but this book present comfortable amount of them. And also aliens in there.
This is the first book what I read from the Sanctuary series and it is not the first in chronology.
So it will be fun to read the other books.
November 24, 2018
This is a tension filled story about an apocalyptic nightmare. The main characters are well-developed and the world is well defined. I enjoyed it very much and definitely want to read the next book in this series. I highly recommend it.
June 11, 2019
One of a kind read!
Upon beginning this book I thought I was just looking to kill a few minutes here and there. Then I immediately became enthralled by the colorful characters, the original plot line and couldn't put it down.
Upon beginning this book I thought I was just looking to kill a few minutes here and there. Then I immediately became enthralled by the colorful characters, the original plot line and couldn't put it down.
August 27, 2020
Meh
Not to my liking. Found it too anticlimactic. Needed more alien presence and carnage. The beasts attacks were played down and not made to be part of the plot as much as i.Would like.
Not to my liking. Found it too anticlimactic. Needed more alien presence and carnage. The beasts attacks were played down and not made to be part of the plot as much as i.Would like.
August 18, 2019
Interesting read.
April 27, 2020
End time novel but a little on aliens trend.
May 26, 2021
5 star
Very good book. The main characters are a little to nice and don’t figure things out to quickly but I enjoyed their personalities. Looking forward to the next installment.
Very good book. The main characters are a little to nice and don’t figure things out to quickly but I enjoyed their personalities. Looking forward to the next installment.
September 13, 2021
Okay as an intro to a longer story.
Okay read but too short to really develop the story. Not all that much happens and just as the story deepens it ends.
Okay read but too short to really develop the story. Not all that much happens and just as the story deepens it ends.
April 17, 2018
This is a really good horror sci-fi story set a few months after alien crafts have arrived, at first seemingly with no real intentions but a series of deadly earthquakes and the appearance of strange alien 'dogs' whose bites turn people into demented rage zombies show that this is not the case. The story is a little slow to start but it still hooks you in. And then things really pick up as earthquakes and alien dogs combine to create a whole mess of apocalyptic chaos, a chaos that I just loved.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews