Descent Into Darkness

American Apocalypse #2

by A.J. Newman

American Apocalypse: Descent Into Darkness - Book 2
Book 2 of the series American Apocalypse continues the heroic struggles of an unlikely band of survivors in Southern Oregon. Joe Harp, the leader, was an overweight auto mechanic without any special survival skills. He had never been in the military but did know how to hunt, fish, and camp. He also had some notes his Grandma left him plus some survival books and supplies his Grandpa left him in an old cabin in the woods. Cobie Simms worked as a clerk at an outdoors store. She was working hard to survive before the SHTF while raising her daughter alone. Joe and Cobie team up to fight the evil around them and make life better for those in their small group. Cobie has been abducted in Book 1, and now Joe has to find her and bring her back to her back to him and her daughter. Many perils from gangs, starving neighbors, and disease still have to be dealt with, as Joe leads his people through the apocalypse.
Could you survive an apocalypse? Do you have military or special survival skills? Joe does not. If Joe can survive by using common sense, survival manuals, and good luck so can you.

Genres: Post Apocalyptic, Ebooks

228 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 9, 2018

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

A.J. Newman is the author of over 22 novels that have been published on Amazon. He was born and raised in a small town in the western part of Kentucky. His Dad taught him how to handle guns very early in life, and he and his best friend Mike spent summers shooting .22 rifles and fishing.
He read every book he could get his hands on and fell in love with science fiction. He graduated from USI with a degree in Chemistry and made a career working in manufacturing and logistics, but always fancied himself as an author.
He served six years in the Army National Guard in an armored unit and spent six years performing every function on M48 and M60 army tanks. This gave him a great respect for our veterans who lay their lives on the line to protect our country and freedoms.
He currently resides in Kentucky with his wife Patsy and their three tiny mop dogs, Sammy Cotton and Callie.

Reviews

[Reda Brahimi]

The story has potential, but the dialogues are childish. Even parts of the narration, the author repeats himself. Reading "the shit hit the fan" over and over is...OMG just use something else already! There is also something that bothered me; Is the author racist and Islamophobic? Is the term Muslim = Terrorist ? Why is he constantly repeating that.

[Meg]

I absolutely hate this book series. Was it written by a child. So awful.

[Susan Chatham]

Enjoying This Series

Good writing, easy reading, & common sense scenario’s with tips that would work & provide topics 2 research more in-depth if interested. Common apocalyptic behaviors seen from various characters. Main character uses wisdom & thought 2 solve problems which I like. Author intuitively with mainly humor describes common male/female differences & how when male & female combine forces, unique gender talents, & accepts this key feature of their differences as fact & become as one, they can discover true joy, peace, happiness, & true lifelong love to survive every situation they face. Also enjoy descriptions of common characteristics of children,mainly teenagers in this series, with truth & humor & good tips to being great parents who support & nurture their child but within any limitations & discipline needed to create independent strong adults in the future who utilize good morals, values, ethics, humanity & wisdom & common sense. Will continue this series & others from this author.

[A Steven Bouchard]

Excellent story!

4 stars though I liked the story so much I'd give 5 stars! However, seems there isn't a editor. Which results in typos, one person saying something while another person (character) is responsible to the comment/statement.

Really good but I find it a bit annoying that I have to stop reading, look back at the last few lines and "correct" the author in my own mind.

Nevertheless, this series is really very good. Perhaps the author paid so much to publish that he could not afford an editor? The skill is great. Just a few speed bumps that are easy enough to figure out.

[Dennis Crotts]

Number one thing about this series as I said in my review of audible one and that is Grandma you can never get enough of her letters of spit. fire and wisdom. The author never wavers in telling the perfect story with death, growing up pains as a person and community. You feel each and ever lost and in someway morn with the characters in the story.
Finally the trip never stops between the books and the narrator does an above average job telling the story.
So in closing I can not review this series any better than say if you are ready really ready for fun, a laugh, a cry and a very wise old grandma you need to listen or read this series.

[Kevin Barnes]

I had a bit of high hopes for the second book in the American Apocalypse series, but I was a bit disappointed. I understand the thinking and can see how the adults would feel and act about losing family, but the younger ones (teenagers) who lose their whole family and do act sad or even depressed was a bit of a stretch for me. There seemed to be more killing and magical learning with Joe this time then in the last book. I mean everyone knows how to make a bomb out of fertilizer and why not since all is laid out and ready for use. I have not given up hope on this series yet, I just hope the third book is better. A fast and quick read on a summer night.

[Jeff]

This book is open-ended, but thankfully, it doesn't end with a cliffhanger. It's a realistically believable story with a community of great characters, especially Joe's "family." The letters from Joe's Grandma is a brilliant twist. And Sara Morsey makes a perfect Grandma. Both she and Kevin Pierce deliver outstanding performances. The story pretty much follows the post-apocalyptic formula, so fans of the genre will likely really enjoy this story. I know I do.

NOTE: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Joni]

Complicated story

I like the way several characters have their stories told. As in all books of this genre there are no inconvenient or unplanned pregnancies. No one every dies of a simple cut or scratch from lack of antibiotics. That’s not realistic. But we’ll see. This author thinks outside the box. Now I have to wait until the end of summer to see how Joe handles the next problem.

[Bettyj]

Very good read

I loved the switch up of a regular guy and people that were not peppers may just make it thru this apocalypse and make a life for themselfs. Not just bad but good days too. And how real everything g seeems.I can't wait for the next book to come out. Wow very good everything flows. AJ is a fantastic writer.

[Elizabeth Duckworth]

I read the first book of this series and it actually wasn't too bad, this one however was unreadable.
It was like a rough draft, badly written. I won't complain about the price, it was free. I'm sorry, I don't like to ever give a one but this one just fell into that category I read about a third of it before giving up, life is too short for a bad book.

[Robert Rangel]

This is a romance/survival finding love at the end of the world kinda book. A little far fetched and hokey at times but interesting. I’m done at book 2 and moving onto another series as I love the survivalist genre. It’s more for those who want a little soap opera mixed in with their apocalypse story. Good read though.

[Cherye Elliott]

Joe

Some would say Joe is an admirable guy. I think he talks way too much. He tells people everything. I want to crawl into my kindle and duct tape him. I guess he is a good example of what not to do. Still reading the series. I am hoping he sees the light in book #3.

[Samuel Frazier]

Mostly Good Readimg

I like these stories, think there is a good chance these situations could become reality. I prefer to read books that start and finish without continuing into subsequent books. Make the books longer and tell the entire story within one book.

[Trina]

good

Second book in the decent into darkness series. Joe has settled into running his small community until Cloe is taken. Separated by others read how Joes finds her and the danger he faces…

[Steve Short]

This is a good continuation from book 1. The world for Joe is still in a downwards spiral and he gets separated from Koby. This forms the crux of the story.

I listened to this and the recording of was spot on.

[A.J. Newman]

Excellent Post-Apocalyptic novel. Of course I wrote it so I kinda like it.

[Bernie]

Descent Into Darkness review

Descent Into Darkness is the second post apocalyptic book in the American Apocalypse series written by author A. J. Newman.

[Terry Mcmullen]

I finished but I was skipping a lot.

[richard hudson]

EMP.... AJ Newman at his best

Yes it’s EMP apocalypse .... but AJ spinS a great yarn
And you will be left wanting more .
Well worth a read

[Brad Theado]

I liked it

[JoEllen Rinebold]

I enjoyed the series very much. Thought the characters felt real.

[Valerie]

Good story

There are a few editing errors but they do not detract from the story. Interesting characters who survive as best they can.

[Mickenzie Jensen]

3.5 Stars

Another enjoyable read full of action and excitement. Again, my only real issues with it were editing and the flow of character conversation.

[Ummsokoto]

Simply Amazing

The book kept me wanting more and more
The great thing about it was how it kept u on the edge.

[Rita]

Good series.

[Lisa Harnish]

Getting pretty goofy and hard to follow. The "letters from grandma" trope is trite and unrealistic.

[Casey Yearbury]

Top Apocalypse read

Great book. Can't wait to read the next. Keeps you on your toes to the end. Full of great suspence.

[Benita M. Williams]

Good Read

Story kept me interested. I enjoyed the differant characters and places. The book had some really good prepper tips. looking forward to the next book.

[mia]

Another thrilling and entertaining read, I couldn't put it down, and was disappointed when I reached the end! I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Cliff]

Very enjoyable, but not,really something to read during a pandemic.

A little too prophetic.