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Safe Haven #3

Reap of the Righteous

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From the multi-award-winning author Christopher Artinian, comes the the third part of the post-apocalyptic zombie series people are calling, "Gripping", "fast paced and full of action", "very realistic", "captivating", "inventive", and "emotional".

Safe Haven - Reap of the Righteous

Civilisation has crumbled in a matter of months. Now, fast-moving zombies and merciless raiders wreak havoc over the post-apocalyptic wasteland. Nowhere is safe. Death and terror lurk in shadow and daylight. The weak will fall, and only the strongest will survive.

Mike Fletcher and his family have battled through this dystopian wilderness to try and find sanctuary in the northwest region of Scotland. They thought they had succeeded. But now, a new horror has found them.

When the odds are insurmountable...when the fear is uncontrollable...when the pain of loss is unbearable, there are just two choices: fall to your knees or stand taller than you ever have before.

This war will decide the future. This war will decide everything.

328 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 6, 2018

171 people are currently reading
138 people want to read

About the author

Christopher Artinian

63 books292 followers
I was born and raised in Leeds, West Yorkshire. Wanting to escape life in a big city and concentrate more on working to live than living to work, I moved to the Outer Hebrides in the north-west of Scotland in 2004 and I have lived there ever since with my wife and dogs.

I write post-apocalyptic, sci-fi, dystopian and horror fiction. I’ve released fifty one books across six different series - Safe Haven, The End of Everything, Unsafe, Relentless, The Burning Tree and Scares in Scotland.

In addition, most of my titles are now available as audiobooks narrated by Kim Bretton, so if you’re one of the many people who struggle to find the time to read, you can listen on the go.

To stay up to date with all the very latest news, and to get your hands on a free book, Before Safe Haven: Alex, sign up to my newsletter here: https://BookHip.com/XPNLJH

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5 stars
486 (69%)
4 stars
147 (21%)
3 stars
60 (8%)
2 stars
3 (<1%)
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2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
Profile Image for Jena.
597 reviews30 followers
May 17, 2022
This one got much darker and it felt a little bit repetitive. Even so, I enjoyed this series.
Profile Image for Ziggy Nixon.
1,180 reviews36 followers
July 6, 2019
3 stars. An absolutely thrilling, breath-taking adventure that is hurt by slightly uneven pacing but particularly some of the worst editing I have ever seen.

**MILD SPOILERS**
Artinian starts off the 3rd book of his 'Safe Haven' series with an absolute bang and doesn't let up until the final page. Seriously, the first few pages will just have you clapping in admiration and certainly made me glad that I put down book 2 and started book 3 without a break! Just considering the plot and characterizations, this 3rd chapter is an absolute thrill that will keep you up to the wee hours of the morning just so you can find out what happens.

As with Book 2, the best part(s) of the story are the characterizations - people we love or hate at this point - and the no-apologies approach of 'we will do what it takes so that our loved ones survive!' If you love this genre or even want to break away from something like your usual military action books, you can do a lot worse than this book or this series! I still think the best compliment I can give is that I want to continue with the series and later today will be downloading book 4 for immediate consumption!

Having said that, this also means that in the places where the action or tension wavers at all, the story stutters somewhat. I realize that a tale of this magnitude needs new characters to add to the current roster or even replenish it if you will, and for the most part this is handled very well, if not a little too conveniently (I've been to Inverness many times, finding someone that quick in that city would NOT be easy!). However, this also meant that we get a bit 'cliché-y' with our new players, mostly it seems to just be able to skip a lot of their character building (we know how the Irish are, don't we, ergo... and viola, here's Jules and her brothers). Ditto for scenes that are now getting repetitive (really guys, you didn't suspect yet that the school was full of dead kids and others, even with the meeting signs?) or that need a quicker resolution (we needed Shaw and Lucy to be buddies again, so we just get an aside that he helped her quit her drug addiction... moving on, right?). A few more pages in any of these situations to have worked out something more original (maybe have all the kid zombies trapped on the... PLAYGROUND FROM HELL!!!) or let us get to know people would have helped.

Another place that the overall story suffers is the often abrupt (impatient?) end to some key players, scenes that could have been developed much more richly (see my comments for book 2 where Joseph's end, however expected, went by far too abruptly). Take, for example, the Don's demise. This was handled really well and was built up to a proper crescendo - and I could say the same for Juliet and the Don's daughter, too (sorry, I should look up her name because my brain kept calling her Ivanka). On the other hand, Grandma Sue just... dies? The whole reason we were running in Books 1 & 2 and that's it? Sure, there's the big reveal leading up to it but surely she could have wandered out to the shore to reflect a bit first? Just seems anti-climatic to snuff it in her sofa chair...

And after all of the descent into madness of Ray - probably the most truly and deliciously horrific part of the book (despite the again clichéd red-headed Glaswegian stuff) - he is killed with one quick swing of the machete? Surely we could have had his new 'persona' (the bad human is now a bad zombie!!!!) get in a few more nasty snarls and near-misses before he was dispatched, no? I mean, cut him in half and let the top half continue to fight and so on, until only a cursed finger prevails? Oh well, I guess that's a bit nit-picky as that was indeed a fantastic battle scene all around, particularly as I've toured that region of Scotland and could just imagine it taking place exactly as described! Oh and the wee trebuchets (or whatever you called them) were a great and very original approach, well done!

Alas... despite loving the story, I was repeatedly distracted by the editing in this book. It is horrible, full stop. I have literally never seen so many punctuation mistakes in a professionally published book. Ever. There are also scores of formatting errors and some grammar hiccups that should not be tolerated and I can't imagine these were solely the fault of the author (if at all). Folks there are programs out there that would have picked up on MOST of these mistakes if not all of them!!!

I don't know if I got my version from a bad batch of Kindle copies or what, but someone needs to review the performance of the entire team here. I hope Book 4 is better because that was just cringe-worthy to someone who did something DISTANTLY related to editing as a job for many years (mistakes would have caused chemical plant explosions in my job, so I appreciate good editing). And no, you may not contact me for examples unless you are willing to pay for my time (yes, this has happened before). Seriously, this book, this author and all readers deserve better.
Profile Image for TP.
1,043 reviews48 followers
September 9, 2018
What I noticed in the third book was, that different characters used the same language.
For example calling women currency. Like Mike and Fry, although they never met before.
That could be done better. Every character using their own language.
I liked that book series in general. The characters were awesome, the writing style with the different POVs put more suspense in it, as well as more insight. I also liked that the bandits or raiders had their own story and development parallel to the main story.

Maybe there will be a fourth book???
It is always tough to part with characters when feel like you spent the whole journey with them, right beside them.
Darn I would love to know how they rebuild or build a community respectively.
What challenges they could face along the way?
Trading with the islands?
Searching for and rescuing other survivors?
What happens if they are struck by “normal” illnesses and need to canvas the regions further south for medicine and supplies?
What happens when the winter starts, needing proper clothing and gear. How do you start from scratch?
Maybe some idea where the virus originated?
What happens to the RAMs over time? Do they deteriorate without food, or does winter help decimate them? Do they evolve in search for new pray? Or migrate out of the cities?

Darn so many questions and possibilities ... it all comes down to one fact, I would love to read more of Mike and his family.
615 reviews1 follower
October 13, 2024
Honestly, this is truly outstanding ** NO SPOILERS **

The end of the last book saw Mike and his family, both by blood as well as found family newly arrived at his Gran’s cottage in Lonbaig Scotland. They’d fought, been betrayed and still against the odds found Lucy and a handful of others. Mike may well be single minded nut job but he’s one that you’d want on your side.
This book does not open on a happy scene, their little haven was in trouble and as for Mike, well he’s going to do what he does best.

Things aren’t going smoothly in The Don’s camp and Fry’s had enough.

If you like the Zombie Apocalypse genre this is one series that should not be missed. It definitely packs a punch and has you rooting for the good guys. The bad guys and the monsters are often the same thing it’s vivid, disturbingly realistic at times and often pulls the shock factor. I’m not afraid to admit that there were scenes that I skimmed past instead of reading, primarily those involving Fry, Juliet and Fry’s devolution. Book 4 here I come.
6 reviews
September 24, 2023
I have 9 more books to read! It's hard to imagine how our author, Christopher, could keep us even more engaged than he already has.
This is the third installment of the series, and to my surprise, it's somehow even more action-packed and wild than the first two. Three books in and just when you think it's about to slow down, it seems to peak before your very eyes!
We're introduced to even more characters joining us on this incredible journey through the once-rotting UK, now brought to its knees by the undead. We also get a glimpse into the background of our new foe, Fry, while delving deeper into the lives of The Don and their ragtag group of thousands on the other side.
The story comes to a very satisfying end, will our hero's be able to build themselves a Safe Haven or will we find them back on the street of the UK among the dead. I look forward to start the next journey with Mike, Em and Lucy.
Profile Image for Sara.
492 reviews
October 27, 2021
Safe Haven is one thrilling zombie series, and it keeps getting better and better with each book. Reap of the Righteous, the third book in the series is, cleverly composed, action-packed, intense, unpredictable, and the edge of your seat exciting. The cast is brilliant, diverse, well-rounded, and capable. The interactions and reactions to situations are realistic, and the dialogue flows naturally. Artinian's creativity shines through his exceptional character and plot development, making the series one of my favorite in the zombie apocalypse genre.

Kim Bretton's narration was spot-on; her portrayal of the characters, animation, and energy is superb. She brought the story to life and made it more engaging. The series is awesome! I was thoroughly immersed from start to finish, and I'm definitely recommending it
893 reviews
January 30, 2025
Just Okay

The story didnt pick up where the last book ended. But the way it did start left me confused. It never got into Mike getting drugged or why (it'sonly by who) and they're in the dingy .. We dont know what happened after he got to his Gran's housee. Then the story goes in another direction. I didn't know what was going on for awhile. I didn't like that. Up until then the story held my interest. It did pick up again and it got good but it was getting a bit unbelievable at times with the fighting scenes. I had to Laugh. Mike turned into a action hero. Its still a good story though.
Profile Image for Gareth.
274 reviews4 followers
April 28, 2019
Very good, but...

As with the other two books in the series this one was brilliant and the writing was excellent. The characters we get well written and although there are some that i want to die now! You form an emotional link with them.

I do have an issue though, I'm getting bored of the same heroic speeches every time someone does something and I'm getting bored of the constant hugging all the time! Hopefully this will change in the next book as a lot of this one was hugging and speeches!

Apart from that it is still very good!
2,093 reviews9 followers
August 22, 2021
Mike and his family have finally made it to northern Scotland where they hope to find sanctuary; however, when a person is in the middle of a zombie apocalypse is any place really safe? The excitement just never ends in this book. The author has written characters that have a very believable arc and I appreciate that a lot. I find this series very entertaining and I recommend it to others. Kim Bretton's narration is great and she adds to the book's entertainment by her performance style. I was given a free copy of the audiobook and I have voluntarily left this review.
Profile Image for odedo1 Audio book worm. .
803 reviews9 followers
January 1, 2022
Magically once again.


Perfect timing, not only a pandemic but also Christmas are mentioned in this third book of the Safe Haven series.
I truly don’t understand where does Christopher Artinian finds the incredible imagination, its purely amazing and perfect.
Kim Bretton adds extra feelings into the characters making it all so real narrating it into audio.

Perfection,
And this series is fully
Recommended !!!

Oded Ostfeld.
3 reviews
July 29, 2023
Great reading

It's been a while since I got so hooked to a story like I had with this ones.
Took me only a day to read this one, as I couldn't put it down.
This series have everything, action, humour, heart breaking moments and a great main character.
Mike story and constant willingness to keep those he loves safe is something powerful, keeps you on edge, makes you wanna scream what the he'll are doing? But when things get settled you end up wishing that someone got your back like he does.
Profile Image for Mandi Murphy.
58 reviews10 followers
January 30, 2022
Unputdownable non stop action

I didn't think it could get any better but boy I was wrong! It's non stop action with twists that could give you whiplash. Your white knuckled clinging to the edge of your seat. Screaming at your kindle. Tears streaming down your face. It's an incredible roller-coaster of a journey More new characters arrive and I grabbed book 4 the second I finished this. Its intoxicating
Profile Image for Theresa.
8,358 reviews135 followers
May 26, 2023
Reap of the Righteous
By Christopher Artinian

After all the struggle Mike and Emma have brought their ragtag family to their grandmother. What they did not expect were the problems that followed them. The struggle for life in the aftermath of the world's downfall has just begun. They must use all they know to protect the obes they love, and fi d a safe haven.
Very realistic depection of social collapse and conflict of interest. I would love to continue the series.
Profile Image for Todd Bennett.
25 reviews
August 17, 2018
Family vs zombies/assholes

I've read this entire series sitting on the edge of my seat and biting my nails!!
Chris has the pulse of what a great zompoc writer needs, depth of characters and a well constructed story.
The ending of "Safe Haven" left me with chills of joy!!!
I look forward to reading much more from Chris in the near future!!!
Profile Image for Roseann Powell.
103 reviews2 followers
April 29, 2020
Is there EVER a moments rest for our favorites? Nope, sure doesn't seem like it! I loved this book and cannot say enough good things about it - or the series, especially without giving away spoilers - which I don't do. I'll just say, if you haven't started this series, you should. I'm already halfway through book 4!
Profile Image for Linda.
503 reviews
March 30, 2021
Book 3

There were some really horrific stories in this book. More horror from the totally evil Frye. Mike is a crazy hero who has managed to survive some unbelievable battles to save his ever growing family. This is the beginning of the actual Safe Haven for this group of survivors.
31 reviews1 follower
August 17, 2023
Absolutely Loved.
I will say Fry in this book traumatized me a tad. BUT, as an avid walking dead & Son's of anarchy watcher I guess he'd fit in there. Love the character development. Although let's be real Mike just gets more badass. But, Love that some redeem themselves this book.
Off to read the next!
22 reviews1 follower
November 21, 2024
Safe haven break of the Righteous: Book 3 of the posts apocalyptic Zombie Horror series

I am loving this series so far! Such wonderful characters, so much action almost on every page! I mean when is a girl supposed to sleep?! Okay, time to start the next book...keep all this awesome story coming!
574 reviews1 follower
November 22, 2020
This audio book is wonderfully narrated with consistent and interesting voices. Great story and character development. Can't wait to hear more. I received a free copy and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
100 reviews1 follower
May 10, 2021
A Desperate Rescue

Two of Mike's people are kidnapped. He knows they will be tortured by Fry in unimaginable ways. Time for a rescue attempt and a battle as Fry seeks to wipe them out. There are losses and gains to be had.
Profile Image for Mary Mitchell.
1,048 reviews8 followers
February 19, 2024
Powerful

This book and storyline was absolutely powerful. There was so much action, suspense, and fighting. The action is constantly evolving and changing in this book. I loved it.
77 reviews
September 13, 2024
Didn't enjoy this book as much as the previous two. The main set piece of the novel was well written and enjoyable, but the pre-amble felt quite generic and meandering. Not enough to put me off the next installment but not as enticing as the previous two
Profile Image for Raymond Clause.
197 reviews3 followers
February 18, 2020
Great addition to the story line. I love the new characters. I look forward to listening to the next book! I recommend this book.
Profile Image for Joanne Nundy.
Author 14 books22 followers
January 14, 2021
Fantastic

Love this series. Looking forward to the next book. Has really got me through this pandemic. A must read for zombie fans
78 reviews2 followers
January 3, 2022
Fantastic Book

Really enjoyed book 3 The story keep getting better and better, a small group working together takes on an army, and wins
1,056 reviews4 followers
January 9, 2022
Terrific

Terrific storyline throughout this entire series. The characters are really interesting and believable. I recommend this series without any reservations.
503 reviews5 followers
August 30, 2023
excellent

Great tale
Great characters
Great dialogue
Can’t wait to get more of Christopher Arminian ‘s books read
An excellent writer and writing
Profile Image for Foxi B.
73 reviews1 follower
May 7, 2025
I enjoyed this one, totally unrealistic, but isn't that why we sometimes read? Mike is a badass who would 100% be dead already in the real world but he's a one man army of his own and I loved it. 🤣
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews

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