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Purpose
The only remnants of the Old Times are crumbling cities and desolate streets. Their tales, all but lost. Five hundred years have passed since the Old Time Wars, nearly causing the extinction of all humans.
Descendants of the few survivors have since rebuilt. Power, weaponry, and skill in battle now rule the region where Eva Calloway resides. She protects a colony of Rovers from the two largest Gangs in the region, desperate to atone for her own bloody past.
Everything changes when she rescues brothers, Jake and Tommy McAvoy, from a mysterious vault that has not been opened since the wars. With each step closer to finding the boys’ missing father, the ghosts of her past begin to reappear. Now, Eva will be forced to fight her way out of the darkness or else be consumed by it.
Descendants of the few survivors have since rebuilt. Power, weaponry, and skill in battle now rule the region where Eva Calloway resides. She protects a colony of Rovers from the two largest Gangs in the region, desperate to atone for her own bloody past.
Everything changes when she rescues brothers, Jake and Tommy McAvoy, from a mysterious vault that has not been opened since the wars. With each step closer to finding the boys’ missing father, the ghosts of her past begin to reappear. Now, Eva will be forced to fight her way out of the darkness or else be consumed by it.
358 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 12, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 27, 2021
I really wish half stars were an option on here, as I'd be more inclined to say 3.5.
I'm a fan of post-apocalyptic settings, but I don't always enjoy them while reading (vs watching movies/TV). I struggle with turning words on a page into imagery in my own head, and sci-fi/fiction is often so descriptive that I either get bored or exhaust myself trying to paint a mental picture.
However, this was not the case here. The pacing was good and settings were not so overly descriptive that I couldn't keep up. To some people, this may feel like a lack of world-building, but for me it presented an opportunity to focus on the characters and the story.
This isn't to say that the story/worldbuilding doesn't leave me with a few questions. [If you don't want a couple of (tiny) spoilers, you might want to stop reading here.] Questions like:
- Why is Eva attracted to Jake so early on? He's an idiot.
- How are any so many old papers still legible after 500 years if they've been exposed to the elements?
- Did Dan Avery get mentioned as part of Eva's backstory before we encountered Dan McAvoy?
- Why do the Tigers go all the way to the city to look for scrap metal if they have a parking lot full of old cars outside their castle? Are the old cars there as some sort of barrier?
- WHERE was Tommy hiding the "sitting man" statue? I know he hid it in his hand, but he would have to set it down at some point so he could work. And I can't imagine post-apocalyptic humans wearing underwear. Did he have pockets? I doubt he had them while wearing a sack in a prison camp.
Ultimately, these questions are trivial. Well...most of them.
There were a few times when I was a little confused by the sequencing. (For real though, did we actually know that Dan Avery was Eva's rival before his real name was revealed? I think building that up a little more would have made the truth feel like more of a twist.) Occasionally, a sentence felt out of place. A few paragraphs at the very beginning felt a little choppy. And yes, as someone else mentioned, there were a few typos.
However, the writing became progressively more fluid and engaging as the story continued. The characters became more dynamic and their personalities showcased some highly visible changes aligning with their personal growth. Jake faces his cowardice and Eva (almost literally) faces her demons. As much as I usually want to see the hero maintain a tough exterior, Eva is a great reminder that you can be simultaneously strong and vulnerable, even when faced with a mental health crisis.
By the end, I was ready for the next adventure. I want to know what our heroes found behind the next door. Ultimately, I'm looking forward to further developments; not just of these characters, but also of the author who crafted them.
I'm a fan of post-apocalyptic settings, but I don't always enjoy them while reading (vs watching movies/TV). I struggle with turning words on a page into imagery in my own head, and sci-fi/fiction is often so descriptive that I either get bored or exhaust myself trying to paint a mental picture.
However, this was not the case here. The pacing was good and settings were not so overly descriptive that I couldn't keep up. To some people, this may feel like a lack of world-building, but for me it presented an opportunity to focus on the characters and the story.
This isn't to say that the story/worldbuilding doesn't leave me with a few questions. [If you don't want a couple of (tiny) spoilers, you might want to stop reading here.] Questions like:
- Why is Eva attracted to Jake so early on? He's an idiot.
- How are any so many old papers still legible after 500 years if they've been exposed to the elements?
- Did Dan Avery get mentioned as part of Eva's backstory before we encountered Dan McAvoy?
- Why do the Tigers go all the way to the city to look for scrap metal if they have a parking lot full of old cars outside their castle? Are the old cars there as some sort of barrier?
- WHERE was Tommy hiding the "sitting man" statue? I know he hid it in his hand, but he would have to set it down at some point so he could work. And I can't imagine post-apocalyptic humans wearing underwear. Did he have pockets? I doubt he had them while wearing a sack in a prison camp.
Ultimately, these questions are trivial. Well...most of them.
There were a few times when I was a little confused by the sequencing. (For real though, did we actually know that Dan Avery was Eva's rival before his real name was revealed? I think building that up a little more would have made the truth feel like more of a twist.) Occasionally, a sentence felt out of place. A few paragraphs at the very beginning felt a little choppy. And yes, as someone else mentioned, there were a few typos.
However, the writing became progressively more fluid and engaging as the story continued. The characters became more dynamic and their personalities showcased some highly visible changes aligning with their personal growth. Jake faces his cowardice and Eva (almost literally) faces her demons. As much as I usually want to see the hero maintain a tough exterior, Eva is a great reminder that you can be simultaneously strong and vulnerable, even when faced with a mental health crisis.
By the end, I was ready for the next adventure. I want to know what our heroes found behind the next door. Ultimately, I'm looking forward to further developments; not just of these characters, but also of the author who crafted them.
November 29, 2018
This book has a strong female lead and a plot which hangs together well, mostly, but there are lots of 'inexperienced author' mistakes made in the telling.
The plot centres around Eva, a 25 year old with a mysterious past, who to put it mildly has anger management issues. Into her life come brothers Jake (also 25) and Tommy (10-ish), who have lived in a sealed vault all their lives. They adapt to the outside environment almost instantly - curious as you'd think big sky / wide open spaces might be a problem for people descended from countless generations living in a sealed vault. Anyway, they are hoping to find their dad who left the vault 8 years previously and hadn't returned. The trio are hunted by The Gangs who rob, murder or enslave anyone they come across. There are many gangs, lots of violence and killing, and I genuinely could not understand how there was anyone else left alive.
The story was supposed to be set 500 years in the future, after a nuclear war, but Eva knew what a cash register was, and cars, and found newspapers telling of civilisation's final days, and they spoke to each other in colloquial English. Hmm, you'd think language would change over 500 years in an isolated community.
The story is told in a linear fashion and mostly from Eva's point of view (with a bit from Jake in the later stages). What really made me laugh was that on FOUR separate occasions, our heroes hid whilst the baddies stood nearby and discussed their plans, giving away detailed names, locations and intentions. I don't think it was meant to be funny.
The book needs proof-reading - 'touch it's fur', 'scarfed down a meal' (scoffed?), 'split second to access his stance' (assess?) and totally ignores the authors' mantra "show, don't tell". It is also too long.
One final thing - please get rid of that dedication! It's so negative and off-putting; there's really no need for it.
The plot centres around Eva, a 25 year old with a mysterious past, who to put it mildly has anger management issues. Into her life come brothers Jake (also 25) and Tommy (10-ish), who have lived in a sealed vault all their lives. They adapt to the outside environment almost instantly - curious as you'd think big sky / wide open spaces might be a problem for people descended from countless generations living in a sealed vault. Anyway, they are hoping to find their dad who left the vault 8 years previously and hadn't returned. The trio are hunted by The Gangs who rob, murder or enslave anyone they come across. There are many gangs, lots of violence and killing, and I genuinely could not understand how there was anyone else left alive.
The story was supposed to be set 500 years in the future, after a nuclear war, but Eva knew what a cash register was, and cars, and found newspapers telling of civilisation's final days, and they spoke to each other in colloquial English. Hmm, you'd think language would change over 500 years in an isolated community.
The story is told in a linear fashion and mostly from Eva's point of view (with a bit from Jake in the later stages). What really made me laugh was that on FOUR separate occasions, our heroes hid whilst the baddies stood nearby and discussed their plans, giving away detailed names, locations and intentions. I don't think it was meant to be funny.
The book needs proof-reading - 'touch it's fur', 'scarfed down a meal' (scoffed?), 'split second to access his stance' (assess?) and totally ignores the authors' mantra "show, don't tell". It is also too long.
One final thing - please get rid of that dedication! It's so negative and off-putting; there's really no need for it.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews