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The Swift
Left behind after the military evacuation and separated from their families, the people of Storm Lake must decide what to do. Food has spoiled; technology stopped working and everyday life turned upside down. There are no answers, only questions and tough decisions to be made.
As they search for help in the cornfields of rural Iowa, a deadly game of hunter and prey develops between them and the Swift. The Swift are mysterious and ruthless creatures who hunt to kill. They unexplainably appear after the event and mercilessly dispatch of anyone who they encounter; while Coach Mike, Levi, his pupil, and those left behind must hunt the Swift for sustenance and survival.
Go along this dark and twisted journey with Coach Mike and Levi as they do the unimaginable to survive in this apocalyptic new world, all in hopes of one day reuniting with their families.
As they search for help in the cornfields of rural Iowa, a deadly game of hunter and prey develops between them and the Swift. The Swift are mysterious and ruthless creatures who hunt to kill. They unexplainably appear after the event and mercilessly dispatch of anyone who they encounter; while Coach Mike, Levi, his pupil, and those left behind must hunt the Swift for sustenance and survival.
Go along this dark and twisted journey with Coach Mike and Levi as they do the unimaginable to survive in this apocalyptic new world, all in hopes of one day reuniting with their families.
149 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 3, 2018
6 people want to read
About the author
Ricky Dragoni
5 books60 followersI am originally from Puerto Rico but have spent half of my life in the United States. My true passions are writing and cooking. My favorite authors include Edgar Allan Poe and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. From an early age I started writing poetry and short stories. My books are born out of the nightmares of my mind and melded with my life experiences. I would describe my books as reality sprinkled with a good magical dose of faerie dust. I hope my books can be entertaining but will also make the reader think.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 11, 2019
The Swift is a relatively short suspense novel about a man and a teen boy who find themselves abandoned by civilization in a rural area infested with creatures called The Swift. They move around, meeting up with other survivors, making their way in a bloodthirsty and insane world. As you'd expect, they lose more and more of their humanity as the days and weeks go on, while they fight to stay alive in a terrifying new reality.
The ending is a not-entirely-unexpected surprise, and whoo, boy, it ties the saga of their travels together nicely. As the ending approached, I was worried I'd be faced with a cliffhanger begging me to "buy the next in the series", but I was happy to find the story quickly wrapped up in a wholly satisfying way.
I listened to the audio version on Audible, and for the price as an Audible sale deal, The Swift was definitely worthwhile. The narrator, Steve Castello, has an unusually deep and gravelly voice, and I'm still on the fence about whether his John Wayne-styled reading was the best choice for this novel. He did a decent job, so I'll say it worked.
The ending is a not-entirely-unexpected surprise, and whoo, boy, it ties the saga of their travels together nicely. As the ending approached, I was worried I'd be faced with a cliffhanger begging me to "buy the next in the series", but I was happy to find the story quickly wrapped up in a wholly satisfying way.
I listened to the audio version on Audible, and for the price as an Audible sale deal, The Swift was definitely worthwhile. The narrator, Steve Castello, has an unusually deep and gravelly voice, and I'm still on the fence about whether his John Wayne-styled reading was the best choice for this novel. He did a decent job, so I'll say it worked.
September 14, 2019
The Swift is a tale of survival that contains humor, warmth, compassion, plus adds some deadly creatures that want to end it all for our two main characters in this horror story by Ricky Dragoni.
Thoughts:
After the mysterious ‘event’ Coach Mike Larson along with Levi do whatever they can to survive. It had started randomly one day where no electronics worked, or rather, nothing modern worked. Each person begins to hear that the military is coming to evacuate and when they do come they split everyone up into two groups. However, one group is left behind with no explanation as to why or what is going on. In The Swift, we follow these two characters as they slowly make their way toward Fort Dodge where they hope to find their families as well as answers. Each new path they take sets them on a coarse that seems to only bring them closer to danger – whether it be from lack of food, injury, other survivors, or from The Swift.
Oh – I had so many questions when listening to this story. Even though to me this was a tale of survival, it was also a story about the mystery of what was going on. Part of the fun of reading a story like this is trying to figure it all out. Some of the questions I asked were to myself as I tried to sort out any clue I could find regarding what was behind it all and some were to the characters and their actions (or non-actions). Such as – How did the military really ‘miss’ them in the evacuation? If they are so hungry why aren’t they planting a vegetable garden or preparing for winter? Why do they hunt for food the way they do? And so on…
Even though I’d classify this story as mild-horror, I still found it very tense at times. I don’t read horror very often – one of the reasons being that I sometimes can get too wrapped up in the character’s story and their need to survive that I have to stop because I am getting so stressed out. I have to remind myself that these characters are not real, that there has been no ‘event’ and there has been no military evacuations. However, being stressed out also means the author is doing a good job in their story telling. The story itself was very well done as we travel along with Coach Mike and Levi and face their struggles and dangers along with them.
Audio Book Review
If you are looking for a narrator with a deep voice, then this is the book for you. When I first began listening I was immediately struck by not only the deep, rich quality of the voice, but also the conversational way the voice actor described parts within the story or spoke certain lines. It had a natural feel to it. There was more than one time he became quite animated during the narration that was engaging and lively. And although he did several voices, I suspect my favorite was when he did a six-year old girl – that particular character and the narration together had a very light-hearted touch to it and was just a lot of fun to listen to.
One of my favorite moments in the entire story comes at the very end – the last few lines in fact. The narrator acted them out with such gusto and emotion that it put a big smile on my face as the book ended. However, even though I enjoyed the story and the voice actor I did at times have struggle with the quality of the production. It wasn’t always 100% clear to me and I found I had the most difficulty while listening to it in the car. But, my headsets worked ok and that is where I ended up listening to most of the story.
All in all, I found it a great book to read/listen to and can recommend to those who enjoy horror or post-apocalyptic stories.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Thank you to the author for the review copy and opportunity to provide an honest review.
Thoughts:
After the mysterious ‘event’ Coach Mike Larson along with Levi do whatever they can to survive. It had started randomly one day where no electronics worked, or rather, nothing modern worked. Each person begins to hear that the military is coming to evacuate and when they do come they split everyone up into two groups. However, one group is left behind with no explanation as to why or what is going on. In The Swift, we follow these two characters as they slowly make their way toward Fort Dodge where they hope to find their families as well as answers. Each new path they take sets them on a coarse that seems to only bring them closer to danger – whether it be from lack of food, injury, other survivors, or from The Swift.
Oh – I had so many questions when listening to this story. Even though to me this was a tale of survival, it was also a story about the mystery of what was going on. Part of the fun of reading a story like this is trying to figure it all out. Some of the questions I asked were to myself as I tried to sort out any clue I could find regarding what was behind it all and some were to the characters and their actions (or non-actions). Such as – How did the military really ‘miss’ them in the evacuation? If they are so hungry why aren’t they planting a vegetable garden or preparing for winter? Why do they hunt for food the way they do? And so on…
Even though I’d classify this story as mild-horror, I still found it very tense at times. I don’t read horror very often – one of the reasons being that I sometimes can get too wrapped up in the character’s story and their need to survive that I have to stop because I am getting so stressed out. I have to remind myself that these characters are not real, that there has been no ‘event’ and there has been no military evacuations. However, being stressed out also means the author is doing a good job in their story telling. The story itself was very well done as we travel along with Coach Mike and Levi and face their struggles and dangers along with them.
Audio Book Review
If you are looking for a narrator with a deep voice, then this is the book for you. When I first began listening I was immediately struck by not only the deep, rich quality of the voice, but also the conversational way the voice actor described parts within the story or spoke certain lines. It had a natural feel to it. There was more than one time he became quite animated during the narration that was engaging and lively. And although he did several voices, I suspect my favorite was when he did a six-year old girl – that particular character and the narration together had a very light-hearted touch to it and was just a lot of fun to listen to.
One of my favorite moments in the entire story comes at the very end – the last few lines in fact. The narrator acted them out with such gusto and emotion that it put a big smile on my face as the book ended. However, even though I enjoyed the story and the voice actor I did at times have struggle with the quality of the production. It wasn’t always 100% clear to me and I found I had the most difficulty while listening to it in the car. But, my headsets worked ok and that is where I ended up listening to most of the story.
All in all, I found it a great book to read/listen to and can recommend to those who enjoy horror or post-apocalyptic stories.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Thank you to the author for the review copy and opportunity to provide an honest review.
July 28, 2020
I listened to the audio of The Swift. Between Ricky's writing and Steve's narration, you are in for a treat.
Ricky Dragoni is new to me as an author and he did not disappoint. The story takes us on a journey where we meet Coach Mike and Levi both separated from their family when it all began. Lucky for them both they are not strangers.
In the beginning of the story, I listen, thinking, ok your normal struggling to find safety and sustenance dystopian read. Then you start learning about The Swift and you become intrigued, good, they're not being called Zombies, that's new. Then you get hit over the head with a sledgehammer at the end. The only complaint I have, is the story is too short! It flows well and wraps up nicely, I'm just greedy and wanted more.
Ricky Dragoni is new to me as an author and he did not disappoint. The story takes us on a journey where we meet Coach Mike and Levi both separated from their family when it all began. Lucky for them both they are not strangers.
In the beginning of the story, I listen, thinking, ok your normal struggling to find safety and sustenance dystopian read. Then you start learning about The Swift and you become intrigued, good, they're not being called Zombies, that's new. Then you get hit over the head with a sledgehammer at the end. The only complaint I have, is the story is too short! It flows well and wraps up nicely, I'm just greedy and wanted more.
October 4, 2018
‘The Swift were obviously finding several of us.'
Puerto Rican born Ricky Dragoni moved to Iowa and writes form there at present. He has been writing poetry and short stories since his youthful days and has published four novels to date – PRIME INFINITY, RIPPLES, THE SWIFT, and THE ANGEL OF A MADMAN. As he states, ‘’My books are born out of the nightmares of my mind and are then melded with my life experiences. I would describe my books as reality sprinkled with a good magical dose of faerie dust, written Surrealism in other words.’
Ricky’s writing style is infectious, involving, creative and wholly absorbing. He opens his strange story as follows: ‘Hunger had ceased to be a sensation and had become our existence. It was another long and disappointing walk back to the shelter without food and only broken spirits. This was the 4th town we had looked at and still, we were having no luck. As daybreak quickly approached, the anxiety within me grew. Soon the tables would be turned and we would no longer be the hunter, and instead be the prey. We reached the town and my shelter was the furthest one down. I could feel the light of day creeping on my back and it made me shuffle forward a little faster. I was tired, no, I was drained. It had been days since I had a proper meal and the hunt exhausted me physically, mentally and emotionally. The days had become a lottery to see who would remain alive, as our prey turned the table on us, during the blinding light of day. The door to the house was finally before me, and I didn’t hesitate to rush in and lock it behind me. As I set the last deadbolt, I turned to see Levi huddled on the couch. He looked even worse than he had this morning. He was asleep or so I hoped. I slowly walked towards him and searched for signs of life. His breathing was so shallow I was not sure if I was seeing him breathe or not. I finally broke down and placed my hand on his forehead. He felt fine and soon opened his sunken eyes to greet me. He tried to sit up, but I insisted he remained lying down. Once more, I didn’t have any food for him, and almost wished I hadn’t woken him. It is hard to be hungry while you are asleep. Even then, lately, I have been dreaming of banquets and all you can eat buffets. I could only imagine what nightmares and dreams this poor kid must be enduring. I left him lying down and went to get him some water from the kitchen. As I walked, I remembered how different the meaning of getting him water was just a few years ago. Levi had been one of my all-star players, in every sport I coached. He was an energetic kid and full of life. Once he entered high school, my time of coaching ended, but I continued to root for him as a fan. My kids were grown and coaching youth not only kept me fulfilled but also sane. I can’t count how many times I stressed to him and countless kids to hydrate and the importance of proper nutrition. Levi had been a star at every sport he tried.’
It is just this sort of credible character building that makes Ricky’s terrifying apocalyptic novels credible. He offers a brief outline of this plot – ‘Left behind after the military evacuation and separated from their families, the people of Storm Lake must decide what to do. Food has spoiled; technology stopped working and everyday life turned upside down. There are no answers, only questions and tough decisions to be made. As they search for help in the cornfields of rural Iowa, a deadly game of hunter and prey develops between them and the Swift. The Swift are mysterious and ruthless creatures who hunt to kill. They unexplainably appear after the event and mercilessly dispatch of anyone who they encounter; while Coach Mike, Levi, his pupil, and those left behind must hunt the Swift for sustenance and survival. Go along this dark and twisted journey with Coach Mike and Levi as they do the unimaginable to survive in this apocalyptic new world, all in hopes of one day reuniting with their families. ‘ The ending of this tale will astound you!
There is so much talent in the creative mind of Ricky Dragoni that reading a couple of his books creates a need to read more. Very fine story on every level.
Puerto Rican born Ricky Dragoni moved to Iowa and writes form there at present. He has been writing poetry and short stories since his youthful days and has published four novels to date – PRIME INFINITY, RIPPLES, THE SWIFT, and THE ANGEL OF A MADMAN. As he states, ‘’My books are born out of the nightmares of my mind and are then melded with my life experiences. I would describe my books as reality sprinkled with a good magical dose of faerie dust, written Surrealism in other words.’
Ricky’s writing style is infectious, involving, creative and wholly absorbing. He opens his strange story as follows: ‘Hunger had ceased to be a sensation and had become our existence. It was another long and disappointing walk back to the shelter without food and only broken spirits. This was the 4th town we had looked at and still, we were having no luck. As daybreak quickly approached, the anxiety within me grew. Soon the tables would be turned and we would no longer be the hunter, and instead be the prey. We reached the town and my shelter was the furthest one down. I could feel the light of day creeping on my back and it made me shuffle forward a little faster. I was tired, no, I was drained. It had been days since I had a proper meal and the hunt exhausted me physically, mentally and emotionally. The days had become a lottery to see who would remain alive, as our prey turned the table on us, during the blinding light of day. The door to the house was finally before me, and I didn’t hesitate to rush in and lock it behind me. As I set the last deadbolt, I turned to see Levi huddled on the couch. He looked even worse than he had this morning. He was asleep or so I hoped. I slowly walked towards him and searched for signs of life. His breathing was so shallow I was not sure if I was seeing him breathe or not. I finally broke down and placed my hand on his forehead. He felt fine and soon opened his sunken eyes to greet me. He tried to sit up, but I insisted he remained lying down. Once more, I didn’t have any food for him, and almost wished I hadn’t woken him. It is hard to be hungry while you are asleep. Even then, lately, I have been dreaming of banquets and all you can eat buffets. I could only imagine what nightmares and dreams this poor kid must be enduring. I left him lying down and went to get him some water from the kitchen. As I walked, I remembered how different the meaning of getting him water was just a few years ago. Levi had been one of my all-star players, in every sport I coached. He was an energetic kid and full of life. Once he entered high school, my time of coaching ended, but I continued to root for him as a fan. My kids were grown and coaching youth not only kept me fulfilled but also sane. I can’t count how many times I stressed to him and countless kids to hydrate and the importance of proper nutrition. Levi had been a star at every sport he tried.’
It is just this sort of credible character building that makes Ricky’s terrifying apocalyptic novels credible. He offers a brief outline of this plot – ‘Left behind after the military evacuation and separated from their families, the people of Storm Lake must decide what to do. Food has spoiled; technology stopped working and everyday life turned upside down. There are no answers, only questions and tough decisions to be made. As they search for help in the cornfields of rural Iowa, a deadly game of hunter and prey develops between them and the Swift. The Swift are mysterious and ruthless creatures who hunt to kill. They unexplainably appear after the event and mercilessly dispatch of anyone who they encounter; while Coach Mike, Levi, his pupil, and those left behind must hunt the Swift for sustenance and survival. Go along this dark and twisted journey with Coach Mike and Levi as they do the unimaginable to survive in this apocalyptic new world, all in hopes of one day reuniting with their families. ‘ The ending of this tale will astound you!
There is so much talent in the creative mind of Ricky Dragoni that reading a couple of his books creates a need to read more. Very fine story on every level.
November 9, 2019
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I am so glad that I found this book at my state's book festival! It had the exact suspenseful and horrific vibe that I was craving when I picked it up.
I met the author, Ricky Dragoni, at the book festival and he was great! He recommended this book to me because I was wanting to dip my foot in the horror genre again. This ended up being a great start for me in regards to wanting to do that! Thank you for the rec. Ricky!
This book is about the people of Storm Lake who were left behind after a military evacuation. Technology and most modern day functions have ceased to exist, leaving the people that were abandoned to fend for themselves, specifically Coach Mike Larson and one of his athletes, Levi. During the evacuation they were separated from their families and have miraculously found each other in the efforts to survive against these mysterious and deadly creatures called The Swift. Nobody knows what the Swift are or where they came from, but it is clear that they are out to attack and kill anyone who tries to fight them. Are they human? Are they aliens? Nobody seems to know, but everyone knows they have to do what it takes to survive in this apocalyptic war against them, in hopes of one day reuniting with their families again.
This truly was exactly was I was looking for. A story that would have me turning the page desperately wanting to know what was coming next. It was a well thought out plot with different twists and turns that I enjoyed a lot. My favorite part of the book was the twist ending, which I didn't expect at all but ended up loving! It made me rethink the entire book and it all made sense after that.
I would've loved for this book to have had even more detail in some parts. The gruesome and gory parts but also just more description of the setting in general. I think it would've captivated me more than it already did and added another layer to the plot.
Overall, this book was great and I would recommend to anyone looking to try out a horror book. It is a quick and easy read that will have you shocked by the end!
I am so glad that I found this book at my state's book festival! It had the exact suspenseful and horrific vibe that I was craving when I picked it up.
I met the author, Ricky Dragoni, at the book festival and he was great! He recommended this book to me because I was wanting to dip my foot in the horror genre again. This ended up being a great start for me in regards to wanting to do that! Thank you for the rec. Ricky!
This book is about the people of Storm Lake who were left behind after a military evacuation. Technology and most modern day functions have ceased to exist, leaving the people that were abandoned to fend for themselves, specifically Coach Mike Larson and one of his athletes, Levi. During the evacuation they were separated from their families and have miraculously found each other in the efforts to survive against these mysterious and deadly creatures called The Swift. Nobody knows what the Swift are or where they came from, but it is clear that they are out to attack and kill anyone who tries to fight them. Are they human? Are they aliens? Nobody seems to know, but everyone knows they have to do what it takes to survive in this apocalyptic war against them, in hopes of one day reuniting with their families again.
This truly was exactly was I was looking for. A story that would have me turning the page desperately wanting to know what was coming next. It was a well thought out plot with different twists and turns that I enjoyed a lot. My favorite part of the book was the twist ending, which I didn't expect at all but ended up loving! It made me rethink the entire book and it all made sense after that.
I would've loved for this book to have had even more detail in some parts. The gruesome and gory parts but also just more description of the setting in general. I think it would've captivated me more than it already did and added another layer to the plot.
Overall, this book was great and I would recommend to anyone looking to try out a horror book. It is a quick and easy read that will have you shocked by the end!
March 8, 2019
This is the second novel I read written by Author Ricki Dragoni. Author Ricki Dragoni spins a intriguing nightmare with his novel ‘The Swift’.
The main protagonist, Coach Mike wakes up August 8, 2022 to find nothing working, no electronics period. Nothing from a flashlight to any utilities working in town. The word of mouth information has it that the military will be evacuating the town of Storm Lake by sundown. The military arrives in antiquated vehicles not seen since the Vietnam War.
The first thing the military does is throw up a barb wire fence around the town. Then the evacuation starts. The military separates the town’s people into two groups, one group to green transport trucks and the other into a fenced in pen. Then they are gone with no explanation on what happened, leaving them in the pen.
After escaping the pen, those who are left decides to travel to the military base at Fort Dodge to find their families and answers. They must travel at night because the sunlight now burns their eyes. All process food is contaminated. The only things palpable is water, alcohol, and fresh meat. The trip is taking a toll on them, they are wasting away. In between them and their objective is the Swift. The Swift appeared shortly after they start the trip. The Swift is a group of vicious, brutal, creatures that are lightening fast with hands of sharp claws. Some can breathe fire. You shutter when you hear their high pitch screams knowing death is close at hand.
The story will draw you into the adventure and terror as Coach Mike strives to be united with those he loves. The ending is a fantastic twist to the story. No spoilers here. You have to read the novel to find out what Coach Mike finds out what actually happened to them.
You can find out more about Ricki Dragoni at the following links: https://book2read.com/r/B-A-HRGE-CYES
https://www.rickidragoni.com
https://facebook.com/ricki.jimenez.564
The main protagonist, Coach Mike wakes up August 8, 2022 to find nothing working, no electronics period. Nothing from a flashlight to any utilities working in town. The word of mouth information has it that the military will be evacuating the town of Storm Lake by sundown. The military arrives in antiquated vehicles not seen since the Vietnam War.
The first thing the military does is throw up a barb wire fence around the town. Then the evacuation starts. The military separates the town’s people into two groups, one group to green transport trucks and the other into a fenced in pen. Then they are gone with no explanation on what happened, leaving them in the pen.
After escaping the pen, those who are left decides to travel to the military base at Fort Dodge to find their families and answers. They must travel at night because the sunlight now burns their eyes. All process food is contaminated. The only things palpable is water, alcohol, and fresh meat. The trip is taking a toll on them, they are wasting away. In between them and their objective is the Swift. The Swift appeared shortly after they start the trip. The Swift is a group of vicious, brutal, creatures that are lightening fast with hands of sharp claws. Some can breathe fire. You shutter when you hear their high pitch screams knowing death is close at hand.
The story will draw you into the adventure and terror as Coach Mike strives to be united with those he loves. The ending is a fantastic twist to the story. No spoilers here. You have to read the novel to find out what Coach Mike finds out what actually happened to them.
You can find out more about Ricki Dragoni at the following links: https://book2read.com/r/B-A-HRGE-CYES
https://www.rickidragoni.com
https://facebook.com/ricki.jimenez.564
June 11, 2019
This ended up being a unique story with a surprise ending. The author waits till the last to reveal this to the reader. That being said I had to sit down and think back through the book to rethink every action, situations and what was said! I will say no more about that cause I don’t want to spoil it for any future readers. I now get the meaning of the title The Swift!
I have mentioned in other instances that a pet-peeve of mine is errors in grammar and spelling.This one had quite a few spelling errors which ended up becoming a distraction for me. Thus the 4⭐️rating. I have to bear this burden so it may not affect other readers. That being said this is an apocalyptic tale of horrific consequences that people do not understand what happened, why or how what went down. They are just trying to survive!
I have mentioned in other instances that a pet-peeve of mine is errors in grammar and spelling.This one had quite a few spelling errors which ended up becoming a distraction for me. Thus the 4⭐️rating. I have to bear this burden so it may not affect other readers. That being said this is an apocalyptic tale of horrific consequences that people do not understand what happened, why or how what went down. They are just trying to survive!
December 19, 2018
Beautifully written and full of suspense. This is a tale about the apocalypse however I will not delve into details because I would be spoiling the plot.
I really didn’t envisaged the ending however it definitely made me rethink my assumptions of the storyline. I really enjoyed reading this and I hope that you do too.
I really didn’t envisaged the ending however it definitely made me rethink my assumptions of the storyline. I really enjoyed reading this and I hope that you do too.
September 1, 2019
This is both a review of the book and Audible audiobook. The narration is of very good quality, pronunciation is smooth, clear, and polished. Though I typically listened to this one at normal speed, I can verify that it's very possible to listen at higher speeds like 1.2x or 1.5x and still perfectly make out every detail. This book is on the shorter side, almost a novella, and about the same length as watching a longer than average film would be.
Which is fitting because (onto the book review now) the story line flows in a way that's similar to a fast-paced action flick. This is a dystopian tale about two people left behind to fend for themselves after an apocalypse wherein creatures called Swifts (similar to zombies, but different) lurk about and much of humanity has been evacuated into safe zones.
The main characters are Mike and Levi, a teacher and his student, desperate to get back to their families and traveling from place to place in search of food and fellow survivors. The story is told from the first person perspective of Mike. There is a lot of detail put toward his inner voice and reactions, putting the reader in his shoes to feel every harsh and frenzied moment of his struggle. Levi is in a fragile state and reminds Mike of his own children.
Mike's determination to protect Levi is endearing, but I was often left wishing Levi showed more personality early on and were a more interesting character. He does show more spark toward the end though. I also wish there had been more character development for other characters. Mike and Levi end up finding more groups of survivors but that's quite late into the book and the focus is still on the larger goal of just surviving from day-to-day. I do like single-character storylines or small casts of characters though, so it wasn't a big problem and Mike's death-defying journey is well-paced enough to be entertaining. Mike himself is a well-defined character.
Withing spoiling anything I'm just going to say the ending is really good. I was left startled by it. After enjoying a plethora of dystopian/survival media, I've never seen an ending quite like this one and it's a clever approach to this genre. There's some good re-read value in experiencing the story again, knowing some important details that the ending provides.
Disclaimer : I was provided a digital audiobook of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Which is fitting because (onto the book review now) the story line flows in a way that's similar to a fast-paced action flick. This is a dystopian tale about two people left behind to fend for themselves after an apocalypse wherein creatures called Swifts (similar to zombies, but different) lurk about and much of humanity has been evacuated into safe zones.
The main characters are Mike and Levi, a teacher and his student, desperate to get back to their families and traveling from place to place in search of food and fellow survivors. The story is told from the first person perspective of Mike. There is a lot of detail put toward his inner voice and reactions, putting the reader in his shoes to feel every harsh and frenzied moment of his struggle. Levi is in a fragile state and reminds Mike of his own children.
Mike's determination to protect Levi is endearing, but I was often left wishing Levi showed more personality early on and were a more interesting character. He does show more spark toward the end though. I also wish there had been more character development for other characters. Mike and Levi end up finding more groups of survivors but that's quite late into the book and the focus is still on the larger goal of just surviving from day-to-day. I do like single-character storylines or small casts of characters though, so it wasn't a big problem and Mike's death-defying journey is well-paced enough to be entertaining. Mike himself is a well-defined character.
Withing spoiling anything I'm just going to say the ending is really good. I was left startled by it. After enjoying a plethora of dystopian/survival media, I've never seen an ending quite like this one and it's a clever approach to this genre. There's some good re-read value in experiencing the story again, knowing some important details that the ending provides.
Disclaimer : I was provided a digital audiobook of this title in exchange for an honest review.
April 12, 2021
This review was originally posted at https://tinyurl.com/cv2rybyk.
Something bazaar has happened. One day everything was normal and the next the power was out and the military had taken a certain portion of everyone. Those that remain are not sure what is going on, but with the arrival of the swift they have bigger problems. Forced to hide in the dark with seemingly no food every day has become a fight for survival. Can they survive the fast menace who hunts them or will they starve to death first in their search for their families?
Coach Mike was separated from his wife and boys by the military and soon finds his previous player, Levi, on his quest for them. Now, he has a new reason to keep himself together as well as find a food source. The swift are edible, but they are so fast and hard to take down. Life has become the hunter and the hunted. The question is...which will come out on top?
I loved this book from the start, but certain things didn't make sense. I didn't question the food spoiling that the author expressed that he felt I would question. Instead I questioned why they would not eat the field corn that they were having to travel through. I know that field corn is primarily used for animals and ethanol, but as long as you get them before they "dent" field corn is edible. I have ate field corn many a time, and if I was starving I don't think I would have any compulsions against the hard dented corn either. It bothered me quite a bit at the time, but now that I know how the book ends it doesn't quite as much.
As always I will not give anything away, but this is one post-apocalyptic horror novel I suggest for anyone. I received this book as a free code from the author in exchange for a honest review. I have nothing bad to say about the book and can honestly say that I did not expect the ending. I was right in where I thought the swift had come from, however, which pleases me.
Something bazaar has happened. One day everything was normal and the next the power was out and the military had taken a certain portion of everyone. Those that remain are not sure what is going on, but with the arrival of the swift they have bigger problems. Forced to hide in the dark with seemingly no food every day has become a fight for survival. Can they survive the fast menace who hunts them or will they starve to death first in their search for their families?
Coach Mike was separated from his wife and boys by the military and soon finds his previous player, Levi, on his quest for them. Now, he has a new reason to keep himself together as well as find a food source. The swift are edible, but they are so fast and hard to take down. Life has become the hunter and the hunted. The question is...which will come out on top?
I loved this book from the start, but certain things didn't make sense. I didn't question the food spoiling that the author expressed that he felt I would question. Instead I questioned why they would not eat the field corn that they were having to travel through. I know that field corn is primarily used for animals and ethanol, but as long as you get them before they "dent" field corn is edible. I have ate field corn many a time, and if I was starving I don't think I would have any compulsions against the hard dented corn either. It bothered me quite a bit at the time, but now that I know how the book ends it doesn't quite as much.
As always I will not give anything away, but this is one post-apocalyptic horror novel I suggest for anyone. I received this book as a free code from the author in exchange for a honest review. I have nothing bad to say about the book and can honestly say that I did not expect the ending. I was right in where I thought the swift had come from, however, which pleases me.
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