Apocalypse Unleashed: The Earth's Last Days: The Battle Rages On

Left Behind: Apocalypse #4

by Mel Odom

In this a much-anticipated conclusion to the Apocalypse series, First Sergeant “Goose” Gander of the United States Army Rangers is in over his head, and he knows it. Trapped by the Rapture in the carnage of Middle Eastern war, far from his wife and kid back home, he’s living every day on the edge, afraid each moment might be his last, terrified that he’ll never see the people he loves again. The war on the Syrian/Turkish border is heating up, and the opposition armies and the local warlords are skirmishing for power in a no-man’s land filled with innocent victims that Goose hopes to protect.

Goose soon discovers elements within his own forces, fearful of his leadership, are determined to bring him down. With everybody gunning for him, Goose is going to need a miracle to pull off his mission. Even as he struggles to believe in the God of miracles, Goose is about to discover the power of redemption and the bulwark of pure faith. And as the Hand of God closes over him and he accepts salvation, Goose Gander will finally find the peace he seeks, even as the war-torn land around him explodes in violence.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Christian, Fiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

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

aka Jordan Gray

Mel Odom is a bestselling writer for hire for Wizards of the Coast's Forgotten Realms, Gold Eagle's Mack Bolan, and Pocket's Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel book lines. His debut SF novel Lethal Interface made the Locus recommended list . The Rover was an Alyx Award winner. He has also written a scientific adventure of the high seas set in the 19th century entitled Hunters of the Dark Sea. He lives in Oklahoma.

Reviews

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fitting ending to the series.

[Jeffrey Gerhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the last in a 4 book series of a good telling of a "what if" scenario where millions of people all over the world disappear in a blink of an eye during a U.S. war in the Middle East, it's a companion series to the infamous "Left Behind" books. This 4-book series is told from a military point of view. I recommend reading the first three books "Apocalypse Dawn", "Apocalypse Crucible", and "Apocalypse Burning" before reading this one. "Apocalypse Unleashed" is a great conclusion to an overall good story. It shows the power a belief in a higher power can accomplish, Seeing all the characters react the way the do to a very strange situation inspires one to become a better person. George "Goose" Gander is a character who can appeal to all age groups and genders with his toughness, empathy, and familiarity. Everyone knows a man like him in their family or social circle and you can't help but root for him to succeed.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best book of the series. This was a series that I am not sorry that I read, but it also isn't a series that I would shout about unless you are military. In my opinion the book leaves some story lines open, possibly for future books, but also maybe so the reader can choose the end of those story lines for themselves. It's an ok book series.

[Timothy Dooley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting

This one moved faster than the other 3. I liked it best out of the 4. I do wish it updated more on the the main character’s family before it ended. It felt like the ending was rushed.

[Virginia Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apocalypse Unleashed: Book 4

Apocalypse Unleashed: Book Four. Earth’sLast Days: The Battle Rages on (Left Behind Apocalypse Book 4). Mel Odom. This series of books are amazing. I love reading them.

[Joe Oaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty good series. I knew some of the characters based in the left behind series. Action was good. I am still wanting more though. Like the story needs a conclusion.

[Paulette Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

If I didn't believe in God before reading this book I'd become one from reading it. But I want to read more about goose and his family

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Faith Finch · Rating 5 out of 5]

apocalypse unleashed

Another great book in the series. Goose is a memorable soldier and his journey to salvation was very tough…but, he makes it…

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, disappointed that the series ended here. So many characters storyline left unfinished

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Apocalypse Unleashed: The Earth's Last Days: The Battle Rages on", is the fourth and last book in the "Left Behind: Apocalypse" series. This series is a set of (mostly) wartime military thrillers that takes a different look at the end-times troubles, as portrayed in the "Left Behind" series (by LaHaye and Jenkins). Notice I said last book rather than conclusion, because it doesn't go anywhere near the rest of the "Last Days" like the title says; it does, however, wrap up (mostly) the story arcs in the first three books of the series.

In the main story, First Sergeant "Goose" Gander releases himself from a foolishly imposed house arrest when he realizes the town he's in has come under enemy attack (again). When the escape helicopter holding the last remnants of his people is fired on (by CIA goons!), he and two others are knocked from the craft, falling 40 feet into the forest below, but surviving pretty much unscathed(!). He then must lead the other two back to home base, dodging enemies on the way.

In the second story, Goose's wife (Megan) and family are still dealing with their own problems back in Georgia. Megan comes up with the idea of sending many of the wives of the men under fire in Turkey over TO Turkey to help out. The Army brass apparently agree (!) with her by the book's end.

I found Apocalypse Unleashed and the rest of the series to be fairly interesting, in spite of its rather incomplete nature (at least when compare to the original Left Behind series). Overall, 4 stars.

[Wyndy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a riveting story although a bit violent which is perfectly understandable in a war book. I don't have any military background but I was still right there in the field with First Sergeant Gander in Turkey and also right with his family at home on the military base in the USA. The emotions of the characters rang true, the mother who has lost her child but understands that it is the Tribulation and that her child is with God; and the soldier who is angry at the lost of his child and doesn't want to believe that he can no longer protect his family and especially his son even though he doesn't want to allow himself to think about it. Now he is in the midst of a war, can he trust those he has always trusted? Was his friend murdered because he was trying to convince the other soldiers that this was Tribulation and that they needed to make themselves right with God? Where will his path lead him, to or away from God? The author's character development is excellent and believable.

This is the fourth book in a series which is based on the Left Behind Series.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the entire Apocalypse series and got thoroughly caught up in all the characters. Yes, there's lots of violence, but war isn't pretty or kind. Even though this is marked as the last book in this series, I hope the author, or another writer, will pick up these characters somewhere and continue the plot lines (there are many crying out for resolution). Even though those story lines are left to the imagination, or perhaps because of them, this is a series that I totally enjoyed, and will likely re-read at some point (I'm sure as the excitement grew, I skimmed over some important details from time to time).

[Andy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series definitely peaked with the last entry, as this one to me served only to advance the story for one basic character, and in a rambling, late-in-his-career Tom Clancy sort of way. Goose Gander basically fights against a thrown in antagonist only to eventually discover he should probably be baptized after being one of the Left Behind. All other characters serve no purpose whatsoever and this basic premise of the book should have been included in the last novel. Not trying to be harsh, but I cannot figure out why this book was written, or why I bothered to read it. Next....

[David Cole]

Finally, a better ending than the way the last book left everything off. It had been so long since I read the series that before reading this one I needed to read the entire series again. And it was soo much better this time around. If you read this book make sure that you read it back to back with the others in the series. You do not need to be familiar with the originial Left Behind Series to appriciate this book, but it helps.

[Quin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hated getting to the end of this story, but I couldn't stop reading it. Mel Odom's Apocalypse Unleashed was the perfect ending to this series. When is a hero more than just a hero? When he accepts Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

[Cory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book that really makes you think about the end; However remember it is fictional so keep a bible near.

[Anthony · Rating 2 out of 5]

OK so far

[Ig Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good wartime action during the tribulation period. Especially if you're an Army Ranger.

[Billy Mitchem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the series