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Extinction Cycle Universe
Emergence
Most will run, but the brave will fight... A deadly virus is sweeping through America's cities, pitting the worst humanity has to offer against its best warriors and scientists in a race against extinction. The virus doesn't just kill--it transforms and creates monsters of men and women called Variants.New York firefighter Meg Pratt is among those trapped in New York City. Together with her fellow rescue workers and the scattered elements of America's front-line military fighters, Meg fights to survive and save civilians from the coming apocalypse.Across the city, Marine Corps washout Jed Welch is on his own path to survival, and it intersects with Meg and her ragtag group of survivors. If they are lucky, they will see the help they need emerge from within, just as everything around them is coming to an end.
247 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 26, 2019
189 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
November 27, 2020
Reread - Book 16 in my Zombie-a-thon!
CW: Extreme gore, lots of deaths, people see loved ones dying horribly,
Well that was another fun zombie action book. I have to say the zombies in this one are quite scary as they can climb vertically and have a degree of intelligence. It is always wonderful to have an axe-wielding woman as a main character and I loved our courageous fire-fighter, Meg.
Only a couple of days to get to my goal of 20 zombie books in Zomvember! On to book 2.
CW: Extreme gore, lots of deaths, people see loved ones dying horribly,
Well that was another fun zombie action book. I have to say the zombies in this one are quite scary as they can climb vertically and have a degree of intelligence. It is always wonderful to have an axe-wielding woman as a main character and I loved our courageous fire-fighter, Meg.
Only a couple of days to get to my goal of 20 zombie books in Zomvember! On to book 2.
May 10, 2021
Zombie book. Ok.
A hero who washed out of the Marine Corps. Now that's an interesting twist on this subgenre.
This one is dark and gorey, but the action is fast-paced, and it kept the pages turning.
A hero who washed out of the Marine Corps. Now that's an interesting twist on this subgenre.
This one is dark and gorey, but the action is fast-paced, and it kept the pages turning.
April 17, 2019
I loved Meg Pratt when she was first introduced in Nicholas Sansbury Smiths' Extinction Cycle so was delighted to see this being republished so that everyone can read it. This focuses on Meg before she is left for dead and before she meets Team Ghost.
Meg was one brave and selfless firefighter and I'm so glad that AJ Sikes was able to capture that essence as well. From the first moment we meet Meg, she is only worried about saving others, including her husband. But her husband becomes infected and she watches him kill a police officer. Her whole world is turned upside down and all Meg can think is to get to her station house and see how she can help. But the engines are all out and only 2 others are there. Their only way to survive is to fortify the station and hope for the best. But with Variants everywhere and survivours beating at the door, it will take everything Meg has to survive.
This also tells the story of Jed and how he came to meet Meg. While I already loved Meg before starting this, I didn't like Jed at all. Even upon finishing this, I'm still not 100% sure if I like him. I feel like he is only out for himself.
In all, this was a fast paced and exciting read. I'm so glad we got to read Meg's story and that the author was able to keep up with the excellence that is Smiths' Extinction Cycle. The battle scenes are intense, the monsters just as scary and the characters just as believable and fleshed out as they are in the original series. I'm excited to see where the author takes the story.
Bronson Pinchot is truly an amazing narrator. The sheer amount of tones and voices he uses astounds me at times. He also puts emotion behind the words which brings the action to life. I love his narration and highly recommend him.
Meg was one brave and selfless firefighter and I'm so glad that AJ Sikes was able to capture that essence as well. From the first moment we meet Meg, she is only worried about saving others, including her husband. But her husband becomes infected and she watches him kill a police officer. Her whole world is turned upside down and all Meg can think is to get to her station house and see how she can help. But the engines are all out and only 2 others are there. Their only way to survive is to fortify the station and hope for the best. But with Variants everywhere and survivours beating at the door, it will take everything Meg has to survive.
This also tells the story of Jed and how he came to meet Meg. While I already loved Meg before starting this, I didn't like Jed at all. Even upon finishing this, I'm still not 100% sure if I like him. I feel like he is only out for himself.
In all, this was a fast paced and exciting read. I'm so glad we got to read Meg's story and that the author was able to keep up with the excellence that is Smiths' Extinction Cycle. The battle scenes are intense, the monsters just as scary and the characters just as believable and fleshed out as they are in the original series. I'm excited to see where the author takes the story.
Bronson Pinchot is truly an amazing narrator. The sheer amount of tones and voices he uses astounds me at times. He also puts emotion behind the words which brings the action to life. I love his narration and highly recommend him.
October 1, 2017
Another great Extinction Cycle Kindle Worlds story!
March 15, 2021
I can’t believe I’m reading this. I am grossed but intrigued.
I’ve got to know how it ends.
I’ve got to know how it ends.
October 10, 2019
It was a good book but some of the other characters were boring or not believable.
November 20, 2016
Fantastic companion to the Extinction Cycle series! This story follows firefighter Meg Pratt as she begins what will be anything but a normal day....
Vivid characters and non-stop action make this book impossible to put down. I had to read it in one sitting! Absolutely awesome. Very well done!
Vivid characters and non-stop action make this book impossible to put down. I had to read it in one sitting! Absolutely awesome. Very well done!
June 18, 2021
I just could not finish this. The cast of people all show a level of naivety and stupidity that pulled me out of the story.
March 1, 2019
New York is a battleground that the monsters are turning into a slaughterhouse.
The reports about an epidemic of some kind of Ebola in Chicago had barely been broadcast when New York was quickly overwhelmed. A virus was turning people into bloodthirsty monsters. Victims who weren't killed became monsters, their eyes turned a slitted yellow, their fingers becoming claws, their mouth filled with needle-like sharp teeth and their lips like suckers. Their joints moving in impossible angles, snapping and popping as the moved with unbelievable speed, sometimes upright, sometimes on all fours, sometimes crawling up walls or across ceilings.
Meg Pratt witnessed her husband's transformation after being infected by blood from another infected, watched him attack and kill a police officer. Meg was a firefighter and she raced down the streets to her firehouse. There were a handful of firefighters and civilians in the firehouse when Meg arrived and together they fortified their building as much as possible to keep the monsters out.
Jedediah Monroe Welch was a Georgia boy, out of the Marines and back from the suck. He hadn't done too well after he left the Marines with a bad conduct discharge. He couldn't land a regular job but ended up slinging drugs to high school kids. He got jammed up and did a few months in jail for possession, just thankful it wasn't for dealing. After he got out, he left Georgia and relocated to New York City, guarding stash houses for a small crew. Jed had no idea what was going on until he ran into his first monster. Blood streamed from the thing's eyes, ears, nose and mouth. And what a mouth! All puffy and protruding like those kissing fish he'd seen in a pet store, with teeth like long sharp needles, those lips opening and closing with sloppy popping sounds. Its eyes were yellow slits and hands ended in claws. Jed ended its pain with a shot to its head. The unusual quiet of the street was broken by bloodcurdling shrieks from more monsters and screams of pain and terror from the victims. Jed turned the corner and ran into a small Army unit. He figured he'd just roll with them for a while.
The characters are vividly described and painted in horrid detail. Their fear, terror and panic obvious as survival becomes the game of the day. This fresh perspective on the denizens of the Extinction Cycle is drawn in blood in broad strokes. The monsters have the upper hand and always stay one step ahead of their victims. Meg and the firefighters and civilians that had found shelter in the firehouse did everything they could to turn the firehouse into a safe haven, but the victims of the Hemorrhage Virus held the upper hand.
This book was originally written for the Kindle Worlds program, where other authors are encouraged to write storylines in Nicholas Sansbury Smith's Extinction Cycle series. This storyline follows the beginnings of Meg's story before she meets up with Team Ghost. Meg was one of my favorite characters as she battled Variants with her fireaxe. The Kindle Worlds program ended abruptly and the authors were encouraged to republish their books or retire them. Nicholas encouraged his contributors to allow him to republish their work under his small press GreatWaveInk.
I'm really enjoying Meg's backstory in this well-written book, and I'm looking forward to the rest of this trilogy. I know you're going to enjoy it as well!
The reports about an epidemic of some kind of Ebola in Chicago had barely been broadcast when New York was quickly overwhelmed. A virus was turning people into bloodthirsty monsters. Victims who weren't killed became monsters, their eyes turned a slitted yellow, their fingers becoming claws, their mouth filled with needle-like sharp teeth and their lips like suckers. Their joints moving in impossible angles, snapping and popping as the moved with unbelievable speed, sometimes upright, sometimes on all fours, sometimes crawling up walls or across ceilings.
Meg Pratt witnessed her husband's transformation after being infected by blood from another infected, watched him attack and kill a police officer. Meg was a firefighter and she raced down the streets to her firehouse. There were a handful of firefighters and civilians in the firehouse when Meg arrived and together they fortified their building as much as possible to keep the monsters out.
Jedediah Monroe Welch was a Georgia boy, out of the Marines and back from the suck. He hadn't done too well after he left the Marines with a bad conduct discharge. He couldn't land a regular job but ended up slinging drugs to high school kids. He got jammed up and did a few months in jail for possession, just thankful it wasn't for dealing. After he got out, he left Georgia and relocated to New York City, guarding stash houses for a small crew. Jed had no idea what was going on until he ran into his first monster. Blood streamed from the thing's eyes, ears, nose and mouth. And what a mouth! All puffy and protruding like those kissing fish he'd seen in a pet store, with teeth like long sharp needles, those lips opening and closing with sloppy popping sounds. Its eyes were yellow slits and hands ended in claws. Jed ended its pain with a shot to its head. The unusual quiet of the street was broken by bloodcurdling shrieks from more monsters and screams of pain and terror from the victims. Jed turned the corner and ran into a small Army unit. He figured he'd just roll with them for a while.
The characters are vividly described and painted in horrid detail. Their fear, terror and panic obvious as survival becomes the game of the day. This fresh perspective on the denizens of the Extinction Cycle is drawn in blood in broad strokes. The monsters have the upper hand and always stay one step ahead of their victims. Meg and the firefighters and civilians that had found shelter in the firehouse did everything they could to turn the firehouse into a safe haven, but the victims of the Hemorrhage Virus held the upper hand.
This book was originally written for the Kindle Worlds program, where other authors are encouraged to write storylines in Nicholas Sansbury Smith's Extinction Cycle series. This storyline follows the beginnings of Meg's story before she meets up with Team Ghost. Meg was one of my favorite characters as she battled Variants with her fireaxe. The Kindle Worlds program ended abruptly and the authors were encouraged to republish their books or retire them. Nicholas encouraged his contributors to allow him to republish their work under his small press GreatWaveInk.
I'm really enjoying Meg's backstory in this well-written book, and I'm looking forward to the rest of this trilogy. I know you're going to enjoy it as well!
February 26, 2024
I heard that fans of the Extinction books were invited to write their stories about survivors from the war...fan fiction I guess-and that they were being shared for kindle in the US. I looked forward to seeing what they had written so I grabbed these books when they were released in the UK. This book follows the much loved firefighter Meg, and Jeb who I actually don't remember from the main series if he was indeed in it. I can't say that I greatly enjoyed this book which is the first in a trilogy.
Meg's storyline is certainly the better one. It follows the story from her first interaction with the variants up to taking refuge in her fire house. These events were interesting enough and brutal but it didn't quite make sense that Meg hasn't heard anything about the Chicago 'ebola' outbreak until Tim tells her about the horrors on the tv and shows her the newspaper about it. If they were reading it in the paper then it happened the previous day and would've been breaking news. Surely Meg would've seen something, maybe heard it as gossip from her work colleagues. But even if you can accept she knew nothing, minutes after Tim shows her the paper & says what he saw on tv, they are under attack. If the monsters are in position to attack so fast with armed people in pursuit, it makes me wonder how the newspaper even got delivered that morning.
The other story follows Jeb, failed Marine, kicked out and now making a living selling drugs to kids. Yes a really useful member of society and the kind I hate as MC in the books I read. Marines are supposed to be elite so how this waste of space ever passed the training is beyond me. He has the worst attitude problem, can't follow a basic order like 'watch our back', argumentative, always looking to save himself the first chance he can get. He doesn't care about being part of the unit that saves his life, doesn't do his part and abandons them the first chance he gets. This passed marine training? Really?
Jeb is hopeless. He can't seem to shoot very well and has an issue in remembering to take the safety off his weapon, which he can't seem to look after either. He breaks the golden rule of handling a weapon 'never put your finger on the trigger unless you are ready to shoot', causing him to nearly shoot off his foot. He's suspicious about a guy he meets who has eyes on his weapon yet hands it over to him because the guy said the commanding officer says so, yet he never follows direct orders from legitimate superiors. He prefers to hide than get in the fight, he looks after number one, doesn't care about his fellow soldiers. He does not sound like a Marine to me. Either way he's a whiny, self obsessed idiot and I can't stand him.
For me, this book adds nothing to the Extinction series and even having Meg as the MC isn't enough to get me reading the rest of the trilogy.
2.5 stars
Meg's storyline is certainly the better one. It follows the story from her first interaction with the variants up to taking refuge in her fire house. These events were interesting enough and brutal but it didn't quite make sense that Meg hasn't heard anything about the Chicago 'ebola' outbreak until Tim tells her about the horrors on the tv and shows her the newspaper about it. If they were reading it in the paper then it happened the previous day and would've been breaking news. Surely Meg would've seen something, maybe heard it as gossip from her work colleagues. But even if you can accept she knew nothing, minutes after Tim shows her the paper & says what he saw on tv, they are under attack. If the monsters are in position to attack so fast with armed people in pursuit, it makes me wonder how the newspaper even got delivered that morning.
The other story follows Jeb, failed Marine, kicked out and now making a living selling drugs to kids. Yes a really useful member of society and the kind I hate as MC in the books I read. Marines are supposed to be elite so how this waste of space ever passed the training is beyond me. He has the worst attitude problem, can't follow a basic order like 'watch our back', argumentative, always looking to save himself the first chance he can get. He doesn't care about being part of the unit that saves his life, doesn't do his part and abandons them the first chance he gets. This passed marine training? Really?
Jeb is hopeless. He can't seem to shoot very well and has an issue in remembering to take the safety off his weapon, which he can't seem to look after either. He breaks the golden rule of handling a weapon 'never put your finger on the trigger unless you are ready to shoot', causing him to nearly shoot off his foot. He's suspicious about a guy he meets who has eyes on his weapon yet hands it over to him because the guy said the commanding officer says so, yet he never follows direct orders from legitimate superiors. He prefers to hide than get in the fight, he looks after number one, doesn't care about his fellow soldiers. He does not sound like a Marine to me. Either way he's a whiny, self obsessed idiot and I can't stand him.
For me, this book adds nothing to the Extinction series and even having Meg as the MC isn't enough to get me reading the rest of the trilogy.
2.5 stars
March 6, 2019
You never know who you really are until tragedy tests you.
Things you should know going into this book. First, this is an authorized spin-off of the Extinction Cycle series by Nicholas Sansbury Smith. It was once part of a Kindle World collection and has been revised as a separate series of books. This book is the first book in the Redemption Trilogy and is based on characters mentioned in book 2 of the Extinction Cycle series. I recommend reading it before book 2, Extinction Edge, if you prefer chronological reading. Due to the apocalyptic setting, expect violence as well as adult language and subtle adult situations.
Firefighter Meg Pratt was off-duty spending time with her husband when they discovered that strange things were happening in New York City. Marine Private Jed Welch was out jogging with his friend in Queens, New York when they witnessed the unthinkable. The world around them has drastically changed with no time to think or plan, they must simply react. Are these people prepared for what lies ahead?
I really enjoyed how the author alternated between points of view from one character's corner of the big city to the other.
Things you should know going into this book. First, this is an authorized spin-off of the Extinction Cycle series by Nicholas Sansbury Smith. It was once part of a Kindle World collection and has been revised as a separate series of books. This book is the first book in the Redemption Trilogy and is based on characters mentioned in book 2 of the Extinction Cycle series. I recommend reading it before book 2, Extinction Edge, if you prefer chronological reading. Due to the apocalyptic setting, expect violence as well as adult language and subtle adult situations.
Firefighter Meg Pratt was off-duty spending time with her husband when they discovered that strange things were happening in New York City. Marine Private Jed Welch was out jogging with his friend in Queens, New York when they witnessed the unthinkable. The world around them has drastically changed with no time to think or plan, they must simply react. Are these people prepared for what lies ahead?
I really enjoyed how the author alternated between points of view from one character's corner of the big city to the other.
February 28, 2019
Loved it!
This is the first in a trilogy that gives us a look into the world of Meg, a favorite character of mine from Nicholas Sansbury Smith’s Extinction Cycle series. A. J. Sikes does a great job giving us Meg leading up to where we found her. We finally start getting a lot of questions answered in the first book and I look forward to getting more of her picture filled in by the end of this trilogy. This book adds more dimension to the Extinction Cycle world making it a much bigger and fuller picture. Whether you’ve read Extinction Cycle already or not this is a great book to pick up and get started with, I’m sure if you do you’ll be ready to jump into book two right away!
This is the first in a trilogy that gives us a look into the world of Meg, a favorite character of mine from Nicholas Sansbury Smith’s Extinction Cycle series. A. J. Sikes does a great job giving us Meg leading up to where we found her. We finally start getting a lot of questions answered in the first book and I look forward to getting more of her picture filled in by the end of this trilogy. This book adds more dimension to the Extinction Cycle world making it a much bigger and fuller picture. Whether you’ve read Extinction Cycle already or not this is a great book to pick up and get started with, I’m sure if you do you’ll be ready to jump into book two right away!
March 7, 2019
Bam, Bam, Bam...
I don’t normally like books that have multiple storylines at the same time from chapter to chapter. But this book oh man this book is different yes it’s multiple storylines but WowWhat a great set of Storylines. between Meg And Jed the story is complete. This book jumps right in to the Variant story from The Extinction Cycle by Nicholas Sansbury Smith. It was as if the author was in Smith’s head. His writing is on point and I was unable to stop so I read it in one sitting. If you love Zompoc stories you need to read A.J.Sykes Emergence NOW...
I don’t normally like books that have multiple storylines at the same time from chapter to chapter. But this book oh man this book is different yes it’s multiple storylines but WowWhat a great set of Storylines. between Meg And Jed the story is complete. This book jumps right in to the Variant story from The Extinction Cycle by Nicholas Sansbury Smith. It was as if the author was in Smith’s head. His writing is on point and I was unable to stop so I read it in one sitting. If you love Zompoc stories you need to read A.J.Sykes Emergence NOW...
January 28, 2021
Audiobook: Please read my review of the Extinction Cycle series. I found Meg to be one of the most interesting side-characters in the EC series. This book was good in that it satisfied my curiosity of Meg's backstory. It felt like the book ended abruptly, but the idea was that the "end" can be found in the EC series. It would be difficult to evaluate this book (or enjoy it) on its own, if you have not read the EC series first.
March 12, 2019
Back in the suck
Back to practically day one. The day we learned that monsters are real and mankind isn't the top of the food chain anymore. Excellent read. Scary stuff! We pick up with Megan and Jed just as things began to slide down the rabbit hole. Every minute is a struggle to survive and every decision might be the last.
Back to practically day one. The day we learned that monsters are real and mankind isn't the top of the food chain anymore. Excellent read. Scary stuff! We pick up with Megan and Jed just as things began to slide down the rabbit hole. Every minute is a struggle to survive and every decision might be the last.
February 26, 2023
Really love how the story showed that something good still survives in humanity even in worse times. The will to survive hellish situation and still keep your humanity made me liked this book.
Warning and spoiler: Just do not read the next book. The firefighter heroine in this book will be discarded ignominiously. What a waste of a great character.
Warning and spoiler: Just do not read the next book. The firefighter heroine in this book will be discarded ignominiously. What a waste of a great character.
June 7, 2017
Awesome
This was a great addition to the series. I love the Meg character. She represents the Fire Department in all its strength and dedication. I love a strong woman. Rex not so much. Jed is developing better as time goes on.
This was a great addition to the series. I love the Meg character. She represents the Fire Department in all its strength and dedication. I love a strong woman. Rex not so much. Jed is developing better as time goes on.
June 9, 2017
A great book
Had my doubts about a new writers to me but it was great the story about Meg joining the fight she inspires what brave brave people can do in bad situations the change in her world showed her pure strength as a women not to give up to live on own terms
Had my doubts about a new writers to me but it was great the story about Meg joining the fight she inspires what brave brave people can do in bad situations the change in her world showed her pure strength as a women not to give up to live on own terms
April 2, 2019
Wow! Love what I learned!!!
This book is such a good addition to the E-Cycle series!!! Love learning how different people and places dealt with the outbreak!!! So interesting to see humanity at its best and worse!!!! On to the next one!!!
This book is such a good addition to the E-Cycle series!!! Love learning how different people and places dealt with the outbreak!!! So interesting to see humanity at its best and worse!!!! On to the next one!!!
April 3, 2019
Amazing!!
I absolutely loved NSS Extinction Cycle series. When I came across this series I was ecstatic. Not only do I get to read more about those blood thirsty variants but reading how it all started for Meg Pratts and Jed Welsh story was great!
I absolutely loved NSS Extinction Cycle series. When I came across this series I was ecstatic. Not only do I get to read more about those blood thirsty variants but reading how it all started for Meg Pratts and Jed Welsh story was great!
April 10, 2019
That's a ride
I love the world this story is based in, the Extinction Cycle series by Nicholas Sansbury Smith.
This tale follows firefighter Meg and illuminates how her world crumbled, and what she did when it happened.
I will admit one thing: it's hard reading Jed's voice. Which just means AJ did his job with the lingo :D
It's a violent, vicious story with hope around the edges. A fitting addition to the Extinction Cycle world.
I love the world this story is based in, the Extinction Cycle series by Nicholas Sansbury Smith.
This tale follows firefighter Meg and illuminates how her world crumbled, and what she did when it happened.
I will admit one thing: it's hard reading Jed's voice. Which just means AJ did his job with the lingo :D
It's a violent, vicious story with hope around the edges. A fitting addition to the Extinction Cycle world.
April 10, 2019
Did not enjoy this book
I did not enjoy this book at all. Despite the 5 star rating I struggled through the first third of the book before giving up. I found it difficult to make a connection with the characters and did not enjoy the author's writing style at all.
I did not enjoy this book at all. Despite the 5 star rating I struggled through the first third of the book before giving up. I found it difficult to make a connection with the characters and did not enjoy the author's writing style at all.
September 12, 2023
I’m glad that I purchased this series as a set. I’m curious to see where the story goes. While reminiscent of World War Z, it’s a slightly different take on the Zombie Apocalypse sub genre. The characters are interesting and the story has been face paced even if it’s far fetched. So far, so good.
February 5, 2017
Story was good - improved toward the end.
This story was good only because it picked up toward the end. The story line fit into the Extinction Universe well.
This story was good only because it picked up toward the end. The story line fit into the Extinction Universe well.
March 9, 2019
Great story
Meg Pratt is one of my favorite characters,so this back story on how she became who s she was in the apocalypse is awesome.
Meg Pratt is one of my favorite characters,so this back story on how she became who s she was in the apocalypse is awesome.
March 31, 2019
Nice addition to the Extinction world. Love reading Meg’s and Jed’s story. Thanks Nick for recommending AJ Sikes.
June 16, 2019
Painful to read
I messed up and read two books further down the line and compared to those this one just isn't very good. She should of been Variant good in the first 10 minutes.
I messed up and read two books further down the line and compared to those this one just isn't very good. She should of been Variant good in the first 10 minutes.
January 13, 2022
3.5 stars
February 12, 2022
Nice story
Good side story from the extinction cycle story introducing Meg and Jed. I liked Meg a lot more, but Jed had an Interesting story as well.
Good side story from the extinction cycle story introducing Meg and Jed. I liked Meg a lot more, but Jed had an Interesting story as well.
September 4, 2022
I’m loving the character Jed Welch and Meg.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews