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Mayhem Wave #1
Prelude to Mayhem
In the ruins of his world, Harrison Cody follows a mysterious voice on the radio as he and his pixie sidekick travel on foot across a terrifyingly random landscape. They discover Dorothy O’Neill, who has had to survive among monsters when her greatest worry used to be how to navigate high school. Together they search for what remains of Chicago, and the hope that civilization can be rebuilt.
264 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 26, 2016
35 people are currently reading
446 people want to read
About the author
Edward Aubry
9 books141 followersEdward Aubry is a graduate of Wesleyan University, with a degree in music composition. Improbably, this preceded a career as a teacher of high school mathematics and creative writing. He now lives in rural Pennsylvania with his wife and three spectacular daughters, where he fills his non-teaching hours spinning tales of time-travel, wise-cracking pixies, and an assortment of other impossible things.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
July 11, 2017
The difficult second album. How could Edward Aubry possibly write anything that lives up to the Unhappenings?
Whether he sold his soul or met with a genie, he managed to transport me into a world of wonderment. I like twisted kind of books, where the characters are strong and the pacing is fast and Mr. Aubry fulfilled by book checklist.
I'm not going to tell you what happens. That's what a blurb is for. All I'm going to say is Mr. Aubry once again hit this out of the park and you should pick it up. Now. WHY ARE YOU READING THIS REVIEW AND NOT THE BOOK? Jeez.
Whether he sold his soul or met with a genie, he managed to transport me into a world of wonderment. I like twisted kind of books, where the characters are strong and the pacing is fast and Mr. Aubry fulfilled by book checklist.
I'm not going to tell you what happens. That's what a blurb is for. All I'm going to say is Mr. Aubry once again hit this out of the park and you should pick it up. Now. WHY ARE YOU READING THIS REVIEW AND NOT THE BOOK? Jeez.
February 7, 2017
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
Apocalyptic tales are right up my alley, so I was expecting a lot from Prelude To Mayham, but was a bit disappointed in the end, as it all felt very messy and a bit too much of everything.
The premise is good. After an end-of-the-world event in which most of the humans disappear but which doesn't seem to bad overall, the surviving humans try to survive. One of them is broadcasting a radio message to encourage people to come to Chicago. However, it turns out that this event also led to some magic events (and this is where it starts to become a bit messy). Glimmer is fine, but there is very little talk about magic in the beginning and in the end it all gets thrown in to the story seemingly random. Also, the ending kind of disappointed me.
What I did like were the characters, and not even the characters per se, but that they were a mixture of small children, teenagers and adults, instead of the almost compulsory group of Young Adults that seem to roam these books nowadays. Glimmer was also a lot of fun.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Apocalyptic tales are right up my alley, so I was expecting a lot from Prelude To Mayham, but was a bit disappointed in the end, as it all felt very messy and a bit too much of everything.
The premise is good. After an end-of-the-world event in which most of the humans disappear but which doesn't seem to bad overall, the surviving humans try to survive. One of them is broadcasting a radio message to encourage people to come to Chicago. However, it turns out that this event also led to some magic events (and this is where it starts to become a bit messy). Glimmer is fine, but there is very little talk about magic in the beginning and in the end it all gets thrown in to the story seemingly random. Also, the ending kind of disappointed me.
What I did like were the characters, and not even the characters per se, but that they were a mixture of small children, teenagers and adults, instead of the almost compulsory group of Young Adults that seem to roam these books nowadays. Glimmer was also a lot of fun.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
December 18, 2016
Prelude to Mayhem (Mayhem Wave #1) by Edward Aubry is a fun and exciting and yet crazy tale of things going really bad in 2004. Mayhem would be a great word for it. Near mass extinction of people, magic appeared, dinosaurs, pixies, animals in many odd sizes and colors, dog sized bugs, etc. It's a story of finding others, surviving, love, fantasy, magic, humor, and random craziness. It is a fun ride of a read and I enjoyed it greatly. Heartwarming and silly at the same time. Thanks NetGalley for letting me have a chance at this great book!
November 29, 2016
Video review will be live here: https://youtu.be/XKM-PoyGsD0 on Dec, 8th
July 26, 2017
4.5 stars rounded down* (see below...)
Harrison and Dorothy are two of the very few who try to live in the aftermath of a bizarre melding of the present, the future and the magical. How the environment has been twisted, where all this tech junk came from and why the landscape is suddenly overrun by very real, very dangerous magical creatures are all a mystery as they try to survive the changes to their world. A voice on the radio gives them hope for the future as they make a terrifying trek across thousands of miles to what remains of Chicago...
I loved the dual POVs with Harrison and Dorothy. I thought their personalities complimented one another so that I never got bored or felt like I'd rather just follow one or the other. Their stats worked so well contrasting each other (like Harrison is an adult and Dorothy is 14) yet I never felt like one or the other character was contrived. Harrison and Dorothy were walking talking survivors of a very odd event and all they had to survive on is their bold thinking. What made them really work for me was that neither had the thought to kill another person - there were enough dangers in the world, what was left of humanity fighting one another never made the list. I adored this POV in the extreme! I love this kind of adventure, exploration story.
And the world building was excellent. Most of the story was the best kind of showing. You think a story is really good and satisfying then you read a book like Prelude to Mayhem where master story-showing is used and you realize this is how a story is meant to be told. Aubry missed one or two moments in the setup that became awkward to me (like when the future element being shown by Dorothy using the mapper but we'd already been told all about the future tech by Harrison - should have been flipped) but it only distracted me a little from the fascinating world. This same technique is used perfectly with Glimmer setting up John's story about the tech south (one of my favorite parts of Dorothy's story!) I liked how the world was twisted up, verdant green for miles broken up by random houses or strip malls, city centers with highways that just stop suddenly all with tech from some future date spread about like discarded junk. And the creatures... to rave too much would give away some of the best parts of the story... In fact I could have done with more creatures, even small, minor encounters to fully flesh out the world. These are minor complaints though as this totally unique world came to life through Harrison and Dorothy.
The plot was stellar too. The first 40% was some really great setup that opened the world to us and made us root for Harrison and Dorothy so that we'd follow them anywhere... I fell in love with Glimmer too and her Barbie wardrobe and I even started to feel a sisterly impatience yet care for John. The balance between the future tech story points and the magical creature story points was well done and I sat back for the wild ride, you are totally sucked in as a reader. At this point we get some really fascinating story developments... they aren't answered by the end of the book but we make some headway toward solving them. I didn't mind that either and it didn't even feel like a cliffhanger so much as a natural place to leave off before we'd start on a different sort of journey with two people we really care about (really 4 people if you count Glimmer and Mitchell which I totally do!!) This series is totally about the journey. It's not so much about traveling from point A to B which we do, do so much as the wild meetings, twists and turns and crazy happenings along the way.
*So why round my stars down to 4 instead of up to 5...? The end started to have some problems that were harder to overlook... Some of the logic of the city didn't make sense to me, and while there is a strong conflict boost at the end the way it is resolved is rather dull (compared to the other plot points!). Also it's rather obvious story wise why things turned out the way they did with Glimmer... It's not that I hated the ending... I believe the next book will be very fascinating and will be well worth the read and this end was setting up for it. Thinking about this book as I write this review, I find myself changing my mind... I really am split evenly between 4 and 5 stars, but the characters and world are so stellar in this and so much of the plot really was exciting and grounded in human nature in a way I truly admire...so I'm rounding up!
BOTTOM LINE: Creative world with spot on characters equal a vital dystopian read...
Thanks to Edward Aubry and Curiosity Quills Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my special perspective at the bottom of my reviews under the typewriter...
Harrison and Dorothy are two of the very few who try to live in the aftermath of a bizarre melding of the present, the future and the magical. How the environment has been twisted, where all this tech junk came from and why the landscape is suddenly overrun by very real, very dangerous magical creatures are all a mystery as they try to survive the changes to their world. A voice on the radio gives them hope for the future as they make a terrifying trek across thousands of miles to what remains of Chicago...
I loved the dual POVs with Harrison and Dorothy. I thought their personalities complimented one another so that I never got bored or felt like I'd rather just follow one or the other. Their stats worked so well contrasting each other (like Harrison is an adult and Dorothy is 14) yet I never felt like one or the other character was contrived. Harrison and Dorothy were walking talking survivors of a very odd event and all they had to survive on is their bold thinking. What made them really work for me was that neither had the thought to kill another person - there were enough dangers in the world, what was left of humanity fighting one another never made the list. I adored this POV in the extreme! I love this kind of adventure, exploration story.
And the world building was excellent. Most of the story was the best kind of showing. You think a story is really good and satisfying then you read a book like Prelude to Mayhem where master story-showing is used and you realize this is how a story is meant to be told. Aubry missed one or two moments in the setup that became awkward to me (like when the future element being shown by Dorothy using the mapper but we'd already been told all about the future tech by Harrison - should have been flipped) but it only distracted me a little from the fascinating world. This same technique is used perfectly with Glimmer setting up John's story about the tech south (one of my favorite parts of Dorothy's story!) I liked how the world was twisted up, verdant green for miles broken up by random houses or strip malls, city centers with highways that just stop suddenly all with tech from some future date spread about like discarded junk. And the creatures... to rave too much would give away some of the best parts of the story... In fact I could have done with more creatures, even small, minor encounters to fully flesh out the world. These are minor complaints though as this totally unique world came to life through Harrison and Dorothy.
The plot was stellar too. The first 40% was some really great setup that opened the world to us and made us root for Harrison and Dorothy so that we'd follow them anywhere... I fell in love with Glimmer too and her Barbie wardrobe and I even started to feel a sisterly impatience yet care for John. The balance between the future tech story points and the magical creature story points was well done and I sat back for the wild ride, you are totally sucked in as a reader. At this point we get some really fascinating story developments... they aren't answered by the end of the book but we make some headway toward solving them. I didn't mind that either and it didn't even feel like a cliffhanger so much as a natural place to leave off before we'd start on a different sort of journey with two people we really care about (really 4 people if you count Glimmer and Mitchell which I totally do!!) This series is totally about the journey. It's not so much about traveling from point A to B which we do, do so much as the wild meetings, twists and turns and crazy happenings along the way.
*So why round my stars down to 4 instead of up to 5...? The end started to have some problems that were harder to overlook... Some of the logic of the city didn't make sense to me, and while there is a strong conflict boost at the end the way it is resolved is rather dull (compared to the other plot points!). Also it's rather obvious story wise why things turned out the way they did with Glimmer... It's not that I hated the ending... I believe the next book will be very fascinating and will be well worth the read and this end was setting up for it. Thinking about this book as I write this review, I find myself changing my mind... I really am split evenly between 4 and 5 stars, but the characters and world are so stellar in this and so much of the plot really was exciting and grounded in human nature in a way I truly admire...so I'm rounding up!
BOTTOM LINE: Creative world with spot on characters equal a vital dystopian read...
Thanks to Edward Aubry and Curiosity Quills Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my special perspective at the bottom of my reviews under the typewriter...
February 3, 2017
I would have liked this even more if it just had a little less going on.
Book Title: Prelude to Mayhem
Author: Edward Aubry
Series: Mayhem Wave #1
Genre: Apocalypse, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Source: I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
OVERALL RATING: 3.8/5 STARS
Find my full review with video included for book song at Leah's Bookish Obsession
♪♫MY PICK FOR BOOK THEME SONG♫♪
♫ Radioactive by Imagine Dragons --ugh…this one was hard to find a song for…because it just has so much going on to pinpoint a song that felt right for it.♫
⇝Ratings Breakdown⇜
Plot: 3.5/5
Characters: 4.3/5
The Feels: 4/5
Addictiveness: 3.5/5
Theme: 4/5
Flow: 3/5
Backdrop (World Building): 4/5
Originality: 5/5
Book Cover: 4/5
Ending: 4/5 Cliffhanger: Not exactly…
Will I continue this series? I don't know, maybe.
⇝My Thoughts⇜
This book is…in one word…crazy. It's a mash-up of genres, that keeps you guessing. From a apocalyptic pov, this was a really fantastic idea, the timelines converging thing was genius. Then with the fantasy/magic elements added, this has amazing potential. The Author just needs to know when to say when on some things. On one hand I found it inventive, on the other hand I found it almost outlandish. I felt like, maybe, it was trying to hard to be everything, that it lost track of something. Just when I thought it couldn't get any crazier, it proved me wrong; and did it over again and again. From dinosaurs to demons, it seriously, had a little bit of everything.
While it seems many were a fan of the writing style, I just found it difficult to stay focused. It was, at times, too jumbled and sporadic feeling. I did adjust for the most part. I just didn't get fully invested until about the halfway mark. Seriously, though, there is a lot of unanswered questions that I have concerning this world and I hope they are answered if I continue this series.
⇝Sex Factor⇜ For language it's definitely rated for adults, this has a swearing pixie after all...but for sex…there is none.
Book Title: Prelude to Mayhem
Author: Edward Aubry
Series: Mayhem Wave #1
Genre: Apocalypse, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Source: I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
OVERALL RATING: 3.8/5 STARS
Find my full review with video included for book song at Leah's Bookish Obsession
♪♫MY PICK FOR BOOK THEME SONG♫♪
♫ Radioactive by Imagine Dragons --ugh…this one was hard to find a song for…because it just has so much going on to pinpoint a song that felt right for it.♫
⇝Ratings Breakdown⇜
Plot: 3.5/5
Characters: 4.3/5
The Feels: 4/5
Addictiveness: 3.5/5
Theme: 4/5
Flow: 3/5
Backdrop (World Building): 4/5
Originality: 5/5
Book Cover: 4/5
Ending: 4/5 Cliffhanger: Not exactly…
Will I continue this series? I don't know, maybe.
⇝My Thoughts⇜
This book is…in one word…crazy. It's a mash-up of genres, that keeps you guessing. From a apocalyptic pov, this was a really fantastic idea, the timelines converging thing was genius. Then with the fantasy/magic elements added, this has amazing potential. The Author just needs to know when to say when on some things. On one hand I found it inventive, on the other hand I found it almost outlandish. I felt like, maybe, it was trying to hard to be everything, that it lost track of something. Just when I thought it couldn't get any crazier, it proved me wrong; and did it over again and again. From dinosaurs to demons, it seriously, had a little bit of everything.
While it seems many were a fan of the writing style, I just found it difficult to stay focused. It was, at times, too jumbled and sporadic feeling. I did adjust for the most part. I just didn't get fully invested until about the halfway mark. Seriously, though, there is a lot of unanswered questions that I have concerning this world and I hope they are answered if I continue this series. ⇝Sex Factor⇜ For language it's definitely rated for adults, this has a swearing pixie after all...but for sex…there is none.
November 23, 2016
There are two sections to my review, first for people who’ve never read Static Mayhem and second, for those who have and why they should also read Prelude to Mayhem.
If you haven’t read Static Mayhem, then you should definitely read Prelude to Mayhem now! This is a awesome story in which most of Earth’s population has disappeared, leaving behind an odd scattering of magical devices and creatures as well as futuristic human technology.
What would you do in such a world? Have fun, panic, search for other humans? Probably some combination of all these. Harrison takes the crazy event in stride, but as soon as he finds out there are other humans left (from a radio transmission in Chicago) he’s on a mission to find them. Even though it means a dangerous trek from the northeast US where roads suddenly end in cliffs.
Along the way, he meets other humans and also magical creatures along with finding out that something/someone wants him dead. He meets Dorothy, a brilliant teenager surviving quite capably on her own and a young boy who’s terrified of something, along with my favorite character, Glimmer, a pixie.
What awaits them in Chicago? Of course not everything in this tumbled world can be loving and beneficial. And even Harrison finds out he’s been affected by magic in a completely unexpected way. Prelude to Mayhem shows the reader how these characters will be capable of handling a lot. Hopefully enough.
I thoroughly recommend this book. It’s a fun read with extremely well developed characters in an unexpected world.
Now, for those who’ve already read Static Mayhem - no major spoilers if you haven’t - I still recommend reading Prelude to Mayhem. While it’s basically the first part of Static Mayhem, it has been updated and explores more details of Harrison and Dorothy’s personalities. The chapters are more balanced between the two POVs.
I think this will set the reader up even better for the remainder of the story in the new version of Static Mayhem which is the final part of the first story. But even better, I thought the development of Dorothy was much deeper and made me appreciate her even more as a main character. I’ve also read an early version of the sequel, Mayhem’s Children, and this version of the start of the story sets up that book even better.
Aubry’s writing is awesome, the editing is quite good. Definitely one of my top reads for the last couple years. 5 stars, highly recommended.
If you haven’t read Static Mayhem, then you should definitely read Prelude to Mayhem now! This is a awesome story in which most of Earth’s population has disappeared, leaving behind an odd scattering of magical devices and creatures as well as futuristic human technology.
What would you do in such a world? Have fun, panic, search for other humans? Probably some combination of all these. Harrison takes the crazy event in stride, but as soon as he finds out there are other humans left (from a radio transmission in Chicago) he’s on a mission to find them. Even though it means a dangerous trek from the northeast US where roads suddenly end in cliffs.
Along the way, he meets other humans and also magical creatures along with finding out that something/someone wants him dead. He meets Dorothy, a brilliant teenager surviving quite capably on her own and a young boy who’s terrified of something, along with my favorite character, Glimmer, a pixie.
What awaits them in Chicago? Of course not everything in this tumbled world can be loving and beneficial. And even Harrison finds out he’s been affected by magic in a completely unexpected way. Prelude to Mayhem shows the reader how these characters will be capable of handling a lot. Hopefully enough.
I thoroughly recommend this book. It’s a fun read with extremely well developed characters in an unexpected world.
Now, for those who’ve already read Static Mayhem - no major spoilers if you haven’t - I still recommend reading Prelude to Mayhem. While it’s basically the first part of Static Mayhem, it has been updated and explores more details of Harrison and Dorothy’s personalities. The chapters are more balanced between the two POVs.
I think this will set the reader up even better for the remainder of the story in the new version of Static Mayhem which is the final part of the first story. But even better, I thought the development of Dorothy was much deeper and made me appreciate her even more as a main character. I’ve also read an early version of the sequel, Mayhem’s Children, and this version of the start of the story sets up that book even better.
Aubry’s writing is awesome, the editing is quite good. Definitely one of my top reads for the last couple years. 5 stars, highly recommended.
November 29, 2016
Netgalley copy in exchange for an honest review.
Prelude to Mayhem is a great novel for those who love originality, quirkiness, SF and fantasy (basically, all the good stuff). Its strong point definitely is the style for me, which was great, easy to read, and painted both an incredible and magical world and a very vivid and rich atmosphere. I particularly loved the alternating of points of view between Harrison and Dorothy - this young girl and Glimmer were actually my favourite characters! The plot is great, original and highly entertaining, to the point where it sucks you in. It leaves you on edge and you never know what's to come!
Prelude to Mayhem is a great novel for those who love originality, quirkiness, SF and fantasy (basically, all the good stuff). Its strong point definitely is the style for me, which was great, easy to read, and painted both an incredible and magical world and a very vivid and rich atmosphere. I particularly loved the alternating of points of view between Harrison and Dorothy - this young girl and Glimmer were actually my favourite characters! The plot is great, original and highly entertaining, to the point where it sucks you in. It leaves you on edge and you never know what's to come!
January 24, 2017
Full review: https://thesnowbookhollow.wordpress.c...
I’m going to use a train to describe this book since it occurs in the story. It was like being on a train that starts moving faster and faster that you have to grab onto something to make sure you don’t lift off the ground and get slammed into a window. Just as the train starts reaching a terrifyingly beautiful speed you are thrown off with an alarming crash.
Don’t be alarmed for you will get back on again in book 2 which I am beyond eager for.
I’m going to use a train to describe this book since it occurs in the story. It was like being on a train that starts moving faster and faster that you have to grab onto something to make sure you don’t lift off the ground and get slammed into a window. Just as the train starts reaching a terrifyingly beautiful speed you are thrown off with an alarming crash.
Don’t be alarmed for you will get back on again in book 2 which I am beyond eager for.
December 6, 2019
Read for SPFBO 5
Will leave my thoughts once the contest starts
Will leave my thoughts once the contest starts
February 7, 2017
REVIEW
I was looking forward to reading this one as it is a mash up of some of my favourite genres. I have been reading more shifter titles so I feel ready for a change and I do like the sound of the blurb when it describes Dorothy, and her setting up a base in a shopping mall when the world changes around her. How the blurb describes the setting of the book reminds me a little of the setting of Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne and I truly adored that series, so I am hoping this book will be as good, half as good would make it a great read!
I found the sections of the book from Harrison's point of view more difficult to follow, and to be totally honest a little confusing. I much prefer the chapters from the point of view of Dorothy.
The cover depicts a post apocalyptic scene, but also what to me looks a little like some large gates with a bright light shining through, could this be the gateway to safety and salvation from the apocalyptic world the characters find themselves in?
I would agree with the genres this book is listed as being on both Goodreads, and on Netgalley. Both platforms (Goodreads & Netgalley) classify this book as Sci-Fi. Netgalley also says fantasy, where as Goodreads adds the genres of dystopian, & post-apocalyptic. As I truly love all these genres I have quite high expectations from this book and series.
I'm afraid I am having to give up and add Prelude To Mayhem to the Did Not Finish (DNF) category of books. It is quite rare that I don't finish a book and I have seriously tried with this one.
So I'll start with what I like about the book. . .I like both of the settings the main characters have made their homes. The main male character Harrison, in a lockable room in a Motel he has found. He has also been lucky and found a nearby gas station that has fuel left. I thought its was a really good touch that has him visiting a bookstore and taking out items to read, as well as leaving a payment for it. So the detail makes this act of "purchasing" a book interesting, maybe Harrison is craving some sort of normality and that's how he gets it.
The other main character is a fourteen year old girl called Dorothy. Dorothy has also made her self a base in the Hallmark store in a large shopping mall. She ventures out for food and supplies and seems to be doing very well until animal scavengers get access to some of it, forcing her a difficult journey moving what food she can salvage back to her living base in the Hallmark store.
Things I didn't like were certain aspects of the plot. I truly love the post apocalyptic genre and do enjoy fantasy and dystopian, but this book had to many random things thrown in as extra hints of maybe a futuristic element or even time-travel. I readily admit I haven't read and loved every time-travel book I have read, so that aspect irritated me - to the point I was not liking the chapters of the book from Harrison's point of view. Then to increase my genre confusion, he finds dead dinosaurs and is afraid of coming across a live one. So now we also have a pre-historic element added to the mix. It feels like the book was trying to include as many genres as it could.
My favourite character in the book was Dorothy. As a reader, you easily feel empathy with her. To say she is only just 14 years old, she seems to have great survival instincts and almost certainly made a brilliant choice of holing up in the shopping mall. Though I think I would have wanted to settle in a Debenhams, or John Lewis, somewhere that had a comfy bed on display, and in a store that would stock multiple items I would need in just one place.
Though I wasn't overly keen on the parts of the book from Harrison's point of view, he was a decent enough character, older than Dorothy, though I didn't find out an exact age, perhaps that was revealed further on in the book.
The character I took an instant dislike to was that of John Roth, he is an older man, Dorothy thinks he is around forty years old. She comes across him when she makes her way to the hardware store in the shopping mall to take a bath. John Roth comes across as rather ignorant, unconcerned, self absorbed drifter. When Dorothy attempts to ask him to stay his response is. . .well in my opinion is rather odd and not what a normal caring human male of his age would ever be like with a girl of Dorothy's age. I'll try to explain without giving away unnecessary spoilers. I didn't think a certain comment about "breeding to re-populate the world" was either appropriate or what should be in character for a forty year old man to be saying to a fourteen year old girl!
The final thing that I wasn't keen on was the whole "voice on the radio" that Harrison hears. The voice belongs to a female called Claudia (no idea of age) who is broadcasting, perhaps from a still working radio station or a pirate radio system she has managed to put together after the apocalyptic event. Claudia is repeating a message imploring any and all survivors to make their way to Chicago. I can't totally put my finger on it why I wasn't keen on this maybe I thought that this message is some form of trap? The other thing that bothered me was: where was everyone else? I mean I know with any apocalyptic event there would be a great amount that would lose their lives but surely Harrison would have seen someone else? Another survivor whilst he has been joyriding around in the car he has? Also if Dorothy thought to head to the Shopping Mall to make a base that was near to a good supply of food etc surely other survivors would have thought the same?
So, sadly I didn't finish this book. I honestly wouldn't say to anybody don't read this book as other people into time-travel/futuristic/pre-historic/post apocalyptic may really enjoy it. I really tried hard to continue and persevere with this book, but when I got to the point where I was actually dreading getting the kindle out to read the book, it was time to call it a DNF. Unfortunately this book was just not for me!
I was looking forward to reading this one as it is a mash up of some of my favourite genres. I have been reading more shifter titles so I feel ready for a change and I do like the sound of the blurb when it describes Dorothy, and her setting up a base in a shopping mall when the world changes around her. How the blurb describes the setting of the book reminds me a little of the setting of Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne and I truly adored that series, so I am hoping this book will be as good, half as good would make it a great read!
I found the sections of the book from Harrison's point of view more difficult to follow, and to be totally honest a little confusing. I much prefer the chapters from the point of view of Dorothy.
The cover depicts a post apocalyptic scene, but also what to me looks a little like some large gates with a bright light shining through, could this be the gateway to safety and salvation from the apocalyptic world the characters find themselves in?
I would agree with the genres this book is listed as being on both Goodreads, and on Netgalley. Both platforms (Goodreads & Netgalley) classify this book as Sci-Fi. Netgalley also says fantasy, where as Goodreads adds the genres of dystopian, & post-apocalyptic. As I truly love all these genres I have quite high expectations from this book and series.
I'm afraid I am having to give up and add Prelude To Mayhem to the Did Not Finish (DNF) category of books. It is quite rare that I don't finish a book and I have seriously tried with this one.
So I'll start with what I like about the book. . .I like both of the settings the main characters have made their homes. The main male character Harrison, in a lockable room in a Motel he has found. He has also been lucky and found a nearby gas station that has fuel left. I thought its was a really good touch that has him visiting a bookstore and taking out items to read, as well as leaving a payment for it. So the detail makes this act of "purchasing" a book interesting, maybe Harrison is craving some sort of normality and that's how he gets it.
The other main character is a fourteen year old girl called Dorothy. Dorothy has also made her self a base in the Hallmark store in a large shopping mall. She ventures out for food and supplies and seems to be doing very well until animal scavengers get access to some of it, forcing her a difficult journey moving what food she can salvage back to her living base in the Hallmark store.
Things I didn't like were certain aspects of the plot. I truly love the post apocalyptic genre and do enjoy fantasy and dystopian, but this book had to many random things thrown in as extra hints of maybe a futuristic element or even time-travel. I readily admit I haven't read and loved every time-travel book I have read, so that aspect irritated me - to the point I was not liking the chapters of the book from Harrison's point of view. Then to increase my genre confusion, he finds dead dinosaurs and is afraid of coming across a live one. So now we also have a pre-historic element added to the mix. It feels like the book was trying to include as many genres as it could.
My favourite character in the book was Dorothy. As a reader, you easily feel empathy with her. To say she is only just 14 years old, she seems to have great survival instincts and almost certainly made a brilliant choice of holing up in the shopping mall. Though I think I would have wanted to settle in a Debenhams, or John Lewis, somewhere that had a comfy bed on display, and in a store that would stock multiple items I would need in just one place.
Though I wasn't overly keen on the parts of the book from Harrison's point of view, he was a decent enough character, older than Dorothy, though I didn't find out an exact age, perhaps that was revealed further on in the book.
The character I took an instant dislike to was that of John Roth, he is an older man, Dorothy thinks he is around forty years old. She comes across him when she makes her way to the hardware store in the shopping mall to take a bath. John Roth comes across as rather ignorant, unconcerned, self absorbed drifter. When Dorothy attempts to ask him to stay his response is. . .well in my opinion is rather odd and not what a normal caring human male of his age would ever be like with a girl of Dorothy's age. I'll try to explain without giving away unnecessary spoilers. I didn't think a certain comment about "breeding to re-populate the world" was either appropriate or what should be in character for a forty year old man to be saying to a fourteen year old girl!
The final thing that I wasn't keen on was the whole "voice on the radio" that Harrison hears. The voice belongs to a female called Claudia (no idea of age) who is broadcasting, perhaps from a still working radio station or a pirate radio system she has managed to put together after the apocalyptic event. Claudia is repeating a message imploring any and all survivors to make their way to Chicago. I can't totally put my finger on it why I wasn't keen on this maybe I thought that this message is some form of trap? The other thing that bothered me was: where was everyone else? I mean I know with any apocalyptic event there would be a great amount that would lose their lives but surely Harrison would have seen someone else? Another survivor whilst he has been joyriding around in the car he has? Also if Dorothy thought to head to the Shopping Mall to make a base that was near to a good supply of food etc surely other survivors would have thought the same?
So, sadly I didn't finish this book. I honestly wouldn't say to anybody don't read this book as other people into time-travel/futuristic/pre-historic/post apocalyptic may really enjoy it. I really tried hard to continue and persevere with this book, but when I got to the point where I was actually dreading getting the kindle out to read the book, it was time to call it a DNF. Unfortunately this book was just not for me!
December 15, 2016
Oh, this was good. Very, very good. It is hard to cover it all - but to me it hit all the marks dead on.
Prelude to Mayhem tells the story of an America (world? one expects so) transformed on May 30, 2004. The result is an unpredictable combination of magic, ultra-tech, dinosaurs, and other strange occurrences. In this world, we find Harrison Cody, loner on the East Coast, who hears a voice on the radio calling him to Chicago. We also meet Dorothy O'Neill, precocious teen for whom the change in the world means not getting to go to high school - and losing her family. Each has a different perspective - from the journey Harrison must undertake to Dorothy's forting up in a Hallmark store, and making the best of where she is. As the book progresses, Harrison is forced to be a better person, and Dorothy is forced from her shell (or safe place), bringing them both to a huge change in Chicago.
Of course, there is a lot more than that.
The story above is good, but skips over the fact that both characters have to grow and deal with changes that neither wants - good and bad. In the course of the novel, we find that there may be a pattern to the change in the world, and that very, very little is as it seems on the surface. Including the surface.
I tend to like books that bring magic into a modern context, or even a postmodern one. In that regard, there is that annoying taste of magic, without the full exploration that I would have liked better. It may be in a sequel. There is enough to give the reader a taste, but not a full serving. We get a bit more of the ultra-technology than the magic, but again, this is not a story about (or enabled by) some super-high-tech gizmo falling into the hands of 21st century Joe Protagonist. I get the feeling that Aubry has an easier time with the tech than the magic. Perhaps the common need (perceived or real) to develop a universally cohesive system - a metaphysic of magic as it were - is too daunting. Interestingly, the alterations to the world could allow for any system, or many, to coexist. Similar to how some tech is fairly achievable in the near now, while other tech is pure space opera.
The mixing of technology and fantasy is nicely done. Each is internally consistent (even though there seem to be several tech bases in use, each is internally consistent to itself), and is used well. Fantasy elements make sense, and don't make this feel like a poorly cobbled together mess. Or the product of a committee.
This is a good YA and adult novel, and very much worth picking up.
Prelude to Mayhem tells the story of an America (world? one expects so) transformed on May 30, 2004. The result is an unpredictable combination of magic, ultra-tech, dinosaurs, and other strange occurrences. In this world, we find Harrison Cody, loner on the East Coast, who hears a voice on the radio calling him to Chicago. We also meet Dorothy O'Neill, precocious teen for whom the change in the world means not getting to go to high school - and losing her family. Each has a different perspective - from the journey Harrison must undertake to Dorothy's forting up in a Hallmark store, and making the best of where she is. As the book progresses, Harrison is forced to be a better person, and Dorothy is forced from her shell (or safe place), bringing them both to a huge change in Chicago.
Of course, there is a lot more than that.
The story above is good, but skips over the fact that both characters have to grow and deal with changes that neither wants - good and bad. In the course of the novel, we find that there may be a pattern to the change in the world, and that very, very little is as it seems on the surface. Including the surface.
I tend to like books that bring magic into a modern context, or even a postmodern one. In that regard, there is that annoying taste of magic, without the full exploration that I would have liked better. It may be in a sequel. There is enough to give the reader a taste, but not a full serving. We get a bit more of the ultra-technology than the magic, but again, this is not a story about (or enabled by) some super-high-tech gizmo falling into the hands of 21st century Joe Protagonist. I get the feeling that Aubry has an easier time with the tech than the magic. Perhaps the common need (perceived or real) to develop a universally cohesive system - a metaphysic of magic as it were - is too daunting. Interestingly, the alterations to the world could allow for any system, or many, to coexist. Similar to how some tech is fairly achievable in the near now, while other tech is pure space opera.
The mixing of technology and fantasy is nicely done. Each is internally consistent (even though there seem to be several tech bases in use, each is internally consistent to itself), and is used well. Fantasy elements make sense, and don't make this feel like a poorly cobbled together mess. Or the product of a committee.
This is a good YA and adult novel, and very much worth picking up.
December 9, 2016
Prelude to Mayhem is a new take on the end of the world. All at once, numerous people disappear and future technology, magic, magical beings, and prehistoric animals appear. The story follows two people, Harrison and Dorothy, as they deal with adjusting to the new world.
Harrison thinks he is all alone until one day, he hears a woman on the radio telling survivors to come to Chicago. After a little debate, he decides to head there from the east coast. His part of the story is used to show how messed up things have become in the world. Along the way, he meets a pixie named Glimmer and a little boy named Mitchell.
The other player in the story is Dorothy, a teenage girl that has spent her time living alone in a Hallmark store. Her story is less exciting and tends to slow down any momentum gain from Harrison’s story. A man name John stumbles upon her little home and makes it known that he is worthless every chance he gets. There is only a little bit of excitement that happens in this part, and even then it falls flat compared to the adventures that Harrison has.
This was a good story that has some really good parts to it. But it also gets bogged down by the slower parts. I think this story would be better if it focused only on Harrison to flesh out his story rather than splitting the spotlight. But I still give it a solid four stars out of five.
Harrison thinks he is all alone until one day, he hears a woman on the radio telling survivors to come to Chicago. After a little debate, he decides to head there from the east coast. His part of the story is used to show how messed up things have become in the world. Along the way, he meets a pixie named Glimmer and a little boy named Mitchell.
The other player in the story is Dorothy, a teenage girl that has spent her time living alone in a Hallmark store. Her story is less exciting and tends to slow down any momentum gain from Harrison’s story. A man name John stumbles upon her little home and makes it known that he is worthless every chance he gets. There is only a little bit of excitement that happens in this part, and even then it falls flat compared to the adventures that Harrison has.
This was a good story that has some really good parts to it. But it also gets bogged down by the slower parts. I think this story would be better if it focused only on Harrison to flesh out his story rather than splitting the spotlight. But I still give it a solid four stars out of five.
January 1, 2017
Not sure that this was pure post-apocalyptic as there was a bit of a blend of magic and sci-fi here, but I loved it. The only reason it didn't get a five was it seemed to have an awful lot of things happening all at once in the beginning and I almost put it down as it seemed more fantasy than post-apocalyptic. The ending was rather abrupt also and I felt like there could have been a bit more here. It seemed as though the author decided to stop and wham you hit a wall and it was done.
Now everything after the beginning and right up until it ended was awesome. The characters, Harrison, Dorothy, and especially the pixie were well fleshed out and I loved their humorous conversations.
This was one of the few alternating POV books that didn't annoy me. And I've got to say, I really enjoyed the world building here but would have liked a bit more of "why" this happened.
This is listed as a Prelude so I was assuming that Static Mayhem came after this (even though it was published in 2010) but after reading the reviews for Static they sound a lot like the story in Prelude so now I'm not sure if it's rewrite of an old story or what.
Actually found an answer to my question on the Meyhem books HERE (https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...) if you would like a bit more info on the series.
Now everything after the beginning and right up until it ended was awesome. The characters, Harrison, Dorothy, and especially the pixie were well fleshed out and I loved their humorous conversations.
This was one of the few alternating POV books that didn't annoy me. And I've got to say, I really enjoyed the world building here but would have liked a bit more of "why" this happened.
This is listed as a Prelude so I was assuming that Static Mayhem came after this (even though it was published in 2010) but after reading the reviews for Static they sound a lot like the story in Prelude so now I'm not sure if it's rewrite of an old story or what.
Actually found an answer to my question on the Meyhem books HERE (https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...) if you would like a bit more info on the series.
April 13, 2022
I read this after having fallen in love with Aubry’s Unhappenings, and paid more attention to the high reviews than the actual blurb about the book.Somehow I missed the part in the description where it said there was a pixie in it and I’m so glad I did because I probably would have not read it had I caught that. I read mostly sci-fi and tend to not like paranormal, magic or fantasy in books/movies so the fact I enjoyed this as much as I did is quite astounding and says a lot about Aubry’s writing.
This is your typical TEOTWAWKI story where characters journey in search of other survivors with a heavy peppering of the arcane whimsy you might find in things like of Alice in Wonderland and The Labyrinth. While the cause to the catastrophe isn’t explored in depth in this first book, I assume it’s some sort of inter dementional spillage into a present day like timeline, where both magical creatures and far futuristic technology inhabit the world where most of the human population has disappeared, along with normalcy.
Looking forward to the next installment which I am about to start in 3…2…1
This is your typical TEOTWAWKI story where characters journey in search of other survivors with a heavy peppering of the arcane whimsy you might find in things like of Alice in Wonderland and The Labyrinth. While the cause to the catastrophe isn’t explored in depth in this first book, I assume it’s some sort of inter dementional spillage into a present day like timeline, where both magical creatures and far futuristic technology inhabit the world where most of the human population has disappeared, along with normalcy.
Looking forward to the next installment which I am about to start in 3…2…1
December 7, 2016
I found this a very enjoyable read that I read in a couple of days. the story and the characters were written excellently. I really liked the premise behind the plot and found it easy to follow and was kept interested. The characters were great and easy to connect with and follow their stories. The story is told from Harrison and also Dorothy’s point of view and although it was told by two different people I found it easy to keep up. I loved the post apocalyptic feel throughout the story and the combination of technology and things that come from both past and present. This book was a great start to what I think is going to be an epic series which I can see being my new favourite. I can’t wait to read more and see how the characters and plot play out.
Thank you to Curiosity Quills Press and Edward Aubry for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my full review here, which includes and interview with the author.
https://literarywisdom.wordpress.com/...
Thank you to Curiosity Quills Press and Edward Aubry for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my full review here, which includes and interview with the author.
https://literarywisdom.wordpress.com/...
August 22, 2017
Prelude to Mayhem is one of those books that is completely unpredictable. Every time I thought I knew what was going on, the plot went in a completely different direction. I'm glad this is a series, because after everything that happened in the first book, I still don't know what is going on. My confusion is not because the book is poorly written, but because the characters don't know what is going on either. The narrator is not omniscient; therefore, the reader only knows as much as the characters do.
This is a dystopian novel that deviates from the traditional. There are hints of sci-fi and fantasy, which makes this series one of a kind. It doesn't follow the mold of other dystopian novels. I'm glad that there is that deviation, because there have been a lot of dystopian novels written in the last few years, and it's refreshing to read something that does not follow the rest.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.
Author: Edward Aubry
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Publication Date: 28 November 2016
This is a dystopian novel that deviates from the traditional. There are hints of sci-fi and fantasy, which makes this series one of a kind. It doesn't follow the mold of other dystopian novels. I'm glad that there is that deviation, because there have been a lot of dystopian novels written in the last few years, and it's refreshing to read something that does not follow the rest.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.
Author: Edward Aubry
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Publication Date: 28 November 2016
November 23, 2016
This was a great introduction to what is sure to be a captivating series. Aubry has created a fantastical post-apocalyptic world where time literally collides. The author managed to weave futuristic elements into modern day with a cryptic sci-fi (almost?) bend and a smart writing style. I immediately wanted to know more about Harrison's story. That said, it took me a few chapters to warm up to Dorothy, but once I was on her side I was completely immersed. Her intellectual, almost robotic method of coping struck me as a little strange given her age. This quirk is explained away perfectly (no spoilers). Glimmer was a delightful touch, but I'm partial to faeries in general so take that for what you will. I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series!
February 10, 2017
Prelude to Mayhem is a creative and interesting combination of fantasy, dystopian, and science fiction with two strong central characters. I really enjoyed the book. The story moves along quickly, full of adventures with crisp, clean writing. Delightful bits of humor and quirky weirdness are woven among poignant,thoughtful moments and plenty of suspense. Well-done! I'm looking forward to the next book!
May 13, 2017
Look my brother wrote this, that doesn't mean I had to love it but I did. So don't take my word for it - you'll have to read for yourself and form your own opinion. I have to say I'm really looking forward to the next book. Originally Prelude, or at least some of it (he added a lot), was part of Static Mayhem. So spoilers - I know what happens next...unless he's added a lot more and changed a bunch of stuff. Damn now I'm really looking forward to the next book!
June 7, 2019
Woah!
This one had a little bit of everything. Time travel (sort of), fantasy, dinosaurs and scifi gadgetry. Loved it. It takes a while to grasp what is going on (maybe) but that's probably cause it's setting up a four book series. Can't wait to start the next one.
Recommended!
This one had a little bit of everything. Time travel (sort of), fantasy, dinosaurs and scifi gadgetry. Loved it. It takes a while to grasp what is going on (maybe) but that's probably cause it's setting up a four book series. Can't wait to start the next one.
Recommended!
January 7, 2022
I understand the idea behind this prequel. Develop a character from the first book and interweave it with chapters from the first book. It's just that Dorothy is not a good subject for a book. One chapter was devoted to a haircut. Yes. And the other chapters are stuff I've already read. REALLY BAD IDEA.
April 14, 2023
Excellent blend of post-apocalypse and magic
A bookseller in Massachusetts and a fourteen year old girl in Wisconsin independently survive a strange apocalypse with dangerous forces of magic and technology at work.
The found family theme running through the novel elevates a compelling story into something that settles into your heart and stays there.
A bookseller in Massachusetts and a fourteen year old girl in Wisconsin independently survive a strange apocalypse with dangerous forces of magic and technology at work.
The found family theme running through the novel elevates a compelling story into something that settles into your heart and stays there.
April 28, 2023
good book. give it a chance
I don’t normally like fantasy books. But I decided to give this one a try based on all the great reviews and I’m glad I did. I will probably read the rest in the series. It’s not just a fantasy book, it’s probably 40% end of world, 5% time travel, 10 % love and loyalty, 20% mystery, and 25% fantasy.
I don’t normally like fantasy books. But I decided to give this one a try based on all the great reviews and I’m glad I did. I will probably read the rest in the series. It’s not just a fantasy book, it’s probably 40% end of world, 5% time travel, 10 % love and loyalty, 20% mystery, and 25% fantasy.
September 7, 2024
Characters just exist and seem unbothered by the state of a drastically and suddenly changed world. They have no motives and hardly any conflict. There's no reason as to why these are the stories that need to be told in this otherwise interesting setting. DNF at roughly 20%.
November 8, 2017
The audiobook version of this book is AMAZING - C.S.E Cooney. I was so sad when it ended. Book 2 doesn't have an audio version! UGH! I miss Harrison's voice! hahaha
May 19, 2018
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: Quirky and audacious blend of post-apocalypse, technology and magic. Characters who are easy to empathise with.
Cons: The blend I mentioned might not work for everyone.
WARNING! A couple of strong scenes, where blood flows freely and monsters creep over dead people. A character making an inappropriate joke about male physiology to a teen girl, who properly scolds him and leaves him ashamed. Some F bombs.
Will appeal to: Those who are looking for a fresh approach to post-apocalypse.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I have been talking to the author on a few occasions since reviewing his previous title, Unhappenings - which I also rated 4 stars. Moreover, I am a semi-regular reviewer of Curiosity Quills titles (like this one), but if you look back at my ratings, this never prevented me from being unbiased.
As I stated in my disclaimer, Edward Aubry already published a book called Unhappenings. But that wasn't his first book - an earlier version of this one, called Static Mayhem, was. If you are curious about the whole story (which is also inspiring for every struggling writer out there who despairs of ever being published), you can read my interview with the author.
BOLD NEW WORLD
At present, post-apocalyptic stories are all the rage - and of course, the more they saturate the market, the harder it gets to spin an original tale. But though the core of this particular story dates back a couple of decades, it managed to stay fresh. The bold mashup of subgenres/elements (from time shuffles to supernatural occurrences, from magic to technology) is, I think, quite unique - I only encountered something similar (minus the time issue) in The Bad Rescue of Devon Streeter (now renamed Riven) by B.C. Johnson. I have to admit a few moves are bolder than others (like talking dinosaurs with a German accent and a polite attitude :D) and some readers might find them a bit over-the-top. But Harrison - the character who manages to experiment the vaster array of strange encounters - either relates to them in a sympathetic manner, or comes to accept this new reality in a way that pretty much normalizes it for us too...well, to a point at least ;). I'll go as far as to say that Harrison might be a symbol of the best America, the one that I hope will rear its head again - the one that learns to trust and welcome the stranger, no matter how alien they look at a first glance. If you look past the face value, Harrison's bond with Glimmer - an opinionated, wise-cracking pixie with a heart of gold - can be read that way. [...]
Whole review here.
Pros: Quirky and audacious blend of post-apocalypse, technology and magic. Characters who are easy to empathise with.
Cons: The blend I mentioned might not work for everyone.
WARNING! A couple of strong scenes, where blood flows freely and monsters creep over dead people. A character making an inappropriate joke about male physiology to a teen girl, who properly scolds him and leaves him ashamed. Some F bombs.
Will appeal to: Those who are looking for a fresh approach to post-apocalypse.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I have been talking to the author on a few occasions since reviewing his previous title, Unhappenings - which I also rated 4 stars. Moreover, I am a semi-regular reviewer of Curiosity Quills titles (like this one), but if you look back at my ratings, this never prevented me from being unbiased.
As I stated in my disclaimer, Edward Aubry already published a book called Unhappenings. But that wasn't his first book - an earlier version of this one, called Static Mayhem, was. If you are curious about the whole story (which is also inspiring for every struggling writer out there who despairs of ever being published), you can read my interview with the author.
BOLD NEW WORLD
At present, post-apocalyptic stories are all the rage - and of course, the more they saturate the market, the harder it gets to spin an original tale. But though the core of this particular story dates back a couple of decades, it managed to stay fresh. The bold mashup of subgenres/elements (from time shuffles to supernatural occurrences, from magic to technology) is, I think, quite unique - I only encountered something similar (minus the time issue) in The Bad Rescue of Devon Streeter (now renamed Riven) by B.C. Johnson. I have to admit a few moves are bolder than others (like talking dinosaurs with a German accent and a polite attitude :D) and some readers might find them a bit over-the-top. But Harrison - the character who manages to experiment the vaster array of strange encounters - either relates to them in a sympathetic manner, or comes to accept this new reality in a way that pretty much normalizes it for us too...well, to a point at least ;). I'll go as far as to say that Harrison might be a symbol of the best America, the one that I hope will rear its head again - the one that learns to trust and welcome the stranger, no matter how alien they look at a first glance. If you look past the face value, Harrison's bond with Glimmer - an opinionated, wise-cracking pixie with a heart of gold - can be read that way. [...]
Whole review here.
December 25, 2016
Visit me at Shh, I Am Reading for more reviews like this!
I received this eBook from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This was such an awesome read.
My first thoughts reading this book were: what the heck am I reading and do I need to be high? Ha ha.
But seriously? Dinosaurs?! Dead dinosaurs?! Then rainbow coloured rats?! A pixie?!
“What are you even supposed to be? The Apocalypse Fairy?”
She gasped, threw her hands over her face and rocked for a moment. Standing up, she shouted, “Fuck you!” Then she shot away. A thick trail of red sparks remained behind her. After a few seconds it faded and vanished.
Harrison stood still, frozen in his confusion. “Well… I didn’t expect that.”
I felt like I was on a trip where the mash up of Doctor Who, I Am Legend and The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. It was awesome, so awesome.
Plus, who can resist a German accented Dragon named Gustav who was munching on the dinosaurs?
Glimmer was one of the best characters I have read in a long time. Her loyalty to Harrison, and to Marshall was inspiring. She was so refreshing with her sass and spunk!
“Glimmer!” he shouted over the din.
The pixie looked up, straight at him and instantly became a streak of light that smacked him in the face. The background murmur of voices grew briefly quieter. Still mid-air, she held his face, one arm under his chin, the other around the back of his ear. Her face nuzzled his cheek. That whole side of his head felt like pins and needles. He closed his eyes and soaked it up.
“I thought you were dead,” he whispered.
“Shh,” she whispered back.
Dorothy was touching. I felt so deeply for her, especially because she was so alone. But she handled it. She focused on making a home for herself, even though Harrison and Marshall eventually interrupted that for her.
For me, Harrison didn’t really have much substance until he met Marshall and became a father figure to the orphaned boy. His personality developed more, especially when Dorothy became part of that family.
The plot was original and spell binding. The imagery was vivid and rich. It just sucks you in. I enjoyed their adventure to find Claudia. And in some aspects, I wasn’t really ready for their adventure to end.
I enjoyed the idea that humans, despite catastrophe, will always pull through and rebuild. I just found the progress in the city was a fast. Perhaps it was from the magic that was in the world, and the gadgets from different points in time. But it wasn’t really believable.
Either way, highly recommend to sci-fi and fantasy lovers! Wonderful story and look forward to continuing this journey with Harrison, Glimmer, Dorothy and Marshall.
I received this eBook from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This was such an awesome read.
My first thoughts reading this book were: what the heck am I reading and do I need to be high? Ha ha.
But seriously? Dinosaurs?! Dead dinosaurs?! Then rainbow coloured rats?! A pixie?!
“What are you even supposed to be? The Apocalypse Fairy?”
She gasped, threw her hands over her face and rocked for a moment. Standing up, she shouted, “Fuck you!” Then she shot away. A thick trail of red sparks remained behind her. After a few seconds it faded and vanished.
Harrison stood still, frozen in his confusion. “Well… I didn’t expect that.”
I felt like I was on a trip where the mash up of Doctor Who, I Am Legend and The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. It was awesome, so awesome.
Plus, who can resist a German accented Dragon named Gustav who was munching on the dinosaurs?
Glimmer was one of the best characters I have read in a long time. Her loyalty to Harrison, and to Marshall was inspiring. She was so refreshing with her sass and spunk!
“Glimmer!” he shouted over the din.
The pixie looked up, straight at him and instantly became a streak of light that smacked him in the face. The background murmur of voices grew briefly quieter. Still mid-air, she held his face, one arm under his chin, the other around the back of his ear. Her face nuzzled his cheek. That whole side of his head felt like pins and needles. He closed his eyes and soaked it up.
“I thought you were dead,” he whispered.
“Shh,” she whispered back.
Dorothy was touching. I felt so deeply for her, especially because she was so alone. But she handled it. She focused on making a home for herself, even though Harrison and Marshall eventually interrupted that for her.
For me, Harrison didn’t really have much substance until he met Marshall and became a father figure to the orphaned boy. His personality developed more, especially when Dorothy became part of that family.
The plot was original and spell binding. The imagery was vivid and rich. It just sucks you in. I enjoyed their adventure to find Claudia. And in some aspects, I wasn’t really ready for their adventure to end.
I enjoyed the idea that humans, despite catastrophe, will always pull through and rebuild. I just found the progress in the city was a fast. Perhaps it was from the magic that was in the world, and the gadgets from different points in time. But it wasn’t really believable.
Either way, highly recommend to sci-fi and fantasy lovers! Wonderful story and look forward to continuing this journey with Harrison, Glimmer, Dorothy and Marshall.
December 31, 2016
Prelude to Mayhem (Mayhem Wave Book 1) by Edward Aubry is a unique and engaging fantasy science fiction novel. In this book mayhem has happened. Something came and altered the world as we know it. Things that once were there are gone in a blink of an eye and the world is quiet because most of the human population has mysteriously disappeared. Most of technology still works but there just aren't any people anymore and the ones that are left are few and far between. In this book we are introduced to several characters: Harrison, Glimmer, Mitchell, Dorothy and others each we meet along the way of this story. Harrison has heard a voice on the radio for the first time since the changes and now he's trying to get to Chicago. Question now is will he be able to make it there along with those that he meets?
For me this was a book that I wasn't too certain about when I first started reading it but when Harrison comes across a body of dinosaur (a carnivore) I was immediately engaged. Especially learning that he had encountered other bodies before. For once me not knowing the whole back story as to what happened and led to this point doesn't matter for me. The author does such a good job engaging me into the story that I just want to learn what happens next for each of the characters that we encounter along the way. There is magic and fantasy creatures and I absolutely love it.
I am really looking forward to the next book in this series since this is book 1 and I'm sure that I will enjoy it just as much. This is one book that I will most definitely be recommending! Couldn't get enough and very engaging!
For me this was a book that I wasn't too certain about when I first started reading it but when Harrison comes across a body of dinosaur (a carnivore) I was immediately engaged. Especially learning that he had encountered other bodies before. For once me not knowing the whole back story as to what happened and led to this point doesn't matter for me. The author does such a good job engaging me into the story that I just want to learn what happens next for each of the characters that we encounter along the way. There is magic and fantasy creatures and I absolutely love it.
I am really looking forward to the next book in this series since this is book 1 and I'm sure that I will enjoy it just as much. This is one book that I will most definitely be recommending! Couldn't get enough and very engaging!
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