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Sum of all Tears #1
Icehaven
They said it wouldn't happen.Everything would be better.They were wrong.
After a climate change experiment goes terribly wrong, August Madison, finds herself resurrected in a frozen wasteland.
With most of the world's population and food sources annihilated, depraved nomadic gangs patrol the lawless landscape as outlasters claw for survival.
Amid the chaos, Graysen Marx, iron-fisted leader of the domed settlement Liberty, emerges from the catastrophic event with his own agenda.
When August crosses his path, he sees an opportunity he must exploit.
She sees an evil she must destroy.
After a climate change experiment goes terribly wrong, August Madison, finds herself resurrected in a frozen wasteland.
With most of the world's population and food sources annihilated, depraved nomadic gangs patrol the lawless landscape as outlasters claw for survival.
Amid the chaos, Graysen Marx, iron-fisted leader of the domed settlement Liberty, emerges from the catastrophic event with his own agenda.
When August crosses his path, he sees an opportunity he must exploit.
She sees an evil she must destroy.
- GenresPost ApocalypticDystopia
211 pages, Paperback
Published April 25, 2019
About the author
M.K. Chester
23 books206 followersM.K Chester is an avid reader who began writing at an early age to entertain herself. She began to take writing seriously after college and her work developed timeless themes of redemption and second chances.
She won some RWA awards, published with The Wild Rose Press and Carina [Harlequin] and now considers herself a happy Indie.
Her romance titles include something for everyone: historical, contemporary, and paranormal romance.
She won some RWA awards, published with The Wild Rose Press and Carina [Harlequin] and now considers herself a happy Indie.
Her romance titles include something for everyone: historical, contemporary, and paranormal romance.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 30, 2019
The climate is changing, temperatures are rising and humanity needs a cure, now. One scientist will step forward, but in the blink of an eye, the world is devastated. It has become a frozen tundra of death and only the strong will survive against the chaos that humanity has devolved into.
August Madison rose from the ice, a changed young woman and she is determined to make up for the deadly world her father never meant to create when she is taken in by a group of survivors hoping only to make it to the next day in peace.
Meanwhile, a powerful business mogul, has turned his green energy into a new way of life, but is his compound more than what it seems? Is he the charismatic leader and savior he fronts as or is there something more behind his quest for control? Many survivors have changed since the event, and he wants them all under his control, but why? What makes them different from the rest of those seeking to survive the cold?
Grab your icepicks, your snow boots and maybe a thermos of hot chocolate and get ready for one heck of a chilling and chaotic ride as Kim Creswell’s ICEHAVEN tells a tale of survival that brings out both the best and worst in humanity. Daring action, a brilliantly original plot and a cast of characters that only want to survive. Some will become true heroes, others are clearly evil and some are desperately misguided and will do anything at any cost to achieve their goals.
Sometimes harsh, sometimes heartbreaking, but always mesmerizing, is this the future we are heading for? Is Kim Creswell’s writing so far-fetched or prophetic? Either way, this is one heck of a ride from start to finish and I, for one, am looking forward to the next addition to this series!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Kim Cresswell!
Series: Sum of all Tears - Book 1
Publisher: KC Publishing; 1 edition (April 25, 2019)
Publication Date: April 25, 2019
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic Dystopian
Print Length: 228 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
August Madison rose from the ice, a changed young woman and she is determined to make up for the deadly world her father never meant to create when she is taken in by a group of survivors hoping only to make it to the next day in peace.
Meanwhile, a powerful business mogul, has turned his green energy into a new way of life, but is his compound more than what it seems? Is he the charismatic leader and savior he fronts as or is there something more behind his quest for control? Many survivors have changed since the event, and he wants them all under his control, but why? What makes them different from the rest of those seeking to survive the cold?
Grab your icepicks, your snow boots and maybe a thermos of hot chocolate and get ready for one heck of a chilling and chaotic ride as Kim Creswell’s ICEHAVEN tells a tale of survival that brings out both the best and worst in humanity. Daring action, a brilliantly original plot and a cast of characters that only want to survive. Some will become true heroes, others are clearly evil and some are desperately misguided and will do anything at any cost to achieve their goals.
Sometimes harsh, sometimes heartbreaking, but always mesmerizing, is this the future we are heading for? Is Kim Creswell’s writing so far-fetched or prophetic? Either way, this is one heck of a ride from start to finish and I, for one, am looking forward to the next addition to this series!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Kim Cresswell!
Series: Sum of all Tears - Book 1
Publisher: KC Publishing; 1 edition (April 25, 2019)
Publication Date: April 25, 2019
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic Dystopian
Print Length: 228 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
August 10, 2019
First in the Sum of All Tears series, Icehaven by Kim Cresswell & MK Chester is a post-apocalyptic tale set in the near future. With echoes of classic and modern examples of the genre, such as Make Room, Make Room!, The Postman, The After War, and The Day After Tomorrow, Icehaven is sure to chill you to the bone!
When an attempt to stabilise climate change for the better goes horribly awry, Yale student August Madison wakes in a frigid tundral wasteland with a woman trying to steal her shoes. The last thing she remembers is waiting eagerly to see how the climate experiment will go, then terrifying chaos as the auditorium collapses under the fury of earth and wind alike. Instead of fixing the climate, the experiment created a 'snowball earth', ushering in a new era for humanity. Everything is frozen. Pockets of humanity exist. In the few short weeks since the incident, many humans have fallen to baser instincts. Groups such as the Sproggs, and the Bleeders, take what they want from others. Other pockets of humanity band together in mutual support. The woman who finds August belongs to one such group and was taking her shoes because she was dead. After her revival, the group takes August in. Another group, Coast Guard officers, trapped aboard a ship now locked in an ocean turned ice, are rescued by a convoy from Liberty. Liberty Station was a prototype for a sealed dome colony able to survive and thrive in Mars. Now, it's the only place that can even remotely claim the title of 'city' in this new world. Greysen Marx is its creator and rules it with an iron fist. But there's something more to Liberty, and it's master. Something sinister. Something desperate.
I don't normally care for post-apocalyptic reads, even though I adore dystopias. I'm very picky in that particular subgenre. I loved this one though! I want to know more about the climate experiment. Why were these effects not considered as possible? What exactly went wrong? And how did it lead to unusual side effects for some humans? At least some of these will likely be answered in later books. I'd never heard of golden blood, and was prompted to research it. Pretty fascinating.
Some of the later developments, well… I can't say it surprised me so much. I don't want to give spoilers, but similar true situations have arisen on a smaller scale. Just eeegghhh. I loved Brandon and Morgan, two of the Coast Guard people. They'd been trapped on a cutter frozen in the ocean when the flash-freeze happened. Morgan is a junior officer, and seems so innocent! I just want to protect him. Brandon is competent and level headed, even when in inner turmoil. He's a good balance for August's temperament. I really didn't care for her much though. Can't really put my finger on why, exactly, except that she was part of the team working on the climate experiment, even if not officially. I'm of the opinion that humans should not muck around with the grander schemas of nature. While, yes, modern humans have exacerbated climate issues, paleo-climatatology demonstrates that climate functions on cycles millennia in duration. Most people can't even comprehend their local decadal weather cycles. It was inevitable that we hit strong "global warming". We are currently in an Ice Age interstitial period. That's what happens. Mind, I fully agree that modern humanity needs to strive to be more respectful of our home planet, and the species we share it with.
Which leads me to question, how are these people surviving at night (and driving at night!!). Cold so ferocious as to freeze the very oceans themselves, tend to not be so friendly to people or electronics, especially at night-time. Liberty has things that help make travel times easier, certain fuels that burn cleaner, but I'm still not convinced it could protect the people and the equipment subjected to these temperatures. Overall, a good read!
And remember- Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!
***Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Reviewed for Silver Dagger Book Tours.
When an attempt to stabilise climate change for the better goes horribly awry, Yale student August Madison wakes in a frigid tundral wasteland with a woman trying to steal her shoes. The last thing she remembers is waiting eagerly to see how the climate experiment will go, then terrifying chaos as the auditorium collapses under the fury of earth and wind alike. Instead of fixing the climate, the experiment created a 'snowball earth', ushering in a new era for humanity. Everything is frozen. Pockets of humanity exist. In the few short weeks since the incident, many humans have fallen to baser instincts. Groups such as the Sproggs, and the Bleeders, take what they want from others. Other pockets of humanity band together in mutual support. The woman who finds August belongs to one such group and was taking her shoes because she was dead. After her revival, the group takes August in. Another group, Coast Guard officers, trapped aboard a ship now locked in an ocean turned ice, are rescued by a convoy from Liberty. Liberty Station was a prototype for a sealed dome colony able to survive and thrive in Mars. Now, it's the only place that can even remotely claim the title of 'city' in this new world. Greysen Marx is its creator and rules it with an iron fist. But there's something more to Liberty, and it's master. Something sinister. Something desperate.
I don't normally care for post-apocalyptic reads, even though I adore dystopias. I'm very picky in that particular subgenre. I loved this one though! I want to know more about the climate experiment. Why were these effects not considered as possible? What exactly went wrong? And how did it lead to unusual side effects for some humans? At least some of these will likely be answered in later books. I'd never heard of golden blood, and was prompted to research it. Pretty fascinating.
Some of the later developments, well… I can't say it surprised me so much. I don't want to give spoilers, but similar true situations have arisen on a smaller scale. Just eeegghhh. I loved Brandon and Morgan, two of the Coast Guard people. They'd been trapped on a cutter frozen in the ocean when the flash-freeze happened. Morgan is a junior officer, and seems so innocent! I just want to protect him. Brandon is competent and level headed, even when in inner turmoil. He's a good balance for August's temperament. I really didn't care for her much though. Can't really put my finger on why, exactly, except that she was part of the team working on the climate experiment, even if not officially. I'm of the opinion that humans should not muck around with the grander schemas of nature. While, yes, modern humans have exacerbated climate issues, paleo-climatatology demonstrates that climate functions on cycles millennia in duration. Most people can't even comprehend their local decadal weather cycles. It was inevitable that we hit strong "global warming". We are currently in an Ice Age interstitial period. That's what happens. Mind, I fully agree that modern humanity needs to strive to be more respectful of our home planet, and the species we share it with.
Which leads me to question, how are these people surviving at night (and driving at night!!). Cold so ferocious as to freeze the very oceans themselves, tend to not be so friendly to people or electronics, especially at night-time. Liberty has things that help make travel times easier, certain fuels that burn cleaner, but I'm still not convinced it could protect the people and the equipment subjected to these temperatures. Overall, a good read!
And remember- Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!
***Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Reviewed for Silver Dagger Book Tours.
July 11, 2019
Isn’t it wonderful when you come across that book that is SO good that you’re kind of stunned by it? Icehaven is the one for me for a lot of reasons starting with being thrown into the midst of disaster right away, literally on page 2. No lollygagging here, no building up to the horrible event you know is coming. Then the questions begin, the obvious ones such as how the few people left will survive, but also the ones that are so unexpected, particularly regarding why and how some survivors have developed special abilities.
Our protagonist, August, is a miracle herself, having apparently died and then come back to life but, at first, she remembers very little about what happened other than she does know that she’s the daughter of the man who set off this devastating experiment. Besides taking on her duties among the group that found her, August also feels a strong need to figure out what went wrong; meanwhile, an old friend, Brandon, is miles away and wonders if August is still alive. Then there is Graysen Marx, the man behind Liberty, a biodome facility that seems to be the only hope for longtime survival but is he the honorable man he seems to be or is he ruthlessly intent on his own agenda?
The action in Icehaven is nearly nonstop with something new and alarming happening constantly and the plot is full of suspense, so much so that mystery readers will be as enthralled as post-apocalyptic fans but plot does not overshadow character development. The players, primary and secondary, are vividly drawn and they all come alive on the page while the authors’ worldbuilding is remarkable, making me feel the intense cold and hunger and the emotional havoc wrought by the attempt to control climate change.
I could say much more but it would be hard to avoid spoilers so let me just say Icehaven is going on my list of best books read in 2019 and I heartily encourage one and all to jump right on this one 😉
Our protagonist, August, is a miracle herself, having apparently died and then come back to life but, at first, she remembers very little about what happened other than she does know that she’s the daughter of the man who set off this devastating experiment. Besides taking on her duties among the group that found her, August also feels a strong need to figure out what went wrong; meanwhile, an old friend, Brandon, is miles away and wonders if August is still alive. Then there is Graysen Marx, the man behind Liberty, a biodome facility that seems to be the only hope for longtime survival but is he the honorable man he seems to be or is he ruthlessly intent on his own agenda?
The action in Icehaven is nearly nonstop with something new and alarming happening constantly and the plot is full of suspense, so much so that mystery readers will be as enthralled as post-apocalyptic fans but plot does not overshadow character development. The players, primary and secondary, are vividly drawn and they all come alive on the page while the authors’ worldbuilding is remarkable, making me feel the intense cold and hunger and the emotional havoc wrought by the attempt to control climate change.
I could say much more but it would be hard to avoid spoilers so let me just say Icehaven is going on my list of best books read in 2019 and I heartily encourage one and all to jump right on this one 😉
April 27, 2019
I really enjoyed this book! It has action from beginning to end. In a land where you are not sure who's good or bad. I can't wait till book 2! Great way to start a series! Great job Ms. Cresswell!
July 9, 2020
A young woman, twenty-two-year-old August Madison wakes up in a frozen world. Everything around her has turned to ice. How she got there or how she survived is a mystery to her. August meets a group of people who take her in and give her socks for her feet, oven mittens for her hands and a head band for her head to help her fight the cold.
August is lucky that this particular group of people found her and took her in as there are more people out there who would hurt her and even kill her if she had anything they wanted. They come in attack and take whatever they want whenever they want.
August and her friends have the opportunity of meeting another group of people who seem nice on the surface but what is underneath may just be a totally different story. A friend of August’s from way past is a member of this new group of people. August and Brandon have always been friends but when her mother passed things changed for her and they drifted apart.
At their new location with Liberty things are not as they seem. There are secrets hidden behind the walls of Liberty. Families are separated, the sick and the weak disappear, and people are banished for practically nothing and sent out into the freezing cold to survive on their own. What is going on behind the walls of Liberty? What are they hiding? Can August, Brandon, John, Snow and the rest of their alliance find the answers they are looking for? Can they find out what is going on in Liberty? Can they survive not only the freezing cold but what is coming?
Icehaven caught my attention from the first page and never let go. It kept me glued to its pages with everyone fighting for their lives and trying to survive the cold along with what was going on inside of Liberty the secrets and the special abilities that were being discovered among the people.
Icehaven was a very intense and engrossing read with all the secrets and the mystery as well as the twists. Icehaven had so many emotions swirling around with the sadness, the hate, the selfishness, and the love, the pain I mean there were times where I would feel like hitting someone and times where I wanted to cry. Once I picked it up I didn’t want to put it down until I had read the last page and even now I want more. I want more of this world of Icehaven. I want to see what happens next for our band of survivors.
I really enjoyed reading Icehaven and would definitely recommend it to all fans of the paranormal, dystopia, post-apocalyptic, and science fiction.
August is lucky that this particular group of people found her and took her in as there are more people out there who would hurt her and even kill her if she had anything they wanted. They come in attack and take whatever they want whenever they want.
August and her friends have the opportunity of meeting another group of people who seem nice on the surface but what is underneath may just be a totally different story. A friend of August’s from way past is a member of this new group of people. August and Brandon have always been friends but when her mother passed things changed for her and they drifted apart.
At their new location with Liberty things are not as they seem. There are secrets hidden behind the walls of Liberty. Families are separated, the sick and the weak disappear, and people are banished for practically nothing and sent out into the freezing cold to survive on their own. What is going on behind the walls of Liberty? What are they hiding? Can August, Brandon, John, Snow and the rest of their alliance find the answers they are looking for? Can they find out what is going on in Liberty? Can they survive not only the freezing cold but what is coming?
Icehaven caught my attention from the first page and never let go. It kept me glued to its pages with everyone fighting for their lives and trying to survive the cold along with what was going on inside of Liberty the secrets and the special abilities that were being discovered among the people.
Icehaven was a very intense and engrossing read with all the secrets and the mystery as well as the twists. Icehaven had so many emotions swirling around with the sadness, the hate, the selfishness, and the love, the pain I mean there were times where I would feel like hitting someone and times where I wanted to cry. Once I picked it up I didn’t want to put it down until I had read the last page and even now I want more. I want more of this world of Icehaven. I want to see what happens next for our band of survivors.
I really enjoyed reading Icehaven and would definitely recommend it to all fans of the paranormal, dystopia, post-apocalyptic, and science fiction.
April 27, 2019
As always shes managed to give us some thing to think about!
A great read, fast paced, awesome characters and a plot right out of the possible future.
She makes you think.. what would you do? How would you survive? Are you strong enough to do what needed to be done?
I highly recommend this book!
A great read, fast paced, awesome characters and a plot right out of the possible future.
She makes you think.. what would you do? How would you survive? Are you strong enough to do what needed to be done?
I highly recommend this book!
May 9, 2019
Fast-paced and full of action. This book will have you turning each page eager to know what's going to happen next.
Read
September 2, 2019Awesome new take on a post-apocalypse world! August Madison is a twenty-two year old college student on the day her father is to unveil his world changing new invention that has the potential to solve global warming. Something goes terribly awry though! The next thing she knows she awakes in a wasteland of ice and snow. Luckily she is found by some survivors that take her in to their small group. She soon discovers the cold is not the only thing to be concerned about. She learns that when the group found her she was dead, literally dead and its days after the catastrophe actually happened. She also will face gangs of raiders and a community called Liberty that promises sanctuary. Liberty is run by one of her fathers financial backers an infamous billionaire Greyson Marx. Something about Greyson and Liberty just does not seem right but it may soon be the groups only choice.
This book delivers action, adventure, as well as emotion and a bit of romance. I definitely think this is worth buying or using a credit on, and I'm excited for the story to continue in the next book.
This book delivers action, adventure, as well as emotion and a bit of romance. I definitely think this is worth buying or using a credit on, and I'm excited for the story to continue in the next book.
April 12, 2020
Excellent book!The story was exciting with likable characters.Narration by Jennifer Swanepoel was done well.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.'
September 3, 2019
Just 2.5 stars for me. I was fine with the idea and the basic storyline, but the writing just seemed a little ... clunky? It just didn't flow, didn't suck me in to the story like great writing will do. Nothing I can really put my finger on. I guess, I felt like it was if I was trying to write a book ... I think I'd have some of the same struggles making it sound natural, making it flow. I felt similarly toward the narration. It was pretty good, a little stilted and unnatural here and there (some of that was the writing though too). Throughout the entire book, I was so very aware I was listening to a novel, thinking "I probably would have phrased that differently" instead of getting lost in the story.
The term "resurrection" bugged me ... I guess that just has a bit of a religious connotation to me. I felt like here, it was more a supernatural ability, to die but come back to life. I was fine with the idea, just the word didn't feel right. The "golden blood" idea too ... just didn't quite work for me.
I've read a few other novels with an "ice age" type setting, so it was interesting to compare. Autumn miraculously survives (well, she dies, just doesn't stay dead), but low and behold, so does her brother, and her sister, and a former love interest. That seemed to be pushing the reality a bit in this arctic apocalypse. I may be a bit biased, as my Hubs is Grayson ... I think every time I've encountered a Grayson (Graysen here) he's been a good guy. Here's he'd not a good guy. A little over the top as the villain. (The human race has almost been wiped out, so let's sterilize all the women of childbearing age...)
I'm fine with the "Icehaven" part of the title ... the "Sum of all Tears" is just too close to the "Sum of all Fears" (Jack Ryan movie) ...
I was able to get the Kindle copy as part of Kindle Unlimited.
I was given a free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
The term "resurrection" bugged me ... I guess that just has a bit of a religious connotation to me. I felt like here, it was more a supernatural ability, to die but come back to life. I was fine with the idea, just the word didn't feel right. The "golden blood" idea too ... just didn't quite work for me.
I've read a few other novels with an "ice age" type setting, so it was interesting to compare. Autumn miraculously survives (well, she dies, just doesn't stay dead), but low and behold, so does her brother, and her sister, and a former love interest. That seemed to be pushing the reality a bit in this arctic apocalypse. I may be a bit biased, as my Hubs is Grayson ... I think every time I've encountered a Grayson (Graysen here) he's been a good guy. Here's he'd not a good guy. A little over the top as the villain. (The human race has almost been wiped out, so let's sterilize all the women of childbearing age...)
I'm fine with the "Icehaven" part of the title ... the "Sum of all Tears" is just too close to the "Sum of all Fears" (Jack Ryan movie) ...
I was able to get the Kindle copy as part of Kindle Unlimited.
I was given a free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
September 7, 2021
An inspired post-apocalyptic tale…
I found this to be a fast-paced, well-imagined, beautifully executed story about the possible devastating effects of tampering with climate change. Of course, the intentions of said tampering were good, hoping to avert the inevitable disaster resulting from global warming but the intentions were not the problem. Mankind’s meddling serves to hasten rather than prevent disaster and the catastrophic consequences thrust the main character, August Madison and the rest of humanity which managed to survive the initial calamity, into a frozen and desolate world where food, shelter, and survival are not to be taken for granted. I found the premise intriguing, the storyline captivating, and the characters likeable and believable. I chose to read along as I listened to the audio version of this story and was delighted with the wonderful narration provided by Jennifer Swanepoel. I believe enthusiasts of this genre will be very pleased with this selection whether they choose to read or to listen (or both). Enjoy!
While I did purchase a copy of the book, I was given a free review copy of the audiobook version at my request and have voluntarily left this honest and unbiased review.
If you find this review helpful, thank you for so indicating.
I found this to be a fast-paced, well-imagined, beautifully executed story about the possible devastating effects of tampering with climate change. Of course, the intentions of said tampering were good, hoping to avert the inevitable disaster resulting from global warming but the intentions were not the problem. Mankind’s meddling serves to hasten rather than prevent disaster and the catastrophic consequences thrust the main character, August Madison and the rest of humanity which managed to survive the initial calamity, into a frozen and desolate world where food, shelter, and survival are not to be taken for granted. I found the premise intriguing, the storyline captivating, and the characters likeable and believable. I chose to read along as I listened to the audio version of this story and was delighted with the wonderful narration provided by Jennifer Swanepoel. I believe enthusiasts of this genre will be very pleased with this selection whether they choose to read or to listen (or both). Enjoy!
While I did purchase a copy of the book, I was given a free review copy of the audiobook version at my request and have voluntarily left this honest and unbiased review.
If you find this review helpful, thank you for so indicating.
December 3, 2019
After her fathers climate change experiment goes very wrong August finds herself resurrected in a harsh winter land, unsure of how much time has pasted and if any of her family has survived or not. Things go from bleak to worse for August and her new friends when the the people that have been helping them make them move to the domed settlement of Liberty and do what they say, but when people are separated from each other and not allowed to talk, August knows something is wrong and with the help of a long time family friend that is now in the guards they vow to find out what it is.
This book moves fast and never slows down, the action and suspense are non stop and will keep you on your toes. I loved this book and how the characters developed and interacted, it goes well with the disaster they have been thrown into. Narrator Jennifer Swanepoel does a wonderful job on the audio version, she made me believe I was there in the story with August and the others sneaking around and getting ready to move against the old guards, Graysen, and Graysen's agenda. This is a awesome book and I can't wait for more.
This book moves fast and never slows down, the action and suspense are non stop and will keep you on your toes. I loved this book and how the characters developed and interacted, it goes well with the disaster they have been thrown into. Narrator Jennifer Swanepoel does a wonderful job on the audio version, she made me believe I was there in the story with August and the others sneaking around and getting ready to move against the old guards, Graysen, and Graysen's agenda. This is a awesome book and I can't wait for more.
October 2, 2019
August’s father is the lead scientist on a climate change experiment that will change things for the best, but something goes terribly wrong, and Earth undergoes a second glacial age. Not only that, but everyone close to ground zero dies instantaneously. Everyone but August.
I found the premises of this story quite interesting: a second glacial age as a result of a failed experiment, people trying to survive under these new conditions, some with special powers after the D day, and a promised land under the rule of a man who seems to have an agenda. I listened to the first half of the book with great interest, absolutely convinced that Graysen Marx’s story was going to be an important one, related to the terrible event. I still think it is but the book was then focused on other things that I found a little bit less interesting because I see them coming from afar. The big reveal at the end was something that I suspected from almost the first moment they set foot on Liberty.
Instead of focusing on what Graysen Marx could have to do with the cataclysm, the second part of the book focused on a plan August had devised. The plan was referred to with these words all along but it was not explained or it was not justified but very clear to me what it was. In the end, some coincidences (or Deus Ex Machina) resolved the question.
I tend to have issues with books with just an evil guy pulling the strings of everything. Once Marx was debunked, suddenly everyone was a good guy and wanted to collaborate with August and her friends. It could be that this kind of characters is just not developed enough and not believable to me.
I really enjoyed the setting but I missed some more descriptions and world-building. Most of the time we did not get many details about the places where the actions were set in, or the background of many of the characters. Somehow it felt they have been surviving the glacial era for all their lives. It was maybe intended to show August’s shock at this era.
I found some plot holes that bothered me a bit, like why children were not tested, as special powers could be just diagnosed through a blood sample, and the importance of it regarding Marx goals. The fickleness of the characters was also something that did not make a lot of sense. I think everything fell into place too easily in the end.
Jennifer Swanepoel’s narration was a bit hesitant and monotone but effective. Her character interpretations and voices were good though, with subtle differences, even though some characters sounded a bit similar. The audio production was well done.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I found the premises of this story quite interesting: a second glacial age as a result of a failed experiment, people trying to survive under these new conditions, some with special powers after the D day, and a promised land under the rule of a man who seems to have an agenda. I listened to the first half of the book with great interest, absolutely convinced that Graysen Marx’s story was going to be an important one, related to the terrible event. I still think it is but the book was then focused on other things that I found a little bit less interesting because I see them coming from afar. The big reveal at the end was something that I suspected from almost the first moment they set foot on Liberty.
Instead of focusing on what Graysen Marx could have to do with the cataclysm, the second part of the book focused on a plan August had devised. The plan was referred to with these words all along but it was not explained or it was not justified but very clear to me what it was. In the end, some coincidences (or Deus Ex Machina) resolved the question.
I tend to have issues with books with just an evil guy pulling the strings of everything. Once Marx was debunked, suddenly everyone was a good guy and wanted to collaborate with August and her friends. It could be that this kind of characters is just not developed enough and not believable to me.
I really enjoyed the setting but I missed some more descriptions and world-building. Most of the time we did not get many details about the places where the actions were set in, or the background of many of the characters. Somehow it felt they have been surviving the glacial era for all their lives. It was maybe intended to show August’s shock at this era.
I found some plot holes that bothered me a bit, like why children were not tested, as special powers could be just diagnosed through a blood sample, and the importance of it regarding Marx goals. The fickleness of the characters was also something that did not make a lot of sense. I think everything fell into place too easily in the end.
Jennifer Swanepoel’s narration was a bit hesitant and monotone but effective. Her character interpretations and voices were good though, with subtle differences, even though some characters sounded a bit similar. The audio production was well done.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
June 26, 2020
Imagine that the earth's climate changed in just a few minutes to one of total ice!! Very few survivors.
Some managed to get to shelter but it was tough. There was one place where it was really safe--and it was built by the guy (Marx) who had funded the scientific experiment that changed the world. Something had obviously gone wrong!
Outside of this settlement were people who were downright dangerous. And there were other settlements where people were still normal--but did not want to join the larger settlement. They were, however dependent on them for food.
August Madison died--then came back to life. There were people with other enhanced abilities. Marx wanted them under his thumb and was ruthless! He had his own reasons which you will find out if you read the book!
There is finally a rebellion and Marx is thrown out into the cold--
Will he survive--will the others be able to take over and start a better civilization? Of course there is a cliff hanger so I am hoping more will be revealed in the next book!
Some managed to get to shelter but it was tough. There was one place where it was really safe--and it was built by the guy (Marx) who had funded the scientific experiment that changed the world. Something had obviously gone wrong!
Outside of this settlement were people who were downright dangerous. And there were other settlements where people were still normal--but did not want to join the larger settlement. They were, however dependent on them for food.
August Madison died--then came back to life. There were people with other enhanced abilities. Marx wanted them under his thumb and was ruthless! He had his own reasons which you will find out if you read the book!
There is finally a rebellion and Marx is thrown out into the cold--
Will he survive--will the others be able to take over and start a better civilization? Of course there is a cliff hanger so I am hoping more will be revealed in the next book!
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