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Evergreen #3
The Lucky Ones
Eight months ago, the skies burned.
Harper Cody’s life in the town of Evergreen is far from the comfortable suburban existence she enjoyed growing up. The urge to survive hardens all, even the sweetest girl in her class. Safety is difficult to find, but she makes her own with Dad’s shotgun.
The approach of her eighteenth birthday rips open the emotional scab she’d built over her most painful memories. She mourns the ashes of a future that can no longer be, believing the world no longer has any place for happiness. Despite her sorrow, she remains determined to protect her little sister and two adopted siblings.
Nuclear autumn threatens the crops, lake fish carry the threat of radiation, and the town’s canned goods are nearly gone. Food is scarce, but the people of Evergreen just might make it if luck is with them. Unfortunately, they aren’t the only ones willing to kill for survival, and a large, verdant farm makes for a tempting target.
School may be a thing of the past for Harper, but she’s learning that the hardest part of nuclear war is surviving it.
Harper Cody’s life in the town of Evergreen is far from the comfortable suburban existence she enjoyed growing up. The urge to survive hardens all, even the sweetest girl in her class. Safety is difficult to find, but she makes her own with Dad’s shotgun.
The approach of her eighteenth birthday rips open the emotional scab she’d built over her most painful memories. She mourns the ashes of a future that can no longer be, believing the world no longer has any place for happiness. Despite her sorrow, she remains determined to protect her little sister and two adopted siblings.
Nuclear autumn threatens the crops, lake fish carry the threat of radiation, and the town’s canned goods are nearly gone. Food is scarce, but the people of Evergreen just might make it if luck is with them. Unfortunately, they aren’t the only ones willing to kill for survival, and a large, verdant farm makes for a tempting target.
School may be a thing of the past for Harper, but she’s learning that the hardest part of nuclear war is surviving it.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 11, 2019
89 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Matthew S. Cox
192 books265 followersBorn in a little town known as South Amboy NJ in 1973, Matthew has been creating science fiction and fantasy worlds for most of his reasoning life. Somewhere between fifteen to eighteen of them spent developing the world in which Division Zero, Virtual Immortality, and The Awakened Series take place. He has several other projects in the works as well as a collaborative science fiction endeavor with author Tony Healey.
Hobbies and Interests:
Matthew is an avid gamer, a recovered WoW addict, Gamemaster for two custom systems (Chronicles of Eldrinaath [Fantasy] and Divergent Fates [Sci Fi], and a fan of anime, British humour (<- deliberate), and intellectual science fiction that questions the nature of reality, life, and what happens after it.
He is also fond of cats.
Hobbies and Interests:
Matthew is an avid gamer, a recovered WoW addict, Gamemaster for two custom systems (Chronicles of Eldrinaath [Fantasy] and Divergent Fates [Sci Fi], and a fan of anime, British humour (<- deliberate), and intellectual science fiction that questions the nature of reality, life, and what happens after it.
He is also fond of cats.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 28, 2020
I'm loving the Evergreen Series 100 % and couldn't put the books down. Each one brings us closer to Harper and her sister and what their future might be. (no spoilers from me) My emotions are going up and down with every passing chapter because you never know what is going to happen next. I've said it before, this is a series that is a must read, even if you are not a fan of this genre.
July 8, 2020
The good news is Madison is getting better...bad news is Harper is now feeling the emotional ramifications on what she's been through. Plus the killing she's had to do. She's young so its not an easy thing to deal with in someone so young. This book focuses on more story than any action going on. Not to say nothing is going on because your never bored! I love how he tells his stories. Its not a little of this or that which some authors try and balance it out. He goes over and beyond and brings these characters to life! Not to mention the world building. I feel those emotions Harper and Madison have gone through. I really like her extended family she's made here even the "Dad" thats teaching her things. She lost hers in a terrible way so I understand completely why she's attached to Cliff. There are other characters that make me sad for what they've gone through. I also feel like he isn't just focusing on Madison and Harper but many characters. He's definitely not leaving anyone in the dust. This series isnt over yet so I am hopeful its not the end.
May 14, 2019
This is one of my favorite series by Matthew Cox. The struggles of trying to regain some sense of “normal” after the world has drastically changed. Harper is heavy with survivors guilt while trying to protect those that she loves and her community. I loved seeing Harper start to begin “living” and trying to move forward and trying to put the past events ... not completely in the back of her mind... just not in the front. Great read!
July 1, 2020
The Lucky Ones
A whirlwind of ups and downs in this 3rd installment. Harper and her friends are still adjusting to this new life dealing with the real and raw side of humanity discovering not only the worst but best in people as well.
A whirlwind of ups and downs in this 3rd installment. Harper and her friends are still adjusting to this new life dealing with the real and raw side of humanity discovering not only the worst but best in people as well.
July 1, 2020
Wow again. While we find out more about some of the main characters in this book. Harper is still trying to deal with this new way of life. We never know what life is going to twist into and as a teenager she is trying to keep her mismatched new found family safe while dealing with her feelings.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2020
this was another amazing book in this series! she is scared to become a adult after what she has been through and that her parents wont be there. now theres more danger that could cost someone there life. read to find out what happens.
May 30, 2019
Another great addition to the Evergreen Book series. You really never know how you'd behave in scary situations but I'm like Harper, I'd do anything to protect my sister.
July 21, 2019
Moving forward with living is daily choice.
Despite circumstances beyond our control. If we wake up and breathe today we choose. Maintaining a civilized humane society also requires us to choose. It takes organized effort and yet again choosing to work together.
Despite circumstances beyond our control. If we wake up and breathe today we choose. Maintaining a civilized humane society also requires us to choose. It takes organized effort and yet again choosing to work together.
February 21, 2024
Cox mixes nuanced characters and plausible consequences of civilisation collapsing to craft a young-adult post-apocalyptic tale that provides intensity without resorting to stereotypes.
This novel is the third in the Evergreen series. Risk of spoiler contamination beyond this point.
In the eight months since nuclear strikes shattered the United States, Harper Cody has transformed from the sweetest girl in her class to a hardened member of Evergreen’s militia. However, the approach of her eighteenth birthday—a reminder of the comfortable Western adulthood she’ll never have—threatens to strip away the shreds of happiness she’s gained from her new home. A home that, with stumbling agriculture, depleting stocks of pre-strike goods, and roving bands of desperate survivors, might not last the year.
Cox continues to skilfully craft the portrayal of a realistic post-apocalyptic society struggling to rise from the ruins that he presented in the previous volumes. As before, the narrative is one of resource management and plausible risks not dramatic set pieces and leather-clad cannibal road gangs.
However, again as before, this is not an exercise in dry prediction. While Cox keeps his story focused on the probable, events are framed in emotional rather than logistical terms, making this a tale about the wider human costs of scarcity, about how people balance hope and pragmatism, decency and survival.
Harper continues to be an engaging and nuanced protagonist. Her fundamental drive to protect her sister remains, but—after several months of Evergreen being mostly safe and stable—this has shifted, allowing space for other concerns. Concerns that she addresses with the same mix of self-doubt and courage that resonate through the previous books. It is this tendency to think and rethink that might reduce some readers’ immersion: whether it is solely a representation of her character or a stylistic choice to reflect the core audience, Harper’s narration occasionally reiterates explanations for things, creating—at least for some readers—a feeling of overactive reminders.
Conversely, this frequent thinking upon matters is likely to provide readers unfamiliar with previous volumes context, increasing the chances this novel functions as an entry point to the world.
The supporting cast are similarly complex, each displaying a core similarity to their pre-strike selves but presenting with varied—and sometimes contradictory—reactions to the new challenges of the world.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel greatly. I recommend it to readers seeking exciting yet realistic post-apocalyptic adventure.
I received a free copy from the author with a request for a fair review.
This novel is the third in the Evergreen series. Risk of spoiler contamination beyond this point.
In the eight months since nuclear strikes shattered the United States, Harper Cody has transformed from the sweetest girl in her class to a hardened member of Evergreen’s militia. However, the approach of her eighteenth birthday—a reminder of the comfortable Western adulthood she’ll never have—threatens to strip away the shreds of happiness she’s gained from her new home. A home that, with stumbling agriculture, depleting stocks of pre-strike goods, and roving bands of desperate survivors, might not last the year.
Cox continues to skilfully craft the portrayal of a realistic post-apocalyptic society struggling to rise from the ruins that he presented in the previous volumes. As before, the narrative is one of resource management and plausible risks not dramatic set pieces and leather-clad cannibal road gangs.
However, again as before, this is not an exercise in dry prediction. While Cox keeps his story focused on the probable, events are framed in emotional rather than logistical terms, making this a tale about the wider human costs of scarcity, about how people balance hope and pragmatism, decency and survival.
Harper continues to be an engaging and nuanced protagonist. Her fundamental drive to protect her sister remains, but—after several months of Evergreen being mostly safe and stable—this has shifted, allowing space for other concerns. Concerns that she addresses with the same mix of self-doubt and courage that resonate through the previous books. It is this tendency to think and rethink that might reduce some readers’ immersion: whether it is solely a representation of her character or a stylistic choice to reflect the core audience, Harper’s narration occasionally reiterates explanations for things, creating—at least for some readers—a feeling of overactive reminders.
Conversely, this frequent thinking upon matters is likely to provide readers unfamiliar with previous volumes context, increasing the chances this novel functions as an entry point to the world.
The supporting cast are similarly complex, each displaying a core similarity to their pre-strike selves but presenting with varied—and sometimes contradictory—reactions to the new challenges of the world.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel greatly. I recommend it to readers seeking exciting yet realistic post-apocalyptic adventure.
I received a free copy from the author with a request for a fair review.
May 19, 2019
Intruders
This series must be read in order. The first book is "Evergreen". The second book is "The World That Remains". This is the third book. I can't wait to read more!
Harper is getting used to being in Evergreen. Her place in the Militia doesn't really big her anymore... Even if she is hesitant to leave Evergreen on Scavenging Missions. Cliff is an amazing *new Dad* and she's pretty sure Carrie would make an okay *new Mom*. Having Rene back helps loads but she still worried about her other missing friends as well as Madison's. Being Lorelei 's Mom/ sister isn't even that bad. And she kinda has feelings for Logan (even if they scare her). Then the unthinkable happens and people start attacking Evergreen. What do they want? Can they be gotten rid of? How can they teach everyone to protect themselves? Will Evergreen ever truly be a safe place again? Or will they always be under siege? Can Harper keep everyone and everything she loves safe? Or is that just a pipe dream?
This series must be read in order. The first book is "Evergreen". The second book is "The World That Remains". This is the third book. I can't wait to read more!
Harper is getting used to being in Evergreen. Her place in the Militia doesn't really big her anymore... Even if she is hesitant to leave Evergreen on Scavenging Missions. Cliff is an amazing *new Dad* and she's pretty sure Carrie would make an okay *new Mom*. Having Rene back helps loads but she still worried about her other missing friends as well as Madison's. Being Lorelei 's Mom/ sister isn't even that bad. And she kinda has feelings for Logan (even if they scare her). Then the unthinkable happens and people start attacking Evergreen. What do they want? Can they be gotten rid of? How can they teach everyone to protect themselves? Will Evergreen ever truly be a safe place again? Or will they always be under siege? Can Harper keep everyone and everything she loves safe? Or is that just a pipe dream?
April 26, 2021
Review
Note to the author. Corn is not ready to be picked in June more like September or October. Corn ripens AFTER tomatoes. Strange I can suspend disbelief for the nuclear war and an 18 year old girl being so aggressive with robbers and killers but picking corn in June bothered me a lot. Glad to see Harper is not bursting into tears every other paragraph now. That got old too. Still an entertaining story in that life after war and how people would cope is well done.
Note to the author. Corn is not ready to be picked in June more like September or October. Corn ripens AFTER tomatoes. Strange I can suspend disbelief for the nuclear war and an 18 year old girl being so aggressive with robbers and killers but picking corn in June bothered me a lot. Glad to see Harper is not bursting into tears every other paragraph now. That got old too. Still an entertaining story in that life after war and how people would cope is well done.
April 10, 2023
3.5 stars
this series is ok. not great but not bad. Just enough that I will keep reading it but it has is boring parts. We skim characters who are introduced and then forgotten about. There is no depth of characters.
this series is ok. not great but not bad. Just enough that I will keep reading it but it has is boring parts. We skim characters who are introduced and then forgotten about. There is no depth of characters.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews