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Dark Days #1
Collapse
It started with rumors of a plague that turned people into flesh-eating predators. The governments of the world and the media tried to suppress it, but little by little the truth got out. The economy had been in a free-fall, banks closed, protests turned into riots, people began hoarding and panicking. And then on a Friday morning, the collapse came.
After the government office where Ray Daniels works shuts down, he just wants to get home to his wife and kids. On his arduous journey home, Ray gets a phone call from Craig, his supervisor, inviting him and his family to his home where the answers to the collapse and the Ripper Plague are waiting for him, but the call breaks up and Ray only hears the word Avalon.
When Ray gets home to his family, the TV stations have been replaced with a loop of the president of the United States declaring martial law. The electricity and water are shut off soon after that. They hole up in their bedroom for the night - they have no weapons, little food, and no information about why everything collapsed so quickly.
After Ray's neighbor, Helen, holds a secret meeting to try to fight back against martial law, she asks Ray to help her blind daughter Emma, promising that Emma can help him and his family find the way to Avalon. But what is Avalon, and what does Emma know about it?
Hours later, after soldiers in gas masks take Helen away, Ray has no choice but to flee with his family. Society has crumbled within the last twenty-four hours. Hordes of flesh-eating infected are loose on the streets. The police and military are doing their best to fight back, but they are losing the battle now. The collapse is here, and Ray wants the answers that Craig has, but he must keep his family alive first.
After the government office where Ray Daniels works shuts down, he just wants to get home to his wife and kids. On his arduous journey home, Ray gets a phone call from Craig, his supervisor, inviting him and his family to his home where the answers to the collapse and the Ripper Plague are waiting for him, but the call breaks up and Ray only hears the word Avalon.
When Ray gets home to his family, the TV stations have been replaced with a loop of the president of the United States declaring martial law. The electricity and water are shut off soon after that. They hole up in their bedroom for the night - they have no weapons, little food, and no information about why everything collapsed so quickly.
After Ray's neighbor, Helen, holds a secret meeting to try to fight back against martial law, she asks Ray to help her blind daughter Emma, promising that Emma can help him and his family find the way to Avalon. But what is Avalon, and what does Emma know about it?
Hours later, after soldiers in gas masks take Helen away, Ray has no choice but to flee with his family. Society has crumbled within the last twenty-four hours. Hordes of flesh-eating infected are loose on the streets. The police and military are doing their best to fight back, but they are losing the battle now. The collapse is here, and Ray wants the answers that Craig has, but he must keep his family alive first.
285 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 24, 2019
426 people are currently reading
225 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
June 3, 2019
Great book!
I actually purchased this book entirely by accident because my kindle store froze and I hit the buy option instead of "read more" for details. It's so good! It's a actually a little scary, the characters are really interesting, the plot is different and I'm very excited for the rest of this series. I really didn't expect much, the bar was set so low considering it was $1 and an accident. I didn't think I'd absolutely be enthralled and truly enjoy it like I did! Seriously praise to the author it's not the classic cliche of post apocalypse fiction (it could've been) or even zombie novels, I'm impressed.
10/10 highly recommend!
I actually purchased this book entirely by accident because my kindle store froze and I hit the buy option instead of "read more" for details. It's so good! It's a actually a little scary, the characters are really interesting, the plot is different and I'm very excited for the rest of this series. I really didn't expect much, the bar was set so low considering it was $1 and an accident. I didn't think I'd absolutely be enthralled and truly enjoy it like I did! Seriously praise to the author it's not the classic cliche of post apocalypse fiction (it could've been) or even zombie novels, I'm impressed.
10/10 highly recommend!
November 20, 2022
I really enjoy apocalyptic fiction and this was a good one that sucked me right in. Good character development and a lot of action to keep it moving quickly. I generally don’t read series because I have so many books to read I don’t want to get caught up in one, but I’m going to continue this one. In the forward, the author explains that the books will each follow different characters in the same world, and I like that idea.
September 4, 2019
It’s A Bit odd
There are parts of the story that are long and drawn out that the author must believe are character development, but really just bog down the story.
It is possible to have too much exposition in a story, and I think the author demonstrates this. Give us dialogue between characters; give us vivid descriptions of people and places, do not give us 20 sentence paragraphs about how the character was obsessing about an irrelevant event.
The author’s attempt at Foreshadowing also falls short. Toward the end of the story Emma sensed a “bad thing in the garage, not a thing that could hurt them.” Gee, I wonder what that could be? Obviously it’s decomposing bodies (and it was).
This is an example of a failed attempt at foreshadowing. Had it turned out to be something other than decomposing bodies, then we might have had something.
Lastly, the dream thing is weird; really really weird. I don’t really get why the author needed the characters to have weird dreams. Yes, I understand that the dreams are part of a larger plot point, but they don’t fit into the story and throw off the pacing.
There was one very nice moment between Ray and Kim. The scene between when Kim realized that she was getting sick when she and Ray talked was very well done.
Despite the one bright point, the book doesn’t stand out in a genre with plenty of good authors. I just can’t give this more than 2 stars, and even though I have a strange curiosity of where the author takes the story, I won’t continue the series.
There are parts of the story that are long and drawn out that the author must believe are character development, but really just bog down the story.
It is possible to have too much exposition in a story, and I think the author demonstrates this. Give us dialogue between characters; give us vivid descriptions of people and places, do not give us 20 sentence paragraphs about how the character was obsessing about an irrelevant event.
The author’s attempt at Foreshadowing also falls short. Toward the end of the story Emma sensed a “bad thing in the garage, not a thing that could hurt them.” Gee, I wonder what that could be? Obviously it’s decomposing bodies (and it was).
This is an example of a failed attempt at foreshadowing. Had it turned out to be something other than decomposing bodies, then we might have had something.
Lastly, the dream thing is weird; really really weird. I don’t really get why the author needed the characters to have weird dreams. Yes, I understand that the dreams are part of a larger plot point, but they don’t fit into the story and throw off the pacing.
There was one very nice moment between Ray and Kim. The scene between when Kim realized that she was getting sick when she and Ray talked was very well done.
Despite the one bright point, the book doesn’t stand out in a genre with plenty of good authors. I just can’t give this more than 2 stars, and even though I have a strange curiosity of where the author takes the story, I won’t continue the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2019
I originally thought this was about a catastrophic economic collapse (which I found interesting), but is a zombie-ish story. The writing is good and flows quite well. We see all of this unfold through the eyes of the main character, though I swear I could hear music of foreboding as I read. They are not really zombies as they are not re-animated corpses and I find their ability to use tools as well as accepting a young child that turned very interesting. I look forward to the next in the series.
July 1, 2019
Rippers and supernatural all in one.
The book has a little of everything. A partly doomed family. A strange young blind woman. People that become monsters. What more could you want. Very intriguing.
The book has a little of everything. A partly doomed family. A strange young blind woman. People that become monsters. What more could you want. Very intriguing.
February 28, 2020
This book was not for me, it was boring as hell.
So many words and nothing really happens.
This is almost always a death sentence in this kind of genre. So much time stuck in the head of the lead character reminiscing about what ifs and what could have beens, with nothing to show for in the end.
To make this work, telling a story mostly in the characters mind and through his thought process. You better show me a bloody interesting character and his progress through trial and error. Which the author in this case failed to provide for me.
The rare action scenes there were, were interrupted by useless thoughts.
Repetitive thought processes and too many unanswered questions raised by the characters, dragged the book down. The latter made me want to strangle the characters in disbelief to finally get their marbles together.
So yeah, this book was horrible. I barely made it through the first 9 long chapters were nothing happens besides our character drowning in self pity, having the slowest thought process even a sloth would be jealous of and asking the silliest questions a ninth grade kid would be embarrassed over. And all this for what? A drive to work, to chat with his colleagues for 15 mins. Driving back home, whilst making a quick stop at an ATM before being chased out of the parking lot and without much hitch and a gas station stop arriving back home.
When I choose a book in this genre i really need some suspense and some action. I need some development and someone to show me how to survive if I were in their shoes. Yeah, but not this.
So many words and nothing really happens.
This is almost always a death sentence in this kind of genre. So much time stuck in the head of the lead character reminiscing about what ifs and what could have beens, with nothing to show for in the end.
To make this work, telling a story mostly in the characters mind and through his thought process. You better show me a bloody interesting character and his progress through trial and error. Which the author in this case failed to provide for me.
The rare action scenes there were, were interrupted by useless thoughts.
Repetitive thought processes and too many unanswered questions raised by the characters, dragged the book down. The latter made me want to strangle the characters in disbelief to finally get their marbles together.
So yeah, this book was horrible. I barely made it through the first 9 long chapters were nothing happens besides our character drowning in self pity, having the slowest thought process even a sloth would be jealous of and asking the silliest questions a ninth grade kid would be embarrassed over. And all this for what? A drive to work, to chat with his colleagues for 15 mins. Driving back home, whilst making a quick stop at an ATM before being chased out of the parking lot and without much hitch and a gas station stop arriving back home.
When I choose a book in this genre i really need some suspense and some action. I need some development and someone to show me how to survive if I were in their shoes. Yeah, but not this.
October 23, 2019
It’s ok.
There’s parts that are too drawn out. There’s parts that don’t make any sense. Then there’s the parts that I call the “so what’s”, which are the things that don’t add anything to the story. They don’t need to be there.
I honestly don’t think Kate’s affair adds anything to the story. In fact I think it detracts from what could have been a more emotional attachment between the reader and her character.
I also don’t get why Helen felt she had to lie about her stage 4 cancer. That whole scenario between her and Ray felt awkward.
What makes for a great apocalyptic story is for it to be something that the reader feels is believable. This could really happen. I don’t feel like that here. I don’t feel any connection with the characters. I don’t see Emma as being gifted with psychic abilities. And honestly, Ray is more than a bit annoying.
I will give the second book a try. Hopefully it will get better.
There’s parts that are too drawn out. There’s parts that don’t make any sense. Then there’s the parts that I call the “so what’s”, which are the things that don’t add anything to the story. They don’t need to be there.
I honestly don’t think Kate’s affair adds anything to the story. In fact I think it detracts from what could have been a more emotional attachment between the reader and her character.
I also don’t get why Helen felt she had to lie about her stage 4 cancer. That whole scenario between her and Ray felt awkward.
What makes for a great apocalyptic story is for it to be something that the reader feels is believable. This could really happen. I don’t feel like that here. I don’t feel any connection with the characters. I don’t see Emma as being gifted with psychic abilities. And honestly, Ray is more than a bit annoying.
I will give the second book a try. Hopefully it will get better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2023
The author missed the mark with this one. I was excited to start a new series where each book would be from the POV of various survivors. Unfortunately, this book did not make me want to continue to the next one. Since it was on Audible, the narrator had a few nuances that would pull me out of the story because it was so noticeable (at least to me). The main one was the way he read the word vehicle (pronounced like Veil-Co) which isn’t a problem in and of itself. HOWEVER, at one point the word was used 8-9 times in a single paragraph, and oh boy did it become annoying!! Not only that, but it was used Numerous times throughout the book, that it became a glaring problem as it it would pull me out of the story with his pronunciation. Plus the story just did hold me like I hoped it would.
April 14, 2020
Ray Daniels goes to work one morning and sees his coworkers standing around trying to get in the building but their key cards are not working. They soon figure out that the place has been shut down.
Ray receives a call from a friend telling him a little bit of what is going down. Ray is given information on what is going on and that the world as he knows it is about to change putting him and his family in danger.
Ray races home to save his family from what is coming. On his way home he sees a little bit about what is going on.. People are acting strange, attacking others for no reason. Ray is chased as he races away from the mob. People are turning into raging monsters, attacking and ripping into the flesh of the uninfected.
It looks like Ray's friend knows more about what is going on in the world than he is saying. He tells Ray about a place that he set up in case something like this ever took place. He tells Ray to take his family there. He also tells Ray to go to his home that he has more information waiting for him there.
I have read a lot of apocalyptic and zombie books but I don 't think I have read one quiet like this one. The rippers as they are called are not exactly zombies as they are not dead or undead. They are just people, humans that have been infected with some disease and they just turn into raging monsters.
Collapse was a fast paced read that once I picked it up I couldn't put it down until I had read the last page. Oh I love apocalyptic and zombie books and I was not in any way disappointed in Collapse.
The writing is just superb and brilliant. The characters were all just as amazing and believable. I felt as if I was right there with them facing whatever they were facing and seeing. The world building was awesome as well although I would like to have known a little bit more about the virus. Hopefully book two will give more info on the virus and the rippers.
I don't know what more or else I can say about Collapse but that anyone who likes apocalyptic and zombie books should definitely give this one try trust me you will not be disappointed in the least that is if you love books in this genre as much as I do. One click your copy today to be introduced into a new world with a new kind of zombies.
Ray receives a call from a friend telling him a little bit of what is going down. Ray is given information on what is going on and that the world as he knows it is about to change putting him and his family in danger.
Ray races home to save his family from what is coming. On his way home he sees a little bit about what is going on.. People are acting strange, attacking others for no reason. Ray is chased as he races away from the mob. People are turning into raging monsters, attacking and ripping into the flesh of the uninfected.
It looks like Ray's friend knows more about what is going on in the world than he is saying. He tells Ray about a place that he set up in case something like this ever took place. He tells Ray to take his family there. He also tells Ray to go to his home that he has more information waiting for him there.
I have read a lot of apocalyptic and zombie books but I don 't think I have read one quiet like this one. The rippers as they are called are not exactly zombies as they are not dead or undead. They are just people, humans that have been infected with some disease and they just turn into raging monsters.
Collapse was a fast paced read that once I picked it up I couldn't put it down until I had read the last page. Oh I love apocalyptic and zombie books and I was not in any way disappointed in Collapse.
The writing is just superb and brilliant. The characters were all just as amazing and believable. I felt as if I was right there with them facing whatever they were facing and seeing. The world building was awesome as well although I would like to have known a little bit more about the virus. Hopefully book two will give more info on the virus and the rippers.
I don't know what more or else I can say about Collapse but that anyone who likes apocalyptic and zombie books should definitely give this one try trust me you will not be disappointed in the least that is if you love books in this genre as much as I do. One click your copy today to be introduced into a new world with a new kind of zombies.
Read
May 13, 2020Enthralling
It seems a little weird reading a book about what is basically a pandemic, during a real pandemic,but I'm glad I decided to do it. To be clear, there is almost nothing good about a pandemic, real or fictional, but that aside, one can learn valuable lessons from adversity.
Without giving anything away, I will say that at first,this story seemed like just another post-apocalyptic book. In many ways, by the end it still does. Yet I have a feeling this one is maybe just a bit different I'll have to wait and see. Perhaps I will be able to elaborate more after the next installment....
It seems a little weird reading a book about what is basically a pandemic, during a real pandemic,but I'm glad I decided to do it. To be clear, there is almost nothing good about a pandemic, real or fictional, but that aside, one can learn valuable lessons from adversity.
Without giving anything away, I will say that at first,this story seemed like just another post-apocalyptic book. In many ways, by the end it still does. Yet I have a feeling this one is maybe just a bit different I'll have to wait and see. Perhaps I will be able to elaborate more after the next installment....
July 22, 2021
It was pretty good. It benefited from being the book I read after a book that was so bad I couldn’t finish it. The “zombie” side of it was good. Although it did feel like it was going through the motions. I had a moment of “when is this going to go somewhere?” only to find out I was near the end.
There is a supernatural side that I wasn’t expecting and that didn’t seem to fit to me. Maybe it’ll fit in the series as a whole. But since the 2nd book doesn’t even include these characters, I may be done with this series. But it wasn’t a bad read.
There is a supernatural side that I wasn’t expecting and that didn’t seem to fit to me. Maybe it’ll fit in the series as a whole. But since the 2nd book doesn’t even include these characters, I may be done with this series. But it wasn’t a bad read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2022
I love post-apocalyptic stories and this book did not disappoint. I enjoyed it so much I went and purchased the next three installments of this series. The characters are well written and come across as your everyday family, dealing with the struggles of marriage and children. Next, we throw in a life changing event like the apocalypse. Ray works for the CDC as an accountant. Today is like every other day except when he gets to work, nobody's key cards work, and they can't get into the building. Banks are all shutting down due to a computer virus and rumors of a mystery virus is spreading... but working for the CDC Ray and fellow employees would have heard of it, right?
This book was fast moving, and I really enjoyed it. Anyone who loves the post-apocalyptic genre would appreciate this story! Looking forward to reading on.
This book was fast moving, and I really enjoyed it. Anyone who loves the post-apocalyptic genre would appreciate this story! Looking forward to reading on.
August 27, 2020
Not an easy read during COVID-19, but at least it's not as bad as in the book, right?!!!
I just love Mark Lukens stories!! I don't really care for the post-apocalyptic genre but Mark writes such believable, real characters that I'd go down any road with them. I've read ALL of his other books and couldn't wait for him to write more, so I started his Dark Days series. And lemme tell ya, I'm lovin it! Anxious to find out what happens next.
I just love Mark Lukens stories!! I don't really care for the post-apocalyptic genre but Mark writes such believable, real characters that I'd go down any road with them. I've read ALL of his other books and couldn't wait for him to write more, so I started his Dark Days series. And lemme tell ya, I'm lovin it! Anxious to find out what happens next.
April 30, 2023
This was pretty close to today's world - realizing that at any moment something could happen. This is an excellent story of survival. We follow Ray as he tries to protect his family and survive a plague that is turning humans into rippers. The challenges are realistic and it makes you wonder what if? I can't wait to start book 2. If you enjoy end of the world and survival then this is a book for you. Must read.
July 14, 2019
Starts slow, builds characters, enjoy
I have read hundreds of Zombie and post-apocalypse sagas and had searched for a new series. Glad I found this one with believable characters. Glad I don't have to go between three or four subplots. On to the next book. Talented author, give his work a try.
I have read hundreds of Zombie and post-apocalypse sagas and had searched for a new series. Glad I found this one with believable characters. Glad I don't have to go between three or four subplots. On to the next book. Talented author, give his work a try.
August 2, 2019
Not too shabby
For an author I am unfamiliar with, this one isn't bad. The story line is good, and there were even some unexpected events. I like that in these apocalypse style books. I read a lot of them and they can get predictable. I will finish the set and then decide if I will seek this author for more material in the future. So far so good with this book.
For an author I am unfamiliar with, this one isn't bad. The story line is good, and there were even some unexpected events. I like that in these apocalypse style books. I read a lot of them and they can get predictable. I will finish the set and then decide if I will seek this author for more material in the future. So far so good with this book.
July 30, 2019
Great Book!
I have read quite a few post-apocalyptic books. This one ranks right up there. I enjoyed Mark Likens writings very much. Look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I have read quite a few post-apocalyptic books. This one ranks right up there. I enjoyed Mark Likens writings very much. Look forward to reading the next book in the series.
February 19, 2020
Good
Ray was an unusual main character the author developed some unique situations to develop Day's character. It will be interesting to see how this character proceeds as developed.
Ray was an unusual main character the author developed some unique situations to develop Day's character. It will be interesting to see how this character proceeds as developed.
January 19, 2021
A good mystery
Well written with only a few errors so was easy to read. I have always read for entertainment and I am not entertained when kids are hurt or die. It takes the joy out of reading for me. I would recommend this book with warnings.
Well written with only a few errors so was easy to read. I have always read for entertainment and I am not entertained when kids are hurt or die. It takes the joy out of reading for me. I would recommend this book with warnings.
March 9, 2021
Loved it but too short....
Great writing filled with action. The author is good at reeling you in and painting a vivid story. You root for Ray and think about how you would deal with the situation.
Great writing filled with action. The author is good at reeling you in and painting a vivid story. You root for Ray and think about how you would deal with the situation.
August 7, 2022
Very good
Captivating story. Mildly reminded me of "The Stand" by Stephen King. May just be Deja vu. The story had me scared, worried and makes me want to check my bug-out bag. Happy Reading!
Captivating story. Mildly reminded me of "The Stand" by Stephen King. May just be Deja vu. The story had me scared, worried and makes me want to check my bug-out bag. Happy Reading!
June 7, 2019
Very heavily influenced by Stephen King's The Stand, but enjoyable in it's own right. Characters are solid. Adding the second book to my shelf right now!
August 8, 2019
Entertaining and fast paced
Good read. Fast paced, a real page turner. Interesting take on the apocalypse. I recommend to add this book to your reading list.
Good read. Fast paced, a real page turner. Interesting take on the apocalypse. I recommend to add this book to your reading list.
August 13, 2019
Dumb that is all i can say.
September 4, 2019
Not Your Typical Zombie Apocalypse
Interesting take on my favorite subject. It is definitely worth reading. This space left intentionally blank ... three more words
Interesting take on my favorite subject. It is definitely worth reading. This space left intentionally blank ... three more words
Read
March 6, 2020Great book and author.
I've read a number of his books and have enjoyed all of them. This post-apocalyptic book was great. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
I've read a number of his books and have enjoyed all of them. This post-apocalyptic book was great. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
April 2, 2020
Standard P-A Yarn, But Still Exciting
Standard post-apocalypse plot, but likeable characters and lots of action. Good book for the genre, and am definitely moving on to book 2.
Standard post-apocalypse plot, but likeable characters and lots of action. Good book for the genre, and am definitely moving on to book 2.
March 7, 2021
A good story.
The story was well written but for me there was a lot of unnecessary detail. To describe a house, room by room, and then have them leave seemed too much.
The story was well written but for me there was a lot of unnecessary detail. To describe a house, room by room, and then have them leave seemed too much.
May 4, 2022
one of the best
I like to read post-apocalyptic books and this is one of the best that I have read so far. I am looking forward to reading the next one…
I like to read post-apocalyptic books and this is one of the best that I have read so far. I am looking forward to reading the next one…
January 23, 2025
3.5⭐️
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews