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In a heartbeat, everything grinds to a halt...
On Christmas Eve, the lights go out. Vehicles stop working. Communications break down.

Reclusive former soldier Liam Coleman doesn't want to be anywhere near bustling downtown Chicago the day before Christmas. But his twin brother and his pregnant sister-in-law need him, so he makes the trip.

But mere minutes after leaving O'Hare, their car crashes, along with hundreds of other vehicles. When Liam's phone stops working, he begins to suspect something more sinister than a local power outage. But before he can react, the first plane falls from the sky...

Chaos Rising is the 85-page prequel novella to the Edge of Collapse post-apocalyptic series, a riveting EMP thriller. Also includes a six-chapter sneak peek of Edge of Collapse, book #1 in the explosive new post-apocalyptic series.

112 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 23, 2019

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Kyla Stone

52 books1,936 followers

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5 stars
3,932 (44%)
4 stars
3,400 (38%)
3 stars
1,315 (14%)
2 stars
154 (1%)
1 star
39 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 629 reviews
Profile Image for Kay.
2,212 reviews1,237 followers
January 25, 2024
A prequel to a post-apocalyptic thriller. This novella follows Liam Coleman a former soldier who on Christmas Eve morning is visiting his twin brother and wife who are expecting a baby.

As they were on the road, their car stopped working and crashed as did others on this cold Chicago morning. Then a plane missed O'hare runway and crashed.... the start of an exciting and action-packed thriller.

Took me a while to like this narrator's voice but I eventually enjoyed it. I almost returned the book but glad I stuck to it. Good characters in this one but from the cover, I feel other books focus on different MCs. Going to try another to see how it goes.

2h 11m/112 pages
7/10 ~ 3.5⭐
Profile Image for Fred Barnes.
316 reviews50 followers
September 27, 2024
☆☆☆☆☆

THE WORST CHRISTMAS EVE IN THE U.S.

Chaos Rising: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller (Edge of Collapse) by Kyla Stone is a very well written short prequel to her Edge of Collapse series that takes you through the Christmas Eve that enlightens us to some of the references to what brought Laim to stumbling on to Hannah and clears up the references to Laim's brother and sister-in-law in the first book.

I wish I had noticed the prequel prior to starting the first book in the series. That being said, I enjoyed this short hundred page book, and I have already started the second book in this series. I hope you will also find this an enjoyable book to read.
Profile Image for Jennelle.
100 reviews180 followers
February 8, 2023
Liam’s story:
And what a story it is! Fast paced and full of action. Never a dull moment. I couldn’t stop reading. Liam is a military man who’d much rather be alone. He’s smart and strong. He’s seen the happenings around him and decides it’s a EMP attack. By who and why is unknown. Cars stop running, there is no electricity and planes are falling from the sky. It’s very edge of your seat.

I had to sign up for Kyla Stone’s newsletter for this, book 0.5 of the Edge of Collapse series and I’m not even mad about it.

Hello Hollywood!
This would make one hell of a movie!
Profile Image for Tracey .
989 reviews57 followers
March 12, 2026
This is a fast paced, entertaining, well-written, apocalyptic thriller. It has heartbreak, compassion, healing and hope. The Hoopla edition included this prequel novella after Ms. Stone's fabulous "Edge Of Collapse" novel, and it is an excellent companion when read either before or after this intense novel. I am ready to read the next entry in this series! Stacey Glemboski does an outstanding job narrating the audiobook.
Profile Image for ❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books.
2,708 reviews11.2k followers
December 15, 2024
pi-Zap-2 '𝐂H𝐀O𝐒 𝐑I𝐒I𝐍G' Is the first Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller in the series (Edge of Collapse) by new to me author Kyla Stone.

Lately I've moved from virus zombie outbreaks to EMP thrillers, both give me that survival rush in a world which has changed within a blink of an eye and the only way to survive is dodge all obstacles in your way.

Even though this is a relatively fast paced novella it sure packed one hell of a punch, the perfect start to a new series which I know I'm going to inhale going by how quickly this pulled me in..

If I had to compare this to anything else I’ve read it runs in similar lines to the ‘End of days’ series by Author Sam J Fires which is a series I really enjoyed..

We're introduced to ex soldier Liam Coleman, as he's touched down in Chicago to visit his twin brother and pregnant wife whose expecting their first baby boy. Whilst driving on their way home, their car all of a sudden stops at a standstill, all lights on the dash stop working, other cars seem to have gone through the same situation as a pile up of accidents occur..The three of them come away relatively unscathed.

Until a second disaster comes at them full speed and Liam is left with a heartbreaking unthinkable decision that will change his life forever..
Profile Image for Regina the Constant Reader.
396 reviews
July 21, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ -Kindle Book

Prequel to the Edge of Collapse Series

This story about Liam’s time in Chicago at the start of the EMP event could be read as a standalone book. It’s fast paced and edgy. Highly recommended to anyone who loves End of Days thrillers.
Profile Image for Tanu.
169 reviews39 followers
August 18, 2024
He was unmoored, untethered. Haunted. A lone man in a hostile landscape where everything —even nature, maybe even his own bitter soul—wanted him dead.

This prequel was haunting and heartbreaking😭 No one should have to go through that much tragedy ever in their lives. After reading this prequel so many things make sense now.

When mrs brooke named his nephew after Liam I was crying and i couldn't stop😭😭

Liam goes to Chicago to visit his twin brother and sister-in-law. On their way home all the vehicles stop working and accidents start happening. What they are not prepared for are the planes crashing into the streets and killing thousands of people at a time. He tries his best to save everyone. But as things start getting out of his reach he'll just have to make the best out of the curveballs thrown his way. And when it's all over he'll go back to his lone life in Michigan and live remainder of his unhappy life... Or so he thought...



~~• ~~• ~~

The way Liam protected Hannah in the first book felt as if there's more to the story. Can't wait to know more about him!💕
I have a feeling this is gonna be heartbreaking🙁😭
Profile Image for Carla .
1,730 reviews576 followers
February 9, 2025
The beginning is sensational!
I can’t wait to see what happens!!!!
It’s worth reading.
Profile Image for Donna.
4,664 reviews186 followers
March 27, 2023
Genres: Dystopia/Sci-fi

This was a little novella in the Edge of Collapse series that gave the backstory of Liam, our knight in shining armor. This was a great little Dystopian series. It felt well grounded and it had characters I could root for. I liked that this was short and to the point.....and not a long drawn out story filled with all the minutia of everyday life. So 4 stars.
Profile Image for bookswithpaulette.
681 reviews283 followers
September 22, 2024
Really enjoyed Liam’s story when the collapse initially hits before her meets Hannah.
Profile Image for SheLove2Read.
3,161 reviews211 followers
May 10, 2020
Scary in a realistic way. I am interested in seeing where this goes. 4 stars
Profile Image for Brittany.
1,332 reviews219 followers
April 22, 2023
4 stars

Quick and enjoyable novella told from Liams point of view. It actually helped me understand Liams personality and why he is the way he is- a lot better. Would recommend if reading the series.
Profile Image for Darcy.
14.8k reviews547 followers
October 6, 2020
This one is short and to the point, the world right as it starts to collapse. Liam, who seems ready for anything, is there and has to make some hard decision. I think he makes the right one, all the way until he gives something precious away. I feel like that was the wrong thing to do, but who knows. We'll have to keep reading to find out.
Profile Image for Shernell Joseph.
905 reviews25 followers
September 9, 2024
Amazing!!

I am actually happy that the storyline went a different way that I thought it would have. Dangerous realistic circumstances made everything happen. It was sad and devastated.

The worst part is that if that didn't happen, Liam wouldn't have been able to save hannah life.
Profile Image for Madeline.
56 reviews56 followers
April 14, 2026
Holy shit this series has me in a chokehold!

How have I never heard anyone talking about this before!?!??
Profile Image for Stacy-ann.
276 reviews2 followers
February 6, 2023
I started out with this prequel to get a feel of the series. I enjoyed the writing and characters. But alas, I think it's too dark for me. Too graphic with the descriptions of plane crashes and charred bodies. I can see the potential of more violence depicted between survivors. I'm glad it was a short novella. I know the set up and read through descriptions and reviews. There's enough awfulness in the world, real tragedy, that I don't have to read a sensationalized series to get my fill.
Profile Image for Annelie.
145 reviews19 followers
May 6, 2025
Okay.. okay.. this is Fine… WHATEVER

ARRGHHHHH
my heart is shattered. 💔😭😭
Profile Image for Kirsty Harley .
98 reviews1 follower
January 9, 2025
I opted to read this before starting Edge of Collapse. I am glad I did, I understand Liam's background and excited to start Edge of Collapse.
Profile Image for Maria Vargas.
689 reviews60 followers
March 19, 2024
After everything Liam Coleman saw during his military deployments, I don't blame him on wanting to never leave his peaceful house.

Imagine going to visit your twin brother and his wife on Christmas Eve. This man did a knit cap for the baby they are expecting! But the world decided to throw you a massive curve ball in a blink of an eye.

A EMP affects all the electronics; cars stopped working, cellphones are useless, planes start crashing down, no electricity... but the worst of the worsts is Chicago's winter weather is on full cold as fuck blast.

Some people thought an EMP would destroy every electronic device in the country, no matter how small. Other people believed an EMP would only take out the electrical grid, and maybe only regionally.

In reality, not even nuclear physicists and scientific experts knew what would happen for sure.


The author did her research to make things feel as realistic as possible. My only complaint is Jessa, we get it she is pregnant and is a doctor but OMG! she was like a robot babbling medical stuff until the moment she died 😩.

Less than 90 pages but this prequel had everything to keep me intrigued and wanting to do a deep dive on this series. What Liam is going to do now?!
Profile Image for John Brown.
578 reviews76 followers
April 6, 2024
This came out before the first book but I do NOT recommend reading this first. Sure it gives a nice look at what the author is capable of but you get so much more satisfaction from reading this after book 1 because it follows one of the main characters in that book at the beginning of the EMP Apocalypse, who seems kind of mysterious in book 1.

I hope book 2 is as good as this because this one was a lot of fun and kind opens your eyes at just how bad life would be if we got hit with an EMP
Displaying 1 - 30 of 629 reviews