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After The Fall #1
The Commune
You open your eyes.
You’re still alive.
Will you be tomorrow?
Ten years ago, the world ended. A virus swept the planet clean, wiping out 97% of the world’s population. Only the wary survived.
We gather our resources in communes clinging to the harshest environments on Earth. Food is scarce and the well’s running dry. Our days are numbered.
Then a girl staggers from the desert, her brains fried by the sun. She rambles about technology, a place of safety the Rages never reached. Only the elders recognize what she describes.
A place we call the City
Then the Reavers attack. They destroy our home and everything we’ve built. We wander the desert, lost, and without hope. And still the girl remembers that place.
Does the City really exist? Can she lead us to it? Can we rebuild what we lost?
Our journey begins, but we’re not the only ones making it.
You will love The Commune, the first pulse-pounding post-apocalyptic thriller in the After the Fall series.
Get it now!
You’re still alive.
Will you be tomorrow?
Ten years ago, the world ended. A virus swept the planet clean, wiping out 97% of the world’s population. Only the wary survived.
We gather our resources in communes clinging to the harshest environments on Earth. Food is scarce and the well’s running dry. Our days are numbered.
Then a girl staggers from the desert, her brains fried by the sun. She rambles about technology, a place of safety the Rages never reached. Only the elders recognize what she describes.
A place we call the City
Then the Reavers attack. They destroy our home and everything we’ve built. We wander the desert, lost, and without hope. And still the girl remembers that place.
Does the City really exist? Can she lead us to it? Can we rebuild what we lost?
Our journey begins, but we’re not the only ones making it.
You will love The Commune, the first pulse-pounding post-apocalyptic thriller in the After the Fall series.
Get it now!
409 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 10, 2019
228 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 14, 2019
Full review posted on the book blog Creature From the Book Lagoon.
* I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
Triggers: rape, animal deaths.
I have enjoyed everything Charlie Dalton has put out so far. Heavily influenced by horror, with with a lovely twist of sci-fi thrown in. For a while, he has been promising a full length novel, called The Commune, that was a book 1 to a new series he was working on. I was really looking forward to getting my hands on this!
First thing I want to say, is that the plot blurb for The Commune is a little bit misleading. The title of the book is not. Yes, at the very end of the book, Lucy does talk about where she came from. The plot blurb kinda makes it sound like the whole adventure is all about the main characters trying to get to Lucy’s home, when it’s not. This book is very much about the life at the commune and the relationships of the people living there. It is also a tale of survival when something terrible happens to that community. The very last 10% (maybe) is about Lucy talking about her home. She does have small flashes of her home throughout the book, but they are never the main focus like the blurb kinda indicates.
Ok, now that that is out of the way… This book was lots of FUN! There is a little bit of everything thrown in to this story! There is Cli-fi (climate fiction), aliens (maybe??), zombies, mad max like atmosphere, mad scientist, murderers, and more! I’ll be honest, at very first, when I saw that it looked like the main characters were all kids, I was a little bit wary… I’m not a huge fan of kid main characters or YA (young adult) fiction. Not that it’s BAD, it’s just not my cup of tea. But this is not your typical YA book, if it even is YA(?). Yes, there are angry teens in this story, but it felt like the subject matter was a little bit more violent then what you would expect with a young adult title. There was violent death- humans and animals, with other violent themes through out the book, such as multiple rapes. Dalton never goes in to graphic details about any of it, but it’s still there. It didn’t feel like a young adult book.
Since it was a book one, there is plenty of set up. You get to know the characters and what their life is like after The Fall happened. We don’t get a lot of details about the Fall in this book, but you learn enough to get the idea. Lucy is an interesting enigma. What exactly IS her story? You get pieces of it here and there, but she is not fully explained yet. By the end of the book, Lucy will not be the only thing you will have a lot of questions about. The whole ending is a massive cliffhanger! You are left with so many answers. A nice bait for the hook to lure you in to reading the next book! I can’t wait to see what answers are revealed in book 2.
The Commune was very entertaining and I really enjoyed reading it. Another solid entry from Dalton. A very promising start to a new series.
* I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
Triggers: rape, animal deaths.
I have enjoyed everything Charlie Dalton has put out so far. Heavily influenced by horror, with with a lovely twist of sci-fi thrown in. For a while, he has been promising a full length novel, called The Commune, that was a book 1 to a new series he was working on. I was really looking forward to getting my hands on this!
First thing I want to say, is that the plot blurb for The Commune is a little bit misleading. The title of the book is not. Yes, at the very end of the book, Lucy does talk about where she came from. The plot blurb kinda makes it sound like the whole adventure is all about the main characters trying to get to Lucy’s home, when it’s not. This book is very much about the life at the commune and the relationships of the people living there. It is also a tale of survival when something terrible happens to that community. The very last 10% (maybe) is about Lucy talking about her home. She does have small flashes of her home throughout the book, but they are never the main focus like the blurb kinda indicates.
Ok, now that that is out of the way… This book was lots of FUN! There is a little bit of everything thrown in to this story! There is Cli-fi (climate fiction), aliens (maybe??), zombies, mad max like atmosphere, mad scientist, murderers, and more! I’ll be honest, at very first, when I saw that it looked like the main characters were all kids, I was a little bit wary… I’m not a huge fan of kid main characters or YA (young adult) fiction. Not that it’s BAD, it’s just not my cup of tea. But this is not your typical YA book, if it even is YA(?). Yes, there are angry teens in this story, but it felt like the subject matter was a little bit more violent then what you would expect with a young adult title. There was violent death- humans and animals, with other violent themes through out the book, such as multiple rapes. Dalton never goes in to graphic details about any of it, but it’s still there. It didn’t feel like a young adult book.
Since it was a book one, there is plenty of set up. You get to know the characters and what their life is like after The Fall happened. We don’t get a lot of details about the Fall in this book, but you learn enough to get the idea. Lucy is an interesting enigma. What exactly IS her story? You get pieces of it here and there, but she is not fully explained yet. By the end of the book, Lucy will not be the only thing you will have a lot of questions about. The whole ending is a massive cliffhanger! You are left with so many answers. A nice bait for the hook to lure you in to reading the next book! I can’t wait to see what answers are revealed in book 2.
The Commune was very entertaining and I really enjoyed reading it. Another solid entry from Dalton. A very promising start to a new series.
October 31, 2019
This is book 1 of a multiple book series. It takes place in a post apocalyptic world where 5 young people have to save the world.
Thanks to the author for a digital ARC.
Thanks to the author for a digital ARC.
July 22, 2019
I received a copy to give an honest review.
We are introduced to the world right after something horrible happened. The world is not the same it seems there is something called the Rages who will attack those that are roaming around so speak out of their community. Though it seems it is not only Rages you have to watch out for but those that just want to do whatever to other communities. The blurb did kind of threw me off as I was thinking that they were going to be headed to this "city" pretty quickly and what not. This group didn't even get to where they were lead to until the end of the book. We really get to see how a community works together and how tough choices are made. I was very surprised at how long the commune lasted during the fight with the Reavers. The Reavers are a horrible group and just hearing at what they did to women bothered me.
When a mysterious girl is found and brought into the community they take care of her but as the story goes on you find out that she is hiding something though she can't remember. I am intrigued by Lucy and where she is from and what she knows. Is she from the world before? I can't wait to read the next book and see what is going to happen next and what exactly is hunting Lucy along with why? I would claim this as more of a sci-fi book I was thinking it would be more like zombies because it had Rages in it, but they are just a small part.
We are introduced to the world right after something horrible happened. The world is not the same it seems there is something called the Rages who will attack those that are roaming around so speak out of their community. Though it seems it is not only Rages you have to watch out for but those that just want to do whatever to other communities. The blurb did kind of threw me off as I was thinking that they were going to be headed to this "city" pretty quickly and what not. This group didn't even get to where they were lead to until the end of the book. We really get to see how a community works together and how tough choices are made. I was very surprised at how long the commune lasted during the fight with the Reavers. The Reavers are a horrible group and just hearing at what they did to women bothered me.
When a mysterious girl is found and brought into the community they take care of her but as the story goes on you find out that she is hiding something though she can't remember. I am intrigued by Lucy and where she is from and what she knows. Is she from the world before? I can't wait to read the next book and see what is going to happen next and what exactly is hunting Lucy along with why? I would claim this as more of a sci-fi book I was thinking it would be more like zombies because it had Rages in it, but they are just a small part.
July 14, 2019
Love it!! New twist to a zombie apocalypse ever! It has fighting, zombies and aliens! And different humans that was in hiding. It was craziness! I do wish it started when it first happen instead of year's later that was the only problem for me!
January 12, 2020
Good story
Good story. Characters are not strongly developed but that didn't detract from the story line. Decent flow to the story. When I initially started the story, I didn't have any intention of reading the series but I changed my mind. I have a curiosity as to where it will go and how. Will start the second story now. Wish me luck!
Good story. Characters are not strongly developed but that didn't detract from the story line. Decent flow to the story. When I initially started the story, I didn't have any intention of reading the series but I changed my mind. I have a curiosity as to where it will go and how. Will start the second story now. Wish me luck!
April 25, 2020
Wow
I loved this book. It's Lord of the Rings meets the Walking Dead and Mad Max. Can't wait to read the next three! Fun, easy, adventurous story that makes you wish it wasn't over. I haven't felt like this since I was a kid discovering books. Thanks Charlie! I think I'll have to read everything he's written now.
I loved this book. It's Lord of the Rings meets the Walking Dead and Mad Max. Can't wait to read the next three! Fun, easy, adventurous story that makes you wish it wasn't over. I haven't felt like this since I was a kid discovering books. Thanks Charlie! I think I'll have to read everything he's written now.
January 3, 2020
Decent read
I’ve read countless post apocalyptic dystopian books. This one was ok. Kept me interested in what was coming, but took a while to lead up to the real meat of the story. Overall worth the time though, wasn’t expensive.
I’ve read countless post apocalyptic dystopian books. This one was ok. Kept me interested in what was coming, but took a while to lead up to the real meat of the story. Overall worth the time though, wasn’t expensive.
June 4, 2020
A very easy read, mostly kept my interest. Had to skim a lot because other than wanting to find out what happened next, there wasn't any other reason to keep reading. Of course it left the ending up for grabs, as there are sequels.
December 7, 2019
Interesting ... very
At the beginning I wasn't sure I wanted to read the book but then, I couldn't let go of it.
At the beginning I wasn't sure I wanted to read the book but then, I couldn't let go of it.
July 25, 2019
Great start to a new post-apocalyptic series!
After the world’s society as we know it has been destroyed by a virus which turns its victims into mindless, constantly-hungry zombies, survivors join together in cooperative living communes. Some attempt to rebuild and grow by organizing daily tasks such as growing food, learning and providing medical attention, and provide defense and security for the new communities. Others, known as Reavers, band together to destroy and take what they need from others by force and violence. Both groups, however, guard against the zombie-like creatures called “Ragers.”
In Mountain’s Peak, the commune takes several measures to successfully continue on based on each individual member pulling their own weight. And when a member becomes too ill, old, or infirm to their share, they are expected to leave the community – walk away and disappear into the surrounding desert where wild animals and Ragers lurk.When a beloved member of the commune leaves to go die in the desert, her younger, still able, husband decides in the middle of night to join her. The next day, children from the commune sneak out to go find them both and bring them back home. Their rescue mission takes an unexpected turn when they discover the older couple already dead and a strange, young girl up a spindly tree under attack from three Ragers.
The commune takes the young girl in but she is unable to tell them where she came from; she remembers nothing but dream-like snippets of her life before waking up in the bed at the commune. But she is actually being hunted by a deadly and unstoppable woman across the desert and she’s headed toward the commune.This story was action-packed from start to finish. I did not want to put it down. Can’t wait for the next book in the series!
July 12, 2019
This is the first book in a post-apocalyptic, dystopia trilogy and it deals with life after the Fall. The fall being the catastrophe which hit Earth when a massive number of meteorites fell all over the world, infecting it with an infectious disease which turned humans into raging beasts, and consequently made the world tear itself apart. The survivors were setting up communes and trying to scrounge a new life for themselves, however they were still not safe, as those infected known as Rages, and those who thought might was right, the Reavers, still threatened their livelihood, home and families! One such commune was the Mountain Peak Commune, where a group of around 700 people were working and living to survive. Donald was their leader and he had two sons Jamie and Donny and Jamie the youngest was against the commune’s policy of turning away those who were weak to make place for those who could survive. He felt that this policy made them as bad as the rages and the Reavers, and though most of the time he did not know what he was doing he knew for sure he was doing what he was doing for the right reason and he was willing to die for this! I love Jamie as a character who has somehow retained his humanity. This book just gripped me from the start, was so much more than I anticipated, full of twists and turns and mysteries upon mysteries, I just could not put it down till the last line was read! It is an excellent take on the usual post-apocalyptic genre of novels and I must admit that the main characters have me routing for them and that I cannot wait for book 2! Well done Charlie Dalton for this excellent read.
July 12, 2019
Forced from the safety of their commune by a Reaver attack, four survivors journey to a mythical place known as the City.
I remember the first time I met Lucy. She was clinging to a tree, a horde of hungry Rages clammering for her flesh. We rescued her and brought her to the commune. She recalled mere fragments of her home. Only the oldest recognized what she was describing.
A place where technology still exists. A place the Rages never reached. A place people still have hope. The place we call the City.
No one believed her. Except me.
Then the Reavers attacked, destroying our home and everything we’d built. We wandered the desert, lost, and without hope. And still, Lucy remembered that place.
Does the City really exist? Can she lead us to it? Can we rebuild what we lost?
Our journey begins now. But we’re not the only ones making it.
The Commune is the first book in this brand-new series.
This is an amazing start to the series.
Great story line and plot and fabulous twist on communes.
Really well written characters and can't wait to see how they develop further.
Looking forward to the next in series!
Highly recommend reading.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I remember the first time I met Lucy. She was clinging to a tree, a horde of hungry Rages clammering for her flesh. We rescued her and brought her to the commune. She recalled mere fragments of her home. Only the oldest recognized what she was describing.
A place where technology still exists. A place the Rages never reached. A place people still have hope. The place we call the City.
No one believed her. Except me.
Then the Reavers attacked, destroying our home and everything we’d built. We wandered the desert, lost, and without hope. And still, Lucy remembered that place.
Does the City really exist? Can she lead us to it? Can we rebuild what we lost?
Our journey begins now. But we’re not the only ones making it.
The Commune is the first book in this brand-new series.
This is an amazing start to the series.
Great story line and plot and fabulous twist on communes.
Really well written characters and can't wait to see how they develop further.
Looking forward to the next in series!
Highly recommend reading.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
November 7, 2019
My fault.
Could not get interested in this book. Tried but not one I liked. Felt sorry for the characters and am sure others will like it.
Could not get interested in this book. Tried but not one I liked. Felt sorry for the characters and am sure others will like it.
July 30, 2019
I received a digital ARC from the author for an honest review
This genre is new to me. AND I like it. This is a dystopian tale that includes Zombies or the Rages. They are a problem , but, the Reavers (gangs on motorbikes) are worse and I'm thinking Mad Max, loved it.
Then, in comes the Monster (whom we met earlier) again. He is even worse than the Reavers, I love it, you think you have it figured out and what??? ...here comes something meaner. Through it all the young characters try to remain a head of the curve and they do so realistically and with a little humor thrown in.
I like the direction this story is going and I look forward to continuing the journey in the next book in this series
This genre is new to me. AND I like it. This is a dystopian tale that includes Zombies or the Rages. They are a problem , but, the Reavers (gangs on motorbikes) are worse and I'm thinking Mad Max, loved it.
Then, in comes the Monster (whom we met earlier) again. He is even worse than the Reavers, I love it, you think you have it figured out and what??? ...here comes something meaner. Through it all the young characters try to remain a head of the curve and they do so realistically and with a little humor thrown in.
I like the direction this story is going and I look forward to continuing the journey in the next book in this series
July 13, 2019
Another fabulous story by Charlie Dalton. This one concentrates on a ragbag group of survivors after meteorites hit the earth and release a deadly or undeadly virus they call the rages. Throw into the mix a mysterious girl who is found wandering in the desert alone and a group of scavenger hunters and you get a fast action post apocalyptic thriller of a tale. The characters and landscapes of this futuristic land are well described as is the relationship between all the gangs. Can’t wait for the next book in this trilogy.
July 20, 2019
This is an incredible read. Dystopian setting lots of action great characters pretty good world. And Aliens so maybe it's a bit scy fy also.
This is one of the types of books that starts off a t a pretty good clip and by the end of the book you realize that you are not able to put it down. As you hanging on the back of your chair just trying to catch a breath.
Truly enjoyed the book and can't wait to see where we are heading with the series. I was given a copy of the book for an honest review. This in no way has influenced this review. I think everyone will enjoy this book
This is one of the types of books that starts off a t a pretty good clip and by the end of the book you realize that you are not able to put it down. As you hanging on the back of your chair just trying to catch a breath.
Truly enjoyed the book and can't wait to see where we are heading with the series. I was given a copy of the book for an honest review. This in no way has influenced this review. I think everyone will enjoy this book
July 15, 2019
A small community living precariously in a post-apocalyptic world fending off roaming zombie-like creatures. They rescue a young girl in the desert but by doing so, they could be sealing their own doom as she is being hunted by something that doesn't seem quite human. This is a great story with lots of moral dilemmas and likable characters. This is a great start for a beginning of series and I can't wait to see what happens next.
July 15, 2019
Not as advertized
The book takes a while to get started. Nothing but humans fighting each other Mad Max style. No mention of any city until almost the ending.
The book takes a while to get started. Nothing but humans fighting each other Mad Max style. No mention of any city until almost the ending.
September 23, 2019
Wow what a new way to write a book. The setting of the battles between 3 species was great. It will keep your interest to the end.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews