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The Age of Embers #5
The Age of Defiance
Familiar faces. Brand new alliances. An impossible enemy in their midst…
The Chicago survivors stagger into town on fumes. They’re injured, distraught and suffering from innumerable losses. At Rock’s homestead, however—in the midst of a new threat—Fire and the group reunite with family and take refuge with local survivors. Here they come to realize the enemy of humanity has been posing as one of their own: a human. No one really knows what this means. Some realize they've leapt out of the frying pan and into the fire, while others see an opportunity to exact revenge. But for the select few, it means both.
Vigilante justice just might nourish the battered soul, maybe even right a few wrongs, but one misstep could cost humankind its very existence. Through all of this, a bold new question emerges, one that will drive them toward the unthinkable: is Maria the key to their salvation, or will this unrelenting force lay waste to them all in her rise to power?
The Age of Defiance is the fifth and final book in this hard-hitting, no-punches-pulled post-apocalyptic EMP adventure series. If ever there was a time to brace for impact, it is with this blistering conclusion. You have been warned…
* NOTE: The Age of Embers Series can be read as a stand alone series or in addition to The Last War Series. Both of these series are written in the same universe on the same timeline and some characters will overlap, especially in the series finale, The Age of Defiance. With tens of millions of pages read, more than seventy-thousand books sold, and hundreds of five star reviews, The Complete Last War Series is the perfect compliment to The Age of Embers Series.
The Chicago survivors stagger into town on fumes. They’re injured, distraught and suffering from innumerable losses. At Rock’s homestead, however—in the midst of a new threat—Fire and the group reunite with family and take refuge with local survivors. Here they come to realize the enemy of humanity has been posing as one of their own: a human. No one really knows what this means. Some realize they've leapt out of the frying pan and into the fire, while others see an opportunity to exact revenge. But for the select few, it means both.
Vigilante justice just might nourish the battered soul, maybe even right a few wrongs, but one misstep could cost humankind its very existence. Through all of this, a bold new question emerges, one that will drive them toward the unthinkable: is Maria the key to their salvation, or will this unrelenting force lay waste to them all in her rise to power?
The Age of Defiance is the fifth and final book in this hard-hitting, no-punches-pulled post-apocalyptic EMP adventure series. If ever there was a time to brace for impact, it is with this blistering conclusion. You have been warned…
* NOTE: The Age of Embers Series can be read as a stand alone series or in addition to The Last War Series. Both of these series are written in the same universe on the same timeline and some characters will overlap, especially in the series finale, The Age of Defiance. With tens of millions of pages read, more than seventy-thousand books sold, and hundreds of five star reviews, The Complete Last War Series is the perfect compliment to The Age of Embers Series.
342 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2019
121 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 6, 2020
Review of all 5 books in series
There's something in the writing trying to break through and be solidly good, but just couldn't manage it. Possibly, readers without my life experiences and massive numbers of books and authors read will love the series and flood with 5 stars.
I just can't and have actually struggled with it since book 1. I would never have read whole series if it wasn't free on Kindle Unlimited, the riots hadn't started to peter out and Covid hadn't curbed a fair bit of recreational activity.
Maybe it's a little neurotic, but I could provide a multi-page review/critique/editing notes, but have a hard time finding specific good elements to balance all that. Weird, since the overall impression was a solid series that unfortunately, swung and missed. Respect the swing, though.
Characters really needed more depth. You see glimpses of depth with Fire, but mainly spend time hating his 1st person, tenses switching narration and waiting for his full on schizophrenia to take effect. His wife is a super bitch. You get glimpses of Brooklyn and really nothing of Orlando.
With Ice, you learn facts about him, but don't really ever get to know him. Same with his Eliana and her cousin, Carolina, whom you never get to know even a small piece.
You are told things about Rock and Maisie, but don't really see any depth there, either.
Draven is pretty dope as a character, except for his going from college age book 1, (he comments being maybe 4 yrs older than 17-18 yo Brooklyn), to being close to 30 by book 3. He also gets dumber and worse at fighting as the series moves along.
Weirdly, the villain cyborg was probably the best developed character. Carver was the very flawed and tortured hero, but you didn't get much development besides angst with his character.
I would have loved to have seen some chapters from One's/Sally's viewpoint and development of her character. A prime opportunity would have been when the voodoo dude poisoned Maria and One/Sally caught him and helped him escape.
None of Rock's homestead peeps are fleshed out as characters, in the least. Pretty 2 dimensional, all in all.
A few things bothered me the most, detracting enough from the story to keep it from 4 stars. The premise is good, but I think the author could have really benefited from reading Jaynes manuals for military aircraft and munitions. Either he didn't research or he did and let his imagination get so far away, it was jarring and made suspension of disbelief quite difficult.
While we know drones can be hacked, it's been done, there's absolutely no way they could be loaded with munitions (bombs, missiles, ammunition) without humans. They definitely would never get RELOADED after the first sortie of death around the country. There's such a chain of human processes involved in generating sortie missions (manned or unmanned) and it involves so many humans, it just doesn't work. It has to be based a little in reality to be able to suspend disbelief.
The drone plotline drove me barking mad until the EMP finally hit. But, that brought a whole host of other plot and character irritations. The main problem being all characters are too stupid to live. Especially the freaking Chicago crew.
Let's wait forever to leave one of the top ten hellholes of America, to ensure some of our own to suffer death and destruction. Just so we can leave with nothing and totally demoralized and somewhat ambivalent.
Then, let's purposely do stupid thing, after stupid thing, including traveling interstates and big cities and be the absolute worst scroungers ever. They didn't even bother to find an Atlas and mark alternate routes.
They didn't catch rainwater to drink or collect Lake Michigan in as many containers as possible, or the Mississippi River, or the Missouri River, etc. They only fished once.
Also, there's no way they traveled through Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming and couldn't amass an ammo stockpile. Lake City (IL), Black Hills Ammo (SD), Hornady (NE), all manufacturers. They make truly massive amounts of ammo.
I get wanting to make your characters underdogs, survivors against all odds. Unfortunately, that desire led to some very stupid protagonists. Very little common sense and very little actual, realistic prepping/traveling.
One thing I did actively dislike was the author's insistence on switching between 1st and 3rd person narration, as well as switching past and present tenses. Just scrape my literary nerves with a razor blade, why don't you?
Since I don't like being completely negative in reviews that are 3 stars or above, I will say I did like the premise of the series quite a bit. Probably because it's very easy for me to believe technology has seriously harmed humanity. Or rather, man's application of technology has caused and is causing terrific harm to humankind.
I could probably write at least a term paper on that subject, lol. It definitely resonated as a topic and was explained well. Not patronizing as so many tech convos can be.
There's something in the writing trying to break through and be solidly good, but just couldn't manage it. Possibly, readers without my life experiences and massive numbers of books and authors read will love the series and flood with 5 stars.
I just can't and have actually struggled with it since book 1. I would never have read whole series if it wasn't free on Kindle Unlimited, the riots hadn't started to peter out and Covid hadn't curbed a fair bit of recreational activity.
Maybe it's a little neurotic, but I could provide a multi-page review/critique/editing notes, but have a hard time finding specific good elements to balance all that. Weird, since the overall impression was a solid series that unfortunately, swung and missed. Respect the swing, though.
Characters really needed more depth. You see glimpses of depth with Fire, but mainly spend time hating his 1st person, tenses switching narration and waiting for his full on schizophrenia to take effect. His wife is a super bitch. You get glimpses of Brooklyn and really nothing of Orlando.
With Ice, you learn facts about him, but don't really ever get to know him. Same with his Eliana and her cousin, Carolina, whom you never get to know even a small piece.
You are told things about Rock and Maisie, but don't really see any depth there, either.
Draven is pretty dope as a character, except for his going from college age book 1, (he comments being maybe 4 yrs older than 17-18 yo Brooklyn), to being close to 30 by book 3. He also gets dumber and worse at fighting as the series moves along.
Weirdly, the villain cyborg was probably the best developed character. Carver was the very flawed and tortured hero, but you didn't get much development besides angst with his character.
I would have loved to have seen some chapters from One's/Sally's viewpoint and development of her character. A prime opportunity would have been when the voodoo dude poisoned Maria and One/Sally caught him and helped him escape.
None of Rock's homestead peeps are fleshed out as characters, in the least. Pretty 2 dimensional, all in all.
A few things bothered me the most, detracting enough from the story to keep it from 4 stars. The premise is good, but I think the author could have really benefited from reading Jaynes manuals for military aircraft and munitions. Either he didn't research or he did and let his imagination get so far away, it was jarring and made suspension of disbelief quite difficult.
While we know drones can be hacked, it's been done, there's absolutely no way they could be loaded with munitions (bombs, missiles, ammunition) without humans. They definitely would never get RELOADED after the first sortie of death around the country. There's such a chain of human processes involved in generating sortie missions (manned or unmanned) and it involves so many humans, it just doesn't work. It has to be based a little in reality to be able to suspend disbelief.
The drone plotline drove me barking mad until the EMP finally hit. But, that brought a whole host of other plot and character irritations. The main problem being all characters are too stupid to live. Especially the freaking Chicago crew.
Let's wait forever to leave one of the top ten hellholes of America, to ensure some of our own to suffer death and destruction. Just so we can leave with nothing and totally demoralized and somewhat ambivalent.
Then, let's purposely do stupid thing, after stupid thing, including traveling interstates and big cities and be the absolute worst scroungers ever. They didn't even bother to find an Atlas and mark alternate routes.
They didn't catch rainwater to drink or collect Lake Michigan in as many containers as possible, or the Mississippi River, or the Missouri River, etc. They only fished once.
Also, there's no way they traveled through Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming and couldn't amass an ammo stockpile. Lake City (IL), Black Hills Ammo (SD), Hornady (NE), all manufacturers. They make truly massive amounts of ammo.
I get wanting to make your characters underdogs, survivors against all odds. Unfortunately, that desire led to some very stupid protagonists. Very little common sense and very little actual, realistic prepping/traveling.
One thing I did actively dislike was the author's insistence on switching between 1st and 3rd person narration, as well as switching past and present tenses. Just scrape my literary nerves with a razor blade, why don't you?
Since I don't like being completely negative in reviews that are 3 stars or above, I will say I did like the premise of the series quite a bit. Probably because it's very easy for me to believe technology has seriously harmed humanity. Or rather, man's application of technology has caused and is causing terrific harm to humankind.
I could probably write at least a term paper on that subject, lol. It definitely resonated as a topic and was explained well. Not patronizing as so many tech convos can be.
February 11, 2021
Well now, out with a bang! The Chicago crew finally links up with Rock in California. Rock and Jill have built quite the survivalist community, and brothers Fire and Ice and crew join in quick. We finally get back to Maria and Carver who, along with "one" Sally, begin building an army. Maria makes Carver her boy toy. Maria really goes off the rails with her God complex, and I sort of lost track of what she was really planning. Turns out she just wanted to run the place as a God. Meanwhile she just scares the shit out of everyone who meets her. Carver and Maria and crew end up with the Cali gang, but Maria decides to kill a bunch of folks and skeedadle. Carver seeks help from old pal Draven to kill Maria. The first attempt fails, and for some reason, Maria's crew go after the Brothers' crew.
Oh....and for reasons known only to (the actual) God...there is a Haitian Voodoo dude with some odd super stealth power.
While the series was fun enough....it was too long.
Oh....and for reasons known only to (the actual) God...there is a Haitian Voodoo dude with some odd super stealth power.
While the series was fun enough....it was too long.
January 19, 2021
This was the conclusion of the Age of Embers series. We mainly follow the Maria/Carver line in this story with a smattering of Fire, Ice and Rock in parts. This was probably my least favorite of the series and I feel as though parts were repetitive. The ending does tie up the majority of the loose ends but it also kind of leaves it open to continue with a new series. We are also introduced to some new characters in this book and a short storyline about some new bad guys. There is a lot of action and fighting in this book and it would have been neat to intertwine some of this story into book 4 so we were getting both story lines at the same time.
I will definitely read more of Ryan Schow’s books and this was an enjoyable series to get through. I would give the series as a whole 5 stars, but this book only 4.
The Age of Defiance
Audible
Read 1/14/21-1/17/21
Four Stars
I will definitely read more of Ryan Schow’s books and this was an enjoyable series to get through. I would give the series as a whole 5 stars, but this book only 4.
The Age of Defiance
Audible
Read 1/14/21-1/17/21
Four Stars
November 3, 2022
I listened to this series on audible. It was narrated by Kevin Pierce. I really liked him.
The story is fantastical. A concept you won't willingly wrap your mind around. Then, the more you think about it, the easier it becomes to sink in to the story.
The story begins with an attack on America that is devastating and seemingly unstoppable. An EMP, or three, is set off and the attack stops, as well as lights, power, machines, computers, etc.
Post-apocalyptic America is brutal, but of course people persevere and survive.
Be warned that these books are very violent and gruesome. There is cartel violence, human trafficking, murder, rape, mutilation, and any other human depravity that comes to mind. All in horrid detail.
The story is fantastical. A concept you won't willingly wrap your mind around. Then, the more you think about it, the easier it becomes to sink in to the story.
The story begins with an attack on America that is devastating and seemingly unstoppable. An EMP, or three, is set off and the attack stops, as well as lights, power, machines, computers, etc.
Post-apocalyptic America is brutal, but of course people persevere and survive.
Be warned that these books are very violent and gruesome. There is cartel violence, human trafficking, murder, rape, mutilation, and any other human depravity that comes to mind. All in horrid detail.
December 27, 2022
Not as good as the previous books. I enjoyed books 1-4. This one seems to have taken a left turn somewhere. It felt like a different book and ignored the main characters from the series. It focused on the silver queen which I never cared for in the early parts of the books. Overall I liked the series but was disappointed with the end.
August 19, 2020
This one had lots of twists and turns but was still action-packed. Still concentrating on the characters. I have no idea how he managed to wrap up so many different parts and pieces. That shows what a great author Ryan Schow is.
April 17, 2024
Spoiler:
What happened to the Savannah chick that Maria met with? The story made it seem she was like Maria, but the series wraps up with getting rid of Maria and makes it sound like the world is saved. I don't like that.
What happened to the Savannah chick that Maria met with? The story made it seem she was like Maria, but the series wraps up with getting rid of Maria and makes it sound like the world is saved. I don't like that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2020
Boom!
Wow! A whirlwind of warriors whacking away at wickedness! What a windup of characters, locations & plots, terminating in a wild wrap up! What’s next in the series to come?
Wow! A whirlwind of warriors whacking away at wickedness! What a windup of characters, locations & plots, terminating in a wild wrap up! What’s next in the series to come?
August 14, 2022
Loved
I loved this book and series by Ryan Schow. I also loved these characters. I would recommend this book and all of this Ryan’s books. I listened to this book on audiobook.
I loved this book and series by Ryan Schow. I also loved these characters. I would recommend this book and all of this Ryan’s books. I listened to this book on audiobook.
December 10, 2025
Kind of a disappointing end to what started out as a very gritty story. Really a unsatisfying end, The entire series just seemed to run out of steam after the first couple of books.
February 13, 2020
Excellent series
Thoroughly enjoyed this series from beginning to end. Great characters, interesting conflicts and thoughtful solutions make for a story that is hard to put down.
Thoroughly enjoyed this series from beginning to end. Great characters, interesting conflicts and thoughtful solutions make for a story that is hard to put down.
October 9, 2019
What an ending.
What kind of twisted-imaginative mind can come up with this kind of story? What an exciting adventure I just had in a book.
Books teach. Books entertain. This whole series was like being on the ride at the top of the Stratosphere in Las Vegas. (Google it). Definitely enjoyed the book and the series. What sticks most in my mind is I want to learn how to fight dirty. I want to learn to fight like a pit bull.
Thought provoking quote for those in states with strict gun laws....
“No one’s got any ammo these days,” Rider complained. “Sign of the times.” “Sanctuary state,” Marcus said. “What did you expect?”
What kind of twisted-imaginative mind can come up with this kind of story? What an exciting adventure I just had in a book.
Books teach. Books entertain. This whole series was like being on the ride at the top of the Stratosphere in Las Vegas. (Google it). Definitely enjoyed the book and the series. What sticks most in my mind is I want to learn how to fight dirty. I want to learn to fight like a pit bull.
Thought provoking quote for those in states with strict gun laws....
“No one’s got any ammo these days,” Rider complained. “Sign of the times.” “Sanctuary state,” Marcus said. “What did you expect?”
October 11, 2019
Read! Read! Read!
Mind blowing series! Get ready because when you start to read this book you can't stop.. Ryan Schow you are an awesome writer!! I still can't believe how you brought all the characters together in this final book. The story has humor when the situation is available and unbelievable strength, fight, when needed. Again..Awesome, Excellent Series!
Mind blowing series! Get ready because when you start to read this book you can't stop.. Ryan Schow you are an awesome writer!! I still can't believe how you brought all the characters together in this final book. The story has humor when the situation is available and unbelievable strength, fight, when needed. Again..Awesome, Excellent Series!
October 24, 2019
The journey is over
This has been a road but it's finally come to an end. I've really become addicted to this series. The story of the beginning ends when the silver queen it's finally killed by our heroes. Looking forward to seeing how the rest of the world reacted to the apocalypse in the US.
This has been a road but it's finally come to an end. I've really become addicted to this series. The story of the beginning ends when the silver queen it's finally killed by our heroes. Looking forward to seeing how the rest of the world reacted to the apocalypse in the US.
October 31, 2019
Silver Queen
Bar none one of the best EMP series I’ve read. What’s even scarier is that Boston Dynamics is that playing with AI as I write. Anyhow, the teams all came together to give the Queen an a$$ whooping that quite frankly surprised me. Just goes to show that in a survival situation it takes many not one.
Bar none one of the best EMP series I’ve read. What’s even scarier is that Boston Dynamics is that playing with AI as I write. Anyhow, the teams all came together to give the Queen an a$$ whooping that quite frankly surprised me. Just goes to show that in a survival situation it takes many not one.
November 9, 2019
Amazing end to this series!
This series has been an emotional roller coaster! Ryan has the ability to create characters so real you can't help but feel that you know them and feel for them. I love that in the midst of all the chaos, destruction, and adversity, heroes rise up to do what must be done!
This series has been an emotional roller coaster! Ryan has the ability to create characters so real you can't help but feel that you know them and feel for them. I love that in the midst of all the chaos, destruction, and adversity, heroes rise up to do what must be done!
December 3, 2019
Ramping up for a great series!!
I love the character development in this book. Being able to understand the history of the people brings you that much closer to understand what drives them on through all the disasters awaiting them.
I’ve read the entire series, and just now had time to come back and review each book. You can’t stop reading!!!
I love the character development in this book. Being able to understand the history of the people brings you that much closer to understand what drives them on through all the disasters awaiting them.
I’ve read the entire series, and just now had time to come back and review each book. You can’t stop reading!!!
October 10, 2019
Outstanding
I am really glad that you didn't have to kill everyone. The survivors truly deserved to live. I know that you will continue to shock me and hope that your books are going to be great.
I am really glad that you didn't have to kill everyone. The survivors truly deserved to live. I know that you will continue to shock me and hope that your books are going to be great.
October 16, 2019
Awesome as always.
The series is done, so fulfilling, so amazing. I will miss my friends in the story but feel that they were left in a great place to start over.
Ryan is the most amazing author, thanks for the experience.
The series is done, so fulfilling, so amazing. I will miss my friends in the story but feel that they were left in a great place to start over.
Ryan is the most amazing author, thanks for the experience.
December 16, 2019
Rocking series!
I got off to a slow start with this series, but got more and more interested as it went on. The approach was different, and I found myself getting more and more invested in the characters. All,in all, a great series!
I got off to a slow start with this series, but got more and more interested as it went on. The approach was different, and I found myself getting more and more invested in the characters. All,in all, a great series!
October 21, 2019
Outstanding
This was a outstanding book in the series and I am sad that is the last one. I will start reading the next series shortly.
This was a outstanding book in the series and I am sad that is the last one. I will start reading the next series shortly.
October 21, 2019
What a tremendous ending
I’m exhausted just reading about Maria and the people she destroys and kills. Now I just hope to have a series about Ruby.
I’m exhausted just reading about Maria and the people she destroys and kills. Now I just hope to have a series about Ruby.
October 24, 2019
Great end to the series
Great wrap up to this series! The overwhelming message that I take away is that you need a community. You can’t do life by yourself.
Great wrap up to this series! The overwhelming message that I take away is that you need a community. You can’t do life by yourself.
November 5, 2019
This is a great series. Loved every minute of this journey...Super writer
November 14, 2019
Ryan Schow. My new favourite author.
November 27, 2019
Loved
Excellent ending to an excellent series. It tied everyone together. Pain heartache and triumph that you feel as you read. Will read more by this author
Excellent ending to an excellent series. It tied everyone together. Pain heartache and triumph that you feel as you read. Will read more by this author
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews