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The Messiah Caravan
She just killed the devil. Now there’s hell to pay.
When thirteen-year-old Plum Blossom guns down a deranged warlord, she finds his brother will stop at nothing to avenge his death.
Pursued across a post-apocalyptic frontier, Plum and her blind father will do just about anything to survive. Along the way they cross paths with a motley crew of sinners: religious cults, slave drivers and cold-blooded killers. Is salvation to be had in such a world?
Visceral, vibrant and violent, The Messiah Caravan is a parable of good and evil - and just how difficult they can be to tell apart.
When thirteen-year-old Plum Blossom guns down a deranged warlord, she finds his brother will stop at nothing to avenge his death.
Pursued across a post-apocalyptic frontier, Plum and her blind father will do just about anything to survive. Along the way they cross paths with a motley crew of sinners: religious cults, slave drivers and cold-blooded killers. Is salvation to be had in such a world?
Visceral, vibrant and violent, The Messiah Caravan is a parable of good and evil - and just how difficult they can be to tell apart.
271 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 4, 2020
13 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Rick Hughes
2 books4 followersRick Hughes is a fiction writer from Birmingham, UK. He likes nothing more than posing for photographs in front of brick walls pretending to be edgy.
He is the author of two novels, MAD MONKEYS! and The Messiah Caravan, which are available to buy on Amazon.
You can internet-bully Rick via his Facebook page: www.facebook.com/RickHughesAuthor
He is the author of two novels, MAD MONKEYS! and The Messiah Caravan, which are available to buy on Amazon.
You can internet-bully Rick via his Facebook page: www.facebook.com/RickHughesAuthor
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 27, 2020
The Messiah Caravan is an interesting post-apocalyptical story of a world that barely remembers the past. It has an old west feel in what is clearly the future after war has destroyed a lot of the land. The main characters, Plum Blossom and Martha, are tough as nails, while Plum's father, Cherry Blossom, is the ultimate showman/con-artist.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, and if I'm not mistaken, it's setting up for more to come. I would certainly enjoy reading more in this world. Mr. Hughes has a clear voice that is fairly consistent throughout. The characters are vivid and individual, creating a world feels real and all too possible.
I only gave 4 stars however, due to some editorial/stylistic choices (nothing distracting from the story), and because I had a hard time figuring out setting. In some cases it seemed like the southwest US, at other times, potentially somewhere in Africa, and with some random British vernacular thrown in, it could have been Australia (this seems most likely to me, given the characters and speech patterns). Perhaps the world wasn't Earth at all, though there were references to past Earth things. I personally like to know where things are taking place, but that's simply personal opinion.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, and if I'm not mistaken, it's setting up for more to come. I would certainly enjoy reading more in this world. Mr. Hughes has a clear voice that is fairly consistent throughout. The characters are vivid and individual, creating a world feels real and all too possible.
I only gave 4 stars however, due to some editorial/stylistic choices (nothing distracting from the story), and because I had a hard time figuring out setting. In some cases it seemed like the southwest US, at other times, potentially somewhere in Africa, and with some random British vernacular thrown in, it could have been Australia (this seems most likely to me, given the characters and speech patterns). Perhaps the world wasn't Earth at all, though there were references to past Earth things. I personally like to know where things are taking place, but that's simply personal opinion.
July 23, 2020
The descriptions are vivid and clear. The characters feel familiar - yet surprise you and themselves with intricate quirks, mannerisms and sharp dialogue that provokes interesting questions. Plum and Cherry’s haphazard journey makes the landscape of the story really 3-dimensional and enjoyable.
Rick Hughe’s world of survival hears people ask many of the questions our own world does and comes with the same ironic, poetic cynicism - it’s a well crafted narrative about people trying to learn who they are... and understand why others do what they do.
Highly recommend, some really memorable moments that would translate incredibly well to the big screen - will look forward to the next release!
Rick Hughe’s world of survival hears people ask many of the questions our own world does and comes with the same ironic, poetic cynicism - it’s a well crafted narrative about people trying to learn who they are... and understand why others do what they do.
Highly recommend, some really memorable moments that would translate incredibly well to the big screen - will look forward to the next release!
June 2, 2020
By far the best book I have read this year!
The narrative is captivating, with some powerful metaphors that create an incredible overall reading experience.
I couldn't help but notice some similarities with "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy; yet this book has a unique perspective on humanity, savageness and the struggle between good and bad. It raises a series of moral dilemmas, yet a plethora of questions remain unanswered.
I can see myself re-reading this book several times in this lifetime.
The narrative is captivating, with some powerful metaphors that create an incredible overall reading experience.
I couldn't help but notice some similarities with "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy; yet this book has a unique perspective on humanity, savageness and the struggle between good and bad. It raises a series of moral dilemmas, yet a plethora of questions remain unanswered.
I can see myself re-reading this book several times in this lifetime.
August 13, 2020
I'M A sucker for post apocalyptic literature. But after 80 or so pages of this, I gave up. Boring story. The two main characters were strange, bland and completely unrelatable and unlikeable. One is a 13 year old girl and the other is her father, a blind Jiggalo, what's not to like? The supporting characters are weird cult members. There was just no tension or interest in the story at all for me. Like a very weak, boring version of Mad Max without even a character like Mad Max to root for. Very disappointed.
October 26, 2022
Couldn't put this book down
Being a lover of autobiographies this is the first book of this genre that I've ever read. It definitely won't be the last. The character development was incredible and as such I found myself rooting for both good and evil at different stages of the story. The story shines a light on hope and on human kindness in a world where those things are long forgotten. I hope there are more books to come as this was a real page turner. Thank you to the author, what an incredible talent you have in eliciting reader's emotions. More please :-)
Being a lover of autobiographies this is the first book of this genre that I've ever read. It definitely won't be the last. The character development was incredible and as such I found myself rooting for both good and evil at different stages of the story. The story shines a light on hope and on human kindness in a world where those things are long forgotten. I hope there are more books to come as this was a real page turner. Thank you to the author, what an incredible talent you have in eliciting reader's emotions. More please :-)
June 29, 2020
I'm a huge fan of anything apocalyptic/end of the world/dystopian and this novel does not disappoint!
A vividly written story that follows a group of unique individuals as they struggle for survival in a harsh world that has almost forgotten it's humanity - a situation that is made harder when Plum guns down a deranged warlord - the devil - whose brother will stop at nothing to get his revenge.
An atmospheric, disturbing, dark story that has left me wanting more from this author
A vividly written story that follows a group of unique individuals as they struggle for survival in a harsh world that has almost forgotten it's humanity - a situation that is made harder when Plum guns down a deranged warlord - the devil - whose brother will stop at nothing to get his revenge.
An atmospheric, disturbing, dark story that has left me wanting more from this author
May 6, 2020
Great read
In a harsh post-apocalyptic future, Plum and her father Cherry leave their home to seek safety. We follow them through a plausibly discordant, selfish landscape where only the merciless survive. The reader is constantly looking for the light to shine. The tale ends leaving more questions than it answers, suitably unsettling and thought provoking.
In a harsh post-apocalyptic future, Plum and her father Cherry leave their home to seek safety. We follow them through a plausibly discordant, selfish landscape where only the merciless survive. The reader is constantly looking for the light to shine. The tale ends leaving more questions than it answers, suitably unsettling and thought provoking.
December 27, 2022
Like Mad Max but without the heroes; definitely grimdark (spoilers, everyone dies lol). An exercise in style over content, but there are a few interesting ideas in here. Almost too many ideas... If you've read something like R. S. Belcher's The Six Gun Tarot, then there are slight parallels between the two ..
November 26, 2022
This is how it's done
This was an epic tale that was brilliantly woven. A grand journey with a multitude of fantastic characters. This book should not be missed
This was an epic tale that was brilliantly woven. A grand journey with a multitude of fantastic characters. This book should not be missed
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews