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After the Fall #1
Within the Flame
Global explosions bring society to a screeching halt. Governments crumble, citizens must fend for themselves, and chaos reigns.
James is a martial arts student visiting a city thousands of miles from home when the world explodes around him, surrounding him with destruction and death.
Charlotte is a young woman with a troubled past and a unique way with people. When society dies and chaos takes its place, her strengths prove invaluable both to her and the small group of survivors she leads.
In a world where the evil seize power and the morals of the good are tested by what they must do to survive, the search for safety becomes paramount. As this group struggles just to live another day, they discover one truth. In the world after the Fall, you grow stronger or you die.
James is a martial arts student visiting a city thousands of miles from home when the world explodes around him, surrounding him with destruction and death.
Charlotte is a young woman with a troubled past and a unique way with people. When society dies and chaos takes its place, her strengths prove invaluable both to her and the small group of survivors she leads.
In a world where the evil seize power and the morals of the good are tested by what they must do to survive, the search for safety becomes paramount. As this group struggles just to live another day, they discover one truth. In the world after the Fall, you grow stronger or you die.
382 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 6, 2020
39 people are currently reading
917 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 1, 2021
On a first date, with a woman who had already captured his heart, James and Charlotte are quickly confronted with the horror of a world being destroyed. Explosions erupt far and wide and as cities fall the couple are thrust into a post-apocalyptic existence where they are faced with dealing with a society gone mad with fear and violence. During their journey James and Charlie encounter many different people whose main focus is surviving in a challenging and dangerous world after “the fall”. However, James and Charlie, with their own unique set of skills, finds that their own budding relationship is failing, while other conflicts flare up in their survival community.
From the start this story will grip you with a romantic interest; where the characters are well developed and stimulating. Just as I settled into getting to know them, the world around them literally begins to blow up and it’s at this point that the story hooked me. In a post 9/11, pandemic world, it reminded me that life and love can end abruptly and if we are to survive after such a horrific nightmare, we will have to look to people like James and Charlie to bring us through the long days ahead. What is most interesting is the enduring minds of these characters and survivalists who work the land for food and safe shelter. It’s obvious that the author has knowledge in this aspect of the story and it wasn’t lost on this reader.
The one minor flaw in this read was one lingering question from the beginning of this story, that was left unanswered but I won’t mention it here as the answer may come in book 2. Jordan Crestwood has delivered solid talent in his first novel. I expect to read more books by this successful new author.
From the start this story will grip you with a romantic interest; where the characters are well developed and stimulating. Just as I settled into getting to know them, the world around them literally begins to blow up and it’s at this point that the story hooked me. In a post 9/11, pandemic world, it reminded me that life and love can end abruptly and if we are to survive after such a horrific nightmare, we will have to look to people like James and Charlie to bring us through the long days ahead. What is most interesting is the enduring minds of these characters and survivalists who work the land for food and safe shelter. It’s obvious that the author has knowledge in this aspect of the story and it wasn’t lost on this reader.
The one minor flaw in this read was one lingering question from the beginning of this story, that was left unanswered but I won’t mention it here as the answer may come in book 2. Jordan Crestwood has delivered solid talent in his first novel. I expect to read more books by this successful new author.
August 4, 2020
WOW!!!
This book Begins with a gentle fleet of a lamb and ends with a ROAR!!! I am anxiously looking for book 2
This book Begins with a gentle fleet of a lamb and ends with a ROAR!!! I am anxiously looking for book 2
January 9, 2021
While I question some of the survival acts, this is a gripping, though brutal, story.
December 4, 2020
When the world around you turns to chaos and everything you once relied upon is swept away, how do you cope with what is left? How do you survive in an almost alien landscape that is still your planet? Who can you trust and what alliances will be beneficial to help you rebuild?
These are some of the questions I contemplated while reading Within the Flame, a chillingly realistic perspective piece about surviving a cataclysmic event that turns earth into a dystopian nightmare. Lead character, James, is thrust into a situation where he not only needs to depend upon those skills he has, which he learned as a martial arts student, but those of others as well. Particularly, Charlotte, whom he meets after his world is turned upside down.
Charlotte and James follow a somewhat predictable story line, learning to deal with their new reality while exploring the developing feelings they have for each other. The other characters they, as we the reader, meet along the way are well-developed. Some are charismatic, some just plain annoying, much like the people we meet along our day to day lives. Its a satisfying story arc that has a few unanticipated twists.
With everything that is currently happening in the world, this tale of survival is almost too realistic for comfort. Entirely plausible, the action-driven plot leads to a somewhat anticlimactic ending, but leaves the door open for a sequel, which could expand on this beginning in many intriguing directions.
These are some of the questions I contemplated while reading Within the Flame, a chillingly realistic perspective piece about surviving a cataclysmic event that turns earth into a dystopian nightmare. Lead character, James, is thrust into a situation where he not only needs to depend upon those skills he has, which he learned as a martial arts student, but those of others as well. Particularly, Charlotte, whom he meets after his world is turned upside down.
Charlotte and James follow a somewhat predictable story line, learning to deal with their new reality while exploring the developing feelings they have for each other. The other characters they, as we the reader, meet along the way are well-developed. Some are charismatic, some just plain annoying, much like the people we meet along our day to day lives. Its a satisfying story arc that has a few unanticipated twists.
With everything that is currently happening in the world, this tale of survival is almost too realistic for comfort. Entirely plausible, the action-driven plot leads to a somewhat anticlimactic ending, but leaves the door open for a sequel, which could expand on this beginning in many intriguing directions.
January 24, 2021
I struggled with this book for most of it, though I managed to finish it. There are quite a lot of editing issues and the dialogue is often stilted and uses odd phrases, (like"we can speak of such things.)" There is some kind of attack that causes devastating explosions in Montana and apparently everywhere. We never really know the cause, though there is a vague reference to religious fanatics and that the world has fallen. No idea how any group could do that or why. The military shows and then leaves without much comment and the police stay awhile and then leave (with one officer just guarding the hotel). The two main characters and another group with Lindsey all take forever to decide to leave the city. For some reason, Charlotte is viewed as a leader, likely because most of the others don't want to take responsibility for any choices. Her idea of leading includes hysterically castigating James (with whom she has a tepid, romantic relationship), because a vicious group attacks and kills some of their group, even though James stayed behind to make sure she and others could escape. Her bad attitude causes another acerbic group member to accuse and attack James and Charlotte's conclusion is that they got it out of their system. Really Charlotte?? The bad guys are horribly one-dimensional and extremely cruel and brutal. One of Lindsey's group, even seeing how brutal Bert and his guys are, decides to work with them since they promise to not hurt his daughters. They aren't monsters, after all. Really, Greg? The only characters I rather liked were Melissa and Sandra. I won't find out what happens to them as I won't continue this series but hopefully they will go with James instead of Charlotte.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews