As the world-wide effects of the apocalyptic scenario continue to develop, tough decisions must be made for the sake of humanity itself.
Tired of the usual post-apocalyptic story? Welcome to your new addiction.
An underwater explosion devastates a chain of islands.
A mysterious illness begins to spring up across the world.
Earthquakes shatter the west coast, causing untold damage and loss of life.
To the ordinary observer, these events appear random and coincidental - but for some they're all pieces of a global puzzle that leads to one conclusion: the end of humanity.
In a desperate race against time, the survivors must not only survive but learn to adapt to an insidious set of foes, each more dangerous than the last.
With over 50 published books across ten genres, author Tara Ellis is best known for her heart-pounding post-apocalyptic and thriller series. A heavy dose of mystery often underscores her character-driven plots, heralding back to what fueled her desire to tell stories from an early age.
A certified firefighter in the state of Washington, Tara volunteered as a FF/EMT for over eight years. She also responded as a support officer, worked as an emergency room technician, was a 911 dispatcher, and taught life-saving techniques to the public and first responders. As an author of thriller and survival stories, she draws upon her personal experience throughout her storytelling.
Tara lives in the gorgeous Cascade Mountains of Washington State. When not writing or spending time with family, she can be found hiking the woods while plotting her next adventure.
*Join Tara's newsletter on her author website: Tara Ellis Books
*Check out her women's literature and mysteries under the pen name of Tara Meyers
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Check back for upcoming dates for public appearances and book signings!
Coming this year, in 2025:
*A new post-apocalyptic series with Aethon Books, The 6th Extinction, releases in April
*A new thriller series co-authored with L.T. Ryan was announced to release later this year!
*The third and final book in The Fallen series, The Redeemed, is coming this summer
*Several new audiobooks will go live throughout the year
Check back for upcoming dates for public appearances and book signings!
Wow. Underwater explosions, mysterious illness and an earthquake. What else could possibly go wrong. Intriguing as always and gripping for sure. Another book in the series to keep you reading.
Well if things were not bad enough for our different groups, there is an airborne prion-like pandemic underway now. While it is true, prions in our world are not airborne, this makes the activity of ICONS even more sinister. I appreciated the opportunity to learn about Methane Clathrate as I had not heard of this. I find Mads an interesting antagonist, a female bad-guy in a genre that does not have many. She is refreshingly complex; she is quite selfish and unscrupulous but also a scientist trying to determine exactly what is going to happen. Just don't get in her way. The editing has been pretty good but there was one major issue in that regard. When the group at Hills AFB are making their escape, Theresa's husband Bill suddenly has the name Eric (who is Jess's father). He lately becomes Bill again, no doubt to his relief. Still this is something that should have been caught.
Like all great ladies, Mother Nature doesn't expect to be interfered with, so when humans with their machines penetrate her where they're never dared to before, her reaction is violent and widespread. Has mankind triggered its own extinction?
Layers of Extinction, Mike Kraus and Tara Ellis's all-too-believable second novel in their Extinction series, follows the MCs situated in a wide variety of global locations, through many dangerous situations on a global rollercoaster ride of emotions and struggles for survival, against the worst natural disasters ever known to mankind. What's the ICONS' motivation? Who's their boss? How will a research laboratory cope with a rapidly- spreading prion infection they have no diagnosis nor vaccine for? How many will die from that, or the fallout from the massive tsunamis, eruptions, methane gas or ash clouds, let alone failing human resources amid treachery and betrayal by self-serving world leaders and their enforcers? Is there any hope of survival and a full recovery after all the destruction of lives, homes and technology?
A riveting, heart-pounding, pantheon of possibilities is here, in a what if...? scenario, that's right on the point of becoming fact rather than fiction, with its gritty portrayal of what could potentially take place, as Nature fights back against her violators. We can well accept this warning, given the dreadful tolls taken in the past year, (and still ongoing) Covid-19 pandemic and its frequent mutations, that seem unending and unpredictable. Ignore Layers of Extinction, by the prescient pairing of Mike Kraus and Tara Ellis, at your peril...and grab a copy while you still can!
An enthralling read! During this, the second book in the series, I realized what a brilliant and complex storyline this book has. The authors had to learn about pandemic diseases, emergency medicine, volcanoes, animal behavior, world geography and much more. I am very happy to begin the next installment in the story.
There certainly are layers of extinction, coming together and linking into a world wide chain of death. And people are dying. This is a story that needs the tissues handy. And it’s only the beginning of the end for humanity. Most exciting stuff!
Unexpected Events - Waiting for Next Book for Outcomes
This was a great read. The introduction of the prion disease changed everything for everyone. Looking forward to the next book as this one ended with this reader wantingto know w what happens next.
Kra Peru, or the Kuru. Hidden deep in the layers of the earth for millennia. Now expelled into the waters, atmosphere along with the earthquakes,Tsunamis. An illness like no other. Then Yellowstone erupts but not yet the big one.
I love Mike Kraus and his amazing ability to write so many post apocalyptic series that are so different, and that he teams up with other writers.This one does not disappoint - the earth fighting back against humanity. I really like the scientific introduction Mike includes, with the story being the "What if this happened?" Off to pre-order book 3..........
I liked the preface in the beginning where each previously introduced character had a short synopsis. More enjoyable than having plots reexplained within the story.
Another greedy corrupt corporation, more concerned about increasing their wealth than saving human life. A tale in which once again humanity is brought to the brink of extinction.
It is an entertaining story, but confusing when the writer uses incorrect names for characters. Many places the the writer used the name Eric when referring to Tyler’s father Bill. Eric is Jess’s dad in south America.
This is a really good series. This book deals with all the characters dealing with the pandemic. Everyone is dying while our friends are fighting to stay alive and keep away from the infection. Some are immune. Some are not. And others recover. But they are different when they wake up. Not zombies. There are no zombies in this series. They are just different than they were before the infection. Really interesting take on the apocalypse.
Jess is stuck in the Amazon, her father sick and others dead. Peta and Devon have managed to escape the destruction of the Yellows tone eruption, but where can they go? Jason is immune to the new plague enveloping the world. Can anyone help them? A must read for all lovers of the apocalypse.
What happens when the greed of men overpowers 'mother nature'? One action begins a chain of geologic events followed by a biological event. What was so important that the hired help had to be kept from divulging their role in the event? Science lovers will enjoy the blending of the different points of view.
I was a little invested in a couple characters from the first book. If not for that I would not of continued reading the series. I'm glad I did... Now, on to the next...
I let, myself get so engrossed in this book that I couldn't put it down. When I read apocalypse stories I always put myself in the story and this captivated me. Great book and I recommend reading.
I’m enjoying the story so far. The characters are likeable and we hope that things will get better, but for that to happen, things will need to get far worse…
After the MOHO explosion causing V8 eruptions and 9.3 earthquakes the survivors learn that they are not over the worst of it yet as a deadly virus is unleashed and not everyone will survive unharmed.
Peta is tasked with finding out what is causing the spreading disasters but after finding out that ICONS are not who they portrayed themselves to be Peta and Devon go rogue and now on the run they have to find a way to stay alive.
Now in the Nevada plains after escaping the military in the midst of a Yellowstone eruption Tyler and his parents teamed up with Peta and Devon out of desperation and with already losing so much will the coming days take more from the young boy?
Jessica was fortunate to be tucked away on the Libi Nati Preserve in Suriname being one of a few to escape the original events unscathed, the local hot springs erupted into geysers and people began to fall ill including her father but when he wakes up he is not himself and Jessica has to turn to the local Lokono for help and they reveal the terrifying truth about the Kra Puru disease that the whole world is calling The Kuru.
Jason left Seattle trying to figure out how he was still alive when he had watched so many die from the disease while working in the hospital, he goes in search of a daughter he has never know while carrying a folder full of crucial information and trying to survive.
Mads worked with ICONS to try and cover up her guilt but she is blinded by the real threat as she works becoming infected with The Kuru, she is forced to choose what her final act will be, will she do good or be selfish?
This was a great 2nd instalment in the Extinction series and I cannot wait to see how it unfolds in book 3
Layers of Extinction is just as full-on a page-turner as the first book, if not more so. I think this is more gritty because we’re with the people involved, we are with them in their lives so it’s more up close. Everything is not as it seems. We are getting our eyes open in bits and pieces as we read. It’s all about power and money and that’s not a surprise to anyone, it’s what makes the world go round. It’s so good to read it just flows on very smooth. It’s a brilliant book. I loved it so please read it.