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Worthless
The world ended; the Night killed it.
X, poor and illiterate, is trapped living in the Slums of the last remaining city, only venturing out beyond the towering walls to scavenge relics of the old world when the sun is up. At night, like everybody else, he hides inside from the lethal shadows, until an unexpected death happens a little too close to home. Now, with the blame on his shoulders, and trigger-happy guards on his trail, X has no choice but to run.
But, the city was never a safe place to begin with, not really, and his only slim chance of survival lies outside the walls, in a landscape empty of humanity – and full of the shadows that wiped it out.
Out now!
X, poor and illiterate, is trapped living in the Slums of the last remaining city, only venturing out beyond the towering walls to scavenge relics of the old world when the sun is up. At night, like everybody else, he hides inside from the lethal shadows, until an unexpected death happens a little too close to home. Now, with the blame on his shoulders, and trigger-happy guards on his trail, X has no choice but to run.
But, the city was never a safe place to begin with, not really, and his only slim chance of survival lies outside the walls, in a landscape empty of humanity – and full of the shadows that wiped it out.
Out now!
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About the author
Carter J. Thompson
9 books13 followersCarter writes books, drinks coffee, and obsesses over shoes; just don’t ask him to do that all at the same time – he’s terrible at multi-tasking. And punctuation.
Hailing from the Canadian Maritimes, he’s been from far north to far south in North America, and even to the other side of the world, but is now living in Vancouver BC with his smart, beautiful, and wonderful wife (yes, she could be reading this).
Writing somewhere between science-fiction and fantasy, he loves a good story, including his latest series Against the Night.
Hailing from the Canadian Maritimes, he’s been from far north to far south in North America, and even to the other side of the world, but is now living in Vancouver BC with his smart, beautiful, and wonderful wife (yes, she could be reading this).
Writing somewhere between science-fiction and fantasy, he loves a good story, including his latest series Against the Night.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 27, 2021
The endless night occured and the world ended.
X lives in the slums of Haven. He goes outside the walls of Haven during the day, to scavenge in the ruins of the old world for items he can sell. It is not safe outside the walls as there are dangerous creatures. It is also unsafe at night because Darklaws are present and they can rip you to pieces. Darklaws cannot live in the light so everyone sleeps with lights on.
After an incident which occurs at his home and could get him into a lot of trouble, X decides to escape Haven. As he is preparing to leave, he meets and rescues Nia. She follows him and begs him to take her with him when he leaves the city. She has credits and helps pay for the items they will need.
This is a Post-Apocalyptic road trip amongst monsters and the supernatural.
I absolutely loved this book. It was well written, exciting and hard to put down. The ending was unexpected. I am going to find it hard to wait for the next episode of this story.
I recommend this book.
X lives in the slums of Haven. He goes outside the walls of Haven during the day, to scavenge in the ruins of the old world for items he can sell. It is not safe outside the walls as there are dangerous creatures. It is also unsafe at night because Darklaws are present and they can rip you to pieces. Darklaws cannot live in the light so everyone sleeps with lights on.
After an incident which occurs at his home and could get him into a lot of trouble, X decides to escape Haven. As he is preparing to leave, he meets and rescues Nia. She follows him and begs him to take her with him when he leaves the city. She has credits and helps pay for the items they will need.
This is a Post-Apocalyptic road trip amongst monsters and the supernatural.
I absolutely loved this book. It was well written, exciting and hard to put down. The ending was unexpected. I am going to find it hard to wait for the next episode of this story.
I recommend this book.
February 10, 2021
Fast-paced read with a stubborn, every-day character who battles the Night itself--and accidentally finds himself becoming a unique kind of hero. Get ready to jump straight into the next two books in the series; the ending leaves you hungry for the next one. Great read!
October 25, 2021
Wow wow wow wow.
I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for a fair review. This in no way influenced my rating, even though I fully admit I have extra love for a book I get to read before anyone else gets the chance to spoil it for me.
So let me start off with the fact that the pacing in this book is a wild ride on a dark desert highway on X’s motorcycle. From start to finish, this is the action thriller/horror/fantasy you’re looking for.
What I loved:
The very beginning-it yanks you in and catches you by the throat.
X and Nia. Two really cool main characters who kept me moving with them all through the book.
The Darklaws. Creepy and unique—they reminded me of the episode of Dr. Who with the darkness.
The twists. Not going to spoil them for you, but they’re fun.
Rav! Best creepy wolf pet ever!
What I wanted more/less of:
MORE: Nia’s POV! I really loved the hospital scene told from Nia’s point of view, and I’m hoping to see much more from her side in Book 2. (Please, by the Prophet’s lily white ass, let her be in Book 2.)
MORE: Moments in the romantic part of Nia’s and X’s relationship. There were great moments that built it, but when it finally got there we got a lot of people talking about “picnics” (if you read it you get it) but no full scenes where the picnic is going on or even a hint of the picnic basket getting packed. I suspect this was a choice by the writer, and it’s a perfectly valid one, but I felt like as a reader I had to assume a liiiiittle too much.
MORE: Crazy Pete! I wanted more of the guy who walks around with a grenade and no pin.
Bottom line without spoiler: I highly recommend it.
Bottom line with SPOILERS AHEAD:
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I highly recommend it. BUT beware this book isn’t a HEA type of book, and it’s part of a planned trilogy, so don’t go into it looking for a one and done story because that won’t be possible here.
I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for a fair review. This in no way influenced my rating, even though I fully admit I have extra love for a book I get to read before anyone else gets the chance to spoil it for me.
So let me start off with the fact that the pacing in this book is a wild ride on a dark desert highway on X’s motorcycle. From start to finish, this is the action thriller/horror/fantasy you’re looking for.
What I loved:
The very beginning-it yanks you in and catches you by the throat.
X and Nia. Two really cool main characters who kept me moving with them all through the book.
The Darklaws. Creepy and unique—they reminded me of the episode of Dr. Who with the darkness.
The twists. Not going to spoil them for you, but they’re fun.
Rav! Best creepy wolf pet ever!
What I wanted more/less of:
MORE: Nia’s POV! I really loved the hospital scene told from Nia’s point of view, and I’m hoping to see much more from her side in Book 2. (Please, by the Prophet’s lily white ass, let her be in Book 2.)
MORE: Moments in the romantic part of Nia’s and X’s relationship. There were great moments that built it, but when it finally got there we got a lot of people talking about “picnics” (if you read it you get it) but no full scenes where the picnic is going on or even a hint of the picnic basket getting packed. I suspect this was a choice by the writer, and it’s a perfectly valid one, but I felt like as a reader I had to assume a liiiiittle too much.
MORE: Crazy Pete! I wanted more of the guy who walks around with a grenade and no pin.
Bottom line without spoiler: I highly recommend it.
Bottom line with SPOILERS AHEAD:
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I highly recommend it. BUT beware this book isn’t a HEA type of book, and it’s part of a planned trilogy, so don’t go into it looking for a one and done story because that won’t be possible here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
July 10, 2024DNF'd at around 20%.
Not for me. Felt unoriginal and kind of generic but it's typically the type of stories I don't find interesting so I'm probably biased.
Not for me. Felt unoriginal and kind of generic but it's typically the type of stories I don't find interesting so I'm probably biased.
January 22, 2023
I wish this wasn't only available as an audiobook. Grant, I rarely use audiobooks and it was refreshing to know that I could multi-task while listening. However, it would have been easier to read past the sections that were slower if it was available in print or as an ebook.
Some cliché lines, as well as a few awkward ones (take a shot every time someone asks "What do you mean?") and I thought the world building was a little confusing, alot of questions that seem unanswered to me, but maybe that's the point.
The action scenes I thought were written very well and were easy to picture, and the main characters were likeable. I wish there was more information given about X's background, but I am assuming that will appear more in the later books, which I honestly don't think I will get into. I also really appreciate the author not getting into the trend of "they don't get along at first but will later" and instead actually has the partnership between X and Naya be more realistic.
Unfortunately, between the action scenes, when information about the world isn't given, the pacing is quite slow, and I felt myself start zoning out during these parts frequently. Although what is nice is that if you zone out, it is easy to get back into the story once you start paying attention again.
Decent book, just a little too slow and the dialogue a little cringe sometimes. I probably won't be continuing the series. I have too many other books/series that I want to start.
Some cliché lines, as well as a few awkward ones (take a shot every time someone asks "What do you mean?") and I thought the world building was a little confusing, alot of questions that seem unanswered to me, but maybe that's the point.
The action scenes I thought were written very well and were easy to picture, and the main characters were likeable. I wish there was more information given about X's background, but I am assuming that will appear more in the later books, which I honestly don't think I will get into. I also really appreciate the author not getting into the trend of "they don't get along at first but will later" and instead actually has the partnership between X and Naya be more realistic.
Unfortunately, between the action scenes, when information about the world isn't given, the pacing is quite slow, and I felt myself start zoning out during these parts frequently. Although what is nice is that if you zone out, it is easy to get back into the story once you start paying attention again.
Decent book, just a little too slow and the dialogue a little cringe sometimes. I probably won't be continuing the series. I have too many other books/series that I want to start.
Read
January 22, 2022Stupid
I can never understand why authors think it is so clever to make someone look and act incredibly stupid, to the point of being moronic. It took so much away from the story's credibility. X wasn't that stupid. How else was he able to survive so much before his escape with Nia.
But no, you had to make him look like a complete tosser, who seemed incapable of anything at the end.
Again, why did Rav have to die. A formidable team, and you threw that option right out of the story. What was the point of writing such a story in a ridiculous manner.
I will go on to read the trilogy, and because I paid for it!
But I also have no doubt now, that you will continue to belittle the character called X, and continue with his stupid demeanour. And lastly, why did you not give him a name at the end. Despite being carved up in x shape, he could have been given a name at last. Something that finally meant something to him. Not lastly however. What is it with the absurd nonsense of using NIGHT as an expletive. I really wonder at the minds of some of the authors I have read!!!
I can never understand why authors think it is so clever to make someone look and act incredibly stupid, to the point of being moronic. It took so much away from the story's credibility. X wasn't that stupid. How else was he able to survive so much before his escape with Nia.
But no, you had to make him look like a complete tosser, who seemed incapable of anything at the end.
Again, why did Rav have to die. A formidable team, and you threw that option right out of the story. What was the point of writing such a story in a ridiculous manner.
I will go on to read the trilogy, and because I paid for it!
But I also have no doubt now, that you will continue to belittle the character called X, and continue with his stupid demeanour. And lastly, why did you not give him a name at the end. Despite being carved up in x shape, he could have been given a name at last. Something that finally meant something to him. Not lastly however. What is it with the absurd nonsense of using NIGHT as an expletive. I really wonder at the minds of some of the authors I have read!!!
April 16, 2022
Things that go bump in the night are real, and our main character has more reason than most to be afraid of them, especially since he's bereft of shelter, and (unknowingly) traveling with the root of all of his troubles.
Of course, that trouble had no idea how bad it was for the slummers, and wants out of it all. This is a story that's been told before, but not quite like this. It's an interesting read, and I fully intend to read the next one in the series too.
If you're a horror fan, scifi lover, or just plain enjoy a good story, you might want to give this one a try.
Of course, that trouble had no idea how bad it was for the slummers, and wants out of it all. This is a story that's been told before, but not quite like this. It's an interesting read, and I fully intend to read the next one in the series too.
If you're a horror fan, scifi lover, or just plain enjoy a good story, you might want to give this one a try.
November 4, 2024
Excellent dystopian novel. THE Things that go bump in the night really want to kill you.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews