Powerless

EMP Survival in a Powerless World #25

by Carter Woods

The thin thread holding the civilized world together has been severed. Millions of citizens have been thrust into the unknown, breeding fear into the minds and souls of those seeking to survive.

After an EMP devastates the US power grid, two scientists are forced to protect their families while struggling to understand the event. As forces gather amid an almost total information blackout, the pair must race against time to save their loved ones.

302 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2021

Reviews

[Pam Shelton-Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had a decent, though not uncommon premise of an EMP. There were editing issues with punctuation etc (tracking through Dupont Circle?), and at one point Colonel Trevino becomes Colonel Treviso and then Trevino again. My biggest issue was that there were a number of parts of the plot that strain belief. For one thing, you have 2 Secret Service agents trying to get 2 teenage girls to safety, one being a high profile family member of the President-the group gets to Naval Observatory to find disaster has befallen the VP, but there are some other Secret Service and military etc still there. Nonetheless, they just wave goodbye with a Godspeed to the 2 agents as the 4 set off for the White House-what?? No help? Off the clock?? Then there are "rivers of people" converging on Lafayette Square to express their confusion, outrage etc. I live in the DC area and people here would be concerned and worried about getting home to their families and would not have their first instinct to head to the White House to complain and protest. The intrepid analyst Angela and her daughter make it to Andrews with the entire base mostly paralyzed and e just fine with sending her off with a ground pilot and both of their teenage kids. A critical mission ensues to find out who caused the EMP before the rather silly president just starts attacking the wrong country, but here is a HUMVEE and the best of luck guys. There is one and only one sat phone working for communication with the White House from the group trying to get the info needed. There is also a Russian government trying to stop a rogue group and they have a sat phone to find an agent to find another guy to try to jog to the White House and tell the president what is really going on? Really? That is your only recourse? And they are able to sweet talk a guard at the White House to get it? And the teenagers, literally at one point are called Rugrats. They always seem to have the correct answer and action when needed. Reminded me of South Park where the kids have to bail out the adults. On the plus side was Bronwyn Meeks of Lossiemouth, Scotland. She was a legitimate hero that didn't need teenagers to get the job done. Overall, this was not a bad effort but needs a lot more thought and polish.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story line taking place a few years into the future. The author even goes so far to mention the current pandemic in which we are currently living through. He seemed knowledgeable in the military information and how the chain of command works. An attack of this magnitude would be devastating to the US and the world. The story line is entertaining and fast paced enough to keep the reader engaged. The character development could have been a bit deeper. You only got the surface feel for each person and not any more. Overall he did tie up the end pretty well and did not leave any gaping holes with questions as to what happens.

[Hope Hatton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the book, not the Audible

I was reading this book simultaneously with listening to the Audible version.This is a great story, finally something that feels different in the EMP series! Politically- and Military-focused, great action, not too many characters to get confused with, and the ending wraps up neatly WITHOUT the reader left with dozens of questions. The Audible version however is painful to listen to. Bad accents for the characters, incorrect phrase pauses in the sentences, and phrases read twice often, as if the audio editing was somehow messed up. Read the book, you’ll love it, don’t listen the the audiobook!

[Michelle Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Just wow!

I loved this book. Yes, it's another EMP story, but this one is from a totally new perspective. This book was a very exciting page-turner! Put the world on the brink of World War WIII. It takes quite the mix of capable personnel - a very odd mix, to be sure - to keep that from happening.

Well worth your time!

[Catherine L. Chisholm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting

I found the book completely believable. The main characters were well developed and believable. I really liked the ending. A stand alone book. It did not leave me hanging and wondering what happened to the characters.

[Jackie Whitley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pratt/Russian chapters BORING

What happened to Will ?
The Pratt/Russian chapters are boring.
EMP recovery takes years & years & years & years.

[Diane Waddell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unknown heroes

Really a good smooth read, formidable characters, as well as a few surprise ones. Not the typical EMP novel but a look from a different perspective angle.

[Deborah Joy Havens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerless EMP

This book has a fast paced plot and fascinating characters. Most of setting is in Washington D C. And in the surrounding areas.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book started out super slow and I felt like it was dragging along. At a little past half way the storylines started to come together and started to make more sense. After finishing, I would give it a pretty good star rating. Enjoyed the second half.

[Linda Linford]

Good concept / poor writing and development

I plowed through it, but as the language got worse and the story progressed with less believability it got harder to want to finish. Half way through I just started scanning the pages for anything that looked plausible. I did like the epilogue for which this book received a star.