The situation around the Sanders’ farm is bleak, and likely to remain that way. A region trying to right itself after an incredible disaster is now hit once again. This time, it may well be a knock-out blow for many. The farm is still running, still surviving and still trying to get things restarted. Isolation has been the only preventative for the plague, however, and this leaves them with little to no news of anything happening in the wider world, go or bad. That is about to change, because there are large changes coming for them, just as fast as they can go. The Fires of America seem to have truly burned out, leaving nothing more than a few Embers. But Embers can still burn….EXCERPTChristmas and New Year’s had come to the Sanders’ farm with little fanfare and no celebrations. Small groups gathered for mealtime and to be thankful for what they had, but there was no celebration as there had been the year before. There was no laughing, playing children, romping in the newly fallen snow. No merry making. There was in fact little enough to be merry about. The plague sweeping through the area had wreaked havoc on those who had survived so much since the disaster that was the Storm. Those who had made it through starvation, dysentery, violence and bloodshed had in the end fallen prey to a killer they couldn’t see, and ultimately couldn’t fight. Clay’s last orders from the Area Commander of the National Guard, Captain Adcock, were to close the farm to all traffic in order to preserve the resources the Sanders’ farm represented to the future, assuming any of them had one. No one had heard from Adcock or anyone else in over two weeks. The only information they had received from Jordan had been in the form of information passed on by a former constable who wanted food to try and make the trip south to safer conditions. If there was such a thing at this point. So, there had been no merry making. Instead, there was hard work. Including the training of all the school age children in how to survive in the new world they found themselves living in.-The truck rattled along the back road, wind whipping around the cab and buffeting the teenagers in the back. All were huddled together for warmth, packs clutched tight as they waited to arrive at their destination.Finally, with ears threatening to turn frostbitten in the windchill despite scarves and caps, the truck slowed and came to a stop.“End of the line, plebes!” Mitchell Nolan declared as he stepped out of the warm truck cab. “On the ground! Let’s go! Hustle!”Nathan Caudell, JJ Jackson, Seth Webb, Janice Hardy, Anthony Goodrum, Lila Webb and finally Millie Long all disembarked, slinging sparse packs onto their backs even as Mitchell continued to harangue them.“You’ve got a map, you’ve got a compass,” Mitchell told them. “You’ve got a sleeping bag, food and water for two days, and the ability and means to get more if you need it, providing you can manage it. You know your starting point, and there are eleven fixed navigation points along your way. You must identify them all and return to Building Two in forty-eight hours. Note that I say, ‘Building Two’, and not ‘the Farm’,” he stressed. “The farm is a huge area and Building Two is not near the edge.”“Once we leave, you are on your own,” he warned. “You better learn to depend on one another and to work together, and I suggest you do it in a hurry before you freeze to death, or starve to death, or the wolves get you. Any of the above happens, you will of course be given a failing grade for this excursion. Any questions? Excellent!” he clapped his hands without giving anyone a chance to ask. “Get moving! Clock starts now.
Fire From the Sky : Embers book 12 by N.C. Reed is a well written tell of a family who live together on a large family farm in Tennessee that have taken in friends, neighbors, and acquaintances along with a number of people from their community as well as National Guard members that have been called upon to try to restore somewhat order in the aftermath of an solar flare that has taken out just about all electronics and placed that country back into the state of how it was prior to the 1800's.
The Sanders family and most of the people they have taken in have taken it upon themselves to do everything they can not only to protect those on the farm from those who would commit all kinds of violence against those who stand in the way to get or take what they want or destroy everything and everyone in their path. They also have to protect themselves from the masses of refugees that are fleeing from the city's carrying a deadly virus, and they themselves are also a violent lot.
This is a very good book that is just another addition to a great series. I have really enjoyed it so far and hope you will also.
I'm always glad for a new book in one of my favorite series and a chance to visit my old friends on the farm. There are a few editing issues, though not many, and some tendency to recap old storylines. This starts with a lot of action, more than we have seen with attacks and this is not without grief at the end of the battle. I was a little surprised that we saw very little of Shane and Jody, both major characters in previous books and also Brick, a crucial combatant in earlier strife, but not seen in this huge battle. I was glad to see Flores back with an adjusted attitude. One weakness in the series is that female characters are often portrayed as overly emotional and erratic and a complete puzzle to the male characters and we rarely get to see good well-balanced female characters. Flores seems to have turned around her attitude and become a good strong leader; the apocalypse will do that to you. In the same vein, I found myself very disappointed in Lainie. While she has had her share of episodes of some emotional over-reaction in prior books, she has also become a good balancing voice of reason for some of the more unreasonable characters like Angela and Abigail. She backslides badly in this book, after Clay asks her to manage the proposed trading post/store (remember she has a degree and experience managing a business). While that might overwhelming at first, her reaction is to become enraged at him to the extent of not allowing him in their bedroom. He told her she could say no to the proposal. Such a childish and vindictive over-reaction. Lainie's silliness aside, this was an excellent and solid addition to the series with a huge cliffhanger at the end.
My favorite series is fire from the sky. Truthfully any book from NC Reed is my favorite. I always know what I am getting. A damn good book . I have never been disappointed by this author . I might have had hated it when someone is killed and been mad as hell over crying my eyes out over it but in the end there's few books out that can make you love the characters and have heartbreak from losing them. A superbly written series no other can come close. I hope this series continues forever.
I have read over 600 books in just over 9 months this year. This series is my favorite of all those books. I have, as a matter of fact, read the first 11 books through three times. I will probably make that four times now that book 12 is out & I have read it.
The editing could be a little tighter. I’m not talking about the southern-isms that confuse this Yankee, but the minor errors like missing letters in a word or something similar. They drive me a little crazy (crazier?), but since it’s my only genuine quibble, that’s not too bad.
Well, ok, one more quibble: where the heck is Jody in this book?! He gets mentioned a couple of times, but has no lines or presence, which is a huge disappointment. He might not say much, but he has a huge presence in this world and I missed him. After what the author put him through in the last book, he deserved more attention! I understand that there are a few new characters, and I welcome them, but please don’t forget about the original characters who drew so many people into this world!
On to the good: it was quite a ride from beginning to end, with no real rest as the characters are often allowed. I thoroughly enjoyed my first (just a few hours) read & I look forward to a more thorough read soon… most likely as part of yet another excursion from the first book onward.
I highly recommend this series, especially if you’re a fellow veteran (we were 95Bs back when I was an MP, when did they switch to 31?).
Great Book, as always, one of my favorite writers, and I'm always happy to see his name come up on my email, that he has a new book coming out.
I honestly believe I have read everything so far, except maybe "Friggin Zombies" just found it yesterday and have not yet delved into it, I'm sure it will be just as exciting and hilarious as some of the others. Not that he writes funny stories, but has a dry sense of humor that comes through in some of his books.
Fire from the Sky, I can't imagine wanting anyone at my back better than Sanders, and his men and women. His entire family and the huge farm (ranch) is worth fighting for and he is willing to help but just as quick to put a threat down. I find that good in a person. Must read for post apocalyse fans.
You couldn't find a better person to write a series like this. And have it done in a way that it's like watching you and your family going through this. It's just like being there
I’ve waited months for this book to come out. Like thanksgiving,Christmas, my kids birthdays or my anniversary Oct 4th has been on my calendar for months. Unfortunately for the book it only made it 3 hrs into oct 5th before it was done. This story like all of me Reeds writings makes you feel like you have skin in the game. Like your in it together protecting the farm. And he makes you feel the loses and the triumphs as if they are your own. Every time one of NC Reed fire from the sky come out I tell myself I’m going to savor the book but it so good I attack it like a fat kid on a cake. Unfortunately for me and just like the military it’s Hurry up and wait for me.
Always takes me right back to the farm.spoiler alert!
The Sanders farm is a place of hope, even when they have lost people and shed blood to protect the people and goods which keep them alive, there is hope of new life and always moving forward. The addition of Isaac and his family was a step toward "normal" that Clay was hoping to reintroduce back into the farm. I have to admit I have been highly suspicious of Flores. The thought she had determined the only way to get control was from the inside. So far I have been proven wrong. As you can see the story is engaging, makes me want to read the next in the series and always willing to wait for that next book as long as need be.
I've read and enjoyed not only this book but the whole series. All are good though some of the dialog gets a bit repetitive at times . The biggest problem is editing. In many places the wrong word is used...thing such as "talk the line" instead of "walk the line". It's all works that a spell checker wouldn't catch but an editor would. I believe the author said editing was done by a group of friends. He should instruct them to actually read the words and then he should make the necessary corrections. Other than that I do not hesitate to recommend the entire series.
Note: I did like the Parno series more but both are good.
Another great addition to the series. This one brings home hard the realities that things do not go back to the way they were before. Without giving it away, there is the reappearance of a person who has learned hard lessons of survival. There are losses which are hard as a reader to see. I love the character development and that this is a story of the realities of surviving TEOTWAWKI. Looking forward to the next read. I do hope to see more about Lanie and Clay's family in the next one.
I have been along time waiting for this book. I'm so glad you are better in body and spirit. But I rated this a five because I liked the change up of battle first with all the suspense of what was going to happen to the main characters. Then the family moving in to make the story more rounded and all the new people added. I would recommend these books to anyone who likes a on going series of apocalypse war stories with a lot of suspense and surprises in the storyline
I've read all 12 books and although I don't normally like basically cliffhangers I have loved how these all flow very good into the next like a super great series you follow on TV. Anyway this series although basically from the males view is perfect for a man or a woman to really get into.
Only complaint is I knew when I finished book 11 that I needed to watch for book 12 but so far I haven't seen anything about if there is a book 13? ( book 12 ends with a cliffhanger)
Just loved it exactly as I expected to. Characters are really good as well as having an authentic feel. This is the sort of place I would like to ride out an apocalypse in.
I grew up on a farm in northern WV and we used horse drawn equipment that we owned forever. I have noted the remarkable safety record the farm has, being as everything on a farm tries to kill you on a daily basis. I am also an Army MP veteran. I only had the.options of military service, farm life, or the coal mine. One trip into a mine led me to the safety of Army life.
Mr Reed has done it again! A riveting story, one that has kept me up for the three nights . I cried, laughed, and was angry at the bad guys. The way the story was.started had me puzzled at first but as I was able to read further out was very well done The characters in the series all stayed basically the same as in the first book. Every time a new book is released I read book one again. The story line is that good!
So Mr Reed, please keep writing, just like all of your other work !!!
Some new characters have joined the farm, I can sense the importance they may bring to future books. All the usual characters are here and moving forward with their lives, in spite of the chaotic world they have been thrown in to. I feel a real connection to the people and story,it just seems so REAL! I cannot we for the next book, and if you are reading this Mr. Reed, please never stop the story!!!
This was a great addition to the series. People are becoming desperate just as Clay said they would and the folks living at the Sanders farm find out first hand. The emotional pain of losing a friend was done very well. It was a nice touch to see a certain Lt. come back to help and humbled. As usual I read this all the way through, too good to stop. I look forward to the next book and the challenges coming. Excellent series
I always anxiously await a new book in the Fire From the Sky series and can't put it down once I start reading. My family knows to leave me alone until I finish the book. As a retired Army NCO, I find the military action and the interaction between the soldiers so true to life. It's like being back in my unit. I am now fully immersed in the Sanders' community. I would recommend this series for all readers across all genres!
I got started on this series when the first volume came in Kindle and have eagerly anticipated each new installment. My wife who is normally into the historical romances has even gotten into this series. As I’ve often said - I do not feel comfortable or qualified to critique a hard working writers work but I know what I like and I love this series and Embers was a great read
I am being continually amazed by the plot twists an turns in this series of books. I truly had expected the quality of the story line to drop off as this series has grown. It has not , and from what I have read so far in this book it is just going to get more enjoyable with each page. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have . Now comes the hard part for me, waiting on the next book in the series to come out!
Just finished this book and realized I've not stopped reading this series until I came to the last page of this one. Usually I get "tired" of prepper series after two or three books but Reed held my interest all the way. Good stories, believable actions and activities, likeable characters, some romance but not overwhelming, commonsense prepping and farming, you fight alongside the defenders of the farm and are saddened by the losses. I recommend.
Wow! This series just keeps getting better. The author show patience in building, evolving & destroying this world & the characters over all these books. I couldn't put this one down. Action packed & so much going on. Definitely a few plot holes, but that's to be expected in a series this long & in no way detracts from the story. I'm totally invested in finding out what happens next!
NC read is one of my top authors. However I think this series getting a little long in the tooth. I just don't have the felling for the characters like I use too. Author my try starting a new series or adding to stormcrow series. Book one of this series one of my favorite so just looking for that greatness again.
The Sanders family! WOW what more really needs said. Fantastic on going saga and already waiting for the next installment!! The only downside - the waiting. Laugh, cry and rage all in one sitting. N.C. Reed is one fabulous author! Thank you once again.
It's been a long trip with Clay and his people (12 books and (hopefully) counting). Clay keeps hoping things will "normalize", but doesn't take human nature into consideration. Humanities " natural " state is chaos and nothing can change that (not even fire from the sky)
This is the best series I have ever read. This last entry, "Embers", just keeps the tradition going! Losing some of my favorite people was heart-breaking, but I guess it had to happen. I would recommend this entire series to any one and every one, especially those who like post-EMP tales. Mr. Reed is my favorite author and I hope he continues this series for a long while.
I love this series once I start it is almost impossible to stop reading until I am done with it. Keep up the good work. From an old Army vet first combat tour was 90\91 Desert-storm my final combat tour Afghanistan 11\12 retired 2014 thanks for the reads David Davis “oldman”
This book is intense. I started to read it only meaning to read a chapter or two and ended up reading 50% of the book ( not good when you have to be up for work 😂😂) . The Sanders farm is attacked by a massive army . They will fight to death for what they have fought hard to build. Some old faces return and there are some big losses for the farm . Will they survive? Read it and see!
I love this genre but have rarely read a series over three books long. Most seem to try to stretch two or three books into five or six by adding the same fight in a new setting.rinse,wash,repeat. This series kept my interest through all 12 books and can't wait for the next one I love the characters and the story is believable and interesting
I couldn't wait for this book to come out. When I finished #11 , I read all the other books by the author. Parano Company I got a taste of the future. This book takes us one step closer. The only thing that I thought ESA's not realistic is the lack of babies. Looking forward to more to come.