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Lost Sanctuary #1
Downdraft
A storm of historic proportions. A man separated from his family. A deadly race against time to reunite - before it’s too late.
Tired of the usual post-apocalyptic story? Welcome to your new addiction.
A massive dust storm sweeps across the continental United States, dwarfing the storms from the 30’s and wreaking havoc on everything in its path.
As multiple states deal with catastrophic power outages, more storms roll across the country, killing millions and leaving vast swaths of the country virtually unlivable.
In the midst of the chaos, Derek Stagg must journey to reunite with his family on the opposite side of the country, hunted by a mysterious assassin and threatened by truly world-ending storms.
From the #1 best-selling post-apocalyptic author Mike Kraus, writing with best-seller Marcus Richardson, comes a terrifying post-apocalyptic survival thriller tale that's guaranteed to keep you up at night.
Lost Sanctuary is a 6-book post-apocalyptic survival thriller series from the authors of books like Broken Tide, Final Dawn, Surviving the Fall and Storm’s Fury. With a deep emphasis on characters and real-world science, this post-apoc tale will keep you reading well into the night.
Tired of the usual post-apocalyptic story? Welcome to your new addiction.
A massive dust storm sweeps across the continental United States, dwarfing the storms from the 30’s and wreaking havoc on everything in its path.
As multiple states deal with catastrophic power outages, more storms roll across the country, killing millions and leaving vast swaths of the country virtually unlivable.
In the midst of the chaos, Derek Stagg must journey to reunite with his family on the opposite side of the country, hunted by a mysterious assassin and threatened by truly world-ending storms.
From the #1 best-selling post-apocalyptic author Mike Kraus, writing with best-seller Marcus Richardson, comes a terrifying post-apocalyptic survival thriller tale that's guaranteed to keep you up at night.
Lost Sanctuary is a 6-book post-apocalyptic survival thriller series from the authors of books like Broken Tide, Final Dawn, Surviving the Fall and Storm’s Fury. With a deep emphasis on characters and real-world science, this post-apoc tale will keep you reading well into the night.
351 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 12, 2021
Downdraft Book 1
A great beginning to another great series. This ones about a crazy dust storm. I really like the story so far. I hope Grandpa can get home in time to save his wife!
A great beginning to another great series. This ones about a crazy dust storm. I really like the story so far. I hope Grandpa can get home in time to save his wife!
October 6, 2021
Another awesome story. A massive sand storm, full of danger. The book has you gripped so that you can’t stop reading until you find out what happens. Fast paced, with loads of action. A great beginning to a new series.
March 25, 2024
**Great start to what I hope is a promising series**
I'm all about apocalyptic stories whenever I can get my hands on 'em. EMPs, solar flares, nuclear bombs, viruses. You name it and I've likely read a series depicting it. Now this, well...this is my first time coming across one with a massive dust storm at the helm, and I gotta tell, ya it suuuuuucked. And I don't mean that in a bad way like the story was terrible and I hated every minute of it, no. I mean the OPPOSITE of that, as in it's a very, very good thing when a story feels gritty and rough enough to make me really FEEL for what the characters are going through. It dragged me right in and hardly ever let up. And I gotta say, being in a dust storm of the magnitude this story portrays legit sounds like it sucks.
I loved almost everything about this story. Now I can't say whether or not the science of this whole thing is true or not, but regardless of that, the way it's presented made it seem so much more horrific. While a part of me was super eager to get the ball rolling, most of me appreciated the slow build-up of what was going on. What contributed to what often felt like a slow build were multiple POVs happening simultaneously. It definitely required patience whenever a chapter from one point of view ended on a thrilling or shocking note, only to not pick up in the next chapter. Fortunately, though, most if not all storylines had their own appeal and were interesting enough to keep me wholly invested in their conclusions.
Now while I did love the story itself as well as the many new characters being introduced to me, that doesn't mean I didn't have my small bundle of complaints. For one thing, there were many, MANY scenes that were difficult to visualize, either because of too MUCH detail or too little. Something could be super duper explained and I might STILL find myself going, "Wait...what?" Furthermore, the effects of the dust storm itself were sometimes a little TOO drawn out, long-winded, or just downright repetitive. I periodically found myself thinking, "Okay, man, I get the point; stop talking about how the dust is affecting these people!" And yet, at the same time, I found myself appreciating that nothing felt trivial either.
So yeah, all in all, my complaints were rather minuscule in comparison to what this first book of the series got so very right. Though I won't jump straight into the second book just yet, I most DEFINITELY am still in the game and look forward to seeing where this series is gonna go. In the words Arnold Schwarzenegger: "I'll be back."
Click here for all my random commentary.
I'm all about apocalyptic stories whenever I can get my hands on 'em. EMPs, solar flares, nuclear bombs, viruses. You name it and I've likely read a series depicting it. Now this, well...this is my first time coming across one with a massive dust storm at the helm, and I gotta tell, ya it suuuuuucked. And I don't mean that in a bad way like the story was terrible and I hated every minute of it, no. I mean the OPPOSITE of that, as in it's a very, very good thing when a story feels gritty and rough enough to make me really FEEL for what the characters are going through. It dragged me right in and hardly ever let up. And I gotta say, being in a dust storm of the magnitude this story portrays legit sounds like it sucks.
I loved almost everything about this story. Now I can't say whether or not the science of this whole thing is true or not, but regardless of that, the way it's presented made it seem so much more horrific. While a part of me was super eager to get the ball rolling, most of me appreciated the slow build-up of what was going on. What contributed to what often felt like a slow build were multiple POVs happening simultaneously. It definitely required patience whenever a chapter from one point of view ended on a thrilling or shocking note, only to not pick up in the next chapter. Fortunately, though, most if not all storylines had their own appeal and were interesting enough to keep me wholly invested in their conclusions.
Now while I did love the story itself as well as the many new characters being introduced to me, that doesn't mean I didn't have my small bundle of complaints. For one thing, there were many, MANY scenes that were difficult to visualize, either because of too MUCH detail or too little. Something could be super duper explained and I might STILL find myself going, "Wait...what?" Furthermore, the effects of the dust storm itself were sometimes a little TOO drawn out, long-winded, or just downright repetitive. I periodically found myself thinking, "Okay, man, I get the point; stop talking about how the dust is affecting these people!" And yet, at the same time, I found myself appreciating that nothing felt trivial either.
So yeah, all in all, my complaints were rather minuscule in comparison to what this first book of the series got so very right. Though I won't jump straight into the second book just yet, I most DEFINITELY am still in the game and look forward to seeing where this series is gonna go. In the words Arnold Schwarzenegger: "I'll be back."
Click here for all my random commentary.
February 4, 2022
In the last year or so, I saw a show about the Dust Bowl and how we may be making some of the same mistakes again, so I found the premise interesting. There are a few editing issues (like Staggs vs Stagg), but it was generally well-written. This focuses on a family that is experiencing the catastrophic dust storms from different locations, so that makes for a coherent connection between the storylines. I like Milton and Riley quite a lot, but found Isabel, while clearly very smart, awkward and difficult. I have never, ever read a book where the mafia-like gang of thugs were....Druids. It seemed very far-fetched to me. Too many novels in the genre always want to include a dogged-yet-crazy killer, but making them druids for variation was a different approach to say the least. I am interested in what happens, so will continue.
June 16, 2022
Good story
1st book in the Lost Sanctuary series and feels like it's still building up to what is actually happening, which is good! A lot of apocalyptic stories are usually finished with the build up half way through the 1st book - which is no bad thing in a good story - but this feels like there is so much more to happen before people can start trying to 'settle' into the new norm that disaster has wrought. Excited to read the next one! There are some typos that got missed - taught instead of taut, and clambering instead of clamouring for example - but generally very well written.
1st book in the Lost Sanctuary series and feels like it's still building up to what is actually happening, which is good! A lot of apocalyptic stories are usually finished with the build up half way through the 1st book - which is no bad thing in a good story - but this feels like there is so much more to happen before people can start trying to 'settle' into the new norm that disaster has wrought. Excited to read the next one! There are some typos that got missed - taught instead of taut, and clambering instead of clamouring for example - but generally very well written.
October 9, 2021
Downdraft - a review by Rosemary Kenny.
Marcus Richardson and Mike Kraus team up once more to bring you their new series' The Lost Sanctuary opener, Downdraft - a thrilling post-Apocalyptic thriller that you simply must not miss!
Learn what happens to the main characters as they battle to survive sand storms of Armageddon-like power, as destruction spreads and takes down technology and destroys people's lives and livelihoods - and what may have brought it about so devastatingly.
You never know - someday it may really happen if we don't cherish our damaged world more!
Marcus Richardson and Mike Kraus team up once more to bring you their new series' The Lost Sanctuary opener, Downdraft - a thrilling post-Apocalyptic thriller that you simply must not miss!
Learn what happens to the main characters as they battle to survive sand storms of Armageddon-like power, as destruction spreads and takes down technology and destroys people's lives and livelihoods - and what may have brought it about so devastatingly.
You never know - someday it may really happen if we don't cherish our damaged world more!
December 6, 2022
lost Sanctuary book 1.
Wow, what a start, what a sand storm. Family separated, mum and dad working in two separate towns. Kids an grandparents in another. Although the grandsonson with his grandad, at their old house, while grandma and granddaughter in their new house 5 miles apart, though due to the storm it could be 50 miles. With a Mob of mafia type geezers out to kill them.
Wow, what a start, what a sand storm. Family separated, mum and dad working in two separate towns. Kids an grandparents in another. Although the grandsonson with his grandad, at their old house, while grandma and granddaughter in their new house 5 miles apart, though due to the storm it could be 50 miles. With a Mob of mafia type geezers out to kill them.
October 21, 2021
Scary good
It almost seems unbelievable BUT we know it did happen less than 100 years ago. Todays people would have more trouble with a dust bowl than they did then. People rely so heavily on electronics.
It almost seems unbelievable BUT we know it did happen less than 100 years ago. Todays people would have more trouble with a dust bowl than they did then. People rely so heavily on electronics.
October 29, 2021
Batten Down the Hatches
Could not put this book DOWN!!!
Felt all sweaty and exhausted just keeping up.
So, fill up the cooler, and sit your butt down, cause you're
in for an adventure like no other!!!
Could not put this book DOWN!!!
Felt all sweaty and exhausted just keeping up.
So, fill up the cooler, and sit your butt down, cause you're
in for an adventure like no other!!!
November 24, 2021
Intense Read
Great characters. These are real people not super heros. I liked how the intern grows up and keep on trying even when all us against him. Everyone is doing the best they can with what they have. You can relate to the characters. Looking forward to the next book.
Great characters. These are real people not super heros. I liked how the intern grows up and keep on trying even when all us against him. Everyone is doing the best they can with what they have. You can relate to the characters. Looking forward to the next book.
February 15, 2022
A different type of survival book 1 by Mike Kraus and Marcus Richardson.
First a hurricane on the coast and what is occurring more inland along the dust bowl states is much more powerful. It will cripple a lot more than anyone realizes at first. Can't wait for book 2.
First a hurricane on the coast and what is occurring more inland along the dust bowl states is much more powerful. It will cripple a lot more than anyone realizes at first. Can't wait for book 2.
November 13, 2021
Hellish
Another great read by the author. I have been through some dust storms in the desert. The story gives you the sensation of what it feels like to experience this.
Another great read by the author. I have been through some dust storms in the desert. The story gives you the sensation of what it feels like to experience this.
December 25, 2021
Good
Another doomsday fascinating book. The main characters seemed to be very skilled like father like son and grandson. I bet grandma is good with the gun too
Another doomsday fascinating book. The main characters seemed to be very skilled like father like son and grandson. I bet grandma is good with the gun too
January 29, 2022
Good read
Good character development, the dialogue is believeable and succinct. The pace is just right in the storyline, and doesn't get bogged down in minutea.
Good character development, the dialogue is believeable and succinct. The pace is just right in the storyline, and doesn't get bogged down in minutea.
May 22, 2022
great book
Looking forward to the next instalment. Good storyline and the characters are likeable and believable. The scenario is believable also
Looking forward to the next instalment. Good storyline and the characters are likeable and believable. The scenario is believable also
Read
May 30, 2022DNF at 10%. Longwinded. Could not keep me interested.
August 6, 2022
Downdraft
This book has an easy to follow plot and interesting characters.I recommend this book to all readers that enjoy learning more about post Apocalypse times
This book has an easy to follow plot and interesting characters.I recommend this book to all readers that enjoy learning more about post Apocalypse times
September 22, 2022
Bit obvious
October 4, 2022
Youth Fiction maybe?
I stayed with the book to the end but I’m not sure that I will continue the series. Seems like it might be geared towards a younger audience?
I stayed with the book to the end but I’m not sure that I will continue the series. Seems like it might be geared towards a younger audience?
October 30, 2022
yes!
Great read. Makes you wake up and think about things. I absolutely love grandpa. Hope mom gets a little tougher.
Great read. Makes you wake up and think about things. I absolutely love grandpa. Hope mom gets a little tougher.
December 22, 2025
Good One
Easy read with lots of twists and turns. I really enjoyed this first of the Lost Sanctuary Series, and you will too.
Easy read with lots of twists and turns. I really enjoyed this first of the Lost Sanctuary Series, and you will too.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews