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Interloper #3
Under The Oak
Despite overcoming and revealing the secret horrors of the Coastal Union, the Interloper Initiative find themselves powerless to prevent the incoming apocalypse. Their last chance is the perilous journey into the south,a land where the dead speak and the phenomenon has consumed all. Worse still, their only guide is their worst enemy.
Whilst Bear and Bee travel to the old broken world to find a way of stopping the apocalypse, Glass and Dusty contend with the plans of a cult that has nestled at the very root of the Coastal Union. If either of them fail, the Union will fall, and the last light of humanity will fade out. Only the best efforts of the Icebreaker crew can stop what is coming, and even that may not be enough.
"Under The Oak" is the third and final entry in the Interloper Trilogy, a tale of love, loss, death and rebirth, that finally answers the questions that Bear has asked since his journey began.
Whilst Bear and Bee travel to the old broken world to find a way of stopping the apocalypse, Glass and Dusty contend with the plans of a cult that has nestled at the very root of the Coastal Union. If either of them fail, the Union will fall, and the last light of humanity will fade out. Only the best efforts of the Icebreaker crew can stop what is coming, and even that may not be enough.
"Under The Oak" is the third and final entry in the Interloper Trilogy, a tale of love, loss, death and rebirth, that finally answers the questions that Bear has asked since his journey began.
- GenresScience Fiction
418 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 8, 2021
2 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 13, 2025
What a glorious end to an outstanding trilogy! Steven has crafted one the best stories I have ever read, seriously.
Under The Oak ties everything together as the crew face Messenger and the phenomenon head on! Bear and Bee head south whereas Glass and Dusty have their own battles to face as they defend the north from the coming apocalypse. I honestly thought book two - The Hundredth Question, couldn't be topped, but here we are!
The themes, characters and world building is so well developed, it puts a lot of traditionally published books in the dust—the way in which Bear overcomes his doubts, his fears of not being able to save the world and how he couldn't save his father. Let me just say the writing in one particular chapter is exquisitely written and touching—some of the best writing I have read, no joke.
(Side note) - I don't usually like making comparisons but the above example reminded me of the game, Death Stranding—one scene in particular between Sam Bridges and Cliff Unger. That is how strong the writing is for me, personally. Death Stranding is my favourite game because of the themes and artistic expression.
Getting back on track—what the other characters experience and develop is also superb—Bee becomes this super bad-ass captain with a lot of heart and humanity. We learn more about Glass and how he overcomes his own battles with the phenomenon. How Dusty is the father figure and tries his utmost to save his crew. How Messenger is such a complex antagonist—you don't know whether to root for him or curse him to hell. It's just first-class-best-in-class storytelling.
It's not just the characters and the plot that shines brightly—in book three we learn more about what happened to the south of the UK, as Bear and Bee pass through the north west. How the cataclysm and the scav war have twisted and shaped the landscape in this icy world. It's visceral and imaginative, that sums it up best.
To summarise, I am extremely grateful I picked up and finished this series, I look forward to seeing what Steven can conjure up in book four, the sequel (or prequel!?).
It deserves more than five stars!
Under The Oak ties everything together as the crew face Messenger and the phenomenon head on! Bear and Bee head south whereas Glass and Dusty have their own battles to face as they defend the north from the coming apocalypse. I honestly thought book two - The Hundredth Question, couldn't be topped, but here we are!
The themes, characters and world building is so well developed, it puts a lot of traditionally published books in the dust—the way in which Bear overcomes his doubts, his fears of not being able to save the world and how he couldn't save his father. Let me just say the writing in one particular chapter is exquisitely written and touching—some of the best writing I have read, no joke.
(Side note) - I don't usually like making comparisons but the above example reminded me of the game, Death Stranding—one scene in particular between Sam Bridges and Cliff Unger. That is how strong the writing is for me, personally. Death Stranding is my favourite game because of the themes and artistic expression.
Getting back on track—what the other characters experience and develop is also superb—Bee becomes this super bad-ass captain with a lot of heart and humanity. We learn more about Glass and how he overcomes his own battles with the phenomenon. How Dusty is the father figure and tries his utmost to save his crew. How Messenger is such a complex antagonist—you don't know whether to root for him or curse him to hell. It's just first-class-best-in-class storytelling.
It's not just the characters and the plot that shines brightly—in book three we learn more about what happened to the south of the UK, as Bear and Bee pass through the north west. How the cataclysm and the scav war have twisted and shaped the landscape in this icy world. It's visceral and imaginative, that sums it up best.
To summarise, I am extremely grateful I picked up and finished this series, I look forward to seeing what Steven can conjure up in book four, the sequel (or prequel!?).
It deserves more than five stars!
December 15, 2022
Outstanding
Hard to believe this trilogy is self-published! Fantastic tale and a satisfying ending. Look forward to reading more by this author.
Hard to believe this trilogy is self-published! Fantastic tale and a satisfying ending. Look forward to reading more by this author.
May 2, 2023
The final book in the Interloper trilogy was without a doubt, the best in the series. Chapter 6 was an absolute treat, getting to read from Glass’ PoV and see his big character arc moment. And while Messenger was a bit passive through the second book, he really claws his way out of his shell in this book.
It was really a bloody adventure. While the second book veered more toward tech-sci-fi, this one veered more toward fantasy-sci-fi. A number of plot twists led to a very satisfying and unexpected ending that really just made me smile. I couldn’t have thought of a better way end the series and resolve the mysteries posed in the earlier books.
The main crew is perfectly positioned throughout the book for each character to develop when and how they need to. There’s a whiff of romance, a bit of self-exploration, and a lot of resolution that happens despite the fast pace of the book.
True to the rest of the series, there’s a lot of action, including crawler battles, gunfights, knife fights, psychological-type warfare, and a need for the characters to think creatively to solve their problems. Nothing is easy for them, and no situation is resolved just because the good-guys-are-supposed-to-win.
The best part about this book… Spoiler perhaps, though if you’re like me you’re fairly certain it’ll happen eventually and you’ve just been waiting for it:
It was really a bloody adventure. While the second book veered more toward tech-sci-fi, this one veered more toward fantasy-sci-fi. A number of plot twists led to a very satisfying and unexpected ending that really just made me smile. I couldn’t have thought of a better way end the series and resolve the mysteries posed in the earlier books.
The main crew is perfectly positioned throughout the book for each character to develop when and how they need to. There’s a whiff of romance, a bit of self-exploration, and a lot of resolution that happens despite the fast pace of the book.
True to the rest of the series, there’s a lot of action, including crawler battles, gunfights, knife fights, psychological-type warfare, and a need for the characters to think creatively to solve their problems. Nothing is easy for them, and no situation is resolved just because the good-guys-are-supposed-to-win.
The best part about this book… Spoiler perhaps, though if you’re like me you’re fairly certain it’ll happen eventually and you’ve just been waiting for it:
December 22, 2022
A spectacular conclusion to the trilogy. In a story in which the main character is a man of method and logic, we see things devolve ever further into chaos. The complex dynamic between Bear and Messenger keeps you on your toes, and the splitting of the team on their own separate missions gives each of them a time to really shine.
But what really shine out for me was the conclusion, which had a lot to deliver on. Throughout the trilogy, the reader has witnessed the contrasting views about what the phenomenon actually is. The uncertainty around this keeps you in suspense about whether and how the phenomenon can be combatted.
The conclusion is something quite different to what I expected (except insofar as I knew it wouldn't be anything we'd already heard suggested) and the final chapters are absolutely glorious.
A fabulous trilogy, wonderfully told and brilliantly resolved. A triumph.
But what really shine out for me was the conclusion, which had a lot to deliver on. Throughout the trilogy, the reader has witnessed the contrasting views about what the phenomenon actually is. The uncertainty around this keeps you in suspense about whether and how the phenomenon can be combatted.
The conclusion is something quite different to what I expected (except insofar as I knew it wouldn't be anything we'd already heard suggested) and the final chapters are absolutely glorious.
A fabulous trilogy, wonderfully told and brilliantly resolved. A triumph.
August 11, 2023
I cannot really fault this series even a little bit: this was a remarkable, beautiful conclusion to what has been the best trilogy I've ever read. The writing is easy to read; the themes and motifs are elaborate, delightfully metaphorical and also accessible; the stakes are constantly high; the characters and their relationships are convincing and powerful. I don't know what it takes to mastermind a project like this to such completion, but SWH has created something truly special in this series and I wish more people would read it.
5⭐ trilogy, all the way!
5⭐ trilogy, all the way!
December 18, 2024
What a fantastic trilogy this was! There are so many incredible moments in this third book that you have to look forward to, including an incredibly touching one that had me tearing up. The questions that have been driving the series get answered in a very satisfying way, but still leave enough mystery for you to ponder over after you read the last page and close the book. I was happy to see that this "trilogy" is getting a sequel, so I'm looking forward to continuing the adventure with these characters I've grown to love.
June 26, 2023
This trilogy is an amazing read...
I was not expecting to get hooked in to this as its not my usual read... at the end of the first book I was literally jumping ahead to download the second... What a clever and gripping story... I shall miss the heroes of the story as their camaraderie grows on you ... well worth a read and a big salute to the author !!!
I was not expecting to get hooked in to this as its not my usual read... at the end of the first book I was literally jumping ahead to download the second... What a clever and gripping story... I shall miss the heroes of the story as their camaraderie grows on you ... well worth a read and a big salute to the author !!!
June 17, 2023
Powerful Story-Amazingly talented Author
There’s so much to be said about this series. I actually just finished it and it’s bittersweet. I loved these books so much. Hannah has written a masterpiece!
There’s so much to be said about this series. I actually just finished it and it’s bittersweet. I loved these books so much. Hannah has written a masterpiece!
September 12, 2024
A fantastic end to a really good trilogy. I loved the uniqueness of this series. With very believable characters. Loved it and really struggled to put the book down!
June 30, 2023
This was a great end to a trilogy which I thoroughly enjoyed. Steven William Hannah's writing and storytelling remained consistent with the first two installments.
One of my favorite parts of the finale was how the group was able to work together, although physically separated. I thought it was clever.
All questions were answered. Was Messenger part of the team, or playing the wolf in sheeps clothing? Where is Bear and Bees relationship headed? What really happened to Bears father? And, will they survive the Phenomena?
Obviously, I'm not going to share the answers to most of the questions. That would take the fun out of reading the story. The only question I'll answer is did they survive. I'll answer at the end of my review. Don't read the end if you don't want to know.
The most impressive thing about Under The Oak was further development of some of the characters. Bee was developed more and obviously Bear also, as he was the MC.
The character I enjoyed seeing developed the most was Glass. At times, it felt like it was becoming his story, and I liked that. Why he rarely spoke without seeking permission and why he joined the Forestry was thoroughly explained, with a great backstory on his nickname, Glass.
(Spoiler below)
As the story neared its end, I was beginning to think it was the end of the line for the Interloper initiative and humanity. That ending seemed like a possibility as the author really had the crew painted into a corner. That's when the fantasy part of this sci-fi/ fantasy kicked in.
The ending was brilliant and the team prevailed. I felt a chill at the end similar to that of Star Wars or Raiders of the Lost Ark from when I was young.
The trilogy was well written, fun, and had a satisfying ending.
One of my favorite parts of the finale was how the group was able to work together, although physically separated. I thought it was clever.
All questions were answered. Was Messenger part of the team, or playing the wolf in sheeps clothing? Where is Bear and Bees relationship headed? What really happened to Bears father? And, will they survive the Phenomena?
Obviously, I'm not going to share the answers to most of the questions. That would take the fun out of reading the story. The only question I'll answer is did they survive. I'll answer at the end of my review. Don't read the end if you don't want to know.
The most impressive thing about Under The Oak was further development of some of the characters. Bee was developed more and obviously Bear also, as he was the MC.
The character I enjoyed seeing developed the most was Glass. At times, it felt like it was becoming his story, and I liked that. Why he rarely spoke without seeking permission and why he joined the Forestry was thoroughly explained, with a great backstory on his nickname, Glass.
(Spoiler below)
As the story neared its end, I was beginning to think it was the end of the line for the Interloper initiative and humanity. That ending seemed like a possibility as the author really had the crew painted into a corner. That's when the fantasy part of this sci-fi/ fantasy kicked in.
The ending was brilliant and the team prevailed. I felt a chill at the end similar to that of Star Wars or Raiders of the Lost Ark from when I was young.
The trilogy was well written, fun, and had a satisfying ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2026
I just tore through the Interloper Trilogy in less than two weeks, and it blew me away from start to finish, which is rarely the case with indie books, to be frank.
Kicking things off with a haunting psychedelic post-apocalyptic Scotland, where a fractured crew faces mind-bending mysteries and survival that hook and suck you in. The world-building is insane: runes, mathematics, and shamanism colliding in a dying world. The characters start off somewhat hostile and unreachable, but grow into these deep, complex people you can't help but root for. The tension with high-stakes crawler chases and crew dynamics, blending thriller pacing with revelations that [DATA REDACTED].
Bear's evolution alone is worth the read, turning from rough edges to profound depth, while the slow-burn payoffs deliver massive emotional punches, some more predictable than others, but generally, Steve keeps you guessing and hungry for more.
Under The Oak is as good a climax as it gets in indie fiction. Everything explodes into a bloody, epic finale where global cataclysms and personal arcs collide, resolving almost every thread without many loose ends. The strange formatting pulls you into fractured psyches, making every page feel visceral and immersive. The trilogy itself is a triumph of dystopian fantasy, fusing horror, sci-fi, and human desperation in ways that linger, and not always comfortably.
If you love innovative genre blends with authentic dialogue and relentless momentum, dive in—you won't regret it.
Kicking things off with a haunting psychedelic post-apocalyptic Scotland, where a fractured crew faces mind-bending mysteries and survival that hook and suck you in. The world-building is insane: runes, mathematics, and shamanism colliding in a dying world. The characters start off somewhat hostile and unreachable, but grow into these deep, complex people you can't help but root for. The tension with high-stakes crawler chases and crew dynamics, blending thriller pacing with revelations that [DATA REDACTED].
Bear's evolution alone is worth the read, turning from rough edges to profound depth, while the slow-burn payoffs deliver massive emotional punches, some more predictable than others, but generally, Steve keeps you guessing and hungry for more.
Under The Oak is as good a climax as it gets in indie fiction. Everything explodes into a bloody, epic finale where global cataclysms and personal arcs collide, resolving almost every thread without many loose ends. The strange formatting pulls you into fractured psyches, making every page feel visceral and immersive. The trilogy itself is a triumph of dystopian fantasy, fusing horror, sci-fi, and human desperation in ways that linger, and not always comfortably.
If you love innovative genre blends with authentic dialogue and relentless momentum, dive in—you won't regret it.
November 7, 2024
There was a lot to wrap up in this final Interloper instalment and Hannah does it in his characteristic manner: terrifyingly and very well. All the threads woven in the first two books are woven together very nicely to reach a satisfying conclusion for all the merry band of the Icebreaker's crew - each of whom was just as much of a pleasure to read and follow as before.
While the ending felt perhaps a little rushed - some points could definitely have been laid in earlier to give time for their consequences to really be felt - and the stakes going in could have been higher, this book, like the first two, was a pleasure to read.
Now get on with the fourth book, Steve - I haven't been properly scared in weeks.
While the ending felt perhaps a little rushed - some points could definitely have been laid in earlier to give time for their consequences to really be felt - and the stakes going in could have been higher, this book, like the first two, was a pleasure to read.
Now get on with the fourth book, Steve - I haven't been properly scared in weeks.
October 12, 2025
A mixture of mystery, horror and science fiction, the Interloper Trilogy is about loss and redemption, the human will to survive, and the means by which we understand the strange world around us. It has DNA from detective novels, survivalist tales, psychological horror and shamanism.
Hannah has his own style, including the occasional use of formatting structures to keep you off-kilter– breaking up phrases to give a physical sense of events or thoughts that adds emotions and description without the need for words – you’ll see what I mean when you read it! His world is beautifully built; the shamanistic elements met in the first two books coming together in a jigsaw puzzle of realties and events to make the global scope of the cataclysm that is destroying the world almost an ‘aha’ moment, hinted at but only fully realised towards the end. Where mathematics, runes and shamanism meet, the story unfolds into a bloody and battle-laden ending that has you on the edge of your seat.
Did I forget to mention just how much you care about these characters? After three books they have a richness that draws you in, a need to know more and a drive to know their fate. And no, they’re not all likeable, at least not when you first meet them, but damn, they have a history that makes you believe in them. Three-dimensional (four or five dimensional for Bear by the end) people you can’t help but root for.
In essence, this book leads you to a final confrontation, both with Gaia and Messenger, and ticks off all those need-to-know questions Hannah rose in the first two books, while immersing you in, what is in essence, a fast-paced thriller that has you turning the pages desperate to know where it leads. Do I recommend it? Come on – read that description at the top again:
You’ve read nothing like it. Superb.
Hannah has his own style, including the occasional use of formatting structures to keep you off-kilter– breaking up phrases to give a physical sense of events or thoughts that adds emotions and description without the need for words – you’ll see what I mean when you read it! His world is beautifully built; the shamanistic elements met in the first two books coming together in a jigsaw puzzle of realties and events to make the global scope of the cataclysm that is destroying the world almost an ‘aha’ moment, hinted at but only fully realised towards the end. Where mathematics, runes and shamanism meet, the story unfolds into a bloody and battle-laden ending that has you on the edge of your seat.
Did I forget to mention just how much you care about these characters? After three books they have a richness that draws you in, a need to know more and a drive to know their fate. And no, they’re not all likeable, at least not when you first meet them, but damn, they have a history that makes you believe in them. Three-dimensional (four or five dimensional for Bear by the end) people you can’t help but root for.
In essence, this book leads you to a final confrontation, both with Gaia and Messenger, and ticks off all those need-to-know questions Hannah rose in the first two books, while immersing you in, what is in essence, a fast-paced thriller that has you turning the pages desperate to know where it leads. Do I recommend it? Come on – read that description at the top again:
You’ve read nothing like it. Superb.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews