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Torn
Every 26,000 years the earth experiences a magnetic reversal or pole shift. These reversals are always accompanied by disasters of catastrophic proportions. They also coincide with two other an ice age and species extinction. We are, at this time, 50,000 years overdue. Darius Cobb wasn’t thinking of man’s extinction. He honestly never gave it a thought. A college professor and part time country singer, Darius worried only about teaching and playing his guitar until the day he is attacked by cockroaches and is placed into a special government quarantine. There, he and the others start piecing together the inevitable. Using his knowledge, he begins predicting the events that unfold. Together he and his group plan and then implement a long term survival plan. If the world is going to end, they will survive. TORN is a fast paced, scientific, character driven and sometimes comical novel. In a ‘docu-drama’ fictional style, it follows the tragic events that unleash upon the earth and the attempts by Darius and the others to defy the odds as they strive to survive man’s extinction.
514 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
253 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
October 1, 2021
I have read a lot of this author's book and have always liked and admired how she often has an unusual and fresh approach to disaster. I have been able to appreciate most of her books even with the persistent number of editing issues simply because the story was so good. This book not only did not do it for me, I literally checked to make sure it was written by Ms. Druga. There are editing issues which I expected, but the story and execution were not what I expected. The science is weak throughout; geologic changes on the earth AND massive CMEs AND plague? The three main characters, especially Bret, were just terrible people. They all three need to look up the definition of humor, as in it should be at least a little funny. They constantly try to intimidate Bret, informing her they will tell her husband she is having an affair. How were these three the ones trying to understand what was happening and plan for survival and no one else seemed to be interested until towards the end? They were literally the Keystone cops of survivalists. Darius was so convinced of possible disaster while flying he packed parachutes for himself and Bret, but it didn't occur to him to drive or get there some other way? And when they open the door to the plane mid-flight and it sucks out the poor flight attendant, he simply shrugs and declares she was a goner anyway. As an acquaintance is dying after a dog bite, they laugh because it was a Chihuahua. At a conference of scientists trying to come up with a solution, Darius and Colin entertain themselves by making fun of a speaker. They lie to a very wealthy but aged man to get him to fund their survival plans and his main interest other than being included is whether Bret would be available to be "shared" after the disaster occurs. None of these people have any compassion or regard for anyone else. The romance between Bret and Darius was painfully contrived and made even more awful by her post-injury amnesia so we had to do it all over again. The banter between the characters was not funny and was juvenile to say the least. The ending was just odd. If this was an author with whom I was not familiar, I would have thought "not a good book" and just moved on. It is so disappointing when you know the writer is capable of so much better.
May 26, 2017
Worst book by Druga
I've read allot of this authors books . While they aren't my favorite, they usually are not as terrible is this book. The story is long uninteresting and winding. The keep adding ppl to there storyline/ plan with little detail or description to the point when she mentions that character later you think "who is that, oh wait who even cares". I always finish a book no matter how terrible. I was prepared for this author to kill off the children in the story like she normally does (which I don't like) so that was a surprise when she doesn't. Druga is consistent in the fact that none of her heroines are likable at all. There is zero likability, and no development into anything even slightly better. Bret is her worst character to date, incredible shallow and stupid. Her names? Dare-Dare just annoying. Bret, not a guy. Casper? The best part of the story was looking down and finally seeing %96 completed.
I've read allot of this authors books . While they aren't my favorite, they usually are not as terrible is this book. The story is long uninteresting and winding. The keep adding ppl to there storyline/ plan with little detail or description to the point when she mentions that character later you think "who is that, oh wait who even cares". I always finish a book no matter how terrible. I was prepared for this author to kill off the children in the story like she normally does (which I don't like) so that was a surprise when she doesn't. Druga is consistent in the fact that none of her heroines are likable at all. There is zero likability, and no development into anything even slightly better. Bret is her worst character to date, incredible shallow and stupid. Her names? Dare-Dare just annoying. Bret, not a guy. Casper? The best part of the story was looking down and finally seeing %96 completed.
September 20, 2025
I just finished this book and I was overall disappointed. It was my least favourite book by Druga. This book was written with a thought of having a tvshow or something like that. She tried to put humour and although I kind of understand the purpose it failed completly.
There are humour and dark humour. You can have dark humour about sensitives subjects like twin towers among other. Then there is just sociopaths without any thought about anyone else but themselves.
Two examples, so this guy things his plane is going down and he prepared a parachute. The bad thing happen and he goes to open the door of the plane to jump, when a stewardess is suck through the door which he commented - "She was going to die anyway"
Then the all chihuahua bite on their friend - not a stranger but a friend who had just saved them and they laugh, snickered everytime they mentioned their friend died with rabies from a chihuahua. What about the woman & child that fell through a hole being eated alive by insects? Barely a thought.
Not going to talk about science and geologic stuff , not my expertise but some really seem bogus. All of them are awful human beings. What about the part they cheat and trick a elderly dying man giving them money by lying? Brett, the woman, mother of 4 children it's just awful. None of the characters have empathy. Probably a foreign word to them.
I will continue to read Druga novels, I have around 5 plus I am going to buy more because I enjoy the scenarios, I don't mind character dying (to be fair I do enjoy that part) and even children die. The writer does not have any mercy which I really value. Better than other writers that play safe.
But this one is not good. 40/100
The romance between Darius & Bret is just badly written and idiotic. The Amnesia part is just, what?
There are humour and dark humour. You can have dark humour about sensitives subjects like twin towers among other. Then there is just sociopaths without any thought about anyone else but themselves.
Two examples, so this guy things his plane is going down and he prepared a parachute. The bad thing happen and he goes to open the door of the plane to jump, when a stewardess is suck through the door which he commented - "She was going to die anyway"
Then the all chihuahua bite on their friend - not a stranger but a friend who had just saved them and they laugh, snickered everytime they mentioned their friend died with rabies from a chihuahua. What about the woman & child that fell through a hole being eated alive by insects? Barely a thought.
Not going to talk about science and geologic stuff , not my expertise but some really seem bogus. All of them are awful human beings. What about the part they cheat and trick a elderly dying man giving them money by lying? Brett, the woman, mother of 4 children it's just awful. None of the characters have empathy. Probably a foreign word to them.
I will continue to read Druga novels, I have around 5 plus I am going to buy more because I enjoy the scenarios, I don't mind character dying (to be fair I do enjoy that part) and even children die. The writer does not have any mercy which I really value. Better than other writers that play safe.
But this one is not good. 40/100
The romance between Darius & Bret is just badly written and idiotic. The Amnesia part is just, what?
March 14, 2021
4.5 stars
June 3, 2022
Snakes, giant roaches, giant ant piles so large a child could fall in and never recovered, rabid dogs, the black plague plus new viruses, planes falling from the sky, giant sunspots blasting the surface of the earth and a new ice age encroach upon the homo sapiens of the earth. That's the end of my review--enough said!
Perhaps there's a story, roaming around within all these catastrophes, though sadly the telling of this extensive adventure leaves an impressionable abyss of deficiencies. First the myth of the reversal of the poles, causing extreme harm to our ecosystem equals the myth of humans using a limited ten percent of our brains. Yes, there is a reversal of the poles towards the times of extreme millennia, though the damage will be minimum. This isn't the first time speculation of extreme devastation will occur, nor will it be the last, though if there was a remote possibility of this occurrence, Druga has covered all her bases.
The very ending, which occurs 1500 years into the future was quite funny. An artifact they believe was the ancient people's bible turned out to be The Stand by Stephen King. Through the humor presents the fact that bits and pieces of society from ancient times don't always tell the full story.
Plus there is a sadness that all the work completed to protect the future of humanity is lost, and no one will ever know the sadness and sacrifice the people in the book suffered through, it's all but a puff of smoke in the past.
My full review: http://somanybooksssolittletime.blogs...
Perhaps there's a story, roaming around within all these catastrophes, though sadly the telling of this extensive adventure leaves an impressionable abyss of deficiencies. First the myth of the reversal of the poles, causing extreme harm to our ecosystem equals the myth of humans using a limited ten percent of our brains. Yes, there is a reversal of the poles towards the times of extreme millennia, though the damage will be minimum. This isn't the first time speculation of extreme devastation will occur, nor will it be the last, though if there was a remote possibility of this occurrence, Druga has covered all her bases.
The very ending, which occurs 1500 years into the future was quite funny. An artifact they believe was the ancient people's bible turned out to be The Stand by Stephen King. Through the humor presents the fact that bits and pieces of society from ancient times don't always tell the full story.
Plus there is a sadness that all the work completed to protect the future of humanity is lost, and no one will ever know the sadness and sacrifice the people in the book suffered through, it's all but a puff of smoke in the past.
My full review: http://somanybooksssolittletime.blogs...
January 27, 2021
Jacqueline quickly became my new favorite Author through the pandemic. Unfortunately this book was the worst one of hers I've read so far. It was ALL over the place. Random characters. Unbelievable scenarios. "Forced" romantic relationship. Over the top knowledge by random characters. And what happened to Chuck? It seemed like a mish-mash of of characters who happened to get together.
December 5, 2014
Awful
Awful book. Unexplained vagueness, every joke falls flat, horrible character development. Completely abandoned Chuck's character. And what the heck is with the "lip fluttering"????
Awful book. Unexplained vagueness, every joke falls flat, horrible character development. Completely abandoned Chuck's character. And what the heck is with the "lip fluttering"????
December 19, 2020
I have been obsessively reading this author's books in Covid-19 quarantine. I think I've read maybe half of Ms. Druga's books and I have enjoyed them all. She always has great characters in her book: the absent-minded nerd, the scoff-at-everything conservative woman, and the brilliant scientist populate most of them. Torn is my absolute favorite of her books so far. There is so much humor in this one! Well-written, well-edited, loved it.
By the way, thank you for not killing off too many characters in this one. Can't take the feels when it's kids or the heroic guy.
Just read other reviews....Whoa, some folks are a bit snarky.
By the way, thank you for not killing off too many characters in this one. Can't take the feels when it's kids or the heroic guy.
Just read other reviews....Whoa, some folks are a bit snarky.
November 11, 2017
I feel that 3 stars for this book is generous and I only gave it because I do like this author. However, I didn't care for the main characters or their banter with each other, just rude and disrespectful to one another. And the grammatical errors...YIKES!! I find them in Ms. Druga's books often but this book was loaded and difficult to ignore. Having said these scathing things I will continue reading her books, she's got some real gems out there!
January 29, 2018
Exciting and comical
I really enjoyed this story. The characters are regular people which lends credence to the believability of the situation. Please, please employ am editor for future books. Grammatical errors cause the refer to halt then reread and the flow of the story gets messed up.
I really enjoyed this story. The characters are regular people which lends credence to the believability of the situation. Please, please employ am editor for future books. Grammatical errors cause the refer to halt then reread and the flow of the story gets messed up.
January 16, 2025
The story was all right
It was just okay. What made it difficult to read were the multitude of errors. I have read a lot of Druga’s books and enjoy them for the most part but I am astounded at how many errors there are. In this book, the one thing that bugged me the most was the constant banter between Darius and Bret. Like we get it, you have edgy banter, enough already. I did get a kick out of the ending but please, pay someone better to proofread your books. It’s embarrassing.
It was just okay. What made it difficult to read were the multitude of errors. I have read a lot of Druga’s books and enjoy them for the most part but I am astounded at how many errors there are. In this book, the one thing that bugged me the most was the constant banter between Darius and Bret. Like we get it, you have edgy banter, enough already. I did get a kick out of the ending but please, pay someone better to proofread your books. It’s embarrassing.
June 22, 2017
Now I remember
Why l don't read this author's books. Her constant use of characters "fluttering" their lips is like Chinese water torture...you don't know when it will hit, but you know that it will.
Why l don't read this author's books. Her constant use of characters "fluttering" their lips is like Chinese water torture...you don't know when it will hit, but you know that it will.
May 22, 2018
Insects and bugs..
I generally enjoy this author's books, but this one starts with roaches, and then masses of ants, and then more roaches. I couldn't finish it. I just can't deal with the bugs.
So this may be an excellent book, but I have to give it a pass.
I generally enjoy this author's books, but this one starts with roaches, and then masses of ants, and then more roaches. I couldn't finish it. I just can't deal with the bugs.
So this may be an excellent book, but I have to give it a pass.
September 16, 2021
not a bad book, I always love reading the different things that can cause the end of the world. And while I think some things are stretch a bit, who am I to say? But the one thing I cannot handle is all the "snickers" that the characters do.
October 26, 2021
good story excellent ending
Good story, frightening that it might happen to our world. Excellent ending, nice twist of humor. Jacqueline Druga is a good writer, this is the second book of hers I have read.
Good story, frightening that it might happen to our world. Excellent ending, nice twist of humor. Jacqueline Druga is a good writer, this is the second book of hers I have read.
July 24, 2024
hmm
I enjoyed until 2/3 through when the events started happening. I know this is fiction but, you’re talking of a magnetic reversal and left out quite a few big things. I enjoyed your storytelling and characters.
I enjoyed until 2/3 through when the events started happening. I know this is fiction but, you’re talking of a magnetic reversal and left out quite a few big things. I enjoyed your storytelling and characters.
September 6, 2024
Great, Great book
This book was so awesome. It has it all, action, adventure, suspense, comedy, love stories, and I loved all of it. A very different way of seeing the apocalypse. The characters made this a great book. I recommend reading this to all that love fiction.
This book was so awesome. It has it all, action, adventure, suspense, comedy, love stories, and I loved all of it. A very different way of seeing the apocalypse. The characters made this a great book. I recommend reading this to all that love fiction.
February 7, 2019
Not her best. Lots of editing mistakes. Plus, we never find out what happened to a main character, Chuck!
February 26, 2020
Had a hard time getting started... sent back without finishing.
January 4, 2021
Fantastic Read!!
This is one of the best apocalyptic books I've read and I've read many! Jacqueline Druga is my new favorite author. Gotta go start a new one lol
This is one of the best apocalyptic books I've read and I've read many! Jacqueline Druga is my new favorite author. Gotta go start a new one lol
August 4, 2022
Captivating
Loved the pace. Not a deep connection with the characters but enough to keep you reading to see what happens next.
Loved the pace. Not a deep connection with the characters but enough to keep you reading to see what happens next.
March 23, 2023
Great and fresh twists to this genre!
Original, exciting, lost sleep over this book… even when I closed it at night… it filled my dreams!!
I love the twist at the end!!!
Original, exciting, lost sleep over this book… even when I closed it at night… it filled my dreams!!
I love the twist at the end!!!
May 28, 2023
Torn- a great book
Torn is an unusual book that ties seemingly unrelated events together. The characters are well developed and the ending is very good.
Torn is an unusual book that ties seemingly unrelated events together. The characters are well developed and the ending is very good.
October 8, 2024
I can’t with the roaches and ants
March 18, 2025
Pretty good book overall. Lots of bugs and creepy stuff going on in the story. My only complaint, the ending. Probably most readers would like it, but I hated it.
July 26, 2017
Good reading
August 6, 2025
good book!
This is my second book by this author. I have really enjoyed reading them. This one was fun, interesting and realistic. I think you’ll like it.
This is my second book by this author. I have really enjoyed reading them. This one was fun, interesting and realistic. I think you’ll like it.
December 29, 2023
Not the best by this author for me. When the cockroaches were introduced in a poo nappy, yuck, I really struggled because I really hate them, cockroaches, the ants
were doable but I had trouble feeling itchy afterwards. It was pretty difficult to finish it and if anyone doesn’t like insects then maybe they shouldn’t read the book.
were doable but I had trouble feeling itchy afterwards. It was pretty difficult to finish it and if anyone doesn’t like insects then maybe they shouldn’t read the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2015
Sorry
While several parts of this book showed promise through storyline, character development, and flow the overall product was lackluster, stilted, and schizophrenic.
Characters were juvenile, underdeveloped, emotionally stunted. Story was ...well...like the author tried to pack in as many movie disasters as she could without explaining any of the science behind it even though her main characters were scientists. Poorly done.
While several parts of this book showed promise through storyline, character development, and flow the overall product was lackluster, stilted, and schizophrenic.
Characters were juvenile, underdeveloped, emotionally stunted. Story was ...well...like the author tried to pack in as many movie disasters as she could without explaining any of the science behind it even though her main characters were scientists. Poorly done.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews