Sandstorm

by E.B. Brooks

Alliances shift with the winds.
Ewan O'Meara's new life keeps him marriage to Tree, staying in the Director's good graces, helping his fellow Veridians cope with the Central staff they're protecting from Locust raiders, and searching for proof of the murderous Diamond Lord's human identity-all while the Gem amplifies the mounting unrest from within.
But when Ewan and Tree bring a new breed of player to Earth, tensions boil over. As food runs short and mutterings become mutiny, Ewan promises the long-lost sun to restore the peace. But with every step forward, another Central quietly turns to the Diamond Lord's cause. With every overcast day, the Locusts draw nearer.
Now Ewan must battle for the Centre's future, fighting an enemy he can't see in an arena he doesn't understand. Can he and his allies secure a place for everyone on Earth by accomplishing a miracle? Or will the Diamond Lord strike them down, as an emissary of unforgiving reality?

482 pages, Hardcover

Published May 1, 2021

About the author

E.B. Brooks lives in West Virginia, where in addition to writing, he builds his house and homestead with his wife, children, and many pets.

Reviews

[Dawn Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the opening thriller, “Emissary,” I thought I knew what I was in for with “Sandstorm.” This book was full of surprises in all the right ways. From the new game worlds and the surprising disparities between them, to unraveling more of the history behind the Centre, to buried secrets that threaten everything our heroes love, “Sandstorm” grabs you from the opening and doesn’t let go. Building on the adventures of book 1, this next chapter of the saga digs deeper into the logistical and political ramifications of the Centre’s culture and way of life. Deeper looks behind the scenes unravel whatever you thought about the Centrals, mixing moral black and white solidly into grey. Brooks’ worldbuilding leaps off the page, and his narrative pacing is the perfect balance of intensity that still leaves room to breathe. “Sandstorm” hits all the right points continuing off of “Emissary,” setting the full series up for an amazing run.

[Kyle A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the first book in this series, "Emissary," I didn't think things could get more complicated or intense. Boy, was I (thankfully) wrong! "Sandstorm" takes everything that was great about its predecessor, from intriguing characters to gut-wrenching emotional scenes and big-time plot twists, and ratchets it all up to 11. And that's not to mention the introduction of not one, but TWO new fantastic fantasy worlds to explore, in such vivid detail that they almost jump right off the page and make you question your own reality. "Sandstorm" is not a light read. There are real consequences for everyone involved as friends become enemies, and some enemies even become friends as all the characters you got to know from the first book get deeper and more complex and some new ones are introduced who are sure to be future stars. The series continues to explore the political, social, and psychological complexities of fantasy vs. reality in the best traditions of fiction like "Total Recall" and "The Matrix" in a gritty, intense NA format filled with relatable characters who will really make you feel all the twists and turns, break your heart, and then put it back together. A pitch-perfect follow-up to the original, and I can't wait to see what comes next!

[J.E. Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book really captured me with a gaming-like setting that gave way to exploring real-world problems. This book takes those problems and magnifies them ten-fold. Expect to get lost in two new 'gaming' worlds while Ewan and his crew try to keep the peace and strive for a way to change the lives of those who have suffered. Oh, and did I mention the plot twist? Yeah, you'll wanna stay for that one too.

[Judy Ferrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

They thought they had solid backup but did they really? In Sandstorm, you will be amazed at all you find out. The Centrals are not what anyone thought! New assistance comes from outside the planet. And everyone is scared because of the food shortage and the continued fighting. You should always expect the unexpected!!

[Branwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited to read the follow up to Emissary, and Sandstorm didn't disappoint. With world-spanning intrigue and adventure, it was a rousing read. I particularly loved exploring the completely different worlds and the new adult dilemmas faced by Ewan and Tree.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, I really really enjoyed the first book in this series, but I LOVED this book. Everything I loved about the first book is dialed up to 11 here. Amazing characters, amazing world building, amazing action sequences, amazing pace and tone. Ewan feels like such a dynamic character, maturing and growing even more than he did in book one. He's just so relatable too, or atleast the person that I strive to be. There were multiple points in this book where I thought I knew where the plot was going, and it did a 180 on me. One of my favorite aspects of the first book was how the thoughts and perspectives of people from different worlds and how they view the old and new world around them (especially all the views and opinions on death). And that aspect is expanded on greatly in this sequel. Also, without spoiling anything, I went through a similar life experience as Ewan goes through in the plot, as I was reading this, which made me relate and respect everything Ewan does even more. If I had to critique this book at all, it would be that it needed more Tree. But that is such a minor complaint in the grand scheme of things because the new characters added to this book are just as good as the ones we know and love (or hate a little bit) from the first. If you even slightly enjoyed the first book, this is a must must must read.