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Age of Madness: The Caitlin Chronicles #1

Dawn of Chaos: Age Of Madness - A Kurtherian Gambit Series

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The Governor she trusted to protect her wants her dead. The vampire she was sent to capture wants to help her live.

When Caitlin finally gets the chance to join her brother on a mission outside of the walls of the town she has been trapped inside all of her life, her entire reality is shaken.

Enemies appear in the strangest of places. The zombie-like ‘Mad’ roam the forests. Vampires and Werewolves from the fairy tales of her childhood become reality as Caitlin is forced to discover the truth of the Age of Madness and begin the fight for justice.

Can Caitlin lead the charge on freedom, and start the revolution that will change her world?

Set within the wonder of the Kurtherian Gambit Universe, discover the chaos and insanity of the Age of Madness—a time when the world turned on its head, and nothing is as it appears…

NOTE: This book contains cursing. Perhaps humorous cursing, but cursing nevertheless. If this offends you, we don't suggest reading this book.


Audiobook

First published August 6, 2018

215 people are currently reading
155 people want to read

About the author

Daniel Willcocks

84 books85 followers
Daniel Willcocks is an international bestselling author and award-winning podcaster of dark fiction. He is an author coach; one fifth of digital story studio, Hawk & Cleaver; co-founder of iTunes-busting fiction podcast, ‘The Other Stories‘;’ CEO of horror imprint, Devil’s Rock Publishing; the founder of 'ActivatedAuthors.com'; and the co-host of the ‘Next Level Authors’ podcast.

Dan is furiously passionate about all things story. He has written 50+ books for himself and on behalf of ghostwriting clients. Dan provides author coaching services designed to help authors take the stories that they are dying to tell, and getting them out onto the page.

Find out more at danielwillcocks.com

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5 stars
197 (55%)
4 stars
101 (28%)
3 stars
31 (8%)
2 stars
14 (3%)
1 star
11 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
543 reviews2 followers
August 10, 2018
Great story

I'm for sure going to continue following this series as it unfolds . The book drew me in , I finished it in one day. Can't wait for book 2
Profile Image for Veronica.
1,012 reviews5 followers
August 9, 2018
Common theme continues

I love how, all through the Kurtherian Gambit people will fight to make the world a better place. This continues with Caitlin and her crew in their part of the world. The funny lines keep coming, along with character development, fighting to make wrongs right, and hints of romance.

Having a strong, talented, intelligent, quick thinking woman as the lead character with full support from men and women both is also a wonderful, refreshing change from much other fiction. Having strong men respect and follow her is also refreshing. There needs to be more literature following this, to help set the scales even. To show that men and women are both competent to lead and be followed.

This is definitely a series worth checking out. I'm now going o harass Dan & Michael about when book #2 will be released...
14 reviews
December 26, 2018
Maybe this book is being punished for being the one I was reading when the formula finally got to me but ugh, enough! The bad guys are over the top ridiculous punctuated by being ugly, fat, dirty, etc. They are not particularly powerful, not at all clever and so beyond corrupt that it doesn't even make sense that they would be able to rule anyone. The "good" guys are so awesome that people are taking to their knees to proclaim their loyalty. I read nothing that makes that believable and just because you say it, doesn't make it so. The "jokes" and glee they seem to have while killing the mad is beyond annoying. And while they could be great fighters, a week, three days of trading making them better than everyone else is just dumb.
Yes, this book is being punished for being much like all of the previous books in the kurtherian gambit universe but these "good" guys finally broke the camel. Lol, I know that is not the saying. I am going to try to skim through the next two so I can get back to the characters i want to read about. I just hope I still like them now that recognize the theme that runs through them all.
Profile Image for TP.
1,039 reviews48 followers
December 1, 2021
I don’t like the female character very much. Her thought process feels off, for the world she knows, is living in and grew up in. She doesn’t know the world before the event, yet her mindset doesn’t reflect that. For example, for our female lead apparently being an attractive woman means not being fat. I wouldn’t expect that in the circumstances she grew up with, sparse food and any kind of luxury. In a society where food is scarce, like even today in many cultures, being skinny is not aspired, doesn’t represent status or prosperity, the opposite in fact.
The book is not completely thought through, in my opinion. This shows in a lot of details.

There was no day to day life, so it is tough to imagine how the world we are reading about works. Everything is described and told but not really experienced. And what I got to experience so far didn’t fit with the descriptions, really.
The characters decisions are also not really backed up. For example, I still don’t know a believable reason why they simply don’t leave the silver creek community. The reasoning behind it, the author provided didn’t convince me, it was a thin argument made by one character and fully accepted by the other…it is all simply odd.

The characters are odd as well. Not even the characters like the vampire, knows why she acts the way she acts and is questioning herself and her actions. How am I supposed as a reader see sense in the random behaviour then? Or how weird it felt to have the brother and sister, list all the despicable actions and deeds of the three man that accompany them into the forest, it was an optimal situation to get rid of the bullies and tyrants of their community but instead they do nothing, they don’t even think of it. They simply let the abuse go on, like they would if they still lived in the world before but they simply don’t.
It all doesn’t make much sense really.
I lost my interest in this book early on and am not sure if I ever pick it up again.
Profile Image for Roxy Fox.
408 reviews
January 16, 2020
I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. The characters didn’t seem to have any depth and victories were too easy. People don’t usually get convinced to change their ways that quickly and there is usually a learning curve for both fighting and leadership skills, which means mistakes should be made. I found the technician and supernaturals the most intriguing characters. But even they could show more character development. The shallowness is sometimes alleviated by humor, so I did laugh on several occasions, but I still thought the cliches were too much or at least weren’t handle in an interesting way. I have seen stories were the feminism, all or at least most men are dumb and cruel, was not so blatant. The world isn’t so black and white.
This story does have a strong female lead and a few interesting plot points.
This is the first book from this author I’ve read, is this the usual? I might push through the series but haven’t decided yet.
I didn’t mind this but be aware that the amount of language used is higher than most books, at least compared to what I’ve read.
3 reviews
July 6, 2021
This book is so bad that I don’t even know where to start. Questions I honestly found myself asking while attempting to listen to the audiobook:
- Is this a parody of some sort? Fan-fiction, maybe? There were some good set ups in terms of world building, but many characters were two dimensional caricatures of old tropes or behaved in ways that made no sense. I decided it wasn’t a parody only because other reviewers seem to have taken it seriously.
- Was this self-published and, if not, how in earth did it get published otherwise? I still don’t know.
- Was this written by a middle schooler or for younger readers? I decided not only because language and several topics were inappropriate for those ages.
- Has this person ever met a dog? Met a victim of domestic violence? Tried to walk with a sword?
- Are all of these characters meant to be simple, stupid, or brain damaged and, if so, why wasn’t this mentioned?

In general, I think the plot has promise. It’s just very poorly executed. It might have made for a better book if written by someone else.

Profile Image for Sandy Chapman.
240 reviews5 followers
August 15, 2018
Couldn't put it down!

Started reading this morning and couldn't put it down until finished! Very well written and I especially enjoyed the references to other series. Was a little suprised how much I liked the book since I'm not a fan of horror but, since I've read all the other KGU books, figured I'd give it a try. I'm glad I did. Some of my favorite parts included when they found the old air ship and the characters discussed things that happened in other series as the accepted history. Looking forward to reading the next in this series, hoping some familiar characters do show up. Might even try out some of the author's other books!
Profile Image for Debra Stubbins.
334 reviews
March 8, 2022
Madness at its best!!

What a fantastic first book in the Caitlin Chronicles. We get an insight into the heroine Caitlin and her merry band of Revolutionists that she gathers as they take back her town. So when a vampire, werewolf and a human storm the gates, you can be sure that mad and the bad won’t dominate.
Well done Mr Willcocks and Mr Anderle, a thoroughly well written book!!
Profile Image for Terry Easom.
94 reviews2 followers
September 4, 2018
I have found a new hero in The Kurtherian Gambit series!

I love the storyline, I love the characters, I am so going to read every book in this series! I don't usually care for horror stories but that is not all this story is, it is so much more! I love Caitlin and Mary Anne, Kain and everyone else!
Profile Image for Kimberly Gallagher.
76 reviews1 follower
February 1, 2020
Fun book

It was fun to get to know the characters but I felt a little disconnected. This was not my favorite book set in the Kutherian Universe but it could be just the timing. I like some of the characters but just didnt get the hook I got with some of the other books on the timeline.
197 reviews
January 20, 2021
Great story with Interesting characters

It's refreshing to see an end of civilisation book set in Canada. I have bought the series so I will be reading the rest of the series in the near future. I love strong female leads and really enjoy the dynamics of the powerful women in charge.
Profile Image for Lyndsey Gollogly.
1,364 reviews6 followers
March 11, 2021
So I wasn’t sure what to Expect but it was actually quite good! I got a very walking dead theme but with vampires and weres thrown in! The characters were likeable and of course detestable, loving the female leads which I find sometimes when written by men are just slightly patronising but not here! Looking forward to seeing more.
278 reviews
June 27, 2023
Wow

Daniel Wiilocks and Michael Anderle have created a great story and fascinating characters to share how the Madness has changed the world since BA released the nanocytes and they were corrupted. I'm looking forward to seeing where the Revolutionaries go next and the characters bond and grow. Enjoy
Profile Image for Bobby Childers.
88 reviews
August 9, 2018
Chaos can be tamed.....

Caitlin proves that she is just as capable as the other Alpha females in the Kurtherian Gambit Universe. This is a really good book and takes place about 300 years after Bethany Anne left Earth. I will be waiting for the next book in this series.
Profile Image for Julie.
931 reviews
August 11, 2018
Sweet

The books keep getting better and better. I really loved this book with it's fun and kickass characters. The adventure is non-stop and the storyline makes you want to fight with the revolutionaries. So looking forward to more books in this series.
937 reviews8 followers
August 11, 2018
age of madness rocks

Great new series in the age of madness. Slimy bad guys, kick ass heroes, weres, vamps and the mad.
Loved this novel and I look forward to more from this series.😀
Profile Image for Lois Alston.
1,864 reviews3 followers
August 13, 2018
Really enjoyed the story

Want Mary Ann to be more bad ass. Really liked Carlin and how she gets more confident in herself and believing in right. Want her brother to get more backbone.
442 reviews8 followers
August 13, 2018
New Series is a Hit

I really like this new series set in the Age of Madness. Caitlyn is an excellent heroine. You have evil men, a Were, and a Vamp along with the zombies. No spoilers Read it!
Profile Image for George  Lawson.
515 reviews1 follower
August 14, 2018
Looks like a great new series

Lots of action and some stellar characters. As usual the main character is a female but she's got a whole raft of buddies including a were and a vampire. Looking forward to more from Daniel.
Profile Image for Ann Zdunczyk.
1,162 reviews4 followers
August 26, 2018
Fantastic new series!!

Let’s see we have reference to Gibbs rules, Braveheart and games people don’t remember🤣🤣! This is a fantastic start to a whole new group of characters that I hope will be around for a long long time!! Read it to will not be sorry!!
Profile Image for Curly's  Ramblings.
2,034 reviews6 followers
July 30, 2019
Nice start to a new series. Siblings take on an injustice after stumbling across an unfortunate find. The characters are likable and the storyline is entertaining and fast paced. Plenty of action and fighting.
Profile Image for James Gardner.
42 reviews
December 19, 2020
Review

Thank You, As I have said I am happy read these great stories. Little did I know that there ae so many good writers with great skills and great stories. As long as I live I will be reading, I am 72, so lets keep writing . Again Thank you
Profile Image for Judy.
404 reviews6 followers
May 23, 2023
Book 1 is good

And this promises to be an interesting series. It is the time of Madness and various strong men have taken charge of communities . many good people are being abused and have no hope. Enter Caitlin.
122 reviews2 followers
November 11, 2018
DNF.

There was an actual, unironic "and then the whole bus clapped" moment. I'm not staying around to find out who of the cast is named Albert Einstein.
194 reviews4 followers
December 7, 2018
Excellent

Very good book. Really enjoyed the two, hope there are more in the works. Anything with Michael Anderle will be great.
Profile Image for jane wisniewski.
60 reviews1 follower
December 21, 2018
Caitlin

What a great character and hero! And who better to hate than the governor, the super villain of Caitlan's world! Bring on book 2.
Profile Image for laura walker.
9 reviews
January 1, 2019
Great great read

Couldn’t put this down love the banter between characters, would totally recommend to anyone who will listen lol looking forward to the next book
327 reviews
November 13, 2020
Into the mayhem

Hopefully our future after a huge bomb destroys our world will not look like what's in these pages. Written with tons of description horror to the max.
9 reviews
December 7, 2021
The story doesn’t match up. It felt that something is off.. like the food source. Or how they train for upcoming war ahead. I mean soldiers didn’t become discipline in few days.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews

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