What do you think?
Rate this book
Three Remain
THREE STRANGERS AWAKE TO A WORLD GONE QUIET. NO PHONES, INTERNET, TELEVISION, RADIO, OR ELECTRICITY. AND NO OTHER PEOPLE. After witnessing a meteor explode in the sky above his home the night before, Glen awakes to a loss of all communications and power. On route to a work assignment before dawn, Sara’s car veers into a roadside tree. Crawling from the vehicle to the ground, her last memory is the fragrance of dirt and Queen Anne’s Lace. Thirteen-year-old Traci opens her eyes to complete blackness. A wave of fear brings a shudder as she recalls falling asleep in the movie theater. Immediately groping for her phone, she wonders why her parents hadn’t picked her up. A girl, young woman, and a man discover themselves in a countryside void of people and imprisoned by thick fog. Brought together by circumstance, the three confront bizarre, life-threatening challenges as they try to unravel the mystery. Dependent on one another, the unlikely trio must find a path to rejoin humanity. In a place of “beserkedness,” Three Remain.
- GenresScience Fiction
321 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2019
3 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
R.A. Andrade
2 books26 followersRon writes from a small community in Michigan, sometimes at three in the morning when ideas wake him from sleep. He was born and raised in New England, sometimes drawing on those childhood and teen experiences for his novels. Driven to write, his goal is simply to entertain by bringing you the unexpected.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
May 16, 2019
Rating: 3.7/5
Review: This started out pretty good, in a “The Truman Show” kind of way. All the characters seem to mesh fairly well in spite of their disparate and unfathomed backgrounds. Traci is a young teen that despises her parents (blah, blah, trope, trope) with Sunshine leading the charge as decisive and brilliant in an understated but feisty way. Early on in the novel, it gets a little uncomfortable when Glen begins to constantly kiss little Traci on the forehead/top of head/cheek. Repeatedly. Like this is somehow supposed to endear the reader to some perceived daddy/caring connection between them. Only it comes off contrived and creepy as hell.
I wanted to burn this novel what with this hastily formed unit that becomes this moral guidepost on the road to salvation (escape). Despite the familial perfection, I enjoyed the story line, even as it creeps towards “Westworld” and certain shows in the original Star Trek series (‘The Man Trap’, ‘Catspaw’, ‘The Gamesters of Triskelion’, etc.). Additionally there are some firearm fails, namely where they get the semi-automatic shotguns from the sexbots, er, androids and proceed to pump and “rack” shells into their chambers. Not possible or needed with a loaded semi-auto unless you want to eject live rounds.
I wasn’t enthralled with certain aspects of the novel but I had a good time and that’s talented writing right there.
Review: This started out pretty good, in a “The Truman Show” kind of way. All the characters seem to mesh fairly well in spite of their disparate and unfathomed backgrounds. Traci is a young teen that despises her parents (blah, blah, trope, trope) with Sunshine leading the charge as decisive and brilliant in an understated but feisty way. Early on in the novel, it gets a little uncomfortable when Glen begins to constantly kiss little Traci on the forehead/top of head/cheek. Repeatedly. Like this is somehow supposed to endear the reader to some perceived daddy/caring connection between them. Only it comes off contrived and creepy as hell.
I wanted to burn this novel what with this hastily formed unit that becomes this moral guidepost on the road to salvation (escape). Despite the familial perfection, I enjoyed the story line, even as it creeps towards “Westworld” and certain shows in the original Star Trek series (‘The Man Trap’, ‘Catspaw’, ‘The Gamesters of Triskelion’, etc.). Additionally there are some firearm fails, namely where they get the semi-automatic shotguns from the sexbots, er, androids and proceed to pump and “rack” shells into their chambers. Not possible or needed with a loaded semi-auto unless you want to eject live rounds.
I wasn’t enthralled with certain aspects of the novel but I had a good time and that’s talented writing right there.
June 27, 2019
Three Remain is odd to say the least. It was nothing like I expected, but it turned out to be very interesting. Take three quirky sassy characters and place them in a fog bank. Now, the journey begins to find out where everyone went and what is going on. It's just not told in a typical fashion. Along the way it's just straight up weird and bizarre. The story is lively and entertaining, and I didn't know where it was headed. There are some good twists and turns here and there. If you can get past the silliness, it's actually a good read. Because it's so weird, it keeps your attention. The characters are meh. Kinda likeable and kinda not. The overall picture is quite intriguing for the story, so give it a try. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
June 12, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is a very enthralling sci-fi/adventure tale. It's a dystopian novel that makes you think it's going a certain path, then goes somewhere totally different. Apocalyptic tales, I'm very picky about. I'm so tired of zombies!!! This was one told right!
June 1, 2019
Three remain review
Drie mensen worden wakker in een alternatieve werkelijkheid, onbekenden voor elkaar, zijn zij op elkaar aangewezen om alle gekkigheid dat op hun pad komt, het hoofd te bieden.
Het begint allemaal nogal bizar: een tiener die met vrienden gaat stappen, wordt wakker in een lege wereld. Zo ook Glenn, die en meteoriet ziet, en de dag daarna merkt dat alle mensen verdwenen zijn. Als hij op onderzoek uitgaat, ontmoet hij een jonge vrouw, die na een botsing haar geheugen kwijt is geraakt. Ze herinnert zich helemaal niets meer. Hij besluit om haar Ms Sunshine te noemen. De puber, Traci, sluit zich aan en met zijn drieën gaan ze op pad naar antwoorden. Want vreemd is het wel wat er allemaal is gebeurd.
De situatie is ronduit raar: er is geen internet, geen radio, geen t.v. en nergens een mens meer te zien: het lijkt erop alsof de laatste mensen op aarde zijn!
Op hun pad naar de waarheid komen ze in allerlei gekke en bijzonder vreemde situaties terecht en de stad is omgegeven door een dikke laag mist. Ze besluiten de andere kant op te gaan, op zoek naar de anderen, want waar is iedereen?! Wat is er gebeurd? Is dit de Apocalyps?
De drie overblijvers vallen daarna van de ene verbazing in de andere: ze worden aangevallen door beren, haaien en poedels, Sherman tanks, en pratende kabouters. Slaat helemaal nergens op, en is bij vlagen ronduit hilarisch, maar aan het einde van het boek wordt het allemaal duidelijk wat er nu écht aan de hand is!
Three remain is a hilarious, imaginative story about three people on an adventurous road trip in order to find answers. Where are they? Where is everyone? What happened? Has the zombie apocalypse started?
Along the way, they encounter Sherman tanks, aggressive dogs, dolphins that help them fight the sharks to get them off treasure island., female robots, and that is only the beginning! And why are they being tested and observed, and who is observing and testing them?
The best books turn your view of the world upside down, and play havoc with your mind and perception of reality. Lessons to be learned are: if you can think outside the box, you will pass and can see what is in store for you. You will be flabbergasted when you find out the truth!
Hilarious, and often very stilly, this book takes you boldly where no one has gone before and teaches you a lesson: never give up, never believe what you are seeing or reading, and you can see it for yourself.
Very original! I wanted to quit, and the silly dialogues at the start were enough to make me squirm, and it got even weirder all along…...
An utterly funny and odd read, with a total unexpected twist! Brilliant and highly original.
**** 4 star.
Drie mensen worden wakker in een alternatieve werkelijkheid, onbekenden voor elkaar, zijn zij op elkaar aangewezen om alle gekkigheid dat op hun pad komt, het hoofd te bieden.
Het begint allemaal nogal bizar: een tiener die met vrienden gaat stappen, wordt wakker in een lege wereld. Zo ook Glenn, die en meteoriet ziet, en de dag daarna merkt dat alle mensen verdwenen zijn. Als hij op onderzoek uitgaat, ontmoet hij een jonge vrouw, die na een botsing haar geheugen kwijt is geraakt. Ze herinnert zich helemaal niets meer. Hij besluit om haar Ms Sunshine te noemen. De puber, Traci, sluit zich aan en met zijn drieën gaan ze op pad naar antwoorden. Want vreemd is het wel wat er allemaal is gebeurd.
De situatie is ronduit raar: er is geen internet, geen radio, geen t.v. en nergens een mens meer te zien: het lijkt erop alsof de laatste mensen op aarde zijn!
Op hun pad naar de waarheid komen ze in allerlei gekke en bijzonder vreemde situaties terecht en de stad is omgegeven door een dikke laag mist. Ze besluiten de andere kant op te gaan, op zoek naar de anderen, want waar is iedereen?! Wat is er gebeurd? Is dit de Apocalyps?
De drie overblijvers vallen daarna van de ene verbazing in de andere: ze worden aangevallen door beren, haaien en poedels, Sherman tanks, en pratende kabouters. Slaat helemaal nergens op, en is bij vlagen ronduit hilarisch, maar aan het einde van het boek wordt het allemaal duidelijk wat er nu écht aan de hand is!
Three remain is a hilarious, imaginative story about three people on an adventurous road trip in order to find answers. Where are they? Where is everyone? What happened? Has the zombie apocalypse started?
Along the way, they encounter Sherman tanks, aggressive dogs, dolphins that help them fight the sharks to get them off treasure island., female robots, and that is only the beginning! And why are they being tested and observed, and who is observing and testing them?
The best books turn your view of the world upside down, and play havoc with your mind and perception of reality. Lessons to be learned are: if you can think outside the box, you will pass and can see what is in store for you. You will be flabbergasted when you find out the truth!
Hilarious, and often very stilly, this book takes you boldly where no one has gone before and teaches you a lesson: never give up, never believe what you are seeing or reading, and you can see it for yourself.
Very original! I wanted to quit, and the silly dialogues at the start were enough to make me squirm, and it got even weirder all along…...
An utterly funny and odd read, with a total unexpected twist! Brilliant and highly original.
**** 4 star.
September 28, 2019
This is Ron A .Andrade second fiction, an extremely powerful story of three strangers on an un imaginary land. I can’ t imagines how challenging it would to be created such very mechanical stuff in an unimaginable world. Glen held up as a risk taking, sensitive and strong headed man, His love interest Sunshine is a beautiful young lady, courageous and has fortitude to fight the odds. Traci, where as emerges as an adolescent, she is talkative, blunt and showed the strength of her character despite of her tender age. The story involves the three strangers and how they enhanced and magnified themselves in the terrifying situations, they travelled to such a place unwillingly and with their strong determination, they survived. It managed to surpass my intense imaginations, while experiencing the rigid circumstances my mind was completely fried, some parts of the story was so heart – raising terrifying but the ethics of the demanding circumstances, I find the violence as a defense and confrontation to combat the danger to shield each other in an abominable mission was warranted.
The nightmare experiences on a strange land, kept me in an illusion and understanding the incidents of the anonymity of the story were utterly fascinating. In such theme I find that people have power over on another. The candid love , affection and attachment among three is the best part of the story , because I believe that if people love each other , without any expectations ,but a promise to stay with each other no matter what would be the corollaries , they are so powerful that they can do anything even on a vastly monstrous strange land and I think that this makes them very humane , even they were unwillingly hanging out on a different world, but their determination to protect each others , in such overwhelming curse like storm , they would anything to stick together that manage their emotional state and Acumen all together. The brain – enhancing intelligence and teddy love gives me a warmth of an accomplished love.
This is the story of an unexpected love and extraordinary bonding on an outlandish land among three strangers, a hint of romance keeps the zeal during the voyage to return their own land. I must say that their home coming experiences have many unexpected folds, which kept me engaging, in many parts I could Co relate myself to such extent, as I was the one of the prisoner on a horrible space.
The climax was electrifying and chock-full of unforeseen ending!
June 3, 2019
Three Remain is a fun, mind-bending journey! Tracy, Sunshine and Glen find themselves inadvertently having to rely on one another in a deserted town without power and walled in by an inexplicable fog. Somehow, they find their way through a series of circumstances that whirls in one fast ride of mystery and adventure!
I really enjoyed the premise for this novel. I think that it’s always entertaining, if not a bit scary, to think about apocalyptic situations, “what if” survival scenarios – or zombies – even though I like zombies. And while Three Remain inspires thoughts of a traditional apocalypse setting in the beginning, it transforms into something else entirely. You think you’re going one way and then you’re turned in another direction trying to line up all the pathways you’ve traveled and just when you think they all come together…well the rides not over. That’s what makes this a terrific read. It’s like thinking you solved the Sudoku Puzzle only to find there’s one number out of place and you must reexamine everything again.
The book moves quickly, so I don’t want to give any spoilers away with singling out specifics and ruin what’s coming down the pipeline. I can say the unusual trio, thrown together, grew on me. I enjoyed their antics and the way they use their differences working together to the point you can’t see them apart. Aside from the story and trying to figure out what is going on, along with the characters, you also start building another story inside your head – wondering what’s going to happen to the characters if the chance comes that they do encounter humanity again and not wanting to see them apart.
Three Remain is an unconventional delight – a blend of Sci-fi, adventure and romance - and a great read!
I really enjoyed the premise for this novel. I think that it’s always entertaining, if not a bit scary, to think about apocalyptic situations, “what if” survival scenarios – or zombies – even though I like zombies. And while Three Remain inspires thoughts of a traditional apocalypse setting in the beginning, it transforms into something else entirely. You think you’re going one way and then you’re turned in another direction trying to line up all the pathways you’ve traveled and just when you think they all come together…well the rides not over. That’s what makes this a terrific read. It’s like thinking you solved the Sudoku Puzzle only to find there’s one number out of place and you must reexamine everything again.
The book moves quickly, so I don’t want to give any spoilers away with singling out specifics and ruin what’s coming down the pipeline. I can say the unusual trio, thrown together, grew on me. I enjoyed their antics and the way they use their differences working together to the point you can’t see them apart. Aside from the story and trying to figure out what is going on, along with the characters, you also start building another story inside your head – wondering what’s going to happen to the characters if the chance comes that they do encounter humanity again and not wanting to see them apart.
Three Remain is an unconventional delight – a blend of Sci-fi, adventure and romance - and a great read!
July 5, 2019
Three Remain is a wonderfully crafted story. It starts off in one direction and finishes up somewhere you never imagined. Wonderfully developed characters continually provide surprises as this unconventional story evolves. The complex dynamics between the three main characters was interesting to watch and I thought that they brought a fun and bright outlook to an otherwise bleak situation. Three Remain is an unconventional take on the usual dystopian tale – a blend of Sci-fi, adventure and romance - and a great read!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
August 30, 2019
This book was certainly way out of my wheelhouse. While it was not my favourite book to read, I did enjoy the story and the various twists and turns but couldn't relate to the characters. They were not as well developed as I would have liked and they were kind of neither here nor there. Apocalyptic stories are not the type of books I gravitate to and there are very few that I've read that I've truly enjoyed. Unfortunately this book does not fall into the category of the ones that I've enjoyed. And thank you to NetGalley and Selladore Press for giving me this ARC in exchange of my honest review.
September 6, 2019
This was a good story of three people who band together after a meteor changes the world as they know it. Glen finds Sunshine (Sara) in her car that hit a tree and the two bond and stay together when they find no people anywhere they go. They discover 13 year old Tracy and she sticks to them after being alone. They are trapped in a weird fog and eventually discover the cause of their problems.The plot is pretty good and the three adjust and survive with a little humor and excitement. Sci/Fi fans will love it, young and old. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
September 17, 2019
This story is a bit different for me. It is about three people of different ages and personalities, Glen Sara and Traci. They eash wake up to a world without others and no more technology. It is a story of survival and learning to lean on others for coping. The characters are written realy good and the story is good. worth a read.
February 17, 2020
Great book- would be awesome in a book club to read 1/2 way through and everyone makes predictions on what is going to happen (and why) an then meet up after finishing to see if anyone figured out the ending- I bet they didn't
September 3, 2019
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to awake in a world without TV, Radio, Internet, phone, or Electricity? Or other Humans? And you weren't dreaming! THREE REMAIN pulls us through a maze of adventure and fantasy where three strangers bond to solve their dilemma. This novel is in the best tradition of Science Fiction and Mystery genres. Can't wait for the next R.A. Andrade novel. Ted
October 4, 2019
Ron Andrade took me on a truly unexpected journey in this book. I came to the story happy to find an end of the world tale with a few survivors trying to find their way. I'm always a fan of this sort of story. But, as the author promises, there are many twists and turns for the three main characters. Surprise is the operative word. And I don't want to say any more and spoil the story for future readers!
May 12, 2019
I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks NetGalley!
The whole world has gone quiet.
Glen, Sara and 13 year old Traci find themselves facing a new world void of people and with thick dark fog surrounding them. They must team together to find their path back to humanity.
This book definitely peaked my interest with the description. There WERE some slot spots, but overall it was an easy fun read.
Thanks NetGalley!
The whole world has gone quiet.
Glen, Sara and 13 year old Traci find themselves facing a new world void of people and with thick dark fog surrounding them. They must team together to find their path back to humanity.
This book definitely peaked my interest with the description. There WERE some slot spots, but overall it was an easy fun read.
May 16, 2019
Three Remain is a great book with interesting characters and it is well written. I would read more by this author.
June 29, 2019
The title “Three Remain” and the cover where there are three silhouettes sat together looking out to the ocean were, what initially attracted me to the book. From the cover and then reading the blurb I thought the book would possibly be post-apocalyptic in genre. The actual genres listed are Sci-Fantasy which would fit with my “post-apocalyptic” guess and also mystery & thrillers are listed which has me even more intrigued and curious about the book. I should add that upon reading the book the cover is a scene featured in the book, which I like.
The book started off quite well, we met the characters individually staring with Traci, a teenager who has just been dropped off at the movies to meet her friends. Unfortunately for Traci it seems her friends are late and she can’t reach them via her phone. She finally decides to go inside the theatre to get settled and save seats for her friends. As she settles down the ads start and the lights go down and Traci feels so tired, she just can’t keep her eyes open….
Next up to be introduced is Sara who is checking the map on her phone checking the estimated time it will take to get to where she needs to be though she is a bit annoyed about being tasked to follow a guy who clearly has no record. To her it doesn’t make sense to be tailing this guy! As her car goes around a curve in the road, she somehow loses control and ends up on a crash course with a tree….
Finally, we are acquainted with Glen who we join whilst he is looking in his rather bare fridge finding only a bruised apple. He settles on the last bottle of Corona, which he clumsily ends up knocking and spilling. It’s then he see’s what looks like a meteor. After watching the meteor spectacle Glen, tries to find any news about exactly what is happening but when he doesn’t find anything online, on the radio etc. he decides to go to bed. He sets is alarm as usual and goes to sleep. The next day Glen awakes and its then he finds out there is no electricity or internet and that his water is in short supply too. So, Glen gets washed and shaved by torchlight and heads out to his prized possession, his Mustang V8. It’s whilst he is out in his car that he comes across a crashed car. He rescues the woman who cannot remember anything, not even her own name. Despite this she refuses Glen’s offer to take her to a Doctor she almost demands he take her to his home for her to clean up and tells him in no uncertain terms that he shouldn’t get any ideas because he is far too old to date her!
I was quite immersed at this point we had four, though the identity of the crash victim that was rescued by Glen is really obvious to work out. Anyway Glen & Sunshine, which is the name Glen has given to the car crash victim he rescued decide to search for some food and survival gear in town. It is whilst they are doing this that they meet up with Traci and become a group of three. Its then everything gets somewhat confusing, admittedly I have gone into reading this book with the expectation of a great post-apocalyptic story.
I did enjoy the banter between the characters such as, when the trio are going to have something to eat and Glen gets out Spam. “Eyeing the dishes on the table, Traci asked, "What's Spam?" "You don't want to know, dear," Sunshine answered.” And again, later in the book when Glen calls Sunshine Pocahontas, and Traci is feeling left out and unheard, “So, who is Pokeeho . . . never mind. I must be wearing a Harry Potter invisibility cloak because you never see or hear me," whined Traci. "I watched all the movies. The second one is my favorite”. Throughout the book Sunshine draws the attention to the fact she perceives Glen is wanting to date her, and as Glen is older than her, and far too old to date or even be interested in him in that way. Sunshine sometimes acts like she is as young as Traci, for example “Sunshine asked, "Will you read a bedtime story to us, Daddy?" To be honest Sunshine going on and on ended up being a bit irritating. I did like how the characters banded together in a kind of “us against whatever is going on”. I was also sceptical about Sunshine not having any ID on her at all. From what we know about her I would guess she is either a Private Investigator or most probably a Policewoman, so where’s her badge? These characters are introduced slowly and we see how their relationship with each other grows but I couldn’t help feeling I wanted the book to move faster. It felt like it was dragging on a little to me. Sunshine and Traci fall into a kind of “mother-daughter” relationship and it is really believable. Traci does look up to both Sunshine and Glen for guidance and they willingly accept and take on the parenting role.
I really did feel like giving up on the book a few times, but I wanted to know what was going on. I also wanted to give the book chance. I thought it was suddenly going to turn a corner and then bam it would pick up and really get going. There were sections of the book I did enjoy such as the section with the sharks and dolphins though I did find it rather “obvious”.
My immediate thoughts upon finishing the book were, well I honestly don't know what to say! If there was a half a star it would be one and a half stars as I liked the characters and enjoyed reading how they met up, but that was about it!
To finally sum up, I feel I need to explain and/or justify what I felt and have written about this book. The book seems to explore every possible plot and I mean explore the individual possible plot directions and probable cause of this strange atmosphere that Glen, Sunshine and Traci have found themselves in, before one final twist turning the plot into something totally different again. I liked the characters and as I got to know them, I grew to like them more, but to be truly honest by the time the final twist and ending of the book arrived I didn’t really care anymore! When that final twist was revealed it felt so rushed. We had spent the whole book meandering on, and when the whole truth was going to be revealed it was haphazard and rushed. Sorry I persevered to the very end but this book just was not for me.
The book started off quite well, we met the characters individually staring with Traci, a teenager who has just been dropped off at the movies to meet her friends. Unfortunately for Traci it seems her friends are late and she can’t reach them via her phone. She finally decides to go inside the theatre to get settled and save seats for her friends. As she settles down the ads start and the lights go down and Traci feels so tired, she just can’t keep her eyes open….
Next up to be introduced is Sara who is checking the map on her phone checking the estimated time it will take to get to where she needs to be though she is a bit annoyed about being tasked to follow a guy who clearly has no record. To her it doesn’t make sense to be tailing this guy! As her car goes around a curve in the road, she somehow loses control and ends up on a crash course with a tree….
Finally, we are acquainted with Glen who we join whilst he is looking in his rather bare fridge finding only a bruised apple. He settles on the last bottle of Corona, which he clumsily ends up knocking and spilling. It’s then he see’s what looks like a meteor. After watching the meteor spectacle Glen, tries to find any news about exactly what is happening but when he doesn’t find anything online, on the radio etc. he decides to go to bed. He sets is alarm as usual and goes to sleep. The next day Glen awakes and its then he finds out there is no electricity or internet and that his water is in short supply too. So, Glen gets washed and shaved by torchlight and heads out to his prized possession, his Mustang V8. It’s whilst he is out in his car that he comes across a crashed car. He rescues the woman who cannot remember anything, not even her own name. Despite this she refuses Glen’s offer to take her to a Doctor she almost demands he take her to his home for her to clean up and tells him in no uncertain terms that he shouldn’t get any ideas because he is far too old to date her!
I was quite immersed at this point we had four, though the identity of the crash victim that was rescued by Glen is really obvious to work out. Anyway Glen & Sunshine, which is the name Glen has given to the car crash victim he rescued decide to search for some food and survival gear in town. It is whilst they are doing this that they meet up with Traci and become a group of three. Its then everything gets somewhat confusing, admittedly I have gone into reading this book with the expectation of a great post-apocalyptic story.
I did enjoy the banter between the characters such as, when the trio are going to have something to eat and Glen gets out Spam. “Eyeing the dishes on the table, Traci asked, "What's Spam?" "You don't want to know, dear," Sunshine answered.” And again, later in the book when Glen calls Sunshine Pocahontas, and Traci is feeling left out and unheard, “So, who is Pokeeho . . . never mind. I must be wearing a Harry Potter invisibility cloak because you never see or hear me," whined Traci. "I watched all the movies. The second one is my favorite”. Throughout the book Sunshine draws the attention to the fact she perceives Glen is wanting to date her, and as Glen is older than her, and far too old to date or even be interested in him in that way. Sunshine sometimes acts like she is as young as Traci, for example “Sunshine asked, "Will you read a bedtime story to us, Daddy?" To be honest Sunshine going on and on ended up being a bit irritating. I did like how the characters banded together in a kind of “us against whatever is going on”. I was also sceptical about Sunshine not having any ID on her at all. From what we know about her I would guess she is either a Private Investigator or most probably a Policewoman, so where’s her badge? These characters are introduced slowly and we see how their relationship with each other grows but I couldn’t help feeling I wanted the book to move faster. It felt like it was dragging on a little to me. Sunshine and Traci fall into a kind of “mother-daughter” relationship and it is really believable. Traci does look up to both Sunshine and Glen for guidance and they willingly accept and take on the parenting role.
I really did feel like giving up on the book a few times, but I wanted to know what was going on. I also wanted to give the book chance. I thought it was suddenly going to turn a corner and then bam it would pick up and really get going. There were sections of the book I did enjoy such as the section with the sharks and dolphins though I did find it rather “obvious”.
My immediate thoughts upon finishing the book were, well I honestly don't know what to say! If there was a half a star it would be one and a half stars as I liked the characters and enjoyed reading how they met up, but that was about it!
To finally sum up, I feel I need to explain and/or justify what I felt and have written about this book. The book seems to explore every possible plot and I mean explore the individual possible plot directions and probable cause of this strange atmosphere that Glen, Sunshine and Traci have found themselves in, before one final twist turning the plot into something totally different again. I liked the characters and as I got to know them, I grew to like them more, but to be truly honest by the time the final twist and ending of the book arrived I didn’t really care anymore! When that final twist was revealed it felt so rushed. We had spent the whole book meandering on, and when the whole truth was going to be revealed it was haphazard and rushed. Sorry I persevered to the very end but this book just was not for me.
August 2, 2019
This science fiction novel had me on the tip of my toes or maybe rather on the edge of my seat and had me going to bed too late. It is a very entertaining read and suspense keeps very high throughout the whole story.
One morning when a lawyer goes to work he finds a woman who was in a carcrash. When they go into town they notice that there is no one around and phones, internet and electricity are not working. The only person they meet is a young girl and there is a huge fog bank blocking the road. Then things get dangerous.
To tell more would spoil your fun but if you like Steven King's novels this is one for you.
An additional plus of this story is that there is a lot of good humour in it although there were situations the teenager grated on my nerves.
(I cannot find it on Amazon yet)
One morning when a lawyer goes to work he finds a woman who was in a carcrash. When they go into town they notice that there is no one around and phones, internet and electricity are not working. The only person they meet is a young girl and there is a huge fog bank blocking the road. Then things get dangerous.
To tell more would spoil your fun but if you like Steven King's novels this is one for you.
An additional plus of this story is that there is a lot of good humour in it although there were situations the teenager grated on my nerves.
(I cannot find it on Amazon yet)
August 16, 2019
*Received via NetGalley for review*
I was excited to read this: people enrolled in intergalactic competitions and battles and such are right down my alley, but this book is terrible. Seriously awful.
The writing is clunky, the dialogue and characters are cringy, and nothing is subtle. Immediately the reader is told that Susan/Sunshine is young, fit, and attractive, whereas Clint is older. Susan/Sunshine make jokes about it constantly (and I mean constantly), flirting and bantering even though they have no chemistry and Sunshine has amnesia. Right away she starts calling him "daddy" (gross) and when a teenager (who is stereotypical dumb, annoying, and self-obsessed) joins them, Sunshine immediately refers to them as a family. It's all so heavy handed, rushed, and implausible.
I was excited to read this: people enrolled in intergalactic competitions and battles and such are right down my alley, but this book is terrible. Seriously awful.
The writing is clunky, the dialogue and characters are cringy, and nothing is subtle. Immediately the reader is told that Susan/Sunshine is young, fit, and attractive, whereas Clint is older. Susan/Sunshine make jokes about it constantly (and I mean constantly), flirting and bantering even though they have no chemistry and Sunshine has amnesia. Right away she starts calling him "daddy" (gross) and when a teenager (who is stereotypical dumb, annoying, and self-obsessed) joins them, Sunshine immediately refers to them as a family. It's all so heavy handed, rushed, and implausible.
September 23, 2019
Staci was at the movie theater and all three of her friends were late. The boy behind the glass counter and herself were the only ones in the lobby. Traci did her best to suppress her sense of disquiet frustration mixed with uncertainty connecting the deserted lobby with her missing friends and with the empty seats behind her in the theater, she sensed all was not normal. Her tongue suddenly numb and her eyelids drooped. She was struggling to stay awake. Glen sat at the table drinking a Corona. Reaching to take another swig with his lack of focus, he knocked the beer over. As he went on his hands and knees to clean up the mess he saw a racoon pawing and biting at the vinyl covering of the outside door. Glen went outside to check the damage. A meteor flashed overhead. His thoughts slipped into his solitary life. Glen vowed never to love another person again because of the inevitable pain and misery. He hoped to see another meteor. He did and it was big. Not merely a streak of light but big enough to discern the solid sphere. A second later it exploded above his head. Hundreds of miniature fireballs fell to earth in an umbrella of streaking lights and smoking tails. He searched for the telltale signs of fire, but saw only ordinary nighttime silhouettes of treelines and fields. Glen went back inside and checked his phone for any news of the meteor and then went to bed. Glancing at a map on her phone, sara read the estimated travel time to her destination at under five minutes. Dispatch had civen no sensible reason why she was assigned to tail this guy. His record was unblemished. “ Just stay close and report anything unusual” dispatch said last night. Her eyes glanced at the map, in an instant, she felt the car swerve. She saw a tree instead of the road rushing toward her. About to wrench the steering wheel to the left, her world changed with a deafening bang and a punch into her chest. Sara pushed the airbag out of her way, opened the door, tumbling onto the ground. Queen Anne’s Lace and dominated her senses, as consciousness slipped away. Glen woke up looking at his dark clock radio. Then he tried to turn on the light, greta no power. His cellphone didn’t have reception either. He rushed to his car with his laptop bag and folder of the most recent patent cases at work. Traci opened her eyes to darkness. Wiggling forward she unexpectedly dropped to the carpet and heard her phone skittering across the floor. She found her phone and used the flashlight mode and made it to the lobby where there was sunlight. Traci decided to get out of the place if she could. Than she would text her friends than finally call her parents. Neither of her parents had called, that was weird. Glen started to work but then came upon the sight of a Buick crashed against a tree. He found a woman lying in the tall grass. Than she asked him to give her a hand. Her leg was gashed open but the bleeding cut above her right eye worried Glen. he offered to call an ambulance. The woman said she was fine just help her up. He helped her to his car. Glen turned on the radio and all he got was static on every channel. He started back to his house to change his clothes, she went right to the door and waited for him. She said she didn’t remember her name or where she lived and then she seem to remember how to use a canopen . She asked him not to leave her alone. Than Glen checked and found eh ahd no internet connection and he was disappointed. He named her Sunshine for now. Traci explored the surrounding town and found it completely deserted. Traci to tremble uncontrollably. She struggled with thoughts of what to do next. Her phone was dead. She was scared more than she’d ever been before in her thirteen years. Glen finds Traci in the store and after she realizes he’ not a threat . he tells her she should stay with him and Sunshine until he could call her parents.
I don’t usually go for science fiction that much other than paranormal but this book was great! I didn’t want to put this down and only did when I had to. I liked the thriller part of it also. I loved the pace and plot. I loved Glen and Sunshine/Sara and Traci as they learned to care about each other, protect each other and to become a team and a family. I loved Glen wouldn’t leave Sunshine behind even after told she was half machine. I loved the challenges they had to conquer to survive. I loved the action, intrigue, and suspense in this book. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I highly recommend it.
I don’t usually go for science fiction that much other than paranormal but this book was great! I didn’t want to put this down and only did when I had to. I liked the thriller part of it also. I loved the pace and plot. I loved Glen and Sunshine/Sara and Traci as they learned to care about each other, protect each other and to become a team and a family. I loved Glen wouldn’t leave Sunshine behind even after told she was half machine. I loved the challenges they had to conquer to survive. I loved the action, intrigue, and suspense in this book. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I highly recommend it.
August 11, 2019
Three Remain is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller and tells the story of three strangers thrown together who have to learn to work as one in order to remain alive.
First, we meet Glen, who works in insurance and has witnessed a strange meteor shower just before he has gone to sleep. Then we have Sunshine (so named by Glen obviously due to her sunny personality—or not) who has awoken after a car accident with no memory and no clue as to her identity. Lastly, we have Traci, a pre-teen out at the movies who has woken to find everyone is missing and there is no signal for her phone (horror of horrors). The three land up meeting each other and realise they are trapped in an area surrounded by a fogbank. With no power and no means of communication with anyone else, they are forced into strange circumstances and have to make decisions they might never have even contemplated before. Could it really be the end of the world or are they pawns in a larger game?
I was drawn to the book by the description and the start really pulled me in. Then things went south. This is one book I actually struggled to finish. The idea behind the beginning of the book—great. The idea about the multitude of plot changes—getting fishy. The ending—oh, come on! You would get to a section where the characters were pushed a ‘la “Truman show style” and sort of buy into it, and then they would be pushed somewhere else and then somewhere else. Each time I kept asking myself—surely not? There is fiction and imagination and then there is just plain silly. It’s almost an insult to ask the reader to swallow some of it. From tanks to androids and dolphins to sex robots to aliens – it’s like someone looked at some interesting ideas and said hey, why not use all of them in one book?
There were initially only three characters to concentrate on so you would think that a lot could be said about them and you could really get into their stories. I didn’t find this at all. Sunshine was the most annoying and whiny character and I honestly felt more irritated than sorry for her. While Glen was trying to be the perfect gentleman around her she harped on and on about him not looking while she was changing or telling him he was too old for her and never stood a chance or just being flat out rude to him. Traci was not much better and her moaning about her phone not working got on my nerves. Her attitude and actions jumped constantly from a pre-teen to one much older and the inconsistency was jarring. The supposed “mother and daughter” dynamic between Sunshine and Traci that was meant to be a big part of the story fell flat to me, and I found some of the interactions between the three unnerving.
It’s sad when a book makes such a negative impact on a reader and the silly dialogue and ludicrous situations overshadowed any positives. I’m sure if it had been developed correctly it might have been a good story, but all I remember are the negative parts. The one thing I can say, though, is that barring a few punctuation errors, the proofing was very good.
Unfortunately, this is one I wouldn’t read again. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to review the book.
First, we meet Glen, who works in insurance and has witnessed a strange meteor shower just before he has gone to sleep. Then we have Sunshine (so named by Glen obviously due to her sunny personality—or not) who has awoken after a car accident with no memory and no clue as to her identity. Lastly, we have Traci, a pre-teen out at the movies who has woken to find everyone is missing and there is no signal for her phone (horror of horrors). The three land up meeting each other and realise they are trapped in an area surrounded by a fogbank. With no power and no means of communication with anyone else, they are forced into strange circumstances and have to make decisions they might never have even contemplated before. Could it really be the end of the world or are they pawns in a larger game?
I was drawn to the book by the description and the start really pulled me in. Then things went south. This is one book I actually struggled to finish. The idea behind the beginning of the book—great. The idea about the multitude of plot changes—getting fishy. The ending—oh, come on! You would get to a section where the characters were pushed a ‘la “Truman show style” and sort of buy into it, and then they would be pushed somewhere else and then somewhere else. Each time I kept asking myself—surely not? There is fiction and imagination and then there is just plain silly. It’s almost an insult to ask the reader to swallow some of it. From tanks to androids and dolphins to sex robots to aliens – it’s like someone looked at some interesting ideas and said hey, why not use all of them in one book?
There were initially only three characters to concentrate on so you would think that a lot could be said about them and you could really get into their stories. I didn’t find this at all. Sunshine was the most annoying and whiny character and I honestly felt more irritated than sorry for her. While Glen was trying to be the perfect gentleman around her she harped on and on about him not looking while she was changing or telling him he was too old for her and never stood a chance or just being flat out rude to him. Traci was not much better and her moaning about her phone not working got on my nerves. Her attitude and actions jumped constantly from a pre-teen to one much older and the inconsistency was jarring. The supposed “mother and daughter” dynamic between Sunshine and Traci that was meant to be a big part of the story fell flat to me, and I found some of the interactions between the three unnerving.
It’s sad when a book makes such a negative impact on a reader and the silly dialogue and ludicrous situations overshadowed any positives. I’m sure if it had been developed correctly it might have been a good story, but all I remember are the negative parts. The one thing I can say, though, is that barring a few punctuation errors, the proofing was very good.
Unfortunately, this is one I wouldn’t read again. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to review the book.
May 18, 2019
One morning the sun comes up and the world has changed. Glen wakes up in his home where the power, communications and internet are all down. A woman crashes her car on a traffic free road and pre-teen Traci wakes up in an empty cinema. Where is everyone else? Why is there no power and what is that fog preventing them leaving the district?
This book started quite well. You have 3 diverse people coming together to face an unusual situation. However, as the book progresses the characters start to be inconsistent and the plot starts to fall apart.
I started by getting irritated when Sunshine (the woman in the crashed car) had amnesia. Talk about an over used plot device which, in my opinion was unnecessary. Then she turns out to be a survival specialist and a crack shot with a gun – very convenient. Traci’s attitude seemed to go between that of an 11 year old to a much older teen depending on the storyline. She didn’t ever seem vastly perturbed about their predicament and was glad not to have her parents around. Glen seemed the best character but even he seemed to be a little too good at survivalist tactics and intelligence tests. He was, after all, an office worker in insurance & not a top army officer.
The plot was slow to begin with but when the pace increased it all got rather silly. Sherman tank driving androids pushed my patience to the limit but later we meet female androids who seem to be sex mad and I felt enough was enough.
So just over 55% through the book I called it a day. To be honest I am surprised I continued that long. In precis we have an amnesiac survival expert, cardboard characters and a plot that descended into a farce. Not the book for me.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.
This book started quite well. You have 3 diverse people coming together to face an unusual situation. However, as the book progresses the characters start to be inconsistent and the plot starts to fall apart.
I started by getting irritated when Sunshine (the woman in the crashed car) had amnesia. Talk about an over used plot device which, in my opinion was unnecessary. Then she turns out to be a survival specialist and a crack shot with a gun – very convenient. Traci’s attitude seemed to go between that of an 11 year old to a much older teen depending on the storyline. She didn’t ever seem vastly perturbed about their predicament and was glad not to have her parents around. Glen seemed the best character but even he seemed to be a little too good at survivalist tactics and intelligence tests. He was, after all, an office worker in insurance & not a top army officer.
The plot was slow to begin with but when the pace increased it all got rather silly. Sherman tank driving androids pushed my patience to the limit but later we meet female androids who seem to be sex mad and I felt enough was enough.
So just over 55% through the book I called it a day. To be honest I am surprised I continued that long. In precis we have an amnesiac survival expert, cardboard characters and a plot that descended into a farce. Not the book for me.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.
March 22, 2020
Author R. A. Andrade (https://www.raandrade.com) published the novel “Three Remain” in 2019. This is Mr. Andrade's second novel.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence. The story takes place in the contemporary US. There are three principal characters. Sara, Traci, and Glen.
Glen wakes up at his rural home to find himself without power or communications. Sara wakes to find herself in a wrecked car and without any memory. Traci, a 13-year-old, falls asleep in the movie theater and awake to silence.
The three come together and find that they are alone. Before long they discover themselves faced with one obstacle after another. Then they realize that these are not random occurrences. They are being tested.
I enjoyed the 6+ hours I spent reading this 261-page young adult science fiction novel. While not labeled young adult, it has that feel to it. I do like the plot, though it seems to be simply implemented. I give this novel a 3 out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence. The story takes place in the contemporary US. There are three principal characters. Sara, Traci, and Glen.
Glen wakes up at his rural home to find himself without power or communications. Sara wakes to find herself in a wrecked car and without any memory. Traci, a 13-year-old, falls asleep in the movie theater and awake to silence.
The three come together and find that they are alone. Before long they discover themselves faced with one obstacle after another. Then they realize that these are not random occurrences. They are being tested.
I enjoyed the 6+ hours I spent reading this 261-page young adult science fiction novel. While not labeled young adult, it has that feel to it. I do like the plot, though it seems to be simply implemented. I give this novel a 3 out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
September 18, 2019
Thank you to Selladore Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
At 25% I considered putting this book down and moving on with the many other books I have on my TBR list but decided to give it one more chance. The synopsis had me curious and it sounded like something I would really enjoy, so I kept going. At 40% I decided that I wasn't wasting any more time with this book, it is just too all over the place for me. Events in the book seem to be totally random and not in any way related. There isn't enough foreshadowing for you to even guess what might be in store for the characters, none of whom I had any connection with and found to be very annoying.
Thanks for the opportunity to read this book but not something that I can recommend to anyone.
At 25% I considered putting this book down and moving on with the many other books I have on my TBR list but decided to give it one more chance. The synopsis had me curious and it sounded like something I would really enjoy, so I kept going. At 40% I decided that I wasn't wasting any more time with this book, it is just too all over the place for me. Events in the book seem to be totally random and not in any way related. There isn't enough foreshadowing for you to even guess what might be in store for the characters, none of whom I had any connection with and found to be very annoying.
Thanks for the opportunity to read this book but not something that I can recommend to anyone.
September 23, 2019
The book started out strong...3 strangers who are the only people left alive after who knows what happened to the rest of the world! I was so interested to see where this book was going to go. However, my biggest problem were the three main characters. They were very stereotypical and quite frankly annoying. I struggled to finish this book.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.
May 17, 2019
I am sorry to say that I did not finish this book. I really tried, but after the first few chapters, I could not get into it. The characters left me cold and the situations were all over the place which made sense with the story line, but they did not grab me in any meaningful way. I got about a third of the way through and called it a day.
August 26, 2019
This book started out great, post apocalyptic nightmare, all people have disappeared, but Three Remain. But it just tries to be too many things at once. Is it apocalypse, magic, aliens, the military? There's enough good stuff here that could be expanded to make several different novels with the same beginning....or maybe it could have been a Choose Your Own Adventure.
September 23, 2019
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. DNF. Some elements of a story like this must be explained, or at least hinted at, to keep the reader interested. The title is not correct as there are soon others involved, with little explanation. The three main charcters exist without reason. How they put up with each other is beyond belief.
January 29, 2021
This was...odd. Not in a bad way. While I wouldn't say I loved it, I didn't hate it either. I did love the plot twists though! The characters were interesting, and the situation they find themselves in is terrifying. Definitely a page-turner that will have you wondering just what is going to happen next.
January 10, 2022
Mysterious, Three Remain is one of those books you must read. A great storyline with well=crafted characters makes you feel as if you are right there alongside the characters.
Brought together by circumstance, the three confront bizarre, life-threatening challenges as they try to unravel the mystery. Great job!!
Brought together by circumstance, the three confront bizarre, life-threatening challenges as they try to unravel the mystery. Great job!!
January 11, 2026
Picket this up at a local SF con a couple years ago. The author was selling his book at a table. The story is okay, interplay between the characters was straightforward but fairly well done. I had a big issue with suspension of disbelief with the story and how it ended, so for me, overall, it was a mediocre read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews