Apocalypse Crucible: The Earth's Last Days: The Battle Continues

Left Behind: Apocalypse #2

by Mel Odom

Danger and personal crisis on land, sea, and in the air combine with a level of spiritual warfare that is unparalleled in a Christian book. Crucible is a page-turning thriller that runs side by side with the phenomenal Left Behind series that has sold in excess of 55 million copies. The world is exploding in confusion and terror following the disappearances in book one, Apocalypse Dawn. Meanwhile, Army Rangers and Marine Special Forces are struggling to keep the peace, while fighting spiritual battles of their own in the sands of Turkey and back home.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian

326 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

aka Jordan Gray

Mel Odom is a bestselling writer for hire for Wizards of the Coast's Forgotten Realms, Gold Eagle's Mack Bolan, and Pocket's Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel book lines. His debut SF novel Lethal Interface made the Locus recommended list . The Rover was an Alyx Award winner. He has also written a scientific adventure of the high seas set in the 19th century entitled Hunters of the Dark Sea. He lives in Oklahoma.

Reviews

[Ryan Eaton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t enjoy the second book in the Apocalyspe Left Behind series as much as the first one. It has its moments but didn’t seem to hold my interest as much. Hopefully the next book in the series will be better.

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is ok...debating to get the next one or not. It is no Left Behind, but it is ok.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am reading this series at the recommendation of my husband. He loved it! For me there is too much military jargon. I think that is why my husband loved it, he understood all of that. My feeling as I read this is, can we get past the war part? But those who have been there probably understand this series better than I do.

[Timothy Dooley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable

As a fan of fan of the original left behind series I found this second book to go along with them well. Although it’s been years since I read them I think this is a great companion series.

[Taytan Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better than the first book, the military jargon always keeps me entertained, and the different perspectives were much more interesting than the first book. Very good read the entire way through. And as a religious based novel that’s saying something coming from me. 9/10

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Faith Finch · Rating 5 out of 5]

apocalypse crucible

Amazing, powerful, you won’t want to put it down!
An awesome book well worth reading, digesting and really considering what will happen…

[Harvey Tripple · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too heavy on the religious area. Not one of Odom's better book.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Apocalypse Crucible", the second book in the "Left Behind: Apocalypse" series. This series is a set of (mostly) wartime military thrillers that takes a different look at the end-times troubles, as portrayed in the "Left Behind" series (by LaHaye and Jenkins). It mixes a LOT of military war machine details (vocabulary, acronyms, weapons, etc.) with the sudden unexplainable (to most people) disappearances which actually signal the Rapture and the beginning of the End Times Tribulations period.

This book tells 3 stories side by side (by side), by constantly interrupting one story to switch viewpoint to one of the parallel stories. But I treated them as 3 distinct "sub-books", reading each story from start to finish before starting the next, which gave me a sense of continuity that I thought was lacking.

In the main story, First Sergeant "Goose" Gander has begun to realize that the disappearances of roughly a third of the world were actually the "Rapture". This viewpoint, definitely not shared by his commanding officer, caused serious friction between them. His captain has started to cozy up to a representative of Nicole Carpathia, which some people are starting to recognize as the potential Anti-Christ.

In the second story, Goose's wife (Megan) and family are still dealing with their own problems back in Georgia, with Megan being court-marshalled (in effect) for the mysterious disappearance of a boy she tried to save from a 4-story fall, and ostracized (by some) for trying to help the base's young people learn about the Rapture and the coming Tribulations.

The third story is about a naval chaplain struggling with his own problems, and with his own personal demon -- literally!

Despite the viewpoint problems mentioned above, and a bit of repetition, I found it to be mostly a pretty interesting book. 4 stars.

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional story line. Good transitioning between characters in different locations. Action but also exploration of faith.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Apocalypse Crucible", by Mel Odom, has continued his military series of the earth's last days with his second story of Goose Gander, Meagan and Joey. They are all in the fight of their lives, dealing with the faith and finding that they've been left behind, following the disappearances of millions of people.
This series is based on the Left Behind Series and Mel Odom is bringing it to life in this military series. First Sergeant Goose Gander is fighting for his life and his men's lives as he holds a tenuous position against a superior number of enemy forces. Megan is a youth counselor back in the United States dealing with the disappearances of many on the Army base as well as dealing with the loss of her baby Chris in the vanishings, and the fact that her eldest son, Joey has now run away.
This purely fictional work on Odom is wonderfully scripted. If only everyone could find Christ and accept Him as their Savior. A must read for all.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a reader of the Left Behind series and the first book in the Apocalypse series, I felt this one fit in fairly well with the Rapture as originally portrayed by LaHaye/Jenkins. I don't think Odom builds as strong of characters as LaHaye/Jenkins did, but he does manage to bring forth the trials and tribulations of "Goose" Gander and his wife Megan as they struggle to survive in a post-Rapture world. The side story of naval chaplain Delroy Harte's struggles makes for compelling reading as well. This one doesn't pack the emotional punch that the original series does, but is still an inspirational read nonetheless.

[Carrie Milkanin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of military jargon, but a good read. "...when Satan lies to you, it's gonna be when you most want to believe him. Nothin' he's gonna tell you ever gonna be the truth. See, he weaves lies outta your own hopes, fears, an' dreams, outta what you think you saw an' what you think you want to see. That's how he works. That's how he always works"

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vastly superior to the novels that inspired it, the fabulous Apocalypse series continues in this second volume with plenty of action, drama, and intensity. If you read the first book, you should definitely read this one as well!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't too excited about the other book, but now I'm hooked. I need the next one...

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another really good book.

[Jennifer Proctor]

It was a great book and left me wanting more!

[Mitchell Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome! The second in a series of four. Sadly, I haven't finished the other two yet.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

See the first book in the series for a full review.

[Barbara Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book! Yes, only a story....but definitely plausible, and thought-provoking! Action packed, exciting, gripping....read it today! Ignite your faith! We are in the end times!!!