Tag Archives: apocalyptic and dystopian fiction

If The Darkness Takes Us by Brenda Marie Smith @GoddessFish @bsmithnovelist

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I zipped through all three books in the series within 24 hours. I read until the wee hours of the morning, unable to stop. The problem now is the review. It’s hard to separate one book from the others because I read all three without taking a breath (you know what I mean).

Bea had prepared for an event, stashing weapons, tools and seeds. She had planned to be there for her four granchildren, but that was not to be. I love that we follow Bea through all three books. Is she a ghost? A metaphysical manifestation of energy? Because of her planning, the group has a place to start. It’s not long before Keno realizes they will have to leave their haven if they want to survive.

Keno had dreamt of his Nana, Bea, telling him he will know what to do as he sets out to scavenge. He meets Richie, who he quickly realizes could be a font of information.

Keno is haunted by his nightmares and does not want to be the leader he has become, but someone has to take charge. Danger is encroaching on them.

There are numerous characters that rise to the front. One of my favorite is Mazie. She is an adorable eight year old girl, who I quickly grew to love her.

In this first book of the Braving The Light Series, If Darkness Takes Us by Brenda Marie Smith, she quickly lures me into their lives. Circumstances steal the children’s childhood, making them grow up fast, facing danger and learning to take care of themselves, having to working together to survive.

We don’t have any zombies, but we do have The Walking Dead Vibe. The scavenging, the scarcity of food, and all the other complexities of an apocalyptic life, just not as intense. You never really know someone until an apocalypse happens, and is there anything worse than teenage testosterone?

As I delve into book two, If The Light Escapes, the pace picks up, the suspense rises, and conflicts arise amongst the group.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

2018 SOUTHERN FRIED KARMA NOVEL CONTEST WINNER

IN SUBURBAN AUSTIN, TEXAS, BEA CRENSHAW SECRETLY PREPARES FOR THE APOCALYPSE. But when a solar pulse destroys modern life, she’s left alone with four grandkids whose parents do not return home. She must teach these kids to survive without power, cars, phones, running water, or doctors in a world fraught with increasing danger.

If Darkness Takes Us is realistic post-apocalyptic fiction with a focus on a family in peril, led by a no-nonsense grandmother who is at once funny, controlling, and heroic in her struggle to hold her family together with civility and heart.

  • Genre: Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Science Fiction
  • 382 pages, Paperback
  • First published October 15, 2019 by SFK Press
  • Setting: Austin, Texas (United States)
  • Series: Braving The Light

AUTHOR Bio and Links

2018-10-18_Brenda Marie Smith

BRENDA MARIE SMITH is attracted to stories where everyday characters transcend their limitations to find their inner heroism. She lived off the grid for years in a farming collective where her sons were delivered by midwives. A lifelong community activist, Brenda has managed student co-op housing, produced concerts, and raised a small herd of boys. She and her husband live in Kyle, Texas. They have more grown kids and grandkids than they can count.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

  • Website: https://brendamariesmith.com
  • Blog: https://brendamariesmith.tumblr.com
  • Twitter: @bsmithnovelist
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJlLSnORIyoaygvZ1j49ZKw

Buy Links for the Braving the Light Series:

  • IF DARKNESS TAKES US (Book One): https://amzn.to/3Q6TvKU
  • For IF THE LIGHT ESCAPES (Book Two): https://amzn.to/464zPOD
  • IF THE SUN SPARES US (Book Three): https://amzn.to/3LzIpwA
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Giveaway – If The Sun Spares Us by Brenda Marie Smith @GoddessFish @bsmithnovelist

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What a gorgeous cover for If The Sun Spares Us by Breanda Marie Smith. I have been on an apocalyptic reading kick for a while now, and the Braving The Light Series sounds like a fabulous read and I am happy to share it with you.

https://amzn.to/46ouCRu

IF THE SUN SPARES US by Brenda Marie Smith

GENRE:  Post-apocalyptic thriller

Two years ago, a solar pulse destroyed modern life. Bea Crenshaw organized her starving, suburban neighbors into a farming community. But now Bea’s gone, and her grandchildren must carry her legacy forward.

In the post-apocalyptic pressure cooker of Austin, Texas, 19-year-old Keno and his younger cousins struggle to ensure their community’s survival even as they’re forced to relocate to safer grounds. Northern Lights that don’t belong this far south grow increasingly intense, making Keno fear what harm the sun will cause next.

Even worse, a marauding militia called the Raiders is closing in, led by a deranged woman who preys on teenage boys. Despite Keno’s debilitating flashbacks from a firefight, he and his wife have a new baby to protect. Though Bea is dead, her spirit desperately searches for ways to shield her grandkids. When Raiders target two neighborhood members, the only hope lies in the community’s strength, Keno’s ingenuity, and the family’s fierce love for one another.

EXCERPT

In the next second, thick neon bands of green light shoot into the sky like they’re spewing straight out of the earth at the horizon, the aurora pulsing and soaring hundreds of feet into the air toward the stratosphere. This is nothing like the tame Northern Lights we’ve had off and on over the past year, but crazy-bright and thick and enormous. None of it belongs in Texas. I stare at the lights, getting dizzy from their movement and intensity.

The guys out on the street whistle and shout… I close my eyes to get my bearings.

Residual streaks of light burn my eyeballs and flash across my eyelids, then mutate into the recurring, overly-vivid memories I can’t shake: flaming, screaming boys, falling fiery trees, bursting Molotov cocktails, strafing assault rifles—a hand slaps across my mouth and covers my nose, and Richie’s behind me, yanking me to the ground, hissing, “Shhh! Shhh! Don’t scream.”

“The End of Days is upon us, and we’ve got work to do!” shouts the woman from the street. “Head back north.” The feet start tramping around. “Jonesie, north’s the other way.”

Richie’s pressing so hard on my mouth and nose he’s gonna suffocate me. My tears run over his hand. Flaming bodies still flash before my eyes while green lights burn in the sky overhead…

I grab his hand to yank it off, but he presses harder. I panic. Dude’s gonna kill me.

AUTHOR Bio and Links

2018-10-18_Brenda Marie Smith

BRENDA MARIE SMITH is attracted to stories where everyday characters transcend their limitations to find their inner heroism. She lived off the grid for years in a farming collective where her sons were delivered by midwives. A lifelong community activist, Brenda has managed student co-op housing, produced concerts, and raised a small herd of boys. She and her husband live in Kyle, Texas. They have more grown kids and grandkids than they can count.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

  • Website: https://brendamariesmith.com
  • Blog: https://brendamariesmith.tumblr.com
  • Twitter: @bsmithnovelist
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJlLSnORIyoaygvZ1j49ZKw

Buy Links for the Braving the Light Series:

  • IF DARKNESS TAKES US (Book One): https://amzn.to/461geyL
  • For IF THE LIGHT ESCAPES (Book Two): https://amzn.to/464zPOD
  • IF THE SUN SPARES US (Book Three): https://amzn.to/3LzIpwA
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the tour and comment. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. Follow the tour HERE.

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Brace Yourself for 2050 Psycho Island by Phil M Williams @PhilWBooks

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MY REVIEW

I love books that flow smoothly and Psycho Island made me work. The back and forth between characters confused me in the beginning. I figured they would come together and it would flow smoother once they did…and it did.

I love books about the haves and have nots. I love when a book can get me riled up having me cringe with shivers running up and down my spine. I love psychopaths, I mean reading about them. I love apocalyptic and dystopian books. The title and cover won me over, before I ever read the blurb. I’m not sure where I saw the book, but I picked it up on a free day and I am so glad I did. I had to begin reading it ASAP, but because it took me a while to get into, I kept putting it down and picking it up.

Once we got on the island, I didn’t put it down until I was done. The depth of depravity was truly terrifying. Some of the characters were no longer human, they were animals. It’s one thing to do evil to save your life, if there is no other way. It’s another thing to do it for sport. Of course, I wondered where their food would come from. I mean, how much is left in the demolished buildings? Are there any animals on the island…other than the wicked people? Being female…well…let your imagination run wild and I think it still won’t get you there.

This is one of those books, that I wish the characters could do unto others…You know. Switch places with the ones who put them on the island.

Looking at the Phil M Williams photo makes me wonder…he sure does look normal, doesn’t he? But, where his mind takes him? Wicked evil imagination! I watched the book trailer after I read the book and I think it hit me harder than it would have if I watched it before, because everything I read matched the video.

Warning: There is violence!!!!!!!! Every kind that you can imagination, and some you can’t.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Disagree with the government? Low social credit score? They might send you to Psycho Island.

The American dream is a mirage. The gap between the haves and the have-nots is wider than ever before. The haves live a life of opulence, with robotic domestics and self-driving vehicles. The have-nots struggle to survive, their jobs long since replaced by automation, with only Universal Basic Income standing between them and starvation.

Crime is nearly nonexistent, thanks to the surveillance state and the test. Ubiquitous cameras and facial recognition software deter and detect would-be criminals, and the test identifies psychopaths with 99.59% accuracy. Citizens who test positive receive a one-way ticket to US Penal Colony East. The have-nots call it Psycho Island.

In 2050, people struggle for their piece of a shrinking pie. Derek Reeves is one of those people, a small farmer, his business hanging by a thread. His wife, Rebecca, dreams of the finer things in life. Jacob Roth, CEO and member of the most powerful banking family in the world, sweeps Rebecca off her feet and gives her the lifestyle she craves.

Summer Fitzgerald’s pregnant. Like all prospective parents, she wants a designer baby. These children vastly outperform natural-born children. Unfortunately, her nurse’s salary and her fiancé’s low-level tech job don’t pay enough to give their little bundle of joy the must-have advantage in the new economy.

Naomi Sutton is a congresswoman with her eye on the White House. Unwilling to take campaign donations with strings, she lacks the budget or the connections for a serious run at the presidency. In a town of sharks, she’s the only one who truly cares about the people. Will she compromise her ideals to sit on the throne of power? Will she make good on her promise to close Psycho Island?

In 2050, the seeds of discontent are growing. The elites will stop at nothing to maintain their dominance. But the people are awakening to the rigged game. And they’re very, very angry.

Buy this twisty page turner before it’s banned by the powers that be.
A 2021 Finalist National Indie Excellence Award
Adult language and sexual content.

  • Genres: Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Fiction, Horror, Science Fiction, Suspense, Thriller
  • 408 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published January 22, 2020 by Phil W Books

ABOUT PHIL W WILLIAMS

Phil M. Williams is the author of twenty-five books primarily in the thriller genre. His thrillers span many subgenres, such as: murder mysteries, political, domestic, dystopian, legal, psychological, and technothrillers. His stories often feature regular Joes and Janes in extraordinary situations that are ripped from today’s headlines.

Williams lives in central Pennsylvania with his wife, Denise. When not writing, he can be found tending their permaculture farm.

If you’d like to read two of his thriller novels for free. Go to http://PhilWBooks.com.

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Apocalyptic Excellence – Descension by Olivia Boothe @TheOliviaBoothe

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Descension top
Descension middle
Descension bottom

Olivia Boothe found me through Book Sirens and I cannot stress how happy I am that she approached me. Her Hell’s Angels series is MIND BLOWING! I can’t get enough of it!

https://amzn.to/3PjRVVI

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I LOVED this book soooo much I am sitting here, trying to think of a quick hook to share with you to express how much I loved it. I looked for synonyms for excellent: very good, outstanding, magnificent, exceptional. and fantastic are only some of them…and they still don’t fit the bill.

Descension: Knights Of The Serphim by Olivia Boothe is the second book of the Hell’s Angel series. I gave the first book, Afterworld: Road To Redemption 5 stars. I did the same for Descension, but if there were more stars, I would have given them. This may be my favorite book of the year, but you do need to start with Book I. It will be so hard to not spoil anything for you, so I can only tell you my feelings as I read.

It’s five months later. As Jax and the others are out scavenging, thoughts of The Walking Dead enter my mind. They need gas for the next push to Sanctuary. They don’t even know if it exists, but it is their best hope. They have gotten too comfortable in the quiet town…

The demons that attack are constantly changing, as Olivia Boothe uses her creative imagination to bring forth the creatures from Hell. Angels battle angels. I love that Samael holds a prominent place in Descension. So much is easier to visualize because I have watched Lucifer.

The action was at a fast pace, never letting me catch my breath. The danger surrounds us, I mean them. The characters will put their lives on the line, repeatedly, never wanting to lose one of their ‘family’. The romantic scenes were sizzling hot…adults only please.

Want to know why Samael fell? Has God forsaken them? Who will survive?

At page 2223 on my ereader, when the beast is stalking Jax, the descriptive writing of the step by step stalking, painted such a vivid picture, it was imprinted on my mind. Another outstanding moment was at 2254 when…well, I can’t tell you. It would spoil such a fantastic part of the story that caught me so off guard.

Fuck this. Sometimes when you needed to get shit done, you’re better off doing it yourself. Tightening my ponytail…

It’s writing like this that adds those personal realistic touches, that makes me love this book so much. That, and Kate is such a badass warrior.

I was a woman…..And the cursed demons who took my family were going to hear my roar.

That is the last line and it has me salivating…wanting the next book. I HAVE TO KNOW. I sure hope Olivia is writing fast.

BUT, there is a bonus chapter. I do love that. It tells Samael’s story.

Descension has all the good bits and pieces of novels I love. Add Supernatural, The Walking Dead and Lucifer together, do a little tweaking here and there, with Olivia Boothe laying her personal mark on it with her excellent writing and storytelling, and consider my MIND BLOWN!

I don’t think this review came close to telling you how much I love this story, this series. If fantasy, angels and demons, paranormal and supernatural, and apocalyptic, dystopian books are your jam, you gotta grab this series!!!!!!

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

WE BELIEVED THE APOCALYPSE WAS THE END. WE WERE DEAD WRONG.
THE WAR FOR MANKIND HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN.

Five months ago, we won the battle for New York City, but the streets are once again overrun with the Damned, the zombie-like creatures carrying the deadly virus meant to wipe-out the world’s population. Except this time, they have evolved. They are no longer the mindless husks left behind by the infection.

Hungry, depleted of resources, and believing Mikha’el and his legion of angelic warriors have forsaken us, Jax and I lead a group of survivors to Albany in search of The Sanctuary, a community that promises protection and the hope for a new future.

But things quickly tip south when our group is ambushed by a brand-new enemy, and Jax and I are once again thrust into the fight to save humanity.

We may have defeated three of the four Horsemen and delayed Samael’s escape from his fiery prison, but Beleth, the Horseman of Death and the Devil’s mightiest lieutenant, is still at large, and he’s amassing an army far more dangerous than anything we could have conceived.

With a bounty on my back and a cadre of holy assassins on my tail, Jax and I are running out of time. We must collect all four Creation Stones and close the Gates before Samael escapes Hell and completely rips open the veil between our worlds, obliterating what remains of Earth’s last survivors.

Get ready for another action packed ride full of thrills and steamy romance as Kate, Jax, and their canine companion, Hank, return in this post-apocalyptic tale.

*For audiences 18 years+ Please check author’s website for full list of CW/TW

  • Genre: Adult, Angels and Demons, Apocalyptic, Dark Romance, Dystopian, Fantasy, Paranormal, Supernatural
  • Kindle Edition
  • Expected publication October 10, 2023
  • Series: Hell’s Angels, Book II

ABOUT OLIVIA BOOTHE

REAL LOVE AS IT IS. MESSY, COMPLICATED & SINFULLY ADDICTIVE.

Born in Colombia and raised in New Jersey since the age of eight, Olivia always dreamed of becoming a story teller.

If you enjoy deadly-hot romance novels with deep, layered plots, she’s your gal. Because it’s not just about the first kiss and the happily ever after, it’s about everything in between.

In addition to writing contemporary and paranormal romance, Olivia is currently working on an adult contemporary fantasy.

Fun Facts: When not locked away in her writing tower at the wee hours of the night, Olivia works a government 9-5 job and manages a house full of males (a husband, three sons, and a doggo named Hunter). On occasion, she summons her tribe for a night of wine and shenanigans. Dark chocolate is her kryptonite, she hates/loves to ugly cry during movies, and is a die-hard Bon Jovi fan.

Don’t forget to subscribe to her newsletter to receive exclusive news and updates such as book releases, giveaways, sales, events, sneak peeks and bonus material for upcoming projects.

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MY OLIVIA BOOTHE REVIEWS

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The United States Is No More – The Vitruvian Heir by L S Kilroy #TheVitruvianHeir #LSKilroy

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https://amzn.to/3EzRbGP

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

“I want everyone who reads this book to become a rebel.” L S KIlroy

The Vitruvian Heir: The Unraveling (The Vitruvian Heir Trilogy, Book I) by L S Kilroy is one of those books that gets my heart pumping and my blood boiling. I love a book that gets me wound up, wanting to reach through my ereader and punch someone. LOL

We have wonderful illustrations.

L S Kilroy released an enhanced version of The Vitruvian Heir, Book I in 2020, the original was released in 2015. She made it a trilogy because current events made her characters demand it. 🙂

It may seem like we have a triangle going on, but as I read on, everything became clear and I saw the true relationship between Lore, Gideon and Fallon. It’s complicated is an apt description.

I love how L S Kilroy wove current events into her book, rolling freedoms back, making women second class citizens…or worse…Victorian standards that have people giving up any decision making they had, towing the line, becoming robots, fearing for their lives.

I had wondered if The Vitruvian Heir by L S Kilroy would be a good fit for me, but decided to give it a try. I never know where I will find that hidden gem, and I found it in The Vitruvian Heir. I quickly became involved in Lore’s life, feeling her desires and confusion. Her need to be herself. Of course, I knew she would have to be part of the rebellion, but how it would come about was the mystery.

Lore wondered how things could have went so backwards, and I think we only have to look at current events to see how. Vitruvian is what used to be the United States in 2164. Their were brutal wars, famines, illness, tornadoes, decimated crops, endless natural disasters and an emperor.

There are book discussions questions at the end and we have a fabulous epilogue that makes me eager to get my hands on Book II, The Vitruvian Heir: The Awakening.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Vitruvian Heir by L S Kilroy.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Welcome to Vitruvia.

In a nightmarish future, one girl holds the key – to rebellion. Society has regressed to Victorian standards and patriarchal dominion. Women have slowly lost their rights. And Lorelei Fetherston, an aristocrat with a forbidden talent for writing, inherits a powerful legacy that can set her free. Though running from her wedding to gentle Gideon, a childhood confidante, is a risk that may not be worth taking.

But this isn’t her only dilemma. Her heart has always been with Fallon, the brooding ward of the current emperor and heir to the Vitruvian throne, and she’s finding it harder to resist his melancholy charms.

Will she escape to carve out a new life or accept her role as a dutiful wife? When her free-spirited friend, Sawyer, comes to her one night in grave danger, Lore is forced to make a fateful choice. In the bordering nation of Hopespoke, women are free. And, according to legend, an enigmatic woman runs a squadron of lethal debutantes and is always on the lookout for new recruits.

From mysterious woodland strangers and underground clubs to spectacular fêtes and a clandestine rebellion, discover what happens when their worlds collide.

  • Genre: Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Fiction, Steampunk
  • Format: 242 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published: January 5, 2015 by Little Tree Press
  • Language: English
  • Series: The Vitruvian Heir Trilogy

ABOUT L S KILROY

“The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue.” – Dorothy Parker

L.S. Kilroy is an irreverent sort of person who likes to write about things. Growing up an asthmatic only child in a neighborhood of geriatrics, she made friends with books at a young age because she had to – luckily, she also really liked them. Early exposure to the classics fueled her own writing. At fifteen, a man in a bookstore asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up and she replied, “Writer,” without hesitation.

Writer is a title that has driven her both personally and professionally. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from Merrimack College and a Master’s degree in Writing, Literature & Publishing from Emerson College. By day, she’s a communications professional; by night, she’s an award-winning indie author.

She lives in a rural community in Massachusetts with her husband, stepson, and three naughty cats. Aside from writing, she loves being creative in the kitchen, belting out show tunes, traveling, throwing epic dinner parties, reading, and scouting out vintage finds at consignment shops.

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Giveaway – Dominion: First Blood by Richard Mann @rgmannauthor @SilverDaggerSxx

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Humans and Vampires unite in a holy war against an ancient alien menace.

Independence Day meets Underworld.

Hero

Dominion First Blood Book 1

by Richard Mann

Genre: SciFi, Apocalyptic Fantasy

Lost in the desert our modern day hero SAS Captain “Bullet Proof Pete” has strange visions of a priest and an ancient book of prophecy, and a sword of unspeakable power. The Archangel Michael appears when all seems lost and tells him his destiny and his ancient name.

His visions continue, a dark cave, something diabolical within, a blackened sky and an ancient race of aliens invade earth in a monstrous ship. A woman of strange beauty appears in his dreams trying to contact him.

A brilliant archaeologist makes a shocking discovery in modern Iraq.

The magnetic Lucia and Count Cassian – vampires since the dawn of civilisation meet with the US President to persuade him of the impending threat. They also seek the ancient Hero contained in the book of prophecy.

In a frantic race against time our hero goes to New York to find out aboutthe alien agenda, but surrounded by alien forces he is saved at the last minute by two mysterious vampires.

Former enemies, both human and vampire, must become friends. But can humankind learn to set aside their petty conflicts and unite in a common cause?

Issues of race, religion and class are now irrelevant in a fight against a common and vicious enemy – determined to conquer earth and enslave its people. And one human holds the key – Caius.


“I wanted to write something that plays out in the imaginations of readers like a movie,” explains the author. “At its core it’s fiction, but the novel also asks some much deeper questions about race, religion and the basic survival of humankind. I believe readers will turn the last page with plenty to think about.”

Continuing, “There’s lots for everyone – including hardboiled hallmarks of sci-fi and fantasy for those who like a solid read, as well as lots of technical descriptions and some rather advanced weaponry, for readers who have a taste for the unconventional!”


**Only .99cents!**

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads


Vendetta

Dominion First Blood Book 2

Our modern-day hero SAS Captain “Bullet Proof Pete” and East End gangster Vinnie find themselves in Los Angeles and discover the shocking truth about the alien agenda.

His waking visions continue – ancient battles by the Nile and a family in ancient Rome.

Lucia and Count Cassian – vampires since the dawn of civilisation finally meet the ancient Hero contained in the book of prophecy, “Bullet Proof Pete” aka Caius. Together they battle the aliens in a cruel guerilla war, but Peter soon finds himself torn between his wife Jennifer and the magnetic and sexy Lucia.

But Why is she familiar – is this the woman in his visions?

At last they discover critical information about the aliens and their monstrous ships as a counteroffensive begins, but then Lucia tells Peter Jennifer has been taken. But where is she and what is the connection between Jennifer and Lucia?

Meanwhile on the alien mothership a secret conspiracy is uncovered and something diabolical is released to Earth.

Our hero has a waking dream of a dark cave, with something terrible inside and is gripped by terror. He now realises that there are forces of darkness and light at work on both sides of the conflict. Can he fight his own battles and become the warrior everyone expects him to be?

The US President stands alone – all seems lost. But then our hero turns up with important new information and physic Lucia informs them of a shocking revelation that changes everything. In a frantic race against time former enemies, both human and vampire, must become friends.

But can humankind learn to set aside their petty conflicts and unite in a common cause?

Issues of race, religion and class are now irrelevant in a fight against a common and vicious enemy – determined to conquer earth and enslave its people. And one human, and his supernatural sword, holds the key – Caius.


Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads


Caius

Dominion First Blood Book 3

Lucia and Count Cassian – vampires since the dawn of civilisation team up with the ancient hero contained in the book of prophecy.

The nightmares of our hero, SAS Captain “Bullet Proof Pete” become a reality when he must face his ultimate challenge – only then will he become the warrior he is destined to be.

The leader of the alien cult shock troops steals the ancient book of knowledge so he can gain occult power over mankind and their ancient enemy the nightcrawler vampires. But it contains a secret that could change everything.

Peter, now Caius the demi-god and his lifelong friend Vinnie, are desperate for information about the whereabouts of their kidnapped wives, but then a befriended alien clone reveals vital information, raising their hopes.

The traitor US general is now beginning to regret his allegiance to the alien cause as the mothership retreats to a safe distance – He aligns himself with the alien cult leader as they make plans of their own.

Caius and his team prepare for the final assault. Will he find his wife Jennifer and will he find out what he has suspected all along about Lucia the femme fatale vampire and his wife?

In a nail-biting climax all will be revealed.

This Sci-Fi Thriller will grab you by the scruff of the neck and take you on a roller coaster ride…sometimes horrific, sometimes comic, always gripping – It will keep you guessing right until the climatic finale.


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Richard Mann grew up in being an avid reader of books, even from an early age he loved the literary giants Tolkien, Michael Moorcock, Frank Herbert and Douglas Adams. He is also a big fan of Bernard Cornwell, the historical novelist and Frederic Forsyth, the great thriller writer. (Hint: If you love these authors you will love Richard’s books). He started writing at 16 but the dream faded until a few years ago when he started writing again. During his twenties he studied business studies and accountancy. During this time he also studied Shaolin and Wing Chun Kung Fu and even starting a school with a friend. He has worked as an accountant, Software developer in the City of London for banks and insurance companies, and is now an author.

HERO- Dominion First Blood is his first book. His mercurial book is action packed, fast paced, and guaranteed to keep the reader turning pages to the end. This wholly original book falls within the thriller, fantasy horror, and sci-fi genres. It combines incredible action, hair-raising scares and big laughs. It will shock the reader into thinking about his own place in the world. Warning: This book may keep the reader up all night!

Richard is a fellow Member of the Association of Accounting Technicians, Member of the Institute of Analysts and Programmers and a Member of the British Computer Society. He is 57, married to Brenda, has two sons and lives in Berkshire.

The best way to keep up with his latest news is to sign up for his newsletter.

www.richardmannblog.com


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Review – The Parade by Matt J Pike @booksirens @SoothsayerMatt

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

The Parade is my first Matt J Pike novel. I was looking for some apocalyptic/dystopian books and came across it, so I clicked. Even though it is the fifth book in the Apocalyptic Survivor series, it is the first book in the Apocalypse Survivors Subseries, I never felt lost. And it is a great cover, that Matt designed himself.

My name is Zoe Carter, this is my story, and the story of all the members of the Norwood Hub during and after the impact of Comet 2014DM3 in April 2014.

How would you spend your time if you knew a comet would hit the Earth? Would you give up and part like it’s 1999? Would you be a prepper and gather resources, hunkering down to see who is left standing? Would you gather arms and weapons to protect yourself?

I love apocalyptic books, because I wonder what I would do. I think in desperate times, the best and the worst of humanity comes to light…and The Parade has a lot of the worst. Sometimes there is no choice, it’s a me or them situation.

Violence, vendettas, selfishness and greed – that’s what came out in us the most.

Of course, you have those who step up to lead, often through fear, and making sure they get what’s theirs first. When food runs out, they have a big target on their back. People have to have someone to blame. The simplest injury could mean death, as medical supplies run out or are non existent, not enough, or no doctors to help.

The ‘grenade’ event was quite clever.

An unlikely group of characters were drawn together for protection and survival. No one can predict who will survive and not all of them do. We have some sad moments, but that was to be expected. We have plenty of violence and death, and that was to be expected too. Your friend can quickly become your enemy. There are no winners in an apocalypse, just survivors. Would you be one of them?

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Parade by Matt J Pike.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

“Perhaps, like the scars left on the world we live in, the scars left on our species will take decades to heal – centuries even. May I – we – be forgiven for what we have done.” Zoe Survivor
You’ve heard from the heroes. Now get ready for the villains…
In the latest instalment of his award-winning Apocalypse Survivors series, Aussie author Matt J Pike returns to where it all began with a new origin story – this one told from the perspective of the bad guys. But when life on earth has been all but wiped out by an comet, simple ideas of good and evil aren’t as simple as they appear.
As the comet unleashes an ash cloud over the planet, stealing the sun and bringing on permanent winter, a brutal new era dawns for humanity. In a small corner of the world, in a broken city called Adelaide, a group of survivors gather on The Parade, a resource-rich shopping strip that offers shelter, warmth, water and food. What unites them is the simple desire to survive, what divides them is how far they’re prepared to go to make that happen.
In the power play for control of this frightening new world, one thing is clear. No one is getting through unscathed!
There is no good and bad. Only survival.

  • Genre: Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Fiction, Science Fiction
  • 242 pages, Paperback
  • Published May 25, 2023

ABOUT MATT J PIKE (from Amazon)

Like the legendary R M Williams, Matt was born in Jamestown in rural South Australia. But that’s where the remarkable similarities between these two end. While Reginald went from bushman to world renowned millionaire outback clothing designer, Matt is a complete dag who was lured by the city lights of Adelaide. Kindergarten in the big smoke was a culture shock, but it is here he first discovered his love of storytelling.

In high school that love found an outlet in a series of completely unflattering cartoons about fellow students and teachers alike. He survived long enough to further his art into a successful career in multimedia design but, like a zombified leech, the lure of the written word gnawed at him, forcing him to pen his first novel, the award-winning sci-fi comedy epic, Kings of the World. It was followed the next year by Amazon Australia dystopian sci-fi best-seller Apocalypse: Diary of a Survivor.

Matt donates part-proceeds of each book sold to find a cure for Rett Syndrome, a neurological condition the youngest of his three children, Abby, has.

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Review – Sketching Rebellion by Felicia Ketcheson @booksirens

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I want to thank Book Sirens and Lava Lake Books for the opportunity to read and review Sketching Rebellion by Felicia Ketchseon.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I grabbed Sketching Rebellion by Felicia Ketcheson not realizing it was going to be a series. It seems like most of the books I read any more are series. It’s okay, as long as I get to find out the final result, beginning to end, but that doesn’t always happen. Anyways I did enjoy Sketching Rebellion. I was on a binge of apocalyptic/dystopian reading and got a little click happy, grabbing willy nilly.

Sketching Rebellion’s target audience is teen and young adult. I do enjoy a good coming of age story and Breel was a fascinating character. Normally, I like a little more brutality and depth of despair in my apocalyptic reading, but the blurb states that Breel is seventeen years old, so that is a clue for the target group.

As usual, those in power wield a heavy sword to keep everyone in line, using the threat of execution for the slightest infraction, like sketching/drawing, when she is forbidden to do so. How far can you push someone, no matter the age, before they push back? And what happens when they do?

One of the scariest things is…there is no punishment for those who report other citizens. In fact, they are rewarded for it. Who can you trust? You can never be sure what is going on in someone’s mind. Family turning in family, friends turning in friends, coworkers…Instead of ‘lock her up’, it’s take her out.

Some of the most unlikely people will be those who support taking action against the regime. Some will fall, and the ending….I was saddened, afraid for the ones who chose to reshape their world into something better. BUT, that is for another day. I am hooked and I look forward to finding out what comes next. I rated Sketching Rebellion with the target audience in mind.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Sketching Rebellion by Felicia Ketcheson.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Conformity is mandatory. But seventeen-year-old artist Breel rebels anyway.

In the city of Lexum, personal choice is nonexistent, and defiance is severely punished. Breel is alone in seeing the injustices in her world. Isolated due to her beliefs and haunted by the disappearance of her uncle, she finds solace in the forbidden act of drawing. Creating art is a rebellion against an oppressive regime that stifles self-expression.

When a glimmer of hope emerges in the form of a resistance group, Breel faces a decision. Will she risk execution to join their fight for a society which would celebrate rather than condemn her artistic skills? Or will she continue hiding her non-conformity?

The outcome of her choice will not only define her own fate but may also set in motion a revolution that could reshape her world forever.

2022 Killer Nashville Claymore Award finalist (Juvenile/YA) .

  • Genre: Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Fiction, Science Fiction, Suspense, Technothriller, Thriller, Young Adult
    [ Previously published as Intercludae.]
  • 320 pages, Paperback
  • Published July 1, 2023

ABOUT FELICIA KETCHESON

Felicia Ketcheson is the author of Intercludae, which was a 2022 Killer Nashville Claymore Award finalist (Juvenile/YA category). At age seven, she wrote her first book about a dog, cat, and bee. Four years later, she randomly started writing a short novel, catapulting her into the world of series writing. When she’s not devising ways to destroy the lives of her fictional characters, she works as a medical researcher and database developer. Database developing is a passion she simultaneously loves and hates. She lives in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.

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Review & Giveaway – The Zone by Stu Jones @StuJonesFiction @JeanBookNerd

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ASIN: B0C7DQ18TW
Publisher: Dropship Publishing (July 11, 2023)
Publication Date: July 11, 2023
Language: English

Blade Runner meets Judge Dread and The Running Man in this no-holds-barred cyberpunk thriller from Dragon Award Nominee Stu Jones. Start this neon-soaked thrill ride today!


In a tech-addicted dystopia, a young cop struggling to survive is forced into a high-octane gladiatorial grudge match, where sinister corporate overlords pull the strings and humanity’s fate hangs in the balance.

ONE WAY IN. NO WAY OUT

In the super-city of Neo Terminus, millions of tech-addicted fans surround a walled-off inner-city wasteland to watch nano-boosted gladiators called Enforcers fight to the death in the Conglomerate-controlled event known as The Zone. Enforcers are promised wealth and celebrity—if they survive.

Officer Chance Griffin fights to clean up the mean streets of Neo Terminus, and scrape together enough money for his infant son’s vital surgery. Driven by his family’s need, Chance signs on as an Enforcer for The Conglomerate.

As Chance rises to the top of the Enforcer ranks, The Glom’s mysterious Founders coerce him into competing in the greatest Zone trial ever conceived. Chance knows he’s the favorite to win. He believes his family is safe. He believes his son will get the medical care he urgently needs.

Chance is wrong.

Too late, he uncovers a plot by The Glom to rig the trial and enslave the citizens of Neo Terminus, ensuring obedience—forever.

Blinded by fame and fortune, and used as a pawn by the corporate machine, Chance resists. But he is about to discover that every deal with the devil has its price…

You can purchase The Zone at the following Retailers:
        

MY REVIEW

I haven’t read a lot of cyberpunk, but I have read some of Stu Jones work and loved it. The Zone sounds like something different for me, maybe a little bit scifi, a little bit techno, and a little bit superhero? Either way, if Stu Jones wrote it, I’ll read it.

I love the wonderful illustrations and quickly immersed myself in the wold of Neo Terminus. A world that had me, at times, thinking of The Hunger Games, for its gladiator sports, and The Walking Dead, for its have and have nots and what the haves will do to keep it and the have nots do to survive. Even though I knew some of what is to come, I still found myself sickened and disgusted, rallying behind those who want to change their world for the better.

The cast of characters is phenomenal, and even those who passed quickly, I enjoyed my time with, even the baddies. Not much enjoyable about them, but they do supply their share of chills and thrills. After all, can there be good guys without bad guys? And, when I say guys, I mean both males and females.

When I began The Zone by Stu Jones, I never thought of it being a series, but we have more to come for The Zone, and I hope to be there for it. It has all the things I love about a book: mystery, danger, darkness and light, evil villains, inspiring heroes and heroines, romance, the struggle for survival in an apocalyptic/dystopian world…with more to come.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Zone by Stu Jones.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

Photo Content from Stu Jones

A veteran law enforcement officer, Stu Jones has served in patrol, narcotics, criminal investigations, as an instructor of firearms and police defensive tactics and as a team leader of a multi-jurisdictional SWAT team. He is trained and qualified as a law enforcement SWAT sniper, as well as in hostage rescue and high-risk entry tactics. Recently, Jones served for three years with a U.S. Marshal’s Regional Fugitive Task Force – hunting the worst of the worst.

A Dragon Award Nominee, Jones is the author of multiple sci-fi/action/thriller novels, including the multi-award-winning It Takes Death To Reach A Star duology and Condition Black, written with co-author Gareth Worthington (Children of the Fifth Sun, A Time for Monsters).

Known for his infectious storytelling and blistering action, Jones strives to create thought-provoking reading experiences that challenge the status quo. When he’s not chasing bad guys or writing epic stories, he can be found planning his next adventure to some remote or exotic place.

Jones is represented by Italia Gandolfo of Gandolfo Helin & Fountain literary. He lives in Alabama with his wife, two children, and a golden-doodle who thinks he’s human.

        
WEEK ONE
JULY 10th MONDAY Cover2CoverBlog EXCERPT
JULY 11th TUESDAY JeanBookNerd EXCERPT
JULY 12th WEDNESDAY A Bronx Latina Reads REVIEW
JULY 13th THURSDAY fundinmental REVIEW
JULY 14th FRIDAY Casia’s Corner REVIEW

WEEK TWO
JULY 17th MONDAY TTC Books and More REVIEW
JULY 18th TUESDAY FUONLYKNEW REVIEW
JULY 19th WEDNESDAY Rajiv’s Reviews REVIEW
JULY 20th THURSDAY Crossroad Reviews REVIEW
JULY 21st FRIDAY Insane About Books REVIEW

WEEK THREE
JULY 24th MONDAY Movies, Shows, & Books REVIEW
JULY 25th TUESDAY Laura’s Bookish Life REVIEW
JULY 26th WEDNESDAY #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee REVIEW
JULY 27th THURSDAY Living in a Bookworld EXCERPT

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Review – Turnabout by Carmen Webster Buxton #@CarmenWBuxton #sciencefiction #apocalypti/dystopian

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I have been loving Carmen Webster Buxton’s novels and have come to the final one on my reading list, Turmabout. This apocalyptic/dystopian, science fiction novel is about a teenage boy who loves jazz, carries a flip phone and Turns.

One day, caught in a girl’s bedroom, trapped in a closet he finds himself teleported to his home. How did this happen? He discovers that left handed people are the only ones that Turn and it only happens to him when he is turned on and scared to death.

The next time he Turns, he finds himself in Makoro, a place where women rule and men are in very short supply. The Folly happened when scientists tried to create a biological weapon that would kill enemy soldiers, but instead it killed a lot of men. The Rage was the women’s response, taking over the government through whatever means necessary.

He is a prisoner, protected and used to procreate.

It was hilarious when he escaped and dressed like a woman to hide in plain sight.

I had fucking boobs. Small as they were, they got in the way when I moved my arms.

It was almost like wearing a cup, but one that someone had stepped on first.

I loved this wonderfully original coming of age science fiction novel. Carmen Webster Buxton’s creative writing makes it easy to place myself in her character’s world, walking in their footsteps. I had some laughs and some sad moments, as Jason finds friends in the strangest places. The loss of one broke my heart and made me angry. I do love an author who isn’t afraid to kill off their characters for the good of the story.

I sincerely hope Carmen is busy writing. How about it, Carmen? Anything in the works?

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Jason Miller’s biggest worries were keeping up with his homework, paying for his classic jazz habit,and hiding the fact that he carried a flip phone. But then one day he finds himself teleporting from place to place, a talent he can’t control. It gets worse when he lands in an alternate world, one that has many, many more women than men. It sounds great until Jason learns the downside to being a precious commodity: Having a harem is no fun when you’re the one who’s locked up.

  • List: Apocalyptic and Dystopian Fiction, Science Fiction
  • Kindle Edition
  • First published May 1, 2017 by Cracked Mirror Press

ABOUT CARMEN WEBSTER BUXTON

Carmen Webster Buxton spent her youth reading every book published by Ursula LeGuin, Robert Heinlein and Georgette Heyer. This combination of far-future worlds, alien cultures, and old-fashioned courting customs influenced her writing, especially in her ThreeCon series.

Carmen was born in Hawaii and experienced a peripatetic childhood, as her father was in the US Navy. Having raised two wonderful children, she now lives in Maryland with her husband Charlie, and a beagle named Cosmo. She writes science fiction (often including a romance, and mostly set in the far future), and the occasional fantasy.

Carmen has published many books:

WAKANREO SERIES
Alien Bonds
Alien Vows
Alien Skies

HAVEN SERIES
The Sixth Discipline
No Safe Haven

THREECON SERIES (can be read in any order)
The Nostalgia Gambit
Saronna’s Gift
Shades of Empire
Tribes
Worlds Apart

ALTERNATE HISTORY
King of Trees

YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE FICTION
Turnabout
Drifters

FANTASY
Where Magic Rules
Bag of Tricks
Hidden Magic

THE NAMELESS WORLD SAGA (coming in 2021)
The North Edge of Nowhere
Oaths and Promises

Carmen often blogs about ereaders, digital publishing, writing, and speculative fiction. Visit her blog to see what’s coming out next! To ask questions or to provide feedback on her books, send email to carmen.webster.buxton (at) gmail.com.

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MY CARMEN WEBSTER BUXTON REVIEWS

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