Although I found some enjoyment in this book, I struggled to stay engaged with the story. There were moments when the plot felt overly dramatic, and the overall length made it a bit of a slog to get through. The characters, however, were still thoughtfully crafted and relatable, making them easy to root for despite the pacing issues. Unfortunately, there were times when I set the book aside for several days simply because it failed to capture my interest. I may be a little too generous in giving it 3 stars, but I acknowledge that the underlying story has merit, even if it wasn’t entirely captivating.
I was totally pulled into this story from the opening page and it held through until the last. This author really put themselves into the world that they were writing about in such a way that they could have been channeling Nick Smith as they wrote this. Because we had not really met Sheila Horn before her creation could have gone any weird way, but this felt like the woman who would be married to Big Horn and the mother of his children.
Parker Horn has gone away with his Delta Force team just before things start to go south on the base. Sheila Horn has been left to protect her two young daughters as the Hemorrhage Virus begins to run out of control outside the gates of Fort Bragg. While she believes that her husband will return unhurt she also hopes that the soldiers on base can keep them safe from the infected trying to over run them.
As it becomes obvious that things are going from bad to worse outside her home when the opportunity presents itself Sheila takes the chance to get her and her daughters to the tunnels where they can hopefully hold out until her husband can find them.
I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading something else by this author. If they could keep me interested here I want to try more because there is nothing better than finding an author who writes in a way that keeps your attention.
If you have read the Extinction Cycle then you will want to read this story that fills in a piece of the puzzle of what was happening in those first days. If you have not read it then below find the perfect place to start.
This is my first time listening to any of the books in this series and I was very happy I did. Though it may not be the voices I have heard in my head (not killer voices), Bronson Pinchot does a fabulous job of bringing them to life. This is a nice short story that gives us a chance to see a little more of the new Team Ghost as they learn how to work together. As usual there is a surprise waiting for our newly minted Master Sargent and his team.
Fitz and Team Ghost just barely made it out with their lives from their recon mission in Italy when they are sent out again. This time they are being sent to Greenland to handle what appears to be a routine demolition, and we know how those turn out these days. Team Ghost has backup from Team Fox and another team but what they fin is like nothing they have faced before.
This is going to take us right into what may be the last book in the series Extinction War. I say if you have not started this series now is the time. I recommend this and the rest of the series.
I was expecting something totally different then what I got from this. The story was beyond slow, it meandered around without any real life. This is a zombie story and you see one at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end but nothing really ground breaking. The characters are about the same as they have always been and I would have expected some growth since the last time but they seem a bit stagnant. There are some new locations which are interesting and the situations are new enough to at least keep you moving forward. The main problem is that things just seem to be moving at a snails pace and it drags to much.
The massacre at the manor house has left everyone with a desire to not be in one place. In order to facilitate their desire to be out in the open Kyle and Al go and find the perfect vehicle, a retro travel bus which they name Basil. During her time online, before the Botnet, Ven had come across Sec UK which is a company that provided weapons and survival gear to not only countries but to individuals as well. She and her cohorts along with baby Tomas and Bos Bos the dog go there to stock up.
While they are doing this something strange happens that transforms a man into an entirely different type of zombie. This zombie has found them and cannot decide whether to eat them or beg them for help. This zombie can think and that is not good for anyone.
While I was not completely happy about how things went here I am still hoping the next one will be better. If you read the first two books you have to read this to continue the story and move on to the next.
I read the first book in this series a while ago and was not always happy with it, though I did enjoy it. I can say that this one kept my attention from start to finish and was very satisfying. The characters got a chance to stretch and grow here adding more dimension to their personalities, though some were still very much the same. The locations are spot on and great for me since I know the names of the streets and freeways so well that I could tell exactly where I was when they mentioned it. The victims of the virus are terrifying because they are us with all of the humanity stripped away.
Mason West and his family survived the first days of the outbreak but not without injuries both physical and mental. Mason continues to protect Iridia even though he really does not have to but he is an honorable man and would not do anything else. Elio is in the West home because he is enamored of their daughter Theresa but also because he needs to heal.
Anton Reshenko has unleashed hell on earth for the people of the world and is focused on locating his daughter and going to the next phase of his plan. The Deltas are doing what he expected, more or less but he wants more from them. He is willing to kill anyone for his vision of the future.
This is told from multiple points of view which is great since there are so any things going on. This had some great action with very emotional parts. I did some laughing, crying and yelling. Loved every minute of it! Definitely recommend.
This was a short but sweet introduction to the character and the situation that will soon be jumping off. While there was no major depth given to the character himself, you are left with understanding that he will be very important to the action in the main novel. You also get to see the start of the epidemic which is to come because they had no idea of what was happening before they busted in. This gives me a reason to read further about this .
The narrator was adequate but not perfect because he sounded just a bit dry. This could be his interpretation of the character and it could change as things go forward. I would say to listen and decide for yourself.
I read the book first and then found this one so it was kind of a waste of time. This book is literally the prologue to the book and so is not needed as far as I can see. The one good thing is that it was free and so I do not feel so bad.
This starts out fairly slow and so it took me a couple of days to get through just the prologue then it picks up the action. The characters are a little vague but mostly likeable, though some more than others. The writing can seem a little repetitive with a point being made over and over throughout the narrative, like the fact that a character is a friend, as if you could have forgotten already. There are problems throughout with character names being used incorrectly by switching them for another within a conversation. There are some mistakes in spelling and word usage that kind of slows down the progress sometimes but you can get past it.
Marcus Nelson is a University Professor in New York who has gone to California for a conference. He decides to take his son Ali and his friend Vic along with him so they can tour some college campuses. While on the Stanford campus they experience an earthquake along with a bright flash of light which seems to start a killing frenzy among some of the people. As the insanity starts to escalate Marcus can only think of two things, protecting the boys and getting home to his wife. When he finds more survivors he hopes that they can all get out and find safety or at least a way to head west.
This was not the best story I have read but it was entertaining. You will have to suspend reality in order to follow and believe some of it, or at least I did. There is never an explanation given for what has happened and nobody seems very curious about it. I hope that some answers will be given in the next book to clear up some things. This may not be for everyone but I think some will at least like it. Give it a read and see for yourself, I would recommend it to those who like zombie like creatures.
I love Nick’s writing but he can go on sometimes and make me wish he could use fewer words to describe his situations. I am also not a fan of cliff hangers but sometimes you deal just because you know it will be resolved eventually. My people are still moving forward and continuing to grow and thrive, the location has also grown in its scope though not always for the better, the situations have become more tense and dark.
Reed Beckham and Big Horn retired after their last mission which took a heavy toll on Reed’s body. Reed, Kate, Horn and his girls all live together and are awaiting the birth of Kate and Reeds child on plum Island. While they do this Kate continues to help categorize the Variants and Juveniles that are still a part of their world.
Fitz has taken over as leader of Team Ghost and he and Apollo have been shipped overseas to help liberate Europe from their Variant problem. Things are not going so well since they were not informed of what was really happening there.
President Ringgold has been trying to bring back normalcy to the country by establishing Safe Zone Territories. They are running fairly well and her administration has been able to build a new White House in the wake of their victory over the Variants.
But like with anything else, just when you think you have a handle on things and they are going well someone throws a wrench into the works. Here that would be Lieutenant Andrew Wood, brother of the crazy, and dead, Zach Wood. He has some demands from the new government and they involve him taking over. Can the world survive a maniac who does not care for anything but power?
Loved that this is told from multiple points of view. Not completely happy that there are at least 4-5 threads to try and keep up with, though each is good. I will admit that I want more and know that it is coming soon. I have to see where we end up and hope that my favorites are still standing at the end. Multiple cliff hangers means I have no idea who survives and who dies and it is killing me.
I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a good apocalyptic story because it is here! Will the human race survive? Should we?
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
“Get out of here, boy,” Fitz said. The dog bared his teeth at the monsters and growled, clearly determined to fight by Fitz’s side. If they got out of this, he and the German Shepherd were going to have a long talk about obeying orders.
The first star is just because it is written by Nick Smith and I have a real penchant for his work. I have pretty much liked everything he has done so far and he did not let me down here. This is something I have never seen before and I have read a lot of science fiction and apocalyptic stories over the years. Nick has a great imagination when it comes to the creation of the creatures that are going to be inhabiting his world, and because I could actually visualize them I give even more points, because they are terrifying. I was not so sure about 250 years of what sounds like nuclear winter but I will defer to the science as written. The characters were introduced and gone in the blink of an eye and so most did not have a chance to be very fleshed out, but those who remained at least have room to grow.
Xavier Rodriguez is a Hell Diver who has managed to outlive most of those who decide to do the job. He has managed to survive 96 jumps when the life expectancy is a measly 15 jumps. X, as he is known to friends, is the leader of Team Raptor which happens to have 2 other veteran divers. X lives and works on the Hive, one of two remaining airships riding the currents and storms above a blighted world not fit for human habitation. His job and that of the other Hell Divers is to drop down to that uninviting land and make sure that the Hive continues to fly so that the last of humanity can survive.
When a distress call comes from the Ares, the other airship, Captain Maria Ash has no choice but to go to their rescue. But is she putting her ship in danger for nothing?
While I really did like the story of the divers I was less thrilled with the side story of what was going on aboard the ship itself. With the divers you had action, danger, sacrifice, and heroics of all types. With the passengers you had whining and ungratefulness, though maybe that was intentional. This is about an apocalypse that has left the world dead, class wars, family ties, survival, courage, and a lot more. This made me feel something for them all as they pushed to keep going and survive one more day. Was not happy with the end, but that was personal.
Anyone who likes stories of the apocalypse will love this. Highly recommend!
"I have enough time to rest, but I don't have a minute to waste". Come and catch me with your wise words and we will have some fun with our words of wisdom.
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