Lucid by Michael S Milano is a combination apocalyptic, dystopian and technothriller.
Antony Sartori is the star of the show. Since the death of his wife, things have changed for him. He began to question the regime, and that can be very dangerous, seeing they are watching…all the time. It will take him on a perilous journey.
I thought I would love Lucid, but it was hard for me to get into it. I don’t know if I was burnt out on reading or if the writing style didn’t work for me. The character didn’t speak to me. It did have its moments, there just wasn’t enough of them.
My thanks go out to Michael for the opportunity to read a copy of Lucid.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
A mind-altering regime. Unity and loyalty dictated. Can one man resist the machine and rip away the veil to reveal the truth?
Seattle, 2084. Antony Sartori hides his grief. Struggling to find a sense of purpose after losing his wife to a deadly pandemic, the former engineer silently suffers while surviving on welfare payments. Out past curfew after a long night of drinking, the devoted citizen is detained, put on trial, and assaulted by the authority he once served.
Plagued by flashbacks that feel more real than the world around him, the fifty-four-year-old begins to question whether his mind or reality itself is unraveling. And though bombarded by reminders to leave the past behind and to live for his fellow man, the seeds of defiance take root in his heart.
With every move watched and judged, can Antony wake up before all is lost?
For over a decade, Lucid has consumed Michael S. Milano’s waking hours. Finally, he is an author. Michael earned his PhD from The Ohio State University. His articles have been published by the Mises Institute and the Libertarian Institute. Michael is a hammock enthusiast who enjoys the Madness of March and drinking wine. He lives somewhere in the observable universe.
Tim Vee writes some interesting stories, and Above The Clouds had me intrigued. This unique apocalyptic/dystopian novel takes place deep underground, in long unused subway tunnels and sewers. No one knows what came before .
Everyone has their duties to perform, whether it’s raising the young, hunt or work to provide necessities. When their usefulness comes to and end, whether through injury or old age, they are sent to the surface to fend for themselves.
Dara and her sister, Squirt, are the main characters in Above The Clouds. Squirt is still young enough that she helps where she can and not much is expected of her. Dara is a hunter. She is expected to bring back from the hunt a dozen rats or three cats or a dog.
The world Tim Vee has created is bleak and dangerous. It is a world I haven’t visited before and I have read many apocalyptic and dystopian fiction novels. We go from the depths of the earth to the clouds in the sky, where Squirt will find a life she could never have envisioned. I like the twist from dark to light, from despair to hope. I was suitably creeped out and that is always a good thing. LOL
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
In a ruined, distant future of our world, filled with rain, gloom, and danger, Squirt and her sister Dara fight to survive as part of the underground clan, hunting meat to survive and clinging to the edges of existence. When Squirt encounters a mysterious figure above ground, her life is upended. Taken to a gleaming paradise above the clouds, she finds herself trapped in an idyllic prison, where everything seems perfect—but is danger hiding in plain sight? Does Charlotte, her enigmatic and gentle companion, hide secrets behind her perfect smile? Does Mrs Wallis, the tower’s cold matriarch, watch Squirt with a predator’s patience?
Below, Dara hunts alone, trying to find meaning in her life and haunted by her sister’s disappearance while whispers of betrayal within the clan force her to choose between being a victim or fighting for her survival.
As the sisters’ paths converge, truths are exposed: immortality comes at a terrible price, and the ones they’ve trusted most may be their greatest enemies. Above the Clouds is a haunting tale of the fight for survival and identity, asking the question: What does it truly mean to be human?
Tim works in digital marketing in Toronto and is well-traveled, having visited over 80 countries. When he is not working or writing he likes to spend time with his family and German Shepherd – and to go cycling.
Tim has written ten books; The Secret Policemen and The Secret Service – both dystopian dark comedies; as well as seven science fiction novels – Extinction, Annabelle, Fission, The Children of the Third Reich, The Child of Mars, and The Children of Andaalwaald.
Tim has also written Magpie – a dark and intense journey into the world of international espionage and terrorism.
Tim mostly enjoys writing transgressive fiction – mainly about aliens and psychopaths.
For The Loved And Lost is the conclusion of the The Tucker Clan Saga by Ethan Warrener and it did not disappoint. It seems that all is lost for the Tucker Clan. Ella is a prisoner and knows what the Americans have in store for them. It’s hard to distinguish the good from the bad. Not all the characters will survive and I do love an author that’s not afraid to kill them off. Many of the characters have their own agendas. Will the traitor in their midst be their downfall? It sure kept me guessing and I was drawn in from the opening pages. I must say, it was a fitting end for the trilogy, even though I am going to miss them.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
All is lost.
The Tucker clan teeters on the brink of annihilation. The hand of friendship extended by the Americans concealed a dagger, and now Ella Holland languishes in captivity, separated from her homeland, knowing the true extent of the Americans’ wicked intentions and powerless to stop them.
While the Americans’ iron-fisted control of the Tuckers nears its apogee, the Pied Piper waits in the wings. Against their multitudinous enemies, the Tuckers must use every ally and resource they can and resort to every tactic, no matter how savage.
Yet even then, a long-hidden traitor lurking in their midst may prove to be their undoing.
First published December 1, 2024 by Ethan Warrener
ABOUT ETHAN WARRENER
Ethan Warrener grew up in Southwest Missouri, which resembles West Virginia if you really squint. If he’s not writing or teaching, he’s spending any extra free time with his wife and kids or playing too many video games. As you might expect from a Midwesterner, he’s an occasional farmer, a regular churchgoer, and a huge metalhead. For Home and Hearth is his first novel fit to see the light of day.
For Peace And Purpose by Ethan Warrener is the second book in The Tucker Clan Saga apocalyptic and dystopian fiction series. Ella is the star of the show and her world is growing more dark and dangerous by the minute.
The Reverend is a character I love to hate. He may believe his way is the right way, but I see him manipulating religion to fit in a way that profits himself. I don’t trust him as far as I can throw him. LOL
Omar, the outsider is back again. I can’t figure out what his game is and wonder if he will be the death of the Tucker clan or someone that will help them.
There are lots of peripheral characters that have important parts to play. As with most apocalyptic and dystopian novels, there are the haves and the have nots. Slavery even rears its ugly head. We have genetically altered beings and I’m not sure if there is a person around that is completely human, that hasn’t been modified in some way.
The series took thirteen years to write and I am thankful that Ethan Warrener stuck with it. I love apocalyptic and dystopian novels, and always wonder how authors come up with such fabulous ideas. The Tucker Clan Saga is a trilogy and I can hardly wait to find out how Ethan will bring it to it’s conclusion.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of For Peace And Purpose by Ethan Warrener.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Things used to be simpler.
Now, as the Tuckers’ enemies hatch a secret plot for revenge, as a shadowy entity stalks the surrounding woods, and as new players enter the scene, Ella Holland’s world grows darker, more dangerous, and more twisted. The lines between good and evil, native and foreigner, friend and foe become ever more blurred in the Tucker clan’s struggle for peace and purpose.
Can Ella navigate this increasingly complicated world while still holding onto her convictions? Can she save those she loves without sacrificing her soul?
Ethan Warrener grew up in Southwest Missouri, which resembles West Virginia if you really squint. If he’s not writing or teaching, he’s spending any extra free time with his wife and kids or playing too many video games. As you might expect from a Midwesterner, he’s an occasional farmer, a regular churchgoer, and a huge metalhead. For Home and Hearth is his first novel fit to see the light of day.
Sometimes losing your children is the only way to save them. The year is 2039. Chased by government goons determined to quarantine her and a virus that might kill her at any time, Jean Bennett races a thousand miles to Canada to get her five children to safety. On a journey unlike any they’ve ever taken, Jean learns who she is and what she must do to save her children.
EXCERPT
THE infection hit with such ferocity and speed that all public trans¬port had shut down by the end of my husband’s meeting in DC, sixty-five miles from home. No car, no commuter train, no way out.
In the five hours since he’d arrived in the city that morning, police had blockaded roads and barred highway entrances. Airlines delayed flights and then canceled them. Residents, under threat of arrest, huddled in their homes, and universities restricted students to dorms. Government officials shuttered public buildings, closing, and locking the gates.
Television news showed black-helmeted National Guardsmen herd¬ing panicked tourists back toward their hotels as they stampeded down unfamiliar streets. Coast Guard cutters patrolled the Potomac River; helicopters buzzed overhead. From Capitol Hill to the Ellipse, red lights on Constitution Avenue blinked on and off. Front pages of the morning newspaper skittered across empty streets.
I waited for Ted to call.
AUTHOR Bio and Links
Ginny Fite is an award-winning journalist and author of nine traditionally published novels, three collections of poetry, a collection of short stories, and a book of humorous essays on aging. A graduate of Rutgers University and Johns Hopkins University, her 40-year career in communications included posts in newspapers, government, higher education, and a robotics R&D company. Pushcart Prize nominated, shortlisted for the 2019 SFWP prize, a finalist for the 2020 Bakwin Prize, winner of the FAPA gold medal in fiction for the collaborative novel Thoughts & Prayers, her stories have appeared in The Delmarva Review, Women Arts Quarterly Journal, Heartwood Literary Magazine, Coffin Bell, and the Anthology of Appalachian Writers. Writing about ordinary people who grapple with extraordinary circumstances, her novels span the genres of mystery, thriller, adventure, speculative, and women’s fiction. Learn more at GinnyFite.com.
Lilith Wine Lo Borgias Publication date: November 26th 2024 Genres: Adult, Dystopian, LGBTQ+, Romance
The world has transformed beyond recognition. Once a place of order, it now lies in chaos, consumed by a relentless game of power and deception on a global scale. Amidst this turmoil, Lilith emerges, a product of genetic engineering known as a zek.
Tasked with extracting secrets from her male targets, Lilith utilizes her unique abilities, emitting potent military-grade pheromones to allure or evade, shape-shifting, and uses a variety of tactics both taught and improvised.
Yet, as she delves deeper into her missions, Lilith’s curiosity awakens. She begins to question her own origins, unveiling a world teetering on the edge of annihilation. She soon discovers the remnants of a fallen Disneyland, full of mutated animals, zeks, and even fallen angels.
Driven with a hope for a new oasis, Lilith must transcend her naivety. No longer content to be a mere pawn, she must harness her abilities and uncover the truth about her origins and destiny. While also in the pursuit of a genetic ark offers the last hope for survival in the face of impending apocalypse.
I have seen a lot of recommendations for Blake Crouch novels, but Run is my first one. I want to thank NetGalley and Random House/ Ballantine Books.
Jack Colclough hears his name called over the radio and knows that ‘they’ are coming to kill him and his family. He has no other option than to run.
They run through deserts and mountains, searching for gas, food and water. All the things necessary when an apocalypse hits. They do their best to avoid anyone else, not knowing who can be trusted…no one. Blake definitely puts his characters through hell.
Riveting. Engrossing. Suspenseful. Unputdownable. I’ll definitely be checking out more of his work.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
5 D A Y S A G O A rash of bizarre murders swept the country… Senseless. Brutal. Seemingly unconnected. A cop walked into a nursing home and unloaded his weapons on elderly and staff alike. A mass of school shootings. Prison riots of unprecedented brutality. Mind-boggling acts of violence in every state.
4 D A Y S A G O The murders increased ten-fold…
3 D A Y S A G O The President addressed the nation and begged for calm and peace…
2 D A Y S A G O The killers began to mobilize…
Y E S T E R D A Y All the power went out…
T O N I G H T They’re reading the names of those to be killed on the Emergency Broadcast System. You are listening over the battery-powered radio on your kitchen table, and they’ve just read yours.
Your name is Jack Colclough. You have a wife, a daughter, and a young son. You live in Albuquerque, New Mexico. People are coming to your house to kill you and your family. You don’t know why, but you don’t have time to think about that any more.
You only have time to….
R U N
This 80,000-word novel also contains a bonus interview with Blake, and excerpts from his other work.
Blake Crouch is a bestselling novelist and screenwriter. He is the author of the forthcoming novel, Dark Matter, for which he is writing the screenplay for Sony Pictures. His international-bestselling Wayward Pines trilogy was adapted into a television series for FOX, executive produced by M. Night Shyamalan, that was Summer 2015’s #1 show. With Chad Hodge, Crouch also created Good Behavior, the TNT television show starring Michelle Dockery based on his Letty Dobesh novellas. He has written more than a dozen novels that have been translated into over thirty languages and his short fiction has appeared in numerous publications including Ellery Queen and Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. Crouch lives in Colorado with his family.
The action is fast paced right out of the gate and the race to St Louis is on. All Aboard.
The first book of the E Apyocrypha series, Lost & Found, spotlights Yun Mi. The second book, As & When, spotlights Aileen, and the third book, Hells & High Water, spotlights Kat. I love the eye catching covers.
Kat is an Islander without an island, but she is also a warrior and will do what is necessary to save her people. She didn’t ask to be a leader and her people don’t seem to want her as one either.
I love when Kat meets Yun Mi and negotiates a reprieve from a death sentence for the Islanders. As they negotiate a truce, we begin to see them grow into more complex characters. I love them both and would love for them to become fast friends. They would make a great team. Even the peripheral characters are able to break my heart and piss me off.
I love apocalyptic/dystopian novels, whether they have zombies or all technology is wiped out in one fell swoop, leaving them raiding, taking from others, struggling to stay alive. The more creative the author, the more invested I get in their world. And Alex Andre has created a world to get lost in. I have a love/hate relationship with an author that kills off one of my favorite characters, even when it adds to the story line, and Alex Andre is not afraid to put me to the test.
Hells & High Water is a novel filled with good and bad, sorrow and happiness (more than once, I cried and laughed), adventure and sacrifice. Each book got progressively better and Hells & High Water was unputdownable. I was familiar with the characters’ worlds and I had to know what was going to happen to who, at times leaving me breathless..
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Technology is power, especially in the world where both are sparse. Would those possessing the knowledge be persuaded to share?
Drawn by a vague rumor of an industrialized state out west, Golden Dragon Shang, a visionary hierarch obsessed with all things tech, departs on an irrational journey beyond the edge of the known map, dragging three reluctant sidekicks along.
A fierce raider disowned for insubordination needs all her fighting skills to survive, but even they can’t carve the path to her true self. A young smuggler is forced by betrayal to turn his criminal mind to the legit side, for the people who despise him. A soldier struggling with his homeland’s troubling past must quash his personal demons to forge alliances with those he detests, or none on the expedition have a chance.
Unsure of their destination and facing dangers known and unknown, they travel through desolated wilderness half a continent away from home. Their armored train is formidable yet not invincible, and not every enemy is foreign. Survival demands smarts, grudging collaboration, and sacrifice—but will that prove enough?
Genre: Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Fiction
442 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 28, 2024
Series: The E Apocrypha, Book III
ABOUT ALEX ANDREA (from Amazon)
Alex has lived on three continents, is fluent in three languages, suffers an unhealthy interest in linguistics, and never has enough time to get to all the books on his ever-growing To Read list.
He has always appreciated (and envied) select authors’ ability to string words into elegant sentences and tie those sentences into intricate plots.
The time has come for him to try his own hand in the craft.
Christmas is approaching, and happiness is in the air. But something is not right. An unsettling sense of uncertainty begins to creep in, casting a shadow over the festive cheer. Suddenly, without warning, the world is plunged into chaos. A catastrophic cyber attack tears through the nation’s digital infrastructure, quickly followed by an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) that renders all electronic devices useless. The streets, once illuminated by holiday lights, now lie in eerie darkness. Communication lines go dead, and the familiar comforts of a connected society are stripped away in an instant.
Three catastrophic events: A cyberattack, nuclear power plants failing, and a elcetromagnetic pulse. A new world will be created.
Day 0 to 3: Panic and confusion
Day 4 to 14: Desperation
Day 14 to 30: Breakdown of law and order
1 Month: A New Order
We will follow a family, John and his wife, Emily, 15 year old son Jack, and 17 year old daughter Sarah, as the world around them goes up in flames. Those that adapt will be the survivors, and John and his family are equipped to do just that.
Planes falling from the sky and patients dying on the operating table, is only the beginning. It’s days before Christmas and people with no heat will be freezing to death, especially since the storm is the worst in fifty years. Think that was part of the war plan?
The government…shouldn’t there be a plan in place? The scenario is so frightening to me, because it is so realistic. And we all saw how our government acted when the pandemic hit. All the infighting over what is right and what is wrong. The fake news and denial running rampant. The media playing its own part in failing the people.
I love apocalyptic, dystopian novels, where the characters are put to the test. We see the best and the worst of humanity. What makes The Long Night even better is the fact that we are at war, being attacked in such a way that to fight back puts us in as much danger as doing nothing at all. Act too quickly and the repercussions can have catastrophic consequences.
I always try to put myself in the characters’ place, wondering how I would fare. Could I find food and shelter? Could I keep myself and those I care about safe? Would I become a warrior, an organizer, a leader, a follower? What would I have to contribute to building a new world after technology is gone? What about medicines and health?
I was so caught up in the story that when the words ran out, I never saw it coming. All I could think is nooooooo. I’m not ready for it to end. I need more…and I know it’s coming. I had to check and the sequel is coming. The Long Way Home is up for preorder, due for release in April, 2024.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Long Night by Alex Bueno.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Survival begins where technology ends.
“The Long Night” reveals a gripping story of survival and resilience amidst a catastrophic cyber assault that paralyzes the United States. As a devastating electromagnetic pulse (EMP) sweeps across the nation, it halts every aspect of modern life, thrusting the Winter family from Harbour Island, Florida, into an unforeseen battle for survival.
In this new and challenging reality, John Winter, a seasoned former military officer, and his son, Jack, find themselves 100 miles away from home when disaster strikes. Fueled by the hope of reuniting with their family, they navigate a world turned upside down, where the very fabric of society has unraveled. Meanwhile, back at home, John’s wife, Emily, a respected electrical engineering expert, along with their daughter, Sarah, confront the daunting task of surviving in a world now shrouded in darkness and chaos. Their courage and intelligence are their only weapons against the advancing chaos. Simultaneously, US President Thomas Lowell faces an emergency of an unprecedented scale. Tasked with the critical decision of determining whether this crisis is a terrorist act or a declaration of war, every move he makes could determine the fate of the nation. As President Lowell delves into the digital depths to uncover the truth, his decisions have the potential to shape the future of the nation and redefine global security.
“The Long Night” masterfully blends the intense personal drama of the Winter family’s fight for survival with the expansive backdrop of a cyber warfare scenario. This compelling narrative, grounded in scenarios that feel unnervingly realistic, challenges readers to confront their deepest fears. It blurs the lines between reality and fiction, prompting a reevaluation of our dependence on technology.
Dive into this enthralling national thriller, which is not only a tale of a family’s resilience but also a testament to the power of community and the crucial role of scientific expertise during times of crisis.
Trained as an engineer and driven by a passion for storytelling, Alex is a lifelong learner, with a background in tech product development. Yet, it’s not just the wonders of the digital age that fascinate him. His novels revolve around thrillers and adventures, consistently exploring the influence of technology on society. At the same time, he weaves in Christian values emphasizing family, community, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Inspired by renowned authors like Stephen King, James Patterson, Tom Clancy, and Michael Crichton, Alex’s stories captivate while also provoking deep thought.
Alex cherishes life alongside his wife and their 18-year-old son. Their journey is anchored by unwavering faith and a profound bond.
The cover for The Sapien Empire by Nathan Ogloff made me curious and I thought about Mad Max, with all the machines on the cover. The sand tells me the end of the world is here.
Shindo Dacan will be called upon to step into a leadership role he never wanted, but is well prepared to take on. He doesn’t realize how perfect he is to take on the challenge. He would rather be tinkering in his workshop, creating machines that can improve people’s lives.
Vibrun, the Arch Lordchief, is a cruel tyrant. He sacrifices, not only animals, but people. He revels in it. Laughs at the pain and misery of others. Some of the torture heaped on the people was graphic butchery.
I found Tersona fascinating, but she is every bit as cruel as everyone else. Jarim teaches Shindo much of the history of the world before the apocalypse and I feel is going to have a prominent place in The Sapien Empire.
We always have those who covet what others have, without working for it. The Rustraisers treated combat like a sport. You can’t change the basic nature of people and their feeling of entitlement. Trust is hard fought.
I love apocalyptic/dystopian stories, where people have to figure out how to survive. They have to learn to work together. Thought provoking…trying to put myself into their place and wondering how I would react. Nathan Ogloff has done a wonderful job with, what I think, is his debut novel. The story flows smoothly, the characters coming to life on the pages, growing and developing as the story moves along. The pace picks up as the battles begin and Shindo rises to the occasion. I hated to reach the end, but the story is far from over and the characters are still talking to Nathan. The Sapien Empire: the Realms of Restarted Civilization is coming in the fall of 2024. Count me in.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLUB
Shindo Dacan is a socially awkward but gifted engineer who has made the most brilliant machines seen since before the All-Silence—machines that ruler Vibrun Magrite used in his creation of the Domain as he brought all four of the city-states within his iron grip. With the help of a friend of his, Shindo is secretly planning to provide prosthetic limbs to the many victims of the war his machines have waged.
When Magrite finds out and slaughters Shindo’s friend before his eyes, Shindo tricks Magrite into funding a warrior mech to wreak revenge and is unwillingly rewarded with a woman from Magrite’s harem, Jarim Alsaedon. With his mech machine and Jarim’s help, Shindo stages a coup d’état that leaves Magrite dead and him and his accomplice as platonic dual heads of state.
As Shindo and Jarim work to rebuild their civilization, they’re beset by factions both within and beyond the Domain’s borders. Can Shindo learn how to design a stable peace before the new world he’d envisioned becomes a wasteland of death and destruction?
Genre: Apolyptic, Dystopian, Fiction, Steampunk
366 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 7, 2023 by Nathan Ogloff
ABOUT NATHAN OGLOFF (from Book Sirens
Nathan was born in New Westminster, British Columbia, and has lived in different parts of Canada and the US. He obtained a degree in computer science with a minor in film studies from UBC in 2008, with an emphasis on pursuing video game development.When that didn’t work out, he worked in construction while writing his debut novel. Nathan has had a fascination with story ever since he wrote a couple of pages to a time-travel book when he was in third-grade. The varied jobs he’s had and places he’s lived have given him a wide array of perspectives to draw upon for his story-telling.When he’s not writing, Nathan spends his time adding to his ever increasing heavy-metal Spotify playlist and creating spaceships in Lego Studio.
December 3rd – A day like any other.
