$25 GC – Sanctuary by Ginny Fite @goddessfish

SANCTURY Ginny Fite

GENRE:  dystopian speculative fiction

BLURB

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.

Published novels:

  • Sanctuary
  • Leave Everything You Know Behind
  • The Physics of Things
  • Possession
  • Blue Girl on a Night Dream Sea
  • No End of Bad
  • Lying, Cheating and Occasionally Murder
  • No Good Deed Left Undone
  • Cromwell’s Folly
  • Thoughts & Prayers (co-author)
  • Author Website: https://ginnyfite.com
  • Social Media Handles:
  • Instagram:  http://www.instagram.com/GinnyFite
  • Twitter: http://www.twittere.com/unwrinkledbrain
  • Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ginnyfiteauthor
  • Threads: http://www.threads.com/ginnyfite

Buy links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/40jDdoh

Sunbury Press: https://www.sunburypress.com/collections/all-books/products/sanctuary?variant=42817556217949

 

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The Spotlight Is On Lilith by Wine Lo Borgias @xpressotours

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.

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Review – Run by Blake Crouch #netgalley #run @blakecrouch1

Amazon / Goodreads

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.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

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.

  • Genre: Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Fiction, Horror, Science Fiction
  • Format 331 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published February 24, 2011 by Blake Crouch

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.

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Review – Hells & High Water by Alex Andre #alexandre #hells&highwater

Amazon / Goodreads

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..

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

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

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.

The E Apocrypha is his first series of novels.

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Cyber Warfare – The Long Night by Alex Bueno @AlexBuenoauthor

EMP explodingDecember 3rd – A day like any other.

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.

Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

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.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
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.

  • Genre: Action and Adventure, Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Fiction, Science Fiction, Suspense, Thriller
  • 290 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published October 31, 2023

ABOUT ALEX BUENO (from Amazon)

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.

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Mad Maxian – The Sapien Empire by Nathan Ogloff @UnusualAuthor

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

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.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
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.

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Fight Or Flight – The Price Of Rebellion by Michael C Bland @mcblandwriter

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

It all began in the year 2030, when a virus rendered more than a billion people blind. Genetic engineering brought sight back to the people, but a price will be paid. I love when an author fills in the highlights from the previous book, so if The Price Of Rebellion is your first book by Michael C Bland, you will not be lost, though I definitely recommend beginning with The Price Of Safety.

Dray Quintero is labelled an enemy of the state. He created something he thought would benefit mankind, but we all know how things can be twisted and corrupted.

The core group of characters, Dray, Raven, Jex and Senn, have come to feel like family to me, but the peripheral characters are vital to the story. The all have their part to play.

There is so much action, so many tragic moments, that I couldn’t stop reading. The technology is truly frightening and makes me wonder…could this be our future? Genetic engineering, robotics, the environment, and the need for power. Looking at current events, we all know how power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

We end the book by finding out what happened to Talia…who was the most tragic part of the first book, for me. She was a child genius, with the courage to put herself in the line of fire. I was heartbroken when she died and the quote below gives you a hint as to why she was such a favorite character of mine. She is in fourth grade:

“Your daughter argued with the teacher,” the principal announced.

“She was pandering to me,” Talia said.

“Do you even now what that word means?: the man asked.

Talia looked up at me with her big brown eyes, “My god. It’s an epidemic.”

Her dad may have needed to hold in his laughter, but not me.

OMG!!!!!!! What a cliffhanger ending. I don’t know whether to congratulate Michael or throw my ereader through the wall!!!!!!! He tells me the wait for this book was because of the pandemic and he thinks it created an even darker book. Okay, I want to thank him for that, because the things he puts his characters through are tragic and inspiring at the same time. He, also, tells me the twists and turns, and horrors and sorrows, will be worth it in the end. I am counting on it.

I can’t think of anything I would change, other than to make it one book and give it to me all at once. That would make one gigantic book and I would be lost for days.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Price Of Rebellion by Michael C Bland.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

BEST SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL OF THE YEAR – Indies Today (2022)
BRONZE MEDAL – SCIENCE FICTION – Readers’ Favorite (2023)
MEDALIST – DYSTOPIAN FICTION – The BookFest (3rd place, Fall, 2023)

 
It’s 2047. Secrets have been revealed. And Washington wants revenge.
 
Dray Quintero learned an ugly truth: the leaders in D.C. are fake. They’ve stolen the identities of those elected to Congress and are determined to stay in power, using his own technology against him and the rest of the population.
 
After revealing the dangers of their mandated implants to his fellow citizens, and calling on everyone to rise up, Dray joins the already-underway rebellion. But his joining is as much to free the U.S. as it is to avenge his daughter’s death. Before he can strike, The Agency attacks with devastating consequences. Dray and the other survivors are forced to run as Agents hunt them.
 
Then Dray makes a discovery that could change the nation.
 
As he and the rebels prepare a bold offensive, his wife, Mina, broadcasts a preposterous claim. He’s forced to choose between the rebellion and a desperate hope. Between family and country.
 
What he does will change everything.
 
The Price of Rebellion is the action-packed second installment of The Price Of series from multiple-award-winning author Michael C Bland.

  • Genre: Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Fiction, Genetic Engineering, Science Fiction
  • 388 pages, Paperback
  • Published May 16, 2023
  • Series: The Price Of Trilogy, #2

ABOUT MICHAEL C BLAND

Michael C Bland is a founding member and the secretary of BookPod, an invitation-only, online group of professional writers. He pens the monthly BookPod newsletter where he celebrates the success of their members, which include award-winning writers, film makers, journalists, and bestselling authors.

His novel, The Price of Safety, was chosen as a Finalist of the 2020 Indie Book Awards for both Science Fiction and Thriller, and is the first in a planned trilogy.

Michael currently lives in Denver with his wife Janelle and their dog Nobu.

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MY MICHAEL C BLAND REVIEWS

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Giveaway – Valkyrie Earth by Merrin Slade @goddessfish

 



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Merrin Slade will award a $50 Kobo gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

In a world where perfection is demanded of its citizens, one imperfect woman may be the only person who can save humanity.

One thousand years in the future, humans have developed the ability to alter their genes to create a perfect version of themselves, but not all are so fortunate. Cerys Skye is a Wild Type, genetically unaltered and forced to live in the Refuge—a place for Wild Types and the unlucky citizens whose genetic modifications society has deemed as imperfect.

All the fiery tempered young woman knows is how to fight. Using her wits and skills, Cerys must compete in brutal prize fights if she is to bring food to the table for her younger sister. But, she is always aware that the next fight could her last—she must find a way out of this life.

Leaving behind all that she knows, the last place the tempestuous Cerys expects to find herself is joining the United Planet’s Space Force Academy, where she battles prejudice and intolerance in a world run by genetically modified humans.

As the new recruit discovers, not all is as it seems at the Academy with a shadowy cyber-evil seeking to threaten humanity. But, when loyalties are tested and the stakes are high, can Cerys rely on newfound allies and her unshakeable courage to stop the impending catastrophe?

Contains mature themes.


Read an Excerpt

She felt light-headed. “I need half an hour. To find my sister, that’s all…” Starla would understand this was for both of them. She would ask Gerry to take Starla in. Of course, she would. Gerry had a big heart.

“If you’re joining the Space Force, you leave now. You must decide,” he said.

Panic seized her. “I have to say goodbye. I must make arrangements.”

“Step into the pick-up zone. Or you are free to stay behind.”

Cerys glanced up at the silver disk darting through the clouds towards them. She looked back at the crowd. Inquisitive tourists gathered in a wide circle around her. Standing on the edge of the pick-up zone, their faces flashed: green, white, green, white.

In that moment, a woman shoved to the front of the crowd, the haft of a sword glinting over her shoulder—a Valkyrie.

“Kara,” Cerys shouted. “Over here.”

“Cerys.” Kara strode towards the checkpoint. GMs shrank away. “What’s going on? Did they take you? I heard about it.”

The secofficer scowled, and the crowd whooped.

“Kara, listen.” Cerys tugged her aside. “I’ve been recruited to the Space Force. Tell Gerry to look after Starla, and tell Starla…I love her. I’m getting her out of here. I’ll send money. Promise me.”

Kara blinked. “Now? You’re going now?”

“Just promise.”

“I promise.” She nodded vigorously. “Of course, I promise. Hey, what’s this…?”

Secnoids grabbed Kara from behind, dragging her away. Even the famous Valkyrie were not permitted to say goodbye.

“Tell Starla I’ll message…” Cerys shouted, but Kara was already lost in the crowd.

About the Author: Merrin Slade is a science fiction writer who transports readers to alternate futures and faraway universes.

Connect with Merrin Slade:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@merrinslade
Website: https://merrinslade.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/merrinslade
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/merrinslade

The book is discounted for a limited time in NZ, Australia and the UK. https://www.kobo.com/au/en/ebook/cerys-valkyrie-earth

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

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Post Apocalyptic Adventure – Farewll To Dust And Sun by John M Broadhead @JohnMBroadhead

Amazon / KindleUmlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Our people don’t know what else to do, so we dig.

Right out of the gate we meet the haves and the have nots. Could you imagine living underground? You get up in the morning and dig until you go to bed at night, barely enough food and water to keep you alive. I worked for General Motors and used to think, if I die, they are going to step right over me, or on me, and continue working. Morbid, huh? I feel that is Coal’s future, if he doesn’t follow his instincts.

He wants to save the people of Dirthome, and what an appropriate name it is. Nothing to see for miles but desert. John M Broadhead’s descriptions are spot on, considering he knows them so well, being raised in rural New Mexico.

The Outliers want what they have, mounting attack after attack, bodies falling on both sides. But, the biggest threat that so many refuse to even think about is the darkness coming. The sun will go down and not return. So many continue their day to day lives, refusing to make a decision to leave the only home they have ever known. There will be no food. No water. They cannot survive. A religious leader uses their fear to keep them under control.

Coal heads out with Slate, searching for a new home. He never anticipates what will happen when he sees birds for the first time, meets the sea, and the Stacca, a violent and dangerous people.

We travel from the present to the past and back to the present. Part One set the hook, Part Two gave me Coal’s adventurous history, bringing us to Part Three, where decisions will be forced, whether the people want to follow him or not. He never wanted to be a leader, just wanted to save his people, especially the governor’s wife, who he loves.

Farewll To Dust And Sun by John M Broadhead was a different kind of apocalyptic/ dystopian read and I am always on the lookout for someone to take one of my favorite genres and tweak it. Once I started, I couldn’t stop and will be eagerly awaiting the next Slow World Tale. How about it John? I hope you are writing fast. 🙂

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

His scorched desert world is doomed. To save his people, first he’ll need to fight them.

Loyalty and love will be tested and treacherous alliances made, but is it too late to ensure their survival?

Coal is a tenacious and headstrong young laborer who lives in the harsh wasteland of Dirthome, a brutal and unforgiving place where relentless violence and apathy are commonplace. As the sun prepares to set for the first time in generations, he hatches a daring plan – to persuade his people to abandon their desert abode before darkness and cold consume the world.

But driven by a complex love for the governor’s wife and accompanied by a mysterious warrior woman, Coal must navigate dangerous partnerships and confront his own fatal weaknesses. In this sweeping and gritty western-themed fantasy, traditions are shattered, flawed characters clash and civilizations collide in pursuit of uncertain salvation.

“Farewell To Dust And Sun” is the thrilling first installment in the “Slow World Tales” series of post-apocalyptic adventure fantasy books. If you like coming-of-age, survival fantasy books set in a barren and grim future, this book is for you!

  • Genre: Action and Adventure, Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Fiction
  • 557 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published November 7, 2023 by John M Broadhead

ABOUT JOHN M BROADHEAD

“I just want to make things that people can nerd out on. There’s nothing in life more joyful than nerding out over something.”

I am excited to share my newly completed novel “Farewell To Dust And Sun.” Fitting nicely into the apocalyptic genre, this is a fast-paced adventure story set in an unforgiving desert, a quest to save the world that eschews fantasy tropes and focuses on the characters, their hopes, failures and crises. 

Heading toward publication on November 7th, this will be my second self-published novel, but the first in which I believe I truly found my voice. I believe it to be a “millennial” story through and through, expressing the angst in the hearts of a generation stuck between a bleak past and a bleak future. 

Among other projects I am in fact working on the sequel in what I hope to eventually craft into a trilogy of “Slow World Tales.” My writing credentials include my previous novel “Talking Man,” along with a novella, a children’s book, and a novelty picture book. I have been recognized with numerous awards for my poetry and screenwriting, and my academic background in English Literature provides me with a deep understanding of the craft. Additionally I am a filmmaker, runner, thru-hiker, and Tolkien nerd. 

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Tyranny Rules – The Price Of Safety by Michael Bland @mcblandwriter

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

The Price Of Safety by Michael C Bland is anything but…I was quickly swept up in the incredible world he has created.

“Dad, I need help,”: my nineteen year old daughter said.

Dray’s life is going to change in ways he never could have imagined, and he has been instrumental in many of the scientific advancements in the year of 2047. His heroes will become his worst enemies.

Neural implants, drones, genetic engineering, tyranny, conspiracy, and scientific advancements make up Michael Bland’s incredible world of The Price Of Safety, an oxymoron. Imagine, if you will, that every action you take and every word you utter is being observed. And if THEY don’t like it, well…there will be repercussions.

Dray may be the main character, because he has what everyone wants…knowledge, but others stood out to me, too. One of the characters, Kieran is the ultimate villain and one of my favorite characters because of it. On the flip side, Talia, Dray’s youngest daughter, is another of my favorite characters. Her chutzpah is adorable. She is bright and impulsive.

As Dray’s eyes are opened and reality seeps in, the danger rises for him and his family. There is nowhere to hide.

The action ramps up to a frenetic level. Bodies will fall in the streets, buildings destroyed, entire neighborhoods invaded. A war is on, but the ‘herd’ has no knowledge of it. They are caught in the middle of those who rule and those who refuse to go down without a fight.

Mina, Dray’s wife….Good one, Michael. I love that you show no mercy to anyone. Every time I turn around, I find my jaw dropping, my sense of wonder at the depth and creativity of your writing coming alive on every page as the tension takes over, making me rapidly flip the pages, devouring the words, lost in the story. I was filled with anger and rage, sadness and despair, yet hope for those who will not stop to keep us free from tyranny.

I want to share so much more, but I want you, the reader, to have the same emotions running riot as you read The Price Of Safety by Michael C Bland, as I did. So this is all you get.

The Price of Safety is part of a planned trilogy and I can hardly wait to see what comes next.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

2020 INDIE BOOK AWARD FINALIST – SCIENCE FICTION
2020 INDIE BOOK AWARD FINALIST – THRILLER
2020 NATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCE AWARD FINALIST – NEW ADULT FICTION


By 2047, no crime in the U.S. goes unsolved. No wrongdoing goes unseen. When Dray Quintero learns his 19-year-old daughter Raven committed a heinous act, he covers it up to save her life. This pits him against the police he’s respected since he was a child and places him in the crosshairs of Kieran, a ruthless federal Agent. To survive, Dray must overcome the surveillance system he helped build and the technology implanted in the brains and eyes of the citizens.

To protect his family, he turns to a group of fighters who also discovered the government’s secret. But their help isn’t enough, for his adversaries have a level of control he’s unable to escape. That no one can.

Hunted and betrayed, with time running out, Dray must choose between saving Raven and dismantling the near-perfect society he helped create.

  • Genre: Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Fiction, Genetic Engineering,Science Fiction, Suspense, Thriller
  • 335 pages, Paperback
  • Published April 6, 2020
  • Series: The Price Of Trilogy

ABOUT MICHAEL C BLAND

Michael C Bland is a founding member and the secretary of BookPod, an invitation-only, online group of professional writers. He pens the monthly BookPod newsletter where he celebrates the success of their members, which include award-winning writers, film makers, journalists, and bestselling authors.

His novel, The Price of Safety, was chosen as a Finalist of the 2020 Indie Book Awards for both Science Fiction and Thriller, and is the first in a planned trilogy.

Michael currently lives in Denver with his wife Janelle and their dog Nobu.

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!