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The Fall and the Fire: The Sun-Maker
Dystopian fiction is making a powerful comeback, and Michael T. Miller’s The Fall and the Fire: The Sun-Maker is a shining example of why the genre continues to captivate readers. This gripping novel delves into survival, faith, and the remnants of a fractured civilization, weaving a multi-perspective narrative that keeps you hooked from start to finish.
The story unfolds through the eyes of several compelling characters: Jona, a hardened bandit plagued by cynicism; Moti and his son Baia, desperate to find safety in a perilous world; Asha, a scientist in the Hives working on the ambitious Regeneration Project; and Obi, a high-ranking Sentinel entangled in dangerous political schemes. Miller masterfully contrasts the sterile, high-tech Hives with the chaotic, lawless wastelands, creating a vivid and tense backdrop where danger lurks at every turn.
Miller’s prose is immersive and evocative, bringing the harshness of the wastelands to life with haunting precision. The struggles of the characters feel visceral and real, as if you’re enduring relentless hardships alongside them. One particularly striking moment is Jona’s robbery of Moti and Baia, a heart-pounding scene that exemplifies the brutal realities of life beyond the safety of the Hives. The dialogue flows naturally, each voice distinct and reflective of their internal battles, further anchoring the reader in the world Miller has created.
The novel’s themes resonate on multiple levels, exploring the tension between morality and survival, the enduring power of faith, and humanity’s relentless drive to rebuild in the face of collapse. Moti’s unwavering devotion to the Sun Makers adds a poignant spiritual dimension, while Asha’s scientific pursuits raise complex ethical questions. Jona’s nihilism and Baia’s youthful hope create a deeply emotional contrast, forming a narrative core that lingers long after the final chapter.
Miller’s characters are flawed, deeply human, and impossible not to connect with. Jona, in particular, emerges as a tragic figure burdened by regret, while the bond between Moti and Baia tugs at the heartstrings. Their journeys are so raw and relatable that the line between fiction and reality begins to blur.
For fans of The Road and Dune, The Fall and the Fire is a thought-provoking, atmospheric masterpiece that will leave a lasting impression. With its rich themes, vivid world-building, and unforgettable characters, Miller’s novel is one that demands to be read and remembered.
Pages: 421 | ASIN : B0DRSLH7DD
Endgame
In Steve Shahbazian’s captivating novel, Endgame, a precarious clash ensues between The Trads—a fanatical religious group—and Faithcorp, an organization accused of heralding the apocalypse with their technology-based spirituality. As the leaders of these two factions mysteriously disappear, a series of chilling assassinations unfurl, targeting Faithcorp’s executive echelons. At the heart of the whirlwind stands Cynthia, a Licensed Operative with a troubled past. A societal cleaner who dispenses justice with an iron fist, she is inexorably drawn towards unearthing the elusive truth. Amid her quest for answers, Cynthia grapples with her capacity for trust and the potent mysteries she is determined to unravel.
Cynthia is a richly developed character, brimming with an unflinching assertiveness that lends her an immediate appeal. Her brusque honesty and irrepressible wit consistently infuse refreshing humor throughout the narrative, eliciting an anticipatory delight for her next unexpected quip. Shahbazian’s talent shines as he imbues Cynthia with memorable lines, such as likening a bewildered glance to receiving a “slap across the face with a wet fish.”
Shahbazian masterfully paints a bleak yet captivating backdrop of a dystopian future. Civil order has frayed to the point of disarray—criminal investigations have lost their procedural sheen, and society is plagued by rampant addiction to simulations. As Cynthia delves deeper into her inquiries, the author gradually unveils the contours of this stark world—each violent outburst, every destitute addict donning “rickety headsets,” and the imposing futuristic infrastructure, serving to further illustrate the stark reality of this universe.
Endgame seamlessly interweaves philosophical discourse with its primary themes of investigation, religion, and artificial intelligence. It offers the reader an intellectual challenge, posing interesting inquiries such as “How do you know that what you assume to be real isn’t, in fact, an illusion?” that subtly rattle one’s perception of reality.
Firmly etching his mark with well-drawn characters and intricately woven plotlines, Shahbazian demonstrates his adept skill as a storyteller. Yet, even without these elements, the narrative’s enticing humor and candor would alone make it a worthwhile read. A compelling amalgamation of sci-fi and philosophy, Endgame is a treat for any fan of The Matrix and similar genre-blending narratives. Shahbazian’s exceptional writing makes it an unmissable addition to any avid reader’s list.
Pages: 272 | ASIN : B0BXDKF4KS
Penny
Penny by Margaret Chu is a story of a zombie-infected world where no one believes the reality until they see it. Kathy and her husband move out to the country in order to give their children a better life. What ends up happing, though is far from their idealistic plans. Kathy is about to leave her home, happy for a new beginning, when she witnesses an unnatural phenomenon around her. While she wants to reach out to her family immediately, she cannot abandon the people in need. Her intervention leads to several survivors helping each other through an apocalyptic zombie-infested world. In an unexpected twist, one survivor, Penny, becomes the key to their survival, and the group must protect her at all costs.
The author presents the story in a clear, exciting sequence of events, focusing on a chronological style and moving forward quickly. Chu’s writing has a stream of conscious feel, allowing the reader to quickly become invested in the storyline. It’s an intriguing story with a few fascinating twists on the traditional zombie theme that will keep you reading and eager to learn more about the character’s plight and the potential for a dire future. I found the story easy to read, and there are a lot of possibilities to develop this story further, as a series or in a follow-up book.
Penny is a captivating sci-fi thriller about survival during a zombie apocalypse. With a hint of mystery weaved in, readers will be engaged in reading about who survives and how they manage. I’m eager to read more from this author, whether it’s a continuation of this story or another story with a similar dystopian theme. Penny by Margaret Chu is a remarkably entertaining tale and a great choice for science fiction and dystopian fantasy fans.
Pages: 336 | ASIN : 1955531862
Zaven
Zaven, written by Jed Cullen, starts us off with Tyler and his friends heading to their first day of school. The day starts relatively typical, but Jake, one of Tyler’s friends, is picked on by a new kid. Their friend, Eli, saves Jake from the massive new student. The day continues as usual, but Tyler gets into trouble and is told to go to detention that afternoon. Tyler skips detention to hang out with his friend at their treehouse. While they are there, an announcement is broadcasted over their radio, informing everyone that there is an outbreak of the virus that originated in Russia. This leads Tyler and his friends to fend for themselves and stick together as much as possible. Life with zombies has its challenges.
The plot is magnificent and leads to a spectacular ending. The plot twist really shocked me, and I loved it! Not what I expected at all. The characters were exceptionally well thought out as well. I could feel the emotions of the characters as they felt them. Tyler’s character surprised me a bit when he made a snap decision, but I think it fits his personality perfectly. Rufus was probably the most shocking character to read about out of all of them. You will need to read this book to see why I say that!
There were only a few things I didn’t like. First, I feel like they should have met more survivors. The action was a little slow to come by, but it was great once it happened. I also noticed a few British terminologies used in the book. That is ok, but I think if it is supposed to take place in the USA, it should contain US terminology.
Zaven is an exciting zombie thriller that will give readers an unexpected plotline. Keeping some traditional elements of zombie novels and adding new twists, Jed Cullen has created memorable characters that readers will want to root for and be anxious to see how the story ends. I would recommend it to a friend that loves books with zombies!
Pages: 302 | ASIN : B0BG7R944H
Poems For The End Of The Age
Author H. Peter Zell’s Poems for the End of the Age is his interpretation of The Book of Revelations. In these thought-provoking poems, the author tells of a catastrophic war between the U.S. and Russia. The poems titled ‘Reflections of a Believer’ and ‘Empire of the Apocalypse’ are the author’s interpretations of the apocalypse. The poems ‘Discourse on the Mosel or The Century Poem’ are from other poets who provide their views of recent historical events and predictions for the future.
I found the preface in the book to be an insightful addition that corroborates the author’s poems which touch upon Christianity and politics and how it all comes back to the apocalypse. In addition, the author’s writing style is conversational and informative. This style allows the reader to form their own opinion of The Book of Revelations, and this combination of providing insight while allowing me to find my own path made this book engaging. I also appreciate that the author acknowledges that some readers may not agree with his interpretation, but the author still discusses his findings and his truth.
After reading the author’s poems, I found it alarming that The Book of Revelations does touch upon many events that have happened and are currently happening in the world today. The most disturbing one of all is the War between Russia and the U.S. by 2030. Zell’s poems serve as a wake-up call for awareness and early intervention of U.S. nationals. The author provides a fresh perspective of The Book of Revelations and challenges readers to question how our nation’s current actions affect the future.
Poems for the End of the Age is a thought-provoking book for those interested in politics and religion. This interesting read will help readers understand how the two topics correlate with one another. In addition, this is a perceptive and intriguing collection of poetry that will stay with you long after putting the book down.
Pages: 70
Coming Soon
Broken Revelations: Calamity of the Gods
Adrian is back! But, so is the Dominess. She has no shortage of jobs for Adrian, and this one seems like a no-brainer. Of course, nothing is as easy as it seems for Adrian and his entourage. When he pulls out a pad and pen and begins to take inventory of all the stolen items he must investigate as part of his task for the Dominess, he can’t possibly imagine where this list will take him. With one hurdle to get over–getting into the realm of the gods as a mere mortal, Adrian sets out to hold up his part of the bargain, no matter where or how far it may take him.
This is the third book of author Albert Scott’s Broken Revelations series, and I am amazed at the insanely diverse cast of characters created by the author. As classic as so many of them seem, Scott makes it feel like the most natural thing in the world for angels and demons, gods and goddesses, and dragons and werewolves to roam the streets today. The unique personalities given to each one of these characters make for a highly entertaining read, indeed. I love not knowing which one of Scott’s characters is going to come out with a quip or term used by my own teens. I found myself laughing out loud quite often while reading about Adrian’s adventures.
The pace of Scott’s writing is perfect for the genre. I like a fantasy story that moves quickly, gets to the heart of the matter, and puts characters in the forefront. Scott manages to do all this and more. Again, dialogue dominates the text. This isn’t always a welcome technique, but Scott’s ability to have his characters interact while simultaneously telling the story through their exchanges is unmatched. With quick wit, the author moves Adrian and his wives through the rising action and to the climax effortlessly all the while drawing readers in for the long haul.
With so many references to current pop culture, this extraordinary novel is a sure-fire hit. Scott is a master at the action/adventure/fantasy combo. Characters like Adrian don’t come around often–he stands out among all the other main players I have read in recent years.
Broken Revelations: Calamity of the Gods is a riveting adventure and fantasy novel with both memorable and relatable characters. Readers will experience Adrian’s quest along with him and his wives with vivid details in this installment of the trilogy.
Pages: 130 | ASIN : B09MV9T8BW
Time’s Up
Time’s Up by Mike Ross is a science fiction novel based on the end of human civilization and the politics behind it all. When a strange flying object appears outside the United Nations Headquarters building, the whole world goes into a panic. Then, voices are suddenly heard, issuing a warning about the approaching danger that will end human life on Earth. From this first contact with aliens, the United Nations leadership finds out that the sun is about to experience a series of very large Coronal Mass Ejections, an event that humans can do nothing about. There’s only one choice: to trust these alien voices and prepare a selected group of human beings that will evacuate the earth and start civilization on a new planet. But, will the political structures of the different countries allow for this evacuation to proceed fairly and peacefully?
There is tension from the beginning of this riveting story, the main point being that politicians’ humanity has been destroyed by their lust for power. The plot is presented so that we are always following the political figures dealing with this apocalyptic event across many countries, which allows the author to showcase the good and the bad that is present in most bureaucratic political organizations. The story’s pacing can feel somewhat slow at times, but this is balanced out by the intrigue and the need to find out how the story resolves. With time, the reader starts to engage with the plot, and the interest in the characters begins to spark.
The way the story is told leaves the reader wondering if what’s happening could be real or if it is just a hoax. Rumors start to spread, and even the most prominent political figures in the world are not sure if the appearance of this alien ship is the result of an elaborate prank or a terrorist act. This sets the plot in motion and keeps the reader guessing until the very end. Alongside the story, important aspects of the modern political world are displayed, opening a discussion about the many problems that some abusive, overbearing political powers pose to the world.
This well-crafted story is detailed and illustrates excellently how our current society would react to an apocalyptic event with its varied and complex political structures. The author makes sure to expose everything, from the interactions between different people to the preparations needed to ensure the continuation of human civilization. The result is a holistic book that deals with current human and political affairs as a commentary on how some of these structures have to be fought to avoid the sabotage that they impose on humankind.
Time’s Up is a gripping science fiction and a socio-political novel about how world leaders might handle an apocalypse situation. For those that enjoy a good conspiracy theory story and political maneuvering, this novel will keep them entertained and, perhaps, questioning how real could this be.
Pages: 386 | ISBN : 0578257890
I Create Relationships that are Multifaceted
Broken Revelations: Horsemen Rising follows four people that realize they are the prophesied four horsemen and must work together to save Earth. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
It was an episode of Supernatural where the Winchesters were fighting the four horsemen of the apocalypse when I thought to myself “ I don’t think I have heard or read anything about the origins of the horsemen.” So I began doing some research into them and the idea for the Broken Revelations universe grew.
What was the inspiration for the relationship that develops between the characters?
I was tired of reading the same flat type of relationships between characters that I have read in other fantasy books. I wanted the relationships in Broken Revelations to be a little more complicated and multifaceted especially between the Angels, Demons and Fallen who have loved, hated and perhaps pitied each other for eons.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I would say adaptation would be the most important theme since that is something Adrian needs to survive in the new world he was thrown into.
Can you tell us what the second book will be about and when it will be available for fans to purchase?
Broken Revelations: Brides of War is about Adrian uniting the Angels, Demon and Fallen factions with a marriage and it is Available now on Amazon.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Instagram
That is until his life took to a sharp turn into the extraordinary after a one night stand with a beautiful woman calling herself “The Tattoo lady” leads him to the discovery that he was anything but ordinary as he quickly discovers that he and The Tattoo Lady are Nephal: the children of Angels and Demons, and are two of the prophesied four horsemen of the Apocalypse and meets the other two horsemen Matekai and Iku just in time for all of heaven and hell to break loose and uncovering a renegade angel’s plot to free the pagan gods to cause even more havoc on earth.
Now it’s up to the four horsemen unite to save the world that they were destined to destroy… that is if there anything left to save.
LITERARY TITAN 