The End: Alpha throws you headfirst into a brutal, faith-fueled fight for survival. Set in the not-so-distant future of 2113, the book follows Sage, a young survivor on the run from a totalitarian government led by the monstrous Emperor Nero. Once known as Constantine Goodfellow, this tech-obsessed dictator has declared Christianity a crime, branding believers and hunting them down like animals. The world is bleak, with AI-driven enforcers called Guardians tracking down “undesirables” and a sinister cleansing underway. The resistance is small but determined, clinging to their faith as they fight for survival in a world that has declared war on them.

Ryan pulls you into the fear and tension with sharp, first-person storytelling that doesn’t waste time explaining every little thing. You get dumped straight into Sage’s world, where paranoia and grief drip from every page. And, man, does the book make you feel the weight of it. That opening chapter where Sage recalls the government “census” that secretly branded Christians was chilling.

One thing I love about post-apocalyptic fiction is when the villains feel real. Emperor Nero is absolutely terrifying. He’s not just evil for the sake of being evil, he believes in his own twisted righteousness. The scenes from his perspective (especially when he’s basking in his god complex while surrounded by concubines and sycophants) feel straight out of some nightmare version of 1984 meets The Hunger Games. The way his followers worship him, the way his High Vassal Maximillian fawns over him like a cult leader, is disturbing.

While the book excels in world-building and tension, the pacing has its slower moments. Some sections dive deep into inner monologue, and the religious themes are woven heavily throughout. Faith is a major part of the story, though, at times, certain conversations feel more like statements of belief rather than natural dialogue. That said, the action more than makes up for it. The chase sequences and the near-miss encounters with the Guardians are absolutely gripping. And the characters, especially Swifty, the no-nonsense leader of the resistance, bring so much energy that even the quieter moments feel meaningful.

If you like your dystopian stories dark, where the stakes feel real, then you’ll love this book. Fans of The Road, A Handmaid’s Tale, or Left Behind will eat this up. It’s brutal, bleak, and sometimes hits a little too close to home.

ASIN: B0DY8R2Z1H