User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
You might wonder how one can take a plot involving an EMP apocalypse, winter survival, a psycho sadist, and more and make it boring. But it is possible. All you need is truly terrible writing.
The characters here have each one characteristic, repeated ad nauseam, in lieu of a personality. There is no showing here, only telling. In fact, there is no space for showing, because all chapters are about 1.5 page long, so there is no time to set a scene, allow the reader to become immersed in the action, familiarise themselves with the characters. It's all just stiff descriptions, endless repetitions, and really cringe-worthy cliches (Hannah's heart was 'hammering', or alternatively 'jackhammering' every other page). She was gasping, breathing hard, and her pulse roared in her ears. All the time. So much, the reader (this reader) didn't care anymore, even if she got a heart attack from all this jackhammering.
Such a fantastic premise, such a poor execution.
I know I promised myself I would steer clear of self-published books but I just keep falling in their traps. Their covers now look very professional, too bad the writing inside doesn't match.
Rating: really liked it
You know how sometimes you just want a solid, gripping end of the world scenario with characters you can root for and character you can hate?
Look no further. Kyla Stone is great a creating tense, fast-paced plots with likeable characters the reader will inevitably root for. Especially Hannah is a wonderful character, broken yet strong and willing to fight.
And then there’s the villain. I wanted to strangle him.
This is a quick read that I couldn’t put down, and I’m looking forward to the sequel. I enjoy Stone’s prose, and her pacing is on point.
A gripping post-apocalyptic read, recommended to all fans of the apocalypse.
Rating: really liked it
[He breaks the finger bones of one of her hand due to which the hand becomes numb. He is truly a deranged psycho. (hide spoiler)]
Rating: really liked it
Wow. An apocalyptic story that not only stands alone, but involves a kidnapping of a young woman (Hannah) held captive for five years in a isolated cabin in the woods. Her tormentor, Pike, is demented and evil.
Enter into the picture a lone male, escaping from the apocalypse that shut down all power. He is post military and has internal and external scars. He is trying to get away from all the madness to his own isolated place in the woods. When he comes across Hannah...
No more to be said Other than I felt their fear and terror coming through the pages of the book. Oh my. I’ve got to read the rest in this series as well as Liam’s prestory.
This was very scary read as Hannah And Liam and dog run for the lives, not only being pursued by Pike, but being pursued by all the crazies who are out stealing food, gas, snowmobiles, medicine, etc as a result of the power grid shutdown.
Rating: really liked it
533 Amazon reviews 88% 5 and 4 stars
1,200 Goodreads reviews Avg 4.3
So people liked this book.
It is an EMP post-apocalyptic thriller.
What I liked:
-It takes place in a snowy cold and remote location in upper Michigan.
-I liked the characters.
-I loved the action when the hero, ex-soldier Liam Coleman, enters the story.
-There are some interesting details, one I will never forget dealing with the heroine's, Avery Sheridan, hand.
-CiCi was also a great character.
-Loved the action in the small town that the bad guys descend on.
-I liked the dog.
What I didn't like:
-From 5% to about 25% it was a little slow for me. The whole story changed and picked up when the hero arrived.
-The ending SUCKED! I was expecting much more, some resolution to some story lies, I flipped to the next page-It's over. I am very surprised more people didn't ding it for that.
-She had no military experience, but in the acknowledgments, she says that she got some advice from someone, but it wasn't solid. It was wrong in many areas, but small stuff, and it may be I am just too ticky tacky. Like he double-tapped everything. That is a discussion in itself, but if you have limited ammo, you do not shoot two shots when one could do the job.
-I felt some of the decisions made were not logical. I feel when they left CiCi, knowing a serial killer was out there was a death sentence for her, I felt when the bad guy rode up in the middle of a bunch of "Mad Max types" and waved his badge, that was crazy. And a couple of other things, but just an opinion, they may have done it.
I recommend the book:
With all of my complaining, I still like the book.
Rating: really liked it
This was not at all what I expected, in a good way. I was under the impression this would be a post-apocalyptic survival drama - and it is, but with fresh new elements incorporated. If the other books continue to hold my interest like this, I'll consider this Kindle Unlimited series a little-known gem.
The book opens with a young woman named Hannah in a dark 15x20 locked cell. The barred door has a slot on the floor through which a plate of food and bottle of water can be slid. There's a cot, a commode, a sink and a small window by the ceiling. She's in isolation, but sometimes she hears a dog barking in the distance. If you're wondering what she did to get herself imprisoned, it was nothing more than being kidnapped by a psychopath five years before.
One freezing cold morning, the single light bulb in her ceiling blinks out, and even the background hum of electricity goes absent. Afraid to hope, she tests the electronic door to her cell. What Hannah can't know is that an electromagnetic pulse just destroyed the US power grid and all modern electronics with a chip: cars, phones, etc. When Hannah's cage door opens with just a push, she sees this is her chance to escape the man who tortured her and nearly broke her spirit.
There is one additional reveal involving Hannah that I'll save for you. I thought this story was well written, actiony and intriguing, and I really look forward to continuing this series soon.
Rating: really liked it
This story was completely outside my comfort zone. I picked it up thinking it was an apocalypse survival story. It was not!
It is an unspeakably brutal, horrifying tale of a psychopath and his pregnant captive.
She was traveling with a strange man she distrusted, a killer hot on her heels. In the middle of a crisis the likes of which this country had never seen.
The apocalypse is the backdrop of the story but the plot is a deranged killer in pursuit of his escaped captive. I thought a few of the plot twists were ultra convenient but they didn't stop me from being horrified by the story.
😖😱🥺
Rating: really liked it
ONE UNPREDICTABLE WHIRLWIND!!!
Mercurial! Kyla blew me away with this refreshingly impressive spin, presenting this harrowing storyline and horrific plot, kicking ass and taking names, bursting this bad boy wide open. Satisfaction is an understatement, it doesn't get any better than this. Anarchy, escapades and havoc run amuck, riding roughshod and fusing this baby together smoothly. Unveiling a foray of drama, intrigue, turmoil, abduction, torture, terrifying situations and mounting suspense, along with a boatload of danger, while dodging calamity, you have one mind-blowing adventure. Exhibiting thrilling scenario's, ramping up the exuberance and adrenaline with such intensity and precision, blowing this gem into a tailspin with a life altering, mind-blowing culmination. Struggling through the trials and tribulations, along with shocking twists, stunning corners and tricky lines, testing our characters in ways they could have never anticipated. The characters are authentic and original with qualities and traits that transforms into amazing personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and descriptions, as to give you a full understanding and realism that flows smoothly. Remarkable job Kyla, thanks for sharing this little guy with us.
Rating: really liked it
Hannah, who has been imprisoned for five years by a psychotic man, escapes after an EMP wipes out electricity.
I'm obviously an outlier here. I read a bunch of apocalyptic books and I actively disliked this one. The characters are very superficial and I quickly realized that I could read one sentence per page and not miss anything that was going on. I am backing away - far away - from the sequels.
Rating: really liked it
What a thriller! I find it hard to review any of this without spoiling the surprise. Suffice it to say that you should not read this before bed, If you are prone to nightmares or if you have anxiety. LoL!
Kayla Stone weaves you into a web of horror, post-apocalyptic landscapes and the worst and best of human behavior. I can't wait for the next book in the series.
Rating: really liked it
I bought this for my daughter, who's a fan of this author, and I decided to read it too. It's a short book, with short chapters, but it's also short on character development. I'm seeing five books in this series, and if they're all this short it should really be 2-3.
Hannah and Liam spend much of the book brooding. Understandable given their recent events, but it bordered on tedious at times. Both POV are featured, and there are also a few chapters from the POV of the guy who kidnapped Hannah.
When we get out of the characters heads and their circling thoughts, the story was improved. I'm always interested in how people would react to a cataclysmic event like this. Not much gets resolved in the end, but I was expecting a cliffhanger going in.
Rating: really liked it
I love the concept. There's just so much going on, and it reminds me of the opening to Walking Dead. This novel sucked me in and I will definitely read the next one. I will say that it's a little wordy sometimes and I don't think she's seen real combat, but the story was very gripping.
Rating: really liked it
Love this Series so far! will be excitedly waiting for the new Audiobook versions of later books to become available, hopefully soon (fingers crossed!).
Rating: really liked it
Hannah is incredibly strong everything that she has endured up until now makes her superwoman. The fact that she is still a fighter and can’t stop fighting even very last cognitive function giving up is not in her nature.
We met Liam in the prequel and I didn’t think we would see him again if I’m being honest and the fact that we do makes me extremely happy. Because I really enjoyed his character and I felt his inner strength even though I don’t believe he believes he is strong he’s just going day by day until he’s alone again. But I think Hannah and her strength is seeping into him. I know that sounds odd but as the story kept going I kept thinking she’s giving him some of her strength and he needs it because he’s buried down all of that hurt that happened at the very beginning for him. He doesn’t talk about it but it’s in his soul that anguish and grief.
I have to say fucking animals are incredible they can be physically and mentally abused but they know who is there to help and who is there to hurt and Ghost is an amazing dog. His spirit might have been broken but his heart is resilient and we see that throughout the whole book. I can’t wait to keep going.
The narration for this audiobook is fantastic very glad that I picked it up thanks for a wonderful recommendation from my book Bestie.
Rating: really liked it
This is the first full length book in the Edge of Collapse series and continues following Liam Coleman as he tries to make his way home after the events in Chicago, as per the prequel story. The true main character of this book is a young woman called Hannah Sheridan who has almost given up hope. She has been kept prisoner in a basement, by someone she recognized, for nearly five years. The man is a pure sadist and psychopath, who takes great pleasure in making life difficult for Hannah and punishing her physically and mentally for any indiscretion she makes against his strict rules.
She has been beaten down over the years and threats against her son and husband, finally stopped her escape attempts, but she hasn’t given up on finally being found. But, the last few months have seen her losing her focus and her strength of will is waning! In the midst of this current winter, an EMP strike has hit, but she doesn’t know anything about this until the lights in her cell suddenly go off. They have been on constantly for 24 hours, every day of every week, month and year she has been held there. There are no sounds of cars. But the only one she ever used to hear, was when her captor came each week or fortnight.
She is so close to broke, that she can’t try the door to start with, convincing herself that is will still be locked. She knows it has an electronic lock, having seen her captor using it ever time he visits. Eventually she tries the door and is shocked to find it opens. She thinks it might be a trick and cautiously goes up the steps and checks out the home she has been kept under. She is alone, but there is no way she will survive in the vicious weather outside in just her long johns, a t-shirt and a sweater. She has to search for what she may need and do it quickly, before her captor may turn up.
She makes a run for it with the supplies she finds in the house, but she isn’t quite as fit as she had tried to remain during her captivity, her condition making matters much harder than she expected! She has over two hundred miles to travel to get home to her family, over perilous and frozen ground in the worst snow storms the region has ever seen. It will be a struggle and may even be more than she can handle, but at least she will be free. Or so she hopes, because one thing she knows, is that her captor will not willingly let her go. He will be coming after her as soon as he finds out she is gone!
Liam is on his way through the forests, making his way back home, avoiding any major towns or cities on his route, knowing that they will be dangerous. He comes across a terrified Hannah, but is pushed away from her fear, as she can’t or won’t trust another man after what has happened to her. She is on her last legs and is nearly frozen and at the last of his strength. Liam continues, but has the voice of his sister-in-law poking at his conscience, telling him to stop and help her, something he has promised himself he won’t do. He has a choice to make and Hannah’s very survival may depend on it.
A determined psychopath is on Hannah’s tracks. He knows where she wants to go and even if he doesn’t know about Liam’s presence, nothing is going to stop him getting back what he considers is his! He has years of experience out in the wilds and the cold is nothing new to him. He has the gear and the weaponry to take her down, either from a distance or from close up. He will make her suffer for escaping, before he finally does what he should have done years ago, which is to put an end to her and her link to him. It is far too dangerous to let her go. All of their journeys will take them close to civilization and others who realise there is no law and order and are out to take advantage of it for themselves.
The old adage of power hungry people who are desperate enough to do what they want, as they have weapons of a sort and the numbers to overpower those weaker or more timid than themselves. Society is rapidly falling into disarray and life is now dangerous everywhere. Nowhere and no-one is safe anymore. A great start to the series, but the prequel, Chaos Rising, is definitely preferred reading, before starting the series. It tells you so much about Liam and the reasons he behaves as he does. A great character and Hannah is no slouch, she has such determination to survive, what would have killed many others years before! I can’t wait to see what comes in the next books in the series, Edge of Madness and Edge of Darkness. I received an ARC copy of this book from the author and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
