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kandi_of_the_future's review against another edition
3.0
I'm a big fan of apocalyptic fiction. This one was a fast read and a little different twist on the premise with the red rain. It did feel more like part one of a book and not a stand alone book but all in all it's an easy read and generally an enjoyable read.
That said, like others I struggled with the Emily's adamant insistence that she would be traveling to safety in Alaska by bicycle. From NYC to Alaska!! On a bike! As a Midwesterner born and bred I struggle to believe that our Iowa-born heroine never learned how to drive, especially considering her desire to abandon small town America ASAP. But ok, some people don't learn to drive, whatever. Also I was a little perplexed that a reporter had so little common sense at times, about leaving the city and being prepared and scavenging and wondering what happened and did I mention the bike??
That said, like others I struggled with the Emily's adamant insistence that she would be traveling to safety in Alaska by bicycle. From NYC to Alaska!! On a bike! As a Midwesterner born and bred I struggle to believe that our Iowa-born heroine never learned how to drive, especially considering her desire to abandon small town America ASAP. But ok, some people don't learn to drive, whatever. Also I was a little perplexed that a reporter had so little common sense at times, about leaving the city and being prepared and scavenging and wondering what happened and did I mention the bike??
geekwayne's review against another edition
4.0
'Extinction Point' by Paul Antony Jones is the first book in a series, and it's a pretty good one. I tell you that so you understand that the story does not really stand alone in this volume.
Reporter Emily Baxter is a reporter living in New York. Really early on in the book (so you don't think this is a spoiler), a weird weather phenomenom occurs which bathes the earth in red rain. Emily finds herself unaffected as everyone around her succumbs to the effects of the rain. Emily watches the world around her change rapidly. What begins to happen next proves to Emily that the world no longer belongs to humans. Is she truly alone and what will she do to survive?
It moved along rather quickly and I liked the main character well enough. The book ends with her still on her journey, so I'll definitely read the later books in the series.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Amazon Publishing, 47 North, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
Reporter Emily Baxter is a reporter living in New York. Really early on in the book (so you don't think this is a spoiler), a weird weather phenomenom occurs which bathes the earth in red rain. Emily finds herself unaffected as everyone around her succumbs to the effects of the rain. Emily watches the world around her change rapidly. What begins to happen next proves to Emily that the world no longer belongs to humans. Is she truly alone and what will she do to survive?
It moved along rather quickly and I liked the main character well enough. The book ends with her still on her journey, so I'll definitely read the later books in the series.
I received a review copy of this ebook from Amazon Publishing, 47 North, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
foureyesflorez's review against another edition
4.0
Awesome fast read if you like end-of-the-world adventures, and that's what this story — the first in a series — turned out to be. As an aside, I appreciated that the novella was also a love letter to newspaper reporting. Very entertaining and highly readable! Can't wait for the next one to come out in June!
alfsan's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed the book. It is fast moving easy reading adventure that keeps you on the hook. I read many reviews before all saying that they didn't believe the plot, specially of Emily riding a bicycle. I believe the author really justifies not driving in a very simple and logic way , no argument on my side. All I can say without any spoilers is that I am waiting to read book number two. The book was entertaining and I like the fact that it's distributed and sold by an independent author
skylarkochava's review against another edition
3.0
The concept is clever and unique (so far as I know). It was a really good idea. The execution was not so great. The story is even pretty well-written. But the details kill it because it pulls you out of the story over and over again because they don't make intuitive (and often known) sense.
Most of the reviews I have looked at focus on the unrealistic preparations. Two serious continuity issues in the beginning were what told me this book would have problems:
1) One page says she's from Iowa. Another says she's from Kansas. (Why else would she only be calling Kansas government offices?)
2) She is described several times as living in a "studio apartment." Her apartment has "a bedroom" with a door that closes (and later we find out it locks). That is not a studio. That is a one bedroom apartment.
These should have been easy continuity checks, so I had the feeling the other details would have been checked equally "well."
But I have to say that the entire transportation "issue" baffles my mind. In a rural area, she would have learned to drive. She would have. And coming from TN to Manhattan myself, there is no way that anyone would ride a bike in this city without being paid really well to do so. It is seriously risking your life and limbs. Primarily because there are very few bike lanes, which the author seems to always describe her riding in. (And those are also dangerous because of pedestrians and insane bike messengers.) Further, Manhattan is over 13 miles long, and NYC is very large. As a reporter, she HAD to go out of "biking range" pretty regularly. And don't even get me started on the car issue after it all goes bad. That is just dumb and no sane person would make that decision. If she was scared of driving before, I see no reason she could be brave enough to face what she faces and still be afraid of driving. Ugh!
Most of the reviews I have looked at focus on the unrealistic preparations. Two serious continuity issues in the beginning were what told me this book would have problems:
1) One page says she's from Iowa. Another says she's from Kansas. (Why else would she only be calling Kansas government offices?)
2) She is described several times as living in a "studio apartment." Her apartment has "a bedroom" with a door that closes (and later we find out it locks). That is not a studio. That is a one bedroom apartment.
These should have been easy continuity checks, so I had the feeling the other details would have been checked equally "well."
But I have to say that the entire transportation "issue" baffles my mind. In a rural area, she would have learned to drive. She would have. And coming from TN to Manhattan myself, there is no way that anyone would ride a bike in this city without being paid really well to do so. It is seriously risking your life and limbs. Primarily because there are very few bike lanes, which the author seems to always describe her riding in. (And those are also dangerous because of pedestrians and insane bike messengers.) Further, Manhattan is over 13 miles long, and NYC is very large. As a reporter, she HAD to go out of "biking range" pretty regularly. And don't even get me started on the car issue after it all goes bad. That is just dumb and no sane person would make that decision. If she was scared of driving before, I see no reason she could be brave enough to face what she faces and still be afraid of driving. Ugh!
bookrollem's review against another edition
3.0
Though a fun read, the main character's actions were unbelievable much of the time and the plot became so bizarre that it affected my ability to get lost in the narrative.
pixip's review against another edition
4.0
A great start to a series it definitely grabbed me completely. It was a refreshing change to post apocalyptic books. In places it did seem a little cliche and was perhaps a little vague on the background details. felt like we were thrown into it a tiny bit too fast.
Don't get me wrong though I absolutely loved it and managed to read it in a day. I'm really interested to see where this will go next.
Don't get me wrong though I absolutely loved it and managed to read it in a day. I'm really interested to see where this will go next.
sine_qua_non's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
tommy1974's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this book, read it in two days in a couple of sittings. Great apocalypse scifi stuff, good character, good writing style, not too much over detailing, can't wait for part two. Only one thing, anyone cold drive an automatic gearboxed car!
How I review...
1 star - binned it before half way, please don't write anymore!!!
2 stars - finally binned it after really trying, I mean really trying and I hate to not finishing someth....
3 stars - finished it but boy was that hard work on times, it just about hooked me back in as I was about to dump it
4 stars - great book but it lacked something, something, can't put my finger on it but.... something
5 stars - want more, more books, more movies about the books, more movies about the authors and the making of the movie, just more!!!
How I review...
1 star - binned it before half way, please don't write anymore!!!
2 stars - finally binned it after really trying, I mean really trying and I hate to not finishing someth....
3 stars - finished it but boy was that hard work on times, it just about hooked me back in as I was about to dump it
4 stars - great book but it lacked something, something, can't put my finger on it but.... something
5 stars - want more, more books, more movies about the books, more movies about the authors and the making of the movie, just more!!!
lizella's review against another edition
2.0
I am a sucker for post-apocalyptic fiction, if it isn’t already obvious by my book list. I liked the twist on this book – an alien rain kills most of humanity and presumably all other non-plant life. Only one person is left in NYC to see the transformation of earth as this organism reprograms organic matter into strange new things. The description of these new life forms and the landscape they create was really well done.
The part I have a problem with is some of the logic employed by the main character Emily and her epic clumsiness and self-injury in a world where your physical health would be the most important thing to protect. While Emily’s decision-making seemed to be very logic-driven, I couldn’t help thinking of ways that she could have made things easier on herself. (“Get one of those bike trailers so you can easily manage your supplies! You could pack a bunch of food AND camping gear in that thing!” was one of the things that kept running through my head.) Something about the writing style also started to grate on me. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it seemed almost too self-conscious in its inner-monologue tone.
We’ll have to wait in see if I feel the need to read the sequel to find out what these strange new beings have planned for earth and how Emily will survive.
The part I have a problem with is some of the logic employed by the main character Emily and her epic clumsiness and self-injury in a world where your physical health would be the most important thing to protect. While Emily’s decision-making seemed to be very logic-driven, I couldn’t help thinking of ways that she could have made things easier on herself. (“Get one of those bike trailers so you can easily manage your supplies! You could pack a bunch of food AND camping gear in that thing!” was one of the things that kept running through my head.) Something about the writing style also started to grate on me. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it seemed almost too self-conscious in its inner-monologue tone.
We’ll have to wait in see if I feel the need to read the sequel to find out what these strange new beings have planned for earth and how Emily will survive.