The Book of Ruin
by W.G Hladky
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
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Pub Date 28 Aug 2018 | Archive Date 26 Dec 2018
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Description
The sun turns volatile, battering earth with endless solar storms.
The world spirals into a Second Dark Age.
Descendants of American soldiers trapped in Germania defend the last two NATO city-states.
NATO’s castle command sends Senior Chief Loveboy Weir and his team of rangers to investigate mysterious raiders called the Vucari, who suddenly appeared on the rimland.
Traveling in anti-gravity vessels, they visit the beautiful city-state of New Reykjavik and mountains where Kazaks use giant eagles to hunt enemies.
The rangers also journey to the City of Ghost that spews poison and to a floating monastery where monks protect the Book of Ruin.
They eventually encounter Vladimir the Resurrected, the Vucari warrior prince, who claims to want peace but decimates any population that resists him.
Weir struggles to convince NATO not to trust Vladimir. While politicians and the clergy make backroom deals to appease Vladimir, Weir prepares for a war he fears is coming…
Featured Reviews
Anthony P, Reviewer
One of those hard to put down books. It takes place in the future after a world changing solar event. Fast paced novel with a well thought out plot. I enjoyed book.
Martha E, Reviewer
Years ago the world was plunged back into a dark age after solar storms and wars destroyed the ‘enlightened’ society. Rather than rebuild in unity, society again divides with religious factions and territorial countries. A mysterious and brutal force, disclosed as the Vucari, are making a move to capture the surrounding nations of Germania, where the descendants of American soldiers have survived.
I am glad I pressed beyond the first 10% of the book to where the political posturing, intrigue, and battle activities take precedence. I became invested with the integrity and dedication of the primary characters of Senior Chief Weir and his associates. They have to overcome the obstacles of corrupt and incompetent superiors in their own governing and military branches while preparing to face a new enemy which is greater in numbers and dark evil.The individual honor and self sacrifice of the protagonist soldiers had me rooting for them to prevail.
There are internal intrigues, battles with leadership strategy and plenty of (mostly gritty) action that kept my attention. The enemy is gruesome, drinking blood, torturing victims and more gruesome perversions. Definitely “Ugh” but well developed and interesting. I was glad of the unusual allies that stepped up to face the enemy.
I'm glad I pushed on to read this post-apocalyptic story full of action and intrigue. I had trouble getting into this because the beginning is full of “locker room” sexual content – a lot of who is married to whom (heterosexual and homosexual), and who is “doing” whom or wants to. This also peppers the remainder of the book but is secondary to the plot by that time. I was fearful initially that I would not be able to keep the multiple characters straight but then the connections became clear as the story moved into a strongly developed, intertwined plot.
The history of the nations and geography were well researched. Some underlying societal and political thoughts and theories are shared through the plot and characters. These were not overly emphasized so the reader can ponder them or just let them be.
My final reaction is that this is a creative, good versus evil, post-apocalyptic society story with engaging characters and intrigue. I just forewarn readers to push past the first 10% to get to the true plot.
Source: NetGalley 2018.
