Homeless

by Nicolas Wilson

Humanity has been decimated by a violent new species that nests in any enclosed spaces, and slaughters everything unfortunate enough to come indoors. Mitch is a 'Wall Banger', an explosives expert who 'cracks' buildings, exposing them to air and sunlight to kill these invasive organisms. When a friend of Mitch's asks for help tracking down a murderer, Mitch recruits Cori, a 'Shadow Runner' who races through infested spaces to gather supplies and saleable loot. But this terrifying contagion isn't the only danger, as their world descends into a harrowing marathon against oversupplied militias, murderous gangs, self-righteous survivors, and all-out starvation.

Genres: Horror, Science Fiction, Post Apocalyptic, Survival

167 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 16, 2014

About the author

Nicolas Wilson is a published journalist, graphic novelist, and novelist. He lives in the rainy wastes of Portland, Oregon with his wife, four cats and a dog.

Nic has written several short story collections and novels.Nic's work spans a variety of genres, from political thriller to science fiction and urban fantasy.

For information on Nic's books, and behind-the-scenes looks at his writing, visit nicolaswilson.com.
You can also subscribe to his mailing list, for information on new releases, as they become available. Mailing list subscribers also receive a copy of Dogs of War, an unpublished novella.

Reviews

[Wendy Unsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

**i received a free copy of this title for a non-reciprocal review**

A grim future is described in 'Homeless' where ferocious creatures of unexplained origin infest any enclosed space, so much so that only temporary structures such as tents are safe to live in. Even these must be dismantled each day to prevent the 'blight' from moving in.
Buildings that are already infested often still contain many of the essentials of modern life that were readily available in the days before society was attacked. Only the brave, demolition experts such as main character, Mitch, are able to 'crack, infected buildings, killing the creatures who quickly succumb to the light and reclaiming those prized products from inside.
I was immediately drawn into this nightmare world, intrigued by the struggle for survival against a frightening backdrop of shadowy creatures and marauding gangs of humans who have forgotten about law and order.
Mitch, Cori and Darren are all strong characters in their own ways; I enjoyed their conflicts, understandable insecurities and the loyalties that formed.
The premise of creatures that are so susceptible to light is rather vulnerable to criticism but it didn't bother me. I was willing and able to enjoy the story though I did skim through some of the longer action scenes, not because of any lack of writing skill but because the descriptions of explosives and firearms were not totally my cup of tea.
Throughout the story I was torn; I would have liked to learn more about the creatures but, on the other hand, it felt right that they were left unexplained.

[Loredana (Bookinista08) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was actually taken by surprise by this book, in a good way! It was very different from the kind of books that I normally read, but it was a welcome change of scenery.

I won't bother with a short description of the book because you already have it on all major sites that sell books. What I do feel the need to mention, though, is the fact that I loved how the author made me feel. I was intrigued at first because, c'mon, who can say no to finding out more about those creepy creatures that infested the world?! Then I was captivated by the fast pace that the novel was going at, and I must say I really appreciated all the details about fire arms and bombs and whatnot. I like it when an author takes his research seriously! After that, I simply just wanted to know how the story would end, because I have to admit there were some well-thought cliffhangers that made me fear for the characters.

OK, so even if I liked the book and enjoyed reading it and I DO recommend it, why did I only give it 3 stars? For one simple flaw. Okay, maybe two. :D When the time comes and the creatures are depicted, I REALLY HATED the way the author brushed it over. I wanted more, I wanted to see more, to learn more, to hear more. That's the whole magic of the book! But no, that part seriously disappointed me. As well as the fact that the plot is centred on humans fighting against humans and not against those mysterious invaders. So, there you have it, I was expecting some sort of fantasy novel, and instead what I got was harsh reality, albeit an alternate one.

P.S. I think it's a series, right? The ending is as open as any ending can get. :))

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Homeless reminded me in a lot of ways of the first season of The Walking Dead. It was fast-paced; all of my attention was focused on, "What's next? What's next?" On the positive side, this made Homeless a fun, quick read. On the less positive side, it made it easy to overlook plot holes and inconsistencies which, after I finished reading the book, really bothered me.

The essential premise of Homeless seems to be that people have lost their homes because those homes have been infested by "something"; the "something" is not explained, and the few descriptions of it seem to be contradictory, as prior reviewer Ed Morawski has indicated. Apparently, the "something" spontaneously appears in places which have remained absent of sunlight for too long: not only houses, but also car trunks and even forests and other heavily shadowed places:

"Still keeping your goods in the trunk?" he asks.
"Safest place," I tell him.
"Funny choice of words."
"So long as I open it up once a day, nothing grows in there."

Humans now use tents for shelter, but, as would be expected given the synopsis thus far, even the tents have to be taken down each day and put back up at night so that they, too, do not become infested. Mitch, the main character, is walking in the "night air" when he has this conversation with an old man trying to raise his tent:

[I]t isn't safe inside, no matter how bright it is outside. . . . [Y]ou have to take down the tents, every day, or they get infected, too. And the cars, too, unless you got a moon roof."

So far, so good. However, the bulk of the book is then spent with the protagonist trying to save a colony of survivors, whose home is described like this:

It's dotted with more than a dozen pentagonal hub tents zipped together to form intricate snowflake patterns. The majority are from the same brand, lending the entire camp the look of a space colony.

Given this description, it's hard to believe that all of the tents are taken down every day, and, in fact, nothing in the subsequent text suggests that these tents are ever taken down. And if car trunks can become infested if not opened to sunlight at least once a day, why aren't large storage boxes, such as those Mitch later finds filled with weapons, also infested after having been closed for months? More importantly, if a car trunk can become infested so rapidly, why aren't all of the tents infested every night?

I also agree with Morawski that the dialogue is hard to explain. The book suggests that civilization has reverted to that of the Old West (with postal "expressmen" on horseback substituting for the Pony Express); even so, why would everyone suddenly start to speak that way, too? It's not as though eons have passed and the characters in the book weren't alive, and educated, in the twenty-first century. Perhaps this was meant to evoke the hybrid language used on the TV series Firefly (which does seem to be a major influence, even to the extent that, as in that series, men at the top of the socio-economic ladder describe prostitution as "honest work"), but the passage of time explained the development of Firefly's speech.

As I said initially, none of these issues prevented me from enjoying Homeless as I was reading it, and I might well read future books about Mitch's adventures if Wilson writes a series around him. However, I would not recommend this book to those who like their horror/science fiction/dystopia to make logical sense.

I received a free copy of Homeless through Read It & Reap in exchange for an honest review.

[Puddlyduck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Homeless is an imaginative dystopian with a premise that feels new and clever.
In a world where your own home has become a death trap, overrun with shadowy creatures that literally tear you limb from limb, people are forced to live in tents and eke out a living from the land. Sometimes, when people are desperate for the supplies and amenities left untouched in these abandoned buildings, 'wall bangers' (explosive experts) are called in to crack them open and expose them the creatures to the deadly sunlight.

This is where Mitch comes in.

At first he's presented as more apathetic in nature - you'll see what I mean reading his inner thoughts during the first scene - he is actually heroic and caring in nature. The risks he is wiling to take for his friends and complete strangers transform him from a main character I wasn't sure I wanted to read more about, to one of my favourites. Maybe he was having a particularly bad day?!

Mitch's relationship with Cori (a young 'Shadow Runner' who sprints through buildings picking up supplies) is one of the reasons I enjoyed Homeless so much. The banter between them was fun to read about and and the way their distrust grew into a more familial bond was heartwarming. It's nice to find a dystopian where the male and female main characters don't automatically fall into bed together! While this book stand well on it's own, this is one partnership I'd love to read more of.

What can I say about the 'monsters' of this book. Initially I loved the way that they weren't fully explained - leaving the details up to the reader only makes them scarier right? (Truth be told, I kept imagining them as the scary little Tooth Fairies from the Hellboy film - all tiny daggered teeth and unstoppable hunger!) Unfortunately when Mitch encounters them towards the end of the book, it seems rushed. There is some description, but not enough for my liking. It was a shame they weren't focused on more, but the infestation fell victim to the onward rush towards the ending.

All in all, I enjoyed this fresh furrow into the genre of dystopian fantasy/horror, and I'd definitely pick up a sequel, should there be one!

Disclaimer: I received a free no-strings-attached copy of this book from netgalley and Victory Editing

[M.A. Robbins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy for a fair review. I won't re-tell the plot as other reviewers have already done so.

Homeless is a great read by a fine storyteller. It starts out at a moderate pace and the necessary backstory is weaved in digestible portions that don't unnecessarily slow down the story.

I dislike stories with endless description and little action. I didn't find that in Homeless. I think Nicolas's pacing was perfect and his world building thorough enough to spark the imagination without getting in the way of the action.

Where the story really excels is in the voice and characterization. He emphasized the main characters well and made each unique in terms of their mannerisms and perspective.

Three things I didn't like:

1. The first person, present tense point of view (POV). The first person wasn't so bad, but the present tense threw me off every time I started reading, until about halfway through the book when I became used to it. I suppose if I read a lot of YA that's often written in that viewpoint, it wouldn't have been an issue.

2. POV breaks. The book was written in Mitchell's viewpoint, yet he often expressed how others felt without them saying so. It wasn't so obtrusive that it ruined the story, but it did pull me out of it several times.

3. Mitchell's character arc. I didn't see Mitchell change too much from the beginning to the end. In fact, Cori seemed to change more than Mitchell.

Bottom Line: A great book. I'll be downloading more of Nicolas's work to my Kindle based upon my reading experience with Homeless. A definite recommendation.

[Amanda M. Lyons · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're a horror fan you've read plenty of zombie apocalypse novels and you might figure you've gotten a look at every angle of that idea and just about every good post-apocalyptic idea with it. Read it, watched it and don't think you want another. Well what If I told you were wrong?

In Homeless the plague isn't something as simple as hordes of the undead and it's quite a bit more costly to the population. Imagine if all of your houses, your shed, your car even a tent that had been left up too long could be overrun at any minute with terrible unknowable things, wraiths or ghost that rip and rend at will. Imagine they prevent you from getting so many of the required tools for survival, food, water, guns, everything that could keep you alive and things are getting desperate.

The idea's just strange enough to work and Wilson manages to sell both the world and it's protagonists to you in short order. I don't want to spoil much more of the story, suffice to say I enjoyed it quite a bit and I hope to see more from him in the future. Highly recommended!

[Ayush Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise is fantastic. The story itself is pretty decent. The writing and dialogue, eh.

[Jake Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I was fortunate enough to receive an Advanced Reading Copy of "Homeless." I wasn't particularly fond of the first half of the novel. However, the second half of the novel blew me away and left me wanting more. Below is my review.)

Homeless is a plot-driven tale about Mitchell, a Wallbanger, Cori, a Shadow Runner, and Darren, an Expressman.

At first I was nonplussed by the endless skullduggery, backstabbing, double-dealing, innuendos, indecipherable colloquialisms, and doublespeak. The initial braggadocio and pissing contests were annoying. Villains were lone, pitiful thugs and witnessing their comeuppance was unsatisfying. One ruse followed swiftly after the next, such as when one character considered “I wonder if maybe she knows I drove here, that it’s all a con to get the keys and my car’s location, then shoot me down.”

It also took me awhile to get past the present-tense, first-person narration that describes everyone’s emotions and motives almost in an omniscient voice. Sometimes the narrator expressed the sentiments of multiple people in just one or two paragraphs, which confused me:

“It should ease me off edge that she seems chattier than she was, but her liking my ride only increases the likelihood of her shooting me for it. So I’m grateful when Darren rides out from behind a few trees. ‘Runner, he says, tipping his hat to her.

“’Postman,’ she says, full of none of the usual reverence. He don’t show it, but it makes him like her a little more.”

Plot-wise, the narrator first demonstrates the fine art of “building-cracking” and then goes off in search of an Expressman’s killer. There seemed to be a lot of telling and not much showing, and like I said earlier, the endless stream of bravado, bluffs, standoffs, arguments and counterarguments didn’t seem to go anywhere. However, about halfway through its length, the novel goes from mostly dense dialogue to mostly action.

The action scenes are where the novel shines.

The heroism of the trio—Mitch, Cori and Darren—became more clearly defined about halfway through the novel when they came in contact with desperate raiders and powerful militias. Mitch and Cori in particular developed into true kick-ass heroes in an exhilarating plot where the stakes were constantly raised.

For me, the plot began to build momentum when a character named Bill was held hostage by raiders:

“I know one of the thugs fires a shot at me from his feet, only vaguely pointing a pistol in my direction. Dirt erupts from a spot close enough I’m hit in the cheek by a clump with grass sticking out of it. I ignore the one shooting, and exhale as I pull the trigger…”

At that point, when the hero is forced to take on a group of raiders and defend a peaceful camp, the plot stretches its legs and goes from a slow trot to a reckless, breathtaking gallop. One thing leads to another and the heroes find themselves out of the frying pan and into the fire as their enemies become more and more formidable.

There are enough rifles, pipe-bombs, pistols and landmines to keep the shoot-outs and explosions coming in a steady stream. Shock and awe flashbangs give way to deadly phosphorous grenades as the stakes continue to rise, forcing the Wallbanging hero to become a Runner.

Fighting against bandits and militias is harrowing, but “running” is far more terrifying:

“There’s movement in the dark, writhing… I feel warmth on my neck… I swear I can smell their stench, too… I stop two-thirds of the way towards freedom. I see it, extending down from the ceiling, standing on it, almost, the same as I’m standing on the floor. Its limbs are blades, and it has more of them than I have hairs on my head, all moving, probing at the air and swiping at me… Its claws whip at the air, one moment sharp and hard, the next leathery and deadly as a cat of nine tails…”

In the novel’s apocalyptic plot, buildings are haunted by frightful creatures that have blades for limbs. Because of this, all of mankind is forced to live outdoors. Wallbangers—or Crackers—are like exorcists, the only difference being that they use C4 and dynamite instead of prayers and hocus-pocus. Once a building is “cracked open” the monstrous creatures within die within 24 to 48 hours from exposure to fresh air and sunlight. If a building cannot be cracked, Runners are used to literally run through the building and retrieve supplies, all the while dodging the razor-sharp limbs of the deadly apparitions haunting the building’s interior.

“Homeless” is a very satisfying read, especially its second-half. It’s a survivalist tale with a dystopian Mad-Max vibe. The engaging soldier-of-fortune styled plot is enhanced with a slight dash of supernatural horror. It’s an intelligent read, and by its end you’ll have learned about M60s, claymores, nitrogen narcosis and more. My only disappointment is that the large-scale action scenes didn’t begin sooner.

[Karen Siddall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A frightening unseen infestation of deadly creatures has invaded the world. Sweeping across the country from the east coast, the “blight” takes over enclosed places – homes, businesses, even tents, and vehicles left closed – and violently destroy any humans that come close enough. Society has collapsed as people have been forced out into the open spaces – abandoning the built environment to the blight – for exposure to the elements, not only of the weather and temperature but of the worst of what remains of humanity.

The creatures die if exposed to sunlight and the open air so a new occupation has arisen: “wall-bangers” or “crackers.” These new entrepreneurs know about the making and setting of explosives to “crack” open infested buildings to make the accessible once again to humans when the blight infestation inside dies. The local populace can then raid the contents of the cracked building for essential items or those that can be used to trade for essentials.

The only other way to obtain these goods is to coax a “runner” to race through the infested building, retrieve the needed treasures, and hopefully, escape with their life. A dangerous occupation, few runners survive their first or second attempts.

A third occupation linking the settlements of society’s survivors are the expressmen. Similar to the postal service, the expressmen travel the devastation between the colonies of survivors with letters and requests for runners and wall-bangers.

The story follows the interactions of a wall-banger, a runner, and an expressman, and the different colonies they encounter in their part of the Pacific Northwest: the remnants of a college town, bandits, and an urban militia that has taken over an abandoned military base which happens to have a stockpile of much needed artillery and ammunition.

I thought the author’s take on the cause of society’s apocalyptic collapse – the infestation of the blight – unique and terrifying. We only get hints of what the creatures are like until the near end when a quick, horrifying description is given when the wall-banger, Mitch, has a near fatal face-to-face. I think the “not knowing” really gave the story a suspenseful edge.

The characters backstories are sketchy at best and also lends something of an unknown quality to them and to the realism of the situation and their encounters with other groups. The book builds from a horror story to the suspense of a real thriller and ends in such a way as to leave room for sequels.

I recommend this story to anyone that likes post-apocalyptic tales. Explicit sexual references might offend some and would remove this from the young adult genre. A little time spent with an editor fine-tuning some spelling, word choices, and punctuation would really polish the final product.

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://bookbloke.weebly.com

Homeless by Nicolas Wilson, a dystopian novel named so because of the sinister and mysterious creatures which infest homes and other dark, enclosed spaces making them inhospitable. A story of survival, of societies struggle to survive in a world where normal everyday essentials and luxuries do not exist or are hard to obtain.

In this new society a number of occupations have appeared, wall bangers and shadow runners are two examples. Professionals who have the skills to retrieve the everyday essentials, required for survival, protection and to bring some sense of normality back to survivors. Both these professions use very different techniques, wall bangers opt for the more destructive form, cracking open buildings, exposing the creatures to light, in turn killing them. Shadow runners tend to be more athletic, faster and fitter, sprinting through the buildings which are infested, gathering supplies as they do. The more risky of the two, very few shadow runners exist.

I really enjoyed a post-apocalyptic setting which didn’t involve zombies or the usual epidemic but I do feel that the creatures, which I thought were going to be the main threat within the story were more of a background thing, they seemed to me more of an inconvenience than a threat. Details about the creatures were very rushed, the reader learns very little of the creatures and their origins. The main perils within the book are typical of a society governed by nothing more than spoken deals and rules. Humans who prey on the weak, hounding and raiding settlements are a far greater menace to the survivors.

Mitch is the main protagonist within the book, an individual who, to begin with, seems only concerned for his own survival, but as the story unfolds Mitch is actually a very caring individual who will go to extremes to save those he cares about. A hunt for a killer leads Mitch, a wall banger, into an encounter that could have been life threatening had it not been for the shadow runner Cori. To begin with both are sceptical of each other’s motives and there is very little trust or friendship. As the story progresses a friendship blossoms and the dialogue between the two is cheering. With their set of skills both of them must find a way to help a small settlement against the threat of raiders and militia.

A well written, enjoyable, action packed and fast paced read. The author’s attention to detail and knowledge of weapons and explosives made the story all the more interesting. Homeless is a great dystopian novel that I would recommend to fans of post-apocalyptic stories.

[Rubin Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Homeless by Nicolas Wilson
Wall-banging Adventure in a Blighted World

The novel, Homeless, is a fast moving romp through a near-future dystopia. It seems civilization has been overwhelmed by a blight of creatures that infest all indoor structures. The author, Nicolas Wilson, has created several strong likeable characters in what could easily be a pilot for a television action series.

The main protagonist is an honorable selfless hero, Mitch, who has transformed himself into a wall-banger. A wall-banger or cracker blows up buildings, carefully, so as to destroy the blight but still make it possible to fetch the valuables that have been left inside. The other two characters are an Expressman and a runner. Expressmen are valued because they are the mailmen of the day, ferrying messages across the land, finding folks who have no known addresses. Runners are those who engage in the high risk activity of rushing into blight-infested buildings to snatch up valuables.

The three end up working together, helping those trying to re-establish community, and ruthlessly righting wrongs. There is violence a plenty in their journeying up and down I-5 in the northwest on basically empty roads. The extent of civilization's collapse is unclear. There doesn't seem to be much infrastructure for electronic communication, electricity, or any kind of municipal, state, or federal government but there might be state-wide athletic competitions. Exactly how long the blight has descended upon the world is also unclear but the impact has been severe. Several people are shown engaging in clearly suicidal activities as if life is no longer worth living. Others are trying hard to help others reclaim their humanity and civilness.

The plot moves. There are good guys and bad guys. Fortunately, the good guys tend to be smarter than the bad guys but the outcome of the various engagements is not quite predictable. Why the good guys are good, and why the bad guys are bad doesn't seem to be the focus of the story, nor does it get in the way of the story.

Some dystopian tales are attempts to draw attention to real-world problems that could lead to depicted dystopia-like condition. This novel doesn't seem to be that. The dystopia is used as an interesting environment for the heroes to try to do good.

I liked the story and the characters. It might be nice to know more about their backgrounds and motivations but maybe that will be in a sequel.


[note: I received a free copy of this work in return for an honest review.]

[Carina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

The copy of the book that I was sent was an ARC so the very few grammatical errors or strange sentence structures will hopefully have disappeared from the final version. However it was these errors and the amount of suspended disbelief this book required that made me rate this three stars rather than four.

Now, I know very little about the geography of the US, so if what I am about to say is wrong please let me know - but I find it amazing that our two leads could just happen across the pony expressman as many times as they did in so many locations. When I read the book the distances covered seemed quite large and thus the idea of these people crossing paths as easily as they do seemed to me to be the same as finding a needle in a haystack. If it had happened once or twice in a short time frame I could understand it (i.e. the meetings prior to the runner being found happened very close together in a small geographic area). I do not mind suspending disbelief but this kind of went beyond where I normally go.

That said, I really enjoyed this. The characters were pretty well rounded, the relationship between Mitch and Cori feels naturally developed, the way people act faced with this unknown 'thing' feels natural - I really liked the opening chapter with the old man as it sets the scene so well and gives us a lot of back story in a way that doesn't feel overwhelming.

The creatures/gloom/darkness or whatever they are called were interesting - I think it was a great decision by the author not to focus on them and have the main villains to be human. The scene in which Mitch confronts the 'thing' was nice but I think it would have been better if it had not been described - perhaps rather than seeing it he could have sensed it was there or something. I always think that something you know is there but cannot see is much scarier than something you do see.

An awful lot happens in this book considering the size of it, but it works - it makes you feel you have joined in on an a part of Mitch's life - granted one that is perhaps more busy than normal, but still somewhat par for the course. I do wonder if it is setting up for a sequel, and if it is I wouldn't mind reading it as this book is self contained enough for it not to feel like you *have* to read on.

I wouldn't mind reading this again - especially with a non-arc copy to see if the grammar issues are resolved (if they are this would definitely get a higher rating from me).

[Ed Morawski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Homeless is probably one of the best titled novels ever. The intriguing premise is that everyone on earth is homeless because of the deadly 'blight' living in their homes. It started out for me with a bang, wonderfully written and emotional engaging. Unfortunately it was all downhill from there.

First, there's the dialogue, oh the dialogue. To paraphrase: "I reckon if you're of a mind we should ponder the situation..." It sounds more like 1814 than 2014 in the Pacific Northwest - an area where the people are more likely to speak "Hey dude". This gets old very quickly. We're supposed to be in the near future not the old west. Then the author twists the sentences into Mobius strips of incomprehensible jabber that you have to read a few times before you can understand it. Example: He holds up his hands and yells, "Wait!" as I think it. To make matters worse he occasionally decides to jam two different people speaking into the same sentence.

The main character Mitch is called a 'Wall-banger' - but later explains he 'cracks' open the roof to get rid of the 'Shadows' or is it the 'blight'? Gee I don't know even after reading the very, very short novel of only 147 pages. You barely get started before it's over. And I suspect the reason is it just doesn't have any place to go.

All that is relatively minor compared to the biggest disappointment, the whole reason for the novel: the 'things' inside the houses. First they are called 'blight' which suggests some microscopic infection. Then they are called 'Shadows' which are far scarier. But they are never explained and barely described. And again I suspect this is because once examined the whole premise of these 'things' falls apart. They are small enough to live in any enclosed space and die once exposed to sunlight, but large enough to kill a person instantly with 'blades' like feathers or something???? The physical aspects just don't add up.

Okay, I get it that not describing them or explaining where they came from makes it mysterious, but come on, just like the zombies on a certain TV show that in the real world would be ridiculously easy to kill or evade, why doesn't someone just shine a bright spotlight the color temperature of the sun inside the buildings and kill them all? Duh.

In the end the creatures are just an excuse for a boringly routine shoot 'em up short story. I was really disappointed but I'll give it three stars for an original concept even if it didn't go anywhere.

[Joe Hempel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise behind Homeless is pretty intriguing and it sounds like a great setup for some terrifying interactions. These creatures nest inside in dark places and kill anyone they come into contact with, so the people have been pushed out doors, being forced to deal with the elements and each other with no place to hide.

Each person sort of has their station in life, the wall-bangers are able to go and crack open a building, erraditcating the creatures so that they are safe to be looted for supplies. The shadow runners go in and are incredibly fast able to out-maneuver the creatures. This book centers around a wall-banger and a shadow-runner.

The premise like I said was one of originality and is what drew me into wanting to read this tale. The problem is that the book is really too short. It’s not that I was left wanting more at the end as far as the story goes, but I wanted more explanation and detail in the world. I wanted to know more about the creatures and I wanted to know what happened before the creatures came, why they were there, etc.

There is so much that could have been capitalized on in this, that I felt that there was too much missing to make this an engaging read.

One of my biggest complaints is the dialogue. It seemed that all of America (or, this little slice of it anyway) seemed to regress into language of the 1800′s old west. It was hard to grasp there. Also the whole thing about the tents were only sort of explained. They have to be taken down and set back up so that the creatures can’t find a place to nest during the day, but what happens during the night? Do they just not come out and hunt when it’s night time and there is no sunlight?

The characters themselves weren’t that bad, and the action in the book was well described and you could easily feel the tension surrounding the characters, so that is what really propelled me forward in finishing this.

It’s only 147 pages, so it needed something for the reader to grasp. The characters did that.

The Bottom Line: Until the world gets fleshed out some more, I can’t really recommend the book. It’s just not as fleshed out as it needs to be and I feel the reader is missing a lot of what makes the world so horrific. It’s not poorly written, but there is so much more that could have happened here. I may be plagued with the fact that I wanted more, or expected something different than what I got, but the world for this one is a tough sell for me.

[Ravencrantz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy from Shut Up & Read's Read it and Reap program in exchange for an honest review

Somewhere in the near future, these creatures start taking over dark recesses of the world. Your houses, cars, any building, even tents are no longer safe if you don't expose them to light at least once a day. These creatures feed on humans. Personally, I like to think of them as similar to the Vastha Nerada from Doctor Who, although other than hiding in shadows and feasting on humans, they really are nothing alike. Had I been given a better description of these things, perhaps my mind wouldn't have wandered into the Whoverse for answers. All we know is they live in the shadows, they have razor-like limbs (claws??) that will tear you to bits, and the vibe I got was they were somewhat bug-like. The didn't even get a name. Needless to say, I was slightly disappointed. I wanted to know so much more about these little creepy crawlies. Where'd they come from? Do they only feed on humans? How do they just appear in places, such as the trunk of a car? I guess I was hoping for the story to focus more on the shadow creatures than the people. Oh well.

you want to know how I know I've been reading too much YA recently? When a lovely female character was introduced as our male characters sidekick, I was so happy she was a lesbian because NO FORCED ROMANCE HUZZAH. Nevermind a lesbian character who is treated as a real person and who acts like a real person. Nope. I mean, that was great, but my first thought was thank god the author isn't going to force her on our hero. Not to mention he was old enough to be her father. But yes, characterization was actually quite nice. They acted as real people and not just flat unemotional words on a page. Relationships were built in a realistic way, and I didn't hate anyone. I didn't really love anyone either, but that's okay.

It was a good read, and a very interesting concept, I just think it was missing something. We follow the heros around the west coast trying to help a settlement camp from a bunch of militia type groups that have formed in the chaos. In this sense, I was reminded of NBC's Revolution. I think that's what kept bugging me. That it reminded me of so many other things and didn't really speak for itself.

[Laura of Lurking · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of Homeless from the author in return for a fair review.

This novel is set in a post apocalyptic world of monsters with a fair amount of fighting over resources, but at its heart it is about the adaptability of humans and the desire to help.

Early on in the novel we are introduced to the scenario happening in this world, buildings have become habitats for monsters, presumably alien, leaving people trying to survive in tents. Overall this was done well, leaving the reader able to follow along, but also retaining a strong edge of mystery. There were some issues, such as where these creatures could or could not live though that were not answered and left me frustrated.

The few encounters with the monsters had a fantastic old cinematic feel to them, you didn't really see them, it was more sense, smell, touch, a flitting shadow. I felt very skillfully done and a nice reprieve from novels that try to do cgi using words.

Homeless is written in the first person, through the eyes of a "wall-banger" called Mitch. At first I had trouble getting into it, I think because the author has made a strange choice of making the POV's voice weak and forgettable. It is when random members of the cast pop up, and there is usually at least one there, that that character adds colour and fills in the gaps. Some of these are stronger than others, I particularly took to a young woman who really shone and wasn't afraid to state it how it is.

The descriptions of wall-banging, or cracking open buildings to dispose of the monsters was really interesting, interspersed with fighting. The fighting however, in the last quarter of the book in particular, got too heavy and repetitive, concentrating more of what was being done than what was being felt. This irritated me at times and made me want to put it down for a break. In the end though I feel the book redeemed itself and was left open for a sequel.

[J.C. Andrijeski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this. The world was fascinating, and one of the more original versions of a dystopian USA that I've ever read. I don't want to give too much away, but the sheer level of detail in creating "Runners" and "Breakers" as new professions that would come out of the realities of this world, the fact that the buildings and uninhabitable (and why!!) I thought was completely brilliant. The military background, details on guns, the skill sets displayed with munitions...it all totally worked for me and made the entire world believable, even though I still have HUGE questions about the actual start of this epidemic and how that would have unfolded, (in fact I really hope he is going to write more in this world, because I would love to have these questions answered).

The characters really made it though - I pretty much loved all of them, and found them really well done. The helicopter mom who now runs a colony of survivors was a nice touch (ha), and the two main characters were great and had amazing chemistry together, too.

Like I said, just hoping he writes more in this world...would love to see more adventures with these characters!

My only complaint was that I picked this up when I was really busy and couldn't put the danged thing down until I'd finished it. Not exactly a "complaint" if you know what I mean. : )

[Emma Jaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Homeless is a well written tale about a future in which monsters infest any building or even-semi permanent structure, and life has degenerated, almost overnight to tent living for the survivors. The speed of the disaster leads to building still full of useful products which people need. Hence the main characters expertise of being a demolition expert, highly sought after. He roams around, ‘cracking’ buildings to expose the monsters to light, which kills them, so people can get to the needed canned goods etc.
As in any post-apocalyptic world, there are always baddies trying to steal from the ‘nice’ people. I didn’t have any trouble with the pacing of the book, in fact for me, I enjoyed the slightly slower pace at the beginning as you get to know the world and the characters. It was more than necessary to be able to fall face first into the fast paced action of the second part of the book.
The only criticism I have is the first person narrative, I’d like to have known a little more about the emotions and perspectives of other characters, for example I didn’t realise ‘Mitch’ was an older man till later in the book.
Apart from that, a thoroughly engrossing read, with scope for a sequel.

[S.L. Figuhr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author for his generosity.

An engaging premise and a fun read, I was immediately sucked into the story and didn't want to stop reading.

Mr. Wilson has created a future Earth where killer organism's hide in buildings and other enclosed spaces, waiting to devour any who cross their path. The backstory is skillfully woven in so that we are able to understand how this menace started, and what it has done to those who manage to survive, without dragging the pacing of the story down.

The characters are engaging, and the job titles and descriptions of people in this new world creative. Ultimately, the story is driven by the struggles of the humans; both in trying to survive against the organisms, and other humans.

I felt the focus on human nature, and how everyone reacts was well done. It is more than just good vs. evil, or right vs. wrong, but people who are complex individual's. They sometimes struggle to be good and decent people when it can and often is all too easy to become a 'human monster.'

I look forward to reading more of Mr. Wilson's work.

[Jada Ryker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Home is NOT Where the Heart is…

"It's a new world we're living in, one where we make the rules as we go along. And we can either forge a world where the needy find help, or one where the bastards have made us all so cynical we let our neighbors freeze to death for want of a moment's kindness."

It starts with a skittering sound in the attic. The sound can be dismissed, attributed to little rodent feet scurrying through the rafters. Then an insistent buzz, like insect wings, fills the air. Next, blood is leaking, bleeding out, with a loss of pressure. Call the police. But there's no answer. And then the screaming fills the air, from houses all around.

Nicolas Wilson, author of the humorous Bankster and the dark fantasy thriller Necromancer’s Gambit, demonstrates his imagination and versatility once again with Homeless. This unique murder mystery is set in a post-apocalyptic world. With his mastery of the language and his genius for description, Mr. Wilson spins a terrifying tale.

[Christoph Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Homeless" by Nicolas Wilson is a dark and atmospheric post-apocalyptic thriller set in a frightening and grim world. It is written with powerful imagery, accomplished dialogues and a wonderful sense of mystery. Not everything about the setting is fully explained, which to me added greatly to the suspense of this story.
The premise is excellent: What if you cannot safely inhabit a home or you will be killed? What if enclosed spaces become a breeding ground for the enemy and shalter can only be sought temporarily and under great danger?
A great and deeply intelligent play on the term which in our times is normally associated with such different ideas. Now anyone is out of their homes.
The book is full of action and features characters who roam the infested places for supplies.
I enjoyed this more than I would have expected. I have read previous work by Wilson and bought this book thinking it was about homeless people. I am glad I made that mistake because it resulted in unexpected and enjoyable entertainment.

[Renee Deschamps · Rating 3 out of 5]

Through the program RI & R on Goodreads, I was the chance to read "Homeless" by Nicolas Wilson in exchange for an honest review.

The book started off with an exceptional story of a man and his beloved wife. It was a moving opening, and when Mitch helped the man, it was the hook a great story needed.

Following Mitch on his cracking journey was an adventure in restoring faith in humanity. How one man can shape, and change, the course of destiny for numerous people.

It was a quite good read, I only wish the "shadows" were explained better. I got the glimpses that were intended by Mr. Wilson, but I, personally, prefer to have 95% of the puzzle, to be able to have a functional portrait of these infestations with knives for hands.

All in all, it was a good, quick read. Mr. Wilson has a flair for writing inspirational stories, and he definitely has a long, & successful career ahead of him.

Thank you for the opportunity to read your work.

[Brooke ♥booklife4life♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

** I received a free copy of this in exchange for an honest review **

Title: Homeless
Author: Nicolas Wilson
Format: PDF file
Rating: 3.75
Time to Read: 8 days
Recommend it?: yes, for those who like end of the world books

My Review: The plot behind this was very interesting. I'm not sure how i would do forever having to not be allowed into a enclosed space in fear of getting killed!

The main character, Mitchell, was a relateable character. I was confused on how old he was throughout the book.

Supporting characters, Darren and Cori, were well written and i was hoping for some romance between Mitch and Cori!

Overall a very good book, i was really wanting it to be way longer thou. it has a very promising story :]

[Michael Tankersley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the author for a free book in exchange of an honest review.

This book started a bit slow but found it's rhythm soon enough. I liked this book very well. It is well thought out and is pleasant reading. I find that the main cast is thoroughly presented and the stage is set for an excellent continuing series.

This book is appropriate to all ages and most sci-fi fans will, I believe, find it interesting. What I do find lacking is the hidden antagonist. Not mush about them, what they are, where they came from. I would like to have more info on them.

Overall this is an excellent example of post-apocalyptic story with a new twist to it. I am looking forward to the continuation of this story.

Michael.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast-paced novel (novella?) that explores the real threat to humanity in post-apocalyptic conditions: other humans. In this case creatures have taken over enclosed spaces and breed in shadows everywhere so humans have returned to living under the great big sky. Of course, houses, stores, etc. contain needed supplies that just aren't found in the wild and this leads to strife among various factions and communities who struggle for those supplies.
There isn't much character development, some secondary characters definitely fell flat, but they were quirky and shared just enough about themselves that I wanted to know more. A fun, quick read.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast-paced novel (novella?) that explores the real threat to humanity in post-apocalyptic conditions: other humans. In this case creatures have taken over enclosed spaces and breed in shadows everywhere so humans have returned to living under the great big sky. Of course, houses, stores, etc. contain needed supplies that just aren't found in the wild and this leads to strife among various factions and communities who struggle for those supplies.
There isn't much character development, some secondary characters definitely fell flat, but they were quirky and shared just enough about themselves that I wanted to know more. A fun, quick read.

[Linzi Selby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this book to write a review from the read it and reap group on good reads.
This is not the usual book I go for but it was a great read.
The the first half of the book was alttle slower than I would have liked but soon picked up pace. I thought the characters were well thought out but could have possibly been explored alittle more.
The author did a very good job with the plot and didnt fill the book with too many explanations like some books ive read.
If you like post apocalyptic books its a must!

[Nicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book quite a lot. The plot was something new (to me anyway), I have read 'apocalypse' type novels many times and they can be very similar. I liked all the characters too and would read a follow up, which I'm assuming there will be as the book just sort of stopped suddenly, I couldn't believe it was finished and had to check my reading progress percentage! So apart from the abrupt end and that I would have liked to know more about the the when/why/how of the whole situation I would recommend this book.

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Fast paced and action packed, once I started reading I couldn't stop! Great writing, very descriptive with extremely likeable characters. I liked the unusual monsters, but the story focused more on the characters surviving other people in this story. I wish there had been more found out about what the monsters were and how exactly they came to be. I would recommend this book for anyone in the mood for a wild, post apocalyptic shoot em' up adventure. I received this book for free for my honest review.

[Gail Ofterdinger-Ledgister · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here we have a new twist on the end of the world scenario. An infestation of unknown origin takes over all enclosed spaces, so that folks must now move out in the open and live under tents. Hmmm. The destruction of humanity through mysterious creatures. Well, that's not new. This is, however, a fun read, for those who enjoy survivalist lit. How far would you go and what would you do to stay alive? Would you be part of the problem or try to help others? A book to make you think. My thanks to Goodreads and the author for a complimentary copy.