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First Wave #1
First Wave
Special Forces veteran Travis Combs just wanted to forget his weary years of leading combat missions while taking an extended rafting trip through the Grand Canyon.
As he and his group complete a 22-day trip on the Colorado River, they find the world has unraveled from a deadly pandemic.
Now, he has to show his small band how to live off the land and cross the rugged Arizona desert, while evading blood-drinking zombies, gangs of cartel bikers, and a rogue government agency.
As he and his group complete a 22-day trip on the Colorado River, they find the world has unraveled from a deadly pandemic.
Now, he has to show his small band how to live off the land and cross the rugged Arizona desert, while evading blood-drinking zombies, gangs of cartel bikers, and a rogue government agency.
198 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 16, 2014
271 people are currently reading
727 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
September 13, 2019
I was quite impressed with the down-to-earth aspects this has. This is not just some zombie-crazed novel, but a story of survival.
Travis is one of many of a rafting group that has been away from civilization for the past 3 weeks but when their pickup does not show up the group soon learns that the world has taken a nasty turn. You can see the summary description for some of what they face.
To be honest, there is not a lot of zombie action in these books. While there are some they are not the main focus. Like I said, this is survival story. While many zombie stories take place in the city, this story hits the deserted lands where mother nature has a few twists of her own to throw in. Travis and company face flash floods, rabid dogs, heat, lack of food and more.
While this in itself may not be new, the practical, harsh reality is. Even without nasty biker gangs or zombies, there are just some lands that have a harsher element to them and Arizona can be one of them.
I loved the survival aspects, honestly it is educational in many ways. Although I hope to never be put to the test of those wilds! While I enjoyed the story so far I am struggling to get into the characters. I felt that I was just starting to get a decent feel for Travis at the very end. Let alone, the others in the group. So I hope the next book has more character development.
Overall, I enjoyed this. It is not a scary, over the top zombie novel. Yes there are zombies but so far they play a minor part. Although from my understanding of the series, I think they might take a more pivotal role later on. So for adventure with a bit of intrigue and zombies tossed in, check this one out! I know I will continue the series.
Travis is one of many of a rafting group that has been away from civilization for the past 3 weeks but when their pickup does not show up the group soon learns that the world has taken a nasty turn. You can see the summary description for some of what they face.
To be honest, there is not a lot of zombie action in these books. While there are some they are not the main focus. Like I said, this is survival story. While many zombie stories take place in the city, this story hits the deserted lands where mother nature has a few twists of her own to throw in. Travis and company face flash floods, rabid dogs, heat, lack of food and more.
While this in itself may not be new, the practical, harsh reality is. Even without nasty biker gangs or zombies, there are just some lands that have a harsher element to them and Arizona can be one of them.
I loved the survival aspects, honestly it is educational in many ways. Although I hope to never be put to the test of those wilds! While I enjoyed the story so far I am struggling to get into the characters. I felt that I was just starting to get a decent feel for Travis at the very end. Let alone, the others in the group. So I hope the next book has more character development.
Overall, I enjoyed this. It is not a scary, over the top zombie novel. Yes there are zombies but so far they play a minor part. Although from my understanding of the series, I think they might take a more pivotal role later on. So for adventure with a bit of intrigue and zombies tossed in, check this one out! I know I will continue the series.
October 21, 2014
A sinister plot hatched by a secretive group in the industrial/military/government complex releases a devastating plague on the unsuspecting world. In days, people grow sick and die. In a horrific twist, the virus somehow reanimates the dead and a wave of the hungry (and fast) dead follow.
Travis Combs, a recently returned veteran from the Middle East, misses all of this. He and a few companions are on a three week river rafting/wilderness survival trip. When they make it to their pick up point they aren't greeted by cold beers and a ride home. There is no one there at all. And once they do make contact with a park ranger, he turns out to be one of the infected dead.
The book is about Travis whipping his companions into shape and making it to some sort of semblance of security. To do so, they overcome zombies, rogue bikers and Mexican drug cartel baddies, and the wilderness itself. Overall, it is pretty good - especially for a self-published author. The survival aspects are nailed. Reading the book I could tell that the author knew his stuff. The group manages to make it by relying on survival skills - deadfall traps, knowledge of local plants and etc. It feels authentic.
Where the book struggles is the larger story. First Wave falls into some of the worst of the genre's cliches. The real enemies are the other survivors - the bikers/cartel dudes. These thugs have come up from Mexico and are wiping out other survivors to build up their power base. Why is not exactly explained, but they are. The reasons really aren't all that important as the story spends far too much time dealing with the fight against the bad guys and not nearly enough with the fight against the undead. Call me old fashioned, but in a zombie survival book I want zombies. Lots of them. Or a few with high tension. Either or.
Other, minor gripes include the lack of real character building. The characters all felt somewhat card board to me. For example, Travis' son is in Denver and he is in Arizona. If it were me, I would be a mess. If I managed to string coherent thoughts together (which I assume Travis as a combat veteran is able to do) I would be bending my every action to reuniting with my family. Through much of the story I forgot he had a kid. Finally, as a matter of taste, I was sorry to miss the outbreak itself. I enjoy reading about the collapse of civilization in Zombie survival horror.
Three brainy stars out of five. I bumped the book up to three because he is self-published. It was a good first effort, with no major typos or errors. Good for my October creepy reads.
Travis Combs, a recently returned veteran from the Middle East, misses all of this. He and a few companions are on a three week river rafting/wilderness survival trip. When they make it to their pick up point they aren't greeted by cold beers and a ride home. There is no one there at all. And once they do make contact with a park ranger, he turns out to be one of the infected dead.
The book is about Travis whipping his companions into shape and making it to some sort of semblance of security. To do so, they overcome zombies, rogue bikers and Mexican drug cartel baddies, and the wilderness itself. Overall, it is pretty good - especially for a self-published author. The survival aspects are nailed. Reading the book I could tell that the author knew his stuff. The group manages to make it by relying on survival skills - deadfall traps, knowledge of local plants and etc. It feels authentic.
Where the book struggles is the larger story. First Wave falls into some of the worst of the genre's cliches. The real enemies are the other survivors - the bikers/cartel dudes. These thugs have come up from Mexico and are wiping out other survivors to build up their power base. Why is not exactly explained, but they are. The reasons really aren't all that important as the story spends far too much time dealing with the fight against the bad guys and not nearly enough with the fight against the undead. Call me old fashioned, but in a zombie survival book I want zombies. Lots of them. Or a few with high tension. Either or.
Other, minor gripes include the lack of real character building. The characters all felt somewhat card board to me. For example, Travis' son is in Denver and he is in Arizona. If it were me, I would be a mess. If I managed to string coherent thoughts together (which I assume Travis as a combat veteran is able to do) I would be bending my every action to reuniting with my family. Through much of the story I forgot he had a kid. Finally, as a matter of taste, I was sorry to miss the outbreak itself. I enjoy reading about the collapse of civilization in Zombie survival horror.
Three brainy stars out of five. I bumped the book up to three because he is self-published. It was a good first effort, with no major typos or errors. Good for my October creepy reads.
June 29, 2017
don't bother. I kept waiting for something interesting to happen or to care about the characters, but no. it was a very abrupt ending too. I will not be continuing the series.
June 10, 2017
Ten days before the start of the deadly pandemic, a friend calls Dr Pearson to tell him to flee with his research and go into hiding. Europe has been contaminated and the scientists are about to be murdered by a shadowy group who want control of the cure vaccine. Dr Pearson flees for Flagstaff and he hopes, to some kind of safety.
Pete is leading a rafting trip down the Colorado River and one of the men on it is Travis, an ex military man looking for some quiet time in the wilderness. There is little hope of that when at one of their camp sites, a river ranger appears and bites two of the group. By morning both of the bitten have turned and the group wonder what is happening. Travis and his fellow rafters are totally unaware that during their trip a pandemic has brought on the zombie apocalypse. At the main road they find the ranger's wife dead, a lot of abandoned vehicles, a town half burned and covered with the shells of spent bullets and old newspapers telling of the zombies. As they rejoin the real world, they will need all of the survival skills that Travis can teach them if they are to live.
Being quickly inserted into a zombie apocalypse is hard for the group to adjust to but their first mass encounter sends them fleeing. There are plenty of exciting events through the book like the cavern escape, the line shack incident, the bikers, the airport trip, and there was also the interest of the general fight to survive without the comforts that they took for granted while trying to avoid the bad guys. There was plenty of tension and action to enjoy along with the inter relationships of the characters.
I really like the characters in this book. Travis is your take charge former military man who now wants a quiet life and to reconnect with his son. He is a survivalist, a natural leader and the ideal man to help them through the apocalypse event. Also in the group are his friend Pete, ER nurse Katy, helicopter pilot LB, school principal Evelyn, antisocial Jim. They quickly meet Evan and his granddaughter Becka who fill them in on what has been happening while they were gone. There are other good characters that they meet throughout the book that I also liked, especially Tom but I'm not saying any more about him as it might spoil the story.
We also have a sub plot which follows the more unsavoury survivors. Nikki is a deadly former military woman with a skill for torture and she is looking for someone who is in Travis' group in the aftermath of the zombies but for what purpose? She is happy to use local bike gangs and drug cartels to control the area for her while she looks for her target, and nobody will stand in her way. She is also determined to wipe out the survival compound put together by the people of Jerome to protect themselves from lawbreakers and zombies. The bikers are taking advantage of the situation to kidnap and rape any women that they find. There are other dangers lurking out there too which Travis and his group are going to discover.
Travis thinks that he is charged with looking after a small group of people but what he finds out during the line shack incident means that he is now going to go on a new mission to stop the zombie virus and those who are looking to do his group harm. There is always something going on in this book, with the plot going in different directions just to keep you interested. And of course there are zombies!
If you like a zombie book with a compelling conspiracy plot, action, great characters and a human story to it all, then you should consider giving this a try. You can get all three novellas in the series in one handy paperback book now.
Pete is leading a rafting trip down the Colorado River and one of the men on it is Travis, an ex military man looking for some quiet time in the wilderness. There is little hope of that when at one of their camp sites, a river ranger appears and bites two of the group. By morning both of the bitten have turned and the group wonder what is happening. Travis and his fellow rafters are totally unaware that during their trip a pandemic has brought on the zombie apocalypse. At the main road they find the ranger's wife dead, a lot of abandoned vehicles, a town half burned and covered with the shells of spent bullets and old newspapers telling of the zombies. As they rejoin the real world, they will need all of the survival skills that Travis can teach them if they are to live.
Being quickly inserted into a zombie apocalypse is hard for the group to adjust to but their first mass encounter sends them fleeing. There are plenty of exciting events through the book like the cavern escape, the line shack incident, the bikers, the airport trip, and there was also the interest of the general fight to survive without the comforts that they took for granted while trying to avoid the bad guys. There was plenty of tension and action to enjoy along with the inter relationships of the characters.
I really like the characters in this book. Travis is your take charge former military man who now wants a quiet life and to reconnect with his son. He is a survivalist, a natural leader and the ideal man to help them through the apocalypse event. Also in the group are his friend Pete, ER nurse Katy, helicopter pilot LB, school principal Evelyn, antisocial Jim. They quickly meet Evan and his granddaughter Becka who fill them in on what has been happening while they were gone. There are other good characters that they meet throughout the book that I also liked, especially Tom but I'm not saying any more about him as it might spoil the story.
We also have a sub plot which follows the more unsavoury survivors. Nikki is a deadly former military woman with a skill for torture and she is looking for someone who is in Travis' group in the aftermath of the zombies but for what purpose? She is happy to use local bike gangs and drug cartels to control the area for her while she looks for her target, and nobody will stand in her way. She is also determined to wipe out the survival compound put together by the people of Jerome to protect themselves from lawbreakers and zombies. The bikers are taking advantage of the situation to kidnap and rape any women that they find. There are other dangers lurking out there too which Travis and his group are going to discover.
Travis thinks that he is charged with looking after a small group of people but what he finds out during the line shack incident means that he is now going to go on a new mission to stop the zombie virus and those who are looking to do his group harm. There is always something going on in this book, with the plot going in different directions just to keep you interested. And of course there are zombies!
If you like a zombie book with a compelling conspiracy plot, action, great characters and a human story to it all, then you should consider giving this a try. You can get all three novellas in the series in one handy paperback book now.
January 13, 2021
He preferred to call them undead, but the early news reports had coined the term for the blood-drinking zombies, reanimated mutants or RAMs.....
In the fast paced narrative that took shape over the first two months of the outbreak, everyone is no longer immune to the Blood Virus that’s as accidentally released with little hope for survival. Few managed to escape the swarms of the big cities, and even fewer were alive to hope for a cure or chance at a normal life again. After coming out on an isolating, twenty some odd day hiking retreat in the a Grand Canyon, survivors would find themselves reiterated into a world that is no longer their own. Travis Combs was thirty four years old, and still getting used to leaving the Marine Corps behind, and hoped with the closing of his adventure to reunite with his son in Denver, and try to make amends for missing so many years of his life. All the milestones, all the birthdays he spent in foreign countries, he knew that’s why his marriage fell apart but prayed his son would recognize the father he wanted to be more than anything else. Along for the ride is married couple Fran and Mark, Evelyn, Katy Anders, Jim, and Pete (the official trip leader). As the group gathered and waited for pickup, they see first hand the starved monsters that became from people, as Fran and Mark were savagely attacked before reanimating from the dead with an insatiable hunger. With an insatiable cartel moving throughout Arizona, they desecrated town after town, and left very little people remained alive. Taking sides alongside Carter and his family, the small group of survivors
In the fast paced narrative that took shape over the first two months of the outbreak, everyone is no longer immune to the Blood Virus that’s as accidentally released with little hope for survival. Few managed to escape the swarms of the big cities, and even fewer were alive to hope for a cure or chance at a normal life again. After coming out on an isolating, twenty some odd day hiking retreat in the a Grand Canyon, survivors would find themselves reiterated into a world that is no longer their own. Travis Combs was thirty four years old, and still getting used to leaving the Marine Corps behind, and hoped with the closing of his adventure to reunite with his son in Denver, and try to make amends for missing so many years of his life. All the milestones, all the birthdays he spent in foreign countries, he knew that’s why his marriage fell apart but prayed his son would recognize the father he wanted to be more than anything else. Along for the ride is married couple Fran and Mark, Evelyn, Katy Anders, Jim, and Pete (the official trip leader). As the group gathered and waited for pickup, they see first hand the starved monsters that became from people, as Fran and Mark were savagely attacked before reanimating from the dead with an insatiable hunger. With an insatiable cartel moving throughout Arizona, they desecrated town after town, and left very little people remained alive. Taking sides alongside Carter and his family, the small group of survivors
May 21, 2017
I did really enjoyed reading this book. However there is errors needed more editing done. I know it cost money. I know few others that ask friend's and family to do it to help maybe the author could of asked for help or get editing program instilled.
This is little different not that much killing more about survival. Yes there is some killing of the zombies and fighting other's. The author wrote more about basic training and learning to live in a whole new world. Which is #1 thing with any type Apocalypse.
I liked all character's and the plot of this story. The ending big cliffhanger.
This is little different not that much killing more about survival. Yes there is some killing of the zombies and fighting other's. The author wrote more about basic training and learning to live in a whole new world. Which is #1 thing with any type Apocalypse.
I liked all character's and the plot of this story. The ending big cliffhanger.
December 26, 2019
First Wave, Volume Complete Set by JT Sawyer First Wave, Volume Complete Set by JT Sawyer: First Wave, The Longest Day, No Place to Hide is a riveting action-packed group of books. I gave it four stars.
I received a complimentary promotional copy from Amazon. That did not change my opinion for this review.
“Sawyer has filled his books with fast-paced action scenes and educational survivalist skills.”
Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...
I received a complimentary promotional copy from Amazon. That did not change my opinion for this review.
“Sawyer has filled his books with fast-paced action scenes and educational survivalist skills.”
Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...
May 30, 2017
I really enjoyed the book but it ended so quickly. The characters were great and fun to get to know. I'll continue this series because there's so many questions on how they survive this virus through the other two waves that are expected.
May 2, 2020
More Post-Apocalyptic survival than just Zombies
Very interesting thriller based in Arizona. I enjoyed the storyline and characters with more than zombies just killing people. Going for Book #2 now.
Very interesting thriller based in Arizona. I enjoyed the storyline and characters with more than zombies just killing people. Going for Book #2 now.
August 1, 2021
DNF
I had hopes for this series but early on it devolved into just another military fantasy novel. Biker gangs controlling places, evil military villains, a sloppy plot, and never really covers the spread of things.
Didn't want to waste anymore time with it after getting halfway through it.
I had hopes for this series but early on it devolved into just another military fantasy novel. Biker gangs controlling places, evil military villains, a sloppy plot, and never really covers the spread of things.
Didn't want to waste anymore time with it after getting halfway through it.
May 5, 2025
Not much on the military or tactical side
Book 1 is a ok read I is more of a beginner type missing a lot of indepth problems that would be accurate for a zombie apocalypse
I am still going to checkout book 2
Book 1 is a ok read I is more of a beginner type missing a lot of indepth problems that would be accurate for a zombie apocalypse
I am still going to checkout book 2
January 14, 2018
Good read
Good character lots of action .you care about the group. no just another shoot em up zombie book.will be interested in the other books
Good character lots of action .you care about the group. no just another shoot em up zombie book.will be interested in the other books
December 20, 2018
Pretty good story.
Good story, pretty interesting story line. Keeps you reading throughout. There were still a couple grammar errors. But still highly recommend.
Good story, pretty interesting story line. Keeps you reading throughout. There were still a couple grammar errors. But still highly recommend.
February 3, 2019
Good yarn
Nicely crafted by a great stoyteller. Good knowledge of weapons, topography, plant and animal life makes for a great read.
Nicely crafted by a great stoyteller. Good knowledge of weapons, topography, plant and animal life makes for a great read.
March 15, 2019
First wave
Enjoyed this story. Interesting beginning to the ZA & characters well developed. Well balanced between survival of elements, infected & bad guys.
Enjoyed this story. Interesting beginning to the ZA & characters well developed. Well balanced between survival of elements, infected & bad guys.
May 28, 2019
Great beginning for Apocalyptic story
Interested in reading next installment. If your looking for action, adventure and a fast pacers read please give this bcoka chance.
Interested in reading next installment. If your looking for action, adventure and a fast pacers read please give this bcoka chance.
February 24, 2020
Some of the dialogue is a little stilted, but it's a fun read. Looking forward to hitting the rest of the series shortly.
August 19, 2020
These 3 books was great I loved them.
December 21, 2021
Damn good
Kept me riveted to each page, could not stop reading! Now into book 2. Keep it up, enjoyable to the last suspenseful page!
Kept me riveted to each page, could not stop reading! Now into book 2. Keep it up, enjoyable to the last suspenseful page!
April 14, 2024
Enjoyable, for sure!
Interesting approach to a zombie story, what with the minimal zombie contact. Great characters and a well-paced storyline. Definitely worth reading!
Interesting approach to a zombie story, what with the minimal zombie contact. Great characters and a well-paced storyline. Definitely worth reading!
February 23, 2025
3.25. Good survival story
February 24, 2025
Some good survival information but every bit of information or action takes a long, wordy explanation or description to get there.
dnf
August 24, 2025Read 23% and gave up. It wasn't keeping my attention, there was no character development. It read very dry.
October 14, 2014
As I was reading this book, I could help but think about the many times my husband and I have spoken about a "SHTF" [S#!T Hits The Fan] scenarios, such as a zombie apocalypse, a viral outbreak, or some time of end all nuclear style war and the discussions we've had about plans, places to meet, "bug out" gear and more. It is a regular discussion in our house since we live less than an hour away from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention) and The Walking Dead [AMC] is regularly filmed near our home, my husband and I are avid zombie story readers & watchers, in multiple genres.
This book held my attention from start to finish and it's apparent that the author has not only done his research, but has an intricate knowledge of the psychology, reactions and scenarios that can play out when "living off the grid" where your first thought is survival - food, shelter and water. The scenarios while some may deem as unrealistic could be plausible in an "end of the world scenario", no one is a super human and we all make mistakes. Hunger, a lack of sleep and living in fear can make humans do all sorts of things and make decisions they wouldn't normally make.
That being said, I had a couple of issues with this story:
First, I felt it ended abruptly and I generally prefer books, even in a series to leave less up in the air than this one did. You're left with so many questions at the end that you have to make a choice - Do I wait and purchase the next story, or do I let these questions go, or linger in the back of my mind until some later date?
Second, I felt the characters were a bit over or underdone, depending on how you look at it. The characters in the book didn't seem "built up" enough to me, as if I stepped into a room and had no idea who these people were at the core. Granted, character development could easily be explored in future books, just as in a movie or TV series you get put into the action and then get to know the people along the way. The dialogue between people, even in a strained environment, I felt should have been a little more conversational, even for those who are exceptionally "brainy". I have a rather verbose vocabulary and can't imagine when my life is on the life, returning to a higher education style of discussion. However, in this scenario you have people who have military training and I can't speak to what would occur if they reverted to the "basics" of survival, it's quite possible that's actually more realistic than the ideas that go on in my head and the scenarios that play out in the conversations we have here!
I feel like the story brings you in, gets you hooked on the action, but really could slow down and expand some to offer more insight into the characters. It's my hope that future books in the series will, even at a fast pace, allow a more conversational tone between characters and give us a bit more "rounding out" of characters. In addition, I hope that future stories won't leave me "hanging" waiting until the next is published.
Overall, the story is an enjoyable read, and especially educational when it comes to learning a bit about survival in an unconventional world, or apocalyptic scenario.
This book held my attention from start to finish and it's apparent that the author has not only done his research, but has an intricate knowledge of the psychology, reactions and scenarios that can play out when "living off the grid" where your first thought is survival - food, shelter and water. The scenarios while some may deem as unrealistic could be plausible in an "end of the world scenario", no one is a super human and we all make mistakes. Hunger, a lack of sleep and living in fear can make humans do all sorts of things and make decisions they wouldn't normally make.
That being said, I had a couple of issues with this story:
First, I felt it ended abruptly and I generally prefer books, even in a series to leave less up in the air than this one did. You're left with so many questions at the end that you have to make a choice - Do I wait and purchase the next story, or do I let these questions go, or linger in the back of my mind until some later date?
Second, I felt the characters were a bit over or underdone, depending on how you look at it. The characters in the book didn't seem "built up" enough to me, as if I stepped into a room and had no idea who these people were at the core. Granted, character development could easily be explored in future books, just as in a movie or TV series you get put into the action and then get to know the people along the way. The dialogue between people, even in a strained environment, I felt should have been a little more conversational, even for those who are exceptionally "brainy". I have a rather verbose vocabulary and can't imagine when my life is on the life, returning to a higher education style of discussion. However, in this scenario you have people who have military training and I can't speak to what would occur if they reverted to the "basics" of survival, it's quite possible that's actually more realistic than the ideas that go on in my head and the scenarios that play out in the conversations we have here!
I feel like the story brings you in, gets you hooked on the action, but really could slow down and expand some to offer more insight into the characters. It's my hope that future books in the series will, even at a fast pace, allow a more conversational tone between characters and give us a bit more "rounding out" of characters. In addition, I hope that future stories won't leave me "hanging" waiting until the next is published.
Overall, the story is an enjoyable read, and especially educational when it comes to learning a bit about survival in an unconventional world, or apocalyptic scenario.
February 21, 2017
What a great start to what I think will be a fantastic triogy.
Travis is on the river with like minded adventurers when they find themselves in a zombie nightmare.
Banding up with fellow survivors they need to fight a force of Mexican cartels, a rouge government agency and zombie hordes.
Very good read.
Travis is on the river with like minded adventurers when they find themselves in a zombie nightmare.
Banding up with fellow survivors they need to fight a force of Mexican cartels, a rouge government agency and zombie hordes.
Very good read.
March 22, 2015
This review is for the combined series - a trilogy not available here!
Can you imagine going on a three week guided tour as part of a small group river rafting through the Grand Canyon - no other people, traffic or planes overhead - just you and nature, and then find that the world has drastically changed since embarking upon this adventure? The dead are walking and killing the living, paramilitary groups and biker gangs are scouring the countryside killing both, Unbeknownst to the small group, they have been specifically targeted and find it most difficult to fight back, gather supplies or hide. Both guides in the group have military backgrounds and with the help of others, relocate to a small cabin out in the boondocks. There, the small group begins training in military tactics, strategy, hand-to-hand combat and weaponry - in preparation of taking on an offensive posture!
It is soon discovered that one person in the group holds the key to a cure for the virus and it's imperative that they travel hundreds of miles to a secret lab to create the serum - this becomes their priority in order to save mankind. En-route, the group must battle dangerous zombies, paramilitary soldiers and biker gangs, scrounge supplies and also secure a safe place each night for them to sleep and re-energize - all the while traveling across some of Mother Nature's fiercest domains. They do come across other survivors, but trust is a most difficult commodity at this point and readers will wonder who is good and who is bad - any threatening sign can get somebody killed.
"First Wave, the Complete Set" is easy to read and fast moving - I found myself holding my breath in some of the scenes. The story is compelling, riveting and edge of your seat suspenseful. Highly recommended! Great job JT Sawyer!
John Podlaski, author
Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel
Can you imagine going on a three week guided tour as part of a small group river rafting through the Grand Canyon - no other people, traffic or planes overhead - just you and nature, and then find that the world has drastically changed since embarking upon this adventure? The dead are walking and killing the living, paramilitary groups and biker gangs are scouring the countryside killing both, Unbeknownst to the small group, they have been specifically targeted and find it most difficult to fight back, gather supplies or hide. Both guides in the group have military backgrounds and with the help of others, relocate to a small cabin out in the boondocks. There, the small group begins training in military tactics, strategy, hand-to-hand combat and weaponry - in preparation of taking on an offensive posture!
It is soon discovered that one person in the group holds the key to a cure for the virus and it's imperative that they travel hundreds of miles to a secret lab to create the serum - this becomes their priority in order to save mankind. En-route, the group must battle dangerous zombies, paramilitary soldiers and biker gangs, scrounge supplies and also secure a safe place each night for them to sleep and re-energize - all the while traveling across some of Mother Nature's fiercest domains. They do come across other survivors, but trust is a most difficult commodity at this point and readers will wonder who is good and who is bad - any threatening sign can get somebody killed.
"First Wave, the Complete Set" is easy to read and fast moving - I found myself holding my breath in some of the scenes. The story is compelling, riveting and edge of your seat suspenseful. Highly recommended! Great job JT Sawyer!
John Podlaski, author
Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel
November 29, 2014
I received this book as part of the Bewitching Book Tours Blog Tour.
3.5 Stars!
What would happen if you went on vacation… in some remote part of the US and emerged, feeling refreshed and invigorated… only to find the world has gone to hell and you have no idea what’s going on?
Well, that is exactly what happened to our friends in First Wave. They came off a river trip to find the world wasn’t as they left it. They pick up bits and pieces of what’s going on in the world here and there, but it isn’t until one member of the party admits that there is more to him than meets the eye. I wasn’t surprised by his revelation and had sort of pegged that storyline long before he made the admission.
Overall this is an enjoyable read. It is self published and there are some typos and grammatical errors, but nothing so glaring that it will ruin the story. While I liked the story and think the author is on to something with the survival aspect, the characters fell a little flat to me. We learn bits and pieces about most of them and little to nothing about others. But then again, the author’s intent may not have been to give a story about the characters but about how everyone uses their special skill sets to survive. That he did well.
Be prepared for a cliffhanger. But fear not! Books two and three are already out so you won’t have to wait long to find out what happens with our adventurers. I will definitely be picking them up.
3.5 Stars!
What would happen if you went on vacation… in some remote part of the US and emerged, feeling refreshed and invigorated… only to find the world has gone to hell and you have no idea what’s going on?
Well, that is exactly what happened to our friends in First Wave. They came off a river trip to find the world wasn’t as they left it. They pick up bits and pieces of what’s going on in the world here and there, but it isn’t until one member of the party admits that there is more to him than meets the eye. I wasn’t surprised by his revelation and had sort of pegged that storyline long before he made the admission.
Overall this is an enjoyable read. It is self published and there are some typos and grammatical errors, but nothing so glaring that it will ruin the story. While I liked the story and think the author is on to something with the survival aspect, the characters fell a little flat to me. We learn bits and pieces about most of them and little to nothing about others. But then again, the author’s intent may not have been to give a story about the characters but about how everyone uses their special skill sets to survive. That he did well.
Be prepared for a cliffhanger. But fear not! Books two and three are already out so you won’t have to wait long to find out what happens with our adventurers. I will definitely be picking them up.
June 1, 2015
JT Sawyer's novel First Wave strongly engaged me from the first page right to the end. I was quite impressed with Sawyer's ability to translate his experience of being a survival instructor in Arizona into a taunt thriller in a post-apocalyptic world populated by drug cartel gangs, zombies, free agent and co-opted assassins and paramilitary, and even a few independent ranchers and cowboys just trying to keep their families alive. It's a heady mix that First Wave plays to perfection.
The protagonist, Travis Combs, is a recently retired military NCO who's unwinding by helping a long time friend guide some people on a 3-week raft trip through the Grand Canyon via the Colorado River. When the group finishes the trip they find a world gone mad. A super bug developed by industry and the government has been unleashed and killed off most of the world population and turned many of them into zombie-like creatures lusting for human flesh. First Wave describes how Combs not only keeps his group alive in an unforgiving desert environment but also manages to save mankind from the unscrupulous ambitions of a faceless cabal that has manipulated the world into this horrifying state.
The protagonist, Travis Combs, is a recently retired military NCO who's unwinding by helping a long time friend guide some people on a 3-week raft trip through the Grand Canyon via the Colorado River. When the group finishes the trip they find a world gone mad. A super bug developed by industry and the government has been unleashed and killed off most of the world population and turned many of them into zombie-like creatures lusting for human flesh. First Wave describes how Combs not only keeps his group alive in an unforgiving desert environment but also manages to save mankind from the unscrupulous ambitions of a faceless cabal that has manipulated the world into this horrifying state.
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