This is the third book in the Nuclear Dawn series of Post-Apocalyptic Survival. Miami is just one of many American major cities that has been targeted by a terrorist group with nuclear bombs. Whole areas of Miami have been completely wiped out and survivors are trying to make their way to any safe zones they can find. With so many cities being hit, the emergency services and army have struggles to get going, especially since many of them have been destroyed in the bombing and its aftermath as well.
Dakota is a young woman who has been trained for such an event, due to what has happened in her past. She is working at a bar, when she realises something is wrong, but is too late to grab her go bag. The first two books in the series tell how she survives the initial blast and helped a small group to survive the initial downfall of deadly radiation fallout. She is impatient to get to her sister, Eden, being looked after by foster parents as Dakota isn’t quite old enough, nor have the steady background and support mechanisms, such as safe housing and a stable employment, to become her sister’s legal guardian.
They had a hard struggle getting through the city, fighting with gangs and other survivors, all searching for supplies and uncontaminated water and food, in which to get by. Dakota, along with Logan and others from the bar, manage to reach her sister, but there is a nasty surprise awaiting her. They may have escaped the hot zone, where the most danger is, but they have all been exposed to too much radiation and need to reach a hospital or the nearest emergency aid they can, or they will all succumb to radiation poisoning.
Eden has let out their safe haven location to Maddox, the son of the prophet responsible for all this carnage. She considers him her brother. Dakota and the others need to reach Ezra’s secret hideout before it is overrun with Dakota’s foes, led by Maddox. Dakota, Eden and her small group of survivors need medical assistance asap as Eden has been exposed to too much radiation. Only problem is that the army have now taken over and the governor has just set up martial law. They are being forced to go into camps full of other survivors, but that isn’t where they want to go, nor will Dakota feel safe.
What will happen to them now, once they escape the gangs and even the army, and whether they will find Ezra and escape the clutches of the Prophet, Maddox and the rest of his group, is yet to be discovered. Each of the books has been an exciting and thrilling read, full of action and intrigue. Each one carries the story of survival just a little bit further and adds to the background of the main characters in her group and that of the bad guys. Some of it may seem a little too far-fetched, but with so many countries having nuclear capability and so many terrorist groups around the world now, this sort of attack is more and more likely.
How you and I would ever survive such an attack, or even know what to do, is what many preppers all over the world have spent their lives preparing for. From Anderson shelters during WWII to bunkers during the Cuba crisis, and some have just carried on these preparations. Most of us are too far removed from being able to survive in the wild, or even without all out modern technology, electricity and other comforts. Most have no idea how to hunt or grow their own food and this story shows you some of the impact of that in such an event as they are in.
Another great story and I can’t wait to see what will come from this author next! The series so far has been realistic in the facts that are portrayed about a nuclear explosion in a major city. What to do and what to watch out for from the aftermath are cleverly discussed by Dakota and you have to hope you never find yourself in any such situation. I received an ARC copy of this book from the author and can’t wait for more in this series or any other by this author. I would recommend all to read this series, it has so many twists and turns as well as being a great story of survival. I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.