What do you think?
Rate this book
The Raven Falconer Chronicles #1-3
The Raven Falconer Chronicles
Complete Series: Episodes 1-3 in One Volume
Operation Z-Day
The world is about to change. A malicious virus infects thousands, then millions, killing the elderly, young and weak. Infected survivors descend near to death, only to emerge wanton beasts, driven by carnal instincts and desperate madness. Raven Falconer, a fledgling author, retreats to the mountains of serene Banff National Park, only to find herself cut off from friends and family. Peril, beyond earthly reason, sets the unwitting characters into motion, seeking each other out and charting their destiny.
Rise of the Huskers
For Biathlon Olympian, Nathan Edwards, life as he knows it is over. Pummeled by the disease he survives and embraces his new Husker identity. Using a remnant of cerebral function, he controls his mindless ‘pack’, which kills indiscriminately to satisfy their fleshy urges. Unchecked, they run amok, threatening the resort community and propelling three groups to a horrific engagement, where to kill is the only option.
Vengeance Fulfilled
Raven, Ziggy, Mick and more long to be free, but for many, including a native band led by an opportunistic chieftain, civil war seems inevitable. Factions, galvanized by a need to survive, rally around leaders, some virtuous and some morally corrupt. However, a wretched blackness clouds the land, suggesting goodness will not always triumph over evil . . . but sweet vengeance may be its own reward.
Operation Z-Day
The world is about to change. A malicious virus infects thousands, then millions, killing the elderly, young and weak. Infected survivors descend near to death, only to emerge wanton beasts, driven by carnal instincts and desperate madness. Raven Falconer, a fledgling author, retreats to the mountains of serene Banff National Park, only to find herself cut off from friends and family. Peril, beyond earthly reason, sets the unwitting characters into motion, seeking each other out and charting their destiny.
Rise of the Huskers
For Biathlon Olympian, Nathan Edwards, life as he knows it is over. Pummeled by the disease he survives and embraces his new Husker identity. Using a remnant of cerebral function, he controls his mindless ‘pack’, which kills indiscriminately to satisfy their fleshy urges. Unchecked, they run amok, threatening the resort community and propelling three groups to a horrific engagement, where to kill is the only option.
Vengeance Fulfilled
Raven, Ziggy, Mick and more long to be free, but for many, including a native band led by an opportunistic chieftain, civil war seems inevitable. Factions, galvanized by a need to survive, rally around leaders, some virtuous and some morally corrupt. However, a wretched blackness clouds the land, suggesting goodness will not always triumph over evil . . . but sweet vengeance may be its own reward.
- GenresApocalyptic
420 pages, Paperback
First published April 28, 2014
581 people want to read
About the author
Dennis F. Larsen
8 books47 followersDennis F. Larsen was born in a small, northern Utah city just about the time that US boots were put on the ground in Southeast Asia. He was raised in a modest home; his mother, who initially worked at Hill Air Force Base, left the work force to devote her time to her four sons, and a father, who ran a small local Conoco Station.
In his younger years, he dreamed of playing major league baseball and enjoyed watching Sandy Koufax, Willey Mays and other great stars of the day. Summer months and after-school time was dedicated to hour upon hour of 'tennis-ball', the brother's own brand of baseball. Tennis balls ricocheted off of neighbor’s homes with less grumbling from the inhabitants. The neighborhood was their playground; football field in the front yard, tennis-ball stadiums on both sides and in the back, the backyard doubling as a golfer’s driving range as well. Nothing was off limits as the young boys turned the entire block into a 9-hole golf course, complete with greens mowed into the neighbor’s lawns. Permission? Who needs permission?
Dennis loved the time of his youth and the bonds that were forged on the local ball diamonds and in the small and quiet places of his youth. He survived untold and uncounted episodes of pink-belly, supremous-superbous-droppous, and other unimaginable tortures, from his brothers and older boys of the block, just to be included. His brothers and the kids from the old neighborhood are still important players in his life. (If you aren't familiar with the above techniques, write me.)
He attended the schools of Box Elder County graduating from high school in 1977. He went on to Brigham Young University, Utah State University and ultimately Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon where he obtained a Doctorate Degree in Optometry.
Along the way he married a beautiful, little blonde, Holly, in 1981 and had four amazing and talented children that inspire him each and every day. His children now grown and mostly on their own have blessed his life with four fun and energetic grandchildren, with another new addition expected in the summer of 2013.
Dr. Larsen took a position with his brother Steve, also an optometrist, when he completed school and the two practiced together in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada until 1997 when Dennis established his own business and Optometric Partnership Practice. He has worked for 26 years in a profession that he loves but has always had a desire to write and thus began the adventure.
His children, all gifted with the ability to write, propelled Dr. Larsen into his computer chair and put his fingers to work creating his first characters and putting them to work. 'With Cruel Intent' began as a short story to prove to his wife that he could write a story that a woman would find romantic. Much coaching was needed from her at the beginning. Apparently sexy and romantic are not synonyms. The story took on an energy and personality that had to get out, and the twists and turns just kept popping up in his head until the manuscript was completed. He ultimately wanted to prove to himself and his children that you can accomplish anything that you pour your heart and soul into.
His greatest wish, beyond having a healthy, happy family, is to have a shelf in his home with a novel located upon it from each of his children.
Follow the blog to learn more about the writing of his first novel, 'With Cruel Intent'.
In his younger years, he dreamed of playing major league baseball and enjoyed watching Sandy Koufax, Willey Mays and other great stars of the day. Summer months and after-school time was dedicated to hour upon hour of 'tennis-ball', the brother's own brand of baseball. Tennis balls ricocheted off of neighbor’s homes with less grumbling from the inhabitants. The neighborhood was their playground; football field in the front yard, tennis-ball stadiums on both sides and in the back, the backyard doubling as a golfer’s driving range as well. Nothing was off limits as the young boys turned the entire block into a 9-hole golf course, complete with greens mowed into the neighbor’s lawns. Permission? Who needs permission?
Dennis loved the time of his youth and the bonds that were forged on the local ball diamonds and in the small and quiet places of his youth. He survived untold and uncounted episodes of pink-belly, supremous-superbous-droppous, and other unimaginable tortures, from his brothers and older boys of the block, just to be included. His brothers and the kids from the old neighborhood are still important players in his life. (If you aren't familiar with the above techniques, write me.)
He attended the schools of Box Elder County graduating from high school in 1977. He went on to Brigham Young University, Utah State University and ultimately Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon where he obtained a Doctorate Degree in Optometry.
Along the way he married a beautiful, little blonde, Holly, in 1981 and had four amazing and talented children that inspire him each and every day. His children now grown and mostly on their own have blessed his life with four fun and energetic grandchildren, with another new addition expected in the summer of 2013.
Dr. Larsen took a position with his brother Steve, also an optometrist, when he completed school and the two practiced together in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada until 1997 when Dennis established his own business and Optometric Partnership Practice. He has worked for 26 years in a profession that he loves but has always had a desire to write and thus began the adventure.
His children, all gifted with the ability to write, propelled Dr. Larsen into his computer chair and put his fingers to work creating his first characters and putting them to work. 'With Cruel Intent' began as a short story to prove to his wife that he could write a story that a woman would find romantic. Much coaching was needed from her at the beginning. Apparently sexy and romantic are not synonyms. The story took on an energy and personality that had to get out, and the twists and turns just kept popping up in his head until the manuscript was completed. He ultimately wanted to prove to himself and his children that you can accomplish anything that you pour your heart and soul into.
His greatest wish, beyond having a healthy, happy family, is to have a shelf in his home with a novel located upon it from each of his children.
Follow the blog to learn more about the writing of his first novel, 'With Cruel Intent'.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 4, 2014
I really enjoyed this collection for many different reasons:
1) the realism was extreme, this is the most realistic zombie/apocalyptic book i have ever read, the way the characters react and the science behind the infection made for an extremely believable and haunting story.
2) Nathan was an amazing character and i really liked the contrast between him and Eli, the both made the story so much more complex.
3) Not only did our protagonists have to survive against the cannibalistic huskers but they also had to fight with other humans, the narratives i loved how the story developed with the narratives as it is something i could definitely imagine happening in our society.
overall, a very good story start to finish with interesting characters and plots, i would recommend to anyone who likes survival/apocalyptic/zombie books :)
FYI- I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
1) the realism was extreme, this is the most realistic zombie/apocalyptic book i have ever read, the way the characters react and the science behind the infection made for an extremely believable and haunting story.
2) Nathan was an amazing character and i really liked the contrast between him and Eli, the both made the story so much more complex.
3) Not only did our protagonists have to survive against the cannibalistic huskers but they also had to fight with other humans, the narratives i loved how the story developed with the narratives as it is something i could definitely imagine happening in our society.
overall, a very good story start to finish with interesting characters and plots, i would recommend to anyone who likes survival/apocalyptic/zombie books :)
FYI- I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
May 6, 2014
Now that I have this series compiled into one volume, I have to say I'm pleased with the result. I believe the story to be unique, which for some is turning out to be a challenging experience. Perhaps the idea of a realistic zombie, or Husker, is less believable than those that die and come back to life. This surprises me, but the story has touched a nerve with many who were looking for something new in the genre and I have appreciated their feedback.
My novels walk a fine line, always trying to keep a vein of plausible realism while exploring the dark side of humanity.
The story, for now, is wrapped up. However, who knows when Raven's life may creep back into my mind.
My novels walk a fine line, always trying to keep a vein of plausible realism while exploring the dark side of humanity.
The story, for now, is wrapped up. However, who knows when Raven's life may creep back into my mind.
April 9, 2017
I am hooked.
From the first page, this pulse pounding book had me turning pages while my coffee went cold.
The author takes a world filled with zombies, and makes it frightening real. The way he explains how the zombies comes to be, is more real than you want to admit, for if you do, you have to admit that it can happen today in real life. The zombies also gets a dangerous edge, they can partially wield weapons, and remember some skills, like opening doors and windows.
For the survivors of a small mountain town, the only thing more frightful than axe wielding zombies that can bypass doors, are the natives on a reservation near the town that decide now is the time to take back their lands. As skirmishes between the groups continue, an epic clash between the groups are bound to happen.
In a land where you are faced with death or pulling the trigger on a turned family member, choices are not always clear cut.
Buckle up, for this is a ride for your life.
From the first page, this pulse pounding book had me turning pages while my coffee went cold.
The author takes a world filled with zombies, and makes it frightening real. The way he explains how the zombies comes to be, is more real than you want to admit, for if you do, you have to admit that it can happen today in real life. The zombies also gets a dangerous edge, they can partially wield weapons, and remember some skills, like opening doors and windows.
For the survivors of a small mountain town, the only thing more frightful than axe wielding zombies that can bypass doors, are the natives on a reservation near the town that decide now is the time to take back their lands. As skirmishes between the groups continue, an epic clash between the groups are bound to happen.
In a land where you are faced with death or pulling the trigger on a turned family member, choices are not always clear cut.
Buckle up, for this is a ride for your life.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews