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Stories of the Restoration
Controlled Descent
Alison Gregorio thinks her new job with a prestigious law firm is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but explosive secrets lurk beneath its golden façade. When a plane crash takes out the firm’s biggest client, she finds herself in a situation that will test her conscience and her courage to the limits.
Surviving a crash-landing is only the first challenge Justin Wyatt faces after his fall from power. He loved the toys he built more than the fortune they brought in, but neglecting his corporate empire left his deadliest creations in the wrong hands.
Forty-two years have passed since the Restored United States emerged from decades of oppression and the chaos of revolution. It’s a brave new world, but some things never change. Money still talks, power still corrupts, and trust is a rare and precious commodity. Two people. One conspiracy. Everything to lose.
Surviving a crash-landing is only the first challenge Justin Wyatt faces after his fall from power. He loved the toys he built more than the fortune they brought in, but neglecting his corporate empire left his deadliest creations in the wrong hands.
Forty-two years have passed since the Restored United States emerged from decades of oppression and the chaos of revolution. It’s a brave new world, but some things never change. Money still talks, power still corrupts, and trust is a rare and precious commodity. Two people. One conspiracy. Everything to lose.
350 pages, Paperback
First published November 13, 2013
42 people are currently reading
290 people want to read
About the author
K.M. Herkes
18 books64 followersI write, I grow things, I camp and hike, I pacify cats, and I do a lot of research online and off. If our assorted alphabet-soup national security agencies really do monitor citizens based on keyword searches, then I'm probably on all of the criminal watch lists in existence.
Otherwise, I am mostly quiet with a thirty-percent chance of loud, and the rest is subject to change without warning. Professional development has included classroom teaching, animal training, aquaculture, horticulture, retail management, inventory operations, and customer service. Personal development is ongoing.
Otherwise, I am mostly quiet with a thirty-percent chance of loud, and the rest is subject to change without warning. Professional development has included classroom teaching, animal training, aquaculture, horticulture, retail management, inventory operations, and customer service. Personal development is ongoing.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
April 6, 2017
I don't generally read much other than fantasy. Thrillers and Sci-fi type stuff just usually doesn't pique my interest too much, but I read this book because it was featured as the book of the month. I am glad I did. K.M. Herkes delivers an exciting story in Controlled Descent.
What you will discover quickly is that K.M. has a very fluid writing style, which makes it really easy to read. I had slipped through five chapters before I put the book down for the first time. It is exciting and unpredictable to the finish and will keep you turning the pages. All that being said, it is the core cast of characters that the author has created that really make the book shine. Despite all their quirks and hang-ups, you will find yourself attached to this rag-tag group of people that extend beyond just Justin and Alison
What you will discover quickly is that K.M. has a very fluid writing style, which makes it really easy to read. I had slipped through five chapters before I put the book down for the first time. It is exciting and unpredictable to the finish and will keep you turning the pages. All that being said, it is the core cast of characters that the author has created that really make the book shine. Despite all their quirks and hang-ups, you will find yourself attached to this rag-tag group of people that extend beyond just Justin and Alison
August 11, 2017
KM Herkes sets the bar for flawed, layered, and lovable characters. From the brute-wrangling mercenary who gets counseling when he needs it to the rich tinkerer who traded in brains for superpowered brawn, each character has a rich backstory and set of struggles that makes him or her feel almost as real alone as they do together. In combination, verbal snipes and gentle moments capture the best moments of everyday life. Herkes’s characters struggle with real questions: how to cope with disability, how to handle loss and betrayal, how to rise above circumstance and habit to make oneself a better person. That this all happens amid business intrigue and life-and-death peril hits my bullseye for balancing plot and character. (Granted, I really like character.)
My biggest gripe? Depth of viewpoint varies between scenes. Some are grounded in a single perspective. Some are harder to discern and turn out to differ from what I expected at the beginning of the scene.
I struggled to get into this book at first, but it picked up in the second chapter, and I will read the rest of the series, if for no other reason than that Herkes’s characters breathe witty sarcasm. But there are other reasons, too: the breadth of character that shines through her writing and the pure fun of a bunch of smartmouths in stressful situations. Now, onto Turning the Work!
My biggest gripe? Depth of viewpoint varies between scenes. Some are grounded in a single perspective. Some are harder to discern and turn out to differ from what I expected at the beginning of the scene.
I struggled to get into this book at first, but it picked up in the second chapter, and I will read the rest of the series, if for no other reason than that Herkes’s characters breathe witty sarcasm. But there are other reasons, too: the breadth of character that shines through her writing and the pure fun of a bunch of smartmouths in stressful situations. Now, onto Turning the Work!
July 27, 2015
Controlled Descent reminded me of... well, nothing. Why? Because it's like nothing I've ever read before. It's unique, different, and creates a world that's based in reality but is unreal. It takes place in a future that is entirely possible... probable even. Humans behave the way we expect them to behave, yet they excel beyond. They survive and thrive even in their darkest moments. You find yourself riveted to the pages, watching as these rich, thick and colorful characters break and bend and bounce back. Each of the characters is intensely drawn, lovingly crafted and they, truly drive the story. It's not the plot or what is going to happen generally that concerns the reader... the worry, the care lies in what is going to happen to the characters - to Justin, to Parker, Carl, and Allie and Tyler. These characters live in a world that is an uncertain, volatile place; a crumbling political society underlying a technologically and scientifically leaps and bounds advancing one, and it is the conflict between these two spirals that creates much of what the Restoration is all about. It's a world that a reader can get their boots in and their mind around and live in for a good while.
On a macro/technical level with this book, there were times when I needed to go back a few paragraphs and re-read to understand what was going on, to catch things I missed when the story seemed to take a sharp turn or the dialogue changed lighting quick. The pace moves that quickly, and at times, the reader needs to slow down in order to catch every bit. The writing style is very fluid and very nuanced - the author doesn't give you every detail, every tidbit of information. While that allows a reader's own mind to complete the gestalt in a really adventurous, pleasurable way, the reader has to be willing to give it that effort, to become part of that world and observe with their own eyes and deduce with their own mind. If that makes any sense whatsoever. Tl;dr - you cannot be a lazy reader with this book. It forces you to interact, and really... that is a very good thing. This book is a thick, action-packed meaty thriller, not a romance (although there is some romance in it that had me cheering and crying). It's a steak, not cereal, and it should be savored.
I recommend this highly. Now I'm ready to delve into the rest of the Restoration stories.
On a macro/technical level with this book, there were times when I needed to go back a few paragraphs and re-read to understand what was going on, to catch things I missed when the story seemed to take a sharp turn or the dialogue changed lighting quick. The pace moves that quickly, and at times, the reader needs to slow down in order to catch every bit. The writing style is very fluid and very nuanced - the author doesn't give you every detail, every tidbit of information. While that allows a reader's own mind to complete the gestalt in a really adventurous, pleasurable way, the reader has to be willing to give it that effort, to become part of that world and observe with their own eyes and deduce with their own mind. If that makes any sense whatsoever. Tl;dr - you cannot be a lazy reader with this book. It forces you to interact, and really... that is a very good thing. This book is a thick, action-packed meaty thriller, not a romance (although there is some romance in it that had me cheering and crying). It's a steak, not cereal, and it should be savored.
I recommend this highly. Now I'm ready to delve into the rest of the Restoration stories.
December 18, 2014
Here's a story for those of you who love adventure, military, high-tech stories. If you're a fan of Tom Clancy, you'll probably enjoy these books. If you're a fan of Tom Clancy and a woman, you'll probably love them even more because there are women in these stories who are kick ass.
There are times when the characters are so smart they don't seem realistic. Every one of them is very savvy and observant--except, perhaps, for Tyler, but even he has some startlingly deep insight at times. The further into the novel you get, the more the author opens up the softer parts of her people and lets you squirm your way into them more fully. At times at the beginning, it's almost as if every one of them was tight in a shell or wrapped in protective metal by the author to keep them safe. Once she entrusts you to her people, though, you can really see what they are made of.
If you aren't sure you want to read this, the author has some short stories about these same characters you can try out first. You won't be sorry though.
There are times when the characters are so smart they don't seem realistic. Every one of them is very savvy and observant--except, perhaps, for Tyler, but even he has some startlingly deep insight at times. The further into the novel you get, the more the author opens up the softer parts of her people and lets you squirm your way into them more fully. At times at the beginning, it's almost as if every one of them was tight in a shell or wrapped in protective metal by the author to keep them safe. Once she entrusts you to her people, though, you can really see what they are made of.
If you aren't sure you want to read this, the author has some short stories about these same characters you can try out first. You won't be sorry though.
February 25, 2016
Controlled Descent by K.M. Herkes has a little bit of everything, from science fiction to romance to mystery, all woven seamlessly together to create an excellent read that is hard to put down. Each character is well developed, and several of the characters have intriguing special abilities. The plot is full of action and intrigue, but it’s the characters that make the story the wonderful read that it is. All of the characters are flawed, some of them quite seriously. The characters are easy to identify with because of their flaws, and I became quite invested in how things would turn out for each character. I like how Herkes created a world in the future that is eerily familiar; while it isn’t the world we now know, it easily could be. I think the setting makes this book somewhat unique, and I highly recommend reading it. I’m looking forward to the next Restoration book.
October 16, 2019
Controlled Descent starts out like the Mountain Between Us but is even better. Two men survive a plane crash; one is helpless and the other must keep the other alive. Someone brought down the plane - but who and why?
Controlled Descent is dystopian - I guess? It takes place after a societal fall, but when society has pulled itself back together and things have improved in many ways. It is well written with interesting characters (although I would have liked to have seen another female character in the mix, instead of four men and one woman).
The narrative is dense and packed with lots of action and character interaction, and I had no trouble staying involved.
I have three complaints:
- that part where three of the characters proceed with a stupid plan, a plan that they themselves know is stupid, demonstrating that they are too stupid to live;
- that a character can become invisible; this ability did not seem at all in keeping with the rest of the plot;
- the completely unnecessary romance that got in the way of the story much more than it moved the plot forward
But overall, this is a very good read that will appeal to lovers of thrillers and Tom Cruise movies.
Controlled Descent is dystopian - I guess? It takes place after a societal fall, but when society has pulled itself back together and things have improved in many ways. It is well written with interesting characters (although I would have liked to have seen another female character in the mix, instead of four men and one woman).
The narrative is dense and packed with lots of action and character interaction, and I had no trouble staying involved.
I have three complaints:
- that part where three of the characters proceed with a stupid plan, a plan that they themselves know is stupid, demonstrating that they are too stupid to live;
- that a character can become invisible; this ability did not seem at all in keeping with the rest of the plot;
- the completely unnecessary romance that got in the way of the story much more than it moved the plot forward
But overall, this is a very good read that will appeal to lovers of thrillers and Tom Cruise movies.
April 7, 2015
As someone who has pretty much read only one genre, maybe two, this book was refreshing! I loved it and just couldn't put my Kindle down. The characters, the world, everything was so well written you forgot that you were reading a book. Even though there really wasn't a time period mentioned, you could tell that the story was well researched. I love how Alison and Nicole are more like sisters, as well as co-workers. They're witty, smart and funny. The men even more so!
Parker and Carl sound absolutely dreamy! And yes, I find Parker more of the comedy relief than Tyler, haha. I got a hard copy for my mother in law, and she has already gotten the next book. So yes, I recommend this book to everyone and their mother. The story is paced nicely and it really makes you think. On to the next book!
Parker and Carl sound absolutely dreamy! And yes, I find Parker more of the comedy relief than Tyler, haha. I got a hard copy for my mother in law, and she has already gotten the next book. So yes, I recommend this book to everyone and their mother. The story is paced nicely and it really makes you think. On to the next book!
July 19, 2015
I don't generally read much other than fantasy. Thrillers and Sci-fi type stuff just usually doesn't pique my interest too much, but I read this book because it was featured as the book of the month. I am glad I did. K.M. Herkes delivers an exciting story in Controlled Descent.
What you will discover quickly is that K.M. has a very fluid writing style, which makes it really easy to read. I had slipped through five chapters before I put the book down for the first time. It is exciting and unpredictable to the finish and will keep you turning the pages. All that being said, it is the core cast of characters that the author has created that really make the book shine. Despite all their quirks and hang-ups, you will find yourself attached to this rag-tag group of people that extend beyond just Justin and Alison.
Highly recommended!
What you will discover quickly is that K.M. has a very fluid writing style, which makes it really easy to read. I had slipped through five chapters before I put the book down for the first time. It is exciting and unpredictable to the finish and will keep you turning the pages. All that being said, it is the core cast of characters that the author has created that really make the book shine. Despite all their quirks and hang-ups, you will find yourself attached to this rag-tag group of people that extend beyond just Justin and Alison.
Highly recommended!
December 19, 2015
This is the third book set in a world struggling to rebuild after a disaster. That being said it is very much a stand alone story and you do not need to read any of the other books that are set in this world to understand everything that happens in this book. Of course the book is finely crafted and you are most likely going to have the same response I had upon finishing, namely "MORE". This particular story I would frame as a conspiracy thriller, the main characters are trying their best to survive while figuring out who is trying to kill them and why. I'm not going to reveal any spoilers as the author has done a tremendous job with twists, turns, feints, jabs and a misdirect or two. The setting specific flavorings are nice, giving the book and world enough of a difference from ours to let it stand out without being overpowering. A very enjoyable read, well worth the time spent.
January 4, 2015
Impressive world-building, especially in creating a near-future setting that establishes prior disaster without being heavy-handed. This is one novel set in a series of linked works, and it effectively tantalizes with just enough to invite the reader to continue learning about the Restoration and the experiences of those in the aftermath. Events are well-paced, offering both adrenaline-charged scenarios and the opportunity to catch a breath before the next crisis. Complex plotting and the drawing of several character arcs add layers to an exciting read.
July 18, 2016
This book was wonderfully creative. I adore most of the characters, their growth, the story behind it, and the fact that it was left open for much more to come. Parker and Carl are awesome. I fell in love with the character interactions in Turning the Work, and now that I read this one (which I believe comes before Turning the Work) it makes a lot more sense now. Keep it up K.M. Herkes, keep being awesome!
August 14, 2015
This is not my normal genre so it took a little time for me to get into it, but once I did I was hooked. I enjoyed the characters and cared what happened to them, something that's very important to me when I read. I'm looking forward to revisiting with Justin (who reminds me strongly of Richard Branson), Alison, Carl, Parker, and Tyler in KM's other books. Recommended to those who enjoy a good thriller.
March 18, 2014
I liked it. Just enough of a alternative future to keep things interesting while still seeming familiar and possible. Looking forward to rest of the series.
July 5, 2015
Truly a Good Read
A good story with real and understandable characters. I enjoyed the story immensely. You will regret not picking up this book.
A good story with real and understandable characters. I enjoyed the story immensely. You will regret not picking up this book.
December 1, 2021
Controlled Descent was an instant buy for me when I heard that it was about an office woman with a knack for organization and coordination, Alison Gregorio, helping out some ex-military special operative bodyguards and the inventors they are protecting against the overwhelming odds closing in on their remote shelter.
Let me emphasize what grabbed me there, Alison's strength is NOT that she knows martial arts, or is a crack shot with a gun or bow, or has any kind of superpower or specialized background. She's JUST THAT GOOD at getting people to prioritize and cooperate. I love a good story about an ordinary person discovering their inner strengths and the usefulness of their talents, who rises to the occasion and stands their ground against the wicked and powerful.
There are other characters who do have superpowers though, in this survival adventure set in a near future reconstructed United States. Both the optimistic well-imagined setting and Herkes' unique twist on powers are fascinating and engaging in their own way.
This may be plot driven as most thrillers are, opening with a plane crash and building suspense with the pursuit by ruthless villains that must be dodged and thwarted up to the confrontational climax, but it's character focused--and that's where K.M. Herkes shines brightest.
There's Justin the prickly, troubled billionaire genius inventor who has started developing a slew of abilities (invisibility, hardening his skin, feats of strength, etc.) and is learning to use them, even as he struggles with accident-related trauma and mental disabilities affecting memory and concentration and physical disabilities. He's also reeling from losing a family friend in the plane crash, from his divorce and not getting enough time with the son his famous ex-wife won't confirm is his, and from his self-sabotaging approach to personal relationships.
There's also the psychically gifted brothers Carl and Parker who were part of the same covert government military program and now offer their protection (and mercenary) services freelance--if they agree their client's cause is a worthy one. I admire their efficiency and integrity, and Carl's insightfulness as the group's de facto therapist and Parker's doggedness against all odds. But I cherish them for their sibling closeness and devotion, and how well they understand each other even when so much is left unsaid (especially by tight-lipped Parker).
Tyler, Justin's inventing sidekick and beleaguered best friend, is more like Alison. What he lacks in paranormal phenomena or combat skill he makes up for by contributing as much as he can with his own skill set--and as a voice of reason and support and unflinching loyalty time and again. Even though the rational self-interested move would have been to flee from the danger and the billionaire genius attracting such greed and peril.
While I enjoyed the other characters and their complex and deeply emotional interactions and rich inner lives (in particular the author deals well with the post-traumatic stress of Carl and how he's still in therapy), and I delighted in the banter and sarcasm that abounds, it's Alison I'm most drawn to and must celebrate loudest.
Alison is a total authentic gem, ambitious but coming off a stretch of unemployment and financial difficulty that has shaken her confidence, practical but passionate, compassionate but ready with the kind of honesty it's difficult to hear, and supportive but she's not just there for everyone else--she also has emotional needs and goes for what she wants.
The prose is very artful and affecting too in a way that's super hard to describe. Just enough atmospheric and physical detail to establish a 'mental picture' and the mood, and close focus on reactions to the environment (especially the isolation while they are in hiding) and emotional interactions between fully realized characters and their internal struggles.
My point with the above fumbling paragraph is that you may have heard that great speculative fiction is usually either a great concept (big fascinating idea to explore) or a great execution (creativity of prose and plotting and character)? But with K.M. Herkes it's always both. And while I'm singing praises, I should also add that she always sticks the landing, including here, and that's huge.
Controlled Descent has meticulously chosen and organized prose spinning a suspenseful, psychologically complex story of lovable characters with unconventional friendships and romances (and sometimes blurred lines between) unfolding in a pressure cooker under imposed isolation in the wilderness and the threat of violence by corporate masterminds and their goons seeking to seize a revolutionary energy technology--and it's set in a believable, optimistic near future that is post-catastrophe.
This book deserves five stars for a whole that's even more than the sum of its awesome parts.
And here's another of those utterly earnest and slightly awkward "it's not you, it's me" explanations for four stars over five. Though there was humor and triumph too, there are elements in this story that were harsher/more intense/more disturbing and/or sadder than my personal threshold prefers. I will continue to feel haunted by these intense elements, on top of the more positive hope and joy and amazing found family friendships between characters I'll definitely also take away with me.
In this case there were characters who struggle with some depression, grief of loss, physical agony, trauma recovery both physical and mental and frustration, impatience and frustration with themselves over a condition, and some torture and its aftermath.
[Side note: You'll never hear me say I simply don't want to read about characters dealing with depression, PTSD and other trauma, other mental health conditions, or disabilities physical or otherwise, or who are grieving, that's NOT what I mean. If anything it's cathartic and enlightening when so many of the aforementioned are conveyed so acutely as they are here, and of course more positive disability representation in heroes and de-stigmatizing of disabilities and mental health issues is wonderful to see, truly. And please know the torture wasn't at all gratuitous or too graphic either, the author just did very well expressing the anguish.
Nor do I not understand that characters, like real people, need conflict and tribulations to overcome and endure in order to grow and triumph and support each other and forge strong interpersonal relationships in a meaningful way. I just can't distance myself emotionally from fictional trauma, because my brain always links it to real world equivalents and dwells on that reality.]
Moving on, after reading this I had to buy the whole Restoration series and I recommend you do the same. That so far includes Flight Plan (which picks up where this novel left off and delivers more Alison though she's not the focus), Novices (a prequel centered on psychic special operative brothers Carl and Parker), and my planned next read, the collection Weaving in the Ends (two romantic novellas).
It is pretty challenging to name a read-alike for K.M. Herkes' writing, but if I had to try...it'd be something with imaginative, well thought out speculative fiction concepts and flawed, emotionally intense found family characters at its core, like Ferrett Steinmetz's Mancer urban fantasy series.
WHEN CHARACTERS AND A WORLD DRAW YOU IN INESCAPABLY, YOU NEED NOT TAKE THE JOURNEY ALONE---BOOST THE SIGNAL!
Let me emphasize what grabbed me there, Alison's strength is NOT that she knows martial arts, or is a crack shot with a gun or bow, or has any kind of superpower or specialized background. She's JUST THAT GOOD at getting people to prioritize and cooperate. I love a good story about an ordinary person discovering their inner strengths and the usefulness of their talents, who rises to the occasion and stands their ground against the wicked and powerful.
There are other characters who do have superpowers though, in this survival adventure set in a near future reconstructed United States. Both the optimistic well-imagined setting and Herkes' unique twist on powers are fascinating and engaging in their own way.
This may be plot driven as most thrillers are, opening with a plane crash and building suspense with the pursuit by ruthless villains that must be dodged and thwarted up to the confrontational climax, but it's character focused--and that's where K.M. Herkes shines brightest.
There's Justin the prickly, troubled billionaire genius inventor who has started developing a slew of abilities (invisibility, hardening his skin, feats of strength, etc.) and is learning to use them, even as he struggles with accident-related trauma and mental disabilities affecting memory and concentration and physical disabilities. He's also reeling from losing a family friend in the plane crash, from his divorce and not getting enough time with the son his famous ex-wife won't confirm is his, and from his self-sabotaging approach to personal relationships.
There's also the psychically gifted brothers Carl and Parker who were part of the same covert government military program and now offer their protection (and mercenary) services freelance--if they agree their client's cause is a worthy one. I admire their efficiency and integrity, and Carl's insightfulness as the group's de facto therapist and Parker's doggedness against all odds. But I cherish them for their sibling closeness and devotion, and how well they understand each other even when so much is left unsaid (especially by tight-lipped Parker).
Tyler, Justin's inventing sidekick and beleaguered best friend, is more like Alison. What he lacks in paranormal phenomena or combat skill he makes up for by contributing as much as he can with his own skill set--and as a voice of reason and support and unflinching loyalty time and again. Even though the rational self-interested move would have been to flee from the danger and the billionaire genius attracting such greed and peril.
While I enjoyed the other characters and their complex and deeply emotional interactions and rich inner lives (in particular the author deals well with the post-traumatic stress of Carl and how he's still in therapy), and I delighted in the banter and sarcasm that abounds, it's Alison I'm most drawn to and must celebrate loudest.
Alison is a total authentic gem, ambitious but coming off a stretch of unemployment and financial difficulty that has shaken her confidence, practical but passionate, compassionate but ready with the kind of honesty it's difficult to hear, and supportive but she's not just there for everyone else--she also has emotional needs and goes for what she wants.
The prose is very artful and affecting too in a way that's super hard to describe. Just enough atmospheric and physical detail to establish a 'mental picture' and the mood, and close focus on reactions to the environment (especially the isolation while they are in hiding) and emotional interactions between fully realized characters and their internal struggles.
My point with the above fumbling paragraph is that you may have heard that great speculative fiction is usually either a great concept (big fascinating idea to explore) or a great execution (creativity of prose and plotting and character)? But with K.M. Herkes it's always both. And while I'm singing praises, I should also add that she always sticks the landing, including here, and that's huge.
Controlled Descent has meticulously chosen and organized prose spinning a suspenseful, psychologically complex story of lovable characters with unconventional friendships and romances (and sometimes blurred lines between) unfolding in a pressure cooker under imposed isolation in the wilderness and the threat of violence by corporate masterminds and their goons seeking to seize a revolutionary energy technology--and it's set in a believable, optimistic near future that is post-catastrophe.
This book deserves five stars for a whole that's even more than the sum of its awesome parts.
And here's another of those utterly earnest and slightly awkward "it's not you, it's me" explanations for four stars over five. Though there was humor and triumph too, there are elements in this story that were harsher/more intense/more disturbing and/or sadder than my personal threshold prefers. I will continue to feel haunted by these intense elements, on top of the more positive hope and joy and amazing found family friendships between characters I'll definitely also take away with me.
In this case there were characters who struggle with some depression, grief of loss, physical agony, trauma recovery both physical and mental and frustration, impatience and frustration with themselves over a condition, and some torture and its aftermath.
[Side note: You'll never hear me say I simply don't want to read about characters dealing with depression, PTSD and other trauma, other mental health conditions, or disabilities physical or otherwise, or who are grieving, that's NOT what I mean. If anything it's cathartic and enlightening when so many of the aforementioned are conveyed so acutely as they are here, and of course more positive disability representation in heroes and de-stigmatizing of disabilities and mental health issues is wonderful to see, truly. And please know the torture wasn't at all gratuitous or too graphic either, the author just did very well expressing the anguish.
Nor do I not understand that characters, like real people, need conflict and tribulations to overcome and endure in order to grow and triumph and support each other and forge strong interpersonal relationships in a meaningful way. I just can't distance myself emotionally from fictional trauma, because my brain always links it to real world equivalents and dwells on that reality.]
Moving on, after reading this I had to buy the whole Restoration series and I recommend you do the same. That so far includes Flight Plan (which picks up where this novel left off and delivers more Alison though she's not the focus), Novices (a prequel centered on psychic special operative brothers Carl and Parker), and my planned next read, the collection Weaving in the Ends (two romantic novellas).
It is pretty challenging to name a read-alike for K.M. Herkes' writing, but if I had to try...it'd be something with imaginative, well thought out speculative fiction concepts and flawed, emotionally intense found family characters at its core, like Ferrett Steinmetz's Mancer urban fantasy series.
WHEN CHARACTERS AND A WORLD DRAW YOU IN INESCAPABLY, YOU NEED NOT TAKE THE JOURNEY ALONE---BOOST THE SIGNAL!
April 13, 2021
I've read the whole series so far, and let me tell you, I just can't let these characters go. But this book is the start of everything.
I had to wait a bit before writing the review or I'd have just fangirled all over the page. At least now I can tell you more coherently that y'all need to go read this book, and all the rest of the Restoration Stories. The characters are amazingly real, and they are wonderfully imperfect. Trying to stick to just this book will be hard.
The story opens interestingly enough but gets heavier and more high stakes pretty quick. I love the interactions between the survivors and the friendships that form. K.M. is amazing with the bonds that form between people. She also takes broken people and shows just how resilient humans can be. Yes there is story (good story!) and a plot with ups and downs, but I will now forever read her books because of the real people that inhabit them.
The only gripe I have with this book, is that I want to know more about what the world is trying to Restore from. It's kept very vague but my curiosity won't let it go. Does it detract from the current story? Overall, no. At times though, not knowing the backstory pulled me out of the moment because I wondered if I had missed something. Please don't let that stop you from picking this up and starting this amazing journey.
I had to wait a bit before writing the review or I'd have just fangirled all over the page. At least now I can tell you more coherently that y'all need to go read this book, and all the rest of the Restoration Stories. The characters are amazingly real, and they are wonderfully imperfect. Trying to stick to just this book will be hard.
The story opens interestingly enough but gets heavier and more high stakes pretty quick. I love the interactions between the survivors and the friendships that form. K.M. is amazing with the bonds that form between people. She also takes broken people and shows just how resilient humans can be. Yes there is story (good story!) and a plot with ups and downs, but I will now forever read her books because of the real people that inhabit them.
The only gripe I have with this book, is that I want to know more about what the world is trying to Restore from. It's kept very vague but my curiosity won't let it go. Does it detract from the current story? Overall, no. At times though, not knowing the backstory pulled me out of the moment because I wondered if I had missed something. Please don't let that stop you from picking this up and starting this amazing journey.
January 20, 2019
A cross between mystery and science fiction 4****
This book was a great change from biographies, high priced mysteries, and westerns. I truly enjoyed the story and characters. Loved the interpersonal connections and relationships. I don't like to admit it, but I wanted to read how the villain got paid back. I highly recommend this book. Thank you K. M. Herkes!
This book was a great change from biographies, high priced mysteries, and westerns. I truly enjoyed the story and characters. Loved the interpersonal connections and relationships. I don't like to admit it, but I wanted to read how the villain got paid back. I highly recommend this book. Thank you K. M. Herkes!
September 1, 2018
A Scary Look at Projected Future Reality?
Firstly, I hate violence!! I believe in "Do Unto Others", I hate bullies, meanness, the causing of pain, physical or mental. This was a difficult book for me to read; however, I found myself compelled to read all of it. The scariest thing of all is that I believe there could be too much truth to the story! In light of what is happening on a global level, "Man's Inhumanity to Man", the lack of honesty and integrity, the greed, it's too plausible!
Firstly, I hate violence!! I believe in "Do Unto Others", I hate bullies, meanness, the causing of pain, physical or mental. This was a difficult book for me to read; however, I found myself compelled to read all of it. The scariest thing of all is that I believe there could be too much truth to the story! In light of what is happening on a global level, "Man's Inhumanity to Man", the lack of honesty and integrity, the greed, it's too plausible!
November 29, 2020
Oh, man. This book was a wild ride!! Gripping, well written, and at times hilarious, I loved every single minute of reading this book. KM Herkes, I tip my hat to you.
This dystopian future is brought to life in detail that is sometimes painfully detailed; if you don't secretly like the gory bits of a horror movie this one is not for you, and the counterpoint of gallows humor is perfect.
The characters are also each brought to life with meticulous detail; I kinda feel like I could go have a coffee and chat with them after finishing the book.
While I am REALLY glad I don't live in the world brought to life in this book, dude, I kinda feel like I lived in it for a few hours.
This dystopian future is brought to life in detail that is sometimes painfully detailed; if you don't secretly like the gory bits of a horror movie this one is not for you, and the counterpoint of gallows humor is perfect.
The characters are also each brought to life with meticulous detail; I kinda feel like I could go have a coffee and chat with them after finishing the book.
While I am REALLY glad I don't live in the world brought to life in this book, dude, I kinda feel like I lived in it for a few hours.
March 17, 2018
In my home, there's a door. It's made of gorgeous, aged wood. It's a warm, safe, comforting and sturdy. One side is left with a clear varnish so that you can see the beauty and history in the wood. The other side is slathered with several coats of white paint. It's sterile and clean.
That's how I felt reading this book. The first nine chapters are covered in white paint. It feels like it's been restructured so many times that it's lost Herkes' natural storytelling beauty. Once I hit chapter ten, I flipped back over to the beautiful natural grain side.
I put the book down several times and nearly didn't pick it back up. I'm glad that I did! If I hadn't read Rough Passages before beginning The Restoration series, I probably wouldn't have. I knew going into this that Herkes has natural talent.
Once you get past chapter ten, you begin to fall in love with the characters. They start to get to you and when they hurt, you hurt. When they bleed, you don't bleed because that would be silly, but it still hurts your feelings. Every triumph they make, you share with them.
The world that she's created is still a little hazy to me, but that's my own fault. In the beginning, there's just entirely too much description and I skipped over most of it. You really don't need to understand the world to enjoy the story. I've just been picking things up as I go along and I've done just fine that way.
If you pick up this book from the blurb on the back and the front cover, you go into it expecting dystopian romance. There's a bit of both in there, but it really isn't the focal point. It's a story of humanity, survival, insanity, and overcoming your own self for the greater good. It's a story of desperation and hope.
There's a little bit here for nearly every reader. Don't let the first nine chapters get you down! You'll be glad you got past them! It took me nearly two weeks to force myself through them, but it's more than worth it.
If this is a series you're interested in, it has a bit of a different order. Start with Controlled Descent, then read the first story in Weaving in the Ends (hopefully somebody knows where I hid my copy), then move on to Flight Plan, and finish up with the second story in Weaving in the Ends. I'm told there's a prequel that's only available in e-format, but I won't be touching that until it's in print.
That's how I felt reading this book. The first nine chapters are covered in white paint. It feels like it's been restructured so many times that it's lost Herkes' natural storytelling beauty. Once I hit chapter ten, I flipped back over to the beautiful natural grain side.
I put the book down several times and nearly didn't pick it back up. I'm glad that I did! If I hadn't read Rough Passages before beginning The Restoration series, I probably wouldn't have. I knew going into this that Herkes has natural talent.
Once you get past chapter ten, you begin to fall in love with the characters. They start to get to you and when they hurt, you hurt. When they bleed, you don't bleed because that would be silly, but it still hurts your feelings. Every triumph they make, you share with them.
The world that she's created is still a little hazy to me, but that's my own fault. In the beginning, there's just entirely too much description and I skipped over most of it. You really don't need to understand the world to enjoy the story. I've just been picking things up as I go along and I've done just fine that way.
If you pick up this book from the blurb on the back and the front cover, you go into it expecting dystopian romance. There's a bit of both in there, but it really isn't the focal point. It's a story of humanity, survival, insanity, and overcoming your own self for the greater good. It's a story of desperation and hope.
There's a little bit here for nearly every reader. Don't let the first nine chapters get you down! You'll be glad you got past them! It took me nearly two weeks to force myself through them, but it's more than worth it.
If this is a series you're interested in, it has a bit of a different order. Start with Controlled Descent, then read the first story in Weaving in the Ends (hopefully somebody knows where I hid my copy), then move on to Flight Plan, and finish up with the second story in Weaving in the Ends. I'm told there's a prequel that's only available in e-format, but I won't be touching that until it's in print.
January 14, 2016
I enjoyed this book from the beginning--the characters are well-crafted, relatable, and logical. Their decisions and actions made sense with their development, and I never found myself questioning their authenticity as a result (which is usually a deal breaker on a book for this reader). I especially appreciated how the author took the time investing in the individual characters before they interacted, which only added to the richness of their storylines. So, character development, A+.
The prose was quick, and quickly engaging. The undercurrent of mystery and intrigue, as well as the "everyman" qualities infused in the characters while in extraordinary circumstances reminded me of Eric Ambler's Epitaph for a Spy, possibly one of my favorite books specifically because of this quality in the writing. While some of the dialogue cuts were a bit hard to follow in places and there were stretches of text that I had to comb back through as well, these things did not take me out of the narrative for long. I will definitely be back for more of this author's work.
The prose was quick, and quickly engaging. The undercurrent of mystery and intrigue, as well as the "everyman" qualities infused in the characters while in extraordinary circumstances reminded me of Eric Ambler's Epitaph for a Spy, possibly one of my favorite books specifically because of this quality in the writing. While some of the dialogue cuts were a bit hard to follow in places and there were stretches of text that I had to comb back through as well, these things did not take me out of the narrative for long. I will definitely be back for more of this author's work.
November 16, 2013
Really enjoyed this character-driven, action-packed debut by K.M. Herkes. Characterization is a real strength with this author, and I'm looking forward to reading more adventures about this bunch (especially Carl and Parker).
April 21, 2015
I had the pleasure of reading this book in two sittings. Meaty and intense. Great characters, great action, and excitement that builds throughout. Highly recommended for anyone who loves thrillers, especially with a science fiction or military spin.
February 6, 2014
Set in a dystopian near future, this thriller is chock full of interesting characters (including one that should have been drown at birth). Recommended
January 20, 2015
It was a well written, fast moving novel. I enjoyed the characters and was pulled in by the story. Only downside for me, was the graphic violence at the end, without that, would have been 5 stars!
March 21, 2025
I love this whole series. I've read it repeatedly, and it's still just as good.
December 1, 2021
Controlled Descent was an instant buy for me when I heard that it was about an office woman with a knack for organization and coordination, Alison Gregorio, helping out some ex-military special operative bodyguards and the inventors they are protecting against the overwhelming odds closing in on their remote shelter.
Let me emphasize what grabbed me there, Alison's strength is NOT that she knows martial arts, or is a crack shot with a gun or bow, or has any kind of superpower or specialized background. She's JUST THAT GOOD at getting people to prioritize and cooperate. I love a good story about an ordinary person discovering their inner strengths and the usefulness of their talents, who rises to the occasion and stands their ground against the wicked and powerful.
There are other characters who do have superpowers though, in this survival adventure set in a near future reconstructed United States. Both the optimistic well-imagined setting and Herkes' unique twist on powers are fascinating and engaging in their own way.
This may be plot driven as most thrillers are, opening with a plane crash and building suspense with the pursuit by ruthless villains that must be dodged and thwarted up to the confrontational climax, but it's character focused--and that's where K.M. Herkes shines brightest.
There's Justin the prickly, troubled billionaire genius inventor who has started developing a slew of abilities (invisibility, hardening his skin, feats of strength, etc.) and is learning to use them, even as he struggles with accident-related trauma and mental disabilities affecting memory and concentration and physical disabilities. He's also reeling from losing a family friend in the plane crash, from his divorce and not getting enough time with the son his famous ex-wife won't confirm is his, and from his self-sabotaging approach to personal relationships.
There's also the psychically gifted brothers Carl and Parker who were part of the same covert government military program and now offer their protection (and mercenary) services freelance--if they agree their client's cause is a worthy one. I admire their efficiency and integrity, and Carl's insightfulness as the group's de facto therapist and Parker's doggedness against all odds. But I cherish them for their sibling closeness and devotion, and how well they understand each other even when so much is left unsaid (especially by tight-lipped Parker).
Tyler, Justin's inventing sidekick and beleaguered best friend, is more like Alison. What he lacks in paranormal phenomena or combat skill he makes up for by contributing as much as he can with his own skill set--and as a voice of reason and support and unflinching loyalty time and again. Even though the rational self-interested move would have been to flee from the danger and the billionaire genius attracting such greed and peril.
While I enjoyed the other characters and their complex and deeply emotional interactions and rich inner lives (in particular the author deals well with the post-traumatic stress of Carl and how he's still in therapy), and I delighted in the banter and sarcasm that abounds, it's Alison I'm most drawn to and must celebrate loudest.
Alison is a total authentic gem, ambitious but coming off a stretch of unemployment and financial difficulty that has shaken her confidence, practical but passionate, compassionate but ready with the kind of honesty it's difficult to hear, and supportive but she's not just there for everyone else--she also has emotional needs and goes for what she wants.
The prose is very artful and affecting too in a way that's super hard to describe. Just enough atmospheric and physical detail to establish a 'mental picture' and the mood, and close focus on reactions to the environment (especially the isolation while they are in hiding) and emotional interactions between fully realized characters and their internal struggles.
My point with the above fumbling paragraph is that you may have heard that great speculative fiction is usually either a great concept (big fascinating idea to explore) or a great execution (creativity of prose and plotting and character)? But with K.M. Herkes it's always both. And while I'm singing praises, I should also add that she always sticks the landing, including here, and that's huge.
Controlled Descent has meticulously chosen and organized prose spinning a suspenseful, psychologically complex story of lovable characters with unconventional friendships and romances (and sometimes blurred lines between) unfolding in a pressure cooker under imposed isolation in the wilderness and the threat of violence by corporate masterminds and their goons seeking to seize a revolutionary energy technology--and it's set in a believable, optimistic near future that is post-catastrophe.
This book deserves five stars for a whole that's even more than the sum of its awesome parts.
And here's another of those utterly earnest and slightly awkward "it's not you, it's me" explanations for four stars over five. Though there was humor and triumph too, there are elements in this story that were harsher/more intense/more disturbing and/or sadder than my personal threshold prefers. I will continue to feel haunted by these intense elements, on top of the more positive hope and joy and amazing found family friendships between characters I'll definitely also take away with me.
In this case there were characters who struggle with some depression, grief of loss, physical agony, trauma recovery both physical and mental and frustration, impatience and frustration with themselves over a condition, and some torture and its aftermath.
[Side note: You'll never hear me say I simply don't want to read about characters dealing with depression, PTSD and other trauma, other mental health conditions, or disabilities physical or otherwise, or who are grieving, that's NOT what I mean. If anything it's cathartic and enlightening when so many of the aforementioned are conveyed so acutely as they are here, and of course more positive disability representation in heroes and de-stigmatizing of disabilities and mental health issues is wonderful to see, truly. And please know the torture wasn't at all gratuitous or too graphic either, the author just did very well expressing the anguish.
Nor do I not understand that characters, like real people, need conflict and tribulations to overcome and endure in order to grow and triumph and support each other and forge strong interpersonal relationships in a meaningful way. I just can't distance myself emotionally from fictional trauma, because my brain always links it to real world equivalents and dwells on that reality.]
Moving on, after reading this I had to buy the whole Restoration series and I recommend you do the same. That so far includes Flight Plan (which picks up where this novel left off and delivers more Alison though she's not the focus), Novices (a prequel centered on psychic special operative brothers Carl and Parker), and my planned next read, the collection Weaving in the Ends (two romantic novellas).
It is pretty challenging to name a read-alike for K.M. Herkes' writing, but if I had to try...it'd be something with imaginative, well thought out speculative fiction concepts and flawed, emotionally intense found family characters at its core, like Ferrett Steinmetz's Mancer urban fantasy series.
WHEN CHARACTERS AND A WORLD DRAW YOU IN INESCAPABLY, YOU NEED NOT TAKE THE JOURNEY ALONE---BOOST THE SIGNAL!
Let me emphasize what grabbed me there, Alison's strength is NOT that she knows martial arts, or is a crack shot with a gun or bow, or has any kind of superpower or specialized background. She's JUST THAT GOOD at getting people to prioritize and cooperate. I love a good story about an ordinary person discovering their inner strengths and the usefulness of their talents, who rises to the occasion and stands their ground against the wicked and powerful.
There are other characters who do have superpowers though, in this survival adventure set in a near future reconstructed United States. Both the optimistic well-imagined setting and Herkes' unique twist on powers are fascinating and engaging in their own way.
This may be plot driven as most thrillers are, opening with a plane crash and building suspense with the pursuit by ruthless villains that must be dodged and thwarted up to the confrontational climax, but it's character focused--and that's where K.M. Herkes shines brightest.
There's Justin the prickly, troubled billionaire genius inventor who has started developing a slew of abilities (invisibility, hardening his skin, feats of strength, etc.) and is learning to use them, even as he struggles with accident-related trauma and mental disabilities affecting memory and concentration and physical disabilities. He's also reeling from losing a family friend in the plane crash, from his divorce and not getting enough time with the son his famous ex-wife won't confirm is his, and from his self-sabotaging approach to personal relationships.
There's also the psychically gifted brothers Carl and Parker who were part of the same covert government military program and now offer their protection (and mercenary) services freelance--if they agree their client's cause is a worthy one. I admire their efficiency and integrity, and Carl's insightfulness as the group's de facto therapist and Parker's doggedness against all odds. But I cherish them for their sibling closeness and devotion, and how well they understand each other even when so much is left unsaid (especially by tight-lipped Parker).
Tyler, Justin's inventing sidekick and beleaguered best friend, is more like Alison. What he lacks in paranormal phenomena or combat skill he makes up for by contributing as much as he can with his own skill set--and as a voice of reason and support and unflinching loyalty time and again. Even though the rational self-interested move would have been to flee from the danger and the billionaire genius attracting such greed and peril.
While I enjoyed the other characters and their complex and deeply emotional interactions and rich inner lives (in particular the author deals well with the post-traumatic stress of Carl and how he's still in therapy), and I delighted in the banter and sarcasm that abounds, it's Alison I'm most drawn to and must celebrate loudest.
Alison is a total authentic gem, ambitious but coming off a stretch of unemployment and financial difficulty that has shaken her confidence, practical but passionate, compassionate but ready with the kind of honesty it's difficult to hear, and supportive but she's not just there for everyone else--she also has emotional needs and goes for what she wants.
The prose is very artful and affecting too in a way that's super hard to describe. Just enough atmospheric and physical detail to establish a 'mental picture' and the mood, and close focus on reactions to the environment (especially the isolation while they are in hiding) and emotional interactions between fully realized characters and their internal struggles.
My point with the above fumbling paragraph is that you may have heard that great speculative fiction is usually either a great concept (big fascinating idea to explore) or a great execution (creativity of prose and plotting and character)? But with K.M. Herkes it's always both. And while I'm singing praises, I should also add that she always sticks the landing, including here, and that's huge.
Controlled Descent has meticulously chosen and organized prose spinning a suspenseful, psychologically complex story of lovable characters with unconventional friendships and romances (and sometimes blurred lines between) unfolding in a pressure cooker under imposed isolation in the wilderness and the threat of violence by corporate masterminds and their goons seeking to seize a revolutionary energy technology--and it's set in a believable, optimistic near future that is post-catastrophe.
This book deserves five stars for a whole that's even more than the sum of its awesome parts.
And here's another of those utterly earnest and slightly awkward "it's not you, it's me" explanations for four stars over five. Though there was humor and triumph too, there are elements in this story that were harsher/more intense/more disturbing and/or sadder than my personal threshold prefers. I will continue to feel haunted by these intense elements, on top of the more positive hope and joy and amazing found family friendships between characters I'll definitely also take away with me.
In this case there were characters who struggle with some depression, grief of loss, physical agony, trauma recovery both physical and mental and frustration, impatience and frustration with themselves over a condition, and some torture and its aftermath.
[Side note: You'll never hear me say I simply don't want to read about characters dealing with depression, PTSD and other trauma, other mental health conditions, or disabilities physical or otherwise, or who are grieving, that's NOT what I mean. If anything it's cathartic and enlightening when so many of the aforementioned are conveyed so acutely as they are here, and of course more positive disability representation in heroes and de-stigmatizing of disabilities and mental health issues is wonderful to see, truly. And please know the torture wasn't at all gratuitous or too graphic either, the author just did very well expressing the anguish.
Nor do I not understand that characters, like real people, need conflict and tribulations to overcome and endure in order to grow and triumph and support each other and forge strong interpersonal relationships in a meaningful way. I just can't distance myself emotionally from fictional trauma, because my brain always links it to real world equivalents and dwells on that reality.]
Moving on, after reading this I had to buy the whole Restoration series and I recommend you do the same. That so far includes Flight Plan (which picks up where this novel left off and delivers more Alison though she's not the focus), Novices (a prequel centered on psychic special operative brothers Carl and Parker), and my planned next read, the collection Weaving in the Ends (two romantic novellas).
It is pretty challenging to name a read-alike for K.M. Herkes' writing, but if I had to try...it'd be something with imaginative, well thought out speculative fiction concepts and flawed, emotionally intense found family characters at its core, like Ferrett Steinmetz's Mancer urban fantasy series.
WHEN CHARACTERS AND A WORLD DRAW YOU IN INESCAPABLY, YOU NEED NOT TAKE THE JOURNEY ALONE---BOOST THE SIGNAL!
September 20, 2022
I met the author at a local science fiction convention, and at another recent convention I bought a copy of the book. I found it an exciting read - very much a page-turner.
Set some 40 years after the civil war which resulted in the Restored United States, the book opens with wealthy and eccentric inventory Justin Wyatt testing out one of his inventions. Shortly thereafter, his private jet crashes in mysterious circumstances, forcing him to attempt to survive while avoiding those trying to kill him. At the same time, Alison Gregorio lands a job at a high-end law firm in Seattle. This proves to be the firm that supports Wyatt's businesses, and she quickly finds herself dodging assassins.
Although set some years in our future, the tech and politics feel very current. But the rapid pace of the book doesn't give one a lot of time to think about such matters - rather we're wrapped up watching the engaging characters stay alive while trying to figure out who's killing them and why.
I enjoyed the book, although I felt the ending, which involved a lot of torture, a bit over the top. Consider yourself warned. Other than that, I enjoyed the book.
Set some 40 years after the civil war which resulted in the Restored United States, the book opens with wealthy and eccentric inventory Justin Wyatt testing out one of his inventions. Shortly thereafter, his private jet crashes in mysterious circumstances, forcing him to attempt to survive while avoiding those trying to kill him. At the same time, Alison Gregorio lands a job at a high-end law firm in Seattle. This proves to be the firm that supports Wyatt's businesses, and she quickly finds herself dodging assassins.
Although set some years in our future, the tech and politics feel very current. But the rapid pace of the book doesn't give one a lot of time to think about such matters - rather we're wrapped up watching the engaging characters stay alive while trying to figure out who's killing them and why.
I enjoyed the book, although I felt the ending, which involved a lot of torture, a bit over the top. Consider yourself warned. Other than that, I enjoyed the book.
September 1, 2021
Complicated plot lines with a long list of interesting and varied characters. (The audio version has a great narrator.) If you like action/adventure such as Steve Berry, you'll enjoy this one.
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