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Madelyn's Nephew
After the sun turned, Madelyn fled north to escape the riots and the encroaching glaciers. As long as the world was ending, she wanted to live her final days in the one place she had always been happy—her grandmother's cabin. She survived the Roamers, the scavengers, and the wildlife, but she can't escape her fear of dying alone.
She left behind this note:
"Gather my bones, if you find them. If a bear hasn’t dragged them off, or a wolf cracked them for my marrow. My skull goes on the wall with the others. Any other remains can be planted near Sacrifice Rock. That’s where my grandfather is buried, and where I dug up the skull of my beloved grandmother.
Her sweet eyes were still wise and kind, even when I only imagined them from their hollow sockets. She taught us so many things—how to hunt, trap, and fish. She should have taught me how to live alone. I never learned the trick of scaring away the ghosts. They won’t shut up and leave me in peace. I guess it's time to join them."
—Madelyn
She left behind this note:
"Gather my bones, if you find them. If a bear hasn’t dragged them off, or a wolf cracked them for my marrow. My skull goes on the wall with the others. Any other remains can be planted near Sacrifice Rock. That’s where my grandfather is buried, and where I dug up the skull of my beloved grandmother.
Her sweet eyes were still wise and kind, even when I only imagined them from their hollow sockets. She taught us so many things—how to hunt, trap, and fish. She should have taught me how to live alone. I never learned the trick of scaring away the ghosts. They won’t shut up and leave me in peace. I guess it's time to join them."
—Madelyn
279 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 18, 2016
About the author
Ike Hamill
54 books190 followersIke Hamill writes fast-paced horror novels with strong, relatable characters. His books have gained a steady following amongst readers who enjoy his blend of sci-fi, paranormal, occult, and suspense. Whether focused on a small family trying to survive the move to a haunted house, or following a band of angry rebels determined to withstand an apocalypse, his stories draw the reader into the lives of real people in crisis. Readers are always sad to leave the characters behind when the book is finished.
Reviewers compare Ike to Dean Koontz and Stephen King—two of his favorite authors. His narrative often jumps between interwoven stories, presenting readers with a fresh perspective and keeping them guessing until the last chapter. Most of Ike’s readers are repeat customers. Pick up one of his books to learn why.
Reviewers compare Ike to Dean Koontz and Stephen King—two of his favorite authors. His narrative often jumps between interwoven stories, presenting readers with a fresh perspective and keeping them guessing until the last chapter. Most of Ike’s readers are repeat customers. Pick up one of his books to learn why.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 20, 2016
This was another great novel by Ike Hamill. In Madelyn`s Nephew, we first meet Madelyn at what seems to be the lowest point in her life. As we slowly start to learn about the world that Mr. Hamill has created, we see that Madelyn is probably the strongest person ever. I don`t want to say too much about the plot, but the story is amazing and the characters are realistic. As I have said before, Mr. Hamill also writes the best monsters. I am looking forward to the next books in the trilogy.
March 29, 2016
This was an interesting book more science fiction than horror. It is about survival in a future world with few hints about how the world got the way it is. This is the first of a 3 book series so I imagine more will be explained in the following books. I is good enough that I ordered the second book.
January 22, 2016
It's starts promising and I really liked it but it left me somewhat confused. Good characters though.
March 20, 2018
Madelyn's Nephew is set in a post-apocalyptic/dystopian world and begins with the main character, a middle-aged woman, Madelyn. We follow Madelyn's character from the point of giving up to finding a reason to survive; from her nearly complete isolation to becoming part of something bigger than just herself and her narrow-minded fears.
Mr. Hamill is an excellent writer and his stories draw you in from the beginning with interesting characters and fascinating storylines. This story doesn't disappoint. The story leaves a lot of questions but this is the first of a series of books, so I assume much of what we don't know or quite understand about this first book will eventually be explained in the books to come.
I enjoyed the characters. The main character has flaws and at times doesn't come off as very likable but, for some reason, it makes her more believable. The plot is compelling, the action scenes are intense, and the ideas in the book are original enough to keep you reading. The story does get going pretty slowly, however, and as a whole, it's not tightly put together, so it can drag in some places which is why I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars. All in all, I would recommend it.
Mr. Hamill is an excellent writer and his stories draw you in from the beginning with interesting characters and fascinating storylines. This story doesn't disappoint. The story leaves a lot of questions but this is the first of a series of books, so I assume much of what we don't know or quite understand about this first book will eventually be explained in the books to come.
I enjoyed the characters. The main character has flaws and at times doesn't come off as very likable but, for some reason, it makes her more believable. The plot is compelling, the action scenes are intense, and the ideas in the book are original enough to keep you reading. The story does get going pretty slowly, however, and as a whole, it's not tightly put together, so it can drag in some places which is why I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars. All in all, I would recommend it.
June 29, 2021
Ike Hamill certainly has a way of telling a story. Actually his characters tell the story. Madelyn has left what is left of mainstream life and has been living alone in her Grandmother’s cabin. The place where she remembers her happiest moments. Throughout the story it is often hard to distinguish what is real, what is remembered, and what may be hallucinations. A twisted tale to be sure but one that will keep you turning the pages. In the beginning Madelyn seems to be ready to end. As the first book of a trilogy I don’t think I’m giving away any secrets by saying the end may just be the beginning. A great read!
June 9, 2018
Love it
I read extinct first by ike and I truly enjoyed that series. It’s taken me a while to get to this series but I haven’t been able to put it down all day, it kept me guessing all the way through and the I love the end of the world feeling it gives you.
I read extinct first by ike and I truly enjoyed that series. It’s taken me a while to get to this series but I haven’t been able to put it down all day, it kept me guessing all the way through and the I love the end of the world feeling it gives you.
December 18, 2017
Madelyn is a pain in the ass.
June 14, 2016
Ike Hamill is so prolific that I would have to stop reading other authors in order to keep up. So this review is sort of late to the party for MADELYN'S NEPHEW. Once again, Hamill is off and running with something completely different. This one seems to be (MADELYN'S NEPHEW is book one of a planned trilogy so sneaky old Ike might do something to alter veracity of this statement in the next volumes) straight up dystopic post-apocalyptic sci-fi. I must confess that I was more than a little confused at the outset because in typical Ike Hamill fashion, nothing is spelled out clearly, and one has to try and pick up on the various clues left lying about to determine where and when the story is set. I won't spoil that for you, figure it out for yourself.
Madelyn is a middle aged woman who lives by herself in a smart house out in the middle of the woods. She and her house are completely self-sufficient. But it is clear that outside danger lurks. The precise nature of the danger is not clear, nor exactly how many dangers there are. Where is everyone else? Who knows? Exactly what has happened? Who knows. Madelyn exhibits some signs that she may have a little trouble distinguishing past from present and reality from imagination, so the reader is also confused about what is real and what isn't. At least at first. There are plenty of flashbacks that detail earlier episodes in Madelyn's life and some of her family and people in her life. One day her nephew shows up and that triggers a cascade of events that eventually lead to Madelyn and a couple of new friends making a long and dangerous trek back to what's left of civilization.
MADELYN'S NEPHEW is more slowly paced than many of Hamill's older works, perhaps because it is one of his (very) rare novels that is intended from the outset to be the first of a trilogy. But it is fast enough to keep one's interest, especially if, like me, you are splitting your attention between reading the story and trying to figure out what the heck happened to the world, how, when and why. I expect that most of those questions will be answered in the next book, MADELYN'S MISTAKE, that is already downloaded onto my iPad and ready and waiting for me as soon as I post this review.
Recommended.
JM Tepper
Madelyn is a middle aged woman who lives by herself in a smart house out in the middle of the woods. She and her house are completely self-sufficient. But it is clear that outside danger lurks. The precise nature of the danger is not clear, nor exactly how many dangers there are. Where is everyone else? Who knows? Exactly what has happened? Who knows. Madelyn exhibits some signs that she may have a little trouble distinguishing past from present and reality from imagination, so the reader is also confused about what is real and what isn't. At least at first. There are plenty of flashbacks that detail earlier episodes in Madelyn's life and some of her family and people in her life. One day her nephew shows up and that triggers a cascade of events that eventually lead to Madelyn and a couple of new friends making a long and dangerous trek back to what's left of civilization.
MADELYN'S NEPHEW is more slowly paced than many of Hamill's older works, perhaps because it is one of his (very) rare novels that is intended from the outset to be the first of a trilogy. But it is fast enough to keep one's interest, especially if, like me, you are splitting your attention between reading the story and trying to figure out what the heck happened to the world, how, when and why. I expect that most of those questions will be answered in the next book, MADELYN'S MISTAKE, that is already downloaded onto my iPad and ready and waiting for me as soon as I post this review.
Recommended.
JM Tepper
February 3, 2016
The peculiar details of the world Madelyn lives in poke up piece by piece, and the slow reveal of what’s happened to the world is fascinating. Hamill does a great job of filling us in as we go. By the end I felt like I had some idea of what was going on; it was good enough to make me feel satisfied at ending the novel, with enough remaining threads and questions to make me long for a sequel!
Madelyn isn’t what I’d call a likable character, but she’s an enjoyable character, and that’s the more important measure. I loved seeing everything through her point of view, particularly the ways in which she’s justified her hermit-like reclusiveness. Jacob, her nephew, acts as a fantastic prod to change the course of events, question Madelyn’s sanity, and force her into contact with the outside world. The characters have so much depth–even characters who died before the book started.
The Roamers (or Hunters) infuse everything with danger. Hamill endowed them with just enough detail that it made sense that people might be able to escape and avoid them for a time, while creating enough of a credible threat to provide lots of danger for the plot. It kept the tension level high and provided very good pacing.
This is my favorite of Hamill’s books that I’ve read so far, and I can’t wait to read the follow-ons!
For a longer review on my site, visit: http://www.errantdreams.com/2016/01/r...
Madelyn isn’t what I’d call a likable character, but she’s an enjoyable character, and that’s the more important measure. I loved seeing everything through her point of view, particularly the ways in which she’s justified her hermit-like reclusiveness. Jacob, her nephew, acts as a fantastic prod to change the course of events, question Madelyn’s sanity, and force her into contact with the outside world. The characters have so much depth–even characters who died before the book started.
The Roamers (or Hunters) infuse everything with danger. Hamill endowed them with just enough detail that it made sense that people might be able to escape and avoid them for a time, while creating enough of a credible threat to provide lots of danger for the plot. It kept the tension level high and provided very good pacing.
This is my favorite of Hamill’s books that I’ve read so far, and I can’t wait to read the follow-ons!
For a longer review on my site, visit: http://www.errantdreams.com/2016/01/r...
January 23, 2016
Madelyn's Nephew by Ike Hamill is once again one of his best books. Madelyn is the string that binds the first word in the first chapter to the last word in the last chapter. The rest of the stories are just ravellings along that string. It is not really a scary book, but rather cerebral. I found that when I fell asleep while reading it in the wee hours of the morning, that I "moved" into the book. When I woke, I felt like I was travelling in the book, writing my own little section. Madelyn's story is an enigma. Is what she sees, says and does real? This books take place in the future. What I really like about Madelyn's Nephew is that the book ends on a conclusion...at least it seems so. You don't have a cliffhanger...thank goodness. You already know that this is going to be at least a trilogy...and I'm glad to know that. Can't wait for book #2.
January 24, 2016
An absolutely great story with a number of very original themes, which I think you'll agree are very few and far between these days. Mr Hamills character introduction and development are without equal and has superb story telling skills, especially in the post apocalyptic and survival horror genre's.
A most gratifying and enjoyable read, in fact my favorite in at least the last 6 months or more.
A most gratifying and enjoyable read, in fact my favorite in at least the last 6 months or more.
October 14, 2016
Ummm
It's a pretty quick read with some interesting stuff going on. I just couldn't get past, well, a lot of it. I couldn't help but continuously wondering what was going on in the "outside world", how it became the way the author wanted it to be. I understand that it was an apocalypse, but what kind of apocalypse was it? A backstory of some sort would have made the story a lot better.
It's a pretty quick read with some interesting stuff going on. I just couldn't get past, well, a lot of it. I couldn't help but continuously wondering what was going on in the "outside world", how it became the way the author wanted it to be. I understand that it was an apocalypse, but what kind of apocalypse was it? A backstory of some sort would have made the story a lot better.
July 29, 2016
No skimming when you read a Ike Hamill book
I first discovered Ike Hamill when I read the Extinct book. I liked the characters of Madelyn's Nephew and the flow of the story. I like a story when I don't end up skimming over pages that I find boring or over written. I have already downloaded the next two books in the series.
I first discovered Ike Hamill when I read the Extinct book. I liked the characters of Madelyn's Nephew and the flow of the story. I like a story when I don't end up skimming over pages that I find boring or over written. I have already downloaded the next two books in the series.
June 14, 2016
I love love love everything Ike Hamill has written! I am so invented it's redick. Every story is new and fresh. In a post apocalyptic world with a date we aren't so sure of, fear and survival are paramount. Please read!
July 2, 2016
This story was sent to me by the Author for review. I have to say, this story just confused me and I'm not really sure what was supposed to be real and what the main character was hallucinating.
March 10, 2018
Loved Madelyn, read all 3 books in the series, enjoyed the fresh look regarding the end of the world, not by a virus and zombies but because of thecnologie. Madelyn is funny, true, loving and brave
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews