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AUTHORSdb 2017 Gold Medal Winner (novella)KRONOS PLAGUE is the gut-wrenching horror novella that bridges the gap between Amazon's #1 bestselling author Max Hawthorne's debut novel, Kronos Rising, and the Kronos Kraken trilogy.It's Jurassic Park meets The Walking Dead. How fast can you run?If you're fans of dinosaur books for adults like Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park and Lost World, must read adventure books like Greig Beck's To the Center of the Earth series, or amazing action stories a la Steve Alten's Meg franchise, you're going to LOVE the Kronos Rising series!THE DEADLIEST KILLERS ARE THE ONES YOU CAN'T SEE.Three weeks have passed since the monstrous Kronosaurus imperator’s attack on Harcourt Marina stunned the world. The death toll was horrific, but Paradise Cove’s traumatized survivors soon discover they have more to worry about than just burying their dead and rebuilding their shattered lives.Accompanying the pliosaur were hordes of primeval pathogens. With their host destroyed, the Cretaceous-era bacteria are forced to find new homes for themselves. They tiny, bipedal life forms whose warm, iron-rich blood provides perfect growing conditions. They begin to multiply and spread, their mutagenic qualities quickly warping their unwitting host’s delicate bodies and minds.Soon, the infected are transformed into mindless beasts, consumed with a burning hunger for flesh. And like all ravening beasts, they must feed . . .Kronosaurus is back in . . . the Kronos Rising series!

66 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 24, 2016

83 people are currently reading
122 people want to read

About the author

Max Hawthorne

15 books86 followers
Max Hawthorne is an American author. He grew up in Philadelphia, where he graduated with a BA from Central High School and a BFA from the University of the Arts. He is the author of Memoirs of a Gym Rat, an outrageous exposé of the health club industry, as well as the award-winning Kronos Rising novel series.

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5 stars
131 (40%)
4 stars
101 (31%)
3 stars
60 (18%)
2 stars
19 (5%)
1 star
10 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
Profile Image for ❀ Crystal ✿ -  PEACE ☮ LOVE ♥ BOOKS .
2,532 reviews308 followers
June 1, 2021
3.5 Stars
This was a super quick read all about a virus that’s unleashed from the grown creatures (from Kronos Rising) coming out of hiding and mingling with humans. It was a bit all over the place as it deals with quite a few characters in a short amount of time. We don’t really learn anything about the virus but of course the gov’t comes in and does what it does-takes over and quarantines the area, also naively believing that they surely contained it all. Good read and even though it wasn’t super informative. I’m more curious to see how this will play out in later books in the series.
Profile Image for Shelley Barr.
44 reviews5 followers
June 30, 2023
Wasn’t really sure what was going on here, or where it was leading to. I was a nice quick read, just wish there was more to it.
Profile Image for Scott Mardis.
4 reviews19 followers
December 5, 2016
The latest embroidery on the Kronos Rising tapestry takes us in still a new direction than the previous installments, this one somewhat approaching the opening chapters of The Stand, in which a nasty plague of Biblical proportions begins with horrific consequences. The "Cretaceous Cancer" creates victims that remind this reader of the possessed Regan MacNeil in the Exorcist: diseased and twisted, insane but with a superhuman strength. Set during the events of the first KR novel, familiar characters like Jake Braddock and Amara Nakamura make a welcome return. The writing is on par with classic Stephen King and William Peter Blatty, not Harold Robbins like another tired "sea monster" series has become. I very much enjoyed this and the ending is eerily similar to real events that happened in Miami a few years back (but this was written years before). I highly recommend this worthy addition to the KR series.
Profile Image for BookzBookzBookz.
Author 12 books73 followers
January 31, 2020
Plague, a short story in the Kronos Rising series, by Max Hawthorne, left me in two states. The first was one of confusion, mostly because of the abrupt ending. I know, I know, it’s a short story, but seriously- that was wrong! I’d never have purchased such a short tale as an audiobook had I known!

The second was the feeling of being impressed. Now the narrator, John H. Fehskens, was awful, but the story was good. The guy’s voice was animated and even a bit lively at times, but it didn’t fit the story. There needed to be something ominous, serous in the telling of such a story and this guy didn’t have it. But I pushed through listening to him to find I liked where this book was going.

Because of the seriousness of the story, I may purchase the next book in the series- but if there are anymore audiobooks, (without Fehskens), I may get them too, but seriously, he can’t narrate. He took away. Also, there wasn’t a great deal of pliosaur banter. As long as I’m not listening to the creature’ s thoughts’s I’m happy. It was way too much in the book’ predecessor. I really don’t need to know what the monster thinks.

Check out the short story!
If you dare...
97 reviews1 follower
July 6, 2020
Huh?

Enjoyed the first book. The prequel was not to bad and a fun read. But this book.... sorta strange ending that is not an ending? Amara apparently changed her last name back to her family one? or was this an error. Was the marina rebuilt? As no mention is made of the destruction from the first book? How long has it been? Adds characters that we are supposed to know the background of from the way they are presented but no info on them. Almost as if this was created as a short story afterthought? Reading info for next book does not seem to relate to this book other then infection? Almost wondering if other books in series written first and this just a background fill in or something. Not sure.
Profile Image for Anthony Calisto.
29 reviews
January 21, 2020
An unexpected but unexplored turn.

When authors normally write about prehistoric monsters or Kaiju running amok many don't often focus on the pathological impact these creatures have on the environ!ent. Creatures reaped for millions of years and suddenly then freed could be carrying all sorts of nasty things that have been left to grow and evolve unchecked and unreported until finally they are spread. With people focused on the big baddie no one really takes into account the little monsters invading bodies and minds. Max Hawthorne does and if you like an interesting aspect on what horrors a monster can carry them this is for you
Profile Image for Nick Raines.
149 reviews1 follower
July 26, 2020
This super short bridge between book 1 and 2 on the Kronos Rising series was ok. It adds a little bit, namely the titular plague into the series lore, but that is it.

We meet a few new characters I can't remember (I read it just yesterday) as they start to realize a very ancient bacteria strain comes into play.

This book was probably something the sequel could have summed up in a few pages, instead we get 70 decent pages of nothing really. It isn't bad by any means, but it isn't particularly good either. It's okay.
404 reviews2 followers
Read
October 13, 2023
A good teaser to get you interested. It worked! I am getting ready to read the book.

This promises to be a really good book. I cannot wait to get started. I love this kind of book. Must be the nurse in me. Definitely not for the faint hearted! You will probably need a strong stomach and nerves of steel to read this book!
Profile Image for Nicolette Lackey-Thomas.
2 reviews
May 13, 2017
Great read ties Kronos Rising to Kronos Rising Kraken. Loved it

Great read ties Kronos Rising and Kronos rising Kraken together without flaw! Max never fails to deliver Lizard man out!
118 reviews1 follower
January 13, 2018
Plague

This is a great progression to the novel Kronos Rising and sets up Kronos Rising:Kraken Vol. 1. This prologue is short but is a page turner! I am obsessed with these Max Hawthorne books!
31 reviews
October 4, 2020
Filler

This is a short story set just after the first Kronos book to set the background for the rest of the series. Quick to read it covers the initial pleasure outbreak. Not originally published it was the author's own internal continuity notes.
Profile Image for Richard.
377 reviews4 followers
July 11, 2021
Superb novella which tells a tale beyond Kronos Rising. I like the fact characters make a cameo and also like the evolution of the story. It makes sense if creatures are returning so would bacteria and how that may impact the world. Great little read and I continue to be impressed by Hawthorne.
Profile Image for Cheryl Lee.
203 reviews1 follower
April 12, 2022
Excellent

I have read two of the Kronos series now and so far it’s been an interesting read. The author takes you on a wild ride giving the reader a taste of what it would be like if supposedly extinct creatures came back. Scary and exciting stories
Profile Image for Lizzie.
208 reviews19 followers
June 19, 2018
Holy crap what a tease! Now I have to wait three days for the next in the series! I can't wait!
16 reviews
October 24, 2018
Another quick read.

The plague really wasn’t addressed in the other books other than to mention it was going around and of course the main character twist.
Profile Image for Wayne Murphy.
87 reviews7 followers
November 26, 2018
A prelude to the next novel

Alright i got suckered after reading Diablo so I bought this companion to it. I loved every minute of it and now it's time to start the next one!
Profile Image for Yogi Ramachandran.
37 reviews1 follower
May 11, 2019
It's a short book. There's more to the monster than meets the eye. This book sets the stage for something sinister waiting in the dark alley.
88 reviews2 followers
February 21, 2020
Great book

Grabs you and keeps on going. No stopping the action. Only complaint is that the book ended abruptly. Check it out
11 reviews5 followers
June 19, 2020
Great but short .

I was really getting into the story & then it was over ! Seriously want to know what happens, The plague was just getting started !
329 reviews2 followers
December 28, 2020
WOW!

The series started at terrific and then got better. Is the word "overachiever" in your vocabulary, Mr. Hawthorne? Where can you go with book 3? I can't wait to find out!
Profile Image for Bee Lee.
12 reviews
March 4, 2021
Ugh. Nope - not a great read for 2021. Didn't hold my attention either.
14 reviews2 followers
July 25, 2021
Way too short! This can’t even qualify as a book. It is an essay. Rip-off!
11 reviews
June 4, 2022
A virus has begun to take over....and there is no cure! Lock the doors, turn out the lights, and be quiet so maybe they won't hear you......until you scream!!!!!!!!!!!!!
93 reviews1 follower
July 30, 2022
Creepy

The story line was good but would have liked a little more detail on the pathogens. Nice short story all in all. Not for those with a weak stomach.
319 reviews2 followers
September 16, 2022
good but

This is only 66 pages long and leaves right as things get going. I like the storyline but would expect more for the price.
97 reviews1 follower
July 31, 2025
Totally different to book. 1

Read this mini book in a couple of hours. Nothing much to do with book 1. Very confusing. Jury still out.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews

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