The Fall

Burning Skies #1

by Devon C. Ford

The first in the multi-author, post-apocalyptic blockbuster series. Cal’s ‘honeymoon’ didn’t start off quite how he’d planned. For starters, he was heading somewhere he didn’t actually want to go. And secondly, he was going alone and unmarried. He had no idea that his first visit to New York City would also land him in the middle of a domestic terror attack, forcing him to flee Manhattan in a desperate bid to survive. This was no ordinary terror attack. The Movement, in a misguided attempt to seize political control of the USA, unwittingly invited the destruction of their homeland, and as the bombs start to fall, the shock and loss of life reverberates around the world. Cal, along with a small group he met in NYC, desperately flees inland away from the targeted coastal cities, but chaos follows them around every corner.

Genres: Post Apocalyptic, Audiobook, Science Fiction, Fiction, Apocalyptic, Thriller, Dystopia

298 pages, Paperback

First published January 31, 2018

About the author

Devon is from the UK, having lived in many places until finally settling in the Midlands. His career in public services started in his teens and has provided a wealth of experiences, both good and some very bad, which form the basis of the book ideas that cause regular insomnia.

He first started reading for fun as an adult, having tried his hardest to avoid anything resembling academia growing up, and at that point the world became a far bigger place. He has been reading, at least one book at a time, ever since.

His debut works, the After It Happened series, (Survival, Humanity, Society) were published in April 2016 followed by Hope (July 2016) and Sanctuary (December 2016). The first part of the series concluded with the release of Rebellion which was published in June 2017.

Storming high into the charts with the first books of the After It Happened series, Devon launched into the top 10 sellers listings in the UK, Australia, Canada and the US, and he made the decision to write full time shortly after the launch of Hope.

Devon’s self-published beginnings caused a stir in the publishing world, and resulted in contracts with Podium Publishing for Audible, narrated by R.C. Bray (The Martian, Expeditionary Force, Arisen), before a publishing deal for kindle and paperbacks with Vulpine Press.

Further works have seen the start of a multi-author series, sci-fi/post-apocalyptic cross genre, futuristic dystopian and alternative history zombie apocalypse. Spin-off books from the After It Happened world have been announced for 2018.

Reviews

[John Wiltshire · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got to 70% and just had to give up. I understand that this is the first in a series, and that the author has to set up the premise and all the characters, but the novel still has to be coherent, and this just wasn't for me. I didn't like the main character either. He's supposed to be an ex-Royal Marine, but he seems completely useless, and his reactions to events (terrorist bombs) very odd for someone who was in Special Forces.
But I had other gripes too. After America is wrecked by a series of terrorist bombs, a hostile nation takes the opportunity of the ensuing chaos and lack of leadership to launch a series of nuclear attacks. Most of the nation's forces are wiped out, as the enemy targets army bases as well as cities. However, one super-duper, supreme, elite, best of the best team of Special Forces operatives survives and regroups to save the day... and one of them is (wait for it) a woman. Seriously. I gave up. I don't come to these sorts of books to find a progressive narrative.

[Stace · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

This was more political intrigue (which bores me to tears) than apocalyptic survival story which is what I love. So I loved Cal’s part of the plot and those that tied into his story but the rest of it was bogged down by so many details and characters of who was screwing over who to destroy America that I just started skimming to reach the next phase of Cal’s escape.

[Jim A · Rating 1 out of 5]

A quarter of the way through this and I found nothing compelling with the lead character, Cal. Nothing but whining because his didn't get married but is on his honeymoon in NYC anyway. Maybe it gets better, I won't ever know.

[Toni Boughton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just plain good apocalyptic fiction

This author weaves a fast-moving story of attacks, both nuclear and not, on America. Well worth a read for any fan of apocalyptic/military fiction.

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I finish this book I actually said boo out loud.

[Marcin W · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 22%.
Story was just dragging & feels like will be just a generic action chit with no soul or message.

[Nate · Rating 2 out of 5]

One aspect of this book which differs from similar stories was the premise that a hostile foreign power could manipulate right-wing, nationalist, paramilitary elements within the United States and utilize them as pawns to undermine our security and sovereignty. I have to say that this was an interesting and appealing departure from the main vein of this sub-genre, breaking from the pseudo-patriotic, ultra-conservative, war-mongering mindset commonly found in these types of post-apocalyptic tales.

On the other hand, this story had a couple major drawbacks. Firstly, the details on the military operations of the hostile foreign power - both at the tactical and strategic level - are something less than minimal. This is really more of a novella, so if you're looking for a sweeping, in-depth military thriller in the style of Tom Clancy, this will disappoint you.

Secondly, this story is guilty of conforming to a mentality which writer Rebecca Solnit calls "elite panic," and doesn't do NYC any favors in its portrayal of that city in a time of crisis. While a myriad of books, movies, and TV shows perpetuate the idea that disasters will lead to anarchy, social collapse, and a "dog-eat-dog" world, we find the opposite is true in numerous historical examples - including several from New York like 9/11 and Hurricane Sandy - and that most people in a time of upheaval actually band together, pool their resources, demonstrate acts of bravery and selflessness for even complete strangers, and form meaningful new bonds across social divisions. For more on this, check out the inspiring and iconoclast "A Paradise built in Hell" by Rebecca Solnit.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were a surprising amount of spelling mistakes in this story. That was the first thing that irked me. I guess they were missed because they were words that were spelled right, however they were the wrong word. So there were a number of times I had to re-read sentences and try to figure out what was actually being said.

I generally like this genre, however this story bored me. Too many military terms and references, too many guns references, to which I have no idea about. I understand that many people love a good military tale. Go for it! Maybe you will enjoy it. I am more interested in the regular person's experience. And I didn't get enough of it out of this book.

Another issue for me, is that I payed money for a book, and it was just too short! It was over and nothing had been tied up. I get that it is a series, however, for me, the best series are those that end each book so the reader is satisfied that they got something out of it, while at the same time wanting to know more. I don't want to learn more about the characters in this story. They didn't go anywhere or learn anything significant from their troubles, nor do I care to pay more money to (maybe) find out in a later installment.

[Monique · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a bad novel that I ended up not finishing.

The characters were super annoying with the MC getting on my nerves. He was a whinny, selfish, stupid man who wouldn’t stop complaining about everything. It was hard to root for someone when you just wanted him to shut up. The SC’s were bland and utterly forgettable. I got them mixed up numerous times and kept forgetting who was speaking and what their background was.

The plot was bad and nonsensical. I thought the apocalyptic end was overkill. It felt like the author had heard about other apocalyptic novels featuring terrorist attacks, nuclear bombs, disintegrating infrastructure and political coups. Since Ford couldn’t figure out which one would be ideal he just threw them all in. It was excessive and unnecessary. Random violence and death don’t make a good novel.

The pacing was off as the beginning was super slow.

Overall this was a disappointing apocalyptic novel that I would recommend to anyone.

[Lorrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were a lot of things about this book that just irked me. I guess the biggest one is that we never spend long enough on any character or group of characters to develop any sort of connection with them. The book just jumps all over the place from one group to the next, and never stays long enough to figure out their motivations. Why things happen is as important as what's happening. Unfortunately, even as the book closes, we STILL have no idea why the shit hit the fan, let alone who did it.

[Krista · Rating 2 out of 5]

For me it was pretty slow going in the beginning. The author kept jumping points of view without a lot of character development. It was okay once the attacks started, but even then it was jumpy. I'm left with a lot of characters, a lot of different storylines and not a whole lot to make me want to continue on with the series.

[Charles Mccaughey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Usual first book

Getting bored with multiple publications of a story. Thank goodness for top authors who can provide fiction in one book form.

[Camille · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s a lot happening in this book. It eventually comes together but it ends up on a cliffhanger. I don’t think I will be reading the next one though.

[Jay Beatrice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dnf 14% I hate reading about rhe bad guys and so far, the good guy, Cal was doing nothing for me. Too bad. Had been looking forward to this book.

[Anastasiya M · Rating 1 out of 5]

I genuinely thought I was getting into a gritty, post-apocalyptic dystopian story—something tense, thought-provoking, maybe even bleak in all the right ways. Instead, I ended up with a plodding, politically heavy mess that felt more like a thinly veiled rant than a proper narrative.

The premise had promise, I’ll give it that. A world falling apart, society collapsing under pressure, a small group of survivors trying to find their footing. That should’ve been compelling. But the execution was painfully lackluster. The pacing was all over the place, and most of the so-called “twists” were either telegraphed from a mile away or so random they felt like afterthoughts. Nothing landed the way it was meant to—dramatic beats fell flat, and any tension just fizzled out before it could build.

Characters? Cardboard cutouts. We had Adam, the stoic ex-soldier who spoke in clichés and apparently could solve every problem with either a gun or a lecture. Sarah, who existed mostly to ask questions or be rescued. And a handful of others who blended together into one gray mass of survivalist tropes and preachy monologues. Not one of them felt real or emotionally grounded. It was like the book wanted me to care deeply about these people but never gave me an actual reason to.

What frustrated me most was how the story veered hard into political territory and never looked back. It wasn’t dystopian—it was political commentary dressed up in survival gear. The worldbuilding, instead of exploring complex systems breaking down or human nature under pressure, was laser-focused on pushing a very specific viewpoint. And look, I’m all for fiction that explores politics within a larger narrative, but this didn’t do that. It just used the genre as a vehicle for speeches, not storytelling.

The setting could’ve been something—urban ruins, makeshift strongholds, the eerie quiet of a world gone still. But it barely registered. There was no atmosphere, no texture. It was like the background was painted in grayscale while the characters shouted at each other in front of it.

And the writing... clunky, repetitive, and stiff. The dialogue didn’t flow naturally, the descriptions were either too sparse or painfully overwritten, and the emotional beats felt forced. There were entire chapters that felt like a lecture, not a novel. It just wasn’t engaging in the slightest.

By the time I hit the last page, I was more irritated than anything else. I kept hoping it would improve, that the plot would finally grip me or the characters would show some spark of depth. But it never happened. What should’ve been a tense survival story ended up as a dull, one-note political soapbox, and I honestly regret sticking it out to the end.

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[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

America is hit with several nuclear bombs.
That's basically the premise of this story.
The book isn't bad, per se, but there are WAY too many characters.
You have several groups of characters in several different locations. Only one of the 30 or more characters is actually well rounded. As the story bounced from location to location to location, I often found myself distracted by trying to figure out who in the world each character was.
First of all, you have Cal, the initial protagonist. By the end of the story, five characters have been added to his story line. Then you have the anti-government, former military group who think they are just bringing down wall street and fail to realize they are just pawns in a bigger war. At the headquarters, there are 3 or 4 characters who are given too much space but not fully rounded out. Then you have two groups of their people out in the midst of the attack, and just enough of their backstories are given to add confusion. Then there's the elite military group comprised of 10 characters, each one given a backstory. There's also the politican and her aid who are being escorted by secret service. I don't remember how many are in that group, but at least one secret service member is set up to be an important character. Then you also have the bad guys in Beijing who are behind everything. And even their foot soldiers aiding in the attack are given story lines...I feel like I'm missing people...I probably am...oh yeah, there was also some teenage thugs in Central Park that died in the same chapter in which they were introduced, and yet I know what their nicknames were and the reason why they were called such and their dreams for the future.
Seriously if a character is going to be killed off in 5 chapters or less, don't waste my brain space on a ton of tiny personal details.
Had there been fewer characters or maybe if the story were rearranged somehow to eliminate some of the location jumping, it would have been much better.
Honestly, I feel like everything that took place in Beijing and all of the parts concerning their henchmen could have been cut from the book and nothing would have really been missing.

[Kris McCracken · Rating 1 out of 5]

"The Fall" by Devon C. Ford descends into the literary abyss with all the grace of a drunken stumble through a minefield. Ford's attempt at crafting a post-apocalyptic narrative is akin to watching a blindfolded monkey try to juggle hand grenades – chaotic, nonsensical, and ultimately hazardous to one's sanity.

Cal, the protagonist, is about as captivating as a soggy biscuit in a rainstorm, a Brit lost amidst the debris of a New York terror attack. But rather than navigating the chaos with any semblance of purpose, he flounders like a fish out of water, his actions as contrived as a seagull pretending it didn't steal your chips.

Ford's prose has the finesse of a sledgehammer, hammering home tired tropes and predictable plot twists with all the grace and subtlety of a platypus on rollerblades. Stilted and forced dialogue lands with the dexterity of a brick through a window, shattering any hope of immersion in the narrative.

Character development is as absent as a politician's conscience, leaving readers stranded in a wasteland of cardboard cutouts and tired stereotypes. Attempts at humour fall flatter than a punctured tyre in a desert, leaving readers parched for wit and originality.

The plot careens off the rails in a dizzying whirlwind of clichés and contrivances, culminating in a hyperbolic, apocalyptic ending that feels as if written by a sleep-deprived student on a last-minute cram session before an exam. It's as if Ford threw every apocalyptic scenario he could think of into a blender and hit puree, leaving readers with a narrative smoothie that tastes more like second-hand vomit than a tropical treat.

⭐

[Amanda Turner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was given 1.5 stars but rounded up for Goodreads.

Honestly, I don't know why I didn't DNF this book, I didn't really have a clue what was happening until maybe the last 50 pages.
There were just too many characters thrown in with new names and my brain just couldn't keep up.

The story follows a man from England on his no longer honeymoon as he visits the tourist attraction of NYC.
Then it moves onto a terrorist group, and their part in the bombing that's about to happen.
Then he brings a woman into the story, and a cop, and an ex spy man, and more people after that and honestly it was just too much for me.

The basics premise of the book is that America is under attack from (honestly, I still don't even know, I think china) and it follows how it comes about and the following few hours as the war starts.

I think for the right person, this could be a fantastic series to read, but unfortunately for me, it just wasn't right.

That being said, right at the end, I did consider reading the next book to find out what happened, so I definitely got there in the end, but I prefer reading for enjoyment, and this just used a little too much brain power to follow along.

[A Schaeffs · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise of an entire nation descending into chaos certainly evokes a morbid fascination, akin to that unsettling feeling as you drive by a horrific car crash. The intricate plot unfolds with a good deal of detail, making the "how" and "who" clear from early on. The characters are vivid, one of Devon's best skills, definitely drawing me in to want to check out the subsequent books in the series, to see if the other authors are on par.

The audiobook was an enjoyable listening experience, with top-notch narration, captivating my attention from the first chapter.

The premise of the novel is certainly unsettling, increasing the tension and drama surrounding the events. Although only a secondary character, I would have loved a few chapters from Sebastian's point of view.

[George · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book wasn't my favorite read of the year. For starters, only one or two of the 50 or so characters survived until the end of the book; making it hard to connect with any of them. The plot had potential, an attack on the US by China, but it seemed disjointed, probably because none of the characters were real. There were errors of fact: 1. the US military did not put up a fight; 2. intelligence indications and warning wasn't even a part of the story, so no US preparation; 3. the author only researched Army, so Fort Bragg was hit with a nuke first, but no fleet nor Air Force bases--only population centers. I'll start on book 2 only because it was part of the audible.com deal.

[Pam Shelton-Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read books by this author before and enjoyed them a lot. This was very good! I'm not a huge fan of starting after the event and then backing up to before, but it worked fine in this case. There were a very few writing errors (ex careering around a corner instead of careening). I like that the main character was British with that point of view. The event unfolds in a very sinister and terrifying way. I hope to see Sebastian in the future...he was awesome. I look forward to the next book, which is by one of my favorite authors in this genre.

[Robert Tew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book explores the world of global subterfuge, and in this case the United States of America is the prey and China is the predator, almost straight out of today's headlines. The storyline is chilling and the mechanisms used to bring about the invasion are indeed plausible. Hopefully, those that read this series will see that catastrophic change is just a closed, unlocked door away.

This was a good read, as well as the many other books from Devon C Ford. Well worth the time spent on reading/listening to the literary expressions of this author.

[Scott Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid post- appocolypse novel from Devon Ford

Another solid post- appocolypse novel from Devon Ford. I read his After it Happened series, consuming a book per day. (Being out on bed rest helped.) Ford does a great job making the unthinkable seem plausible and plays out the struggles of the survivors in a way that left me me both sleep-derived and wanting for more. On to book two of this series!

[D. E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A DCF. SYFY. Novel (BSB. - 1) Nuclear Attack on the United States

DCF. has. penned a SYFY. Novel About a mercenary group of Americans who decide to destroy the infrastructure of the United States. Unbeknownst to then n the Chinese were the ones who were supporting them with munitions and money. The Chinese used the mercenaries mission to cover theirs when they attacked the US. This i s an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS

[Wilma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cal sets off for his honeymoon but his bride to be doesn't show. He is alone in New York City when a massive attack comes from a group of Nationalists (?) plot to turn the power off to NYC. Unknown to them the Chinese are beginning their own attack on the US of A. Nuclear explosions wreck the east and west coasts. Poor Cal is in the middle of it all.

Good story but the ending sucked. There must be another book coming.

[Christopher Reiff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent dystopia fiction, with a few new wrinkles thrown in. It took a little while to get invested it the characters and a few have potential. The last 20% of the book got me hooked so I will read the next in the series. I am also interested in continuing to read the rest of the trilogy as each book has a different author. I am curious how the characters and stories will evolve from book to book, or if the narratives are wildly different.

[Jan Martindale · Rating 5 out of 5]

A jet propulsion ride through an American disaster

High stakes warfare, started by deluded patriots in NYC, where an unlucky British tourist, a West Virginia free spirit, a loyal rookie NYPD officer fight to survive the first night fleeing the city. And a small coterie of top tier combat operators, & a freshly sworn-in POTUS, must regroup, plan to defeat the enemies who have devastated both coasts.

[Rachael Horton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant!!!!

An absolutely riveting first book in the new series by Devon Ford! I read this in record time and couldn't put it down. Great from start to finish and now I'm left itching for more. Perfectly written characters, one of Ford's strengths, brilliant plot and sub plots that leave you with so much to think about. A must read

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.

I cannot wait to see the next book. When does it come out? This was a great read and I am not kidding I want more please. The characters were well defined and believable. Looking forward to seeing the results of a book 2 please. I cannot recommend 3 book enough. I loved it. Buy it you will love it.

[karl Chaplain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read.
Looking forward to the next instalment.
Ford is probably among my favorite authors within the genre.
Loved the after it happened series and this just carries on with another damned hard to put down read..

Whilst I'm waitng on the next instalment.
N C REEDS fire from the sky series is queued and ready

Another top read.