Crimson Rage

Crimson Rage #1-5

by Sam J Fires

Death descended in a stifling red cloud.

For Donna, this could be a welcome relief from her meaningless life. But first, she has a life to save.

As Los Angeles spirals into chaos, strangers quickly become allies when Donna encounters police officer Jane Benson and movie director wannabe, Eric Landers. Now, the three have no choice but to rely on one another if there’s any hope of surviving the apocalypse.

39 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 16, 2021

About the author

Sam J Fires is a #1 bestselling author of gripping post-apocalyptic and dystopian thrillers.

Her stories are driven by flawed, resilient characters forced to survive the unthinkable—when the power goes out, the world collapses, and every choice comes at a cost. Expect high-stakes tension, emotional depth, and characters who fight to the bitter end.

In real life, Sam would be the first to admit she probably wouldn’t last five minutes in one of her own worlds.

👉 Be sure to follow Sam on Bookbub for the latest on sales:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sam-j...

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 1 of the Crimson Rage Series of short stories, and I was not disappointed. Meet Donna, Eric and Jane, three people from totally different backgrounds who are brought together after a strange, terrifying sand storm lays waste to Los Angeles. Can they put their differences aside to make it through alive?

Well, as this is a short story, part of a series and the focus is so tightly on these three folks, I reckon they can. Which is probably the only downside to this story. It is a little predictable in the sense that the relationship is predictable. But, the situations they are in, and the nature of the "sand", are far from predictable.

I guess another flaw of all short stories (Which is probably why I'm not usually a fan of them) is the lack of character development. There's just not enough time to really get into all of the backstories in detail. And we never really find out why the sand is so freaky, but I'm hoping Book 2 gives me more on this, and we see our intrepid trio develop.

[Scott Shjefte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grim, horror deaths, end of the world by climate change. Purchased 5 box set - $2.99 August 3, 2022.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unbelievable. I was so engrossed with the books that I had no awareness of the time. Plenty of action to keep your attention. Loved the characters. Ready for more by this talented writer.

[DeeDeeWReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was asked to do an honest review for the 2nd book in this series, so as I said on the prequel Nemesis, I HAD to read it and Crimson Rage First.... I am SO glad I did....

So this book opened and I was like 'What, New characters off the bat?' YUP, and they didn't disappoint. 3 people were going in 3 different directions in their lives until this sandstorm brought them together... Then BOOM! (literally), we are in the same moment as the prequel, but in the other's perspective.

You want a fast, but interesting read that WILL leaving you to want more, THIS is it!!! Where will Sam take us? I am off to find out in the next book!

[Darren Bourn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another book/novella that I received from the author as I am part of his ARC team (but did not realize because I have so many b2ooks on my tablet...lol).

I had read this out of order (had read the next part previously) and this part only fills in the small holes in the story that exist only because I read the stories out of order.

That being said, this dystopian story read well and is worthy of the four stars out of five that I am rating it.

As far as reviews go, this is just my five cents worth.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

A huge dust storm of red sand begins to wreak havoc on Los Angeles - buildings a taking a beating and people are dyeing in horrible ways. Jane, Eric, and Donna, a mismatched trio, must find a way to survive while overcoming personal problems: medical and other. This read is a good start to a promising dystopian series.

[Caroline 'relaxing with my rescue dogs' · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just simply love these type of books and this one was a great introduction to something different. Obviously I needed to continue so have bought the rest of the series to read and find out what happens.

I was given an advance copy by the author and voracious readers but the review is entirely my own.

[Ellen Aish · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book of a trilogy and I can't wait to read the next two. The way the author describes the situation makes you feel as though you are there. This is the sort of story that would make a fantastic mini series.

[Candy Robosky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane, Eric, and Donna are from different worlds but end up trying to survive a massive lethal red sandstorm. What on Earth is going on? How will they survive? Who else survived? I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[Victoria]

Sam Fires DoD it again. He wrote another fabulous book. I can't wait to find out what happens to Jane, Donna and Eric and what happened to Leo

[Asiaman · Rating 4 out of 5]

By the cover I was not sure if I would like the book but took a chance and glad I did.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did like this part of the series much more than the prequel! An exciting story that grabbed me from the start & kept me reading until the end! Interesting ideas & characters! Worth a read!

[Tom Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written, action packed short story. Good characters which are easy to imagine.
Its going to be a great series.
I received this arc for free and wanted to give an honest review.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crimson Rage: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller (Crimson Rage Series Part 1), my ninth read from author Sam J. Fires. A well-written, entertaining read. Waiting for Grip of Honor: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller (End of Days Book 7) to be published in late October I’ve elected to start the Crimson Rage Series since I own the first 6 books.

Level Sands: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller (Crimson Rage Series Part 2), my tenth read from author Sam J. Fires. A well-written, entertaining read.

Desert Rats: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller (Crimson Rage Series Part 3), my eleventh read from author Sam J. Fires. A well-written, entertaining read.

The Sandman: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller (Crimson Rage Series Part 4), my twelfth read from author Sam J. Fires. Another well-written, entertaining read.

Force Hurricane: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller (Crimson Rage Book 5), my thirteenth read from author Sam J. Fires and the conclusion of the Crimson Rage Series. A well-written, entertaining read. Waiting for Grip of Honor: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller (End of Days Book 7) to be published in late October I’ve elected to read the Crimson Rage Series from start to finish since I own the first 6 books. “I received a free Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Kazz Mossman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been reading books by this author because she writes great post apocalyptic stories. I went to Amazon to see what else she had and came across Nemesis, the prequel to this series. It tells what happened before and is standalone.

This started with a sandstorm hitting Los Angeles, but it isn’t just any sandstorm, and it’s only the start.

I loved the three main characters who found themselves thrown together and go on to forge a deep friendship as they fight for survival in this new world.

Things become tricky for trio, especially when they meet people who don’t have the same morals or goals. The story leads up to an excellent slow burn climax that kept me to totally gripped right until the end.

Overall, this is a great book. Usually, I read each novella in the set, but this time bought it altogether. This makes it into a full novel and would appeal to apocalyptic lovers .

[Candy Robosky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jane, Eric, and Donna are from different worlds but end up trying to survive a massive lethal red sandstorm. What on Earth is going on? How will they survive? Who else survived? Old friends and foes return as well as some new unexpected people. I like how the trio is growing and share strengths and weaknesses. Can this new group of people be trusted? You wonder if humanity is still alive or if the sands have turned everyone into their worst nightmare. Action packed, characters continue to be developed. Humanity still exists you just have to work harder to find it in the end of the world. I received an ARC and am leaving my honest review.

[Teresa Rutledge · Rating 2 out of 5]

A few bones to pick, but major ones. Don’t have one of your main characters have a mental illness if you don’t know anything about it and/or aren’t willing to do the months of research to get things right about the illness. Yes, it’s one of my soapboxes and I’ll preach as loud and as long as I have to about it. The second major problem that kept throwing me out of the story was the author couldn’t keep their verb tenses straight. Going from past to present back to past almost gave me whiplash. It was an unsatisfactory read because there was no resolution. Don’t know if this was a setup for more books, don’t really care.

[Stephanie Stander · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new twist

Killer sandstorms and sand zombies make the twists and turns in this series both fascinating and a little creepy. Absolutely read the prequel first because it provides a lot of insight into the whole series (the author offers a free copy at the end of this book). A really good, but quick read with plenty of action and ups and downs.

[Vikki Vaught · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Musings

I enjoyed the characters and the plot, and there is plenty of action to keep you holding on to your seat, breathlessly waiting to see what would happen next. However, I would have liked more exploration as to what caused the sand storms. Happy reading!

[Patricia L. Hines · Rating 2 out of 5]

Chapters 1-5

I liked the story line but, to say books 1-5 , I think it read more like book 1 . Each one was more like a chapter then a book, I would really like to see 4 more books come out after reading " book 1".

[Kay Mack · Rating 4 out of 5]

killing sand a different apocalypse

I really liked the characterisation and the visual sense of the sands. The evil that can appear at such times was well covered, as well. The ending is a sad one.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good collection of short end of the world dystopian stories! Action & fun to be had! A good read! Something a little different!

[Lord · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading the series

I am giving this book series 5 stars because I enjoyed reading it. Now, I will be reading its prequel ...

[dads kindle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Likable Adventure.

Likable characters and a nicely paced story with enough twists and turns to keep it interesting and engaging without bulky overstatement.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the series but was a little loose in the
engagement of characters. I love the unique view
of the sand though

[thomas rutherford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

A,well written and edited saga of an utterly believable post apocalyptic book. Realistic characters and fast-paced action from start to finish.

[Reads_Must · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌩 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 🌩

Crimson Rage
Crimson Rage #1
Sci-Fi
Sam J. Fires
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• ᴍᴜʟᴛɪᴘʟᴇ ᴘᴏᴠꜱ • ꜱᴛᴏʀᴍꜱ • ᴛʀᴀɢᴇᴅʏ •

I've read other books by this author and I liked them so I thought I'd give this series a try.

I really liked the writing style and the different POVs.

I found each of the characters relatable in some way and I actually liked them all.

I haven't read a book featuring a storm quite like this before so I'm very curious about where it came from, why pockets of dark sand seem to target certain people/objects and what else it is capable of.

The pacing was very good. I was kept on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next.

I liked the addition of the anonymous POV. It may have been short but it intrigued me enough that it had me questioning everything.

I'll definitely be reading the next book.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crimson Rage: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller (Crimson Rage Series Part 1), my ninth read from author Sam J. Fires. A well-written, entertaining read. Waiting for Grip of Honor: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller (End of Days Book 7) to be published in late October I’ve elected to start the Crimson Rage Series since I own the first 6 books. “I received a free Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. Next up Level Sands: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller (Crimson Rage Series Part 2). (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Ralph Phares · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Red Sand Storm Arrives

This reads like a prequel to the rest of the series. Here we meet most of the characters we'll see in future books and get a bit of who they are and how they tick. Some of the story evolves gruesomely with vivid descriptions of injury, death and dying but we also see people who sometimes surprise themselves with the courage they find to carry on in the face extreme violence, destruction and depression. Its not a pretty world now. Maybe it never will be again.

[Matt Egan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet

Crimson Rage is the first book in the Crimson Rage series and tells the story of three survivors during an inexplicable meteorological phenomenon in which a red sand storm hits with no warning and kills an untold number of people. The book is short, so we only get an introduction to Eric, Donna and Jane as characters, though the rest of the writing is immaculate. Highly recommended for fans of apocalyptic survival fiction, especially if you prefer shorter format works! 4/5 stars