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Decimation #1
Decimation: The Girl Who Survived
Book one of the ground-breaking Decimation trilogy
Fifteen years ago, the Orestes virus first emerged, sweeping across the globe and infecting every living person within a matter of days. Despite the best efforts of the scientific community, there is no treatment, no vaccine. It lies dormant until a woman gives birth. Then she dies.
Teenage wheelchair athlete, Antimone Lessing, can’t remember how she got pregnant. She thinks her life is over as the doctors prepare to deliver her baby. Meanwhile, a hunt is underway to arrest the man suspected of raping her, but even if the police catch him, it will be too late for Antimone.
When she unexpectedly survives, she becomes a vital clue in the race to develop a cure before the global population declines beyond the point of no return.
But survival comes at a price. As her doctors try to understand why she is still alive, she must choose between preserving humanity's future and protecting the life of her newborn child.
How far would you go to save the human race?
Fifteen years ago, the Orestes virus first emerged, sweeping across the globe and infecting every living person within a matter of days. Despite the best efforts of the scientific community, there is no treatment, no vaccine. It lies dormant until a woman gives birth. Then she dies.
Teenage wheelchair athlete, Antimone Lessing, can’t remember how she got pregnant. She thinks her life is over as the doctors prepare to deliver her baby. Meanwhile, a hunt is underway to arrest the man suspected of raping her, but even if the police catch him, it will be too late for Antimone.
When she unexpectedly survives, she becomes a vital clue in the race to develop a cure before the global population declines beyond the point of no return.
But survival comes at a price. As her doctors try to understand why she is still alive, she must choose between preserving humanity's future and protecting the life of her newborn child.
How far would you go to save the human race?
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 13, 2017
333 people are currently reading
465 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
May 17, 2018
I love to find a new author that you just hope gets that break because OMG this is a belting book, with a superb story line, real bad ass characters and punch in the air heroes. It is a heart breaking story of a sixteen year old girl who had everything to live for, ok she was in a wheelchair but full of life, brimming with confidence and wow what an athlete. Then one idiot’s idea of getting even meant that her life was over, seriously over like she was going to die. Antimone was pregnant, and for the last 15 years all women over 4 weeks pregnant were living under a death sentence due to a virus that only became active when women were expecting a baby.
When a discarded Antimone awoke in a hospital basement in terrible pain she became the first woman to survive pregnancy and childbirth and an extremely valuable commodity for the pharmaceutical company that owned the facility where she had given birth. My whoops of sheer joy were soon roped back in when Rosalind Baxter first made an appearance. My lips were well and truly sealed. She is one callous lady.
Oh boy this is heart in your mouth stuff, just remembering to breathe became difficult as the story was so wickedly brilliant. Well let me put it this way, this ‘lady’, using the term very loosely here, didn’t become so darn evil over night. There are some pretty riveting minor story lines that became big league players as this ever-increasing fast paced story just finds those extra gears that many don’t have. There are some cracking characters both good and bad that are very distinctive, memorable and impossible to mix up.
A shocking and unfortunately believable story that could be our future one day or should I say our end. Highly recommended!
When a discarded Antimone awoke in a hospital basement in terrible pain she became the first woman to survive pregnancy and childbirth and an extremely valuable commodity for the pharmaceutical company that owned the facility where she had given birth. My whoops of sheer joy were soon roped back in when Rosalind Baxter first made an appearance. My lips were well and truly sealed. She is one callous lady.
Oh boy this is heart in your mouth stuff, just remembering to breathe became difficult as the story was so wickedly brilliant. Well let me put it this way, this ‘lady’, using the term very loosely here, didn’t become so darn evil over night. There are some pretty riveting minor story lines that became big league players as this ever-increasing fast paced story just finds those extra gears that many don’t have. There are some cracking characters both good and bad that are very distinctive, memorable and impossible to mix up.
A shocking and unfortunately believable story that could be our future one day or should I say our end. Highly recommended!
April 11, 2017
Sci-fi isn't a genre I read much of, but when this book was recommended to me, and I read the description, I became interested in the story.
In the not so distant future a virus is wiping out mankind by killing all women after they give birth. The plot pivots around Antimone, who survives childbirth, and could be useful in finding a cure that could save the human race.
I was very impressed with the plot - greed, cover ups, lies told by big pharmaceuticals and sacrifices having to be made to save people, all provided a great paced story. I also liked Antimone, strong, feisty and determined to find out, why her?
I'm glad that this book was recommended to me as it's a very impressive sci-fi thriller that deserves to be more well known/read than it currently is. Highly recommended.
In the not so distant future a virus is wiping out mankind by killing all women after they give birth. The plot pivots around Antimone, who survives childbirth, and could be useful in finding a cure that could save the human race.
I was very impressed with the plot - greed, cover ups, lies told by big pharmaceuticals and sacrifices having to be made to save people, all provided a great paced story. I also liked Antimone, strong, feisty and determined to find out, why her?
I'm glad that this book was recommended to me as it's a very impressive sci-fi thriller that deserves to be more well known/read than it currently is. Highly recommended.
did-not-finish
April 17, 2022Man, I tried.
It's the author's job to make it possible for the reader to suspend disbelief, and that didn't happen here.
I've been abandoned on Mars, accompanied ring-bearers with hairy toes and a penchant for second breakfasts, and spent a terrifying winter in a haunted Colorado hotel.
One thing I have never done is given birth, and it's obvious in the early pages of this book that neither has the author. Nor, apparently, has he ever known a woman who has had a c-section, because I don't care how gifted a wheelchair athlete Antimone is, her actions after giving birth are just not going to happen. Sorry. You lost me.
DNFed at 8%.
It's the author's job to make it possible for the reader to suspend disbelief, and that didn't happen here.
I've been abandoned on Mars, accompanied ring-bearers with hairy toes and a penchant for second breakfasts, and spent a terrifying winter in a haunted Colorado hotel.
One thing I have never done is given birth, and it's obvious in the early pages of this book that neither has the author. Nor, apparently, has he ever known a woman who has had a c-section, because I don't care how gifted a wheelchair athlete Antimone is, her actions after giving birth are just not going to happen. Sorry. You lost me.
DNFed at 8%.
June 14, 2017
It is some years into the future and the Human Race is dying. In 2017 a virus swept the world. It doesn't do any great damage straight away but when women give birth they die almost immediately afterwards. Billions of pounds is being poured into research for a cure- the company that finds it will be rich beyond measure.
For teenage Antimone even contemplating getting pregnant is the last thing on her mind. She is a talented wheelchair athlete destined for the Paralympics -until she discovers she has been date raped. Much to the scientist's amazement she and the baby survive - but why is the multi billion question.
This is a great YA book. I loved the characters of Antimone and Jason. The book was fast paced and I read it very quickly as I was desperate to find out how it would end. The only reason I didn't feel I could give it five stars was that the villain was so villainous that I felt they slipped from being totally believable to an almost cartoon 'baddy!
Thanks to TBC & the author for giving me a chance to read & review this. I'll be interested to read more from Richard T Burke.
For teenage Antimone even contemplating getting pregnant is the last thing on her mind. She is a talented wheelchair athlete destined for the Paralympics -until she discovers she has been date raped. Much to the scientist's amazement she and the baby survive - but why is the multi billion question.
This is a great YA book. I loved the characters of Antimone and Jason. The book was fast paced and I read it very quickly as I was desperate to find out how it would end. The only reason I didn't feel I could give it five stars was that the villain was so villainous that I felt they slipped from being totally believable to an almost cartoon 'baddy!
Thanks to TBC & the author for giving me a chance to read & review this. I'll be interested to read more from Richard T Burke.
January 18, 2024
Wow! That's a day I won't get back. What a rollercoaster and what a wicked woman! I had a hunch there was more to her than meets the eye, but the way it worked out ultimately was quite horrifying. At the beginning, she reminded me of Connie Beauchamp from Holby City, I think the whole powerful lady in high heels thing did that, but by the end she was something else entirely. Villains tend to be so tropy in thrillers. Is that a word I wonder? I have decided it ought to be, but I suppose it's necessary though. I would have liked more back story but that would probably be too hard to do without giving the secrets away early, then it wouldn't be a much of a thriller of course, but it was certainly gripping even though I had guessed part of Rosalind Baxter's history fairly early on.
April 5, 2017
Life in the year 2032
Decimation: the Girl Who Survived by Richard T. Burke
As an avid reader of all book genres, sometimes I feel my own reluctance as I approach the end of a book. A good ending seems to be quite an art of the pen and paper. When I realized Decimation was coming to a close, I braced. As I read the last paragraphs, I felt this author nailed the perfect ending. I would add the word satisfying except due to the nature of the ending, that would be a bit cruel on this readers part. He also was able to end the book, but leave it open enough for a sequel. I do hope there is a sequel Richard T. Burke.
The story:
It is the year 2032 and our main character is a teenaged female named Antimone she had been looking forward to competing in the Paralympics, but instead she is 9 months pregnant and has THE virus. This mutated virus caused women to die in childbirth. No mother has yet to survive childbirth. But there is always an exception. Can the exception be the key to finding the cure and save the human race? For this reason, the cure is a billion dollar race for ruthless drug companies to find the panacea so to speak.
I found this novel, unique, fast paced and somewhat disturbing with all the betrayal involved.
My only complaint about the book is that, it seems that technology would be a bit more advanced 15 years into the future than this novel portrayed.
I'll be waiting for the sequel.
Decimation: the Girl Who Survived by Richard T. Burke
As an avid reader of all book genres, sometimes I feel my own reluctance as I approach the end of a book. A good ending seems to be quite an art of the pen and paper. When I realized Decimation was coming to a close, I braced. As I read the last paragraphs, I felt this author nailed the perfect ending. I would add the word satisfying except due to the nature of the ending, that would be a bit cruel on this readers part. He also was able to end the book, but leave it open enough for a sequel. I do hope there is a sequel Richard T. Burke.
The story:
It is the year 2032 and our main character is a teenaged female named Antimone she had been looking forward to competing in the Paralympics, but instead she is 9 months pregnant and has THE virus. This mutated virus caused women to die in childbirth. No mother has yet to survive childbirth. But there is always an exception. Can the exception be the key to finding the cure and save the human race? For this reason, the cure is a billion dollar race for ruthless drug companies to find the panacea so to speak.
I found this novel, unique, fast paced and somewhat disturbing with all the betrayal involved.
My only complaint about the book is that, it seems that technology would be a bit more advanced 15 years into the future than this novel portrayed.
I'll be waiting for the sequel.
October 5, 2018
What a totally exciting and thrilling read! There was so much deception and deceit that I didn't know that the villans did a bad thing trying to do a more worse thing. I can't believe someone who got Antimone in this mess in the first place, had to be the one to set Karna to that narcacisst psychopath Rosalind! I'm glad that everything has sort of been restored, but let's be clear the drama about women's rights, fertility, and their bodies is just beginning. Plus, I'm disturbed how this future world let her live when she not only committed murder of millions, but killed a man in front of the police and brokered a deal all in the expand of a cpl of hrs. This seems like white privilege fiction to me, because alot of whites gettin taken into custody unscathed and with care while ppl of color would've never gotten gotten as far for any reason DOS dead on sight, no TalkBack or negotiations shoot to kill. This was a great story, but it set up some trigger points with me in the writing when it came to some of the events taking place. This maybe fictional writing,but there is still truths hidden in the story.
June 5, 2017
A clever mid-apocalyptic countdown to disaster for the human race quickly involves us in the personal tragedies of teenage girls who, unknown to one another, are enduring nightmarishly similar experiences. They fall within both the jurisdiction of a policewoman who heads a specialist unit and the domain of a major medical research and development unit.
The characters are strongly drawn and wholly believable. I was drawn into their world straightaway and emerged rather shakily 2 days later. Now that’s what you call a ‘gripping read’.
The characters are strongly drawn and wholly believable. I was drawn into their world straightaway and emerged rather shakily 2 days later. Now that’s what you call a ‘gripping read’.
November 21, 2021
Set in the not so far distant future this is a very entertaining novel . Humanity is literally on the brink of extinction due to a virus that ends the life of women once they have given birth . The race is on to find a cure with one young woman having survived childbirth being used as the guinea pig by the ruthless scientific team tasked with the job . A mixed bag of characters will keep you turning the pages of this book .
January 30, 2022
Excellent read
This book really did not disappoint on what it offered.
It was a well paced, brilliantly woven story with great characters that were easy to get to know.
I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series and may well be adding this author to my list of favourites.
This book really did not disappoint on what it offered.
It was a well paced, brilliantly woven story with great characters that were easy to get to know.
I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series and may well be adding this author to my list of favourites.
May 27, 2021
Loved it, absolutely loved it. It was a refreshing change to not only see a strong female protagonist but also for that character to be disabled, and even though Antimone does have a disability she shows that she is the measure of those around her.
I must say I did like the fact another main character is named Jason, and he travels to Bedford my local town, even if it is set in the near future made me chuckle.
As for the writing and the actual story telling, it definitely deserves five stars as both are executed with style and care. The characters talk to you and the locations pop with vividness and life. The flow of the writing mean you are constantly turning the page wanting to read just that "little" bit more.
Would recommend wholeheartedly.
I must say I did like the fact another main character is named Jason, and he travels to Bedford my local town, even if it is set in the near future made me chuckle.
As for the writing and the actual story telling, it definitely deserves five stars as both are executed with style and care. The characters talk to you and the locations pop with vividness and life. The flow of the writing mean you are constantly turning the page wanting to read just that "little" bit more.
Would recommend wholeheartedly.
August 31, 2024
The three stories are fast-paced with lots of action and scientific theories. The future depicted was well constructed. The main characters were nicely rounded although the villains seemed a bit two-dimensional. I read all three books in less than two days. (Perhaps I should note that I have plenty of free time and read very fast.)
If you enjoy a brush with a dystopian future (that doesn't go full-bore dystopian) and action, you would probably enjoy this series.
If you enjoy a brush with a dystopian future (that doesn't go full-bore dystopian) and action, you would probably enjoy this series.
May 29, 2017
Decimation by Richard Taylor Burke.
Antimone is about to give birth. She is rushed to do a c section. Because of the virus they think she is dead. So it's a shock to her when she wakes up.
OMG an absolutely fantastic read with brilliant characters. I loved antimone and Jason. But I did not like his mother.she was evil. A must read. Highly recommended. 5*. Tbc on fb.
Antimone is about to give birth. She is rushed to do a c section. Because of the virus they think she is dead. So it's a shock to her when she wakes up.
OMG an absolutely fantastic read with brilliant characters. I loved antimone and Jason. But I did not like his mother.she was evil. A must read. Highly recommended. 5*. Tbc on fb.
February 20, 2022
Great story!
This book isn't my normal type of read but once I started I couldn't put it down. Can't wait to start the next book. This book was exciting with just the right amount of darkness to keep me wanting more!
This book isn't my normal type of read but once I started I couldn't put it down. Can't wait to start the next book. This book was exciting with just the right amount of darkness to keep me wanting more!
June 10, 2017
This was a great book! This is not the usual genre I read but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The book felt very realistic and believable and I loved how it kept me guessing.
September 1, 2020
Pretty original and pretty
With an interesting premise, a virus that kills the mother at childbirth, Richard Burke has created a really good thriller. And I see there is sequel!
With an interesting premise, a virus that kills the mother at childbirth, Richard Burke has created a really good thriller. And I see there is sequel!
October 9, 2023
What a read!
Riveting, edge of you seat exciting! Not to mention very precient and appropriate for our time. Buying the rest of the series now.
Robert Burke is a brilliant writer!
Riveting, edge of you seat exciting! Not to mention very precient and appropriate for our time. Buying the rest of the series now.
Robert Burke is a brilliant writer!
April 9, 2025
Brilliant!
Lived this book; it kept me hooked from beginning to end. A great read. Would definitely recommend. Can’t wait to read the next instalment.
Lived this book; it kept me hooked from beginning to end. A great read. Would definitely recommend. Can’t wait to read the next instalment.
November 15, 2021
It was OK. There’s some action, some character development, a smidge of science, a bit of teen angst, and a good dollop of drama. Yet it left me wanting something a bit more. I wanted more science and info about the Orestes virus and how that has changed society. There were also several times where I felt the plot points were weak. Like why wouldn’t any menstruating teen/woman have easy access to birth control and pregnancy test strips? Also, there’s a fancy watch that tells you if you’re pregnant and I wanted to know more about how it did that through skin touch alone? Then the police are apparently terribly incompetent and so is the forensics lab, who read the DNA tests wrong, accusing an innocent man of rape. I can see how those moments lead to drama and move the story along, but they weren’t very believable.
A lot of time is spent on the drudgery of being a teenage girl in a near-future world. Some of this was good, giving the characters a little depth. Some of it was more than I like, but I have a low tolerance for teen angst. Antimone is an athlete and she has a scholarship to a fancy school that relies on her ability to compete. Some of her teammates are real jerks to begin with, but then they like to pick on the ‘poor cripple girl’ too. Very believable and I love how Antimone rises above it and doesn’t stoop to their level.
Obviously the entire world is looking for a cure to this Orestes virus and the Ilithia Corporation and Dr. Rosalind Baxter are no exception. Though Dr. Baxter is making sure to squirrel away a little nest egg for herself. The government funding may dry up soon if her company can’t come up with any breakthroughs. Dr. Perrin is also in on all the illicit research, research that depends on impregnating homeless street women and forcibly keeping them at a somewhat-secret medical lab. All of that is deliciously sinister. As much as I liked that, I was a little saddened to see that all the scientists in this story were part of the problem, and most were outright villains.
Rosalind’s adopted son Jason is about the same age as Antimone and they go to school together. Their fates become entwined at a birthday party, tho neither of them know it for many weeks. I did find Antimone’s countenance a little odd after she finds out she’s pregnant. It’s basically a death sentence and I expected more drama or perhaps even throwing caution to the wind and taking on some more dangerous activities or even just being a teenager and having lots of sex. But no, it’s the beach and an ice cream.
Basically, the story started off strong with a solid base but then turns a bit superficial. It was OK and the story wrapped up in a predictable way, but left enough open for a sequel. 3/5 stars.
The Narration: Gary Appleton was an odd pick for this story. Most of the tale is told through the eyes of two female characters so I expected a female narrator. That said, Appleton did have a decent range of voices so all characters sounded unique. His female voices could use more femininity but they weren’t cartoony, so that’s good. His pacing is odd, like Captain Kirk odd. Lots of pauses plus these odd punctuations on words in the middle sentence. This made it sound like something exciting was about to happen, when it was just an average sentence, nothing exciting here. Also any initials, like DNA, was punched out with each letter being stressed. The overall pacing was a bit slow but I solved that by speeding it up a little. I did notice 1 repeated sentence but there were no other tech errors with the recording. 3/5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A lot of time is spent on the drudgery of being a teenage girl in a near-future world. Some of this was good, giving the characters a little depth. Some of it was more than I like, but I have a low tolerance for teen angst. Antimone is an athlete and she has a scholarship to a fancy school that relies on her ability to compete. Some of her teammates are real jerks to begin with, but then they like to pick on the ‘poor cripple girl’ too. Very believable and I love how Antimone rises above it and doesn’t stoop to their level.
Obviously the entire world is looking for a cure to this Orestes virus and the Ilithia Corporation and Dr. Rosalind Baxter are no exception. Though Dr. Baxter is making sure to squirrel away a little nest egg for herself. The government funding may dry up soon if her company can’t come up with any breakthroughs. Dr. Perrin is also in on all the illicit research, research that depends on impregnating homeless street women and forcibly keeping them at a somewhat-secret medical lab. All of that is deliciously sinister. As much as I liked that, I was a little saddened to see that all the scientists in this story were part of the problem, and most were outright villains.
Rosalind’s adopted son Jason is about the same age as Antimone and they go to school together. Their fates become entwined at a birthday party, tho neither of them know it for many weeks. I did find Antimone’s countenance a little odd after she finds out she’s pregnant. It’s basically a death sentence and I expected more drama or perhaps even throwing caution to the wind and taking on some more dangerous activities or even just being a teenager and having lots of sex. But no, it’s the beach and an ice cream.
Basically, the story started off strong with a solid base but then turns a bit superficial. It was OK and the story wrapped up in a predictable way, but left enough open for a sequel. 3/5 stars.
The Narration: Gary Appleton was an odd pick for this story. Most of the tale is told through the eyes of two female characters so I expected a female narrator. That said, Appleton did have a decent range of voices so all characters sounded unique. His female voices could use more femininity but they weren’t cartoony, so that’s good. His pacing is odd, like Captain Kirk odd. Lots of pauses plus these odd punctuations on words in the middle sentence. This made it sound like something exciting was about to happen, when it was just an average sentence, nothing exciting here. Also any initials, like DNA, was punched out with each letter being stressed. The overall pacing was a bit slow but I solved that by speeding it up a little. I did notice 1 repeated sentence but there were no other tech errors with the recording. 3/5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2017
Decimation: the Girl Who Survived by Richard T. Burke
As an avid reader of all book genres, sometimes I feel my own reluctance as I approach the end of a book. A good ending seems to be quite an art of the pen and paper. When I realized Decimation was coming to a close, I braced. As I read the last paragraphs, I felt this author nailed the perfect ending. I would add the word satisfying except due to the nature of the ending, that would be a bit cruel on this readers part. He also was able to end the book, but leave it open enough for a sequel. I do hope there is a sequel Richard T. Burke.
The story:
It is the year 2032 and our main character is a teenaged female named Antimone she had been looking forward to competing in the Paralympics, but instead she is 9 months pregnant and has THE virus. This mutated virus caused women to die in childbirth. No mother has yet to survive childbirth. But there is always an exception. Can the exception be the key to finding the cure and save the human race? For this reason, the cure is a billion dollar race for ruthless drug companies to find the panacea so to speak.
I found this novel, unique, fast paced and somewhat disturbing with all the betrayal involved.
My only complaint about the book is that, it seems that technology would be a bit more advanced 15 years into the future than this novel portrayed.
I'll be waiting for the sequel.
As an avid reader of all book genres, sometimes I feel my own reluctance as I approach the end of a book. A good ending seems to be quite an art of the pen and paper. When I realized Decimation was coming to a close, I braced. As I read the last paragraphs, I felt this author nailed the perfect ending. I would add the word satisfying except due to the nature of the ending, that would be a bit cruel on this readers part. He also was able to end the book, but leave it open enough for a sequel. I do hope there is a sequel Richard T. Burke.
The story:
It is the year 2032 and our main character is a teenaged female named Antimone she had been looking forward to competing in the Paralympics, but instead she is 9 months pregnant and has THE virus. This mutated virus caused women to die in childbirth. No mother has yet to survive childbirth. But there is always an exception. Can the exception be the key to finding the cure and save the human race? For this reason, the cure is a billion dollar race for ruthless drug companies to find the panacea so to speak.
I found this novel, unique, fast paced and somewhat disturbing with all the betrayal involved.
My only complaint about the book is that, it seems that technology would be a bit more advanced 15 years into the future than this novel portrayed.
I'll be waiting for the sequel.
April 28, 2019
Antimone Lessing is a 16 year-old girl, who is a Paralympian wheelchair distance racer (a rarity in fiction, to have a physically challenged character) and scholarship holder at an elite school (her family are not wealthy). But then she is raped at a party and winds up pregnant (apparently there are very strict laws prohibiting abortion). And dies. But she doesn’t. Things get worse from there.
This is an interesting and exciting thriller that has many different layers, twists and turns. You’ll be kept guessing about where the author is taking you, what’s really happening with certain characters, who is related to whom, and how they will eventually rescue Antimone.
Two factors kept this from being a 5 star ride: the antagonist, Rosalind Baxter , makes Cruella DeVille look like a piker. Some character development might have been nice. The second: if humanity were facing extinction, society would be coming apart in all manner of ways. While the suspenseful action takes place on a micro level (that has whole world implications), the macro of the world gets glossed over.
Overall, this is a terrific and well-written story that will grip you and not let you go. If you like Robin Cook and Tess Gerritsen medical thrillers, you’ll love this. I look forward to more titles by this author.
This is an interesting and exciting thriller that has many different layers, twists and turns. You’ll be kept guessing about where the author is taking you, what’s really happening with certain characters, who is related to whom, and how they will eventually rescue Antimone.
Two factors kept this from being a 5 star ride: the antagonist, Rosalind Baxter , makes Cruella DeVille look like a piker. Some character development might have been nice. The second: if humanity were facing extinction, society would be coming apart in all manner of ways. While the suspenseful action takes place on a micro level (that has whole world implications), the macro of the world gets glossed over.
Overall, this is a terrific and well-written story that will grip you and not let you go. If you like Robin Cook and Tess Gerritsen medical thrillers, you’ll love this. I look forward to more titles by this author.
June 5, 2019
What an absolutely fabulous story, I managed to devour this entire book in just a few hours of much, much interrupted reading. It's one of those rare stories that the moment you start, you are transported deep within, and you can't let go because you just HAVE to know what happens next! I loved how it twisted and turned, and the suspense was fantastic! There were some minor spelling and grammar issues, but I was so captivated by the story that I barely noticed. This was a superbly crafted read with a precision execution that left you gasping by the end of the book, I truly hope that there will be a second book!
March 24, 2022
Wow.
This story was amazingly well written. The plot was magnificent and Rosalind Baxter is probably one of the better villains I've read in a LONG time. Highly worth a read.
This story was amazingly well written. The plot was magnificent and Rosalind Baxter is probably one of the better villains I've read in a LONG time. Highly worth a read.
March 24, 2022
Omg!
This story is terrifying. I loved it in a sick kind of way. Mrs. Baxter is the epitome of a villain.
This story is terrifying. I loved it in a sick kind of way. Mrs. Baxter is the epitome of a villain.
April 21, 2019
The future world of Decimation is a dangerous one - especially for women.
Richard Burke tells of a world where pregnancy is a death sentence. A virus has resulted in childbirth being fatal, which leads to the decimation of the title, population dropping by 10% at a time without a new generation to replace the old.
Into this situation is plunged the admittedly implausibly-named Antimone Lessing (though I do hope the surname is a tip of the hat to the splendid author Doris Lessing). She is a teenage student aiming to take part in wheelchair athletics after recovering from an accident that cost her the use of her legs - until she finds out she is pregnant. She doesn't know how or when she conceived - but she knows her future holds only death. Until the miraculous happens... and she becomes the girl who survived. That, however, is only the beginning of her troubles.
As dystopias go, this one is particularly rough on women. Aside from the slow death that Antimone is sentenced to, we glimpse other characters - prostitutes and drug addicts - who are raped and impregnated as part of efforts to try to find a cure. The policewoman investigating Antimone's case aside, there's perhaps not a single female character who isn't affected by violence or cruelty in some fashion - and that can be pretty rough to read at times. As we hop around the stories of some of those characters, I kept wanting to come back to Antimone's story, however, and see how she would find her own way out of her situation. She was very refreshing as a character - and I was very much rooting for her throughout as she tried to find salvation for herself... and perhaps for the world.
Richard Burke tells of a world where pregnancy is a death sentence. A virus has resulted in childbirth being fatal, which leads to the decimation of the title, population dropping by 10% at a time without a new generation to replace the old.
Into this situation is plunged the admittedly implausibly-named Antimone Lessing (though I do hope the surname is a tip of the hat to the splendid author Doris Lessing). She is a teenage student aiming to take part in wheelchair athletics after recovering from an accident that cost her the use of her legs - until she finds out she is pregnant. She doesn't know how or when she conceived - but she knows her future holds only death. Until the miraculous happens... and she becomes the girl who survived. That, however, is only the beginning of her troubles.
As dystopias go, this one is particularly rough on women. Aside from the slow death that Antimone is sentenced to, we glimpse other characters - prostitutes and drug addicts - who are raped and impregnated as part of efforts to try to find a cure. The policewoman investigating Antimone's case aside, there's perhaps not a single female character who isn't affected by violence or cruelty in some fashion - and that can be pretty rough to read at times. As we hop around the stories of some of those characters, I kept wanting to come back to Antimone's story, however, and see how she would find her own way out of her situation. She was very refreshing as a character - and I was very much rooting for her throughout as she tried to find salvation for herself... and perhaps for the world.
April 30, 2019
The future world of Decimation is a dangerous one - especially for women.
Richard Burke tells of a world where pregnancy is a death sentence. A virus has resulted in childbirth being fatal, which leads to the decimation of the title, population dropping by 10% at a time without a new generation to replace the old.
Into this situation is plunged the admittedly implausibly-named Antimone Lessing (though I do hope the surname is a tip of the hat to the splendid author Doris Lessing). She is a teenage student aiming to take part in wheelchair athletics after recovering from an accident that cost her the use of her legs - until she finds out she is pregnant. She doesn't know how or when she conceived - but she knows her future holds only death. Until the miraculous happens... and she becomes the girl who survived. That, however, is only the beginning of her troubles.
As dystopias go, this one is particularly rough on women. Aside from the slow death that Antimone is sentenced to, we glimpse other characters - prostitutes and drug addicts - who are raped and impregnated as part of efforts to try to find a cure. The policewoman investigating Antimone's case aside, there's perhaps not a single female character who isn't affected by violence or cruelty in some fashion - and that can be pretty rough to read at times. As we hop around the stories of some of those characters, I kept wanting to come back to Antimone's story, however, and see how she would find her own way out of her situation. She was very refreshing as a character - and I was very much rooting for her throughout as she tried to find salvation for herself... and perhaps for the world.
Richard Burke tells of a world where pregnancy is a death sentence. A virus has resulted in childbirth being fatal, which leads to the decimation of the title, population dropping by 10% at a time without a new generation to replace the old.
Into this situation is plunged the admittedly implausibly-named Antimone Lessing (though I do hope the surname is a tip of the hat to the splendid author Doris Lessing). She is a teenage student aiming to take part in wheelchair athletics after recovering from an accident that cost her the use of her legs - until she finds out she is pregnant. She doesn't know how or when she conceived - but she knows her future holds only death. Until the miraculous happens... and she becomes the girl who survived. That, however, is only the beginning of her troubles.
As dystopias go, this one is particularly rough on women. Aside from the slow death that Antimone is sentenced to, we glimpse other characters - prostitutes and drug addicts - who are raped and impregnated as part of efforts to try to find a cure. The policewoman investigating Antimone's case aside, there's perhaps not a single female character who isn't affected by violence or cruelty in some fashion - and that can be pretty rough to read at times. As we hop around the stories of some of those characters, I kept wanting to come back to Antimone's story, however, and see how she would find her own way out of her situation. She was very refreshing as a character - and I was very much rooting for her throughout as she tried to find salvation for herself... and perhaps for the world.
December 26, 2017
What a heck of a ride! Mr. Burke has given us a hopeless scenario and shown us that it is the result of megalomania.
Antimone is a paraplegic and confined to a wheel chair as a result of a traffic accident. She is pregnant by a rape that occurs at a party under the influence of drugs. No woman on Earth has survived pregnancy and child-birth in nearly twenty years…the future of the human race is threatened by a virus that remains dormant until childbirth and then kills the mother.
Rosalind Baxter is CEO of Ilithia Biotechnology Corporation. She and a colleague, Dr. Perrin are allegedly seeking a cure of the dread virus. However, Baxter has another agenda…and Jason, her son, together with Antimone and her baby, hold the key to the future…a future that Perrin’s son, Max, inadvertently and out of anger has simultaneously threatened and assured.
Decimation is a novel of wheels within wheels, plots within sub-plots and subversion at the highest level. The characters are fascinating. Antimone and Jason are very likable and it is easy to cheer for them. The reader will stay on the edge of their chairs with fear for Antimone and Jason. Rosalind is a madwoman and total narcissist by any definition. She is really easy to hate as is her security chief…until even he begins to question her judgement. Dr. Perrin is clueless and pathetic, blinded by his work. Max is an idiot who winds up playing a key role.
Decimation is a great thriller that is generally well-written and edited. It would be a great read for anyone who loves suspenseful books!
Antimone is a paraplegic and confined to a wheel chair as a result of a traffic accident. She is pregnant by a rape that occurs at a party under the influence of drugs. No woman on Earth has survived pregnancy and child-birth in nearly twenty years…the future of the human race is threatened by a virus that remains dormant until childbirth and then kills the mother.
Rosalind Baxter is CEO of Ilithia Biotechnology Corporation. She and a colleague, Dr. Perrin are allegedly seeking a cure of the dread virus. However, Baxter has another agenda…and Jason, her son, together with Antimone and her baby, hold the key to the future…a future that Perrin’s son, Max, inadvertently and out of anger has simultaneously threatened and assured.
Decimation is a novel of wheels within wheels, plots within sub-plots and subversion at the highest level. The characters are fascinating. Antimone and Jason are very likable and it is easy to cheer for them. The reader will stay on the edge of their chairs with fear for Antimone and Jason. Rosalind is a madwoman and total narcissist by any definition. She is really easy to hate as is her security chief…until even he begins to question her judgement. Dr. Perrin is clueless and pathetic, blinded by his work. Max is an idiot who winds up playing a key role.
Decimation is a great thriller that is generally well-written and edited. It would be a great read for anyone who loves suspenseful books!
June 10, 2017
Book Review Decimation The Girl Who Survived
Decimation, The Girl Who Survived by Richard T. Burke
Fantasy, future
In three parts, the book is about Antimone and her world; the future is bleak. Particularly since she is wheelchair-bound.
I really liked the strong character of Antimone and found myself believing in her and willing her to overcome each obstacle, however horrific. I was entertained throughout the book and despite finding some scenes personally difficult to read due to their intense physical description, I never stopped wanting to find what happened next. The story gripped me right from the beginning.
My only dislike was that I would have preferred some more external description to build up a clearer picture of Antimone’s world and the physical struggles she had to endure.
I would recommend this book for ages of Young Adult and over due to the intense situations the heroine finds herself in.
If you liked the ‘Hunger Games’ series, then you will love this book.
I give 4 stars and can’t wait for more from this brilliant futuristic writer, Richard T. Burke
Decimation, The Girl Who Survived by Richard T. Burke
Fantasy, future
In three parts, the book is about Antimone and her world; the future is bleak. Particularly since she is wheelchair-bound.
I really liked the strong character of Antimone and found myself believing in her and willing her to overcome each obstacle, however horrific. I was entertained throughout the book and despite finding some scenes personally difficult to read due to their intense physical description, I never stopped wanting to find what happened next. The story gripped me right from the beginning.
My only dislike was that I would have preferred some more external description to build up a clearer picture of Antimone’s world and the physical struggles she had to endure.
I would recommend this book for ages of Young Adult and over due to the intense situations the heroine finds herself in.
If you liked the ‘Hunger Games’ series, then you will love this book.
I give 4 stars and can’t wait for more from this brilliant futuristic writer, Richard T. Burke
May 25, 2021
This is set in the not so far away future and Antimone is due to give birth she doesn't know how to feel as the pregnancy was not expected and due to the virus that swept the world she is about to die!
Antimone is a paralympic athlete and was looking forward to the paralympics next year but then whilst feeling ill she has some tests and she is told she is pregnant, she has no idea how it happened as she has never been intimate with a boy??
When she wakes up after the birth she is confused and it seems the clinic she is in is as confused too they have been trying for a cure for years, could a cure come from testing on Antimone? however they go about it is a cruel way.
I loved Antimone's character she is one fiesty and strong young woman and very determind to get to the bottom of the mystery. The book was very good and had well written characters who found their way through the multi layers of the story. The ending left me looking for the follow up book and I can't wait to start it.
Antimone is a paralympic athlete and was looking forward to the paralympics next year but then whilst feeling ill she has some tests and she is told she is pregnant, she has no idea how it happened as she has never been intimate with a boy??
When she wakes up after the birth she is confused and it seems the clinic she is in is as confused too they have been trying for a cure for years, could a cure come from testing on Antimone? however they go about it is a cruel way.
I loved Antimone's character she is one fiesty and strong young woman and very determind to get to the bottom of the mystery. The book was very good and had well written characters who found their way through the multi layers of the story. The ending left me looking for the follow up book and I can't wait to start it.
July 6, 2019
Not my usual read (not into sci fi as a rule – but this was so much more than that) but glad I gave it a go. It’s been on my TBR pile for a while, but I bumped it up based on some really good reviews and a recommendation from a friend. Obviously, I was not disappointed with my choice as it’s a five star from me. An incredibly intriguing concept set in the future, it involves a young girl who miraculously survives childbirth after an incurable virus wipes out most of mankind, ensuring that all pregnant women (except one) dies after giving birth. Well done to the author for creating such an original and captivating story. Could easily see this is as a standalone Netflix movie or even a series. Come on Netflix, give the author a call.
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