If you had advanced warning of the end of the world, what would you do?
Our world faced extermination by a group of infected meteoroids from space, which carried an infection that turned ordinary people into rabid killers. This is a record of how two estranged twin brothers survived the apocalypse. One brother planned for the survival of our species and made ready for the world to come on a small island in Scotland, persevering despite having to manage the utter disbelief of the people around him. The other, having survived a harrowing cacophony of life events, learned to harness his anger and channel it to help those who survived. Together they faced the abyss shoulder to shoulder.
As reviewed By Scott Cahan for Readers’ Favorite Review 5 Stars
An English Apocalypse by Paul J.C. Edge is an exceptional zombie apocalypse story. The word “zombie” is never used as a name for the infected in this book, but the easiest way for me to describe them is as fast-moving zombies. What makes this book exceptional is the structure of the story. It follows two brothers who don’t know of the other’s existence. Some spiritual force has warned one of them about the coming apocalypse. The other one doesn’t know what’s coming but he knows he’s been given certain abilities that make him a formidable warrior. The brother who knows what’s coming prepares a fortress to save himself and a small community. The other brother is surprised by it all but his unique abilities make him a survivor.
An English Apocalypse moves slowly at first, laying every brick of the two main characters’ backstories. We’re also privileged to watch the preparations of the brother who knows what’s coming. Anyone who isn’t interested in the fine details of the fortress as it’s being built might find the first half of the book to be a little slow. However, author Paul J.C. Edge knows his stuff about survival in a fallen world and he manages to keep it all interesting. Along the way, we get to know many of the main characters too. Once the catastrophe arrives, the story kicks into overdrive. There is no sitting quietly in a bunker until everything passes. The action and violence come fast and furious. From that point on I had a difficult time putting the book down. Overall, I think the author used the slow build-up in the first half to his advantage, making the second half twice as effective because by then the reader is invested in the characters and has been well-prepped on their survival plans. This is NOT a cheap zombie story all about blood and gore; rather it’s a well-crafted blockbuster novel about a zombie apocalypse that feels all too real.
Paul Edge is an English author living in Cheshire. He has spent his entire career working in Science & Technology, specialising in change management. Having a keen interest in science fiction literature for much of his life, he felt it was time to pen his first novel. Soon after he became a full time writer, he is now seven novels in and going.
I'm an avid reader of this kind of book and I have to say this was a great read. Different enough from many others out there to make it a great read. Looking forward to the next instalment.
Book Review: "An English Apocalypse: The Summer Haven I"
by Paul J.C. Edge 😍
Rating:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
Review:
👉Prepare to be swept away on an adrenaline-fueled journey of survival and resilience in "An English Apocalypse: The Summer Haven I" by the incredibly talented Paul J.C. Edge.
👉From the very first page, Edge plunges readers into a world teetering on the brink of annihilation, where the threat of infected meteoroids from space brings humanity to its knees. But amidst the chaos, two estranged twin brothers find themselves thrust into a desperate struggle for survival—a journey that will test their strength, courage, and the unbreakable bonds of family. 👬💪
👉What sets this novel apart is its captivating blend of heart-pounding action and thought-provoking drama. Edge masterfully crafts a narrative that not only keeps you on the edge of your seat with its relentless pace and visceral intensity but also delves deep into themes of resilience, redemption, and the enduring power of hope. 📖✨
👉The characters in "An English Apocalypse" are nothing short of mesmerizing. From the determined brothers to the diverse cast of companions they encounter along the way, each individual is brought to life with vivid detail and undeniable authenticity. You'll find yourself cheering for their triumphs, mourning their losses, and ultimately rooting for their survival against all odds. 🙌❤️
👉Edge's attention to detail is simply astounding. Whether he's meticulously describing the preparations for survival or painting a vivid picture of the harrowing battles against fast-moving zombies, every scene is brought to life with cinematic clarity. 🎥🔥
👉And let's talk about that second half! Once disaster strikes, the story kicks into overdrive, propelling you headlong into a whirlwind of action and excitement that's impossible to put down. Edge keeps you guessing at every turn, delivering twists and turns that will leave you breathless and begging for more. 💥😱
👉In conclusion, "An English Apocalypse: The Summer Haven I" is an absolute triumph—a blockbuster novel ..
An English Apocalypse is a refreshingly different take on the apocalyptic thriller genre. It’s very well written, with strong characters and a unique, layered approach to the end of the world. The story follows two men from completely different backgrounds who share similar, haunting dreams about humanity’s downfall — and each sets out in his own way to try to prevent it. While the book doesn’t shy away from violence, it’s far from the usual zombie-style bloodbath. Instead, it delivers a tense, thought-provoking, and often emotional journey through a crumbling world. Alex M. Jacobs’ narration is spot on — his performance gives each character a distinct voice and captures the story’s drama and intensity perfectly. One of the best thrillers I’ve listened to in this genre. I’ll definitely be continuing with the rest of the series.
I've been giving a few 5 star ratings recently, but not without cause. This book too deserves 5 stars. The start is perhaps a little simplistic in terms of the narrative, and the whole but about winning the lottery and making upwards of £150 million was a bit of a challenge even With divine intervention.
However, to any reading this, take heart. The story pace does pick up, and becomes more believable and considered. The zombies, and their behaviour, are unusually interesting, and certainly do not stick to the standard zombie template.
I'm looking out for the sequel now. Give this book a whirl, and travel at nigjht!
The narrative, which initially presents a complex premise involving two brothers, one of whom foresees an apocalyptic event and wins the lottery, requires refinement. The initial exposition is overly verbose and protracted, hindering the reader's engagement. Furthermore, the narrative's coherence is compromised by inconsistencies and distracting elements, such as the abrupt shift in focus from mountain climbing to a fall. These issues detract from the overall reading experience. Despite these shortcomings, the narrative shows promise, particularly in its concluding sections, suggesting potential for an engaging series as the author hones their craft.
How to survive the Zombie apocalypse, and not an American is sight. What a great story. Really well paced with a slow detailed build-up to a action packed visceral final half. I really liked the characters, premise and action. Great ending with some intriguing new developments for book 2. Narration is excellent with a excellent range. I received a complimentary copy of the audio and am leaving a voluntary honest review.
More like A British Apocalypse as Scotland plays a large part in this story. A different approach is taken as over half the book describes the preparation for the event but once things got underway the concept began to grab my attention and will probably lead me to investigate the other books in this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I was lucky enough to meet the author at Leeds Comic Con and he described the Summer Haven set as "post apocalyptic with a bit of supernatural thrown in" That turned out to be a very accurate description. Having just finished this book I'm not hanging around to start the second one. This should be at the top of your TBR list.
I loved this book a better take on th end of the world than most
A good honk and an original take. Not your normal zombie apocalypse carp a more thoughtful but still quirky take on the end of the world I have bought the next books in the series