N.W. Harris

From the synopsis and cover, I had been expecting a post-apocalyptic type of story, with death, destruction, chaos and the like. There was certainly a strong element of death and trauma, with an added element of reality I hadn't been anticipating. Told from the point of view of a boy-turned-leader, this book dives into the first hours of the world turning upside down, leaving death and violence in every corner.

While there are many characters presented in this story, it focuses on five or six show more in particular - a group of young adults who bravely take on the task of leading the surviving orphans to safety. Each teen is unique and different, and are made to grow up very quickly in the face of disaster. They all do what needs to be done, and become an inspiring group of youngsters. The main character in particular, Shane, is unceremoniously made the leader of the misfit band of teens. Pushing past his own shock and grief, he finds the strength to rise up as the leader the orphans need, and keep everyone safe and alive. His courage is inspiring, especially as we get an inside look at the doubts and fear he has about being a leader, and being capable of keeping others safe and alive.

The surprising thing to me about this book, is the blunt and unapologetic realism and honesty. What would happen if all the adults suddenly died? How would teenagers and kids act? Juvenile delinquents without their restraints; angry teens without their boundaries; bullies without their authority figures. This book sheds a slightly horrifyingly honest light on the nature of humans, even at a young age. Mixed in with all of that, you have the blunt honesty of death and carnage. Very little is left to the imagination when scenarios of nature attacking are explored and explained. While the gory and gruesome events would normally push me away from continuing reading this book early on, they (unfortunately) fit the story, and (however morbidly) peak my curiosity as to why it's all happening, and what the orphans will do.

The answer to that was shocking, and left me speechless. This is no doubt a book that will stay on my mind for months to come, and I'm sure one that will become an October read for me every year. Well written and different, this is a story I think any apocalyptic fan would enjoy, and I look forward to reading more from this author.

~I was given an eCopy of this book, from the author, to read in exchange for an honest review.

See my blog post for this book here!! show less

I was very fortunate to be offered this book to read in exchange for an honest review as I had my eye on it for awhile. I thought it would be good but it turned out to be even better than I anticipated.
What would you do if all of a sudden all of the adults in the world died and only teens were left to look after younger children while a ticking time bomb picked off the older kids one kid at a time.
It is a very different take on the typical end of the world scenario and it reminds me of an show more early Stephen King novel. All in all, the story blew me away. I was absorbed from the beginning and the excitement never let up. The author is very skilled at describing this new and frightening world and knows how to bring it to life. The characters were all believable especially the main character's internal struggle to rise above his personal feelings and lead the others to safety.
I am very grateful that I was able to read this wonderful book and cannot wait for the next book in the series. I am hooked! show less

I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

The Last Orphans is an apocalyptic novel filled with edge of your seat excitement and twists you'll never see coming. Sixteen year old, high school student Shane Tucker has a stormy relationship with his alcoholic father. Trouble for Shane begins shortly after his Grandmother's funeral. His father, already drunk, throws Shane out of the car for crying over the loss of his Grandmother. Shane, happy to get away begins show more walking back to his grandmother's home. Along the way, his aunt finds him on her way to her mother's home as well, and that's when trouble started.

This was an unusual apocalyptic young adult novel. You could feel Shane's pain from losing the people closest to him. Although he ended up leading a group of teenagers, I was awestruck by his humility. For such a young group of kids, they had remarkable courage. I'm curious what will happen next since Seamus is still out there. If you enjoy dystopian novels, you will fall in love with The Last Orphans. show less

The Harvest follows on from N.W. Harris’ Last Orphans, jumping straight into a changed world where teenagers take the role of absent adults in destroyed communities. The haunting mysteries of the first book are quickly resolved as a new force appears. Human accident becomes, perhaps, the result of alien intervention. But the balance of faith, force and questioning remains unchanged in a novel that’s part clean teen and part gruesome terror.

“So you’re saying we’re half caveman, half show more Anunnaki?” one teen asks, while alien saviors describe how the “human crop is ripe.” The story combines Roswell with Sumerian gods, teen horror with cool sci fi, and extra-Biblical legend with dystopian survival. The result is enjoyably unsettling as lines between good guys and bad guys blend, break and change.

Like many teen dystopias, this broken world involves a plethora of team and individual sports, selection of the fittest, and threats of betrayal. It’s a cool combination of science fiction, faith and mythology, and it’s a fun read. Of course, it’s part two in a series, and readers should start with part one, then expect to be left eager to read part three.

Disclosure: I was given an ecopy and I offer my honest review. show less