Sometimes the fall is only the beginning.In the year 2048, the crumbling remnants of western North America are suddenly buried in ash, weakening the grip of the brutal dictatorship. A factional landscape springs from the ashes, con man Luke Stokes artfully navigating the clash.But he can’t remain above the fray for long, as each faction seeks the truth from Luke regarding his murdered brother’s … Luke regarding his murdered brother’s final project. A neural-interface technology that will forever shift the fragile balance of the ashen plains.
With the true believers, desert nomads, survivalists and existing regime closing in, Luke must delve deeper into his genius brother’s secrets. And the truth about his last project will dramatically alter the remnants of civilization.
Because the fall isn’t always the end – sometimes, it’s only the beginning.
Seamlessly merging thought-provoking philosophical ideas with page-burning action, ASHES OF THE FALL is the first novel in the dystopian/post-apocalyptic Remnants Trilogy.
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Ashes of the Fall is the first in Nicholas Erik’s The Remnants Trilogy. Ashes is a dystopian sci fi story that is action-packed throughout. Our hero is Luke Stokes, a self-described grifter who is called from Seattle to New York City by his brother Matt whom Luke hasn’t seen since childhood. Matt is a genius who has come up with a “neural interface technology,” and he wants Luke to help him keep it out of the hands of the dictator. When Luke arrives, he finds Matt dead in his apartment. Suicide or murder? Luke doesn’t know. He just knows he has to get out of town fast so he won’t get caught in a trap.
This book has some interesting constructs that could potentially reflect reality. For example, the Yellowstone Supervolcano (very real, not fictional), if it ever blows again, is going to be just as destructive as described in Ashes. Areas of what was once the U.S. described in this book seem plausible enough – wastelands, wild lands inhabited by nomadic tribes, an area where people are exiled for not going along with the ruling government in yet another very urbanized area, the Circle.
Erik has made a very fast-paced adventure as Luke attempts to figure out what his brother was up to and keep himself alive at the same time. Many characters are introduced, too many for some readers. But for me, Erik did a good job of keeping them sorted out. I never got confused. There was just enough character development to make Luke seem real, especially his efforts to keep away the “black dog of despair.” He was a bit too resilient at times, though. I mean, can a guy get shot and beat up and broken and still keep going like this?
All in all, this is a great read if you are into dystopian thrillers with a lot of suspense and action.
Very good book. I enjoyed the story
Unpredictable, page turner and original story
Never seems to get anywhere or make any decisions. Didnt finish because I didnt care
Could not get into this book.
A tell of a fallen civilization, a character with little character and a host of supporting foils that are conflicted in their support of his success. It has some interesting world building and it took a huge effort, I’m sure, to keep all the players straight in the writing of this, but it there were parts that felt so contrived that I just couldn’t suspend belief, which is important in my enjoyment of any fiction. I think the author has talent and should keep writing but this story was a little hard for me to like.
Great series!
I recommend the whole trilogy
This story was a little confusing. Main character not too likable. Not sure if I’ll read the sequels.
Definitely an action packed read.
I sort of liked it for the action, all though too many characters to keep track of. I got confused quite a few times, not sure what to think of it.
The book was full of twist and turns but the ending was not really a ending but a lead in to the next book of the series.
Just did not like it
Keeps your attention and less predictable that most.
Like this writer
Great start to a wonderful 2 books ‘Ruins Of The Fall’ is the second title in the series, which is where the first book leads. …. I think the first book was great, characters are fleshed out and defined well, post apocalypse world is defined and the framework for the series is well laid out. Plot twists and backstabbing characters are realistic and make it a page turner.
could see this happening in our future. sometimes it is nice not to be connected
Really a terrible waste of words.
Move along pretty well. There was a sort of resolution, but of course the whole thing is aimed at selling the next book
Sometimes it begins with the ending. The end has already happened here, and what the people make of it makes this book an interesting read. It there a magic fix in the code left behind? Or was it all just to keep folks looking for a cure to their pain?