#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A stunning new novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts–Year One is an epic of hope and horror, chaos and magick, and a journey that will unite a desperate group of people to fight the battle of their lives… It began on New Year’s Eve. The sickness came on suddenly, and spread quickly. The fear spread even faster. Within weeks, everything … quickly. The fear spread even faster. Within weeks, everything people counted on began to fail them. The electrical grid sputtered; law and government collapsed–and more than half of the world’s population was decimated.
Where there had been order, there was now chaos. And as the power of science and technology receded, magick rose up in its place. Some of it is good, like the witchcraft worked by Lana Bingham, practicing in the loft apartment she shares with her lover, Max. Some of it is unimaginably evil, and it can lurk anywhere, around a corner, in fetid tunnels beneath the river–or in the ones you know and love the most.
As word spreads that neither the immune nor the gifted are safe from the authorities who patrol the ravaged streets, and with nothing left to count on but each other, Lana and Max make their way out of a wrecked New York City. At the same time, other travelers are heading west too, into a new frontier. Chuck, a tech genius trying to hack his way through a world gone offline. Arlys, a journalist who has lost her audience but uses pen and paper to record the truth. Fred, her young colleague, possessed of burgeoning abilities and an optimism that seems out of place in this bleak landscape. And Rachel and Jonah, a resourceful doctor and a paramedic who fend off despair with their determination to keep a young mother and three infants in their care alive.
In a world of survivors where every stranger encountered could be either a savage or a savior, none of them knows exactly where they are heading, or why. But a purpose awaits them that will shape their lives and the lives of all those who remain.
The end has come. The beginning comes next.
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I look forward to additional follow ups. Incredible characters, very believable. The story line was excellent and did not want the story to end.
Nora Roberts is my favorite author, but I was afraid of this topic as it is a personal fear of mine. I’m glad that I was brave and bought the book! She is truly a remarkable author. I would recommend this book highly!
I have always liked j d robb and nora roberts books. This one didn’t grab like most.
Fantastic
Could not put this book down
Starts off a little slow but don’t give up. A good take on a supernatural apocalypt.
Interesting read. Unusual storyline but kept me turning the pages. A few twists I didn’t see coming and a different ending I also did not expect.
I thought this was a wonderful book. I didn’t want to put it down. It was horrifying and uplifting at the same time. The only problem with the book is that I have to wait for the next one.
At first this seemed to be another end-of-the-world survivor story, with supernatural overtones, but the characters grabbed me and now I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Loved the book! Enjoyed the premise of the story. Can’t wait to read book two!
Brilliant apocalyptic story that held me spellbound from the first word to the last.
I loved this book. I was caught up in the world she created from the first page. It’s such a change of pace from other books. Can’t wait for the next in this series.
This book makes you think.
Can’t wait for 2nd book in series.
A normal set of events on New Years Eve sets off a catastrophe that slowly turns the world on end. Half of the population is gone, governments lose control, law and order are a thing of the past and magick is unleashed…some good and definitely some dark and evil. The story chronicles the paths of Lana Bingham and her partner, Max Fallon; journalist Arlys Reid and her intern Little Fred; and paramedic Jonah Vorhies and doctor Rachel Hopman, along with others as they make their way to some semblance of sanity.
I was skeptical when I learned Nora was tackling this genre but I should have known better. She masterfully creates a world of chaos while interjecting normalcy through her characters. I was mesmerized while at the same time horrified at what might be around the next corner. The characters got under my skin and atypical of the author, not all were sacred. Julia Whelan delivers the most wonderful performance in her narration, seemingly being several different narrators. Her storytelling was just perfect and her male interpretations were more than believable.
I’m just sorry it took me so long to listen to this story. The underlying premise is mystifying but also kind of logical. The contrasts of good and evil with human nature is chilling as it has some parallels to current events. The next installment can’t come too soon and I’m definitely listening to the rest of the series.
This book was fantastic, so hard to put down once you start reading, so good and I honestly can’t wait for the second installment, need to know what parts these 4 babies play for the future.
It was breathtaking
I waited to get it because of the cost. Couldn’t wait any longer. Hard to put down. The whole book was realistic and scary. Loved the magic element. Can’t wait for the next book.
Loved this book. I can’t wait for the next one to come out.
This was my first Nora Roberts book. I read it as a book club selection and I had some reservations because romance isn’t typically my genre. But I also am always open to new authors and I had never read anything by Nora Roberts before and the description looked fabulous! I love fantasy, post apocalyptic books and paranormal YA, so this book should be right up my alley. I flew through the audiobook and the storyline was really fun. In general, I enjoyed it and did like the characters. There were a lot of similarities to The Stand, with the sickness that took most peoples’ lives, the ties between characters and the special skills developing in those individuals. The idea of fate pulling them together…
I was disappointed by the amount of disconnected plot lines she tried to pack into the book. There were so many elements of this book that could have been it’s own book. The Doom, the magic that started the Doom, the magic that resulted from TEOTWAWKI, the divisions of magical creatures and what skills they each have, the powers of good and evil.
Overall, the book is enjoyable, but not of great quality. I’ve read some excellent examples of each of the half dozen or so genres she tries to represent. I think this book was a lot of fun and kept my interest, but didn’t represent the best of any breed.
**Spoilers**
Then…that ending! Max dies at the hand of his brother who they believed to be dead. Knowing that they were in danger, no one in the town had prepared for the potential attack? And it happens and Lana leaves everyone she knows and loves behind. Isn’t there strength in numbers? So a couple months after she loses her love, she replaces him with a new guy. The end felt rushed and improbable.
I’ll read the next one, but I winced at the hint that the next book jumps 13 years? What about all the other characters that were introduced?? Argh… I guess we’ll see.