Synopsis:
A civilization-ending comet is headed for Earth.
Two days before impact, thousands of mysterious pods land in a swath across North America. When people touch them, the pods open. Anyone who climbs inside is carried away.
No one knows where the pods came from and no one knows where they go, but finding one is David Williams’ only chance to save his family from the end of the world.
… and escaping Earth is just the beginning.
Review:
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the author!
This was like Armageddon meets Jurassic Park meets Lord of the Flies, with an extraterrestrial twist. If that sounds like a lot to unpack, let me explain…
The story begins in the final days of life on Earth as we know it. There’s a comet heading directly for Earth, and there’s nothing humanity can do to stop it. Naturally, there is chaos of every conceivable variety, because what’s the point of following rules when no one can really enforce them? It’s all going to end, anyway.
But then the pods arrive. There aren’t many compared to the population of Earth, and only a relative handful of lucky people find them. Those who climb inside are quickly whisked away to…somewhere else. The comet didn’t kill them, but they’re clearly not on Earth any more. There are prehistoric creatures. Terror birds. Dinosaurs. Surviving the wildlife is just one problem. Surviving the other humans is another.
And figuring out where the pods came from and who sent them? That’s a mystery too.
There are a number of POV characters in the story, but it focuses primarily on two. David, an anesthesiologist who escapes the comet with his young children, and Sierra, a twenty-something from a privileged Hollywood upbringing who escapes with a teen boy she barely knows and one of her neighbors. David’s main concern is keeping his kids safe, but he does what he can to assist their group. Sierra knows how to manage people pretty well—she learned it from her father—but she has a lot to learn about survival. But she’s willing and unafraid to meet the challenge.
I didn’t particularly care for either character at first, but as they story progressed and they were forced to adapt and change, both really grew on me. David lost most of his previous arrogance, and Sierra turned out to be a very caring sort with a knack for leading.
This was a well-written story with plenty of action. If you’re into survivor-type stories with end of the world vibes, definitely check this one out.
Rule of Extinction is available for preorder and will release February 25, 2025.
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