EMP: Return of the Wild West is a well-written, gripping and thrilling post-apocalyptic EMP survival trilogy. The series met my highest expectation, with Grace Hamilton’s realistic world-building and authentic characters. The story is addictive and totally engaging; from the very start, my attention was grabbed, and I was totally hooked. The storyline centers around the Healy family and finding a way to survive and face numerous challenges and threats. For Greg Healy, his father, Tuck, and daughter Emma, along with two other companions, Tommy and Eustace, a hunting trip in the isolated Canadian wilderness turns into an epic disaster. They’re stuck in the middle of a remote location with their equipment no longer working. They must find a way to make it back home and reunite with the rest of their family. Back home, in Washington State, Tabitha, Greg’s wife, and his son Darryl, Marion, his mother are confronted with perils of their own. They must find a way to gather enough supplies and protect themselves and their home from dangerous threats.
The story unfolded perfectly; it’s well-plotted, exciting, and suspenseful, with enough moving pieces to make it unpredictable. I was definitely invested and rooting for the cast. Andrew Tell’s narration made the story even more engaging. He portrayed the nuances of the characters’ personalities, emotions, and intensity of the scenes, breathing life into Hamilton’s words. Overall, Return of the Wild West was a gratifying and entertaining listen, one I thoroughly enjoyed.