Compared to the first few books, this franchise becomes more of an action fantasy genre than a grounded prepper book set in the apocalypse. It’s still good, but no longer great. The evolution was inevitable I guess because the author obviously needs new storylines. It reminds me of the arc of the Walking Dead crew. Just as Rick and his gang moved from being shrewd survivors to actively seeking out unnecessary conflict (like attacking the Saviors), Jim and his crew become less risk averse. A few spare redshirts are sacrificed here and there but the semi-grounded realism really gives way for some pretty incredulous encounters and outcomes. The ending of book 6 laid the obvious groundwork for book 7 and sealed the deal for me. I won’t be continuing onward but I enjoyed it while it lasted. .
