I generally like the concept of post-apocalyptic stories but this collection is just too mediocre. The mediocrity is bad enough, but then there are some plot developments I won’t spoil that are just too statistically implausible within the world the author has created.
I understand the writing trope of having a character with a name that reflects that character’s traits. The author chose a name for the main character that is just too on the nose for the setting. The main character’s name is Marcus Battle. That’s right, Battle. In a story with a lot of fighting, that’s not exactly a creative name. The author might as well have named the main character Rambo, or Marcus Hero, Marcus True Aim, or Marcus Grit.
You would expect a post-apocalyptic book that centers on a prepper would be a bit grounded and realistic. Expect otherwise here. Battle is a one-man army, a post-apocalyptic Rambo who can best any number of men in any situation. So much for any sense of realism. The post-apocalyptic world is apparently populated with bad guys who shoot as poorly as a Stormtrooper in Star Wars.
Part of Battle’s post-apocalyptic success is due to his superior firepower. The AR-15 is the most ubiquitous long gun in the United States, but somehow in this book’s post-apocalyptic setting, only Battle has long guns and everyone else has revolvers and shotguns. As Battle fights in battle after battle (see the problem with the silly name?), he trumps his foes with his military background, superior weaponry, and simply amazing luck. His amazing luck makes a James Bond movie look like a realistic documentary by comparison.
If you’ve read this far, be warned I’m about to give a very very mild hint of a spoiler. A virus has ravaged something like 96% of the world’s population, but a character is introduced who not only managed to be in that lucky 4%, but actually knew our hero pre-pandemic. That pretty much did it for me. This incredulous development, coupled with the one dimensional character development, pretty much killed the book series for me. I genuinely regret wasting a credit on it.