Year One

Three and a half stars. This series was recommended by SyFyWire here. Set in a dystopian near future, one new year's eve a series of events lets loose a terrible plague upon humanity which kills billions worldwide, a few are naturally immune and others either gain powers or enhance powers as witches, elves, fairies and the like, people they came to call the Uncanny. As civilisation crumbles we follow two groups of people who leave New York looking for a place to settle. Lana and Max were a couple, he was a writer and she was a chef. Fred and Alysa were juniors at a TV news station. Jonah was a paramedic and Rachel was a doctor. Katie was the daughter of the original victim of the plague they came to call The Doom. But as civilisation crumbles and the Uncanny increase in numbers so do the religious fundamentalists and intolerance as well as gangs of raiders who just like to kill and torture and destroy. Among the disintegration of society one baby could herald salvation, The One. I enjoyed this but I felt following two separate groups of people was distracting and there was too much of a distinction between good and evil, surely there should be some shades of grey? Instead people are either like Little House on The Prairie/Pollyanna or totally evil which also makes the baddies easier to spot. Overall, a good start to a new series (to me) but not nuanced enough. However, the gore level is high - think Supernatural style horror.

Really enjoying this first part of the trilogy. I put off reading it because of covid & didn't fancy reading something too close to the bone in 2021. I'm glad I caved. I enjoy the majority of Nora Roberts works & have made my way through a good chunk of her novels, story's & Trilogies. So far, to me, this is not a 'typical' Roberts romance story/trilogy, some of the plot is familiar but I'm finding it an entertaining & somewhat emotional read. Off to start the second one now 😊

FABULOUS!.......Found the jumps from group to group a little bemusing at times, but after some thought, recalled the characters well enough. Over the years I have bought and enjoyed Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb as often as could be afforded, both as books and then from Google for my laptop and tablet. My books have been lent to many who have become great fans also. Nora Roberts thank you for all the pleasure you have given me over the years. I very much look forward to YEAR TWO, please don't leave it too long, I am seventy six and not in the best of health.