Ripped From The Headlines
5 out of 5 stars
This series, to quote Abrahams exact words “The Scourge series is based on the same plague that altered the world in the eight-book Traveler series featuring Marcus Battle. However, this collection follows the adventures, trials, and perseverance of an entirely different cast of characters.” That opening line really sucked me in (this is before the story even begins). But knowing the Traveler series and how much I liked it, I can’t wait to figure out what happens when people aren’t prepared. I’m also excited that we’re diving in earlier into the Scourge, and we’ll see it as it begins instead of months after it’s ravaged millions of lives.
What I was… unprepared for was how similar the stuff that Abrahams wrote was going to be like our current circumstances. Example:
“It’s not blown out of proportion,” said the masked woman.
“People are dying from it.”
“Says the woman wearing a mask,”
This book was fantastic, though; Abrahams is able to take a fake “scourge” and make it feel real. Of course, the stuff that is going on outside of our self-isolated windows is so close to what he described it really took this book to another level. Some people might have a hard time with this one, but it was interesting to see what an author wrote compared to what was going on. Thankfully COVID-19 is not plague based – but that doesn’t make any of the things he predicted a year ago when writing this any less scary. The only thing he got “wrong” was the random run on toilet paper. Everything else (people fighting over food, mask shortages, etc.) was all spot on.
The characters in this story were different than his average too. Definitely different than Battle. Honestly, it reminded me a bit of his Alt Apocalypse series since it took normal everyday people and threw them into an apocalyptic situation. The jobs they came from and the things they had to deal with as they were trying to flee to safety all felt real and made this story even more rooted in realism.
Overall, a fantastic start to another Abrahams Post-Apocalyptic story. These will release quickly throughout May (and maybe June). Hopefully, Kevin Pierce can also get the audio done because I can’t wait to dive into more of these and see what happens. Especially the next book since (the cover gives it away, so I don’t feel like it’s a huge spoiler) it looks like it’s going to take place on a boat. I’m super curious to see how that goes.
Book Description:
A mutating plague is spreading. It’s killing two of every three people on Earth. And Mike Crenshaw is totally unprepared.
From the world of The Traveler Series comes a new cast of characters, new obstacles, and the same devastating, world-altering virus which plunges society into the depth of a dystopian hell.
Unprepared begins in the hours before The Scourge takes hold. As if ripped from today’s headlines, governments react too slowly and the disease spreads too fast. Quarantines don’t work. Infrastructure fails. People die.
Follow Mike and his friends as they try to survive this new landscape and find out how the world in which The Traveler Series was set came into being. It’s a thrill ride that will keep you up at night with the lights on and the doors locked.
Unprepared by Tom Abrahams
Narrator: Kevin Pierce
Length: 8 hrs and 19 mins
Series: The Scourge #1
Published by Piton Press on April 26th 2020
Genres: Post-Apocalyptic
Format: Audiobook
Buy from Audible
Also by this author: Home (Traveler #1), Canyon (Traveler #2), Wall (Traveler #3), SpaceMan
Also in this series: Adrift, Grounded, The Scourge Series: The Complete Trilogy
- Snapped (Agent Jade Monroe #1) by C. M. Sutter (Narrated by Meghan Kelly) - March 21, 2023
- Dungeon World Drifters (System Apocalypse – Relentless #2) by Craig Hamilton & Tao Wong (Narrated by Shamaan Casey) - March 19, 2023
- New and Notable Audiobook Releases for the Week of March 18th on Brian’s Book Blog - March 18, 2023
