Nuclear Dawn #1-5: The Post-Apocalyptic Box Set by Kyla Stone

Nuclear Dawn #1-5: The Post-Apocalyptic Box Set Reviews

• 
  AℳY♔Queen of Fat cats♔민윤기's fiancé

  Whoa, I love KU boxsets and post apocalyptic? Cool!!
  *aims*
  *hurls to TBR Pile*
  *Kisses KU cellphone app*
  
  Did I tell you guys that My dog destroyed my Kindle? She swears it was an accident!! I'm saving money for an Oasis.
• 
  louise sumner

  The third amazing series I've read of Kyla Stone's
  
  I have enjoyed 3 of Kyla Stones series of books now and she is an incredible writer. The way she describes a situation, the surroundings, the feel of a place etc is amazing. And when SHTF she describes the events in utter shocking detail that feels real when you are reading it. Her research into artillery and political manoeuvres is amazing! KS has a serious gift for this. There's a spoiler here: The issue I do have, however, is that in this series she wrote about Reuben dying and said "he'd be going off to Valhalla or wherever the hell they went". This is very offensive to me and upset me as I am of Pagan religion. I have Swedish ancestry so am Swedish - English, I suppose. I'd suspected something when the author described nearly everyone in the compound as blonde (which isn't very likely to occur tbh). Warriors who go off to Valhalla have fallen with pride and courage, not having been an evil murderer who has just been eaten by an alligator. It was really disrespectful writing that and it isn't OK to be offensive about someone's religion and beliefs. It wouldn't have been written about the Hindu religion, I am certain and yet the two religions are the same. The writer seems to have a general distaste for the fairer population, often describing their hair as 'dirty' blonde and once describing their skin as being like mayonnaise in a different series. Everyone else has 'rich brown' or 'warm brown' skin. If someone said dirty brown hair or dirty black hair, you'd assume they hadn't washed it. Why not say, darker blonde or there's a number of appropriate descriptions? Maybe the odd pleasant one? The more affluent of this fair population get similar scathing comments as though none of these people have any depth or pleasantness or a will to survive and I know this to not be true. Maybe these people have worked hard or been fortunate enough to hone a skill that is in demand. Maybe they have created employment. I think some people are entitled and spoilt, sure but not all of them and not just the fair ones too! It is a theme across Kyla Stone's books. Having the intelligence to be in a successful business means you have the skill to adapt. I have never seen books with so many references to nearly every character's culture. It's a weird one isn't it because a character was just looked at to be considered Chinese - American. Can this be certain and what if the person's parents were born in America but their grandparents were Asian (maybe Chinese)? Do you call someone with Danish parents Danish-American? All the horrible characters have been the fairer type and all the considerably intelligent and almost angelic types were black. This is a theme over all of the 3 series of books that I read. I'm not sure if the author is trying to press a point there but I don't feel it's needed and may seem, if anything a little patronising. These comments seem harsh but there was so much of it that I felt I needed to say something. I assume that Kyla Stone is white because the female protagonist is always white often with auburn hair. This is quite usual as the author usually identifies themself, visually in this way to enable to immerse themselves in the story. I didn't warm to Logan and Dakota as much as I did the other main characters in her other series however. I very much liked the main female character in the series about the solar flares that had been imprisoned by a pyscho before she'd escaped into a newly dystopian world. I didn't feel like I cared about Logan and Dakota as much. The main characters in her other series, I really did care about and I liked them immensely but I understand that the characters are written very well like real people who aren't perfect etc. I just thought Dakota to be cold and quite cruel and narcissistic at times. Logan did have his strange darkness from having murdered a woman and been responsible for that person's child's death. Other than that I'd find it difficult to describe his character. He seemed quite weak at first but did pull himself together eventually. I very much liked Shay and Julio. I really wanted Julio to survive so he could be with his family and I really wanted Shay and Hawthorne to be together so I was relieved that despite the dangers, they strode through. Eden aswell, I had a lot of empathy for. I'd like to know what happened to Sister Rose Marie (I hope I've remembered her name correctly). I think she deserved acknowledgement for what she went through and what she did on a number of occasions putting her own life at serious risk to save others. That extra bomb would have happened aswell if not for her bravery. I'm glad she survived but I really wanted to know where she ended up. Maybe she could have worked alongside Shay or helped look after the children from the compound where she lived as she would have been a familiar face. The most intriguing character for me was Maddox. He was equally terrifying and yet human.
• 
  Nisareen

  Surviving the blast is only the beginning...
  
  Following a catastrophic nuclear attack which targeted 13 major cities, millions are wiped out in an instant while others are left to deal with the after effects of radiation poisoning. Troubled teen, Dakota Sloane has been working in a bar in Miami, trying to save enough money to get her younger sister Eden, out of foster care. Two years ago, they escaped the Everglades from a cult called the Shepherds of Mercy, which is run by the fanatic Solomon Cage. Dakota has changed her name and stayed incognito since.
  
  Minutes before the attack, Dakota spots Maddox Cage, the cult leader’s son, getting into a taxi through her bar window. Realising he’s tracked down Eden’s whereabouts, Dakota decides to up her plans to leave with Eden sooner than she had anticipated. As different cities come under attack on the news bulletin, Dakota comes to a horrifying realisation and is able to text Eden seconds before a blinding light flashes and Miami also succumbs to an attack.
  
  Following the blast, Dakota and a few survivors from the bar seek refuge in a movie theatre as they wait for the radiation levels to drop. The survivors include Julio, the bar owner, Shay who has some medical experience and Logan Garcia, a loner, haunted by his past who seeks solace in a bottle.
  
  Forty eight hours later, Dakota’s anxiety for Eden has worsened as she suspects that Maddox may have survived and will possibly head out for her sister. Sensing that he can handle himself with a gun, she makes a deal with Logan; access to a secure safe haven deep in the Everglades in return for accompanying her while she rescues her sister. Logan agrees. With Julio and Shay also insisting on going her, the group set out on a journey through wasteland that is fraught with danger not only from radiation but from aspects of humanity itself.
  
  As the books progress we learn that the Shepherds of Mercy have been behind the attacks all along. Can Dakota save her sister and prevent another catastrophic attack on US soil?
  
  This boxset consists of all five books in what has been a tense and exciting post apocalyptic survival series. Each instalment is told from five points of view; Dakota, Eden, Logan, Maddox and Shay. From the offset, I found myself totally immersed in the premise of the story. The impact on survivors from a nuclear explosion where knowledge and survival skills could be the only thing standing between life and death? Luckily our group has Dakota, who thanks to her mentor Ezra, has been taught survivalist skills.
  
  The strength of the book lies in the fascinating world building that the author has managed to create. It’s apparent throughout that the author has done a lot of research which sets it apart from other novels of similar themes.
  
  The characters were quickly introduced, developed and understood. Dakota, Eden and Logan are troubled protagonists, each with a dark past which is only hinted at in this instalment. We learn that Dakota and Eden were sent to a religious compound by their Aunt, following the death of their parents. They escaped and sought refuge with Ezra, a hermit who lived in the Everglades. While Dakota is tough, resilient and a survivor mainly because she’s HAD to be, Logan chooses to drown his demons in a bottle. Eden, despite being alone and hearing impaired, handles her situation admirably for a fifteen year old. Her faith in her sister, unshakable. The secondary characters were equally appealing. Ezra, Julio, Shay, Park and Hawthorne came across as decent, caring people. Unfortunately when society breaks down, it brings out the worst of humanity too and our group are exposed to its good and bad aspects.
  
  All in all, the author has delivered an intriguing well executed, gritty edge of your seat box set. The plot moves along fluidly and while certain scenes crackled with tension, others genuinely tugged at my heartstrings. This has been a fantastical multi layered journey of self discovery, powered by adept character development, relentless pacing and building to a climax that is neat and satisfying. I’ll definitely be looking out for future works from the author.
  
  Trigger warnings, religious cult, patriarchal societies, physical and mental abuse, child marriages, torture, gang related violence.
• 
  Kaye

  ONE ACTION PACKED ADVENTURE!!!
  Thrilling! Kyla pulled out all the stops with this impressive collection that doesn't disappoint. Busting loose, squeezing hard and breaking through while all the chaos, shenanigans and mayhem run amuck blazing this jewel together piece by jagged piece. Non-stop, action packed, hard hitting, nailbiting, spine tingling, adrenaline pumping, mind blowing, chart topping, block busting masterpiece that hooks you from the start and reels you in for the duration. Drama, adversity, intrigue, skepticism, speculations, danger and suspense engage all of your senses while a slew of plot twists and sharp turns run rampant propelling this treasure to life flawlessly. Hurdling trials and tribulations along with a few bumps and bruises send this little gem skyrocketing. The characters and their on point personalities are authentic, original and realistic with depth and qualities it feels as though you can just reach out and touch them. The scenes are graphically detailed and descriptive making it easy to picture each scenario as they play off one another in perfect balance. Fantastic job Kyla, thanks for sharing this bad boy with us.
• 
  Kelly Marie

  I am so happy I had the entire box set! Kyla Stone is a first-time author for me and now has a fan for life! I had this series on Audible and Kindle which worked out perfectly because I never missed a beat with the story. The narrator was awesome and kept you engaged, but at the same time, while reading the story you were still right in the middle of it all. This series had me on the edge of my seat the ENTIRE time. I was completely engrossed. This story has everything. It has action, craziness, insanity, and anarchy. BUT, it has an intense show of loyalty and love. It even has crazies in a cult! The most exciting part of this story is that it could actually happen. The entire story keeps you engaged from start to finish. You won’t be able to help yourself and will have to continue to turn the pages. It is so real that you can actually picture yourself in the middle of the chaos and it will have you thinking about how you would react in the same situation. On top of it, the action never stops. The story is told in a very vivid way that puts you right in the middle. And as the story escalates, it never falls flat. Very well done and I look forward to reading more by Kyla Stone.
• 
  Frank Dupree

  Heart wrenching in more ways than one
  
  Kyla Stone is an artist who uses words rather than paints to create an amazing story like a huge mural! The storyline is gut wrenching but filled with amazing characters who rise to the occasion over and over again. It’s very hard to write one review for 5 books... there’s so much to tell. The evil ones are despicable and yet Maddox Cage comes forth as a complex person who needs redemption in the end. Dakota and Logan grow on you as they grow on each other. The others, Shay, Julio, Ezra and the rest seem to become a “person”... it’s the epitome of the “Esprit de Corps” that we see develop in them that binds them together. I highly recommend this series even though it breaks your heart over and over... May America never see anything like this is my prayer.
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  David Taylor

  Kyla Stone’s Nuclear Dawn series is addicting. She has woven a cast of characters with very real human flaws and failings all trying to survive a nuclear attack on America. Ms. Stone has packed this story with very believable scenarios and action. While reading this series on one level I realize it is fiction, but the scenarios the characters encounter leave me wondering how long it would take for residents of a city to devolve into a dog-eat-dog mentality after some apocalyptic event. This story immediately grabbed my attention and kept me on edge until the final word. While it is nice to finish the series, to bid adieu to these characters after investing so much time following them on their adventures is bittersweet.
• 
  Sharon Jones

  A horrifying story of what could happen in the event someone wanted to disrupt the U.S. and create havoc opening an opportunity for a take over of our government. Very detailed and well researched. I found some of the repetitive comments made by Dakota and Logan about their past lives and the guilt they carried a little frustrating as it seemed it was a filler to make the story longer. I still don't believe that anyone could have done the fighting they did with the injuries they had but, then, I've never been in that situation. It is also a good study on human nature and what we let ourselves believe.
• 
  Karen

  Nuclear Dawn
  
  This box set is the second postapocalyptic series by this author that I've read, back to back, with a third cued to read next. They are that addictive. As with Edge of Collapse, the characters in Nuclear Dawn are well developed, though it took a little longer for me to warm to this series' mc's. World building is also great, with detailed descriptions and snippets of survival tips for a large metro area that has been hit by a nuclear bomb and a rural area in the Everglades with it's own unique challenges. I'm looking forward to beginning the next one.
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  Melva Metivier

  Absolutely awesome series I love this writer I don’t want to give anything away so I wouldn’t give a synopsis of it you have to read them yourself but if you like apocalyptic stories that has a great story line amazing characters some you’ll love some you’ll hate some will change mind. Set some time aside for this series because you won’t want to set it down.
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  Marcie Pfeifer

  I loved it
  
  I read all of the books in a few days and I really loved it. It took me a bit to get to like some of the main characters but they came around! There wasn't any grammatical errors or typos either (that I noticed) and I was so pleasantly surprised; most of the books I read on here have tons.
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  Leonardo Acebo

  I was drawn in by the setting, since I live in Miami, but the storyline and the great characters kept me reading the five book series! Yeah, there are a few inconsistencies here and there, but don't let that steer you away from a fast-paced, action-packed, character driven series featuring the brave Dakota Sloane. I won't give anything away, but you're in for a real treat.