Edge of Defiance (Edge of Collapse, #5) by Kyla Stone

Edge of Defiance (Edge of Collapse, #5) Reviews

• 
  RedRedtheycallmeRed

  The big showdown finally arrived, but it took awhile to get there. It seemed like the chapters leading up to the finale were a lot of filler and repetition.
  
  Liam is still the same brooding, untrusting guy, but he does seem to be at least 5% happier by the end. Quinn is still the best character (aside from Ghost) but it looks like she's embracing her dark side.
  
  This really seemed like it could (probably should) be the end of the story, several storylines came to a natural conclusion, but there are still two more books? I hope it's some new territory and not just a rehashing of what's already happened to Fall Creek.
  
• 
  Olivia

  The Edge of Collapse series is Kyla Stone’s newest series and her most successful. She has solid, gripping prose, great characters and a fast-paced plot.
  
  Apocalyptic entertainment at its best.
  
  In this instalment everything comes together and some of the scenes are outright cathartic.
• 
  Mel

  This was the best of the series yet, just as I was ready to get rid of Hannah myself, she finally redeemed herself.
• 
  Linda

  This is one of those books I loved and hated at the same time. It's a rare occurrence, but it's definitely happened before. Things pissed me off enough to want me to rate it on the lowly side, but then there were the things I loved so much that I couldn't fathom rating it anything less than perfect. I got angry. I got sad. I had all things in between. I had all. The. FEELS. If you wanna know what pissed me off, though, then skip down past the sentence in bold where I will rant about it. Because it needs a mention, and you better believe I'm gonna mention it, even if it DIDN'T cause me to rate with low stars.
  
  But why rate it higher? Regardless of which direction I swayed towards (love vs hate), I couldn't stop reading. It had the entirety of my attention and never let me go. It never bored me. Never lost my interest. The way this story managed to invoke literally every kind of emotion outta me WITHOUT making me regret it, well...that's a story that is essentially forcing me to give it a perfect score, complaints be damned. It practically dragged that 5th star outta me. While some of the dialogue was comically exaggerated, a greater portion of it was heart-punching. I cried some ugly tears over this book, I kid you not. UGLY. I'm talking sniffles and snot kind of tears. I truly FELT the various characters' pain, even minor characters.
  
  Way to frickin' abuse me, Kyla Stone.
  
  Like its predecessor, you're THROWN RIGHT IN at the start of this entry without even getting a chance to buckle up, and I mean that in the literal sense. Chapter one is guns blazing, and it rarely lets up. War has officially come. If things weren't real before, things are DEFINITELY real now. The small town of Fall Creek with its minimal firepower must now defend itself against the well-armed and villainous militia that have infiltrated its borders, with their own Rosamond Sinclair pulling the strings along with her cousin Mattias Sutter. The pacing stays quick while the gravity of it all is heavy. The action and violence are intensified.There's so much going on, so much to take in, both plotwise and character wise, much of it difficult to accept. I think Kyla did a fantastic job in ramping up the overall energy in this entry; it had all the feels of being the final book it had initially intended to be.
  
  However, thanks to that aforementioned quick pace, there were certain transitional moments between chapters that felt WAY rushed since they'd often involve an unexpected (and often unwelcome) time jumps. For example, after the pivotal moment that Hannah chose to ungraciously leave Noah (seriously, the woman exercised not a hint of tact for that whole scene), the next chapter that involves Liam is already the next day. Now you're suddenly with Liam on the cusp of ambushing and facing off against the first patch of militia aiming to kill him, their arrival forewarned by Hannah when she arrived at his place the night before. You don't get to witness their interaction when she arrived from Noah's and are only told about it via Liam's narrative. There were plenty of moments like this, the quiet moments you can't witness, that left me feeling a bit gypped.
  
  But what REALLY pissed me off in this story?
  
  I can't end this review without mentioning it, and that's the treatment of Noah. I do NOT like the fact that Noah had been reduced to a bumbling, pliable fool of a character until the literal end. Now okay, maybe that was simply his arc, and those negative traits were always there. Maybe they were bubbling under the surface every time he decided not to act against something questionable until the time came for them to erupt and cause him to grow into this way unlikable character. I honestly get that. But the thing is, it just didn't feel like a natural growth. It felt forced.
  
  After all the things he went through to be his own hero of the story, and the things that weighed on him as a cop, I'm supposed to believe that he's okay with being a pushover even when things are even MORE obvious for him? That his arc was all along meant to be this tragic fall from grace? It just didn't mesh right with me. I should have been seeing more signs of that early on. But I guess perhaps I DID see the signs. Maybe the "signs" of him being a pushover were all the times he disagreed with what was happening but said nothing, even when something was against his better judgment, and it all just spiraled out from there: Noah resorting to living in a fear bubble for Milo's sake. Regardless, though, even if he had justifications for his astronomically frustrating decisions (the protection of his son), it still felt like a complete change of the character I've gotten to know since the beginning.
  
  Which is why I'm more leaning on another reason for his character assassination. Poor Noah was automatically made into a new antagonist for the story once it became VERY obvious that a romance was being set up for Hannah and Liam. I for one think it's a shame that it took tainting what could have been decent character to advance others. And not just tainting him, but killing him off altogether. No! Not even just killing him off, but doing so without granting him SOME bit of reprieve before doing so. I know he made some horrible decisions, but my God he made some good ones too. He couldn't at LEAST gain some semblance of a hero's death, even when he had a moment for it (killing Rosamond)? It would have been the one predictable element in a series that has already been so predictable that I would have GLADLY accepted. The dude didn't get to share any meaningful last words with anyone. Didn't get to experience peace. He just slowly suffers and withers away with his mind so full of regret and heartache, deprived of an opportunity to purge it all. Never had a chance to experience warmth or love before his life slips away. I mean come on! To not even be allowed to have died with the little bit of the dignity he used to have?
  
  And WORSE YET! Even after he dies, the characters that loved him can only focus on his fall, on the ways he'd messed up. Sure they grieve, sure they cry (and so did I), but they can't even bother to dwell on what he did right. Only young Quinn was able to do that, at least at first, which is why her response was the most authentic and the most saddening. She put up the most fight for him and so is the one to earn the anger towards him. It was just SUCH a tragic waste to his character, and no amount of character arc was worth that. He should have been done away with in a much more respectful manner, even if just a smidgen of it, especially after his helping carry the series for so long. Did he honestly deserve that? I don't think so. Not at all. Look I'm fine with his death. I have to be. If it had to happen, it had to happen. I'm just not fine with his moment of clarity dying along with him, that he couldn't even make things right in his last seconds of living. That his arc was always meant to be a crashing one, and now everyone will look at him as the man who screwed up. That enraged me.
  
  Whew. That felt good to get out. I'm still happily wanting to finish this series, even happy for Liam and Hannah, (even though she lost major cool points from me for the manner in which she left Noah), but yeah. Noah was done too dirty and I hope I won't see a repeat of that with any other characters in this series.
• 
  Donna

  Genres: Dystopia/Sci-fi
  
  This is book # 5 in the Edge of Collapse series and it was by far my favorite one. Again, I couldn't put this one down and I was hanging on to every scene as this train wreck was coming to a head. I love it when a book can sweep me away like that.
  
  It was nice to see the characters get their dose of karma. It felt very satisfying. This one seemed a little more ruthless and violent than the others but the author firmly nailed it all down . I loved her attention to the details that gave this a solid foundation for what it could be like if something like this really did happen. I also liked that the author wasn't frantically trying to fit every eventuality into the plot. She kept it reigned in. All things that I can appreciate...so 5 stars for this one.
  
• 
  Elle

  I am beyond furious at the Noah storyline. Kyla Stone you did him wrong! The poor man didn’t even get peace when he was dying or to die a meaningful death! He didn’t get to see Milo again or have a touching moment with Quinn. This felt forced to get him out of the way for Liam and Hannah. I knew that was going to happen, but couldn’t Noah be redeemed and he and Hannah just go their separate ways?
  He started off so good and had the potential for great development even after his bad choices. His decline was never convincing. The Noah from the beginning would have turned on Rosamand after she threatened Milo. And the relationship between Noah and Quinn that I loved from book 2 just fell by the way side for some inexplicable reason.
  Don’t even get me started on everyone blaming Noah for the bad ending to the town. He got more blame than Rosamand! And Hannah dared to blame him for Milo almost dying in the fire? And for “betraying” Milo? Noah was a better parent to Milo than Hannah has been so far.
  Every choice he made was wrong, but he wanted to protect Milo and get his medicine more than anything. I guess Hannah will rely on Liam for that now, like she does everything else.
  Noah wasn’t evil, just weak. But, in my opinion Hannah is weak as well and I’m sure she’ll get a HEA.
• 
  Ahw

  I never liked the story line with Noah. And it's just worse here.
  People are behaving out of character and it looks like it is just done to stir a pot.
  If the author was trying for some unusual angst it just didn't work.
  I'm continuing with the series because I still enjoy parts of the story and the other characters.
  But this wasn't an excellent book like the first one.
• 
  Kristina Barnes

  This series is so great! I love Liam, Hannah, and Quinn! I’m so glad this author added 2 more books after this one. 😃 I can’t get enough of these characters!
• 
  Ronda Tutt

  Awesomeness
  
  What an awesome wrap up to a brutal leader. Putting an end to the militia saved the town. Hannah, Liam, Quinn, and Milo have a fighting chance now in this world that has been thrown back in to the dark ages thanks to the EMP. Of course one bad guy got away but there will always be a bad guy. Noah turned out to be a failure because he put his beliefs in the wrong people and by the time he realized everything was a lie, it was to late.
  
  The story is full of action, the characters draw you in, so real and believable that you actually believe you're living in the world yourself. The funny thing is that the author has captured a possibility that we in real life could be facing from China and Russia. Times are hard right now and war between other countries are threatening our spoiled selves. The authors fantasy writing scares me because its not far fetched. The authors examples are spot on when it comes to survival. I'm very impressed and look forward to reading more of her work. Now I'm off to read more of the series since the author stated she added more to it because the characters had more to say.
  
  Excellent Read.
• 
  Darcy

  This in town really started to fraction and most of the people are realizing they have been lied to and used. I was happy to see them figure this out and do something. I hated the choice that Hannah made, but it needed to be done and I found the fate of Noah to be about right and didn't feel sorry for him. He's made his choices all along and knew the devil he sided with. By the end, I feel like the town has a chance now, the bad people are gone and spring is here. I only hope the POS at the end isn't successful at rilling people up.
• 
  Sandra "Jeanz"

  As soon as I realised this one book was available to buy, I knew I had to read it. I needed to know what would happen to the Fall Creek and Winter Haven divide as well as contemplating whether Noah & Hannah would rekindle their relationship. If they do will it just be for the sake of Milo? Then there’s Charlotte Rose, who is the granddaughter on Rosamond Sinclair! Even if she doesn’t want to acknowledge it. I had so many thoughts and feelings about the characters and what I wanted to happen to them in this book. Some of it happens even more dramatically than I expected. Other parts of the characters lives are on the way to where I thought they would be and there are a whole load of extra things and surprises I hadn’t imagined happening at all.
  
  The cover again fits in really well with the rest of the books in the series. The cold, wintery backdrop but then there’s the smoke in the distance and Hannah at the forefront of the cover looking towards the smoke rising and her gun at the ready. The cover certainly suggests that there is more hardship and heartache to come.
  
  It seems Fall Creek was lucky when Liam arrived with Hannah as those living there need his military, no-nonsense mind quite a lot in this book. I love the chemistry between Hannah & Liam, the way Liam has kind of become the father figure to Charlotte the baby created during Hannah’s kidnap and torture at the hands of Gavin Pike, who is Rosamond Sinclair’s son. Though Rosamond is grieving the loss of her sons, she is still ruling Winter Haven and Fall Creek with a hard hand with the help of her cousin Mattias Sutter, leader of the Militia. If anyone dares to disagree with them, or in the case of the Militia even be considered to have looked at them in a wrong way they are blacklisted. If blacklisted you are not included in food handouts.
  Molly & Quinn are still setting up their trading system, though Molly is approaching this by teaching new skills so people can become self-sufficient where ever possible. They have big plans hoping to start trading with other local communities too. However, that won’t be so easy to accomplish when it’s revealed during an attack on Fall Creek that the Militia have been forcibly taking supplies from other communities, just as Liam had suspected.
  
  Liam and Bishop decide that they need to end the Militia’s reign of terror after one of the Militia men almost shoots a teenage boy. Though Liam doesn’t know the boy or his family, he manages to stop the shooting, but puts himself firmly in the sights of the Militia again. They know that Liam is their largest threat and if the community join him, they could have a battle on their hands. Mattias Sutter, leader of the Militia and cousin of Superintendent Rosamond Sinclair decides they need to concentrate their forces and any supplies they gather on only those at Winter Haven.
  
  At the beginning of the book Hannah & Charlotte are living with Noah & Milo at Winter Haven. With both Rosamond’s sons now being dead she seems to have latched onto Noah as a kind of replacement. Noah is slowly changing from the by the book Police Officer into something more like a member of the Militia. It started by turning a blind eye when first Julian and then other Militia members just shot people for disagreeing with them and their actions. When Rosamond turns things into a them/Fall Creek and us/Winter Haven situation a few characters need to make difficult choices. On the Winter Haven side, Noah tries to order Hannah to stay within the boundaries of Winter Haven. Then Ghost is threatened by one of the Militia Men for simply walking at Hannah’s side. It seems like Noah has chosen his side of the way to live, he is starting to think like the Militia men around him. To take what he needs for him and himself no matter the cost to anyone else. Although Noah is a good father to Milo, he barely acknowledges the existence of Charlotte which naturally bothers Hannah. When the time comes during a heated exchange between Noah & Hannah, she blurts out she is leaving. Hannah had already been seriously thinking that the time make come when she would have to choose between Noah & Winter Haven and Liam, Molly, Quinn etc at Fall Creek. Hannah chooses to take Charlotte and move to Fall Creek but Noah insists she has to leave Milo with him. Hannah does ask for Noah to bring Milo to visit her in Fall Creek at either their old home or Molly’s but he refuses. When Milo asks to visit his mum, or Quinn & Molly Noah simply puts him off to begin with. Noah does end up upsetting and alienating his son by keeping him from his mother and his friends in Fall Creek.
  Now that the Militia is no longer patrolling Fall Creek it means that no one from Fall Creek can visit Winter Haven which means Noah needs childcare for Milo whilst he works and ends up trusting someone he really, really shouldn’t from Winter Haven, meaning when disaster strikes there’s no one reliable with his son Milo.
  
  There’s lots and lots of action, altercations and fighting in this book. Liam using his military tactics training. Bishop steps up to back him up despite being a man of God, he knows the only way they will be rid of the Militia is to shoot them. As things change for everyone, to begin with nothing changes for Rosamond, she has power for cooking, warm showers etc. Every surface in her kitchen has food and supplies in abundance on them. The thing with Rosamond is, she actually thinks it’s acceptable to keep all these things for herself even though on some level she must know she couldn’t possibly use all of them! This book really reveals more about Rosamond as a character and you certainly know where her son Gavin got his sick, violent personality and ways from.
  
  I loved the scene in the book where Hannah and Quinn face off with Rosamond. Hannah finally gets to meet the mother of the evil man that kidnapped her and stole so much her life head on. There are a few shocks/surprises revealed when they confront Rosamond, she knew a lot more about things that had happened than she had previously revealed. It becomes clear that Rosamond has no feelings towards her granddaughter, Charlotte, all she had time for were her sons or any men around her that she can manipulate.
  
  I also enjoyed the end of the book where the surviving characters reflect on what they have had to do to get rid of the Militia, who is no longer with them and looking towards the prospect of a new way forward. Then there’s the very end where someone tells a group of crazy, violent teenagers who want to stay in a world without power, the where abouts of Winter Haven!!
  Another mystery in the book is who Rosamond was talking to on her secret satellite telephone.
  It seems that the fight for independence and survival for Fall Creek has only just begun.
  
  I felt this book, for me, was a slightly slower than usual for this series. I think it was the increase in detailed fight scenes, some of which kind of went right over my head with me not really having gun knowledge. There were lots of deaths in this book too. I thought the scenes around the death of one of the major characters in the book was really dramatic. I honestly don’t think there was any more for this character going forward. I don’t think this character will be forgotten in the forthcoming books and will probably mentioned quite a bit. I thought it was really fitting how Bishop & Liam stayed true to their characters. The way when they came across a fatally wounded person, they did not leave them suffering, but shot them and put them out of their pain. I think the character flashback sections were really well done and it made them even more realistic and relatable. Bishop thinking of, and reliving the scenes where he lost those he loved. Quinn remembering the day it all began and Noah getting them down from the ski lift. Finally, the flashbacks Hannah still has, being haunted by what happened in the hunting cabin that she was held in the basement of by Gavin Pike.
  
  My immediate thoughts upon finishing reading this book were, Oh, wow, what a battle, what a shame to lose that character but there wasn't really another way...and wow what an ending. Just when you think it could all be over, someone raises their ugly head, whispers in the 'wrong ears' and trouble is heading for those survivors trying to rebuild Fall Creek.
  
  Summing up this was another great addition to the Edge Of Collapse series that has left me counting down to the next book. This is seriously addictive series!! I still have so many feelings and thoughts about what could happen, what I would like to happen to and for the characters in this series. I also have a feeling we are going to learn more about the Fall Creek residents and maybe some from the surrounding communities, that we met or learnt a little more of in this book as well as some new maybe not so nice characters being introduced.
  
• 
  Beverly Laude

  I just can't say enough great things about this series! I have come to love (or hate) the characters as if they are people I actually know.
  
  This book is full of action, with plenty of gun battles, psychological twists, betrayals, and pathos. You will cry at times, you will cheer at times and you will feel like throwing your e-reader at times. To me, that is what makes a book a 5 star read.
  
  Hannah continues to astound with her strength and her love for her son and daughter. Liam is....well, Liam! What an amazing superhero of a guy! Quinn is a one tough young girl, hurting inside at her losses, full of anger but also full of hope.
  
  And, Ghost? Well, what can you say about a wonderful Great Pyrenees dog that is ready to protect his family at all costs?
  
  The author has created an amazing cast of villains, especially Rosamund Sinclair. If it were possible for me to reach through my Kindle and kill that woman with my bare hands, I would have done it! She has to be one of the most villainous of villains that I have read in a long time! The book does end on a bit of cliffhanger since some of the bad guys survive and I can't wait to see what happens next!
  
  The writing is superb, the action fast-paced, but the author has also written a wonderfully emotional book as well. The narrator is perfect and her performance truly adds a whole other dimension to the book. I was given the chance to listen to the audiobook version of this book by the author and chose to review it.
• 
  Pam Shelton-Anderson

  This has continued to be a good series and this book has a much needed confrontation come to a climax at last. Most of the bad guys and many of the good guys have become one dimensional, an exception being James Luther who goes along with the bad for the most part but does draw a much needed line (I still wouldn't let him stay in the community). I was bothered a bit by some weakness from Hannah. She had endured the horror of five years of being the captive of a deranged lunatic, escaped that and made it home. At a crucial moment, she lowers her gun because her husband told her too (even though he is right on the edge of crazy). That forced a teenager girl to have to step up and save the day and also have to bear the guilt of killing. I am not sure where the story goes from here, though there is that shadowy call placed by Rosalind to a group that was in no particular hurry to get to the town.
• 
  Kaye

  ⚖️⚖️ONE PHENOMENAL RIDE⚖️⚖️
  Holy hell robin! Kyla reigns supreme serving up some small town justice with an mind-blowing vengeance, dishing out one action packed, hard hitting, heart pounding, pulse racing, adrenaline pumping, page flipping, block buster, blasting this hot little number to life spectacularly. Trapped in the mist of a raging storm, fighting to survive tyranny steeped with perilous drama, churning turmoil, harsh truths, intense animosity, heartbreaking loss, explosive danger, escalating suspense and unnerving encounters while traversing the dark cunning manipulations full of heinous intents, vicious deeds and sinister acts, wrapping this baby up sleek shiny and tight. Boundaries are amplified and shattered, baring the fervent facts, deadly deals and electrifying escapades, thrusting this baby into the eye of the storm, slamming it into a frenzy with an astonishing culmination. The characters, dialogue, interactions and charged atmosphere, along with relatable qualities and individual traits, adding depth and diversity, transforming into formidable personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and vivid descriptions that feel as though you were transported to ground zero with them. Remarkable job Kyla, thanks for sharing this little jewel with us.
• 
  Chris

  The quest for survival and safety, shelter, food and much needed medicine continues. People kill each other for a can of beans.
  
  Throughout these books, it’s hard to trust anyone because they all have motives - and those motives may not align with yours. As the good ones try to bring more people into their group to Overthrow the random gangs, etc. we find turncoats. Always have to be on your toes, you never know who is coming after you, why or when.
  
  Outstanding characters in Liam (former military) and Quinn, the badass teenaged girl who has seen so much pain in her life wants to fight, wants to help, does not back down and gets right in and down with Liam. This girl has been abused, beaten and whipped, she comes back for more. What seems as an impossible hostage situation is astoundingly apparent these two have pulled off a miracle. Side by side, and on their own, they both are badasses.
• 
  Jacquie

  *** SPOILERS BELOW ***
  
  
  
  So the big show down finally happened. I felt like it took forever to get there and I found myself getting some what frustrated at certain parts. I wanted to reach into the book and shake Noah! I think I could have maybe forgiven him of his blindness, but when he lied to Milo and told him his mother didn’t want to see him that erased it for me. In one breath he said how he hated how his parents used him growing up and he basically did the same. I didn’t want Milo to lose Noah though. I just wouldn’t have liked him. He showed the same hatefulness Julian showed. His was just well hidden. He’s lonely I get it but he can’t fake blindness to what’s happening forever. I hate how manipulative Rosalind was. Noah willingly went to her knowing what happened and that broke my heart for Milo. This book seemed like it should have been the end. By this point I’m a bit bored. I’m hoping I can continue.
  
• 
  Vikki Vaught

  Wow, just wow. What an emotional story that grabbed me from the first page to the last. So many characters that are flawed and yet tug at my heart. Noah really wanted to be the good guy but his fears and insecurities kept him frozen. He is one of the most complex characters I have ever read. Then Hannah, a fierce survivor, determined to protect her children at any cost. Quinn is such an amazing teenager so protective yet full of mistrust. Then there is Bishop, pastor unlike any I come across before. Lastly, Liam so broken yet such a warrior ready to take on the bad guys with no thought for his life. And I must mention Ghost, a warrior canine of massive proportion. He could go from friendly family pet to vicious attack dog if anyone dare threaten one of his people. I love this series and can’t wait to read the next one in this incredible series. Happy reading!
• 
  Karen

  Power and Greed
  
  This KU library selection is the continuation of the overarching storyline of the series. It is again set in Fall Creek, a small town located in southwest Michigan. After the fall, the mayor of the town brought in a militant group led by her cousin, Sutter, to protect the town and the off the grid luxury housing development she lives in, doling out vacant houses to the militia. On the surface everything appears to be as she wants people to believe it is. But the winds are changing, and not for the better.
  This series is unputdownable and scary realistic. It is one of the better post apocalyptic stories I've read, even including tips on surviving a "reset". The ending indicates the town still has threats ahead, however, and I can't wait to get into the next book.
• 
  Cheree Castellanos Edits

  Just when you think the action can't get more intense...
  Fall Creek is in a state of duress, EMP aside, there is a fight for the town that most people are unaware of and dangers from the places people never want to believe. Hannah has many big decisions to make, and some of them are harder than any woman should have to deal with, but she is strong and wise, and following your heart is the way she has to live, to believe.
  Non stop action for a town, for the people, and for freedom. Will the monsters finally get what they deserve, and will it be in time?
  The only downside to this book, is the desperation and need you are left with for the next one!
• 
  Gene Steinbacher

  An EMP takes out a large portion of the United State, maybe all of it, maybe beyond the borders,nobody knows. But that isn't the focus of a Fall Creek,a small-town in Michigan. Their focus is just surviving, surviving the cold, the lack of basic necessities, and the menacing people outside and even within the town. Will the good people be able to withstand the challenges ahead or will they become the evil thst they are so desperately fighting. Incredible story fill with action and intrigue from beginning to end. If you have not read any of the series astart from book one and work your way through the series. Its well worth your time.
• 
  Joel Sullivan

  Good Ending
  
  I haven't reviewed one of this series since book the two, but I'm happy to write that the series improved. I did not care for the cliff hanger endings of the first couple of books. In the later books some of the major conflicts were resolved, which helped me enjoy the series as a whole.
  There is still at least one loose end to go into the last two books, more to find out what happens with the major characters.
  Despite my disappointment with the first couple of endings, I think Stone is a very good writer. I enjoyed her character and plot development. Her suspense writing is excellent. Recommended. And I'll probably look at some of her other serieses.