Disaster's Children

A Novel

By: Emma Sloley

Narrated by: Natalie Naudus

As the world dies, a woman must choose between her own survival and that of humankind.

Raised in a privileged community of wealthy survivalists on an idyllic, self-sustaining Oregon ranch, Marlo has always been insulated. The outside world, which the ranchers call “the Disaster”, is a casualty of ravaging climate change, a troubled landscape on the brink of catastrophe. For as long as Marlo can remember, the unknown that lies beyond the borders of her utopia has been a curious obsession. But just as she plans her escape into the chaos of the real world, a charismatic new resident gives her a compelling reason to stay. And, soon enough, a reason to doubt - and to fear - his intentions.

Now, feeling more and more trapped in a paradise that’s become a prison, Marlo has a choice: stay in the only home she’s ever known - or break away, taking its secrets of survival with her.

Set in a chillingly possible, very near future, Disaster’s Children is a provocative debut novel about holding on to what we know and letting go of it for the unknown and the unknowable.

©2019 Emma Nicole Sloley (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Not Sci Fi, Prepper Novel

I did not expect a novel about current times. I was looking at science fiction when this was recommended. As I listened, there was no end of world 🌎 event. There was no futuristic aftermath of some bug "Disaster". I feel cheated. It's just a story about Preppers in a Commune. The narrator was good.

weak book

There was so much that they could have done with this story that they didn't do. It ended up being a love story and also very didactic. Both of which were disappointing.

Disaster of a novel

Slow apocalypse novels are among my favorites so the bar isn't that high for me, but this novel...ugh.
1. Boring: Nothing happens. If there was a plot here, I couldn't find it.
2. The main character: Marlo is 25. Had her age not been mentioned, I would have thought her a spoiled, immature 16-yr-old. A poor little rich girl who's so very concerned about what everyone (particularly her parents) thinks of her (except that she indiscriminately sleeps with random "ranchers" where she lives or one-night-stands when she's off with her father recruiting rich people to move to the ranch. Seems she only sleeps with men old enough to be her father, until the age-appropriate love interest arrives).
3. The other characters: Not one is developed. I'm not even sure how many people live on the ranch, let alone who they are as people.
4. Did a 12-yr-old write this? Because when I was 12 and wanted a "big word," I'd pick up a thesaurus and find what seemed like an impressive word that many people wouldn't know instead of a simpler word. The author loves to find words that even the most educated among us wouldn't utter (or write). One word she used in the beginning of the book was "crepuscular." Seriously? I think Sloley might have even used it incorrectly. I could be wrong.
5. It was not even worth free with Kindle Unlimited.