West of Apocalypse

By: Bill Blume

Narrated by: Amber McCulloch

Ayleen Torr was destined for greatness among the Knights of the Way, until thirteen traitors destroyed it all and murdered her parents.

Having survived by a trick of the Fates, Ayleen hunts the darkest corners of the cosmos for the secret to killing her immortal enemies. The Thirteen know she's coming for them and place an army in her path to stop her.

Armed with a crystal sword bound to her soul, Ayleen will learn just how far she's willing to compromise herself for revenge and that even in a galaxy where all is lost, there's still plenty left to lose.

©2023 Bill Blume (P)2024 Bill Blume

Lightsabers and Tumbleweeds

Heroine is *slightly* more willing to kill for coffee than I am, 10/10 very relateable.

Really enjoying this. West of Apocalypse has compelling characters, a cosmic mystery and awful beasts. The narrator really captures the dark and violent tone of the world.

Great worldbuilding, phenomenal narration

A book that feels as much Sci Fi as Fantasy as Western, bringing the best of each genre to one package. The worldbuilding especially stood out to me, creating a rich tapestry for the story to unfold within. The magic system in the book is not ever really explained, but you are given enough to understand the rules of this world, and recognize what the magic can and cannot accomplish, helping to create stakes. The foreshadowing in this book was done with a skilled and delicate hand, creating multiple pay offs through the stories as the gears turn and the questions get their answers.

The narrator brings the characters to life with distinctive voices all while reading in tones that make for easy listening. She manages to capture the conviction that define's Ayleen, the charm and wit of some endearing allies, and the ruthless or blasé attitudes of the villains masterfully.

Rating only slightly reduced because I found myself critiquing a few issues with history and villain motivations at a few places through the book. If the primary characters in the book are reliable narrators, then a few characters (protagonists and antagonists both) made some strange decisions in a few key moments. It didn't make the book less enjoyable, just minor quibbles.

West of Apocalypse review

Wasn’t disappointed by this. Had a great narrator, interesting characters and was well written. Five stars.

Complex interesting universe

I really enjoyed listening to this the performance and the writing were outstanding. When I found most intriguing was the complexity of the world and the theme that ultimately revealed itself I look forward to reading more books by the author.