Catalyst Downward Cycle

By: J K Franks

Narrated by: Steven Varnum

In the first five minutes, more than a million people will die.... That’s just the beginning of the nightmare.

The super solar storm wasn’t supposed to hit Earth - the odds were against it. And yet it did, and everything changed. The storm causes a global blackout. Society begins to come apart as the planes begin falling from the sky and all traces of normal vanish. Scott Montgomery watches helplessly as pandemonium consumes the world around him. But the loss of electrical power is just the first of the problems facing the survivors in the chaos that follows.

Soon, they discover the loss of electricity was just the beginning of their problems. In a land without laws and few consequences for their actions, individuals must come to terms with their darkest fears and desires. What will Scott do when he learns the draconian plans one secret group has for regaining control and ensuring their own vision for the new world?

Catalyst is a shockingly realistic tale of how society copes when the world is thrust back to a time before technology. If you are a fan of Steve Konkoly, Tom Abrahams, or A. American, you will love this audiobook.

©2016 J K Franks (P)2016 J K Franks

On to book two

The end of the world kind of books seem to be all the new rage right now. they are all starting to sound the same. and some with NOTHING to do with the end of the world genre. The last few books I've read have just not been good. I was leery of getting this book. I am so glad I did. This book has a great storyline. Action adventure and great characters. I am very glad I took the chance on this book.
it also has a few good tips in it, with out being boring.
though I will say, the first chapter seems to be about the love of Bicycle riding. But as the story goes on you see you why that was important.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Dude really likes his bike

Okay book, had its interesting moments and some pretty entertaining characters. But for a post apocalyptic book it was pretty slow and drug on. Decent narration.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review

Really great new read!

I read a lot of books like this. Sometimes the stories & characters are almost interchangeable. NOT so in this case. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters are beautifully written. The story & plot is very well thought out. I was entertained & also learned some things.
I loved how Scott learned & grew so much. How he was the reluctant hero. I loved how he struggled with what is right & what should be.
If you are looking for a book to introduce you to the SHTF genre this would be a great one to start with.
This is a story & world I can’t wait to revisit.


I was voluntarily provided this review copy at no charge by the author, publisher and or narrator.

CME Survival Theme Done Well

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The story is fairly complex and told well. It would be a good introduction to the genre.

Any additional comments?

The main character goes from oblivious to engaged and detached to fully engaged throughout the course of the book. Fortunately he is in a perfect location and has the perfect contacts to deal with the loss of everything that a full power CME would bring to America.
It was obvious from the start this is book one in a series. The book moves slowly through the history of the region and characters, and does a good job laying the foundation for this book and probably multiple sequels.
This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com.

A nice change from the usual End of the World

Would you listen to Catalyst Downward Cycle again? Why?

I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.Yes. It's a very interesting story and you get pulled in. The characters are well fleshed out and while some things that happen are a bit far-fetched, you can look past that because it makes the story a lot more interesting and intense.

What other book might you compare Catalyst Downward Cycle to and why?

It's hard to compare it to other stories. While there other End of the World (EotW) stories, even some that use CME/EMP as a catalyst, this one is unique. While most of the characters have special or unique skills that help them in the situation, you still feel like you could do the same, that it's a bit more like an everyman scenario.

What about Steven Varnum’s performance did you like?

While I wish Mr. Varnum would've varied the voices a bit more, he did a good job. The voices were somewhat unique, you didn't get lost on who was talking very often, and his inflection and tone matched the story.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was hooked on the book almost right away. It started slow and easy but that fits as you're seeing the everyday life of Scott, right before the world goes to hell. But once the CME/EMP hits everything ramps up and you get pulled in. I liked listening to the story so much that I went out and bought the first two books, reading them before I even finished the first audiobook. I'm really looking forward to the next book, which I hope isn't too far away. There are some great parts in the book, I don't want to spoil too much but if you like action, you're really going to like this.

Any additional comments?

While the author says that Scott is an average person dealing with the EotW, that's not exactly true. He has a high clearance government job, he becomes friends with someone that was in the Navy, someone that knows how to fight and someone that is amazing at setting traps and stopping people, along with a dog that is more killer than a pet. Even with all that, I loved the story and I was actually disappointed when it was over, I couldn't wait to listen to the next book and I really can't wait for the next book.

Believable story , good characters

Since I am already interested in end days survival this was a good listen for me providing ideas for saving resources and finding them. The story is believable because of current events in our world and the characters were engaging and relatable. Not a deep story, but a good listen.

Really enjoyed this!

Really enjoyed this! Liked it so much started on book 2 immediately! Took awhile to get good, but once it picked up, it hasn't stopped. Glad I listened to this. Actually has some good survival strategies too. I received this book for free for an honest review.

Great book

This book was very It was not your cookie cutter end of the world book had good characters and a good storyline

Excellent way to start a series

What made the experience of listening to Catalyst Downward Cycle the most enjoyable?

The narrator's voice

What did you like best about this story?

The way that every day people survived, there was no super soldier showing the way.

Which character – as performed by Steven Varnum – was your favorite?

Solo

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Scott found his niece.

Any additional comments?

I was given this book in exchange for a review,

Awesome story!

Great character development. Well written story. Narrator did excellent job! Excited to start the next book.
I received this book for free for my honest review.