Divided

By: Joseph Coley

Narrated by: Andrew B. Wehrlen

Length: 5 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's Summary

Ben Marcus was having a rough day. His grandmother died, his ex-fiancee was trying to take his daughter away, the snow was coming down, and he was on his way back from Ohio. 

Then something happened. 

As he stops at a rest stop in northwest Ohio, the power goes out. Not just the lights, but the cars, phones, and everything else that made up everyday life. He has to get home, and he has no idea how to do it. Stuck in the snow amid a cataclysmic event that no one can precisely explain, he sets out to help not only himself, but those trapped with him. He has to find a way to travel the 300+ miles home, and he needs to do it fast. His family at home is saddled with problems of their own, and they have no way of knowing what has happened to him. As the world slowly spirals out of control, Ben must try to make it home...or die trying. 

From the best-selling author of the Six Feet From Hell and Refuge from the Dead series comes a realistic take on TEOTWAWKI - the end of the world as we know it. No zombies this time, just pure survival.

©2019 Joseph Coley (P)2019 Joseph Coley

Best laid plans!

Our protagonist, Ben Marcus is leading a couple vehicles on their way home to Virginia after attending their grand-mothers funeral in Ohio. While taking a break at a rest stop, an EMP strikes due to a solar event. Ben and his brother Steve decide to hike back to grand-ma’s house where there is a somewhat restored 1967 Mustang. Just the thing they need to get the rest of the way home. The plan seems simple enough. Head back to Signet, pick up a battery along the way, get the Mustang, then back to the rest stop to get the others. Of course things never work out as planned. We follow Ben and Steve as they encounter one problem after another to reach their goal. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Interesting introduction to story

The narrator for this book was pretty good. Nothing outstanding about the performance but there was also nothing wrong which is more important. Could tell the difference in characters and he had good enunciation. His voice also fit the setting of the story well.

This is a blackout survival story where the main character has military experience but isn't a prepper. He has family to take care of and is on a mission to keep them safe. He has a very pragmatic attitude in response to his new situation and is able to adapt and do what needs to be done. I personally really appreciate characters like this who don't act irrationally even though they know the situation they are now in. Despite my rating of the story it was actually pretty good up until it ended. I was actually just getting ready for the story to actually get going. I do prefer longer books so that may account for some of it but most of what happened in the first book I already assumed would happen before it really got into the meat of the story. Based on the title I assumed there would be much more happening.

This book was provided to me for free in exchange for an impartial review.

Great

Great book and can not wait to start the second one. The characters were amazing and the narrator did an amazing job. Sucked me right in from the start. Great listen!

Decent Start

I totally enjoyed listening to this Post-Apocalyptic with no zombies and good narration. I really liked the characters of Ben and Ken but as with all series kind of abrupt ending and cannot wait for book 2 to find out if Ben gets to his daughter. There is a lot of action and shows how society changes their attitude when things go wrong, some are good some evil but make you think what you would do if EMP does happen. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. Thank you

Great narration, didn't get in to the story though

I have read and enjoyed stories like this before but didn't really get into this one.

This first book seemed more like just the first couple of chapters, it was lacking a real story line (start, middle, end). It is obvious that this has been planned as a series of books from the outset and that may detract some quality from this book.

I have listened to the narrator before and thoroughly enjoy his work

This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.

Has great potential.

The story is good, the narration is also good.
My only complaint would be the length.
It is a short book.
Though saying that, it is a good base for an ongoing series.
Time will tell, i just hope the books are longer in the future.
As sub 7 hours does not cut value for money.