Grim Reaper

End of Days

By: Steve Alten

Narrated by: Michael Braun

Dante's Inferno, his depiction of hell, was written while Europe was suffering through war, famine, the corruption of the Church, and the evils of the pogrom - the brutal massacre of countless Jews. Shortly after Dante's passing, the black plague killed off half the world's population, an end-of-days-like event that birthed a legend depicted in paintings and dance: the Grim Reaper. What few people know is that Dante's poem draws inspiration from the Zohar, an ancient text that warns that the true end of days will be brought on by the corruption of man after events on the 23rd day of Elul - a date equating to September 11th, 2001. One person that does know is Mary Klipot, a biohazard level-four scientist. She sees historical parallels between the lack of morality that corrupted Europe preceding the Black Death and the present-day greed that has mired our own society in economic collapse and seemingly endless wars. And she sees an opportunity to carry out God's work. She injects herself with Scythe, a swift-acting version of the Black Death, and diligently spreads the infection throughout Manhattan. The threat of a worldwide pandemic forces officials to seal off the island at a time when world leaders have gathered at the UN. One-armed and shell-shocked Iraq vet Patrick Shepherd may be able to stop her. But first he'll have to find his family somewhere in the plague-ravaged city, and outrun the Grim Reaper himself. Meticulously researched and written in a voice reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy, End of Days is the first book in a planned series best described as The Stand meets Dante's Inferno.

©2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc. (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

great

Great read (listen), especially if you're awake! Highly recommend it, as well as his other books!

Felt to much like a theology/history lesson

I wanted to like this book, but in the end, I just couldn't. There were to many parts that felt like unnecessary theology lessons that were wedged into the book that did not add much, if anything, to the overarching story.

I also felt taken out of the story every time a new character or location was introduced, because it always seemed to require a complete backstory that did not feel necessary or organic to the story in any way. I kept thinking that the first draft of the story must have come in to short, so he filled space by including backstory.

In the end I wasn't able to finish this book. I gave up with about four hours left. I haven't returned it because I may give it another go, but for now I'm glad this wasn't the first Steve Alten book I listened to. I would recommend Loch Ness instead, it was much a much better story.

great book great book wow wow wow wow wow wow wow

great book for the whole family wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow wow

Not to my liking

Sacrilegious, poorly written, and seemingly anti-American. I don't want to give anything away just in case, but if you have any type of belief system at all, this book will probably insult you in some way.

The worst Steve Alten Book

I had high hopes for this book given the plague storyline. The start was good and had it stayed focused on the science and his usual great storylines it would of been great. However, it declines into religious mumbo jumbo and make believe end of the world biblical style, I only continued reading as I paid for it. Go read the Bible if you want myth and nonsense.

When the story stayed on track with key characters it was great, the scientific parts into the story had great role into it.

Was a great book in certain aspects, I liked the Meg series. So wanted to try this out. there’s a lot of jumping around to many characters pov that weren’t necessary. Some didn’t really matter to the story or plot at all. The mythical/spiritual parts of story heavily destroyed this book. I couldn’t bring myself to finish after 6 chapters.