Islands of Rage & Hope

By: John Ringo

Narrated by: Tristan Morris

Length: 14 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's Summary

A world cloaked in darkness...

With human civilization annihilated by a biological zombie plague, a rag-tag fleet of yachts and freighters known as Wolf Squadron scours the Atlantic, searching for survivors. Within every abandoned liner and carrier lurks a potential horde, safety can never be taken for granted, and death and turning into one of the enemy is only a moment away.

The candle flickers...

Yet every ship and town holds the flickering hope of survivors. One and two from lifeboats, a dozen from a fishing village, a few hundred wrenched by fury and fire from a ship that once housed thousands....

Light a flame...

Now Wolf Squadron must take on another massive challenge: clear the assault carrier USS Iwo Jima of infected before the trapped Marines and sailors succumb to starvation. If Wolf Squadron can accomplish that task, an even tougher trial awaits: an apocalyptic battle to win a new dawn for humanity. The war for civilization begins as the boats of the Wolf Squadron become a beacon of hope on a Darkling Sea.

©2014 John Ringo (P)2014 Audible Inc.

John Ringo Writes!

John Ringo is in that class of writers who are clearly devoted to the craft. While many writers are milking the reader base with shameless padding, Ringo stays true to his readers and delivers compelling sci-fi with real hard hitting action backed up by solid character development. Are the characters a little over the top? Absolutely, they're heroes and supposed to be. This series is an example of that writing, extraordinary people in extraordinary circumstances, with impossible odds and limited options, who find a way to rise above.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Best Yet

I am a big fan of John Ringo. The first two books in the series were great and I eagerly added the third to my library when it became available. Book 3 is head and shoulders above the first books in the series. There are moments in the book that will make any red blooded American feel like cheering. It's an excellent listen.

I know that Ringo has a habit of dropping series just as they are hitting their stride and moving on to other projects, but I really hope there is more in store for this one.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Chekhov's gun store

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

The story had my attention at first, there were interesting characters and the plot was very interesting. But the author kept taking me down dead ends, there was so much going on that the story got cluttered and hard to follow. Mix that with the cliche tactical broadsides that sound like they are written by a Call of Duty gamer and its really disappointing.

During the whole series he kept adding new characters without finishing the story of the last person he introduced. There are so many lose ends I started to get upset and frustrated. I had to WORK at finishing the story... Plus, the writing and editing is awful. "Character A said this, character b said that character A said this character B said that in response." The conversation never flow and its like reading a court stenographers account of the events.

What do you think your next listen will be?

I think I will fill my time with James cook's books when i want some good ol fashion ZA fiction.

What three words best describe Tristan Morris’s performance?

The narrator did a fine job, he worked the accents of the main characters and the gender and ages very well

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

disappointment, frustration.... It had a lot of potential.

Any additional comments?

It had a lot of potential but fizzled very fast and turned into a coming of age/ yachting instruction story halfway through the first book. I followed it through to the end hoping he would take me back to New York and end the story of the first group of people he introduced me to but it was not the case. the book crawled along until the epilogue then he went from a tedious ultra fine tipped brush to a paint sprayer and wrapped up the story with a platitude bow.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Great story!!! Can't wait for the conclusion.

If you could sum up Islands of Rage & Hope in three words, what would they be?

I liked the story and the performance. Having had a military background the only complaint I would have is make sure the performer knows the acronyms and how to pronounce them. No quicker way to pull me out of the story than to figure out what the performer means when he refers to the Chief of the Boat (COB) on a sub as the C.O.B. instead of the Cobb. And what did he mean by C.I.N. C.P.A.C? We pronounce it Sink Pac in the Navy. Other than that loved it.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Liked them all.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene at the end, but no spoilers. It is worth the wait.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Meh

Would you try another book from John Ringo and/or Tristan Morris?

Of course I would try another one but only hoping that they return to the original gripping story and pace.

If you’ve listened to books by John Ringo before, how does this one compare?

meh

Have you listened to any of Tristan Morris’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Did what could be done with the story.

Do you think Islands of Rage & Hope needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

yes. To actually progress the plot

Any additional comments?

This book was filler. There were multiple parts that just repeated facts and parts of the story over and over. There was no real story progress.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

As always..Ringo Delivers

In an unique twist onthe Zombie Apocalypse, John Ringo lends his genius to an awesom read

Amazeballs!!!

This series kicks ass and I can't get enough. Seriously, this could be a killer mini series or movie(s) if the tools in Hollywood wouldn't jack it up.

3rd book still going strong

I don't generally like zombie stories, but this series has been fun. Occasionally the story bogs down with jargon or organization details but overall the action keeps flowing.

Awesome read

Great book. Black Tide Rising series is my favorite zombie series. The ending? Freaking awesome. Can't wait to see where else the series goes.

Sucks you in. . . like a hungry zombie!

I enjoyed the whole series, but this might have been the single best book. Kind of an "Empire" deal. Sequel maybe even better than first story.

Best book of all 3!

What did you like most about Islands of Rage & Hope?

The fight scene at the end and the general taking control :)

What other book might you compare Islands of Rage & Hope to, and why?

Not sure there is a comparison but zombie fallout are bit better but these are getting close especially this third book :)

Which character – as performed by Tristan Morris – was your favourite?

Faith or Walker

Any additional comments?

Cant wait for book 4 as these started good but are getting better :)