Then Came War

By: Jacqueline Druga

Narrated by: Andrew B. Wehrlen

Length: 5 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

Following a devastating train wreck, a small group of survivors emerge from the wreckage to discover New York City is the target of an attack and millions of bodies line the streets.

Harry Hayward is one of those survivors. He served his country, fought two wars, and in his 80 years on earth could say he had seen it all. Until this day.

Surprised that the group separates, Harry is left alone to care and guide an eight-year-old boy out of the devastation of New York and, he hopes, to safety. But finding safety isn't easy. The destruction extends far beyond New York. A massive strike has commenced on the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, and for the first time since the War of 1812, America has been invaded.

Harry and the boy, along with the other survivors, are deep inside occupied territory. As they journey and struggle through the front lines of a war that will rage for decades, they discover just how hard they have to fight for the price of freedom. A freedom they all had taken for granted.

First there was normalcy .. then came war.

Then Came War is the prequel to Wasteland and is part of the America's Demise Series.

©2012 Jacqueline Druga (P)2012 Jacqueline Druga

Strong Apocalyptic War Novel

Find the full review of this title at my blog: The Guilded Earlobe.

Then Came War is one of the first independently produced audiobooks I have listened to. Honestly, as someone who listens as much as I do, I can be quite demanding of a narrator. While narrator Andrew B. Wehrlen’s performance wasn’t great, it also wasn’t bad. I had a few technical issues overall. While his pacing was often quite good, sometimes he seemed to get a bit rushed, leading to some awkward pauses and rough transitions. His characterizations weren’t as sharp and defined as they could be, particularly early in the novel, but as the novel progressed he got a hold of most of the characters and started to do some pretty strong work. I would have liked him to provide a bit more flavor to some of the characters, giving them stronger accents and more distinctive vocal styles. About halfway through this novel, I feel he really began to get into the flow of things. His pacing definitely improved, and he gave some strong performances, especially with Judith, the older Jewish women. Wehrlen has a strong, pleasant voice, and does a good job keeping the listener in the story. In the end, I feel Wehrlen does the story justice, bringing Druga’s world to life, and introducing the world to some wonderful characters. I will have no qualms about listening to another audiobook performed by Wehrlen, and definitely plan on checking out more of Druga’s work in audio.

Promising beginning, let down ending

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Maybe, I would warn them that it may let them down.

Which scene was your favorite?

When the kid found and helped all the blind people.

Was Then Came War worth the listening time?

It kept me awake. It had my attention in the beginning, then the author seemed to "peter out" on the story.

Any additional comments?

I felt like the ending of this book was rushed and there was no closure to it.

Then Came War

OMG!This was excellent!I couldn't wait to get back to it each time I stopped!I was thinking about Judith,Foster and Tyler for days! Andrew B. Wehrlen was a fantastic narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.'

Loved this story

I loved this story, really wish the author hadn’t killed off certain characters. Really hope she revamps this story and continues it. A+, 5Stars all the way.

Promised Originality, Delivers Drivel

What would have made Then Came War better?

If in the review and description of this narrative some mention of the fact that it is a thinly veiled, and none to well constructed screed in support of blind adherence to the will of a Global-American Superstate those of us capable of independent thought would save our time and money and steer clear of it.

Has Then Came War turned you off from other books in this genre?

Yes.

What three words best describe Andrew B. Wehrlen’s voice?

Steady, moderate, and flexible.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Yes. The original premise and details in the first couple chapters are good, innovative, and well delivered until the point in the narrative where it is necessary to engage in detail development and of characters and events.

Any additional comments?

Looking for detail, realism, and man-on-the-street comprehensibility of narrative? Then sheer off!