Point of Impact: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller

Nuclear Dawn, Book 1

By: Kyla Stone

Narrated by: Stacey Glemboski

Length: 6 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's Summary

Surviving the blast is only the beginning....

Dakota Sloane, a tough-as-nails former foster kid, has spent her life running from the past. Logan Garcia, a man haunted by secrets, has only one goal: to drink himself into oblivion.

They're two strangers in a bar - until the news reports nuclear bombs in New York City and Washington, D.C. Fearing Miami may be next, Dakota's first thought is to grab her little sister - still trapped in the system - and get the hell out of Dodge. 

Then the world explodes. As buildings collapse and fires rage, utter chaos erupts. Trapped in the burning city, Logan and Dakota have less than 10 minutes to seek shelter before the lethal cloud of fallout descends. 

But Dakota's sister is still out there. To rescue her, Dakota will need Logan's help, but can she trust him? And how far is she willing to go to save the only family she has left? 

Point of Impact is an apocalyptic survival thriller exploring what could happen if terrorists successfully executed a coordinated nuclear attack on the United States, told from the perspectives of regular people determined to survive. 

"I absolutely loved this book! Multidimensional characters...great writing...I recommend this promising new PA series." (Ryan Schow, author of the best-selling Last War series)

"Great! A good story with unique characters and thorough research. I was pulled in from the first page." (Kate L. Mary, author of the best-selling Broken World series)

©2019 Kyla Stone (P)2019 Kyla Stone

not particularly good

Too much describing situation. Feels like padding to get to a required number of words.

Action packed!

This first book in Kyla Stone’s Nuclear Dawn series is addicting. She has woven a cast of characters with very real human flaws and failings all trying to survive a nuclear attack on America. This story immediately grabbed my attention and kept me on edge until the final word. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of this series to see how Dakota and the group fare in post-apocalyptic Miami. Stacey Glemboski's narration make this story come alive!

written for 5th graders

I had high hopes for this series, but I'm sorry to say I was very disappointed. I read some reviews that scoffed at the "young-girl-becomes-field-general", and I should have listened. Every part of this book - and I mean every single part - is a cliché. I listened to 75% of it, then I couldn't take it anymore.

Needs Better Exposition

The main character is a young woman with a an unrealistic amount of specific knowledge about a nuke, she's constantly explaining everything to others, and why adult strangers would take the word or a young woman like that is difficult for me to go with. I just didn't like it and didn't find it believable.

Great Storytelling

I have listened to Book One 3 times in 4 days. I wanted to squeeze out the last drop before moving on to the Book Two.
All I can say is it ended too soon. I was just getting wrapped up in the characters and they're gone. Should have been twice as long.

Stout stuff!

This time, our country is terrorized by coordinated attacks against multiple cities utilizing suitcase nukes. This is the one we’ve been afraid of and one of the possibilities most likely to occur. Our tough, street-wise heroine Dakota Sloane is waiting tables when the bombs begin to go off. Her first thoughts are of her younger sister who is fifty-miles away in a foster home. Dakota had recently been released from the Child Services System on her eighteenth birthday. Her only wish is to stabilize her life in order to gain custody of her fifteen-year-old sister. All those ideas are out the window now, and Dakota must get to her sister as quickly as possible. Dakota, along with several restaurant patrons, leaves the restaurant for a safer location and to search for necessary supplies. Ultimately, they will agree to accompany Dakota on her quest to rescue her sister. “Point of Impact” will be an account of their journey. The focus will be on the interaction of the small group under extreme pressure as they make their way through a city in chaos. The differences in personalities, strengths, and weaknesses will stand out, and the group will have to pull together as one to survive. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

interesting... so far

this is an interesting premise (multiple nuclear bombs decimating several prominent US cities), but this book only deals with the Miami one, and only a small group of people. It is a bit slower paced than I would have preferred. But I know it's a series, and I'm definitely jumping right into the next to see how it all works out.

Great Read

Point of Impact (Nuclear Dawn #1) was a great read by Kyla Stone. Dakota Sloane is a tough as nails former foster kid. The only family she has is her sister that is still in the system. The news starts showing bombs striking major cities. Dakota just wants to get her sister and leave. Logan Garcia just wants to drink himself into oblivion to get away from his secrets. Dakota offers Logan a deal that involves a safe place that she knows of. She'll take him there if he helps get her sister. I enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more in this series.

Not bad

Gets a little slow sometimes when it gets into the characters thought process. A little to much of that. But a pretty good start about a nuke attack. Although the side story of how female MC is running from a ‘before event’ bad guy is a bit distracting.

Dark days

great narrative performance.. good story. Really captures the tension of a terrible attack, and the expected reactions of morons in denial. chapters break oddly, and short.

Enjoyable

Enjoyable post apocalyptic story. Dakota has tried to make a life so she can take care of her sister who is still in the care system. She meets up with Logan as the world is turned upside down.
They must get out of the way of the fallout before it’s too late.
I enjoyed the story but it felt very much like a beginning only, really wish it had more of an ending, I do listen & read series books, but better to have an ending with an option to carry on. Saying that it’s still very good
Narrator is good & kept pace great.

Unexpectedly brilliant

My favourite fiction is apocalypse themed. Nuclear, virus, zombie etc.
It always takes me forever to choose one though. This was included in my membership for free so I took a chance, I’m glad I did.
Very slow start initially, However, It gets pretty intense quickly.
Two stories woven into one , the main story being the present day and the nuclear attack.
This book is the first in a series and I’m going to buy the next one with my credit now.

exciting storyline

a very exciting storyline that was well narrated. Interesting characters and an all too believable event. Looking forward to the next installment.

Also loved the mystery behind each character, it a

The Author sure does know her stuff. I liked how she explained why they were doing things, what could happen, what were the reasons. It made the story so much more believable. As a reader, it made you feel more involved, made you think along with the characters. What can they do, what should they do?

Also loved the mystery behind each character, it allowed you to connect with them. Root for them.

Excellent start to the series!

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with this book as I have my favourites but I was quickly hooked and listening at every available moment! Looking forward to book 2!

Riveting story

This has left me wanting more. I love the standoffish Dakota she is my hero so glad I have book two so I can jump in and continue my adventure . Thank you Kyla

Ended too soon

I really liked this book my only complaint is that I felt it ended too soon. At least book two is already available ;)

Really enjoy this book

This is a post apocalyptic story taking place immediately after nuclear bombs have been detonated in the USA. The pace and the tone is set just right and I wanted to hear more.


I throughly enjoyed listening to this book. The narration and storyline really suit each other.. I will definitely listen to the next books in this series.

Brilliantly Written Story Of Nuclear Apocalypse.

Kyla Stone avoids the problem a lot of apocalyptic fiction suffers from and that is rushing through the initial ‘incident’. I’ve read a few stories, although great reads, that rush into the moment the world ends and then rush on. Frequently this gives us a book that shows the characters fighting the worst of humanity and the world ending event is more a background story. No doubt the world ending would bring out the worst in a lot of people as everyone starts to fight for themselves but where do you go from there? Point Of Impact shows us a more detailed story of the nuclear attack that brings Miami, and America, to its knees. Kyla Stone gives us really intriguing characters that feel well rounded and well thought out. There are no ‘super men or women’ running around helping ‘the good guys’ survive here but people that feel more real. Yes, the two main characters, Dakota and Logan, do have dark pasts and they are tough but they never feel like cliches. There’s real depth to all the characters in this book. The story itself is brilliantly written and is packed with high energy tension that builds and builds. The best recommendation any book can get is the reader wanting more and that's definitely the case for me here, I want to know how these survivors get on, how they avoid the painful deaths that stalk them. Really, really great apocalyptic fiction that has heart and is written by an author with real talent.
The reading by Stacey Glemboski is absolutely first class. For me a successful narrator makes you forget that there’s one person talking in scenes of dialogue and she achieves that brilliantly. She adds what feels like an effortless style to the book which only makes it feel more ‘alive’ adding to the experience. Kyla Stones words really do come alive with Stacey Glemboski, making the whole thing fly by and before you know it you’re at the end! Great writing, great story, great narration - it’s the perfect pairing!

Something a bit different

Having just finished another book that used Nuclear war as the premise (set 50 years after), it was interesting listening to this one next.
I thought the character of Dakota was very interesting, and I am looking forward to reading more about her, there were plenty of snippits of information around her background, and why she behaves the way she does, making us want to know more rather than just revealing all!
The story is well written with plenty of detail, focusing on the explosion and affect radiation has on humans.
I have really enjoyed it an look forward to the next book