Survive

Lumera Expedition, Book 1

By: Jona Sheffield

Narrated by: Duke Fontaine

Length: 14 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

The world is on the brink of destruction. Will humanity survive?

The coasts are flooding. Entire countries are wiped off the map. All over the world, people are fleeing inland. In 2042, there is only one season left: summer. Food has become increasingly scarce, diseases are spreading, and more and more people die every day. Now, in a frantic attempt to save mankind, the government wants to inject all citizens with brainbots to protect against diseases.

Julia Jennings, billionaire heiress and freedom fighter, suspects that there is more to it. Her father, Peter Jennings, experiences the consequences of the intervention himself in a dramatic way. FBI Agent John Stanhope is also unsure whether the state can avert the climate apocalypse. The last hope of mankind could be gigantic, ark-like spaceships, which embark for another solar system. Destination: the planet Lumera. Arrival time: the 24th century.

Can humanity save itself and ensure its continued existence? Or is it its own greatest enemy?

Complete climate collapse, deadly government conspiracies, and an exodus to a distant planet. The Lumera Expedition series is a fascinating sci-fi thriller about the desperate struggle for survival and the legacy of mankind from Germany's bestselling sci-fi author Jona Sheffield.

©2022 Jona Sheffield (P)2022 Podium Audio

An Expedition Lacking Depth and Engagement

In the book, the world is facing a dire future with climate collapse and deadly government conspiracies. However, what could have been a gripping and thought-provoking tale falls short in various aspects, leaving readers with a lackluster experience.

The storyline struggles to engage readers, feeling flat and slow-paced throughout. The main theme of climate collapse, which drives humanity to flee to the stars, is inadequately explored, leaving readers wanting more depth and detail. The mere mention of soaring temperatures, food shortages, and rising sea levels by 40 feet fails to instill the gravity of the situation.

Unfortunately, the characters suffer from underdevelopment, coming across as one-dimensional and unconvincing. Julia Jennings, the billionaire heiress turned freedom fighter, initially appears promising but disappoints when her commitment to humanity is called into question. Similarly, FBI Agent John Stanhope's portrayal lacks believability, failing to resonate with readers.

The concept of using brain-bots to protect against diseases holds potential, but the lack of research and a single hacker managing to exploit the system undermines its credibility. The absence of crucial details about the world-building contributes to a lack of seriousness and despair, hindering readers from fully immersing themselves in the story.

The ark-like spaceships, meant to ensure humanity's survival on the distant planet Lumera, remain shrouded in mystery due to the lack of description and background. Readers are left yearning for information about the ships' construction, ownership, and control.

The slow pacing compounds the book's issues, making it a tedious read that fails to evoke emotional responses. The characters' decisions, the absence of memorable scenes, and the overall lack of detail left this reviewer feeling annoyed and disconnected from the narrative.

In conclusion, "Lumina Expedition" promises an intriguing science-fiction thriller but ultimately falls short of expectations. Its underdeveloped characters, lack of world-building, and slow pacing undermine the gripping concept of climate collapse and humanity's desperate struggle for survival. Regrettably, this book is not one to be recommended for those seeking an engaging and immersive science-fiction experience.