This debut from Braden Cawthon is a thrilling, apocalyptic YA horror.
When Joel Walker wakes up to frantic messages from his family and flees to the city to find them, he discovers a world frighteningly changed. Amidst a massive power outage, otherworldly sirens blare from an unknown source, affecting everyone that listens to them in horrifying ways. Joel’s plight forces him to trust suspect individuals while questioning his every move.
The story is fast-paced with a strong focus on family bonds, AI, and afterlife communication.
Narrator Michael Crouch delivers the perfect amount of tension needed to keep listeners engaged, despite all the strange happenings. Overall, it was a valiant effort for a debut novel, but not one without its triggers or contentious themes. This, being a shorter listen with superb narration, should definitely entice curious listeners!
