The Storm

Book excerpt: After escaping imprisonment by a ruthless militia, 16-year-old Jess must traverse an unfamiliar and dangerous landscape, relying on her childhood best friend Erin to survive. Together these two brave but traumatized girls struggle against the elements and evade armed gangs, driven forward by loyalty and their dream of home. When a violent attack leaves Erin dead, Jess is shattered but finds new purpose protecting two orphaned children, David and Tina. Forming a surrogate family with the young survivors rekindles her capacity for love and nurturing amidst overwhelming grief and trauma. Guided by an elder named Madge, this group of damaged souls finds refuge in an ancestral cave. Madge's ancestral stories and resilience provide comfort, helping them heal and grow strong. But the threats of the outside world loom, and each day is a battle to hold on to hope and bits of normalcy. Fans of The Road by Cormac McCarthy, The Book of the Unnamed Midwife by Meg Elison, and The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey will be drawn into this gritty but heartfelt coming-of-age tale set in a starkly rendered post-apocalyptic world. War's End: The Storm is a gripping character-driven narrative of love, loss, and the enduring power of family in even the darkest of times. Haunting yet uplifting, it will stay with you long after the final page.Get your copy today! ***Trigger Alert: This book contains a single, but graphic, description of a main character's rape.***