Saturday 31 October 2015

'Exodus in Confluence' by Bryant A. Loney

Book details

Genre: YA
Publisher: Verona Booksellers
ISBN: 978-0-692-24564-4

Synopsis


"NO PLACE IS EVER GOING TO BE SAFE."

Exodus in Confluence is a glimpse at what can happen to people when they are put under truly adverse circumstances -- struggling to hold onto their moral values in the face of almost certain death. It's a blend of narrative and commentary on the human condition. It's about people struggling to be human beings.

Five months into the zombie apocalypse, seventeen-year-old Stephen Hart lived in a society where rules and humanity had left him for dead. The remaining survivors clung feverishly to whatever hope remained -- maybe it was a family member, or a religion, or a destination. But in less than one week, everything changed. (And so the cycle repeats.)

A year later, his ramshackle settlement has been compromised, as evidenced by the hordes of the undead swarming inside the gates... and Stephen is to blame. Instead of running, he takes to the airwaves, using the transmission in the now-abandoned radio station to broadcast his story via speakers to his fleeing citizens. This way, maybe he won't look like such a total monster.

With the clock running out, venture into Stephen's post-apocalyptic world, where circumstances can make us become something other than ourselves.


Review


When I initially sat down to read Bryant A. Loney’s novella, I have to admit that I was a little hesitant.  Generally, novellas aren’t really my thing (I like my books big and complex – anything under two hundred pages leaves me feeling unfulfilled and grumpy), but I was also concerned that my expectations of the author had skyrocketed after I read his novel To Hear The Ocean Sigh. Long story short, I didn’t want to be disappointed.

I needn’t have worried.

Loney’s novella is dark, haunting, and thought provoking. As in To Hear The Ocean Sigh, I was in awe of the author’s incredible writing style – his ability to weave such wonderfully gripping stories without sacrificing eloquence and elegance is quite frankly astounding, especially considering that he only wrote Exodus in Confluence at sixteen. Plot-wise, Loney is a genius, but that’s all I’ll say for fear of ruining the adrenaline rush that will leave readers reeling.

But these elements were not even the best part about Loney’s novella. Lurking beneath his story is a highly insightful commentary on modern society’s departure from its own humanity, and it’s enough to send shockwaves through any reader’s system. I loved it, especially because it serves both as an observation of the futile violence that is obliterating our world, and as a warning of what is to come if we don’t prevent it.

This is a phenomenal story that everybody needs to read.

~Thank you to Wes Florentine from Verona Booksellers for providing me with the opportunity to review this novella.~

(Not really, but you get the idea.)

Rating: 5/5
Recommended to: Anybody and everybody.

The Last Word


If all that wasn’t enough to convince you that you should read this novella, I have three more reasons:

1.   It’s amazing.

2.   It will only take you 90 minutes to read.

3.  Zombies.