Year One (Chronicles of The One #1) by Nora Roberts #yearone @noraroberts #apocalypse #magic @stmartinspress @chesapeakememoriallibrary @absltmom

Once again the world is coming to an end courtesy of a virus that rips through populations and devastates the world we once knew. It has killed at least three billion people, and those who are left behind face the ravages of an earth bereft of all those things we so love….electricity, internet, smart phones, computers, health services and on and on. Welcome to life, courtesy of the book,

I have not read a fantasy book in quite some time, so when I saw the reviews for this book, I figured I would jump in and once again read a book that presented illusion and nightmares.

We are introduced to the devastation of this virus as it works it way through the world. Coupled to this illness, (which by the way you can’t recover from), is the rising of both the dark and good forces of the planet. There are some who are endowed with magical powers. They are the elves, the fairies, witches, and others who will assume the leadership roles now left by deceased leaders and the lack of law and order. Conversely, there is the bad evil magic forces who wish to spread murder, mayhem, and become the ultimate ones in charge.

The good forces and those who have survived the Doom (aka the virus) are a band of intrepid souls including Lana Bingham and her boyfriend Max Fallon, (both of whom are magical!), a journalist, Arlys Reif and her assistant Freddie (also magical), a doctor, Rachel Hopman, (very handy to have around for sure) and a paramedic, Jonah Vorhies (another handy person. ) They all escape from New York City (something many people today would love to do), and team up with others as they make their way trying to find others and a place where they will be safe.

The world’s a mess, there is nothing but chaos, and yet there is hope and in fact, these intrepid souls, eventually call their new settlement New Hope. The question is will they all be strong enough to defeat the dark forces that are coming for them.

What I liked in this book was the very beginning where The Doom was running rampant and people were trying to cope as best they could. However, that quickly changed with the introduction of the magical elements. It almost seemed to me silly, and I would have to venture that it came about so abruptly that it took me off guard. Hey, I like things magical, but this seemed so out there that it was almost laughable and let’s face it the end of the world is never laughable. I forgot to mention that Lana and Max are expecting a child. They know it’s a girl (because they are magical silly) and this child seems to be destined to be the focal point of the war soon to be waged between good and evil.

This book is the beginning of a series, and will continue to, I am sure, explore the civilization and lack of, that develops after this cataclysmic event. So, if you are into apocalyptic books with a large doses of magic, this book might just be your crystal ball into the future. Not sure, if this reader will continue the series though. It just might be a bit too magical for me!

and here’s the author

Nora Roberts (born Eleanor Marie Robertson on October 10, 1950) is an American author of more than 225 romance novels. She writes as J. D. Robb for the in Death series, and has also written under the pseudonyms Jill March and for publications in the U.K. as Sarah Hardesty.

Nora Roberts was the first author to be inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. As of 2011, her novels had spent a combined 861 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list, including 176 weeks in the number-one spot.  (wiki)