A World Without Electricity
Doctor Anna Hastings is no stranger to disasters, having spent much of her career as an aid worker in conflict zones around the world. Yet when an electrical phenomenon known as an EMP brings down the power grid, Anna faces catastrophe on a scale she never imagined. She must learn what it means to be a doctor in a world deprived of almost all technology.
As the blackout causes planes to fall from the sky, Anna crosses paths with devoted father Mark Ryan in the chaos at the airport. Mark convinces Anna to travel with him and his seven-year-old daughter Lily to their family’s cabin in remote Maine. There Mark hopes to reunite with his wife, and find a safe refuge from a society on the brink of collapse.
Journeying across a thousand miles of backcountry trails, they will face a daily struggle against nature. Their biggest peril, though, may come from their fellow survivors. As Anna grows closer to Mark and Lily, she resolves to see them safely home. But can she hold onto her humanity in a world gone mad?
I've read lots of post-apoc novels, and I'm noticing an upswing lately in EMP novels (considered by some to be the most likely next global problem.) Blackout Trail gets right into the action, with the attack happening within the first two pages (although the characters don't figure it out for a while after that.) Fittingly, no one ever finds out exactly what's happened, whether it was a natural occurance, perhaps a solar flare, or an attack, or even an accident. The whys don't matter; the results do.
And these are harrowing results. Our heroes are in an airport when the EMP strikes, and almost the first thing that happens is that planes literally start falling from the sky. I don't want to spoil too much of the story, but I'll tell you that there are action set pieces like that all the way through.
If I were going to complain about anything, it would be this, phrased as vaguely as I can to avoid spoiling (and remember this is my personal opinion, YMMV!) Some or one or a few of the characters fall victim to Geographically Convenient Feelings; being the only people around, they or he or she fall in love. I always find it a vaguely insulting mix of 'you're the only person around so I'm settling' and 'I can't control my horniness so I'm settling'. But again, this is just my opinion and doesn't reflect how it's presented here, I always feel like this about this trope! All the characters are well developed at least, so it seems to make sense as they go.
The hiking part of the story is very well described, considering that according to the author's note she's never done more than a day hike! The scenery is fantastic and I could visualise it as the story moved through different states. (Very minor point - as someone who isn't American and is only slightly familiar with the states, a map would have been a really big help, but I did look one up online to help.)
I really enjoyed this read; I'd love to get the chance to read some more when the next books in the series come out.
Blackout Trail publishes on the 10th January, 2023. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.
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