#Bookreview of A Ripple of Fear by J.M. Northup

#Bookreview of A Ripple of Fear (The Fears of Dakota Book 1)

by J.M. Northup

BLURB:

It only takes a spark to inspire an inferno.

In a world with fears stemming from catastrophes and terrorism, America faces its biggest challenge yet. Discord and apprehension are pushed to the extreme as ancient prophecies approach fruition. The world Dakota lives in is becoming unrecognizable: doomsday preppers grow more prevalent while government and local services continue deteriorating, eroding the security people feel in their lives and each other. As tensions grow, so does the paranoia that drives the nation to a crossroads that will change history.

Dakota holds onto her hopes of a better tomorrow, but the thread of peace seems to unravel faster than it can be contained. What will become of her and the people she loves, when a spark ignites America into an inferno of fear?

Combining survivalist drama and a dystopian future, A Ripple of Fear is a gripping story for readers of all ages.

MY REVIEW:

This is the first book in the series but wasn’t actually written until after the second book Fears of Darkness was published.  Click on the cover to read my review:

My biggest complaint about Fears of Darkness was how did the US fall apart so fast?  I just couldn’t see it happening the way Northup implied.  Other readers must’ve felt the same way, so she went back and added more background leading up to the second book.  Now, it all makes sense. 

In A Ripple of Fear, we get to meet Dakota’s mother and father and Rae’s family as well.   We also get to see how Dakota and Chris’ relationship evolved to where they were the couple in book two.  I feel much more connected to her and her family & friends, and now I know what anguish they were suffering at the start of book two.   They had just literally seen their worlds fall apart. 

Because of the more detailed background, this story starts slow, but believe me, it ends with a bang.  About halfway through, the tension starts mounting and keeps on going.  If I hadn’t already read the second book, I would’ve bought and read it right away.  

The characters are just as developed and multidimensional, and the story is well-written.  There are a lot of moral issues as well.  Those neighbors that you talk to every day, who you think are your friends.  What will they really do in a national crisis?  Will they turn against each other?  I think Northup hit the nail on the head with her portrayal of the human psyche.  All it takes is one or two loud-mouths to turn a crowd into a deadly mob. 

If you enjoy YA and end-of-the-world tales, you’ll love this series, and I highly recommend it.  I give it 5 feathers.  Well done.

CLICK ON THE COVER TO READ A PREVIEW: