By Nathan L. Yocum
It started with the Storms.
The world got too hot too fast. The weather wrecked Hell on man’s shiny, pretty civilization. With the heat and wet came bugs, with bugs came new diseases, and man’s numbers and sanity dwindled.
The survivors reformed governments like petty shadows of the world’s old empires. They sought answers and justifications, they sought redemption for what they perceived as man’s holy smiting.
Welcome to the Arizona Reformed Theocracy, otherwise called The Zona.
Here the Church rules with power absolute. The laws are simple, all sin is punished swiftly. Preachers enforce the Church’s words like old West lawmen.
But what happens when a Preacher refuses to kill? What happens when men of honor take a stand against their rulers?
Vital Stats
- Theme: Post-Apocalyptic / Science Fiction
- Type: Curiosity Quills Press Novel
- Length: 254 Pages
- Pub. Date: February 15, 2012
- ISBN: 978-1-62007-020-8 (ebook)
- ISBN: 978-1-62007-021-5 (paperback)
Available At:
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40 total customer reviews… |
Web Reviews & Press
“TThis is what we all fear will happen if we continue to abuse the Earth. Nathan does a phenomenal job of painting the bleakest environment we could face and showing us the path we are on. He can use words to paint such a grand picture and leave you astonished at the final act.”
~Albert @ Goodreads (
)
~Albert @ Goodreads (
)“The Zona is a MUST READ! It is highly relevant to the themes permeating life in these current, politically-charged times. The writing is spectacular and the tale is remarkable. It will leave you spinning night-terrors of a not-too-far-off dystopian future, one that perhaps the approaching “2012 apocalypse” may indeed spiral us closer toward! 
“
~Sabrina Fladness @ Amazon ()
“~Sabrina Fladness @ Amazon (
)“Vividly desolate, brutal, riveting, and f*cked up. I really liked this book. It was very firmly set in a particular southwest setting, and Yocum did a great job worldbuilding this bleak post-apocalyptic landscape.”
~Nina Post @ Goodreads ()
~Nina Post @ Goodreads (
)“Well done! This is a very good start for a talented new author and I eagerly look forward to the sequel.”
~David P. Forsyth @ Amazon ()
~David P. Forsyth @ Amazon (
)“Recommended for fans of dystopian literature, or for those who like book-to-movie adaptations!”
~Taryn @ Bookwanderer ()
~Taryn @ Bookwanderer (
)” Incredibly detailed and descriptive. Really gives the sense of being in the action and the story stuck in my mind throughout the day. The ended left me feeling ravenous for MORE. Sequel? I hope so!”
~Lily Marie @ Amazon ()
~Lily Marie @ Amazon (
)“Recommended for fans of dystopian literature, or for those who like book-to-movie adaptations!”
~Taryn @ Bookwanderer ()
~Taryn @ Bookwanderer (
)“The Zona is creative and vivid. The language is just the way I like it, overwrought. But within the dystopian waste of a burning hot Arizona the overcooked language works most of the time. The lead character is known as Lead (cheeky, huh?) He starts off as self-righteous and somewhat hard to like, but the setting drags you into the story. And the pacing keeps you reading. A great read for fans of dystopia. Read it! Review it! Share it!”
~David Mark Brown @ Amazon ()
~David Mark Brown @ Amazon (
)” An easy read but very good.. Looking forward to reading another in this vein, can recommend it.”
~Faye @ Goodreads ()
~Faye @ Goodreads (
)” If you are looking for an intense read, with a unique story and some shocking revelations about how humans adapt, try The Zona – it’s now one of my favourite post-apocalyptic reads of 2012!”
~Kat Balcombe @ The Aussie Zombie ()
~Kat Balcombe @ The Aussie Zombie (
)“Graphic violence, but if you like post-apocalyptic wasteland fiction with a serious overlaying of references to classic literature and classic Westerns, you’ll like this.”
~Kel Munger @ NewsReview
~Kel Munger @ NewsReview
“A gritty, good read. Not only a good story, but a parable about sin, redemption, cleansing, morality and justice.”
~86thepoet @ Goodreads ()
~86thepoet @ Goodreads (
)“The Zona is a gripping and dark tale that’ll haunt your thoughts until the last chapter. Lead is a stunning character who searches for his true identity in a world where superficial dreams don’t survive.”
~Johanna K. Pitcairn @ Amazon ()
~Johanna K. Pitcairn @ Amazon (
)“The first paragraph of the book is what did it for me. I mean, completely hooked me like I was a marlin and it was the goddamned Old Man from that Hemingway farrago.”
~Richard @ Goodreads ()
~Richard @ Goodreads (
)“[The Zona] highlights that justice and religious belief should be kept separate. That the fear of a god is not the right way to rule and in the hands of the corrupt, religion can be a weapon against those they wish to silence. The people of The Zona are not free to believe in what they wish and the religion forced upon them is not one they wish to follow. I think you only have to look around the world in recent years to find that can happen.”
~Ellie Warren @ Curiosity Killed the Bookworm ()
~Ellie Warren @ Curiosity Killed the Bookworm (
)“A fantastically original, well thought through and superbly executed novel… It features an interesting, well imagined world with a tense wild west kind of mood to civilisation. Great action, emotion and great characters. Purgatory literally made me queasy. Great cover art. An awesome book.”
~BookStackReviews.com ()
~BookStackReviews.com (
)“Gritty and graphic, I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the post apocalyptic genre. And the book ends with the possibility of a sequel, which I would be very interested in reading if it is written.”
~Sheila @ Goodreads ()
~Sheila @ Goodreads (
)” I found the world of The Zona completely believable and engrossing. I also greatly enjoyed the characters that Lead encounters…even very secondary characters are vividly portrayed, and leave a strong impression. I just finished the story last night, but I have a feeling that The Zona will stick with me for a long time. Fingers crossed for more books based in this fascinating world.”
~C.M. Wilson @ Amazon ()
~C.M. Wilson @ Amazon (
)“Fantastic novel on the bleak life of a post apocalyptic hero! This book is immediately engaging, beginning with the first gripping lines. As a reader who is not particularly familiar with or fond of this genre, having recently finished The Zona, I happily report that I am a convert. Yocum does a wonderful job of painting vivid images of the bleakest of times while also leaving the reader with a sense of optimism. With Yocum’s talent for imagery, it’s easy to escape into the protagonist’s world of a desolate existence, a graphic trip to Purgatory and a number of contemptible relationships encountered. Read this book and let your imagination run rampant!”
~C. Thurston @ Amazon ()
~C. Thurston @ Amazon (
)“This is what we all fear will happen if we continue to abuse the Earth. Nathan does a phenomenal job of painting the bleakest environment we could face and showing us the path we are on. He can use words to paint such a grand picture and leave you astonished at the final act.”
~Albert Robbins III @ Amazon ()
~Albert Robbins III @ Amazon (
)“The Zona makes many entertaining twists and turns as its one hundred pages fly by.”
~Gerard Dowling @ Amazon ()
~Gerard Dowling @ Amazon (
)“Why did I let this book sit on my shelf for so long? I’m very impressed with the writing and the story. I’m not going to say that I necessarily enjoy characters suffering, but it is one of the elements of a good dystopian story, and this had plenty of that. Most of the population is wiped out by floods and plagues, and there are only a few survivors left who live in deplorable conditions. I would recommend this to fans of The Passage, and it kind of reminded me of the old Jeremiah TV show. My only complaint…too short! I was just settling in, and now it’s over. 
“
~Damali @ Goodreads ()
suffering, but it is one of the elements of a good dystopian story, and this had plenty of that. Most of the population is wiped out by floods and plagues, and there are only a few survivors left who live in deplorable conditions. I would recommend this to fans of The Passage, and it kind of reminded me of the old Jeremiah TV show. My only complaint…too short! I was just settling in, and now it’s over. “~Damali @ Goodreads (
)“Throughout the book, each page held a certain charm. Each word drew you in. The author’s beautifully written novel contained characters you felt emotions for. This book creates a realistic world you never wanted to leave. In the pages you find the beauty of destruction. I enjoyed this book a terrific amount.”
~Stephanie @ Goodreads ()
~Stephanie @ Goodreads (
)“This book was beautifully written. Each word seemed to envelope you more into the story. The descriptions were so realistic it was as if you were inside the pages walking beside the characters themselves. You feel for each character because they become living through the words of the author. This book holds something for everyone and I STRONGLY recommend it. The poetic language in which the author writes in paints each scene and makes you unable to put the book down. You will not be disappointed.”
~Critique @ Amazon ()
~Critique @ Amazon (
)“Even from reading the preview, this book is realistic, gripping, set in a world of harsh realities, and blurring the lines between the concrete, and the realm of dreams.”
~Knightly Sir @ Amazon ()
~Knightly Sir @ Amazon (
)- The Zona by Nathan L. Yocum Scheduled for a Mid-February Debut; Advance Reading Copies Available - Curiosity Quills Press, Jan 17, 2012
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