"From the plot itself, to the political points, to the realistic drama with other survivors, I felt like all of this could really be happening," - Katie, ARC Reviewer
Each review snippet you catch above and below will show you exactly what Beyond the Lost is about. This isn't your typical, run-of-the-mill, write-to-market dystopian survival series. It runs deeper through themes like individual vs. state, nostalgia vs. looking ahead, and what happens in the immediate aftermath of when a group of cells unleash havoc on unsuspecting victims.
Beyond the Lost isn't for the faint-hearted dystopian reader
"With action, politics, and a slow burn romance, there's a little something for everyone. It's thought-provoking in addition to being a page-turner. It was a nice quick read!" - Lacy, ARC Reviewer
Realistic and thought-provoking are two recurring terms that describe this trilogy. I wasn't writing it to fulfill genre formulas, but to be on-the-nose intentionally. This trilogy needed pinpoint accuracy. It needed to be a work that a reader -- from the inciting incident -- exclaim, "This is going to be something I've never read before!"
The action isn't linear, and it's by design. Quinn Cozens constantly thinks back to his childhood, reminiscing on happier, simpler times. But not in the way you think. He's living in regret for putting his ambitions over friends, family, and those closest to him. Or, who were closest to him before he turned his back on them. All in his pursuit of not fame, but notoriety in the sports writing world.
👉 See why Beyond the Lost Horizon is not for faint-hearted readers
A first-in-series meant to linger
"I have a deep appreciation for stories like Beyond the Lost Horizon; I can never seem to get enough of them. However, this particular tale feels distinct, as it resonates with a sense of realism that could easily translate into reality. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, as my mind knew it was only a fiction story. If it were real, I would find it too difficult to read. I have a deep appreciation for stories like Beyond the Lost Horizon; I can never seem to get enough of them." - Nancy, ARC Reviewer
I sugarcoated nothing in Beyond the Lost Horizon. Everything, from the bloodiest, most disturbing, and earth-shattering inciting incident on my backlist to Quinn's racing thoughts -- his regrets, his worldview, his "how the hell am I supposed to get us out of this" moments -- and the mystery of how such a coordinated attack could occur in an age of uncertainty, carries weight. Maybe too much weight.
As Nancy said in her review above, it might only be a fictional story. But the reality is that this can happen and has happened. The entire Gaza War drives that point home, even if it didn't inspire the inciting incident. It couldn't have, because no war broke out. Terrorists overran America and the West in one swift, coordinated movement.
In such a way that you might suspect someone sponsored the entire thing.
A certain kind of reader is equipped to read Beyond the Lost
"The story gripped me from the first chapter then quickly became a nail biting, fast paced plot of survival after shots fired at a concert leave many dead, with others being hunted." - Lisa, ARC Reviewer
What Lisa said above, that's your inciting incident. Now, you can see why it's so dreary, and why it's the ultimate crossroads for a reader. Stomach it, and you may stomach the work's revisionist history themes, unapologetic libertarian tilt, and the promise that its violent attack in Chapter 1 is child's play for what's to come.
If you think you can handle it, check out Book I, Beyond the Lost Horizon, at The Rebel Lore Vault. Preorder it, read it, and brace yourself for what's no cozy ride. Because I wrote this trilogy asking myself one question: How do I keep the reader on the edge of their seat and their stomach churning with uncertainty?
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