I’ve read several of John Gilstrap’s other books and he always seems to tell a great story. “Crimson Phoenix” is no exception. The premise of a nuclear war in America drives the story which involves all of the House of Representatives being sent to an underground bunker for safety. When Congresswoman Victoria Emerson finds out she can’t take her children with her into the bunker, the family uses all their survival skills to make a new life in post-apocalyptic America.

Without giving anything away, this looks to be the start of a really great series. Lots of action, lots of excitement and a few life lessons make for a solid story. I would have liked to see a little more focus on life in the bunker but the story of Victoria and her family was satisfying.

Crimson Phoenix is a great departure from Gilstap's Jonathan Graves series.
Filled with both strong and weak characters, government power and bungling, and the world of preppers, there's lots to learn and several great plots to follow.

Highly reccomended!

I have to admit, when I requested this book from NetGalley, I didn't even look up the book summary. John Gilstrap is a go to author for me with his Jonathan Grave Series and an automatic buy the minute I see his name. Imagine my surprise when I started the book and got a few pages in and thought, "wait a minute...." So, I hurriedly went back to NetGalley to read the summary and realized that this was book 1 in a new series. Now, with that out of the way - it was a wonderful beginning.

In the year of 2020, I don't think that any of us will be surprised at too much anymore. So, the premise of surviving a nuclear world war - sure, why not? We are introduced to a few new characters and this book features alternating POV's. First off, we meet Congresswoman Victoria Emerson and her two sons Caleb and Luke. The dynamics of that relationship along with the two military men who are selected to guard her (but not her family...) is an interesting developing dynamic. We then move to Adam (her oldest son) and his situation. We are also party to the comical actions of the 400+ surviving members of the House and the Senate who were safeguarded in an underground bunker. That, more than anything provides comic relief - even though I'm not sure it was his intent. It is just so very ACCURATE in the portrayal in their struggle for power to the exception of all else. Even in the aftermath of the catastrophic loss of billions of lives they are still fighting like cats and dogs and acting like children.

The best thing I can say about this book is that when I got to the last page - it was completely unexpected. The writing was so well done, and I was so caught up in the story that I didn't even realize how far I had gotten in the book, and I was also very disappointed that there wasn't any more pages. So, did I like it? Absolutely. Will I continue the series? Let's just say that now when I see a book by author Jonathan Gilstrap, I won't even need to see which series it is because it will be an automatic buy regardless.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to receive an ARC. My opinion is solely my own with no outside influence.

I had a hard time reading Crimsom Phoenix. I would read a bit then have to put it down. After Covid and the craziness of 2020 I can too easily see this scenario happening and it scared me.. Which to me means the author has done an excellent job of writing this scenario realistically.
The end of the world is imminent due to governments firing nuclear weapons at each other for mass destruction. It’s a gripping story, with detailed characters, and situations. Victoria Emerson is wonderful and it’s such a pleasure to have a strong independent female .character. .I’m already looking forward to the next installment.

I have read other books by John Gilstrap and like them. However this one seemed to have more violence and I found it diffiecult to read. Im sure others would enjoy it but it just wasnt for me

Wow! I’m already looking forward to the next installment, and I just finished book #1 in the new series. Not sure if it’s really a war since it ends in hours, but the destruction of the nuclear blast is tremendous in terms of people and infrastructure. Congresswoman Victoria Emerson and her sons, along with their military escorts choose not to be housed with members of Congress in the bunker, but to instead go in search of their son/brother. The story moves expertly from the older brother to the Congressional bunker to the traveling family as only a master storyteller can create.

A scary world in which all our fears come true. Follow the nuclear war and the aftermath of it and the amazing characters in the reestablishing of some kind of order in the presence of none.

I couldn't put this book down even though it made my chest tight at the fear of this actually happening.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.