Disclaimer: I got this ARC from @NetGalley.

This is a sci-fi horror and that is usually not the kind of book I'd read but I really enjoyed this one!

Trigger Warning: sexual assault, scenes of r*pe
 
After a night of card games, five friends find that their world has changed, and not in a good way. Everyone is gone, except for the five friends. Their sole "companions" in this strange new, silent, dome covered world are dark-eyed creatures formed out of mist (called "demons") that try to hunt them down. Furthermore, every now and again a strange storm appears that changes minor details in the world around them.  The friends are left to wonder if they are in a Matrix-like simulation? Have they been abducted by aliens? Are they dead? Are they in Hell? A parallel universe? 

I really didn't want to give this book 3 stars because of the sexual violence in it.  I felt it was unnecessary, disturbing and rather boring to see this plot device used yet again by a male author. 
Having said that, though, I have to give this book three stars because I must give credit where credit is due.  

The author managed to create an intriguing mystery in this 'silent world' that kept me guessing until the end.  He made good use of foreshadowing and took time to show us the life long friendship between these five men, which made for good characterization and escalation of the conflict.  

Aside from the sexual assaults, I also had issues with the pacing.  Yes, this is a great mystery and yes, the men are all confused as to what is happening, but I feel like we spend too long talking about that without a lot of plot advancement.  Also, the speech is kind of awkward and stilted at times.  It doesn't come off as the way people naturally talk to one another.  

If you are a fan of Science Fiction, Horror or thrillers this will appeal to you but be prepared for a long ride.  I think fans of Stephen King and Dean Koontz would appreciate this book. 

Thanks to Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.  
Review posted to GoodReads and Amazon, as well.

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

Set in a parallel post apocalyptic kind of world, a group of friends face an unknown enemy that can't be killed.
This novel was a very interesting read. I enjoyed the character developments and breakdowns and the plot was twisting and turning I wasn't sure where it was going to go next.
The end had me in tears almost, I'm not gonna spoil it but I really wished that it might have been a different ending.

Good quick read, enjoyable. Go try it for yourself.

Reposted on good reads and amazon

Enjoyed this book immensely. Had a really creepy, spooky atmosphere, and a storyline that encompassed several different threads well. The writing style was spare; I don't know if this is because English is not the author's first language, but either way, it contributed to the bleak, end of the world storyline. 

This wasn't a perfect story - I felt it rambled a little at points, and while I really appreciated the focal point was the five men, the inclusion of what happened to the female characters was pretty brutal. 

All in all, this is a 3.5 star read for, rounded up to 4. I would be happy to read another book from this author. I really enjoyed the premise, I can't think of anything similar I have read before. 

Thanks to Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read.

After a long night of playing cards, five life-long friends: Arthur, Aram, Michael, Daniel and Harris discover that the world as they know it has drastically changed in an ominous way.  People have been mysteriously disappearing for some time, but now everyone appears to be gone, including Aram and Daniel’s wives and children, and what remains are fog-like creatures with dark eyes that seem intent on finding any left behind. Furthermore, an unnatural silence and darkness have fallen over things, and mysterious “storms” appear that switch things in the physical environment every time they appear.  Is this the work of aliens?  Is it a rapture of sorts?  Are they in a Matrix-like existence?  Are they in a parallel universe?  None of them know, but as they try to survive and find their way back to the real world, a different kind of darkness descends on some of these friends, and loyalties are put to the ultimate test.  When a mysterious teenage boy named Erik and a young woman named Lydia show up, things are further complicated.

I thought this was well-written with fully formed characters that each brought something unique to the story.  Because he gave moments of insight into the long history these men have had with each other, I was far more emotionally invested in how their individual stories played out.  Hakobyan has a very visual style of writing, so I could see the picture he was painting quite well and feel the bleakness of their experience, which made up for not always understanding the mechanics of their new reality. The ending wasn’t quite as resolved as I would’ve liked it to be, and some things could have been explained a little better - I’m still not entirely sure I understand Erik’s role completely, but none of these took away from my enjoyment of the story.  All-in-all it was a good book and one I would recommend to those who like sci-fi/fantasy, horror and mystery genres.

***TRIGGER WARNING:  There are a couple scenes involving rape.  I understand why it was used in the plot, but ultimately I wish the point could have been made differently.

★★★ ½  (rounded up to 4)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided this ARC in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.
#VoidFate #NetGalley