This story is about multiple characters trying to survive a tropical storm turned hurricane. It was fast paced and the multiple characters storyline flowed together nicely. I don't know why it is labeled Christian fiction though because, although there was one godly character, there was so many inappropriate and graphic scenes along with tons of swearing. I only read Christian fiction which is why I could not finish the book.

The book delivers a gripping narrative set against the backdrop of a looming natural disaster, weaving together the lives of disparate characters whose fates become intertwined amidst the chaos. I appreciate how the author skillfully explores themes of redemption, faith, and human connection, grounding the story in Christian morals while delving into the complexities of human nature. Lenny, Ron, and Casey emerge as compelling protagonists, each grappling with their own demons and seeking redemption in the face of impending catastrophe. With its blend of suspense, moral introspection, and atmospheric storytelling, The Vortex offers a captivating read that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

is this book an apocalyptical story? Yes and no, let me explain, does something happen that disrupts how the world works? Yes, does it end the world? Only for those who die, this for me, was much more a speculative fiction, with character grow, than anything else… just the idea I had before hand wasn't the most correct to begin with.

Other thing is that as far as Christian fiction goes, this one has lots of dirty language, sexual situations, well basically its not morally sound… yeah I know those situations happen in real life, but still… the most Christian thing here was Lenny, he was absolutely virtuous to a fault. Its a good story, but for me promises more than what it delivered, and that is fine, is still a good thriller, just maybe I cant say that is for all.

Fans of thriller stories will probably like this book, people who aren't religious will get mad at Lenny because he is the first to say God’s bless, but at the same time I cant say that religious people will like this book, because in here do not expect for people repenting or asking for forgiveness, most people that do wrong in here will still think they are right, yeah Cam I am talking to you… like I said most people in here are not nice… I still enjoyed it, felt shorter than what really is.


Thank you Netgalley and BooksGoSocial, for the free ARC and this is my honest opinion.

Interesting premise with good world building and characters. I enjoyed the writing quite a bit. I would definitely read more by Feldman.

Really great novel from a genre I didn't realise existed Christian Apocalypse.
I started reading the story and it was one with lovable good guys (homeless veteran, basketball mom and tv cameraman) and really evil villains (TV producer, small time hoodlum and Civil servant)
All trying to get through the horrendous weather system that was trying to destroy LA and it's surrounding areas.
There really is a good feel to this book and the ending was unexpected and mainly really great plus the addition of the start of the next installment makes you want to read it immediately.

Fast paced and action packed, this story follows multiple characters as a tropical storm approaches the area they live in, and then becomes a hurricane, threatening the safety of them all. The characters were well developed and although there were multiple story lines, they all flowed together very nicely. The author also did a fantastic job of creating descriptive scenes, that made me feel like I was there as the story was unfolding.

Although there is a main character, Lenny, who has a strong relationship with God and a heart full of faith, I would not recommend this for Christian fiction readers. There is a lot of cussing from the beginning of the book until the end, graphic sex scenes, adultery, and a lot of crude and harsh dialogue. Because I only read Christian fiction, I had a hard time getting through this one because everyone except Lenny and sweet Georgia was so worldly, as were their story lines.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Not at all what I expected. This was recommended as an apocalyptic story. What I got was a character study of one-dimensional people and a story where the sun literally came out at the end.

Not sure what specifically made this Christian lit unless it's the inclusion of a Christian character; but it was YA storyline at best.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to review.

This was a strong start to the End is Here series, it had a great overall feel for a apocalyptic thriller and enjoyed that this had a high stakes feel to it. Ian D. Feldman does a great job in writing this and left me wanting to read more in this series.

I want to preface this review in saying that only completed 60% of the book and will not be reading any further.

Having said that, this book has a lot going for it. The premise is unique-I’ve not read of another apocalyptic book where rain is the focus like this one. The writing was well done and kept my interest. The characters were well developed and I was invested in them.

The parts that caused the DNF were the sexual references that were, in my opinion, too repetitive and more descriptive than I felt comfortable with in reading a Christian Fiction book. Due to my own persaonl convictions, I reached a point where I didn’t feel ok completing the book, and I share this as a trigger warning for others who may share the same type of convictions.

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

OK, so let's begin with the notion that I read a lot of Christian and General Market fiction and I think this story is trying to bridge the gap between both words and it just doesn't quite feel like it's doing it as successfully as the author would hope.

Be aware that spoilers will abound in the following review.

I get the whole Lennie and Georgia partnership is clearly an homage to Of Mice and Men, but it seems a bit too obvious to me. Clearly Lennie is a "pastor" even though he does not have a church or pulpit per se.

The storm was an interesting metaphor to be sure and the search for the mysterious Lennie was good, but the rest of the plot seemed in service to this key point.

Ron and Casey are, in my opinion, two sides to the same coin. Both give up something to get what they want. Just because Casey is more transactional and Ron is predatory, that doesn't make them less one-dimensional. In addition, the Abby/Frank relationship seemed rushed beyond what would seem natural.

One final point, and I think it goes to the main concern here: the use of profanity, The author is consistent that the "bad" characters use adult language and the "good" characters do not. But it becomes unclear to me why certain words are acceptable and others are not. I am thinking here of Schindler's List where those who are evil talk like they are evil and those who are not do not. In the writing world, William Kent Krueger comes to mind here.

I wanted to like this book, but I could not quite get there.

This was an excellent read with believable worldbuilding, well-rounded characters and escalating stakes to keep you reading and engrossed from the first page.

I thought apocalyptic dystopian adventure would be depressing and bleak, but this painted a picture of flawed but hopeful people - and an imperfect but well-intentioned and hope-filled future.

Some Christian symbolism that’s evident without being heavy-handed, this was a pulse-pounding read I loved from beginning to end.

I enjoyed this book. It’s funny how it was able to stick with me. I started reading this book Back in Oct, got away from reading for quite some time yet I still had this book with me when I picked it back up to finish it.

Ian takes his time building strong characters and it’s well worth it! This is not just the beginning of an apocalyptic story (which can stand on its own), but a deep look into humanity in all its glory and tattered dirty secrets. This story builds like the hurricane, wrecking havoc and bringing redemption. Moral undertones that aren’t preachy with “closed door” adult themes (thank you!) that only add to the story without detracting from it. Once the characters and setting are built, the story starts picking up along with the winds and is a fast read. I look forward to book 2.