Some parts of this book definitely gave me Fallout vibes. It's interesting because I just started playing Fallout 4. It's the first Fallout game I've played. I'm way behind in video games, I know. I'm trying to get back into it.

Anywho, getting past the fact that I live under a rock sometimes, this was a pretty fun read. I love post-apocalyptic settings. I love a lone wolf character who reluctantly becomes part of a ragtag group of survivors. The chapters are short and they keep the action moving along pretty nicely. The writing is definitely YA, which I think is the target group anyway.

I genuinely cared about what happened to the characters. We are primarily focused on Ashe in this book, so it's not always clear what the motivations of the other characters are, especially Rainwood and Moonbeam. Moonbeam is the most puzzling character, to me. He's very optimistic and just happy-go-lucky, despite the atrocities that surround him. He forgets things really easily and doesn't remember what happened to his family. Sometimes, he seems really dumb, but then he'll pull out some insightful statement.

Without giving spoilers, some elements are introduced, but not thoroughly explored. The author just leaves it hanging for now. I'm hoping that future books will tie up some of the loose ends in Book 1. Will I be reading future books? Hell yeah, I'd love to know more about this world and the Kraal.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Revenant Creative Studio for the awesome read!

The Kraal appeared from another dimension out of time and space twenty-five years ago, sweeping across all the galactic worlds and causing the death of 98% of the populations. The armed forces of the Union of Stars responded with a 'cleansing' tactic, unleashing nuclear destruction on the already devastated worlds. A teenage girl, Ashe, roams the desolate wasteland left behind, determined to remain solitary a year after her family were exiled from their underground shelter and suffered a tragedy. The significance of his abilities and the forces that aim to exploit him are revealed when she rescues a mysterious child. Along the way, despite her determination to avoid ties, she reconnects with other travellers and renews old friendships. Can they help Ashe confront the gloom of her past? Atom Bomb Baby follows the survivors of a galactic-wide calamity as they find new friends, fight against unjust oppression, and ultimately uncover the secrets behind the arrival of the Kraal and the fall of civilization. Fans of Science-Fiction, Dystopian, and Urban Fantasy will appreciate this journey.

The start of the story was slow and a bit confusing: lots of information was being shared and little to no explanation on what was happening or why. The plot had numerous elements, adding unnecessary complexity. Furthermore, the origins of the monsters and the reasons of the original massacre were not explained in full. I thought that they were going to be developed through the book, but many mysteries were not addressed. Even though it is the first part of the series, I feel like some kind of theory or suspicion could have been proposed or outlined.

On the bright side, I loved the relationship between Ashe and the special kid. I thought that seeing her kind and more humane side gave realism to the story and helped me feel the characters more believable. I also liked that the story had some difficulties that could not overcome. It felt like they were facing a real challenge, and made me feel more connected with their journey and frustrations.

Overall, it was a nice dystopy and such a fascinating world to explore.

“Atom Bomb Baby,” by Brandon Gillespie

This book was a super fun dystopian nuclear fallout type a book with the MC finding her found family and learning to trust in them. It was really good, and I enjoyed reading it a lot. The characters are all pretty quirky and weird, which I liked. It reminds me of the videogame Fallout but in book version. 4 out of 5 stars, super worth the read.

Thank you for the free copy.

Atom Bomb Baby tells the story of Ashe, as she tries to survive the wasteland of her home planet. She and her family had to leave the enclave where they had been safe, but she was the only survivor and so she was used to being alone. After a storm, she runs into Moonbeam and Rainwood and shelters with them for the night, when she learns that they're searching for treasure. Ashe reluctantly agrees to help them and along the way they help a lost child who was being held captive, which in turn makes them some powerful new enemies. The writing wasn't the best quality, but the story was still enjoyable. This book will appeal to fans of adventure stories and Fallout.

Solid apocalyptic wasteland adventure with a few creature encounters and angst along the way. Looking forward to the rest of the series. // 3.5 Stars. It was good.

If you like Mad Max and The Maze Runner then this book is for you!

It took me a minute to get into the story since you are dropped into a dystopian world that builds slowly over the book as opposed to more upfront. It felt very similar to The Maze Runner in that you know there is more to this Maze but it takes a while to get to that part of the world. I thought the characters were a lot of fun and enjoyed some of the vintage/80s aspects that were thrown in. I felt like the slang was a bit heavy handed at first but then felt more a part of normal conversation as the book goes on. The one thing I didn’t love about this book is there were so many different plot points. They were easy enough to keep track of but they didn’t always feel like they fit or were needed in the story, unnecessarily complicating it. But they may become more important later on and make sense as the series continues. I’m interested to see what the next books bring to this world.


Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an eARC of this book in return of my honest opinion.

I know that this book is going to be part of a series so I'm going to not try and comment on plot devices that might be continued in future sequels. That being said, while I did enjoy this novel there was also a lot I didn't enjoy. To start with the positives, I've always loved a good sci-fi novel and a good dystopian novel so having both of them together in this way was pretty cool! There was a lot of potential with the characters as well. Ashe, the headstrong fighter out for vengeance, and Jade, the boy with government experiment with mysterious powers. Moonbeam didn't seem to add much to the story unfortunately. He seemed to generally be comedic relief which felt very stereotypical. Talia was a character I wish there had been more of in the story over all as I genuinely enjoyed her. What I didn't particularly care for was the way Ashe, Talia and Moonbeam spoke at times. I couldn't tell if they were meant to use older slang because it's a dystopian world or if the author thought the slang was still what teenager used in the present. Either way, I found their manner of speech a bit annoying at times. I also felt like we were running from one plot point to the other as quickly as possible without really addressing anything. At one point, Moonbeam proclaims that the skeleton they've found is his mom but they don't discuss it afterwards. Mason dies and Ashe wants to take his mech home to his parents but then she looses the mech and.... they don't try to get it back? Ashe talks about a plan she has to get it back but that never happens. The whole "treasure hunt" that Rainwater and Moonbeam are on was... very random too and didn't add anything to the story. I felt it would have been better if these two were also looking for Jade, looking for a reward but then decide to not turn him in when they realize he's a kid. It would have added a lot to the plot. Overall, I think I'm left more confused about the novel than anything. There was a lot of information/world building thrown at us and much of it wasn't explained. I'll have to see how I feel about reading the sequels.

A first-time read for me from this author, but definitely a creative space I would return to. I enjoyed the dystopian vision and high level of imagination, plus the centering on characters.

"Step into the captivating universe crafted by Brandon Gillespie in 'Atom Bomb Baby,' a mesmerizing blend of Science-Fiction, Dystopian, and Urban Fantasy. While the opening may stumble a bit, Gillespie quickly finds their rhythm, immersing readers in a world shaped by the cataclysmic arrival of the Kraal.

Set twenty-five years after this interdimensional threat decimated 98% of galactic populations, the narrative centers around Ashe, a resilient teenage girl navigating the desolate aftermath. Determined to remain solitary after her family's tragic exile from an underground shelter, Ashe's solitary existence takes an unexpected turn when she rescues a mysterious child.

Gillespie's storytelling prowess shines as Ashe embarks on a perilous journey, unraveling the child's enigmatic abilities and exposing the nefarious forces seeking to exploit them. The plot seamlessly unfolds, keeping readers hooked with a perfect balance of simplicity and complexity.

One of the book's strengths lies in its characters. While Ashe anchors the story with her determination, readers are treated to a diverse cast of travelers, rekindling old friendships and forging new alliances. The camaraderie among the characters adds layers to the narrative, making the journey not just about survival but also about the enduring human spirit.

The world-building in 'Atom Bomb Baby' is a testament to Gillespie's creativity. The post-apocalyptic setting is filled with surprises, each page revealing new facets of a galaxy struggling to rebuild. The author masterfully navigates the balance between plot progression and character development, ensuring readers remain invested in both.

In summary, 'Atom Bomb Baby' might have a slightly shaky start, but Gillespie's ability to weave a compelling narrative quickly takes center stage. If you're a fan of immersive worlds, relatable characters, and a plot that keeps you guessing, this book is a must-read. Join Ashe and her companions on a rollercoaster of survival, friendship, and unraveling mysteries, and let Gillespie transport you to a galaxy where the human spirit refuses to be extinguished."

★ ★ ★ • 3

Initially was drawn to this book by the cover, can’t resist anything with pretty character artwork. Atom Bomb Baby, is a YA dystopian science-fantasy story about a teenage girl wandering the wastes of society trying to survive amidst a “Kraal” infested apocalyptic landscape. That part of the plot is pretty straight forward, ignoring all of the world-building details.

Right from the beginning, the story picks up with immediate action… Which would be a positive for readers who struggle to stay interested in slow paced books. However, as a result of that I did find myself having to go back several times and reread the summary of the book in order to get more context on what was happening. Many of the earlier chapters didn’t really give much explanation as to… Why things are the way they are. At the end of the book there’s an appendix included, that I would definitely recommend reading first. Having that information would’ve been helpful to be able to go back and reference when miscellaneous details became confusing at points.

Each chapter of the book is also named after and themed on a song, which… I didn’t realize until I started flipping through that same end appendix. For readers that like to listen to music while reading and want a more interactive experience, the song list is something worth checking out.

Though this book is YA, I would say that the target audience is more geared towards 11-13 year olds. The characters themselves are slightly older teens, but a younger audience would probably connect/relate with them better than anyone 14+. As someone in my 20’s I admit, I felt a bit indifferent to them. The book did also handle some heavier themes passively (it is a dystopian novel) but it’s done so in a way that wasn’t very emotionally charged, which is more ideal for a less mature audience (or really anyone who struggles to get through sad parts of books).

For fans of series like Alita, Resident Evil, and The Scorch Trials for sure give this book a try. And thank you so much to the author and publisher for the ARC to review!

Just finished this book!
Okay there are a couple things I have to talk about
First of all, when I saw the website of the author last week, I was like: who is Talia? She looks pretty. BUT OH BOY! NO! STOP FLIRTING WITH MY MOONBEAM!!! I kinda like her and hate her at the same time😅
Some parts of this book was really hard to understand. Like until the end of the book I thought the Kraal was a monster too and I realised it could also be MORE than one and still call it Kraal, which was already hard to imagine what or how it looked like.
But I really loved to see Ashe develop from lone-warrior to a girl whose mental health almost completely depended on the team.
Love Moonbeam, love Ashe, like Jade, meh about Rainwood. Not sure about Talia yet.
Lastly, I want to thank the author SO MUCH. Because as a girl who always wondered what would happen if some weird creatures end up in Earth. Was awesome to read what I actually always wanted to read!
While I was reading, I kept saying " Moonbeam please end up with her PLEASE! " even though they had just met lol.
I literally screamed when I read the part where Jade asked if he loved her and he said "what does she think of me? " I LOVE IT!!
4 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
NO SPICE -/🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
#ridersofthestars #brandongillespie #atombombbaby

Review: One of the few books that have a simple and interesting enough story line, coupled with pronounced characters that I would recommend being made into a movie. Of course no one in Hollywood is listening to me, as they shouldn’t what with being so far removed from morality.

This was so close to being shjt canned in the first few pages. The opening was stilted, fumbling and amateurish. The internal dialogue smooths out after a few chapters and the character interations are deft enough to build upon. Battle hardened adults deferring to a 16yo is relentless in this genre. It is at once insulting and not believable. Not too much blushing/crushing which goes a long way with me.

This was some freaky world building with monsterous images that were quite creepy. I love the MC as she is easy to visualize. Rainwood, not so much. The chapter artwork is really good and evokes high resolution visuals. The world does feel like it was borrowed from Fallout 4, an FPS PC game.

I like this world.

Rating: 3.7/5

This turned out to be not my cup of tea at all... I found the New Adult tag to be very misleading: it feels very firmly somewhere between middle grade and YA, in tone very close to Reeve's Mortal Engines books. I feel like rebranding this with a more clear indication towards younger audiences would do this book more justice.