Apocalypse Five

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Pub Date 12 Feb 2019 | Archive Date 19 Feb 2019

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Description

The end of the world is coming. How or when, scientists can’t agree upon. For decades, Earth’s best line of defense has been a team of young soldiers known as the Apocalypse Five, forced into virtual reality simulations to train for Doom’s Day. But, this is no game. Death on the grid is brutally final and calls up the next in a long line of cadets. Stationed aboard the AT-1-NS Starship, the A5 are celebrities thrust into the limelight by a calling they didn’t choose. All it takes is one unscheduled mission, showing seventeen-year-old team leader Detroit a harsh and unfathomable reality, to shake the A5’s belief in all they thought they knew. After questioning people with the power to destroy them, the team is framed for a crime they didn’t commit and marked for death. Now, the hunt is on. Can the Apocalypse Five expose the truth the starship would kill to keep hidden? Or, will their bravery end in a public execution?

The end of the world is coming. How or when, scientists can’t agree upon. For decades, Earth’s best line of defense has been a team of young soldiers known as the Apocalypse Five, forced into virtual...


A Note From the Publisher

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Stacey Rourke is the award-winning and best-selling author of works that span genres, but possess the same flare for action and snarky humor. She lives in Florida with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant dogs. Stacey loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction, and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Stacey Rourke is the award-winning and best-selling author of works that span genres, but possess the same flare for action and snarky humor. She lives in Florida with her husband...


Advance Praise

“Fans of The Hunger Games will love this fresh dystopian thriller, featuring a band of instantly loveable characters that must fight together in a sci-fi twist, in and out of simulations for their freedom in reality.” -BookTrib

“Apocalypse Five is a fresh breath into a genre thick with same-as-always stories…a healthy dose of female empowerment, diversity, and the social critique that we’ve been waiting for. - The Nerd Daily

“Fans of The Hunger Games will love this fresh dystopian thriller, featuring a band of instantly loveable characters that must fight together in a sci-fi twist, in and out of simulations for their...


Marketing Plan

* National consumer print, online, and broadcast media campaign *

* Author bookstore & library appearances, Winter 2018/19*

* Publishing trade ARC/galley outreach *

* Author interviews and excerpts available upon request*

* Influencer outreach to Amazon top reviewers & Goodreads librarians, Bookstagrammers, BookTubers, podcasters, and more *

* National consumer print, online, and broadcast media campaign *

* Author bookstore & library appearances, Winter 2018/19*

* Publishing trade ARC/galley outreach *

* Author interviews and...



Average rating from 35 members


Featured Reviews

If you’re looking for a new young adult sci-fi adventure to fall in love with this Valentine’s Day, might I suggest Apocalypse Five—the first in the Archive of the Fives series, upcoming from author Stacey Rourke [Black Spot Books, February 12, 2019].

Like a swift punch to the gut, Apocalypse Five starts off with the sudden burst of energy of a rocket ship—literally—as readers are plunged headfirst into the jarring and unpredictable reality of Earth’s future (spoiler alert: don’t get too attached to anyone you meet in the first chapter).

Stationed aboard the AT-1-NS space station, the A-5—highly trained and deadly—are little more than children forced into a militarized combat life. Per 17-year old team-leader Detroit, nameless cadets begin their training as soon as they’re old enough to “stand without wobbling,” foregoing (unwittingly) a life of human emotion and connection and instead forced into virtual simulations to practice saving Earth—which is now populated with humanoid things while what’s left of humanity’s chosen people live a glamorous, synthetic existence in space. Only the best soldiers are chosen to become part of the mock-celebrity elite A-5 team, but it’s not all pomp and circumstance here; it’s a high-stakes game where a game over on the grid is a brutal death sentence with all the gore and pain you’d expect in a proper sci-fi combat scenario.

When team-leader Detroit—a kickass, sharp-tongued, and totally self-aware lady of color—is sent on a solo mission that’s a little too real to be a simulation, she finds all she has come to believe—or, rather, has been brainwashed into believing—might not be true after all. Of course, as these things go, when she and the rest of her team—including love-interest Houston, ginger twins Juneau and Reno, and probably the most teenage-angsty, dread/mohawked dude ever, Augusta—take their concerns to the political and military leader of their universe, Chancellor Washington, he does what a classic sci-fi villain always does: prove them correct. The A-5 find themselves in a run-or-die situation as they head back to Earth—only this time it’s not the simulated one that they’ve been training to “protect”, but the real one, and they’re not there to protect Earth, they’re there to save it…from them. With their feet firmly on the scorched and battle-drained dirt of the real world, the A-5 quickly discover the depth of the lies programmed into their psyche and the consequences of what their specialized “training” has done to the very actually-human people of Earth, who are now little more than resource mills—from foodstuffs to children—for the AT-1-NS regime. It’s impossible to tell the rest of the plot without spoilers, so you’re going to have to check this one out for yourself. (There are androids, and really cool bracelet weapons, and some rather chuckle-worthy nods to current pop culture, too.)

There are some tropey genre-mainstays in this new series that fit it firmly within the ranks of a typical YA SFF—a good bit of eye-batting between Detroit and Houston, fashionable spacesuits and an obsession with fancy outfits, laser guns with dubious technology, and a head-honcho bad guy(s)—but Apocalypse Five also includes unexpected and refreshing elements that make it a breath of fresh air in genre saturated with cheesy love triangles and fickle white girls trying to play badass (yeah, I said it, fight me).

This isn’t just a story about kids who fight back against a power-hungry regime, but one that embeds a critical social message at its heart. While Detroit and her team are busy fighting Washington and the fury released from the Fortress at their insurgency while trying to save the people of earth—including a newborn baby who is, like all cadets, intended to be fed to the ranks of the soldiers-to-come aboard the AT-1-NS—what Rourke is really writing is so much more than just another dystopian book. With a cast of strong, empowered women—from Olympia (the ill-fated original leader of the A5), Detroit and Juneau; to the leaders of the Air Walkers and the Floaters (two of the three tribes of Earth introduced in the first book); to new mother Remi and enduring baby Adalyn, this story is a call for women to stand up against oppression, to find our own power, and for everyone to take up arms and fight to save what’s left of our humanity in a world that would sooner see us turn on each other rather than unite as one.

Apocalypse Five is a fresh breath into a genre thick with same-as-always stories with a tale ripe with classic dystopian elements and soft science fiction, as well as a healthy dose of female empowerment, diversity, and the social critique that we’ve been waiting for.

(Review Posted on The Nerd Daily 12/11/18)

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This book was a DNF for me.

Apocalypse 5 sounded like an amazing book,filled with adventure,and,albeit,it was full of adventure, the only problem was that I had no idea what was going on! All the writing,as beautiful as it was, didn’t make much sense.

I never felt as if I was attached to any of the characters as a high percentage of this book was fighting. I do think a good novel needs good fight scenes,but there were so many they seemed to blend toghether.

Aside from this books lack of sense and deep characters,the authors writing style is quite amazing,the way she describes things is so beautiful.

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Rourke catapults the reader into action right from the first chapter and maintains a fast pace throughout the book; treating the readers to firefights, betrayal, and heroism. The Apocalypse Five unit is made up of top soldiers that train to aid the homeworld in the event of an apocalypse. A public blunder by one of the teammates serves as a catalyst for the end. Detroit and her team are forced to flee the ship and discover that everything they thought they knew is a lie and find their enemy has a familiar face.

The characters were enjoyable even if I didn’t feel attached to any of them like some of the other books I read. I enjoy flawed characters that allow growth throughout a story, though I was disappointed by the lack of growth and character depth in this book. Augusta seemed to be the only character with any real growth, though it was limited to his relationship with alcohol. Houston’s reaction to his own crisis confused and frustrated me. When you are in the midst of running for your life from a seemingly all-powerful evil, you don’t get the luxury of not using a weapon.

Dystopian worlds require a significant effort on the author's part to create a world that translates to the reader. I felt like the world creation was well done while Apocalypse Five operated on the ship but as the storyline progressed, it felt like the world building took second to action. The background regarding the clans and the general status of the planet as a whole needs a more thorough set up. That said, I’m confident that the issues I’ve noticed can, and will be, addressed in the rest of the books in the series. There were some minor spelling/grammar issues that I'm sure will be caught before the final copy is released, though overall they weren't too distracting.

While I haven’t bonded to any of the characters yet, I’m hopeful that Rourke will be able to incorporate some of the character depth that I was missing in the next book. Ultimately though, I really enjoyed Apocalypse Five and plan on reading the next book.

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This book is a bit along the lines of Firefly. The Apocalypse Five is a group of young adults that are trained to prevent disasters of all types. Detroit, Houston, Reno, Jupiter and Auggie are very likable and each one has their own areas of expertise. The story is well paced and full of action. There are a few twists that are a plus to the story. It did end on a bit of a cliffhanger but nothing drastic. Will quickly pick up the next book in this series.

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"Apocalypse Five" is filled with beautiful characters and wonderful imagery.

One fear I had when reading this (as I do with most dystopia) is that it would be so action-driven that characterization would suffer and that I wouldn't be able to really feel as though I was a part of the plot. After reading it however, I realize I had no need to worry. Rourke effortlessly gives us insight into the minds of her characters as we see a young team of "heroes" are discarded by those they trusted, as they are forced to fight against what they knew and come to terms with their new reality.

The team, A5, thought they were working to prevent doomsday but then they discover that what they were working toward is all a lie and that they were never meant to discover the truth. These characters are young, still children, and yet they have to deal with deadly simulations and later proving their innocence and righting the wrongs they had no idea they were committing.

I truly could not put this novel down.

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What a great, young adult, sci-fy read! Think mixture of Ender's Game and Hunger Games and even a little bit of Divergent thrown in. Readers are thrown into a world of space launches, teen heroes, lavish leaders, deadly missions and truths. This book was well written and packed with twists, some of which my background with other books helped me to predict, but still enticing and satisfying. Watching Detroit and her team fight for each other and the world while they faced the brutal truths of their lives was heart racing. I highly recommend this book and look forward to finding out what happens next!

*** A huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. ***

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Apocalypse Five is the first installment in a new young adult science fiction series that follows a team of space cadets forced to participate in simulations in preparation for saving the Earth in the event of an impending apocalypse. If you fail to survive these simulations, you die in the real world. If you die, you are replaced with another candidate. The team of superstars representing the most promising candidates is known as the A-5 team. The story is told from the point of view of Detroit, a strong willed, independent, kick ass young lady who leads the latest version of the elite A-5 team. This team consists of ginger twins Juneau and Reno, the love interest Houston, and the party boy riddled with teenage angst, Augusta. The simulations the team participates in provide a platform for describing the conditions of the Earth, which is essentially portrayed as a riddled wasteland populated with humanoids. Little does the team know how much the truth has been stretched. Detroit goes on a solo simulation and is given a glimpse of reality. In response, she gathers her team and heads for Earth. The trip to Earth just opened up a whole can of worms for the A-5 team. Questions are answered, conspiracies are uncovered, and new questions arise.

This was Ms. Rourke's first foray into the science fiction genre and I think she absolutely nailed it. There was the classic elements of science fiction with the advanced technology (androids, laser weapons, holograms) and evil sci fi villain. The concepts behind the technology weren't too over the top as can be found in some other books in this genre. Parts of it made think of the show The 100. Aside from the great homage to science fiction Ms. Rourke provided, I was also impressed with how she treated her characters. This wasn't one of those typical sci fi books with factions trying to blow each other up with space weapons chasing each other across the galaxy. There are layers to this story. Each A-5 team member brings their own unique personality traits and skillsets. While this book focused predominantly on Detroit, Ms. Rourke took the time to provide glimpses for the types of characters the other team members are intended to be. This should lay the groundwork for future installments in the series, which I am very much looking forward to.

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Meet the Apocalypse Five, a band of rockstar status soldiers going into deadly battles whilst living a big brother house existence. In a Buffy esque “when one slayer dies another is chosen” world, cadets are nothing but numbers until a calling into the A5 grants them a name, for Detroit and her team, they are the longest running A5 group and have garnered far higher celebrity status than most. The idea that this team are being watched both privately and on the field for the enjoyment of the masses is pretty tough to swallow, and sets the tone that the world we’re seeing has almost forgotten that children as young as 13 are being put in deadly scenarios. What makes that society worse for me is the ghoulish product placement that the team need to find time for whilst fighting for their lives. Yet this is normal and had the impact that for me as a reader, I often had to remind myself of just how young they are. There is a clear influence from the Hunger Games in the early stages of the book and I felt at times that it was struggling to form it’s own identity, but when the tables turn about 1/3 a way in it very much comes into its own.

As far as world building goes, much is left to the imagination as Apocalypse Five is very much story driven. The pace is pretty relentless, so pages about the space station would have detracted from that. Whilst I’m usually a world building girl, I can appreciate why the author chose not to go down that route this time. One thing that this book has is a HUGE twist, you can kind of see it coming not long before the team do, but it turns the entire story on it’s head. It’s a real mic drop moment as the enormity settles. Interestingly the story moves into 2 parallel paths as we also come to understand how the children became part of the space station crew, it’s a point which slowly burns alongside adding some anxiety to the pace.

I found the characters pretty interesting, It could be easy to be flippant about their depth, but these are children who have grown with very little nurturing and ability to explore their emotions. Their days are spent watching others die and waiting to hear if it would be their turn next, that’s going to stunt anyone. I think it was a brave move to have these characters very shut down, with only false bravado for the camera’s where they know they are wanted. Their use of different coping strategies is actually a little heartbreaking when you have a 17 year old alcoholic and a 13 year old obsessed with old movies of a happier time. I realise that I am painting them as a sad bunch – but their friendship is rock solid and that’s what makes them endearing and a formidable team.

Unfortunately the author painted herself into a difficult corner, in that the premise and the twist are so intrinsically linked that for the first 3rd of the book, I’m sorry to say, I was pretty baffled by what the wider arc was. I don’t mind books that hit the ground running but it needs to be quickly backed up with context, otherwise the narrative stutters. It becomes clear why it had to be that way as the story continues, but it did mean that I struggled to get into an early flow. At one point I thought my ebook had started beyond a prologue so I stopped and went back… this was quick a big issue for me so I’ve reduced the rating down accordingly.

Apocalypse Five is a fast paced read with a real cinematic feel, Detroit walking along a rocket launcher decimated beach described as looking like a goddess of chaos and war, was one of my favourite lines – and gives you an idea of the scale. It has plenty of feels without being sappy and is thought provoking without even realising. I initially thought this was a standalone but those last lines will want you clamouring for book 2!

4*

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Humanity has been preparing for the apocalypse for decades, sending groups of five young soldiers at time to battle simulated end of the world scenarios. The missions are broadcast for everyone on the AT-1-NS Space Station to watch. The current Apocalypse Five group has set a record. No deaths in 18 months. No group has survived that long without at least one (or all five in some cases) member being killed. This group is special. When they discover information they weren't supposed to ever know, suddenly the group goes from being heroes to wanted fugitives. Can they survive....and reveal the corruption and lies perpetrated by the Chancellor?

This book got right down to business at page one with great action and storytelling. It's typical space adventure sci-fi with a little hint of romance thrown in here and there. The story is definitely geared to YA, but interesting to adults as well. There is a little bit of cursing and some hints at sex...but nothing inappropriate for a YA audience. The plot is a bit reminiscent of The Hunger Games or Ender's Game, but different enough to not seem too trope-y.

The cover art is really eye-catching. The first thing I noticed about this book is the cover. Great art!

All in all, an enjoyable space adventure story. Apocalypse Five is the first book in the Archive of the Fives series. I will definitely be reading more of this series. The characters are engaging and the story is good. I want to know what happens next! :) Can't wait for the next book!

**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from Black Spot Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

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Packed with action, intrigue and mounds of tension, this is an exciting mix of spaceship science fiction and a brutal dystopian.

The A5 consists of the most amazing heroes the starship has to offer. They are specially trained and ready to meet any obstacle that comes at them—all to ensure the survival of the human race. The extremely vivid and realistic training missions are viewed by everyone on board, making this group stars in their own right. The catch, however, is deadly. If they die on the virtual missions, they die in real life. This makes for quite the turnover in team members. Until the most recent group is formed. These five survive much longer than any others before. When they run across a strange scene in their mission, they realize that these virtual missions are more than they seem. And the truth will change existence as everyone knows it.

Tension and the brutality of the situation hit full force from the first chapter on. The author makes the circumstances these characters face clear, and this impact causes the story to grab right away. The characters are sympathetic, and it's hard not to feel for their situations even with their obvious personality flaws. Each one is very distinct, making it easy to keep them apart. Their interactions are believable, and their decisions are understandable. It's easy to cheer for them the entire way through.

While the story kept me in the pages until the very end, the first chapter or so did stumble. The author makes it clear from the beginning how harsh and dangerous the life of the A5s is, and the first round of characters is immediately hit hard. This caused for a little confusion as time jumped forward in the next chapter, and the empathy for characters had to be rebuilt. The world itself is well done, although there are more than a few holes in the background. Much of this seems to be waiting for resolution in the rest of the series, while some simply is a little light. Still, it's a fun read.

This is an exciting world to jump into, especially for fans of action, adventure, intrigue and simply harsh, violent moments. It grabs, it sits, and it ends on a cliffhanger. This book sets the stage for the rest of the series, one which promises to be exciting and full of surprises.

I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed the story enough to want to leave my honest thoughts.

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This story reminds me of Orson Scott Card's 'Ender's Game'. While there are vague similarities there is enough different to make it an enjoyable read. Some of the characters and situations are hard to follow. The subtle humor is a welcome diversion to the horrid situations A5 found themselves in. A warning to some readers: the sexual tension and situations encountered by pre-/early teens can be disconcerting.

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The Apocalypse Five have but one mission, to save the human race who, well, any one of a number of things could lead to its demise. What is interesting about this premise, is that they are fighting in virtual reality and if they die in the game they die, thus being that they have pretty high turnover. However, the current Apocalypse Five is on an awesome bloody good run, surviving longer than any other previous team. They come across some strange information, and pretty much everything they think they believe isn't quite as straight forward as it seems.
I don't usually read science fiction, but this cover was amazing, and the plot drew me in. I don't do spoilers, but I have to say even though this was promoted as young adult, I would think that anyone who likes this type of adventure would love it. The action never lets you go, and it was suspenseful from beginning to end. A good read and from what I've seen, there is more to this series to come! Sign me up for the next book!

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For a long time, we've known the end of the world is coming. The rate at which humanity has used Earth's resources means relocation. Specifically, to space. Enter the Apocalypse Five (or A5). They are an elite group of soldiers trained to deal with any and all apocalypse scenarios. Every day, they're put into a different mission that will help them to better save humanity when that day eventually comes.

However, things aren't quite what they seem. When Detroit, the team leader, is sent on a mission that exposes the reality of the people of Earth, she wants to do something about it. Instead, they're framed for a crime and sentenced to death. Now, they find themselves on the run from the government. To escape, they have to expose the truth. But will they be able to do it in time?

I received a copy of this book to review from Net Galley and Black Spot Books. Obviously, my interest was peaked because it's a dystopia. It feels like it's a been a while since I read one of those. The premise peaked my interest too; I am happy to say that I definitely wasn't disappointed in this book.

At first, it takes a bit to acclimate to the world that Rourke built for the A5. We get a little bit of info in the prologue, but then we jump to the future. While I was a bit confused in the beginning, more information was given the further you got into the book, so at about halfway, I felt that I had a good grip on this new, futuristic world.

The best thing about this book was probably the concept. I liked the idea that we're training this group of people to help fight off the impending apocalypse. It takes the age old concept of "the chosen one" to a whole new level. Where people like Katniss are kind of chosen by circumstance, the A5 are literally hand-picked to be the ones that fight whatever disaster comes next. And I want to see more from them!

One of the themes in the book is about exposing truth and that things are often not what they seem. I don't want to give too much away, but the theme encourages readers to think critically about what those in power are telling you. And what an important time in history to promote those ideals (here's a list for more books like this!).

Like the blurb for this book says, if you're a fan of The Hunger Games, you'll definitely enjoy this book.

4/5 stars

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Action and adventure, a bit if romance set in a dystopian Sci-Fi setting...what more could you ask for! Thrilling!

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I am beyond thrilled that I got the chance to read the Young Adult Sci-Fi Apocalypse Five (Archive of the Fives - Book 1) by the very talented Author Stacey Rourke. I will admit that I don’t read enough of Sci-Fi books, but Rourke just proves why I should be reading a lot more of them. If you are a fan of shows like The 100 or movies like Hunger Games, then you will absolutely fall in love with Apocalypse Five.

The AT-1-NS space station has been preparing for the apocalypse for years. They have been training young boys and girls for mankind’s sake so they can one day return to earth safe from any doomsday threat. The team of highly trained young adults is known as the Apocalypse Five. They partake in simulated missions to test their skills, but these missions are real and they risk their lives every single time. The Apocalypse Five has lasted eighteen months without a death and they are celebrated heroes on the space station, but when a simulation goes wrong, The heroes slowly become the hunted. Framed for a crime they did not commit, the Apocalypse Five will do everything within their power to expose the AT-1-NS if they can manage to stay alive.

Apocalypse Five has everything that I could ever want in a story - action, adventure, great world building, and wonderfully fleshed out characters I can fall in love with. You are thrust right into the action right from the start and it does not let up all the way to the end. I found my pulse quickening in a lot of the scenes and maybe even yelling a time or two when the storyline became even more intense and just when I thought the story could not get any better, Rourke adds another twist and steps it up a notch. The ending though blew me away and I am highly anticipating the second book in the series. I NEED it! Wow! I am completely floored and wondering why I have not read anything by Stacey Rourke previously. She is definitely an author to watch out for.

I have to say that Apocalypse Five truly won me over with its diverse cast of characters. Although they are young, they have lived through a lot and sometimes I would forget that they are only teens, but Rourke has such a way of reminding you that they ARE still teenagers….teenagers that still kick *ss! They still have that teenage angst and a lot of snark which really made their personalities shine through for me. Even though they are highly trained, they are not presented as robots. Each team member has feelings, dreams, and love for each other. They are a family and have each others backs at all times and it shows. There is also a little romance thrown in and while it might not have been necessary, I felt that it added to the overall story and growth of the characters.

Apocalypse Five is an intense, action packed young adult sci-fi that will totally grip you right from the start. I never wanted the story to end! This is definitely a book that will be added to your keeper shelf. I am over the moon and so looking forward to the next book in the series.

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This book is across between 'Starship Troopers' with 'The Illuminae Files', 'Hunger Games' and 'Ascension'. It was hard to put down with characters that grew on you as they grew into themselves. I would call this a gate way book for young teens (as I have observed with 'The Last Thirteen') that find getting into serious sci-fi had to do due to language and length. This book is well written with language easy to understand in a not over long book. I hope the other books are not longer. The action and pace of the book is great and aimed at a more savvy read without it being to bablish in nature. I have been reccomending this book before I had finished it and have placed on our request list to buy for the Library I work for.

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Much love goes out to NetGalley and Smith Publicity for this ARC.

HOLY FREAKING SH*T THAT WAS AWESOME!!!
I am horrified that I have to wait for the next book.
This was filled with fresh ideas, funny characters and of course...evil doers.
I docked 1 star since I felt the love interest portion was completely unnecessary.
The camaraderie of the team was enough on it's own.
Looking forward to more in this series!!!

"You're a ginger! We eat souls for breakfast."
As a ginger (under all this hair dye), I can confirm this quote as truth.

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This was a great sci-fi for young adults something like the Hunger and Enders Game . Readers find themselves thrown into a world of space launches, teen heroes into deadly missions. This book was very well written with interesting characters and lots of twists and turns that kept me glued to the book from start to the end. I would highly recommend this book and look forward to reading and finding out what happens next.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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Apocalypse Five is the first novel in the Archive of the Fives series by Stacey Rourke. If I had to define the novel for you in just a few sentences, I would say that it’s Hunger Games in a science fiction setting, only with a couple major twists thrown into the mix.
Apocalypse Five is a combination of so many things, that I honestly don’t envy whoever had to make the decision on what category to put it into. It’s a little bit science fiction, young adult, survival, post-apocalyptic, and so much more. It also touches on other elements, some coming of age, a little bit of romance, that sort of thing.

<Spoiler>

Warnings: My comparison to Hunger Games is accurate in one sense, at least. There are children (okay, teenagers) in this series. And adults too, of course. These people are used as soldiers for what appears to be entertainment. Their deaths are not always easy or quick, but they’re not overly detailed at least.
Apocalypse Five was a fast-paced novel full of so many twists and turns. With every new twist, I thought I had a handle on the situation, that I fully understood what was happening it this world. Only for another twist to come along and further shake my perception of the world. It left me feeling like I had to constantly stay on my toes as I read – waiting for the next big reveal.
I enjoyed reading this novel. I liked how quick the pace was, and while there was a lot of violence in it, it never really felt overly gory or graphic. That’s a hard line to walk on, so I really appreciate it and feel like it deserves to be pointed out.
I’ll admit that it took me a couple of chapters to really get into this book. The first chapter really threw me through a loop. It was great that it started right out in the action, but I had no idea what was happening or who these people were. Once I got farther along I was able to truly understand what I had read, but it did take me a minute.
That being said, once I got past that point it didn’t take long for me to start becoming attached to the characters. And trust me, I tried to say ambivalent about them too – after that introduction (and my comparison to the Hunger Games) I was afraid to become too attached to anybody. So the fact that I did despite all of that says something, I think.
I’m not sure how I feel about the final twist in this book. It’s interesting, and I do look forward to seeing that get developed further. At the same time, it leaves me with more questions than answers. It’s not a cliffhanger, not quite. But it did change the book from feeling complete to making it very clear that there’s a lot more going on that we initially thought. I’ll have to wait and see what is shown in the second novel before I comment on it too much though.
I like that I wasn’t able to predict what was going to happen next. It’s refreshing to not have any clue what is going to happen, even if it is also a little bit stressful – I was constantly concerned about the fate of the five main characters.
I really enjoyed reading Apocalypse Five, and am looking forward to the sequel. The only shame is that I’ll have to wait. I guess that’s the downside to reading a novel the second it comes out (okay, I read it slightly before it came out, but you know what I mean).

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I absolutely loved the concept of Apocalypse 5. In a twist of Ender's Game mixed with Firefly, I was ready to dive head first out of the space ship. Unfortunately, with very little wirld building, I felt as though I was drifting through space untethered. From the getgo, you're thrusted into Stacey Rourke's dystopian world and in 250 pages, I felt the pacing was really in need of padding.

I really enjoyed the characters but by the time I came to care for them, the book was nearly over.

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Welcome to the future! The Apocalypse Five are our merry band of young soldiers training in simulated battles to save the world from impending apocalypse. They survive as a group by living, training, and fighting together. In a Big Brother/Survivor sort of environment, when one solider goes down, a new cadet becomes activated to the team. Detroit and her team are the longest running (surviving) A5 unit and have amassed celebrity status as such.

Full of twists and turns, the story unfolds by letting the reader discover what is happening at the same time the A5 team discovers what is happening. At times this can be frustrating because it means the story is more plot driven than anything else, but if the reader can accept that everything is revealed in time and stick with the team for the ride, the payoff is huge. (This would translate well to visuals on a screen for those too impatient to stick with the narrative.)

As a fan of dystopian YA, this title didn't disappoint. I'm eagerly awaiting book2!

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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**Review can be found at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/ **

The Apocalypse-5 (A-5) team was formed to be trained and go on simulation missions for the day that the world will need them to save them from Doom's Day. But when the current team leader ends up going on a solo mission, she learns that she has been lied to, they have all been lied to. The team decides that they must get to the truth because it it their job after all to save humanity.




I have read so many different series and worlds created by Stacey at this point, all so different and interesting, but the one thing that all her books have in common is the ability to surprise you with all the plot twist! She is a master of creating detailed worlds that you can get lost in, be it a dark twisted fairytale, an alternate world where vampires rampage or now a science fiction dystopian.

Really, this was science fiction dystopian at it's best. What a way to start a book! We are dropped into the middle of a mission that goes horribly wrong and we watch the current A-5 team die- I was shocked! And next thing we know we see the new team selected and given names as opposed to the numbers they were know by, and the cycle continues. The best way I can describe this story would be the isolated regions, lying government, huge conspiracy and dystopian aspects of the Hunger Games meets the violence, weapons, battle scenes, viewer participation and sponsors from the movie Gamer. It was such a cool, messed up setting that I could not help but be lost in.

The pacing was fast paced and I found myself flying through the pages, not even noticing that I read the entire book in just a few hours. This is the perfect choice for some escapism reading during this snowy winter season!

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Every one in a while, I just need a good YA scifi romp. There’s something undeniably fun about a bunch of teens saving the world, and this book definitely fits the bill. It’s a bit of a mash between The Hunger Games and Ender’s Game, and it works pretty well. There’s a lovely found family theme flowing through the book, one of my favorite tropes, and it made this so much more enjoyable.

“June-bug, I need you to breathe. Remember the A.S.K. method we came up with? If we are Alive, Safe, and Concealed we’re doing okay.”
Her breath ragged, his sister flicked a wayward curl from her eyes. “A.S.K. isn’t a thing! Concealed starts with a C, and our entire lives are a lie!”
Reno pulled back as if she slapped him. “It does?”


The story is centered around an elite group of teens raised since birth in the hopes of becoming part of the Apocalypse Five, a group who trains through simulations to recover Earth from whatever horrors they might face in the future. They’re celebrities, with their missions and private lives filmed and broadcast for the rest of humanity’s viewing pleasure. After spending her young life training for this very job, and leading the team for over a year, Detroit should be pleased. But something is not quite right, and when Detroit stumbles on to a secret, suddenly her team is enemy number one. Stranded on an unfamiliar Earth and without any resources, they’re forced to come to terms with an unimaginable truth. How far will the team go to protect a new chance at life?

“The four of you are the only family I have ever known. You’ve made me who I am. I would deny myself every luxury in this galaxy to keep all of you safe.”
Juneau’s face fell into a frown and she let go of the shower wall. “In that case, you truly are the best toy soldier the AT-1-NS has.”


I loved Detroit and all of the Apocalypse Five team. I thought they were all well-characterized, and I loved the team interactions. Detroit subsumes her feelings into her work, Augusta drinks, and Houston is, well, hot, apparently. There’s also the twins – Juneau with her love of romance and Reno who’s main interest is keeping his sister safe. Once they’re exiled to Earth and on the run, they finally start to really gel and become a family, and I loved watching that happen. A nice bit was that the women were always considered equal teammates with the men, and each character has a speciality that they use to help the team out. I also liked the romance between Detroit and Houston, though it did get a bit overwrought towards the end.

The book is undeniably fun, but it’s also a bit less sophisticated than the other books it’s been compared to. The plot is predictable – it’s obvious from the beginning what’s going on and how it will all pan out. I did enjoy the world-building, though I found some of it confusing, and I liked the various Earth groups that were introduced, including the newborn and her parents. Any gamer will groan about the bane of all quests, the escort mission, and when I first realized that’s what the book was turning into, I was apprehensive. It’s still delightfully action-packed, though, between the missions at the beginning and being on the run for the rest of the book. The various battles were well-described and thrilling. The one thing I would complain about there is that there’s a lot of purple prose – one villain’s eyes are described as “lasers of hate” and two characters “optically copulate” – which detracted a bit from the emotion of the scene. There’s a good bit of humor in the book as well, which helped, though it’s mostly of the quick quip or one-liner variety. A lot of the humor reminded me of a TV show or movie, and I honestly think it would make a great action blockbuster, even though I found it a bit unsatisfying as a book.

Overall, while I enjoyed the book, it was a bit too predictable for me, and I’m not sure if I’ll continue with the series. If you’re hungry for a fun YA scifi romp, though, I’d definitely recommend this to you!

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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Oh yeah, this is how sci-fi is done!

I recently finished reading Ender's Game and hated it! But this modern sci-fi was awesome! I can't wait to re-read it again in the future! It had everything- action-packed situations and twists and turns that kept me in suspense!

Highly recommended to sci-fi fans!

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If Hunger Games and Ender's Game had a baby that baby would be this book- I loved the original concept and have always been a fan of the authors writing style- it is so effortless and jumps off of the pages- I loved every page!

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Disclaimer: I received this book from NetGalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.



Book Series: Book 1 of the Archive of the Fives



Rating: 4/5



Publication Date: February 12, 2019



Genre: YA Sci-Fi Dystopian



Recommended Age: 16+ (some mention of sex, language, death, and gore)



Publisher: Black Spot Books



Pages: 250



Amazon Link


Synopsis: The end of the world is coming. How or when, scientists can't agree upon. For decades, Earth's best line of defense has been a team of young soldiers known as the Apocalypse Five, forced into virtual reality simulations to train for Doom's Day. But, this is no game. Death on the grid is brutally final and calls up the next in a long line of cadets. Stationed aboard the AT-1-NS Starship, the A5 are celebrities thrust into the limelight by a calling they didn't choose. All it takes is one unscheduled mission, showing seventeen-year-old team leader Detroit a harsh and unfathomable reality, to shake the A5's belief in all they thought they knew. After questioning people with the power to destroy them, the team is framed for a crime they didn't commit and marked for death. Now, the hunt is on. Can the Apocalypse Five expose the truth the starship would kill to keep hidden? Or, will their bravery end in a public execution?



Review: I thought this book was pretty good. It’s an amazing dystopian sci-fi book that will make any hardcore dystopian fan happy. I thought the book was very reminiscent of The Hunger Games and Ender’s Game. The characters were all very well developed and personable. The plot was interesting. The pacing was very fast paced and you would easily run through this book in one sitting.



However, I did feel that the way the book told the story was a bit weird. It was really disjointing and it was hard to figure out what was going on. The book took a bit to get into and I feel that it was mostly due to the writing style.



Verdict: An amazing excellent book!

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Once again I would like to thank NetGalley for providing me with a Kindle copy of this book to read and impartially review.
The end of the world is coming. How or when, scientists can't agree upon. For decades, Earth's best line of defence has been a team of young soldiers known as the Apocalypse Five, forced into virtual reality simulations to train for Doom's Day. But, this is no game. Death on the grid is brutally final and calls up the next in a long line of cadets. Stationed aboard the AT-1-NS Starship, the A5 are celebrities thrust into the limelight by a calling they didn't choose. All it takes is one unscheduled mission, showing seventeen-year-old team leader Detroit a harsh and unfathomable reality, to shake the A5's belief in all they thought they knew. After questioning people with the power to destroy them, the team is framed for a crime they didn't commit and marked for death. Now, the hunt is on. Can the Apocalypse Five expose the truth the Starship would kill to keep hidden? Or, will their bravery end in a public execution?
They say never judge a book by its cover, well that's exactly what i did in this case, that and descriptive blurb reproduced above, and i did not regret in anyway my decision.
As a 61 year old i do not think i was the authors target audience, but i was completely hooked and enthralled from start to finish. Almost non stop action, clever descriptive fast paced and gripping from first to last page.
This is an imaginative well written book with brilliant characters especially 'Detroit' our intrepid leader cool smart sassy kick-ass and funny too, a terrific combination.
The way the book ended this is only the start of an enthralling series and i look forward to more very soon.

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Stacey Rourke created such a fascinating sci-fi dystopian story. It was an absolutely thrilling and addictive read that left me wanting MORE!

Brimmed with plenty of action, suspense, drama, humor, and twists, Apocalypse Five had me completely captivated and I loved it. Rourke’s writing was amazingly vivid and so wonderfully engaging that I felt like I was present in the moment experiencing all the thrill. Even though the story seemed familiar to other dystopian books I’ve read, I thought the author’s ideas were imaginative and different enough that I felt like I was embarking on an excitingly unique space adventure. The storyline was fantastic and perfectly fast-paced. I was thrown into all the action and intrigue from the first page and it did not stop until that awesome ending.

I absolutely adored the Apocalypse Five! I thought Rourke created such wonderful, charming, and interesting characters. They were teenagers, far from perfect and had their own insecurities, but they were passionately determined, fiercely loyal to each other, and willing to fight for the good. They each had their own strengths, weaknesses, and quirks that made them seem real to me. I loved getting to know them and seeing each of them grow into the kind of heroes that could spark new beginnings and inspire others to fight for justice.

The side characters and the villains were interesting too. I really did like the characters and thought they were all well-developed. But, if I had to pick a favorite, I'd have to go with Augusta. He was pretty funny and I liked his character growth the most.

Apocalypse Five by Stacey Rourke was a wonderfully crafted sci-fi adventure that will thrill, mesmerize and entertain you until the very last page. The storytelling was amazing and the world-building was creative. I thoroughly enjoyed the intense fight scenes, the heart-pounding moments, the surprises and revelations, the lovable characters, and even the romance. It was fabulous, electrifying and immersive! I’m totally looking forward for whatever comes next and hanging out with the Rogue Five.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts, opinions, and experiences are my own.

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I received an ARC from NetGalley through Black Spot Books in exchange for an honest review which I’ve given. Warning, potential spoilers ahead.

Are you a fan of dystopian virtual reality books or science fiction? Then Apocalypse Five is one you are going to want to add to your to read piles on Goodreads.! The A5 are an elite crew of teens who are being trained through virtual reality simulations for the end of the world. They face different “scenarios” which have consequences that are final. Die in a simulation, you die for real. Weird right. Well, as you’re reading, you start to get the picture as do the members of A5. Why do the things that happen in a simulation seem so real?



I think this series has a lot of potential, but there are a lot of unanswered questions. Are there A5 teams all over the world? The way that the people have broken up into groups and the fact that the A5 can get to all of them doesn’t quite make sense. Maybe if they were in different areas of the US I could see how beliefs and ways of life would be affected, but the way I’m understanding it is that these groups are very close. I hope that this is explained in future books as well as what’s going on in the rest of the world.

As long as these issues are addressed I think that the Archive of the Fives series has great potential.

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