This was a strong start to the Primordial Engine series, it had a great fantasy element to it and I enjoyed how well the characters were written into this book. The world worked with the plot and I enjoyed everything about this. It left me wanting to read more in this world and from H.S. Gilchrist.

The End of the World: Rise of the After Lord took me on a journey through a broken future. It gripped me from the start. Reading this story felt like being caught up in a whirlwind of dystopian chaos, revealing deeper layers of suspense and intrigue.

H.S. Gilchrist, created a vivid and chilling picture of a world oppressed by technology and plagued by a battle for control. Animkii, is a fascinating character who struggles against the invasive tech implanted within her. As she navigates the complexities of her mission, I was drawn into her inner conflict, feeling every ounce of her determination and desperation.

The dynamic between Animkii and Mica Stone, the troubled recycler, adds a separate layer of intrigue. Their uneasy alliance and the high-stakes mission they undertake kept me on the edge of my seat. From the undercity's dystopian depths to the remote and icy Witherlands, every setting feels detailed. I felt immersed in Gilchrist's hauntingly crafted world.

Gilchrist challenged my perception of humanity, morality, and the essence of survival. The looming threat of the ancient alien god, the After Lord, gave me chills.

Reading The End of the World was like boarding an adrenaline-fueled rollercoaster ride through a dark, unforgiving future. It's gripping story forced me to question the nature of existence and left me pondering the boundaries of humanity in the face of impending oblivion.

"A riveting dystopian odyssey through a broken future."

"A chilling battle between humanity and invasive technology."

"An electrifying tale of survival amidst technological oppression."

"A haunting journey through a world on the brink of oblivion."

"A gripping account of desperate alliances and relentless pursuit."

"A dark exploration of humanity's last stand."

"An adrenaline-fueled saga of sacrifice and uncertain fate."

"A vividly crafted world teetering on the edge of destruction."

"An epic struggle against an ancient, malevolent force."

"A thought-provoking quest questioning the essence of humanity."

4.5
Good first volume in new series. Compelling characters and interesting world.
Only issue for me is the pace. It is very go go go. I would have liked to stop down on occasion to experience the setting more instead of immediately moving on the the next thing.

A strange mix of The Borg, a dystopia, and a demonic magic fantasy that works in places from its slow and rather confusing start. There are places where events are clear, and places that are murky.

"The End of the World" is an enthralling book that takes you on a thrilling journey into a dark and dystopian future where technology rules supreme. It's a world where the struggle for power never ends and everything is in chaos 24/7. Gilchrist paints vivid pictures of various locations, from the dirty underbelly of the city to the freezing Witherlands, bringing them to life before your eyes. Through her writing, Gilchrist forces readers to question the very essence of humanity, morality, and survival. She takes you on a journey that delves deep into the unknown, leaving you contemplating life and existence long after you finish the book. Moreover, the story is shrouded in spine-tingling mystery, with an ancient alien god, the After Lord, looming over everything. If you're looking for a mind-bending adventure that will take you to a tomorrow you never imagined, then "The End of the World" is the perfect book for you!

Alright, this was amazing!!

I LOVE being thrown into the deep end with action that just never stops, and this book delivered on that. From the first chapter, we're just going and going, and while I had to reread a few moments because I was getting ahead of myself, I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

Two badass FMCs, lots of action, enemies-to-friends, dystopian/sci-fi theme with a really good mix of fantasy at points... This book just constantly delivered!!

The pace, the timing, the plot... It really has it all!

Overall, it's a 5/5 for me!!

I read this book as a pre-release e-book obtained through NetGalley, provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

I found this novel full of twists and turns, making it all but impossible to see the resolution to the story until it’s very end. Yet, the end is but a beginning, as this is the first in what’s intended to be a series. Set in a very dystopian future, run by the same Technocrats who poisoned and polluted the earth, with a cult underneath the whole thing, set out to sacrifice our heroine. She stays away from them with the help of a cyborg – through the power of will from what remains of her humanity who is exceeding her specifications as a cyborg.

There are cultists, technological experts, scavengers, collectors, modified and hybrid beings. There are ties to the “old world” – possibly ours, possibly to older civilizations. And technological or magical items. It’s difficult through the very end to see who are the good guys or the bad guys, and who our heroine can trust or should distrust.

Then, there is what being it is that either the Cult or the Outlanders worship.

This took much longer in calendar-time than it actually took to read. I was away from the device I read it on for close to a week, but I thought about it and considered it all the time when I was unable to read it.

When I first picked this book up, I was like, what am I doing to myself? Sci-fi has never been one of my main genres. However, I felt like branching out this year. So happy I did! I loved this book. I will say it felt light sci-fi and more dystopia. So I would recommend this to people like me who are newer to the genre.

I loved the female characters and the building of their relationship throughout this book. The different settings I could picture perfectly in my head, they were all so cool. I did not at all expect the twists at the end and I will be anxiously awaiting book 2.

A post-apocalyptic dystopian world so well created and described by the author that I was captivated right at the beginning by the story. The different parts of that world felt real and the different characters were all interesting, both the main and secondary ones. The flashback from both main characters were very well exploited and brought important meaning to the story.

A mix of scifi with advanced technologies, cyborg, modified humans and dark fantasy with fanatical cultists with otherworldly powers.

I let myself be carried away in this story and didn’t see the ending coming.
I am looking forward for book 2.

(Thanks NetGalley for providing this EArc)

I would like tо thank Netgalley for providing me with an ARC copy оf this book. The End оf the World: Rise оf the After Lord by H.S. Gilchrist іs a dark and thrilling sci-fi novel that explores the consequences оf a dystopian future where humanity іs enslaved by a parasitic technology and an ancient alien god.

The book's plot іs fast-paced and action-packed, with twists and turns that keep the reader оn the edge оf their seat. The author creates a vivid and immersive world, with rich descriptions оf the settings, the technology, and the creatures that inhabit it. The book also explores themes such as identity, freedom, morality, and humanity, as the characters struggle tо retain their sense оf self and their values іn a hostile and corrupted environment. The book also raises questions about the nature оf reality, the role оf dreams, and the power оf faith.

The book's writing style іs engaging and captivating, with a clear and concise language that suits the genre and the tone оf the story. Overall, The End оf the World: Rise оf the After Lord by H.S. Gilchrist іs a brilliant and original sci-fi novel that delivers a thrilling and satisfying reading experience. The book has a strong plot, a fascinating world, a compelling character development, and a captivating writing style.

#theendoftheworld #NetGalley

A fantastic 1st book in a series. This is nonstop action from cover to cover. Two incredible FMCs are our guide through this dystopian world. One is a human tech hybrid and the other, an empowered human being chased by a death cult. The world building is rich and the characters complicated by their past and present. This does end on a cliffhanger and I absolutely will devour the next book when it’s available.

This book captivated me from the start. It was a very good story. I liked the adventure and questioning the ‘humanity’ of the MC as the character develops and transforms during the story. I enjoyed the return to hunter gatherer subsistence living of the world after an apocalypse. I enjoyed the concept of this story it had me thinking while I was reading it. The plot twist at the end has me looking forward to reading the next book in the series. A real page turner!

H.S. Gilchrist has delivered an action packed journey for us to embark on with a dystopian and fantasy theme that checks all of the boxes along the way! From the beginning, I was pulled in, and it never let up. What a fantastic start to what will be a fantastic series, and I'm so very glad to have had the opportunity to enjoy this arc ahead of publication!

Thanks so much to NetGalley for sharing this arc with me to read in exchange for an honest review. This is definitely a 5 star read for me! You won't be disappointed!