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Carnegie Sanders is a typical 19-year-old. He goes to college, he lives at home and in a dorm, has a crush on a girl he went to high school with, and has no idea what to do with his life. Life is normal. Then hydrogen bombs decimate the globe, and robed beings start wiping out everyone else lucky enough to live in rural America. In his small town in southern Arizona, Carnegie realizes survival is more than chance. Running on instinct, Erin, Santana, and Carnegie find the decimation of their people to be the beginning of change and tragedy never witnessed in history. As the world resets, Carnegie, Erin, and Santana face odds that would consume them, if not for new relationships forged. Creatures from fantastic stories lost in time and translation seek to keep humanity in check as Carnegie seeks a place to call home, a place to be safe. No one is safe as sinister forces work behind the veil of secrecy, and everyone in Carnegie’s new circle will experience turmoil. Lost in the new races of lore calling themselves the Nine, Carnegie is thrust into becoming someone he isn’t ready to be for those who rely on him. Set in the dynamic landscape of the American Southwest, and from deserts to mountains and even under the earth itself, no where is safe. Fighting for survival is just the beginning. Nothing has prepared them for this time. A time of confusion. A time of loss. And a time of tears.
When global nuclear catastrophe coincides with the arrival of mysterious, hostile entities, nineteen-year-old Carnegie Sanders must abandon his mundane life to navigate a world rewritten by violence and ancient lore. Carnegie, alongside his companions Erin and Santana, attempts to survive in a decimated American Southwest where the remnants of humanity are hunted by beings known as the Nine. The narrative follows their transition from ordinary students to desperate survivors, forced to confront creatures from forgotten myths that now dominate the landscape. As they traverse deserts, mountains, and subterranean realms, the trio must forge new alliances to withstand the encroaching darkness and the hidden forces manipulating their reality.
Readers who typically gravitate toward urban fantasy and romantasy find this work to be a refreshing departure from their usual reading habits. The transition into a post-apocalyptic high fantasy setting is noted as an engaging experience that successfully pulls the audience out of their comfort zone. The narrative is appreciated for its ability to blend familiar survival tropes with the introduction of new, lore-heavy antagonists. Overall, the sentiment suggests that the book provides a compelling entry point for those looking to explore a more intense, world-altering genre blend.
Page Count:
324
Publication Date:
2019-02-26
@tiarra
I’m usually an urban fantasy and romantasy reader, so stepping into a post-apocalyptic high fantasy was definitely outside my usual comfort zone. But honestly? I’m so glad I gave The Time of Tears a shot!
Jul 22, 2026