This is a review of Jonathan Hollerman's last two novels in his
Equipping Modern Patriots trilogy.
My review of Hollerman's first novel
EMP: Equipping Modern Patriots; "A Story of Survival" can be read
HERE, Reply 2.
The second in the trilogy is titled,
EMP: Equipping Modern Patriots; "The Aftermath". We find the hero, Sean Marlin's family getting settled into a south-central small Pennsylvania town and working out the bugs of a post apolitical world caused by an earlier EMP.
A wrench is thrown into the process of surviving when a regiment of U.S. Soldiers move into a nearby small town to get the towns defunct electric power plant up and running. The power plant is needed to get a small refinery working, also located in the same town.
In the beginning the soldiers are not welcome however, by the end of the second novel things move towards an understanding. An understanding that each group realizes that to survive, they need to work together in this new world.
Plenty of good survival challenges to overcome with many ideas that can be extrapolated out in the future for the reader. On a "1-5" JohnyMac scale, with "5" being outstanding, I would rate this novel as a solid "4".
I would have rated Hollerman's second novel in the trilogy a "4.5" however, the amateur radio parts were weak. He might have done a bit more research on amateur radio operation when he wrote this novel. I know, I know, I am picky when it comes to amateur radio operation in novels.
I enjoyed the second novel in the trilogy so much I ordered and received the third novel in the series,
EMP: Equipping Modern Patriots; "New Beginnings".The novel picks up where the second novel left off. Sean Marlin's family have settled in and working on planting and gathering food as fall and winter approaches. Wandering homeless people and roving gangs tend to be an irritating issue but are quickly taken care of. A now growing friendly relationship develops between the town folks and the regiment of soldiers the next town over. After all, we need everybody to survive in this new world.
Out of the three novels, this one really had me turning the pages into the wee hours of the night. Heck, some nights when I could not sleep, I would get up, throw a few logs into the wood stove, and pick up this novel to read till my mind was clear enough to go back to bed.
I would give this novel a solid "4.5" on JohnyMac's "1-5" scale with "5" being outstanding. I was a bit disappointed at the end as there were a few threads left open. At first, I thought, "Okay. There will be a fourth novel". Well, this novel was released in 2017/18; Consequently, I doubt their will be a fourth addition at this time. To bad.
Bottom-line, if you have some free time over this Holiday season buy and read one or pick up all three. All three novels are worth your time and dollars.
JohnyMac
