Dystopian work for Canadian author - Jeyn Roberts - picked up by McMillan

Very excited for this author. Jeyn Roberts, author of Dark Inside has been picked up by McMillan and being marketed as The Road (by Cormack McaCarthy) meets 28 Days Later. The Road is one of my favourtie books in the Post-Apocalyptic genre, and 28 Days Later was a well received movie series on the end times. Put them together and you have a very interesting premise for a book.

Looking forward to reading and reviewing this book. Jeyn has a presence on facebook and goodreads and will likely see a massive influx of fans on both social networks. The book can be found on Amazon.com as a Kindle and hardcover now.

New review of The Judas Syndrome, on Amazon, by Jaidis Shaw

There must be a balance between books and their endings. Some must end happily and others are destined to go the darker route, such as The Judas Syndrome by Michael Poeltl. We are introduced to your average teenagers that are carefree and optimistic about their futures. In an attempt to put off summer jobs and escape the gloom brought on by threats of the apocalypse, the group of teens gather for a camping weekend. Upon returning home, the teens are forced to discover that the threats came true and the world has fallen victim to nuclear attack. It is clear to see who the main teenagers are as they are forced to grow up and plan for their survival. Joel is deemed the leader of the group although he never saw himself as the leading type. Other main characters are Connor, Sara, Eric and Jake. Most of the other teens in the group stay as secondary characters. I am certain that the secondary group will have their time to shine in the second book to this series. There is a lot of drug use throughout the book and at first I figured it was just kids being kids. I expected drug use to be the furthest thing from the kids minds while they are trying to survive so I was surprised that not only was it an important part, but the leading cause of Joel's insanity spree. The reader should expect that beginning with the title, this book will have to end on a sad note in order for a more positive message to shine through. Friendships and inner turmoils are put to the test...the Judas test. I am curious to see where the survivors lead in the second installment. There was mild adult language, heavy drug use, and somewhat bloody descriptions, so this book is better suited for an adult audience. - Jaidis Shaw

Click here to see this and other reviews on Amazon

Zvi Zaks reviews, Rebirth, book two of The Judas Syndrome

A Phoenix arises.

REBIRTH is Michel Poeltl's second book in THE JUDAS SYNDROME trilogy. The author has been careful to give enough back-story to make it understandable by itself, but is best read after the first in the series. That way, one gets a vivid picture of the transformation undergone by the characters—from carefree teens on a pre-college camping trip to survivalist adults in a post nuclear-holocaust world, with extremes ranging from, Sara, now a fiercely protective mother, to Earl, degenerating into a Hitlerian rage. The growth of Leif, the son of Sara and Joel, is another major theme. Leif is destined for greatness, but how and in what direction is not yet clear.

The supernatural themes lightly touched on in the first book have become prominent and are well woven into the story.

This is not a sunny and cheerful tale. The basic premise of a world devastated by atomic weapons triggered by terrorists, is all too possible. Like most apocalyptic literature, the story is in many places dreary and depressing. However, a clear thread of hope runs through REBIRTH, and the ending, like that in Star Wars, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, would suggest there is more to come even if you didn't know it was a trilogy. - Zvi Zaks

For more reviews and to purchase the book see the amazon page.

Goodreads giveaway of book two of The Judas Syndrome series of dark fiction

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Rebirth

by Michael Poeltl

Giveaway ends April 21, 2011.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

WInner for the autopgraphed verion of The Judas Syndrome

After a grueling contest, involving 1031 potential winners, Carlene, a goodreads member from New York won the free autographed version of Michael Poeltl's, The Judas Syndrome.

The contest ran from Feb 24-Mar 12, 2011 and 1 copy was made available by the author.

Poeltl hopes to have brought the book and the series to the attention of the goodreads membership via this contest. Thanks to http://www.goodreads.com/ for the opportunity!

New review from Author Zvi Zaks of Michael Poeltl's The Judas Syndrome - Book one

The Judas Syndrome - A cominng of age tale, told at the end of an age.

"The author has a clear and lucid style that takes the reader from one vivid situation to another." By Zvi Zaks author of IMPLAC and A Virtual Affair

The Judas Syndrome starts with a group of young adults on a camping trip before school. A cloud hangs over the trip, namely a terrorist's threat of a nuclear holocaust. The trip itself gives the reader a chance to know these youths and how they react under normal circumstances. When they return, they find that the terrorists have struck, their homes and families are destroyed, and the world is in chaos.

How they respond makes up the bulk of the story. They must contend with poisonous rain, lack of power, unplanned pregnancy, marauders, religious fanatics, drug addiction and -- perhaps worst of all -- their own inner demons.

The author has a clear and lucid style that takes the reader from one vivid situation to another. The story is reminiscent of Lord of the Flies but without adults rescuing them at the end. What does happen at the end surprised me, though I admit the author had left several clues.

By Zvi Zaks author of IMPLAC and A Virtual Affair

Read an ebook month. March!

Michael Poeltl is supporting "Read an ebook week" via Smashwords during the month of March. The first of his series - The Judas Syndrome - is free, and the second, 50% until March 12th!

The first two of the series are available now, with the third slated for a late 2011/early 2012 release date.

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