I had to check a few times to be sure this was Nora Phoenix...MY NORA PHOENIX...the same Nora Phoenix that wrote the 45 other books that I own with her name on them. It was...I compared the pictures on the book to the one on all my others... so I continued...that is until the alien spider robot "thingys" showed up. I love animals of all kinds, but I am a firm believer that even God can make mistakes, so he must surely have been having a really awful, bad, off the wall kind of day when he said, "I'm going to have some fun today...I'll create something with at least a million eyes, some with hairy gigantic bodies, and give them eight legs so they can run faster that most of those human "things"! Other than that part...which I am yet recovering from...this was a pretty good story. An alien race is trying to take over the Earth but are not sure they want Washington D.C.... and three very special young men are trying to just survive the whole fiasco. I give the German Shepherd bonus points...you'll understand why when/if you read it... but I'm not telling. Just saying "good doggie"! Back to the boys. Each was special in his own way. They were all broken, battered and bruised, but trying to survive. Their time at the "camp" was like no camp I ever went to and for that I am extremely grateful. Mack was the new guy so he missed most of the torture, but Tan and Austin have scars they will carry for life.... both inside and out. Home life for them wasn't much better. It’s an interesting journey to take with the boys, especially if you really like science fiction...are not offended by guys that love one another...own a giant spider "splatterer"... (that's a technical term) ... and/or a BIG, BIG, BIG can of extra strength Raid...and lots and lots of doggie biscuits for the cute German shepherd. I can't remember when I had so much fun with a story. ( )

I liked this story. Both the original apocalyptic part and the slowly blooming romance part as well. (Not steamy at all.)
There were some things, that I found a little... odd or just plain awkward, but overall it's an enjoyable read.
3.5 stars rounded up. ( )

Fascinating

This is a seriously fascinating premise. It's like HG Wells meets dystopia. I think that Not a Phoenix has written something that is unique and exciting, and I really can't wait to see what is going to happen next. ( )