Cling

A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller

By: Jeff Menapace, Kim Bravo

Narrated by: Gary Tiedemann

The only thing deadlier than the air are the people breathing it.

Sadie can perceive what others cannot. A rare and hazardous gift, it is one she would rather not possess, as its price is great suffering. There is a word used to describe her kind: Martyr.

Wandering the wastelands of a ruined Earth plagued by gangs and Cling - an affliction which shortens the human lifespan to a mere few decades - Sadie's hope to find a slice of utopia fades.

When an act of desperation in a reckless moment sets her on the run from a vicious warlord, her flight leads to a mysterious boy who seems to hold the answers to Sadie's salvation. If she will use her gift to help his community, he vows to share the location of a tunnel deep beneath the ground - a tunnel revealed to Sadie in a fever dream as the key to defeating her pursuers.

But when Sadie enters the tunnel, what she discovers plunges the boy's community into unimaginable peril. Fortunately, Sadie has a few tricks up her sleeve - and an old acquaintance with a notorious set of skills who just may agree to join the fray.

©2016 Jeff Menapace (P)2017 Jeff Menapace

saloons, underground people and the apocalypse

I really enjoyed this listen. I was sucked in right from the first scene and hooked all the way through. The atmosphere and world that is created by the author is really enticing. Everything seems to be inter related throughout this story but you don't notice it until late in the book. Our characters are all pretty bad ass but Tier, who I share a certain trait with just grows on you and you can't help but like him but feel a little bad for him at times too. One thing I particularily liked is how the author makes mention that some children were born after the event and are now learning about the former world as history lessons. I loved the premise of clear, being a Martyr and having different abilities. Some of the nicknames were also cool and made me laugh. I also liked the resourcefulness of the characters and the imagination of the author, even with regards to food items. If I could change something about the story... well I would have to say that things wrap up quickly and a little too neatly for my liking. I would have liked to see more struggle and chaos. The author does mention some storylines and characters but does not go into detail with them, could there be some spin off stories or perhaps another story set in this amazing universe? Let's hope so. The narration was done really, really well. His voice is almost so creepy and has that cadence to it that it really adds something to the universe. The tone and emotion he brings scene to scene is really noticeable. You can really tell the difference from male to female characters as well because of the voices he gives to each character. Definitely give this one a try it is worth it. **I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher, author or narrator in exchange for an honest review via Audiobook Blast. This is no way affected my opinion of this production**

A pleasant surprise, and something unique.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I got it because I like the narrator, Gary Teidemann, having enjoyed his work in some of Michael McBride's books. These authors were new to me. However, soon after getting this Audible started recommending a bunch of seriously hard core horror to me, based, apparently, on the fact that I now had a book in my library by Jeff Menapace. Maybe he tends to write a different kind of book? Since I am a fan of horror but not the gruesome, truly horrifying type, I worried a bit. But I needn't have.

This book was basically PG-13 as far as the disturb factor goes. Don't let that put you off though--it isn't a kid's book. It was quite interesting and a good read (listen). It took me until around the 50 minute mark to really get into it, but once that happened, I was there.

There are two main civilizations to speak of in this post-apocalyptic world: those who have continued to live above ground, in a harsh, lawless society in which people spend most of their time shooting each other in saloons (think the Wild West ruled by motorcycle gangs); and a completely different type of people who live below ground in ordered, close knit communities. These two societies exist essentially right next to each other, but have almost no contact. The differences between them are a sharp contrast, and part of what make the book interesting.

The above ground people have basically no education, and most can't even do addition. The average man's main motivation seems to be to steal enough money to get drunk and pay prostitutes until he dies. It's every man for himself. The below ground sort, however, are a disciplined bunch who fill their days with training of one type or another and performing roles in their communities. People become healers, protectors, cooks, leaders, and whatever else is required for their survival and comfort. They are educated, compassionate and civilized. Oh, and they eat bugs. Cooked and often ground into flour, of course!

It is this clear distinction of morals, lifestyle and values that makes for an interesting contrast of mood in this book. It is common for us to be able to experience one or the other, since we can find many post-apocalyptic stories with similar lawless themes, as well as many with ordered communities (which perhaps don't work quite as well). However, this is the first time I have come across one with both. It breaks up the tone of the book in interesting ways, and it allows us to experience, toward the end, what happens when these two worlds are forced to collide.

All in all, this was an interesting experience that I enjoyed.

Oh, and about the narrator? He nailed it. The lawless vagabonds and civilized mole people were both perfectly believable. Particularly impressive was his treatment of the mole people, who spoke in the sort of highly refined, though *minisculely* accented English of an Hispanic English professor. (I've known a few of these guys, and seriously, that's hard to do.) Even the female voices were seamless.

I was provided this audiobook for free at my request from the author, publisher, or narrator in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected the opinions I have expressed in this review. Really. It was a good book!

Held my breath until the very end

Any additional comments?

This book is incredible! It had it all. A very compelling story. Hero's and anti-heros. Power and pathos. I loved it!!

You pretty much have me at "post apocalyptic" but when you merge the genre, with a really good story and great narration, well, then we're talking next level.

The world was multi-dimensional and rich and surreal. The narrator brought the characters to life and this story, this world, swallowed me whole.

Excellent dystopian

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes! Unique and well written story and intriguing characters.

What did you like best about this story?

The characters, they are all complex and interesting.

Which character – as performed by Gary Tiedemann – was your favorite?

Theo

Any additional comments?

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.

Never look at cricket the same...

This is my first time experiencing one of Jeff Menapace works, it appears he is better known for his horror genre books, so “Cling”, a part of the Cling Series, is a bit of a departure being a post-apocalyptic thriller. The book is co-authored by Kim Bravo and the Audible narration is done superbly by Gary Tiedemann. If you are a fan of Mr. Menapace horror books, you may find this one not as much to your liking as there were little horror elements. Although the book can be dark at times, is more focused a telling the story and backstory of the main characters developing the first in a series. It should be noted that the book does not contain any zombies (yet) as many assume them to be a part of a post-apocalyptic world. I have to give thanks to the authors for not including them. Imagine a blending of Mad Max, Waterworld (the good parts), and Defiance and you get just a glimmer of what you will experience in Cling. If you are looking for a well told story with characters you grow to know and enjoy, I think Cling may be a book you will want to pick up. Note this book is part of a series and the book ends rather open ended with a few plot lines left hanging. If this does not bother you, go and listen to Cling

The story opens in a way that immediately draws you in and keeps you engaged until the end. I do not mean to say that it is all action with no substance, not at all. The book has a good balance of character and world development along with some points of intense action. The characters themselves had a good amount of interaction, humor, and banter between one another making them more life-like. I would assume growing up in such a world would make someone more like that. I have to give the author and co-author credit for going outside their comfort zone to write a book that might not appeal to their current readers, but it brings in a whole new type of reader to discover their works. I felt they did an exceptional job being this is their entry in to writing a post-apocalyptic thriller.

With that said, I will add that there are many of the standard tropes one would expect in this genre of book, but the authors also included some more unique concepts that helped me to enjoy the book and keep it interesting even more than I initially expected. I felt the world created was believable, however I would have like to have had more sections devoted to learning the backstory of how, when, why, and where the characters were in this environment. I think this would have helped me to better relate to them and their situations. I hope this will be a bigger portion of future books in the series. Even though I would have like to have had more backstory, the authors did a good job of describing the scenes along with any action so I could imagine them in my head while listening. The dependency upon cricket for much of one’s protein was something I cringed every time I heard it, but it made me think more than once of the abundance of food and tastes we often take for granted in our daily lives. I found the reliance upon the relationships they created and built along with the unique special powers some of the characters possessed made the book all that more interesting.

For the parent or younger reader, be aware this book is more intended for older readers; in my opinion. There are places where vulgar words are sprinkled here and there. Not heavily used, but be aware you will come across them. There is also some crude adult humor and references or discussions around alcohol, drugs, and sex. These appear to mostly be used to describe the bleak and grim world the characters are a part of. Most if not all of these references could have been removed without impacting the book’s plots. Again, the above is not used as much as others book in the genre have done. If you are easily offended by any of the above, you may want to look elsewhere.

Let me say that I felt that Gary Tiedemann did an excellent job narrating this book. It comes as no surprise as he is a veteran narrator with over one-hundred book to his name; at the time of this review. His voice was rich and had a slight dark tone making the book all that more immersive. There were no issues with the audio and no noticeable artifacts such as swallowing, edits, or volume issues. Simply a clean and professionally produced work. This is my first time listening to this narrator and I would have to listen to more to give you a good idea of his overall work. I will say that after listening to this book, I will be looking at some of his others.

In summary, if you are one who likes well-crafted post-apocalyptic thrillers I recommend you pick up Cling. If you are a person who does not like having to wait for the next book in a series to be released or book that have opened-ended plot lines, I suggest you wait until at least one more in the series is available. I also felt the ending was a bit rushed compared to the time spent leading up to the climax, but this may be more because of how the second book in the series picks up. I overall enjoyed the book, and I think you will also.

Disclaimer: I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.

Blown away!

The post-apocalyptic book I have ever read. The characters are relatable and the landscape they live in is realistic. Superb writing again, Jeff Menapace’s books continue to blow me away by how well they are written and how creative his mind works!

An excellent thriller making you want more.

I was freely given this audio book for an unbiased review by the author. This was an excellent listen. The narrator did a good job defining the characters. I do not give away spoilers but I will say the author produced a fun and entertaining story with just enough to make you want more.

Awesome book with amazing performance

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I will admit I got this book for free to write a review. But honestly had I use a credit on it I would have been very happy. The story draws you in right from the beginning.You feel connected to all of the characters. Even the ones you don't like in particular....cough...Gash.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Loved Fins character, he just had that badass vibe that you can't shake. Loved how everyone was afraid of him and how renowned he was.

What about Gary Tiedemann’s performance did you like?

YES! Amazing performance and he gave life to all of the characters. I will definitely be reading more books with him narrating them.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Kept me on the edge of my seat and I really felt connected to all of the characters. That's pretty hard in books nowadays.

great Post-Apocalyptic book

Any additional comments?

Great job on the narration. story was well written and kept my attention. my only complaint is we didn't get any information about (cling) the disease’s symptoms and its evolution. I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher, author or narrator in exchange for an honest review via Audiobook Blast. This is no way affected my opinion of this production**

Post apocalyptic tale with a great narration

In a world destroyed by a supposed meteorite, many people survive living underground. They are called moles by the ones who still prefer to see the light of the sun. Sadie is one of these living outside. She has a special gift, which allows her to feel other people’s thoughts and see places out of her reach. The downside of her gift is that it steals her health and energy. This is why people with this gift are called martyrs. They are often chased by warlords since this kind of gift can become very profitable. Sadie is found by a young boy, which was rescued some years before by the moles. Sadie will learn some hidden things from this boy’s past, and also about a terrible danger for his community.

Being this a post-apocaliptic story I felt it was right up my alley. The story is very well written, and all ends are tied up nicely at the end. I missed some more development regarding world building. We know that there is a disease called cling that kills people and few survive beyond their thirties, and that there is something called clear which constitutes a powerful cure. That’s it. We did not get any information about the disease’s symptoms and its evolution. About clear, we know that it is found in some underground cavities and looks like sand. It would have been nice to get some details, like how it worked or how it was used to heal people. I guess we will get more information about both of these things in future books, since I understand that this is intended to be a series.

The characters are well built, but they are not very developed. I was bothered by the fact that the bad guys were simply evil and a bit caricaturesque. The good guys were a bit more developed and I grew fond of them. I understand that this book is just a mere presentation of this world and the characters. I am looking forward to future books.

I found the story quite entertaining and compelling. Menapace and Bravo knew how to build the intrigue about the tunnel found by the boy and how this could change things for them.

Gary Tiedemann did a wonderful job narrating this book. His diction is very clear and he interpreted characters well, changing the tone of his voice and delivering different accents. It was easy to tell the characters apart when in a conversation. Tiedemann also transmitted well the characters’ emotions. The audio production was good too.

I received a free copy of this book in audio format from the narrator in exchange for an honest review.