Lights Out: EMP Post Apocalyptic Fiction Super Boxset

By: Roger Hayden, James Hunt

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

Dystopian masterminds James Hunt, author of “Static”, and Roger Hayden, author of “Grid Down”, which have collectively accumulated 200+ five-star reviews come together in this SUPER BOX SET for the first time! That’s TWO complete book SERIES comprised of SIX NOVELS at a discounted price! Static (White Noise, Fade to Gray, Blackout) Wren Burton, one of the top architects in Chicago, has never let anything stand in the way of providing a better life for her family, but those choices haven’t been without sacrifice. And when the power shuts down across the city, which submerges the masses into chaos and cuts her family in half, tough decisions are only the beginning. Grid Down (The Beginning, Strike Against America, EMP Survival) A small, northeastern town is crippled after a mysterious electromagnetic pulse causes a massive blackout, leaving residents stunned and unprepared. But the loss of power is only the beginning. Communications and mobility have been disabled with vehicles stopped dead in their tracks for miles. Grocery stores, banks, hospitals, and other services no longer function. Cell phones, computers, televisions, and radios are rendered inoperable. In the chaos that follows, one family embarks on a journey of survival in a vastly different world, changed within a flash.

descent story

book is good. the narration sucks computer narration is really awful.
the story moves right along and has decent characters. sometimes I think wren is quite a piece of work but in the end I didn't completely hate her

Clear story. Good detail. Good virtual voice.

Fun story. Good characters. No Kevin Pierce but the Narration was fine. Good Plot and was wrapped nicely. Exciting action.

Say no to AI readers!!

I refuse to listen to another book read by AI! There is absolutely no emotion whatsoever! Just a monotonic voice. Please!!!! No more AI!! The story line was great. But, too hard to listen to.

Never again will I do one with artificial narrator!!

The story is decent I think but the narration is so awful! I keep having to “rewind” because I am not able to invest in this monotone. No feeling, no inflections, words mispronounced. I can get through some questionable narrations for a good book but this may be too much.

AI voice ok, but needs work.

Overall a good story. Very detailed descriptions of injuries received... so much so that it was tough to believe the main character (Wren) could have possibly endured it all. The AI narration needs work. There were several mistakes that a human wouldn't have made. Also the AI narration lacked proper voice. inflection. Still good story, well written.

Edge of seat reading this was a great read

It is a great story line. It keeps you hanging on for more. It was intriguing and captivating

Missing 2nd boxes

Could not access Hayden’s set of books. Spent an hour with customer service, still can’t access them.

Computer narration is OK, but a real person does much better!

Liked the main character’s focus on being a mama bear. The action is a bit over the top, unbelievable that she would survive.

Wish I could give a review of the second box set that was supposed to be included in this “super” box set.

Just OK

The AI was surprisingly not bad. The main character, Wren, should have died many, many times considering all the risks she took. She really wasn’t a likable character. The plot wasn’t bad. If you’re new to apocalyptic books, you might like this. All of you experienced to the genre, you might want to pass.

Kept my interest

I disliked the vulgarity. The storyline would have been so much better without the indecent dialogue in some areas - along with the language. I wanted to really like it - so much potential. The AI voice was pleasant enough just lacking in some of the areas where infection would have made the meaning a bit different. I’m not sure I would recommend this.

Awful narration, storyline felt trite and flat.

Brought down heavily by the narration being AI/“virtual voice”. The tone is flat, there are mispronounced/completely incorrect words that really bring down the momentum of the story. Dialogue suffers the most, but the technology just isn’t up to par with a good voice actor.

The story wasn’t memorable and fell flat for me. I think it would have been okay with a better narrator, but not spectacular. The violence gets a bit heavy handed/overdone and the antagonists lack depth, with the main baddie having little depth. I’m not one to shy away from how awful people can be in a disaster, but it’s just too much imo.

I’d say if you’re bored, listen to it since it’s free (with audible plus that is) and I appreciate that, but it’s not one I’ll come back to. I would consider a re-listen with a better narrator to see if it made me like the story more.