Year One

Chronicles of The One, Book 1

By: Nora Roberts

Narrated by: Julia Whelan

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER (December 2017)

A stunning novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts - Year One is an epic of hope and horror, chaos and magick, and a journey that will unite a desperate group of people to fight the battle of their lives...

It began on New Year’s Eve.

The sickness came on suddenly, and spread quickly. The fear spread even faster. Within weeks, everything people counted on began to fail them. The electrical grid sputtered; law and government collapsed - and more than half of the world’s population was decimated.

Where there had been order, there was now chaos. And as the power of science and technology receded, magick rose up in its place. Some of it is good, like the witchcraft worked by Lana Bingham, practicing in the loft apartment she shares with her lover, Max. Some of it is unimaginably evil, and it can lurk anywhere, around a corner, in fetid tunnels beneath the river - or in the ones you know and love the most.

As word spreads that neither the immune nor the gifted are safe from the authorities who patrol the ravaged streets, and with nothing left to count on but each other, Lana and Max make their way out of a wrecked New York City. At the same time, other travelers are heading west too, into a new frontier. Chuck, a tech genius trying to hack his way through a world gone offline. Arlys, a journalist who has lost her audience but uses pen and paper to record the truth. Fred, her young colleague, possessed of burgeoning abilities and an optimism that seems out of place in this bleak landscape. And Rachel and Jonah, a resourceful doctor and a paramedic who fend off despair with their determination to keep a young mother and three infants in their care alive.

In a world of survivors where every stranger encountered could be either a savage or a savior, none of them knows exactly where they are heading, or why. But a purpose awaits them that will shape their lives and the lives of all those who remain.

The end has come. The beginning comes next.

©2017 Nora Roberts (P)2017 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Truly awesome. So glad I gave it a second chance.

I tried this book a couple weeks ago, and didn't really get into the beginning. I think I was a bit distracted at the time, but it just wasn't jiving for me. So I moved on. THANK GOODNESS I came back to it! Wow. I gave it another shot, and couldn't pause to save my life. The story really builds, and by the halfway point, I was on the edge of my seat nonstop. I'm invested in the characters and am antsy even writing this review because it's delaying my start of the second book.

An epic story of pandemic, of magic, good vs evil, the core of humanity, and what power can do in both the right and wrong hands.

I can't lie, in the days of covid, some aspects of the pandemic in the story are a bit unsettling. Very uncanny. Obviously covid isn't as bad as the pandemic in this story (but it is very serious and deadly; wear a mask and save some lives!!)... but if you've been affected by the current virus and would feel triggered by a story about a pandemic that sweeps the world and kills millions of people, this probably isn't the book for you.

The magic is mature, interesting, and the far opposite of cliche.

This is a really cool story. Just, wow. I'm in awe!

Can't wait for book 2

I very much enjoyed listening to this story and I'm very much looking forward to hearing the next

Wow. Just wow.

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

This story is incredibly compelling. The characters are fully developed and pull the listener in.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Year One?

All the scenes in the subway was VERY interesting. I can't wait to find out what it all means.

Have you listened to any of Julia Whelan’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I like Julia's voice. I haven't listened to any other performances but I thought she was amazing. It must've been difficult keeping track of all the different voices (to include any accents) but she nailed it.

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

I didn't laugh or cry but I was sad and happy at turns. This book, this story, and the narrator made me anxious for the second. This whole story actually also made me a little nervous every time I hear someone cough in public.

Julia Whelan is INSANELY amazing. As always.

I’ll read anything if Whelan is narrating, but THIS performance was beyond anything I’ve ever read. I don’t know how she manages to be so many different characters so seamlessly, AND the 3rd party narrator… but I was transported every time I hit play and could not put this book down. Driving, cleaning, brushing my teeth… I read this entire book in 2 days and immediately bought the next in the series - which, by the way, is every bit as good as this book was. All I keep thinking is that I hope it becomes a series on Netflix or something. It’s like the walking dead but with magic and fairies! Amazing and truly unexpected from Nora Roberts.

Another Series Is Born

I could stop listening. I stayed up all night listening. Hopefully we won't have to wait to long for the next book inseries. Story line is brilliant and action packed. A must read!!!

delight to the ears

Nora never seems to stop amazing me with her talented writing ability. Combine that with the narroter julia. Wow what a wonderful combo.

solid good story

a very good book of apocalypse and magic, narrator hits the voices and tone just right. recommended

Wonderful story, excellent narrator, too much swearing.

Swears way too much. Minimal sex. Without the swearing it’s an acceptable book to listen to while my older kids are around. This story is excellent, there’s plenty of action and connection with the characters. I can’t wait for the second book :-)

A Home Run

Nora Roberts weaves her magic and has created a story that will have you gripping the edge of your seat. This book is a refreshing change from her standard romance novel algorithm. Julia Whelan does a remarkable job voicing the characters and narrating this story. I hope the next one comes out soon!

I really loved this book

I’m not usually a fan of apocalyptic stories, but this one had me in the first chapter. This book is people centered rather than centering around the usual disaster scenarios. For the most part, you really like these people and cheer for their triumphs and hurt for their tragedies. The things that drive the story, sometimes delving into the mystical, are things that would logically follow each other. You might be thinking that I haven’t said a word about the plot and you’re right. I don’t want to spoil it for you. The best thing I can say about it is that I’m about to see if the next book in the series is out yet and if it is, I’m hoping I have a credit left because I intend to buy it, whether I have a credit or not. Get this one. You won’t be sorry.