Comet Dust is a story of apocalyptic Christian fiction by CD Verhoff. The earth was struck by a comet 18 months ago and survived. But things changed dramatically with full economic depression, high crime rates, and famine. The government is desperately trying to find ways to restore Earth and Gina Applegate is making video blogs about life and what’s going on. God doesn’t have a big place in her life but, until The Warning, she always thought she was a good person. Suddenly, she sees what hell would be like and, as the world slides deeper and deeper into the abyss, the gap between God and Godless gets wider. Gina must choose which side she wants to be on, and it won’t be an easy decision.

Comet Dust by CD Verhoff is not Christian fiction as you would think of it. There are several different religions throughout this book, including atheism, and all are treated equally. The main character, Gina, is one of the most believable and real characters I have read for a long time, a character that is easy to identify with. The decisions she is faced with, although set in an apocalyptic world, are very real and relevant in many ways to the decisions that we face today. The story is written in a highly engaging manner. There are no fluffy bits, just good, solid, and sound writing, a great story that makes for compelling reading. Despite the religious overtones, there is no preaching here, just a story full of action, with plenty going on to capture the imagination and minds of any reader, whether they are fans of apocalyptic fiction or not.

Gina Applegate is a 21-year-old business major living in the USA at a time when, following a massive meteor strike and a nuclear war, society is falling apart. Comet Dust by C.D. Verhoff chronicles the dark days during which Gina and her contemporaries find it increasingly difficult to motivate themselves to continue their studies. The planet is beset by an ongoing series of disasters which science struggles to explain and which become eerily reminiscent of Biblical predictions. Strange mass hallucinations are followed by plagues of insects, prompting Christians to prepare for Armageddon, while a new political movement, sworn to wipe out all religions, is rapidly winning power around the globe. Only the USA still remains free, but for how long? Sections of the population take refuge in bacchanalian revels, often descending into obscene sexual practices and extreme violence, while others gather in their churches or religious groups, finding strength and solace in their beliefs. As the portents mount and society heads toward a violent end, Gina needs to urgently evaluate her beliefs.

Comet Dust is a troubling book. Ms Verhoff has based her narrative on both predictions made in Christian scripture and prophecies made over the centuries by various saints and martyrs. Carefully researched, the book presents a bleak dystopian future, offering little hope for those outside a specific set of beliefs. The narrative leaves little doubt that those without faith are doomed, which is somewhat depressing for those of us who have so far failed to achieve that sort of enlightenment. Personally, I find it strange that humanity continues to promulgate the huge variety of religions but, as a member of the race, I have to accept that a majority of my contemporaries follow some form of belief system, or at least believe in an omnipotent creator. For this reason, Comet Dust deserves to be read.