It's 2113, and Constantine Goodfellow, vowing to unite the people and bring about lasting peace, is elected President. Following a global pandemic that takes the lives of millions of people and their leaders, Constantine finds himself in a position to rule the world. Shaping his government in the form of ancient Rome and renaming himself Nero, he reinvented persecution and the eradication of Christianity. His campaign against the Christians, led by his Most High Vassal, Maximilian, and the mechanical warriors known as the Guardians, struggles against the resistance led by Colonel Thomas Drexler on the one hand, and an 18-year-old fighter with instincts and warrior knowledge beyond his years, Sage Maddox.

Having read the first three novels in the Dissonance Saga, I was eager to dive into the first novel of Aaron Ryan's new saga, The End: Alpha, and what a great read it is. Ryan's ability to write first-person narratives from both the primary protagonist and antagonist points of view, switching seamlessly between them in a smooth transition without confusion, lends itself beautifully to an automatic and in-depth overview of the story. Every character, like in real life, has their tone, word use, and syntax, such that readers can, after only a few pages, associate the dialogue with a specific character, even without the "he said, she said" distinction. Switching from protagonist to antagonist or from a particular character to another, Ryan creates a cinematic-style story that readers will find extraordinary and enjoyable. The End: Alpha is a fantastic opening to what will surely be a bestseller, not only because it's a great, well-written story but also because the themes and characters, intentionally or not, evoke a sense of the reality that is evolving in the United States today. It is an outstanding story, and I'm eager to move on to the next book in the series.

The End: Alpha by Aaron Ryan takes readers to the year 2113, where Christianity is on the brink of annihilation. After a deadly virus wipes out half the world’s population, President Constantine Jedidiah Goodfellow seizes power and declares himself the new Nero. Determined to eradicate Christianity, he sends out his brutal ‘Guardians’ to destroy believers. In a small community near Chicago, 18-year-old Sage Maddox, whose family has been slaughtered by these merciless machines, rises up with resilience and faith to fight back. Meanwhile, Colonel Thomas Drexler of The Defiance and Nero’s High Vassal Maximillian are locked in a battle of deception and strategy. As the lines between predator and prey blur, the fate of humanity hangs in the balance in this dystopian tale of faith, survival, and resistance.

Author Aaron Ryan has utilized a talent for timing and description in a chilling dystopian future, blending religious themes with high-stakes action that keeps you turning pages until the bitter end. I liked Sage Maddox as a compellingly drawn hero, and the close narrative touches give a sense of the vulnerability behind the courage and strength that Sage shows in the face of relentless oppression. I also loved the arrangement of the plot events, which were fast-paced but also felt naturally placed and gave variety to the challenges the good guys face in the story. There was also a great commitment to vivid world-building and cinematic description that always makes for an immersive and thrilling read, and is especially essential in a dystopian tale to set the scene. Overall, The End: Alpha is a highly recommended read for fans of faith-based thrillers, and readers seeking a thought-provoking and emotional tale.