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Primer for the Apocalypse #2

The Approach of Dawn: Primer for the Apocalypse Book Two

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To protect those she loves from an unwanted fate, Emie Mercer has returned to the past. Her actions have already created ripples and changed the trajectory of her future. She has gained early access to the system and magic, and is now working with Alliance personnel in an effort to leverage her knowledge of the future to help others.

With the aid of her boss and new mentors, Emie will continue to grow and learn, expanding the gap between herself and the rest of the natives of Earth. But by making herself exceptional, she risks the very safety she hoped to create.

523 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 25, 2024

119 people are currently reading
23 people want to read

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Braided Sky

9 books14 followers

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5 stars
370 (65%)
4 stars
149 (26%)
3 stars
35 (6%)
2 stars
9 (1%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Profile Image for Jacob Proffitt.
3,268 reviews2,110 followers
July 6, 2024
This is second in a system non-pocalypse and picks up right after the first. Read in order.

The webserial roots of the story show somewhat in this story. There's a lot of bead-on-a-string plot while Emie prepares for the coming transition of Earth into a mana-rich environment. And you know more or less what to expect since you've read the first book. She's overtly working with the aliens (human, mostly, but from off-planet) who are trying to prepare the Earthborn for what is coming. This is how we get to know that most of them are honestly trying to help. Except for the crazy researcher Sir Eri'Non who I hated more than a little.

I was fully engaged with Emie which made this a fun read. She's working to become stronger and to innovate things to make the transition easier for people. I like that she is innovative and dedicated. I like that she is careful and skeptical, though the author cheats a little by giving her a "sense intention" skill to know that spies aren't exactly on the up-and-up.

And I liked how she is trying to do better this go-round than she originally did by looking after her family and strengthening those bonds, even with her extended family. I loved all the relationships with friends and family developed in this book.

What I hated, more than a little, is that .

Anyway, this was four stars of fun and I'm glad I picked this up when the author released it. Which was totally a choice since I'm way ahead in the story by following it on Royal Road. So this was more of a nostalgia read to visit Emie before she, um, reaches the next phase of the plot in book three...

A note about Chaste: Emie is pretty driven and has things she wants to get done when the portals to the rest of the Alliance open up. So she isn't interested in creating relationships that would have a built-in expiration date. I'm good with that. So this is extremely chaste.
44 reviews
July 2, 2024
Hoping for more installments

I liked the inclusion of enchanting along with crafting. The balance was kept between enchanting/crafting and magic rpg gaming/leveling elements. If this last book (2) was meant to be the end then it might have been nicer for the MC to have been rewarded with voiding her contract and being returned to her home so she could Shepard her family. Many litrpg books written add in false gods like trying to doctor bland food with a seasoning. By avoiding that pitfall this story "leveled up".
2 reviews
December 21, 2024
The chill apocalypse

This book, like the first one, is a mix of Slice of Life and a longer overarching story that unfolds over an extended time span. We get to follow the protagonist's everyday challenges for a few chapters, then jump ahead to see how her daily life evolves and what new challenges the world presents.

I greatly enjoyed the setting, universe, and especially the main character, but I feel a warning might be necessary. If you're looking for action-packed sequences or detailed fight scenes, this book might not meet your expectations. Instead, it focuses heavily on plot development and the MC's personal journey. Perhaps "slow burn, strong-to-strong" is an apt description.

If I were to assign percentages to the different aspects of the book, it would look something like this:

Slice of Life: 60%
World-building: 10%
LitRPG mechanics/magic: 20%
Action/Adventure: 10%
135 reviews5 followers
August 17, 2024
This is a continuation of the previous book, though there are quite a few time skips, enough that we get to the point where the portals open and Emie leaves Earth. Personally I feel like it would have been nice to take it slower. Having more details about the apocalypse would have been interesting. That said, I can also see that being a bit boring, so it's not a big deal. My main issue, and the reason I didn't give it 5 stars, is the ending. It's really frustrating, and it also has me concerned that most/all of the remainder of the series will be very same-y, with Emie being very railroaded. . I fully intend to continue reading the series on RoyalRoad. Hopefully I'm wrong and it turns out well.
21 reviews
July 4, 2024
Gaining momentum

Though I liked the first book, it felt a bit slow and bland at times. This book had almost none of that, and left me eager for the third. the characters are engaging and likeable, when their supposed to be. Time feels a bit nebulous at points, and
×minor spoilers?×

its not particularly clear what she has learned from her two mentor/masters, but I anticipate we will see the results of her training blossom in book 3. Also the epilogue's events made me happy :)
28 reviews
February 2, 2025
wonderful slice of life story

This is a slice of life story continuation. The writing is above average quality for self published works. This is not at its heart an action adventure story, it is more of a day in the life of working student narration.
I really enjoyed the first 75% of book, but the author gets a bit “wand wavy” after the 75% mark in, for me at least, a very clunky set of events to get to where they wanted the story to go. It was bad. That said once you get through that section the ending is decent.
381 reviews6 followers
June 28, 2024
Good book

I really enjoyed the next book in this series. It moves faster with multiple short tine skips, so you see more plot progress, but it doesn't sacrifice any of the important details. There's a significant change in the direction of the story that should lead to a lot more action in the next book as the training environment is over. Looking forward to the next book.
Profile Image for Jim Phillips.
896 reviews1 follower
July 27, 2024
Not a fan

This was kind of tough for me to get through. These little time jump cuts in the story were a little jarring. Maybe a date header or something might have helped. Otherwise a very interesting read
5 reviews
August 21, 2024
Great character driven story

Unlike most of the genre, Primer for the Apocalypse is a well written and well paced character-driven story that doesn't read as a wish fulfillment powertrip.
3 reviews1 follower
December 7, 2024
Great book

I read both books in the series in just two days. It was so interesting, I was incapable of putting it down. The story is well written and the storyline is different from others in this genre.
I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
Profile Image for Thorsten.
284 reviews3 followers
March 15, 2025
This is an excellent continuation of the story, building towards the reintegration with a well-foreshadowed and interesting plot twist in the last quarter of the book. I am jumping into the next one immediately.
499 reviews1 follower
August 3, 2024
I like it

I like this do over of the main character, the story, and the world building. I look forward to the next book. Good job!
Profile Image for Catherine Miller.
53 reviews
January 3, 2025
fun

I like how fun this book is. I like that for the most part it is first person but we still get some snippets of other people’s/ aliens point of view. I love the two books.
Profile Image for William Howe.
1,747 reviews79 followers
March 8, 2025
so it begins

I liked it. I will be getting the next book immediately.

Interesting setup for the apocalypse, which finally arrives in the latter half of the book.
Profile Image for Jenna T.
23 reviews1 follower
July 18, 2025
highly enjoyable

Much stronger writing than book one!

I really enjoyed this.

I really want to read book three so I’ll write a proper review later!
505 reviews4 followers
July 1, 2024
Not as much new material, but pace and characterization improved. Still worth the the read and now wanting more.
122 reviews
February 17, 2025
Great Read

Love this new series. Excellent characters, world building and a great magic system. Master Kairos I especially loved....hope to here moreabout him. Eagerly awaiting nook 3.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews

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