Maelstrom by Susanna Strom is book two in her World Fallen series.

Kenzie, Ripper, and the rest of their group flee a burning Portland en route to Valhalla, an isolated ranch. Can the group stay together and thrive, especially Kenzie and Ripper?

Susanna Strom continues the World Fallen series with a second successful sci-fi thriller. Maelstrom reads well as a standalone, but there is backstory provided in book one that gives depth to the characters. The author reveals the story through the alternating viewpoints of the major characters with appropriate chapter headers to avoid confusion. The romance between Kenzie and Ripper expands and romance begins to develop in other areas, as well. There is plenty of action, though it seems too drawn out in places. Overall, I enjoyed this novel and give it 3 out of 5 stars. I recommend it to readers of science fiction romance.

My thanks to Independent Publishers Group, Cougar Creek Publishing LLC, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

Malestrom by Susanna Strom has it all. Adventure, love, conflict, post pandemic (sound familiar?) world among other things. This is the 2nd book in the series and while I have not read the first one, it wasn’t hard to follow along on the dynamics of the characters. The chemistry between Ripper and Kenz was HOT. Would recommend this to fans of this world setting.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy of this book for an honest opinion.

Ripper and Kenz’s story continues. Do they find Valhalla? When the do is it what the expected? What dangers do they have to face to get to it? Read the book!


I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

2.5 to 3 stars

This book was at least 3 books in one and with as many crazy things happening as well. I like book were our characters had to go through a few different problems but between the accident, the cult, the craziness and the supremacist, it was just too much. That on top of me disliking Kenzie was just... too much.
I did enjoyed some aspects of this like our amazing alpha hero, Ripper and the actual journey was sooo good! I just wished there wasn't so much drama and angst.
Overall a really good second book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read book one but honestly I can't get into this one at all. I wanted to give it the benefit of the doubt but I can't get into it. I am sorry.

Maelstrom by Susanna Strom
Publisher: Cougar Creek Publishing LLC
Genre: Romance | Sci Fi & Fantasy
Release Date: January 12, 2021

Maelstrom is the second book in the World Fallen series by Susanna Strom. It can be read as a standalone novel, but the first book is so good that you wouldn't want to skip it!

Maelstrom is so amazing! I love post-apocalyptic books and this one is definitely up there as one of my favorites. Set in a post pandemic world, Ripper, Kenzie and friends are forced to deal with the survivors of the world and boy, they are doozies!

I refused to give away any spoilers because this book will keep you on the edge of your seat! The story is laid out really well and filled with twists and turns and so much suspense and excitement!

I love the characters in this book and have enjoyed watching the grow as they deal with the constant crisis around them. Also, the romance between Ripper & Kenzie is so hot!

It didn't want this book to end! It was so good that I couldn't put it down! As much as I wanted to know how things would work out, I didn't want to reach the end! I'm so happy that there will be another book in the series called Bedlam! I can't wait for it to release because I need to know what happens next!

I'm so grateful to Susanna Strom, Cougar Creek Publishing LLC, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I waited anxiously for this sequel and was not disappointed! The story continues with lots of twists and turns resulting in late into the night reading. The story of Ripper and Mac and friends as they try to navigate a pandemic and nurture their romance is surely timely! Now for book #3!

YESSSS.

Maelstrom picks up right where Pandemonium left off and I am so glad! You don't miss a minute of the action. Kenzie, Ripper and the gang find themselves in a LOT of tough spots in this one, almost to the point where it was too much, which is why it was a four star instead of a five star. There is one part i felt was completely unnecessary to the story (Mimi) and I honestly think the book would be better off without it. Otherwise I loved this so much! The way you really get to know the group even better, the way the group gets to know and grow together even more, the new members. It did feel kind of like Ripper and Kenzie's story was ending so I might be a little sad for the next one if it goes in a totally different direction but I am excited to read it.

Maelstrom is book 2 in the World Fallen series and unfortunately not as good as I was hoping for. While I enjoyed book 1 I did find it a little slow and I had wished for more outside influences but I didn't need just about every problem to happen to the group. First we have an accident, then a crazy cult leader, a deranged widow and finally white supremacist. Really did we need all that in one book? Sorry it was tedious and honestly I had a hard time finding the desire the continue reading. What I did enjoy was Mac and Ripper's continued growing bond and Mac finally realizing she is perfect for Ripper. Kyle definitely grow as a character and while Mac is no longer his I loved how he moved to a friendship with her. I liked the additions to the group and was a little sad to see Kyle leave. His book is next and at this time I will most likely read it.

***I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.***

A really good and entertaining book. I liked the characters and felt they were so right for each other. Good solid writing.

Omg! The danger never stops and our little group of survivors seem to be a magnet for all the things that can happen in an apocalypse! Together they decide to make the journey to Valhalla hoping for the chance at a better future, but getting there is going to push them to their limits and make them stronger than they ever knew they could be. I love this world and the characters and hope to have many, many more stories to read in the future! Definitely worth a read if you love apocalypse stories with your romance!

This is book #2 in the World Fallen series. Kenzie, Ripper, and their motley band of survivors barely escaped Portland before the whole city burned. They are looking for a safe haven at Valhalla ranch with a friend of Kyle. Along the way they run into so many dangers as the world continues to fall into chaos with the flu pandemic.
I'm loving this series. When the world falls apart all the crazies come out! I can't wait to find out what happens next, especially with Kyle's part of the story.
Thank you to Susanna Strom and Cougar Creek Publishing for the opportunity to read this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The views and opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This was much much better than the first one, and that's probably because there's finally something almost always going on this time. Did I love it? No. But I was thrilled it didn't take me forever to finish. I still dislike Kenzie though. She just always annoyed me with so much of what she did. Her weird habit of licking Ripper at the most ridiculous times was also off putting. And how she always thought that wanting to submit to Ripper made her less of a "strong woman" (something I would never describe her as anyway) just ticked me off. Ripper was still the swoon worthy alpha male, and I was glad to see Kyle grow up as much as he did and become a more dependable person.

Like I said though, the story itself was much better. If you ignore the constant drama queen theatrics about how Kenzie was so lucky to get Ripper back and she never wants to let him out of her sight again. We pick up right where we left last book with this group heading out to Valhalla. It's not long before they encounter trouble with the route they were going to take being blocked by somebody blowing up a dam. Forcing them to take the long way. During which they suffer accidents and encounter deranged cult leaders. Finally escaping from those crazies, and with a couple new people in their group, they do eventually make it to the ranch. Only to find out that it has been taken over by a group that fancies themselves Nazis. The plan had always been to take the ranch back and free Bear who has been chained and forced to work it, but when the good doctor also gets taken they have run out of time. They come up with a new plan with Ripper and Kenzie right in the middle of it. Not surprisingly, it doesn't go as planned at all. But at the end of the day, they do take the ranch providing a safe haven for them all. At least for now, anyway.

I was actually a little surprised that it was only 2 books for Ripper and Kenzie to find they happy ending. Next we move on to Kyle deciding to see if he can find out if his family is still safe, and maybe find his own happiness. Honestly though, I don't really plan on reading it. I was thrilled to have enjoyed this one more than the first, but it wasn't enough to make me want more.

I liked it, the book had a fresh and interesting take on apocalypse romance that was engaging and fun!

What an absolutely amazing story! This is almost 2 stories in one with all the craziness that happens to Mac and her crew. I was completely enthralled from the very beginning. The fact that it all takes place in a post pandemic world really resonates. I can’t wait for more!!!
5 stars!!

Kenzie and Ripper are back! The world is still in freefall after the pandemic ripped through humanity (That's a bit close to home with COVID-19!)

Kenzie, Ripper and the rest of the motley crew are attempting to get to a remote ranch where they hope to seek refuge with an acquaintance. But the journey, well you just know that it's not going to be straightforward, don't you?!

There are rampaging survivors, cult wannabes, and neo-nazis to escape first! Valhalla may not be the safe haven they were hoping for.

Ripper may not be your typical hero, he's more of a dark hero, but he still saves the day and keeps his rag-tag family together. There are more dangers in the desolated world than one group should face. They are some great new characters explored and there are some real nasty pieces of work it was a joy to see meet a squicky end!

I really am on tenterhooks for book 3!

I was eagerly awaiting this second book. Sometimes the sequel falls flat. Not this one! I thoroughly enjoyed it too. So many twists and turns that had me in awe. This crew is awesome.
I just love Mac and Ripper. This story has some really great secondary characters. Including Hector! I’m invested in all of them. The ending was perfect. I’m so pleased that Kyle is coming back. I can’t wait for Bears story. If you like post apocalyptic story’s then I highly recommend this book and author.

Boy Oh Boy the end of the world brings out all the crazies.
Overcoming so many trials and obstacles. Our main couple Kenzie and Ripper are starting a new chapter in there life with there rag tag caravan but they are hitting roadblocks everywhere they go. I love how know matter what there love and faith in each other is rock solid.

His fingertips gently grazed my cheek. “You’re my ride or die, Mackenzie Dunwitty.”

Cannot wait to see where this series leads us to next.

Book one sucked me in. This is book 2. I think you will be lost if you start with this one since it is a continuation of the last story.
I did enjoy this one, but if you watched ‘The Walking Dead’, this is the same storyline as season 2 (maybe 3) with a few changes. I don’t want to give it away, but a biblical community (or what is pretending to be one) has taken girls/woman and marrying them to one man. Man has to break the woman out. Sounds familiar, right? Very, very similar. But, like I said, I did mostly enjoy this one.

As I finished the first book and put in the NetGalley request to read this installment, I obsessively checked many times a day, hoping to find this book waiting for me. When it was finally there, I immediately devoured it. I stayed up way too late reading it and only stopped when I quite literally fell asleep in the middle of a page. And then of course, I finished it the next day. Picking up right where Pandemonium left off, Maelstrom is another adventure packed ride through a post-pandemic world. I compared the first book to watching an episode of The Walking Dead, and this installment feels wonderfully the same. The ragtag group of this makeshift family grows both literally and figuratively, keeping me riveted to the pages as I root for my favorite characters and worry as they seem to go from the frying pan to the fire time and again. There is definitely romance to this series, but I love that that element is only a part of the story. It is so much more than a love story. I love the pace of this book and the interaction of friends who in a pre-pandemic world might not have fit. The dynamic that these characters have is fantastic. Each character feels just as important as the next, and I am happy to follow any of them through their adventures. I will now impatiently wait for the next book, probably reading both this and the first book a second time while I wait.