5 Stars
Very Imaginative story!!!
Hokstad pens a wonderfully imaginative story in The Year Before the End. I haven't read work from this author before, and I really enjoyed this. This author brings the story to life. The characters had a lot of depth, and were very realistic. What I really liked about this story was not just that there were aliens and there was the exploration of the vast galaxy, but this story did sort of keep it close to home. Our solar system was at stake, and it was up for division. It's relatable, and yet, very "out of this world" as well as setting the stage for the strive and desperation for survival. It's a young reader friendly story, and I'm really glad I read it. It's one of those hidden gems that adult and young reader sci-fi fans would enjoy as well. This author has a great imagination and I'm glad it's being shared with stories. The story brings in the believable, even if almost impossible. Hokstead writes, "The day the Mars gate came online, it all changed forever. It was the first large demonstration of dramatically all of the solar system would change -- all of humanity..." This story was intriguing and kept the reader guessing. The Year Before the End is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I look forward to reading many more stories by this author.
