Expected Publication: September 1, 2019

Publisher: Cosmic Egg Books

Genre(s): Science Fiction, Dystopia

Format: Paperback, 344 pages

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WANTED: Men and women willing to drive through the valley of the shadow of death.

The world’s population has been decimated by the Change, a chain reaction of events triggered by global warming. In Europe, governments have fallen, cities have crumbled and the wheels of production have ground to a halt. The Alps region, containing most of the continent’s remaining fresh water, has become a closed state with heavily fortified borders. Survivors cling on by trading through the Runners, truck drivers who deliver cargo and take a percentage. Amid the ruins of central Germany, two Runners, Cassady and Ghazi, are called on to deliver medical supplies to a research base deep in the Italian desert, where scientists claim to be building a machine that could reverse the effects of the Change. Joining the pair is a ragtag collection of drivers, all of whom have something to prove. Standing in their way are starving nomads, crumbling cities, hostile weather and a rogue state hell-bent on the convoy’s destruction. And there’s another problem: Cassady is close to losing his nerve.

An Intriguing, Gritty, Unique and Haunting Dystopian Story

An intriguing and unique dystopian tale, By the Feet of Men addresses hopelessness, hard-wired survival instinct, and what it truly means to be human in a dark, desolate and dangerous post-apocalyptic world. It’s thrilling…it’s gritty, it’s haunting… and will leave readers wondering and contemplating about life and more.

I love dystopian stories and while this may not have completely worked out for me, I still think it’s quite interesting and compelling. I haven’t read anything quite like this, so I really did enjoy the storyline. Grant Price managed to create a realistic post-apocalyptic future with complex characters that feel genuine and real to me. That being said, I just didn’t really get into the story as much as I thought I would. There’s action, suspense, and thrills, but I didn’t feel a strong connection with the story or characters. So, in the end, it’s a fascinating read that made me think, but it’s not something I would consider “fun.” I mostly read for fun and to escape reality and while I do like the story and could probably discuss the themes and significance with other people, I personally would not choose this book to relax with at the end of the day. BUT, this book is definitely worth the read and I would absolutely recommend it.

I like the world-building well enough. Price immediately thrusts the readers in this terrifying and chaotic world without really explaining how humanity has fallen into drought, destruction, death and savagery which definitely made me more interested. The storyline is clever, unique, and engaging with plenty of fast-paced and heart-pounding scenes, intriguing dialogues, and unexpected twists, turns and surprises. The characters are likable and fascinating in their own ways. I like the runners – Cassidy, Ghazi, and the others I meet throughout the story. They each have their own stories, their own flaws and insecurities, and their own hopes and dreams. The writing is exceptional and I think Grant Price is an incredibly talented author. He writes with purpose and passion and I could definitely feel that in this book. I have never read anything by Price before and even though this isn’t a 5 star read for me, I would absolutely read more of his books.

Overall, I think this novel is well-written, intriguing, and gripping. Even though I didn’t love it as much as I expected, I think Grant Price has masterfully created a chilling and believable dystopian narrative filled with nerve-wracking action, great character development, wonderful suspense, and relevant and realistic exploration of survival, loyalty, camaraderie, sacrifice, and ultimately what it means to hold on to our humanity when faced with impossible life and death decisions. If you’re in the mood for an interesting, somewhat disturbing, but fascinating story that will definitely leave a lasting impression, then add this book on your TBR.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Bio and Photo taken from Author’s Website

Grant Price (b. 1987) is a British-German author currently living in Berlin, Germany. After spending too many years translating and writing copy, he started writing fiction full time in 2015. His first novel, Static Age, appeared on Kindle in 2016. His second novel, By the Feet of Men, is due to be published by Cosmic Egg Books in September 2019. His work has appeared in The Daily Telegraph and a number of magazines and journals. He has taught writing at the University of Gießen in Germany.

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