Ark of the Apocalypse

Ark of the Apocalypse 

Ark of the Apocalypse from author Tobin Marks is my latest read, and I must say that I was not disappointed! If you haven’t read it, you need to! Here are my thoughts on this novel. 

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Ark of the Apocalypse reminded me a bit of Claire’s Apocalypse and Sovereign Earth. If you enjoyed either of those books, I can assure you that you need to read Ark of the Apocalypse! Because this book is even better. 

About Ark of the Apocalypse 

Earth is on the verge of becoming a dead planet.

The polar ice caps melted long ago, and it’s been decades since the last raindrop fell. Ocean levels rise a dozen meters, and forest fires rage on a global scale. Eleven billion people dying of thirst wage water wars against each other as extinction looms.

Humanity needs a new planet. As Earth deteriorates, the nation states desperately work together to build a mechanism for recolonization. And so the Magellan II is born, the first starship capable of interstellar travel. 

The future of the human race is tasked to ten thousand colonists-now homeless but for the vastness of space and the decks of Magellan II. A distant planet offers hope of survival, but it’s a strange, watery world inhabited by giant reptiles.

Humanity is starting over, but survival isn’t guaranteed. 

Thoughts on Ark of the Apocalypse 

The word “epic” is thrown around a lot these days, but Ark of the Apocalypse is one that more than meets the requirements. It really is an epic novel. It’s a family saga spanning hundreds of years (and has an upcoming sequel that promises to span a thousand more). 

Most of the characters in this story only last a few pages before the timeline of the book passes them by. Despite so many of them being short-lived, the reader comes to care for them and dreads their inevitable passing. 

I am always impressed by the character development that doesn’t take 400 pages to achieve. In this case, Tobin Marks made his point in a few words, yet the characters were still relevant and memorable, despite only making through short sections of the book. 

Real World Influences

Ark of the Apocalypse is a blend of real-world history, climate change alarmism, science fiction, medieval-style combat, grand fantasy adventure, and even some Tom Clancy-esque political intrigue. 

Those genres all combine into a fascinating tale of destiny that leaves the reader wanting more. I blew through half of the book on my first night reading it, and I eagerly looked forward to sitting down with it again the next night.

Ark of the Apocalypse Cover Art

A word about the cover art. The cover depicts a young blonde woman with a tiny dragon perched on her bare shoulder. The first thing that comes to mind upon seeing that cover art is that it’s almost identical to a scene from Game of Thrones. 

As you read the book, it’s obvious that the story is building towards that scene, but how we get there is fascinating. There are numerous twists and turns in the narrative, and each time you think the story is going one way, the author shifts genres and heads off in another direction.

Ark of the Apocalypse Conclusion

Tobin Marks’ writing style leaves the reader hungry for more. The story doesn’t “end” in a traditional sense; it merely stops. As I mentioned above, there is a sequel coming out soon, and with the way this book concludes, the next book in the series could go in hundreds of different directions. 

I honestly have no idea what will happen next, and that will be part of the fun of reading the next book in The Magellan II Chronicles. I am excited for the sequel! 

Final Thoughts on Ark of the Apocalypse 

If you enjoy the many disparate genres that Ark of the Apocalypse has, you’ll love this book. Even if you aren’t a fan of some of them, the story never lingers on any one genre for long, so you’ll quickly shift to a new genre after a few pages. 

This keeps the book fast-paced, and you’ll find yourself wanting to see what happens next in each of the story threads.

Discussion 

Have you read Ark of the Apocalypse from Tobin Marks? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

About the Author 

Tobin Marks is a world traveler who grew up in a household of rocket scientists. As a boy he had a front row seat observing many NASA and NOAA projects. He writes science fiction novels from his home in north west Baja, and you can usually find him on Twitter. 

Purchasing Ark of the Apocalypse 

If you are interested in buying the paperback version of Ark of the Apocalypse, click here.

Click here for the Kindle version.

Click here for my favorite Kindle I currently own.

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