In the near future, only several cities remain as outposts in the United States. Neo-Terminus is one of the surviving cities. The multitudes of poor sustain themselves on gel nutrition and have water and electricity rationed while the rich live in luxury with all their needs taken care of. Everyone is plugged to their visors, providing constant technology and entertainment. Chance Griffin is an officer in Neo Terminus trying his best to keep the city safe and provide for his family; however, Kess, leader of Neo Terminus, has other plans for Chance. Kess wants Chance to be an Enforcer in The Zone, a paid gladiator sent to rescue people from The Zone in televised matches. Chance isn't an Enforcer for long before he discovers a sinister plot set up by the Founders taking place in The Zone in order to keep all of the citizens of Neo Terminus enslaved.

The Zone is a cyberpunk dystopian thriller. The first half of the book immerses the reader in the world of Neo Terminus including the grime and crime, the technology and the lack of resources as well as the people who now inhabit the area. Chance's character is also built up in the first half of the book along with his partner on the force, Benny, and his wife and child. Through Chance's work, we see his deep sense of justice and pain for how the world has evolved. At home, Chance struggles with not being able to provide for his disabled son and wife. I was amazed at the parallels in media control and technology overload in Neo Terminus and what we already see today. Once Chance is an Enforcer, the pacing and excitement of the story picks up quite a bit as he is thrown directly into the action and doesn't know who to trust among the new group of Enforcers or in The Zone. The deception of The Founders was masterfully done and effectively mirrors the dangers of control and media in our society.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. ( )

I haven’t read a lot of cyberpunk, but I have read some of Stu Jones work and loved it. The Zone sounds like something different for me, maybe a little bit scifi, a little bit techno, and a little bit superhero? Either way, if Stu Jones wrote it, I’ll read it.

I love the wonderful illustrations and quickly immersed myself in the wold of Neo Terminus. A world that had me, at times, thinking of The Hunger Games, for its gladiator sports, and The Walking Dead, for its have and have nots and what the haves will do to keep it and the have nots do to survive. Even though I knew some of what is to come, I still found myself sickened and disgusted, rallying behind those who want to change their world for the better.

The cast of characters is phenomenal, and even those who passed quickly, I enjoyed my time with, even the baddies. Not much enjoyable about them, but they do supply their share of chills and thrills. After all, can there be good guys without bad guys? And, when I say guys, I mean both males and females.

When I began The Zone by Stu Jones, I never thought of it being a series, but we have more to come for The Zone, and I hope to be there for it. It has all the things I love about a book: mystery, danger, darkness and light, evil villains, inspiring heroes and heroines, romance, the struggle for survival in an apocalyptic/dystopian world…with more to come.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Zone by Stu Jones.

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