Dystopian Thriller Review: Only the Cold Remains by Curran Geist

Only the Cold Remains by Curran Geist
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book doesn't hold back...

Only the Cold Remains is a complex and action packed thriller set in a dystopian future where aliens (Kuljiks) have rescued the last surviving remnants of humanity from the Earth. The company, Medtronic, that is supposed to maintain their habitat and protect them from extinction is led by a perverted, evil Kuljik who has created a secret pleasure-ship, which features human slaves as the main attraction.

This book is well written and exciting. It is told from several distinct points of view, and this was used to good effect by the author to create tension, to build emotional connection with the characters, and to draw the reader onwards through the story. I found that it was difficult to put down the story while in a certain perspective, so it's probably a good thing the author switches between them every few chapters (episodes) or so or I'd never have gotten any sleep.

Like the previous book, this one features both the good and the bad, and let me say that the bad is really bad. The author handles the themes of good vs. evil well and is particularly skilled at showing how one cannot judge someone by their heritage. Even though much of the evil and degradation is spawned by the aliens, several of the most kind-hearted and relatable characters also happen to be aliens. I think this is one of the things that makes this book such a delight to read.

And, let's not overlook the fight and chase scenes. This book is packed with them. It truly is a thrilling experience, though sometimes they might have lasted a bit too long or followed action with action in too many sequences. Still, I think this is appropriate for this genre of book.

So, with all of this, I think the only thing, other than too much action for my taste in places, was the inconsistent execution of the inner monologue. This book, being told from many perspectives, is peppered with the inner thoughts, worries and dreams of it's featured characters. For those thoughts that were identified in italics as if the character was thinking them in real time, it would have been better to word them as one would word dialog, in present tense as if the thought were spoken aloud. Many of them were in past tense, not all, but many. If you're simply describing someones thoughts, past tense is fine, but don't italicize. If you're revealing someone's thoughts, it needs to be as if you are hearing their thoughts. I know I don't think in past tense for things that are happening now.

I must also reinforce the author's 17 and up warning. He wasn't kidding. This book doesn't hold back. Love, lust, violence, death, blood, gore, perversion, all of this and more is packed into this novel. It's not for the faint of heart, but mature readers who like a good thrill will likely love this story. I highly recommend it.

I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest, non-reciprocal review.

View all my reviews

Sneak Peak of Only the Cold Remains coming June 13

I am excited to bring you an excerpt from Curran Geist's soon to be released dystopian, sci-fi thriller, Only the Cold Remains. Last week, I shared the description of the book. Today, along with the excerpt, I'll share a little bit about the author.

First off, let me tell you that I've been a fan of Curran's since April 2013 when I first read The Sity. He'd offered me a copy of his debut novel in return for a review, one of the earliest authors to do so after I started book blogging. Since then, I've enjoyed his blog posts and have been pleased to received updates from Curran about his series from time to time.

If you're looking for an author to follow, Curran's a good bet.  So, read on for what Curran has to say about himself and then keep going for a gripping excerpt from Only the Cold Remains.

Author Bio

Curran Geist grew up in the quaint town of Schwenksville, PA. He often lived within books, and his vibrant imagination allowed him to escape to fictional worlds beyond the tiny town where he was raised. He was home educated up until college, and he’s proud of it. Curran is also a mixed bag of many different ethnicities. No one has ever been able to correctly guess his origins! Though, everyone does still mistake him for Jimmy Fallon.

Curran’s passion has always been to write. He’s powered by strong coffee and loud music. His zest for writing is only matched by his love of animals. His proudest moment was when he rescued a baby Robin and raised the bird until it could fly. Currently, he just has a cat, but he can’t wait to keep building his animal family!

For many years, Curran Geist was dedicated towards human rights work. He was honored to serve in the AmeriCorps and also to work for the Simon Wiesenthal’s Tolerance Center, where he lead trainings to combat bigotry and discrimination. Human rights issues are still very important to Curran. In writing  THE SITY  series, Curran Geist has merged his love of science fiction, fantasy, and horror genres with his belief in tackling social injustices. His novels paint a dystopian, post-apocalyptic, and extraterrestrial landscape that mirrors many modern day social issues, including: the exploitation of children, sexual slavery, and cruelty towards animals.

In  THE SITY  series, the lead characters embark on a harrowing journey of vengeance. They must protect the survival of humanity – at all costs. However, what if that cost is the last slivers of their own humanity?
Curran is currently living in New Jersey with his wife. They are eagerly expecting the arrival of their first child.


Read on for an excerpt from this exciting 2nd installment of The Sity (for readers 17 and up)!