Rapture (Rapture Trilogy #1)

The Rapture has occurred, just as the Bible predicted. The faithful have risen up to Heaven. Those left behind are in a living hell.

Cursed by his demonic heritage and denied entry into Heaven, a half-demon teenage boy must now embark on a quest that will take him across the US to the City of Angels.

There he will confront his destiny. There he must fight to save a friend … and the souls of the living.

Rapture was shortlisted for the Sir Julius Vogel award, 2012.

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Image courtesy of Mat Dawson

Reviews

“…Sam’s character develops as his past unfolds over chapters that cleverly alternate between past and present. It’s hard not to feel for Sam and his unfortunate fate…[Teens] will find this over-the-top story a fun, quirky read…”

“A fast pace combine with compelling characters to make Rapture a great addition to the post-apocalyptic genre.”

“Enthralling and everything you ever want it to be. I never had an issue trying to keep up with what was going on or getting bored and skimming pages. Perfect for readers 14 and up.”

“This is an amazing book! And don’t let the religious premise of the book lead you into thinking this is a heavy-handed-preaching-religious-platform kind of book–it’s not. Secular audiences will enjoy this book just as much as the Christian audience will.”

“What would you do if the world ended, all your friends and loved ones were gone, and demons plagued the skies? Personally, I would find the one guy wielding katana swords and demons horns, and stick to him like glue! Don’t know one? Well luckily, Phillip W. Simpson’s Rapture provides the perfect traveling companion: Sam. Only problem is, Sam is not much of a people person, but who needs conversation skills when your soul and all of humanity is on the line?”

“This book really surprised me as to how good it was. As a dystopian junkie this one is high on my recommendation list. I will be watching out for the next installment of this series because now I’m hooked.”

“You want action, a good plot and some surprising elements to help you read until you fall asleep? [If] you’re a fan of Paranormal YA reads, angels, demons and biblical subjects, you will fall in love with The Rapture. I think you should buy if it’s your kind of read!”

“Rapture is written in a beautiful, hauntingly way full of descriptive style that leaves your mind tingling. Phillip W. Simpson expertly braids together an action-packed, coming-of-age story that both females and males of all age will enjoy.”

“Would I recommend Rapture? Definitely, if you love demons, battle scenes aplenty and a great ending, you’ll love this!”

“One thing that made the book so enjoyable was the pacing, which I thought was perfect. There would be some moments of downtime, but an action scene would quickly follow so the story never got dull. And what’s even better is that Simpson really knows how to write action.”

“Not a single scene felt like a drag or filler. WOW, the fighting scenes felt fresh and not repetitive at all.”

“I have to say that the author is a master at describing Sam’s fight moves with his swords. It is easy to get into monotonous repetitions, but I never felt that happening anywhere in the book. The fight sequences have been terrifically choreographed and I just loved getting immersed in them.”

“…this book is one of the most unique post-apocalyptic YA books I’ve seen yet. Fast-paced and engrossing, it kicks off … – and doesn’t slow down.”

“Rapture is a beautifully told story in an ugly setting. The writing is descriptive but straight-forward, the settings are familiar yet new and the characters are engaging, evil or otherwise. I am so happy that I gave this book a chance – Mr. Simpson is an incredibly talented writer and I will be eagerly awaiting the next installment of this series, which has serious potential to be the next big thing in YA reading.”

“This is a pretty epic story that deals with a lot of hefty issues. Overall this is a really good book that has action and adventure, love and heartbreak, and above all hope.”

“Excellent, well written plot intended to capture the reader’s attention from beginning to end!! That’s exactly what I thought about this book. It was gripping, mind blowing, and not overly preachy, which I enjoyed. The author did an amazing job at keeping me interested and wanting to find out what happens next. I just couldn’t put it down. The story moves along quickly and yes, it’s very intriguing. It did a great job at keeping me guessing, entertained, and above all, craving to know what would happen next.”

“Rapture sets a well constructed foundation for a chilling, scary dystopian trilogy. Good verses evil, the believers and the non faithful, I enjoyed the first book and wonder how the rest of the series goes. Recommended.”

“Of all the end-of-the-world novels I’ve read recently, this one is clearly the best. The author’s not trying to convince me of any particular scriptural interpretation. He’s not trying to convert me and change my life. And he’s not just jumping on a popular bandwagon either. Instead he offers a well-plotted, intriguingly different tale, with a fascinating teen protagonist, left behind in a desperate world.”