Harden (Lee Harden Series (The Remaining Universe) Book 1)
Reviews (180)
Another home run for Molles
One great read. Spoiler alert. This one starts with Lee Harden remembering an old girlfriend. They parted ways but that was four years ago before Harden became a Coordinator for Hometown. Before the world fell apart. Present Day: Harden a dead Harden. Abe Darabie doing chest compressions on Harden. Julia the medic trying to bring him back. They had been ambushed and no one knew how the ambushers knew they were coming. A leak at Ft. Bragg is all they can think of. The trip to Alabama was known to only a few. The trip was to see if they could get fuel which they badly needed at Ft. Bragg. They had to abandoned their two pick ups and head through the woods where a running battle saw Harden shot in the chest and killed. They made it to shelter. The ambushers were hot on their trail and Brian Tomlin saw them coming. He and Carl Gilliard headed out to draw them away from Julia, Abe, Nate and Lee. They managed to bring Lee back and Julia and Nate took him out the back door with Abe going first. Brian and Carl continued to occupy the attackers. Nate knew Primals would be attracted by all the gunfire so they needed a place to hide and right now. Abe took Lee's arm and order Nate to take point and get them across the road. They made it across the road but incoming fire wounded Abe and killed Nate. Jules and Abe took off with Lee. Carl and Brian ran out of ammo and all they had were their knives. Guns pointed at them made that decision a bad one. A knife never could compete with a gun. Both Carl and Brian are taken prisoner. Carl would survive. Brian would not. Jules and Abe found a basement in a split level house. Jules cleared the house and they got Lee inside. Lee would remain unconscious for three days. Back at Bragg things aren't going well. They need fuel to keep planting crops to feed the people at Bragg. Some of those people are argumentative and flat out a pain to deal with. They call themselves the Lincolnists and anything they can do to make things difficult they will. They don't like the boxes of food they are give. They want fresh everything from Milk to meat to vegetables. Of course they won't be getting it. Angela is the President of the New Eastern States, or NES. She sure as hell didn't want the job. She has her daughter Abbi to raise after Lee Harden saved their lives. But she is doing the best job she can. Unknown to her there are spys in Ft. Bragg who appear to work for President Briggs in Colorado. Briggs imagines himself as the new President of whatever is left of the USA. So begins one damned fine read. This one has Lee, Julia, Abe, Deuce who is Lee's very loyal dog, Carl a Carl who is let loose to let the others know not to come back, a Brian Tomlin who doesn't survive, a man name Paolo they meet who knows who the ambushers were, Primals who are changing, Sam a young boy Harden saved, a Sam who will save the day when the primals get inside the wire at Bragg, Claire the daughter of Colonel Staley who is in charge of security for Bragg, a Claire who is a traitor, a Claire who left a flimsy lock on the gate at the storm drain, a Staley who is going to have to deal with his daughter once he finds a Sat phone hidden in her room, a Sat phone with one number, a number Lee gave him from Alabama, Elsie Foster the leader of the Lincolnists who is also a traitor, a traitor who has something of Taylor Sullivan and nurse, a nurse with a son who's a rapist, Dr. Trent who took a primal body and discovered it was a juvenile and everything Lee told him was true, the primals are changing, an attack on Ft. Bragg by primals that cost the lives of several people, an attack through a storm drain that Claire had used to meet with young folks, a Sam who gets to Angela and Abbi, an Abbi who is bitten but doesn't change, a Lee who takes the attack to the ambushers, an ambush that is successful until truck loads of the bad guys show up, a Lee who is now certain there is a traitor at Bragg, an unexpected group that helps lee, and old friend named Tex who has a tank and Lee Harden doing his best to deal with his inner demons, save who he can, get fuel to Ft. Bragg, survive and stay alive. Five Stars and then some. Waiting for number 2
Like A Visit From An Old Friend
After a several-year hiatus, the crew from The Remaining series is a back in a new series, The Lee Harden Series. Book one is titled simply, Harden; it is a 2018 publication. If you have not read The Remaining series prior to reading Harden, I strongly suggest that you do. I am most excited that Lee Harden and company have returned. The Remaining was one of the most engrossing and compelling series that I've ever read, and it stands out as an island amongst the preponderance of post-apocalyptic zombie media. The new series is set a few years in the future from the finale of The Remaining. Lee, Angela and many others have helped to form the United Eastern States, based out of Fort Bragg, NC. They have been able to attain a more comfortable lifestyle, though the world is still fraught with danger, both from evolved infected, and other humans, particularly those under the command of President Briggs. Fuel, however, is in short supply, so Lee and a team are dispatched southward, toward the coast, to see about finding some. The tale that follows is just the kind of fare we've come to expect from D.J. Molles: breathless, exciting, violent, and wild. Not only exciting, the plot also has a fair amount of depth, with more than one story thread. The perspective changes frequently between threads, and they are all exciting and will leave you wondering what happens next. Unfortunately, the ending is quite abrupt with little in the way of resolution (just like the books in The Remaining series!), so if you are like me, you won't be able to wait until book 2 of the series is released. Harden makes use of many returning characters, and also some new ones. Characterization is handled deftly, as you would expect from the author. In particular, Molle masterfully delves into the psyche of the characters and how they feel about and respond to living in such harsh and extreme conditions. I thought the balance of introspection to action was perfect in Harden. Several of The Remaining books were too heavily steeped in conveying the psychology of the characters, but Molles handles it perfectly in Harden. Molle is also not afraid to kill off major characters, which really keeps the reader guessing as to what is going to happen, because no one is untouchable. If you enjoyed The Remaining, then continuing on with Harden is a requirement! Bravo to Mr. Molle for crafting such a well-written and exciting storyline. Looking forward to book 2!
A perfect continuation
I LOVED this book! The story picks up shortly after the events of The Remaining. I would say it's probably not necessary to read the Remaining series first, but that series gives a lot of the background on the characters in Harden. As I was reading, every time I thought I knew what dad happening, DJ Molles would throw another curve ball and leave me shocked yet again. There were so baby wonderfully unexpected moments in this book and I loved every minute of it. The only thing I really knew for sure but the end was that nobody can be trusted. I can't wait for the next book so I can find out what happens next!
He's Back. Broken, but still bada**
Mr. Molles, dont make me go Lee Harden on you - get to writing book #2 right now! I re-read the Remaining series to get ready for Harden, yep, I'm a fan. Lee is in a bad way most of this book, I can wait to see what he can do at 100% because he is pretty amazing at, dare I say, about 25%. Lee and his team have been big underdogs from the start, and that theme remains the same here. I was worried this installment would end on a bleak note but there is a sliver of hope that finally works its way in, and boy did they need something good to happen. We did lose some major characters in this installment, true to the threats that seem to lurk every time the team heads out on their next mission, or even at home. I thought Molles did not miss a beat with the tone and feeling of the series. I did not feel like there was a break at all when I started reading. I hoped, had planned, to only read about 10% at a time to space out my excitement, but that was impossible. I finished in three sittings and now am super bummed. Lee has a war on four fronts on his hands - Briggs in the middle states, bearing down on him with all his resources. The Mexican cartel controlling the flow of oil. A insurgency at home giving away his every strategic move before its even made. And we cant forget, the Primals - an evolved, inhuman beast, as a result of the FURY infection. The odds are long, and the end nowhere in sight. But Lee only knows one direction, forward. He only knows one outcome, to win. He will never relent, never give up, never stop until all threats are extinguished. And I for one, cant get enough. Thanks DJ for a great character!!
The Remaining Universe Continues!
The Remaining series is one of my all time favorites. When it ended a few years ago, I was pretty bummed but for the most part okay with how it "ended". When I saw the announcement for Harden, I couldn't be happier. I must admit, this was worth the wait. As for the story itself, I found the first couple chapters on the slow side. Not because it was actually slow, but because it took some time to catch up to where the time jump had left us. However, once the story got moving it really took off. By about 30% in I was already hooked once again. The last 70% blew through in what felt like minutes because it was so well written and hard to put down. The way it ended just makes me even more anxious for the next novel. I can only hope this series turns into another 5+ books like before. Great job DJ. Keep up the good work.
Starts off at 80mph and doesn’t slow down!
So sorry to see the dog bite it at the end though.... I was highly critical (3 star review) of the last book in the Remaining series, as the book failed to wrap up numerous important threads. I’m happy to see DJ Molles has returned from writing all his other series to start a new series of “Remaining, the Sequel” series to, hopefully, wrap up all those threads he left unraveled at the end of the previous series. This novel is a great start. Well worth the purchase. Although several years have passed between the start of this book and the end of the last, this novel wears like you’re sliding on a pair of your favorite, well-fitting jeans. Smooth, seamless transition.
Must Read!!!
Fantastic, accurate conflict sequences with nail-biting suspense. A twist you'll never see coming. Fantastic take on this genre. Definitely a new fan of this author. Well done sir, well done!!!
And the great story continues
DJ Molles continues to impress with his novels following Lee Harden. I read the original 6 novels years ago and has started reading them again when I randomly saw that there were new novels. I picked this up and felt like it hadn't been years between when I read the initial books and was left satisfied and ready for the next one.
Best Author EVER!
No one, and I do mean NO ONE can suck you into a story like this guy! I've read a couple hundred zombie/dystopian books since this author hooked me with his first book, the Remaining. I started reading his first book when I went to bed and the next thing I knew the sun was coming up and I finished by the time my alarm reminded me it was time to get ready for work. Yes, it is just that good!
Great Continuation of The Remaining Series
D.J. Molles quickly became my new favorite author. I always look forward to his next books. My only complaint is they don't come out fast enough! I get sucked into this series and it usually takes me 2 days to finish a book. The remaining Series is a perfect mix of zombie like reading and military. I feel like the stories flow perfectly and keep you wanting more.
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