R.F. Blackstone is the debut author of Big Smoke, the first book in a fast-paced action novel series entitled The Apocalypse Virus Trilogy that goes from political to apocalyptic in one smooth motion. With a style that is likely to keep your attention right up until the last page, Blackstone creates a female hero that readers are bound to love while establishing a villain that makes your skin crawl.
Christine Moore is a special agent with a history and more than just a little attitude. Like a one-man-band, she has no problem handling herself or the situation. However, her superior informs her that their specific department is getting shut down, and they need to do something to prove they are still relevant.
The mission Christine is sent on involves preventing an assassination attempt on the president of the United States. But unlike the presidents before him, he will not be targeted on American soil. Instead, the hit is going to take place when the president attends a festival in Cuba. And when Christine gets there, she finds that saving the president might be the least of her worries.
There is no doubt that Blackstone is a fresh new voice in terms of apocalyptic novels, seeing as he takes a very different approach from what I am used to. For starters, Blackstone really centers on his female hero, unlike typical end-of-the-world stories that tie in several different characters and many more technicalities.
With Big Smoke, you can set your attention on Christine and really enjoy the action climaxes as the book progresses.
In terms of plot originality, I like the female hero and the fact that Blackstone has no problem getting to the point. And while this is not the most original or unpredictable plot I have encountered, I do not feel it was Blackstone’s intention to re-invent the wheel. Instead, he brings back the story-telling aspect of a possible apocalypse, and dare I say he makes it sound exciting.
The pace of the book stays consistent and entertaining. Never did I reach parts where I felt Blackstone was losing the plot or running out of momentum. Instead, he kept up the thrill and the excitement right up to the end.
As for the character development, I was definitely sold on the kick-ass personality Christine naturally exudes, as well as the enemies she comes up against. Although, the female hero is slightly over the top, and for some readers, it can be a little off-putting.
Upon reaching the end of the book, I was definitely thrown by how things turned out, and I was left eager to see what the second installment is going to be like. Because the style Blackstone uses is very action and character oriented, getting sucked into the pages is a natural occurrence.
For the first book in an apocalyptic trilogy, I am quite impressed and glad I read it. Now Mr. Blackstone just has to conjure the same magic for the rest of the series and he can definitely make a name for himself in this genre.
Author Bio: Born in the slightly off town of Newcastle on the coast of Australia, R.F. Blackstone learned how to 
survive life in the land Down Under where everything can kill you. The son of a stage actor, magician and teacher, R.F. had an interesting upbringing learning to see the world in a different way. Now taking that slightly skewed way of looking at the world and applying it to his writing.
He had spent 10 years writing scripts before trying his hand at novels. His first book, Big Smoke, was published early 2018 and he has more on the way. Currently, he lives in Mexico City, where he enjoys tequila, tacos al pastor and pumping out stories.
Reviewed by Damnetha Jules
Damnetha is a staff writer, horror book and movie critic.
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