Small Title
An Award-Winning Post-Apoclayptic Adventure!
What Branches Grow - T. S. Beier
Top 5 Category Finalist in the
2020 Kindle Book Awards!
Semi-Finalist (Top 30) in the 2021 #SPSFC (Self Published Science Fiction Competition)
A boldly imagined, exhilarating quest through post-apocalyptic America, where human nature is torn between the violent desperation to survive and the desire to forge connection.
Thirty-five years ago, the world was ravaged by war. Delia, driven from her home in Savannah by loss, travels North in search of a future. Gennero is tortured by his violent past and devotion to his hometown. Ordered to apprehend Delia, he follows her into the post-apocalyptic landscape. The wasteland is rife with dangers for those seeking to traverse it: homicidal raiders, dictatorial leaders, mutated humans, and increasingly violent and hungry wildlife.
What Branches Grow is an unflinching depiction of life after civilization, where, above all else, trust is the hardest thing to achieve and give. The survivors have an audacious dream of a better life, but their quest may end up being a fruitless endeavour in a world openly hostile to hope.
Rated 18+ for violence, language, and mature themes.
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Reviews
"What Branches Grow is like Cormac McCarthy on steroids, with a healthy dose of 'Mad Max' thrown in for good measure. Beier navigates her characters through these troubled waters, providing readers with both an adventure and some lingering questions on which to reflect. This is far from your average dystopian novel – it is a humanistic quest into personal morality and the fortitude one can uncover when hope is all that remains, for a startlingly original debut in the genre." Self-Publishing Review, ★★★★
T.S. Beier applies a deft hand to the crafting of this Post-Apocalyptic tale and showcases, again and again, a depth of perception when it comes to the human condition, human nature, and the human spirit. She manages to weave an elaborate plot brimming with tragedy but always offers just enough humour to balance the pathos.
This book will spike your adrenaline. One of the best Post-Apocalyptic stories I've read, What Branches Grow is unflinching, exciting, and moving. You will tear up. You will laugh. And you will hope for a sequel.
Marthese Fenech
Author, The Sige of Malta Trilogy
T.S. Beier’s vision of a post-apocalyptic world is extreme in that the earth is now scorched and mainly dust. There is no rain as we know it; few trees and only the toughest of wildlife can survive. There is no national government and the remaining humans are living in communities with a variety of organizational style and ethics … What Branches Grow is very much the story of a journey rather than the destination … and is an interesting vision of how life could be like in a post-apocalyptic world, well written and with a smattering of romance.
Whispering Stories Full Review
If you're a fan of post-apocalyptic and dystopian stories it's a real must read. I couldn't put it down and I quite enjoyed her writing style. It's a real ride across what was once America as we know it ... I've read quite a bit of this genre, and it's always intriguing to see an author do something unique. While it doesn't always feel entirely new (it checks a lot of the standard elements of the genre), it still manages to feel refreshing and a lot of that comes down to her cast of characters and world-building. If you're a fan of The Road, Mad Max: Fury Road, or Blood Red Road by Moira Young, I have a feeling you'll want to try debut novel.
4 /5 Stars
Always Me Book Blog (Lauren Stoolfire)
"Very suspenseful with lots of adventure and great characters"
I wasn't sure what to expect as I don't often read adventure genres, but I like dystopian fiction and thought I would give this book a try after reading the reviews. It was really good! The author managed to create characters that were multi-dimensional and unique, flawed but likeable. I appreciated the diversity and queer representation. More than the adventure romp I thought it might be, this novel forced me to question the very world we live in today while keeping me on the edge of my seat!!
5 / 5 Stars
- N. Holton
"The dynamic between Gennero and Delia was fascinating. At first, she wanted nothing to do with him, and then she found him an asset for her purpose. The relationship was exceptional, and I think that’s what made the story stand out. The author emphasized on the world-building and created a powerful female lead character. Her way of storytelling was descriptive and stimulating."
Also, check out Writing in Obscurity's Review
