Dread

DREAD: BOOK 1 The Old World died in the fire of revolution. The New World was built on a rhythm. But the Gods are tired of waiting. Sixteen years after the collapse of the Old Republic, the People's Republic of America (PRA) stands as a miracle of human organization. In this neohistoric era, society is defined by collective labor, high-speed vacuum rails, and a fragile utopia where every worker has a seat at the table. But for Jabulani "Jab" Larkin, the peace is a thin veil over an ancient, simmering debt. Jab is a Subject-a mortal chosen by the ancient Gods to channel Essence, a raw metaphysical force that transforms a person's inner conviction into a weapon. While the PRA focuses on the labor of the present, the deities of the past are playing a game that stretches back to the dawn of time. When a violent shadow from the "Old World" resurfaces in the quiet district of Point Crescent, Jab and a small circle of allies-including Suyana, a master of the forge with her own hidden burdens-are thrust into a conflict that defies both physics and politics. They aren't just fighting monsters out of myth; they are fighting to keep the soul of their new civilization from being reclaimed by the tyrants of the old one. In a world where your Condensed Will is your only protection, Jab must master the lightning within before the ghosts of his lineage burn everything he has sworn to build. The hunt has begun. In the neohistoric era, the revolution is only the beginning.