A Hope of Life by JK Battaglia has a lot for the reader — family, the search for meaning or purpose, hope, dystopia, intrigue, and a lot more. Ashton Deveraux Forte has lost her husband in the most painful of ways; he has been executed by the Guillotine. Away and alone in the austere setting of the wilderness, she has only her dog with her when she gives birth, just to realize too soon that the one thing that mattered has been taken away from her. Now she sets out to recover the only thing that would give meaning to her life. Follow her on the dangerous path that leads to Colorado Springs, Denver, Detroit, through Jerusalem to the Megiddo Valley. Can she recover what she is looking for without getting caught by the sinister Protectorate?

This is a story that has great potential to entertain a wide audience, including fans of Christian literature, sci-fi, political intrigue, and dystopian fiction. JK Battaglia’s work is very interesting, a page-turner that gets the reader intrigued even more as they move from page to page. A Hope of Life features very compelling characters, a well-imagined and fast-paced plot, and a conflict that drives the plot in very strong ways. Readers will easily connect with the protagonist, Ashton Deveraux Forte. I enjoyed the fact that she is a female character who has to overcome a lot of challenges and evade powerful and unforgiving enemies in pursuit of what would fulfill her life. JK Battaglia’s writing is very accessible and the narrative voice very clear and somewhat meditative.

Ashton Deveraux Forte has been through a lot. She’d lost a husband in the worst way, killed by the Guillotine. Pregnant, she’d lived in the most abject and austere of conditions. She’s suffered betrayal of the most painful kind. She gave birth to twins in a horrifying manner, accompanied by her dog, Salvador, but the most painful experience, the most gruesome heartbreak came after her twins, Amber and Damian, got taken away from her — or stolen? And why? By whom? And where would they be taking her precious infants? A Hope of Life by JK Battaglia introduces readers to great characters and themes that are intimate to the human spirit, including hope and resilience, the search for happiness and a purpose, intrigue, and a lot more.

JK Battaglia’s novel is unique, a work that reads as original — the voice, the style, the plot. She combines the art of journaling with her storytelling skills to craft a story that will have readers completely hooked. I enjoyed the first person narrative and how the narrator pulls the reader into her worldview and forces the reader to feel her pain. The author doesn’t waste time introducing the conflict — which is developed at different levels. The setting is well-constructed and it allows the protagonist to strengthen her spirit, building up resilience by embracing an austere life. Take away from a woman the only thing that matters to her and you arouse in her a powerful will to live, to fight, and to survive. For Ashton Deveraux Forte, it isn’t the loss of a husband, but the loss of the flesh of her flesh, her twins. The language is wonderful, filled with rich imagery. From the beauty of the language to the depth of characters, readers have a lot to enjoy in A Hope of Life.

In A Hope of Life, a story that continues the saga of the woman we met in A Slice of Life by author J.K. Battaglia, readers will find a real roller coaster of a read that will keep them on their toes throughout! In this volume, Ashton Deveraux Forte, our protagonist, continues to try to live her life on the brink. On the edge of being noticed by the nefarious global conglomerate, the Protectorate, on the edge of capture by the brutal killer La Guillotine, and on the edge of the thing that is most important to her, her survival and that of her precious child. When a being from another world appears in her life, and seems to be offering her an escape, will she be able to take that chance?

A Hope of Life is nothing if not an intriguing novel. Author J.K. Battaglia is certainly versed in the world of science fiction and fantasy, and his writing style is all the better for it. He has devised an environment that is at once futuristic as well as realistic, not an easy feat. He has also developed authentic and believable characters, especially his protagonist, Ashton. There is a strong message of Christianity throughout this work, but it is not so heavy handed that those who are not specifically looking for a Christian work would be put off. Any reader looking for an exciting new read should absolutely give this book a chance. I can certainly give an enthusiastic recommendation for A Hope of Life, and hope that the author, J.K. Battaglia, is already working on the next installment of this highly promising series!

In an interesting and exciting new read in a series by author J.K. Battaglia, A Hope of Life is a book that will grab you from the very start and keep you obsessively reading all the way through until the very end. Follow the story of Ashton Deveraux Forte, a woman who has dealt with a lot in her life, more than any human could reasonably be expected to bear. She's done her best to stay hidden from the Protectorate, even with all of their prying robots, 'droids and drones, fought horrible killers, and has looked at evil dead on, but the most important thing she has done through all of this has been to survive. Will Ashton continue to live through a time unlike any other in history, and will she accept the help she needs from an otherworldly being that just might be able to protect her and her precious one? You'll need to read the book to find out!

I very much enjoyed A Hope of Life. Author J.K. Battaglia has done a great job in creating characters that readers will relate to, connect with and truly come to care about. If that isn't a hallmark of a great author, I'm not sure what is. The author's writing style is crisp, clear and succinct, and the world creation in this novel is simply second to none. Any reader who enjoys science fiction, fantasy, adventure, thrills, and a strong message of Christianity will certainly enjoy this book. I am pleased to be able to recommend A Hope of Life, and I look forward to reading more from author J.K. Battaglia in the future!

Amazing continuation of the "Life" series. The author knows how to develop the characters and keep the reader engaged while telling the story of a woman in search of her family and purpose in life.

Experience the End Times and the apocalyptic state of the world like never before through the eyes of Ashton Forte. She undertakes a harrowing, dangerous journey to retrieve what was stolen from her. A raw, visceral adventure that has you on the edge of your seat at every turn!