Refuge on the Mountain

A Post-Apocalyptic Mystery

Fiction - Mystery - Murder
304 Pages
Reviewed on 04/04/2024
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Author Biography

Cornelia Feye is a writer, publisher and art historian living in San Diego. During the pandemic, with her husband she completed building a mountain retreat in the Rancho Cuyamaca State Park, which was a perfect sanctuary from Covid. This retreat is very much like the cabin in Refuge on the Mountain.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

Refuge On the Mountain is a dystopian thriller by Cornelia Feye. Greg Stern, a former cop, receives a timely warning from his friend at the NSA about a devastating solar storm that will take out the global power grids for years. Wasting no time, Greg and his wife, Vega, inform their immediate family about the upcoming event and take shelter in their solar-powered secluded mountain cabin. While their son, Daniel, brings his girlfriend, Lin, along, Greg's sister, Rose, comes with her boyfriend, Tarek, a Syrian immigrant, and his twelve-year-old daughter, Eleni. However, their stay at the cabin soon turns hazardous after a confrontation with the Superior Bastards, a neo-Nazi group seeking to take control of their sanctuary. The family loses a beloved member while Vega is seriously injured. Now, Greg must find allies to take his land back.

For fans of post-apocalyptic survival stories, Refuge On the Mountain is an absolute belter of a novel. Cornelia Feye spins a gripping yarn full of suspense, action, and thrills, where each chapter brings new nail-biting moments that will have you on the edge of your seat. Capitalizing on an intriguing premise, Feye takes readers through a narrative filled to the brim with tension and drama to keep you hooked until the end. The plot moves at a brisk pace, twisting and turning in ways you never see coming. Each character has a distinct personality, and the inter-relationship dynamics add to the enjoyment of the story with layers to peel back. As a reader who loves post-apocalyptic survival stories, this one was right up my alley, and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Natalie Soine

Refuge on the Mountain by Cornelia Feye is a gripping post-apocalyptic murder mystery set against the backdrop of a powerful solar storm. The story revolves around Greg and Vega, who receive a dire warning from a friend in the National Security Agency about an impending global catastrophe caused by a G5-level coronal mass ejection. In a race against time, they gather their extended family and friends to escape to their mountain cabin in Kosmik Peak. However, their struggle for survival takes a dark turn as they encounter a group of neo-Nazis, leading to a battle for their sanctuary. Refuge on the Mountain is a thrilling and emotional novel that explores the resilience of the human spirit in the face of insurmountable odds.

Cornelia Feye crafts a compelling narrative that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat throughout the story. Cornelia expertly builds tension and suspense, creating a palpable sense of urgency as the characters face an unprecedented threat to their way of life. The interplay of family dynamics and the evolving relationships between the characters add depth to the plot, making it more than just a typical post-apocalyptic thriller. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy to connect with their struggles and triumphs. From Greg and Vega's determination to protect their family to the complex dynamics within the group of survivors, the characters feel authentic and multi-dimensional. I enjoyed reading Refuge on the Mountain. This is a compelling and thought-provoking novel that seamlessly blends elements of post-apocalyptic fiction and murder mystery.

Cecelia Hopkins

Refuge on the Mountain by Cornelia Feye commences dramatically as Greg receives a call from Rakesh, warning him of an imminent Coronal Mass Ejection capable of decimating the power grid. Greg gathers his wife, Vega, adult sons Daniel and Stevie, mother Inge, and his sister Rose. The family heads to the family cabin where they can exist self-sufficiently. When Greg discovers a body on the path to Kosmik Peak, he fears reprisal from the neo-Nazi group known as Superior Bastards. The group begins to train in combat and plan a defense, but tensions rise, and divisions form. Tarek is kidnapped and the Superior Bastards demand an unthinkable ransom. Can Greg protect his family as well as solve the murder of Jack Smith?

Refuge on the Mountain by Cornelia Feye is a post-apocalyptic narrative that features a compelling set of characters. I liked the diversity of the family whose members had different origins, yet were closely knit. Greg and Stevie were easy for me to identify with and provided a conventional point of view. Vega had a strong faith in her goddess which provided an alternate approach to life. Lin, Tarek, and Hilde were impressive survivors of racial prejudice and political unrest. I liked the way some invited people were considered non-family but proved essential to the plot. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot which brought assistance from unexpected sources and placed blame where I least anticipated. The story made me question my assumptions regarding race and equality. Overall, Refuge on the Mountain by Cornelia Feye is a thought-provoking speculative read.