Midnight City: A Conquered Earth Novel [Hardcover]

J. Barton Mitchell (Author)

Book Description

Release date: October 30, 2012 | Series: Conquered Earth (Book 1)

Lord of the Flies meets War of the Worlds in J. Barton Mitchell's alien-invaded post-apocalyptic world where two teens and a young girl with amazing powers must stop the aliens’ mysterious plan

Earth has been conquered by an alien race known as the Assembly. The human adult population is gone, having succumbed to the Tone---a powerful, telepathic super-signal broadcast across the planet that reduces them to a state of complete subservience. But the Tone has one critical flaw. It only affects the population once they reach their early twenties, which means that there is one group left to resist: Children.

Holt Hawkins is a bounty hunter, and his current target is Mira Toombs, an infamous treasure seeker with a price on her head. It’s not long before Holt bags his prey, but their instant connection isn’t something he bargained for. Neither is the Assembly ship that crash-lands near them shortly after. Venturing inside, Holt finds a young girl who remembers nothing except her name: Zoey.

As the three make their way to the cavernous metropolis of Midnight City, they encounter young freedom fighters, mutants, otherworldly artifacts, pirates, feuding alien armies, and the amazing powers that Zoey is beginning to exhibit. Powers that suggest she, as impossible as it seems, may just be the key to stopping the Assembly once and for all.

Midnight City is the breathtaking first book of the Conquered Earth series.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Mitchell’s prose debut, the first in a dystopian sci-fantasy series, is an imaginative mix of danger and humor...The action will keep readers turning the pages."
—Kirkus Reviews

“Comic-book author Barton’s first prose novel offers a bold narrative style, strong characters, and fast-paced action that will appeal to genre fans. Readers may feel disoriented at being dropped into a larger story already in progress, but the cinematic experience is enjoyable enough to convince them to just hold on during the wild ride.”
—Booklist

"Midnight City hooked me right from the moment Holt first tries to capture Mira and takes her prisoner only to realize he's dealing with a girl who's got some serious survival skills. The two characters are complete equals, more than any other fictional co-star team I've read and yet they're enemies. I knew exactly what would happen with Mira and Holt's instant chemistry and yet, I had to read on just to watch this amazing, action packed journey, both emotional and physical, unfold."
—Julie Cross, international bestselling author of Tempest

“I have succumbed to Midnight City!  Just like Holt, who fights to liberate a conquered Earth, I now see that great things can happen.  After all, J. Barton Mitchell wrote this novel.  I have hope of another.  As soon as possible.”
—Nancy Holder, New York Times bestselling author of the Wicked Saga

“When the adults mysteriously disappear, who will save the day after earth is conquered by aliens? In J. Barton Mitchell’s riveting post apocalyptic tale, the kids are the last line of defense. Centered around engaging (and conflicted) characters, Midnight City hurtles you into a story teeming with frightening monsters, bizarre techno-magic and edge-of-your-seat action. “
—Jana Oliver, award-winning author of The Demon Trapper’s Daughter

"Mitchell's prose debut, the first in a dystopian sci-fantasy series, is an imaginative mix of danger and humor...The action will keep readers turning the pages." (Kirkus Reviews )

"Midnight City hooked me right from the moment Holt first tries to capture Mira and takes her prisoner only to realize he's dealing with a girl who's got some serious survival skills. The two characters are complete equals, more than any other fictional co-star team I've read and yet they're enemies. I knew exactly what would happen with Mira and Holt's instant chemistry and yet, I had to read on just to watch this amazing, action packed journey, both emotional and physical, unfold." -- Julie Cross, international bestselling author of Tempest (Julie Cross )

"I have succumbed to Midnight City! Just like Holt, who fights to liberate a conquered Earth, I now see that great things can happen. After all, J. Barton Mitchell wrote this novel. I have hope of another. As soon as possible"- Nancy Holder, New York Times bestselling author of the Wicked Saga (Nancy Holder )

"When the adults mysteriously disappear, who will save the day after earth is conquered by aliens? In J. Barton Mitchell's riveting post apocalyptic tale, the kids are the last line of defense. Centered around engaging (and conflicted) characters, Midnight City hurtles you into a story teeming with frightening monsters, bizarre techno-magic and edge-of-your-seat action. "
--Jana Oliver, award-winning author of The Demon Trapper's Daughter (Jana Oliver )

About the Author

J. BARTON MITCHELL is a screenwriter, comic book writer, and author. He studied creative writing at the University of Houston before going on to receive a B.S. in Film Studies from the University of Texas. After selling screenplays to Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox, he created and wrote the comic book series Poe, published by Boom! Studios in 2009. Mitchell lives and writes in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition edition (October 30, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1250009073
• ISBN-13: 978-1250009074
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.2 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #849,614 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

J. Barton Mitchell is a writer and creator of speculative fiction, as well as a photographer, traveler, reader, and occasional masked crime fighter. He is the author of the young adult science fiction series Conquered Earth.

jbartonmitchell.com

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Promising Beginning October 22, 2012

By George R. Johnson VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

A fine beginning for a new SF series.

The Assembly had descended on Earth eight years before. A telepathic pulse, called the Tone, sent out took over minds of adults, causing them to march up and into the big alien ships. What they did with those humans were unknown. Immature minds were unaffected, leaving the world in the hands of children. But as they aged, the Tone began to work on them Few lasted beyond twenty.

Holt Hawkins is a bounty hunter and he's different . He's one of the Heedless, those that the Tone has no effect on. Mira Toombs id his current prey, the bounty on her from Midnight City large enough to buy him out of his troubles.

As he captures her something strange happens. Two Assembly ships, red, were attacking one of blue and white, the faction he was used to seeing. The blue and white ship is shot down, crashing near them, Holt finds a little girl, Zoey, all of eight, in the ship. She has no idea why she is in the Assembly ship, remembers nothing but her name.

The four of them, along with Holt's dog, Max, begin to wander through alien held North America, trying to avoid the warring factions, a third, green and orange, joing the fight. What the in-fighting was about has to do with Zoey it soon becomes apparent. She has some sort of powers she doesn't even understand. Mind reading it seems is one.

This was a wonderful read and I look forward to more in the Conquered Earth series.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Curious to see where this goes... September 13, 2012

By Catfish Kozmo VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

I'm a little bit divided on this one. Midnight City is the tale of the young survivors of an alien invasion that has robbed the Earth of everyone over twenty or twenty one. Holt and his dog Max have been on the run for a while. We're given some hints of some dark past but never the full details of what Holt is trying to escape. Holt actually is a bounty hunter and his on the trail of Mira when an enemy ship crashes right in front of him. Holt runs inside and finds a young girl, Zoey and rescues her. Now, all four of them are on the run through a conquered world and trying to make sense of where to go and what direction is best.

Maybe it's the dark tone of the book. Maybe it's just the writing. Or maybe it's just me. But I thought this novel really dragged in spots. I've read my fair share of destroyed-worlds novels and this one just didn't flow all that well. I think part of the reason that the novel doesn't move along that well is that the author kept introducing new concepts and ideas but never really fleshes them out. Holt has a debt or some secret which is why he's trying to capture Mira but it's not discussed. He's got a tattoo that he hides but we don't know why. Mira has a former friend/boyfriend/acquaintance that we never really find out about. It's like the majority of this book is just to get you to the next one. And I'm trying to decide if there are enough hooks in this book to get me the second. Frankly, I can't decide. I'm curious to see where it goes but with so many topics left open, I think I might be tempted to see what other reviewers say of the next book before I were to pick up this one.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly Amazing! December 8, 2012

By Nikki Wang

Format:Hardcover

This. This. This.
That's all I can really say. I just absolutely ADORED Midnight City and it was a great first alien-invasion book! Because, honestly. Are alien invasions usually interesting? Not to me. They sound to cheesy and cliche. But when I heard about Midnight City? I hesitantly took a chance on it. And oh my goodness! It was just amazing and stunning and nothing like I expected! Just, in a good way of course!

The plot was so the best part of this novel. It was SO action-packed and I just had no idea what Mitchell would throw at me next. And honestly? I wouldn't even try to figure out what was happening next! There's absolutely no way you could get anything right! It was just that filled with twists, and it was just...let's just say it's been a while since I've come across a plot where literally everything was unpredictable (except the romance. Psh.)
It was definitely fast paced and just...wow. By page 1, when the Menagerie finds Holt and they're attacked? WOW. And when he meets Mira? Talk about an impression! Just for the plot, read it. Still not convinced? Read on, thou which is hard to convince.

Romance? Definitely the opposite of insta-love, I squeal to say! It wasn't until about what? Three hundred pages when they finally kissed. Or later. But throughout the entire book, it went from hate, to respect, to allies, to friends, to like, to llooovvveee. And yes, I did just roll the word! It was just so squeal-worthy to see how reluctant they were to admit their feelings. And I just loved their pace! It was more realistic than most Young Adult books (taking up almost the entire book is pretty non instant isn't it?) and it was just...refreshing, for lack of better word!
And Hunter? SWOON is all I can say.

The characters I just absolutely positively loved. Or, more accurately, I absolutely positively loved Zoey and just loved Hunter and Mira! Zoey was all smart and zen and no, I didn't find it weird at all...after all, she is the Apex. Although, you don't know what that means, so it's totally not a spoiler. And she just had this...way about her. She was the mix of an innocent 8-year old girl, and this powerful, all-knowing seer or something. And it was just awesome seeing her go from one to another so seamlessly.
Mira was, and is, one of my favorite female leads. She wasn't just smart, she was resourceful. She wasn't special in a certain way--she was only different because of her resourcefulness! And like I've said continuously, it's been a while since I've read about a non-special/outstanding character with rare powers. Although...well, you'll just have to read and find out! Mira was a strong character that wasn't afraid to admit she was scared, but did something about that threat...basically kill or emancipate that threat. But, you know.
Hee. Hunter. I loved Hunter, though not as much as I loved Mira! He was definitely strong and protective? YES. And he and Mira fit together like puzzle pieces; where one was weak, the other was strong, as cheesy as it sounds!

An AMAZING debut that I absolutely loved and had NO qualms about whatsoever. Usually aliens aren't my thing. After all, it's just a bit...well, it's too nerdy-sounding for this nerd! But Midnight City definitely made me want to read more alien-orientated books! This is definitely a book for all sci-fi/apocalyptic fans or anyone who's looking for their first intro to the genre! It will not disappoint, I can almost guarantee!