Author Jami Gray recaps the epic story of the Fate’s Vulture’s series in time for the release of the final chapter; Fear the Reaper…

The last book in my Fate’s Vultures series, Fear The Reaper, hits shelves soon and I’m caught between elation and sadness at seeing this particular series come to a conclusion. Although I have to admit, working in a post-apocalyptic world was quite the experience. I started Fate’s Vultures because I love playing with grey characters, those who blur the line between wrong and right, and the possible outcomes of what the world could be when civilisation as we know it no longer exists.

To ensure my unlikely heroes, Fate’s Vultures, had the proper stage I created a world that is a cross between Mad Max and the wild, wild West. Survival isn’t easy, but there are a few pieces of advice the Vultures have learned throughout their adventures. Before you join Reaper and Lilith as they deal with the consequences of past decisions while trying to save the world as they know it, you may want to take note of their advice.

Make Your Own Family:

Survival is a lonely game if you’re the only one still standing, a fact Fate’s Vultures have learned the hard way. Despite their varied backgrounds, these battered souls came together to make a family that has more to do with loyalty than genetics. In this rough new reality, having others you can trust to watch your back is more valuable than trying to make it on your own because when situations turn critical, they’re the best weapon you can have. The ultimate goal is that when the dust finally settles, you and your family are still standing.

For Lilith and Reaper, family is complicated. Like most couples, they bring quite the emotional luggage collection to the table. Some of that baggage is decidedly more precious than others, but all that weight makes finding their path to each other difficult. Both are strong personalities who aren’t afraid to do whatever it takes to get what they want regardless of the potential fallout. Unfortunately, if the two can’t figure out how to leave the hurt feelings and bruised egos of the past behind, and consolidate their goals, they might lose more than the family they’ve created.

Allies arrive in the most unexpected ways:

Nothing is truer than the saying ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’. In the Vultures’ world alliances are crucial, especially when you’re faced with a diabolical leader with a personal vendetta intent on taking control of the West Coast. Once Lilith and Reaper realise they’re being targeted by just such a leader, they know the standard rules no longer apply and it’s time to get creative. Whether it’s protecting your supply lines, reclaiming what was lost, forging tricky alliances or ripping aside the curtain on corrupt leaders, neither Lilith nor Reaper mind slipping into the grey when it comes to keeping what’s theirs safe.

If you can’t out-run them, outsmart them:

As Reaper and Lilith have learned, in order to survive the power players divvying up the former United States and the roaming bands of feral traders and mercenaries, you have to be able to outwit and outgun your opposition. Dodging bounty hunters is exhausting. It requires split-second decisions in unfamiliar territory and predicting the unpredictable, all while you’re trying to keep a low profile. Dashing through hookah lounges, vaulting across rooftops and making side trips to houses of ill repute – you never know what obstacles you’ll encounter when you’re running for your lives.

No matter where you end up, have a Plan B, Plan C and probably a Plan D ready. It doesn’t take much to change an uncomplicated meeting into a roadhouse brawl, or a simple spying expedition into a deadly game of chase. And when all else fails, bring on the explosives to widen your exit options.

Nothing is ever simple:

It’s vital to remember that there are two sides to every story: yours and theirs. When reigniting a relationship with your first love, as in the case of Lilith and Reaper, being ambushed by the past is a high possibility. Knowing how to spot the signs of an imminent argument may help to avoid potential misunderstandings, like the kind that can span years and cost you more than you’re willing to pay.

For Reaper, after serving in the Border Wars, he learned some situations require alternate communication methods, and in some instances pressing your point home, whether by fist or by blade, is required. Not that this approach is helpful when dealing with Lilith, especially since she’s just as skilled in that type of approach. It’s enough to make any man think twice. Then there’s the small issue that he’d rather make his point to her privately…from a horizontal position.

As for Lilith, dealing with Reaper is akin to picking her way through a minefield blindfolded.  There are too many secrets and half-truths strewn through their past to find a route that doesn’t end in disaster. Not that it stops her from trying because walking away from him again may not be an option. Besides, all’s fair in love and war, and when it comes to her and Reaper, the line between the two is awfully thin.

There’s more to life than survival:

After years apart and carving their path alone, this lesson may be the hardest one for Lilith and Reaper to grasp. It’s hard to enjoy the little things when you’re weighed down by unexpected responsibilities. If they can survive the chaos created by their common enemy and make their way through the maze of past hurts and betrayals, they may find the life they once hoped they’d share is right there, waiting for them.

And finally, one last piece of advice…

It’s a dangerous world out there, so hold on tight to the one you love and take a wild ride with Fate’s Vultures.

by Jami Gray

When the hunter becomes the hunted, it’s time to reap what you sowed…

The world didn’t end in fire and explosions, instead it collapsed slowly, like falling dominoes, an intensifying panic of disease, food shortages, wild weather and collapsing economies, until what remains of humanity battles for survival in a harsh new reality.

After vowing to never again put his life on the line for another’s ambitions, Reaper, leader of Fate’s Vultures, has earned himself a formidable reputation. Unfortunately, that reputation isn’t enough to stop an old enemy from retaliating. With bounty hunters sniffing at their heels, Reaper vows retribution and takes the Vultures to the one person no one expects-Lilith, the woman he once loved.

As leader of the Rocky Mountain territory, Lilith has paid dearly for a position that kept her secrets safe. When a looming threat draws close, every devil’s bargain she’s made falls by the wayside and she is forced to partner with the man who walked away.

With no choice but to work together against a common enemy, Lilith and Reaper need to find their way through the minefield of past betrayals and broken promises to ensure a future for those they’ve sworn to protect … before it all goes to hell.

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