Invasion (Prequel 1 of Hunted)

By A. Blackwelder

Set in Alaska in 2020, Uri Petrov and Dr. Samantha Croon find their lives intertwined when the shifters first land on Earth. Both motivated by love for their families, each is taken down a different path that will change the course of their lives forever and eventually the fate of the world.
Meanwhile, the military has divided into fractions...those who believe in the alien invasion and those who refuse to accept it, leaving Captain Raul at opposing ends with other heads of military.
With the shifters invading the forests of Kenai Lake, they explore their new world of refuge, and must discover how to shift in animal form while uncovering what it truly means to be human.

"While this is the fifth book written in the Shifter Evolutions series by Blackwelder, it has been subtitled Shifter Evolutions #1 since it is the prequel which tells the story of the actual invasion that started it all... I liked the story, especially since it has such unusual shifters and a good plot." -Wild About Bones

"I loved this book from the get-go. I feel like I was taken on a roller-coaster ride of emotions, at one point my heart was literally racing. " -Becca @Goodreads

"Blackwelder has created a totally unique type of "shifter" for her series. They are Eequeueans, "sentient beings of light", with three form types: natural alien, animal and human-like....

"The Invasion of 2020 is a great book. It took the mystery and fear that humans feel whenever something unexplainable happens, and presents it in a real, believable way." -Read For Your Future

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ami Blackwelder
• Release date: Sep 17, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466162945

A. Blackwelder

A indie writer of paranormal and syfy

Book preview

Fourth of July, 2020

Somewhere in the dense forests of Kenai Lake in Alaska, strobes of colorful light flashed across the foggy grey skies, one red light descending toward a lone ranger who wanted to catch a glimpse of the fireworks spectacle. Stumbling and then falling, he scraped his knee as his brown cap tumbled to the ground.

Damn. What the hell was that?! The strobing red light whizzed past his arm, searing his flesh and etching it with black burn marks. Hypnotized by the unearthly visitor, the ranger stared agape at the ball whirling photons, cradling his arm as he flinched away from the extreme level of heat emitted by the buzzing orb...and then as if it saw him, the light turned on the man like a rabid animal, darting at his chest.

With a few heavy, quick breaths, the ranger realized he was in terrible danger. Not the kind of danger he ever experienced when confronted by wolves or bears, but a danger unknown and uncertain.

As he raced past the dying campfire he had set hours earlier, the last of the embers took a crackling breath. For the ranger, the quiet woods had offered more than entertainment, they offered sanctuary. But tonight, they brought only fear. Darkness consumed the forest as the fire drew its last breath, and the ranger felt as if he took his last breath too; he was hyperventilating. He couldn’t see and something was out there, something that wanted him dead. But why?

The only sound was the light buzz of the pulsating orb. The only thing visible, a splattered flash here and there of red.

What the hell are you? he commented under his breath, feeling mesmerized, paralyzed and panicked all at once. Buzzing again, the red strobe rushed toward him, brushing against his leg and burning his pants. "Damn it!

Fleeing from the dead campfire, the ranger plodded over thick grass and dashed through heavy foliage, dodging branches and trees using his sense of touch and memory. Several more steps and the flashing red ball stopped him in his tracks as it descended in front of him before his eyes. Blinking like erratic traffic lights, the strobe began to spin, a whizzing noise building with its quickening motion.

Jumping away from the light, the ranger darted up the grassy path leading uphill. The further the ranger climbed, the closer he would be to his vehicle. However, upon the top of the hill, and in the dark, he noticed he had taken the wrong path. His jeep sat still many yards away from him.

Have to get to the next hill. The man grumbled as the red enemy pushed past the trees, branches, fog, and grass to confront the man yet again.

What do you want?! He screamed out of more fear than inquiry. Stay away from me!

But the light persisted.

Each movement the strobe took forward, the man moved back...until the man inched his way to the edge of a cliff. Waves from the lake crashed up against the rocky descent and the sound of them breaking on the rocks set a rush of goose bumps up the ranger’s spine.

Fueled by fear, the man teetered on the balance between falling and standing, his boots resting on the ledge like a crazed tight-rope acrobat.

Get away from me! What do you want? he shouted again, pushing his hands outward in a ‘stop’ position.

However, the flashing, whirling orb pressed forward, the heat glazing over the man’s face and body, the buzzing ringing in his ears, the adrenaline pumping his blood. Stepping backward, the ranger felt the balance tip to the enemy’s favor as his feet slipped out from underneath him.

Plummeting to the abyss below, his body caught the waves and washed out to sea.

* * *

The same night, on the beaches of Kenai Lake, Uri Petrov and Julia Smart, his girlfriend of two years, sat on the white crystal-like sand. Both wore faded blue jeans and sat with legs crossed over each other. Fingers entwined, they occasionally exchanged glances as they admired the fireworks in the sky. Students anticipated the Fourth of July firework show, and most drove several hours from Anchorage to get there.

A gray summer evening popped with colors and blared like a loud horn from the crackling and sometimes vibrating acoustics of the fireworks. Yellows, reds, blues, purples, oranges, silvers and more saturated the evening sky like an exploding rainbow.

Turning to Uri, Julia pressed her lips to his rough cheek before speaking. The show is spectacular; better than I thought.

What you think? I take you to boring place? Uri cracked a joke in his heavy Russian accent and broken English. However, nothing about him seemed rigid or broken to Julia. To her, he was perfect. Rustic. Robust. Usually with stubble on his chin.

Combing her long strands of curly, blonde hair — something he rarely saw in Russia — her icy blue eyes watched his, waiting for him to draw close to her. Julia seemed to Uri like the storm on the ocean, crashing in like a wave just to pull back to the sea, a flowing and ebbing of emotions. He hadn’t fallen for any Russian girl as much as with Julia — perhaps it was the hair — but he loved her.

Born in St. Petersburg, his parents determined early on their son would study English in America, and relayed their wishes on his fifteenth birthday. Leaving his friends, his school, his neighborhood, that would be best for him? But by his sixteenth birthday, he conceded. Dreams of Uri Petrov making something more of himself than the son of a coal miner and seamstress pushed him aboard a ship bound for Anchorage, Alaska when he turned eighteen. Now at twenty-one, in his senior year at university, he couldn’t even remember what all the fuss was about back then.

Sliding his right arm behind her, he yanked Julia into his warm, firm chest, and they fell upon the sandy shore. With sand rubbing between their toes, he smothered her with wet kisses and her laughter only encouraged him.

Uri, Uri...please. She chuckled, small white teeth showing. I’m trying to watch the firework display.

Ah...yes. The fireworks. American freedom and all that.

She rolled her eyes at him and his accent, as if she didn’t know the real reason he brought her here. And it wasn’t for the firework show.

I want to watch because it’s only once a year.

Yes...yes. He felt chided and often did with Julia, but he liked that about her. No-nonsense. Pulling a bottle of Chardonnay from his wicker basket, he popped the top and poured a glass for Julia which he kept beside the bottle in the basket.

Thank you.

Ne Za Shto, Uri finished before sipping his own glass. He used that phrase a lot with her, with his friends. She determined it meant something along the lines of no matter, or don’t worry about it, it was nothing.

With their eyes fixed on the lights exploding above them, the sheer brilliance radiated their faces and bodies, making their skin glow. That effect fascinated Julia, and she rubbed her fingers over her tanned skin to see the strange colors return when she took her hands away.

Laughing, she responded. Now isn’t that something?

Uri joined in on the laughter as he caressed her neck. Da, da.

To their left and right sat couples and groups of friends. Uri’s good pal Paul Boyette barbecued with a few of his buddies just a few yards downwind. Breezes scattered dead fireworks toward the crowd as peers blew on noise makers. Stacked beer cans waited to be discarded as soon as the show ended, and students whistled through their teeth at the start of each firework explosion. A few chose to dance about and some men ripped their T-shirts off, like gorillas gone mad.

Reggae music permeated the air and rushed over Uri and Julia, basking under the night sky. The firework show ended when the last trail of sparkling color slowly faded. Couples fell into each other’s loving arms, swaying or simply rocking each other. Sweet sounds, of smacking lips saturated the air. Even Uri now could appreciate the full magnitude of bringing Julia to Kenai Lake. His friend Paul made the suggestion.

Nestled between his thick neck and shoulder, and with legs propped outward, Julia relaxed her back in the soft sand beside Uri. Her white tube-top revealed her belly button piercing. She found where she wanted to spend the night. Nothing was more serene than that moment.

Somewhere in the middle of necking, the youthful bodies shook at the loud bang resounding in the sky. More fireworks? Jerking his head skyward, Uri disturbed Julia’s comfort as her head fell backward, but the two set their eyes on the vibrant array of what appeared to be a series of shooting stars. Like cylinders comprised of various spectrums of light, the spectacle crossed the horizon and came towards them. The display marked the sky with as many colors as the firework show.

What is it? Julia nudged him with her shoulder.

Meteor shower?

But aren’t stars...meteors...yellow?

I...I’m not sure. A wrinkle broke between Uri’s brows, and his left eye twitched as it did when he didn’t quite grasp something.

Maybe we should take pictures? Julia jumped up and dusted the grains of sand from her pale jeans. Pulling her miniature camera out from her square silver purse, she snapped photo after photo as the stream of stars or meteors or lights—whatever they were—flooded the skies and shot across Kenai Lake, heading towards the forest.

Placing his hands over her back, he stood behind her. You get the picture you wanted? Uri asked.

I think so. Julia spun toward him on her heel to let her boyfriend see the exuberance in her face. This was exciting, more entertaining for her than three years of university had been.

Look! Uri pointed with his right forefinger, leaning toward the uncanny sight in the distance. A glow like neon lights beamed golden and then hovered over the lake for a moment before shooting across Kenai and into the forests, disappearing.

Though mesmerized by the blaring lights, the two took a moment to pull their focus away from the skies and noticed people standing on the beach with them, watching the lights in stunned awe. To their left, right and behind them, the sandy shores filled with curious spectators, mostly students from the University of Alaska and a few permanent residents of Kenai.

A few couples spoke in the background. Is this part of the firework show? a female voice asked.

No, no, a male with a deep voice answered. This is...those are shooting stars.

They are not, another female interjected. That is a meteor shower.

Isn’t that the same thing? the male retorted.

No. The female stomped her foot. They are completely different.

I don’t think so, the male’s voice commented.

Between the man and woman bickering, Uri threw his arm around Julia’s neck and motioned her forward. Wanting to step away from the soon-to-be-argument and hoping to catch a better glimpse of the lights shooting across the skies, Uri strolled with Julia along the shoreline with their bare feet soaking wet by the lapping shore.

Much better, Uri said.

Yes. Julia pinched her lips together in a strange contorted pucker, caught between holding in a laugh and preparing to kiss him. His ability to disengage from the world around him amused her. Forget the crowd, heck, even forget the unique sky lights. Uri only wanted one thing, and that was to spend time with her.

You warm enough? Uri asked as he rubbed his hands over her back, leading up to the nape of her neck.

Nodding, she just about rested her head on his shoulder again before another light, a purple-white strobe, flashed across the sky. Hovering for a few seconds several yards above them, the purple-white light then blasted toward the thicket of trees and disappeared behind the web of branches and spruce.

What do you imagine that was? Julia lingered, her left foot teetering between moving forward and heading back. A tall brunet man with tousled hair stood to their left, holding the hand of his girlfriend. Overhearing, he felt compelled to answer.

Aliens. They’ve come. His scratchy voice made the words more ominous.

Turning his head toward the man, Uri sputtered, A...aliens? What you smoking? The Russian accent took a moment to register before the man responded.

You’ve never seen the little green men?

Green men? Uri guffawed, gripping his belly, unable to control his laughter. Julia smiled at the man as she tried to hold Uri up straight by bracing him with her arms.

This is not a joke. The man grew defensive; his dark brow arched.

A joke...a good joke. Uri nodded with an inviting smile, in the way that said you are a friend. Shaking his head, the man turned to his girlfriend who rubbed her temples.

Let’s just go home, she suggested.

Home, sweetie? This place is perfect to see them coming! Both agitation and excitement crossed his face, as if he couldn’t make up his mind which emotion made more sense for him. But leave? He couldn’t leave now. With a sigh from the girlfriend, everyone knew who won that discussion.

Yanking Uri forward with her arm underneath his, Julia guided him away from the couple and farther down the shoreline. The silence didn’t last long before someone jumped up behind Uri and grabbed his shoulder.

Wait up! Paul declared. Uri turned, seeing the hopeful eyes of his best friend. The fashion-challenged business major who he met his first year at university sighed.

With his foot sinking in the wet sand, Uri glared at his friend. Paul? Uri sounded disgruntled. What you want? That was Uri’s way of saying, go away. Paul knew this, but these lights were too mysterious to enjoy without his best friend — the guy who did everything bordering illegal with him.

Isn’t this something? Paul raked his thin piano fingers through his dirty-blond hair. He frequently played piano when he wasn’t studying for his business classes. Blue eyes fixed on Uri and widened.

Squirming, Uri couldn’t make up his mind what he wanted more, fulfilling his curiosity about the lights or his curiosities about Julia. The latter seemed more relevant to his life and he curled his lip under in answer, like an angry mutt.

Aurora Borealis brighter. Light shows all year round. Uri waved his hands and began to walk away from Paul.

No, no...not like this. Paul gripped his shoulder. I’ve never seen anything like this.

Is this only happening on Kenai Lake? Julia inquired to no one in particular.

Uri kicked a pebble on the wet sand. Now, Paul drew his girlfriend into the craziness. The lake already soaked in curious whispers and awe-struck citizens. She didn’t need to be added to the bunch. Up and down the beach, flashes from cameras marked this event permanently. The images were burned forever into the minds of the spectators.

I’m going to call my sis in Anchorage. Maybe she knows. Paul flipped his cell open, and after a few rings began to talk. Are you seeing this light show?...No, no, no...not the fireworks...the...the meteor shower? he asked vaguely. Yeah, some kind of shooting stars for the past twenty minutes....all kinds of colors. Purple, silver, gold, red, yellow, blue....Nothing? Turn on your television, anything? He waited a minute before responding, his eyes searching the skies above him. Really? I’ve got to show you these pictures. Later. Click, the phone shut off, and he snapped another image before turning to Uri.

What did she say? Julia questioned.

She didn’t know what I was talking about. There is nothing on the news, and she hasn’t seen anything but fireworks in Anchorage.

But wouldn’t it be rare that a meteor shower would be seen all over the state? Julia stated.

I don’t know. Paul shrugged. But this sure is interesting.

Slipping his phone into his back pocket, Paul looked skyward again, as did all eyes on Kenai Lake. Silence fell over the shore; whispers quieted and then a rush of awe. Even Uri turned away from Julia for a moment to see what brought on such a reaction.

Twenty lights of various colors darted across the evening sky at once without a sound. Then all the lights disappeared behind the trees as quickly as they began. The lake sat silent and empty for ten minutes with students and residents just standing, staring, hoping a light would return and spark up the sky again. But there was nothing. Then ten more minutes passed and the spectators grew restless, packed up their things and headed to their cars.

Do you think the lights will come back? Julia asked Uri with puppy-dog eyes. And how could he refuse her?

Certainly. He squeezed her shoulders. The three turned away from the water and toward the parking lot up the hill.

Rumors

The following week, gossip highlighted all the events on Kenai Lake that Fourth of July. Those who didn’t make it could have kicked themselves for not attending the greatest party of the year so far. A ring of bells ended class, and the halls filled with students heading for their next one. Paul waved down Uri in the Economics building and met him midway in the hall.

Wait up! he shouted over the rushing wave of students. Pushing and brushing up against the other students, they finally made their way out of Economics and headed to the Business building, a routine they had formed since the beginning of junior year. Since they both majored in business, they decided to be study partners.

Did you see this? Paul thrust his phone into Uri’s face. Images of the mysterious lights on Kenai Lake filled the screen. Streaming from YouTube. It’s all over the internet.

Wow, was all Uri could muster with his thoughts on Julia in the Education building, counting the hours until he’d see her again. She studied education so that she could work as a kindergarten teacher upon graduating. Unlike Uri and Paul, her major didn’t focus on making money, and Uri admired Julia for that. His parents would admire Julia for that, too, and he often dreamed about taking her back to Russia to meet the family.

Everyone’s been talking about it all week.

What your sis think? She major in Cosmology? Uri asked.

Yeah, and biology. She texted me last night. Paul coughed once, the beginning of a cold. She implied the photos were doctored. But I told her I was there. The images are real.

A furrowed brow revealed Uri’s interest and confusion. Why were the photos doctored? What she say then?

Stopping on the cobblestone sidewalk, Paul commanded Uri’s full attention. She said there is no way this is a meteor shower or set of shooting stars.

Military operation? Uri suggested.

I wouldn’t know...but my sis didn’t have an answer either. She’s never seen anything like it and...she sounded excited and yet nervous about that. I don’t get a good feeling about it.

Dyeĭstvitelʹno. Using Russian to say something like really or wow, Uri often fell back on his native tongue when surprised. What that mean? His words stretched in thought.

Clearing his throat, and picking up some speed as they walked toward the next class, Paul tightened the blue tie under his suit jacket. I’m not sure...but I’d like to know if this happened anywhere else besides Kenai Lake. Wouldn’t you?

Da. Then, Julia fled from his thoughts. Instead, his mother and father weighed heavily on him. He wondered where they had been during the mysterious light show. Were they doing fine or had they experienced anything like he had that night?

Opening the doors to the Business building, the air conditioner tickled their skin, skin that had gotten used to the unusual summer heat, unusual due to global warming. Alaska had only a few months without snow. Summer. Even in spring and in autumn, Alaskans were familiar with snowfall. But now under the summer sun, most Alaskans were not used to this kind of heat, and the university felt air conditioning would be a necessary measure, despite restrictions because of global warming legislation.

Uri went to the second door on the left, while Paul strolled to the third door on the right. Even in class, Uri could not get away from the commotion and gossip about the Fourth of July. The serious lady with long brown hair to her waist, who sat behind Uri, tapped him on the shoulder before the bell.

Did you see this? Cool, huh? Like shooting stars. She waved her cell in front of him, showing off the images her friend sent.

Yeah, was there. Uri wanted to roll his eyes, sick already of all the hoopla. It was probably a prank from firework enthusiasts anyway...but he was curious about St. Petersburg, his true home.

You were there! Cool.

Do you have any images from St. Petersburg? Uri asked.

Huh?

Russia?

Scrolling her pictures, she looked up with grey eyes and shook her head. Just Kenai Lake.

Nodding, Uri returned his attention to the front of the class just as the chimes rang. As the professor began speaking on finances, he straightened his spectacles and leaned toward the overhead for a film on the financial crisis of 2007, then shut off the lights.

Tap-tap, tap-tap. Uri felt a light pat on his shoulder from behind. To Uri, women were alway more interesting than a film, he tilted his head back toward her, glad for the disturbance.

What, Tasha? he whispered.

I found something here. She held up her electronic device, beaming images in and out on the miniature screen. With a cocked brow and quizzical squint of the eyes, he leaned into the image. St. Petersburg, Tasha clarified.

Lifting the device from her tiny hands, Uri stared at the pictures, while the rest of the class fell asleep watching the educational film. Lights strobed over rustic homes, like a prism. He wasn’t sure which feeling engulfed him more, intrigue over what celestial manifestation washed over the Earth or fear that the lights could have harmed or scared his family. All his relatives lived in St. Petersburg.

Then his mind spun with what it all meant. The end of the world? An aberration of the cosmos? Was the lunatic on Kenai Lake right? Could it be some kind of extraterrestrial life form? What was the news saying? With the professor now hovering over Uri and clearing his throat, Uri closed the cell and slipped it behind his back to Tasha. The cell disappeared inside her back jean pocket within two micro-seconds flat.

Don’t want to see that in class again, the professor said sharp.

Yes, sir. Uri nodded politely and shrunk into his seat.

* * *

At Uri’s apartment, a few blocks from the university, his girlfriend and Paul hung out with him on the living room sofa. Watching the news, they each wanted to know more about the lights from the Fourth of July. However, even with the remote clicking through channels, the news did not have much more to add.

A day of wild stars. click An unparalleled event of falling stars mixing with the Aurora Borealis. click Seen in a few locations around the world such as Kenai Lake, Alaska; St. Petersburg, Russia; Katmandu, Nepal; Casablanca, Morocco; Lima, Peru. The spectacle seemed to occur in at least one major city on most continents, with exception to Antarctica and Australia. Yet the event lasted longer at Kenai Lake than at any other region of the world. What exactly did that mean?

Flipping open his cell, Uri called home. Surely, someone knew something more. He often

Reviews for Invasion (Prequel 1 of Hunted)

[ms.finny · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I received books #3 and #5 in this series through a Library Thing giveaway. Because I prefer to read things chronologically, I bought this, along with #2 and #4 so I could have a better overview of the storyline while reading and reviewing the books I won.While I liked the idea of this book, alien invasion, military reacting harshly, aliens trying to integrate with humans, etc., I felt things could have been a little better written. The word "heave/-d/-ing" was used to describe the characters or aliens almost anytime they were in distress, which got a bit old. It also felt as though there should have been more detail in many more places. For example, the relationship between Sam and Uri was very fleeting, almost so short it wasn't really necessary to the story line. Same with the introduction of the other hybrids. I'm sure these thongs come in to play later, but now they just seem disorganized.The characteristics of the aliens also seemed really odd. Considering they had never met humans before, they were incredibly human like in their behavior and attitudes. The human characters were also a bit off to me. Julia was overly dramatic, Sam overly obsessed and so afraid of losing people but forgives her husband in an instant? As I said, I liked the idea and will continue to read the series to see now things turned out. I just think the details and characters needed a bit of polishing. This would be a good sci-fi for someone who wants a fast, easy read that doesn't take much thinking.

[pamkaye · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

So this is actually book 5 of the Shifter Evolution Series, but first in chronological order of events.I received this book from LibraryThing free for an honest review. A couple years ago, Ami sent me about 7 books to review. I'm afraid I have been a little laxed at finishing the reviews, so I will be taking care of that now.When alien beings made of light photons come to earth, they are seen by many people in many countries. This book concentrates on the group that landed in Alaska.All the "shifters want to do is live here in peace because their planet is no longer habitable. Of course that is impossible. The US military tries to hunt them, kill them and experiment on them. One man makes friends with a shifter, despite his anger and fear.The story is good. Although there are times that are contradictory. When aliens arrive one makes a statement "Let's head to the forest on the other side of the lake." Later when speaking of the lake "What is this substance? We've never seen it's like before."The alien names are not very imaginative: a purple strobe is "Purple Hue", a golden strobe is "Golden Beam", a silver strobe is "Silver Tip".I did enjoy the book despite these issues. I will be reading the rest of the series. I believe there are 6 books.

[shonda12-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I read all the shifter books and I must say that Ami Blackwelder has written a very good series. I really enjoyed how she was able to make the aliens seem so real and human like.

[scmerritt · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I first read the Hunted of 2060 and found the story very intriguing. I then went back and started from the beginning with the Invasion of 2020. Why? I received the Hunted as a free review copy and ended up buying the first book to see how the story began.This introduces a new species of light that can shift forms to both animal and human form. They came from a dying world looking for a place to live and survive. As in all SciFi books and life in general, the population is afraid of what they don't understand. Confusions, misunderstandings and fear create a violent reaction to the supposed invasion.This book is a very good story and keeps the reader interested showing both sides of the story. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

[hydrografie_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Received this book through LT giveaway.THis is the second book in this series that I've read. Chronologically the book is the first in the series as it describes the actual invasion. The book describes how a few humans are (almost) directly confronted with the effects of the invasion. Amongst them captain Raul of the military, dr. Samantha Croon and a russian named Uri. Half the book describes the invasion from their point of view, the other half of the book covers that of the shifter aliens.As with the previous book I read, this proves a decent read. Nothing exceptional but amusing at times. I think the alien characters could have had a bit more depth as they discover where they are and how to interact. Also the book has some major flaws in terms of timelines and possibilities. As a 'hard-core' science fiction reader I do not like discrepancies, and this book is full of them. Take for example the mode of transportation. In 2020 Uri drives a hoover car... and then when there are no flights to Russia he takes a boat from New York to Hamburg. 50 years into the future the hoover car may be reality and 50 years ago one could take the boat from New York to Hamburg, but both in 2020?? All in all, though an interesting plot, no reason for me to read the other parts of the series.

[twlite_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Invasion 2020by: Ami BlackwelderI won this book from a Library Thing giveawayI believe this is the 5th book in this series. The story is set in the year 2020 in Alaska. Uri and Dr. Samantha are spun together because of an invasion of Shifters that land on Earth. The shifters, that are "beings of light" have discover how to shift to be animals while learning about human behavior. There is also Captian Raul who is in the military that is split about what they believe is true. Raul is struggling with his views of the shifters.This is an interesting book. The story is really good and has a nice pace to it. I wish the characters (the aliens) were more developed in the book. I thought there could have been a little more substance to them. On that thought, I should mention that I have not read the first 4 books in the series and there may have been alot of background I missed about the characters because of that. I found the book enjoyable and am now interested in reading the previous books to see what I've missed. I would recommend this book to friends.

[roadway2000_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The first part of the book was a little difficult to keep interested in. I have to believe that the author was striving to give all of the background for the next part of the book. Once it got started, it was very interesting and the characters really came to life. After reading the whole book I really got into the story and am looking forward to more of the series. Give the book a try, after a while you will find it to be very good and by the end you will want more.

[avidd_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I recently received a copy of “The Invasion of 2020, a Shifter Dystopian (Shifter Evolutions Book #1)” by Ami Blackwelder from Library Thing’s Member Giveaways. The author requested an “honest review” in exchange.I tried, I really tried but I had to put this book down after the first two scenes. I could not read any more. The story started at three percent on my kindle and by the time I hit six percent and gave up, the author quite conceivably may have broken every rule in the grammar book. An “editor” and a “copy editor” are credited as contributing to this book. It is not evident that they contributed anything other than their names.About the nicest thing I can say is that this is one very enthusiastic writer – bless her heart.