MANTA
The Fall Gauntlet #5
by J. A. Merkel
Published: July 24, 2025
Publisher: Worlds Apart Media
Genre: Young Adult, Apocalyptic, Post Apocalyptic, Dystopian
Blurb:
Where
do you run when you can no longer outrun yourself?
As
the harrowing events of the bullet train haunt Benji, the true and
inescapable stakes of the Fall Gauntlet come into sharp focus. The
masks don’t choose champions at random, and those pulling the
strings aren’t always who they seem.
In Ikanos, violent
storms trap Benji, Soren, and crew, blocking their path to the
Tangerine Islands. All Benji wants is to escape, forget, and
destabilize the mask maker so he can finally save his family.
Then
a desperate mother begs Benji and Soren for their help. Her son has
gone missing—lost to an Original spirit that may have corrupted him
in its bid for freedom. Benji doesn’t want to take on another
fight, but he can’t outrun this one—Ikanos’s problems are tied
to his own. As the spirit closes in, he realizes another precious
life is slipping through his fingers.
He won’t get what
he wants. But he may finally get what he needs.
The
Fall Gauntlet continues …
J.
A. Merkel’s MANTA is
part of The
Fall Gauntlet,
a collection of dystopian sci-fi novellas about Benji and Soren’s
quest to outsmart the Crown and reclaim their family, all while
learning how to be brothers again.
My Review:
There were moments when I encountered something particularly intriguing, and my thoughts would drift as I reflected on what I had just read, but it only took a few words to pull my focus back with something equally captivating.
Benji and Soren find themselves on an island, preparing for the Fall Gauntlet while recuperating from their previous skirmish. Benji struggles to cope with the aftermath of that battle and expresses his desire never to don a mask again. Meanwhile, Soren strives to support his brother through the grieving process.
Every day, a woman watches Benji and Soren train on the beach. Eventually, she gathers the strength to approach them for assistance. Eleki’s son has gone missing, and she seeks their help in locating him. She is aware of their secret regarding the mask.
MANTA presents yet another thrilling escapade in The Fall Gauntlet series, certain to capture your interest with its many unexpected developments that kept me eagerly turning the pages.
I strongly suggest MANTA to all enthusiasts of dystopian literature. Get your copy of MANTA today for another exciting chapter in Benji and Soren’s adventure!
Check out all the books in The Fall Gauntlet I’ve read.
Bear #1
RAT #2
CHRYSIX #3
CONDOR #4
MANTA #5
Connect with J. A. Merkel
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