I have overcome the odds of a pregnancy in the middle of the Rocky Mountains and given birth.

I have struggled to remain hidden from the prying eyes of the global conglomerate called the Protectorate.

I have resisted the robots, drones, droids, androids, and mechs that the Protectorate has arrayed against me.

I have narrowly escaped the clutches of that non-discriminatory killer, La Guillotine.

I have been betrayed by those who professed to be my loved ones.

I have discovered the true secret behind the radical origin and birth of that most heinous individual, the Overlord of the World.

I have stared into the face of evil as it straddled the Golden Throne and ruled the world with an iron hand.

I have entrenched myself in a final line in the soil against the ultimate battle that will end all battles.

I did not think I would live to tell about it, fraught with peril and beset by soul-piercing danger on every side.

But I did...


I am Ashton Deveraux Forte.
My story could be your story.
But you would never want it to be.
Not after what I've been through.
Learn from my mistakes and avoid them altogether.


- Reviewed By Ruffina Oserio for Readers’ Favorite
"There is a nauseating feeling that arrests the reader from the very first page of this book, the feeling that something wrong could happen any time, and it is this feeling that keeps the reader leaping from page to page. JK Battaglia creates memorable characters and a plot that is fast-paced; overall, it is intense and absorbing."

- Reviewed By Tracy Slowiak for Readers’ Favorite
"I very much enjoyed A Hope of Life. Author J.K. Battaglia has done a great job in creating characters that readers will relate to, connect with and truly come to care about. If that isn't a hallmark of a great author, I'm not sure what is. The author's writing style is crisp, clear and succinct, and the world creation in this novel is simply second to none."

- Reviewed By Chris Fischer for Readers’ Favorite
"Author J.K. Battaglia is certainly versed in the world of science fiction and fantasy, and his writing style is all the better for it. He has devised an environment that is at once futuristic as well as realistic, not an easy feat. Any reader looking for an exciting new read should absolutely give this book a chance."

- Reviewed By Arya Fomonyuy for Readers’ Favorite
"JK Battaglia’s novel is unique, a work that reads as original — the voice, the style, the plot. He combines the art of journaling with her storytelling skills to craft a story that will have readers completely hooked. The language is wonderful, filled with rich imagery. From the beauty of the language to the depth of characters, readers have a lot to enjoy in A Hope of Life."

- Reviewed By Divine Zape for Readers’ Favorite
"This is a story that has great potential to entertain a wide audience, including fans of Christian literature, sci-fi, political intrigue, and dystopian fiction. JK Battaglia’s work is very interesting, a page-turner that gets the reader intrigued even more as they move from page to page."