The adventure continues with the release of the second book in Billy Dering’s Utopia Project trilogy- The Frayed Threads of Hope . With the earth in ruins, the survivors make a desperate last-stand for humanity and battle enemies not only outside their group, but within... With the earth in ruins, a small survivor group from New Jersey, led by Kid Carlson, is racing toward Vermont in a desperate attempt to save Evelyn Hyland. After the daring rescue of a survivor on a snowy mountain peak, the group is confronted by militant Utopia Project troops around Rutland, Vermont. Kid and his group go on the run and are chased south, back to the coast of New Jersey. After a shocking revelation, survivor Heidi Leer relives a traumatic incident from her past and begins a dark evolution. She joins up with the Utopia Project and through deception and betrayal, she discovers that the band of survivors is now hiding on an island. The survivor group is trapped and ambushed, and their numbers dwindle as they are pounded by waves of Utopia Project forces. All hope for humanity seems lost until Kid and his friend Jess Kellen finally arrive and try to turn the tide of battle, but is it too late? ​ 'A dystopian novel of epic proportions...' Kirkus Reviews 'The pace really picks in this second thrilling story...Author Billy Dering was handed the tough task of the middle novel in a trilogy, and he doesn't disappoint by amping up the action, tension, and excitement in this tale of cross-country chases, deception, survival, and ultimate betrayal.' Readers' Favorite, 5/5 stars (K.C. Finn) 'Billy Dering's ideology is something to be admired. I must commend him for creating another fascinating series with more plot layers than an onion. And these layers were interconnected across the series, making the book more intriguing. Also, he ensured an excellent balance between the past and the current events throughout the narrative. The suspense tool was well managed.' Onlinebookclub.org, 4/4 stars With the earth in ruins, a small survivor group from New Jersey, led by Kid Carlson, is racing toward Vermont in a desperate attempt to save Evelyn Hyland. After the daring rescue of a survivor on a snowy mountain peak, the group is confronted by a swarm of Utopia Project mercenaries around Rutland, Vermont. Kid and his group go on the run and are chased south, back to the coast of New Jersey. After a shocking revelation, survivor Heidi Leer relives a traumatic incident from her past and begins a dark evolution. She joins up with the Utopia Project and through deception and betrayal, she discovers that the band of survivors is now hiding on an island. The survivor group is trapped and ambushed, and their numbers dwindle as they are pounded by waves of Utopia Project forces. All hope seems lost when Kid and his friend Jess Kellen finally arrive and try to turn the tide of battle, but is it too late for them, and humanity? Billy Dering spent the first eighteen years of his life growing up on the New Jersey shore.  After high school, his life took a path through South Carolina, Louisiana, and finally home, back to Ocean County, New Jersey, where he currently resides. This geographic area is a part of New Jersey not enough people really see, with the splendor of the Atlantic Ocean, Barnegat Bay and the forests of the Pinelands National Reserve, all becoming a primary backdrop for the Utopia Project trilogy. A business administrator by profession, Dering has written many professional pieces and press releases, and is now applying his love of writing in crafting his own post-apocalyptic novels. He has always been an avid reader of all genres, especially post-apocalyptic, dystopian and techno-thrillers. Dering also enjoys outdoor recreation, songwriting, guitar playing, sports and the soul-soothing ambiance of the sea, especially when the beach and boardwalk are deserted!