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Aftermath: Loyalty
420 pages, Paperback
Published March 23, 2026
About the author
Serenity Bea
8 books11 followersSerenity Bea writes emotionally charged, psychologically rich stories that explore the quiet complexities of human connection. Her characters are flawed and painfully real, often grappling with identity, morality, and the invisible forces that shape their lives.
Serenity’s writing is intended to spark conversations, question assumptions and to provide the reader with the opportunity for meaningful reflection that can shift perspectives.
Her debut novel Aftermath made the Top 15 in the 2025 international New2theScene writing competition, marking her as a fresh voice to watch in literary fiction. Her work blends immersive storytelling with thoughtful social commentary, creating narratives that not only resonate, but challenge.
Drawing on her degree in Applied Psychology, she brings sharp, compassionate insight to her writing—unearthing the hidden fears, longings, and misbeliefs that drive her characters’ decisions.
When she’s not torturing fictional characters in emotionally complex ways, she’s likely listening to Hans Zimmer and sipping a margarita.
She has incurable insomnia, a cat who thinks he's her co-writer, and a dog who's convinced he should be.
Serenity’s writing is intended to spark conversations, question assumptions and to provide the reader with the opportunity for meaningful reflection that can shift perspectives.
Her debut novel Aftermath made the Top 15 in the 2025 international New2theScene writing competition, marking her as a fresh voice to watch in literary fiction. Her work blends immersive storytelling with thoughtful social commentary, creating narratives that not only resonate, but challenge.
Drawing on her degree in Applied Psychology, she brings sharp, compassionate insight to her writing—unearthing the hidden fears, longings, and misbeliefs that drive her characters’ decisions.
When she’s not torturing fictional characters in emotionally complex ways, she’s likely listening to Hans Zimmer and sipping a margarita.
She has incurable insomnia, a cat who thinks he's her co-writer, and a dog who's convinced he should be.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 25, 2026
A veterinarian and two marines fighting to survive in a post-pandemic world that’s fallen into complete chaos. Against odds, they made it through the infection. Now all they have are their professional skills, whatever tools and food they can scavenge, their instincts, and each other.
Will that be enough?
Well, I don’t know because this isn’t a complete series 😭 and omg do I wish I could read book two 👏 NOW 👏
This is a book for lovers of The Walking Dead who could do without the zombie gore (👋 me!). There is an extremely slow burn maybe-love triangle and I’m afraid however it resolves might destroy me 💔
There’s a big mental health focus as our characters grapple with serious Trauma. Every time there was even a hint of healing or connection for them I was seriously so emotional 🥺❤️🩹. I feel that the author handled everything quite realistically and with care, but you may want to check TWs.
4.5 stars, rounded. Bring on the next.
Many thanks to Nitewright Press and Serenity Bea for the digital copy.
Will that be enough?
Well, I don’t know because this isn’t a complete series 😭 and omg do I wish I could read book two 👏 NOW 👏
This is a book for lovers of The Walking Dead who could do without the zombie gore (👋 me!). There is an extremely slow burn maybe-love triangle and I’m afraid however it resolves might destroy me 💔
There’s a big mental health focus as our characters grapple with serious Trauma. Every time there was even a hint of healing or connection for them I was seriously so emotional 🥺❤️🩹. I feel that the author handled everything quite realistically and with care, but you may want to check TWs.
4.5 stars, rounded. Bring on the next.
Many thanks to Nitewright Press and Serenity Bea for the digital copy.
March 22, 2026
Ellen, Daryl and Cole captured me from the start! The new world that they are living in is a selfish reality and survival is hard! As they journey across America, their lives come together and the awareness of their need for each other grows.
I loved this book and highly recommend it! Can’t wait for the next one as the journey continues!
Thank you NetGalley, Serenity Bea, and Nirewright Press for the ARC.
I loved this book and highly recommend it! Can’t wait for the next one as the journey continues!
Thank you NetGalley, Serenity Bea, and Nirewright Press for the ARC.
March 15, 2026
Very well written! I did have a slow start but after a few chapters it sucked me in. The constant back and forth between the characters, slowly learning their back stories and how they have developed throughout the books is great. The ending left so much to the imagination and i cannot wait for the second one to come out so that I can see which direction the story goes.
April 8, 2026
An Emotional Apocalypse That Lingers
Serenity Bea’s refreshing take on the post-apocalyptic genre trades relentless action for emotional intensity and psychological depth in three compelling figures: Ellen, a veterinarian with hard-earned resilience; Daryl, guided by military instinct; and Cole, a man unraveling under the weight of trauma and memory.
The tension between Daryl’s rigid logic and Cole’s emotional fragility creates a constant push-and-pull, while Ellen becomes the reluctant center as caregiver and catalyst.
Loyalty is portrayed as a force that can bind, burden, and even break people. Trust is earned in fragments, often under pressure, and sometimes at a price.
The pacing leans into a slow-burn style, allowing relationships to develop with nuance. While there are moments of sharp, visceral survival—scavenging, injury, and the harsh realities of a lawless world—the story never loses sight of its emotional core. The layered unfolding romance adds to the authenticity of the characters’ connections.
There’s also a rawness to the writing. You can almost feel the grime, tension, and exhaustion as the prose draws you deeper into a world in which the real challenge is deciding who to trust when everything else has fallen apart.
Ultimately, Aftermath: Loyalty is a thoughtful start to a series that promises more emotionally complex, character-driven depth ahead. I look forward to the next installment.
Serenity Bea’s refreshing take on the post-apocalyptic genre trades relentless action for emotional intensity and psychological depth in three compelling figures: Ellen, a veterinarian with hard-earned resilience; Daryl, guided by military instinct; and Cole, a man unraveling under the weight of trauma and memory.
The tension between Daryl’s rigid logic and Cole’s emotional fragility creates a constant push-and-pull, while Ellen becomes the reluctant center as caregiver and catalyst.
Loyalty is portrayed as a force that can bind, burden, and even break people. Trust is earned in fragments, often under pressure, and sometimes at a price.
The pacing leans into a slow-burn style, allowing relationships to develop with nuance. While there are moments of sharp, visceral survival—scavenging, injury, and the harsh realities of a lawless world—the story never loses sight of its emotional core. The layered unfolding romance adds to the authenticity of the characters’ connections.
There’s also a rawness to the writing. You can almost feel the grime, tension, and exhaustion as the prose draws you deeper into a world in which the real challenge is deciding who to trust when everything else has fallen apart.
Ultimately, Aftermath: Loyalty is a thoughtful start to a series that promises more emotionally complex, character-driven depth ahead. I look forward to the next installment.
March 29, 2026
A very good book that develops the characters well. After a pandemic strike, the world is in chaos. Society has broken down, people that have survived turn violent and it is everyman for himself. Ellen is a veterinarian that has suffered personal loss. She survives getting the virus, and learns how to manage for herself, but needs to get out of Baltimore. Cole and Daryl are brothers that are serving in the military. When Cole refuses to take a child from its mother, he is shot as he is not obeying commands. His brother, Daryl, takes matters into his own hands and finds Cole a safe place to be. When Daryl sees Ellen and finds that she has medical skills, he decides to kidnap her to tend to Cole. Cole was a SEAL and Daryl a sniper in the military, so their skills with weaponry are excellent. Cole has problems dealing with the orders he completed and suffers from PTSD which causes him to have flashbacks and nightmares. There is mistrust between the three characters at different points throughout the book which is interesting. By the end of the book trust is starting to form between the three, but outsiders want to impose their will on them but need their protection.
June 8, 2026
This was a good book overall, living up to its "character-driven" subtitle. It immediately reminded me of other post-apocalyptic tale like The Walking Dead, but then it became more and more clear that this book had its own unique spin on the genre. It becomes an intricate character study and shows the emotional depth and trust that is required for people to form incredible human bonds under difficult circumstances. It even has a guy named Daryl, which reminds me of the crossbow-wielding fan favorite from the other zombie universe. I wish some scenes were a little bit more flushed out, as some seem a little rushed or lacking in detail, but then again, I also don't like books that go crazy with superfluous details like the color of a doorknob or an entire page devoted to describing a man's chair. If you are looking for something different that focuses on the emotional weight of living in a destroyed world, yet still has the pacing and action of military veteran survivors, this one will be a good read.
May 20, 2026
I was very conflicted in the beginning. This story is intensely emotional, gut-wrenching at times. I had to put it down to clear my mind multiple times at the start. References to the pandemic brought back anxious feelings. But after I got to know the characters, I couldn’t put the book aside. I was pulling for them and had to know how their story would end.
The journey of survival these three characters withstand is beyond physically endurance. Just as much of the story is dedicated to portraying the mental anguish that haunts them. It’s a story of connection in the darkest of times. It’s speaks to the strength of mankind when bonds are formed through trust and interdependence.
Well written.
The journey of survival these three characters withstand is beyond physically endurance. Just as much of the story is dedicated to portraying the mental anguish that haunts them. It’s a story of connection in the darkest of times. It’s speaks to the strength of mankind when bonds are formed through trust and interdependence.
Well written.
June 5, 2026
A gripping story about survival and trust!
What a book! I was not expecting to be so drawn into this story but I simply could not put it down. It is not your typical end of the world story where it is all about action and fighting. This one is much more about the three characters and how they learn to trust each other when the whole world has fallen apart around them. I really felt for Ellen and both brothers and the way their relationships slowly develop felt very real. The story is dark and raw but also surprisingly emotional and heartfelt. I love how the author writes from all three points of view so you really get inside each character and understand what they are thinking and feeling. A really powerful and moving read that stayed with me long after I finished!
What a book! I was not expecting to be so drawn into this story but I simply could not put it down. It is not your typical end of the world story where it is all about action and fighting. This one is much more about the three characters and how they learn to trust each other when the whole world has fallen apart around them. I really felt for Ellen and both brothers and the way their relationships slowly develop felt very real. The story is dark and raw but also surprisingly emotional and heartfelt. I love how the author writes from all three points of view so you really get inside each character and understand what they are thinking and feeling. A really powerful and moving read that stayed with me long after I finished!
April 23, 2026
I was fortunate to have been a beta reader for this project and I absolutely loved being a part of the journey. Seeing the story come together and be published was absolutely amazing. I really enjoyed the mental health representation in this book because I feel that some dystopian/post-apocalyptic books these days do not really focus on the mental repercussions that having the world you know and love be torn apart I absolutely loved the character growth between Ellen, Daryl, and Cole and I look forward to seeing what's in the store for them in book 2.
May 25, 2026
Aftermath: Loyalty
With the state of the world being what it is, I’m not interested in reading anything dystopian. Yet the cover with its possibility of romance drew me in.
Without giving anything away, this story is dystopian, yet it kept me turning pages chapter after chapter. The dynamic of Ellen, Daryl, and Cole is in turns gut wrenching and tender.
This story is beautifully written and so well crafted that I couldn’t stop reading it. I’m very interested in the sequel.
With the state of the world being what it is, I’m not interested in reading anything dystopian. Yet the cover with its possibility of romance drew me in.
Without giving anything away, this story is dystopian, yet it kept me turning pages chapter after chapter. The dynamic of Ellen, Daryl, and Cole is in turns gut wrenching and tender.
This story is beautifully written and so well crafted that I couldn’t stop reading it. I’m very interested in the sequel.
March 25, 2026
What a page turner! I was immediately drawn into this survival story, set in a familiar world, with a kick-ass heroine. The writing was funny as well as heartfelt, and I thoroughly enjoyed the group’s dramatic journey across the US. The characters are all complex and believable, and I was intrigued about how they would all get along and work together. A very satisfying story and I highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book.
I received a free copy of this book.
April 12, 2026
Not my usual read but I loved it.
This isn’t my usual genre, but Aftermath: Loyalty really surprised me.
I got hooked quickly and ended up loving the emotional side of it.
The characters feel real and the tension builds so well.
Didn’t expect to enjoy it this much!
Definitely recommend giving it a try
This isn’t my usual genre, but Aftermath: Loyalty really surprised me.
I got hooked quickly and ended up loving the emotional side of it.
The characters feel real and the tension builds so well.
Didn’t expect to enjoy it this much!
Definitely recommend giving it a try
March 27, 2026
I did really enjoy this book! It was a really good read & I found I was hooked pretty much, right from the start. I did also finish in no time at all! I did find the last quarter of the book needed a little tightening up, but overall a really good read & I will look for more in this series.
March 30, 2026
This is an outstanding and gripping novel. The characters are understandably flawed but their humanity and loyalty shone through despite the devastating situation. This is a tremendously talented author.
April 29, 2026
I liked it. Good pacing and just enough details without over explaining everything. Its definitely hard to choose between the brothers though. Thanks to the author for giving me the chance to read this :)
May 16, 2026
Scary. The 3 main characters are extremely traumatized and not open to letting anyone or anything in.
This book made me cry and shudder. It made me inspired and devastated.
This book made me cry and shudder. It made me inspired and devastated.
June 2, 2026
Rating: 5 ⭐
About the book: Aftermath:Loyalty follows three middle-aged adults in a post-apocalyptic setting after a pandemic wipes out most of humanity. The story follows two military brothers and a veterinarian as they navigate life in this world after each of them survived the infection. We follow 2 separate paths at the beginning where we get the perspectives of Cole and Daryl working in tandem for the military with Ellen's path being that of pure solitary survival until their lives intertwine.
Review: I had the absolute honor of being a beta-reader for this book and nothing could have prepared me for the amazing journey that Serenity Bea takes us on. Aftermath: Loyalty pulled me in from the very first page and I read this masterpiece in just 2 days. It had tension from the lack of trust between all three of the characters especially when it came to decision making, pasts that only had snippets of flashbacks enough to give some clarity but also left me wanting to delve deeper (which you can in book 2!), and risky situations that left me on the edge of my seat. There were multiple moments I wanted to throw the book across the room out of frustration though, but it was worth the read!
One thing about Bea's writing is she does not allow any character to go unscathed or be handed life on a silver platter. The "main character armor" that might be found in other stories is removed entirely from her plots which just enhances the connections you form with her books and makes room for adrenaline inducing moments.
This book had strong and independent female representation, as well as: PCOS representation, healthy masculinity in the form of showing fears and emotions, genuine panic attacks, and depression. It was exceptionally written to showcase all of the "ugly" sides to humanity that we are told to hide and forces you to sit with these emotions. I saw parts of myself in each character and they stayed with me for months afterwards. Highly recommend you add this to your TBR pronto!
About the book: Aftermath:Loyalty follows three middle-aged adults in a post-apocalyptic setting after a pandemic wipes out most of humanity. The story follows two military brothers and a veterinarian as they navigate life in this world after each of them survived the infection. We follow 2 separate paths at the beginning where we get the perspectives of Cole and Daryl working in tandem for the military with Ellen's path being that of pure solitary survival until their lives intertwine.
Review: I had the absolute honor of being a beta-reader for this book and nothing could have prepared me for the amazing journey that Serenity Bea takes us on. Aftermath: Loyalty pulled me in from the very first page and I read this masterpiece in just 2 days. It had tension from the lack of trust between all three of the characters especially when it came to decision making, pasts that only had snippets of flashbacks enough to give some clarity but also left me wanting to delve deeper (which you can in book 2!), and risky situations that left me on the edge of my seat. There were multiple moments I wanted to throw the book across the room out of frustration though, but it was worth the read!
One thing about Bea's writing is she does not allow any character to go unscathed or be handed life on a silver platter. The "main character armor" that might be found in other stories is removed entirely from her plots which just enhances the connections you form with her books and makes room for adrenaline inducing moments.
This book had strong and independent female representation, as well as: PCOS representation, healthy masculinity in the form of showing fears and emotions, genuine panic attacks, and depression. It was exceptionally written to showcase all of the "ugly" sides to humanity that we are told to hide and forces you to sit with these emotions. I saw parts of myself in each character and they stayed with me for months afterwards. Highly recommend you add this to your TBR pronto!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews