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After the End: A Dystopian Romance Collection Volumes 5-8
BROOD by Claire KentFor years, I’ve been waiting to turn twenty-one so I can marry, start breeding, and contribute to life in our bunker, but just before my spousal ceremony, the council makes a change. Instead of marrying the boy who’s always been my best friend, I’m expected to marry Will instead. Will is a stranger—gruff, intimidating, and fifteen years older than me. I’ll do my duty no matter what, but I really don’t want to marry and breed with him.
Content notes/ breastfeeding, childbirth, gun violence, medical abuse, pregnancy, physical violence, references to infertility, reluctant consent, secondary character death
TAKEN by Elizabeth StephensThere’s been a malfunction in my pod. Only my pod. Fanfreakingtastic. Instead of waking up thousands of years after the fall of civilization, I’ve woken up early – to a world filled with monsters. When one of them – the biggest one – decides to take me to his tent for the night, I have no choice but to go with him. The big guy and I can’t communicate. I can't tell him that I need to return to fix the bunker, so I'm gonna have to try to escape. My odds look bleak, because he watches me with the possessiveness of a male who wants me for more than a night…maybe to keep.
Content notes/ big bugs
TRADE by Cate C. WellsWhen my husband replaces me with a younger model, I’m entered into the lottery and traded to an Outsider for fuel.
I expect a wasteland, but when the bunker doors open, I see green trees, blue skies, and him—a man half my age with a stone-cold face and a machete strapped to his thigh.
I’ll be lucky to escape him alive. That’s what we’ve been told all our lives.
And the people in charge wouldn’t lie to our faces about everything.
Would they?Content notes/ cheating on FMC by her husband (not the MMC), coerced sex/forced compliance, described use of abortifacients, gendered violence against FMC by secondary characters, gore, violence
PRIMA by Sherry Thomas
A handsome prince comes across a beautiful woman on the open sea. She is lying on a primitive-looking raft, almost entirely naked. What is he to do?
Content notes/ systemic misogyny, violence
Content notes/ breastfeeding, childbirth, gun violence, medical abuse, pregnancy, physical violence, references to infertility, reluctant consent, secondary character death
TAKEN by Elizabeth StephensThere’s been a malfunction in my pod. Only my pod. Fanfreakingtastic. Instead of waking up thousands of years after the fall of civilization, I’ve woken up early – to a world filled with monsters. When one of them – the biggest one – decides to take me to his tent for the night, I have no choice but to go with him. The big guy and I can’t communicate. I can't tell him that I need to return to fix the bunker, so I'm gonna have to try to escape. My odds look bleak, because he watches me with the possessiveness of a male who wants me for more than a night…maybe to keep.
Content notes/ big bugs
TRADE by Cate C. WellsWhen my husband replaces me with a younger model, I’m entered into the lottery and traded to an Outsider for fuel.
I expect a wasteland, but when the bunker doors open, I see green trees, blue skies, and him—a man half my age with a stone-cold face and a machete strapped to his thigh.
I’ll be lucky to escape him alive. That’s what we’ve been told all our lives.
And the people in charge wouldn’t lie to our faces about everything.
Would they?Content notes/ cheating on FMC by her husband (not the MMC), coerced sex/forced compliance, described use of abortifacients, gendered violence against FMC by secondary characters, gore, violence
PRIMA by Sherry Thomas
A handsome prince comes across a beautiful woman on the open sea. She is lying on a primitive-looking raft, almost entirely naked. What is he to do?
Content notes/ systemic misogyny, violence
690 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 28, 2026
About the author
Claire Kent
42 books2,252 followersClaire has been writing romance novels since she was twelve years old. After teaching English at the university level for several years, she started writing full-time under two different pen names. She lives in Virginia.
Her early books are sexy contemporary romances filled with heat and real emotion, but with the Hold series she transitioned to science fiction romance. Her current books are steamy post-apocalyptic romance set in the near future after a global catastrophe. They feature smart, resilient women trying to survive in a new chaotic world and falling in love with strong, gruff, taciturn men.
Claire also writes softer contemporary romances as Noelle Adams,
Her early books are sexy contemporary romances filled with heat and real emotion, but with the Hold series she transitioned to science fiction romance. Her current books are steamy post-apocalyptic romance set in the near future after a global catastrophe. They feature smart, resilient women trying to survive in a new chaotic world and falling in love with strong, gruff, taciturn men.
Claire also writes softer contemporary romances as Noelle Adams,
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 23, 2026
TLDR; the first three were so good for three different reasons and in three different styles. The fourth was definitely just not my jam but might revisit after more sleep.
I read three of the four (why end with that last one?), even though I only came for Claire originally. I reviewed the first three separately but without many reviews yet, I'll leave my two cents here too. First three were 4 stars for me, with the fourth story a DNF pretty early on.
I'm a big fan of Claire and her incredible world building and character vitality. This one was no exception. The world and characters felt way different from Impact, but not in a bad way. The world is somewhat similar, and I found myself making comparisons to one of her other books (princess or whatever? The bunker one, obviously), but they're so different so the comparisons ended quickly. The conspiracy, the relationship with Bella, baby Bun, it was all good albeit heartbreaking, and the whole situation felt so bleak and gut wrenching, I definitely cried a fair bit. As always, my core complaint was just "not long enough" and "where is my second epilogue, they deserve it" but alas, we can't live happily ever after with them forever.
Second story took a minute to get into, home girl was a bit of a high energy girl and the vibes were so entirely different from the first. However, Elizabeth is another fantastic author, and after searching my shelves for her to see what I've thought in the past, I found well over half a dozen 4-5 star reads and kept truckin. Plus, I love me a good cinnamon roll! This was a sweet and spicy treat, though "cum bucket" was a bit jarring, and honestly, shouldn't she have struggled at least a LITTLE bit with the size? And the barbs? Like clearly it was good, but that's a lot to adjust to. Anyways, I also kind of loved Pam and the banter, and the ending was super sweet and wholesome.
Third story was super good, and the human connection felt super solid, between friends, between the two leads, and between the women. I love love love the catharsis at the end, honestly so perfect. Also, love a good autistic special interest! It really highlighted how beautiful everything is and how dingy and grimy the bunker really was.
Fourth story I just could not connect to. It felt a lot like a folk tale adapted into a novel, like how that one webtoon did it (shit what's it called? Something something voyage to the dawn or something, idk), but I just could not connect to this one. It felt like someone transcribing an old Disney movie but in the wrong language, like there were clear descriptions and things were happening and characters were involved but I didn't get any of the emotion or hidden meaning from anything like I felt like I was supposed to be getting. Might just be because I'd already read three books essentially and it's now well past 3am, but alas, we'll never know. Maybe I'll give it a go again in a few days.
I read three of the four (why end with that last one?), even though I only came for Claire originally. I reviewed the first three separately but without many reviews yet, I'll leave my two cents here too. First three were 4 stars for me, with the fourth story a DNF pretty early on.
I'm a big fan of Claire and her incredible world building and character vitality. This one was no exception. The world and characters felt way different from Impact, but not in a bad way. The world is somewhat similar, and I found myself making comparisons to one of her other books (princess or whatever? The bunker one, obviously), but they're so different so the comparisons ended quickly. The conspiracy, the relationship with Bella, baby Bun, it was all good albeit heartbreaking, and the whole situation felt so bleak and gut wrenching, I definitely cried a fair bit. As always, my core complaint was just "not long enough" and "where is my second epilogue, they deserve it" but alas, we can't live happily ever after with them forever.
Second story took a minute to get into, home girl was a bit of a high energy girl and the vibes were so entirely different from the first. However, Elizabeth is another fantastic author, and after searching my shelves for her to see what I've thought in the past, I found well over half a dozen 4-5 star reads and kept truckin. Plus, I love me a good cinnamon roll! This was a sweet and spicy treat, though "cum bucket" was a bit jarring, and honestly, shouldn't she have struggled at least a LITTLE bit with the size? And the barbs? Like clearly it was good, but that's a lot to adjust to. Anyways, I also kind of loved Pam and the banter, and the ending was super sweet and wholesome.
Third story was super good, and the human connection felt super solid, between friends, between the two leads, and between the women. I love love love the catharsis at the end, honestly so perfect. Also, love a good autistic special interest! It really highlighted how beautiful everything is and how dingy and grimy the bunker really was.
Fourth story I just could not connect to. It felt a lot like a folk tale adapted into a novel, like how that one webtoon did it (shit what's it called? Something something voyage to the dawn or something, idk), but I just could not connect to this one. It felt like someone transcribing an old Disney movie but in the wrong language, like there were clear descriptions and things were happening and characters were involved but I didn't get any of the emotion or hidden meaning from anything like I felt like I was supposed to be getting. Might just be because I'd already read three books essentially and it's now well past 3am, but alas, we'll never know. Maybe I'll give it a go again in a few days.
May 26, 2026
I enjoyed two of these novellas - the ones by Claire Kent and Cate C Wells.
Unfortunately the other two were underwhelming for me, although the writing within itself was fine and other readers may enjoy them.
Unfortunately the other two were underwhelming for me, although the writing within itself was fine and other readers may enjoy them.
May 13, 2026
Read this primarily for Cate C. Wells story "Trade" which was very good, as per usual. 4 stars for it.
Skimmed the other 3 books. They were okay, (caveat) not really my kind of thing. But YMMV.
Skimmed the other 3 books. They were okay, (caveat) not really my kind of thing. But YMMV.
May 30, 2026
I love this story. Cadence has always been an over achieving girl always having to be the best. The best worker the most clever the perfect ideal citizen so when she turns 21 and finds out her “loved you for forever” friend Danny is no longer her spouse she doesn’t show emotion. It’s against the rules and she is a rule follower ladies and gentlemen.
She’s fertile and healthy and Will who is 15 years older would be a better spouse to increase the probability of healthy offspring. The only problem is that will only lost his spouse to a heart attack three days before.
At first the sex was something that had to be done and without emotion. Eventually emotions can’t be ignored and Will and Cadence make the most amazing sweet love you with everything I am kind of lovers.
The writing the characters the plot everything was perfect!!!
She’s fertile and healthy and Will who is 15 years older would be a better spouse to increase the probability of healthy offspring. The only problem is that will only lost his spouse to a heart attack three days before.
At first the sex was something that had to be done and without emotion. Eventually emotions can’t be ignored and Will and Cadence make the most amazing sweet love you with everything I am kind of lovers.
The writing the characters the plot everything was perfect!!!
May 13, 2026
Claire Kent, Elizabeth Stephens, Sherry Thomas, and Cate C Wells have written the first book collection that I have read where all the stories are all 5 star worthy and the stories are excellent. The stories are all original but they all show case strong, intelligent women who have strong moral compasses and fight to make their futures how they want them to look. It’s a beautiful, wonderful collection meant to be reread often. Sherry Thomas’ contribution was stunningly lyrical. Congratulations, ladies!
May 17, 2026
My review is only for Taken by Elizabeth Stephens
The book was way better than I was expecting. Rhen wakes up 2000 years later than she was supposed to from stasis and let's just say things don't go how they're supposed to. She gets well as the title states taken and our girl is like you know what I'm going to try to make the best of this as she does thoroughly. There is definitely a language barrier going on which makes it that much more fun in my opinion. I really enjoyed how everything ended though and I enjoyed the ride to the ending.
The book was way better than I was expecting. Rhen wakes up 2000 years later than she was supposed to from stasis and let's just say things don't go how they're supposed to. She gets well as the title states taken and our girl is like you know what I'm going to try to make the best of this as she does thoroughly. There is definitely a language barrier going on which makes it that much more fun in my opinion. I really enjoyed how everything ended though and I enjoyed the ride to the ending.
May 30, 2026
First book, 3*. Will really grew on me.
Second book, DNF. T-Rex shape shifting men? Wtf?
Third book, 3.5*. Loved it but of course we’re here with the male domination and female subjugation storylines, because of course that’s the most realistic apocalyptic outcome.
Fourth book, I quit 1 chapter in. No thank you for whatever that was.
Second book, DNF. T-Rex shape shifting men? Wtf?
Third book, 3.5*. Loved it but of course we’re here with the male domination and female subjugation storylines, because of course that’s the most realistic apocalyptic outcome.
Fourth book, I quit 1 chapter in. No thank you for whatever that was.
May 16, 2026
was good
This book was fun , Claire Kent’s is my favorite 🖤 her is a 5 star as always. Overall the whole thing was a three star.
This book was fun , Claire Kent’s is my favorite 🖤 her is a 5 star as always. Overall the whole thing was a three star.
May 21, 2026
You will never guess which novellas bumped this from one star to two stars, it’s likely not the ones you’re expecting
May 26, 2026
I really enjoyed Brood and Trade. I wanted to love the other two but they just seemed to be lacking something. Fun summer reading distraction!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2026
I only wanted to read Cate Wells novella. It was good! I tried to read another, but it was not… good.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews