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All That Remains
The old world is dead, and humanity struggles to survive in the shadows of the new one. Kyle, Sara, and Tim are scavengers, hiding in the remains of human civilization from the hungry things that destroyed it. Living on the few items that haven’t rotted in the thirteen years since civilization was wiped out.
But something has shown A terrible creature that betrays an intelligence in the madness of the creatures that rule the planet.
When the group finds Kaylee, a little girl who claims to know of a safe haven somewhere in Tennessee, they embark on a desperate journey to find it. Memory and loss, depravity and salvation— their last run will put them face to face with horrors of both man and monsters the likes of which they’ve never seen.
But something has shown A terrible creature that betrays an intelligence in the madness of the creatures that rule the planet.
When the group finds Kaylee, a little girl who claims to know of a safe haven somewhere in Tennessee, they embark on a desperate journey to find it. Memory and loss, depravity and salvation— their last run will put them face to face with horrors of both man and monsters the likes of which they’ve never seen.
353 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 15, 2015
46 people are currently reading
298 people want to read
About the author
Al Barrera
6 books23 followersAl Barrera was born in Detroit, Michigan to a police officer and a soldier. Following in the family footsteps, he joined the military. After serving overseas Al moved to Tennessee and took up work in the medical field. Following more time working overseas, Al chose to write novels full time.
"I've wanted to do it since I was a kid. It's been a passion of mine as long as I can remember, and honestly, I can't see myself doing anything else."
Visit www.al-barrera.com to keep up on his blog or to get in contact.
"I've wanted to do it since I was a kid. It's been a passion of mine as long as I can remember, and honestly, I can't see myself doing anything else."
Visit www.al-barrera.com to keep up on his blog or to get in contact.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
December 18, 2016
All that remains is officially my favorite dystopian, end-of-the-world book.
The characters are epic, especially Kyle and Sara, and the whole plot is amazing.
I've never been a huge fan of zombie apocalypse stuff but it's kind of like that, minus the zombies.
There's a couple of "infected" so I GUESS there's zombie-like things but the majority of the dangerous creatures in the book are much worse, terrifying monsters.
Basically, there's this thing called "Blyte" that happens to the earth. First a whole bunch of tornados strike and then a bunch of monsters just started killing everybody and it's about a couple of survivors who found this little girl who's parents were scientists who found how to fix the whole thing but they were killed trying to get the information to a safe house in New York. So, they take the little girl with them and the information and try to make it to new York but they have barely any food, water, or anything and it's such a cool book and has lots of action and gore.
The scenes are so intense. There were so many parts that had me flipping through my ebook pages with vigor.
I think that Kaylee is my favorite character out of them all, even though Sara is INSANELY epic. Kaylee is just so strong and persistent for someone so young. I don't think I could've survived the things they did at her age tbh.
I am SO glad I read this book. It had fabulous descriptions and imagery. I HIGHLY recommend to anyone looking for some action, gore, and adventure.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book Via NetGalley.
The characters are epic, especially Kyle and Sara, and the whole plot is amazing.
I've never been a huge fan of zombie apocalypse stuff but it's kind of like that, minus the zombies.
There's a couple of "infected" so I GUESS there's zombie-like things but the majority of the dangerous creatures in the book are much worse, terrifying monsters.
Basically, there's this thing called "Blyte" that happens to the earth. First a whole bunch of tornados strike and then a bunch of monsters just started killing everybody and it's about a couple of survivors who found this little girl who's parents were scientists who found how to fix the whole thing but they were killed trying to get the information to a safe house in New York. So, they take the little girl with them and the information and try to make it to new York but they have barely any food, water, or anything and it's such a cool book and has lots of action and gore.
The scenes are so intense. There were so many parts that had me flipping through my ebook pages with vigor.
I think that Kaylee is my favorite character out of them all, even though Sara is INSANELY epic. Kaylee is just so strong and persistent for someone so young. I don't think I could've survived the things they did at her age tbh.
I am SO glad I read this book. It had fabulous descriptions and imagery. I HIGHLY recommend to anyone looking for some action, gore, and adventure.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book Via NetGalley.
January 8, 2017
Three words: Seriously. Blown. Away.
I can't believe how spectacular this was, especially considering those few negative reviews that deterred me from picking this book up for longer than needed!
A dead world didn't cater to the wishes of the living.
While I haven't
And boy, did Al Barrera deliver on all those aspects, even adding quite a few elements I haven't seen before.
So what is this about? The story follows three survivors - Kyle, Sara and Tim - through their struggles against hunger, desperation and a bunch of evil, blood-thirsty creatures after the world has been overrun by them for 13 years. When one day they stumble across a little girl whose mother apparently worked for the government and was on her way to some safe haven when her group was attacked and killed, and the three of them find themselves out of alternatives where to go, they decide to deliver the girl to her people. However, it doesn't take long for them to find out that something else entirely, a creature more intelligent and malicious than anything they've encountered before, has set its eyes on them... and that their time is running out.
The sun moved across the sky. The number of infected trailing them increased. The things took notice of their passing and fell in line behind. A few more soldiers in the army of the damned lining up to their genocidal duty.
Barrera's writing was exceptionally atmospheric, and it sucked me in from the first line I read. He created this amazing bleak mood that practically oozed with danger, tension and hopelessness.
"Do something, man!"
There was nothing to do. They were dead; the reaper just hadn't reached them yet.
The main characters... they were utterly amazing. Deep, raw and highly developed, all of them different in their own ways but the perfect match to complement one another. Though to me they didn't seem too unique in the beginning, they quickly weaseled their way deep into my heart with their personalities, authenticity and tragic back stories.
Crazy. It was all crazy. Kyle the Professor had become Kyle the Monster Hunter. Kyle the Savior. Kyle the survivor.
He jumped to his feet, weapon in hand. He was the specter of death, the unkillable spirit of vengeance come to rescue his friend.
Despite the tense atmosphere, quite a few fighting and survival scenes, gore and violence, the story wasn't a non-stop action fest. While there was hardly any reprieve in intensity, there was enough time to get to know and built a connection with the characters, learn about their pasts, beliefs and abilities.
And, as if a world covered in blight, zombies (here: "infected"), evil apes and rogue behemoths weren't enough, Barrera even added a paranormal twist (you know, even more paranormal than zombies, evil apes, rogue behemoths...), and still the story didn't feel overloaded at all.
In the dim light, claws reached for them from every shadow. They were in Hell now. Dante breaching the final layer to find the Devil frozen in ice. Here at the bottom were only the sinners and quiet spirits.
So in case you haven't realized it yet: I really, really loved this book.
I can't wait for the sequel to come out, but in the meantime, to bridge the time until its release, I'll have to check out more by this author.
This is a must-read for anyone who's into (post-)apocalyptic settings, gore and character driven stories.
ARC provided by the author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 26, 2017
A mix of The Walking Dead, World War Z, I Am Legend, The Stand, and Independence Day with its own twist kept me turning the pages. Kyle and Sara are a great team, good at surviving on their own. On one of their supply runs for the community they are living with, they run across Tim, a 16 year old that said he walk to Tennessee from a Texas solo, and Kaylee, a 7 year old whose mom and friends from a government lab were killed by infected as they were trying to get their new discovery to a sister government lab. Sara, who is able to sense people and the infected and the creatures that help make the infected, gets a strange feeling around the time they find Kaylee, like there is a creature like her that is scanning people looking for something. When they go back and find their community destroyed, they decide to go to the research facility Kaylee's mom was headed for before she died. Their journey becomes more urgent as Sara senses the creature scanning people, which she calls Walking Death, senses her and Kaylee have information it wants and starts pursuing them.
I got attached to the characters and their backstories from before and right after the fall. There was a little bit of paranormal fantasy too with one of the characters being a "scanner," a person that can sense people and the infected and the creatures that help make the infected and the "scanner" creature called Walking Death. I read this book in less than a day and would definitely recommend to others.
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.
I got attached to the characters and their backstories from before and right after the fall. There was a little bit of paranormal fantasy too with one of the characters being a "scanner," a person that can sense people and the infected and the creatures that help make the infected and the "scanner" creature called Walking Death. I read this book in less than a day and would definitely recommend to others.
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.
February 5, 2017
All that Remains is about a group of survivors that, while they're out scavenging for food, weapons and a new place to live, come across a lone survivor, a little girl named Kaylee, that may just hold the key to finding a safe haven. One of the members of the group, Sara, also has a special ability to communicate with the creatures that are overtaking their new world and she can read someone else's memories by touching them. The group tries to win Kaylee's trust and Sara has to read her memories in order to learn more about the place she was heading too. As they embark on their trek to locate this new place, they encounter a number of creatures, infected people and other not-so-nice scavengers.
I'm a big fan of a good post-apocalyptic story so I'm always on the hunt for something new and unique. The story line though unfortunately lacked the originality I was hoping for and reminded me of a combination of several popular series. I also felt like the world building along with Sara's abilities and how she acquired them could have been fleshed out a lot more. The characters too, especially Tim and Kyle, weren't very likable and bordered on irritating. On the upside, if you like non-stop action and a lot of close encounter face offs, then there's plenty to be had in here.
*I received this ARC from NetGalley and the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
I'm a big fan of a good post-apocalyptic story so I'm always on the hunt for something new and unique. The story line though unfortunately lacked the originality I was hoping for and reminded me of a combination of several popular series. I also felt like the world building along with Sara's abilities and how she acquired them could have been fleshed out a lot more. The characters too, especially Tim and Kyle, weren't very likable and bordered on irritating. On the upside, if you like non-stop action and a lot of close encounter face offs, then there's plenty to be had in here.
*I received this ARC from NetGalley and the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
February 24, 2017
I have to say that this book was quite the pleasant surprise. Here's how I felt: You know how you'll walk into a grocery store and see a delicious cheesecake there, one piled high with glazed raspberries, even? And so you think, I'll get this to share with my favorite people. But then you get home, you're putting the groceries away, and you see that some raspberries have fallen off the cheesecake! Well, clearly! We can't have THAT! So you grab a fork, intending to place the fallen back onto their perch, but while you're at it, you decide to dig in for a taste bite, right? And what happens NEXT? Less than an hour after I will have grabbed the fork, the ENTIRE CHEESECAKE IS CONSUMED. By ME.
And that's how it went with this here book.
I meant to nibble only. I mean, LOOK AT THAT COVER! GORGEOUS, no? But next thing I knew, I had read the entire book.
It was a very readable dystopian tale, where the characters are among the last surviving humans. Through a series of events, they become involved in taking a perilous journey to a place no one really believes exists.
I loved the characters. I felt close to most not long after I met them. However, I do wish we had a little more information regarding how the spooky characters got that way precisely. Additionally, I saw some value to the use of flashbacks at the start of the novel, but they became distracting after about 25% of the story. I understand that it's a tool, and I know its intent; nevertheless, I feel the book would have been tighter, neater, more concise, had the author chosen to stay "minimalist" with respect to how much background info he provided us. Particularly as that is pretty much the path he chose with respect to WHAT caused the current state of things and how, etc.
I did reach out to the author, and he informed me that he is writing the sequel to this story right now. I do wonder where he plans to take this story now. The ending allows him so many avenues to take in his next book!
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the review copy of this book.
And that's how it went with this here book.
I meant to nibble only. I mean, LOOK AT THAT COVER! GORGEOUS, no? But next thing I knew, I had read the entire book.
It was a very readable dystopian tale, where the characters are among the last surviving humans. Through a series of events, they become involved in taking a perilous journey to a place no one really believes exists.
I loved the characters. I felt close to most not long after I met them. However, I do wish we had a little more information regarding how the spooky characters got that way precisely. Additionally, I saw some value to the use of flashbacks at the start of the novel, but they became distracting after about 25% of the story. I understand that it's a tool, and I know its intent; nevertheless, I feel the book would have been tighter, neater, more concise, had the author chosen to stay "minimalist" with respect to how much background info he provided us. Particularly as that is pretty much the path he chose with respect to WHAT caused the current state of things and how, etc.
I did reach out to the author, and he informed me that he is writing the sequel to this story right now. I do wonder where he plans to take this story now. The ending allows him so many avenues to take in his next book!
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the review copy of this book.
August 1, 2017
4.5 thumping good read stars! Action from start to finish in this post apocalyptic zombie tale.
Recommended!
Recommended!
September 18, 2016
I tried to like this one. The synopsis looked good and it has good reviews, but I couldn't get into it. The characters were phoney, plain and boring. The plot... was there a plot? Because they are running from monsters (where do they come from, please? I have got glimpses of origins, but up to where I stopped reading nothing definite... and it was almost half the book) and people looking for the people a little girl says can save the world. Riiiight. Not for me, sorry.
August 17, 2018
I fell in love with this book's cover and immediately requested it from NetGalley after I read the blurb and came to know that it was a zombie-type dystopian story. It wasn't bad, it was just too predictable (not the part where the zombies turn out to be aliens or something but otherwise it was all too predictable.) Overall the characterization felt weak but I'm giving 3 stars for the pacing, it was pretty good and kept me reading in spite of these flaws.
October 13, 2016
Well, this should have been an easily likeable book. Post apocalyptic scenario with zombies, character driven, great cover. And yet...just didn't work for me. It's tough to be objective when writing a review, after all reviewing is a prime example of solipsism at work, but...as objectively as possible this was actually a fairly decent book, it just didn't really sing for me, didn't offer much originality or surprises, nothing to make me go Wow, awesome, just a basic disconnect between reading and reader. No explanation as to how apocalypse came to be, although the novel does offer something of a pretty definitive resolution in the end. Not terrible by any means and an exceptionally quick read for its size, took me two hours and forty minutes, which may have been my favorite part about the book and that in itself is something of a review. Thanks Netgalley.
October 31, 2016
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
All that remains had a lot going for i. The amazing cover was the first thing that caught my eye, but the post-apocalyptic premise was another, although I recently had a lot of mwah encounters with the genre, while I can really enjoy myself some post-apocalyptic novel. All That Remains, unfortunately, was one of the former.
It follows the travels of a small group of survivors, 13 years after the big apocalyptic thing happened. What this was is never explained, but they are constantly on the run from zombies on the one hand and more sinister hunter-monsters on the other. They need to rub themselves in vinegar to hide their scents (where they get vinegar after 13 years is anyone's guess). Seriously, with the number of attacks they endure just in the span of the novel, it is a miracle anyone survived this long.
But there is more. Sara, the only female in the group has a special power which allows her to communicate with the monsters, but this also makes her more vulnerable to them. When they stumble onto a small girl, the sole survivor of a group of scientist, they learn there might be salvation after all. But first, of course, said girl plus her information needs to be brought somewhere, so to give the characters a purpose.
There is not a dull moment in the book, as it is very action packed and the characters are in constant (mortal) danger. However, still I felt something was missing. I didn't really care for any of the characters and I found that the world building was not very great because many things remain unexplained while I think they should be. Nevertheless, it was a fast read and I wouldn't say I didn't enjoy myself, but I'd expected more from it and the story was rather forgettable.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
All that remains had a lot going for i. The amazing cover was the first thing that caught my eye, but the post-apocalyptic premise was another, although I recently had a lot of mwah encounters with the genre, while I can really enjoy myself some post-apocalyptic novel. All That Remains, unfortunately, was one of the former.
It follows the travels of a small group of survivors, 13 years after the big apocalyptic thing happened. What this was is never explained, but they are constantly on the run from zombies on the one hand and more sinister hunter-monsters on the other. They need to rub themselves in vinegar to hide their scents (where they get vinegar after 13 years is anyone's guess). Seriously, with the number of attacks they endure just in the span of the novel, it is a miracle anyone survived this long.
But there is more. Sara, the only female in the group has a special power which allows her to communicate with the monsters, but this also makes her more vulnerable to them. When they stumble onto a small girl, the sole survivor of a group of scientist, they learn there might be salvation after all. But first, of course, said girl plus her information needs to be brought somewhere, so to give the characters a purpose.
There is not a dull moment in the book, as it is very action packed and the characters are in constant (mortal) danger. However, still I felt something was missing. I didn't really care for any of the characters and I found that the world building was not very great because many things remain unexplained while I think they should be. Nevertheless, it was a fast read and I wouldn't say I didn't enjoy myself, but I'd expected more from it and the story was rather forgettable.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
June 5, 2017
The story was good with zombie and all that.. but I believe that it could be better.
2,5 stars ...
2,5 stars ...
October 6, 2016
Received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
"Hell and the world had become one and the same."
Something has happened in the world and people are left to survive. Kyle, Sara and Tim have formed a group trying to stay together to survive together. One night they hear shots and go to investigate and find a young girl, Kaylee. This young girl's Mother was a scientist who was working on a way of saving the world. Kaylee informs the group that there is a safe place. A place where scientists live and a place where they might possibly be safe.
At first this book felt like a YA version of Bird Box meets The Walking Dead. There is this HUGE creature that can invade people's minds and learn their thoughts and take control of them. There are also "crawlers" who attack and devour people. Quickly it becomes evident that this is not a YA dystopian novel but a novel of survival in a horrific world.
As the story unfolds we learn about each characters backstory and how they formed their tight little group. Kyle is the leader of the group. In a previous life he was a college professor. Now he is struggling to keep everyone alive even though he is terribly ill and struggling himself. Sara has special abilities and has know loss in the past. She uses her skill to save them time after time. Tim is a teenager who appears to be green but it becomes evident that when the time comes, he can and will step up. Kaylee is a young girl who does not know of the world before. She only knows a world full of monsters.
The book never really tells us what, how or why, the world became the way it did. Perhaps I would have liked the book just a touch more had I been given that information. I did like the book. I think fans of this genre enjoy reading this book. It's not too gory, nothing too graphic. I don't think it will bother the squeamish. This book really is about good vs. evil and the fight to save the world. It had nice pacing after I got past the first chapter. For some reason, I struggled with the first chapter and kept finding other things to read but once I got past the first chapter the book turned into a fast read.
see more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
"Hell and the world had become one and the same."
Something has happened in the world and people are left to survive. Kyle, Sara and Tim have formed a group trying to stay together to survive together. One night they hear shots and go to investigate and find a young girl, Kaylee. This young girl's Mother was a scientist who was working on a way of saving the world. Kaylee informs the group that there is a safe place. A place where scientists live and a place where they might possibly be safe.
At first this book felt like a YA version of Bird Box meets The Walking Dead. There is this HUGE creature that can invade people's minds and learn their thoughts and take control of them. There are also "crawlers" who attack and devour people. Quickly it becomes evident that this is not a YA dystopian novel but a novel of survival in a horrific world.
As the story unfolds we learn about each characters backstory and how they formed their tight little group. Kyle is the leader of the group. In a previous life he was a college professor. Now he is struggling to keep everyone alive even though he is terribly ill and struggling himself. Sara has special abilities and has know loss in the past. She uses her skill to save them time after time. Tim is a teenager who appears to be green but it becomes evident that when the time comes, he can and will step up. Kaylee is a young girl who does not know of the world before. She only knows a world full of monsters.
The book never really tells us what, how or why, the world became the way it did. Perhaps I would have liked the book just a touch more had I been given that information. I did like the book. I think fans of this genre enjoy reading this book. It's not too gory, nothing too graphic. I don't think it will bother the squeamish. This book really is about good vs. evil and the fight to save the world. It had nice pacing after I got past the first chapter. For some reason, I struggled with the first chapter and kept finding other things to read but once I got past the first chapter the book turned into a fast read.
see more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
October 26, 2016
I received a copy of this book for free through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
2.5 stars
I have mixed opinions on this. I thought it was absolutely stunning however I also found it slow and the characters were a little, uh, annoying. I know those two opinions don't go hand-in-hand but that is where I am at right now.
First off, lets all just take a moment to appreciate the cover because it is simple and vivid all at the same time. Secondly, the story has huge potential however the pacing is a little off and I found myself drifting out of this world a little too often.
The reason I've given this 2.5 stars is because despite the choppy plot, I somehow kept wanting to come back and read it and I can't fault the author for drawing me back in.
So many hypocritical opinions in one review. I don't think I've been this torn in a while. Will come back and update once I have a clear idea of where I am at.
2.5 stars
I have mixed opinions on this. I thought it was absolutely stunning however I also found it slow and the characters were a little, uh, annoying. I know those two opinions don't go hand-in-hand but that is where I am at right now.
First off, lets all just take a moment to appreciate the cover because it is simple and vivid all at the same time. Secondly, the story has huge potential however the pacing is a little off and I found myself drifting out of this world a little too often.
The reason I've given this 2.5 stars is because despite the choppy plot, I somehow kept wanting to come back and read it and I can't fault the author for drawing me back in.
So many hypocritical opinions in one review. I don't think I've been this torn in a while. Will come back and update once I have a clear idea of where I am at.
November 10, 2016
3.5stars
FULL REVIEW: https://bookneeders.wordpress.com/201...
I have mixed feelings on this book. Although I did actually really enjoy it, it had some things that annoyed me...
First of all, the cover is amazing! And that's one of the things that made me get it! I found it stunning!
I love apocalyptic books, and this was a very pleasant one to read. It made me always want to continue and see what would happen, and that part didn't let me down!
The world is fantastically terrifying but I it didn't show much explanations. Where did the monsters come from and how? Also, how did Sara get her powers?
Also, while I really enjoyed the characters, sometimes I wanted to punch them but if I was in their world I think I would react like that or worse... I also would have liked something more about Kaylee than it appears. Since she is on the cover I though we would hear her a bit more... And although we get to know a lot of Kyle, we don't know so much about Sara. It focuses more on her abilities as a scanner.
I really liked the end of the book tho. A tiny shred of hope and yet not everything turned perfect, what would have been pretty unlikely in a world like that.
To sum up, I really enjoyed the book, it kept me hooked but I would have liked more explanations about the world and some more character development.
FULL REVIEW: https://bookneeders.wordpress.com/201...
I have mixed feelings on this book. Although I did actually really enjoy it, it had some things that annoyed me...
First of all, the cover is amazing! And that's one of the things that made me get it! I found it stunning!
I love apocalyptic books, and this was a very pleasant one to read. It made me always want to continue and see what would happen, and that part didn't let me down!
The world is fantastically terrifying but I it didn't show much explanations. Where did the monsters come from and how? Also, how did Sara get her powers?
Also, while I really enjoyed the characters, sometimes I wanted to punch them but if I was in their world I think I would react like that or worse... I also would have liked something more about Kaylee than it appears. Since she is on the cover I though we would hear her a bit more... And although we get to know a lot of Kyle, we don't know so much about Sara. It focuses more on her abilities as a scanner.
I really liked the end of the book tho. A tiny shred of hope and yet not everything turned perfect, what would have been pretty unlikely in a world like that.
To sum up, I really enjoyed the book, it kept me hooked but I would have liked more explanations about the world and some more character development.
April 13, 2017
There are so many end of the world doomsday books that it is hard to find a book that is truly original. "All That Remains" by Al Barrera is original in the sense that there is an almost "Lovecraft" element to it with an unseen and seemingly God-like evil foe. I kept reading because I wanted to know what these horrible destroyers of civilization were and where they came from. The book is not simply post-apocalyptic but seems to have a combination of horror and science fiction as well which I love when an author can pull it off.
Kyle, Sara, and Tim form a small group in an effort to survive the horrible aftermath of the destruction of Mankind. Kyle is an older seasoned survivor who is facing demons of his own in more way than one. Sara is a tough chick who has developed some sort of telepathic ability that helps the group immensely. Tim is the young and trigger happy one who has grown up in this hell hole and has a lot to learn. Kyle is the one who seems the most well developed and complex to me. The group comes across a little girl who might be the one to save the world.
I did enjoy this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoy a quick foray into a doomed world with zombie like creatures and a mysterious adversary.
I received a copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley for free in exchange for an honest review.
Kyle, Sara, and Tim form a small group in an effort to survive the horrible aftermath of the destruction of Mankind. Kyle is an older seasoned survivor who is facing demons of his own in more way than one. Sara is a tough chick who has developed some sort of telepathic ability that helps the group immensely. Tim is the young and trigger happy one who has grown up in this hell hole and has a lot to learn. Kyle is the one who seems the most well developed and complex to me. The group comes across a little girl who might be the one to save the world.
I did enjoy this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoy a quick foray into a doomed world with zombie like creatures and a mysterious adversary.
I received a copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley for free in exchange for an honest review.
April 9, 2017
I love zombie apocalypses for some reason. The idea of the world ending, not having to go to work anymore, pay bills, or spend holidays with the in laws is totally entertaining. I know life would be harder as a hunter-gatherer but I still like to fantasize about it by reading zombie novels.
All that Remains was good, not too gruesome. Throughout the book I thought this would have been an awesome young adult book, however there was too much profanity for that and the characters were too old. I really liked the child's character, it was well written. I will be purchasing the sequel. I hope it reveals how this apocalypse came about.
All that Remains was good, not too gruesome. Throughout the book I thought this would have been an awesome young adult book, however there was too much profanity for that and the characters were too old. I really liked the child's character, it was well written. I will be purchasing the sequel. I hope it reveals how this apocalypse came about.
March 11, 2017
All That Remains
Al Barrera
Read 09/27/2016
4.5 Stars
"The old world is dead, and humanity struggles to survive in the shadows of the new one. Kyle, Sara, and Tim are scavengers, hiding in the remains of human civilization from the hungry things that destroyed it. Living on the few items that haven’t rotted in the thirteen years since civilization was wiped out.
But something has shown itself: A terrible creature that betrays an intelligence in the madness of the creatures that rule the planet.
When the group finds Kaylee, a little girl who claims to know of a safe haven somewhere in Tennessee, they embark on a desperate journey to find it. Memory and loss, depravity and salvation— their last run will put them face to face with horrors of both man and monsters the likes of which they’ve never seen."
Note: I received an e-copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
What a thrilling read! This book reignited my love for the genre. The pacing was excellent throughout and I never got bored. I really enjoyed coming into the world thirteen years after the apocalypse and slowly learning the characters back stories as the story progressed. It was a little awkward at first with the random flashbacks but I actually came to like the writing style as I continued reading. I loved the characters, they felt real, and I actually cared about them and their stories. This is one of the better post apocalyptic stories I have read, the idea of monsters and crazy animals and not just infected people was refreshing. I also loved the scanner idea it was definitely different and interesting.There were a few mistakes I noticed, they were pretty minor but still easily picked out and didn't affect my enjoyment while reading. I only wish there was more!
Al Barrera
Read 09/27/2016
4.5 Stars
"The old world is dead, and humanity struggles to survive in the shadows of the new one. Kyle, Sara, and Tim are scavengers, hiding in the remains of human civilization from the hungry things that destroyed it. Living on the few items that haven’t rotted in the thirteen years since civilization was wiped out.
But something has shown itself: A terrible creature that betrays an intelligence in the madness of the creatures that rule the planet.
When the group finds Kaylee, a little girl who claims to know of a safe haven somewhere in Tennessee, they embark on a desperate journey to find it. Memory and loss, depravity and salvation— their last run will put them face to face with horrors of both man and monsters the likes of which they’ve never seen."
Note: I received an e-copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
What a thrilling read! This book reignited my love for the genre. The pacing was excellent throughout and I never got bored. I really enjoyed coming into the world thirteen years after the apocalypse and slowly learning the characters back stories as the story progressed. It was a little awkward at first with the random flashbacks but I actually came to like the writing style as I continued reading. I loved the characters, they felt real, and I actually cared about them and their stories. This is one of the better post apocalyptic stories I have read, the idea of monsters and crazy animals and not just infected people was refreshing. I also loved the scanner idea it was definitely different and interesting.There were a few mistakes I noticed, they were pretty minor but still easily picked out and didn't affect my enjoyment while reading. I only wish there was more!
March 16, 2017
All That Remains is definitely a slow burn. It could fall under the “zombie”, “post-apocalyptic” story categories, but has a few unexpected twists to set it slightly apart from the rest. Though the cause of the “zombie apocalypse” is not plainly laid out, one can entertain a few ideas and scenarios, which gives the story-line its appeal. Zombies are also not the only foes to be weary of.
The story begins with our heroes already surviving in the “blighted” world. We are thrown in to the fight against the “monsters” of this world, both physical and emotional. Within this fight, we meet a little girl with a secret, a symbol of hope. This little girl leads the heroes on the rest of their journey through this fight, with hope for an end. Along this journey we encounter several kinds of “monsters”, human, un-dead, and something in between. We learn of humans who have extraordinary abilities and come to understand that there are still things worse than trying to survive in this world.
Though I wouldn’t put this book at the top of my list, it is definitely worth reading. The story left a lot to be desired as far as an explanation to what caused the world to end and where all the different types of monsters came from, but that also adds a positive aspect that allows the reader to imagine for themselves. I would have liked for more clarification between memory flashbacks and internal thought, as well as an explanation for “scanners”, but, other than that, the story and characters were well written and the ending left me wanting to know “what happens next?”
Thank you to Net Galley for providing this e-book in exchange for my honest review.
The story begins with our heroes already surviving in the “blighted” world. We are thrown in to the fight against the “monsters” of this world, both physical and emotional. Within this fight, we meet a little girl with a secret, a symbol of hope. This little girl leads the heroes on the rest of their journey through this fight, with hope for an end. Along this journey we encounter several kinds of “monsters”, human, un-dead, and something in between. We learn of humans who have extraordinary abilities and come to understand that there are still things worse than trying to survive in this world.
Though I wouldn’t put this book at the top of my list, it is definitely worth reading. The story left a lot to be desired as far as an explanation to what caused the world to end and where all the different types of monsters came from, but that also adds a positive aspect that allows the reader to imagine for themselves. I would have liked for more clarification between memory flashbacks and internal thought, as well as an explanation for “scanners”, but, other than that, the story and characters were well written and the ending left me wanting to know “what happens next?”
Thank you to Net Galley for providing this e-book in exchange for my honest review.
July 10, 2017
There are few words to describe how enthralled I was by this novel. Set over a decade after monstrous creatures have taken over the planet Earth, ALL THAT REMAINS tells the story of a man named Kyle, a woman named Sarah, and a teenager named Tim as they travel across the devastated country of North America. The novel opens with the group heading out on a scavenging run to bring supplies back to their home, known as North Fifteen. Along the way, they discover a little girl whose mother—seemingly an important figure in the military—was slaughtered by monsters on the road. Little do they know that the little girl will be monumental in their quest for not only safety, but ultimately, their salvation.
Without giving too much away, ALL THAT REMAINS by Al Barerra is an undeniable masterpiece in the post-apocalyptic fiction genre. Heart-wrenching, jaw-dropping, thrilling, and most of all, packed with heart, you root for these characters with every step they take, and feel for every loss they experience along the road. North America, post-apocalypse, is a landscape that will not easily be forgotten. Blighted grass, marauding Infected, and terrifying monsters are only a few of the nightmarish monstrosities that the reader will encounter throughout this outstanding novel. I really can’t say enough about this novel.
Terrifying, thrilling, and packed full of heart, ALL THAT REMAINS has instantly shot up through the ranks of one of my favorite survival novels. I’m not only certain, but KNOW that fans of post-apocalyptic literature will LOVE this novel.
Without giving too much away, ALL THAT REMAINS by Al Barerra is an undeniable masterpiece in the post-apocalyptic fiction genre. Heart-wrenching, jaw-dropping, thrilling, and most of all, packed with heart, you root for these characters with every step they take, and feel for every loss they experience along the road. North America, post-apocalypse, is a landscape that will not easily be forgotten. Blighted grass, marauding Infected, and terrifying monsters are only a few of the nightmarish monstrosities that the reader will encounter throughout this outstanding novel. I really can’t say enough about this novel.
Terrifying, thrilling, and packed full of heart, ALL THAT REMAINS has instantly shot up through the ranks of one of my favorite survival novels. I’m not only certain, but KNOW that fans of post-apocalyptic literature will LOVE this novel.
December 4, 2016
I received this book from the author, via Net Galley, in exchange for an honest review.
All That Remains is a post-apocalyptic novel that takes place more than a decade after an apocalypse that is never fully explained. What starts out as a zombie story melds into an extraterrestrial story, with a dash of psychic communication with monsters, astral projection (of sorts), and ghostly remembrances of gruesomely departed loved ones thrown in. I felt like the characters were often too unidimensional and that younger characters failed to evolve during the course of the books. The dialogue was sometimes stilted or generic. There was not enough back story to make me care about these characters deeply. The plot was initially a little too much like The Walking Dead, with Kyle being a stand-in for Rick, and Sara for an abused Carol.
I felt that this book would have benefitted from better editing and certainly better scientific consultation.
All That Remains is a post-apocalyptic novel that takes place more than a decade after an apocalypse that is never fully explained. What starts out as a zombie story melds into an extraterrestrial story, with a dash of psychic communication with monsters, astral projection (of sorts), and ghostly remembrances of gruesomely departed loved ones thrown in. I felt like the characters were often too unidimensional and that younger characters failed to evolve during the course of the books. The dialogue was sometimes stilted or generic. There was not enough back story to make me care about these characters deeply. The plot was initially a little too much like The Walking Dead, with Kyle being a stand-in for Rick, and Sara for an abused Carol.
I felt that this book would have benefitted from better editing and certainly better scientific consultation.
June 19, 2017
All That Remains is a dystopian horror following Kyle, Tim and Sara 13 years after the apocalypse. After finding young girl Kaylee, they need to get to Oak Ridge to protect themselves and maybe save the world.
There's normal reanimated human zombies, but also other monster like creatures that roam the earth. All That Remains is able to describe the monsters, make them horrifying, yet not interrupt the plotline to do so. In previous books I've been pulled out of a tense moment because there's too much description, but Barrera is able to bypass that problem.
There's varying themes of hope and morality within the book. All four of our characters experience hope, and lose hope throughout the book. Whether it's hope to find more people, hope that cities are inhabitable or just hope for survival. Because of this focus, I felt attached to the characters. Even when they were being pessimistic, they still didn't give up.
Morality is a fine line in this new world. You must kill to survive at times, but is it the right thing to do? If you kill a bad person does it make you just as bad? One of the lines mentioned that right is nothing but a direction anymore which I think is relevant to the book as a whole.
As we get to see the point of views of both Sara and Kyle you do feel attached to them. The characters are extremely likable, even when they're not being the best they can be. They don't consciously make bad decisions which puts them in danger, which makes me route for them more. Although problems do arise due to accidents or it's out of their control.
Sara in particular is a great character. She shows both mental and physical strength by not only surviving 13 years but also with her mental fight with 'the walking cancer'. The walking cancer is a monster that no one has ever seen before. It's a new, worse monster in the world, and the main bulk of the book is spent running and hiding from it. Due to Sara being a scanner she can sense and also connect/talk with the monster.
The plague-like spread of zombies and natural disasters mirrors that Kyle is ill throughout the book. It's implied that it's a cancerous tumor, most likely in the brain due to headaches and blackouts. As the situation for the group gets worse, the illness gets worse. I think Barrera was definitely trying to show the similarities. There's also a underlying message of having hope throughout which I think is an important takeaway.
I received All That Remains* by Al Barrera as an e-book from the publisher via Netgalley. This is an unbiased and honest review.
There's normal reanimated human zombies, but also other monster like creatures that roam the earth. All That Remains is able to describe the monsters, make them horrifying, yet not interrupt the plotline to do so. In previous books I've been pulled out of a tense moment because there's too much description, but Barrera is able to bypass that problem.
There's varying themes of hope and morality within the book. All four of our characters experience hope, and lose hope throughout the book. Whether it's hope to find more people, hope that cities are inhabitable or just hope for survival. Because of this focus, I felt attached to the characters. Even when they were being pessimistic, they still didn't give up.
Morality is a fine line in this new world. You must kill to survive at times, but is it the right thing to do? If you kill a bad person does it make you just as bad? One of the lines mentioned that right is nothing but a direction anymore which I think is relevant to the book as a whole.
As we get to see the point of views of both Sara and Kyle you do feel attached to them. The characters are extremely likable, even when they're not being the best they can be. They don't consciously make bad decisions which puts them in danger, which makes me route for them more. Although problems do arise due to accidents or it's out of their control.
Sara in particular is a great character. She shows both mental and physical strength by not only surviving 13 years but also with her mental fight with 'the walking cancer'. The walking cancer is a monster that no one has ever seen before. It's a new, worse monster in the world, and the main bulk of the book is spent running and hiding from it. Due to Sara being a scanner she can sense and also connect/talk with the monster.
The plague-like spread of zombies and natural disasters mirrors that Kyle is ill throughout the book. It's implied that it's a cancerous tumor, most likely in the brain due to headaches and blackouts. As the situation for the group gets worse, the illness gets worse. I think Barrera was definitely trying to show the similarities. There's also a underlying message of having hope throughout which I think is an important takeaway.
I received All That Remains* by Al Barrera as an e-book from the publisher via Netgalley. This is an unbiased and honest review.
February 23, 2017
I received this book from NetGalley in return from my honest review.
I am a huge fan of the Post-Apocalyptic genre in films. Haven’t read much of this genre though but that didn’t stop me enjoying this book.
It ticks the boxes in that there are small set of survivors on the road dealing with the hazards that they meet on the way. Crops, food and water are not in ready supply due to an orange ‘blight’ that fell from the sky. They have to fight other survivors, ‘infected’ humans who have been bitten and turn into well think ‘Walkers’ from Walking Dead. And some ‘monster’ that has suddenly developed a conscious that allows it to probe minds.
The main protagonists, Sara, Kyle and Tim come across a little girl who talks about a safe place, possibly a military base that her scientist mother talked about. Is it too good to be true? We don’t know but as their community is destroyed by the infected they have no choice but to try and find this military base.
I really enjoyed it. The main characters are survivors and may not always be likeable. And some really horrible things happen to them.
This book is three stars. the editing makes it sometimes difficult to follow. In one particular important scene it’s hard to know whether it’s a flash back, or if it’s really happening. And when you realize the scene is not a flash back it’s hard to follow who is saying what. Or why it happened. That was only a small observation though and it didn’t stop me from enjoying the book.
And am looking forward to the sequel which is apparently due out later this year.
I am a huge fan of the Post-Apocalyptic genre in films. Haven’t read much of this genre though but that didn’t stop me enjoying this book.
It ticks the boxes in that there are small set of survivors on the road dealing with the hazards that they meet on the way. Crops, food and water are not in ready supply due to an orange ‘blight’ that fell from the sky. They have to fight other survivors, ‘infected’ humans who have been bitten and turn into well think ‘Walkers’ from Walking Dead. And some ‘monster’ that has suddenly developed a conscious that allows it to probe minds.
The main protagonists, Sara, Kyle and Tim come across a little girl who talks about a safe place, possibly a military base that her scientist mother talked about. Is it too good to be true? We don’t know but as their community is destroyed by the infected they have no choice but to try and find this military base.
I really enjoyed it. The main characters are survivors and may not always be likeable. And some really horrible things happen to them.
This book is three stars. the editing makes it sometimes difficult to follow. In one particular important scene it’s hard to know whether it’s a flash back, or if it’s really happening. And when you realize the scene is not a flash back it’s hard to follow who is saying what. Or why it happened. That was only a small observation though and it didn’t stop me from enjoying the book.
And am looking forward to the sequel which is apparently due out later this year.
January 10, 2019
4.5 Stars
This really was a great post-apocalyptic novel filled with action, gore and violence. I don't know whether I would call this a Zombie novel or not, there are Zombie-like elements but it's done different enough that this book is set apart from the rest. Very well written and very intense as the pace is at break-neck speed. I would definitely read more from this author.
I received an ARC of this ebook through Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion. Thank you to Netgalley, the Author and the Publisher
This really was a great post-apocalyptic novel filled with action, gore and violence. I don't know whether I would call this a Zombie novel or not, there are Zombie-like elements but it's done different enough that this book is set apart from the rest. Very well written and very intense as the pace is at break-neck speed. I would definitely read more from this author.
I received an ARC of this ebook through Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion. Thank you to Netgalley, the Author and the Publisher
April 13, 2017
Review to be done soon
November 21, 2016
First up I want to thank the Author for having this book for review on Net Galley. As well as Net Galley for giving people the chance to review these books.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it wasn't the best book, and it had it's ups and downs. But I still really enjoyed reading it. After about 50% through I couldn't put it down.
It is an apocalyptic novel, which follows the perspective of 2 people. Kyle and Sara There are 4 main characters:
Kyle - College Professor in the Old World, lived day in day out, never did any wrong. In the New World, he doesn't take any shit and is a leader.
Sara - In the Old World she was shunned by her religious family and town for her sexual preferences. In the New World, she is a Scanner. She can scans for infected near by to make sure locations are safe, she can relive memories from locations, objects and the minds of people.
Tim - Too young to remember the Old World. In the New World, he has lost everyone he loves, and he is ruthless when his friends are in trouble.
Kaylee - Born in the New World, where the Monsters rule the streets, but she was safe in a bunker most of her life.
The world was destroyed by red clouds, and large storms, in which the infected started showing up as well as the Monsters.
Kyle, Sara and Tim are members of North Fifteen, and are out getting a Supply Drop from one of North Fifteens hideouts, when Sara feels a new type of Monster, one that can hack into peoples minds like she does.
They hide it out the night, as the Monsters don't come out during the day, but hear gun shots coming from the town near them.
They head out in the morning and Sara scans another presence near them, then they hear crying. They move closer and find a little girl, Kaylee, crying. She was with her Mum and friends and they all got killed by the Monsters. Kyle and Tim find the bodies of her Mum and friends, and they search their stuff, and Kyle finds a USB Drive, which hasn't been useful to anyone, but he takes it with him anyway. They take Kaylee with them back to North Fifteen, but it is destroyed, everyone is either dead or infected.
Sara scans Kaylee to find out where her Mum was heading, and then they head on their way.
Sara later gets kidnapped by Bandits while Kyle and Tim are out scavenging, but she manages to hide Kaylee and kills one of the Bandits before she is taken. She sends out a thought wave length to Kyle, and he hears it, but he is not the only one.
The 'Memory Monster' is now on Sara's trail. Kyle, Tim head back to where they left the girls and find only Kaylee, they then follow tracks to the Bandits cabin, and rescue Sara. They escape in the Bandits truck with one of the Bandits driving and the Monsters following them, they lose them, and make their way as close as they can get to Oak Ridge in the truck.
They travel for almost 4 days with no food, and finally find Oak Ridge, in the town they are chased by infected to a storage room in a 4 story building that is 3 stories below the ground of where they have to be. Sara sends out another wave length, this time to the people underground, and they rescue them just in time.
The 'Memory Monster' scans the presence of the people underground and realises that they now have the means to destroy them, and becomes angry, takes over a human and sets in emergency evacuation, which opens all hatches for the Monsters and infected to get in.
Kyle and Tim save them by making their way to the air shaft system, to place the powder in it, to destroy the monsters.
As I said I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and after 50% I couldn't put it down until I finished it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it wasn't the best book, and it had it's ups and downs. But I still really enjoyed reading it. After about 50% through I couldn't put it down.
It is an apocalyptic novel, which follows the perspective of 2 people. Kyle and Sara There are 4 main characters:
Kyle - College Professor in the Old World, lived day in day out, never did any wrong. In the New World, he doesn't take any shit and is a leader.
Sara - In the Old World she was shunned by her religious family and town for her sexual preferences. In the New World, she is a Scanner. She can scans for infected near by to make sure locations are safe, she can relive memories from locations, objects and the minds of people.
Tim - Too young to remember the Old World. In the New World, he has lost everyone he loves, and he is ruthless when his friends are in trouble.
Kaylee - Born in the New World, where the Monsters rule the streets, but she was safe in a bunker most of her life.
The world was destroyed by red clouds, and large storms, in which the infected started showing up as well as the Monsters.
Kyle, Sara and Tim are members of North Fifteen, and are out getting a Supply Drop from one of North Fifteens hideouts, when Sara feels a new type of Monster, one that can hack into peoples minds like she does.
They hide it out the night, as the Monsters don't come out during the day, but hear gun shots coming from the town near them.
They head out in the morning and Sara scans another presence near them, then they hear crying. They move closer and find a little girl, Kaylee, crying. She was with her Mum and friends and they all got killed by the Monsters. Kyle and Tim find the bodies of her Mum and friends, and they search their stuff, and Kyle finds a USB Drive, which hasn't been useful to anyone, but he takes it with him anyway. They take Kaylee with them back to North Fifteen, but it is destroyed, everyone is either dead or infected.
Sara scans Kaylee to find out where her Mum was heading, and then they head on their way.
Sara later gets kidnapped by Bandits while Kyle and Tim are out scavenging, but she manages to hide Kaylee and kills one of the Bandits before she is taken. She sends out a thought wave length to Kyle, and he hears it, but he is not the only one.
The 'Memory Monster' is now on Sara's trail. Kyle, Tim head back to where they left the girls and find only Kaylee, they then follow tracks to the Bandits cabin, and rescue Sara. They escape in the Bandits truck with one of the Bandits driving and the Monsters following them, they lose them, and make their way as close as they can get to Oak Ridge in the truck.
They travel for almost 4 days with no food, and finally find Oak Ridge, in the town they are chased by infected to a storage room in a 4 story building that is 3 stories below the ground of where they have to be. Sara sends out another wave length, this time to the people underground, and they rescue them just in time.
The 'Memory Monster' scans the presence of the people underground and realises that they now have the means to destroy them, and becomes angry, takes over a human and sets in emergency evacuation, which opens all hatches for the Monsters and infected to get in.
Kyle and Tim save them by making their way to the air shaft system, to place the powder in it, to destroy the monsters.
As I said I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and after 50% I couldn't put it down until I finished it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2017
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Kyle, Sara and Tim are on the run. They don't know where they are going exactly, but they have survived 13 years already and they plan to keep going. When their last hideout is destroyed they have to run again, taking a little girl, the sole survivor of a bunch of scientists, with them. And if all of that wasn't hard enough already, Kyle suffers from unexplained blackouts and terrible headaches and there is a monster with unimaginable power after them.
This post-apocalyptic world is filled with monsters and a few remaining humans struggling for survival. We get thrown right into the story where Kyle, Sara and Tim are hiding for the night. It is definitely an action-filled book and there is always something happening. Those poor characters could never catch a break.
Kyle is the leader of the team, but recently he's become less reliable due to unexplained flashbacks during which he looses a lot of time and could endanger all their lives. He used to travel with his girlfriend and his best friend. After their deaths he nearly went mad with grief before finding Sara. He now wants to protect his friends.
Sara suffered trough a traumatic childhood full of abuse at the hands of her church because she kissed a girl (both are only mentioned in passing and as there are no other girls Sara's age there is no romance at all in this novel). She witnessed her mum's and sister's death in a car accident when her powers appeared. She is one of the rare scanners, able to sense all monsters. This however makes her vulnerable to the most evil monster of all.
Tim's family died during the first apocalyptic week and he has been traveling alone since then until he met Kyle and Sara. Despite his young age he is quite good with a gun, but Kyle's continuous nagging makes him incredible angry.
Kaylee is a little girl whose mother was a scientist. But when they had to leave their Bunker and go out in the open all of them were killed. She is rescued by Kyle, Sara and Tim and together they try to travel to another place that might exist and might be safe.
The setting was quite interesting, but the world building was lacking. While we were told what happened at the beginning of the apocalypse it only happened in very short flashbacks and there was no real explanation for anything, not where the monsters came from nor where Sara got her powers.
It was also quite confusing to read, especially since Kyle's flashbacks kept throwing me back in time and for a long time it's not really explained who the people in the flashbacks are, which I found annoying. The chapters were split between Kyle and Sara. Kyle's chapters offered me a great insight in his character, but Sara's chapters dealt more often with her ability as a scanner and her receiving other people's feelings or reading their dreams. Because of that I could never really connect to Sara. There is also no real voice for Kaylee, which was especially disappointing as I thought since she was on the cover, she would play a more important role.
The ending gives a bit of hope but leaves a lot of things open, which kinda made sense, but also left me feeling unsatisfied.
So all in all it was a nice book with a nice idea, but the world building was lacking a lot and the characters didn't really connect to me.
Why I read it: I wanted to read some more post-apocalyptic stories and the cover looked really nice.
Do I recommend it: It might be more fun for younger audiences? But no, not really.
Kyle, Sara and Tim are on the run. They don't know where they are going exactly, but they have survived 13 years already and they plan to keep going. When their last hideout is destroyed they have to run again, taking a little girl, the sole survivor of a bunch of scientists, with them. And if all of that wasn't hard enough already, Kyle suffers from unexplained blackouts and terrible headaches and there is a monster with unimaginable power after them.
This post-apocalyptic world is filled with monsters and a few remaining humans struggling for survival. We get thrown right into the story where Kyle, Sara and Tim are hiding for the night. It is definitely an action-filled book and there is always something happening. Those poor characters could never catch a break.
Kyle is the leader of the team, but recently he's become less reliable due to unexplained flashbacks during which he looses a lot of time and could endanger all their lives. He used to travel with his girlfriend and his best friend. After their deaths he nearly went mad with grief before finding Sara. He now wants to protect his friends.
Sara suffered trough a traumatic childhood full of abuse at the hands of her church because she kissed a girl (both are only mentioned in passing and as there are no other girls Sara's age there is no romance at all in this novel). She witnessed her mum's and sister's death in a car accident when her powers appeared. She is one of the rare scanners, able to sense all monsters. This however makes her vulnerable to the most evil monster of all.
Tim's family died during the first apocalyptic week and he has been traveling alone since then until he met Kyle and Sara. Despite his young age he is quite good with a gun, but Kyle's continuous nagging makes him incredible angry.
Kaylee is a little girl whose mother was a scientist. But when they had to leave their Bunker and go out in the open all of them were killed. She is rescued by Kyle, Sara and Tim and together they try to travel to another place that might exist and might be safe.
The setting was quite interesting, but the world building was lacking. While we were told what happened at the beginning of the apocalypse it only happened in very short flashbacks and there was no real explanation for anything, not where the monsters came from nor where Sara got her powers.
It was also quite confusing to read, especially since Kyle's flashbacks kept throwing me back in time and for a long time it's not really explained who the people in the flashbacks are, which I found annoying. The chapters were split between Kyle and Sara. Kyle's chapters offered me a great insight in his character, but Sara's chapters dealt more often with her ability as a scanner and her receiving other people's feelings or reading their dreams. Because of that I could never really connect to Sara. There is also no real voice for Kaylee, which was especially disappointing as I thought since she was on the cover, she would play a more important role.
The ending gives a bit of hope but leaves a lot of things open, which kinda made sense, but also left me feeling unsatisfied.
So all in all it was a nice book with a nice idea, but the world building was lacking a lot and the characters didn't really connect to me.
Why I read it: I wanted to read some more post-apocalyptic stories and the cover looked really nice.
Do I recommend it: It might be more fun for younger audiences? But no, not really.
February 21, 2017
Thirteen years ago, the world ended. It was not by nuclear fallout, and as far as the reader can tell, it may have been extraterrestrial in origin: whatever caused it remains shrouded in mystery, even as this quick, action-packed tale comes to an end.
All That Remains by Al Barrera is a dystopian, science-fiction novel that takes place after some largely unidentified horror falls over the world and follows a small band of survivors as they struggle to remain alive in a world that has changed drastically. It is a quick, entertaining read that may leave the reader wanting more, if said reader only has a hunger for action, rather than any real development, character or plot-wise.
As a reader, what I found to be the most frustrating element of Barrera's book was the complete and total lack of character depth. I have a soft spot for post-apocalyptic scenarios, perhaps because it is far easier to imagine our world coming to a sudden halt than it is for dragons and magic to emerge out of nothingness. When the world ends, the most primal needs of the human existence come to the forefront: our need to survive, no matter the cost. It is these natural behaviors that draw many fans to series like The Walking Dead, because we're able to watch as people that, having taken the simplicities of their existence for granted, become their true selves. While we do see this sort of behavior in All That Remains, it is largely personified in minor characters whose presence are fleeting as best. The main characters, Sara, Tim, Kyle, and Kaylee, are largely without personality. What characteristics of self they do possess is, for the most part, stereotypical of their age group.
The story's plot, though extremely action driven, is simplistic at best: a scientist finds a solution to the problem that is to be delivered to another lab that can put it to work. En route, something happens and the answer changes hands, leaving it to the heroes of our story to carry out the mission. It's a tale that could easily be woven in a few pages, but Barrera's knack for being able to create a lot of action allows him to turn what might have otherwise been a boring read into one that is filled with excitement.
For the most part, All That Remains flows pretty smoothly and ties up a lot of loose ends, but not all of them. At the conclusion of the book, I was left with unanswered questions, largely regarding the origin of the apocalypse, especially since it seems to be a hybrid zombie-alien sort of thing. That, and the fact that one of the characters sustains a very grievous injury that is completely glossed over. In the acknowledgment at the end, Barrera hints at a follow-up to this book, and I definitely plan to keep it on my radar. This is definitely one of those cases where the story's action carries it where it would have fallen flat otherwise.
I would like to thank the publisher, NetGalley, and the author for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
All That Remains by Al Barrera is a dystopian, science-fiction novel that takes place after some largely unidentified horror falls over the world and follows a small band of survivors as they struggle to remain alive in a world that has changed drastically. It is a quick, entertaining read that may leave the reader wanting more, if said reader only has a hunger for action, rather than any real development, character or plot-wise.
As a reader, what I found to be the most frustrating element of Barrera's book was the complete and total lack of character depth. I have a soft spot for post-apocalyptic scenarios, perhaps because it is far easier to imagine our world coming to a sudden halt than it is for dragons and magic to emerge out of nothingness. When the world ends, the most primal needs of the human existence come to the forefront: our need to survive, no matter the cost. It is these natural behaviors that draw many fans to series like The Walking Dead, because we're able to watch as people that, having taken the simplicities of their existence for granted, become their true selves. While we do see this sort of behavior in All That Remains, it is largely personified in minor characters whose presence are fleeting as best. The main characters, Sara, Tim, Kyle, and Kaylee, are largely without personality. What characteristics of self they do possess is, for the most part, stereotypical of their age group.
The story's plot, though extremely action driven, is simplistic at best: a scientist finds a solution to the problem that is to be delivered to another lab that can put it to work. En route, something happens and the answer changes hands, leaving it to the heroes of our story to carry out the mission. It's a tale that could easily be woven in a few pages, but Barrera's knack for being able to create a lot of action allows him to turn what might have otherwise been a boring read into one that is filled with excitement.
For the most part, All That Remains flows pretty smoothly and ties up a lot of loose ends, but not all of them. At the conclusion of the book, I was left with unanswered questions, largely regarding the origin of the apocalypse, especially since it seems to be a hybrid zombie-alien sort of thing. That, and the fact that one of the characters sustains a very grievous injury that is completely glossed over. In the acknowledgment at the end, Barrera hints at a follow-up to this book, and I definitely plan to keep it on my radar. This is definitely one of those cases where the story's action carries it where it would have fallen flat otherwise.
I would like to thank the publisher, NetGalley, and the author for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2016
Sooo, I saw this on Netgalley and I fell in love with the cover first. It’s a lovely cover, whimsical, sweet, peaceful. Was I expecting a zombie novel? Nope. At least until I read the synopsis and got excited because intelligent zombies and horror. Gimme!
It’s been 13 years since the blight hit Earth and the world is a different place. Kyle, Sara and Tim are on a supply run in a world filled with monsters where food, water, shelter and safety are scarce. When their latest hideout is destroyed they have to move again. In the midst of this they find a little girl who can help save the world and who is the sole survivor of a monster attack.
Now it isn’t feasible to expect realism from a zombie/monster book but I at least expect the story to follow the parameters laid down by the story itself. For the most part this book does but in the instances it doesn’t it’s glaringly obvious. The main point of my contention is when they find the little girl, Kaylee. She was with her mother, a scientist and a group of soldiers when they are attacked by monsters and the only one that manages to survive is the little kid. Then our trio find her crying by the side of the road. Crying loud enough for them to hear her and yet there are no monsters drawn to the sound of her crying? Keep in mind this is the same book where Kyle, Sarah and Tim have to sneak around during daylight and nighttime, have to cover their scent with vinegar, light small fires which they have to hide so that the light can’t be seen by the baddies and who talk in whispers so as to not attract attention. Now you might think the reason this little girl is still alive what with her little girl noises is because she’s really special and powerful, but nope, the way she can save the world is with information. So why is she alive? I am in confusion.
Sara is in fact the one with powers and can ‘scan’, how these powers are attained isn’t explained, nor is how the blight came to be. Sure the monsters are explained(sort of) towards the end but how they happened isn’t.
Kyle’s whole issue was, I thought, unnecessary, given that the main character was, by default Sara with her brain juju.
Interspersed throughout the story are flashbacks of Kyle and Sara’s life post-apocalypse. If this was meant to make them feel relatable I can say that in my case this failed.
For all of the above I will say the story was well paced. Of course I didn’t think this while reading it, it felt like too much lack of direction on part of the main characters until they finally make to Oak Ridge where things really pick up.
I didn’t hate it. But I think with all the other great zombie books out there this might just be a little too forgettable. 2.5 star read for me.
It’s been 13 years since the blight hit Earth and the world is a different place. Kyle, Sara and Tim are on a supply run in a world filled with monsters where food, water, shelter and safety are scarce. When their latest hideout is destroyed they have to move again. In the midst of this they find a little girl who can help save the world and who is the sole survivor of a monster attack.
Now it isn’t feasible to expect realism from a zombie/monster book but I at least expect the story to follow the parameters laid down by the story itself. For the most part this book does but in the instances it doesn’t it’s glaringly obvious. The main point of my contention is when they find the little girl, Kaylee. She was with her mother, a scientist and a group of soldiers when they are attacked by monsters and the only one that manages to survive is the little kid. Then our trio find her crying by the side of the road. Crying loud enough for them to hear her and yet there are no monsters drawn to the sound of her crying? Keep in mind this is the same book where Kyle, Sarah and Tim have to sneak around during daylight and nighttime, have to cover their scent with vinegar, light small fires which they have to hide so that the light can’t be seen by the baddies and who talk in whispers so as to not attract attention. Now you might think the reason this little girl is still alive what with her little girl noises is because she’s really special and powerful, but nope, the way she can save the world is with information. So why is she alive? I am in confusion.
Sara is in fact the one with powers and can ‘scan’, how these powers are attained isn’t explained, nor is how the blight came to be. Sure the monsters are explained(sort of) towards the end but how they happened isn’t.
Kyle’s whole issue was, I thought, unnecessary, given that the main character was, by default Sara with her brain juju.
Interspersed throughout the story are flashbacks of Kyle and Sara’s life post-apocalypse. If this was meant to make them feel relatable I can say that in my case this failed.
For all of the above I will say the story was well paced. Of course I didn’t think this while reading it, it felt like too much lack of direction on part of the main characters until they finally make to Oak Ridge where things really pick up.
I didn’t hate it. But I think with all the other great zombie books out there this might just be a little too forgettable. 2.5 star read for me.
September 26, 2016
And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. – Revelation Chapter 13
When we open a book with a quote from Revelations you know some stuff is going down! I needed a book to qualify as horror for my Fall Bookish Bingo card. Understand, I don’t usually read horror, however, I do read post-apocalyptic stories. This one came under both categories, so I figured, what the heck. Let’s try it out. Might be fun. Might scare the holy heck out of me, but let’s give it a go.
It’s not quite as intensely horror filled as I first imagined. Granted, that could also be because I’ve read a lot of these types of books and I’m a little jaded. As for the story, something terrible has happened on earth. A devastating illness? An alien life-form? Monsters appearing? Zombies walking the earth? How about all of the above. Most of humankind has gone the way of the dodo. Enter a band of survivors, trying to make their way through a horror filled landscape. It’s pretty clear that they aren’t going to make it. How can they? The author does a good job with the mood building. You can see the fog and mist creeping up, monster hiding in tall grass, something waiting to jump out at them at every turn. It makes for good post-apocalypse world building. Interestingly, the thing I liked most about the book was it’s diversity. Bravo, Mr. Barrera! He’s created a compelling story with no love triangle, what a relief! There is also an African American hero and a lesbian heroine protecting a young man and a little girl. It’s nice to see something different in a genre that, unfortunately, tends to be a little formulaic. If you’re a fan of horror or post-apocalyptic adventure I think this is a good page turner.
Song for this book: Zombie – The Cranberries
When we open a book with a quote from Revelations you know some stuff is going down! I needed a book to qualify as horror for my Fall Bookish Bingo card. Understand, I don’t usually read horror, however, I do read post-apocalyptic stories. This one came under both categories, so I figured, what the heck. Let’s try it out. Might be fun. Might scare the holy heck out of me, but let’s give it a go.
It’s not quite as intensely horror filled as I first imagined. Granted, that could also be because I’ve read a lot of these types of books and I’m a little jaded. As for the story, something terrible has happened on earth. A devastating illness? An alien life-form? Monsters appearing? Zombies walking the earth? How about all of the above. Most of humankind has gone the way of the dodo. Enter a band of survivors, trying to make their way through a horror filled landscape. It’s pretty clear that they aren’t going to make it. How can they? The author does a good job with the mood building. You can see the fog and mist creeping up, monster hiding in tall grass, something waiting to jump out at them at every turn. It makes for good post-apocalypse world building. Interestingly, the thing I liked most about the book was it’s diversity. Bravo, Mr. Barrera! He’s created a compelling story with no love triangle, what a relief! There is also an African American hero and a lesbian heroine protecting a young man and a little girl. It’s nice to see something different in a genre that, unfortunately, tends to be a little formulaic. If you’re a fan of horror or post-apocalyptic adventure I think this is a good page turner.
Song for this book: Zombie – The Cranberries
December 31, 2016
YES! POST-APOCALYPTIC WORLD WITH ZOMBIES/CREATURES!!!!!! It has been SO long since I've read anything about zombies and I guess you can tell by now that I have really been missing it. Receiving this novel from NetGalley at this time is almost like getting a Christmas present so I was very eager to read this story.
In the aftermath of a world long dead, humanity struggles to band together and survive. Kyle, Sara, and Tim are scavengers, looking for food and other tools while hiding from the hungry things that destroyed human civilization. When their little group finds Kaylee, a little girl who claims there is a safe haven in Tennessee, they are desperate to find it. They will have to put all of their faith in the memory of a little girl if they hope to survive the harsh conditions - as well as the monsters that lurk around them. And they had better get to safety fast, for something terrible with an intelligence far greater than their own has emerged ...
The plot for this story was really interesting. It had a lot of potential and the story itself is very compelling. However, I didn't enjoy the writing style. Maybe it's just the version I read but I found it really difficult to tell when the characters were experiencing a dream or a flashback versus reality. It gave me a headache trying to keep everything together, and that is really such a shame because it could have been done so well! I also didn't like the male protagonists because they both just seemed to be stubborn, hot-headed, and full of ego. They didn't seem to have anything else that gave them any depth, so I found them boring and hard to connect with. The bones of this story are good but the incorporation of all of the different elements, especially the "scanning" ability and the memories, was not executed well. If those things were addressed, and the characters were given a little more substance, I feel like this novel could really do well. For now, I'm giving it 2/5 stars.
In the aftermath of a world long dead, humanity struggles to band together and survive. Kyle, Sara, and Tim are scavengers, looking for food and other tools while hiding from the hungry things that destroyed human civilization. When their little group finds Kaylee, a little girl who claims there is a safe haven in Tennessee, they are desperate to find it. They will have to put all of their faith in the memory of a little girl if they hope to survive the harsh conditions - as well as the monsters that lurk around them. And they had better get to safety fast, for something terrible with an intelligence far greater than their own has emerged ...
The plot for this story was really interesting. It had a lot of potential and the story itself is very compelling. However, I didn't enjoy the writing style. Maybe it's just the version I read but I found it really difficult to tell when the characters were experiencing a dream or a flashback versus reality. It gave me a headache trying to keep everything together, and that is really such a shame because it could have been done so well! I also didn't like the male protagonists because they both just seemed to be stubborn, hot-headed, and full of ego. They didn't seem to have anything else that gave them any depth, so I found them boring and hard to connect with. The bones of this story are good but the incorporation of all of the different elements, especially the "scanning" ability and the memories, was not executed well. If those things were addressed, and the characters were given a little more substance, I feel like this novel could really do well. For now, I'm giving it 2/5 stars.
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