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Aftermath
What was once the United States has become a savage post-apocalyptic environment where the worst of the worst prosper and the remaining good hide.
Seven characters in different parts of the United States must adapt to this new environment. The “fight or flight” mentality plays into the story, as the nation is divided into factions fighting for control of the country. The government is outnumbered, outgunned, and forced into hiding as well to recoup their forces.
The novel pits these characters the elements and eachother, with lives intertwining on opposite sides of the war effort. One characters quest for revenge could jeopardize not only the war outcome, but the reshaping of the entire nation.
What these characters don't realize, is the terrifying evil making its way across the ocean.
Seven characters in different parts of the United States must adapt to this new environment. The “fight or flight” mentality plays into the story, as the nation is divided into factions fighting for control of the country. The government is outnumbered, outgunned, and forced into hiding as well to recoup their forces.
The novel pits these characters the elements and eachother, with lives intertwining on opposite sides of the war effort. One characters quest for revenge could jeopardize not only the war outcome, but the reshaping of the entire nation.
What these characters don't realize, is the terrifying evil making its way across the ocean.
254 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 4, 2016
3 people are currently reading
543 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
February 6, 2017
"When the bombs fell, it wasn't a war; it was an obliteration. No one had any idea who shot first or why."
Joe Reyes' debut novel, Aftermath, is a story of a post apocalyptic America. Taking place about five years after the bombs fell, we get to see through the eyes and minds of: Ian, Ron, Sara, Eric, Justin, Carmen and Alice. Reading from these characters' POV's, Joe Reyes shows how drastically a survivor of this kind of catastrophe can change, and just how adaptable people can be when their will to live is strong enough.
Aftermath reminds me of the Walking Dead TV show in a way, but with out any zombies and with many more 'survival groups/armies' for potential enemies. Each chapter is fairly short and written in a different POV. After getting to know each one, I didn't have any trouble following their stories; this story flows pretty smoothly.
Each character took different routes of survival according to what was best for them and I really enjoyed how the author brought some of them together. A few of my favorites are Ian, Alice and Justin, but truthfully I came to like most of the characters on some level for different reasons. They all experience a bunch of extreamely difficult and morbidly gruesome things and, at times, are forced to make some very hard decisions.
I did find some spelling and grammatical errors and a few awkward sentences, but not enough to take away from the story. Besides, I'm sure those errors will be corrected in the final copies.
This dystopian story is fast paced, full of action and has lots of great plot twists! Honestly, if I were able to continue on with this series, I would have started already. That cliff hanger is torture! I'm excited to see how Joe Reyes continues Aftermath and unravels the truth behind the bombings.
*** I received a free PDF copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Booktasters for introducing me to this author and thank you to Joe Reyes for allowing me to review your book. ***
Joe Reyes' debut novel, Aftermath, is a story of a post apocalyptic America. Taking place about five years after the bombs fell, we get to see through the eyes and minds of: Ian, Ron, Sara, Eric, Justin, Carmen and Alice. Reading from these characters' POV's, Joe Reyes shows how drastically a survivor of this kind of catastrophe can change, and just how adaptable people can be when their will to live is strong enough.
Aftermath reminds me of the Walking Dead TV show in a way, but with out any zombies and with many more 'survival groups/armies' for potential enemies. Each chapter is fairly short and written in a different POV. After getting to know each one, I didn't have any trouble following their stories; this story flows pretty smoothly.
Each character took different routes of survival according to what was best for them and I really enjoyed how the author brought some of them together. A few of my favorites are Ian, Alice and Justin, but truthfully I came to like most of the characters on some level for different reasons. They all experience a bunch of extreamely difficult and morbidly gruesome things and, at times, are forced to make some very hard decisions.
I did find some spelling and grammatical errors and a few awkward sentences, but not enough to take away from the story. Besides, I'm sure those errors will be corrected in the final copies.
This dystopian story is fast paced, full of action and has lots of great plot twists! Honestly, if I were able to continue on with this series, I would have started already. That cliff hanger is torture! I'm excited to see how Joe Reyes continues Aftermath and unravels the truth behind the bombings.
*** I received a free PDF copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Booktasters for introducing me to this author and thank you to Joe Reyes for allowing me to review your book. ***
January 3, 2017
There are times when this book is a little bit graphic, and you don't really get a clear idea of how the apocalypse started or who even started it. This novel also has very small elements of Dystopia. The ending also had a cliffhanger, and left me slightly confused as to who Collins is after. I got a copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2019
Post-apocalyptic fiction is quickly becoming a coveted genre for me. Joe Reyes' Aftermath most certainly belongs on any dystopian loving reader's To Read list.
Set in a decimated United States that is no longer a formal country, Aftermath portrays life after the bombs fell from several different points of view. Ian, Carmen, Sara, Ron, Eric, Justin, and Alice are each rebuilding their lives and surviving by different tactics, ranging from slave to vigilante and all positions between. The moral compass swings wide among them yet as different as their paths may be, they find themselves facing the same future together.
This is not a book for those who can't handle a good amount of gore. Blood and guts are the least of the triggers you may find yourself recoiling from in this novel. That said, in my opinion, Aftermath wouldn't be the triumph that it is without every bit of it. Reyes has crafted a novel capturing the potential consequence of actions we are witnessing in the real world and it's as riveting as it is terrifying.
Set in a decimated United States that is no longer a formal country, Aftermath portrays life after the bombs fell from several different points of view. Ian, Carmen, Sara, Ron, Eric, Justin, and Alice are each rebuilding their lives and surviving by different tactics, ranging from slave to vigilante and all positions between. The moral compass swings wide among them yet as different as their paths may be, they find themselves facing the same future together.
This is not a book for those who can't handle a good amount of gore. Blood and guts are the least of the triggers you may find yourself recoiling from in this novel. That said, in my opinion, Aftermath wouldn't be the triumph that it is without every bit of it. Reyes has crafted a novel capturing the potential consequence of actions we are witnessing in the real world and it's as riveting as it is terrifying.
November 7, 2016
I really enjoy the dystopian genre. It interests me to find out how people imagine the world, as we know it, meets its end and what the rebuild would be like. There are many different ways for both the end and the new beginning.
In Aftermath the story is primarily set in the rebuild stage. After we have been in it a bit, the author sprinkles in the backstory with the memories of the main characters. This is where we learn what they were doing, five years earlier, when the end comes and what each knows of "the end" of the world we know. At first I wasn't certain about that, however, the author won me over. I found that the backstory meant more to me once I knew the characters. The world they find themselves in is a mess. Much of it has been destroyed. The survivors, for the most part, have formed groups. Some are as small as a town trying to survive on its own. Others form factions that are fighting for control. Most of the people in the factions were captured and given very little choice in things. This gives us an interesting view of loyalty in the New World. The main characters each have their own agendas. It is fascinating to learn what those agendas are and how the characters cross each other's paths. It is difficult to really be certain who the good guys are. There is a lot of intrigue and action going on. This moves the book along quickly. I found the book to be an engrossing read and, as it ends with a shocking cliffhanger, I am hoping that the story continues with additional books.
For those who wish to know: There are references to sex, including same sex, and rape. They are not graphic scenes but rely more on giving you a basis and then letting your imagination fill you in. There is violence. This is some language but it is limited. The author did not go crazy relying on shock to tell his story. He is a storyteller that holds you spellbound with a beautiful dance of his words and your imagination.
I learned of this book through BookTasters. The author provided an electronic copy for review consideration.
In Aftermath the story is primarily set in the rebuild stage. After we have been in it a bit, the author sprinkles in the backstory with the memories of the main characters. This is where we learn what they were doing, five years earlier, when the end comes and what each knows of "the end" of the world we know. At first I wasn't certain about that, however, the author won me over. I found that the backstory meant more to me once I knew the characters. The world they find themselves in is a mess. Much of it has been destroyed. The survivors, for the most part, have formed groups. Some are as small as a town trying to survive on its own. Others form factions that are fighting for control. Most of the people in the factions were captured and given very little choice in things. This gives us an interesting view of loyalty in the New World. The main characters each have their own agendas. It is fascinating to learn what those agendas are and how the characters cross each other's paths. It is difficult to really be certain who the good guys are. There is a lot of intrigue and action going on. This moves the book along quickly. I found the book to be an engrossing read and, as it ends with a shocking cliffhanger, I am hoping that the story continues with additional books.
For those who wish to know: There are references to sex, including same sex, and rape. They are not graphic scenes but rely more on giving you a basis and then letting your imagination fill you in. There is violence. This is some language but it is limited. The author did not go crazy relying on shock to tell his story. He is a storyteller that holds you spellbound with a beautiful dance of his words and your imagination.
I learned of this book through BookTasters. The author provided an electronic copy for review consideration.
June 3, 2017
**I was provided a copy of this book for an honest review**
The author did a really good job character building and there were some story lines that I liked a lot better than others. This book had a lot of action packed scenes in it, some gore and violence (which doesn't bother me too bad). I feel as though it is a good representation of what may happen after an apocalypse type situation, especially the cannibalism. There are some LGBT characters too which I give the author more cool points for. The things I didn't like so much were the spelling errors and how the book ended. The characters' stories were merging into two or three opposing sides and then all of a sudden some people were captured and then that's it. I wanted to know what happened after their captures. Does Liberty win? Is there still a war? What happens now?
The author did a really good job character building and there were some story lines that I liked a lot better than others. This book had a lot of action packed scenes in it, some gore and violence (which doesn't bother me too bad). I feel as though it is a good representation of what may happen after an apocalypse type situation, especially the cannibalism. There are some LGBT characters too which I give the author more cool points for. The things I didn't like so much were the spelling errors and how the book ended. The characters' stories were merging into two or three opposing sides and then all of a sudden some people were captured and then that's it. I wanted to know what happened after their captures. Does Liberty win? Is there still a war? What happens now?
August 8, 2016
In this near-future dystopia, bombs have fallen, the countryside appears undamaged but civilisation is broken, and society has been completely dislocated. It reminded me somewhat of Golding’s "Lord of the Flies": certainly some factions in this post-apocalyptic America have abandoned morality and adopted a kill-or-be-killed attitude. The major utilities have failed. People have no means of washing, and very little to eat, yet in the towns survivors try to keep a near-normal lifestyle going.
There are five main factions: ordinary people living in the towns, and trying to eke out a living; the Savages, a group of motorbike-riders reminiscent of Hell’s Angels, who practice cannibalism to assuage their hunger for meat; Cortez’ men, based in Liberty, which still has running water; the Foresters, whose main fighting style is archery; and the US Army. A gaggle of characters, including Ian and Carmen from the town, Penny and Sara, who escape from the Savages (who captured them several years ago); Ron, a teenaged boy who’s managed to survive on his own for five years; and Justin and Amy, also townies, end up being captured first by one band, then escape and get captured by another. At first none of the characters are particularly sympathetic. But as I read on, I began to care about them. I thought they would all meet up at the end, but that didn’t happen, though some switched companions. Instead it ends abruptly, suggesting this is the first in a series. And new characters were introduced as the story proceeded, including Alice, who works for the US Army as a spy. Badly burned when her husband was killed, she’s sought revenge for years. A potent brew.
The structure of this book is interesting: there are no actual chapters but each scene is from a different viewpoint. However, Reyes occasionally, as the story progresses, switches viewpoint within the scene, and for me this is an authorial intrusion which disturbs the flow of the story. It would work better if he were stricter with himself about this. The main narrative is in the present tense which is great for immediacy in a short story, but in a novel can be quite annoying and can feel turgid and lack pace. But after a while I understood why Reyes had done this: the various characters’ backstories (from five years ago when the bombs fell) are in the past tense – quite a clever ploy. These glimpses of the past become more frequent as the story nears its climax.
Overall: a good yarn. I enjoyed it, though I think there should have been a little more attention to proof-reading, writing technique and continuity. But these were not enough to spoil my reading pleasure. The style is clear, clean and uncluttered, making it very easy to read. I liked the multiple shifting viewpoint delivery, and the story-telling was in general effective. The author avoids infodumping by spraying information out in tiny pieces – a good technique.
And if there is a moral to this tale, it’s that tit for tat is not the way to defuse a war.
July 3, 2018
I must first acknowledge that I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Aftermath is a 284 pages long novel set in a post-apocalyptic place which was formerly the United States. We don’t know how or why the things became as dreadful as they did as the book doesn’t answer those questions. Although there are indications that this is the first book of the series so maybe the future installments will bring answers.
After the bombings, everything went south. The government has gone into hiding. Many people have died and a lot more die throughout the entire novel. This is a good place to put a trigger warning: there is blood, gore, torture, murder, cannibalism, and references to rape.
The story is told in third person and switches between the POV of seven characters: Ian, Carmen, Sara, Eric, Ron, Justin, and Alice.
Now, I’ve always been fond of apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic books and movies. This because I love finding out what extraordinary things ordinary people will do to survive. There are things we can’t imagine doing in normal conditions but for surviving and protecting people who we love, we will go to any lengths. This book had all those elements, and it was interesting to see how it all would play out.
The characters were intriguing and would have made for a much more interesting read if the execution was better. Almost all of them have had a nasty past and have made through terrible conditions to live. They've lost people they love. They lack proper food, shelter, clothes, water and other things which we take for granted.
The world and people in this novel are ruthless. Some characters are struggling to rebuild the cities but there are people who just enjoy killing others and raid other cities. The government has no apparent power. It's unclear whether the rest of the world is in a similar state of conditions. People do what they need to do to survive even if it appears inhuman. They don’t enjoy love it but they do it because they have to. This is what I love the most about this kind of novels.
But I disliked the book for one particular reason — the execution of the ideas. I didn’t enjoy the writing because it was always rushed. There was a lot more telling and extremely less showing. Major events happened in a matter of a small paragraph. There was a part where one of the main characters slipped while crossing a river and fell. Before I had a chance to process it and panic, she was already rescued. This happened again and again and made it difficult to care about certain events or characters.
The entire novel is written in present tense and that never feels right. There are also many spelling errors which always puts me off.
I’d give it 2.5 stars but since that’s not an option, I rounded it up to 3.
Aftermath is a 284 pages long novel set in a post-apocalyptic place which was formerly the United States. We don’t know how or why the things became as dreadful as they did as the book doesn’t answer those questions. Although there are indications that this is the first book of the series so maybe the future installments will bring answers.
After the bombings, everything went south. The government has gone into hiding. Many people have died and a lot more die throughout the entire novel. This is a good place to put a trigger warning: there is blood, gore, torture, murder, cannibalism, and references to rape.
The story is told in third person and switches between the POV of seven characters: Ian, Carmen, Sara, Eric, Ron, Justin, and Alice.
Now, I’ve always been fond of apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic books and movies. This because I love finding out what extraordinary things ordinary people will do to survive. There are things we can’t imagine doing in normal conditions but for surviving and protecting people who we love, we will go to any lengths. This book had all those elements, and it was interesting to see how it all would play out.
The characters were intriguing and would have made for a much more interesting read if the execution was better. Almost all of them have had a nasty past and have made through terrible conditions to live. They've lost people they love. They lack proper food, shelter, clothes, water and other things which we take for granted.
The world and people in this novel are ruthless. Some characters are struggling to rebuild the cities but there are people who just enjoy killing others and raid other cities. The government has no apparent power. It's unclear whether the rest of the world is in a similar state of conditions. People do what they need to do to survive even if it appears inhuman. They don’t enjoy love it but they do it because they have to. This is what I love the most about this kind of novels.
But I disliked the book for one particular reason — the execution of the ideas. I didn’t enjoy the writing because it was always rushed. There was a lot more telling and extremely less showing. Major events happened in a matter of a small paragraph. There was a part where one of the main characters slipped while crossing a river and fell. Before I had a chance to process it and panic, she was already rescued. This happened again and again and made it difficult to care about certain events or characters.
The entire novel is written in present tense and that never feels right. There are also many spelling errors which always puts me off.
I’d give it 2.5 stars but since that’s not an option, I rounded it up to 3.
January 8, 2020
I liked the descriptions and the narrative. The approach taken for the storyline is really intriguing but somehow didn't seem to serve the purpose of engaging.
Interesting part being is that author tried to bring in perspectives from each of characters by describing things from their view.
Despite that attempt, I personally found myself losing the track often between the characters.
But I do appreciate the efforts of the author because writing an apocalyptic type isn't all that easy.
All the best for your next!
Interesting part being is that author tried to bring in perspectives from each of characters by describing things from their view.
Despite that attempt, I personally found myself losing the track often between the characters.
But I do appreciate the efforts of the author because writing an apocalyptic type isn't all that easy.
All the best for your next!
February 21, 2017
I have to give this book 4 stars. I really enjoyed this book’s vision of a post-apocalyptic America. I am an avid reader of the young adult genre and it just seems to be my go-to. At first, the story was a little confusing, but as I read on, I really started to get to know and understand the characters.
The author writes from different people’s perspectives and each story really does pull you in from the beginning. It is set about five years after the bombs go off. It’s a little vague as to the real reason why the bombs go off. Since it is a series, I’m sure the author will go into more detail A lot of people are struggling to survive. We meet Ian, Sara, Carmen, Penny, Eric, Justin, Alice, and Ron. There are different villages of people who work together and another group of people who are cannibals. On top of those villages of people, there is the war going on between the people and the government. Each chapter is set as a different person’s point of view. We read what they are thinking, how they handle events that are thrown at them and their will to survive. There are a ton of twists and a couple of characters backgrounds I did not see coming. The ending of Aftermath is definitely a cliff hanger.
The novel was a quick read and well-written. As a reader, I thought it drew you into the post-war America and makes you think about how one would survive; where would one go; could they kill if necessary. It isn’t stuff a reader thinks about on a daily basis. I honestly wish the book was a little longer, but luckily, it is a series. I cannot wait to see more from Joe Reyes.
Reviewer’s Note: I was given this book in exchange for an honest review by Booktasters.
The author writes from different people’s perspectives and each story really does pull you in from the beginning. It is set about five years after the bombs go off. It’s a little vague as to the real reason why the bombs go off. Since it is a series, I’m sure the author will go into more detail A lot of people are struggling to survive. We meet Ian, Sara, Carmen, Penny, Eric, Justin, Alice, and Ron. There are different villages of people who work together and another group of people who are cannibals. On top of those villages of people, there is the war going on between the people and the government. Each chapter is set as a different person’s point of view. We read what they are thinking, how they handle events that are thrown at them and their will to survive. There are a ton of twists and a couple of characters backgrounds I did not see coming. The ending of Aftermath is definitely a cliff hanger.
The novel was a quick read and well-written. As a reader, I thought it drew you into the post-war America and makes you think about how one would survive; where would one go; could they kill if necessary. It isn’t stuff a reader thinks about on a daily basis. I honestly wish the book was a little longer, but luckily, it is a series. I cannot wait to see more from Joe Reyes.
Reviewer’s Note: I was given this book in exchange for an honest review by Booktasters.
December 13, 2017
Are you kidding me! No, you can't end a book like that and expect me not to panic. Oh wow it was so good!
I received a digital copy of the book from the author via booktasters in exchange for an honest review, so thank you. For real, thank you! That was a thrilling ride.
I've got to be honest, i don't usually read post apocalyptic novels, specially because I don't tolerate blood and seeing humanity in its worst really makes me sad, however I think that everything was handle so well in here and for that I admire the author.
We follow the story of a diverse cast of characters (so well written and easy to follow), each one of them with their own past and demons, while trying to survive in this post apocalyptic world that earth has become.
Something happened five years before and now they all are trying to survive. And oh does it hurt! It's shocking how everything goes down within a single moments, there were times when i couldn't even conceive something like that happening.
It's heartbreaking knowing that humans can go that far just to keep living, just to protect those who they love or even for vengeance. I can't say that I agree with all of the characters but I guess i do understand why are they're doing it, anyone could break if its push so hard and that's as terrible as it sounds.
The book is so addicting, i didn't want to put it for a second, because it's that good and I can't believe it ended like that, i need answers I need hope. Pretty sure they need them as well.
A 100% Recommended, go read it you would definitely enjoy it!
I received a digital copy of the book from the author via booktasters in exchange for an honest review, so thank you. For real, thank you! That was a thrilling ride.
I've got to be honest, i don't usually read post apocalyptic novels, specially because I don't tolerate blood and seeing humanity in its worst really makes me sad, however I think that everything was handle so well in here and for that I admire the author.
We follow the story of a diverse cast of characters (so well written and easy to follow), each one of them with their own past and demons, while trying to survive in this post apocalyptic world that earth has become.
Something happened five years before and now they all are trying to survive. And oh does it hurt! It's shocking how everything goes down within a single moments, there were times when i couldn't even conceive something like that happening.
It's heartbreaking knowing that humans can go that far just to keep living, just to protect those who they love or even for vengeance. I can't say that I agree with all of the characters but I guess i do understand why are they're doing it, anyone could break if its push so hard and that's as terrible as it sounds.
The book is so addicting, i didn't want to put it for a second, because it's that good and I can't believe it ended like that, i need answers I need hope. Pretty sure they need them as well.
A 100% Recommended, go read it you would definitely enjoy it!
December 30, 2016
Some considered the victims of death to be the "lucky ones" because they didn't have to deal with the "Aftermath" of this post apocalyptic world. Others did what they must in order to survive, however awful or gruesome it may have seemed. It was minuscule in terms of survival. Whether you chose to unite as a community and try and rebuild, or attempted to live off the land on your own trusting no one, or joined a rebellious tribe, neither option was an easy one. This story incorporates the perspectives of characters who have taken different routes since the bombings that shattered and redirected their lives. From the different narratives of Ian, Ron, Sara, Eric, Justin, Carmen, and Alice, the reader is able to explore how each individual has coped, grieved, and in some cases persevered on this unique journey. As their stories begin to overlap, you become more invested and empathize with all sides of the battle. You learn that in dark times, even compassion and love can crossover and blur the lines of battle. But greed and hate can come full circle, as well.
July 10, 2016
To read or not to read: Read. Although it took me a few chapters to get into the story and writing style, I really enjoyed Aftermath. In places, it felt like a cross between the Gone series by Michael Grant and the Divergent series by Veronica Roth but it very rapidly returned to its own unique story again. It felt a lot longer than 284 pages, but in a good way – it was fast-paced all the way through and never felt dragged out, even when it focussed on the characters I cared a little less about. As my first book by Joe Reyes, I am really impressed and eagerly anticipate his next book (which will hopefully be the sequel because damn, that cliff-hanger!!)
Full review here
Full review here
August 12, 2017
Loved the book, Thanks booksters for introducing me to Joe Reyes and Thanks Joe Reyes for giving me opportunity to read this book.
The story features Seven characters in post-apocalyptic America have abandoned morality and adopted a kill-or-be-killed attitude. The book grips you from the beginning and its intense timeline didn't let loosen the grip.
few pages into the story and you feel sympathetic about these character .. You start looking for the dots that will connect them in the end.
Its a must read for everyone
I always prefer to read hard copy and believe me this is one book that i have actually read completely in this format.
PS - The book ends but story isn't.. Joe I hope i am right
The story features Seven characters in post-apocalyptic America have abandoned morality and adopted a kill-or-be-killed attitude. The book grips you from the beginning and its intense timeline didn't let loosen the grip.
few pages into the story and you feel sympathetic about these character .. You start looking for the dots that will connect them in the end.
Its a must read for everyone
I always prefer to read hard copy and believe me this is one book that i have actually read completely in this format.
PS - The book ends but story isn't.. Joe I hope i am right
December 14, 2016
Aftermath is the first book I have read in the dystopian genre of books and I found myself reading when I was to be leaving for work.
During this reading adventure, you meet 7 people. Those people wonder if they will be killed by the person they met or helped. It is a page turner to the very end with a plot twist!
My favorite character was Ian and I hope to read more about him in future (?) books. *please*
In all this read is good--the book flows well and that is key to telling a story.
I learned about this book through BookTasters and was provided an electronic copy by the author.
During this reading adventure, you meet 7 people. Those people wonder if they will be killed by the person they met or helped. It is a page turner to the very end with a plot twist!
My favorite character was Ian and I hope to read more about him in future (?) books. *please*
In all this read is good--the book flows well and that is key to telling a story.
I learned about this book through BookTasters and was provided an electronic copy by the author.
October 12, 2016
My former student's boyfriend is the author of Aftermath and I was thrilled to be able to read it. It is not my typical read, for it features a cold, bleak, dark existence in a post-apocalyptic world. The story alternates from the current setting after the bombs have gone off and years earlier in the timeline . The plot follows several different characters as their lives intertwine in unique ways. I became caught up in their different experiences and was rooting for them to find some sort of peace in all of this tragedy. It was a riveting read.
October 13, 2018
I love dystopian and post apocalyptic novels. I really liked the way the story is arranged and the action is pretty superb. One thing that I do hate is open ended endings and this one has one, but it seems to me like there's going to be additional books for that type of ending.
June 25, 2019
[English review + Reseña en español]
Aftermath, by Joe Reyes. Published by Wasteland Press, 2016. 284 pages. Genre: Post-apocalyptic fiction.
Multiple missiles have devastated the main territory of the United States of America. The government, services and communications have been paralyzed, the army has been decimated and the surviving population has become polarized, creating diverse armed factions that fight for the control of ever larger territories. Amid the prevailing chaos, isolated individuals and small groups of people struggle to survive in a hostile world, besieged by armed groups and solitary assailants. Aftermath tells the stories of seven survivors, all coming from different trenches and all trying to give a new meaning to their lives while a new danger looms over the entire nation.
Through simple and clear language, Aftermath develops the venturesome stories of seven —quite well written— characters (Ian, Ron, Sara, Eric, Justin, Carmen and Alice), who have been dragged into a war that they must make theirs if they are to survive. The plot, always developed in simple present and in an almost cinematic way, unfolds with ease through short chapters, played alternately by each of the characters, whose personal stories draw near each other, coincidentally, through the major events. The dialogues are concise, the scenes are charged with action, the environment is loaded with ruin, danger and disaster in every way.
I think the plot has been very well developed, and I felt connected to the characters, who are very well built and feel real, even when the part of their stories that is told is a rather small lapse of time. Although the subject has been overexploited, Aftermath proposes a diversity of points of view that includes masculine and feminine; lonely and gregarious; peaceful and violent characters, and it helps the more than 280 pages get through like a pill in water. The rhythm is quite good and it has a lot of action, and the dialogues are dosed in an excellent way. The only point I could criticize in this story is that it has left me in suspense with several of the plots that have remained unfinished, in the purest style of the seasons of television series, although I also understand that the idea is precisely that: to continue the story in another book, leaving the reader "hooked" at the end of this volume (there is a final event that promises tons of subsequent action that I already want to read; the hook has worked).
--------------
Aftermath, por Joe Reyes. Publicada por Wasteland Press, 2016. 284 páginas. Género: Ficción postapocalíptica.
Múltiples misiles han devastado el territorio de los Estados Unidos de América. El gobierno, los servicios y las comunicaciones han sido paralizados, el ejército se encuentra diezmado y la población sobreviviente se ha polarizado, creando diversas facciones armadas que luchan por el control de territorios cada vez mayores. En medio del caos reinante, individuos aislados y pequeños grupos de personas luchan por sobrevivir en un mundo hostil, asediados por grupos armados y asaltantes solitarios. Aftermath narra las historias de siete sobrevivientes, que desde distintas trincheras tratan darle un nuevo sentido a sus vidas mientras un nuevo peligro se cierne sobre la nación entera.
Aftermath desarrolla, con un lenguaje simple y claro, las historias azarosas de siete personajes bastante bien logrados (Ian, Ron, Sara, Eric, Justin, Carmen y Alice), que han sido arrastrados a una guerra que deberán hacer suya si han de sobrevivir. La trama, desarrollada siempre en presente simple y de un modo casi cinemático, se desenvuelve con soltura a través de capítulos cortos, protagonizados alternadamente por cada uno de los personajes, cuyas historias personales se acercan entre sí coincidentalmente a través de los sucesos mayores. Los diálogos son concisos, las escenas están cargadas de acción, el ambiente está cargado de ruina, peligro y desastre en todos los sentidos.
En lo personal, la trama me pareció muy bien desarrollada y me sentí conectado con los personajes, que están muy bien construidos y se sienten reales aún cuando la parte que se cuenta de sus historias es más bien un lapso pequeño de tiempo. Aunque el tema ha sido sobreexplotado, Aftermath propone una diversidad de puntos de vista que incluye a personajes masculinos y femeninos; solitarios y gregarios; pacíficos y violentos, y que ayuda a que las más de 280 páginas se pasen como píldora en agua. El ritmo es bastante bueno y tiene mucha acción, y los diálogos están dosificados de una excelente manera. El único punto que podría criticar de esta historia es que me ha dejado en ascuas con varias de las tramas que han quedado inconclusas al más puro estilo de las temporadas de series televisivas, aunque también comprendo que la idea es precisamente esa: continuar la historia en otro libro y dejar al lector “picado” al terminar este volumen (hay un suceso final que promete toneladas de acción subsecuente que quiero leer; el anzuelo ha funcionado).
Aftermath, by Joe Reyes. Published by Wasteland Press, 2016. 284 pages. Genre: Post-apocalyptic fiction.
Multiple missiles have devastated the main territory of the United States of America. The government, services and communications have been paralyzed, the army has been decimated and the surviving population has become polarized, creating diverse armed factions that fight for the control of ever larger territories. Amid the prevailing chaos, isolated individuals and small groups of people struggle to survive in a hostile world, besieged by armed groups and solitary assailants. Aftermath tells the stories of seven survivors, all coming from different trenches and all trying to give a new meaning to their lives while a new danger looms over the entire nation.
Through simple and clear language, Aftermath develops the venturesome stories of seven —quite well written— characters (Ian, Ron, Sara, Eric, Justin, Carmen and Alice), who have been dragged into a war that they must make theirs if they are to survive. The plot, always developed in simple present and in an almost cinematic way, unfolds with ease through short chapters, played alternately by each of the characters, whose personal stories draw near each other, coincidentally, through the major events. The dialogues are concise, the scenes are charged with action, the environment is loaded with ruin, danger and disaster in every way.
I think the plot has been very well developed, and I felt connected to the characters, who are very well built and feel real, even when the part of their stories that is told is a rather small lapse of time. Although the subject has been overexploited, Aftermath proposes a diversity of points of view that includes masculine and feminine; lonely and gregarious; peaceful and violent characters, and it helps the more than 280 pages get through like a pill in water. The rhythm is quite good and it has a lot of action, and the dialogues are dosed in an excellent way. The only point I could criticize in this story is that it has left me in suspense with several of the plots that have remained unfinished, in the purest style of the seasons of television series, although I also understand that the idea is precisely that: to continue the story in another book, leaving the reader "hooked" at the end of this volume (there is a final event that promises tons of subsequent action that I already want to read; the hook has worked).
--------------
Aftermath, por Joe Reyes. Publicada por Wasteland Press, 2016. 284 páginas. Género: Ficción postapocalíptica.
Múltiples misiles han devastado el territorio de los Estados Unidos de América. El gobierno, los servicios y las comunicaciones han sido paralizados, el ejército se encuentra diezmado y la población sobreviviente se ha polarizado, creando diversas facciones armadas que luchan por el control de territorios cada vez mayores. En medio del caos reinante, individuos aislados y pequeños grupos de personas luchan por sobrevivir en un mundo hostil, asediados por grupos armados y asaltantes solitarios. Aftermath narra las historias de siete sobrevivientes, que desde distintas trincheras tratan darle un nuevo sentido a sus vidas mientras un nuevo peligro se cierne sobre la nación entera.
Aftermath desarrolla, con un lenguaje simple y claro, las historias azarosas de siete personajes bastante bien logrados (Ian, Ron, Sara, Eric, Justin, Carmen y Alice), que han sido arrastrados a una guerra que deberán hacer suya si han de sobrevivir. La trama, desarrollada siempre en presente simple y de un modo casi cinemático, se desenvuelve con soltura a través de capítulos cortos, protagonizados alternadamente por cada uno de los personajes, cuyas historias personales se acercan entre sí coincidentalmente a través de los sucesos mayores. Los diálogos son concisos, las escenas están cargadas de acción, el ambiente está cargado de ruina, peligro y desastre en todos los sentidos.
En lo personal, la trama me pareció muy bien desarrollada y me sentí conectado con los personajes, que están muy bien construidos y se sienten reales aún cuando la parte que se cuenta de sus historias es más bien un lapso pequeño de tiempo. Aunque el tema ha sido sobreexplotado, Aftermath propone una diversidad de puntos de vista que incluye a personajes masculinos y femeninos; solitarios y gregarios; pacíficos y violentos, y que ayuda a que las más de 280 páginas se pasen como píldora en agua. El ritmo es bastante bueno y tiene mucha acción, y los diálogos están dosificados de una excelente manera. El único punto que podría criticar de esta historia es que me ha dejado en ascuas con varias de las tramas que han quedado inconclusas al más puro estilo de las temporadas de series televisivas, aunque también comprendo que la idea es precisamente esa: continuar la historia en otro libro y dejar al lector “picado” al terminar este volumen (hay un suceso final que promete toneladas de acción subsecuente que quiero leer; el anzuelo ha funcionado).
September 15, 2017
There is something so tantalizing about dystopian fiction. It's this perfect opportunity to dissect human nature into the most basic elements; to break down the effects of fear, violence, and the lack of amenities as we know them. "Aftermath” is THE perfect example of what dystopian fiction should be: wide spread terror, uncanny violence (cannibalism anyone?), undying and impossible love, revenge, and an unexpected cliff hanger at the end. Let me tell you, friends, Reyes knocked this one out of the park!
Let me mention a few of my favorite parts of this novel:
Reyes used a very challenging and risky way to tell his story. Instead of picking one protagonist as the overall hero, he used several characters that approached the apocalypse from all aspects of the spectrum. What I loved about this approach was how, as the reader, I kept trying to guess how all these characters were going to come together in the end. I wasn’t disappointed as seemingly random alliances and enemies were made and revenge was served in the most stunning way.
One of the things that irritate me as a reader is having an apocalyptic storyline that has no foundation in reality, or doesn’t logically make sense. “Aftermath” definitely satisfied my need to believe it could “happen”. There were no zombies, aliens, or unexplained release of a deadly virus. Instead, there was a simple break down in telecommunication due to some cleverly placed bombs which resulted in some fascinating chaos. What will humans do when we don’t know what is happening miles away from our current reality? The unknown is a scary thing…
Another unique perspective displayed in this book is the emotional process and impact of being in battle. What are the thoughts that would plague an average person when they are driven to kill for survival? How are kiilers made after witnessing their loved ones murdered? Could a reasonably decent person overcome their conscious in the face of eating your neighbor or starvation? All these questions were dealt with and it was a enlightening, to say the least.
Lastly, I want to mention that the pace of this story is phenomenal. Reyes has the gift of being able to keep all the characters straight while maintaining the forward, fast motion of the storyline. Never once did I feel like the characters were indistinct from each other or that their point of view didn’t make sense to the overall arc.
As a reviewer, I gave this novel 4 STARS but so wanted to give it 5 STARS. I LOVED this story, yet I have to be honest and comment on the editing. There were times when minor grammar or content continuity tripped up the reading experience. Still, Reyes is a solid story teller. I won’t hesitate to read his next novel.
The take away? Read it! You won’t be able to put it down and the ending will surprise you.
Let me mention a few of my favorite parts of this novel:
Reyes used a very challenging and risky way to tell his story. Instead of picking one protagonist as the overall hero, he used several characters that approached the apocalypse from all aspects of the spectrum. What I loved about this approach was how, as the reader, I kept trying to guess how all these characters were going to come together in the end. I wasn’t disappointed as seemingly random alliances and enemies were made and revenge was served in the most stunning way.
One of the things that irritate me as a reader is having an apocalyptic storyline that has no foundation in reality, or doesn’t logically make sense. “Aftermath” definitely satisfied my need to believe it could “happen”. There were no zombies, aliens, or unexplained release of a deadly virus. Instead, there was a simple break down in telecommunication due to some cleverly placed bombs which resulted in some fascinating chaos. What will humans do when we don’t know what is happening miles away from our current reality? The unknown is a scary thing…
Another unique perspective displayed in this book is the emotional process and impact of being in battle. What are the thoughts that would plague an average person when they are driven to kill for survival? How are kiilers made after witnessing their loved ones murdered? Could a reasonably decent person overcome their conscious in the face of eating your neighbor or starvation? All these questions were dealt with and it was a enlightening, to say the least.
Lastly, I want to mention that the pace of this story is phenomenal. Reyes has the gift of being able to keep all the characters straight while maintaining the forward, fast motion of the storyline. Never once did I feel like the characters were indistinct from each other or that their point of view didn’t make sense to the overall arc.
As a reviewer, I gave this novel 4 STARS but so wanted to give it 5 STARS. I LOVED this story, yet I have to be honest and comment on the editing. There were times when minor grammar or content continuity tripped up the reading experience. Still, Reyes is a solid story teller. I won’t hesitate to read his next novel.
The take away? Read it! You won’t be able to put it down and the ending will surprise you.
May 12, 2017
My Rating: 4 Stars
First of all, I want to thank the author Joe Reyes for reaching out to me and sending me a free copy of his book in exchange for an honest review.
I am a big fan of the dystopian genre. For me it’s both interesting and scary to think of which realities might actually happen and how humans with deal with the changes. This is one of the reasons I really enjoyed Aftermath, since it’s more focused on the re-building phase than the actual moment of the apocalypse.
Aftermath takes place in a near-future even the world is broken and people are divided. After the fall of several bombs in the different areas of the US territory, people must adapt to a new environment and fight for a new order in society and government. Through the eyes of seven characters, you will be taken on a journey through human nature and instinct of survival in a world where the person to trust is oneself.
I really got into this novel and after I started I finished it quite quickly. The setting is brutal: it really brings out human nature and what we are willing to do to survive, instincts that only manifest in extreme cases. I think this setting really got to me since I believe it’s very possible to happen in the future, taking in consideration the daily news and ongoing wars.
The style of writing is very good and the story-line is very clear and easy to follow. I could see and feel the dedication and the passion of the author on the novel. I got a bit lost in the beginning while reading the past of the characters but in the end it I think it was a very good way of showing not only the story of each character, giving them depth; but also to have a better idea of what happened before the bombings. The organisation of the factions was very cleverly thought and described but at the same time a bit brutal, since the people captured by a fraction have absolutely no choice but to submit and obey.
The characters are all unique in their one way and they all contribute to the story, which proves the good technique of the author when it comes to not leaving loose ends. I didn’t feel like a character was more important than others at all.
The ending was shocking and the cliffhanger was painful to deal with! I want more! I am hoping that the author continues to write in this style and that a second volume is on its way I recommend this book to fans of dystopian literature that goes more in depth to the characters than the actual apocalypse.
November 29, 2017
This is a dystopia set in the US following a major unexpected missile attack that has wiped out most of civilization, and has left survivors to fend for themselves. About five years have passed, and all that has happened is that everybody is still basically trying to live off the remains, and are killing each other to get at the diminishing remains. Some groups have banded together to get security and have better fighting capability, and they seem to still have good medical supplies, but it is far from clear how this happens. Some are effectively roaming individuals, and some are in small groups. Once such group, called savages, have resorted to cannibalism. The world building is dark, it is reasonably detailed, but it is very limited in scope, leaving many questions unanswered. One example is that one group is running a train. Nothing wrong with that, but why don't some of the others inevitably see it and try to help restore civilization?
The writing is easy to follow, and while I noticed another reviewer criticized it for "poor editing", in my opinion, while I did notice some places where a little correction would not have gone astray, it did not upset the rhythm of reading, so that did not worry me. Perhaps at this stage I should declare my own interest. I have written a book about going into such chaos, and one about emerging from it, but I have avoided the actual chaos itself. The reason so far include a fear of overdoing the gore, the difficulty of including a buried message, and the difficulty in wrapping it up. Reyes neatly avoids the first, and in some ways he understates everything, and as far as I can tell, there were no buried messages. However, I was not exactly satisfied with the ending. The story has a number of strands, and I like that, and I think Reyes did a very good job working out a way to bring them together for a good scene at the end, but then I felt he walked away from it too soon, and there were strands left dangling. Maybe he is planning a follow-up, but I felt there should have been better closure for the strands for the problems they faced in this book.
The writing is easy to follow, and while I noticed another reviewer criticized it for "poor editing", in my opinion, while I did notice some places where a little correction would not have gone astray, it did not upset the rhythm of reading, so that did not worry me. Perhaps at this stage I should declare my own interest. I have written a book about going into such chaos, and one about emerging from it, but I have avoided the actual chaos itself. The reason so far include a fear of overdoing the gore, the difficulty of including a buried message, and the difficulty in wrapping it up. Reyes neatly avoids the first, and in some ways he understates everything, and as far as I can tell, there were no buried messages. However, I was not exactly satisfied with the ending. The story has a number of strands, and I like that, and I think Reyes did a very good job working out a way to bring them together for a good scene at the end, but then I felt he walked away from it too soon, and there were strands left dangling. Maybe he is planning a follow-up, but I felt there should have been better closure for the strands for the problems they faced in this book.
December 4, 2017
Aftermath is a post-apocalyptic novel written by Joe Reyes. It is a novel about seven characters trying to survive into the world of ruin, where hope for better tomorrows was long time abandoned.
If you were not into the post-apocalyptic novels then it would maybe be a good idea for you to skip this one, not because the novel is bad, but because it is “heavy’’ in every meaning of that word. For example, in the first several pages, we have a boy named Ian who is hoping that one day he will maybe see water flowing from the faucet again. The feeling of ruin and disaster can be found in every page of the book. Once mighty and powerful United States of America are now ruined by war and fighting factions living in different parts of what used to be the United States. People are fighting for their survival on daily basis. Food, water, ammo, weapons, resources in general – are scarce. People are often forced to use whatever means necessary in order to survive, even if that means killing one another and eating the flesh of the dead. In the midst of that chaos is a group of seven survivors, gathered from different parts of America. What they do not know are two things: their actions can and will greatly affect how their world will be like. The second is that there is something sinister, evil coming towards them from across the ocean.
Personally, I love post-apocalyptic novels. Maybe it is because I like reading about world in ruin, how people manage to stay together and survive, how the good will eventually win over evil and how the world will eventually be re-shaped into something better. The same is with this novel. I liked it since the first time I opened it. Okay, it is a bit “too heavy’’, even for me, but if a reader managed to overcome these “difficulties’’ I believe that he or she will be able to see the “greatness’’ of this book. The combination of uncertainty, dread, danger and survival is what makes this novel awesome. I loved it!
If you were not into the post-apocalyptic novels then it would maybe be a good idea for you to skip this one, not because the novel is bad, but because it is “heavy’’ in every meaning of that word. For example, in the first several pages, we have a boy named Ian who is hoping that one day he will maybe see water flowing from the faucet again. The feeling of ruin and disaster can be found in every page of the book. Once mighty and powerful United States of America are now ruined by war and fighting factions living in different parts of what used to be the United States. People are fighting for their survival on daily basis. Food, water, ammo, weapons, resources in general – are scarce. People are often forced to use whatever means necessary in order to survive, even if that means killing one another and eating the flesh of the dead. In the midst of that chaos is a group of seven survivors, gathered from different parts of America. What they do not know are two things: their actions can and will greatly affect how their world will be like. The second is that there is something sinister, evil coming towards them from across the ocean.
Personally, I love post-apocalyptic novels. Maybe it is because I like reading about world in ruin, how people manage to stay together and survive, how the good will eventually win over evil and how the world will eventually be re-shaped into something better. The same is with this novel. I liked it since the first time I opened it. Okay, it is a bit “too heavy’’, even for me, but if a reader managed to overcome these “difficulties’’ I believe that he or she will be able to see the “greatness’’ of this book. The combination of uncertainty, dread, danger and survival is what makes this novel awesome. I loved it!
March 11, 2018
Book provided in return for an honest review.
Aftermath by Joe Reyes is the tellings of the new world after bombs have been dropped on America. No one truly knows why or who did it, but we are taken on a journey through the eyes of several characters, Sara, Ian, Carmen, Eric, Ron, Justin, and Alice. Each character has a unique point of view and a different take on the world as it is now.
The reader gets to see how each person as well as groups are forced into survival mode and how they build off of what was a horrible situation. How will they survive? What can they do to rebuild a civilization that was doomed from the start? Find out through the eyes of every one in, Aftermath.
I found this book to be quite entertaining. It was fast paced (although in some spots a bit TOO fast paced) and was a brutal awakening of what could truly happen if the world was devastated by bombs.
In complete honesty, this might not be such a far off possibility in today’s world. Joe Reyes is able to tell this story through several different perspectives and eventually bring it all together, leaving us wondering what will happen next. I would love to see more.
As stated above, it was very fast paced and nearly to the point that I wanted it to slow down. So much would happen in such a short amount of time and some things were so abrupt that the brutality it could have had was lost. I think the story could have been a bit longer in order to compensate that and still been a successful story.
On the other hand, the writing made me want to continue reading to know exactly what was going to happen next and the short chapters made it easy to keep going. Overall, I rate this title with a 3.5 stars and am rounding up to 4. I look forward to seeing where Reyes takes us in the next adventure.
Aftermath by Joe Reyes is the tellings of the new world after bombs have been dropped on America. No one truly knows why or who did it, but we are taken on a journey through the eyes of several characters, Sara, Ian, Carmen, Eric, Ron, Justin, and Alice. Each character has a unique point of view and a different take on the world as it is now.
The reader gets to see how each person as well as groups are forced into survival mode and how they build off of what was a horrible situation. How will they survive? What can they do to rebuild a civilization that was doomed from the start? Find out through the eyes of every one in, Aftermath.
I found this book to be quite entertaining. It was fast paced (although in some spots a bit TOO fast paced) and was a brutal awakening of what could truly happen if the world was devastated by bombs.
In complete honesty, this might not be such a far off possibility in today’s world. Joe Reyes is able to tell this story through several different perspectives and eventually bring it all together, leaving us wondering what will happen next. I would love to see more.
As stated above, it was very fast paced and nearly to the point that I wanted it to slow down. So much would happen in such a short amount of time and some things were so abrupt that the brutality it could have had was lost. I think the story could have been a bit longer in order to compensate that and still been a successful story.
On the other hand, the writing made me want to continue reading to know exactly what was going to happen next and the short chapters made it easy to keep going. Overall, I rate this title with a 3.5 stars and am rounding up to 4. I look forward to seeing where Reyes takes us in the next adventure.
August 22, 2018
If you're a fan of post-apocalyptic fiction and Cormac McCarthy's 'The Road', put this book on your list. While it has people turning to the worst forms of themselves and gory details, there are also threads of hope and love throughout the novel. What made this novel a page-turner for me was the relationships built between the characters and their drive to flourish despite the situation they're living in.
I appreciate that you get glimpses into the past lives of characters, which helps you understand why they are the way they are now. It was also encouraging to see that - in some cases - characters picked up new jobs (such as becoming a doctor or journalist) that were so different from their old life in order to help people on the right side (or at least what you believe to be the right side).
I would have liked to get a bit more backstory on why the war began in the first place, but Joe Reyes does make it clear that even many of the characters are unsure of who started the war and why it's turned the world into such a chaotic place to live.
The details in the novel were a bit too graphic at times (usually the cannibalism parts), which made some pages a bit hard to read, but I think that was to enforce the reality of the dystopian world and situations the characters faced.
*SOMEWHAT SPOILERS BELOW*
I found the end to be a bit abrupt and left on a cliffhanger. I was curious to know what happened to the relationships of some of the characters such as Sara, Ron, Ian and Penny. I wanted to know if they were able to reunite or if any of them were caught up in the mess happening at Liberty. However, I hope this means that there will be a second novel so we can pick off at the beach scene and learn what happens to Eric.
**Disclaimer: I received a PDF of the book from the author via Booktasters in exchange for an honest review.**
I appreciate that you get glimpses into the past lives of characters, which helps you understand why they are the way they are now. It was also encouraging to see that - in some cases - characters picked up new jobs (such as becoming a doctor or journalist) that were so different from their old life in order to help people on the right side (or at least what you believe to be the right side).
I would have liked to get a bit more backstory on why the war began in the first place, but Joe Reyes does make it clear that even many of the characters are unsure of who started the war and why it's turned the world into such a chaotic place to live.
The details in the novel were a bit too graphic at times (usually the cannibalism parts), which made some pages a bit hard to read, but I think that was to enforce the reality of the dystopian world and situations the characters faced.
*SOMEWHAT SPOILERS BELOW*
I found the end to be a bit abrupt and left on a cliffhanger. I was curious to know what happened to the relationships of some of the characters such as Sara, Ron, Ian and Penny. I wanted to know if they were able to reunite or if any of them were caught up in the mess happening at Liberty. However, I hope this means that there will be a second novel so we can pick off at the beach scene and learn what happens to Eric.
**Disclaimer: I received a PDF of the book from the author via Booktasters in exchange for an honest review.**
April 13, 2018
Aftermath was an enjoyable read, and the story plodded along at a good pace. There was a great selection of characters to sink your teeth into (book related pun) with their individual traits and quirks, and I found the book easy to read.
I am a fan of dystopian novels, and although the storyline was interesting enough, there are a few reasons for me only giving the book 3 stars. Firstly, the grammar is fairly uninspiring - lots of 'he said' instead of more descriptive verbs, strange paragraph breaks that make you have to read the passages twice, and very little in the way of creative writing. Secondly, the women in the story fall foul to the usual categories that male authors typically use - the damsel in distress, the badass, the lesbians (of course) etc. And lastly, some of the descriptions were cliche - 'eyes the colour and shape of almonds' stood out in the first chapter. I'm glad I persevered though, as for the most part I did enjoy the story.
However, the ending was deeply unsatisfactory to me. There were too many loose ends, so the book can only be read as part of a series, and not stand up alone on its own merit. This may not be a problem for people who enjoy cliffhangers at the end of each book in a series, but personally I like a book to be a full story in and of itself.
That said, I think this book will appeal to people who enjoy an easy read. It's not too long, the chapters are quite short, and you can effortlessly and quickly get into the storyline and characters. A perfect to take on holidays, as long as you are invested in reading the next book in the series at a later date.
I am a fan of dystopian novels, and although the storyline was interesting enough, there are a few reasons for me only giving the book 3 stars. Firstly, the grammar is fairly uninspiring - lots of 'he said' instead of more descriptive verbs, strange paragraph breaks that make you have to read the passages twice, and very little in the way of creative writing. Secondly, the women in the story fall foul to the usual categories that male authors typically use - the damsel in distress, the badass, the lesbians (of course) etc. And lastly, some of the descriptions were cliche - 'eyes the colour and shape of almonds' stood out in the first chapter. I'm glad I persevered though, as for the most part I did enjoy the story.
However, the ending was deeply unsatisfactory to me. There were too many loose ends, so the book can only be read as part of a series, and not stand up alone on its own merit. This may not be a problem for people who enjoy cliffhangers at the end of each book in a series, but personally I like a book to be a full story in and of itself.
That said, I think this book will appeal to people who enjoy an easy read. It's not too long, the chapters are quite short, and you can effortlessly and quickly get into the storyline and characters. A perfect to take on holidays, as long as you are invested in reading the next book in the series at a later date.
June 22, 2017
4/5
“People and bean again?”
War can bring out the worst in people, but people can also bring out the worst in war.
Aftermath by Joe Reyes is the story of seven characters belonging to different survivor groups enduring the post-apocalyptic aftermath of America.
Their human nature may change but they all have the same agenda. Survival.
As their stories weave into one another, death and suspense cloud over their lives. As the aftermath tests relationships, morals and sanity, life couldn't be any worse for these survivors.
As the back stories of each character unfold, you learn more about how different their lives were before the bombings. As each character faces a conflict, their whole world is changing before them and evil doesn't only come from the mind of those tortured.
----
Between the seven characters, Ian had to be my favourite simply because of his heart. At the age of seventeen, Ian's life was turned upside down when a bomb changed his entire world. As a hunter, Ian scouts the grounds for food and other supplies that could be used to sustain the land they have come to call their home.
With a town full of children and families just barely surviving with what they have, Ian and his team decided to head into the city in search of much needed supplies. Ian's character brought out the love in this book as he fought to save who he thought was the love of his life, Sara. His wittiness and strong will-power never failed to keep me intrigued.
I hope this is only the beginning to a series as I want to know what happens after the abrupt ending.
“People and bean again?”
War can bring out the worst in people, but people can also bring out the worst in war.
Aftermath by Joe Reyes is the story of seven characters belonging to different survivor groups enduring the post-apocalyptic aftermath of America.
Their human nature may change but they all have the same agenda. Survival.
As their stories weave into one another, death and suspense cloud over their lives. As the aftermath tests relationships, morals and sanity, life couldn't be any worse for these survivors.
As the back stories of each character unfold, you learn more about how different their lives were before the bombings. As each character faces a conflict, their whole world is changing before them and evil doesn't only come from the mind of those tortured.
----
Between the seven characters, Ian had to be my favourite simply because of his heart. At the age of seventeen, Ian's life was turned upside down when a bomb changed his entire world. As a hunter, Ian scouts the grounds for food and other supplies that could be used to sustain the land they have come to call their home.
With a town full of children and families just barely surviving with what they have, Ian and his team decided to head into the city in search of much needed supplies. Ian's character brought out the love in this book as he fought to save who he thought was the love of his life, Sara. His wittiness and strong will-power never failed to keep me intrigued.
I hope this is only the beginning to a series as I want to know what happens after the abrupt ending.
September 30, 2018
Aftermath follows a large collection of characters through life in a post apocalyptic society. I enjoyed the post-apocalyptic feel of the novel. What would you do if you no longer had access to technology and were unable to find your friends and family? Reyes’ novel explores America years after a mysterious war breaks out. The novel gives no clues as to the reason or nature of the war, which adds to the mystery and suspense of the story.
I found the plot continuity a bit problematic, especially in the second half of the book. Flashbacks to the onset of war were set five years in the past, yet present-day characters referred to the war starting a decade or a dozen years earlier. This issue could have been resolved in editing.
The second half of the book was lacking in tightness, almost as though the author had a deadline fast approaching. Characters rattled around in their dialogue to the point I could never be certain who was speaking. Again, another issue for editing.
Reyes sets up a fairly believable anarchical society, pitting faction against faction. Fans of The Walking Dead will find themselves expecting walkers to crash the party at any moment. The earlier part of the novel is reminiscent of Stephen Kings’ The Stand, with characters from all different walks of life heading towards the same mysterious goal. Overall, Reyes created a varied, interesting cast of characters and an intense, dramatic backdrop.
Despite the continuity issues, scattered dialogue, and editing issues, Aftermath is a compelling read.
September 1, 2017
A clock blares through the room...
Aftermath is a dystopian novel based in post-apocalyptic America. The stories we follow happen five years after the bombs fell: Ian, Ron, Sara, Eric, Justin, Carmen and Alice are our survives. Everything happens from there points of view writing from this position Reyes gives the reader an insight into different accounts of survival rather than just the typical one POV.
Each character follows a different path of survival, my favourite narrative to follow was Alice's but i enjoyed how Reyes manged to flow the story and the different narratives into one story rather than it being choppy and feeling like different stories.
One downside i found to this story was that i could not gather a clear understanding on why the Apocalypse started or how it began, this lack of lead up didn't provide any context to the story or narratives. However it was a good representation of what may happen to different characters in this type of situation. I enjoyed the cliffhanger at the end as the stories started to merge it left me wanting to read more as this is the beginning of a series hopefully it will go into more detail about the start of Apocalypse and continue with the characters narratives as i feel they have more to tell.
Reviewer’s Note: I was given this book in exchange for an honest review by Booktasters.
Aftermath is a dystopian novel based in post-apocalyptic America. The stories we follow happen five years after the bombs fell: Ian, Ron, Sara, Eric, Justin, Carmen and Alice are our survives. Everything happens from there points of view writing from this position Reyes gives the reader an insight into different accounts of survival rather than just the typical one POV.
Each character follows a different path of survival, my favourite narrative to follow was Alice's but i enjoyed how Reyes manged to flow the story and the different narratives into one story rather than it being choppy and feeling like different stories.
One downside i found to this story was that i could not gather a clear understanding on why the Apocalypse started or how it began, this lack of lead up didn't provide any context to the story or narratives. However it was a good representation of what may happen to different characters in this type of situation. I enjoyed the cliffhanger at the end as the stories started to merge it left me wanting to read more as this is the beginning of a series hopefully it will go into more detail about the start of Apocalypse and continue with the characters narratives as i feel they have more to tell.
Reviewer’s Note: I was given this book in exchange for an honest review by Booktasters.
November 26, 2018
I was given a free copy of Aftermath to read and enjoyed it immensely.
Aftermath is a post-apocalyptic story set around seven characters who each have a story to tell. Every chapter is written giving each character’s viewpoint. Each one comes in a completely different way.
The characters moved me at times as each one had a gripping adventure that pulled me in and made me want to read on to the end. For instance, Alice was one of them who was on a mission to get her revenge. She was vicious and thorough when she had to be. Sara and Penny were slaves who were made to suffer and were forced to eat human flesh like everyone else in their group.
The story is set five years after the bombs fell in America there are groups who are trying to survive against other groups of people. The fight still goes on for each of them. Each character has their moment with either love, war, starvation, survival, revenge and brutality. They each have their own battle to get through with the life they have lead so far. There are blood, horror and elements of nastiness that some readers may not enjoy at first but if you persevere with the story it will pull you in.
This book was a great read with lots of twists and turns right through to the end. If you enjoy post-apocalyptic fiction then I would recommend this one.
Aftermath is a post-apocalyptic story set around seven characters who each have a story to tell. Every chapter is written giving each character’s viewpoint. Each one comes in a completely different way.
The characters moved me at times as each one had a gripping adventure that pulled me in and made me want to read on to the end. For instance, Alice was one of them who was on a mission to get her revenge. She was vicious and thorough when she had to be. Sara and Penny were slaves who were made to suffer and were forced to eat human flesh like everyone else in their group.
The story is set five years after the bombs fell in America there are groups who are trying to survive against other groups of people. The fight still goes on for each of them. Each character has their moment with either love, war, starvation, survival, revenge and brutality. They each have their own battle to get through with the life they have lead so far. There are blood, horror and elements of nastiness that some readers may not enjoy at first but if you persevere with the story it will pull you in.
This book was a great read with lots of twists and turns right through to the end. If you enjoy post-apocalyptic fiction then I would recommend this one.
July 9, 2017
No spoilers, just honest hype.
Aftermath is the first in a new series by writer Joe Reyes. It follows seven main characters in their fight for survival in a post apocalyptic America. It’s not a new concept, but somehow Reyes has found a way to breathe life into a well-played out genre. You will not be reading a story that has been written and rewritten by others; it’s a standout, knockout book.
I appreciate that we are able to experience this story through multiple characters, it adds depth to the story. Each character is their own person; don’t worry about reading Aftermath through the same voice with different names - yes, I hate it when that happens too. Even how they are physically described brings these characters to life. Not everything has to be delivered to the reader on a plate but I still like being able to see who I’m supposed to care about - or not care about in the case of some characters. Though in this area I do hope to see Reyes dive deeper into for his next books.
I look forward to the next installment in this series. If you enjoy post apocalyptic stories with a bite, then you’ll enjoy Aftermath just as much as I did.
I was given a copy of Aftermath in exchange for an honest review.
Aftermath is the first in a new series by writer Joe Reyes. It follows seven main characters in their fight for survival in a post apocalyptic America. It’s not a new concept, but somehow Reyes has found a way to breathe life into a well-played out genre. You will not be reading a story that has been written and rewritten by others; it’s a standout, knockout book.
I appreciate that we are able to experience this story through multiple characters, it adds depth to the story. Each character is their own person; don’t worry about reading Aftermath through the same voice with different names - yes, I hate it when that happens too. Even how they are physically described brings these characters to life. Not everything has to be delivered to the reader on a plate but I still like being able to see who I’m supposed to care about - or not care about in the case of some characters. Though in this area I do hope to see Reyes dive deeper into for his next books.
I look forward to the next installment in this series. If you enjoy post apocalyptic stories with a bite, then you’ll enjoy Aftermath just as much as I did.
I was given a copy of Aftermath in exchange for an honest review.
September 16, 2017
This post-apocalyptic story focuses on seven main characters (Ian, Ron, Sara, Eric, Carmen, Justin and Alice) and how they cope and survive after the breakout of the apocalypse in America. The world is built up within the first five or so chapters and the reader can visualise the world without too much difficulty. The plot hardly becomes boring and there are little twists here and there which kept me entertained and on the edge on my seat. At times the scenes were quite graphic - what with the cannibalism and murder, but, it added to the characters and the dystopian theme, illuminating the length that some people would go to, in order to survive. There were some parts that were expected and I seemed to see them coming before they actually did. As a dog lover, the idea of Ian keeping the dog in case he ran out of food did make me a little uncomfortable. Ian's 'crush' on Carmen was a bit predictable and though I liked the idea of them being together, I couldn't help feel a bit disappointed with how he liked her as it felt a bit clichéd. The cliff hanger left me wanting to read on! Overall, I give this a 4/5 stars.
**I was given a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review**
**I was given a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review**
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