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Between Life and Death #1
The In-Betweener
Emily is alone. Two years after the end of the world, she talks to herself and smashes heads with her favorite sledgehammer. This is not the life she imagined for herself as her eighteenth birthday rolls past.
It’s time for her to look beyond her safe, little hiding place to the world beyond. The madness of the apocalypse is ending, the dangerous in-betweeners - those no longer quite human, but not yet dead - are few and far between. The deaders that cover the world are going still, their senses dulled by time and the elements.
The problem is that there are no people...none. Emily has found not a single living human when she's dared to step outside her safe-zone.
As Emily weighs the heavy cost of surviving alone and begins to accept the inevitable, everything changes once again. One of the deaders at her gate turns out not to be a deader at all. He’s an in-betweener different from any other she has seen before, and he carries a message. If Emily has the courage to step beyond her gate and the skills to survive a perilous trip in a dead world, she might just have a chance at life...a life with humans...after all.
The In-Betweener is book one in the thrilling post-apocalyptic adventure series, Between Life and Death.
It’s time for her to look beyond her safe, little hiding place to the world beyond. The madness of the apocalypse is ending, the dangerous in-betweeners - those no longer quite human, but not yet dead - are few and far between. The deaders that cover the world are going still, their senses dulled by time and the elements.
The problem is that there are no people...none. Emily has found not a single living human when she's dared to step outside her safe-zone.
As Emily weighs the heavy cost of surviving alone and begins to accept the inevitable, everything changes once again. One of the deaders at her gate turns out not to be a deader at all. He’s an in-betweener different from any other she has seen before, and he carries a message. If Emily has the courage to step beyond her gate and the skills to survive a perilous trip in a dead world, she might just have a chance at life...a life with humans...after all.
The In-Betweener is book one in the thrilling post-apocalyptic adventure series, Between Life and Death.
233 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 31, 2015
408 people are currently reading
2724 people want to read
About the author
Ann Christy
34 books328 followersAnn lives by the sea under the benevolent rule of her canine overlord and an incredibly foul-mouthed cat. A scientist and Navy officer by profession, the writing bug somehow got inside her during her travels. She's now stuck with it and can't stop writing.
She writes fully immersive works of science fiction and apocalyptic fiction. Ann is also a voracious reader, and adores a well-done audiobook. If she's not writing, then she's reading or listening.
She writes fully immersive works of science fiction and apocalyptic fiction. Ann is also a voracious reader, and adores a well-done audiobook. If she's not writing, then she's reading or listening.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
September 2, 2016
This was a good story, well done, and interesting despite being essentially yet another zombie story. The nanotech angle made it more interesting and even a bit more believable, and there is a lot of potential there to be explored.
A couple of things kept me from rating this 5 stars. First, it ends on such an incomplete note. I can see based on the story why the author ended it when she did, but it left me feeling a bit put out nonetheless. We spend a lot of time, most of the book actually, with Sam and Emily, and only very close to the end do we meet new characters. This left me feeling like the ending came up abruptly, due to having so little time in the second storyline.
My other big issue is that I wanted to see a different storyline with Sam and was very disappointed none of my expectations came to fruition.
Frankly
Overall, very good and easy to recommend, even if I was disappointed it went in a different direction than I had hoped.
.......
GERTIE GAUGE:
When I wasn't reading the book I looked forward to picking it back up, though I didn't find myself thinking about it often.
Characters worth rooting for: Emily seems like a decent sort, not particularly special/overly perfect, though her illness was an interesting aspect. Likable.
Suspension of disbelief: Surprisingly believable for zombie -fi, due to the nanotech angle.
Emotional engagement: Yes, though that turned out to be a bad thing when what I hope would happen didn't happen.
Mental engagement: Didn't really make me ponder anything.
Memorability factor: 8/10
Quality of writing: Good, right balance of easy but not overly so, and not too heavy in any particular area.
Elevator one-liner: It's about this girl who gets treated for cancer with nanotech, and later after they nano has left her body but a bunch of other people have it, the nanotech gets hacked so they all basically turn into zombies.
Laugh/cry/reactions: I felt a bit teary-eyed during a couple of parts.
Something I'd change:Sam's story, for sure!
Cliffhanger: Yeah basicallym
Romance good, bad, n/a?: I thought there might be some but it didn't go that route.
Errors: Didn't notice any.
Okay with rec'ing to a friend?: Definitely.
Follow this author? Yes.
A couple of things kept me from rating this 5 stars. First, it ends on such an incomplete note. I can see based on the story why the author ended it when she did, but it left me feeling a bit put out nonetheless. We spend a lot of time, most of the book actually, with Sam and Emily, and only very close to the end do we meet new characters. This left me feeling like the ending came up abruptly, due to having so little time in the second storyline.
My other big issue is that I wanted to see a different storyline with Sam and was very disappointed none of my expectations came to fruition.
Frankly
Overall, very good and easy to recommend, even if I was disappointed it went in a different direction than I had hoped.
.......
GERTIE GAUGE:
When I wasn't reading the book I looked forward to picking it back up, though I didn't find myself thinking about it often.
Characters worth rooting for: Emily seems like a decent sort, not particularly special/overly perfect, though her illness was an interesting aspect. Likable.
Suspension of disbelief: Surprisingly believable for zombie -fi, due to the nanotech angle.
Emotional engagement: Yes, though that turned out to be a bad thing when what I hope would happen didn't happen.
Mental engagement: Didn't really make me ponder anything.
Memorability factor: 8/10
Quality of writing: Good, right balance of easy but not overly so, and not too heavy in any particular area.
Elevator one-liner: It's about this girl who gets treated for cancer with nanotech, and later after they nano has left her body but a bunch of other people have it, the nanotech gets hacked so they all basically turn into zombies.
Laugh/cry/reactions: I felt a bit teary-eyed during a couple of parts.
Something I'd change:Sam's story, for sure!
Cliffhanger: Yeah basicallym
Romance good, bad, n/a?: I thought there might be some but it didn't go that route.
Errors: Didn't notice any.
Okay with rec'ing to a friend?: Definitely.
Follow this author? Yes.
November 10, 2016
I don't generally read zombie books, but then this isn't a generic zombie tale. There's a much stronger scifi flavour to this post apocalyptic tale, and I thoroughly enjoyed the book. This is a story that deals with the aftermath of an apocalypse, rather than the build up to it, although you won't be left in the dark as to the reasons that society has crumbled - these juicy details are revealed as the plot progresses. That may sound contradictory, but while some post apocalyptic stories feel like one long build up to an inevitable ending, this book takes a different approach and it works very well. To say more will risk inadvertent spoilers, and I hate spoilers, so on we go.
I've read this author's work before, and as usual, this author's style makes for a great read. The pacing is just right and you'll be turning the pages eagerly as you keep up with the characters. This is a very human story, with believable characters going through genuine emotions as they deal with a world gone mad. The relationship between the central character and her mother is touching and heartfelt, and you'll be drawn into the harsh reality of their lives. For those of you who like a bit of gore with your zombies, you won't be disappointed, but this book isn't all blood and guts. The author doesn't shy away from the visceral horror of some scenes, but these are delivered within the context of the plot so that they don't detract from the story. All in all, a good story well told. Give it a whirl.
I've read this author's work before, and as usual, this author's style makes for a great read. The pacing is just right and you'll be turning the pages eagerly as you keep up with the characters. This is a very human story, with believable characters going through genuine emotions as they deal with a world gone mad. The relationship between the central character and her mother is touching and heartfelt, and you'll be drawn into the harsh reality of their lives. For those of you who like a bit of gore with your zombies, you won't be disappointed, but this book isn't all blood and guts. The author doesn't shy away from the visceral horror of some scenes, but these are delivered within the context of the plot so that they don't detract from the story. All in all, a good story well told. Give it a whirl.
January 28, 2015
This book was fantastic and makes me want more! Ann does a great job reeling you into the story with all of the vivid details of the environment and decay, but the ability to empathize with Emily is what really caught my attention. I cannot wait for Book 2 (Forever Between). I need questions answered!
February 2, 2015
---Advanced Copy Read---
What an interesting (and very believable) take on the origins of zombies.
Apparently I enjoy everything that Ann Christy has to offer. Even end of the world, zombie plup fiction.
What an interesting (and very believable) take on the origins of zombies.
Apparently I enjoy everything that Ann Christy has to offer. Even end of the world, zombie plup fiction.
January 28, 2015
Synopsis: Two years ago a new medical nanite advance divided humanity into three types: humans, deaders and the frightening in-betweeners who crave human flesh. Emily's world has grown quiet and ordered, her day bounded by mornings killing deaders at her fence and nights alone in a warehouse office. She's begun to believe life will always be this way, days alone with the dead or fighting in-betweeners for her life. But even that life is better than the alternative.
Everything changes when one of the deaders at the gate isn't a deader at all. He’s an in-betweener different from any Emily has seen before...and he has a message.
I started and finished this book in one day. That is saying something for a mom of two toddlers who also works full time! When I decide to use my free time for a novel, and especially if I am going to finish it in one day, it must be pretty awesome! I haven't read too many zombie books, but it is becoming one of my favorite types of Post-Apocalyptic horrors to read about.
Even though this world is destroyed and there seems to be no hope, Ann Christy has this way of adding beauty and using clever words that make a horrible situation less traumatic. At least less traumatic for me, the reader. Emily and the rest of the characters in the book may use sarcasm and levity, but I’m pretty sure they still will need to find a therapist hiding somewhere. Or just mutter crazily to themselves. That seems to work for Emily at first! I think I would’ve gone much more insane than she was…but maybe I don’t know my own strength. One of my favorite instances of beauty with the bad quotes is: “The door slams behind her with so much force that the glass in the sidelights rattles, creating shivers in the rainbows projected on the floor by the angled glass.” This line conveys the character’s negative emotion while still casting beauty on the situation in a small way. It made me smile! Sometimes it’s the little things, people.
Ann is also wonderful at story building and character development. Even though some of the characters were only introduced in a few short sentences, you still felt a connection to them. Her world feels vast and detailed. I could almost picture every area that the characters inhabited like I was watching a movie. I felt the same thing about her world and characters in her book, Strikers (buy that one on Amazon. Worth it!).
In-Betweener was a heartbreaking story with hope and zombies. That’s my type of novel! I’m ready for the next one!
Everything changes when one of the deaders at the gate isn't a deader at all. He’s an in-betweener different from any Emily has seen before...and he has a message.
I started and finished this book in one day. That is saying something for a mom of two toddlers who also works full time! When I decide to use my free time for a novel, and especially if I am going to finish it in one day, it must be pretty awesome! I haven't read too many zombie books, but it is becoming one of my favorite types of Post-Apocalyptic horrors to read about.
Even though this world is destroyed and there seems to be no hope, Ann Christy has this way of adding beauty and using clever words that make a horrible situation less traumatic. At least less traumatic for me, the reader. Emily and the rest of the characters in the book may use sarcasm and levity, but I’m pretty sure they still will need to find a therapist hiding somewhere. Or just mutter crazily to themselves. That seems to work for Emily at first! I think I would’ve gone much more insane than she was…but maybe I don’t know my own strength. One of my favorite instances of beauty with the bad quotes is: “The door slams behind her with so much force that the glass in the sidelights rattles, creating shivers in the rainbows projected on the floor by the angled glass.” This line conveys the character’s negative emotion while still casting beauty on the situation in a small way. It made me smile! Sometimes it’s the little things, people.
Ann is also wonderful at story building and character development. Even though some of the characters were only introduced in a few short sentences, you still felt a connection to them. Her world feels vast and detailed. I could almost picture every area that the characters inhabited like I was watching a movie. I felt the same thing about her world and characters in her book, Strikers (buy that one on Amazon. Worth it!).
In-Betweener was a heartbreaking story with hope and zombies. That’s my type of novel! I’m ready for the next one!
March 15, 2015
So just to make sure there is no confusion this is about the world gone to hell in a hand-basket not four awkward teenage boys from the south of England (do you get the Inbetweeners in North American my over the pond readers?) anyway I digress I am a huge fan of Ann's writing, she always creates (or improves upon in the case of Silo 49) amazing worlds so I was looking forward to seeing what this was about.
Well it zombies but not as I have ever seen before, we are introduced to a world in total disarray, the human race is split in to three very different groups, humans, the walking dead and the in-betweeners who look human but are most certainly not.
What has turned the world on its axis?, Nanites, created as the saviour of mankind, curing major illnesses and keeping the population healthy but it has gone horribly wrong. The nanites keep the dead animated and the near dead going, what is left of the human population has gone in to hiding.
Emily is holed up in a warehouse surrounded by a large fence, she is safe, she has routine and she has no plans to leave her compound. She has seen her mother "die" and the world around her fall apart, for now she has everything she needs, she has the skills to take out any dead that come too near but unbeknownst to her she is being watched.
An in-betweener arrives at her gates with a note attached to him, he communicates barely but he gets across that he needs her, but will Emily go with him, how does he know she is there, can she trust him as he could potentially rip her to pieces?
Yes she does go with him but I won't say what happens as that would be a SPOILER people but I will say that there are some distressing scenes, lots of blood and a hell of a lot of a good story! This is the first book in a series (yay!) and it is so refreshing to read about zombies that haven't been created by a killer virus that surfaced somewhere is Asia or in a lab at some science facility so kudos to Ann for creating something new.
Look out for my review of book 2 Forever Between and want to know more about Ann read my interview with her from last year or have a perusal at my reviews of her other awesome books
Awarded 5 out of 5
Originally posted at www.redheatherduff.blogspot.com
Well it zombies but not as I have ever seen before, we are introduced to a world in total disarray, the human race is split in to three very different groups, humans, the walking dead and the in-betweeners who look human but are most certainly not.
What has turned the world on its axis?, Nanites, created as the saviour of mankind, curing major illnesses and keeping the population healthy but it has gone horribly wrong. The nanites keep the dead animated and the near dead going, what is left of the human population has gone in to hiding.
Emily is holed up in a warehouse surrounded by a large fence, she is safe, she has routine and she has no plans to leave her compound. She has seen her mother "die" and the world around her fall apart, for now she has everything she needs, she has the skills to take out any dead that come too near but unbeknownst to her she is being watched.
An in-betweener arrives at her gates with a note attached to him, he communicates barely but he gets across that he needs her, but will Emily go with him, how does he know she is there, can she trust him as he could potentially rip her to pieces?
Yes she does go with him but I won't say what happens as that would be a SPOILER people but I will say that there are some distressing scenes, lots of blood and a hell of a lot of a good story! This is the first book in a series (yay!) and it is so refreshing to read about zombies that haven't been created by a killer virus that surfaced somewhere is Asia or in a lab at some science facility so kudos to Ann for creating something new.
Look out for my review of book 2 Forever Between and want to know more about Ann read my interview with her from last year or have a perusal at my reviews of her other awesome books
Awarded 5 out of 5
Originally posted at www.redheatherduff.blogspot.com
May 18, 2015
It’s worth noting that the word zombie doesn't appear in this book. There are a couple of stages of being not-quite-alive that divide the not-quite-living into two groups. That’s one of the differences between this book and your average zombie tale. Another difference is that the disaster that reduced humanity to three groups of creatures was not the result of evil intent. Just the opposite, in fact – the intent was to benefit mankind. Bad judgement and plain old human error caused technology to go wrong in a big way. Living humans are left in the minority in a devastated and unfriendly world.
As always, Ann Christy writes an excellent story with wonderful description and attention to detail. Sam, Emily, and Emily’s mother are real people on the pages. I’m a fan of zombie stories that differ from the usual. This one is fun, for the reader, maybe not so much for the characters. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series, as soon as possible.
As always, Ann Christy writes an excellent story with wonderful description and attention to detail. Sam, Emily, and Emily’s mother are real people on the pages. I’m a fan of zombie stories that differ from the usual. This one is fun, for the reader, maybe not so much for the characters. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series, as soon as possible.
April 17, 2017
I liked this book because it was a different take on zombies but also had enough of a traditional zombie feel to keep me interested. I like when I find something a bit new in the genre, which is not easy to do.
Emily had her life saved by nanite technology which cured her cancer and had health benefits for many people. Emily's nanite was removed from her when it did it's job but those with the technology in their body at the wrong moment are turned into zombies. I liked the idea of the nanites-their use to heal and the deadly problem which turns the country into hell. It was interesting and I look forward to hearing more about it. I'm not a science kind of person and my head explodes if things get too technical but in this book everything is explained simply and I understood every word of it, which was nice!
There are also two types of zombies in the book-deaders, who are the traditional walking dead and look like fully dead monsters. Then there are the In Betweeners who look human, move faster and can function better as the nanites in them are still working against the infection on some level. I liked this aspect as well. The author was trying to do some new things and I found her ideas to have realism and be believable in this new world she describes. The world itself sounds pretty grim for the remaining survivors and I'm interested to see what might come next.
Emily is a great MC because you actually care what happens to her. The clever use of flashbacks shows you the important parts of her life recently-the cancer and her treatment, the stages of the zombie outbreak and how she came to be in this secure compound on her own. She is clever and resourceful because she has been well taught by her mother, who knows a lot about nanite technology and its problems. You feel a lot of sympathy for her being alone and yet I had to admire her for the way she deals with it and keeps on living.
We also meet Sam, who is caring for a group of kids, hidden in a flat in the city but running out of food. He has seen Emily and the compound and wants to make contact with her to see if she will agree to take them in. However things for Sam and the kids are about to become very dangerous. It's difficult to write anything else without wandering into plot spoiler territory but their story and Emily's are about to connect in an emotional way, which I really enjoyed.
I liked the way that both stories were dealt with. I know that some people did not like part of Sam's story but I felt that it was well written and that the path the author chooses fits into the overall plot perfectly. I was a little surprised by the way the both finishes with Emily, and it makes me anxious to see what happens next.
Do I recommend this? Yes, I do. It was very well written. Will I be reading the rest of the series? Yes I would certainly like to see what happens!
Emily had her life saved by nanite technology which cured her cancer and had health benefits for many people. Emily's nanite was removed from her when it did it's job but those with the technology in their body at the wrong moment are turned into zombies. I liked the idea of the nanites-their use to heal and the deadly problem which turns the country into hell. It was interesting and I look forward to hearing more about it. I'm not a science kind of person and my head explodes if things get too technical but in this book everything is explained simply and I understood every word of it, which was nice!
There are also two types of zombies in the book-deaders, who are the traditional walking dead and look like fully dead monsters. Then there are the In Betweeners who look human, move faster and can function better as the nanites in them are still working against the infection on some level. I liked this aspect as well. The author was trying to do some new things and I found her ideas to have realism and be believable in this new world she describes. The world itself sounds pretty grim for the remaining survivors and I'm interested to see what might come next.
Emily is a great MC because you actually care what happens to her. The clever use of flashbacks shows you the important parts of her life recently-the cancer and her treatment, the stages of the zombie outbreak and how she came to be in this secure compound on her own. She is clever and resourceful because she has been well taught by her mother, who knows a lot about nanite technology and its problems. You feel a lot of sympathy for her being alone and yet I had to admire her for the way she deals with it and keeps on living.
We also meet Sam, who is caring for a group of kids, hidden in a flat in the city but running out of food. He has seen Emily and the compound and wants to make contact with her to see if she will agree to take them in. However things for Sam and the kids are about to become very dangerous. It's difficult to write anything else without wandering into plot spoiler territory but their story and Emily's are about to connect in an emotional way, which I really enjoyed.
I liked the way that both stories were dealt with. I know that some people did not like part of Sam's story but I felt that it was well written and that the path the author chooses fits into the overall plot perfectly. I was a little surprised by the way the both finishes with Emily, and it makes me anxious to see what happens next.
Do I recommend this? Yes, I do. It was very well written. Will I be reading the rest of the series? Yes I would certainly like to see what happens!
July 20, 2015
What can I say beside READ IT! It is going to be hard for me to put to words my feelings about this book/series......I simply adore it. Is it weird to say that about a zombie apocalypse book? Probably, but it's true. This book/series has simply everything you could possibly want from a book, and then some. For the first time in my life I did not write my review immediately after I finished this book, I had to read the next book, then the next one before I could do anything else, so alas, I have devoured this entire series and have now come back to write my review, I will try to sum up this fantastic book....
Starting out right off the bat we meet Sam, a very likable young man scouting out a place for the 5 children, who we meet briefly, that he is taking care of and hiding out with in the middle of the city during the zombie apoc. Scary stuff. Then we meet Emily.....let me take a moment to state that I freaking love this chick! Amazing and unimaginable, and horrible things proceed to happen, I laughed, I cried, then I cried a little more. Enter Veronica and Jon, amazing. Veronica is 16 or 17 I think, and Jon is 2 (it is 2 years into the apoc at this point) Veronica is not Jon's mother but has been acting as one all his life and saved him over and over again. This story line is ingenious! I don't want to say anything more and give anything away, because the way it is revealed and the information is divvied out to you is very wonderfully done. I love me some post apoc/dystopian reading, but I don't read a lot of zombies, but this zombie series will definitely be on my shelf! And now I'm curious to read more zombie stuff, and definitely more books by Ann Christy! I loved her writing in the writing prompts on BOD, that is why I chose this series as my next read. And I gotta say, I'm hooked!!
Starting out right off the bat we meet Sam, a very likable young man scouting out a place for the 5 children, who we meet briefly, that he is taking care of and hiding out with in the middle of the city during the zombie apoc. Scary stuff. Then we meet Emily.....let me take a moment to state that I freaking love this chick! Amazing and unimaginable, and horrible things proceed to happen, I laughed, I cried, then I cried a little more. Enter Veronica and Jon, amazing. Veronica is 16 or 17 I think, and Jon is 2 (it is 2 years into the apoc at this point) Veronica is not Jon's mother but has been acting as one all his life and saved him over and over again. This story line is ingenious! I don't want to say anything more and give anything away, because the way it is revealed and the information is divvied out to you is very wonderfully done. I love me some post apoc/dystopian reading, but I don't read a lot of zombies, but this zombie series will definitely be on my shelf! And now I'm curious to read more zombie stuff, and definitely more books by Ann Christy! I loved her writing in the writing prompts on BOD, that is why I chose this series as my next read. And I gotta say, I'm hooked!!
May 11, 2015
Well, I found myself reading another zombie novel. You have to understand, I don't consider myself the biggest zombie fan - but I'm beginning to think I'm a zombie fan, just not the classic, b-movie, scary movie kind of zombie.
Much like the science fiction genre, this book uses the zombie apocalypse as a starting point to explore human relationships. The main character, a teenager that has come to be alone, is approached by an in-betweener - someone who died for a short time before becoming re-animated. I don't want to give too much detail, because part of the fun here is learning WHY people are zombies. Anyway, you get to see other humans through the main character's eyes, and explore what human civilization could become in light of a devastating plague like a zombie apocalypse. The author (Christy) does a good job of revealing things while still maintaining the pace of telling the story. I got a little confused going back-and-forth in time (flashbacks), even though each chapter is explicitly labeled with the relative time. I may have to re-read just to sort out some of the events. I suspect this confusion is me trying to read too fast - to see what was happening next.
I definitely am looking forward to the next book (#2 is out, and #3 is about to be published as I write this review), and will probably check out Ms. Christy's other series.
PS: This is a great time to be a reader! There are a LOT of new authors being published, and with so many different channels available people can get their stories out without some of the difficulties of the past (having to sell enough books to make it worth a publisher's effort, or even just convincing them to look at your book).
Much like the science fiction genre, this book uses the zombie apocalypse as a starting point to explore human relationships. The main character, a teenager that has come to be alone, is approached by an in-betweener - someone who died for a short time before becoming re-animated. I don't want to give too much detail, because part of the fun here is learning WHY people are zombies. Anyway, you get to see other humans through the main character's eyes, and explore what human civilization could become in light of a devastating plague like a zombie apocalypse. The author (Christy) does a good job of revealing things while still maintaining the pace of telling the story. I got a little confused going back-and-forth in time (flashbacks), even though each chapter is explicitly labeled with the relative time. I may have to re-read just to sort out some of the events. I suspect this confusion is me trying to read too fast - to see what was happening next.
I definitely am looking forward to the next book (#2 is out, and #3 is about to be published as I write this review), and will probably check out Ms. Christy's other series.
PS: This is a great time to be a reader! There are a LOT of new authors being published, and with so many different channels available people can get their stories out without some of the difficulties of the past (having to sell enough books to make it worth a publisher's effort, or even just convincing them to look at your book).
January 31, 2015
I'm a avid reader of Zombie genre, and let me say you, this book is Amazing.
The Author gave us a unique explanation of why the world is full deaders, and also introduce us into a "Inbetweener" type of zombie, which have a kind of consciousness of their human life once they are fed. Brilliant, but scary!
The main character is a young girl, who is living alone, secure, but lacking of human contact, until one day she finds herself in the middle of a dilemma, when one inbetweener approaches to her with a message.
I love how the story goes back and forward and allows us understand what happens to the world,who is she, and her background story.
I find the story very crude, but not for gore or violence, if not for the loneliness and hard life of the few remaining survivors.
Can't wait to have book #2 in my hands!!
Highly recommended for zombie fans!!
*I received a free copy in exchange of an Honest review*
The Author gave us a unique explanation of why the world is full deaders, and also introduce us into a "Inbetweener" type of zombie, which have a kind of consciousness of their human life once they are fed. Brilliant, but scary!
The main character is a young girl, who is living alone, secure, but lacking of human contact, until one day she finds herself in the middle of a dilemma, when one inbetweener approaches to her with a message.
I love how the story goes back and forward and allows us understand what happens to the world,who is she, and her background story.
I find the story very crude, but not for gore or violence, if not for the loneliness and hard life of the few remaining survivors.
Can't wait to have book #2 in my hands!!
Highly recommended for zombie fans!!
*I received a free copy in exchange of an Honest review*
February 1, 2015
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.I absolutely love this book.The book centers around a young woman and a separate group of survivors.The characters are well developed and the authors talent for world building is amazing.The author uses flashbacks which work well for this story.I like it when an author explains the cause of the downfall of society and the creation of Zombies is clearly explained in this book.I felt immersed in the characters lives and caring about how they manage to survive.For me the sign of a good book is that the author leaves me with the desire to know more about their characters lives.Ann Christy succeeded with the In-Betweeners.
September 16, 2016
What a well written story. I really enjoyed this story although frankly, I was looking for a little more romance. It's very sad, but also moving. No punches pulled or perfect endings here.
An excellent zombie book with a strong slightly psychotic heroine.
An excellent zombie book with a strong slightly psychotic heroine.
January 31, 2015
I received a prerelease copy of The In-Betweeners for review. I received no compensation for my review. I read The In-Betweeners with a great deal of excitement after having read Strikers by the same author. And I wasn’t disappointed. I started reading and flew through the book, devouring each chapter. This was a very well written story that drew me in and, like Strikers, built a near-future world brick by brick. I’ll leave no spoilers but The In-Betweeners' world could be our world but for one technological advance gone wrong. It has immediacy and reality sufficient to demonstrate that humanity could come to a very bad end if we aren’t careful.
The author uses a chronological series of flashbacks to bit-by-bit increase understanding about what happened to this world and the people in it. So it takes to the end of the book to really understand what is going on. Nonetheless, as you start the book, the author jumps right in and puts you into this world. This creates an off-balance feeling of danger from unknown perils that dominates the mood of the story. The fragility of life and the ease with which everything you know can be taken from you is also readily apparent. So, while the physical reality of what has happened to the world is not immediately clear, the reader is quickly placed into the emotional framework of the characters. This highlights the bravery and resourcefulness of Emily, the young adult heroine of the story, who has survived in a world where most haven’t. Yet it is not Emily’s bravery that keeps her alive, it is a total, 24X7 focus on survival that keeps away the fate that has befallen the world around her. This focus on survival, drew me in and got me invested in Emily’s future and the chances she was willing to take to get there.
The book ends on a very dark note, far different from the optimism of Strikers. Yet life still fights to exist and The In-Betweeners holds out the promise that Emily and the other survivors may yet find a way to move to a world less hostile to life as we know it.
The author uses a chronological series of flashbacks to bit-by-bit increase understanding about what happened to this world and the people in it. So it takes to the end of the book to really understand what is going on. Nonetheless, as you start the book, the author jumps right in and puts you into this world. This creates an off-balance feeling of danger from unknown perils that dominates the mood of the story. The fragility of life and the ease with which everything you know can be taken from you is also readily apparent. So, while the physical reality of what has happened to the world is not immediately clear, the reader is quickly placed into the emotional framework of the characters. This highlights the bravery and resourcefulness of Emily, the young adult heroine of the story, who has survived in a world where most haven’t. Yet it is not Emily’s bravery that keeps her alive, it is a total, 24X7 focus on survival that keeps away the fate that has befallen the world around her. This focus on survival, drew me in and got me invested in Emily’s future and the chances she was willing to take to get there.
The book ends on a very dark note, far different from the optimism of Strikers. Yet life still fights to exist and The In-Betweeners holds out the promise that Emily and the other survivors may yet find a way to move to a world less hostile to life as we know it.
September 26, 2016
I really liked this book. We begin to follow Emily in her life in what we would consider post-apocalypse. What caused this? Well.....we did. Exactly who would have caused this if it does ever really happen. As we try to treat every single illness with the newest modern techniques and medicines, what will happen to us later on. Something goes horribly wrong in the future after people are injected with nanites that cure whatever ails them. Some people have yet to be affected, many are dead. Some are somewhere in-between.
Emily has holed up in her makeshift compound with fences to keep "people" out. She happens upon a newly turned in-between boy named Sam. There seems to be a story behind why he's here. He's still able to communicate with grunts and hand motions. How did he find her??? Could other people have sent him to ask for help? Is it too late to help them........
Emily has holed up in her makeshift compound with fences to keep "people" out. She happens upon a newly turned in-between boy named Sam. There seems to be a story behind why he's here. He's still able to communicate with grunts and hand motions. How did he find her??? Could other people have sent him to ask for help? Is it too late to help them........
March 1, 2015
This is, at least for me, such a unique treatment of the zombie genre -- the characters, the back-story, the interaction between then and now -- and add to that the excellent writing and you have a novel worth reading and rereading. Christy has a knack for delving into the motivations of her characters. That insight and her clear writing style makes them and their reactions engrossing . Two thumbs up! An excellent read.
May 11, 2015
This was an interesting and original take on the zombie apocalypse. Not like anything I've read on the subject before. I will continue the series.
July 20, 2016
I'm not a huge fan of zombie fiction, but I am a big fan of Ann Christy's books so I gave "The In-Betweener" a try.
So glad I did because this is trademark Christy complete with wonderful characters, a strong narrative, and impressive world building along with some interesting ideas to contemplate.
The story revolves around Emily, a young woman who lives alone in a warehouse complex behind a chain-link fence that protects her, mostly, from both "Deaders" and "In-Betweeners." Deaders are true zombies; mindless eating machines infected by nanites that work ceaselessly to keep them searching for food. In-Betweeners are on their way to becoming Deaders but still retain at least a glimmer of their humanity. Like the walking dead, In-Betweeners are full of nanites that are designed to repair their bodies following a fatal injury.
It's a losing battle but the nanites don't know that so they simply continue to do as they were programmed until, finally, the In--Betweeners become Deaders and, eventually, die from lack of food or because they are well and truly killed when their brains are destroyed.
At the time the nanites were invented, they were hailed as a way to defeat death and in Emily's case that's true. She had suffered from a massive brain tumor as a child and it was the introduction of nanites that cured her, not once but also a second time when her cancer resurfaced.
Soon, more and more people opted to have nanites injected into their bodies, including many men and women who were not suffering from a catastrophic illness or injury. The nanites were regularly upgraded in much the same way present-day laptops are in an effort to make them even better at their job of preserving life.
That was all well and good until something went wrong with the last upgrade and chaos ensued, forcing Emily and her Marine Corps mom to run for their lives.
I won't reveal any more of the narrative here because I don't want to spoil this excellent story for those that have not yet read it. Suffice it to say that Emily's carefully controlled and cautious existence is interrupted by an In-Betweener who has held on to just enough of his humanity to lead her on an adventure.
Christy tells Emily's story by alternating between present time and flashbacks, allowing readers to gradually learn about this young woman and how she came to be living alone in the warehouse complex. Those flashbacks also help to explain why she throws caution to the winds to embark on a risky, potentially fatal, adventure when the In-Betweener shows up pawing at her fence. As any author knows, writing good flashback scenes is difficult: Done well, they illuminate, but when they are done poorly they drag the narrative to a standstill.
Christy, at least in this instance, does them well.
The characters in "The In-Betweener" are nicely drawn. Emily, for example, is on the cusp of adulthood, forced to do things to survive that would have been all but unthinkable before the world went to hell. She is not only alone, she is lonely and there are times when she wonders if fighting a daily battle for survival is worth the effort. Despite that, she perseveres. That makes her truly heroic in my estimation.
Christy also asks readers to consider some interesting moral and ethical questions along the way.
Did the scientists who created the nanites, for example, ever stop to consider the consequences of their actions? Did they ever stop to wonder what might happen if something went wrong?
Or were they simply blinded by their own creativity?
Their desire to solve a problem...
This is a wonderful story, well written and well thought out, with an intriguing heroine and some really well done action sequences. It's a little bloody at times, but contains some very poignant moments as well. All in all, a great novel from a writer who truly has mastered the craft.
So glad I did because this is trademark Christy complete with wonderful characters, a strong narrative, and impressive world building along with some interesting ideas to contemplate.
The story revolves around Emily, a young woman who lives alone in a warehouse complex behind a chain-link fence that protects her, mostly, from both "Deaders" and "In-Betweeners." Deaders are true zombies; mindless eating machines infected by nanites that work ceaselessly to keep them searching for food. In-Betweeners are on their way to becoming Deaders but still retain at least a glimmer of their humanity. Like the walking dead, In-Betweeners are full of nanites that are designed to repair their bodies following a fatal injury.
It's a losing battle but the nanites don't know that so they simply continue to do as they were programmed until, finally, the In--Betweeners become Deaders and, eventually, die from lack of food or because they are well and truly killed when their brains are destroyed.
At the time the nanites were invented, they were hailed as a way to defeat death and in Emily's case that's true. She had suffered from a massive brain tumor as a child and it was the introduction of nanites that cured her, not once but also a second time when her cancer resurfaced.
Soon, more and more people opted to have nanites injected into their bodies, including many men and women who were not suffering from a catastrophic illness or injury. The nanites were regularly upgraded in much the same way present-day laptops are in an effort to make them even better at their job of preserving life.
That was all well and good until something went wrong with the last upgrade and chaos ensued, forcing Emily and her Marine Corps mom to run for their lives.
I won't reveal any more of the narrative here because I don't want to spoil this excellent story for those that have not yet read it. Suffice it to say that Emily's carefully controlled and cautious existence is interrupted by an In-Betweener who has held on to just enough of his humanity to lead her on an adventure.
Christy tells Emily's story by alternating between present time and flashbacks, allowing readers to gradually learn about this young woman and how she came to be living alone in the warehouse complex. Those flashbacks also help to explain why she throws caution to the winds to embark on a risky, potentially fatal, adventure when the In-Betweener shows up pawing at her fence. As any author knows, writing good flashback scenes is difficult: Done well, they illuminate, but when they are done poorly they drag the narrative to a standstill.
Christy, at least in this instance, does them well.
The characters in "The In-Betweener" are nicely drawn. Emily, for example, is on the cusp of adulthood, forced to do things to survive that would have been all but unthinkable before the world went to hell. She is not only alone, she is lonely and there are times when she wonders if fighting a daily battle for survival is worth the effort. Despite that, she perseveres. That makes her truly heroic in my estimation.
Christy also asks readers to consider some interesting moral and ethical questions along the way.
Did the scientists who created the nanites, for example, ever stop to consider the consequences of their actions? Did they ever stop to wonder what might happen if something went wrong?
Or were they simply blinded by their own creativity?
Their desire to solve a problem...
This is a wonderful story, well written and well thought out, with an intriguing heroine and some really well done action sequences. It's a little bloody at times, but contains some very poignant moments as well. All in all, a great novel from a writer who truly has mastered the craft.
August 29, 2016
The In-Betweener is book #1 in the Between Life and Death series and it breathes new "life" into a crowded genre!
What a fantastic book! The In-Betweener is an apocalyptic zombie story like no other I have read before. It is such a refreshing change for a genre that I adore but admittedly is getting a little tired. I can't wait to read the next book. There are four in total and I think I will snatch them up all at once, for a good zombie reading binge!
What it's About
Emily should be dead but she lived. Now she is surrounded by death and has never been so lonely. In the two years since nanites started wiping out the population, she has killed a thousand deaders and in-betweeners.
The nanites were supposed to give humanity longer and healthier lives. Cure diseases, and make the world a better place to live in. Instead, they divided humans into three groups: humans, deaders, and the flesh-eating in-betweeners. At eighteen, Emily thought life would be different. Dating, college, you know the usual. Now, she talks to herself and smashes heads with her favorite sledgehammer.
Everything changes one bright morning when one of the deaders at Emily’s fence isn’t a deader at all. He’s an in-betweener different from any she has seen before…and he has a message. If Emily can muster up the courage to do what the message asks, she might have a chance at life after all.
Excerpt:
"The worst part is that they aren't all deaders. Deaders are a little easier to deal with. They look dead. They are clearly not there anymore, not thinking or really human. It's the in-betweeners that bother the crap out of me. Maybe they're brain-dead and truly not themselves-not human-anymore but their eyes are bright and moving. Still blue or brown or green, and they focus when they see something.
They still move with something like human grace, still seek something like shelter when they are cold, or shade when they are hot. They avoid danger and run when I start firing arrows or bolts in their direction. And they scream when they get hit."
My Thoughts
I am obsessed with the apocalypse which is weird cause I'm a glass half-full kind if gal. Regardless of how humanity gets wiped out, aliens, pandemic or zombies... I will read or watch it. So I consider myself an expert on the genre.
I have read books about nano technoleogy bringing us down, either intentionally or by accident and have read countless books about zombies. This is the first sci-fi novel that I have read that marries the two ideas. From every angle, it works! It is entirely believable and definitely possible that the advent of this technology ( which has started already) will blow up in our faces. And that's what make The In-Betweener scary! Not the flesh-eating deaders but that miraculous, life saving technology can or will be used against us.
From a literary standpoint, Christy's novel is well written, intelligent and entrancing. After the first couple of chapters, I was hooked. The protagonist Emily, is such a tragic figure and yet she possesses the fortitude to survive where many would fail. There is gore and action of course, but there is also love, empathy and heroism.
I thoroughly enjoyed The In-Betweener and I can't wait to start my reading binge!
Rating...A
Official review on www.booknista.com
What a fantastic book! The In-Betweener is an apocalyptic zombie story like no other I have read before. It is such a refreshing change for a genre that I adore but admittedly is getting a little tired. I can't wait to read the next book. There are four in total and I think I will snatch them up all at once, for a good zombie reading binge!
What it's About
Emily should be dead but she lived. Now she is surrounded by death and has never been so lonely. In the two years since nanites started wiping out the population, she has killed a thousand deaders and in-betweeners.
The nanites were supposed to give humanity longer and healthier lives. Cure diseases, and make the world a better place to live in. Instead, they divided humans into three groups: humans, deaders, and the flesh-eating in-betweeners. At eighteen, Emily thought life would be different. Dating, college, you know the usual. Now, she talks to herself and smashes heads with her favorite sledgehammer.
Everything changes one bright morning when one of the deaders at Emily’s fence isn’t a deader at all. He’s an in-betweener different from any she has seen before…and he has a message. If Emily can muster up the courage to do what the message asks, she might have a chance at life after all.
Excerpt:
"The worst part is that they aren't all deaders. Deaders are a little easier to deal with. They look dead. They are clearly not there anymore, not thinking or really human. It's the in-betweeners that bother the crap out of me. Maybe they're brain-dead and truly not themselves-not human-anymore but their eyes are bright and moving. Still blue or brown or green, and they focus when they see something.
They still move with something like human grace, still seek something like shelter when they are cold, or shade when they are hot. They avoid danger and run when I start firing arrows or bolts in their direction. And they scream when they get hit."
My Thoughts
I am obsessed with the apocalypse which is weird cause I'm a glass half-full kind if gal. Regardless of how humanity gets wiped out, aliens, pandemic or zombies... I will read or watch it. So I consider myself an expert on the genre.
I have read books about nano technoleogy bringing us down, either intentionally or by accident and have read countless books about zombies. This is the first sci-fi novel that I have read that marries the two ideas. From every angle, it works! It is entirely believable and definitely possible that the advent of this technology ( which has started already) will blow up in our faces. And that's what make The In-Betweener scary! Not the flesh-eating deaders but that miraculous, life saving technology can or will be used against us.
From a literary standpoint, Christy's novel is well written, intelligent and entrancing. After the first couple of chapters, I was hooked. The protagonist Emily, is such a tragic figure and yet she possesses the fortitude to survive where many would fail. There is gore and action of course, but there is also love, empathy and heroism.
I thoroughly enjoyed The In-Betweener and I can't wait to start my reading binge!
Rating...A
Official review on www.booknista.com
May 4, 2016
Wow... I took a few days before reviewing this book because I really wanted to try and do the review with a clear head. I can confidently say that this is the best zombie book I have read- ever. There are so many things I can say about this so I will break it into a few different sections.
First of all, I want to talk about the setting and plot. I thought it was really interesting how Ann decided to focus more on the aftermath of the world coming to a grisly end rather than when it was just happening. I loved that in doing this you focused a lot more on the emotions in the book rather than just smashing zombie heads every page.
The characters were really great. I know I will say that a lot, but they really were. Even though the only people we really focused on were Emily, Sam, and Emily's mother, they were all really deep. (Please don't read anymore to avoid spoilers!!!!) I thought that Sam was heartbreaking and I have never experienced the feelings that I did about Sam in any other book (or even film.) He was a very unique character and I feel like any other zombie I read about now will pale in comparison. I liked that even though I really REALLY wanted him to be able to turn back into a normal human being, he struggled with controlling himself and ultimately died. Even though I was reading through my tears when they were leaving the apartment, I still appreciated that Ann Christy could create a character (who didn't even talk well) that I was crying this much over. Also- Emily was incredibly realistic. From her feeling bad about killing the pigeons to just thoughts she had, I was constantly placing myself in her shoes. I feel like she was a realistic look into what it would be like if you were put into her place.
I really applaud Ann Christy for creating a story that was so honest and heartbreaking that I cried at least 8-9 times during it. The characters were very dynamic, even if one was a zombie who couldn't talk very well. I think the whole concept of sending Sam to find Emily was one I had never even imagine could happen. And of course, being able to make me sick to my stomach once they got to the apartments or when Emily had to take care of the child biting Sam. It takes a really talented writer to make me feel hope, dread, fear, and complete and utter shock/sadness in just one book with so few characters. I would kill to be able to chat with Ann about this book, because I just can't stop thinking about it.
I will make one note that the only problem I had with it were a few grammatical or textual mistakes. Some of the sentences seemed like they needed to be polished just a tiny tiny bit, but I don't think it is worth taking away a whole star for. I only give 5/5 stars to books that completely wreck my emotions/make me view the world in a different way. This did both of those things, and I really have had a hard time starting a new book because I am still stuck thinking about The In-Betweener.
Thank you, Ann Christy, for giving us this amazing book.
First of all, I want to talk about the setting and plot. I thought it was really interesting how Ann decided to focus more on the aftermath of the world coming to a grisly end rather than when it was just happening. I loved that in doing this you focused a lot more on the emotions in the book rather than just smashing zombie heads every page.
The characters were really great. I know I will say that a lot, but they really were. Even though the only people we really focused on were Emily, Sam, and Emily's mother, they were all really deep. (Please don't read anymore to avoid spoilers!!!!) I thought that Sam was heartbreaking and I have never experienced the feelings that I did about Sam in any other book (or even film.) He was a very unique character and I feel like any other zombie I read about now will pale in comparison. I liked that even though I really REALLY wanted him to be able to turn back into a normal human being, he struggled with controlling himself and ultimately died. Even though I was reading through my tears when they were leaving the apartment, I still appreciated that Ann Christy could create a character (who didn't even talk well) that I was crying this much over. Also- Emily was incredibly realistic. From her feeling bad about killing the pigeons to just thoughts she had, I was constantly placing myself in her shoes. I feel like she was a realistic look into what it would be like if you were put into her place.
I really applaud Ann Christy for creating a story that was so honest and heartbreaking that I cried at least 8-9 times during it. The characters were very dynamic, even if one was a zombie who couldn't talk very well. I think the whole concept of sending Sam to find Emily was one I had never even imagine could happen. And of course, being able to make me sick to my stomach once they got to the apartments or when Emily had to take care of the child biting Sam. It takes a really talented writer to make me feel hope, dread, fear, and complete and utter shock/sadness in just one book with so few characters. I would kill to be able to chat with Ann about this book, because I just can't stop thinking about it.
I will make one note that the only problem I had with it were a few grammatical or textual mistakes. Some of the sentences seemed like they needed to be polished just a tiny tiny bit, but I don't think it is worth taking away a whole star for. I only give 5/5 stars to books that completely wreck my emotions/make me view the world in a different way. This did both of those things, and I really have had a hard time starting a new book because I am still stuck thinking about The In-Betweener.
Thank you, Ann Christy, for giving us this amazing book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2015
Emily is a nineteen year old who has holed up in a secure location on the edge of the city. Thankfully, she is safe here, though her life hasn't always been that way. Two years after the beginning of the zombie apocalypse, she’s had to shrug off her old life as a teenager and learn survival skills in these turbulent times, being forced to grow up quick.
Emily witnessed the beginnings of the zombie outbreak and what caused it. We explore the catalyst of this through flashbacks, Emily’s personal connections to it and how it changed the world for the worse. It created the undead but it also created the in-betweeners, zombies who are alive but not quite dead either. And Emily meets one unusual in-betweener in particular and she is compelled to go outside her comfortable safety zone on an important mission as a result.
Emily is a fully developed character who, as learn more about her history, has learned to deal with the rigors of her daily life with the zombies. The tragedy of her story as well as the traumas she endures over time, reverberates throughout her tale and helping mature her into the young but seasoned survivor she is today. Her careful and methodical reasoning, such as how to deal with zombies at her fence, resonates plausibly, showing much creative forethought by the author as to how to succeed at this.
The story of the zombies is a fascinating one and its origins are very believable and scary in their development. Rooted in benign intentions, the origin of this problem and its impact on society at large is well thought out and intriguing, becoming a background character in its own right, strongly influencing the story while demonstrating the deleterious effects on Emily over the course of her life.
Taken together, these two story tracks parallel each other, one in the present and the other in the past, as Emily decides how to go about her mission. We come to empathize more with her as she grows up while demonstrating resourcefulness and intelligence. I was completely immersed in the story, enveloped by the rich characterization, wanting Emily to conquer every adversity she faced and on the edge of my seat when the story hits a suspenseful high gear.
This is a slightly different spin on the zombie genre especially in its emergence of the apocalypse, one that I enjoyed immensely. Not your typically violent sort of zombie story readers might be used to but thoughtful and captivating all the same. Filled with imaginative ideas and detailed description, I eagerly await parts two and three to be published, as the perilous and surprising ending left me, ahem, dying to know more.
Please note that I was given an Advanced Readers Copy of this eBook. A favorable review was never expected or asked for.
Emily witnessed the beginnings of the zombie outbreak and what caused it. We explore the catalyst of this through flashbacks, Emily’s personal connections to it and how it changed the world for the worse. It created the undead but it also created the in-betweeners, zombies who are alive but not quite dead either. And Emily meets one unusual in-betweener in particular and she is compelled to go outside her comfortable safety zone on an important mission as a result.
Emily is a fully developed character who, as learn more about her history, has learned to deal with the rigors of her daily life with the zombies. The tragedy of her story as well as the traumas she endures over time, reverberates throughout her tale and helping mature her into the young but seasoned survivor she is today. Her careful and methodical reasoning, such as how to deal with zombies at her fence, resonates plausibly, showing much creative forethought by the author as to how to succeed at this.
The story of the zombies is a fascinating one and its origins are very believable and scary in their development. Rooted in benign intentions, the origin of this problem and its impact on society at large is well thought out and intriguing, becoming a background character in its own right, strongly influencing the story while demonstrating the deleterious effects on Emily over the course of her life.
Taken together, these two story tracks parallel each other, one in the present and the other in the past, as Emily decides how to go about her mission. We come to empathize more with her as she grows up while demonstrating resourcefulness and intelligence. I was completely immersed in the story, enveloped by the rich characterization, wanting Emily to conquer every adversity she faced and on the edge of my seat when the story hits a suspenseful high gear.
This is a slightly different spin on the zombie genre especially in its emergence of the apocalypse, one that I enjoyed immensely. Not your typically violent sort of zombie story readers might be used to but thoughtful and captivating all the same. Filled with imaginative ideas and detailed description, I eagerly await parts two and three to be published, as the perilous and surprising ending left me, ahem, dying to know more.
Please note that I was given an Advanced Readers Copy of this eBook. A favorable review was never expected or asked for.
January 28, 2015
Let me start off by saying that I am not a typical reader, I don't normally go in for Zombie books as being too unrealistic.
This was a very cool exception. The plot was realistic in that it had a future use of a current technology gone horribly wrong by the mismanagement of humans with some greed thrown in for flavor. This is a plot I can get behind. I am also not the typical YA reader, being closer to the geriatric population than the YA population. The writer, Ann, had some really great observations about what it would be like a few years after an apocalyptic zombie event or any post apocalyptic event. I also liked the lack of gratuitous violence about the book, not the action packed disemboweling that usually takes place, no gore for the sake of gore. The gore (and there was some) was more implied that it took place. She concentrates on the impact for a small group of characters rather than the whole of humanity. Clever use of flashbacks fills in the details nicely without the tediousness of the blow by blow of the actual events. I am more of a fan of after the post apocalyptic events, what happens a few years out- this book doesn't disappoint if that is what you like. There were also some observations about an event that took out most of the mammals. It seems that the author really took some time and thought of a post apocalyptic world. Really pleasantly surprised. I would recommend a read, you will like it.
This was a very cool exception. The plot was realistic in that it had a future use of a current technology gone horribly wrong by the mismanagement of humans with some greed thrown in for flavor. This is a plot I can get behind. I am also not the typical YA reader, being closer to the geriatric population than the YA population. The writer, Ann, had some really great observations about what it would be like a few years after an apocalyptic zombie event or any post apocalyptic event. I also liked the lack of gratuitous violence about the book, not the action packed disemboweling that usually takes place, no gore for the sake of gore. The gore (and there was some) was more implied that it took place. She concentrates on the impact for a small group of characters rather than the whole of humanity. Clever use of flashbacks fills in the details nicely without the tediousness of the blow by blow of the actual events. I am more of a fan of after the post apocalyptic events, what happens a few years out- this book doesn't disappoint if that is what you like. There were also some observations about an event that took out most of the mammals. It seems that the author really took some time and thought of a post apocalyptic world. Really pleasantly surprised. I would recommend a read, you will like it.
December 8, 2015
Okay, so I'm not going to lie. I was super hesitant to go into this because the whole "zombie" thing is just not my cup of tea. I can't stand The Walking Dead and I have this mentality that all zombies will be portrayed in the same sense. WRONG. I. fucking. loved. this.
Instead of the typical virus that gets spread and starts the zombie apocalypse, this apocalypse is started due to nanites. This medically advanced technology was to keep everyone healthy and it has gone awry. Civilization has been broken down into three categories: humans, in-betweeners, and deaders. The story primaily follows a girl named Emily and her day-to-day life; however, we also get a lot of backstory to her and how life was before the apocalypse.
I think the author did a fantastic job at portraying zombies in a different light than the typical zombies we see/read about now. I never, ever thought that I would enjoy a zombie series but I definitely see myself continuing through with the series. I'd rec to anyone who is looking for a quick read and is into zombies! Even if you're not - I'd still give this one a chance if I were you!
Instead of the typical virus that gets spread and starts the zombie apocalypse, this apocalypse is started due to nanites. This medically advanced technology was to keep everyone healthy and it has gone awry. Civilization has been broken down into three categories: humans, in-betweeners, and deaders. The story primaily follows a girl named Emily and her day-to-day life; however, we also get a lot of backstory to her and how life was before the apocalypse.
I think the author did a fantastic job at portraying zombies in a different light than the typical zombies we see/read about now. I never, ever thought that I would enjoy a zombie series but I definitely see myself continuing through with the series. I'd rec to anyone who is looking for a quick read and is into zombies! Even if you're not - I'd still give this one a chance if I were you!
October 19, 2015
Another free Kindle offering, this one I quite liked! I must admit, I was a bit worried at the first chapter. The writing was a bit stilted. It was a 3rd person/present tense (which I don't know that I've read before) and it just read weird. But with the second chapter, we meet Emily, who is our main character, and it switches to her perspective, which flows better. It does still jump around a lot ... in time, and one chapter from another perspective, but it works. Each chapter heading is clearly marked so you, as the reader, know where it is coming from.
It's an interesting, perhaps more realistic look at the zombie apocalypse. Here, we are actually shown how/why it happened (and being no brain surgeon, it seemed pretty believable).
I liked Emily, felt so bad for Sam (and Veronica and the kids). There was some humor, yet it was really a tragic tale. Looks like it continues on, switching to Veronica's perspective. The sequels are part of Kindle's Lending Library, so I'll plan on reading them that way.
It's an interesting, perhaps more realistic look at the zombie apocalypse. Here, we are actually shown how/why it happened (and being no brain surgeon, it seemed pretty believable).
I liked Emily, felt so bad for Sam (and Veronica and the kids). There was some humor, yet it was really a tragic tale. Looks like it continues on, switching to Veronica's perspective. The sequels are part of Kindle's Lending Library, so I'll plan on reading them that way.
August 22, 2018
Great story
She's written another really good book. I was done with zombies for awhile but it was one of hers, so I tried it. She even made me want to read more about zombies, or at least her post apocalyptic survivors.
She gave me a zombie world filled with good characters. Her description of the main character's past was epic. It's done with internal dialogue and memories. Like "The Martian" , just because there's only one person doesn't mean that you can't have dialogue.
It's sad but then a lot of zombie apocalypse stories are. There's a little humor but mostly she puts the horror in perspective. Her descriptive skills are off the charts as you will discover If you try this book. Her characters are always alive even in a zombie world.
She managed to squeeze hope and nobility into this bleak landscape. She's a great writer and if you're not sure you're ready to read a zombie series, that's OK. When you are, this is the one to read. It has the same quality that she brought to everything else she's written.
She's written another really good book. I was done with zombies for awhile but it was one of hers, so I tried it. She even made me want to read more about zombies, or at least her post apocalyptic survivors.
She gave me a zombie world filled with good characters. Her description of the main character's past was epic. It's done with internal dialogue and memories. Like "The Martian" , just because there's only one person doesn't mean that you can't have dialogue.
It's sad but then a lot of zombie apocalypse stories are. There's a little humor but mostly she puts the horror in perspective. Her descriptive skills are off the charts as you will discover If you try this book. Her characters are always alive even in a zombie world.
She managed to squeeze hope and nobility into this bleak landscape. She's a great writer and if you're not sure you're ready to read a zombie series, that's OK. When you are, this is the one to read. It has the same quality that she brought to everything else she's written.
February 15, 2015
Well once again I have split feelings about a book. The In-Betweener is such a fresh, original take on the old zombie myth that I was very interested in finding out more. I immediately found myself drawn to Sam and his little band of hooligans, but was disappointed that we didn't hear more from him for a while. I have to admit I also found myself wishing for more action, this just didn't quite have the pace to keep me reading from start to finish and it's a shortie novel. Most of the story is really the inner dialogue of 18 year old Emily, which grew tiresome at points. Overall, I loved the idea of finding out how people survived after a zombie apocalypse and that we weren't just given a re-write of Walking Dead, but I personally would have been more invested in the story with more action and less angst. Solid 3 stars
**I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions my own and I wasn't otherwise compensated.***
**I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions my own and I wasn't otherwise compensated.***
February 1, 2015
This book...oh my...what can I say? I was totally hooked from page one! Is it a zombie book? Yes it is. Is it your typical zombie book? Hell no! There are even two types of zombies. The deaders who are exactly that, wasted away, just walking mummies. And then there are the In Betweeners. Newly dead with still maybe some spark of humanity left in them? Ann Christy's writing is so powerful that you actually feel sorry for the In Betweener we do get to meet even though he is still trying to eat the main character Emily!
Emily's struggle to stay sane in her lonely, terrifying world is so well done you can feel her every emotion. Pain, fear, heartache, and possibly hope. I don't want to give away too much of this story so just take my advice and buy it! You will not be disappointed. Waiting eagerly for the next in the series!!!
Emily's struggle to stay sane in her lonely, terrifying world is so well done you can feel her every emotion. Pain, fear, heartache, and possibly hope. I don't want to give away too much of this story so just take my advice and buy it! You will not be disappointed. Waiting eagerly for the next in the series!!!
December 6, 2015
GREAT Series!! I didn't know "The Books Of Sam" was a part of this when I opened and read it - my Kindles don't show me what are parts of series, just lists the books - and I errantly loaded SO MANY onto various devises the Library listed as "Devise" have a hard time keeping the lists all loaded.
Absolutely am loving these. Strong characters and a great story-line.
(Still need to get book three and WOW - I will get to find out more of what happened!)
By the way, if you haven't tried it you REALLY do owe it to yourself to read
"Yankari: A Talking Earth Tale"
by Ann Christy - it is a MASTERPIECE - and suitable for children. Listed in Teens and YA.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N...
Absolutely am loving these. Strong characters and a great story-line.
(Still need to get book three and WOW - I will get to find out more of what happened!)
By the way, if you haven't tried it you REALLY do owe it to yourself to read
"Yankari: A Talking Earth Tale"
by Ann Christy - it is a MASTERPIECE - and suitable for children. Listed in Teens and YA.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N...
December 3, 2015
My very first zombie book and it was a winner. It's a very modern take on creating zombies by technology run amok. A story of things meant to benefit humanity being misused and eventually malfunctioning and destroying everything.
The main characters are Emily, Mom and Sam. Sam is a young teacher trying to survive while feeding and protecting four younger children. Mom is military and has survival skills. Emily has survived brain cancer as a young teen and she's sick of dying. You learn to know them well by switching from past to present and back again.
There is a lot of violence and gore in the book which I think is probably common for the destroyers of flesh eaters but it was well written and definitely held my interest to the end.
The main characters are Emily, Mom and Sam. Sam is a young teacher trying to survive while feeding and protecting four younger children. Mom is military and has survival skills. Emily has survived brain cancer as a young teen and she's sick of dying. You learn to know them well by switching from past to present and back again.
There is a lot of violence and gore in the book which I think is probably common for the destroyers of flesh eaters but it was well written and definitely held my interest to the end.
January 31, 2015
The In-Betweener is an intriguing tale. A good writer has the ability to bring us into a story and experience the emotions right along with their characters. Ann Christy succeeded. I found myself drawn in and feeling the dread and loss right along with them, some crying might have been involved. When I finished I found myself lying awake wondering what is going to happen next. I have all kinds of theories now. As any good zombie story, The In-Betweener is a dark tale with much loss. I found it to be a realistic scenario and could see this playing out is the real world.
If you love a good zombie story then this book is for you.
If you love a good zombie story then this book is for you.
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