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The After War #1
The After War
Two years have passed since mankind faced extinction: Two cousins are leaving the protection of their underground bunker for the first time, after a cataclysmic war and unrelenting disease ravaged the earth. On the other side of North America, a young survivalist is leaving the seclusion of his cabin deep in the woods, traveling with his aging canine companion, Winston. For individual reasons, these men are traveling east, where the fragmented lives of a small number of survivors will soon be decided by the choices of a corrupt few. Although they are not yet aware, the strength that resides inside them will soon be tested, and destiny will call for their fates to be forever intertwined.
445 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 20, 2016
1342 people are currently reading
1921 people want to read
About the author
Brandon Zenner
13 books229 followersBrandon Zenner is an American fiction writer and an Amazon best selling author. His short fiction has been published in both print and online publications, the first being submitted when he was 19 years old. THE EXPERIMENT OF DREAMS, his debut thriller, has reached Amazon's best seller list many times. His second novel, WHISKEY DEVILS, was a winner in the Global Ebook Awards. THE AFTER WAR, a post-apocalyptic thriller, was a semi finalist in the BookLife Prize in Fiction, a contest run by Publishers Weekly. His genres of choice are thrillers, crime, dystopian, and science fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
October 4, 2017
Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'm a sucker for post-apocalyptic novels. I'm also a supporter of indy publishing, so Brandon Zenner's book "The After War" piqued my interest on NetGalley, and I was eager to read it. Unfortunately, the book did not live up to my expectations.
The book is split into two distinct parts, and I understand that it was published as two separate books. The premise of Part I is interesting in a standard post-apocalyptic way -- the action follows two different POVs comprised of young, athletic, male survivors the American apocalypse. There was a war of some kind, AND a simultaneous plague -- we're not given many details as to who, or how, or why both happened to hit at the exact moment. But it did. Brian and Steve are best friends who, for some reason, are able to ride out the post-apocalyptic plague hellscape in a plush, well-equipped bunker that is somehow financed by their conveniently wealthy uncle, who is an American military general. Simon, the more interesting of the POVs, is the wayward, naturalist son of millionaires who leaves his home -- with a well-stocked van, of course -- and is able to survive in a cabin in the wilds of British Columbia for two years all alone except for his dog, Winston.
The premise may be a little bit cliche, but the book itself is a bit of a page-turner, with short chapters that switch between the POVs as the characters leave their refuges and return to an America mostly empty and blighted by the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (who, later in the book, turn up figuratively in the form of new antagonists for the heroes to vanquish). Simon's journey from Canada back to his home in Alice, State Not Specified, is mirrored by Steven and Brian's cross-country trek to find Steven's girlfriend who is holed up in similar hidden bunker (how did they build these without anyone noticing?) some distance away.
Eventually the POVs cross because that's what you expect in this kind of book, but the second part is a dramatic departure, a military survivalist story centering around new outposts and the last vestiges of society that feels ripped right out of the past two seasons of "The Walking Dead." It's a disappointing, but somehow expected, novelette that I found a lot less compelling than the survival stories.
In the process, Simon's character development does a 180 turning him from a well-meaning, peaceful Buddhist naturalist into a sub-commander of a group of Rangers. One main character disappears midway through the book, shows up briefly, but their plotline isn't resolved until the final pages, and in a very unfulfilling manner. The dialogue is stilted, the characters one dimensional. There isn't a lot of detail that goes into the HOW or the WHY -- things just ARE. The final plot resolution is a bit ridiculous and leaves the possibility for future stories, but frankly, I'm just not interested in reading them.
Oh, there's also a dog. And a group of wandering Buddhist monks. I liked them.
Writing a novel is hard. I give Zenner full credit for doing so. In the postword he says it took him 20 years, and I believe it! I'm sure he's very proud of it, and he should be! If you're looking for an action-filled novel that can be read quickly and doesn't require a whole lot of thought, this is a book for you. There's nothing wrong with that -- this book has quite high ratings on GoodReads! But this book was not for me.
I'm a sucker for post-apocalyptic novels. I'm also a supporter of indy publishing, so Brandon Zenner's book "The After War" piqued my interest on NetGalley, and I was eager to read it. Unfortunately, the book did not live up to my expectations.
The book is split into two distinct parts, and I understand that it was published as two separate books. The premise of Part I is interesting in a standard post-apocalyptic way -- the action follows two different POVs comprised of young, athletic, male survivors the American apocalypse. There was a war of some kind, AND a simultaneous plague -- we're not given many details as to who, or how, or why both happened to hit at the exact moment. But it did. Brian and Steve are best friends who, for some reason, are able to ride out the post-apocalyptic plague hellscape in a plush, well-equipped bunker that is somehow financed by their conveniently wealthy uncle, who is an American military general. Simon, the more interesting of the POVs, is the wayward, naturalist son of millionaires who leaves his home -- with a well-stocked van, of course -- and is able to survive in a cabin in the wilds of British Columbia for two years all alone except for his dog, Winston.
The premise may be a little bit cliche, but the book itself is a bit of a page-turner, with short chapters that switch between the POVs as the characters leave their refuges and return to an America mostly empty and blighted by the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (who, later in the book, turn up figuratively in the form of new antagonists for the heroes to vanquish). Simon's journey from Canada back to his home in Alice, State Not Specified, is mirrored by Steven and Brian's cross-country trek to find Steven's girlfriend who is holed up in similar hidden bunker (how did they build these without anyone noticing?) some distance away.
Eventually the POVs cross because that's what you expect in this kind of book, but the second part is a dramatic departure, a military survivalist story centering around new outposts and the last vestiges of society that feels ripped right out of the past two seasons of "The Walking Dead." It's a disappointing, but somehow expected, novelette that I found a lot less compelling than the survival stories.
In the process, Simon's character development does a 180 turning him from a well-meaning, peaceful Buddhist naturalist into a sub-commander of a group of Rangers. One main character disappears midway through the book, shows up briefly, but their plotline isn't resolved until the final pages, and in a very unfulfilling manner. The dialogue is stilted, the characters one dimensional. There isn't a lot of detail that goes into the HOW or the WHY -- things just ARE. The final plot resolution is a bit ridiculous and leaves the possibility for future stories, but frankly, I'm just not interested in reading them.
Oh, there's also a dog. And a group of wandering Buddhist monks. I liked them.
Writing a novel is hard. I give Zenner full credit for doing so. In the postword he says it took him 20 years, and I believe it! I'm sure he's very proud of it, and he should be! If you're looking for an action-filled novel that can be read quickly and doesn't require a whole lot of thought, this is a book for you. There's nothing wrong with that -- this book has quite high ratings on GoodReads! But this book was not for me.
January 13, 2018
I received this book from Read for Review in exchange for an honest review.
Wow, what a great apocalyptic novel! I predict this book will become a big hit and would make a great movie.
Two years after a horrible world war and disease have ravaged the world, Brian and Steven emerge from their well-stocked and comfortable bunker. They are on their way to collect Steven's sister, Bethany, from the bunker where she had been staying,in order to meet up with her uncle, General Driscoll. Meanwhile, Simon Kalispell and his dog, Winston, emerge from their secluded cabin in the wilds of Canada in order to make his way home to find his parents, as planned two years prior, before the commencement of the war. Eventually, their paths cross in unexpected ways. The book then goes back in time to explain who each ended up in hiding for two years, telling their back stories.
First of all, I have to say how much I liked Winston, Simon's beloved dog companion.. He was every much as much a character as the humans!
I found the book to be well-written. The story grabbed me from the first page and I could barely put it down. The relationship between Steven and Brian was well-developed. They were complex characters, I thought, and at times it was hard to read about what they were going through. Most parts of the book relating to them was very graphic. Simon was a very solid, spiritual, character, very strong and resourceful.
What happened when they all reached their pre-arranged locations is described in Book Two, and is pretty graphic, and exciting. The other characters in the novel are varied, and not easily forgotten.
Overall, I really really liked this book and recommend it highly, if you enjoy this genre.
Wow, what a great apocalyptic novel! I predict this book will become a big hit and would make a great movie.
Two years after a horrible world war and disease have ravaged the world, Brian and Steven emerge from their well-stocked and comfortable bunker. They are on their way to collect Steven's sister, Bethany, from the bunker where she had been staying,in order to meet up with her uncle, General Driscoll. Meanwhile, Simon Kalispell and his dog, Winston, emerge from their secluded cabin in the wilds of Canada in order to make his way home to find his parents, as planned two years prior, before the commencement of the war. Eventually, their paths cross in unexpected ways. The book then goes back in time to explain who each ended up in hiding for two years, telling their back stories.
First of all, I have to say how much I liked Winston, Simon's beloved dog companion.. He was every much as much a character as the humans!
I found the book to be well-written. The story grabbed me from the first page and I could barely put it down. The relationship between Steven and Brian was well-developed. They were complex characters, I thought, and at times it was hard to read about what they were going through. Most parts of the book relating to them was very graphic. Simon was a very solid, spiritual, character, very strong and resourceful.
What happened when they all reached their pre-arranged locations is described in Book Two, and is pretty graphic, and exciting. The other characters in the novel are varied, and not easily forgotten.
Overall, I really really liked this book and recommend it highly, if you enjoy this genre.
February 1, 2025
Free on Amazon in 2017, when zombies were a big thing. I grabbed it, stuck in on my shelf and never touched it again. I decided to finally give it a try, although I am mostly done with zombies. Expectation: tossing it after 40 pages. I‘m a sucker for apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, you never know…
It turns out that this is not with zombies at all, although the way the story develops is a very strong reminder of The Walking Dead. The story starts with Brian and Steven stuck in a bunker for two years after the apocalypse struck with a global war and a deadly disease infecting the survivors and killing them gruesomely. They finally leave the bunker to reunite with friends surviving in another bunker.
Simone, the other survivor, is hiding away from the world with his dog somewhere in a remote cabin in British Columbia (I think). He finally leaves to find his parents in the East of the US.
They meet survivors, there is violence, destroyed towns and a lot of corpses, etc. Its not bad. Well written. But I am calling it a day after 174 pages (Chapter 25). I am not interested enough in their fates to read another 270 pages. I will check out the last chapters to see who makes it to a HEA of some sort…
Simon‘s playlist:
- Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No. 5
- Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No. 9
It turns out that this is not with zombies at all, although the way the story develops is a very strong reminder of The Walking Dead. The story starts with Brian and Steven stuck in a bunker for two years after the apocalypse struck with a global war and a deadly disease infecting the survivors and killing them gruesomely. They finally leave the bunker to reunite with friends surviving in another bunker.
Simone, the other survivor, is hiding away from the world with his dog somewhere in a remote cabin in British Columbia (I think). He finally leaves to find his parents in the East of the US.
They meet survivors, there is violence, destroyed towns and a lot of corpses, etc. Its not bad. Well written. But I am calling it a day after 174 pages (Chapter 25). I am not interested enough in their fates to read another 270 pages. I will check out the last chapters to see who makes it to a HEA of some sort…
Simon‘s playlist:
- Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No. 5
- Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No. 9
August 27, 2017
If ever there was a book that I would love to see brought to TV or film, this would be it.
I was grabbed from the very beginning. When things started getting interesting with Simon, the story switched to Brian and Steven, and part of me screamed, "No!" Then, it would switch back to Simon when Brian and Steven found themselves in a pickle and I just had to keep on reading. It wasn't confusing the back and forth and instead added to the suspense. I was on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.
I think what I loved most was how all of the characters start out as a part of their own story and as they journey on, their paths cross and the multiple stories become one. It's not an easy task to melt storyline together seamlessly, but Zenner does it well.
I'm also a big fan of a book that emphasizes the bond between a man and his dog. I'm a sucker for pets, I'll admit it, and I was rooting for Simon and Winston to have their happy ending from the very beginning. The relationship between them was exactly what you would expect to find between a man and the dog he has had since a pup. It was wonderful and beautiful. Winston saved Simon in more ways than one.
I enjoyed the concept of this novel as well. The U.S. is at war and intelligence has been leaked that a deadly disease will follow the fighting. Because of this intelligence, some have prepared to hide and wait the 2 years needed fo the disease to die out. What follows the war is just as disastrous as the war itself. Mercenaries, cannibals, and criminals run free, but there is hope in sight because some members of the military have prepared to restore society to its former glory when the time comes.
Like I mentioned before, I hope this becomes a TV series or a movie one day. Chapter 63, the major battle between the band of mercenaries and the people of Alice, was AMAZING! Simon, the peaceful one, became a beast, killing men left and right to save Bethany and Winston. The fight was glorious and I'm not even a fan of action packed scenes.
I do have one complaint, though. Where are all the women???? In the Book of the Unnamed Midwife, there was disease that killed more women than men, but in The After War nothing like that was mentioned. Yet, there are very few women after the war and the disease. So, what happened? Is this some sort of jab that women wouldn't be able to survive a war on American soil or was the disease more devastating to women and I just missed that part?? Speaking from a female perspective (particularly a mother), I'm not exactly battle ready, but I would kill 1000 men if it kept my kids safe and I'm sure there are plenty of women out there who would agree with me here.
I'm glad this was both Part 1 and 2 because when I finished Part 1, I was dying for more. I enjoyed reading the "what if" scenario and following the characters through the aftermath. I loved how all of them end up a part of the same story and this one kept me on the edge of my seat, feverishly flipping pages to find out what happened next.
Great work Zenner!
I was grabbed from the very beginning. When things started getting interesting with Simon, the story switched to Brian and Steven, and part of me screamed, "No!" Then, it would switch back to Simon when Brian and Steven found themselves in a pickle and I just had to keep on reading. It wasn't confusing the back and forth and instead added to the suspense. I was on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.
I think what I loved most was how all of the characters start out as a part of their own story and as they journey on, their paths cross and the multiple stories become one. It's not an easy task to melt storyline together seamlessly, but Zenner does it well.
I'm also a big fan of a book that emphasizes the bond between a man and his dog. I'm a sucker for pets, I'll admit it, and I was rooting for Simon and Winston to have their happy ending from the very beginning. The relationship between them was exactly what you would expect to find between a man and the dog he has had since a pup. It was wonderful and beautiful. Winston saved Simon in more ways than one.
I enjoyed the concept of this novel as well. The U.S. is at war and intelligence has been leaked that a deadly disease will follow the fighting. Because of this intelligence, some have prepared to hide and wait the 2 years needed fo the disease to die out. What follows the war is just as disastrous as the war itself. Mercenaries, cannibals, and criminals run free, but there is hope in sight because some members of the military have prepared to restore society to its former glory when the time comes.
Like I mentioned before, I hope this becomes a TV series or a movie one day. Chapter 63, the major battle between the band of mercenaries and the people of Alice, was AMAZING! Simon, the peaceful one, became a beast, killing men left and right to save Bethany and Winston. The fight was glorious and I'm not even a fan of action packed scenes.
I do have one complaint, though. Where are all the women???? In the Book of the Unnamed Midwife, there was disease that killed more women than men, but in The After War nothing like that was mentioned. Yet, there are very few women after the war and the disease. So, what happened? Is this some sort of jab that women wouldn't be able to survive a war on American soil or was the disease more devastating to women and I just missed that part?? Speaking from a female perspective (particularly a mother), I'm not exactly battle ready, but I would kill 1000 men if it kept my kids safe and I'm sure there are plenty of women out there who would agree with me here.
I'm glad this was both Part 1 and 2 because when I finished Part 1, I was dying for more. I enjoyed reading the "what if" scenario and following the characters through the aftermath. I loved how all of them end up a part of the same story and this one kept me on the edge of my seat, feverishly flipping pages to find out what happened next.
Great work Zenner!
October 21, 2016
The book is a story of strength, determination, and survival. Brian and Steven are cousins on a journey across the desolate land to get to their family. Simon is on his journey alone with only his dog Winston as a companion. All three of these men are facing the horrible world that is now their reality. A terrible war and deadly virus have wiped out most of the worlds population. Brian and Steven are hidden in a bunker for two years, while across the country Simon and his dog are hiding in an old family cabin. Now as the story unfolds all three men are on a journey to get to their families and to the hope of a better future. The journey is lonely and hard and they face many challenges. Finding food, shelter, and staying alive are among the many things these men face. Once they find themselves settled in a new life, a good life, their life is once again threatened by war. Survival becomes the only thing on everyone's mind.
I really liked this book. At times, because it was so long, it seemed to go rather slow, but it gave the story so much life and detail. It was like the reader is in this desolate land and are able to see and feel what these characters are seeing and feeling. Its as if the reader is really there. This story was sad and mysterious. It was a story of hope and determination. It showed the harsh truth of what survival sometimes means. It was written very well with vivid details and masterful storytelling skills. For an end of the world novel it was a great read. I'm not big on these types of books, but I have found that this author can deliver a greatly detailed story that any book reader can appreciate. I certainly enjoyed this book....Stormi
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I really liked this book. At times, because it was so long, it seemed to go rather slow, but it gave the story so much life and detail. It was like the reader is in this desolate land and are able to see and feel what these characters are seeing and feeling. Its as if the reader is really there. This story was sad and mysterious. It was a story of hope and determination. It showed the harsh truth of what survival sometimes means. It was written very well with vivid details and masterful storytelling skills. For an end of the world novel it was a great read. I'm not big on these types of books, but I have found that this author can deliver a greatly detailed story that any book reader can appreciate. I certainly enjoyed this book....Stormi
http://www.boundlessbookreviews.com
https://www.facebook.com/BBReviews
September 4, 2017
A shout out.. I was given a copy of this by netnalley in exchange for an honest review..
I haven't read a post war/apocalyptic sort of book before but wow what a good book!
I'm not even sure what to say to give this book the credit that's due.. I just felt such strong emotions when reading it.. even at the start of the book the power behind the words is unreal!
.. I may have actually cried.. numerous times.. 🙄🙈💜
I haven't read a post war/apocalyptic sort of book before but wow what a good book!
I'm not even sure what to say to give this book the credit that's due.. I just felt such strong emotions when reading it.. even at the start of the book the power behind the words is unreal!
.. I may have actually cried.. numerous times.. 🙄🙈💜
June 11, 2017
I really enjoyed this book, the story was great and the characters were awesome. I think this would make a great television series..Great read!
May 26, 2018
A little forethought into how to survive the apocalypse has paid off for cousins Brian and Steven. Following the firm instructions given to them at the very beginning of a global pandemic, the two young men are now ready are ready to re-emerge back into the land up top. Two years spent in a bunker with only each other was not easy, but the time was not wasted. They are physically strong but are they mentally tough enough to face what the world was become?
Alone with his dog in a remote forest cabin for years since it all went to hell, Simon is finding it hard to leave the safety of his isolated surrounds. The time however has come to find out what has become of his parents who did what they had to do in order to give Simon his best chance – the heart-breaking act of sending their son away.
When not actively reading this novel, I found myself thinking it quite a bit and wondering what everyone was up to, as if all the mayhem and survivalist horror was playing out whilst I wasn’t around. I enjoy reading a fair few pandemic novels (reading ‘sorbet’ away from dark crime) so if the authors are managing to keep their creations active in my mind when my eye is way from the pages, there’s been some solid work put into character development.
THE AFTER WAR I can’t see as being categorized as young adult fiction, but I feel that teenagers were probably the target audience for this work. (Also taking in consideration the lack of page time spent on female characters, possibly it was aimed at the boys?) The book’s plot doesn’t follow an overly complicated arc but this doesn’t necessarily detract; there is lots of action, a good assortment of young folk making tough decisions in a brave new world, redemptive opportunities offered to characters when they fall off the moral path – and a dog. (The staunch and loyal pet is always a welcome addition, though you are scared throughout that the furfriend will come to some horrible end).
A little more attention to editing would have professionalized this book. There’s a few shlocky inclusions such as a mad doctor and gorey scenes of dismemberment that don’t actually achieve in giving to give the novel a more mature tone – quite the opposite – but these are minor pick points.
THE AFTER WAR would translate well to the screen for sure with its punchy action scenes flipping back and forth between the perspectives of survivalist Simon and (mostly later) to the man mountain Brian. The first half of the novel I found to be the more absorbing as Simon and cousins Brian and Steven emerge separately back into what is left of civilization. The “road” chapters are the strength of THE AFTER WAR. It gets a little bit more pedestrian once the three young men are in contact with newly established communities, with all the associated power struggles and politics. It is so difficult to create a new world, fully populate it and evolve it through to a brave new order, all within the confines of just one book and you can see that writers’ conflict in THE AFTER WAR. So much to detail, so little time.
There is a great story here in THE AFTER WAR and hopefully we are seeing the beginning of a brand new series.
Alone with his dog in a remote forest cabin for years since it all went to hell, Simon is finding it hard to leave the safety of his isolated surrounds. The time however has come to find out what has become of his parents who did what they had to do in order to give Simon his best chance – the heart-breaking act of sending their son away.
When not actively reading this novel, I found myself thinking it quite a bit and wondering what everyone was up to, as if all the mayhem and survivalist horror was playing out whilst I wasn’t around. I enjoy reading a fair few pandemic novels (reading ‘sorbet’ away from dark crime) so if the authors are managing to keep their creations active in my mind when my eye is way from the pages, there’s been some solid work put into character development.
THE AFTER WAR I can’t see as being categorized as young adult fiction, but I feel that teenagers were probably the target audience for this work. (Also taking in consideration the lack of page time spent on female characters, possibly it was aimed at the boys?) The book’s plot doesn’t follow an overly complicated arc but this doesn’t necessarily detract; there is lots of action, a good assortment of young folk making tough decisions in a brave new world, redemptive opportunities offered to characters when they fall off the moral path – and a dog. (The staunch and loyal pet is always a welcome addition, though you are scared throughout that the furfriend will come to some horrible end).
A little more attention to editing would have professionalized this book. There’s a few shlocky inclusions such as a mad doctor and gorey scenes of dismemberment that don’t actually achieve in giving to give the novel a more mature tone – quite the opposite – but these are minor pick points.
THE AFTER WAR would translate well to the screen for sure with its punchy action scenes flipping back and forth between the perspectives of survivalist Simon and (mostly later) to the man mountain Brian. The first half of the novel I found to be the more absorbing as Simon and cousins Brian and Steven emerge separately back into what is left of civilization. The “road” chapters are the strength of THE AFTER WAR. It gets a little bit more pedestrian once the three young men are in contact with newly established communities, with all the associated power struggles and politics. It is so difficult to create a new world, fully populate it and evolve it through to a brave new order, all within the confines of just one book and you can see that writers’ conflict in THE AFTER WAR. So much to detail, so little time.
There is a great story here in THE AFTER WAR and hopefully we are seeing the beginning of a brand new series.
February 14, 2018
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!
I just cannot get into this book. It is sorta supposed the end of times,as we know it with only a few people left on earth. Somet hung happened to wipe out the population but it never really gives any background on what happens even though you are dying to know!! One guy is rich and his parents had warning of what was to come so they sent him to live in the middle of the Canadian wilderness, alone, for 2 years or until he felt like it was safe. Two other guys live in an under ground bunker for 2 years and one of them seems like he has some issues with mental stability. The whole thing is kinda unbelievable and by kinda I mean way unbelievable.
I'm sorry, I could not even finish this book and I tried to read it several times. It absolutely bored me to tears and did not ever catch my interest. There is no suspence and just no action. Just NO!!
I just cannot get into this book. It is sorta supposed the end of times,as we know it with only a few people left on earth. Somet hung happened to wipe out the population but it never really gives any background on what happens even though you are dying to know!! One guy is rich and his parents had warning of what was to come so they sent him to live in the middle of the Canadian wilderness, alone, for 2 years or until he felt like it was safe. Two other guys live in an under ground bunker for 2 years and one of them seems like he has some issues with mental stability. The whole thing is kinda unbelievable and by kinda I mean way unbelievable.
I'm sorry, I could not even finish this book and I tried to read it several times. It absolutely bored me to tears and did not ever catch my interest. There is no suspence and just no action. Just NO!!
December 26, 2019
Perfect for dystopian fans
Cousins Brian and Steven are leaving their bunker in Nelson after spending the last two years underground. They have to finish the task they had promised their Uncle Al they would take care of. They’d have to get Steven’s sister Bethany, her husband and two sons from Aurora and meet their Uncle.
At the same time in the woods of British Columbia, Simon Kalispell is eager to leave his life of solitude behind after being holed up in his cabin for two years with his dog Winston.
Told from a third-person perspective, the story follows the main characters as they navigate harsh terrains in this interesting dystopian novel. Would recommend.
Cousins Brian and Steven are leaving their bunker in Nelson after spending the last two years underground. They have to finish the task they had promised their Uncle Al they would take care of. They’d have to get Steven’s sister Bethany, her husband and two sons from Aurora and meet their Uncle.
At the same time in the woods of British Columbia, Simon Kalispell is eager to leave his life of solitude behind after being holed up in his cabin for two years with his dog Winston.
Told from a third-person perspective, the story follows the main characters as they navigate harsh terrains in this interesting dystopian novel. Would recommend.
June 18, 2019
The After War Box Set: Books 1 and 2 of the Post-Apocalyptic, Dystopian Series by Brandon Zenner: I just finished Book 1 Wow just WOW get ready to lose some sleep...it's totally worth every lost Zzzz. Brandon Zenner is an author to watch, outstanding writing, interesting characters, some we love and some we love to hate. Dark, twisted and oh so un-putdownable! Highly Recommend 5 Stars!
October 20, 2016
***This book was reviewed for the San Francisco Book Review***
Zenner's The After War is a fierce post-apocalyptic story of war and loss, of nature's vengeance, of survival in the face of overwhelming odds. As humanity begins to wage World War III upon itself the very planet decides to wage its own war against the species that has become a global parasite. We are due another slate-wiper virus, a disease so virulent, and so hardy, that it decimates the majority of the population. In a time of fast global travel, what once may have been isolated to a region, or continent, can spread with ease across the entire planet. Zenner has woven a gritty narrative of a future all too terrifyingly possible for us.
The first part of the story follows Simon Kalispell and Winston, and Brian and Steven Driscoll in turn. They have all been safely sequestered away by family- Simon in a remote cabin, and the Driscolls in an underground bunker. We follow each as they begin to emerge from their havens some two years after war and nature have torn civilisation asunder. Each has a plan to reunite with family and they set out on the long road to reach the meeting places.
What they find after emerging is beyond anything they might have imagined. Humanity has very little claim to that title any longer. Those pockets of humans still alive are few and far between. Either out of desperation, or in the spirit of taking complete advantage of the conditions, many people have turned to indulging their darker sides. Slavery, murder of helpless captives, rape, cannibalism. All that and more has become commonplace. It's under such conditions that our protagonists must navigate. We are also treated to reminisces of the past long before, and directly leading up to the war. Not all who start this journey are destined to complete it.
The second half of the book shifts tone and focus. We still get perspective from Simon, Winston, and the Driscolls, but it becomes more sharply focused. No longer about surviving a journey, now it's about surviving amidst the remaining humans. They've found places they can tentatively call home. Now they are being called upon to defend it against rot from the inside and the out. This section, more than even the last, shows the depths to which humanity can sink.
I couldn't put this book down, even when I knew I reallllyyy needed to be getting to bed. Sleep is good, but books are better. It's easy to become attached to these characters. I was biting my nails at points, hoping everyone was going to survive the scene, or the chapter. Heck, sometimes just to the end of the paragraph. I really hope a sequel to The After War might be in the future at some point. I'd love to see how humanity, and Simon and Winston in particular, recovers.
My favourite storyline is Simon's, throughout both the first and second parts. I liked the meditation and metta-meditation lessons woven throughout his narrative. Simon, and his past, resonated with me. He's a person I'd like to meet here, now, in this time.
Zenner did a great job of bringing the terror of a pandemic to full life. This virus, though unnamed, seems the nasty older brother to Ebola Zaire, and that's saying something. E. Zaire is one scary customer. I find stories like this, involving slate-wiper viruses. They're like reset buttons, these virii, allowing a chance for the land to heal from humanity's predations.
Zenner's The After War is a fierce post-apocalyptic story of war and loss, of nature's vengeance, of survival in the face of overwhelming odds. As humanity begins to wage World War III upon itself the very planet decides to wage its own war against the species that has become a global parasite. We are due another slate-wiper virus, a disease so virulent, and so hardy, that it decimates the majority of the population. In a time of fast global travel, what once may have been isolated to a region, or continent, can spread with ease across the entire planet. Zenner has woven a gritty narrative of a future all too terrifyingly possible for us.
The first part of the story follows Simon Kalispell and Winston, and Brian and Steven Driscoll in turn. They have all been safely sequestered away by family- Simon in a remote cabin, and the Driscolls in an underground bunker. We follow each as they begin to emerge from their havens some two years after war and nature have torn civilisation asunder. Each has a plan to reunite with family and they set out on the long road to reach the meeting places.
What they find after emerging is beyond anything they might have imagined. Humanity has very little claim to that title any longer. Those pockets of humans still alive are few and far between. Either out of desperation, or in the spirit of taking complete advantage of the conditions, many people have turned to indulging their darker sides. Slavery, murder of helpless captives, rape, cannibalism. All that and more has become commonplace. It's under such conditions that our protagonists must navigate. We are also treated to reminisces of the past long before, and directly leading up to the war. Not all who start this journey are destined to complete it.
The second half of the book shifts tone and focus. We still get perspective from Simon, Winston, and the Driscolls, but it becomes more sharply focused. No longer about surviving a journey, now it's about surviving amidst the remaining humans. They've found places they can tentatively call home. Now they are being called upon to defend it against rot from the inside and the out. This section, more than even the last, shows the depths to which humanity can sink.
I couldn't put this book down, even when I knew I reallllyyy needed to be getting to bed. Sleep is good, but books are better. It's easy to become attached to these characters. I was biting my nails at points, hoping everyone was going to survive the scene, or the chapter. Heck, sometimes just to the end of the paragraph. I really hope a sequel to The After War might be in the future at some point. I'd love to see how humanity, and Simon and Winston in particular, recovers.
My favourite storyline is Simon's, throughout both the first and second parts. I liked the meditation and metta-meditation lessons woven throughout his narrative. Simon, and his past, resonated with me. He's a person I'd like to meet here, now, in this time.
Zenner did a great job of bringing the terror of a pandemic to full life. This virus, though unnamed, seems the nasty older brother to Ebola Zaire, and that's saying something. E. Zaire is one scary customer. I find stories like this, involving slate-wiper viruses. They're like reset buttons, these virii, allowing a chance for the land to heal from humanity's predations.
Read
October 19, 2017Received this book from Netgalley.
Stopped at 7%.
Read some bad reviews and became bored with the story. Slightly my fault for picking a book with no real story of the ‘War’, but Hey! You win some you lose some.
Stopped at 7%.
Read some bad reviews and became bored with the story. Slightly my fault for picking a book with no real story of the ‘War’, but Hey! You win some you lose some.
August 28, 2018
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: The After War
Author: Brandon Zenner
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 18
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 10/10
Of the 18 readers:
18 would read another book by this author.
18 thought the cover was good or excellent.
18 felt it was easy to follow.
18 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
12 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
18 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
18 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘Very fast-paced with tons of suspense. I liked every minute of it.’ Male reader aged43,
‘A very enjoyable story on a number of levels. The author works hard to help the reader to understand the minds of the characters and why they do what they do. The plot is excellent and the ending totally satisfying.’ Female reader, aged 45
‘The author has created a dark, futuristic world for readers to enjoy. The hero is, well, heroic and the adventure is exciting. The characters, although well-developed, do seem a little perfect and I suggest he ‘dirty them up’ a bit. For the most part, a thoroughly entertaining novel.’ Female reader, aged 55
‘A lot of interesting ideas in this story. A complicated read with a large number of plots and characters. I enjoyed it very much, but I had to work. But I don’t mind that. Good to read an author who is not dumbing everything down.’ Female reader, aged 51
‘Enjoyed it a lot. I will be looking for the next.’ Male reader, aged 28
‘This is a thoroughly gripping post-apocalyptic adventure. Dark where it needs to be, this will fulfill the needs of any Hunger Games fans. But this is even darker!’ Male reader, aged 18
To Sum It Up:
‘Dark, gripping and thoroughly entertaining. A Silver Medal Winner and highly recommended,’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: The After War
Author: Brandon Zenner
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 18
Stats
Editing: 9/10
Writing Style: 9/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 10/10
Of the 18 readers:
18 would read another book by this author.
18 thought the cover was good or excellent.
18 felt it was easy to follow.
18 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
12 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
18 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
18 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
‘Very fast-paced with tons of suspense. I liked every minute of it.’ Male reader aged43,
‘A very enjoyable story on a number of levels. The author works hard to help the reader to understand the minds of the characters and why they do what they do. The plot is excellent and the ending totally satisfying.’ Female reader, aged 45
‘The author has created a dark, futuristic world for readers to enjoy. The hero is, well, heroic and the adventure is exciting. The characters, although well-developed, do seem a little perfect and I suggest he ‘dirty them up’ a bit. For the most part, a thoroughly entertaining novel.’ Female reader, aged 55
‘A lot of interesting ideas in this story. A complicated read with a large number of plots and characters. I enjoyed it very much, but I had to work. But I don’t mind that. Good to read an author who is not dumbing everything down.’ Female reader, aged 51
‘Enjoyed it a lot. I will be looking for the next.’ Male reader, aged 28
‘This is a thoroughly gripping post-apocalyptic adventure. Dark where it needs to be, this will fulfill the needs of any Hunger Games fans. But this is even darker!’ Male reader, aged 18
To Sum It Up:
‘Dark, gripping and thoroughly entertaining. A Silver Medal Winner and highly recommended,’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
October 11, 2017
The After War is a story about three characters, who two years after a massive war and subsequent fall out (which incidentally we don't really get told much about) come out of their safe, stock filled bunkers/homes/bases? to find friends and family members. This post-apocalyptic story is initially split in two, switching from one POV to another with each chapter, as we follow Brian and Steve on there expedition and then switch over to Simon, and his pet dog, on his. And I did like this set up and format.
But for me I found this story a little slow, especially at the beginning, and disappointing. I never really got into it. Didn't seem to be anything new and it all seemed a bit samey. Done before. I think a big problem for me, with reflection, was that I didn't like or connect with any of the characters, so even during potential dangerous, tense moments, I wasn't concerned. So here the book fell a little flat for me.
Which is a shame, as before starting this book read lots and lots of glowing reviews.
But for me I found this story a little slow, especially at the beginning, and disappointing. I never really got into it. Didn't seem to be anything new and it all seemed a bit samey. Done before. I think a big problem for me, with reflection, was that I didn't like or connect with any of the characters, so even during potential dangerous, tense moments, I wasn't concerned. So here the book fell a little flat for me.
Which is a shame, as before starting this book read lots and lots of glowing reviews.
June 1, 2018
A great book that i enjoyed reading. This story was well written and the characters are well established in the story, The story has a great plot, action and it is a great post apocalyptic survival story that had me guessing in some things and following the story's path. A must read for any and all book lovers everywhere.
October 26, 2017
I should be banned from reading post-apocalyptic books. While I like them, they usually scare me half to death. I know one of the main reasons why is because when I read them, I usually think “Ok, well this could happen“. Then my imagination goes into overdrive and I end up having nightmares about the book. I do consider that a good thing (well not at the time but afterward). It shows that the author has gotten under my skin and made me think about what I was reading. The After War made me have nightmares. I kept dreaming that I was in Alice and the bad guys carried out the threat that they made to Simon in the cornfield.
The After War starts with Brian and Steven getting ready to emerge from their underground bunker. In the 2 years that they were underground, the world changed. There was a catastrophic war that was accompanied by a disease. Both of those killed off most of the people in America. Brian and Steven were sent to their underground bunker by their Uncle Al, a high-ranking general in the Army. Al knew what was coming and wanted to protect them. They had strict instructions while living in the bunker. The most important one being….do not let anyone in. The other one, they need to leave on or after the date marked off on their calendar. Not before because they could risk the disease still being around. After they leave, they need to find Steven’s sister, Bethany, and then find their way to Uncle Al. Which was easier said than done.
The second major plotline was Simon’s. Simon was the youngest son of a wealthy man. He was sent to Canada, to his parents secluded cabin in the woods, to avoid being drafted into the army. Simon wasn’t an ordinary young man, though. He was a survivalist and knew how to survive off the land and off the grid. Something his parents counted on when they sent him away. He decides to leave when he notices that more and more people were in the woods. So, along with Winston, his dog, he makes the trek back to his parents’ house. Simon is unprepared for what he encounters on the way to his parents’ house. What he sees and what he does changes his life forever. It makes him into the man he becomes in the second half of the book.
I liked Brian. He was the calmer of the duo and he was the one who could talk Steven out of his blind rages. He was cautious and it was him being cautious that saved his and Steven’s butts more than once. I did feel bad when he fought with Steven after the encounter at the house. But he was pushed to his limit because of Steven’s impulsiveness. The guilt he carried after that would have broken a normal man. But he worked through it and became a productive member of the new society. That is until he is called to do something that he never expected.
Steven drove me nuts. Put it this way, he wasn’t a bad guy but he made some pretty bad decisions. And he pulled Brian into those decisions. The fight between him and Brian I saw coming from a mile away. It doesn’t excuse Steven for believing when his saviors told him that Brian left him for dead. He did do the right thing in the end but it didn’t make up for everything he did in-between.
I fell a little in love with Simon. He was a very unconventional character. I liked how the author had him taking survival courses before being sent away. That set the course of his story for me. While hidden away, he lived off the land and he could have continued to do so if he hadn’t have been spooked. He was an asset to Alice when he finally made it there. So when the twist happened in his story, I was surprised. But it had to happen in order for him to meet up with Brian. That’s when I saw a different side of him and loved it!!
The bad guys in The After Wars were evil. I did think that I made a mistake when Karl met up with Nick towards the middle of the book. I thought that Karl wanted to help Alice. But when the depths of Karl’s evilness was revealed, I was surprised. Karl was a bad dude and he surrounded himself with bad dudes. But he also was an enigma and I do wish that more had been written about him. I would have loved to know if the serial killer rumors were true.
The way the book ended was fantastic. Everyone got their due, even Karl. With the author leaving the book on that note, my imagination went wild. All the storylines were wrapped up in a way that satisfied me very much as a reader.
The After Wars is a post-apocalyptic book that is true to its genre. The plots were fantastic. I had no issues believing that America was in a huge war and that a deadly disease was let loose. I loved the characters, good and evil, and thought that they were fleshed out. This is a book that I would read again and would recommend to everyone.
Will I reread: Yes
Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes
Age range: Adult
Why: Violence, language, and sexual situations. There is a scene of attempted rape. Also, a very gruesome scene where a couple of the main characters unknowingly eat a stew made up from human meat.
I would like to thank Brandon Zenner for allowing me to read and review The After Wars.
All opinions stated in this review of The After Wars are mine
I received no compensation for this review
**I received a free copy of this book and volunteered to review it**
The After War starts with Brian and Steven getting ready to emerge from their underground bunker. In the 2 years that they were underground, the world changed. There was a catastrophic war that was accompanied by a disease. Both of those killed off most of the people in America. Brian and Steven were sent to their underground bunker by their Uncle Al, a high-ranking general in the Army. Al knew what was coming and wanted to protect them. They had strict instructions while living in the bunker. The most important one being….do not let anyone in. The other one, they need to leave on or after the date marked off on their calendar. Not before because they could risk the disease still being around. After they leave, they need to find Steven’s sister, Bethany, and then find their way to Uncle Al. Which was easier said than done.
The second major plotline was Simon’s. Simon was the youngest son of a wealthy man. He was sent to Canada, to his parents secluded cabin in the woods, to avoid being drafted into the army. Simon wasn’t an ordinary young man, though. He was a survivalist and knew how to survive off the land and off the grid. Something his parents counted on when they sent him away. He decides to leave when he notices that more and more people were in the woods. So, along with Winston, his dog, he makes the trek back to his parents’ house. Simon is unprepared for what he encounters on the way to his parents’ house. What he sees and what he does changes his life forever. It makes him into the man he becomes in the second half of the book.
I liked Brian. He was the calmer of the duo and he was the one who could talk Steven out of his blind rages. He was cautious and it was him being cautious that saved his and Steven’s butts more than once. I did feel bad when he fought with Steven after the encounter at the house. But he was pushed to his limit because of Steven’s impulsiveness. The guilt he carried after that would have broken a normal man. But he worked through it and became a productive member of the new society. That is until he is called to do something that he never expected.
Steven drove me nuts. Put it this way, he wasn’t a bad guy but he made some pretty bad decisions. And he pulled Brian into those decisions. The fight between him and Brian I saw coming from a mile away. It doesn’t excuse Steven for believing when his saviors told him that Brian left him for dead. He did do the right thing in the end but it didn’t make up for everything he did in-between.
I fell a little in love with Simon. He was a very unconventional character. I liked how the author had him taking survival courses before being sent away. That set the course of his story for me. While hidden away, he lived off the land and he could have continued to do so if he hadn’t have been spooked. He was an asset to Alice when he finally made it there. So when the twist happened in his story, I was surprised. But it had to happen in order for him to meet up with Brian. That’s when I saw a different side of him and loved it!!
The bad guys in The After Wars were evil. I did think that I made a mistake when Karl met up with Nick towards the middle of the book. I thought that Karl wanted to help Alice. But when the depths of Karl’s evilness was revealed, I was surprised. Karl was a bad dude and he surrounded himself with bad dudes. But he also was an enigma and I do wish that more had been written about him. I would have loved to know if the serial killer rumors were true.
The way the book ended was fantastic. Everyone got their due, even Karl. With the author leaving the book on that note, my imagination went wild. All the storylines were wrapped up in a way that satisfied me very much as a reader.
The After Wars is a post-apocalyptic book that is true to its genre. The plots were fantastic. I had no issues believing that America was in a huge war and that a deadly disease was let loose. I loved the characters, good and evil, and thought that they were fleshed out. This is a book that I would read again and would recommend to everyone.
Will I reread: Yes
Will I recommend to family and friends: Yes
Age range: Adult
Why: Violence, language, and sexual situations. There is a scene of attempted rape. Also, a very gruesome scene where a couple of the main characters unknowingly eat a stew made up from human meat.
I would like to thank Brandon Zenner for allowing me to read and review The After Wars.
All opinions stated in this review of The After Wars are mine
I received no compensation for this review
**I received a free copy of this book and volunteered to review it**
Want to read
December 18, 2018The Fussy Librarian
requested by Jerry
requested by Jerry
October 29, 2017
The After War by Brandon Zenner is a two part post-apocalyptic tale and military dystopian survivalist novel. It is recommended for the right reader.
It has been two years since the known world fell apart. We aren't given a whole lot of details but apparently there was a devastating world-wide war and what seems to have been a biological weaponized plague released simultaneously that wiped out most of civilization, leaving just a few hardened survivors. Brian and Steven have been safe and secure for two years in an underground bunker prepared before the war hit. Their Uncle Al, Lieutenant General Albert Driscoll, was privy to inside information and made sure the two young men and Steven’s sister, Bethany, were safe. The cousins were given specific instructions and a map by Uncle Al. They were to leave the bunker after two years, travel to get Bethany, who is secured in another bunker, and then head to Alice, the designated meeting spot.
Simon Kalispell and his dog Winston were able to survive the war and plague by staying in a cabin in British Columbia. Simon has had naturalist/wilderness survival training so he has the knowledge base to endure the two years in the wild. Simon, the son of extremely wealthy parents was sent to the cabin in a well-equipped van to ride out the two years seclusion. Now he is also heading back east to meet his parents at the family mansion.
In the first part, chapters alternate between the actions of two groups, Brian and Steve, and Simon and Winston. The novel follows their treks and travails to get to Alice. Every chapter seems to end in a cliff hanger, which did become tiring after the first few times, but this is the kind of novel that requires you to just roll with it. Part two deals with the organized groups that are remaining and fighting in this now dystopian world.
Reviewing a book like The After War requires me to set aside a few preferences. The main event and the reason you'll be reading this is for the action, narrow escapes, and grim events that will assuredly be occurring. You will have to suspend your disbelief on more than one occasion. It is obvious here that you need to be wealthy or come from a wealthy family in order to survive the end of civilization. Those of you who think this scenario is coming might want to take note and work on your investment portfolios. There isn't great character development here or keen insights into anything. The dialogue is stilted and unnatural.
However, if you choose to read this novel it will be for the action, not the character development, finely drawn plot, or incredible dialogue. Zenner definitely provides the action. This is a perfect airplane book. It will hold your attention but you won't cry if you lose it or misplace it.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of the publisher/author.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2017/1...
It has been two years since the known world fell apart. We aren't given a whole lot of details but apparently there was a devastating world-wide war and what seems to have been a biological weaponized plague released simultaneously that wiped out most of civilization, leaving just a few hardened survivors. Brian and Steven have been safe and secure for two years in an underground bunker prepared before the war hit. Their Uncle Al, Lieutenant General Albert Driscoll, was privy to inside information and made sure the two young men and Steven’s sister, Bethany, were safe. The cousins were given specific instructions and a map by Uncle Al. They were to leave the bunker after two years, travel to get Bethany, who is secured in another bunker, and then head to Alice, the designated meeting spot.
Simon Kalispell and his dog Winston were able to survive the war and plague by staying in a cabin in British Columbia. Simon has had naturalist/wilderness survival training so he has the knowledge base to endure the two years in the wild. Simon, the son of extremely wealthy parents was sent to the cabin in a well-equipped van to ride out the two years seclusion. Now he is also heading back east to meet his parents at the family mansion.
In the first part, chapters alternate between the actions of two groups, Brian and Steve, and Simon and Winston. The novel follows their treks and travails to get to Alice. Every chapter seems to end in a cliff hanger, which did become tiring after the first few times, but this is the kind of novel that requires you to just roll with it. Part two deals with the organized groups that are remaining and fighting in this now dystopian world.
Reviewing a book like The After War requires me to set aside a few preferences. The main event and the reason you'll be reading this is for the action, narrow escapes, and grim events that will assuredly be occurring. You will have to suspend your disbelief on more than one occasion. It is obvious here that you need to be wealthy or come from a wealthy family in order to survive the end of civilization. Those of you who think this scenario is coming might want to take note and work on your investment portfolios. There isn't great character development here or keen insights into anything. The dialogue is stilted and unnatural.
However, if you choose to read this novel it will be for the action, not the character development, finely drawn plot, or incredible dialogue. Zenner definitely provides the action. This is a perfect airplane book. It will hold your attention but you won't cry if you lose it or misplace it.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of the publisher/author.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2017/1...
June 1, 2020
The After War was incredible.
It was quite obvious to me that the author spent well over a decade crafting and perfecting this book. It's the kind of book you only write once in a lifetime.
The characterization was wonderful. The depth and nuance with which they were written was second to none. It was plainly obvious who was narrating at any given time without needing to be told the character's name.
I loved every single one of them, but of course, the loyal and beautiful pup Winston will always be the best boy (please don't kill him later in the series, Brandon!!!).
The prose was stunning. Intricate and full of rich worldbuilding, but never slowing the story down:
QUOTE - Some things can be unseen, but the death of Stanley Jacobs was not one of them. There was no funeral or eulogy given. Stanley Jacobs' corpse was left frozen to the marrow of his bones, deep underground in the bunker, where he would remain forever in darkness.
The plot was everything I wanted. It played out like the best post-apocalyptic movie ever.
The pacing and tension were expertly done, combining heartracing horror with deep breaths of philosophical beauty that everyone could learn from. The whole ride was a rollercoaster in the greatest possible way and the ending didn't let me down.
My favourite part of The After War, was the ingenuity of the plan of action at the end. It was so exciting to read. I didn't predict any of it, yet it remained completely within the realms of possibility.
I have nothing negative to say about this book. I've read other reviewers state their concerns that the plague wasn't more clearly defined. I don't think that fact impacted the book negatively at all. If a plague suddenly ravished the world today, would the survivors all know exactly what it was and where it came from? The not knowing added an extra element of horror, as I believe it would in real life. Besides, the story isn't about the plague, it's about how these wonderful characters overcame it and everything else thrown at them, in a completely believable and heart-wrenching way.
My very favourite quote says all that needs to be said about the importance of the Second Amendment:
"Today - just hours ago," Simon said as everyone found seating around the fire, "we witnessed Nick Byrnes deliver a speech where he announced the greatest threat yet to us all. He took away our means of survival. He took away our weapons. And he did so under the guise of friendship, security and the town's overall advancement. What's scarier yet is the majority of people, our friends, don't see the danger in him stripping us of our power. They applauded Nick's speech and handed over their weapons without the slightest reservation."
My mind will keep going back to this book in time to come, such is the impact it's had on me. I wish there were 10 more books in the series.
It was quite obvious to me that the author spent well over a decade crafting and perfecting this book. It's the kind of book you only write once in a lifetime.
The characterization was wonderful. The depth and nuance with which they were written was second to none. It was plainly obvious who was narrating at any given time without needing to be told the character's name.
I loved every single one of them, but of course, the loyal and beautiful pup Winston will always be the best boy (please don't kill him later in the series, Brandon!!!).
The prose was stunning. Intricate and full of rich worldbuilding, but never slowing the story down:
QUOTE - Some things can be unseen, but the death of Stanley Jacobs was not one of them. There was no funeral or eulogy given. Stanley Jacobs' corpse was left frozen to the marrow of his bones, deep underground in the bunker, where he would remain forever in darkness.
The plot was everything I wanted. It played out like the best post-apocalyptic movie ever.
The pacing and tension were expertly done, combining heartracing horror with deep breaths of philosophical beauty that everyone could learn from. The whole ride was a rollercoaster in the greatest possible way and the ending didn't let me down.
My favourite part of The After War, was the ingenuity of the plan of action at the end. It was so exciting to read. I didn't predict any of it, yet it remained completely within the realms of possibility.
I have nothing negative to say about this book. I've read other reviewers state their concerns that the plague wasn't more clearly defined. I don't think that fact impacted the book negatively at all. If a plague suddenly ravished the world today, would the survivors all know exactly what it was and where it came from? The not knowing added an extra element of horror, as I believe it would in real life. Besides, the story isn't about the plague, it's about how these wonderful characters overcame it and everything else thrown at them, in a completely believable and heart-wrenching way.
My very favourite quote says all that needs to be said about the importance of the Second Amendment:
"Today - just hours ago," Simon said as everyone found seating around the fire, "we witnessed Nick Byrnes deliver a speech where he announced the greatest threat yet to us all. He took away our means of survival. He took away our weapons. And he did so under the guise of friendship, security and the town's overall advancement. What's scarier yet is the majority of people, our friends, don't see the danger in him stripping us of our power. They applauded Nick's speech and handed over their weapons without the slightest reservation."
My mind will keep going back to this book in time to come, such is the impact it's had on me. I wish there were 10 more books in the series.
August 18, 2017
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I love when I dive into a book knowing little to nothing about it only to find myself deeply entangled in the story by the time I've finished.
If you want an endlessly entertaining and thought provoking read then I'd defintely recommend reading The Afer War by Brandon Zenner.
2 years after the earth was ravaged and ruined by a nuclear war and a widespread fatal disease, Steven and Brian are leaving the safety of their underground bunker for the first time.
Meanwhile, Simon and his faithful dog Winston are leaving the comfort of their secluded cabin in the woods.
Both groups are headed east in hopes of reuniting with family..or whatever is left of them.
Small groups of survivors litter their path along the journey. Some are more dangerous than others and many are desperate for resources.
Its a gripping novel about survival in a world where the line between good and evil begins to blur and the morally corrupt have all the advantage.
Things i loved about this book:
- Character development. All of the characters were very well written, even some of the supporting
roles. Through the journey each main character seems to change--subtly at first, then by the end
of the book they seems to have metamorphasized.
- The switching between different protagonist viewpoints and bringing two separate stories
together seamlessly. The story was so well put together! It withheld the holes my nit picking brain
wanted to poke in it, which made it all the more satisfying.
- The descriptive imagery was spot on and not over the top. I can't stand when a story is bogged
down by too much descriptive language. Zenner added just the right amount that allows the
reader to picture each scene vividly while not disruppting the plot line.
- Goin into this book I knew there would be people acting insane in a world with no rules and no
accountability, but the protagonists were just downright evil. It gave me great joy to root for their
demise and kept me on the edge of my seat with every despicable action they made.
It takes a few chapters to get a feel for all the characters, but once you do I'm sure you'll find yourself rooting for them as I did.
In part two it was a bit harder to focus on the shifting narrative due to the addition of more characters but with a little determination and re-reading a page or two I was able to comfortably continue.
I give this nove a 4.5/5. I'd highly recommend to lovers of sci-fi, dystopian, books in a post apocalyptic setting or anyone who loves a well thought out plot with a multitude of great characters.
I love when I dive into a book knowing little to nothing about it only to find myself deeply entangled in the story by the time I've finished.
If you want an endlessly entertaining and thought provoking read then I'd defintely recommend reading The Afer War by Brandon Zenner.
2 years after the earth was ravaged and ruined by a nuclear war and a widespread fatal disease, Steven and Brian are leaving the safety of their underground bunker for the first time.
Meanwhile, Simon and his faithful dog Winston are leaving the comfort of their secluded cabin in the woods.
Both groups are headed east in hopes of reuniting with family..or whatever is left of them.
Small groups of survivors litter their path along the journey. Some are more dangerous than others and many are desperate for resources.
Its a gripping novel about survival in a world where the line between good and evil begins to blur and the morally corrupt have all the advantage.
Things i loved about this book:
- Character development. All of the characters were very well written, even some of the supporting
roles. Through the journey each main character seems to change--subtly at first, then by the end
of the book they seems to have metamorphasized.
- The switching between different protagonist viewpoints and bringing two separate stories
together seamlessly. The story was so well put together! It withheld the holes my nit picking brain
wanted to poke in it, which made it all the more satisfying.
- The descriptive imagery was spot on and not over the top. I can't stand when a story is bogged
down by too much descriptive language. Zenner added just the right amount that allows the
reader to picture each scene vividly while not disruppting the plot line.
- Goin into this book I knew there would be people acting insane in a world with no rules and no
accountability, but the protagonists were just downright evil. It gave me great joy to root for their
demise and kept me on the edge of my seat with every despicable action they made.
It takes a few chapters to get a feel for all the characters, but once you do I'm sure you'll find yourself rooting for them as I did.
In part two it was a bit harder to focus on the shifting narrative due to the addition of more characters but with a little determination and re-reading a page or two I was able to comfortably continue.
I give this nove a 4.5/5. I'd highly recommend to lovers of sci-fi, dystopian, books in a post apocalyptic setting or anyone who loves a well thought out plot with a multitude of great characters.
September 23, 2017
The After War is a two-part book, sold separately on Amazon, but I did get both portions together from NetGalley for an honest review. The book itself reads like either two very short books, or one the length of Stephen King's "The Stand". It doesn't read like the story is rushed, and there is a good balance of backstory and current narration. Character development is minimal but sufficient. Brandon Zenner did a nice job creating a believable scenario, without going overboard on detail or adjectives, something rookie authors often have trouble with. The plot is not a new one, but he adds twists to it that made it a refreshing read for the genre. The story starts two years after a combination nuclear war and superflu wiped out the majority of the human race.
Part one begins with two men leaving an underground shelter they had been locked in for two years. This shelter was built for them by a family member with sufficiently high military clearance to understand the coming global annihilation. Neither of them has any idea of what to expect, and one of them has some dangerous mental and emotional issues. Half a continent away, another man packs up to leave his isolated compound, without any idea of what he will face en-route to his destination, this man having been a naturist and survivalist just previous to the start of the war. The first part of the book focuses on their journey's and the details of a country blasted into oblivion by war. The book's imagery is provocative, if not wholly believable. Truthfully, I am not sure any human who hasn't lived through urban warfare will be able to visualize the described scenes, so it is no slight to the author. Similar to "The Stand" the first half of the book focuses on the journey, and the three separate characters don't even meet until much later in the novel.
Not introducing spoilers gets harder as you continue on in the book. As expected, things start to go wrong for our characters not long after they venture out of their safe zones. Eventually, they do meet up, only for things to wrong again. A good synopsis of life. The only major frustration in this book was a frustration born out of accurately captured human nature and mankind's constant inability to learn from its mistakes. This is a work of fiction, but it is not hard at all to believe that any remnants of societies left after the collapse of modern civilization would behave exactly as detailed in this book. It's a depressing and accurate descriptor of the mind of man. Next time throw in some rainbows and cookies and you might get five stars.
If its your genre read it, if not, give it a try anyway.
Part one begins with two men leaving an underground shelter they had been locked in for two years. This shelter was built for them by a family member with sufficiently high military clearance to understand the coming global annihilation. Neither of them has any idea of what to expect, and one of them has some dangerous mental and emotional issues. Half a continent away, another man packs up to leave his isolated compound, without any idea of what he will face en-route to his destination, this man having been a naturist and survivalist just previous to the start of the war. The first part of the book focuses on their journey's and the details of a country blasted into oblivion by war. The book's imagery is provocative, if not wholly believable. Truthfully, I am not sure any human who hasn't lived through urban warfare will be able to visualize the described scenes, so it is no slight to the author. Similar to "The Stand" the first half of the book focuses on the journey, and the three separate characters don't even meet until much later in the novel.
Not introducing spoilers gets harder as you continue on in the book. As expected, things start to go wrong for our characters not long after they venture out of their safe zones. Eventually, they do meet up, only for things to wrong again. A good synopsis of life. The only major frustration in this book was a frustration born out of accurately captured human nature and mankind's constant inability to learn from its mistakes. This is a work of fiction, but it is not hard at all to believe that any remnants of societies left after the collapse of modern civilization would behave exactly as detailed in this book. It's a depressing and accurate descriptor of the mind of man. Next time throw in some rainbows and cookies and you might get five stars.
If its your genre read it, if not, give it a try anyway.
November 8, 2017
This book is made of two parts. The first part introduces the nuclear war and disease that caused the downfall of the US (and presumably the world). It has the main characters coming out after two years of hiding and trying to get to the east coast to family and safety. The second part details the aftermath, where there is a group of military experts who've been able to reestablish a working town. Things are going well there, until chaos starts.
Brian and Steven are cousins, raised like brothers, who've been hiding out in a completely stocked bunker during the war and disease. Their uncle is a general who knew something bad was coming and had these bunkers built for his family members. The cousins are working their way to Steven's sister Bethany (who is also in a bunker) and then they're going to find the general.
Simon is a rich kid who's a survivalist and knows everything about living off the land. He's got his dog Winston and they've been hiding in his family's vacation cottage in Canada. After two years, Simon is also working his way east to find his parents. At first, their lives are separate, but later in the book, their stories intersect.
The book is nicely written. But we don't get much of a history regarding the downfall of the US. We get vague bombings, with major cities being decimated, and then the disease. Don't know if it's viral or bacterial and how the general was able to know that it would be safe to come out of hiding after two years. Even the characters don't know the origin of the disease, with some saying it's from the Middle East, some saying it came from China. So that part of the story is not explained. But I guess it's because the author is focusing on the aftermath of it all.
When the characters finally get to their destinations, things seems great. Their towns are running smoothly and everything is organized. Society is coming back. I like how the author had Simon, the nature-loving non-fighter, join the Rangers at his town. Their job was mostly scouting and foraging, so it's a less aggressive job than being a soldier. It suited Simon's character.
There's a ton of violence, much of it gruesome. I like to think that after a disaster, most people would stay good and try to help each other, but in post-apocalyptic books like this, there are always plenty of sickos.
Received this ebook from NetGalley.com for review.
Brian and Steven are cousins, raised like brothers, who've been hiding out in a completely stocked bunker during the war and disease. Their uncle is a general who knew something bad was coming and had these bunkers built for his family members. The cousins are working their way to Steven's sister Bethany (who is also in a bunker) and then they're going to find the general.
Simon is a rich kid who's a survivalist and knows everything about living off the land. He's got his dog Winston and they've been hiding in his family's vacation cottage in Canada. After two years, Simon is also working his way east to find his parents. At first, their lives are separate, but later in the book, their stories intersect.
The book is nicely written. But we don't get much of a history regarding the downfall of the US. We get vague bombings, with major cities being decimated, and then the disease. Don't know if it's viral or bacterial and how the general was able to know that it would be safe to come out of hiding after two years. Even the characters don't know the origin of the disease, with some saying it's from the Middle East, some saying it came from China. So that part of the story is not explained. But I guess it's because the author is focusing on the aftermath of it all.
When the characters finally get to their destinations, things seems great. Their towns are running smoothly and everything is organized. Society is coming back. I like how the author had Simon, the nature-loving non-fighter, join the Rangers at his town. Their job was mostly scouting and foraging, so it's a less aggressive job than being a soldier. It suited Simon's character.
There's a ton of violence, much of it gruesome. I like to think that after a disaster, most people would stay good and try to help each other, but in post-apocalyptic books like this, there are always plenty of sickos.
Received this ebook from NetGalley.com for review.
November 19, 2017
Set two years after an apocalyptic disease has wiped out society and much of mankind, we see a new USA. There are pockets of people struggling to survive by whatever means - fair means or foul. We follow Brian and his cousin Steve as they leave their bunker for the first time in two years. They plan to journey east to connect with other family members. At a similar time Simon and his dog Winston leave their cabin in the woods to return to Simon's family home. We follow them as they head into the unknown. What is left of a civilized USA? Are there societies left or just violent gangs?
I like the fact that this book starts two years after the major event. We learn very little about the disease or the break down of society but rather concentrate on what stage society has got to two years later.
Aside from the above, there is very little in this book that I haven't read before in a similar work. People treking through the unknown, marauding violent groups, desolate town, the vestiges of society hanging on in small areas and so on. There was nothing particularly new in the main bulk of the book. There is a big climax at the end which also wasn't that surprising but it worked well within the story.
Having said that the book wasn't particularly original, it was quite well written. Although there are gruesome scenes and plenty of violence I didn't feel that was the main purpose of the book. This wasn't the case of a basic story on which to hang graphic scenes of violence. This was a well structured book with a good plot. The characters develop well as the book progresses and we do get insights into their minds. The large climax scene takes a while to build with plenty of firm footings placed within the plot on which to construct it. There were a few small twists in the end scenes which I didn't forsee which I did appreciate.
As a book of this genre it isn't that original. There isn't a USP - unique selling point. However it is well constructed with a good plot and well developed characters. It is certainly one of the better books I have read of this style. The ending was left open with the option for a sequel. I would be interested in reading the sequel and seeing how the characters develop after this ending.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.
I like the fact that this book starts two years after the major event. We learn very little about the disease or the break down of society but rather concentrate on what stage society has got to two years later.
Aside from the above, there is very little in this book that I haven't read before in a similar work. People treking through the unknown, marauding violent groups, desolate town, the vestiges of society hanging on in small areas and so on. There was nothing particularly new in the main bulk of the book. There is a big climax at the end which also wasn't that surprising but it worked well within the story.
Having said that the book wasn't particularly original, it was quite well written. Although there are gruesome scenes and plenty of violence I didn't feel that was the main purpose of the book. This wasn't the case of a basic story on which to hang graphic scenes of violence. This was a well structured book with a good plot. The characters develop well as the book progresses and we do get insights into their minds. The large climax scene takes a while to build with plenty of firm footings placed within the plot on which to construct it. There were a few small twists in the end scenes which I didn't forsee which I did appreciate.
As a book of this genre it isn't that original. There isn't a USP - unique selling point. However it is well constructed with a good plot and well developed characters. It is certainly one of the better books I have read of this style. The ending was left open with the option for a sequel. I would be interested in reading the sequel and seeing how the characters develop after this ending.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.
October 1, 2020
This story was told from a few different points of perspective but the main character I enjoyed the most was Simon. Simon is a young man who longs to be in the wilderness and someday be a forest ranger. He is in survivalist training and about to graduate from school when he is called away to return home. He comes from an extremely wealthy family who explains to him that we are at war and that he is to go to his uncle's cabin in Nova Scotia and stay there for at least two years so that what is coming will have had time to pass. He leaves with his dog Winston and proceeds to live in isolation, meditating and becoming "one with nature".
The 2nd point of view is from two cousins, Brian and Steven, who have been living in a bunker for the past two years and who have also been told to wait 2 years and to go to a certain town to get their sister and cousin.
Simon heads back to his home only to find that his parents have died and that the town has been designated as the Blue Zone due to its water filtering facility and is run by the military. Brian makes it to his cousins and they proceed to what is now known as the red zone for its access to fuel.
The antagonist in this story is a evil militia style group that terrorizes anyone they come across and they manage to fool the blue zone into allowing them entry as additional reinforcements for their community.
I really enjoyed everything about the book except for the fact that it seemed way to obvious what the Red Hand militia was up to before they were officially invited to come in. I think Simon's character was very unusual as far as this type of book goes, he very much wanted to use non-violence to solve the problems and start the world back on the right foot. I found the fact that he became everything he was against near the end very surprising but quiet satisfying. Looking forward to the next book.
The 2nd point of view is from two cousins, Brian and Steven, who have been living in a bunker for the past two years and who have also been told to wait 2 years and to go to a certain town to get their sister and cousin.
Simon heads back to his home only to find that his parents have died and that the town has been designated as the Blue Zone due to its water filtering facility and is run by the military. Brian makes it to his cousins and they proceed to what is now known as the red zone for its access to fuel.
The antagonist in this story is a evil militia style group that terrorizes anyone they come across and they manage to fool the blue zone into allowing them entry as additional reinforcements for their community.
I really enjoyed everything about the book except for the fact that it seemed way to obvious what the Red Hand militia was up to before they were officially invited to come in. I think Simon's character was very unusual as far as this type of book goes, he very much wanted to use non-violence to solve the problems and start the world back on the right foot. I found the fact that he became everything he was against near the end very surprising but quiet satisfying. Looking forward to the next book.
July 22, 2018
There are good twists in this post apocalyptic suspense. Rating 4.5.
Brian and Steve are best friends/cousins. They have lived together for two years in a well-supplied bunker hoping to survive the plague and chaos that hit America. Steve is a huge ‘bear’ of a fellow who goes in to red rages. He relies strongly on Brian to help him deal with day to day living and navigating when people are around. They were unhappy to leave friends on the surface but they promised to stay hidden for two years and then set out on their goal. They are to travel to collect Steve’s sister, Bethany, from her bunker states away. Then they are to continue east to find Bethany and Steve’s Uncle who was in the military and had some foreknowledge of the troubles to come.
Simon and his dog, Winston, emerge from a secluded cabin in the Canadian woods on the edge of America. They too are headed east to meet up with his wealthy, political family who sent him off shortly before the devastating war began two years earlier. Simon is a skilled naturalist who embraces nonviolence but is also an adept tracker with hidden warrior abilities.
Both character groups (and that includes wonderful Winston) face danger, evil and heart ache as they travel. There are some calm experiences but those don’t last long. Eventually their paths will intersect as they come together in a tense battle to save their communities from a brutal, megalomaniac, evil tyrant.
The first part of the book follows the travelers in alternating chapters fill in their histories as well as their encounters on the journey. The second part shows the communities where they arrive and find a chance at home and future. The writing moves well with good action set with mostly realistic scenes and dialogue. There are some situations which aren't fully believable such as Simon’s successful hunt first time out and Brian and Steve dumping food cans at the edge of their camp and being generally careless in their travels. On the other hand, I really liked the tidbits of natural food spources and cures the author shares through Simon’s character.
All of the main characters are well developed and had me rooting for their success. The chaos, devastation, greed and survival by theft and violence seem all too real and plausible. There are secondary characters in the mercenary tribes who are terrifyingly evil. I was able to guess some of the problems that would be faced but there were some surprise events too. It was a nice change to have a story with real (sadly enough) evil rather than zombies. There is violence and some, but not excessive, foul language.
This is a strong post-apocalyptic/dystopia story that kept my attention from beginning to end. I recommend this to readers who enjoy the genre.
I received this title through NetGalley.
Brian and Steve are best friends/cousins. They have lived together for two years in a well-supplied bunker hoping to survive the plague and chaos that hit America. Steve is a huge ‘bear’ of a fellow who goes in to red rages. He relies strongly on Brian to help him deal with day to day living and navigating when people are around. They were unhappy to leave friends on the surface but they promised to stay hidden for two years and then set out on their goal. They are to travel to collect Steve’s sister, Bethany, from her bunker states away. Then they are to continue east to find Bethany and Steve’s Uncle who was in the military and had some foreknowledge of the troubles to come.
Simon and his dog, Winston, emerge from a secluded cabin in the Canadian woods on the edge of America. They too are headed east to meet up with his wealthy, political family who sent him off shortly before the devastating war began two years earlier. Simon is a skilled naturalist who embraces nonviolence but is also an adept tracker with hidden warrior abilities.
Both character groups (and that includes wonderful Winston) face danger, evil and heart ache as they travel. There are some calm experiences but those don’t last long. Eventually their paths will intersect as they come together in a tense battle to save their communities from a brutal, megalomaniac, evil tyrant.
The first part of the book follows the travelers in alternating chapters fill in their histories as well as their encounters on the journey. The second part shows the communities where they arrive and find a chance at home and future. The writing moves well with good action set with mostly realistic scenes and dialogue. There are some situations which aren't fully believable such as Simon’s successful hunt first time out and Brian and Steve dumping food cans at the edge of their camp and being generally careless in their travels. On the other hand, I really liked the tidbits of natural food spources and cures the author shares through Simon’s character.
All of the main characters are well developed and had me rooting for their success. The chaos, devastation, greed and survival by theft and violence seem all too real and plausible. There are secondary characters in the mercenary tribes who are terrifyingly evil. I was able to guess some of the problems that would be faced but there were some surprise events too. It was a nice change to have a story with real (sadly enough) evil rather than zombies. There is violence and some, but not excessive, foul language.
This is a strong post-apocalyptic/dystopia story that kept my attention from beginning to end. I recommend this to readers who enjoy the genre.
I received this title through NetGalley.
June 29, 2017
Title: The After War - The Complete Novel
Author: Brandon Zenner
Publisher: Brandon Zenner
Published: 10-16-2016
Pages: 451
Genre: Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense
Sub-Genre: Sci Fi & Fantasy
ISBN: 978137062643
ASIN: B01JMS9CA4
Reviewed For NetGalley and Brandon Zenner
Reviewer: DelAnne
Rating: 4.75 Stars
It has been two years since the last war left death and devastation in its wake. Now a group of survivors come together as they search for their loved ones. Hope and prayers that they will find them and a place where society is still intact. Can live through the journey?
A compelling read the pulls you in and refuses to let you go. With a well developed cast of characters The diversity of the main characters and how they come together. My favorite would be Simon's canine companion Winston. He and the human survivors have spent the last two years in isolation to survive the ravages brought by the war and spread of disease.
My rating of "The After War" is 4.75 out of 5 stars.
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JMS9CA4/...
B&N Link: Not Available
GoodReads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
The Reading Room Link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...
Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/DelAnne531/status...
Author: Brandon Zenner
Publisher: Brandon Zenner
Published: 10-16-2016
Pages: 451
Genre: Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense
Sub-Genre: Sci Fi & Fantasy
ISBN: 978137062643
ASIN: B01JMS9CA4
Reviewed For NetGalley and Brandon Zenner
Reviewer: DelAnne
Rating: 4.75 Stars
It has been two years since the last war left death and devastation in its wake. Now a group of survivors come together as they search for their loved ones. Hope and prayers that they will find them and a place where society is still intact. Can live through the journey?
A compelling read the pulls you in and refuses to let you go. With a well developed cast of characters The diversity of the main characters and how they come together. My favorite would be Simon's canine companion Winston. He and the human survivors have spent the last two years in isolation to survive the ravages brought by the war and spread of disease.
My rating of "The After War" is 4.75 out of 5 stars.
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JMS9CA4/...
B&N Link: Not Available
GoodReads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
The Reading Room Link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...
Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/DelAnne531/status...
December 31, 2018
What an incredible story, truly amazing.
At the beginning when there was talking about a disease I was oh not another Zombie story and to my surprise it had nothing to do with zombies, thanks god or thanks to Brandon Zenner the author.
It was 15 hrs 26mins of pure masterpiece, impossible to put down.
Easy 5 stars to the story but the narration was just ok and is getting 3 stars because you could hear the narrator breathing in between sentences which is probably not his fault, in professional studios the microphone separates the readings and the breathing cleaning it up, so my advice to the author is to remake the recording like many other authors who have done just that and have doubled if not more the selling of their audiobooks ( and now when you go their page at Audible you’ll still have the option to get the older or the newer recordings of the same audiobooks, sometimes by different narrators ) and I can name a few of them and their audiobooks.
In all it gets 4 stars because it’s truly a remarkable story which grabs you so powerfully that you stop noticing the not so good narration.
Absolutely full heartedly
recommend this audiobook for
all !!!
I’ve received this audiobook In exchange for an honest review.
At the beginning when there was talking about a disease I was oh not another Zombie story and to my surprise it had nothing to do with zombies, thanks god or thanks to Brandon Zenner the author.
It was 15 hrs 26mins of pure masterpiece, impossible to put down.
Easy 5 stars to the story but the narration was just ok and is getting 3 stars because you could hear the narrator breathing in between sentences which is probably not his fault, in professional studios the microphone separates the readings and the breathing cleaning it up, so my advice to the author is to remake the recording like many other authors who have done just that and have doubled if not more the selling of their audiobooks ( and now when you go their page at Audible you’ll still have the option to get the older or the newer recordings of the same audiobooks, sometimes by different narrators ) and I can name a few of them and their audiobooks.
In all it gets 4 stars because it’s truly a remarkable story which grabs you so powerfully that you stop noticing the not so good narration.
Absolutely full heartedly
recommend this audiobook for
all !!!
I’ve received this audiobook In exchange for an honest review.
August 10, 2021
This book is about a post apocaliptic world. It is scary. VERY scary. It's quite a good story but for me it was just too full of violence. I know that is part of the plot of how our world could be but it's horrific. I wanted to stop reading it but I just couldn't. I had to see it through to the bitter end! I really hope that this book is not prophetic. Doesn't bare thinking about. Sadly if our world was ever in this mess then I think it is highly likely that man will turn against man. VERY scary.
*******************************
Two years have passed since mankind faced extinction: Two cousins are leaving the protection of their underground bunker for the first time, after a cataclysmic war and unrelenting disease ravaged the earth. On the other side of North America, a young survivalist is leaving the seclusion of his cabin deep in the woods, traveling with his aging canine companion, Winston. For individual reasons, these men are traveling east, where the fragmented lives of a small number of survivors will soon be decided by the choices of a corrupt few. Although they are not yet aware, the strength that resides inside them will soon be tested, and destiny will call for their fates to be forever intertwined.
*******************************
Two years have passed since mankind faced extinction: Two cousins are leaving the protection of their underground bunker for the first time, after a cataclysmic war and unrelenting disease ravaged the earth. On the other side of North America, a young survivalist is leaving the seclusion of his cabin deep in the woods, traveling with his aging canine companion, Winston. For individual reasons, these men are traveling east, where the fragmented lives of a small number of survivors will soon be decided by the choices of a corrupt few. Although they are not yet aware, the strength that resides inside them will soon be tested, and destiny will call for their fates to be forever intertwined.
October 19, 2017
I really love how real this book feels - the characters are so realistic, each one different in personality than the others and the plot line feels like yes, this is definitely a possibility if this really did happen to the world. My favourites were definitely Simon and Winston and I'm so glad the author decided to add Winston in, as I don't feel the book would have been the same without him. The only reason I knocked a star off this book is for the fact that although I love the alternate points of view throughout, I didn't connect with Nick at all and therefore didn't feel as much emotion reading his parts in the novel. I don't know if this was purely because he wasn't one of the characters followed right from the start. The only one time I felt anything for him was the last scene he was in, and that was probably more emotion for his partner than him. Although he is an unlikeable character, I don't feel that's the reason I didn't connect, as Steven was unlikeable too, but there was still backstory and a part of his personality that kept you drawn to him.
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