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The End of the World Running Club #2
The End of the World Survivors Club
In THE END OF THE WORLD RUNNING CLUB Edgar Hill ran 550 miles after an apocalypse to try and find his family.He had it easy. This is his wife’s story.Beth Hill has survived the apocalypse with a baby and toddler in tow. And what’s more she’s done it alone - without her husband’s help. He’s never been any help. But when disaster strikes and someone steals her kids, she knows what she has to do. The new world might be very no government, no law, no infrastructure and a whole lot more ocean than there used to be. But one thing hasn’t changed - the lengths a mother will go to save her family...
464 pages, Paperback
First published May 16, 2019
36 people are currently reading
1238 people want to read
About the author
Adrian J. Walker
15 books429 followersAdrian J Walker was born in the bush suburbs of Sydney, Australia in the mid '70s. After his father found a camper van in a ditch, he moved his family back to the UK, where Adrian was raised.
His second novel, The End of the World Running Club, is a post-apocalyptic running fable about hope, love and endurance. It is being published by Del Rey UK, in May 2016.
His third novel, Colours, is the first part in a dystopian sci-fi trilogy and is available now.
His second novel, The End of the World Running Club, is a post-apocalyptic running fable about hope, love and endurance. It is being published by Del Rey UK, in May 2016.
His third novel, Colours, is the first part in a dystopian sci-fi trilogy and is available now.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
August 29, 2019
This book started where the book 1 ended. An apocalypse caused by a viral outbreak forced a husband and wife to separate out.
The husband was left back, and the wife had to travel to another land by sea. Book 1 dealt with the husband's story who was initially whiny and weak but slowly overcame the hurdles and became stronger over the pages. He wanted nothing more but to get to his wife, so he started running.
This book dealt with the wife's story, about how she managed to survive with her kids and an absent husband. When suddenly the kids are taken, and it was up to Beth to get them back.
My first book by Adrian J. Walker, and I was amazed at the swift pace this book moved. It started with a bang and never stopped its flow. Beth's desperation to get to her children caused fear to lodge in my throat. I could only marvel at the author's writing which showed me how a mother clawed and fought against all obstacles to get her children.
Every page felt like a race against time in a world, which seemed harsh and unforgiving, filled with more water than before and a virus deadlier than before. The world building of a different but the same land made me look at the landscapes with a different perspective.
There were moments I had to bite my lips to hold back a gasp. Beth had me firmly on her side, supporting her, egging her on. I so desperately wanted her to find her kids. Emotions were felt solely via Beth, to her as I connected, I fell deeper into the darkness of the story with its deceptive people.
The book felt a bit long and needed to be made edgier. Nonetheless, action was nonstop almost around every corner, though Ed reached her in this book, it was to Beth that my eyes followed.
A different, exciting read, for sure.
The husband was left back, and the wife had to travel to another land by sea. Book 1 dealt with the husband's story who was initially whiny and weak but slowly overcame the hurdles and became stronger over the pages. He wanted nothing more but to get to his wife, so he started running.
This book dealt with the wife's story, about how she managed to survive with her kids and an absent husband. When suddenly the kids are taken, and it was up to Beth to get them back.
My first book by Adrian J. Walker, and I was amazed at the swift pace this book moved. It started with a bang and never stopped its flow. Beth's desperation to get to her children caused fear to lodge in my throat. I could only marvel at the author's writing which showed me how a mother clawed and fought against all obstacles to get her children.
Every page felt like a race against time in a world, which seemed harsh and unforgiving, filled with more water than before and a virus deadlier than before. The world building of a different but the same land made me look at the landscapes with a different perspective.
There were moments I had to bite my lips to hold back a gasp. Beth had me firmly on her side, supporting her, egging her on. I so desperately wanted her to find her kids. Emotions were felt solely via Beth, to her as I connected, I fell deeper into the darkness of the story with its deceptive people.
The book felt a bit long and needed to be made edgier. Nonetheless, action was nonstop almost around every corner, though Ed reached her in this book, it was to Beth that my eyes followed.
A different, exciting read, for sure.
October 7, 2019
I enjoyed the first book in this series (The End of the World Running Club) but this was just awful. Completely unrealistic and unlikeable characters (can the author just not write women?). Completely ridiculous plot. And also featured the line in an argument... "I even let you put your finger up my arse! I fucking hate it when you put your finger up my arse!". Which frankly came completely out of nowhere and was just weird.
September 7, 2023
I didn't enjoy this sequel as much as I did the first book. There was something about Beth that I didn't like.
But overall this was a nice story about two parents doing everything in their power to get back to their kids, in a post apocalyptic world nonetheless. And I was happy with how it all wrapped up.
I'll be definitely on a lookout for future books from this author!
But overall this was a nice story about two parents doing everything in their power to get back to their kids, in a post apocalyptic world nonetheless. And I was happy with how it all wrapped up.
I'll be definitely on a lookout for future books from this author!
September 7, 2019
Following on from The End of the World Running Club (which I haven't read) in which Ed Hill literally runs across the country to get to his wife Beth and their children, this book continues with the story but this time told from Beth's point of view.
Asteroids have hit the Earth and destroyed life as we know it - communication systems have been wiped out, their is no government or law and parts of the Earth are flooded. Beth Hill has managed to survive the apocalypse with a baby and toddler in tow, living in hellish conditions in an evacuation camp, while unbeknownst to her, Ed is doing everything in his power to reach them. As the story opens, she is joining a cruise ship which is taking survivors to Cape Town. Unfortunately, because Ed doesn't have the right papers, he isn't able to join them and they are separated once more.
On the ship, she makes friends with Mary, who helps with childcare when Beth is called upon to use her IT skills to help fix the ship's computer. When disaster strikes, and Beth's children are taken from her, she will do every thing within her power to get them back.
I thoroughly enjoyed this romp which seemed to move from one disaster to the next. As I have said before on here, I do enjoy dystopian fiction. And I also absolutely love a disaster movie. San Andreas, The Day After Tomorrow and Deep Impact are a few of my favourites so this was the absolutely perfect mix for me!
Beth Hill is pretty annoyed at her husband - she is quite used to doing everything herself so when she has to survive an apocalypse and care for her children alone, it comes as no surprise to her. She is amazed however when Ed makes it to the evacuation camp but there is little time for a reunion before they have to leave him behind again.
This is ultimately a tale of friendship, a mother's love and surviving against all the odds. Beth's journey to Florida by sea is helped by various friends she makes along the way. But by no means is the journey straightforward - as well as having to navigate the sea with very primitive navigation equipment, they have a gangster following them because they stole his boat! Beth tells the story and her narration makes me really warm to her - she is funny and honest (especially about parenting) and it is obvious, that her and Ed were not all that happy before the apocalypse happened.
I very much enjoyed this! It was exciting and although I wasn't sure I believed some of the events were plausible, that was OK! I think this would make a great film, one of those movies you watch thinking "This can't get any worse" and then it does. An exciting story set in a different world, one without rules., I'm keen to go back and read the first book now too!
Asteroids have hit the Earth and destroyed life as we know it - communication systems have been wiped out, their is no government or law and parts of the Earth are flooded. Beth Hill has managed to survive the apocalypse with a baby and toddler in tow, living in hellish conditions in an evacuation camp, while unbeknownst to her, Ed is doing everything in his power to reach them. As the story opens, she is joining a cruise ship which is taking survivors to Cape Town. Unfortunately, because Ed doesn't have the right papers, he isn't able to join them and they are separated once more.
On the ship, she makes friends with Mary, who helps with childcare when Beth is called upon to use her IT skills to help fix the ship's computer. When disaster strikes, and Beth's children are taken from her, she will do every thing within her power to get them back.
I thoroughly enjoyed this romp which seemed to move from one disaster to the next. As I have said before on here, I do enjoy dystopian fiction. And I also absolutely love a disaster movie. San Andreas, The Day After Tomorrow and Deep Impact are a few of my favourites so this was the absolutely perfect mix for me!
Beth Hill is pretty annoyed at her husband - she is quite used to doing everything herself so when she has to survive an apocalypse and care for her children alone, it comes as no surprise to her. She is amazed however when Ed makes it to the evacuation camp but there is little time for a reunion before they have to leave him behind again.
This is ultimately a tale of friendship, a mother's love and surviving against all the odds. Beth's journey to Florida by sea is helped by various friends she makes along the way. But by no means is the journey straightforward - as well as having to navigate the sea with very primitive navigation equipment, they have a gangster following them because they stole his boat! Beth tells the story and her narration makes me really warm to her - she is funny and honest (especially about parenting) and it is obvious, that her and Ed were not all that happy before the apocalypse happened.
I very much enjoyed this! It was exciting and although I wasn't sure I believed some of the events were plausible, that was OK! I think this would make a great film, one of those movies you watch thinking "This can't get any worse" and then it does. An exciting story set in a different world, one without rules., I'm keen to go back and read the first book now too!
September 15, 2019
A pretty cool post-apocalyptic book, one my brother lent me as he enjoyed it. Was good to have a different setup than zombies etc, and the premise itself is a good one. However...it does run the rulebook a few times with the atypical encounters along the way. Still, given that it's set in the UK so you have that degree of familiarity and it's unique viewpoint, it's well worth a read.
March 25, 2024
A worthy sequel to Walker's The End of the World Running Club. The first book focused on husband Ed. who need to run over 550 miles to be reunited with his wife Beth after the catastrophic meteor disaster. This book focuses on wife Beth and her tale of trying to reunite her whole family. The tale is well written with a solid plot. My criticism is the the villain in the story keeps popping up like the monster in a bad horror movie over and over again. But overall a good read .
September 6, 2019
Following directly on from ''The End of The World Running Club', which is the story of Ed, a man whose apathy needs an apocalypse to jerk him into the same reality the rest of us inhabit. This time, it is Beth whose story is front and center. As she says, she had to survive the apocalypse with 2 children in tow, no matter how hard he may have found it, it was just the same old , same old to her. When she and Ed are parted right at the beginning, she says -
''But heartbreak wasn't all I felt. I felt relief as well.Relief that I wouldn't have to return to that life with him,full of its frustrations and disappointments.
Relief that I only had to carry two children, not three.''
If you haven't read 'EOTWRC' (to shorten it), it doesn't matter as all you need to know is right there at the beginning. The world has ended, Beth, her children Alice and Arthur, are leaving the shore of Britain for Cape Town,with Ed promising to find them.
'TEOTWSC'(shortening once more) is how Beth refers to herself, offering her persepctive on events that have led this far-Adrian J Walker completely nails the expectations on mum's to have their shit together and when you don't, you can exist either as someone that those who do feel superior to, forever in their shadows, or be your own independent team of one- Beth chooses option 2, rejecting the smugly moral mothers, I think that she and I would get along like a house on fire, speaking as a parent who counts it as a victory to do the school pick up with zero interation .
Leaving behind all they know is absolutely terrifying, and she has the added complications of trying to keep her children alive and safe. But even at the end of the world there are complete tosspots and her attempts to offer her services to fix the boat (why would a woman know software patches *massive eyeroll*)or save her friend from being chucked overboard (seasickness being mistaken for carrying a virus) are swiftly brushed aside.
''People are idiots .Awkward bundles of conflicting desires with a single destination:death.It's no wonder we never got anything done in the days of Kate Winslet.I mean,we thought we did, we thought we've made progress,byt we could have had the internet in the fifteenth century if we'd only stopped drowning witches for a second.''
Have I mentioned how much I love Beth? She may be flawed but her attitude is bloody awesome - her kids and her are the entire world and she will do anything to protect them. Fierce, proud, intelligent and funny, she narrates the post apocalyptic world straight to the reader in a forthright way that keeps you turning the pages(sorry if that sounds obvious, some first person narrators overload you with detail to the point you have to put the book down and have a tea break, a little stroll, a cake and a nap before diving back in again).
Writing from a female perspective is not easy, the shops are full of books where authors of both sexes try, and fail, to nail a female voice but I totally brought Beth's narrative both as a person and as a mother. Adrian J Walker's way of writing makes a 400 plus page novel feel like you breezed through a book half that size, the action moves quickly, the characters are developed at a speed commensurate with being introduced on a boat journey at the end of the world.When the book ends, you cry out a loud 'Awww!' at the universe,getting yourself a quizzical look from the dog lying on your feet, followed by swifty glance at the internet to see if a third book is being planned.
If there is not a third, the two that he has written make great companion pieces,'TEOTWSC' is another brilliant piece of dystopian fiction that doesn't gloss over the very real concerns of the people who have survived an asteroid strike, AND a deadly virus yet are still not safe. Their attempts to get to a place where they can feel safe results in often difficult yet necessary decision making that keeps you on your toes. None of the plot is predictable or boring, it is very realistic whilst having a very human centre in Beth, and her reluctantly added members to her 'Survivor's Club' .Turns out one really is the loneliest number, and by letting some of her more stubborn defences down, she really grows as a person. And do not get in her way when she is trying to get her children back
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys dystopian fiction such as 'The Stand' and 'A Boy And His Dog At The End Of The World'
*As a bonus I learnt some great new swear words that I am looking forward to trying out!*
''But heartbreak wasn't all I felt. I felt relief as well.Relief that I wouldn't have to return to that life with him,full of its frustrations and disappointments.
Relief that I only had to carry two children, not three.''
If you haven't read 'EOTWRC' (to shorten it), it doesn't matter as all you need to know is right there at the beginning. The world has ended, Beth, her children Alice and Arthur, are leaving the shore of Britain for Cape Town,with Ed promising to find them.
'TEOTWSC'(shortening once more) is how Beth refers to herself, offering her persepctive on events that have led this far-Adrian J Walker completely nails the expectations on mum's to have their shit together and when you don't, you can exist either as someone that those who do feel superior to, forever in their shadows, or be your own independent team of one- Beth chooses option 2, rejecting the smugly moral mothers, I think that she and I would get along like a house on fire, speaking as a parent who counts it as a victory to do the school pick up with zero interation .
Leaving behind all they know is absolutely terrifying, and she has the added complications of trying to keep her children alive and safe. But even at the end of the world there are complete tosspots and her attempts to offer her services to fix the boat (why would a woman know software patches *massive eyeroll*)or save her friend from being chucked overboard (seasickness being mistaken for carrying a virus) are swiftly brushed aside.
''People are idiots .Awkward bundles of conflicting desires with a single destination:death.It's no wonder we never got anything done in the days of Kate Winslet.I mean,we thought we did, we thought we've made progress,byt we could have had the internet in the fifteenth century if we'd only stopped drowning witches for a second.''
Have I mentioned how much I love Beth? She may be flawed but her attitude is bloody awesome - her kids and her are the entire world and she will do anything to protect them. Fierce, proud, intelligent and funny, she narrates the post apocalyptic world straight to the reader in a forthright way that keeps you turning the pages(sorry if that sounds obvious, some first person narrators overload you with detail to the point you have to put the book down and have a tea break, a little stroll, a cake and a nap before diving back in again).
Writing from a female perspective is not easy, the shops are full of books where authors of both sexes try, and fail, to nail a female voice but I totally brought Beth's narrative both as a person and as a mother. Adrian J Walker's way of writing makes a 400 plus page novel feel like you breezed through a book half that size, the action moves quickly, the characters are developed at a speed commensurate with being introduced on a boat journey at the end of the world.When the book ends, you cry out a loud 'Awww!' at the universe,getting yourself a quizzical look from the dog lying on your feet, followed by swifty glance at the internet to see if a third book is being planned.
If there is not a third, the two that he has written make great companion pieces,'TEOTWSC' is another brilliant piece of dystopian fiction that doesn't gloss over the very real concerns of the people who have survived an asteroid strike, AND a deadly virus yet are still not safe. Their attempts to get to a place where they can feel safe results in often difficult yet necessary decision making that keeps you on your toes. None of the plot is predictable or boring, it is very realistic whilst having a very human centre in Beth, and her reluctantly added members to her 'Survivor's Club' .Turns out one really is the loneliest number, and by letting some of her more stubborn defences down, she really grows as a person. And do not get in her way when she is trying to get her children back
I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys dystopian fiction such as 'The Stand' and 'A Boy And His Dog At The End Of The World'
*As a bonus I learnt some great new swear words that I am looking forward to trying out!*
March 5, 2020
At times I wished for the end of the world while reading it
Things looked hopeful. An end of days book which wasn't American. Better still the leads were Scottish. This should give the book something a bit different. Well it was different just not in a good way. Beth was a horrible woman who began by hating her kids and being happy to pawn them off to a stranger. Having lost the kids she became Supermum and a right pain in the area pursuing them. The pursuit was a joke and completely unbelievable. Coincidence followed coincidence . The plot was thinner than a post apocalyptic dug and the other characters unbelievable. Bryce was like Hot Shot Hamish , large Highland and not real. I won't be back to see how they cope in the New World
Things looked hopeful. An end of days book which wasn't American. Better still the leads were Scottish. This should give the book something a bit different. Well it was different just not in a good way. Beth was a horrible woman who began by hating her kids and being happy to pawn them off to a stranger. Having lost the kids she became Supermum and a right pain in the area pursuing them. The pursuit was a joke and completely unbelievable. Coincidence followed coincidence . The plot was thinner than a post apocalyptic dug and the other characters unbelievable. Bryce was like Hot Shot Hamish , large Highland and not real. I won't be back to see how they cope in the New World
September 12, 2022
Teetering between 3.5 and 4
A good read that follows Ed's wife after their brief reunion and hasty separation.
I enjoyed the beginning. And I thought the end wrapped up quite nicely. The middle was rather...eh. Definitely had action and interesting components thrown in but it all just didn't come together for me. It seemed like things just happened by chance a bit too often so my absorption fluctuated.
I'd rather have had fewer events/characters and a more focused story that developed some of the side characters more - particularly Mary!
Overall, a solid sequel but not as gripping as the first.
A good read that follows Ed's wife after their brief reunion and hasty separation.
I enjoyed the beginning. And I thought the end wrapped up quite nicely. The middle was rather...eh. Definitely had action and interesting components thrown in but it all just didn't come together for me. It seemed like things just happened by chance a bit too often so my absorption fluctuated.
I'd rather have had fewer events/characters and a more focused story that developed some of the side characters more - particularly Mary!
Overall, a solid sequel but not as gripping as the first.
August 19, 2024
really good follow up to end of the world running club
February 6, 2020
Really good read! I think I enjoyed the first one just a teensy bit more, but there's not much in it.
It's interesting to note though, that I didn't like Beth all that much at all, and I felt the same about Ed in the first book. But that dislike didn't get in the way of enjoying the story at all, and I would very happily read another in the series if Walker ever decided to re-visit it. After all, there's still stories left to tell there...
It's interesting to note though, that I didn't like Beth all that much at all, and I felt the same about Ed in the first book. But that dislike didn't get in the way of enjoying the story at all, and I would very happily read another in the series if Walker ever decided to re-visit it. After all, there's still stories left to tell there...
September 7, 2019
The End of the World Survivors Club managed to explore new areas of a post-apocalyptic world, whilst still mainting the fast pace and anxiety-inducing action of the previous book, as a family tried to reunite against all the odds.
I am, however, feeling a little ambivalent about this book. I have a lot of time for an 'open' ending - although that can be very unsatisfactory, it made the story from the previous book, The End of the World Running Club, a lot more realistic, rather than wrapping everything up with a pretty bow. Apocalypses should not have happy endings, this is something I feel very strongly.
This meant that part of me was constantly rebelling against the story - a bit of "why are we bothering with this", shortly followded by "good, it's about time it was about Beth instead of Ed."
I think that was what sold it for me. Beth and her children were shipped off pretty quickly at the start of the previous book, and the narrative ended up being all about Ed as he became a new man, someone more resilient, harder and someone who was prepared to do whatever it took to get back to his family.
So I was glad that this story was all about Beth. And that she wasn't simpering. In fact, she showed the hardness and determination that Ed had never previously displayed. During their marriage she had felt as though she was caring for three children and, after she and the children had been helicoptered away, she had essentially given him up for dead, meaning that she was more than prepared to just depend on herself.
Unfortunately, it was this attitude that made Beth a very unsympathetic character. She was mean, she was rude, she was arrogant and ungrateful. She was surrounded by people who were willing to risk their lives in order to reunite her with her children, and she was just as willing to risk them. Perhpas I would be more empathetic if I was a mother, and I certainly raged with the injustice of Beth's children being stolen, but still ...
The End of the World Running Club had been all about Ed's development as a person. Finding depths he didn't know he possessed, as well as grit and determination. The End of the World Survivors Club felt more like a story about one family trying to find their children. Beth's growth was a lot more subtle, learning to trust others and learning how to depend on other people - I just didn't feel like it was a lesson that she deserved to learn.
And Tony - the man who had lost everything and was prepared to chase Beth and her crew halfway across the world for revenge? He was both compelling, and the most pantomime of villains, leaving his goons in charge and grandstanding all of his plans.
I love the different ways that the world implodes in an author's imagination when it comes to an apocalyptic setting, but it was perhaps the distance covered in this story that made it feel more far-fetched than the previous book.
I think I need to settle at 3 stars - it was well written, fast paced and exciting. But I finished it relieved that it hadn't drawn out the story any further.
*I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exhange for an honest review*
I am, however, feeling a little ambivalent about this book. I have a lot of time for an 'open' ending - although that can be very unsatisfactory, it made the story from the previous book, The End of the World Running Club, a lot more realistic, rather than wrapping everything up with a pretty bow. Apocalypses should not have happy endings, this is something I feel very strongly.
This meant that part of me was constantly rebelling against the story - a bit of "why are we bothering with this", shortly followded by "good, it's about time it was about Beth instead of Ed."
I think that was what sold it for me. Beth and her children were shipped off pretty quickly at the start of the previous book, and the narrative ended up being all about Ed as he became a new man, someone more resilient, harder and someone who was prepared to do whatever it took to get back to his family.
So I was glad that this story was all about Beth. And that she wasn't simpering. In fact, she showed the hardness and determination that Ed had never previously displayed. During their marriage she had felt as though she was caring for three children and, after she and the children had been helicoptered away, she had essentially given him up for dead, meaning that she was more than prepared to just depend on herself.
Unfortunately, it was this attitude that made Beth a very unsympathetic character. She was mean, she was rude, she was arrogant and ungrateful. She was surrounded by people who were willing to risk their lives in order to reunite her with her children, and she was just as willing to risk them. Perhpas I would be more empathetic if I was a mother, and I certainly raged with the injustice of Beth's children being stolen, but still ...
The End of the World Running Club had been all about Ed's development as a person. Finding depths he didn't know he possessed, as well as grit and determination. The End of the World Survivors Club felt more like a story about one family trying to find their children. Beth's growth was a lot more subtle, learning to trust others and learning how to depend on other people - I just didn't feel like it was a lesson that she deserved to learn.
And Tony - the man who had lost everything and was prepared to chase Beth and her crew halfway across the world for revenge? He was both compelling, and the most pantomime of villains, leaving his goons in charge and grandstanding all of his plans.
I love the different ways that the world implodes in an author's imagination when it comes to an apocalyptic setting, but it was perhaps the distance covered in this story that made it feel more far-fetched than the previous book.
I think I need to settle at 3 stars - it was well written, fast paced and exciting. But I finished it relieved that it hadn't drawn out the story any further.
*I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exhange for an honest review*
October 7, 2020
This book carries straight on from 'The End of The World Running Club' so you really need to read that first. That book was a cracker, was different from other dystopian books I'd read, and the reason I bought this book. However, this one isn't quite as good, perhaps because I was expecting more.
This book is told from the wife's (Beth) point of view whereas the first was told by the husband (Ed), in the immediate aftermath of the apocalypse caused by meteorite strikes.
Although this book starts and continues at a good pace, there is just too much about the book that is unbelievable; there are too many 'if only I hadn't done this, the outcome might have been this' endings to chapters; and the finale was just plain daft. The author thanks his wife in his acknowledgements for helping him to 'brainstorm, (winestorm really)' and I would humbly suggest that too much wine was consumed in the writing of this book. I don't want to list the various unbelievable events, but one that annoyed me was the numerous episodes of various people finding each other amongst the meteorite devastated continents and vast seas without any satellite navigation or instruments.
'I wonder - if we'd gone south, if we'd found a way onto the island, would things have been different?' was how one chapter ended, before we even knew what happened in the next chapter. It kind of spoils the flow of the book. There were many examples of this and I prefer to be surprised in a book rather than be told to be get ready to be surprised.
And the ending just did not make sense. Spoiler alert - our 'heroes' undertook a final day's voyage from a floating island (with no other boats) to an archipelago to reach their destination. When their friends didn't appear a few days later, they decided to swap the boat for a car and some fuel, allegedly to go and find their friends and 'have an adventure'. Unless their car is an aquatic conversion straight from James Bond, I'm not sure how they're going to achieve this - they were only a days voyage away, why not simply sail there? Without knowing if roads are passable and fuel available they decide to take a car to find their friends who were last seen on an island. Pass me that wine you're drinking.
The final confrontation of Beth and Mary was also unsatisfying. Considering that Mary had tried to kill Beth and kidnap her children, why is Beth happy to see Mary just taken away by the sheriff? The only reason I continued to the end was to see what Beth would do to Mary. Come on, you've just told a story involving the most unbelievable things happening, but the end doesn't match the rest of the book and just fizzles out.
If you enjoyed the first book, you'll probably enjoy this. Despite my criticisms, on the whole I did enjoy the book, but was disappointed because I thought it could be better.
This book is told from the wife's (Beth) point of view whereas the first was told by the husband (Ed), in the immediate aftermath of the apocalypse caused by meteorite strikes.
Although this book starts and continues at a good pace, there is just too much about the book that is unbelievable; there are too many 'if only I hadn't done this, the outcome might have been this' endings to chapters; and the finale was just plain daft. The author thanks his wife in his acknowledgements for helping him to 'brainstorm, (winestorm really)' and I would humbly suggest that too much wine was consumed in the writing of this book. I don't want to list the various unbelievable events, but one that annoyed me was the numerous episodes of various people finding each other amongst the meteorite devastated continents and vast seas without any satellite navigation or instruments.
'I wonder - if we'd gone south, if we'd found a way onto the island, would things have been different?' was how one chapter ended, before we even knew what happened in the next chapter. It kind of spoils the flow of the book. There were many examples of this and I prefer to be surprised in a book rather than be told to be get ready to be surprised.
And the ending just did not make sense. Spoiler alert - our 'heroes' undertook a final day's voyage from a floating island (with no other boats) to an archipelago to reach their destination. When their friends didn't appear a few days later, they decided to swap the boat for a car and some fuel, allegedly to go and find their friends and 'have an adventure'. Unless their car is an aquatic conversion straight from James Bond, I'm not sure how they're going to achieve this - they were only a days voyage away, why not simply sail there? Without knowing if roads are passable and fuel available they decide to take a car to find their friends who were last seen on an island. Pass me that wine you're drinking.
The final confrontation of Beth and Mary was also unsatisfying. Considering that Mary had tried to kill Beth and kidnap her children, why is Beth happy to see Mary just taken away by the sheriff? The only reason I continued to the end was to see what Beth would do to Mary. Come on, you've just told a story involving the most unbelievable things happening, but the end doesn't match the rest of the book and just fizzles out.
If you enjoyed the first book, you'll probably enjoy this. Despite my criticisms, on the whole I did enjoy the book, but was disappointed because I thought it could be better.
January 24, 2020
Enthralling!
August 27, 2021
Good series. Wish it would continue!
January 31, 2022
Not my usual kind of read but really enjoyed this... Audio version kept me well distracted while running
December 23, 2021
This is a sequel to The end of the World Running Club and is a great read. If you are a fan of post-apocalyptic books you should love this. Both of these books are available in Irish libraries.
September 12, 2019
The story starts with Beth and her two kids on board the SS Unity, a ship that should take them to a safer place to begin a new life. But disaster strikes and Beth sees herself separated from her kids. And so it starts her adventure to get her family reunited again.
When I jumped to the opportunity to review this book, I thought it was a companion novel to The End of The World Running Club. I thought it took place at the same time, but it was following a different perspective and new challenges. Turns out this book is a sequel set where the first book ended. Throughout the book, it briefly mentions what occurred in the first one, but never in detail. Even though I was able to understand everything, I felt I was missing something. Not just the fact that the apocalypse had already occurred as well as the relationships between the characters. So I highly recommend you to read The End of the World Running Club before jumping into this one.
For most of the time, I was on the edge of my seat. I wanted to see what was going to happen next? Where were they going to? Which challenges were they facing? And I had a blast! For a 450 pages book, let me tell you that it didn't seem that long. The ambience was amazing like I was there with the characters. Breathing in the sea breeze, hearing the waves crashing at the hull, feeling the sun on my skin. The author really creates an astonishing atmosphere for this story which makes it addictive, fascinating, and hypnotic. I never wanted to lift my eyes off the page, and when I did, I was thinking about the next opportunity I would have to be back in the story. And when the tension was building up, stop reading wasn't an option.
However every book has its flaws and The End of the World Survivors Club, it's the side characters. There were moments when the story was so self-centred on Beth that other characters were forgotten and completely disappeared for a few chapters. Usually, this happened when they weren't needed for the story, or nothing was happening to them, but acknowledging their existence would've been great. It was especially strange when there were time jumps, and none of the characters reacted to the absence. At least, you might think to yourself where did this person went or what is he doing. Most of the times, nothing happened, and everything was normal, but it felt odd.
I can't avoid mentioning that the side characters felt more like a plot device rather than characters with personal motivations. The character that stood out to me the most was Maggie. She is presented to us about fifty pages in, and we don't know if she is a villain or a friend, what problem she might create or if she is going to be a great help. Slowly we begin to know her, and the novel keeps developing as normal. But after many more pages with Maggie having little to none existing appearance, she is completely ditched. I never cared much for her, and leaving her behind didn't bother me, what annoyed me was how long it took and for what?? She could have been ditched many pages ago, and making it a big deal. You know, like going out with a BANG. Something memorable. Instead, it was just a flop. The way Maggie was ditched was too quickly and somewhat out of the blue that I kept questioning myself, what was the point??
This was still a great book, and I couldn't recommend it more. The atmosphere was amazing, there was gore, excitement, fear, and overall a captivating story that can keep you up all night reading. Probably, since I was enjoying this book so much, I picked up on those small details that bothered me. I wanted this book to be a new favourite, and it fell short in some ways. But did I still enjoyed this book?? Hell yeah, I did!
So take advantage of the remaining summer weather, get down to the beach or the pool, and read this big boy. If you like stories set at sea, post-apocalyptic tales or any story that can leave you on the edge of your seat, this book is for you.
PS: I also have to mention that Portugal is referred to in this book multiple times which gives it extra points from me. Too bad it actually didn't take place there, otherwise it would have been awesome!
When I jumped to the opportunity to review this book, I thought it was a companion novel to The End of The World Running Club. I thought it took place at the same time, but it was following a different perspective and new challenges. Turns out this book is a sequel set where the first book ended. Throughout the book, it briefly mentions what occurred in the first one, but never in detail. Even though I was able to understand everything, I felt I was missing something. Not just the fact that the apocalypse had already occurred as well as the relationships between the characters. So I highly recommend you to read The End of the World Running Club before jumping into this one.
For most of the time, I was on the edge of my seat. I wanted to see what was going to happen next? Where were they going to? Which challenges were they facing? And I had a blast! For a 450 pages book, let me tell you that it didn't seem that long. The ambience was amazing like I was there with the characters. Breathing in the sea breeze, hearing the waves crashing at the hull, feeling the sun on my skin. The author really creates an astonishing atmosphere for this story which makes it addictive, fascinating, and hypnotic. I never wanted to lift my eyes off the page, and when I did, I was thinking about the next opportunity I would have to be back in the story. And when the tension was building up, stop reading wasn't an option.
However every book has its flaws and The End of the World Survivors Club, it's the side characters. There were moments when the story was so self-centred on Beth that other characters were forgotten and completely disappeared for a few chapters. Usually, this happened when they weren't needed for the story, or nothing was happening to them, but acknowledging their existence would've been great. It was especially strange when there were time jumps, and none of the characters reacted to the absence. At least, you might think to yourself where did this person went or what is he doing. Most of the times, nothing happened, and everything was normal, but it felt odd.
I can't avoid mentioning that the side characters felt more like a plot device rather than characters with personal motivations. The character that stood out to me the most was Maggie. She is presented to us about fifty pages in, and we don't know if she is a villain or a friend, what problem she might create or if she is going to be a great help. Slowly we begin to know her, and the novel keeps developing as normal. But after many more pages with Maggie having little to none existing appearance, she is completely ditched. I never cared much for her, and leaving her behind didn't bother me, what annoyed me was how long it took and for what?? She could have been ditched many pages ago, and making it a big deal. You know, like going out with a BANG. Something memorable. Instead, it was just a flop. The way Maggie was ditched was too quickly and somewhat out of the blue that I kept questioning myself, what was the point??
This was still a great book, and I couldn't recommend it more. The atmosphere was amazing, there was gore, excitement, fear, and overall a captivating story that can keep you up all night reading. Probably, since I was enjoying this book so much, I picked up on those small details that bothered me. I wanted this book to be a new favourite, and it fell short in some ways. But did I still enjoyed this book?? Hell yeah, I did!
So take advantage of the remaining summer weather, get down to the beach or the pool, and read this big boy. If you like stories set at sea, post-apocalyptic tales or any story that can leave you on the edge of your seat, this book is for you.
PS: I also have to mention that Portugal is referred to in this book multiple times which gives it extra points from me. Too bad it actually didn't take place there, otherwise it would have been awesome!
December 31, 2019
This was such a fast paced, race against the clock, pirate type book and I absolutely loved it! I say Pirate but I kind of mean that loosely for me it had a pirate feel to it.
This novel continues the story of The End of The World Running Club although this one now follows Ed's wife Beth as she struggles to basically cross an ocean to reach her children who were taking from her.
I haven't read the first book so I would say you could read this without reading the first but there is references to it, so I am going to go back and read it after loving this one so much.
I was pleasantly surprised when I first started reading this, this being my first Adrian Walker book I have to say it's super fast paced, bursting with high sea chases and you really are whole heartedly routing for Beth the main character it's a fantastic read that really portrays what lengths a mother will go to to reach her children.
The writing really makes you feel the complete desperation of Beth you're so swept up in this harsh world with its fair share of even harsher characters and you along with the main character feel like there is no time to waste every second of this felt like a race against the clock a dangerous journey just a sheer fantastic read one that kept me up reading all night turning the pages desperate to know how it all ends!
This book will sweep you up in it's clutches and not let you go until the last page, if you love an end of the world race against time adventure you'll love this, highly recommend!
Thank you so much to Anne at RandomThingsTours and the publishers for asking me to take part in the blog tour.
This novel continues the story of The End of The World Running Club although this one now follows Ed's wife Beth as she struggles to basically cross an ocean to reach her children who were taking from her.
I haven't read the first book so I would say you could read this without reading the first but there is references to it, so I am going to go back and read it after loving this one so much.
I was pleasantly surprised when I first started reading this, this being my first Adrian Walker book I have to say it's super fast paced, bursting with high sea chases and you really are whole heartedly routing for Beth the main character it's a fantastic read that really portrays what lengths a mother will go to to reach her children.
The writing really makes you feel the complete desperation of Beth you're so swept up in this harsh world with its fair share of even harsher characters and you along with the main character feel like there is no time to waste every second of this felt like a race against the clock a dangerous journey just a sheer fantastic read one that kept me up reading all night turning the pages desperate to know how it all ends!
This book will sweep you up in it's clutches and not let you go until the last page, if you love an end of the world race against time adventure you'll love this, highly recommend!
Thank you so much to Anne at RandomThingsTours and the publishers for asking me to take part in the blog tour.
May 25, 2020
The story was good but rather unbelievable at times. It took me a while, but it did eventually draw me in and once this happened, I finished it very quickly.
The main characters were well developed and I did care about what happened to them. Other characters were faceless for me.
It’s been a while since I read a book like this and the writing quality sometimes distracted me from the story. It was inconsistent though. There were some great bits and some awful bits.
I had to read some bits over and over again to make sense of them and sometimes they did. When we are with the characters below deck in a storm “It whizzed past the glass.” What did? I had to read back several paragraphs to work out it was a hook flying about on deck.
Some of the metaphors just didn’t work for me. Richards hand was on his hip, his elbow was bent like a pair of “garden shears”. Huh?
I loved Beth’s reflections on marriage not being a straight line but “lots of fragments[good and bad] cobbled together” and not “gazing into each other’s eyes” but “looking in the same direction”.
There was some overwriting but also some little gems of description gems “Josh glowered into the sullen sea”.
Sone stuff was just plain unbelievable. Beth wakes up after being in a coma for weeks and immediately starts wandering about meeting people and planning how to get her kids back. Really?
Nevertheless, I enjoyed it. An easy read and a rip-roaring post apocalyptic adventure!
The main characters were well developed and I did care about what happened to them. Other characters were faceless for me.
It’s been a while since I read a book like this and the writing quality sometimes distracted me from the story. It was inconsistent though. There were some great bits and some awful bits.
I had to read some bits over and over again to make sense of them and sometimes they did. When we are with the characters below deck in a storm “It whizzed past the glass.” What did? I had to read back several paragraphs to work out it was a hook flying about on deck.
Some of the metaphors just didn’t work for me. Richards hand was on his hip, his elbow was bent like a pair of “garden shears”. Huh?
I loved Beth’s reflections on marriage not being a straight line but “lots of fragments[good and bad] cobbled together” and not “gazing into each other’s eyes” but “looking in the same direction”.
There was some overwriting but also some little gems of description gems “Josh glowered into the sullen sea”.
Sone stuff was just plain unbelievable. Beth wakes up after being in a coma for weeks and immediately starts wandering about meeting people and planning how to get her kids back. Really?
Nevertheless, I enjoyed it. An easy read and a rip-roaring post apocalyptic adventure!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2021
8This is the second book of a two book series. The first I came to enjoy although the narrator is fairly irritating, although in the end quite self aware. This has a similar protagonist voice although it is Beth not Ed that narrates.
Where is this is a weaker book for me comes down to the plot. It is the same core premise - an arduous, near impossible journey set against a parent that won't give up. This requires a lot more suspension of disbelief though, to the point where it hurts the story.
I'm not a sailor but I think sailing is probably pretty tough to do well. I'd imagine that if you tried to sail across the Atlantic in an unfamiliar ship with barely any experience you would die. The plot also hinges on individuals being able to track ships across the Atlantic with no GPS or other modern gizmos. I think it's pretty big so this seems unlikely. Some of the decisions Beth makes too are pretty crazy and in one instance come with shocking consequences.
The big baddy is a bit crap too. I think I get what the author was trying to do but it feels weirdly unbalanced - you know next to nothing about him.
It's an easy read, and it's fun, but I'm glad there isn't a third so I don't have to decide whether to read it or not.
Where is this is a weaker book for me comes down to the plot. It is the same core premise - an arduous, near impossible journey set against a parent that won't give up. This requires a lot more suspension of disbelief though, to the point where it hurts the story.
I'm not a sailor but I think sailing is probably pretty tough to do well. I'd imagine that if you tried to sail across the Atlantic in an unfamiliar ship with barely any experience you would die. The plot also hinges on individuals being able to track ships across the Atlantic with no GPS or other modern gizmos. I think it's pretty big so this seems unlikely. Some of the decisions Beth makes too are pretty crazy and in one instance come with shocking consequences.
The big baddy is a bit crap too. I think I get what the author was trying to do but it feels weirdly unbalanced - you know next to nothing about him.
It's an easy read, and it's fun, but I'm glad there isn't a third so I don't have to decide whether to read it or not.
July 20, 2022
Even with some flaws I really liked the first book of the The End of the World Running Club, this sequel suffered from the same flaws but started strong and I was enjoying it too, but as more the story progressed things were turning bland, yes there was lot's of action but all taking place in a small boat and sea with events happening very conveniently to fit the plot.
Beth point of view for this book was a nice twist but it stopped there, the dialogues, the other characters, the setting, situations, all very cliched (the Tony Staines sub-plot was a perfect example of this).
Overall entertaining fast action read but no more than 3 stars and only recommended if you enjoyed the first book and don't want to see some closure because the ending leave a door open for a third book, which I'm wary for a even worse book than this and I'll probably skip it.
Beth point of view for this book was a nice twist but it stopped there, the dialogues, the other characters, the setting, situations, all very cliched (the Tony Staines sub-plot was a perfect example of this).
Overall entertaining fast action read but no more than 3 stars and only recommended if you enjoyed the first book and don't want to see some closure because the ending leave a door open for a third book, which I'm wary for a even worse book than this and I'll probably skip it.
January 7, 2020
This novel continues the events of The End of the World Running Club but with a slightly different focus as it follows the challenges that face Beth without her ever distant husband. I found that a very interesting way to continue the story. The descriptions of the challenges in the ever changing world are vivid and absorbing with the perfect mixture of heroes and villains to keep you hooked.
I loved the strong-willed Beth and her determination to keep searching for her children against the constant chaos that keeps thwarting her. It was worth the wait for this sequel!
I received an early copy from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for a review.
I loved the strong-willed Beth and her determination to keep searching for her children against the constant chaos that keeps thwarting her. It was worth the wait for this sequel!
I received an early copy from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for a review.
March 22, 2020
I didn’t like this book. The characters were all incredibly unlikeable and the plot was hanging on by a thread at most times, with the journey all being based on ridiculous coincidence and chances. Not for me, sorry!
September 3, 2019
Picking up pretty much exactly where The End of the World Running Club left off, Survivors details living through the apocalypse from the female perspective this time, following Beth - wife of Ed from the first book. Much like Running Club was less about what it means to survive in a post-apocalyptic world, and more about Ed coming to terms with the fact that he was a pretty terrible husband and father, Survivors Club deals with similar deep, human questions about motherhood, identity and marriage. Against a backdrop of pirates, tsunamis and gunfights.
The strength of Walker's writing is his characterisation. The plot is fairly episodic - moving from one disaster to the next in a vaguely predictable 'everything is safe now, not for long' kind of fashion - and the main bad guy, while believable and well drawn when first introduced, becomes a little pantomime-y towards the end. But, the characters we follow and root for are a delight. From the main character Beth, whose relentlessness in pursuit of her children brings to mind those stories about women lifting cars and performing otherwise impossible feats to get to their kids, to the familiar cast of side characters - mostly familiar faces from Running Club, with some new additions - each is complex, riddled with doubt and struggling with their own demons. The moments of highest drama are not the aforementioned gun fights, but when the characters face off with each other, handing out hard truths.
The vision Walker paints of a post-apocalpytic future is a frightening and believable one. The idea that the monster inside a lot of us is only kept tame by commutes and business suits and reality TV is a common one in post-apocalyptic fiction, but Survivors club takes time to explore the other end of the spectrum as well. The bizarre utopian island that Beth and the others stumble upon was one of my favourite sections of the book - the kind of place I'd like to spend my post-apocalyptic years.
I didn't feel that Running Club particularly needed a sequel, but this is an excellent one. It has the same winning elements of the first book - fast paced adventure, deep characterisation - that leave you frantically turning pages to find out what happens. A really involving and interesting read.
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The strength of Walker's writing is his characterisation. The plot is fairly episodic - moving from one disaster to the next in a vaguely predictable 'everything is safe now, not for long' kind of fashion - and the main bad guy, while believable and well drawn when first introduced, becomes a little pantomime-y towards the end. But, the characters we follow and root for are a delight. From the main character Beth, whose relentlessness in pursuit of her children brings to mind those stories about women lifting cars and performing otherwise impossible feats to get to their kids, to the familiar cast of side characters - mostly familiar faces from Running Club, with some new additions - each is complex, riddled with doubt and struggling with their own demons. The moments of highest drama are not the aforementioned gun fights, but when the characters face off with each other, handing out hard truths.
The vision Walker paints of a post-apocalpytic future is a frightening and believable one. The idea that the monster inside a lot of us is only kept tame by commutes and business suits and reality TV is a common one in post-apocalyptic fiction, but Survivors club takes time to explore the other end of the spectrum as well. The bizarre utopian island that Beth and the others stumble upon was one of my favourite sections of the book - the kind of place I'd like to spend my post-apocalyptic years.
I didn't feel that Running Club particularly needed a sequel, but this is an excellent one. It has the same winning elements of the first book - fast paced adventure, deep characterisation - that leave you frantically turning pages to find out what happens. A really involving and interesting read.
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 7, 2021
The end of the world running club ends with Ed surviving alone. Although he is a changed man on the inside, the story for the other characters did not feel finished. The End of the World Survivors club, picks up while giving us insight into Beth’s story. Remembering where Ed came from and who he was before running 500 miles and breaking inside and out to become someone unafraid and brave enough to try, boating and more.
This book started slow, but picks up and really moves fast. A lot happens in a short amount of time. There are other familiar characters, Bryce is the same and a much needed character. The new characters are great as well. There is some hard scenes to read, what happened to Beths foot, was a needed part of the story as well. Beth love for her children will bring her back together. It is nice to see how Ed has grown, when he arrives in the story it was like a familiar friend had come back, changed and although improved not unscarred (I don’t just mean his lost eye, likely some ptsd and he is worried what he is seeing isn’t real because of what he has imagined) these elements make this unbelievable survival thriller feel real, I really felt for Beth and Ed and was so glad that Bryce also has a happier story. I wish the ending was slower. When the characters get what they have been searching and yearning for, I could have done with maybe and epilogue, although this kind of ending does linger with you, it doesn’t feel over, in fact for our characters it is a new beginning. I certainly enjoyed reading this book.
This book started slow, but picks up and really moves fast. A lot happens in a short amount of time. There are other familiar characters, Bryce is the same and a much needed character. The new characters are great as well. There is some hard scenes to read, what happened to Beths foot, was a needed part of the story as well. Beth love for her children will bring her back together. It is nice to see how Ed has grown, when he arrives in the story it was like a familiar friend had come back, changed and although improved not unscarred (I don’t just mean his lost eye, likely some ptsd and he is worried what he is seeing isn’t real because of what he has imagined) these elements make this unbelievable survival thriller feel real, I really felt for Beth and Ed and was so glad that Bryce also has a happier story. I wish the ending was slower. When the characters get what they have been searching and yearning for, I could have done with maybe and epilogue, although this kind of ending does linger with you, it doesn’t feel over, in fact for our characters it is a new beginning. I certainly enjoyed reading this book.
February 4, 2020
I flew through this book like it was on fire.
I’d read the End of the World Runners club and really enjoyed the sense of urgency and world-building that it brought. When I first picked up this one I didn’t realise it was a follow on and was pleasantly surprised that there was a sequel to The End of the World Runners Club.
This one had very much the same feel. Beth has two children and is suddenly all alone at the end of the world. Herded into camps and onto ships to avoid the apocalypse, Beth juggles her guilt over being relieved her husband isn’t there with the need to help her fellow survivors. Then disaster strikes and her children are taken from her. What follows is one woman’s desperate struggle to get her family back together, braving the elements and the dregs of humanity that are left after the world ends.
It’s a fantastic tale of survival, ingenuity and family and everything in the book was brilliant. I loved Beth’s dogged determination to rescue her children against all odds, I loved her relationship with her fellow survivors and those she meets along the way and I adored the descriptions of how different people come together or tear each other part to survive.
I’d read the End of the World Runners club and really enjoyed the sense of urgency and world-building that it brought. When I first picked up this one I didn’t realise it was a follow on and was pleasantly surprised that there was a sequel to The End of the World Runners Club.
This one had very much the same feel. Beth has two children and is suddenly all alone at the end of the world. Herded into camps and onto ships to avoid the apocalypse, Beth juggles her guilt over being relieved her husband isn’t there with the need to help her fellow survivors. Then disaster strikes and her children are taken from her. What follows is one woman’s desperate struggle to get her family back together, braving the elements and the dregs of humanity that are left after the world ends.
It’s a fantastic tale of survival, ingenuity and family and everything in the book was brilliant. I loved Beth’s dogged determination to rescue her children against all odds, I loved her relationship with her fellow survivors and those she meets along the way and I adored the descriptions of how different people come together or tear each other part to survive.
March 22, 2022
This book is the sequel to The End of the World Running Club. Although it's not essential to read the books in order, as the story would still make sense, some of the characters are the same and it helps to know the backstory a bit.
This story is told from the perspective of Beth, who is Edgar's wife from the first book. She has escaped Britain after a massive asteroid (or meteor?) strike has basically ended civilisation. She has a place on a cruise ship, along with her children, and they are travelling to a safe destination. I won't spoil what happens next.
The book has comedic elements and isn't very serious for an apocalyptic fiction book. This also means it isn't particularly realistic and some of the characters are basically cartoons. Not a bad book though, and worth reading if you liked the first one.
This story is told from the perspective of Beth, who is Edgar's wife from the first book. She has escaped Britain after a massive asteroid (or meteor?) strike has basically ended civilisation. She has a place on a cruise ship, along with her children, and they are travelling to a safe destination. I won't spoil what happens next.
The book has comedic elements and isn't very serious for an apocalyptic fiction book. This also means it isn't particularly realistic and some of the characters are basically cartoons. Not a bad book though, and worth reading if you liked the first one.
August 29, 2022
I've not "actually" finished this yet, but it's so intolerable I think I can safely say that last two hours I'll have to sit through on the audio book will not save it at this stage.
So...imagine you get stuck on the M25 for ten hours on your way to Milton Keynes in a small bus with 8 very unlikable characters and eh voila! This is the book.
On top of some very annoying people, two other huge set backs to this tome is
a) ridiculously convenient coincidences, truly illogical choices, and very flexible physics turning up on every fifth page or so to try and help the plot along (it doesn't, by the sixth cliff hanger I was skipping ahead) and
b) basically it being a very boring book, despite the very interesting premise.
So many missed opportunities for great adventures, interesting developments or grand quests and...well, bus comparison above alas.
I'd also be somewhat suspicious of this authors research skills, as there seemed to be many inaccuracies in the most basic of tasks.
Please don't bother with this book.
So...imagine you get stuck on the M25 for ten hours on your way to Milton Keynes in a small bus with 8 very unlikable characters and eh voila! This is the book.
On top of some very annoying people, two other huge set backs to this tome is
a) ridiculously convenient coincidences, truly illogical choices, and very flexible physics turning up on every fifth page or so to try and help the plot along (it doesn't, by the sixth cliff hanger I was skipping ahead) and
b) basically it being a very boring book, despite the very interesting premise.
So many missed opportunities for great adventures, interesting developments or grand quests and...well, bus comparison above alas.
I'd also be somewhat suspicious of this authors research skills, as there seemed to be many inaccuracies in the most basic of tasks.
Please don't bother with this book.
August 29, 2019
Beth has managed thus far without her (mostly) useless husband, but when her children are taken from her she'll need friends old and new to help her cross a new, terrifying ocean to track them down.
It's a long time since I read the End of the World Runner's Club and, to be honest, I didn't remember all the characters or the exact sequence of events. But I remembered the basics, the inventive apocalypse I haven't seen anywhere else, and that unnerving, open ending. That at least is dealt with relatively quickly in this, what I'm assuming is the central novel of a trilogy. Things happen fast in this novel, with little down time.
I was a little surprised at how quickly everyone picked up how to sail - from what I know it's a complicated hobby with a lot to go wrong - but I understand that they didn't have much else to concentrate on and that when they need to people can learn very quickly. I'm looking forward to the possible third book to tie up those last couple of loose ends/
It's a long time since I read the End of the World Runner's Club and, to be honest, I didn't remember all the characters or the exact sequence of events. But I remembered the basics, the inventive apocalypse I haven't seen anywhere else, and that unnerving, open ending. That at least is dealt with relatively quickly in this, what I'm assuming is the central novel of a trilogy. Things happen fast in this novel, with little down time.
I was a little surprised at how quickly everyone picked up how to sail - from what I know it's a complicated hobby with a lot to go wrong - but I understand that they didn't have much else to concentrate on and that when they need to people can learn very quickly. I'm looking forward to the possible third book to tie up those last couple of loose ends/
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