For sisters Robyn and Wren, nothing will ever be the same. The cities are burning, the world is in chaos. The dead are rising...and they're hungry. Safety? Security? These words are meaningless now. They fight, they hide, they run. No rest. No respite. All they can cling to is hope. Hope they can find others. Hope they can learn the skills needed to survive. Hope they can stay together. Their situation seems desperate, and the only thing they can depend on is each other. But is that enough?
I was born and raised in Leeds, West Yorkshire. Wanting to escape life in a big city and concentrate more on working to live than living to work, I moved to the Outer Hebrides in the north-west of Scotland in 2004 and I have lived there ever since with my wife and dogs.
I write post-apocalyptic, sci-fi, dystopian and horror fiction. I’ve released fifty one books across six different series - Safe Haven, The End of Everything, Unsafe, Relentless, The Burning Tree and Scares in Scotland.
In addition, most of my titles are now available as audiobooks narrated by Kim Bretton, so if you’re one of the many people who struggle to find the time to read, you can listen on the go.
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This was better than book 1. The sisters while still squabbling occasionally did not do so to the very annoying level as in the previous volume. I liked they had some cleverness about trying to survive and their ability to think on their feet.
It's another gut wrenching fast paced page turner as Wren & Bobbi continue to fight for survival. Their banter continues lol and so does the gut wrenching moments . You can't stop turning the pages and just when you think everything is OK.... its not! Non stop action from start to finish. Its another roller coaster but you don't want to get off. Can't turn the pages quick enough ! Incredibly talented writer that I came across after reading The Burning Tree which is another mindblowing series. That led me to Safe Haven & now The end of everything!
This is a great continuation from the first one. Wren and Robin, sassy sisters, fight to survive during the zombie apocalypse. The story starts with them on a farm. Of course just when you think you're safe, things fall apart. How will the survive this mess? Love these sisters as they are true to each other but still have the typical sibling rivalries and bickering. These girls make mistakes but learn quickly and adapt. The narrator is great and has a wonderful array of voices. I listened to a free audiobook and am leaving my honest review.
A Gritty, Character-Driven Follow-Up That Raises the Stakes (4/5 Stars)
Okay, listen: if you're here for The End of Everything #2, that means you survived Book 1 and you're ready for more. Welcome back to Christopher Artinian's unforgiving zombie wasteland. This sequel doesn't pull any punches, diving deeper into the relentless struggle that sisters Wren and Robyn face. It's a tense, character-focused journey that expertly builds on the foundation of the first book, raising both the physical dangers and the emotional stakes. If you enjoyed the raw survival and sibling dynamic of the opener, this is a satisfying and necessary next chapter.
Key Themes While Book 1 was about shock and initial survival, Book 2 starts exploring the long haul.
The Evolving Nature of Survival: The theme shifts from immediate escape to sustainable living. It’s no longer just about running from the "Rams" (Artinian's great term for zombies); it's about finding shelter, securing resources, and making impossible choices about who to trust in a world where everyone can be a threat.
The Strength and Strain of Family Bonds: The core relationship between Wren and Robyn is tested in new ways. The book delves into how shared trauma can both cement a bond and create friction, especially when two very different personalities must rely on each other completely. It's a powerful exploration of unconditional loyalty under extreme pressure.
The Burden of Leadership & Morality: As they encounter other survivors, Wren and Robyn are forced into leadership roles. The story thoughtfully examines the weight of responsibility in an apocalyptic setting—when does protecting your own cross the line? What moral compromises are acceptable?
Character Analysis Wren: Continues to be the pragmatic, resilient anchor. Her development here involves grappling with the psychological toll of constant vigilance and the burden of often being the decision-maker. We see her toughness is a necessary shell, but it comes at a cost.
Robyn: Her character arc is particularly compelling. She evolves from the more impulsive sister into someone discovering her own unique strengths. Her emotional openness, which could be a liability, often becomes the group's moral compass and a source of unexpected courage. Their banter and fierce protectiveness remain the series' beating heart .
New Faces: The introduction of other survivors—some allies, some threats—forces both sisters to define their values and adds new dimensions to the world, showing that zombies aren't the only monsters.
Writing Style & Pacing Artinian's prose remains direct, visceral, and highly effective. He doesn't waste words on overly flowery descriptions; the focus is on immersive action, tense dialogue, and the sisters' internal struggles. The tone masterfully balances moments of genuine horror and despair with the dark, snarky humor that helps the characters (and the reader) cope.
The pacing is relentless but more strategic than Book 1. It's not just one frantic escape; it's a series of escalating challenges, tense standoffs, and desperate plans. This structure gives the story more room to breathe and build suspense, making the action set-pieces feel even more impactful. Reviewers of later books praise this series for its "mile a minute" continuity and character-driven energy, qualities that are clearly being honed here .
What I Liked/Disliked Liked:
Deeper Character Development: Seeing Wren and Robyn grow and adapt is incredibly satisfying. Their relationship feels real and is the main reason to keep reading.
Expanded World-Building: The world starts to feel larger and more complex, introducing new human dynamics and threats beyond the zombie hordes.
Higher Stakes: The dangers feel more calculated and dire, which increases the narrative tension significantly.
Perfect Series Continuity: It feels like a natural and necessary progression from Book 1, rewarding you for your investment.
Disliked:
The "Middle Book" Feel: At times, you can feel it's building towards a larger conflict, which might leave some readers craving a more definitive climax. The journey is great, but the destination is clearly still ahead.
Familiar Genre Beats: If you're deeply read in zombie fiction, some plot developments might feel familiar. The strength lies in the execution and characters, not necessarily groundbreaking twists.
Conclusion/Recommendation Final Verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. The End of Everything #2 is a strong sequel that successfully deepens the characters and the world. It proves this series is more than just a zombie gore-fest—it's a compelling story about family and resilience.
You should read this book if: You enjoyed The End of Everything #1 and want more. It's essential for fans of character-driven post-apocalyptic stories like The Walking Dead, where human relationships are the true focus. If you love strong, believable sibling dynamics and tense survival action, you'll devour this.
You should NOT start the series here. This is a direct continuation where character history is everything. Start with Book 1.
Content Note: As expected, contains graphic zombie violence, intense survival situations, and strong language.
This book solidifies that Artinian has a long, engaging story to tell with Wren and Robyn. It’s a gripping, emotional ride that will have you immediately reaching for Book 3. If you're invested in this universe, the journey is well worth it.
There's always something going on in this story. So far the girls ran into decent people passing on survival skills but it won't be long before they run into evil and dangerous people. Lucky for them, they learned how to fight the dead early on but soon they'd have the living to worry about. This series is so good and it hasn't gone stale yet. I'm enjoying it.
This is book 2 in the series The End of Everything!! Even though all seems to be going well, you still share the Earth with the dead, and some live people you wish were dead. Great follow up to what will become a killer of a series!!!
I love following the sisters in this adventure they have with their new life. Watching them adapt and deal with problems teenagers shouldn’t have to face, but they do in this new world. I love the bond that’s becoming stronger between the two of them.
Having found safety in number, Artinian further challenges the two sisters to navigate life after the apocalypse. New talents, friendships and unlikely survivalists all band together to stay free from malicious groups that have popped up all over the farmland of Scotland.
I enjoyed this book so much - with undertones of The Walking Dead and the fight for survival against the zombie hordes. I want to know more about what happens to the protagonists. Can they survive? My only wish is that these books were contained in one complete volume.
Another great novel I couldn't put it down, thoroughly enjoyed it, cant wait for book 3, the story is great and you will go on a real rollercoaster of emotions.
This 2nd book was really good. The drama is building and lots of action still. Love how the girls characters are becoming stronger. Can't wait for the next one !
Book two of the series packs a punch and I absolutely love the way the series is heading.The usual exceptional writing of Christopher Artinian gets the heart pounding with gore and guts
This book has a different approach to the zombie story. Well written and easy to follow the story line even though I thought the abusive language was excessive
The plot develops and new actors are revealed. If the zombie are pure evil, it is not deliberate but the new actors are naturally evil. Hold on to your hats!
Apocalyptic book with two badass female leads. The writing is mediocre with several typos and repeats. An addictive read if you ignore the writing errors.