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After Shocks
Aftershocks is Book 2 of the REBOOT trilogy.
A highly infectious and incurable virus spreads worldwide, eventually reaching the UK. The Shaw family live on an isolated Pennine farm. They think that their remote location will keep them safe from the infection, but they are wrong. A stranger comes to their door and brings the disease with him.
Lander Shaw, the twin brother of Kerryl, the 'paradise girl' of the first book, leaves the farm and embarks on a journey to discover more about the infection and to seek a better future. He travels the length of the country, encountering both the best and the worst of humanity on a journey that is both a pilgrimage and a voyage of self-discovery. In a series of exciting episodes he is robbed, captured, and has to face a terrible choice, and realises that not everything – or everyone – is as they at first seem.
A highly infectious and incurable virus spreads worldwide, eventually reaching the UK. The Shaw family live on an isolated Pennine farm. They think that their remote location will keep them safe from the infection, but they are wrong. A stranger comes to their door and brings the disease with him.
Lander Shaw, the twin brother of Kerryl, the 'paradise girl' of the first book, leaves the farm and embarks on a journey to discover more about the infection and to seek a better future. He travels the length of the country, encountering both the best and the worst of humanity on a journey that is both a pilgrimage and a voyage of self-discovery. In a series of exciting episodes he is robbed, captured, and has to face a terrible choice, and realises that not everything – or everyone – is as they at first seem.
- GenresYoung AdultFiction
310 pages, Paperback
Published February 6, 2019
5 people are currently reading
871 people want to read
About the author
Phill Featherstone
15 books97 followersPhill alternates between writing, drinking coffee, and playing the saxaphone (badly) - not always in that order. He lives in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England with Sally, his wife and partner of more years than they can count.
Phill is the award winning author of a number of novels and short stories. Most are about young people and therefore get the YA tag, but they're enjoyed by readers of all ages, including retirees.
Paradise Girl, Book 1 of Phill's REBOOT trilogy, is set in the northern hills where, amidst the majestic beauty of the rolling moors, a world pandemic consigns a lone young woman to a bleak future. In Book 2, Aftershocks, the twin brother of the heroine of Book 1 sets out to discover the truth behind the infection. REBOOT concludes with Jericho Rose. By now the pandemic is over and it's time to rebuild. However, there are a selfish few who seek to exploit the situation for their own ends and this risks losing the little that's left.
Phill's fourth novel, The God Jar, is a tale of magic and mystery which straddles 16th century Europe and 20th century England. John Dee, Elizabethan sorcerer and mystic, finds a jar which he discovers has enormous powers. 400 years later it resurfaces when a pair of honeymooners come across it on a diving trip. But have they found the jar or has it found them?
In What Dreams We Had a group of young people on holiday in Italy are forced to confront uncomfortable truths about who they are and what's important to them, and to wonder whether anything they thought was real actually is.
I Know What You're Thinking, is a thriller in which a pair of teenagers share the ability to see into each other's mind. When one of them disappears can the other use this gift to find them, and if they can what price must they pay?
Phill has also written a book of short stories, Undiscovered Countries. It's free to subscribers to his his email newsletter. Go to www.phillfeatherstone.net to sign up for this, writing updates and book recommendations.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 18, 2020
In many ways, Aftershocks was not what I expected. And certainly, I wasn't expecting the ending we got. And that's a good thing.
Aftershocks is a companion book to the author's first novel, Paradise Girl. I hadn't read Paradise Girl (though I will now), but I think it may be a good idea to read it first and Aftershocks second.
This story is focused on Lander (or Alexander), who leaves his gram and gramps and twin sister Karryl because he thinks he may be developing a side effect of a virus that has killed most of humanity. This side effect turns those who overcame the disease into terrible versions of themselves while they sleep. Dream walkers, they are called and their behavior is still being assessed and learned about.
Our teenage protagonist leaves on his motorcycle fully prepared to brace both the elements and the people he runs into on his journey. Or not. His naivete is written so well as to have very nearly caused me to close the book and open another.
I'm so glad I didn't.
I'll admit it, I called Lander a moron several times while reading this book. Then I thought back to myself at age 17 or 18 and I highly doubt I would have gotten as far as he did.
Lander finds himself in numerous situations where he is kidnapped, jailed, rescued, fed, starved, put to work, robbed and more. By the end of the book, his overwhelming disgust for humanity is evident and right on target.
Aftershocks had a few little twists and revelations that made the book more interesting and I have to commend Lander for his decision at the end of the book. Although the series could end as is and we'd be happy, the author has left an opening for a third book, which I think might be interesting.
Four stars for this well-written novel that becomes a true page-turner at the halfway mark. Many thanks to the author and BookSirens for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Aftershocks is a companion book to the author's first novel, Paradise Girl. I hadn't read Paradise Girl (though I will now), but I think it may be a good idea to read it first and Aftershocks second.
This story is focused on Lander (or Alexander), who leaves his gram and gramps and twin sister Karryl because he thinks he may be developing a side effect of a virus that has killed most of humanity. This side effect turns those who overcame the disease into terrible versions of themselves while they sleep. Dream walkers, they are called and their behavior is still being assessed and learned about.
Our teenage protagonist leaves on his motorcycle fully prepared to brace both the elements and the people he runs into on his journey. Or not. His naivete is written so well as to have very nearly caused me to close the book and open another.
I'm so glad I didn't.
I'll admit it, I called Lander a moron several times while reading this book. Then I thought back to myself at age 17 or 18 and I highly doubt I would have gotten as far as he did.
Lander finds himself in numerous situations where he is kidnapped, jailed, rescued, fed, starved, put to work, robbed and more. By the end of the book, his overwhelming disgust for humanity is evident and right on target.
Aftershocks had a few little twists and revelations that made the book more interesting and I have to commend Lander for his decision at the end of the book. Although the series could end as is and we'd be happy, the author has left an opening for a third book, which I think might be interesting.
Four stars for this well-written novel that becomes a true page-turner at the halfway mark. Many thanks to the author and BookSirens for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 29, 2020
Aftershocks is the companion book of Paradise Girl.I read that book last year. Glad I still remember what happened to Kerryl, Lander's twin. I think you should start with Paradise Girl then read this book.
Aftershocks follows Lander journey after leaving his family to find the answer about the virus and trying to stay away from his family because he might do something terrible. He was immune from the virus but there are some side effects. His journey full of twist and turns.
The last chapters kinda fucked up! I mean wow!! Wth!! Btw I'm proud with Lander decision.
Thank you Booksirens, author and publisher for this ARC!
Aftershocks follows Lander journey after leaving his family to find the answer about the virus and trying to stay away from his family because he might do something terrible. He was immune from the virus but there are some side effects. His journey full of twist and turns.
The last chapters kinda fucked up! I mean wow!! Wth!! Btw I'm proud with Lander decision.
Thank you Booksirens, author and publisher for this ARC!
January 8, 2020
This is a companion book to the book Paradise Girl. This story follows Lander and what happens to him after he leaves the farm and tells a little bit more about Kerryl's path as well.
I think these stories were both very well written. You can picture the current world they are living in, ridden with disease and the fear and anger that is in some of the people who have survived.
At the end, I was horrified at what was being proposed, but supremely proud of Lander's decision.
The ending is sort of open ended, not a cliff hanger, but leaving the possibility for more to be added to the story, and I do hope the author makes the decision to do so.
I think these stories were both very well written. You can picture the current world they are living in, ridden with disease and the fear and anger that is in some of the people who have survived.
At the end, I was horrified at what was being proposed, but supremely proud of Lander's decision.
The ending is sort of open ended, not a cliff hanger, but leaving the possibility for more to be added to the story, and I do hope the author makes the decision to do so.
November 20, 2019
*I received a free copy of this ebook, with thanks to the author. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
It has been a little while since I read Phill Featherstone’s Paradise Girl, so while I remembered the gist of that story, I had forgotten the details and the ending. This actually stood me in really good stead as it meant I could read Aftershocks with fresh eyes and still get the emotional impact from events as they unfolded.
The two books are companions to each other, telling the same story from two different perspectives; brother and sister, Lander and Kerryl. Whilst the overall events of the Infection and its aftermath are the same in both stories, the actual stories are very different. Kerryl’s story was a highly-claustrophobic tale of apocalyptic survival; depicting the effect of acute isolation on the human psyche.
Lander’s story is still one of survival in the face of societal collapse, but is much more proactive, as he sets out on a journey for answers to what has happened and what will happen next. In fact, a large proportion of this book is Lander travelling back and forth, attempting to find a point or purpose without clear direction. He is pretty easily sidetracked from his planned goals and its clear that it is not lack of interaction, but lack of structure, that is stymieing his progress. That, and he spends a lot of time getting captured and having to escape!
I was increasingly intrigued by the sub-plot behind why certain people were able to survive the Infection while the majority succumbed, and the side effects that the survivors then struggled with as a result, and I was invested throughout in Lander’s quest for answers to these issues. I felt a little let down towards the end, as the climactic reveal seemed lacking in any logic (the motives, once explained, are quite bizarre!), and then after such a long build-up, and extreme ‘solution’, the final few pages seemed rather anti-climactic. I could definitely see the potential for a third book that takes the plot forward with the siblings threads now unified and provides some satisfying resolution to the issues explored.
Read alone, or in conjunction with Paradise Girl, Aftershocks is a fascinating apocalyptic survival story for young adults. You may be left wanting more!
He lay still. He couldn’t risk leaving the house until he was sure his grandparents were asleep. They had been talking downstairs for so long he wondered if they were ever going to bed. Their voices had been too muffled for him to hear what they were saying, but he could guess. It would be about the Infection. That’s the only thing anybody every talked about now. What else was there?
– Phill Featherstone, Aftershocks
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
It has been a little while since I read Phill Featherstone’s Paradise Girl, so while I remembered the gist of that story, I had forgotten the details and the ending. This actually stood me in really good stead as it meant I could read Aftershocks with fresh eyes and still get the emotional impact from events as they unfolded.
The two books are companions to each other, telling the same story from two different perspectives; brother and sister, Lander and Kerryl. Whilst the overall events of the Infection and its aftermath are the same in both stories, the actual stories are very different. Kerryl’s story was a highly-claustrophobic tale of apocalyptic survival; depicting the effect of acute isolation on the human psyche.
Lander’s story is still one of survival in the face of societal collapse, but is much more proactive, as he sets out on a journey for answers to what has happened and what will happen next. In fact, a large proportion of this book is Lander travelling back and forth, attempting to find a point or purpose without clear direction. He is pretty easily sidetracked from his planned goals and its clear that it is not lack of interaction, but lack of structure, that is stymieing his progress. That, and he spends a lot of time getting captured and having to escape!
I was increasingly intrigued by the sub-plot behind why certain people were able to survive the Infection while the majority succumbed, and the side effects that the survivors then struggled with as a result, and I was invested throughout in Lander’s quest for answers to these issues. I felt a little let down towards the end, as the climactic reveal seemed lacking in any logic (the motives, once explained, are quite bizarre!), and then after such a long build-up, and extreme ‘solution’, the final few pages seemed rather anti-climactic. I could definitely see the potential for a third book that takes the plot forward with the siblings threads now unified and provides some satisfying resolution to the issues explored.
Read alone, or in conjunction with Paradise Girl, Aftershocks is a fascinating apocalyptic survival story for young adults. You may be left wanting more!
He lay still. He couldn’t risk leaving the house until he was sure his grandparents were asleep. They had been talking downstairs for so long he wondered if they were ever going to bed. Their voices had been too muffled for him to hear what they were saying, but he could guess. It would be about the Infection. That’s the only thing anybody every talked about now. What else was there?
– Phill Featherstone, Aftershocks
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
May 2, 2019
Aftershocks has received a Chill with a Book Readers' Award.
An enthralling story which kept me absorbed until the end.
Pauline Barclay - Founder of Chill with a Book Awards
An enthralling story which kept me absorbed until the end.
Pauline Barclay - Founder of Chill with a Book Awards
May 6, 2019
A WISHING SHELF BOOK REVIEW
3rd May, 2018
TITLE: Aftershocks
AUTHOR: Phill Featherstone
Star Rating: 4.5
‘A suspense-filled dystopian thriller packed full of twists and turns. Not only is it a gripping story, it’s pretty scary too. Adults will love it; young adult too. Highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf
REVIEW
I do enjoy a good dystopian thriller. I like them fast-paced, populated by strong, interesting characters, and, of course, it must have a twisting plot and a killer of an ending. I’m delighted to say Aftershocks by Phill Featherstone pretty much ticked every box.
So, let’s begin by discussing the plot. Basically, it follows Lander Shaw, a farm boy who is living in a world devasted by a virus. Setting off to discover a better life, he is faced with the best of humanity – and the most terrible. What follows is a pacey thriller, packed full of twists and turns – oh, and a number of pretty interesting, superbly described ‘end of the world’ settings. There’s plenty happening here to keep any dystopian fan turning the page. Personally, I enjoyed the last third of the story the most. It is by far the most intense, ending big and exciting, as any good thriller should.
The hero of the story, Lander, is an interesting character, perfectly cast as a loner trying to navigate his way in a dangerous world. He’s pretty bright but he can also be a little indecisive. But that’s not surprising considering how terrible the world is he now finds himself in. He’s also vulnerable – important with any hero - open-minded and up for facing a tough challenge.
The writing style works well for this genre. It’s not Hemingway; you never think, ‘WOW! That character just jumped off the page.’ But that’s okay. The author keeps the focus on the plot, keeps things moving and, most importantly, keeps surprising the reader whenever she can. The writing style reminded me a little of Suzanne Collins: shot, sharp, powerful paragraphing, keeping things moving; keeping the reader immersed in the plot.
So, which book is this similar too? Well, it reminded me a little of The Hunger Games. As with Katniss, the hero, Lander, is smart, often shows empathy, but also is far from perfect. Also, as in most of Hunger books, there is a strong political undercurrent to the plot, a government in decline, which you will also find here.
To sum up, I would recommend this novel to anybody (YA and adult) who enjoys dystopian thrillers with a strong element of ‘it might just happen’. In a world of Brexit and Trump, you just never know…
Enjoy!
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk
3rd May, 2018
TITLE: Aftershocks
AUTHOR: Phill Featherstone
Star Rating: 4.5
‘A suspense-filled dystopian thriller packed full of twists and turns. Not only is it a gripping story, it’s pretty scary too. Adults will love it; young adult too. Highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf
REVIEW
I do enjoy a good dystopian thriller. I like them fast-paced, populated by strong, interesting characters, and, of course, it must have a twisting plot and a killer of an ending. I’m delighted to say Aftershocks by Phill Featherstone pretty much ticked every box.
So, let’s begin by discussing the plot. Basically, it follows Lander Shaw, a farm boy who is living in a world devasted by a virus. Setting off to discover a better life, he is faced with the best of humanity – and the most terrible. What follows is a pacey thriller, packed full of twists and turns – oh, and a number of pretty interesting, superbly described ‘end of the world’ settings. There’s plenty happening here to keep any dystopian fan turning the page. Personally, I enjoyed the last third of the story the most. It is by far the most intense, ending big and exciting, as any good thriller should.
The hero of the story, Lander, is an interesting character, perfectly cast as a loner trying to navigate his way in a dangerous world. He’s pretty bright but he can also be a little indecisive. But that’s not surprising considering how terrible the world is he now finds himself in. He’s also vulnerable – important with any hero - open-minded and up for facing a tough challenge.
The writing style works well for this genre. It’s not Hemingway; you never think, ‘WOW! That character just jumped off the page.’ But that’s okay. The author keeps the focus on the plot, keeps things moving and, most importantly, keeps surprising the reader whenever she can. The writing style reminded me a little of Suzanne Collins: shot, sharp, powerful paragraphing, keeping things moving; keeping the reader immersed in the plot.
So, which book is this similar too? Well, it reminded me a little of The Hunger Games. As with Katniss, the hero, Lander, is smart, often shows empathy, but also is far from perfect. Also, as in most of Hunger books, there is a strong political undercurrent to the plot, a government in decline, which you will also find here.
To sum up, I would recommend this novel to anybody (YA and adult) who enjoys dystopian thrillers with a strong element of ‘it might just happen’. In a world of Brexit and Trump, you just never know…
Enjoy!
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk
August 31, 2019
Aftershocks Kindle Edition
by Phill Featherstone
I received a complimentary review copy via Booksirens and am voluntarily leaving a review.
It should be noted that I also received a review copy for the prior book, Paradise Girl, in this duology and also left a review. The two books cover the same event, the Infection, that kills a large portion of the world and England specifically. Where Paradise Girl was about Kerryl and her time on her family's farm during and after the Infection, Aftershocks is about the travels of her brother, Lander (nickname for Alexander) during and after the same period. This expanded our understanding of what happened, how it happened and the responses of regular people and the government. Unlike many mass extinction apocalyptic novels, Aftershocks is a far more personal story. We are never thrown into the many thousand page exploration of good versus evil on a global scale, yes, The Stand, I'm talking about you. Aftershocks deals with what Lander as a person must endure as society breaks down. Lander travels through much of the English countryside, via foot, car, horse and boat. What he discovers about his fellow humans is a bit depressing, but well written with a sense of hope surrounding everything that Lander does.
The writing is a third person centered on Lander. This allows us to focus on his growth, loss and discoveries. We also see why he left home when the Infection seemed to have affected him. It also allows us to experience the horrors and joys he experiences and understand his various decisions. He tries so hard to be the person he was raised to be when the world is going mad.
The other characters are opaque to us as much as they are for Lander, and we never know who to trust and who to hate. And no one fits into a single category except a truly bonkers captor and his wife. This allows the tension to ratchet.
The story is believable, completely so. There is no plot armor or magical person that saves the world.
For a Yank, I found a lot of the Brit-Speak quaint if confusing! I've also added a few choice words to my vocabulary for future use!
It should be noted that the books can be read alone or together.
A grim story with excellent characters.
4 ½ stars out of 5 rounded up.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
by Phill Featherstone
I received a complimentary review copy via Booksirens and am voluntarily leaving a review.
It should be noted that I also received a review copy for the prior book, Paradise Girl, in this duology and also left a review. The two books cover the same event, the Infection, that kills a large portion of the world and England specifically. Where Paradise Girl was about Kerryl and her time on her family's farm during and after the Infection, Aftershocks is about the travels of her brother, Lander (nickname for Alexander) during and after the same period. This expanded our understanding of what happened, how it happened and the responses of regular people and the government. Unlike many mass extinction apocalyptic novels, Aftershocks is a far more personal story. We are never thrown into the many thousand page exploration of good versus evil on a global scale, yes, The Stand, I'm talking about you. Aftershocks deals with what Lander as a person must endure as society breaks down. Lander travels through much of the English countryside, via foot, car, horse and boat. What he discovers about his fellow humans is a bit depressing, but well written with a sense of hope surrounding everything that Lander does.
The writing is a third person centered on Lander. This allows us to focus on his growth, loss and discoveries. We also see why he left home when the Infection seemed to have affected him. It also allows us to experience the horrors and joys he experiences and understand his various decisions. He tries so hard to be the person he was raised to be when the world is going mad.
The other characters are opaque to us as much as they are for Lander, and we never know who to trust and who to hate. And no one fits into a single category except a truly bonkers captor and his wife. This allows the tension to ratchet.
The story is believable, completely so. There is no plot armor or magical person that saves the world.
For a Yank, I found a lot of the Brit-Speak quaint if confusing! I've also added a few choice words to my vocabulary for future use!
It should be noted that the books can be read alone or together.
A grim story with excellent characters.
4 ½ stars out of 5 rounded up.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
November 8, 2019
Yesterday I reviewed 'Paradise Girl' the so-called companion novel to this one. The author/publishers say you don't have to read them in order but I do think you should. This one would have made a lot less sense if I'd not already read its predecessor.
Lander and his twin sister Kerryl are rare survivors of a global virus that's wiped out everybody else in their home town and - as far Kerryl knows - maybe the whole world. Lander left after their mother died, off in search of answers about the mystery disease and taking himself away from the risk of doing something terrible under the influence of the virus.
The story takes us up and down England through a variety of perilous situations as Lander makes friends amongst those he meets along the way, gradually piecing together some of the answers he seeks about what happened to his sister and why. I know a lot of the locations and my sister and her partner spent a year on the canals of England and Wales so I could picture a lot of the scenarios.
I enjoyed 'Aftershocks' but found it a little bit less compelling than 'Paradise Girl', perhaps because quite a lot of information has to be repeated along the way. The revelation that others have survived by being isolated in so-called Arks adds hope of new beginnings until we realise there's a flaw in that model - one that (to me at least) was very confusing. Surely the point of the Arks was to isolate people from the virus yet it seems they've all got a problem CAUSED by exposure to it. That just didn't add up for me.
There are also a couple of times when the author seems to slip into Americanisms. Describing underwear as 'under shorts' and trousers as 'pants' just didn't add up for me. Having seen an American reviewer comment that the language on one of the books was too 'Anglo', I hope Phill Featherstone hasn't compromised the entirely English storyline by tweaking the odd word here and there.
The ending leaves plenty of space for another volume one day. I'm not sure if this storyline really has the legs to go to a third book. I've enjoyed these two books but a third might be a step too far.
I received a free copy of this ebook via Booksirens in return for an honest review.
Lander and his twin sister Kerryl are rare survivors of a global virus that's wiped out everybody else in their home town and - as far Kerryl knows - maybe the whole world. Lander left after their mother died, off in search of answers about the mystery disease and taking himself away from the risk of doing something terrible under the influence of the virus.
The story takes us up and down England through a variety of perilous situations as Lander makes friends amongst those he meets along the way, gradually piecing together some of the answers he seeks about what happened to his sister and why. I know a lot of the locations and my sister and her partner spent a year on the canals of England and Wales so I could picture a lot of the scenarios.
I enjoyed 'Aftershocks' but found it a little bit less compelling than 'Paradise Girl', perhaps because quite a lot of information has to be repeated along the way. The revelation that others have survived by being isolated in so-called Arks adds hope of new beginnings until we realise there's a flaw in that model - one that (to me at least) was very confusing. Surely the point of the Arks was to isolate people from the virus yet it seems they've all got a problem CAUSED by exposure to it. That just didn't add up for me.
There are also a couple of times when the author seems to slip into Americanisms. Describing underwear as 'under shorts' and trousers as 'pants' just didn't add up for me. Having seen an American reviewer comment that the language on one of the books was too 'Anglo', I hope Phill Featherstone hasn't compromised the entirely English storyline by tweaking the odd word here and there.
The ending leaves plenty of space for another volume one day. I'm not sure if this storyline really has the legs to go to a third book. I've enjoyed these two books but a third might be a step too far.
I received a free copy of this ebook via Booksirens in return for an honest review.
August 21, 2019
I received a free copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.
A virus kills everyone. Sound familiar? It is. But not this version of the event. This book grabbed me from the start. In fact, I read late into the night and found the book beside me in the morning. The characters are strong, well developed and I found myself invested in them from the very beginning. I wanted to reach into the story and help them out. Lander, the young grandson of a very likable elderly couple, and the brother of a twin sister, has discovered that he might cause harm to his family if he remains with them after his mother has succumbed to the deadly virus. Lander and his sister Kerryl are immune to the disease but there seems to be some side effects that cause severe mental problems. Lander decides it would be best for his family if he left and sought out a group that held out promises of help with the after shocks of surviving the virus.
Lander’s journey is filled with terrifying situations as he attempts to reach the city of hope. He is caught traveling after the population was ordered to remain in place, thrown in jail, held for trial and sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. And that is just the beginning of his trials.
Mr. Featherstone’s world building and character building are filled with fascinating places, interesting people, and written with an easy cadence that takes you through Lander’s adventures with a comfortable pace, but intense desire to know what happens next. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will most assuredly read the first book of the series, which I had not read. It is not necessary to read the first book to understand this second book. However, it is that good, that I intend to read the first one. Don’t miss out on this exciting tale.
A virus kills everyone. Sound familiar? It is. But not this version of the event. This book grabbed me from the start. In fact, I read late into the night and found the book beside me in the morning. The characters are strong, well developed and I found myself invested in them from the very beginning. I wanted to reach into the story and help them out. Lander, the young grandson of a very likable elderly couple, and the brother of a twin sister, has discovered that he might cause harm to his family if he remains with them after his mother has succumbed to the deadly virus. Lander and his sister Kerryl are immune to the disease but there seems to be some side effects that cause severe mental problems. Lander decides it would be best for his family if he left and sought out a group that held out promises of help with the after shocks of surviving the virus.
Lander’s journey is filled with terrifying situations as he attempts to reach the city of hope. He is caught traveling after the population was ordered to remain in place, thrown in jail, held for trial and sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. And that is just the beginning of his trials.
Mr. Featherstone’s world building and character building are filled with fascinating places, interesting people, and written with an easy cadence that takes you through Lander’s adventures with a comfortable pace, but intense desire to know what happens next. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will most assuredly read the first book of the series, which I had not read. It is not necessary to read the first book to understand this second book. However, it is that good, that I intend to read the first one. Don’t miss out on this exciting tale.
January 9, 2024
After Shocks is a YA Psychological Drama and the second book in the Reboot Series written by Author Phill Featherstone. In this story the reader is introduced to the main protagonist, Lander Shaw who left his family and Sister Kerryl (Paradise Girl) behind and set off on a journey to find out more about the infection and find a future for himself. Along the way he discovers some alarming truths including the fate of his sister, and it soon becomes apparent that those who he has sought solace and refuge with are not who they appear to be and have ulterior motives.
This is a superbly written and highly entertaining read full of realism, drama and tension keeping the reader gripped and firmly engaged in the story. There is very little to distract from the plot which moves at a really good pace throughout, and is filled with plenty of twists and turns. The Author has the reader on the edge of their seats and cleverly constructs the plot to not only tell Lander’s story but provide more insight as to what happened to his sister Kerryl behind the scenes and why. Both books can be read as stand alone’s but I would say that the reader will have a far better experience by reading them in sequence.
Like Kerryl, her brother Lander’s character is well developed and it is very easy for the reader to empathise and connect with him. You can feel the same guilt, loneliness, doubts, fears and insecurities, especially following our own experiences of the Coronavirus Pandemic. The secondary characters are very likeable and credible too, although a warning that there are some moments in the book which may be a potential trigger to anyone whose suffered loss, including the loss of a child/baby.
I really enjoyed Aftershocks and I am awarding 5 stars!
This is a superbly written and highly entertaining read full of realism, drama and tension keeping the reader gripped and firmly engaged in the story. There is very little to distract from the plot which moves at a really good pace throughout, and is filled with plenty of twists and turns. The Author has the reader on the edge of their seats and cleverly constructs the plot to not only tell Lander’s story but provide more insight as to what happened to his sister Kerryl behind the scenes and why. Both books can be read as stand alone’s but I would say that the reader will have a far better experience by reading them in sequence.
Like Kerryl, her brother Lander’s character is well developed and it is very easy for the reader to empathise and connect with him. You can feel the same guilt, loneliness, doubts, fears and insecurities, especially following our own experiences of the Coronavirus Pandemic. The secondary characters are very likeable and credible too, although a warning that there are some moments in the book which may be a potential trigger to anyone whose suffered loss, including the loss of a child/baby.
I really enjoyed Aftershocks and I am awarding 5 stars!
January 23, 2019
Young adult, dystopian, featuring a teenage boy – really not one you’d expect me to enjoy, I suspect. But, as with the earlier Paradise Girl, I’d urge you not to be put off by any preconceptions about this one: while it might well appeal to a rather younger, maybe late teenage (and possibly male) reader, this is fine writing and an engrossing story that would certainly appeal equally to the more mature reader. There are links to the earlier book – all explained – and this book quite comfortably stands alone.
It’s a real page turner – Lander’s organised departure from the Pennine farm thwarted by circumstance, the encounters and occasional acts of kindness as he continues his journey, the emotional content, the moments of danger and dreadful cruelty, and the sinister developments underpinning the whole story. And the vivid imagination behind the absorbing and believable story is more than matched by the author’s skills as a storyteller – I read it in two long sittings, really drawn in by Lander’s strong and distinctive “voice”, intrigued by the story’s context, fascinated by the diverse characters, the descriptions and strong sense of place.
It’s disturbing, and I know that post apocalyptic backdrop might not be to everyone’s taste, but I thought it was excellent, with a depth and emotional engagement that’s rarely found in a book aimed at a younger audience or with such subject matter. Highly recommended by me.
It’s a real page turner – Lander’s organised departure from the Pennine farm thwarted by circumstance, the encounters and occasional acts of kindness as he continues his journey, the emotional content, the moments of danger and dreadful cruelty, and the sinister developments underpinning the whole story. And the vivid imagination behind the absorbing and believable story is more than matched by the author’s skills as a storyteller – I read it in two long sittings, really drawn in by Lander’s strong and distinctive “voice”, intrigued by the story’s context, fascinated by the diverse characters, the descriptions and strong sense of place.
It’s disturbing, and I know that post apocalyptic backdrop might not be to everyone’s taste, but I thought it was excellent, with a depth and emotional engagement that’s rarely found in a book aimed at a younger audience or with such subject matter. Highly recommended by me.
August 10, 2019
In the near future an over eager scientist pairs the common seasonal flu with ebola. Of course, it was to be all a work on paper to see IF it could be done until some one creates it. Then it becomes, no one would be mad enough to try it out - until someone does. In a nation where life is cheap and it is far from any for of real civilization the unthinkable is let loose. And unfortunately, it escapes. Billions die in the first wave and those that survive think hurray I'm immune but there is a catch. You may survive this wave and the next and even the one after that but eventually you will succomb to the Infection. Thant's it's neat little trick - it's constantly changing. So we meet Lander, a lovely British lad who has survived the last few waves with no more than a sniffle but he has begun to suspect there are side effects they are not being told about. He wakes up with mud on his boots like he's been out walking all night and things moved around in his room. Is he turning into a brain dead mutant? So he decides to save his family and runs away. In his plan to find an answer to his condition he will see the best and worst of humanity and he finds out he may hold the key to saving the human race. Definitely a different type of apocalyptic read!
April 2, 2019
Part way through Paradise Girl the heroine’s twin brother, who is called Lander (they all have weird names, the author must like them) goes off. This is the story of what happens to him. Lander is a typical teenage boy, into computers, motorbikes, sport and girls. He goes on a journey, not sure what he might find, and learns a lot about himself. He meets different people who all want something from him, from needing him to carry out a mercy killing to fathering a new master-race! The book is pacy and well-written, and the story grips you. Some of the moral decisions Lander has to make are really thought provoking and makes you wonder what you would have done in his shoes.
This book picks up a lot of the story from Paradise Girl. I’d read that book so I already knew a lot of what was going on. I just wonder that if you read them the other way round, i.e. this one first, it might spoil the first one. The cover blurb says they stand alone and you don’t have to have read one to appreciate the other, and I think that’s probably right. Highly recommended.
This book picks up a lot of the story from Paradise Girl. I’d read that book so I already knew a lot of what was going on. I just wonder that if you read them the other way round, i.e. this one first, it might spoil the first one. The cover blurb says they stand alone and you don’t have to have read one to appreciate the other, and I think that’s probably right. Highly recommended.
September 10, 2019
Post apocalyptic dystopian thriller, the book follows a journey of the main character, Lander, after the 'Infection' spread out of control and decimated the world's population in his quest for refuge and solution. The suggestion was that the 'Infection' was perhaps a man-made biohazard that was intended as a weapon of control but had gone awry. There was also a reference to religion towards the end of the book which was offered as one of the possible explanations. ‘God sent His son to show us how it should be done. It’s dead simple: be kind to people; don’t take more than you need; feed the hungry, heal the sick, support those in trouble. It’s not rocket science, but we couldn’t hack it. So the only thing God could do, was press the reset button.’ There is some semblance of Brave New World in this story. It was an interesting concept. I didn't, however, relate to any of the characters and could not find affinity with any of them. Some of the incidents and encounters lacked credibility for me but it is, after all, a story that relies on imagination. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 27, 2020
I hadn’t read book one in this series, but I don’t feel like I missed out on anything. Though I want to go back and read book 1. The pacing was mixed on this for me. Sometimes portions of the book spent too much detail on Lander’s day to day. Then other times, he would land himself in hot water, and I would race to see if and how he would get out of it.
Featherstone wrote Lander’s naivety in what was going on in the outside world well. While Lander left his farm with good intentions, he made a few costly mistakes. Considering how young he was, he handled all the obstacles well. Growing up on a farm can give you some skills that can help you out in the world. You will need to read book 3 for a resolution because some secrets come to light that need resolving. Aftershocks is a fun read. I was glad when Lander found his voice and his strength and I want to see where that goes.
Featherstone wrote Lander’s naivety in what was going on in the outside world well. While Lander left his farm with good intentions, he made a few costly mistakes. Considering how young he was, he handled all the obstacles well. Growing up on a farm can give you some skills that can help you out in the world. You will need to read book 3 for a resolution because some secrets come to light that need resolving. Aftershocks is a fun read. I was glad when Lander found his voice and his strength and I want to see where that goes.
April 22, 2019
I'm really into post apocalyptic/dystopian storylines and this book didn't disappoint. An interesting premise with likeable characters. It was engaging and I raced through it wanting to reach the conclusion... Which infact it didn't really have! Not that this was a bad thing. I'm hoping this maybe because the author has left it open for another book. I loved the Northern setting and the central character of Lander. I have already started Paradise Girl by the same author and the story of Landers sister.
August 28, 2019
This is an interesting story that sees the main male character, Lander go through a lot of different and often difficult trials during his journey to attempt to find out what has happened to him and his twin sister. There are a lot of twists and turns, some likable characters and some not so likable ones. The journey moves along at a steady pace and easily held my attention. I enjoyed reading this story and look forward to reading more from this author. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 13, 2019
********mild spoiler *********
I actually really enjoyed this book. I always liked dystopian novels. The only thing I had an issue with is the character Magda. The way she was written mildly annoyed me because what girl tries to hook up with other guys not long after being raped. You'd think she would avoid putting herself in that situation again.
I actually really enjoyed this book. I always liked dystopian novels. The only thing I had an issue with is the character Magda. The way she was written mildly annoyed me because what girl tries to hook up with other guys not long after being raped. You'd think she would avoid putting herself in that situation again.
September 9, 2019
Wonderful characters. Interesting plot. Vivid descriptions. Simply a GREAT read!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
August 12, 2019
Excellent read, this is a book that stands out as something special. Great story, well-plotted and unmissable.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 7, 2020
We are proud to announce that AFTERSHOCKS (REBOOT #2) BY Phill Featherstone is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells readers that this book is well worth their time and money!
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