Cathedral

by Dave Jeffery

CATHEDRAL...The world has changed. So have the rules. In the silence of a quiet apocalypse, there is Cathedral. It is a city like no other, sanctuary for the survivors of a terrible plague that has deafened the world. The walls protect the small community. Rituals and laws maintain order to prevent a return to chaos. But Cathedral is a dangerous and complex place. For citizens like Sarah and newcomer Paul it can be either home or prison. They just have to decide where their loyalties lie…(cover by Adrian Baldwin; central art piece by Dark Artist Roberto Segate)

Genres: Horror

119 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 29, 2021

About the author

"Jeffery has a connoisseur's eye for the grotesque and mind-bending."—STEPHEN VOLK, writer of GHOSTWATCH and AFTERLIFE,


Dave Jeffery is a British Fantasy Award and The Bridport Prize Finalist. He is author of 19 novels, two collections, and numerous short stories. His Necropolis Rising series and yeti adventure Frostbite have both featured on the Amazon #1 bestseller list, while the A Quiet Apocalypse series continues to garner critical acclaim. His YA work includes the Beatrice Beecham supernatural mystery series and Finding Jericho. His screenwriting credits include award winning short films Ascension and Derelict.

Before retiring to write full-time, Jeffery worked in the NHS for 35 years specialising in the field of mental health nursing and risk management. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Mental Health Studies and a Master of Science Degree in Health Studies. His novel Finding Jericho is an amalgamation of his experiences of working with service users who have experienced stigma and social exclusion due to their mental illness. As a novel, Finding Jericho (Demain Publishing) has featured on both the BBC Health and Independent Schools Entrance Examination Board's ‘Recommended Reading’ lists

Jeffery is a member of the Society of Authors, British Fantasy Society (also as a regular book reviewer), and actively involved in the Horror Writers Association where he is a mentor on the HWA Mentorship Scheme and recipient of the HWA Mentor of the Year Award, 2022. He was also co-chair of the HWA Wellness Committee for a three-year tenure.

Jeffery is married with two children and lives in Worcestershire, UK.

Forthcoming Releases:

SEPTEMBER 2025

False Prophet: A Novel (Eerie River Publishing)

This Way Lies Madness Anthology (co-edited with Lee Murray, Flame Tree Press)

MAY 2026

Screams & Whispers Collection (Horrorsmith Publishing)

Reviews

[Richard Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cathedral, the second book in Dave Jeffreys ‘A Quiet Apocalypse’ series, picks up a new tale in the world Jeffrey has created, where a pandemic has killed large swathes of the population, leaving the few remaining survivors permanently deaf. Whereas the first book told the story of a lone survivor, Cathedral shifts to a large community, known as Cathedral, a seeming Utopia with a dark underbelly.
Sarah is living in the sanctuary known as Cathedral. A city built to house the survivors of a terrible illness that has swept through the globe, decimating mankind. At Cathedral, people live in relative peace and harmony, but the cost of non-compliance is high.
When an outsider is welcomed into Cathedral, Sarah’s once straightforward life is thrown into turmoil as her feelings for him evoke painful memories of the life she has lost, making her question for the first time whether her newfound home is truly as idyllic as she once believed.
For any readers who haven’t previously picked up book one, ‘A Quiet Apocalypse’, then worry not, because ‘Cathedral’ works as a stand-alone piece in its own right. I started the series here and quickly picked up everything I needed to know about the dystopian world Jeffrey has created.
The world-building is incredibly vivid and detailed, for a novella-length work (119 pages). We quickly learn about the world of Cathedral and the various roles all its inhabitants play. It is grounded in enough reality to be believable and credible, with a lot of the more distasteful or abhorrent practices having frighteningly plausible explanations behind them. Like a lot of good post-apocalyptic horror fiction, the horror elements are difficult to read, not only due to the content, but the worryingly close proximity a lot of it is to comparable, real-life scenarios.
The main protagonist, Sarah, is an excellent example. She is a kind, friendly, likeable character, who is content with her life, has a lot of good friends, and genuinely believes in the community she is a part of. We see Cathedral through her eyes and that serves to normalise some aspects of this society which the reader will view as objectionable, but Sarah believes is for the greater good. It is interesting to see her beliefs change as new experiences, coupled with fond memories of her old life, begin to make her realise what this society is denying her.
The book moves along at a fairly slow pace, peppered with acts of shocking violence presented in a very matter of fact manner, and some interesting revelations about the characters and the world they inhabit. This helps keep the momentum moving briskly forward for what is, at heart, a deep-dive character study of a pleasant protagonist with some challenging beliefs, borne from a situation that where her lack of control has resulted in willing acceptance of cruelty as a price paid for safety and security.
‘Cathedral’ is an absolutely captivating book. Complex, dark and immersive, my time in the world Jeffrey has created was over all too soon and I sincerely hope that there will be a book three with more tales to tell.



You can read more reviews of new and upcoming horror releases at https://www.myindiemuse.com/category/...
I also promote indie horror via Twitter - @RickReadsHorror

[Steve Stred · Rating 5 out of 5]

** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **

Over the last number of years, I’ve had the pleasure of both connecting with Dave Jeffery, but also reading a number of his fantastic releases.

Dave has a way of creating beautiful landscapes filled with wretched horrors and characters with depth and faults like no other and when he released his novella ‘A Quiet Apocalypse’ he reimagined what a post-apocalyptic story would look like.

I was very excited to see a follow up announced (and I believe there will be a third as well) and immediately pre-ordered this.

What I liked: ‘Cathedral’ itself isn’t a direct sequel to the first book, but instead a continuation of what’s happening in the world Jeffery created and how the survivors have now adapted to the new, soundless environment.

‘Cathedral’ is more a character study than anything. A drama set in a hostile external environment where groups on the outside struggle to survive and groups on the inside work to keep the outsiders away. Jeffery really created some outstanding characters in this one and I found the growing dread of change, or something is going to happen, played a big role in moving this story along.

The ending was fantastic and while I don’t know if a third book will be following the events here, he’s definitely set it up as a possibility.

What I didn’t like: For those readers who’re expecting a direct sequel and a story of survival again, you may be disappointed, as this isn’t it. I will say, what we are given here is a great entry into the world Jeffery has created, but for some it may feel too different from book one. As well, this is a slow burn, character study and as such, it does take some time to get going. For those looking for a survival story with people running from attackers etc, you’ll be left looking.

Why you should buy this: Jeffery is an amazing writer and this is a prime example. He does so much with so little in this story, it is truly phenomenal. He’s really created a gem here and in my opinion created a superior release to book one. I really loved how this one played out and am now incredibly curious to see where his head will take us for a third installment. This is one series where the sky really is the limit and I would hope that Dave continues releasing books in this world and doesn’t stop with a pre-determined trilogy.

Fantastic.

[Candace Nola · Rating 5 out of 5]

“CaTHEDRAL” is the second book in the Quiet Apocalypse series. I found this book to be a little slower paced than the first book as it dives deeper into the background of the MNG-U virus and its global impact as well as into the creation of the city of “CaTHEDRAL” itself and how it functions. While slower, it is also deep and thought-provoking as you become introduced to Sarah and her thoughts on her new existence. A newly-deaf, she is adjusting to this new way of life, as well as grieving her losses, which include her loved ones, and her music, all of which is now gone from this world. We get to know her through her memories and her inner thoughts on this life as she goes about her daily routine that is life in “CaThEDRAL”.

The governing laws within the city are based on Maslow’s Law, which focuses on the hierarchy of needs. When the needs for food, water, heat and safety are met, then the basic needs of the human condition are met, add in the need for comfort, love and desire then a flourishing populace is created. While forced relationships are less than desirable for the women of this city, the alternative of being forced or facing punishment is worse. The guise of Mate Month at least allows them some control over who they mate with each month.

Each citizen also has a job assignment and in return they are given rations, safety and security; all needs are met, for the good of the city. Sarah has accepted that this is the new way, regardless of how she truly feels inside. But then Sarah meets Paul when he is brought in as a newcomer and immediately feels something towards him, something new.

Paul must learn the ways of “CaTHEDRAL” if he is to survive there, as mistakes are not taken lightly. When a HARBINGER is brought in to face punishment, he is shocked by the treatment of the deaf woman by the citizens of “CaTHEDRAL,” who have been taught that the HARBINGERS, those that were born deaf, were the ones that caused MNG-U to wreak havoc upon the hearing. The newly-deaf are survivors of MNG-U and each one puts all of their fury, grief, and anger into their punishment of this single deaf woman. The HARKS, those survivors that can still hear, are treated almost as badly but are kept alive so they can use their hearing to help protect those that cannot. The HARKS are treated like slaves, kept harnessed and leashed at all times so they cannot escape.

Sarah chooses Paul for her next Mate Month and begins to help him learn the ways of the city and why the laws exist, while feelings she’s never had before begin to develop. “CaTHEDRAL” tells their story as they both try to navigate within the confines of the city and their own secrets.

“CaTHEDRAL” is a screaming example of what could happen when life as we know it, is gone and mankind breaks down to their most primal instincts. When humans succumb to fear, and base survival instincts, what might civilization look like?

This is not a Zombie story, this is not nuclear war fall-out, this is a very plausible, horrifying look at mankind's demise. Beautifully written, deeply thought out, imaginative down to each visceral detail and brutal in its honesty. I was fully immersed in this story, invested in the characters and cannot recommend this series enough.

[Terry Grimwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Cathedral" is both a continuation and stand-alone story set in Dave Jeffery's Silent Apocalypse milieu. While the first novel introduces us to the lawless, post-disaster world outside the often brutal order of the walled city of Cathedral, this one takes us inside those walls, where those deafened by the plague that caused the cataclysm, hold sway. The plot is neat and sublimely logical. The world of Cathedral is deftly drawn and vivid in the imagination. Characterisation is bright and sharp.

There is a tension in the way Cathedral has been set up. On the one hand it is a safe place, a refuge where the newly deaf can live out their lives in relative peace and comfort, but on the other, it is a fascistic society, held together by fear and hatred of the scapegoat, in this case, those who were deaf before the plague struck, and the hearing, who it hunts and enslaves. Punishment for any who cross its tightly controlled boundaries of behaviour or transgress its laws is severe. Cathedral is fuelled by the classic lie of "we are looking after you, so the least you can do is obey".

A quintessentially English dystopia, "Cathedral" is refreshingly different, gritty, horribly realistic and plausible and compelling. Highly recommended.

[A BADDELEY · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something different

The second book was just as good as the first. It was good to read something with a different perspective on the distopyan si fi. And a nice twist at the end.

[GBHBLOfficial · Rating 5 out of 5]

At face value, it is an exciting little apocalyptic tale with tell-pads and harbingers, good guys and bad guys and of course love but the thing that elevates this story and series so far is the deep and thought provoking philosophical questions littered throughout. Whether around the impact of regimented companionship on a person, especially when then faced with true feelings and an inability to cope with them. Or the need for humanity to have a scapegoat to everything negative that happens to them, be it another individual, circumstance, luck or, in this case, deaf people. How about the carnal desire to gather in packs and to follow blindly anyone or anything that offers some form of stability.

It’s deep and really gets your cogs turning as you picture yourself in similar situations and wonder “what would I do?” Cathedral is paced really well and allows you to get to know characters and absorb locations while harbouring a slowly building sense of dread. I very much enjoy being given time, and enough detail, to really get to know a character and Dave Jeffery is a master of that.

Full review at -

https://www.gbhbl.com/book-review-cat...

[Thomas Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting and enthralling new world in horror fiction

In the follow-up to 2019's A Quiet Apocalypse, the main point of view switches from the hearing Chris to a newly-deaf member of Cathedral, a fortified community built within the city limits of Birmingham in England’s West Midlands. Readers of book one only caught the briefest of glances of Cathedral through Chris’s eyes, seen as the largest community in the area at the time, but also populated by a resentful group of people angry at what they have lost and seeking some kind of retribution, some kind of payback. With book two’s narrative told from the point of view of a low-ranking member of the society, with secrets of her own, Jeffery manages to flip the script, show us a different side of the story. A story of individual struggle and compromise in order to improve the lives of the collective.
Protagonist Sarah was once a talented musician with a promising career ahead of her. She, perhaps more than most, is justifiably aggrieved by what has been stolen from her. But she is determined to make the most of a bad situation, as we see while we follow her through her daily chores and activities, also serving as an introduction to life within the walls of Cathedral. Everyone has a job, a role to fulfil to maintain order in the community, whether they farm, or defend the perimeter, or go on patrols with the other so-called Samaritans, hunting down Harbingers, or returning with the most valuable commodity; the hearing (or “Harks” as they are referred to in the story).
Comparisons can be made to certain aspects of human civilisations throughout history, with the barbaric and ruthless punishments meted out by every citizen, at the behest of founder and leader Prefect Stringer and their holy book, “The Testimony”. In times of crisis we always seek strong leadership, but we don’t always find ourselves with the best leader. Some leaders will even manipulate the crisis to profit from it to the detriment of the populace (we don’t have to look too far into the past or too far from the front pages of news sites to find a perfect example). While A Quiet Apocalypse was written before the Covid-19 pandemic, Jeffery perfectly detailed the prejudices faced by one group of people unfairly villainised for a tragedy not of their doing. With Cathedral, he could very well have been drawing on real life, the speed with which “we’re all in this together” turned into resentment and finger-pointing. He demonstrates an incredible talent for translating the horrors of reality and the primal nature of humans to the page without losing the entertainment value.
The catalyst of the story is the introduction of a new male inhabitant for Cathedral. There is an instant spark of attraction between Sarah and Paul when he first arrives, and she soon takes advantage of “Date Month” to get to know him, much to the light-hearted annoyance of her closest friend Alice. While Sarah introduces Paul to life within the walls of the city, they grow closer, until Paul reveals a tragedy from his past, one which only seems to strengthen their bond. But he doesn’t take to the barbarous way of life as easy as he takes to Sarah, and this soon leads to the main conflict. We wouldn’t want to give anything away, but we are only hinting at the tip of the iceberg, as there is so much more to this story than what little we have detailed here.
The horrors of what passes for justice in Cathedral, as well as their attempts to grow the population and what happens when it all goes wrong, really make for dark storytelling. We’d like to think that humanity wouldn’t sink to such terrible lows in a global emergency. But, even before Covid-19, there seemed to be overwhelming evidence to suggest just that. Still, as long as we don’t descend to the bloody scenes born in Jeffery’s imagination, perhaps there is hope for the human race yet. Sarah’s hopes for the future do offer a glimmer of hope in a mostly bleak landscape, but Jeffery continues the tone he set out in book one. Readers will be able to pick up Cathedral and be thoroughly entertained without first having read A Quiet Apocalypse, but they would be depriving themselves of an exciting and enthralling new world in horror fiction, from an author who only seems to be growing in confidence and talent with each installment. And, with the possibility of more stories from this post-World’s End setting, readers will want to get the complete story right from the start.

[Theresa Derwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the first book, A Quiet Apocalypse, we follow Chris. After a unique strain of meningitis kills most of the population, those who have survived have lost their hearing and rely on indentured hearing folk to help them survive.
There are Harks, born deaf who are hunted down.
There are Samaritans - who hunt them and round up survivors to live in the city Cathedral.
There are those who still hear and are essentially slaves.
Now, in this book we go right into the ‘city’ Cathedral, a central walled off part of Birmingham, where Chapter 9 of the Testament is their rule book.
Here we follow Sarah who used to dream of being a musician, but those dreams are now illegal, just like any reference to music is.
It’s mating month and she chooses Paul, a recent arrival.
Like the previous book, this is dark and it’s grim, but it’s beautifully written, tight plotting, great dialogue through use of ‘TEL-PADS’ and there are plenty of shocks and heartbreaking moments. In fact the engine blew me away.
Where AQA is insular, this shows is a wider story and it’s horrific.
In fact this is such an important piece of writing I think in future it will be up there with The Road and The Handmaid’s Tale and will be taught at schools.
The most frightening aspect isn’t the brutality or the slavery. It’s the regime that people believe in.

[Kev Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thrilled to get stuck into a second story in the 'A Quiet Apocalypse' universe and it was no surprise to me that I loved every minute of it.
Taking a similarly microcosmic approach to an entire world of destruction as the first instalment, this time we are thrown into the titular city, Cathedral (formerly Birmingham, a place I lived for half a decade).
Without ever moving away from serving the story, Jeffery uncovers the daily life and rituals of the city through the eyes of Sarah, one of its residents. Everything is reasonably simple - if already horribly bleak by real-life standards - until Paul arrives.
Cathedral is, at its heart, a love story. It shows us, though, that something as cataclysmic as the event which brought about the harsh, terrifying world of this series leaves its mark indelibly on everything, love included.
I know that there are further books in this series on the way and I cannot wait for them. There are so many stories to tell and with each one, you get the sense that only a fragment of the terrifying whole is being revealed.
A must read for me.

[Adam Hulse · Rating 5 out of 5]

A welcome sequel which focuses on the almost cult-like society within Cathedral. Jeffery paints the landscape so expertly in book 1 that we are up to speed from the very start of this read. Although we're introduced to new characters and a new story, the cruel environment has a familiarity thanks to the author's detailed continuity. This allows for immediate interest and emotional investment as Jeffery layers on the details of day-to-day life in this new society. The reward for toiling so hard at world building is that most stories will work under their umbrella. This certainly is the case here. Cathedral focues more on threat than out and out scares and violence but this tale of lost love still rattles along at a pleasing pace. The strict regime is suffocating and a claustrophobic atmosphere makes for a really tense read. There's a cracking twist too. Next month I'll be reading books 3 and 4, and I cannot wait!

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

While we were introduced to the idea of Cathedral in book one, book two gives us a more inside view to its workings. (You can easily read this as a standalone however). The more we get to know Sarah and the life she has in Cathedral, the deeper we dive into this 'utopia' amidst a post-apocalyptic world. This book has the same deep world building and character development as book one, even though it focuses on a much smaller piece of the broader world introduced to those who read the previous book. It's interesting to watch as Sarah changes throughout the story. An enthralling read.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. Can’t recommend it enough. Find my full review here.

https://www.britishfantasysociety.org...

[E.L. Giles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dave Jeffery proves with CATHEDRAL that he is as talented an author as he is versatile. Written from the point of view of a resident of Cathedral, Dave offers us a troubling view of the social damages the apocalypse left in its wake and what people are willing to do to survive and give sense to their everyday struggles.

It's nothing short of horrific.

Externally, Cathedral might look like a haven of safety, peace, and prosperity (for the survivors directly impacted by the virus). In reality, its walls hide the brutal reality the survivors live by, enslaved by a system they fight teeth and claws to protect, even at the cost of their humanity.

[Patricia_PS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark and horrific.
New characters: compelling and very interesting.
Another great ending.

[Kayleigh Marie Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another spectacular story from Dave Jeffery in the second instalment of the series. Liked it even more than the first. The world-building is excellent here, as are the characters and pacing.

[Anthony Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

*CONTAINS MASSIVE SPOILERS*
Ah man. I so wanted to like this more. Having read and enjoyed A Quiet Apocalypse I was really looking forward to this novella but I can only give it three stars because so much of it fell short for me.
What set AQA aside from so much other PA fiction was the reason behind the apocalypse. It was a cleverly thought out idea and backed up with science. In contrast, there’s a development in Cathedral which just doesn’t work for me – the deafness brought about by the meningitis infection is somehow passed on to the children of the survivors. I’m guessing Dave knows that this isn’t really scientifically possible so kinda skirts over it with a throwaway line and offers no rationale for it. And yeah, I know I’m being pedantic but having done the work for the first book, and providing a rational explanation, this felt like a let-down in comparison.
Of course, if the children were born hearing that would be the end of the apocalypse and the societal structures which have been set up to accommodate this new world of the deaf so in essence it’s a plot device.
That said, the way this device is then used leads to some confused logic: the babies which are born deaf are killed – something I couldn’t get my head around as the totalitarian regime which exists in Cathedral (a walled community built in the ruins of Birmingham) uses the deafness of its inhabitants as a means of controlling them. Those few “Harks” who have retained their hearing are kept as prisoners and are deemed untrustworthy, a threat to society so surely it would make sense to keep the deaf children in order that they become complacent and compliant residents?
There’s a kind of explanation given that babies born deaf would then be the equivalent of “Harbingers” – those who were deaf before the infection hit and therefore not so as a result of it - and who are blamed for being the instigators of the plague and executed accordingly. Hmm. But they’re not. They’re first generation post-plague so can’t be responsible.
Maybe I’m overthinking. These are rules created by a despotic regime so I guess they don’t have to make sense. I’m easily confused these days too but I have to say these concerns took me out of the story.
In the spirit of getting all the bad stuff out the way first, I’ll mention now that the MS probably could have done with another pass at proofing. There aren’t that many typos as such but there are a few instances where the wrong spelling has been used for a word (yolk/yoke, cleft/clef) and some where the wrong word itself has been used. The story is told in first person and at times adopts an air of profundity, using grandiloquent language to imply a sense of gravitas – which I’m cool with, style is as important as content – but it’s undermined at times by bad or wrong word choices.
Ah man.
There’s a ton of good stuff in here too. I still think the world Dave has created is an interesting and exciting one. The characters he’s introduced here are all entirely believable in their actions and motivations and the horror of the regime in Cathedral is brutally realised. The Quiet Apocalypse remains a brilliant concept and I guess I’m just disappointed that with its (perceived) flaws Cathedral didn’t do it justice.

[Nat Whiston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cathedral Review by Nat Whiston
By Dave Jeffery
Published by Demain Publication
Pages:119
Cover by Adrian Baldwin; central art piece by Dark Artist Roberto Segate

CATHEDRAL ... The world has changed. So have the rules.

In the silence of a quiet apocalypse, there is Cathedral. It is a city like no other, sanctuary for the survivors of a terrible plague that has deafened the world. The walls protect the small community. Rituals and laws maintain order to prevent a return to chaos.

But Cathedral is a dangerous and complex place. For citizens like Sarah and newcomer Paul it can be either home or prison.

They just have to decide where their loyalties lie…

Bloody Hell, what a shock to the system. After reading the first book of the series, I knew I was not going to be disappointed. Cathedral is not what I expected; instead of continuing from the first book, I'm faced with a whole new story and a very different viewpoint. We follow Sarah, the main character who used to be a musician before the virus took her hearing. She is a resident behind the walls of the Cathedral and seems pretty happy about the arrangement. She has come to accept the depraved actions and laws of this place. At a lot of points, it was hard for me to stomach, and it felt so real, so vivid, and it challenges every fibre of your being. The detail and depth behind every character are incredible. Dave’s imagination knows no bounds. He put me through the wringer with this story, expecting it to go one way and then suddenly it's an entirely different story again. The use of imagery and effective use of dialogue had me so immersed I forgot people were there. I could see Birmingham, feel the anxiety of the arrival of the newcomer Paul. His relationship with Sarah evolves in a way you really do not expect. The city where murder is the norm and committed relationships are considered dangerous or not meeting the needs of the law baffle me. So I was rooting for the two characters, but little did I know Dave had other plans. A dystopian future wherein this place violence was a way of life and, in some cases, an outlet for dealing with the things they've lost. Treating people of hearing as if they're nothing more than a dog on a leash, removing them from even being recognised as human. The sheer insanity of justifying torture, rape and murder of deaf born human beings, it is almost as if facing the truth was too painful. So it was easier to dehumanise and debase these poor people than realise they could not possibly be responsible for a disease they didn't create. The emotional roller-coaster Dave put me through was awesome, and the ending. Mr Jeffrey, I've never sworn so much in my life over the conclusion of a book.
The paperback will be joining my bookshelf in July, and I can't wait for the release of Samaritan. As far as creating a dystopian world is concerned, Jeffrey's has it down to fine art, and I can't wait for the next installation.

[Sarah Graven Weir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Towards the end of book 1 A Quiet Apocalypse there is talk about a place called Cathedral, this is where the survivors come to seek refuge and now populate. Except Cathedral is much darker and more complicated than l could have ever anticipated! The intricate detail into how Cathedral functions as a city is extremely well thought out, but also very unnerving under what is known as Maslow's law. We get to explore and discover the depth of this through the eyes of a new character called Sarah. Cathedral does not look back or continue with Chris's story, instead focusing on Sarah who is already living in Cathedral. At first l thought what about Chris? Then l concluded this is a new chapter and it makes more sense to discover about Cathedral by reading about a character who actually lives in this sanctuary. Cathedral focuses more on characterization and the person's background, which l found interesting to learn about Sarah's life before MNG-U. This allowed me to have a better understanding and to grasp the meaning behind Sarah's thought processes, in relation to her surroundings.
At the very beginning we are informed about a tell-pad device, this allows people to communicate through a screen and removes the need for signing and hand guestures giving people an almost robotic appearance. l felt this was a more controlled and restrictive way of monitoring and dehumanizing people. However l could see the positive advantages when it came to being informed about the latest news and events taking place, and how Cathedral has had to adapt.
There is even the chance for mate month, this is where you can attend a date meeting to seek out a companion for the month. A bizzare concept where relationships are not permitted, and you cannot belong to anyone because others will need you. What l really appreciated in the story, is how we get to find out that Sarah is attracted to both men and women without having to actually state her sexuality. She is simply meeting a person for mate month who happens to be a woman. Sarah later spots Paul a newcomer, and decides she would like to put in a request for mate month. Sarah soon becomes very fond of Paul and begins to question her feelings and devotion for him. This in turn puts both Sarah and Paul's lives in jeopardy, and they soon need to decide where their true loyalities lie!

The pace of the story telling has noticably slowed down in comparison to A Quiet Apocalypase book 1. l found this very refreshing as l was able to take in more scope and knowledge of how the cogs turn in Cathedral. An once again, l continued to read with my earplugs in as l felt it was absolutely necessary to stay attuned to this world! l eagerly await the physical release of The Samaritan book 3.

[Benjamin Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I returned to the world of A Quiet Apocalypse to read its sequel/companion novella. I was expecting it to pick up where AQA left off, but it doesn’t. Instead, we are taken to the city of Cathedral where we see the story of Sarah unfold. Sarah is an obedient citizen of Cathedral, so it was fascinating to see how it was perceived from the inside. Jeffrey showed us its structure and its laws which, while difficult, had their own logic. I could understand why some would be indoctrinated into this life.
Sarah’s life changes, however, when a survivor named Paul is brought in from the outside. Cathedral has elements of a love story about it, and a forbidden love story at that. Jeffrey handles the emotional moments well and quickly makes you invested in their romance. The way the story unfolds leaves you wondering if Sarah will be drawn to rebel against the community she is a part of. As such, I struggled to put it down until I reached the end, when once more Jeffrey left me flabbergasted. It won’t be long before I’m pulled back into this world once more to read the third in the series, Samaritan.
You don’t have to have read A Quiet Apocalypse to enjoy this, though you’ll get more out of it when you see the links between the two.

[Christopher Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn, this author knows how to write an ending!

Book 1 ('A Quiet Apocalypse') left me hooked on the world he'd created, and Book 2 ('Cathedral') is, if anything, even better, expanding that world and adding greater emotional depth.

NB: Book 2 is not a sequel, but it is set in the same brutal dystopia - and there's a momentary but unexpectedly poignant tie-in at one point. I won't spoil it, other than to say it really rammed home to me how much the survivors of the Quiet Apocalypse have lost, which in turn made the new order they have built that much more realistic.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novella, and thanks especially to another powerful ending, it's going to stay in my head a long time.

[Happy Goat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review on Happy Goat Horror:
https://happygoathorror.com/2023/01/0...

And to think, I didn't think I'd like this one more than the first. This is the second book in the A Quiet Apocalypse series. I do think it's worth mentioning that this series is nothing like A Quiet Place or Tim Lebbon's (awesome) The Silence. The title refers to a completely different set-up, so put any pre-conceived notions out of your mind and just dive in.

I love books that stay with me long after reading them, and Cathedral just won't leave! Thought-provoking and emotive work, and thoroughly recommend.

[Bella Joyner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I literally could NOT wait to read this sequel. I read it immediately after the first. I wanted to see what happened to Chris. However, Jeffery strung me along in a deliciously dystopian fashion. We were introduced to a new cast of characters with bits and pieces from the first novel - burnt piano, anyone? - peppered throughout. Jeffery is genius, giving us insight into Cathedral and the life of the Samaritans that we only vaguely touched on in the first book. Please, please tell me there will be a third novel!

[Zachary Finn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding follow up to “A Quiet Apocalypse”. Like the first book in the series, the character and world building is done with tight writing and outstanding prose. The story is dark, gloomy and brooding in all the best ways. And again, outstanding twist at the end. Looking forward to following what’s next in this series!