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It's Over or It's Eden
The war against aliens is over. Earth lost—and humans are nearly extinct…
Arwen Cruz watched her parents, brother, and sister die in an endless war. As the last surviving soldier in her battalion, she staggers out of a bombed-out military base and heads north. Arwen’s ready to leave the alien strongholds—and the lost cause of fighting them—far behind.
She makes it to the deadly wilderness of the Rocky Mountains only to battle starvation instead of invaders. Marah Bennett finds Arwen and suggests she join her small, secluded group—a cult that split from society long before aliens arrived. Arwen accepts, but quickly realizes she doesn’t belong—and escaping during the harsh winter is impossible. While living amongst the cult, Arwen discovers a dark secret—a key to reviving her planet—if she can survive long enough to uncover it.
Arwen Cruz watched her parents, brother, and sister die in an endless war. As the last surviving soldier in her battalion, she staggers out of a bombed-out military base and heads north. Arwen’s ready to leave the alien strongholds—and the lost cause of fighting them—far behind.
She makes it to the deadly wilderness of the Rocky Mountains only to battle starvation instead of invaders. Marah Bennett finds Arwen and suggests she join her small, secluded group—a cult that split from society long before aliens arrived. Arwen accepts, but quickly realizes she doesn’t belong—and escaping during the harsh winter is impossible. While living amongst the cult, Arwen discovers a dark secret—a key to reviving her planet—if she can survive long enough to uncover it.
206 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 21, 2021
55 people are currently reading
735 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 2, 2021
Well, you know I love a good post-apocalyptic, so it won't surprise you that I loved this book.
The debut novel from Rebecca Zornow brings us into a world where aliens have all but wiped out mankind and we are hanging on by a thread. The military is dwindled and all but powerless and finding any human life outside military bases is difficult.
Arwen is a soldier who recently left her base and is on her own in the wilderness. Near starvation, she is found by Marah, a woman from an small community in the wilderness, and is taken in to their village. Theirs is a matriarchal power base and the women run the community. Arwen learns they’ve even rewritten the bible by hand to make God a woman. Hey, I can get behind that.
I will stay away from spoilers, but things get very complicated for our two main characters. As you can imagine, Arwen does not fit into this community well. Marah is also conflicted between her new friend, her family obligations, and the very strict rules of her village.
Again, trying to stay away from spoilers, but we also learn the aliens who have been at war for years are not at all what they were thought to be. And this small community is no match for what’s ahead. It is up to Arwen and Marah to find a solution.
There are some great tech and sci-fi elements to the book, like Arwen’s body suit and weapon, and the glimpses we get of the aliens and their robot warriors. But the book is not about that. Zornow does a great job of focusing on the human elements of the story and brings us into the character’s emotions, embracing all the emotional turmoil and difficult choices that go on as things change. It is really centered on two women and how they come to terms with their own inner demons, their conflicting belief systems, and a surrounding community that doesn’t really fit for either of them.
The debut novel from Rebecca Zornow brings us into a world where aliens have all but wiped out mankind and we are hanging on by a thread. The military is dwindled and all but powerless and finding any human life outside military bases is difficult.
Arwen is a soldier who recently left her base and is on her own in the wilderness. Near starvation, she is found by Marah, a woman from an small community in the wilderness, and is taken in to their village. Theirs is a matriarchal power base and the women run the community. Arwen learns they’ve even rewritten the bible by hand to make God a woman. Hey, I can get behind that.
I will stay away from spoilers, but things get very complicated for our two main characters. As you can imagine, Arwen does not fit into this community well. Marah is also conflicted between her new friend, her family obligations, and the very strict rules of her village.
Again, trying to stay away from spoilers, but we also learn the aliens who have been at war for years are not at all what they were thought to be. And this small community is no match for what’s ahead. It is up to Arwen and Marah to find a solution.
There are some great tech and sci-fi elements to the book, like Arwen’s body suit and weapon, and the glimpses we get of the aliens and their robot warriors. But the book is not about that. Zornow does a great job of focusing on the human elements of the story and brings us into the character’s emotions, embracing all the emotional turmoil and difficult choices that go on as things change. It is really centered on two women and how they come to terms with their own inner demons, their conflicting belief systems, and a surrounding community that doesn’t really fit for either of them.
November 11, 2022
Kept my interest, I enjoy apocalyptic scenarios, got a little bizarre toward the end but then it is sci fi...
November 9, 2021
“It’s Over or It’s Eden” is a book that will not only touch your heart, but reach right into your past and challenge the things you thought you knew. In this character-driven narrative, we follow two women living as the last tendrils of civilization are snuffed out. Even as buildings burn and aliens hunt, they are still confronted by the laws and institutions that have been set to determine their futures for them—as humans, above all, but also as women, friends, lovers, fighters, and leaders.
With raw, emotional grit, Rebecca Zornow leads us through a tale about finding who you are while everything else falls apart. A fiercely honest story, written with bold intent, “It’s Over or It’s Eden” is a feast for the mind… not to mention, way too funny for its own good.
With raw, emotional grit, Rebecca Zornow leads us through a tale about finding who you are while everything else falls apart. A fiercely honest story, written with bold intent, “It’s Over or It’s Eden” is a feast for the mind… not to mention, way too funny for its own good.
December 18, 2023
I heard about this book through a colleague at work. Read it during a really difficult time since fantasy and dystopian books can often provide a welcome distraction when life is challenging. I didn't have any expectations going in, but I really loved this! The story is set in a post-apocalyptic landscape near the end of a humanity-destroying war with aliens. Soldier Arwen Cruz is the only one left after an attack on her base. She sets out to flee the aliens and hopefully find other surviving members of her species, but soon realizes she may be the only one left. When she stumbles across a cult-like settling of humans, she is not sure if she has found a source of hope and support or another enemy. This was a complete page-turner and I was captivated night after night. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
June 21, 2025
My favorite book of Rebecca’s so far. I absolutely loved the post-alien invasion world turned cult that she created. I was hooked and invested in the story immediately, and it kept me guessing until the end! I wish it was a series! I could have lived in this world for at least 3 books. What a brilliant and intriguing science fiction debut novel!
June 22, 2024
A hard book to rate, it bordered on really good a few times, but always, just before it got there, it bogged down again.
The main characters never quite get their full development, always shying away before the exceptional happens.
The main characters never quite get their full development, always shying away before the exceptional happens.
September 10, 2025
It took me a bit to get into this book but once I was in I was LOCKED IN. Fantastic storytelling, complex characters, and such thought provoking trials.
June 27, 2023
Fantastic premise but needs serious proofreading … basic mistakes such as passed for past and shutter for shudder. Such a shame on what could be an absolute gem of a book.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3 for rating purposes.
I’d love to see more from this author if collaborated with a proofreader.
***
NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.
5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3 for rating purposes.
I’d love to see more from this author if collaborated with a proofreader.
***
NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.
5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.
November 10, 2022
I found out this is a debut novel after I’d read it and I thought it was pretty good without knowing its someone’s first! An enjoyable dystopian future novel with aliens killing off humanity and our main character struggling to survive. The variations on this theme are many, but this book has some nice twists that kept me thinking. I would like to read the next one if the writer does a series.
The title of this novel “It’s Over or It’s Eden” is horrible. I sincerely hope it gets a new title!
The title of this novel “It’s Over or It’s Eden” is horrible. I sincerely hope it gets a new title!
May 1, 2025
I just don’t think this book was for me. I found the way the story was told back and forth between characters as interesting but the overall story just lacked for me personally. I think the premise was there and if the story was expanded and some of the characters and ideas of the book were explored more it could make for a really good book but everything just felt a bit surface level all the way through as if the reader was just expected to accept certain aspects of the story instead of expanding on them and really developing the world the story took part in.
March 14, 2022
Rebecca's format was very insightful (for me) to better understand the main character's mindset under duress.
Rebecca commands excellent character focus as they explore emotions they thought were simply ordinary. Thus, they uncover inner strength that becomes the main driver for their existence in a world they thought they knew.
Excellent use of crisp sentencing structure. This style kept me so thoroughly engaged I had a hard time putting the book down until I finished.
Very enjoyable!
Rebecca commands excellent character focus as they explore emotions they thought were simply ordinary. Thus, they uncover inner strength that becomes the main driver for their existence in a world they thought they knew.
Excellent use of crisp sentencing structure. This style kept me so thoroughly engaged I had a hard time putting the book down until I finished.
Very enjoyable!
July 26, 2023
Bi rep
"I turned on my heal" (multiple homonym spelling errors)
I found the plot resolution a bit disconnected from the story--it had a deus ex machina feel. Maybe that is why the story doesn't feel resolved and the end just seemed to...stop, in spite of the plot resolution. Maybe because Arwen's encounter at the climax was in Marah's POV, and we heard Arwen tell us about it later, thus losing immediacy.
Great premise, just didn't quite make it for me.
"I turned on my heal" (multiple homonym spelling errors)
I found the plot resolution a bit disconnected from the story--it had a deus ex machina feel. Maybe that is why the story doesn't feel resolved and the end just seemed to...stop, in spite of the plot resolution. Maybe because Arwen's encounter at the climax was in Marah's POV, and we heard Arwen tell us about it later, thus losing immediacy.
Great premise, just didn't quite make it for me.
June 16, 2024
Well, this was less sci-fi and more of a comment on strict religious practices. If you are hoping for space ships, combat action, or anything alien it’s few and far between. There is a little mystery/intrigue and eventually the alien(s) actually make an appearance. For me, I was expecting more of the typical military sci-fi action so this wasn’t really my cup of tea though maybe it comes in further books.
October 8, 2021
A Different Kind of Space Invasion Story
Interesting narrative approach, with point of view changing on chapters. Plot seemed very plausible, character development worked, story arc moved along smartly. Read this if you're looking for a change from hard military science fiction. (I won this on Goodreads.)
Interesting narrative approach, with point of view changing on chapters. Plot seemed very plausible, character development worked, story arc moved along smartly. Read this if you're looking for a change from hard military science fiction. (I won this on Goodreads.)
March 9, 2022
A thoroughly enjoyable, genre bridging, progressive vision that scratches at humanity’s social scars with a comfortable style that wakes us without drawing blood. The sci-fi flavor is aptly seasoned throughout this social commentary, leaving even this hardcore sci-fi junkie happily chewing on the author’s food for thought.
October 19, 2021
I'm admittedly not a Scifi fan, however, this story grabbed me and pulled me into it. In this contest where our heroine has to choose between a force she could not defeat and path to survival that is not appealing, we find a compelling story with characters you're bound to care about.
September 1, 2023
overall a nice interesting book but I think it misses a bit in regards to the sci-fi part. Also the ending is interesting but stops way too early. I'd much rather having a more complete plot instead of 10 pages at the end that summarize everything
May 10, 2024
compelling page turner
I loved this book! The story moves at a nice pace and you get immersed in the story. It’s part self-discovery, alien first contact, and found family. It all works and this is a must read!
I loved this book! The story moves at a nice pace and you get immersed in the story. It’s part self-discovery, alien first contact, and found family. It all works and this is a must read!
October 26, 2024
A nice very readable sci-fi book!
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good book to escape into! The authors writing style is easy to follow, and the storyline interesting!
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good book to escape into! The authors writing style is easy to follow, and the storyline interesting!
January 26, 2025
Another post apoptotic effort
An interesting take on a common theme. Characters are weak and not well developed but suffer from the usual set of human weaknesses. Story is very open ended with only partial resolution as if the writer tried to set up a follow on book.
An interesting take on a common theme. Characters are weak and not well developed but suffer from the usual set of human weaknesses. Story is very open ended with only partial resolution as if the writer tried to set up a follow on book.
June 28, 2022
This book was wonderful. I felt like I was right at Arwen's side during the whole time!
I can't wait for Rebecca's next book!!!
I can't wait for Rebecca's next book!!!
November 14, 2022
Boring.
December 1, 2022
Interesting premise but weak finish.
August 17, 2024
This book was meh. It has to many open ended potential plot holes. It’s also full of “woke” idealism. Borderline annoying.
March 17, 2025
Interesting take on a matriarchal society
December 5, 2021
Excellent debut novel by Zornow. Well-paced throughout, engaging, and thoughtful. An overall delight.
June 7, 2024
Aliens, Apocalypse, Mystery...Zornow's debut novel gives plenty of reason to keep reading. Tying it together are the characterizations, especially of the two female protagonists, Arwen and Marah. Fast-paced and witty, It's Over or It's Eden is a perfect addition to one's library, digital or otherwise.
December 11, 2022
Cool premise, mostly-relatable main characters, and interesting twists.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews