What do you think?
Rate this book
Until the End of the World #3
All the Stars in the Sky
The final book in the Until the End of the World series is here!
Cassie Forrest has sworn she’ll never let the world get the best of her again.
She’s chosen to believe everything will be all right.
But on a journey filled with heartbreak and madness and zombies, Cassie and her friends must struggle to stay alive—and it’s hard to believe in a future when survival seems unlikely.
Cassie Forrest has sworn she’ll never let the world get the best of her again.
She’s chosen to believe everything will be all right.
But on a journey filled with heartbreak and madness and zombies, Cassie and her friends must struggle to stay alive—and it’s hard to believe in a future when survival seems unlikely.
349 pages, ebook
First published January 28, 2015
242 people are currently reading
1213 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Lyons Fleming
16 books1,485 followersI'm a wannabe prepper and lover of anything pre-apocalyptic, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic—-or anything in between. Add in some humor and romance, and I'm in heaven.
Besides an unhealthy obsession with home-canned food and Bug Out Bag equipment, I love books, making artsy stuff and laughing my arse off. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, I now live in Oregon with my family and, in my opinion, not nearly enough supplies for the zombie apocalypse. But I'm working on it.
Besides an unhealthy obsession with home-canned food and Bug Out Bag equipment, I love books, making artsy stuff and laughing my arse off. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, I now live in Oregon with my family and, in my opinion, not nearly enough supplies for the zombie apocalypse. But I'm working on it.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 406 reviews
January 16, 2023
Sarah Lyons Fleming has become an author I read and reread.
Love this book.
Love this book.
August 10, 2024
I've only got 2x books left by this author to read!! I've just powered through her book series and now I've just about reached the end!! Now the hunt begins for a similar author.
This series got better and better each book, the feels came, the tears came and then the laughs and love came for these characters who had lost so much but still lived to see another day, this was a slow burn which quickly got its hooks into me never wanting me to close that last page.
Now I have to hope this author jumps in her writing cave and gives me more words.
I never used to want to ever read this genre, then along came 'The walking dead' and my love for this genre took off in leaps and bounds, this genre just ticks all those boxes which I crave in my books. Dark, gritty, emotional and this author ticks every single box every single time..
I came to love these characters like family, I suffered alongside them as they lost someone they loved, but it ended how it started, a love that stood the test of time, from best friends to more.
This series got better and better each book, the feels came, the tears came and then the laughs and love came for these characters who had lost so much but still lived to see another day, this was a slow burn which quickly got its hooks into me never wanting me to close that last page.
Now I have to hope this author jumps in her writing cave and gives me more words.
I never used to want to ever read this genre, then along came 'The walking dead' and my love for this genre took off in leaps and bounds, this genre just ticks all those boxes which I crave in my books. Dark, gritty, emotional and this author ticks every single box every single time..
I came to love these characters like family, I suffered alongside them as they lost someone they loved, but it ended how it started, a love that stood the test of time, from best friends to more.
February 25, 2015
I was reluctant to start this book, only because the thought of seeing Cassie,Peter,Nelly,and the rest of the gangs journey end, formed knots in my stomach. Cassie Forester has been on one long, devastating journey suffering from one loss after another. I couldn't bare the thought of how their last trek for survival might end. The three books prior to, All the Stars in the Sky, were all beautifully written. I've said it once, and I'll continue you to say it again, and again. Sarah Lyons Fleming has a unique way of writing beautiful words, and literally making all of her characters come to life, right before your eyes. This book is absoultley no different.
All The Stars in the Sky,starts off right where the second book ends. Cassie and the gang are fighting their way to Alaska, looking for anywhere they can live happily and safely. I love how Flemings put characters from her tie in book, So Long, Lollipops, right in the middle of this one. It was like being reunited with old friends, from my own past. And I enjoyed every second of it.
There were moments when my heart dropped to the pit of my stomach, and moments where I found myself laughing out loud. Moments where I saw clarity in the grieving process that each one of these characters have to go through. Because in a world set in the Zompoc, everybody has lost somebody important to them.
The chemistry between each of the characters here is real,and believable, which makes it so much easier to relate to each of them in their own special way. You want each of them to survive and find their happiness, but you cringe at every corner, afraid that finally their number has come. Fleming's has made it clear her first two books that, nobody is safe in this world.
This was a perfect ending to one of the best series, I have ever personally read. Flemings leaves no stone left unturned,no questions left unanswered. The way a story should end, a proper Good-bye to each and every character we've come to know and love.
So, prepare your heart. Buckle up, and go ahead and take the Final ride with, All The Stars in the Sky!!
All The Stars in the Sky,starts off right where the second book ends. Cassie and the gang are fighting their way to Alaska, looking for anywhere they can live happily and safely. I love how Flemings put characters from her tie in book, So Long, Lollipops, right in the middle of this one. It was like being reunited with old friends, from my own past. And I enjoyed every second of it.
There were moments when my heart dropped to the pit of my stomach, and moments where I found myself laughing out loud. Moments where I saw clarity in the grieving process that each one of these characters have to go through. Because in a world set in the Zompoc, everybody has lost somebody important to them.
The chemistry between each of the characters here is real,and believable, which makes it so much easier to relate to each of them in their own special way. You want each of them to survive and find their happiness, but you cringe at every corner, afraid that finally their number has come. Fleming's has made it clear her first two books that, nobody is safe in this world.
This was a perfect ending to one of the best series, I have ever personally read. Flemings leaves no stone left unturned,no questions left unanswered. The way a story should end, a proper Good-bye to each and every character we've come to know and love.
So, prepare your heart. Buckle up, and go ahead and take the Final ride with, All The Stars in the Sky!!
December 27, 2017
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This was a really good conclusion to the series. When I find a series that I enjoy, I usually try to take a bit of a break between books just to stretch things out a bit. After finishing the previous book in this series, And After, I knew that this would be a situation where I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. It has been quite the adventure with Cassie and the group.
This is the third book in the Until the End of the World series which I do think needs to be read in order. This book picks up immediately after the events of the previous book. I do my best to write spoiler free reviews but there may be some spoilers about events from earlier books. The second book really left the group in a desperate situation which is where we find them as this book opens.
Cassie and the group need to make to a new safe zone. The plan has been to head to Alaska if Kingdom Come was compromised. She is with a small group making their way by vehicle across Canada to reach their goal and hoping to avoid the zombie pods. They have limited supplies in terms of food and fuel but they are resourceful and work well together. During their travels, they encounter some pretty scary situations that had me at the edge of my seat. They run into some really nice people and some people who could be described as anything but nice. I felt like I was right there with the group and wanted to see them reach safety more than anything.
This was a really exciting book. There seemed to be more instances where they had to deal with life-threatening zombie situations. They spent nearly the entire book in danger. I did think that the book slowed down for me at the end. The last section of the book focused more on relationships than anything else and I thought it was drawn out just a bit. I did like the fact that the characters continued to talk about other characters that have died to keep their memory alive. I thought this felt really authentic and it helped me get over a certain character that was lost at the end of the second book. Can you tell that some of these deaths still bother me? No character is ever safe in the zombie apocalypse.
Julia Whelan does an amazing job with this series. There is a large cast of characters and she did a fabulous job representing them in the same manner in each book of the series. I was constantly pulled into the book through her narration. Exciting scenes, funny scenes, and more heartfelt scenes are all handled equally well. I listened to this book for hours at a time and definitely plan to listen to her work again in the future.
I would recommend this series to others. I think that fans of The Walking Dead would appreciate this story of survival. I liked the series enough that it is one that I hope to listen to it again at some point in a few years. I hope to read more works by Sarah Lyons Fleming in the future.
Initial Thoughts
This was a good conclusion. The group was in a lot of danger for much of the book so there was a lot of excitement. It did fizzle out a bit during the last hour or so of the audio when the focus was almost entirely on romance. Overall, I really enjoyed the whole series.
Book source: Audible purchase
This was a really good conclusion to the series. When I find a series that I enjoy, I usually try to take a bit of a break between books just to stretch things out a bit. After finishing the previous book in this series, And After, I knew that this would be a situation where I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. It has been quite the adventure with Cassie and the group.
This is the third book in the Until the End of the World series which I do think needs to be read in order. This book picks up immediately after the events of the previous book. I do my best to write spoiler free reviews but there may be some spoilers about events from earlier books. The second book really left the group in a desperate situation which is where we find them as this book opens.
Cassie and the group need to make to a new safe zone. The plan has been to head to Alaska if Kingdom Come was compromised. She is with a small group making their way by vehicle across Canada to reach their goal and hoping to avoid the zombie pods. They have limited supplies in terms of food and fuel but they are resourceful and work well together. During their travels, they encounter some pretty scary situations that had me at the edge of my seat. They run into some really nice people and some people who could be described as anything but nice. I felt like I was right there with the group and wanted to see them reach safety more than anything.
This was a really exciting book. There seemed to be more instances where they had to deal with life-threatening zombie situations. They spent nearly the entire book in danger. I did think that the book slowed down for me at the end. The last section of the book focused more on relationships than anything else and I thought it was drawn out just a bit. I did like the fact that the characters continued to talk about other characters that have died to keep their memory alive. I thought this felt really authentic and it helped me get over a certain character that was lost at the end of the second book. Can you tell that some of these deaths still bother me? No character is ever safe in the zombie apocalypse.
Julia Whelan does an amazing job with this series. There is a large cast of characters and she did a fabulous job representing them in the same manner in each book of the series. I was constantly pulled into the book through her narration. Exciting scenes, funny scenes, and more heartfelt scenes are all handled equally well. I listened to this book for hours at a time and definitely plan to listen to her work again in the future.
I would recommend this series to others. I think that fans of The Walking Dead would appreciate this story of survival. I liked the series enough that it is one that I hope to listen to it again at some point in a few years. I hope to read more works by Sarah Lyons Fleming in the future.
Initial Thoughts
This was a good conclusion. The group was in a lot of danger for much of the book so there was a lot of excitement. It did fizzle out a bit during the last hour or so of the audio when the focus was almost entirely on romance. Overall, I really enjoyed the whole series.
Book source: Audible purchase
September 27, 2016
2.5 Stars
SPOILERS
The best thing I can say about this series is that it kept me captivated enough to finish. I think my biggest complaint was that I just didn't care enough about the main characters to really feel anything while reading this. It wasn't quite so bad that the only reason I continued was so I could poke fun at it later, but at times it came close.
There was a lot more action than in the first few books, but between action scenes it was pretty boring. I also really felt nothing for Peter. And that was disappointing because it became fairly obvious that he was the one Cassie would end up with, due to the author's very obvious attempts to sell him. There were these little random moments where Cassie would find herself reflecting on their previous chemistry, or she would get caught up in a thought about how extremely attractive he is. For me, it was too little, too late. Every time I read any of the little individual odes to Peter, it just made me miss the previous love interests all that much more. I thought they were interesting and I felt the chemistry between them, especially Dan. I really kept hoping he would show up somehow and was disappointed when he didn't, which was probably stupid of me, Peter got his own novella, neither Dan nor Adrian did.
And finally, I guess I just wasn't all that attached to Cassie herself. She didn't come across as endearing as she was meant to be, with her princess Leia buns and her clumsiness and the annoying matchmaking. With the clumsiness, it was as if the author suddenly remembered she was supposed to be clumsy and threw in a cute little trip up the stairs after which someone would say "Have a nice trip?" or "See you next fall." But it never happened when it might really be an issue in the thick of the fighting or anything like that, which is good, I suppose but as such, it didn't feel authentic.
SPOILERS
The best thing I can say about this series is that it kept me captivated enough to finish. I think my biggest complaint was that I just didn't care enough about the main characters to really feel anything while reading this. It wasn't quite so bad that the only reason I continued was so I could poke fun at it later, but at times it came close.
There was a lot more action than in the first few books, but between action scenes it was pretty boring. I also really felt nothing for Peter. And that was disappointing because it became fairly obvious that he was the one Cassie would end up with, due to the author's very obvious attempts to sell him. There were these little random moments where Cassie would find herself reflecting on their previous chemistry, or she would get caught up in a thought about how extremely attractive he is. For me, it was too little, too late. Every time I read any of the little individual odes to Peter, it just made me miss the previous love interests all that much more. I thought they were interesting and I felt the chemistry between them, especially Dan. I really kept hoping he would show up somehow and was disappointed when he didn't, which was probably stupid of me, Peter got his own novella, neither Dan nor Adrian did.
And finally, I guess I just wasn't all that attached to Cassie herself. She didn't come across as endearing as she was meant to be, with her princess Leia buns and her clumsiness and the annoying matchmaking. With the clumsiness, it was as if the author suddenly remembered she was supposed to be clumsy and threw in a cute little trip up the stairs after which someone would say "Have a nice trip?" or "See you next fall." But it never happened when it might really be an issue in the thick of the fighting or anything like that, which is good, I suppose but as such, it didn't feel authentic.
June 10, 2015
This was probably my favorite series of the year to date, and maybe even in my top 10 ever.
I loved all the feels, good and sad! I was completely enthralled with Cassie, Peter, and Nelly! Especially the comic relief between Cassie and Nelly.
There was a point in this read where I could barely breathe and I was so captivated that I had no idea where I was or what time it was. I haven't been this sucked in for a very long time! Wow!
Once I was hooked, I binge read all 4 books (including the novella) and I am going to be experiencing some severe book series hangover now!
I loved all the feels, good and sad! I was completely enthralled with Cassie, Peter, and Nelly! Especially the comic relief between Cassie and Nelly.
There was a point in this read where I could barely breathe and I was so captivated that I had no idea where I was or what time it was. I haven't been this sucked in for a very long time! Wow!
Once I was hooked, I binge read all 4 books (including the novella) and I am going to be experiencing some severe book series hangover now!
March 8, 2019
Excellent series! Ms. Lyons Feming was masterful with how seamlessly she intertwined intense character relationships (love, loss, brutality, fear, trust, etcetera...) within a graphic, Zombie thriller. Being a Zombie genre diehard who seeks and expects the horror and terror from these books, I was pleasantly surprised with how flawlessly some seriously superb zombie fighting and descriptive graphics were threaded perfectly along with unquestionably impressive, believable and authentic character development/narrative.
The emotions and relationships amongst the survivors as they pertain to surviving, dying and problem-solving their way to a potential safe zone was incredibly well done, and all while keeping the zombie apocalypse central and lacking for nothing.
Cassie and Penny both impressed me tremendously with their fierceness and overall bad a--ness. They are excellent examples of strong, smart women who took no prisoners when it came to protecting those they love and set a (frequently unobtainable) high-bar for the men. One particular scene brought out the warrior in Cassie and was absolutely epic and beyond anything she came upon against up to that point. Just insanely mind-bending and phenomenal!
Narrator, Julia Whelan was wonderful and provided a top-notch listening experience. Kudos!
Hope the ride is not over with the ending of this (#3) book. Lots of potential and places yet to go with this one! :)
The emotions and relationships amongst the survivors as they pertain to surviving, dying and problem-solving their way to a potential safe zone was incredibly well done, and all while keeping the zombie apocalypse central and lacking for nothing.
Cassie and Penny both impressed me tremendously with their fierceness and overall bad a--ness. They are excellent examples of strong, smart women who took no prisoners when it came to protecting those they love and set a (frequently unobtainable) high-bar for the men. One particular scene brought out the warrior in Cassie and was absolutely epic and beyond anything she came upon against up to that point. Just insanely mind-bending and phenomenal!
Narrator, Julia Whelan was wonderful and provided a top-notch listening experience. Kudos!
Hope the ride is not over with the ending of this (#3) book. Lots of potential and places yet to go with this one! :)
February 3, 2015
This book was just as absolutely amazing as the other ones, full of the emotional depth and amazing character development this author does effortlessly. It was a great read and I didn't want to put it down.
I just have one little itty bitty favor. BOOK TWO SPOILERS AHEAD.
Please write a novella in which Dan didn't die, because he didn't. I am in complete denial. You can't kill him off. I literally spent this entire book waiting for him to pop up because I am a life long Dan fan girl. So bear with me, he didn't want Cassie to get herself killed trying to save him from the pod so he let her think he was bitten, because he's amazing and selfless like that. They drive off onto their Canadian and Alaskan adventures and Dan, being the completely awesome dude that he is, finally finds a way to escape the top of the ambulance, I don't care how, just make this happen.
He gets to the Canadian Safe Zone. He takes the motorcycle Zeke left there, because that would be awesome. And then he finds another Safe Zone or something and he lives happily ever after. Because he's not dead. He's not, he's not, he's not, so there.
I just have one little itty bitty favor. BOOK TWO SPOILERS AHEAD.
Please write a novella in which Dan didn't die, because he didn't. I am in complete denial. You can't kill him off. I literally spent this entire book waiting for him to pop up because I am a life long Dan fan girl. So bear with me, he didn't want Cassie to get herself killed trying to save him from the pod so he let her think he was bitten, because he's amazing and selfless like that. They drive off onto their Canadian and Alaskan adventures and Dan, being the completely awesome dude that he is, finally finds a way to escape the top of the ambulance, I don't care how, just make this happen.
He gets to the Canadian Safe Zone. He takes the motorcycle Zeke left there, because that would be awesome. And then he finds another Safe Zone or something and he lives happily ever after. Because he's not dead. He's not, he's not, he's not, so there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2015
Once again, Julia Whelan spins this tale so that the line between storyteller and story is seamless . Her timing is impeccable; her tone and emotion absolutely brought these characters to life. I love that these novels center around not adolescents but adults . The unique feature of these three stories is the journey that a man and woman (Cass and Peter) embark upon after they end their relationship -while most people who break up part ways , Cass and Peter don't find comfort in a separation . Forced together as they survive in a world completely changed and fiercely loyal to those they both are close with Cass and Peter come full circle as they look for a way to live a normal life. The supporting characters in this series are equally compelling and endearing . I would listen to Whelan read the phone book but the storyline stands on its on as well !
July 18, 2024
All the Stars in the Sky was the final book in Sarah Lyons Fleming's Until the End of the World trilogy. It was a satisfying conclusion to a gripping survival thriller series. The series had a bit of everything. It was a zombie apocalypse survival thriller but did a great job mixing humour, romance, and friendship with the moments of horror, action, and terror.
The story in this final instalment followed Cassie and her companions as they struggled to survive following the fall of Adrian’s safe zone. Their journey to a new safe zone in Alaska was fraught with danger, including zombie attacks, food and supply shortages, and even hostile groups of fellow survivors.
Fleming masterfully balanced action and character development which made it easy to connect with Cassie and her friends. The perilous trek was vividly depicted, making every encounter and hardship feel real and immediate. The tension was palpable as the group navigated one obstacle after another but Fleming also got the balance of the story right with moments of hope and slice of life. This whole series did a great job of capturing both the mundane and the intense moments of survival in the midst of a zombie apocalypse!
What sets this series apart was its exploration of human resilience and the bonds formed in the face of adversity. The characters' growth throughout the trilogy culminated in this final instalment which highlighted their strength, loyalty, determination, and hope. Despite the grim setting, the story retained a sense of optimism. I particularly enjoyed that element of the story was it was an uplifting reminder that light and hope could be found even in the darkest times.
On the whole All the Stars in the Sky was a fitting end to a very solid survival thriller series. Fleming's ability to weave a compelling story with well-rounded characters made this book a standout in the post-apocalyptic genre where usually the action is much more interesting than the characters. This conclusion had both heart-wrenching and uplifting moments but ultimately ended in a fashion that left me satisfied with the story.
Rating: 4 Stars.
Audio Note: Julia Whelan was fantastic as always with the audio. she is an excellent narrator.
The story in this final instalment followed Cassie and her companions as they struggled to survive following the fall of Adrian’s safe zone. Their journey to a new safe zone in Alaska was fraught with danger, including zombie attacks, food and supply shortages, and even hostile groups of fellow survivors.
Fleming masterfully balanced action and character development which made it easy to connect with Cassie and her friends. The perilous trek was vividly depicted, making every encounter and hardship feel real and immediate. The tension was palpable as the group navigated one obstacle after another but Fleming also got the balance of the story right with moments of hope and slice of life. This whole series did a great job of capturing both the mundane and the intense moments of survival in the midst of a zombie apocalypse!
What sets this series apart was its exploration of human resilience and the bonds formed in the face of adversity. The characters' growth throughout the trilogy culminated in this final instalment which highlighted their strength, loyalty, determination, and hope. Despite the grim setting, the story retained a sense of optimism. I particularly enjoyed that element of the story was it was an uplifting reminder that light and hope could be found even in the darkest times.
On the whole All the Stars in the Sky was a fitting end to a very solid survival thriller series. Fleming's ability to weave a compelling story with well-rounded characters made this book a standout in the post-apocalyptic genre where usually the action is much more interesting than the characters. This conclusion had both heart-wrenching and uplifting moments but ultimately ended in a fashion that left me satisfied with the story.
Rating: 4 Stars.
Audio Note: Julia Whelan was fantastic as always with the audio. she is an excellent narrator.
June 27, 2018
OH, MY GOD. THIS IS MY FAVORITE TRILOGY OF ALL TIME.
I didn't think any book series would ever consume me the way The Hunger Games consumed me... until the end of the world (bad pun). I loved this. I loved this. I loved this. It was everything I ever wanted and everything I didn't know I wanted. My absolute best/favorite trilogy ever. EVER EVER.
If you loved The Hunger Games and have struggled to find anything that even comes close...and feel as though no other series will ever live up to that, read this trilogy. It's fantastic, amazing, and... better. (Read: no sad second book syndrome)
I'm devastated it's over but so f---ing glad I happened upon it. The audibles were SUPERB.
Having learned the author is penning another series makes me SO HAPPY... but because patience is not a virtue I have, I'm waiting for third book releases before I start it... I will remember these books forever and ever and ever. I am so satisfied --- so much that I can't even have a book hangover, like I usually do after a good book... I'm just... pink cloud... floating... god that was good. I want to squeeze the author in my arms (I am NOT a hugger) and scream THANK YOU at the top of my lungs.
I didn't think any book series would ever consume me the way The Hunger Games consumed me... until the end of the world (bad pun). I loved this. I loved this. I loved this. It was everything I ever wanted and everything I didn't know I wanted. My absolute best/favorite trilogy ever. EVER EVER.
If you loved The Hunger Games and have struggled to find anything that even comes close...and feel as though no other series will ever live up to that, read this trilogy. It's fantastic, amazing, and... better. (Read: no sad second book syndrome)
I'm devastated it's over but so f---ing glad I happened upon it. The audibles were SUPERB.
Having learned the author is penning another series makes me SO HAPPY... but because patience is not a virtue I have, I'm waiting for third book releases before I start it... I will remember these books forever and ever and ever. I am so satisfied --- so much that I can't even have a book hangover, like I usually do after a good book... I'm just... pink cloud... floating... god that was good. I want to squeeze the author in my arms (I am NOT a hugger) and scream THANK YOU at the top of my lungs.
June 5, 2015
What an amazing conclusion to this series! I really loved it, even through all the tears, it had a perfect, perfect ending! Such an emotional rollercoaster ride!! I highly recommend this series!!!!!
January 31, 2025
I'm going to keep this simple and say that I have no criticism for this series whatsoever. Every single book in this trilogy was 5 stars for me, and I can't wait to buy physical copies for my book collection!!
September 22, 2019
I loved these books. I didn’t think I would like them as much as I did. I have a hard time losing my favorite characters and we do see loss, but we see a lot of love and how you overcome and move forward.
The strength these characters show us is what makes you want to keep listening. You root for your favorites and are sad if they don’t make it but it’s what comes after that makes it worth the listen.
I can’t wait to dive into the next series. I really enjoyed the narration!
The strength these characters show us is what makes you want to keep listening. You root for your favorites and are sad if they don’t make it but it’s what comes after that makes it worth the listen.
I can’t wait to dive into the next series. I really enjoyed the narration!
May 19, 2018
Fabulous, fabulous ending to a fabulous series ❤️
January 5, 2020
This was another doozy of feelings... but man, what an end to the series! I've never been so shocked at losing fictional characters before but the characters are written so well, it's easy to get attached.
October 1, 2016
And so the series comes to an end. This would be one of my most favourite series I think, certainly in recent years (up there with Wayward Pines - loved that too).
I shall not spoil things, other than to say that the zombies continue to be excellently written - scary enough to stay interesting, and not overwritten so that they become boring. Of course, the true horrors of any zombie apocalypse are the people, and this book in particular does a fabulous job of looking at different ways people can reveal their inner characters.
Very, very good reading.
I shall not spoil things, other than to say that the zombies continue to be excellently written - scary enough to stay interesting, and not overwritten so that they become boring. Of course, the true horrors of any zombie apocalypse are the people, and this book in particular does a fabulous job of looking at different ways people can reveal their inner characters.
Very, very good reading.
June 27, 2024
I am so glad I discovered these books! This third and final installment was a fitting end to the wild ride I loved so much as I read this.
September 28, 2020
I went into this series with zero expectations because it's not my usual genre, but my love for Julia Whelan's narration knows no bounds. I'm glad I took the chance. I fell hard for this band of survivors and was completely gutted by the losses along the way. One in particular, a very Whedonesque death with a hurt level of Tara, almost did me in. I put the book down at that point and didn’t pick it up again for a full week. I couldn’t imagine how Fleming could possibly redeem herself. Especially after that second gut-punch. Did I do something to her in a former life? The knocks were beginning to feel personal, and I kept reading just to spite her. In the end, I got the method to her madness. My heart had miraculously healed, and I realized Joss Sarah knew exactly what she was doing. Bravo. All the stars in the sky.
January 29, 2018
It isn’t easy to be optimistic when you have thousands of of unknown miles ahead of you and an army of zombies at your heels. Especially when the road you’ve been traveling for hours is barren of all life-except the undead, of course. If I hadn’t promised to believe everything will be all right, I might consider jerking the steering wheel out of Peter’s hands and sending us all into a tree. It may be unlikely we’ll get to Alaska but I won’t be the one to say it.
***
The Golden Rule of the zom apoc is no one is safe. At least it should be that. We learned this in the second book, AND AFTER, all too well. We learn it again in this one.
With what remains of their family heads off in search of a sanctuary with what meager belongings they have. They set off to travel over 4000 miles to Alaska in hopes of a better life. But they will have to wrestle their grief of losing loved ones, Lexers by the hundreds, and some not so nice humans.
This was an insane journey. One I am absolutely certain I would not have survived. Very obvious if you know me. I likes my food. But seriously. They endured so much and it nearly broke them. Nearly. But they are stronger than the obstacles they faced.
When I started this series I had asked for recommendations of a zombie read with romance. And I have to tell you I am not disappointed with this one. Not one bit. Although the romance is not all encompassing at every turn, it was there and it was perfectly done. Never would I have thought who Cassie ended up with. But like I said...it was perfect. Every. Single. Word. 5 Stars!
***
The Golden Rule of the zom apoc is no one is safe. At least it should be that. We learned this in the second book, AND AFTER, all too well. We learn it again in this one.
With what remains of their family heads off in search of a sanctuary with what meager belongings they have. They set off to travel over 4000 miles to Alaska in hopes of a better life. But they will have to wrestle their grief of losing loved ones, Lexers by the hundreds, and some not so nice humans.
This was an insane journey. One I am absolutely certain I would not have survived. Very obvious if you know me. I likes my food. But seriously. They endured so much and it nearly broke them. Nearly. But they are stronger than the obstacles they faced.
When I started this series I had asked for recommendations of a zombie read with romance. And I have to tell you I am not disappointed with this one. Not one bit. Although the romance is not all encompassing at every turn, it was there and it was perfectly done. Never would I have thought who Cassie ended up with. But like I said...it was perfect. Every. Single. Word. 5 Stars!
December 1, 2024
There are so many things I wish hadn’t happened. I can’t change the past, but I can strive to not live in fear they’ll happen again. I can believe that if they do, I’ll make it all right. A lightness expands in my chest until I’m filled with something I haven’t felt in a while—joy. Joy that I’m here to carry on when so much has been lost.
What a journey this has been. A roller coaster, car crash, space rocket, speed boat kind of journey with an insane amount of life and emotion. This entire series has messed with my sleep in more ways than just keeping me up reading all night. So much so that I'm thinking it's actually one of my favorite book series ever.
And as happy I am to get to the end of this story, I'm also quite sad to say goodbye to all the people that have become very dear book friends, not only Cassie but Peter, Penny, Nelly and Bits too...I think I'll even miss Barnaby! Good thing I still have the books in the City series left to read. I have a feeling this is not the last I see of the Until the End of the World people... *keeping fingers crossed*
March 5, 2018
This one took me a while to finish. I happened to look down and see that I only had 2 hours left, and I was NOT ready for it to end!! So, I kept stopping, doing other things, in an effort to pace myself lol. What I kept waiting for FINALLy happened, and I legit got butterflies lol. Strong flow continued throughout, and the ending left me both wanting more, but also satisfied. I absolutely love this series, and it’s likely to be one I revisit. Wonderful job on these books by both the author and narrator.
Bob says: 5 Platypire and my first favorite series for the year!
Bob says: 5 Platypire and my first favorite series for the year!
March 1, 2016
The perfect end to my favourite zombie series and probably favourite audiobook series EVER. I'm so freaking sad it's over but GAH, it was perfect.
Full review to come!
Full review to come!
August 30, 2016
Perfect ending to a great series.
November 19, 2015
Im so sad these books are all done I loved reading every single one and wish there would be more
November 7, 2018
So sad to say goodbye to this series but incredibly happy I met Cassie along with the rest of these amazing characters.
It was a bittersweet ending and one wild ride! I laughed, cried and felt hope for this new world they were embarking on. Ms. Fleming has become a new favorite author of mine and I can’t wait to dive into the spinoff series. I’m not ready to part from this universe she’s created.
If you love your stories with heart, characters that jump off the pages, while trying to survive zombies, then I highly recommend the whole ‘Until the end of the World’ series. 4 Stars!
It was a bittersweet ending and one wild ride! I laughed, cried and felt hope for this new world they were embarking on. Ms. Fleming has become a new favorite author of mine and I can’t wait to dive into the spinoff series. I’m not ready to part from this universe she’s created.
If you love your stories with heart, characters that jump off the pages, while trying to survive zombies, then I highly recommend the whole ‘Until the end of the World’ series. 4 Stars!
April 7, 2019
4.5
A satisfying ending to the series
A satisfying ending to the series
March 6, 2018
This charming trilogy +1 has stuck with me for a few weeks now, quite a few books later. Turns out I miss my friends from this series, and writing this review helps me connect with them again. Cassie is one of the funniest, most clever wisecracking female protagonists - strike that - THE funniest, most clever wisecracking female protagonist - I have read. She doesn't start out that way, though. It takes a zombie apocalypse to reveal to her humor's best and truest use: coping with pain and getting through it to the next day. Understated insights like this are scattered throughout the book. Fleming never hits you over the head with them, either. She is far too skilled for that.
This series had a lot of really cool survivalist (prepper) information in it, all of it correct as far as I know. I learned a few new things, too. That is one of my requirements for a really great read - it has to tell me something interesting that I didn't know before. There is plenty of that in this series.
What I liked best was that it ended with perfect timing, not too suddenly as if the author wanted her paycheck and had put in her 300 pages, so wraps it up with someone blabbing an explanation; and not too overwhelmingly detailed, turning the ending into a tedious and maudlin affair. It was like when I danced the Hora at a wedding. The excitement built and built, and then slowed, all of us joyful and breathless. Then the sweet older gentleman (a stranger) holding my hand gave it a little squeeze, which caused me to turn to him, and he smiled and let go. It was like that. A flawless denouement. Fleming seemed to enjoy telling her tale, and I certainly enjoyed hearing it, and she let me down easy. She took us from the start to the finish of the story and not beyond, and left me satisfied. No cheesy, money-grubbing cliffhangers to maybe keep the door open for a follow-up book. Just a good solid ending.
Another thing I liked a lot about this book was that it described how people truly would behave in a post-apocalyptic world. We are as successful a species as we are because we are incredibly cooperative. It's a lot easier to write a post-apocalyptic novel with all kinds of villains doing really evil things. Conflict is important to a story, but so often it seems staged as if the author has a wad of scraps of paper in a hat, each of them bearing the description of some evil person who will push the plot forward. Fleming does not go there. That is lazy writing, and as easily as the writing flowed in this series, it seemed clear to me that Fleming had put a ton of work into it. It was simply perfect. Excellent plotting, timing, character development, humor, and all of it quite feasible, even given the zombie theme.
Quite an enjoyable read.
This series had a lot of really cool survivalist (prepper) information in it, all of it correct as far as I know. I learned a few new things, too. That is one of my requirements for a really great read - it has to tell me something interesting that I didn't know before. There is plenty of that in this series.
What I liked best was that it ended with perfect timing, not too suddenly as if the author wanted her paycheck and had put in her 300 pages, so wraps it up with someone blabbing an explanation; and not too overwhelmingly detailed, turning the ending into a tedious and maudlin affair. It was like when I danced the Hora at a wedding. The excitement built and built, and then slowed, all of us joyful and breathless. Then the sweet older gentleman (a stranger) holding my hand gave it a little squeeze, which caused me to turn to him, and he smiled and let go. It was like that. A flawless denouement. Fleming seemed to enjoy telling her tale, and I certainly enjoyed hearing it, and she let me down easy. She took us from the start to the finish of the story and not beyond, and left me satisfied. No cheesy, money-grubbing cliffhangers to maybe keep the door open for a follow-up book. Just a good solid ending.
Another thing I liked a lot about this book was that it described how people truly would behave in a post-apocalyptic world. We are as successful a species as we are because we are incredibly cooperative. It's a lot easier to write a post-apocalyptic novel with all kinds of villains doing really evil things. Conflict is important to a story, but so often it seems staged as if the author has a wad of scraps of paper in a hat, each of them bearing the description of some evil person who will push the plot forward. Fleming does not go there. That is lazy writing, and as easily as the writing flowed in this series, it seemed clear to me that Fleming had put a ton of work into it. It was simply perfect. Excellent plotting, timing, character development, humor, and all of it quite feasible, even given the zombie theme.
Quite an enjoyable read.
July 22, 2025
4.5 rounded down. An extremely strong conclusion to a series that started quite poorly. I am actually rather impressed - many of my issues with the first book were ironed out by the end of this book, including the rather weak writing (although it remains a weakness). This is by no means a romance - though Reddit told me otherwise, which is why I started the series in the first place - but it contains some interesting gestures towards the genre and ends with a happily ever after. The final pairing is not something I expected either, yet it makes perfect sense. Very nicely done.
I think my big issue with this series is that the author was a little scared of killing off major characters. After the snoozefest of the first book, I was quickly able to figure out who was going to die and who wasn't. The author also struggles a bit keeping track of large casts of characters: certain characters vanish for long periods of time before reappearing again, even though they were technically present the entire time. I am also a bit annoyed that the epilogue ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but I suspect that will be resolved in the next series.
And before I sign off, a strength of this series is that it traces the zombie apocalypse from beginning to (presumable) end. I feel like most zombie books show the beginning, or shortly after the beginning - but this series does a nice job of bringing us from Point A to Point Z(ombieless future).
Anyways, yeah, I'm pleased I stuck out this series and I'm very curious about the other series by this writer in this same world. Although some of her books are like 700-900 pages long. I don't know if I'm THAT curious... But yeah, definitely worth a read.
I think my big issue with this series is that the author was a little scared of killing off major characters. After the snoozefest of the first book, I was quickly able to figure out who was going to die and who wasn't. The author also struggles a bit keeping track of large casts of characters: certain characters vanish for long periods of time before reappearing again, even though they were technically present the entire time. I am also a bit annoyed that the epilogue ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but I suspect that will be resolved in the next series.
And before I sign off, a strength of this series is that it traces the zombie apocalypse from beginning to (presumable) end. I feel like most zombie books show the beginning, or shortly after the beginning - but this series does a nice job of bringing us from Point A to Point Z(ombieless future).
Anyways, yeah, I'm pleased I stuck out this series and I'm very curious about the other series by this writer in this same world. Although some of her books are like 700-900 pages long. I don't know if I'm THAT curious... But yeah, definitely worth a read.
April 29, 2015
I wanted to put off listening to this one, because I knew it was the last book- but I also HAD to know what Cassie and the group faced before they got their happy ever after. I also had to find out who made it to their happily ever after, as Sarah Lyons Fleming isn't shy about killing off a favorite character. Nobody is guaranteed a safe spot in her world.
The characters are what makes this series so amazing. The survivors have all developed so much from the first book, and they are so real. There is no shortage of action from the zombies, and some really nasty living baddies too.
So while I am heartbroken that this is the end, I can honestly say this is a series that I will visit again in the future to listen to again.
Julia Whelan does a fantastic job with the narration. She really brought Cassie to life and nailed her snark. I have enjoyed all the books I have listened to that were read by her.
Audiobook purchased by reviewer.
The characters are what makes this series so amazing. The survivors have all developed so much from the first book, and they are so real. There is no shortage of action from the zombies, and some really nasty living baddies too.
So while I am heartbroken that this is the end, I can honestly say this is a series that I will visit again in the future to listen to again.
Julia Whelan does a fantastic job with the narration. She really brought Cassie to life and nailed her snark. I have enjoyed all the books I have listened to that were read by her.
Audiobook purchased by reviewer.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 406 reviews