Reversion

Before the Cure #3

by Deirdre Gould

The City was gone. Neil should have reached it years before and once he stood on the crumbling debris of its concrete wall, he couldn't help but mourn the months he'd spent fruitlessly searching for his daughter instead. The City was gone. The Cure was gone. And Elijah was a hundred miles away, struggling to care for the eight Infected they'd found alone. His friend would never forgive him.He began climbing over the rubble."Where are you going?" cried the leader of his group."I have to find some doses," he told her. "Just eight. I just need eight doses.""Can't you read the sign? They're dead. There's no cure." She pointed to the messy spray painted warning that sprawled across the remaining wall. "There is no Cure," it read. "Never go inside. Shoot whatever comes out. Even your friends.”"It's just graffiti. I need those doses. I know they're here.""These people are dead. It's- I don't know what could kill this many. Poison? Infected? We have to get out of here, now, before whatever happened starts happening to us, too."Neil stared down at the skeletal remains carpeting the ground inside the wall. "Whatever happened was years ago. These aren't fresh. I know there are doses in there somewhere. I just have to-" He took a step and stopped as he heard the click of a gun behind him."I'm sorry, Neil, I really am. But you go in and I'll wait for you. When you come back, I'll shoot you to protect the others."

371 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 21, 2021

Reviews

[Charlotte Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book in this trilogy but the last two have left me feeling underwhelmed. There are a couple of reasons for this.

Firstly, I read the other series set in this world (with Frank and Nella as main characters) first. If you’ve read that you know the ending. As a result I had a hard time feeling invested in the book before this as I kept thinking how all the talk about the City and the Cure was pointless. I got a bit excited in this book when Neil got to the City and it had been destroyed. I thought for sure the author would have him developing symptoms again. That’s something we haven’t seen and which would be good to explore - a Cured catching the incurable plague and wrestling with what to do. Do you go back into that madness or end it? And if so, how long do you leave it?

Unfortunately the big, bad incurable plague was presented as a complete afterthought. Nothing came of it. I know it was supposed to be the catalyst for Ruth and Neil meeting but it was all too convenient for me.

Secondly, Neil is SUCH a dick of a character. And I’m not convinced the author wrote him this way on purpose. He’s constantly doing stupid things that put people in danger and/or taking advantage of other people. To all the times he said to himself ‘I’m a bad friend’, frankly yes he was. He dragged Elijah to the middle of nowhere, made him take in and look after 8 Infected and then abandoned Elijah year after year to go on a complete fool’s errand, leaving Elijah to do all the work. Hazel-Lea was completely right when she questioned Elijah about why he let Neil treat him that way.

I’m really glad the author did not have Neil finding his family - I think I would have stopped reading. I was also SO happy when he died. Best outcome for everyone!

I enjoyed the story about Neil and Ruth buying the Infected but I think it would have been better with different characters. I didn’t mind Ruth, but again Neil was such a wet blanket it didn’t feel very in character for him to play the hard man. It was also really frustrating that they thought it was a good idea to just let Cam and co hang around while they cured them. What did they think was going to happen? I was surprised only two people were killed.

The other big thing this book shared with its predecessor was the overload of unending conversations about the same thing. Is this thing I’m going to do moral? And let’s have a 20minute discussion about it right in the middle of some urgent scenario. Did the author not know how else to pad out the book? I think a good edit would have improved this greatly. Moralising is okay in small doses but when the characters are doing it every other page it gets boring. I found myself skimming conversations.

In summary, I actually think it’s better to read this trilogy first, and then the After the Cure books afterward. There are some good storylines and characters here, but Neil is too annoying to carry the whole story.

[Arianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow

This third installment was, unfortunately, even more full of tons of long speeches and long slow bits with nothing but those speeches. I liked the characters well enough but I didn't like the slow pace. It really felt like nothing even happened here. One of the major discoveries wasn't even touched upon after its mentioning. I think this one would be safe to skip, honestly.

[Craig Sutherland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great part 2.

What a story! I am so caught up in this world. I can't wait to see what's in store for our characters next. Not 5 stars due to personal preference in the direction of the story. Great writing.

[Alice Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best in series. Ties all books together. With Elijah and Niel's friendship being tested while Hazel-Lee and Elijah get closer. Many parallels in relationships.

[Saba Sitter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realise there was one last book in the series, so I was happy to ifnd this. BUT.... my favourite character died at the end so I kind of wish I didn't read it.