World Between

The Cascadia Series #2

by Sarah Lyons Fleming

Danger can be anywhere in the world between.
Trapped in the fairgrounds by zombies and circumstance, it’s impossible to move out—and tough to move on.

Whether romantic or platonic, changing relationships prove tricky for Rose, Tom, Clara, and Craig—never mind adapting to the new not-so-normal. Being surrounded by the undead is bad enough, but with a tyrant-in-training running their Safe Zone, it’s that much worse.

Still, it’s better than being eaten alive. And when the biggest threats are removed, it seems life with zombies is on the upswing. But there’s no margin for error in the world between—and sometimes the smallest threat proves most lethal.

Genres: Zombies, Horror, Post Apocalyptic, Dystopia, Apocalyptic, Audiobook, Science Fiction

486 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 11, 2021

About the author

I'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.

Reviews

[❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG I am loving the shit out of this series, though this isn’t as long as the first book 😅 it still packed one hell of a punch.

A slow burn with characters that you can’t help but fall in love with and hope with this shitty world this author has thrust at them that they survive.

Now that the safe zone is no longer safe they have a long journey in front of them and I can’t wait to jump into the next book in this series after arcs.

I even got a wee bit emotional with Ethan’s bravery in the end.

[Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5* I loved the first book in the series. This one started out really well, slogged slowly through the middle, and last 5% exploded in your face. Not a whole lot happened in this second story. A couple people hooked up, there was one slightly tame intimate scene, and lots of talk about gardening, showers, and food.

This author writes such a wonderful dialogue! It's mature, it's hilarious, it's insightful and heartfelt. I want to give this book 5 stars simply because I love these characters, and I love their development. However, the ending was so rushed, the middle slogged, and I really would have liked more steam.

*Sight spoiler

I don't understand why the main characters were so clueless about what was happening, especially since they knew sabotage was a possibility. It really didn't make since considering what they KNEW what Boone (and his minions) was capable of.

[Carole (Carole's Random Life) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/

I. Loved. This. Book. Loved it! There are very few authors that I will drop everything that I am doing just to start reading their newest book. Sarah Lyons Fleming is at the top of that list. I have looked for this book several times this year just hoping that it might have become available. So yes, I have eagerly been anticipating the release of this book and I am happy to say that it did not disappoint. It didn’t take long before I was completely hooked by this story. I even considered calling in sick to work just so I could keep reading. I didn’t because I am a responsible adult but I did think about it. I really enjoyed the entire reading experience.

Sarah Lyons Fleming writes the best characters. The absolute best. I have talked to some people who aren’t sure if they should try her books because they “don’t read zombie books”. These books are character-driven stories that just happen to be set in the zombie apocalypse. Yes, there are zombies and some pretty intense scenes but there are also long stretches of the book without any zombie action. I do love the zombies but I am here for the characters.

This book is told from four different points of view: Rose, Craig, Tom, and Clara. The book picks up shortly after the events of the first book and I do feel that this is a series that really does need to be read in order. The characters, along with their friends, are getting by inside the safe zone. The man in charge is not a nice guy but they are dealing with it. I loved the descriptions of their living conditions and I could imagine the challenges of living in a large group setting. Relationships within the group are changing. Some are stressed while others are growing stronger. Danger is just outside the gates and they must face it anytime they need to leave to help get supplies or any other essential activity.

This book had plenty of excitement. There were a few times that I was holding my breath just hoping things would work out for the group. I also really enjoyed seeing how some of the relationships between the characters changed and there were a couple of romances that kept things very interesting. I could totally imagine hanging out with this group and just having a good time but without the zombie apocalypse. Their interactions and the way that they depend on each other just felt completely authentic.

I highly recommend this series. Readers should start at the beginning of the series with World Departed but this is a series that should not be missed. This is a book that I am sure that I will be reading again in the not too distant future as I patiently wait for the next installment in the series.

Book source: Purchased

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rose, Tom, Holly, Clara, Mitch & Craig are all safe in the fairgrounds but living on top of hundreds of other survivors leads to tensions. Tensions that are made worse by the safe-zones military leaders.

They are making the most of it, just doing their best but before long they find themselves once again fighting for their lives.

World Between has been a long time coming. Well maybe I've been holding out for it so it seems like it's been a long time coming. Whatever, this book delivers. So happy to read this book and looking forward to the audiobook which I believe will be arriving some time around March.

[XR · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish Nora and Holly were one of the Main Characters that we followed 'cause women loving women, in a zombie apocalypse is pretty effing epic. I'm biased, of course, and whilst I adore the connection between Rose and Tom, and Jesse and Clara... I would have loved it if Holly and Nora were seen as main characters in the story too.

It's so vety hetero... and White.

I hope the next few books bring more to the story as the two different series by Lyons-Fleming are a couple of my favourites, I am crossing my fingers and toes for more diversity.

[Karen’s Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading Sarah Lyons Fleming’s world of the zombie apocalypse. This is her third series but all set in the same world with the same zombie rules.

Sarah’s books are full of love. Yes, also about horrific deaths as it IS set in an apocalyptic world of zombies. But her stories are mostly about the love of family. With zombies thrown in.

This second book in her newest trilogy is set in the town of Eugene, Oregon, where the survivors have set themselves up in the fairgrounds and everyone works together to keep their home safe.

In this second book, there is quite a bit of romance and romance angst. Will he, or will he not? I’m not much of a romance fan. A little is fine, but there was just a tad bit too much for me. It was fine though. I just glossed over those bits and waited for the fun sarcastic family bits or the heart-racing action to get back into focus.

I listened to this book on audiobook and thought that the performances were really good. I’m sad that my book is over and find myself craving more of this world. Can’t wait for the next book!

[laurel [the suspected bibliophile] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whew this was a ride. It ended where I thought—and dreaded—it would, and now there are going to be four books in the series instead of three and my heart cannot take it.

But still, I'll read on.

Although, even though this is set in the town where I grew up in (in my teen years), I'm not as connected with the characters as much as I was in the past two trilogies. Maybe because this is more Gen X than millennial?

[Kylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know that this took the author quite a while to get written, thanks to covid and lockdowns and all that jazz, so it was so nice when it dropped. It is the lowest rating I have given to one of her books, though. However, 4 stars isn't low, it just means it wasn't quite up with all the others. Sarah Lyons Fleming remains the most under rated author I read.

So what didn't quite hit the mark for me this time? Now, the amazing thing about these books is the way that Fleming weaves together the horrors of the zombie world with the lives of the survivors. She makes sure that you know the people in the books, and she has made some pretty brave choices over the years in terms of character survival as well. This book, however, was too much lovey-dovey, and not enough zombie. The balance wasn't quite right, and so what is usually a lovely long read I immerse myself in, suddenly became a book that could have been edited quite a bit in the 20 - 60% parts of the book.

Don't get me wrong. 4 stars means it was still an awesome read. It just didn't pack the power of the previous reads, as it lost the high stakes feel that the series usually has. I know that Fleming has said that the characters didn't get quite as far as she expected, so the story will be a 4 book deal, and I am guessing it was that dragging out of the middle of this that contributed to that, and I love that there will be 4 books because I do love her books a lot, so I can't be too disappointed in the slightly not so amazing as usual story in this one.

[Izzie d · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked this book.
The Hero and heroine are married to other people.
The Hero's wife dies pretty quickly.
The heroine's husband is in a different location for the first part of book 1

They both are intimate with their marriage partners but it's very vague.
The couple's are friends so they all knew each other before the event.

Side stories with other characters.
Don't get too fond of anyone.
Quite a bit of violence, fighting off zombies.


Tbc.

[Crystal Marcela · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am annoyed at how annoying this book is. I loved her first series and I waited until there were two books out so as to not have to wait too long. Craig's chapters were so boring in the first book and now this one is full of cliches.

The whole will they won't they is bad end with one couple but two?! Come on! Lazy much?
Maybe I am just jaded having lived in Seattle and just being fed up with the culture there. Either way it's just so extra. If you know you know.

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t really go anywhere

I was expecting more than just being a fairgrounds romance book. I understand character building but this really didn’t fill that much out. Read more like a chick lit nook with the occasional zombie thrown in for drama. Really expected more plot movement forward after the long wait.

[Elaine M Bak · Rating 5 out of 5]

The headline for a review is the hardest part…

Sarah continues to hold our heartstrings on a short leash. Her character creation and development is magical. I love these people, and I am so very vested in their lives and their survival. That’s Sarah’s greatest story-telling achievement. Some may say it’s too much, that this book was all about these relationships, and they say it like that’s a bad thing. That is what makes all of these stories stand out and so special! That is what makes these people become family and friends, and what makes all of us who devour each new release return to read them over and over again. Unlike so many other zompoc stories, these are human focused, and they are very well written. They give us all the hope, love, happiness, humor possible that make such a devastating life surrounded by death and loss and tragedy endurable. A story without the human touches is just an anxiety riddled panic attack pieced together with no hope. Who needs that in a world like ours? Remember this second book ended up being split in half and continues into the third, so while some may say not enough happened, there is plenty of action and development, and we are left fearful, yet hopeful, for what comes next. Read it, read them all. They are amazing.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though this book has a 3 star rating, I did enjoy it. I just didn’t think it was as well put together as the first book in this series or the other books from this author. Maybe it has the second book syndrome? Things were not discussed that, in the previous books by this author were such as power. When the group originally arrived at the fairgrounds, they were told that some survivors were left at the power plant to run it;however, no one mentions them until the power goes out. They were all worried about Boone but no one thinks he may sabotage them all by targeting the power plant. They had no back up really to the power plant either. Some generators but no other long term ideas in place…. Then, what got me the most, was how it seemed that Troy, Lana, Daisy, and Francis were just forgotten for over a hundred pages. They moved to the house district and then…. That was it. They weren’t brought back into the story until the escape. But once they helped w that they were not mentioned again.

The whole Stephanie thing was very obvious and for all that happened at the end I think the author lost a shock moment to kill off a main character and Ethan wasn’t a main character. I was prepared for Jesse to die but… nope.

I assume Boone will come back because of how he was talked about…. I will definitely read the next book but I cannot see the next going back to the amazingness of the first.

[Roxanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book needs less romance and more zombie apocalypse.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know, I think the only thing I dislike about this series is that we have to wait so long for the next book.

I've read several reviews about how this particular book has too much romance. I'm a romance lover, so it wasn't too much for me at all. But I think this is also true: a lot of that was necessary to cement relationships, which are later put at risk because we never know when the author will kill off a character. Sometimes it's one we love, other times we thought she killed him/her off but they come back. Regardless, we need to have a stake in the game when it comes to the characters. So while it was a fair amount of romance, that only served to increase the tension over the various situations. Were they going to be eaten by the zombies? Were they going to be killed by Boone's group? I didn't think it was too much romance at all.

The narration was stellar. Every one of these narrators (Teri Schnaubelt (Rose), Roger Wayne (Tom),
Mia Gaskin (Clara), and Christian Barillas (Craig) were able to really bring the personalities of the characters to life. I didn't love the voices that Barillas gave to some of the secondary characters, but that was incidental. It was a bit like he only had one other male voice and he used it for all of them. That said, he did the female voices well and sounded just like Craig as I imagined him.

So overall, fabulous. Now where is that next book?

[Di · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author has been one of the few authors that has made me want to jump in immediately and binge the rest of the series. So many emotions (Anger, Sadness, Amusement). I absolutely love the diverse characters and how much growth there is of these characters. I really hope that certain characters keep ahold of the change that has made them better people.

[tiffany benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth the wait!!

The wait is over, and man was it worth it!!! SLF picked up right where she left off with the first book. The plot and character development blew me away. I started this book near hating a few characters, and I have ended the book with a complete new outlook on them. I absolutely love Craig and his crew he met on the way to find Rose. They may be my favorite characters. I cannot wait for the third book and will definitely be downloading this one on Audible as soon as it is available. I have nothing bad to say about this book at all. I loved it!!!

[Wes Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Smashing Good Time!

SLF does it again! I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through wondering who's gonna get eaten! I yelled at the characters multiple times, cried at the end, and laughed at all the snarky/witty bits....I mean what more could you want for a zombie book! I just can't get over how much I love a series of books and how invested I've become in a bunch of fictional characters! Becka not Wes wrote this review! ;)

[LeeAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read this book 3 times since its release, and I'm still struggling with my review on this one. I feel traitorous, not giving it 5 stars as I have all her other books. In all honesty, I feel it's more a 3.5, but I'm rounding it up to 4 in hopes the next installment is a bit better. 2020-2021 have been rough on everyone and I'm sure this author is no exception.

Regardless, World Between is a solid addition to the author's Cascadia series. As always, her character development and world building are first rate, but the storyline's pacing was a bit slow.

Problems/Challenges were blatant. No surprises.

1. Military: Major issues were overlooked by Barry, who FINALLY "noticed" discrepancies with Boone. When he was told by Tom. I'm uncertain why Barry wasn't keeping an eye on Boone all along. Barry is career military. As such he shouldn't have overlooked the issues he did rather easily. I could them coming a mile away in the 1st book.

2. The "kids" are all 21+; it bothered me a bit in the World Departed to see the parents constantly hovering and protecting them emotionally - even during a zombie apocalypse. Clara, Holly, and Jesse all act like mid-teens and are treated as such. These "kids" are adults at 21, 21, and 22, respectively. So, this is increasingly annoying to me.

Clara and Jesse's continual back and forth and immaturity about should they/shouldn't they approach the other about their feelings for each other was very middle/high school. Again, these are 2 young adults who've known each other most of their lives. I understand uncertainty and not wanting to rock the boat but feel this was taken to an extreme.

Speaking of immaturity. Holly is finally growing up, but damn, if she hasn't needed a wake up call, for an overlong period of time.

3. Ethan, and Rose's unwillingness to make him look bad to the "kids". Part of adulthood is dealing with the reality of whatever crap life throws at you. Mama elephants teach their young how to survive.

This story is told through multiple POV by Rose, Tom, Craig, and Clara. However, Craig was a less than active participant in this one and more a passive observer who tells us what's happening around him. He had such enormous strides in character development in the 1st book, and I looked forward to seeing more in this one but feel he was largely overlooked. This may be due to the author splitting this 2nd book into two. So, we may see more of him in

Despite these issues, this is definitely worth a read. And I'm sure the author will bounce back with her normal phenomenal writing next time around.

[Missy~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part 2 Cascadia series.

Wow, how wonderful it is to find an author whose writing is so wonderful you just can't stop reading.
World building, vivid descriptions and excellent dialog make this post apocalyptic zombie series one of the best.
Sarah Lyon Fleming's third series set in the same zompoc world are all riveting. Rose, Tom and all the rest of the gang of interesting sympathetic characters make you hoping for this team to perservere against all the odds.
This is just a terrific zombie EOTWAWKI series. SLF is an amazing writer. Already looking forward to the next in series.
2nd read in anticipation of the new book.

I absolutely adore this series, and the audiobooks are just wonderful the narrators bring the story and the characters to life.
World between by Sarah Lyons Fleming, is book 2 of the Cascadia series. The continuing struggles of Rose and Tom and Sam, Jesse, Holly, Clara, Mitch, Craig and Ethan.
Ethan who is so annoying, but towards the middle or the end of this book, he became someone good. I love this zombie end of the world as we know it series.
It doesn’t really put anything new or earth shattering into the story but the way SLF writes is so engaging,
And her characters are people who you want to root for.
I cannot wait for the next book .

[Mike Newman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Untill and The City series are without question the best books I've read in this genre, sadly The world between is somehow lost its way, the exact same repetitive unrequited love storyline running in parallel for 3 sets of main characters for most of the first half of the book becomes so maddeningly tedious.

More unforgivable though is the obvious misandry that has crept into this book, almost without question all the the father's, sons, boyfriends, husbands related to the main and side characters are abusive, racisct, homopic, nasty, violent or just plain assholes, of course Saint Rose's, father, son and love interest are the exceptions although Tom was an asshole before the apocalypse but somehow he's been fixed,

Finally the female characters are often proactively violent to the male characters, I lost count of the number of times female characters we're punching or slapping the males in this book and the first in this series, without irony it seems as if this kind of violence is acceptable to rebuke or correct the silly men or just done for plain laughs.

The beautifully written books from the earlier series with well balanced but flawed characters both male and female seem a long way from this particular book.

The zombies are almost an afterthought in this title.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, I am solidly team SLF. But to be honest, I kept waiting for this book to start. As much as I enjoy her take on romance, I like her writing because it's balanced with the action and thriller side of the end of the world stuff. THAT's what I read for. Most of her books are like 60% Zombie, 40% relationship & romance stuff, but this book was mostly the relationship side of stuff. Which I loved (and reading now, am I the only one that pictured Tom as Pedro Pascal? Tell me I'm off base there) but it started to get super good right at the end and then it's just over and this was over a year ago!!! Yes I'm being totally unrealistic and spoiled but there it is.

Need more zombies now please!!!

edit: Oh, also, a huge thank you for the representation of Ace in this. It's kind of like a hug of acceptance even though I don't really like hugs.

[Christena Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, I love this series. It's everything I wish Walking Dead was. This second book in the series had a little of a slower start, but the middle and end are a wild ride and zombie treat. I dove right into the third. None of my fave character better die, I tell ya. I'm very attached.

[JenBsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I continued on with book 2 in this series right after book 1 ... book 3 is available, although not already in my library. I put it on my wishlist and figure I'll wait to read it and book 4 (not yet out) together in the future. Maybe need a little change from the zombie apocalypse.

The story keeps my attention - very "The Walking Dead" feel ... "The Last of Us" (even mention of fungus). Just not that extra to bump it up to five stars.

Grateful that the chapters in the Table of Contents DO include the POV (lacking in book 1). Rose, Tom, Clara, Craig ... same four POVs as the first book. 1st person, past tense. Fx99 and some sexual stuff (minor).

Some talk of sourdough ;)

For MYSELF (some spoilers) ... things to remember coming back into the series in the future Rose and Tom have gotten together. Holly and Nora have gotten together. Clara and Jessie have gotten together. Things got rough with Boone, Boone and his cronies left the park, are out there somewhere. Sabotage? The kids had a close call during a supply run. Former "in charge" Carver and a few others found - Boone had sent them off to die. Holly appendicitis, medical run, bad but they make it back, save her. New sickness hits ... park is overrun, many dead. Ethan(Holly/Jessie's dad) sacrifices himself so the others can get away. So just a few, our main characters and a few more are left deciding on where to go next ... (and was it Boone/Stephanie, sabotaging the water to infect everyone?)

[Beverly Frishe · Rating 4 out of 5]

it’s good, but not great.

Okay, maybe it’s just me but I felt as if this one didn’t flow right…… I’ve tried not to compare it to her other two series. However, I couldn’t help myself. ***************SPOILER ALERT*********




In her last series, The City Series, Eric ingests water from the Hudson. He didn’t turn/die from the virus…. Same with those in the Until The End of the World (remember when Anna and Peter didn’t filter the water??) But in this book, those who drank the unfiltered water did?? Remember when Cassie and gang encounters the guys who ATE Lexers? Sure they were sick in the head but they didn’t turn…. Maybe in the future books something else will come to light about how they actually turned. Like I said, I don’t think it’s because the water is contaminated and carried the virus. The other series disproves that…I only deducted one star because I can’t stand not having consistency in any arc stories…. I am looking forward to the next books in the series!

[Lourdes [hiatus] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kindle needs a disclaimer on unfinished series 😭😭😭. WTFFF how am I supposed to wait for the next two books. Uuughhhhhhhhhhhh

My rating and feelings went from 4-4.5-5 stars throughout so I’m just gonna say 5 stars. This one was kind of slow and I predicted the human conflict right away. I was actually kind of/really infuriated the characters did not see what was gonna happen and who was gonna do it. But it’s fiiineee bc the character relationships made up for it and my favorite part of zombie stuff is seeing them make it day to day. Character development is really top tier, action and gore hit the spot too and felt well distributed throughout, and I guess conflict was good too and done in an unexpected way then in other books (less guns more thought) even if it was predictable who it was gonna be. I’m going to read the authors backlist until the next book releases 😔 hopefully they are good and satisfy my craving for the relationships in this book.

[A Schaeffs · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I like most about Sarah's books is that they are about survival and relationships, about family and love and sacrifice, of bravery and strength from the deepest darkest corners, the last bit of yourself that you offer up when you think you have already given your everything. That is what comes out with her characters, their fight, their love and the bonds they make in the process.

This second book was fabulous. As we all have gone through already, the apocalypse (read: pandemic) can be slow and boring and you have to find a way of living through that and finding a 'new normal'. The whole family, plus beloved tag-alongs, have to make the best of a very dire situation and it is when you are forced into these tight corners that you face and question how you truly want to move forwards.

The character development for this book was great, I am still very much enthralled by their tale and look forward to the next book in the series.

[J.M. McKenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I waited a long time for this book to be released. I loved World Departed and was really excited to read this, but I have to admit I was a little disappointed. Don’t get me wrong! It’s a great book but just didn’t live up to the first one for me. I’ve also read the Until the End of the World series and enjoyed them.
World Between is well-written. A light easy read with likeable, believable characters but it’s supposed to be a zompoc novel. I’m not a fan of the blood-thirsty masochistic novels that are typical of the genre and prefer a ‘gentler’ more realistic story about how ordinary people would respond and react. But, for me, in World Between there just wasn’t enough scary zombie action and far too much dull chit-chat and cheesy romance.
Nevertheless, a good read and the series would be a great introduction to zombie literature for the faint-hearted.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The end to this one really made me cry. Our survivors are trying to ink out a life in the Fairgrounds Safe Zone, where the zombies are not the enemy they need to worry about. It's riddled with human nature and desire for power at all cost. There's the group that wants to work together for the future and the group that wants the power and to feel like they can lord over all the others. It's sad, because I can totally see this being what the world would become. There would be the ones that become a new family unit and watch out for each other and the ones that want everything those people have and as a bonus they want to control them for their own purpose. I feel like Mrs. Fleming must have been a psychology major, because she can write people so well it's like they're real. On to the next, though I have read ahead to prepare myself.

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The lack of action in this book almost made me drop it, but I'm so glad I didn't.

There was too much teenage drama, and way too many annoying characters, so it was a slooooow read for me. I even had to read other books between this one because I was dying of boredom.

But then, FINALLY, everything happened.

So yes, I gave it 4 stars only for the ending.
Because it was action packed, it was frightening and there was so much emotion. I cried a lot. Even for people I thought I'd never cry for.

Now I really hope the third book is better than this one, since the situation changed completely. I still care for most of the characters, although I still don't care about Holly and wouldn't miss her if she died. That girl knows how to be a pain in the ass.

Overall, it was an okay book with a great ending. Perfect to hook you up to the next, so let's go.