How We Began

How We Survive Series

by L.M. Juniper

Two strangers. A city thrown into chaos. The fight for humanity begins here.

When Marianne woke up in a cell three months ago, she didn’t know who or where she was. Now, still locked away and no closer to uncovering her identity, all she knows is that London fell to a deadly virus and something dark grows within her. Something twisted and evil fighting to take control.

After a daring escape, Marianne finds herself on the run, evading the monsters that roam the streets. However, she soon discovers that the monsters aren’t who she thought they were—and are much closer than she believed.

How We Began is a post-apocalyptic novella that explores how societal collapse forces ordinary people into extreme situations and reveals the lengths they’ll go to for survival.

This novella is the prequel to How We End and is perfect for fans of Sarah Lyons Fleming, The Walking Dead, and Last of Us.


"Every ending has a beginning, and How We Began delivers an origin story with intriguing characters, loads of action, and real emotion ." - Sarah Lyons Fleming, Author of Until The End of The World Series

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

124 pages, Paperback

Published June 26, 2022

About the author

Gamer, writer, and nerd who writes fantasy, science fiction, and post apocalypse with a lot of heart.

When I'm not writing I'm still working on growing my mustache.

How We Survive Series Reading order:
For BEST experience I highly recommend this order.

1. How We End
2. How We Began
3. How We Survive

Upcoming project:
The Wishing Well (sapphic paranormal romance)
Sunstone Island (pan4bi romance)
Tales of Sunantar (sapphic romantasy)

Reviews

[Chris BReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short little novella packs a punch. Provides some information after the ending of How We End but also opened up so many additional questions and desperate for the final book in this series

[Jessica Huntley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An explosive and exciting novella. Did I start the next book as soon as I finished? Why yes, yes I did!

[Noriboo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so good. It only left me wanting more. As I've now read 'How We End' twice (once digitally and once through audiobook), there's not much left for me to do but wait for the next book.

This novella made me emotional. I wasn't expecting that because of its size, but it did.
L.M. Juniper is an incredibly talented storyteller. From the first page, I was immediately sucked into the story. We get a different perspective from How We End, and my stomach dropped when we saw just how bad things have gotten in London.
It made me realise how relatively lucky Jake, Liv, and the rest of their found family have been up until now.
The stuff that's been discovered in this novella and some discoveries that have been made near the finale of How We End have some major implications for the future of the world and I'm really excited to see where we go from here!

[Hayley Anderton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really great novella! Introducing an apocalyptic world in under a hundred pages while also creating mystery, intrigue and interesting characters is quite a task but it’s done really well here. I recommend this for all zombie/apocalypse fans, and I look forward to reading the novel about Jake!

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

I breezed through both How We End and How We Began in record time. They both made me stay up too late going "just one more chapter." I can't wait for the third installment to get an audiobook because I'm itching to read it.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

zombie novels can go one of two ways, they can be exciting and go the way of the walking dead, or they can crash and burn like JK Rowling's popularity. How We Began is the former. I am familiar with LMs work, his mass effect iconic paring of Shep and Miri is one of legend. So when i got my grubby hands on this novella i sat down and read and read and read.

I like how it opens, the survivor, the immune who has no clear memory of who she is and what she was and the general who unlike some military stereotypes in this genre turned out to be a likeable chap. The tale never lets up, it twists it turns and it all leads to the perfect lead in for the main book coming out soon. if this is what is to come in the main book then by the gods i am in for a rough ride.
I come from Watford 25 miles outside of London and to read the descriptions of the devastation from someone who comes from Sweden no less, brought a tear to my eye.
This is stunning work my friend and if your main is anything to go by. give me a kipper and saddle me till morning. i am in for the ride.

[Dayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oof! What an excellent different side of the action from How We End, with different characters, but yet ones we've heard of. We meet Dae-Jung, who is a scientist who has been underground since the sickness began, and he is studying a woman who can't remember her past. But remember or not, she is his link to a possible cure. Marianne may not remember her name or anything about herself, but when the man she calls "general" tells her it's time to run, she doesn't question it. Now they are on the outside of the walls, keeping them safe, and they need to get outside of the o-zone. But can they make it beyond the infected and those that have seized power in the vacuum left behind. I enjoyed all of this novella and the relationship of these two characters. The author did a fantastic job, yet again, with showing humanity at its worst and also focusing on the good of the people left behind. It's just a fantastic layer to the story, which I so much enjoy!

"Safe seemed to be relative in this new world."

[N · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this was such a short book, I really rather enjoyed it! Marianne remembers nothing of her life before her imprisonment. It was fascinating seeing her evolution as she begins to remember who she was…and THE BIG REVEAL in the end!!!! 😭

[Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

so good!

I didn’t want it to end! Literally at the edge of my seat hoping for more to come so I can get lost in this story!

[Misty Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

My only complaint was that I wish it was longer. This novella answered so many questions but also left me wanting more. It's a definite must read between the other two books.

[Necol or Eli Dickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good but short. Going to read the sequel and see if it's good also.

[Georgina Power · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The cruelty Chaplain displays is neither shocking nor surprising. People like him can be found
throughout history"

I did not realise that there was a prequel to How We End after finishing that book and I know
I had to read this, because I had read it after I knew a few of the spoilers beforehand but it also meant that I was aware of one of the MCs, and it was a great relief to see that they were alive after their mentions in How We End, It was interesting to read a different perspective
about this character, after hearing the way they are described in How We End, so the character development is great and carries across both book.

For such a short read this book was packed with action and drama, and betrayal, the Chaplain was an awful character, and I have a feeling this was an introduction to him, and I can see him being an MC in How We Survive, one of the scenes in the book was quite distressing, and
just adds to the Chaplain’s absolute notoriety, but the fact that there were so many plot twists in such a small read was great, especially finding out who Marianne is, that I was not expecting! I honestly cannot wait for the next book How We Survive

[A Schaeffs · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great addition to the series. It was fascinating to read about Jake's father after having read "How We End". This is the prequel novella to that novel, but don't let the order worry you. You can read either book first and it will not impact on the other at all.

How We Began is also a well paced, fun read, with a lovely little twist. Really liked these characters and felt like the slightly different formatting of the book to "How We End" was a good decision, making these characters stand out on their own.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

exciting!!

I think I read the books out of order but it still worked!! I can’t wait to find out if they make it and what happens to everyone!! Very exciting! Interesting characters!!

[Roselee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a prequel novella to the book How We End, and it is a fast paced and immersive introduction. There is a lot packed into this story but still manages to develop the main characters and setting very well. Looking forward to reading How We End next!

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really enjoyable, somewhat different, zombie virus end of the world! Well written, good pace & tension, a little twist towards the end! Good stuff! I hope to read more by this writer!

[Judy Moret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally awesome.

Holy cow! What an awesome read. A different perspective from book one, with an amazing ending that I did not see coming.

[Reading_whimsically · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this is a little novela taking place between the first and second book and cannot be read as a stand alone.

I did love this little book and dispite being such a small book , it dropped a good plot twist which I really hope is explored deeper in the second book. I also like that this book gives more character to jakes dad.
Spoilers for the first book
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Hated how he was talking about how he just wants to get back to his sons bit knowing what happened to his youngest 😭
Evil

I absolutely will be reading the second book

[Sierra Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very short but such a good read. Admittedly, I did read this after I read the full book, but I don't think it took anything away from it. If anything, it did build the world a bit more so I wouldn't have so many questions. Nice, easy, light, but I would've also really liked to see more, specifically with the downfall of society within the walls and how exactly that came to be (but I'm a sucker for specifics).

[Sassy_Vixxen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great little novella add on to How We End. I definitely recommend reading it after book one for the biggest emotional punch. It's hard to have much character growth in 87 pages, but somehow L.M. Juniper manages to do just that. All this did was get me excited for book two.

Setting 5/5
Plot 4/5
Characters 5/5
Emotional Impact/Depth 4.5/5
Gut Rating/Vibes 4/5

[Lexes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oop! Now I didn't see that coming but it does almost bring this a full circle moment with two characters that in a particular way, shape what is happening and shape Jake in a way. Goodness. Then in a way, it also shows just how bad the virus is with mutations or delaying the full infection. Sheesh. This was a good read.

[C.K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short and punchy prequel. There's plenty of action and it ties in well with How We End, expanding the world-building and introducing us to some new characters. There may or may not be some nice twists too!

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really enjoyable and action packed view in to the world of How We End. I started with this book as it’s a prequel and I’m weird like that. Super excited to give in to How We End and learn more about the world and the characters within it.

[Lexie Browning · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked how you get to see more of Jake's Dad since he's talked about in the first book several times. I'm interested to see how their relationship goes. I also liked the last page of this book, it really sets you up for the next book.

[Nima · Rating 4 out of 5]

too short!! Enjoyed this short novel very much.
I loved the first book; How We End, and became quite attached to the characters. When I heard this book was coming out I was quite excited, but unfortunately, it left me wanting more.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great start to this series. Marianne is locked up in a facility because of certain reasons. The world is suffering from a zombie outbreak and she may hold the cure... This intro into the How We Survive series was an interesting quick read.

[G.M. Ba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Experiencing the connections to “How We End” through a different perspective was fascinating and enjoyable. This novella’s pacing never dropped, which compelled me to read it in one sitting. Learning more about the virus was definitely a plus for me. I look forward to the next book!

[Jen Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this one on audiobook and wasn't super engaged with it. I don't know if it was simply because something action-y is better to read than to listen to, but I'm unsure if I'd read the full length novel based on this one.

[vivi. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This focused on the zombie side more (which I complained about during the first book) but lacked connection to the characters. Good novella to introduce to the world even if you're reading after the first book.

[Zoey Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this in preparation for the release of How We Survive, and it was an excellent little introduction into the author’s world. He does an amazing job at getting you attached to the characters early on and holding your breath to see what happens next.