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Until the End of the World #2
And After (Until the End of the World 2)
Cassie Forrest führt ein gerazu glückliches Leben auf der Farm Kingdom-Come. Kaum vorstellbar in einer Welt, die sich mitten in der Zombie-Apokalypse befindet. Doch Cassie ist bisher mit dem Leben davon gekommen und nicht nur Sie hat ihre große Liebe Adrian und ihre Freunde um sich, und der Frühling verspricht neues Leben.
Doch mit dem schmelzenden Schnee tauen auch Millionen tiefgefrorener Zombies auf. Als sie den Kontakt zu Sicherheitszonen im ganzen Land verlieren und die Zombies vor den Toren der Farm immer zahlreicher werden, beginnt Cassie, mit dem Schlimmsten zu rechnen – denn wenn sie das letzte Jahr eines gelehrt hat, dann dass das Leben in dieser neuen Welt alles andere als perfekt ist und dass das Glück einen jederzeit verlassen kann.
Doch mit dem schmelzenden Schnee tauen auch Millionen tiefgefrorener Zombies auf. Als sie den Kontakt zu Sicherheitszonen im ganzen Land verlieren und die Zombies vor den Toren der Farm immer zahlreicher werden, beginnt Cassie, mit dem Schlimmsten zu rechnen – denn wenn sie das letzte Jahr eines gelehrt hat, dann dass das Leben in dieser neuen Welt alles andere als perfekt ist und dass das Glück einen jederzeit verlassen kann.
493 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 13, 2014
340 people are currently reading
1279 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Lyons Fleming
16 books1,446 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 401 reviews
August 10, 2024
Not gonna lie this book had me tearing up more times than I care to count. I don’t recall how I came across this author but I’m so glad I did, she’s one of my top authors of a genre I’ve come to love.
I can’t get enough of them and this author delivers us so many words which I tend to inhale.
This book follows the group of characters we’ve come to love in this series, many don’t make it though and they’ve left a huge gap.
When both safe zones are overrun by a zombie pod what’s left of the survivors only have a long drive to Alaska in front of them.
I can’t get enough of them and this author delivers us so many words which I tend to inhale.
This book follows the group of characters we’ve come to love in this series, many don’t make it though and they’ve left a huge gap.
When both safe zones are overrun by a zombie pod what’s left of the survivors only have a long drive to Alaska in front of them.
December 23, 2017
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I am loving this series! I am so thankful that I stumbled upon this series because I am very taken with it. I am a huge fan of The Walking Dead but I don't actively search for zombie books to read (although maybe I should). As I listened to this book, I have found myself comparing it to The Walking Dead but I don't think that is a bad thing since I would expect some similarities. This book was hard to put down and I ended up listening to it for hours at a time and thinking about it at other times.
I do have to tell you that this book broke my heart. More than once. I didn't expect to care about this group of characters as much as I do but it seems like any time they experience something terrible my heart hurts a little bit. In a world with zombies all over the place, there is a a whole lot of horrible going on. There is also a whole lot of good and I love that this book really shows how great people can be during a crisis.
Cassie and her group of friends are living at Kingdom Come. The community at Kingdom Come works well together. They are growing food, canning, and basically doing whatever is needed to support their population. They have even set up a school for the children. Everyone has their assigned jobs and life is about as good as you can make it during the zombie apocalypse.
But things eventually go wrong and Cassie has to learn how to move forward even when she doesn't want to. This book really put me through the wringer at times and just as I started to feel a bit better about things it would crush my heart all over again. There times that I was nervous for the characters, times that I was happy for them, times that I laughed along with them, and times I wanted to let them cry on my shoulder.
I do really like Cassie and her group of friends. The group that we met in the first book are still together and I really feel like I know them at this point. I think it is great how much they are really able to support each other and it is obvious how much they really care for each member of the group. It is really a more positive approach to their situation since they really work together to get through different events.
Julia Whelan does such a great job narrating this series. This book is from Cassie's point of view and she does a fantastic job of capturing all of Casie's emotions during the story. There is a pretty large cast of characters in the book and she handles them all very well. I think that her reading of the story may have added a bit of impact to some of the more intense sections of the book.
I would highly recommend this series to fans of The Walking Dead or zombie apocalypse stories. This was a highly entertaining story filled with wonderful characters trying to not only survive but flourish. I usually take a break between books in a series to stretch things out a bit but I moved straight into the next book in the series once I finished this one because I couldn't wait to spend more time with Cassie and her group. I will definitely be reading more from Sarah Lyons Fleming in the future.
Initial Thoughts
This book broke my heart several times. Damn. Great characters and lots of zombie fun. The narration is fabulous. I can't get enough of this amazing series.
Book source: Audible purchase
I am loving this series! I am so thankful that I stumbled upon this series because I am very taken with it. I am a huge fan of The Walking Dead but I don't actively search for zombie books to read (although maybe I should). As I listened to this book, I have found myself comparing it to The Walking Dead but I don't think that is a bad thing since I would expect some similarities. This book was hard to put down and I ended up listening to it for hours at a time and thinking about it at other times.
I do have to tell you that this book broke my heart. More than once. I didn't expect to care about this group of characters as much as I do but it seems like any time they experience something terrible my heart hurts a little bit. In a world with zombies all over the place, there is a a whole lot of horrible going on. There is also a whole lot of good and I love that this book really shows how great people can be during a crisis.
Cassie and her group of friends are living at Kingdom Come. The community at Kingdom Come works well together. They are growing food, canning, and basically doing whatever is needed to support their population. They have even set up a school for the children. Everyone has their assigned jobs and life is about as good as you can make it during the zombie apocalypse.
But things eventually go wrong and Cassie has to learn how to move forward even when she doesn't want to. This book really put me through the wringer at times and just as I started to feel a bit better about things it would crush my heart all over again. There times that I was nervous for the characters, times that I was happy for them, times that I laughed along with them, and times I wanted to let them cry on my shoulder.
I do really like Cassie and her group of friends. The group that we met in the first book are still together and I really feel like I know them at this point. I think it is great how much they are really able to support each other and it is obvious how much they really care for each member of the group. It is really a more positive approach to their situation since they really work together to get through different events.
Julia Whelan does such a great job narrating this series. This book is from Cassie's point of view and she does a fantastic job of capturing all of Casie's emotions during the story. There is a pretty large cast of characters in the book and she handles them all very well. I think that her reading of the story may have added a bit of impact to some of the more intense sections of the book.
I would highly recommend this series to fans of The Walking Dead or zombie apocalypse stories. This was a highly entertaining story filled with wonderful characters trying to not only survive but flourish. I usually take a break between books in a series to stretch things out a bit but I moved straight into the next book in the series once I finished this one because I couldn't wait to spend more time with Cassie and her group. I will definitely be reading more from Sarah Lyons Fleming in the future.
Initial Thoughts
This book broke my heart several times. Damn. Great characters and lots of zombie fun. The narration is fabulous. I can't get enough of this amazing series.
Book source: Audible purchase
August 9, 2014
4 1/2 Heartbreaking Horrific Stars
OK Ms. Fleming you did it again and again in this story...had me bawling my eyes out with each hole that appeared in their family. I am so engrossed in this story that I don't know if I can wait until the winter for the next book.
And again...I just had to take a 1/2 star away because of my heart breaking along with Cassie's. How much pain can this girl go through? Every time it seems that she has a chance of happiness, something happens to defuse it.
This story is jam packed of cooperation and teamwork in order to survive in a world gone mad. This is a story of how a bunch of people can pull together and learn to start all over again by pulling together to form a community and a new family.
Cassie and the gang are set up at the farm and Cassie has to learn how to live again and get rid of the guilt she is carrying around. New relationships are formed - others are torn apart...new lives are created and thousands of zombies are put out of their deteriorating misery.
The safe zones must prepare and make other plans for when the biggest baddest pod of zombies are moving from the south and headed straight for Vermont.
I have found a new series that I am addicted to and if you read this Ms. Fleming...I'm hooked!!
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
OK Ms. Fleming you did it again and again in this story...had me bawling my eyes out with each hole that appeared in their family. I am so engrossed in this story that I don't know if I can wait until the winter for the next book.
And again...I just had to take a 1/2 star away because of my heart breaking along with Cassie's. How much pain can this girl go through? Every time it seems that she has a chance of happiness, something happens to defuse it.
This story is jam packed of cooperation and teamwork in order to survive in a world gone mad. This is a story of how a bunch of people can pull together and learn to start all over again by pulling together to form a community and a new family.
Cassie and the gang are set up at the farm and Cassie has to learn how to live again and get rid of the guilt she is carrying around. New relationships are formed - others are torn apart...new lives are created and thousands of zombies are put out of their deteriorating misery.
The safe zones must prepare and make other plans for when the biggest baddest pod of zombies are moving from the south and headed straight for Vermont.
I have found a new series that I am addicted to and if you read this Ms. Fleming...I'm hooked!!
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
May 15, 2014
I love this series SO. FREAKING. MUCH. I must tell you, if you’re looking for non-stop action and copious amounts of violence and gore, this is not the book for you. Yes, this series has zombies in it, and with that comes violence and gore, but it also has a soul and a beating heart and is capable of making you fall in love with it. And I have.
This second installment of the series picks up where the first book left off — with our main character, Cassie, and a group of survivors living life in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. I love that about this series; it’s as realistic as a story about the living dead can get. It’s not just about slashing the heads off rotting corpses coming for their dinner, it’s about creating a new life despite their existence. The group has made it to Kingdom Come and all is going well. They are able to communicate with other safe zones, but one by one the others begin to fall off the radar. The zombies had frozen during the cold winter months and there was little to worry about behind the fences, but now spring is on the horizon and the group anxiously ponders the question: will the zombies thaw along with the grass and flowers?
I can’t seem to find words adequate enough to tell you how amazing this story is, or how fascinated I am by the degree of talent this author has. There are so many characters in this story (in both books) yet nothing is lost in the shuffle. I am left with the feeling that I know each person intimately, as if I have been living right along side them through it all. Each character has their own personality, so distinct that I would actually be able to tell who was speaking even if it wasn’t specified. Like hearing a family members voice from behind and knowing who it is without having to turn around.
Some of the characters from the first book are still in the game, so of course I already have strong feelings for them, but even the new characters began to fall into place in my heart before long. It’s incredible how much some of the relationships have changed, such as with Ana and Cassie. I wasn’t a big fan of Ana in the last book, but her character arc has brought her to a new place which has made me fall for her. I think when you have characters like that, you love them even more after they come into their own. She was still nuts, and took Cassie along for a ride straight into Crazyville, but I totally dig her for it. *Sob* I would love to tell you all about my feelings for the rest of the characters, like how much I had missed the banter between Nelly and Cassie, or how I felt when Penny became Cassie’s scolding mom for a few minutes, but I would probably gush for far too long. I wish I could tell you how many times I yelled, “Nooooo!” during some of the more intense scenes, but I lost count toward the end. Just read the book(s). You can thank me later. ;)
This series has something to offer everyone; love, drama, laughter, death, suspense, horror, sorrow. It’s a complete package with characters that are so full of depth you never want to let them go, even though they can’t all survive this kind of world. I highly recommend this series to all fans of the post-apocalyptic genre! If you haven’t started this series yet, you are missing out on some seriously remarkable storytelling. I can’t wait to read All the Stars in the Sky later this year! Is that mysterious thing with the zombies going to be revealed in the next book? Gah, I hope so!
This second installment of the series picks up where the first book left off — with our main character, Cassie, and a group of survivors living life in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. I love that about this series; it’s as realistic as a story about the living dead can get. It’s not just about slashing the heads off rotting corpses coming for their dinner, it’s about creating a new life despite their existence. The group has made it to Kingdom Come and all is going well. They are able to communicate with other safe zones, but one by one the others begin to fall off the radar. The zombies had frozen during the cold winter months and there was little to worry about behind the fences, but now spring is on the horizon and the group anxiously ponders the question: will the zombies thaw along with the grass and flowers?
I can’t seem to find words adequate enough to tell you how amazing this story is, or how fascinated I am by the degree of talent this author has. There are so many characters in this story (in both books) yet nothing is lost in the shuffle. I am left with the feeling that I know each person intimately, as if I have been living right along side them through it all. Each character has their own personality, so distinct that I would actually be able to tell who was speaking even if it wasn’t specified. Like hearing a family members voice from behind and knowing who it is without having to turn around.
Some of the characters from the first book are still in the game, so of course I already have strong feelings for them, but even the new characters began to fall into place in my heart before long. It’s incredible how much some of the relationships have changed, such as with Ana and Cassie. I wasn’t a big fan of Ana in the last book, but her character arc has brought her to a new place which has made me fall for her. I think when you have characters like that, you love them even more after they come into their own. She was still nuts, and took Cassie along for a ride straight into Crazyville, but I totally dig her for it. *Sob* I would love to tell you all about my feelings for the rest of the characters, like how much I had missed the banter between Nelly and Cassie, or how I felt when Penny became Cassie’s scolding mom for a few minutes, but I would probably gush for far too long. I wish I could tell you how many times I yelled, “Nooooo!” during some of the more intense scenes, but I lost count toward the end. Just read the book(s). You can thank me later. ;)
This series has something to offer everyone; love, drama, laughter, death, suspense, horror, sorrow. It’s a complete package with characters that are so full of depth you never want to let them go, even though they can’t all survive this kind of world. I highly recommend this series to all fans of the post-apocalyptic genre! If you haven’t started this series yet, you are missing out on some seriously remarkable storytelling. I can’t wait to read All the Stars in the Sky later this year! Is that mysterious thing with the zombies going to be revealed in the next book? Gah, I hope so!
January 10, 2023
My initial reviews for these books were a little unfair.
This genre is trope heavy and maybe I focused too much on that and didn't judge the book on its merits.
So I'm removing my original review and increasing my rating.
Any book that keeps getting better after 4 or 5 reads deserves 4 Stars.
This genre is trope heavy and maybe I focused too much on that and didn't judge the book on its merits.
So I'm removing my original review and increasing my rating.
Any book that keeps getting better after 4 or 5 reads deserves 4 Stars.
January 31, 2025
Rating: 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
FMC: ♾️ 🌟
Things I liked: All I can say is that this series is fantastic. I kind of drifted away from suspenseful books lately, in favor of romance and fantasy novels instead, but these books are so good that they've given me the thriller itch all over again!
I went through quite the rollercoaster of emotions from chapter to chapter, yet again keeping me in a chokehold from beginning to end, like the first book did. I'm both excited and terrified to continue on 😆
Things I didn't like: I have no criticism of this series whatsoever
Final thoughts: If you love zombies and a post-apocalyptic setting in your books, read this series IMMEDIATELY
FMC: ♾️ 🌟
Things I liked: All I can say is that this series is fantastic. I kind of drifted away from suspenseful books lately, in favor of romance and fantasy novels instead, but these books are so good that they've given me the thriller itch all over again!
I went through quite the rollercoaster of emotions from chapter to chapter, yet again keeping me in a chokehold from beginning to end, like the first book did. I'm both excited and terrified to continue on 😆
Things I didn't like: I have no criticism of this series whatsoever
Final thoughts: If you love zombies and a post-apocalyptic setting in your books, read this series IMMEDIATELY
May 11, 2018
Audible, and I absolutely love, love, LOVE these books!!!
The author takes a massive leaf out of the Walking Dead’s book - lots of character driven sub stories, blood, gore, guts, sweat and tears!! The narration is on point and listening to this series will have your palms sweating and your heart both racing AND breaking 💔 Nobody is safe 😭
Now straight on to book number 3 for me cos I cannot possibly delay in finding out what happens to them all next!
The author takes a massive leaf out of the Walking Dead’s book - lots of character driven sub stories, blood, gore, guts, sweat and tears!! The narration is on point and listening to this series will have your palms sweating and your heart both racing AND breaking 💔 Nobody is safe 😭
Now straight on to book number 3 for me cos I cannot possibly delay in finding out what happens to them all next!
March 7, 2019
What a storyline! Excellent character development and engaging narrative. Different from my normal Zombie fare, and it is nice to change it up. Onto Book #3!
September 28, 2020
Sarah, Sarah, Sarah. What have I ever done to you?
Read
November 2, 2022Wowza, I haven’t binged a trilogy like this since the hunger games.
July 16, 2024
This was the second installment in Sarah Lyons Fleming's After The End of the World trilogy. It maintained the quality of its predecessor by offering a compelling blend of slice-of-life moments and intense survival scenarios. Set in the midst of a zombie apocalypse the characters had to navigate a world where daily life swung between the mundane and the terrifying, and this dynamic was captured well throughout the novel.
One of the strengths of this whole series is its balance of tones. The story is peppered with hopeful and uplifting moments, showcasing humour, romance, friendship, and the warmth of a found family. These instances of empathy and humanity are skillfully offset with the ever-present horror and threat of the zombie apocalypse. The moments of grief and mourning were poignant and added depth to the characters experiences and highlighted the resilience required to survive in such a harsh world.
Cassie and her group of survivors might have successfully made their way to Adrian’s safe zone at the end of the first book but we soon learned in this one that even a “safe zone" is anything but safe in the midst of a zombie apocalypse! Fleming did an excellent job of depicting the constant challenges and dangers that exist even within supposedly secure areas not all of which involved murderous zombies. Life was tough and the novel did not shy away from showing the harsh realities that come with trying to build a semblance of normalcy in a world gone mad.
All in all And After was a gripping continuation of this trilogy which successfully blended moments of light and darkness and providing a well-rounded and quite engaging read.
Rating: 4 stars
Audio Note: Julia Whelan did a great job with the audio. She was good with everything and really got the tone of the story as it bounced from light moments of humour to tender moments of romance and humanity to tense moments of horror to sad moments of loss and grief. She really brought the story to life!
One of the strengths of this whole series is its balance of tones. The story is peppered with hopeful and uplifting moments, showcasing humour, romance, friendship, and the warmth of a found family. These instances of empathy and humanity are skillfully offset with the ever-present horror and threat of the zombie apocalypse. The moments of grief and mourning were poignant and added depth to the characters experiences and highlighted the resilience required to survive in such a harsh world.
Cassie and her group of survivors might have successfully made their way to Adrian’s safe zone at the end of the first book but we soon learned in this one that even a “safe zone" is anything but safe in the midst of a zombie apocalypse! Fleming did an excellent job of depicting the constant challenges and dangers that exist even within supposedly secure areas not all of which involved murderous zombies. Life was tough and the novel did not shy away from showing the harsh realities that come with trying to build a semblance of normalcy in a world gone mad.
All in all And After was a gripping continuation of this trilogy which successfully blended moments of light and darkness and providing a well-rounded and quite engaging read.
Rating: 4 stars
Audio Note: Julia Whelan did a great job with the audio. She was good with everything and really got the tone of the story as it bounced from light moments of humour to tender moments of romance and humanity to tense moments of horror to sad moments of loss and grief. She really brought the story to life!
September 24, 2016
I'm disappointed.
First of all, yep - token pregnant girl. There had to be one.
I expect the killing off of characters to be a regular occurrence in this genre. But this particular character was my favorite. It was shocking. I kept expecting anything else to happen. I actually wondered if I had read that right? Anyway, the problem for me after that point was that I really didn't care for the rest of the characters enough to want to keep reading. I think as an author, if you decide to kill off one of the main and best (my opinion) characters then you have to have enough decent characters left to carry the rest of the story. I had problems with the rest of the characters. Their personalites seemed manufactured and not all that varying. Penny who was one of the few I tolerated in the first book is nothing more than a nagger and a puker. James, her boyfriend who was so smart becomes her little lapdog. I think Penny's character was diminished so that Ana's's character could be built up. Peter I couldn't care less about. The first book was filled with Peter's dickiness. This book Peter has redeemed himself because he really loves Bits the little girl whom they've rescued. The problem is that I saw plenty of proof of Peter's dickiness in the first book and in this book it's like they're shoving the fabulousness that is Peter right down my throat. But it's mostly in the telling. I don't care if Peter is good or bad. Peter doesn't do enough or have enough memorable scenes to be significant. With a few of the characters it really felt like they were being built up and built up and it felt forced. Then it occurred to me that these are the characters who were going to die. I was right. I guessed two out of three and the third was old so he didn't matter. (Kidding) He was a father -figure and they always die. The dialogue was mostly simple. The parts that were meant to be funny weren't all that funny. I think if you get a group of different personalities together, their senses of humor would vary. Some would be juvenile, some would be extremely dry, some non-existent. All the jokes here felt like they could have been written by the same 13-year old boy.
I also had a problem with just about everything the characters did other than the farming. They were focused on farming and growing things. Not that this is a bad thing necessarily but in this book, just like the previous one, I felt like they focused only on farming and not enough on other things, safety, defense, etc.. There were a very small group of individuals who were constantly on guard duty and expected to do all the zombie (Lexer) killing because all the rest just didn't have the stomach for it. I believe it would get to be exhausting and it also isn't a very good plan. Someone should have been teaching self defense and weapons usage to the rest of them.
I also felt like every scenario during which someone died or got attacked was the result of something that was so dumb that it just didn't seem plausible. During one scene, the van they are driving in gets surrounded by a group of Lexers and ends up getting pushed over causing everyone to have to get out and run - thus resulting in the death of my favorite character. But in another scene, they are in a VW bus and when surrounded they decide to get out on the top of it and whack the Lexers with their zombie basher sticks because "they would be safe up there" and of course no one dies. Felt like a glaring contradiction to me. If the Lexers could push over a full size passenger van, why could they not manage a smaller VW bus?
I had a huge problem with the Safe Zones. First of all, the Safe Zones are advertised as being safe zones over these Hamm radios. I think that by announcing something over the airwaves and disclosing your location to random potential riff-raff, the actual level of safety is diminished significantly. And if they were going to be inviting the masses, the actual property itself should have been more readily defensible. Then when the individual groups of survivors arrived there was absolutely no screening process whatsoever. It was just a friendly "anyone infected?" "No, well go on in then, lets get you settled." It was infuriating. It's like an unimaginative way for the door to be left open for disaster and being overrun. Of course people would lie. Of course they would. Not everyone is noble. And maybe I could see them being that stupid at the Kingdom Come farm where no one really has any type of military or law-enforcement background. But the Whiteman Safe Zone was comprised of a large portion of military personnel and I'm just not buying it that they would remain so lax.
And for one last complaint, if the plan was to go to Alaska before the pods arrived, then why the hell did they wait for the pods to arrive before evacuating? They had months during which they had all these clues and warnings that the massive pods of Lexers were headed straight towards them. Yet they just hemmed and hawed around trying to figure out just how long it would take them to arrive. Until they ran out of time and the choice was made for them, and so many more lost their lives, including one other character I was starting to get invested in.
Now I've read two out of three and I suppose I will finish. I just really wish I could feel something for these people other than a select one or two.
First of all, yep - token pregnant girl. There had to be one.
I expect the killing off of characters to be a regular occurrence in this genre. But this particular character was my favorite. It was shocking. I kept expecting anything else to happen. I actually wondered if I had read that right? Anyway, the problem for me after that point was that I really didn't care for the rest of the characters enough to want to keep reading. I think as an author, if you decide to kill off one of the main and best (my opinion) characters then you have to have enough decent characters left to carry the rest of the story. I had problems with the rest of the characters. Their personalites seemed manufactured and not all that varying. Penny who was one of the few I tolerated in the first book is nothing more than a nagger and a puker. James, her boyfriend who was so smart becomes her little lapdog. I think Penny's character was diminished so that Ana's's character could be built up. Peter I couldn't care less about. The first book was filled with Peter's dickiness. This book Peter has redeemed himself because he really loves Bits the little girl whom they've rescued. The problem is that I saw plenty of proof of Peter's dickiness in the first book and in this book it's like they're shoving the fabulousness that is Peter right down my throat. But it's mostly in the telling. I don't care if Peter is good or bad. Peter doesn't do enough or have enough memorable scenes to be significant. With a few of the characters it really felt like they were being built up and built up and it felt forced. Then it occurred to me that these are the characters who were going to die. I was right. I guessed two out of three and the third was old so he didn't matter. (Kidding) He was a father -figure and they always die. The dialogue was mostly simple. The parts that were meant to be funny weren't all that funny. I think if you get a group of different personalities together, their senses of humor would vary. Some would be juvenile, some would be extremely dry, some non-existent. All the jokes here felt like they could have been written by the same 13-year old boy.
I also had a problem with just about everything the characters did other than the farming. They were focused on farming and growing things. Not that this is a bad thing necessarily but in this book, just like the previous one, I felt like they focused only on farming and not enough on other things, safety, defense, etc.. There were a very small group of individuals who were constantly on guard duty and expected to do all the zombie (Lexer) killing because all the rest just didn't have the stomach for it. I believe it would get to be exhausting and it also isn't a very good plan. Someone should have been teaching self defense and weapons usage to the rest of them.
I also felt like every scenario during which someone died or got attacked was the result of something that was so dumb that it just didn't seem plausible. During one scene, the van they are driving in gets surrounded by a group of Lexers and ends up getting pushed over causing everyone to have to get out and run - thus resulting in the death of my favorite character. But in another scene, they are in a VW bus and when surrounded they decide to get out on the top of it and whack the Lexers with their zombie basher sticks because "they would be safe up there" and of course no one dies. Felt like a glaring contradiction to me. If the Lexers could push over a full size passenger van, why could they not manage a smaller VW bus?
I had a huge problem with the Safe Zones. First of all, the Safe Zones are advertised as being safe zones over these Hamm radios. I think that by announcing something over the airwaves and disclosing your location to random potential riff-raff, the actual level of safety is diminished significantly. And if they were going to be inviting the masses, the actual property itself should have been more readily defensible. Then when the individual groups of survivors arrived there was absolutely no screening process whatsoever. It was just a friendly "anyone infected?" "No, well go on in then, lets get you settled." It was infuriating. It's like an unimaginative way for the door to be left open for disaster and being overrun. Of course people would lie. Of course they would. Not everyone is noble. And maybe I could see them being that stupid at the Kingdom Come farm where no one really has any type of military or law-enforcement background. But the Whiteman Safe Zone was comprised of a large portion of military personnel and I'm just not buying it that they would remain so lax.
And for one last complaint, if the plan was to go to Alaska before the pods arrived, then why the hell did they wait for the pods to arrive before evacuating? They had months during which they had all these clues and warnings that the massive pods of Lexers were headed straight towards them. Yet they just hemmed and hawed around trying to figure out just how long it would take them to arrive. Until they ran out of time and the choice was made for them, and so many more lost their lives, including one other character I was starting to get invested in.
Now I've read two out of three and I suppose I will finish. I just really wish I could feel something for these people other than a select one or two.
September 21, 2019
How do I review this book without giving anything away! OMG so much happens. My heart is sad but I get it not everyone can live.
I wonder where this series is going to take us. I have so many questions and none of the answers.
I guess I have no choice but to keep on keeping on to see what is going to happen.
LOVE the narration!
I wonder where this series is going to take us. I have so many questions and none of the answers.
I guess I have no choice but to keep on keeping on to see what is going to happen.
LOVE the narration!
January 29, 2018
“These were some of the best hours of my life,” Dan says. “This right here. Thanks.”
It was up there, in terms of finding something beautiful, something you’d never thought you’d have again. A few hours where the old world was so close you could almost believe it still existed.
My heart. It hurts. It is severed. All hope has been extinguished.
It has been sometime since a book has ripped out my heart so many different times throughout the story. But this one managed to do just that. Just when I thought that things were starting to look up and I thought it was on the mend, once again it broke.
I hate when there is deaths of characters that I care for. Even more so when there is multiple deaths. But this is the end of the world. No one is immune from a zombie bite. No one is safe just because you love that person. Sad fact of life in this new world.
When I think back on all that I read in this book I am stunned by all that happened. Seriously, so much happens. The love, the loss, the emotional turmoil that seeped from pages. I was an emotional wreck the entire read going from one heartbreak to the next with tiny blips of happiness in between. But I can tell you this...this book had me heart and soul. Every bit of it. Wrapped around it’s literary finger. 5 Stars!
It was up there, in terms of finding something beautiful, something you’d never thought you’d have again. A few hours where the old world was so close you could almost believe it still existed.
My heart. It hurts. It is severed. All hope has been extinguished.
It has been sometime since a book has ripped out my heart so many different times throughout the story. But this one managed to do just that. Just when I thought that things were starting to look up and I thought it was on the mend, once again it broke.
I hate when there is deaths of characters that I care for. Even more so when there is multiple deaths. But this is the end of the world. No one is immune from a zombie bite. No one is safe just because you love that person. Sad fact of life in this new world.
When I think back on all that I read in this book I am stunned by all that happened. Seriously, so much happens. The love, the loss, the emotional turmoil that seeped from pages. I was an emotional wreck the entire read going from one heartbreak to the next with tiny blips of happiness in between. But I can tell you this...this book had me heart and soul. Every bit of it. Wrapped around it’s literary finger. 5 Stars!
January 12, 2022
Continues the story of the group.
Spoiler
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If you want a HEA with the original couple I would leave the series at book 1, except for goodbye lollipops which is a side character's story.
Personally I found book 2+ unnecessary and on a reread I'm not sure I will read the rest.
I have to be honest on my initial read of this book I think I was in so much denial about Adrian that I struggled to get past it.
Its hard as a reader when you think the heroine's HEA is going to be with a person then that doesn't happen.
On my reread I think as I knew it was coming, although it's sad I knew Cassie would have to move on of sorts.
I would say if you read this series, don't get attached to anyone, just in case.
Excellent writing.
Really good survival scenarios and I liked that not everyone is selfish and power hungry, though obviously you have a bit of that.
HEA in book 3 with an Epilogue.
Spoiler
X
X
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X
If you want a HEA with the original couple I would leave the series at book 1, except for goodbye lollipops which is a side character's story.
Personally I found book 2+ unnecessary and on a reread I'm not sure I will read the rest.
I have to be honest on my initial read of this book I think I was in so much denial about Adrian that I struggled to get past it.
Its hard as a reader when you think the heroine's HEA is going to be with a person then that doesn't happen.
On my reread I think as I knew it was coming, although it's sad I knew Cassie would have to move on of sorts.
I would say if you read this series, don't get attached to anyone, just in case.
Excellent writing.
Really good survival scenarios and I liked that not everyone is selfish and power hungry, though obviously you have a bit of that.
HEA in book 3 with an Epilogue.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2015
"I was a F***ing idiot to think I was entitled to a guarantee. There's only one guarantee left in this world- zombies never die, never stop and are never satiated."
I thought for sure they'd always be the King and Queen of this damned world- at least of Kingdom Come. But no, nothing in this new world is a guarantee. Well one thing is, especially with this family, contrary to the above quote- You do what you have to for the people you love- Even sacrificing yourself.
What do you do in a post apocalyptic world when all your loved ones are relatively safe in one place and you got your second chance with the love of your life? You work hard to keep things that way- not to ever let your guard down and to always have a Bug Out Plan.
Should have known that book one was too HEA for a zompoc, that it was going to start to get ugly,dirty and bloody.
Why?! I thought it was about them, after everything that has happened it was supposed to be them together till the end but like I said- even yourself.
Sometimes I ask myself Why, why do you put yourself through this? Why read a genre that will stress you out and make you cry?! And my answer is because of those things, I get so wrapped up in the books that I'm there with the characters willing them to live even though their stories are already written. And thats what got me with this one. I was in shock with Adrian. I kept thinking he'll reach the fence just not the way he did. "His teeth are still white, which means he hasn't found anything to eat.That was his worst nightmare."
Time is a luxury in this new world, and you're more than lucky to have been given another year. And Cassie was luckier than most, she got a second chance and most people didn't get to say goodbye.
"Hold onto this for me?"The words are barely audible, but I know he can hear."No changing your mind,though. You can give it back the next time I see you." I squeeze his hand twice, and then I let go."
I had to take a break after that and once I started up again, things were bad but I could see a silver lining. Until it was ripped away but with more casualties. No one is ever safe, no matter how much you prepare yourself for someone to die, you don't think it'll be them or that'll happen but it always does. Thank goodness there's a book 3!
"All that's left is to keep that light shining, to keep her safe, no matter what. It's all I have, until I meet up with that ring again."
I thought for sure they'd always be the King and Queen of this damned world- at least of Kingdom Come. But no, nothing in this new world is a guarantee. Well one thing is, especially with this family, contrary to the above quote- You do what you have to for the people you love- Even sacrificing yourself.
What do you do in a post apocalyptic world when all your loved ones are relatively safe in one place and you got your second chance with the love of your life? You work hard to keep things that way- not to ever let your guard down and to always have a Bug Out Plan.
Should have known that book one was too HEA for a zompoc, that it was going to start to get ugly,dirty and bloody.
Why?! I thought it was about them, after everything that has happened it was supposed to be them together till the end but like I said- even yourself.
Sometimes I ask myself Why, why do you put yourself through this? Why read a genre that will stress you out and make you cry?! And my answer is because of those things, I get so wrapped up in the books that I'm there with the characters willing them to live even though their stories are already written. And thats what got me with this one. I was in shock with Adrian. I kept thinking he'll reach the fence just not the way he did. "His teeth are still white, which means he hasn't found anything to eat.That was his worst nightmare."
Time is a luxury in this new world, and you're more than lucky to have been given another year. And Cassie was luckier than most, she got a second chance and most people didn't get to say goodbye.
"Hold onto this for me?"The words are barely audible, but I know he can hear."No changing your mind,though. You can give it back the next time I see you." I squeeze his hand twice, and then I let go."
I had to take a break after that and once I started up again, things were bad but I could see a silver lining. Until it was ripped away but with more casualties. No one is ever safe, no matter how much you prepare yourself for someone to die, you don't think it'll be them or that'll happen but it always does. Thank goodness there's a book 3!
"All that's left is to keep that light shining, to keep her safe, no matter what. It's all I have, until I meet up with that ring again."
March 6, 2015
I kind of enjoyed this book, although Cassie is becoming seriously annoying. What really ruined it, was how the author had spend the previous book building up a certain character, and then killing that character off. In fact, several characters, most of them very likeable, cease to exist. I was actually rather encouraged by how the author pulled characters back to life from the brink in the first book. In this one she decided to make up for that.
Cassie is whiny and selfish. Someone should just shove her out of the gate already.
Cassie is whiny and selfish. Someone should just shove her out of the gate already.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2017
Noooooooooooooooooo WHYYYYYY whyyyyyyy WHYYYYYY shit
April 10, 2017
This is a really really good story. This one made me sad several times (sniveling into my hanky). It is very well written and includes a world where millions of zombies walk the earth but it is the people you care about, and I mean you really care about Cassie and her friends. They are very much individuals who come together to form a family trying to survive in a very dangerous world.
They have found a perfect place to live, Kingdom Come, but is anyplace really safe with thousands of the undead approaching?
I am not going to tell you what happens but if you read the first book in this series, Until The End of the World, you will love this! Now we have to wait till December or so for the third installment. I hate that part.
They have found a perfect place to live, Kingdom Come, but is anyplace really safe with thousands of the undead approaching?
I am not going to tell you what happens but if you read the first book in this series, Until The End of the World, you will love this! Now we have to wait till December or so for the third installment. I hate that part.
July 9, 2017
Update: Just finished reading the series again and I am still so in love! Favorite series ever!!!!
Wow!! I love this series!! But there are parts where I want to strangle the author... why???? How could you do that?? So good and yet so sad sometimes.... My emotions were all over the place while reading this story. It was like I was there and I was living this nightmare... Fan-freakin-tastic!!!
I love that the author ended this book with hope. And no cliffhanger, thank goodness. Can't wait for the next book.
Wow!! I love this series!! But there are parts where I want to strangle the author... why???? How could you do that?? So good and yet so sad sometimes.... My emotions were all over the place while reading this story. It was like I was there and I was living this nightmare... Fan-freakin-tastic!!!
I love that the author ended this book with hope. And no cliffhanger, thank goodness. Can't wait for the next book.
November 12, 2014
Dear Sarah Lyons Fleming,
I hate you. Haaaaaaate you. Seriously, WHY?
Adrian AND Dan? WHHHYYYYYYY!?!
After this installment of the series I think I know where this is going (Peter.) Actually I had an idea of how this would all end towards the end of book one (Peter,) but now I feel some validation considering the current body count (Peter.)
P.S. I'm more upset about Dan. Also, I still hate you.
I hate you. Haaaaaaate you. Seriously, WHY?
Adrian AND Dan? WHHHYYYYYYY!?!
After this installment of the series I think I know where this is going (Peter.) Actually I had an idea of how this would all end towards the end of book one (Peter,) but now I feel some validation considering the current body count (Peter.)
P.S. I'm more upset about Dan. Also, I still hate you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2016
This one was an emotional roller coaster. Just when you think everything is running along smoothly... well this is a zombie book so you know what happens. Excellent!
March 11, 2020
I know when you read zombie books you have to expect the worst to happen, and not get to attached to the characters but damn this is a whole new level of bad and worse.
I feel a bit empty. It’s so sad!
This a very solid and engaging read. The characters are really great and real feeling, although I’ve had some trouble with the main character in this book. I find her a bit contradictory, but there’s one more book in the series so let’s see how that will play.
Again, and I shouldn’t be surprised after the first book was so good, but I am once more amazed at how entertaining, addicting, and great this book was.
I feel a bit empty. It’s so sad!
This a very solid and engaging read. The characters are really great and real feeling, although I’ve had some trouble with the main character in this book. I find her a bit contradictory, but there’s one more book in the series so let’s see how that will play.
Again, and I shouldn’t be surprised after the first book was so good, but I am once more amazed at how entertaining, addicting, and great this book was.
August 4, 2025
Let’s gooooooo!
May 20, 2019
I'm so predisposed to like these books because they push so many buttons I enjoy - Zombies, survival, relationships, etc. This was pretty emotionally intense and took me a day to log in/review it, but yeah - it was good - especially if you like zombie survival stories that focus on characters.
July 20, 2025
I was extremely critical about the first book in this series, but decided to soldier on regardless. And good grief, was this book ever an improvement over the first! I literally cheered out loud when the first bit of devastation occurred, and shit continues to hit the fan again and again. The apocalypse just isn't interesting if the characters aren't being put through the wringer, you know? The writing leaves a bit to be desired, but this is a solid zombie book. Worth suffering through the first book to get here, and now I'm looking forward to the next.
July 7, 2018
And so the story continues, just as good as the first book.
So many characters with such good stories to tell. From the main characters to the much smaller ones, they each hold their own. They win some and lose some and through it all, there is hope!
Book 3, All the Stars in the Sky coming up.
So many characters with such good stories to tell. From the main characters to the much smaller ones, they each hold their own. They win some and lose some and through it all, there is hope!
Book 3, All the Stars in the Sky coming up.
October 27, 2022
Heart. Is. Broken. AGAIN. 5 stars! This series is SO GOOD.
June 6, 2015
It's hard to believe but this one was better than the first. I could not stop thinking about it, even when I'd devoured the last page.
February 6, 2018
It's all good, reading the whole series.
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