daynpitseleh's review
2.0
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
My main reaction to this was just "eh." It was a quick read and some parts of it were a unique twist on the zombie genre. However, the book was just unrealistic (yes, even zombie novels can be unrealistic), as several things happened that were unbelievable such as.
The supporting characters were also lacking - characters were often introduced and exited several pages later never to be heard about again. The supporting characters that were in the book for longer periods of time were extremely one-dimensional - a teenage computer geek, a dumb/flirty model, a gruff lesbian .... sigh.
d in
Also, there was a romantic subplot that I really could have done without.
Most frustratingly, the ending was really unsatisfying - an ambiguous ending doesn't have to feel like a let-down, and this ending did. I didn't feel like the characters had really grown at all (unless you count Lila killing zombies despite being interested in philosophy and taking comparative religion courses...).
People who like horror-lite novels might enjoy this, but I like my zombies with a little more ... bite.
My main reaction to this was just "eh." It was a quick read and some parts of it were a unique twist on the zombie genre. However, the book was just unrealistic (yes, even zombie novels can be unrealistic), as several things happened that were unbelievable such as
Spoiler
the fact that the group magically runs into a scientist who knows what caused the zombies and knows exactly how to fix itThe supporting characters were also lacking - characters were often introduced and exited several pages later never to be heard about again. The supporting characters that were in the book for longer periods of time were extremely one-dimensional - a teenage computer geek, a dumb/flirty model, a gruff lesbian .... sigh.
d in
Also, there was a romantic subplot that I really could have done without.
Most frustratingly, the ending was really unsatisfying - an ambiguous ending doesn't have to feel like a let-down, and this ending did. I didn't feel like the characters had really grown at all (unless you count Lila killing zombies despite being interested in philosophy and taking comparative religion courses...).
People who like horror-lite novels might enjoy this, but I like my zombies with a little more ... bite.
squinderella's review
3.0
After the End is a zombie apocalypse novel. It begins while our two lead characters, Ari and Lila are riding the subway in NYC. Abruptly, the train is stopped and the screaming begins. They don't know each other and they don't know what's going on, but they know they need to get away from the screaming that's drawing nearer. After narrowly escaping the tunnels, they arrive topside to find that the world around them is complete chaos. So begins the journey of survival.
I enjoyed After the End. It was rather realistic in the aspect of the way people would act and react during extreme situations. (A group would band together, and not everyone would be able to carry their own weight or be able to fight back.) Although there was constantly something happening, it didn't have a huge amount of get-up-and-go. It also was essentially like many other zombie apocalypse novels. The zombies were different, and I liked the reasoning behind why the zombie-ness occurred, but all-in-all was pretty standard. (Although finding out the cause was awfully convenient!)
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this copy to me.
I enjoyed After the End. It was rather realistic in the aspect of the way people would act and react during extreme situations. (A group would band together, and not everyone would be able to carry their own weight or be able to fight back.) Although there was constantly something happening, it didn't have a huge amount of get-up-and-go. It also was essentially like many other zombie apocalypse novels. The zombies were different, and I liked the reasoning behind why the zombie-ness occurred, but all-in-all was pretty standard. (Although finding out the cause was awfully convenient!)
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this copy to me.
stinkerbellen's review against another edition
5.0
Quick read. Perhaps 'cause I could not put it down! Book combines zombies and romance! Romance is my all time favorite and zombies are my current favorite, so this had it all. Although I could've used even more romance ;) So, I'm still searching for the perfect book that combines the two, this one was near though. I wish it was possible to give half stars, 'cause I would've given this 4,5*. The characters were very likable and although the situation was what it was, there wasn't too much sadness in the book. Proves that it's possible to write a book with good ole zombie killing action without breaking everyones hearts! Thank you very much [a:Bonnie Dee|1166851|Bonnie Dee|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-F-50x66-2a9d702c2a0f483c9f7dd119cc28a9a7.jpg], this has definitely been the best zombie book I've read so far!!!
wulfwyn's review
4.0
Wow. I really wasn't expecting a lot when I requested to review this book. I had never heard of the author and it was listed as a zombie romance type, (romance during the apocalypse not zombies in love - there would be a book: "oh I love you so much because you are so smart. Just let me have one taste of your brains. I promise I'll still love you in the morning and I will stop if you say to." Haha). So I was really surprised to find that I really enjoyed it. Yes the editing could have been better but quite honestly I have read some books lately by the big names and guess what? The editing could have been better. I don't know what is going on with that but it seems to be the start of an issue that is no longer limited to self publishing. I did not find the editing mistakes in this book to hamper my enjoyment of the book. The book is pretty much basic zombie fare - the hero, the female who starts out weak but turns out strong, the ditz, the geek, the guy with the antidote who needs to be kept safe,the older wealthy female, the strong black female and the lesbian couple. The author added in a couple of children, one teen and one younger. I thought she did a good job with getting me to care about the characters. I like the way she pulled them together to help each other but also wasn't afraid to tear them apart. This book delves into the thoughts of our hero. We see the way he is thinking and feeling. I like that the author made him a human hero. He has bad thoughts. He has realistic thoughts. He has tired thoughts and he has typical sexual thoughts. I know a lot of people think sex isn't going to happen in a zombie outbreak, (unless it is rape - which seems to be expected), but the reality is it will. People are people. Attractions will be there and sexual release will happen. I thought Bonnie Dee did a good job with the people she chose as the romantic interests. The timing of the unfolding was paced well. It is a z outbreak. Things happen fast because death is waiting. There is also plenty of action. The zombies were a bit different in that they seem smarter than usual. Also they do decompose. That was a huge change. I think that, along with the psychological aspect, makes this a book that could go to series very easily. The author has a good grip on what changes the survivors are going through mentally. The ending of the book had me on edge and still does. I want to know more. I want to find out what happens next for the survivors. I want to know ...well, I don't want to give spoilers, so, I just want to know. Check it out. It is on the intense side but also has it's moments of humor and hope. I am looking forward to reading other books by this author.
* I received a copy of the Kindle version of this book for review purposes. All opinions and thoughts are my honest feelings about the book. *
* I received a copy of the Kindle version of this book for review purposes. All opinions and thoughts are my honest feelings about the book. *
readingwithana's review against another edition
2.0
(Review thanks to a free digital ARC from NetGalley)
Ari and Lila are on a subway in New York City going their separate ways, following different paths of life. Suddenly, the subway makes an abrupt stop and nobody knows what is going on. Then, they hear people screaming and soon see people scrambling to run for safety. Before long, they realize that humans have become zombies and are searching for their next meal. Ari and Lila's intertwine, among with other survivors of the subway, and together, they try to survive this zombie invasion and search for a safe place.
This book was certainly nothing new. It is pretty common to have post-apocolyptic novels that involve zombies and people banding together in order to survive. Pretty generic story line; it does not bring anything new to the table. It is something that other authors have tried before and in some ways. the outcome is pretty predictable.
The characters were fine. They provided what they could given the story line. Ari and Lila are definitely characters that I did not enjoy reading about. Ari is the macho-type guy who is automatically put in charge because he exemplifies leadership skills. It also helps that at the time of the crisis, he was in his army uniform. But he tries again and again to be not considered the leader; he would much rather have someone else do it. Lila, on the other hand, was a very bland character to me. She was portrayed as begin a deep person, but I did not see that. Bring these two characters together and all we get is this sexual tension and attraction that takes over and that is all you read about when they are being chased away by zombies. I would much rather have had this story told from a different character's perspective, especially since it changes from Ari and Lila every chapter.
Because of all the flirting that goes on between Ari and Lila, we don't really get some kind of backstory as to what may have caused people to transform into zombies. We are given a vague indication of it but not much expansion on the theory. That could also be because the story is rather short but I feel it is an element that would have have been nice to expand on.
Overall, this felt more like a romance novel with a mix of zombies rather than a post-apocolyptic zombie novel with a sprinkle of romance.
Ari and Lila are on a subway in New York City going their separate ways, following different paths of life. Suddenly, the subway makes an abrupt stop and nobody knows what is going on. Then, they hear people screaming and soon see people scrambling to run for safety. Before long, they realize that humans have become zombies and are searching for their next meal. Ari and Lila's intertwine, among with other survivors of the subway, and together, they try to survive this zombie invasion and search for a safe place.
This book was certainly nothing new. It is pretty common to have post-apocolyptic novels that involve zombies and people banding together in order to survive. Pretty generic story line; it does not bring anything new to the table. It is something that other authors have tried before and in some ways. the outcome is pretty predictable.
The characters were fine. They provided what they could given the story line. Ari and Lila are definitely characters that I did not enjoy reading about. Ari is the macho-type guy who is automatically put in charge because he exemplifies leadership skills. It also helps that at the time of the crisis, he was in his army uniform. But he tries again and again to be not considered the leader; he would much rather have someone else do it. Lila, on the other hand, was a very bland character to me. She was portrayed as begin a deep person, but I did not see that. Bring these two characters together and all we get is this sexual tension and attraction that takes over and that is all you read about when they are being chased away by zombies. I would much rather have had this story told from a different character's perspective, especially since it changes from Ari and Lila every chapter.
Because of all the flirting that goes on between Ari and Lila, we don't really get some kind of backstory as to what may have caused people to transform into zombies. We are given a vague indication of it but not much expansion on the theory. That could also be because the story is rather short but I feel it is an element that would have have been nice to expand on.
Overall, this felt more like a romance novel with a mix of zombies rather than a post-apocolyptic zombie novel with a sprinkle of romance.
stravaganxo's review
3.0
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
This was a new experience for me - reading out of my comfort zone, and i am happy to say that i did like it, despite feeling unsure of myself. It treated the zombie apocalypse clinically, rationally giving importance to the kind of toll it takes on people both strong and weak and the kind of personality metamorphosis everyone undergo. But the third-person POV got to me when Sondra (and some others) were portrayed in a negative light, because it then feels like a God-given truth rather than letting the reader decide for him/herself.
For more see: http://spraypaintedtunnels.blogspot.com
This was a new experience for me - reading out of my comfort zone, and i am happy to say that i did like it, despite feeling unsure of myself. It treated the zombie apocalypse clinically, rationally giving importance to the kind of toll it takes on people both strong and weak and the kind of personality metamorphosis everyone undergo. But the third-person POV got to me when Sondra (and some others) were portrayed in a negative light, because it then feels like a God-given truth rather than letting the reader decide for him/herself.
For more see: http://spraypaintedtunnels.blogspot.com
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