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A review by valpyre
After the End by Amy Plum
Did not finish book. Stopped at 30%.
[audiobook]
DNF'd at 30%.
I really should've heeded some of the ratings and reviews on here -- unfortunately, this was a compelling premise but weak execution. I know the blurb itself spoils the mystery of the fabricated WWIII but I figured there would at least be some sort of shroud of secrecy leading up to it. Instead, tiny dual POV chapters from a second character are shoved in between Juneau's, absolutely undercutting any pretense of mystery.
[minor spoilers follow]
In the bit of the book that I managed to listen to, Miles was wholly unnecessary. He had absolutely zero motivation to go out and find Juneau (supposedly to get back into his dad's good books so he could go to college! but obviously simply for plot reasons). His beginning chapters were so short and shallow, they failed to establish anything past a personality of naughty rich kid with daddy issues.
I also have to mention that most of what I listened to seemed to have been written specifically to give Juneau the easiest going and escapes. A hair salon let her two huskies inside the shop because, and I quote, "it's too cold outside". Juneau herself adapts quickly to city life, but exhibits a clunky knowledge of "pre-war" stuff, thanks to the Encyclopedia Brittanica. I was confused as to why she knew what certain things were, and not others. But she seemed to know enough to judge a homeless women's belongings as a "mountain of garbage". The treatment of homeless people is so ridiculous -- Juneau literally used them as her oracles and that's it (okay, she gave money to one guy).
Ableist language is used freely in this book, in reference to homeless people and Juneau herself (courtesy of Miles), which, if you want to express the wildness of a situation, you can absolutely find other words to do so.
And of course, I should've expected nothing less than gratuitous use of indigenous cultures as Juneau's cult (sorry, clan) lives in the Alaskan wilderness, but with no further mention of ethnicity except that Juneau herself is Asian (you know, different from the default).
DNF'd at 30%.
I really should've heeded some of the ratings and reviews on here -- unfortunately, this was a compelling premise but weak execution. I know the blurb itself spoils the mystery of the fabricated WWIII but I figured there would at least be some sort of shroud of secrecy leading up to it. Instead, tiny dual POV chapters from a second character are shoved in between Juneau's, absolutely undercutting any pretense of mystery.
[minor spoilers follow]
In the bit of the book that I managed to listen to, Miles was wholly unnecessary. He had absolutely zero motivation to go out and find Juneau (supposedly to get back into his dad's good books so he could go to college! but obviously simply for plot reasons). His beginning chapters were so short and shallow, they failed to establish anything past a personality of naughty rich kid with daddy issues.
I also have to mention that most of what I listened to seemed to have been written specifically to give Juneau the easiest going and escapes. A hair salon let her two huskies inside the shop because, and I quote, "it's too cold outside". Juneau herself adapts quickly to city life, but exhibits a clunky knowledge of "pre-war" stuff, thanks to the Encyclopedia Brittanica. I was confused as to why she knew what certain things were, and not others. But she seemed to know enough to judge a homeless women's belongings as a "mountain of garbage". The treatment of homeless people is so ridiculous -- Juneau literally used them as her oracles and that's it (okay, she gave money to one guy).
Ableist language is used freely in this book, in reference to homeless people and Juneau herself (courtesy of Miles), which, if you want to express the wildness of a situation, you can absolutely find other words to do so.
And of course, I should've expected nothing less than gratuitous use of indigenous cultures as Juneau's cult (sorry, clan) lives in the Alaskan wilderness, but with no further mention of ethnicity except that Juneau herself is Asian (you know, different from the default).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Blood