Reviews tagging 'Religious bigotry'

All That's Left in the World by Erik J. Brown

31 reviews

timmi_prvt's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was the most captivating piece of literature I've read in the past couple of months. It's an emotional rollercoaster that made me wanna cry as well as scream out load. 
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broke's review

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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capriqueen's review

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hopeful tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

I really liked the characters, they made my heart all squeeze-y

The beginning of the book gave me a lot of anxiety, mostly because I kept imagining what I would do in their situation, and I wasn’t sure if I could actually read this. But the anxiety went away as soon as they got on the road (I think knowing, from the summary, that people come after them in the cabin had me on tenterhooks waiting for that to happen and I couldn’t relax)
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melsage1823's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A masterfull thrilling story about uniting after tragedy with perfectly written main characters.

I loved this novel. This story definitely hit hard after coming out of the pandemic and still struggling with the aftermath of it. It subverted the Bury Your Gays Trope and it was just overall really amazing representation that we get to read about two queer teenagers being able to survive through tragedy. I also felt like setting this story in a post apocalyptic world helped Erik.J.Brown subvert alot of tropes. The slow burn relationship is heartwarming without fitting into those stereotypes. Andrew and Jamie have flaws and are portrayed with a lot of humanity and depth.

My hope is that this novel inspires a new sub genre where Queer Teens are able to unite and survive through the toughest of challenges. The community definitely needs more stories like this especially when everything feels so hopeless. Before I move onto some of the positives I need to talk about one small pet peeve I had, the world building.

This would have been five stars if the world building was built up through show don't tell. Hate to compare it to other post apocalypse media but take The Last Of Us. The video game adapted show perfectly sets up the effects of the cordyceps virus through a chilling flashback TV talk show and then a full flashback for our main character and the tragedy he faced once the world fell. This is the world building I felt was missing in this novel as in my opinion showing what Andrew and Jamisons life's were like pre super flu and during would have been more impactful than the characters bluntly telling us what happened. I wanted to care about the post apocalyptic ravaged America but I couldn't due to only finding out about the state of America through exposition. Other than that though I really did really enjoy this novel.

I could rave about this novel for pages but I'm gonna do my best to limit the positives to three things. My first positive is how the theme of two people coping and surviving after a pandemic is handled throughout the novel. It's always bothered me how much marginalised people are excluded from the dystopia and post apocalyptic genre but here it works really well. Through this novel being own voices Erik.J.Brown has shown perfectly what it's like to be queer in a post apocalypse something that I've only seen the Last Of Us address this well before. We get to see how society collapsing has both positively and negatively affected Jamie and Andrew. Its just brilliant. The tone of the novel is great whilst also Dark at some points we also get to feel hope as Jamie and Andrew bond and find each other. If your queer like myself, this novel will hit especially hard.

Secondly I loved all of the characters. Without giving away spoilers I'll talk about Jamie and Andrew in another paragraph but the side characters such as Hank, Henri, Cara, The Fort Caroliners and
the Keys group
featured at the end of the novel were all super interesting not just as characters but physiologically as well. It added to the tension of the story as you never knew if the people Jamie and Andrew came across could be trusted. Like the last of us we also see how the apocalypse in a way becomes a blessing for bigots and just in genuine super dodgy people. It also adds to the complexity arching moral of the story of how you should and shouldn't act during an apocalypse. We get to see multiple ways the "super flu" has affected people and just how hard survial is. It's also great that each character isn't just there to prop up Jamie and Andrew's story, there their own multifaceted character. Let's just say if you like large casts Jamie and Andrew aren't the only interesting characters in the story even if they are the main focus.

Finally, without any spoilers Jamie and Andrews relationship is the glue that holds this book together. It's not only emotional and beautiful but it's a realistic and well built up relationship too. Too often as mentioned Gay Couples have to experience sadness and truama or be the most perfect representation with no inbetween. Jamie and Andrew are in between and it works really well. Through their time together they experience laughter and hope especially with Andrews awesome personality but they also experience challenges and truama. By the end of the book they are at a completely different place but we are able to not only route for them but connect with them on a personal level too.
Their slow burn love story is built up so well from the moment Jamie decides to let Andrew stay in the cabin for a while to heal from his injurjed leg and Andrew stays at Jamie's beside to help him recover after he was shot. It thematically ties together well. Oh and the confession wrecked me in the best way possible I was so relieved when they finally both had the courage to share their feelings with each other even if at the worst possible time being tied up and all.

Overall All That's Left In The World is an incredible queer post apocalyptic book that perfectly balances hope and tragedy. It can hit you in the gut sometimes whilst also being a super comforting and inspiring read. Whilst I would mainly recommend this to the queer community, any audience can pick up this novel and still really enjoy it. Cannot recommend reading enough, I can't wait for the sequel.

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lynxpardinus's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful reflective

3.75

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uparrowhead's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I hope the afterlife has a little movie theatre where you can sit in silence and watch the sequence of events that led to the watershed moments of your life.

All That's Left in the World is a book packed full of hardships and pleasures, comedy and challenges, heaven and hell, but with a continuous and long lasting promise for hope.

In post-pandemic USA where a dangerous superflu has wiped out most of humanity, Andrew and Jamie feel like lost humans in a small world that has decayed and died; a pair setting out on a journey in search for an unknown light at the end of the tunnel, meeting new faces but always facing the problems that are thrown at them together. This novel throws you into the mash of difficulties and challenges of a world that has gone to shit, and yet you can't stop reading and hoping for a new and better tomorrow beyond the horizon, just like the two lovable main characters.

I picked up this novel randomly in a bookstore without expecting much out of it, but I cannot stress how exciting (and sometimes depressing) it was to read through this rollercoaster of a story, adventuring through an apocalyptic world with the main characters. It was an unforgettable blast and I can't express in words just how much I loved this book. It hits you in the feels when it decides to be sad, it gives you endearing and pining moments that are to die for, it keeps you on your toes when tension rises. Really, it had everything, and I was constantly struggling to put it down as I wanted nothing more than to continue reading and see where the book ends.

Both the characters and the plot itself were wonderful, and every second was a flurry of emotions as the characters hope for a happy ending to their horrible situation. A lovely read that left me teary by the end. 
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ajpotz's review

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fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Really easy and quick read that still had an impact on me. Kept me engaged and is a book i would recommend 
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queerreaderchaos's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

Omgs Are you kidding me this was so good! The narration was perfect, it made me laugh and cry and tense with anticipation. I am sad now that I finished it 🥲
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applejacksbooks's review

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dark funny tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

I really enjoyed the audiobook and I'm happy I went that route. I don't think I would have enjoyed this as much if i had read a physical copy. 
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waveycowpar's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional lighthearted sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This was a great post apocalyptic book. Jamie and Andrew are very lovable characters. The pace of the book is super slow even in a post covid-type illness kills everyone world and the southern USA stays bad even after 87% of the world’s population dies. 100% worth a read. I hope there’s a sequel. 
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