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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
My thoughts in a nutshell
Oh that was very good!
It's been sitting on my waiting list for a long time, and now it's finally the right time to read it. I've never read such a good apocalyptic teen book.
I loved the main characters, I cared about what would happen to them.
I liked the dual timelines, I was always excited to see what would happen.
I had the twist figured out ahead of time, but it didn't detract from my reading experience.
The end of the book was interesting, I may continue to read the series, but I didn't hear good things about the second part.
I highly recommend it if you're in the mood for a teen dystopia.
4 stars!
An intriguing post-apocalyptic world dominated by aliens attracted to light and noise. When a community of survivors is found the story twists into an unsettling dystopian future.
This was a massive surprise, but a good one at that. I really enjoyed the different parts and how each part felt incredibly different. Especially the switching time zones in the second part was something that kept me on my toes. There were so much more layers to the story than I originally thought and it kept me engaged from the very first chapter. Some aspects were predictable but others threw me for a loop. The main character is one of the strongest I’ve read about this year – she was strong-willed, sassy, smart and didn’t take shit from anyone. The urge to survive was incredible and how she took care of Baby was very endearing. Despite the length, this book read incredibly quickly. This book reminded me again why I love the dystopian genre so much.
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I liked the first part, but as soon as we got to Repressive Society instead of Person-Eating Aliens, it lost my interest.
At first glance at the synopsis, I couldn't help but compare this to another book, the much hyped about "The 5th Wave". I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one. Both books are centered around a young teenage girl, trying to survive all on her own in a post-apocalyptic world. Fortunately, the similarities end there. The two books are distinct and can stand on their own, in my opinion.
To summarize, "In The After" is an intense, edge-of-your-seat, action-packed read. Demetria Luneta throws some major punches and I am immediately drawn into the story. There were so many gritty and suspenseful moments in which I found myself holding my breath, afraid and yet eagerly anticipating what comes next.
The pacing of the story was fast for the most part, especially in the beginning. The first half of the book deals with the invasion of "Them", the world going into chaos, and Amy suddenly trying to fend for herself. This all happened in a span of 3 years, with Amy being a mere 14 years old when the apocalypse started. I love the first half because we get to know Amy more on an intimate level. We also learn more about the vicious "Them", which scared me to the core. We are also introduced to Baby, a toddler Amy rescued and get to see their sisterly relationship develop.
Where the first half can be described as post-apocalyptic, the second half is more dystopian as both Amy and Baby were "rescued" and brought into a secure compound inhabited by human survivors. The pacing slowed down a bit to reflect Amy and Baby's new sense of security. However, not everything is as perfect as first perceived and now Amy have new issues to contend with.
I had a slight problem with the second half of the book. Not because of the story arc, but the writing style somehow switched with flashbacks of before and after. It was confusing at first, but I got used to it eventually. If you're going to read this book, I suggest giving the second half some time for the writing style to sink it. Eventually, everything started to make sense. I also realized that if it have been written just as everything happened consecutively, it would have slowed down the pacing tremendously.
What I really loved about this story is Amy. What an amazing female protagonist! She is highly intelligent, resilient, and resourceful. At the same time, she is compassionate and just an inherently good person. I was completely immersed in her character and her way of thinking from the very beginning. It was especially endearing to see her take on Baby into her care and protection. Even after enduring so much hardship, she still maintained her humanity and is able to see right from wrong, even when everybody around her has gone down the wrong path.
There is a romance in this book. Two positives about it is that: 1) it didn't control the storyline; and, 2) there was no overused love triangle in sight. I'm not sure if that will be the case in the sequels though. One thing I didn't like is that the romance somewhat lacked chemistry and felt like it was thrown in there just to fill the pages. Perhaps it will be more developed in the sequels; I just hope it doesn't become a main plot line. I like seeing Amy level-headed and focused on more relevant goals.
Another issue I had with the book is the big reveal regarding the true nature of "Them". I'm pretty obtuse when it comes to plot twists, but this was fairly predictable to me; there were just some big signs leading up to the inevitable conclusion. Other aspects surrounding it were exciting though, so this somewhat dulls the predictability issue.
The book's conclusion was open-ended, but it wasn't exactly a cliffhanger. The ending makes sense and basically introduces us to possibilities of more to come, of more adventures on Amy's part. I, for one, cannot wait to pick up the next installment.
To summarize, "In The After" is an intense, edge-of-your-seat, action-packed read. Demetria Luneta throws some major punches and I am immediately drawn into the story. There were so many gritty and suspenseful moments in which I found myself holding my breath, afraid and yet eagerly anticipating what comes next.
The pacing of the story was fast for the most part, especially in the beginning. The first half of the book deals with the invasion of "Them", the world going into chaos, and Amy suddenly trying to fend for herself. This all happened in a span of 3 years, with Amy being a mere 14 years old when the apocalypse started. I love the first half because we get to know Amy more on an intimate level. We also learn more about the vicious "Them", which scared me to the core. We are also introduced to Baby, a toddler Amy rescued and get to see their sisterly relationship develop.
Where the first half can be described as post-apocalyptic, the second half is more dystopian as both Amy and Baby were "rescued" and brought into a secure compound inhabited by human survivors. The pacing slowed down a bit to reflect Amy and Baby's new sense of security. However, not everything is as perfect as first perceived and now Amy have new issues to contend with.
I had a slight problem with the second half of the book. Not because of the story arc, but the writing style somehow switched with flashbacks of before and after. It was confusing at first, but I got used to it eventually. If you're going to read this book, I suggest giving the second half some time for the writing style to sink it. Eventually, everything started to make sense. I also realized that if it have been written just as everything happened consecutively, it would have slowed down the pacing tremendously.
What I really loved about this story is Amy. What an amazing female protagonist! She is highly intelligent, resilient, and resourceful. At the same time, she is compassionate and just an inherently good person. I was completely immersed in her character and her way of thinking from the very beginning. It was especially endearing to see her take on Baby into her care and protection. Even after enduring so much hardship, she still maintained her humanity and is able to see right from wrong, even when everybody around her has gone down the wrong path.
There is a romance in this book. Two positives about it is that: 1) it didn't control the storyline; and, 2) there was no overused love triangle in sight. I'm not sure if that will be the case in the sequels though. One thing I didn't like is that the romance somewhat lacked chemistry and felt like it was thrown in there just to fill the pages. Perhaps it will be more developed in the sequels; I just hope it doesn't become a main plot line. I like seeing Amy level-headed and focused on more relevant goals.
Another issue I had with the book is the big reveal regarding the true nature of "Them". I'm pretty obtuse when it comes to plot twists, but this was fairly predictable to me; there were just some big signs leading up to the inevitable conclusion. Other aspects surrounding it were exciting though, so this somewhat dulls the predictability issue.
The book's conclusion was open-ended, but it wasn't exactly a cliffhanger. The ending makes sense and basically introduces us to possibilities of more to come, of more adventures on Amy's part. I, for one, cannot wait to pick up the next installment.
3.5 Stars for In the After's Post Apocalyptic World
The book was broken into the 3 parts. I really enjoyed part 1 which detailed how The After began. We are literally immersed right into the action as things happen quickly. It pulled me right in. The post apocalyptic world was frightening. One day Amy is a normal high school student (The Before) then the world as she knows it ends and a new one begins (The After) filled with green carnivorous creatures/monsters and terror takes over. Part 1 details how Amy learns to adapt in order to survive. She survives longer than most people because she was lucky enough to live behind an electrified fence and quickly learned to be silent as the creatures are attracted to noise, even the slightest noise.
Early on in the After Amy finds a mute toddler, who she names Baby, on one of her trips to forage for food. The 2 become a family of sorts and work together to survive. I thoroughly enjoyed their relationship and how just being together was a saving grace for each of them. It was a theme that carried through the entire book and really showed the type of person Amy was - the type that wouldn't turn her back on you, the type you could trust to do the right thing, no matter what.
One day a bandit group finds its way into Amy's house with the intent to take over. This is where things go wrong for me. Just in the nick of time, Amy is picked up by a group of Guardians and taken to a sanctuary called New Hope. Parts 2 & 3 are all about Amy's time in New Hope. Even though I wasn't as captivated by Part 2, it definitely still kept me reading. I found New Hope creepy from the beginning and my instincts kicked in leaving me uneasy as I read.
"Nothing this broken can ever be fixed."
Parts 2 & 3 take a twist as Amy becomes somewhat of an unreliable character. She is in the Ward - recovering and undergoing treatment and we have no idea why or from what but you just know it can't be anything good. As some of Amy's friends work to help her (I really enjoyed Rice & Kay and the other Guardians), she begins to piece things together and we get a clearer picture of what exactly happened to her. As her memories are puzzled back together we uncover the reason behind The After, who was responsible and what happened to land her in the Ward. I won't give any of it away but I was able to piece much of it together ahead of the big reveal. Still, while it wasn't surprising, it was an interesting & solid plot.
"He thinks he’s won. He thinks he knows me, but he has no idea what I am capable of. If I can survive the After, I can survive the Ward."
This being the first book in a series, it ends in a cliffhanger and leaves us with unanswered questions. I'll definitely read on to see where things go from here. I enjoyed Amy and am invested in seeing what she does now that she is armed with all her information and her natural desire to do the right thing.
The book was broken into the 3 parts. I really enjoyed part 1 which detailed how The After began. We are literally immersed right into the action as things happen quickly. It pulled me right in. The post apocalyptic world was frightening. One day Amy is a normal high school student (The Before) then the world as she knows it ends and a new one begins (The After) filled with green carnivorous creatures/monsters and terror takes over. Part 1 details how Amy learns to adapt in order to survive. She survives longer than most people because she was lucky enough to live behind an electrified fence and quickly learned to be silent as the creatures are attracted to noise, even the slightest noise.
Early on in the After Amy finds a mute toddler, who she names Baby, on one of her trips to forage for food. The 2 become a family of sorts and work together to survive. I thoroughly enjoyed their relationship and how just being together was a saving grace for each of them. It was a theme that carried through the entire book and really showed the type of person Amy was - the type that wouldn't turn her back on you, the type you could trust to do the right thing, no matter what.
One day a bandit group finds its way into Amy's house with the intent to take over. This is where things go wrong for me. Just in the nick of time, Amy is picked up by a group of Guardians and taken to a sanctuary called New Hope. Parts 2 & 3 are all about Amy's time in New Hope. Even though I wasn't as captivated by Part 2, it definitely still kept me reading. I found New Hope creepy from the beginning and my instincts kicked in leaving me uneasy as I read.
"Nothing this broken can ever be fixed."
Parts 2 & 3 take a twist as Amy becomes somewhat of an unreliable character. She is in the Ward - recovering and undergoing treatment and we have no idea why or from what but you just know it can't be anything good. As some of Amy's friends work to help her (I really enjoyed Rice & Kay and the other Guardians), she begins to piece things together and we get a clearer picture of what exactly happened to her. As her memories are puzzled back together we uncover the reason behind The After, who was responsible and what happened to land her in the Ward. I won't give any of it away but I was able to piece much of it together ahead of the big reveal. Still, while it wasn't surprising, it was an interesting & solid plot.
"He thinks he’s won. He thinks he knows me, but he has no idea what I am capable of. If I can survive the After, I can survive the Ward."
This being the first book in a series, it ends in a cliffhanger and leaves us with unanswered questions. I'll definitely read on to see where things go from here. I enjoyed Amy and am invested in seeing what she does now that she is armed with all her information and her natural desire to do the right thing.
I couldn't put this book down. It had me on pins and needles until the very end. I just ordered the second book, and can't wait to read it!!!
Amy Harris is just fourteen when the world as she knew it came to an end. It was a Saturday and she was alone in the house - her mom was at work and her dad had gone out. Something attacked - strange and monstrous creatures that killed everything and everyone they came across. Amy was safe thanks the electric fence her mother insisted upon and the solar panels her father installed. She had electricity and water, food and supplies, and learned to fend for herself by only going out at night and staying as quiet as possible. And alone is how she stayed until she came across "Baby" a toddler who somehow managed to survive amongst the creatures they'd come to know as Floraes.
Together, Amy and Baby are able to survive in their own created sanctuary but when their home comes under attack from other humans, salvation arrives in a surprising and unexpected way.
Wow! Demitria Lunetta's debut is really quite awesome! I loved Amy - she's hardened and tough but she's also extremely clever.
The first half of the book is very straightforward narrative. Lunetta does something quite interesting with the second part of the book, though, alternating between flashbacks and the present where Amy is in a bit of a predicament without being entirely clear as to how she got there. It's something that she figures out and is revealed to the reader through the flashback portions.
The particular "humanity's downfall" premise here is one that I really, really enjoyed. Especially as we get further into the story. Lunetta throws in more than one twist here, some were expected while others managed to catch me off guard. I'm definitely hoping there will be a follow up and will be looking forward to it with great anticipation.
In the After hits shelves June 25 and is going down as one of my summer favorites!
Together, Amy and Baby are able to survive in their own created sanctuary but when their home comes under attack from other humans, salvation arrives in a surprising and unexpected way.
Wow! Demitria Lunetta's debut is really quite awesome! I loved Amy - she's hardened and tough but she's also extremely clever.
The first half of the book is very straightforward narrative. Lunetta does something quite interesting with the second part of the book, though, alternating between flashbacks and the present where Amy is in a bit of a predicament without being entirely clear as to how she got there. It's something that she figures out and is revealed to the reader through the flashback portions.
The particular "humanity's downfall" premise here is one that I really, really enjoyed. Especially as we get further into the story. Lunetta throws in more than one twist here, some were expected while others managed to catch me off guard. I'm definitely hoping there will be a follow up and will be looking forward to it with great anticipation.
In the After hits shelves June 25 and is going down as one of my summer favorites!
Actual rating- 4.5
I will start my "review" by disclaiming that this book has massive similarities to "The 5th Wave." They both follow a female teen protagonist who survives an alien invasion/apocalypse, is driving to survive because of their responsibility for a child, and end up in a "new, safe" society that is supposed to save the human race.
That being said, I enjoyed In the After SO much more. I felt like this book explored more serious themes such as personal security and liberty, betrayal, survival, etc. Amy, the female protagonist, was much more believable and strong. In addition- there's no romance!!! I loved that she was strong on her own and had a very clear sense of truth vs. fabrication, etc. I cannot wait for the rest of this series to be written and released.
I will start my "review" by disclaiming that this book has massive similarities to "The 5th Wave." They both follow a female teen protagonist who survives an alien invasion/apocalypse, is driving to survive because of their responsibility for a child, and end up in a "new, safe" society that is supposed to save the human race.
That being said, I enjoyed In the After SO much more. I felt like this book explored more serious themes such as personal security and liberty, betrayal, survival, etc. Amy, the female protagonist, was much more believable and strong. In addition- there's no romance!!! I loved that she was strong on her own and had a very clear sense of truth vs. fabrication, etc. I cannot wait for the rest of this series to be written and released.