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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed this listen far more than I expected to. It was a rather logical depiction of what life would likely be like immediately after a such an The drama and storyline were good. Definitely an interesting listen during a pandemic.
2.5 stars.
It's was a short read. My biggest complaints were the lack of plot and character development. In the end, you still didn't know much about the main characters. Overall, I mostly enjoyed it but wouldn't read it again.
It's was a short read. My biggest complaints were the lack of plot and character development. In the end, you still didn't know much about the main characters. Overall, I mostly enjoyed it but wouldn't read it again.
I really liked this book, except it felt like a trilogy crammed into 1 book. I truly loved the different take on LH’s book.
What I did not love is making Ben only appear interested in Sela for sex. It left a really bad taste in my mouth - and it wasn’t just my decaf coffee.
I’d have hoped for more actual romance. The relationship between Sela and Ben felt utterly cheap.
What I did not love is making Ben only appear interested in Sela for sex. It left a really bad taste in my mouth - and it wasn’t just my decaf coffee.
I’d have hoped for more actual romance. The relationship between Sela and Ben felt utterly cheap.
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I grabbed this book off the shelf completely at random and honestly thought an "end of the world" scenario wouldn't be for me. I was very pleasantly surprised!
Sela has returned to her small home town to lick her wounds after a difficult divorce; Ben is ex-military living in isolation up the mountain. He warns her of an incoming CME, or solar storm, and she trusts him enough to prepare her family to live, potentially for months, without power or outside help.
I have no idea about CMEs and their risk, theoretical or otherwise, to earth, but the science and the dystopian after-effects were realistic enough that it didn't matter to me whether that is what would really happen.
The authors painted an interesting picture of a small, mountain community coming together - and facing challenges - to face their new reality.
There is a love interest, but it's incidental to the story, and whilst I likely won't seek out these authors again they kept the pages turning and this was an enjoyable read
Sela has returned to her small home town to lick her wounds after a difficult divorce; Ben is ex-military living in isolation up the mountain. He warns her of an incoming CME, or solar storm, and she trusts him enough to prepare her family to live, potentially for months, without power or outside help.
I have no idea about CMEs and their risk, theoretical or otherwise, to earth, but the science and the dystopian after-effects were realistic enough that it didn't matter to me whether that is what would really happen.
The authors painted an interesting picture of a small, mountain community coming together - and facing challenges - to face their new reality.
There is a love interest, but it's incidental to the story, and whilst I likely won't seek out these authors again they kept the pages turning and this was an enjoyable read
I really enjoyed this book. It was an easy, quick read with a satisfying ending (good endings are so important to me! - I don't like being left hanging). It's not the type of story with the depth of a series, where the characters and stories feel like you've become a part of them, but that you feel like you'll be reading forever. Rather it's a quick, enjoyable read with a good storyline and characters you'll route for and others you'll route against.
I received this book as a Goodreads give away.
I received this book as a Goodreads give away.
adventurous
hopeful
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:
Complicated
While the romance was minimal and rather bland, I appreciated that this story explored the consequences of a natural disaster that is not totally out of the realm of possibility. By one account, there's a 12% chance that a solar star could happen to us in the next few years. It was interesting to contemplate and follow what systems the fictional community put in place to deal with the solar superstorm.
Both of those reactions struck me as patently unrealistic. They're both willing to risk Sela and the baby to childbirth without the aid of modern medicine? The story has already established there are no medical facilities or doctors in Wears Valley. The best they have is a medic and a veterinarian and some herbalists. Even if there was a hospital, there'd be no electricity to run the equipment.
I'm not saying the couple shouldn't not decide to have a baby. It just felt like it warranted, at the very least, a conversation. Sela worries about everything else already; wouldn't this rank as well? Yes, by the epilogue, we learn that the electricity is due to be restored in time for resulting baby's birth, but if that was always the expectation, the authors should have at least mentioned that possibility earlier rather than being so blithe about the baby's conception.
Spoiler
However, my interest almost immediately died when Ben tells Sela he's got nine condoms and after that she's got to choose. The story frames it as a choice but it's really an ultimatum: What I heard in my mind was Ben asking Sela if she's willing to risk unprotected sex -- and thus pregnancy -- with him. When they eventually do run out of condoms, Sela consents without pause because yes, she does want a baby with Ben.Both of those reactions struck me as patently unrealistic. They're both willing to risk Sela and the baby to childbirth without the aid of modern medicine? The story has already established there are no medical facilities or doctors in Wears Valley. The best they have is a medic and a veterinarian and some herbalists. Even if there was a hospital, there'd be no electricity to run the equipment.
I'm not saying the couple shouldn't not decide to have a baby. It just felt like it warranted, at the very least, a conversation. Sela worries about everything else already; wouldn't this rank as well? Yes, by the epilogue, we learn that the electricity is due to be restored in time for resulting baby's birth, but if that was always the expectation, the authors should have at least mentioned that possibility earlier rather than being so blithe about the baby's conception.
I really liked the story but really hated the writing.
While it was kind of odd to read a survival story in the midst of quarantine, I love Linda Howard’s writing and how she crafts stories of endurance and fortitude in extraordinary circumstances. The romance was great and the characters were smart, practical, and levelheaded. We all like to believe we would do the right things and act with community spirit in a crisis, and the Lindas give us this in spades. Definitely recommend.