Zombie series that Amy found for us and loved, and sure enough, Tessa and Michelle are loving it, too!! And book #3 was just released!!
Amy: Ladies, I’m reading And After by Sarah Lyons Fleming, the second book in her Until the End of the World series. This was a random-pick read for me as I was in one of those moods where the thought of starting *anything* was overwhelming. I KNOW y’all know how those moods are. I read the first book a while back and figured I’d catch up on the series since I actually wanted something a little lighter. I know, what’s up with that sh!t…me actually wanting something light and picking a zombie book for that purpose. *giggle*
The first book is pretty light and focuses more on the characters trying to survive and their relationships with each other, and what makes it light is that things just line up well for their survival…one of those implausible-but-not-impossible sort of things. It was kind of repetitive and monotonous at times but perfect for easy reading and pretty good. BUT…I was blindsided in this second book with what happened. Not ugly-cry blindsided but sniffing-and-wiping-eyes (a lot) blindsided. I seriously skipped ahead a page to see if it was a nightmare – which I never do – and nope! Did *not* see it coming and now I’m sad.
Tessa: *hides* Did I mention Zombies by virus are scary before they know to be careful? Any killer disease freaks me out, so I think I found the “book that scares me”. The zombie themselves aren’t scary, just the idea of someone, anyone, could get infected because they were in the wrong spot at the wrong time.
Maryse: Tessa EXACTLY!!!!! It’s the outbreak and the breakdown of the entire world as it spreads and the panic that blows my mind!!!!
Tessa: I’m on book one. No longer scary at this point, but really good. As I said, the beginning of zombies being made is far scarier than actual zombies. I can see what you mean by light. A few thrills, but it mostly builds the relationships and the characters.
Tessa: Finished Until The End of the World. *sighs* I really loved it, but And After sounds emotionally scary. I think first is what I need to read… *glares at papers* Also, Lollipops sounds like more fun than And After. Yes, I’m a chicken!
Michelle: I feel like I’m biting my nails down just waiting for the bad to happen in All The Stars in the Sky. I’m totally living it with them!
Michelle: I really enjoyed this series and hope she comes up with a new one since I’m now a fan!
Fabi: Oh yeah, Michelle seems to read entire series in the time it takes me to read one book.
Michelle: Oh yes I read it almost in one sitting and didn’t go to bed until I was done. Amy, I loved it and speaking about going from hating to loving characters, this series is a perfect example for me.
Amy: *in a sing-songy voice* Ohhhh Faaaaaabi…did ya see what Michelle said about All the Stars in the Sky? See, now you hafta read the series!
Fabi: *one eye peeks out from dark corner*
Maryse: *snort*
About book #1:
Cassie Forrest isn’t surprised to learn that the day she’s decided to get her life together is also the day the world ends. After all, she’s been on a self-imposed losing streak since her survivalist parents died: she’s stopped painting, broken off her engagement to Adrian and dated a real jerk. Rectifying her mistakes has to wait, however, because Cassie and her friends have just enough time to escape Brooklyn for her parents’ cabin before Bornavirus LX turns them into zombies, too.
This is difficult enough, but Cassie’s tag along ex-boyfriend and her friend’s bratty sister have a knack for making everything, even the apocalypse, more unpleasant. When the two attract a threat as deadly as the undead to their safe haven, Cassie’s forced to see how far she’ll go to protect those she loves. And it’s a lot farther than she’d anticipated. This, coupled with Adrian’s distant voice on Safe Zone Radio and, of course, the living dead, threaten to put Cassie right back into the funk she just dragged herself out of.
Survival’s great and all, especially when you have leather armor, good friends and home-brewed beer, but there’s something Cassie must do besides survive: tell Adrian she still loves him. And to do that, Cassie has to find faith that she’s stronger than she thinks, she’s still a crack shot and true love never dies.
- Until the End of the World (Until the End of the World, Book 1)
- So Long, Lollipops (An Until the End of the World Novella)
- And After (Until the End of the World, Book 2)
- All the Stars in the Sky: Until the End of the World, Book 3
I am happily addicted to reading but I need to expend my book energy (especially when one puts me in an emotional frenzy - SO fun!). So, I release my feelings about the stories, by writing them down here. It's my book therapy. 
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Really have me intrigued and I’m not usually into zombie stories!maybe…
No “maybe”, Cheryl…”yes”!!! I’m still working on book 3 and still loving it, but Michelle finished it (like 10 minutes after starting it!) and said she was happy with where the story went. See? It’s a “yes”!
Nooo it took me a good 16 minutes
I loved how the series ended. It really had a character that I wanted to push into a zombie herd in book 1 and was swooning over by book 3. The character development and progression was so great. As usual, it’s more about the characters than the zombies but there’s a little of everything. Book 2 was a sledgehammer to my heart though so any who are going to read it brace yourselves!
LOL Michelle!!
I only recently found these books via audiobooks and I was hooked from the start. It was so good to come across some really good post apocalypse / zoombie books as there are lots of not so good ones out there. I actually found them when I was looking for something free to listen too, I came across the novella. Even though I saw the risks of spoilers I thought ah lets do it. I am so glad I did as it got me well and truly hooked!
After that I bought the first book, then I wanted to relisten to the novella and then I went onto the next book. I’ve just finished that and was very eager to hear the last book….only to find its not being released till the 24th of this month. So I’m going to have to be patient but oh my these books are so good, I’m going to be upset when I’ve finished the last book that’s for sure.
Great blog post
and I agree with the comments as well. If Michelle refers to book 2 as “and after” then I totally agree, total sledgehammer to the heart. I really can’t wait to hear book 3, waiting sure is going to be hard.
For anyone here that hasn’t listened to the audiobook versions I can highly recommend them, they are excellent and so well done. I’m already feeling lost not having my fix from this story tonight, it really is excellent!