Book Review

As we start to transition from book 1 into book 2 All That Comes After, I thought hit would be a good time to reveal the ace up my sleeve. I believe in getting real feedback on my work in real time. So I had a very good friend read book 2 as I was writing it. 

That sounds like a “of course they’d like it” setup, I know but just stay with me. This friend isn’t afraid of telling me I’m messing up or just wrong. That’s one of the things that I respect about them actually. So I ask some questions about their reading experience with ATCA. 

Q: what’s your background as a reader? 

A: B.C. (before children), I was a voracious reader, particularly of memoirs, and I'd spend silly money on books on what seemed like a weekly basis.

A.C. (after children), the books I like reading starting being pushed aside for reading baby books and I'd read for me when I felt I had time.  That said, if I found myself with physical copies of books by my favorite author, I'd consume them in a day or less.

Q: What’s your ideal book? 

A: I will (and have) read books covering a wide range of genres -- historical studies on eugenics, memoirs about troubled relationships, fictional crime thrillers, and light fantasy.  The only one I never could get into was romance -- maybe because that's my mom's thing, lol.

Q: How critical are you of what you read?

A: I treat my books like my movies and television -- if it's a story I can follow along with and it entertains me or teaches me something without putting me to sleep, I'm down for it.  The writing and characters don't have to be perfect; sometimes the imperfections are what make the story!

 Now getting into the actual book this is where I want you to really understand this “Review” if you will. 

Q: Have you read HWR(book1)?

A: Regrettably, I have not read the first book in the HWR series.  No real excuse for not doing it, I just haven't.

I asked what they knew about the story going in. Obviously I love to talk about this story so. This was the only knowledge they had going in. “When I was getting ready to read a book in the HWR series, I knew I'd be getting into some kind of story about a zombie apocalypse.  I knew the second book picked up after firebombing had taken place and that there was a group of survivors travelling together.  I imagined it would be something like The Walking Dead.”

I say it all the time, any zombie apocalypse will hit the same notes. However this story took an unexpected turn, just how big? In their words, “What I didn't know, and what surprised me, was how relatable the characters were.  These are families who were just happy to be alive and together, and there were others who were hard asses hell bent on finding answers no matter the cost.”

I asked a few more questions about summing up this series.

A: I throw this book into the "light fantasy" column because the idea of zeeks or walking dead is still a bit out there for me, but I could totally see these scenarios playing otu with a post-nuclear society or even a post-viral epidemic world -- crazy!!

Q: Does this family we follow read as a real family?

A: I get the connection between Mark and his daughter.  She's independent, he's trying his best to leter her be herself in this messed up world, and though he isn't totally ready, he realizes he has to give up his control & protector role so she can find her way.  I wish I could understand more of the father-son dynamic, though I imagine it is totally relatable for guys with a father who's a bit detached.

Q: Were you able to see the world in your mind as you read? (This is essentially important if you didn’t read the first book)

A: The scenes were well laid out and the fights, both with the living and the zeeks, were described in graphic detail which made it easy to imagine myself in the characters' shoes.  I could feel the tension, love, frustration -- all of the emotions -- between the various cast members and, to be honest, that's what kept me wanting more.  I'm invested in and want to know what happens to each of the characters next!

Ok this may have a bit of a spoiler in it but I don’t think so. Ye be warned! 

Q: Who was your favorite character? 

A: It's easy to want to pick Mark as my favorite because he's that guy who wants everyone to be happy and safe and is willing to take a lot of crap from others just to keep the peace, but, I think Sarge is my fave.  Sarge is undeniably stubborn, a hard ass, unforgiving to a fault, and really a big jerk.  Despite how awful he sounds, he is those things because he loves hard.  He is a logical and tactical thinker, not willing to sacrifice the safety of his trusted circle by introducing unknowns without question.  He knows what it means to lose, and he accepts that death is an unpleasant inevitability -- something Mark remains naive about.

 

Wrapping up I asked what they thought about the book overall, no art now fancy cover just the writing on the page in its rawest from. What did they say?

“Overall, All That Comes After is engaging and makes for a quick read.  The journal-like structure of the book keeps the story flowing smoothly and keeps the reader from getting lost when moving from "past" to "present."  This structure also makes it super easy to start with this book and not feel like you've missed out on anything crucial from the first book.”

My efforts to get everyone I can to read what I believe in with all my heart and will take the risk of asking anyone to read, I asked what they would say to someone to pick up these books? I leave you with those words-MH

“If you're not sure you want to get started with the HWR series, my question to you is, "Why not?"  Take a break from our maddening world by imagining yourself in theirs!”

 

These Zombies may actually be for you

 

  Zombies are an age old villain and horror creature that people feel strongly about one way or another. Like them or hate them you have an opinion, and rightly so. The important thing to remember is not all cups of tea are the same. That goes for both like/dislike of zombies and the entertainment they live in... or die in..? Exist in. 

  This time around I’m going to pitch this story to those people who aren’t fans of the zombies. For starters I’ve been trying to understand where the dislike comes from. A few examples of why I’ve found, “ew they’re gross”, I don’t like gore or that kind of thing, zombies are outdated we’ve seen them alllllll! The one that surprised me the most was, “They don’t make sense, they always come from the same thing. Why do they eat brains?”

  First I’ll address the ew about zombies and how HWR handles them. You see a new look at zombies not instantly dismembered or decomposed. I don’t think that’s how it works. HWR’s virus is different (spoilers ahead) the zombies are still more human than what you’d expect at the start of the book. The first book is the very start of the outbreak. So if that’s your hang up give it a try and I think you’ll be less grossed out than you think. 

  As for the gore.. you can’t really have zombies without some zombies kills. However at no point was the intent to gross out the reader as with some zombie apocalypse media. Any time we see a kill or Zeek itself any gore that follows is done so to drive the story forward. I also believe it’s done so that it paints a picture but leaves some to the imagination so the reader can decide how detailed to see it. If that’s why you haven’t picked up your copy of HWR all I’m saying is I’m not a fan of violence for violence sake it has to have a purpose. 

   So you’ve seen every zombie apocalypse and zombie already? Not like this you haven’t. Most take the same set of rules and start there; bite>turn>bite>turn.. that is old. Patient zero is always some dumb doctor or a lab trying to stop the next big disease.. again getting old (and not just for zombies). HWR creates a world where the infection in its origin is spread like a flu. Our hero is face to face with it but as already stated the turn isn’t so instant that he can even tell it’s more than a drugged up criminal. With out giving to much away the story is more important than the zombies. The relationship between the cast is more important, imagine you had to go to the store and boom apocalypse? That’s how the others do it, not here buddy. I ask you to give it till chapter 4 “The Road Less Traveled” before you write it of as the same.

  Remember I said spoilers ahead? Well here we are skip to the next paragraph if you want. If you are of the thinking zombies don’t make sense, too unrealistic or can’t suspend your disbelief for the undead. You are the exact person who needs to read this book! I wrote this book for you, this book is more logical in its approach. The characters may have dumb in them but the story is driven by a different approach. I spent a lot of time early on asking people like you what they find hard to believe about zombies. I tried to answer what they said from a real life way not a fantasy “it’s a book I can do what I want” point of view. Spoiler if something seems to far fetched to believe it’s probably for a reason. You ever watch those crime shows and you figure out the killer ten minutes before the investigation team? The writer set that up to get you into the story and make you feel like you’re one step ahead. As for why do they eat brains? No, they don’t, flat out that’s not really a thing after the 80s. My virus is based in a very real very scary sickness that affects 520,000+ Americans. I don’t ask you to believe in a made up virus, I ask you to believe in proven Science and a little bit of intent to speed up the way that Disease shortens your life. The HWR virus at it’s very real roots actually mimic what we would understand as a zombie, almost every symptom in context mirrors that of what we understand to be what zombies are down to the walk. I can’t stress enough how you should give HWR a shot. 

  So you made it past all of that? First thank you, second the last person that could be reading this but still on the fence about snagging a copy of HWR is you. Weather things like this aren’t you thing just because they just aren’t. That’s ok I still think HWR could be for you! Yes there are zombies, yes people die, but the biggest and most important part of HWR is the family at its center. I believe how the characters are written will still speak to you in a way any other book would if not more just for the fact that you can see how important they are to each other more so feel it. With every line they grow or respond in very human ways. It’s also funny, you may not know me but trust me when I say I don’t take myself too seriously. This book has that fingerprint all over it. Smart and witty, conversations that flow like they would in your circle of friends. I think you’ll be surprised by how much you start to care about Mark and his family or Sarge and his team. 

After all that if you don’t think you want to give HWR a chance comment why and I’m sure there’s something in there for you or I can make improvements to the next two books. I hope I get the chance to entertain you- MH