Heather’s Bookshelf: Aftermath
Author: Lena Gibson
Released: 12/19/24
Genre: Post-apocalypse Romance
“Kory was still a stranger, but somehow less threatening by daylight. Maybe she should try to get to know him better if they were going to travel together. That could be a long-term goal. She wasn’t great with people, but she was willing to make the effort. For now, she ate, packed, and made a quick sweep upstairs. She was always on the lookout for anything useful.”
“Aftermath” is book 2 in the Love and Survival Series. However, this book was read as a standalone. Robin had been accepted to Yale law school and Kory was homeless and addicted to drugs when the world as they knew it ended.
When the asteroid hit, their lives took two very different paths. Kory became sober, joining a motorcycle gang that engages in despicable behaviors, but keeps him safe. When his group stumbles upon a young woman, he can’t stand by any longer.
For three years, Robin and her grandfather have been hiding. Initially trying to reach their family in a town known as Vita xTerra in South Dakota. Unfortunately it’s 800 miles away and Robin’s grandfather is dying. Concerned he’s holding Robin back, her grandfather finds solace in the possibility of a strong, kind, and book-reading stranger taking Robin the rest of the way to South Dakota.
On the run, they don’t initially trust each other. After encountering many obstacles including the elements and the worse of humanity, they turn to each other for comfort. Will they learn to trust each other in order to survive or will this new world be the end for Robin and Kory?
Trigger Warning: violence, adult language, cannibalism, sexual assault and rape (off page), misogyny, murder, forced pregnancy and gun violence, sexual situations
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I have not read another book in the series- it read well as a standalone and felt complete start to finish. It had the feel of Last of Us- more on the serious and dark side of a post-apocalyptic event. And there are some seriously dark and disturbing things that happen or are referenced throughout the story. But in the end, it’s really more a tale about found families and young love. It’s fast paced overall, though there’s a period in the middle where Kory and Robin are trying to get to their destination that dragged on a bit. I flew through this book as it’s written in a way that pushes you to see what happens to the characters by their next stop or point in time. It’s suspenseful, emotional, and written in both Kory and Robin’s voices that also provide suspense and emotional connection between the two main characters. Their relationship develops organically and adds to each of the main characters motivations, emotions, and reactions to situations. Each of the characters pop off the page in their own right. They are both damaged, insecure, and yearning for human connection. They’re each riddled in guilt and hoping to become better people in a world that seems to only reward the worst of humanity. The most heartfelt and emotional portion of the story was the short period of time when Robin and Kory were sheltered by Jeb and Martha. Though only on a few pages, it really stood out to me as both lovely and sad. The ending of the tale wraps everything up nicely. It completes a clear period of Kory and Robin’s lives while also leaving the story open for additional stories and incorporates other characters that could make interesting tales.
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
OVERALL REVIEW:
A post-apocalyptic story focused on found families and young love. Fantastic relationship and character building highlight this often dark-themed tale.
Want to learn more about the author?
Check out my interview with Lena Gibson
Interested in checking out the book for yourself?
Find it for purchase here
Interested in submitting your book for review? Visit my review page for guidelines and submission requirements.
