After The End by Amy Plum

After The End by Amy Plum

Release Date - May 6, 2014
Publisher Website - Harper Collins
Publisher Social Media - Twitter/Facebook/SavvyReader/Frenzy
Pages - 336 pages
My Rating - 3.5/5
**received in exchange for an honest review from the publisher**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis

"I have no idea what is truth and what is fiction. I'm all I've got now. I can't trust anyone."

World War III has left the world ravaged by nuclear radiation. A lucky few escaped to the Alaskan wilderness. They've survived for the last thirty years by living off the land, being one with nature, and hiding from whoever else might still be out there.

At least, this is what Juneau has been told her entire life.

When Juneau returns from a hunting trip to discover that everyone in her clan has vanished, she sets off to find them. Leaving the boundaries of their land for the very first time, she learns something horrifying: There never was a war. Cities were never destroyed. The world is intact. Everything was a lie.

Now Juneau is adrift in a modern-day world she never knew existed. But while she's trying to find a way to rescue her friends and family, someone else is looking for her. Someone who knows the extraordinary truth about the secrets of her past

Imagine someone you care about keeping a big secret from you. The kind of secret that changes the way you see the world. The kind that, when revealed, shifts the foundation you thought your world was built on. This life changing experience is exactly what happens to the resourceful, capable protagonist of Amy Plum's After The End.

Juneau is a nice blend of capable and vulnerable. Amy Plum is careful to let her strengths shine when they are presented, but also just as careful to allow for her lack of modern knowledge. Juneau has been cut off from the rest of the world, so many of the things we take for granted are new to her. She's smart, and learns quickly, but it never feels like she knows more than she should. The character is someone who knows her own strengths and doesn't apologize for them. She uses them, even when presented with a situation she is unsure in. She attempts to adapt her knowledge into something that can help her. It made her feel authentic to me, because she didn't immediately know things. She fell back on what she did know in order to survive.

The journey Juneau takes and the answers she uncovers is the main for the novel, and therefore filled with spoilers. It's a rather interesting set up for what is to come, and I feel that now that the ground work has been laid out, the remaining novels can move forward to the heart of the story. World building (or mythology building in this case) is important, and sometimes patience needs to exercised to get the pay off. I think that this novel is doing just that (of course only the next chapters in Juneau's story will prove me correct or not).

A slow building romance is typically what I love, but my only little issue with this novel was actually the romance. The 'why' of the romance is what sells it, at least for me, and I never got WHY Juneau and Miles like each other. They don't trust each other, and sometimes barely tolerate each other. The build up was something I was happy about, but I wanted to pinpoint the moment their feelings switched. Perhaps they are still building, and I will see it in the upcoming installments. Both characters are rather interesting on their own, but perhaps this romance just isn't for me. Luckily, there are other, more pressing, elements that take precedence in the story.

The 'magical' aspect of this novel is going to be a hit or miss with people. I found myself understanding where Juneau was coming from, and could grasp what it meant to her, so it felt natural to the story. It was enough that Juneau believed for me. I admit that I did want more of an explanation. I wanted answers. Answers that I don't think we're supposed to know yet. I do think it's all coming in the subsequent books (especially after something that happens later on in the book) but I am unsure if people will give it the time it needs to expand and be revealed.

After The End ultimately won me over with it's heroine, Amy Plum's storytelling, and it's potential. I see this series gaining speed as it goes along, and I am curious as to what will be revealed next. While not everything appealed to me, there is more than enough to keep me coming back. Fans of Amy's previous novels should devour this one as even though it's different from her previous works, everything you love about her writing is there.

New To My Book Closet

It's that time of the week again. Time to show you what bookish goodies made their way into my home and book closet (to be saved from the evil book eating cat monster named Aria). This is inspired by the various "mailbox" posts out there (eg. In My Mailbox by The Story Siren, and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews).

Another awesome mailbox this week. Pretty much feeling like one of the luckiest book nerds ever!

The Lemon Grove by Helen Walsh (goodreads) **Adult Novel**
The Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes (goodreads)

A huge thank you to Random House Canada for The Lemon Grove. I was visiting my favourite gossip website Lainey Gossip and saw a mention of it, and knew I had to read it immediately.

A huge thank you Harper Collins Canada for a copy of The Art of Lainey. Jess from Read my Breath Away and I are hosting the Canadian Blog tour for this title, and if you're a Canadian blogger you should SIGN UP!

I also have some incredible e-books for review from Harper Collins as well.

The Murder Complex by Lindsay Cummings (goodreads)
After The End by Amy Plum (goodreads)
Wicked Games by Sean Olin (goodreads)

Hope you had a fantastic book haul this week too!

Happy Reading, and Happy Weekend!

2014 Most Anticipated -- After The End

The next pick on my 2014 Most Anticipated list is one that immediately grabbed me by it's synopsis. Amy Plum's After The End seems to be a little like the movie The Village, but with the twist that we know that her world is a lie before we start reading.

Not only does it have a fantastic cover, but it's got a captivating Goodreads synopsis

She’s searching for answers to her past. They’re hunting her to save their future.

World War III has left the world ravaged by nuclear radiation. A lucky few escaped to the Alaskan wilderness. They've survived for the last thirty years by living off the land, being one with nature, and hiding from whoever else might still be out there.

At least, this is what Juneau has been told her entire life.

When Juneau returns from a hunting trip to discover that everyone in her clan has vanished, she sets off to find them. Leaving the boundaries of their land for the very first time, she learns something horrifying: There never was a war. Cities were never destroyed. The world is intact. Everything was a lie.

Now Juneau is adrift in a modern-day world she never knew existed. But while she's trying to find a way to rescue her friends and family, someone else is looking for her. Someone who knows the extraordinary truth about the secrets of her past.

Amy took some time to answer a few questions about her book, and writing!

1 Describe After The End in three words: 

Earth magic adventure

2 How would you describe the main character in After The End?

Juneau has been raised in the Alaskan wilderness thinking that the world was destroyed in WWIII. When she ventures out of her territory and discovers that there was no war, and that the life she has known was founded on lies, she has to find her clan (which has been kidnapped), use her magic to navigate a modern world she doesn't know, and decide what from her past she can actually believe in.

So I would describe Juneau as tough and resourceful—a survivalist no matter what environment she's in—but completely disillusioned by her family and clan's betrayal. She doesn't trust anyone, but is forced to travel with a certain boy who may not have her best interests at heart.

3 What three things do you need while revising?

1. I like to revise at least one draft with paper and pen, so a print-out of the entire book;
2. A quiet place where I can zone out of reality and enter my made-up world;
3. Coffee...lots of coffee, preferably made in my Nespresso machine!

4 Are you able to share a secret about one of the characters, the world, something that inspired something about the world/characters?

I was dating a guy when I first started writing the book, and gave Miles (one of the protagonists) this guy's eyes. After the guy turned out to be a complete loser, I couldn't change Miles's eyes because they were now HIS. So I kind of skip over that description each time I revise that chapter, but made sure to get back at him in a certain passage later in the book.

5 What 2014 release are you most looking forward to?

It would have to be my friend Natalie Parker's upcoming book BEWARE THE WILD. (summer 2014) I'm DYING to read it!

A huge thank you to Amy for taking the time to answer these questions. This title is high up on my MUST read list, and Amy's Q and A certainly increased my desire to get my hands on this one!

If you want to learn more, check out the author's website, or the publisher's website for more information.

After The End will be in stores May 6, 2014. Pre-orders for this title are already up, and you can get your copy at the following retailers

Amazon
Barnes and Noble

Let me know in the comments what you think of the cover, the synopsis, or what twists you expect this story to take! Also, check back soon for a contest where you could win one of my featured titles (be sure to pay attention to these Question and Answers as they'll help).

Weekly Obsession

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

Here are my obsessions this week:

BOOK

Marissa Meyer New Book Deal

Did you miss the news? Marissa Meyer has a new book in the works. Heartless, according to Goodreads, is 'a prequel to “Alice in Wonderland,” HEARTLESS will tell the tale of how a marquis’ teenage daughter became the infamous Queen of Hearts. It will be a story of whimsy and madness, passion and tragedy, ravens and writing desks'. I was sold as soon as they mentioned Alice in Wonderland. Extra excited that it's a prequel story. I am intrigued with what Marissa will do with the Queen of Hearts. 2015 can not come fast enough.

Cover of Amy Plum's After The End

It fits the novel perfectly. Read the synopsis and you'll see. I am pretty excited about this nove, and am looking forward to getting my hands on it in May.

Synopsis of Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

The full synopsis has been revealed for Dorothy Must Die. I knew it was going to be amazing, but this...OH.MY.GOD. It's jumped to the top of my Must Read in 2014 list.

I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero.
But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?

Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still the yellow brick road, though—but even that's crumbling.
What happened?
Dorothy. They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.

My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas.
I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked.
I've been trained to fight.
And I have a mission:
Remove the Tin Woodman's heart.
Steal the Scarecrow's brain.
Take the Lion's courage.
Then and only then—Dorothy must die!

Remove the Tim Woodman's Heart? Steal the Scarecrow's brain? Take the Lion's courage? YES! YES! YES! Can I have this NOW please?

Cora Carmack's New Series

I was sold as soon as they mentioned Friday Night Lights. I will read it. It sounds fun, and I've heard nothing but amazing things about her first books.

TV/MOVIE

Robbie Kay as Peter Pan on Once Upon A Time

If you have to make Peter Pan evil, at least have someone who impresses me in the role. Robbie Kay is PERFECT! He looks the part, he can act, and I am all over his version of Peter. I can't wait to see what else Once Upon A Time does with his character, and how the twists and turns will present themselves. I've been hearing rumblings that he REALLY impresses in the second episode, so I am looking forward to discussing that in my recap.

So what are you obsessed with this week?