How would you survive should a virus wipe out most of humanity?  Would you curl up in a corner and wait for the end?  Or would you fight every single day for one more hour of life at any cost?

Title:  The End of All Things
Series: End of All Things
Author:  Lissa Bryan
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Dystopian
Published:  January 24, 2013
Source:  NetGalley

Cover Blurb:

After a terrible virus ravages the planet, Carly Daniels, one of the few survivors, hides in her apartment in Juneau trying to survive the best she can with only occasional forays to gather food. With her is Sam, a wolf puppy she found starving on the streets. He becomes her companion and a reason to continue when giving up sometimes seems like the more attractive option. Still dazed with shock and grief, she hopes for the world to go back to normal soon.

She is discovered by Justin, an ex-soldier who is intent on making his way to Florida before the winter sets in. Justin coaxes her out of her hiding place and convinces her to join him on his journey, because a warmer climate will be their best chance against the extremes of Mother Nature.

Together, they begin a perilous journey through a nation laid to waste by the disaster. Challenges abound along the way. The weather, injury, and shortage of supplies all help to slow them down. In time, they discover that they aren’t the only survivors. Some are friendly but some have had their minds destroyed by the high fever. Then there are those who simply take what they want, leaving Carly and Justin with no choice but to defend what is theirs.

But their journey is not without joy and love. Together, they face every struggle, including an unplanned pregnancy. Despite the perils of bringing a child into a world of chaos, their baby is a new beginning for themselves and a symbol of hope for the other survivors they find along the way.

This is the story of their journey to find a place to begin a new life, and a home in each other.

I am a huge, huge fan of The Walking Dead.  While I would never want to live in a zombie filled world, how people survive is a fascinating journey to follow.

*I received an e-ARC of The End of All Things from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange
for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*

While The End of All Things does not have zombies – it does have other kinds of monsters.  There is no need for rotting flesh to bring out the monster in humans, just a situation where they can flourish.

Read on for my thoughts on The End of All Things.  No true spoilers, promise.

This review is a bit different from the normal pattern I follow.  There is no need for me to “tease” you into this story, all you have to do is read the story blurb above to understand the basics of this novel.

What I found in this novel was a love story.  And that surprised me.  In a destroyed world where survival is truly based on outwitting someone else hellbent on surviving too — love can still shine through.  Carly and Justin prove that again and again throughout their story.

In today’s real world, I can honestly see this novel happening.  If not ripped from the headlines, it certainly is one possible outcome.

Who can you trust?   How is it even possible to trust again?  Is kindness to others in the same situation the way to survive or must you look in the eye of every person you might (strong might) run into and wonder if they are willing to kill you to survive?

Is it possible to create a new type of community?  And who do you let into that semi-safe sanctuary that could fall if you make the wrong choices?

To bring a new life, a baby into this new world would be a challenge not many can imagine.  It’s safe to say that most parents would defend their child with their own lives – but what kind of world do they inherit?   A new generation would emerge knowing nothing of what we (the parents) took for granted all of our lives up to that moment – when it was gone.

All of this and so much more is addressed in some fashion in The End of All Things.

If you ever wondered what our current world is coming to… you need to read this novel.

I absolutely loved this novel, and cannot think of a high enough recommendation aside from… You Need To Read This One.

And it is a series where we can continue to follow the developments of this new world.

I finished the last page and immediately went to Amazon to pick up the second novel,  The Land of the Shadow.  It was that good, and I know no higher compliment to the author than that.

The End of All Things is available at Amazon in paperback and on Kindle.

And the second novel in the series, The Land of the Shadow is also available at Amazon.