Friday, May 2, 2014

After the End by Amy Plum

Series: After the End #1
352p.
Publisher: HarperTeen
Published: May 6, 14
Source: Edelweiss and Publisher for review
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.
My thoughts:
 I was actually expecting a dystopian but that isn't what I got. I am NOT disappointed at all though! :) In this book we follow two alternating POVs of Juneau and Miles. While this isn't my favorite way of reading a book, it seems to really work here. Juneau she lives in a secluded area of Alaska being told they are the few survivors of a war that happened 1983. When her clan is kidnapped while she was off hunting, Juneau has to set forth in the land unknown and finds that there was no war. Now she has to find out what happened to her clan as well as what is the truth and what are lies.

Miles is a spoiled rich kid who is used to getting his way. In his defense he does it to get what little attention he can from his father. His father is ruthless in the ways of business and also in the way he handles his son. He seeks Juneau because he believes she has some secret he can exploit for his business. Miles sets out to capture Juneau to prove to his father he is trustworthy. When he catches up with Juneau he also sets out on his own journey to find out who he wants to be as well as what is truth and what are lies that he believed his whole life.

This book has a magical quality about it which reminds me a bit of the magical realism genre. What really captured me here was their dual journey to strip off what they have been told and to find out for themselves what they truly believe and who they want to become. This is the part that captured me to the point I didn't want to put down the book. The pages flew by...

There were still things I wanted to know like I would in any good story. Would love to have more background, especially of Juneau, but I feel like we will get more of those answers as the series moves on. In fact, you are left with more questions than answers when the book ends. And yes... warning... there is a major cliffie in the end. :(

I give this book 4 1/2 stars. That cliffie will kill you if you are like me and hate them, but you will love the developing romance between the characters. No insta-love here. :) I recommend it to those that love a good adventure with a bit of magic thrown in.

27 comments:

  1. Oh...but I wanted dystopian :/

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    1. I think you would still like it despite it being YA. ;)

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  2. Oh I was sure it was a dystopia... I'm curious about this one though but I still haven't read her other series and as I have die for me, I think I'll try that before.

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    1. I was too! LOL I also still need to read her other series. I am so much more wanting to now! :)

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  3. I'm not a big fan of stories told from multiple points of view either but this was obviously one of those books in which it worked well.

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    1. I can usually handle a duo POV and this one does work very well.

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  4. Gah! I had almost completely written this book off before I read your review! Now it's back in the mix . . . grrrr. I had been so glad to have at least been able to scratch one off the list, LOL. Oh well. If it's as good as you say, it'll be worth it. Plus I won't be reading it any time soon b/c cliffhanger. So I'll be waiting . . . like a spider . . . for future installments ;)

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    1. *evil laugh* I hope you do enjoy it and yea... hate that cliffie!!

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  5. Ooh this sounds so interesting! I started to glaze over int he summary until I saw that it was all a lie. What a great twist.

    Boo tot he cliffy but I'll take a chance.

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    1. I know! LOVED the twist. :D All cliffies should be thrown off the cliff!

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  6. I hate cliff hangers!!! Why do YA authors insist on torturing us with them? But, at least there's no insta-love so that's a point in Amy Plums favour! Great review, happy Friday! :)

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  7. I'm so happy to hear there's no insta-love and that this has more of a magic realism feel than a dystopian (that cover definitely made me think it was dystopian). I love Amy Plum's writing so I was hoping this one would be good, and now I can definitely get my copy and get excited about it. Awesome review!

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    1. There is more adventure than there is in the magical realism, but there is that aspect to it. I hope you get it and enjoy it as much as I did!

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  8. I know... NO! LOL I'll have to check when the next one comes out. I want it NOW. :)

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  9. I know totally expecting this to be a dystopian. So glad to see you loved this one despite the cliffhanger. I have this coming up soon and I am excited.

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  10. Oh, I can't wait to read this one! I just can't help but feel like I'd be so pissed if I was Juneau!! I can't wait to get her story.
    Awesome review, Melissa!! I HATE CLIFFIES!! But I will deal with it. :(

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  11. Aww man at the whopping cliffie, but yay for 4.5 stars. They sent me this one and I am trying to make time for it.

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  12. Ooo a cliffy? But you have me so excited about the magical realism and world. Not to mention the dual povs! Awesome review, I am going to add to my list!

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  13. AH!! NO! BAD CLIFFIE! Well, that cinches it, I'm definitely waiting on this one.

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  14. LOL...I had no idea this wasn't a dystopian! Even though it wasn't what you expected, I'm so glad that you enjoyed it! I've heard quite a bit of mixed reviews on it, so it's always good to hear a 4.5 star review from someone! :D It sounds amazing though - and hurray for no instalove! ;) Although that cliffhanger sounds absolutely dreadful!

    Anyhow, thanks so much for sharing and, as always, BRILLIANT review! <3

    ~ Zoe @ The Infinite To-Read Shelf

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  15. ah oops I really thought this was a dystopia as well was actually looking forward to it. No biggy, aside from a really bad cliff hanger it sounds like a great read!

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  16. I wasn't real interested in this until I had heard in a review awhile back that it wasn't dystopian and then I was suddenly VERY interested! Luckily I got a copy this week and can't wait to read it!

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  17. It's funny how I originally had no interest in this book and passing it up on Edelweiss, but now I want to read it so bad. Hmmm ... if there is a huge cliffie, then maybe it's for the best I didn't read it yet. Now I know to wait until closer to the 2nd book release.

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  18. Since the cliffie will most definitely kill me, I'll be putting this on hold for awhile until the sequel releases. Glad to see you enjoyed this one as much as you did, Melissa! :)

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  19. This sounds good, now I want to to know what happened to the clan!

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  20. It has a cliff hanger...boo...but it might make me want more. Thanks for sharing.

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