In the After

There are a lot of dystopian books with teenage protagonists on the market right now. Any author writing this sort of book needs a great POV, an interesting and sympathetic hero/heroine and surrounding characters, drama, action... this book has it all.

Told in the first person, not always an easy POV but pulled off well here, Amy is believable. Was there a little bit of luck that her father was very green with solar panels, rain catchers etc, so she can still run the dishwasher months after the world disappears, and her mother was high security so she has an electrified fence and a gun also.. yes, but it's explained in a way it could happen, and in these types of books someone has to survive and there has to a reason why they make it when so many others don't.

The first half the book was my favorite, I wasn't in love with the whole New Haven storyline but even though it bogged down for me a bit I was never uninterested enough to put the book down, and then the end picked up a lot, leaving room for the sequel I'll be reading when it becomes available.

In the After is an amazing page turner that I could not put down, a rare feat among books for me these days! The writing style along was gripping and pulls you in from page one, attaching you in Amy's world where "They" have taken over. At first I was a bit frustrated with the beginning of the book; Amy is 14 and not only has access to a gun but knows how to use it, her house is protected by an electric fence "They" cannot get past, and she has a solar panel for all the amenities. This was all pretty hard for me to believe and may frustrate others as well, however, it all was wrapped up and explained to make plenty of sense as to why later.

While Amy quickly adjusts to her situation, terrified to go outside yet slowly depleting her food, she soon realizes that "They" don't have quite as great sight at night and if she's very quiet she can make supply "runs". Of course by "runs" what I really mean is very slow and quiet walking, barefoot from her home to other homes and shops, developing callouses on her feet and slowly toughening her up. There are many close calls to be told of along the way, and as usual, sometimes it isn't the monsters themselves that we have to fear the most, but other mankind itself.

It isn't long before she meets a young toddler, amazingly still alive. Not knowing her name she calls her "Baby", and the two become companions in this crazy new world.

While it may seem like I'm giving a lot away above, this is all quickly discovered in the beginning and I hardly want to give away spoilers from deeper into the book. I will reiterate that it was an amazingly quick read, and Amy eventually finds first love in this world falling apart, and the book definitely seems to be set up for a sequel although the end is plenty
satisfactory.

I HIGHLY recommend this book, I couldn't put it down! 5 stars ++++

I went into it thinking it would be an alien invasion and was quite surprised. I enjoyed the story. The heroine, Amy, is likable which is a treat and something a lot of books disregard. She is not an all-out warrior woman able to defeat every man, woman, and monster that has the misfortune to cross her path. She has no super powers and is not full of herself. She is a regular girl that wakes up inside an apocalypse. How can you survive? Will you survive? I liked baby and thought she helped make the story. Her mother being alive and in charge was an eye roll but that she did her duty like all the others was intriguing. That portion of the story should have been explored more.
The only bad thing about the story was the back and forth narration between her arrival at a safe camp and what happened months after her arrival. It was jarring at first but became tolerable. In the after is definitely worth a read.

"They hear the most silent of footsteps.
They are faster than anything you've ever seen.
And They won't stop chasing you...until you are dead.

Amy is watching TV when it happens, when the world is attacked by Them. These vile creatures are rapidly devouring mankind. Most of the population is overtaken, but Amy manages to escape—and even rescue “Baby,” a toddler left behind in the chaos. Marooned in Amy’s house, the girls do everything they can to survive—and avoid Them at all costs.

After years of hiding, they are miraculously rescued and taken to New Hope, a colony of survivors living in a former government research compound. While at first the colony seems like a dream with plenty of food, safety, and shelter, New Hope slowly reveals that it is far from ideal. And Amy soon realizes that unless things change, she’ll lose Baby—and much more."

Okay, this was mind-blowingly amazing. I know that there's a lot of hype when new dystopias come out, "the new hunger games blah blah" but if any is deserving of the title this is it. It's like it took elements from all the most horrible dystopias like The Handmaid's Tale, 1984, The Road with a sprinkle of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. This book packs a hell of a punch.

First of all, there is Baby. There is always a younger sibling in YA dystopias, so I thought it would be more of the same. But it was so much more! In the other books the sibling eventually becomes this concept, he/she is not with the main character anymore, they're something to protect from afar. Baby and Amy were together for years. They grew together like sisters, if not by blood then by everything that matters. Their relationship was the strongest point of this book. Not that the book ever eased up, it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.

And while admittedly, near the end, it got a bit cliché, it was still awesome.

Seriously, this book has me trying not to make noise around the house!

In The After is so much more than an alien invasion story. The big secret becomes obvious the closer you get to it, but already knowing doesn't take away from the impact of the truth at its reveal.

Add to that the fact that Amy Harris may be my favorite female character of 2013. She makes decisions that make sense, she pushes and fights and asks questions, and doesn't just let things happen to her. She isn't a delicate flower who needs haunting beauty and two men to vie for her attentions in a played out love triangle (No triangles, please. I will die.) She's a no-nonsense survivor who loves books and kicks ass.

Aside from Amy, I hope we find out whatever it is that makes Baby so special, and that we get to see more of Kay and Gareth in the future. Once you get past the whole 'aliens have attacked' premise, you'll realize this is definitely a series to follow.

In The After is an excellent adventure story, perfect for young fans of zombie or dystopian fiction. The author does a masterful job of presenting a stark, desolate atmosphere, and then manages to switch things up to a whole different level of creepy as she introduces the dystopian aspects of the story. This is a big book, at a whopping 470 pages, but it's a fast read. There's plenty of suspense and some truly excellent world building that will keep those pages flying by. I had a hard time putting this one down, and I think the author has happened upon just the right tone, pacing and level of action for maximum appeal to young readers ages 12 and up.

The entire story is told by Amy, age 14 at the beginning of this story. She is an authentic, able narrator that kids will find easily relatable. Her story is harrowing, made all the more so by the author's pitch perfect portrayal of Amy's fear and her forced maturation as she faces the overwhelming death and violence surrounding her. Her character truly blossoms when she pairs up with Baby, and uses the child as a lifeline to maintain her existence and her sanity.

In The After is a quick read that packs quite a punch while still remaining very accessible to middle school readers not scared off by violence and gore. There's just a light touch of romance and enough action and plot twists to make this a good choice for both girls and boys who are fans of the post-apocalyptic genre.

The sequel to this book cannot get here fast enough! I can only hope that I will be offered the opportunity to read a review copy of that one as well, and maybe get it a few weeks early! This book kept me up at night, and I can't remember a book doing that since I read The Hunger Games. But no, this is no Hunger Games. It's better. There. I said it. Now what?

I never would have thought I would be the fan of an "alien book". I read the back cover and thought.. "Nah.. probably not for me." But I stuck it in my purse for my "waiting room book" (you know, the book you read while standing in line, or waiting for your kids at school pick up.) Well, what a mistake that was! I almost didn't hear the people beeping behind me at line at school! I was sucked in from the first page. In fact, I was so entranced, I ordered in for dinner and went to bed to read it. I finished around midnight with my mind racing. What happens next? I can't take it. I need the sequel. Now.

I know, it's another post-apocalyptic teen novel.. but it's not like the others! Believe me! You need to read this one. In The After is chilling and heartbreaking, completely fascinating and nail bitingly suspenseful!

I'm not usually into sci-fi but thought I'd give this book a try, as I'd read glowing things about it. Gripping from word go, the sense of impending doom is palpable, and the faceless, nameless identity of Them keeps ramping up the fear factor. Amy is a courageous and likeable protagonist, and the addition of Baby's character is a brilliant emotion-ramping stroke. How can one not root for a lost toddler, and someone who protects her? Amy's attachment to Baby - and Baby's to Amy - is pivotal to Amy's motivations, and at the heart of the story.

"Rescue" coming around half way through, even as you sigh with relief you just know there has to be more creep to come. And sure enough, there is. The New Hope colony of survivors is far from the safe place it seems to be. Tension mounts again. A favorite moment: the chilling revelation of what They really are. Altogether a captivating book.

In The After is book one in this series. I picked up this book because one it sounded really good and two I am currently all about dystopia themed stories. I instantly fell in love with Amy and Baby. Amy is a perfect heroine. She is strong, smart, and is personable. Even though Baby never talked she still made an impression on me. She spoke volumes with just her acts. I am not usually a fan of stories told in the first person but it just worked and it worked well for this book. I helped to bring me in closer to the story and the world that Amy and Baby lived in. To be honest I kind of thought the people of New Hope were scarier than the zombies. Which is way creepy. You never want the humans to be worse than the zombies. This made for some really good reading. The ending was a good one. I can not wait to read book two in this series. I can picture this book being turned into a movie or several like the Twlight series, only better. Sorry not a fan of the twilight books or movies.

I so deeply enjoyed Demitria Lunetta's IN THE AFTER. From the very first page, I was hooked. Lunetta does a wonderful job of keeping the story moving forward, while flawlessly weaving in backstory from "Before"--before the creatures invaded, before Amy lived without parents, without family, alone, in a world where noise equals death. In the book's 400 pages, I never one felt myself grow bored, never once found passages I felt were excessive, never once thought "get to the point, already." In fact, the moment I was finished with the book, I thought:

"More, please. MORE!"

I loved the character development in this story. Amy is not a kick-ass heroine because she has some kind of super power that makes her different from other girls. She is a real person, a believable person, who learns, through her cunning and through practice, to survive in an extremely dangerous world. She teaches herself to be quiet, because noise will draw the creatures to her. She teaches herself to find food, in spite of the dangers outside of her house. She teaches herself to be wary of human survivors, because in a world that's been so destroyed, people become desperate. She teaches herself to survive.

There are so many complex relationships in this story, and I loved them all: Amy's relationship with Baby, where she is at once a sister, a mother-figure, and a friend. Amy's relationship with Rice, which was both sweet and complicated, but NOT in an "I'm going to make arbitrary obstacles for these characters just so they can be tortured and angsty!" kind of way. Amy's relationship with her mother, which was incredibly complex, and almost always difficult, was one of my favorite parts of the novel. Amy had so much to overcome, so much to come to grips with, and she handles everything in a strong, but very realistic way. She is not a perfect heroine. She is a flawed character who struggles with what's right vs. what's easy.

One of the most interesting things about this novel is that, just when Amy's taken out of the dangerous, creature-riddled streets and brought somewhere safe, that's when a different horror unfolds. A horror born, not of a society where you fear for your life because of dangerous monsters, but a society where monsters can sometimes come in the form of human beings trying to take all your freedoms away. Trying to take your autonomy. So which is worse? A society where you can govern yourself, but the simple sound of a footfall could lead to being eaten alive? Or a society free from carnivorous monsters, but where every aspect of your life is controlled by someone else, including what happens to your own body?

I'll leave it up to you to decide.

I was looking for another author besides my favorite Rhiannon Frater, and ran across In The After by luck. Good Luck I might add. I found myself not wanting to put this book down. Though it is rated for young adult I thought her concept of "Them" was unique and though at the beginning I thought Amy's little world was almost too perfect for an end of the world setting - it was a concept I had not read before - which made it refreshing. It is a clean read and just when you might be wanting a change -- the author takes you down a new path. I'd recommend this book and will be starting the second one In The End asap.

In the After's big hype comes from the fact that it's part of a second wave of dystopian YA fiction that's moved past the Hunger Games and more into proper survival course type stuff. Amy, the main character, has lived the last three years of her life with just herself and Baby, a toddler she picked up while out on a run to find food and other necessities. It seems some sort of "alien" has invaded Earth and they are basically eating people a la zombies. Amy's world is all about stealth and silence. Make a sound and the alien zombie things will find you in seconds and not hesitate to tear you to shreds and eat you. But then Amy gets picked up and taken to New Hope which is somewhere in Kansas (and mysteriously not plagued by tornadoes at any point of its existence - as a native Midwesterner, I find this highly curious) and contains the hope for mankind's survival and so forth. Sounds more or less familiar.

There are some mysterious elements, such as how Baby got a specifically shaped scar on her neck and what the "aliens" really are and whether Amy can really trust the people of New Hope. While the action sequences make the reading go fast, the fact that the main character is really kind of stupid when it comes to dealing with people and certain situations makes it somewhat hard to stomach. Amy instantly distrusts just about every person she comes across "In the After" as she refers to the outside world, but once in New Hope, she seems exceedingly trusting even when she's attempting to get answers to the questions people don't want her asking. It's all very surreal, frustrating, and occasionally disorienting.

In the the end, this was a quick read. Not sure I'll be looking to read the next book in the series, though, if it is plagued by the same general lack of character dimensionality and useful science-fictiony explanations for things. Most of the romance and science shoehorned into the text. Majority of the content feels like it's all pretty standard fare these days which will no doubt be devoured by lovers of the light sci-fi survival romances that are so popular. 2.5/5.

I was given this as a Kindle edition free quite a while ago, and I don't really remember why, but it was probably some sort of offer. Either way, I usually have low hopes for any book I get free, so I came into it looking for a quick read to pass the time.

After finishing the book, I was surprised to see on the author's page that this was a debut novel. I've read third novels that would be half as good as this if they were twice as good as they were. I have ADHD and it's been a long time since something was interesting and fast-paced enough for me to read in a couple of sittings; actually, that in itself is an achievement, and it managed it very well. I was disappointed when it ended rather than itching to pay attention to something else.

Now, the first-person first-tense is a very difficult tense to relate, but when mastered it is an INCREDIBLY powerful narrative tool--I would worry about a novice author using it. Lunetta starts off a little bit jilted, a little bit formal, and it ends up creating a distance between the reader and the narrator for a chapter or two, but soon enough she catches her wind and the words begin to flow like thoughts. The dialogue at first is stilted and unnatural, as most authors start, and soon enough it has become natural. The MC's silent dialogues with Baby force you to suspend disbelief a little at the beginning--as it seems that in only a couple of months, most people would be focusing on verbs and nouns and less on particles and higher grammar--but soon enough this balances itself out, too. The only thing I had continued issue with was the concept of sign by touch, which I know exists but seems as though it would be impossible to communicate with simply from holding someone's hand and isn't practical for hiding.

There are a couple of small things that seem to be trip-ups in forward planning, such as: (SPOILERS AHEAD) 1) The first up-close run-in with the Florae are of Them LEAVING a Guardian ship peacefully, not being forced onto it, and we find later that the Guardians were CAPTURING them, and 2) When Amy, the MC, speaks with Rice, he soulfully tells her that she is the first girl around his age--but we find later that it is a very large settlement and meet many girls who are in Amy's age group class or "a couple years older," as Rice is three years her elder.

I feel like there could have been a smoother transition later from flashbacks to the final scene with Dr. Reynolds, but I imagine the author figured that the change in tense would communicate the shift. I was so involved in picturing the scenes that I missed it and was confused for four pages before realising that the tense had changed. Whoops.

Essentially, it seems like the setbacks that there are could have been handled by a good editor, but with a book that's almost 500 pages...well, a particularly thorough editor would be thousands of dollars, and I doubt a publishing company pays their most dedicated editors to handle debut novels. I'm sure that more attention would be paid to Lunetta's later works (which I intend to get my hands on soon).

Basically, it's a stunningly impressive first novel that surprised me. It's creative and self-conscious. A couple twists are rather predictable, but others are interesting and realistic, and more than anything, many characters are surprisingly self-aware and nuanced. My only complaint is of the Evil Psychiatrist archetype--overdone and unrealistic--but if anything it lends a surreal feeling that only makes it more akin to how the main character interacts with New Hope. I especially enjoyed the way that the main character struggled with the "not like all the other girls" trope rather than praising herself for it, how she could criticise the idea and be fair appraising other people without it feeling like a preaching author moment. It was realistic and most of all it was interesting and well-articulated. Nothing was left to dull half-explanation and at the same nothing had too much focus. Lunetta demonstrated a wonderful grasp of the attention span of a reader and didn't try to spoon feed them or go over their heads like most new (and many old) authors.

I don't even read YA. I didn't realise this was YA until a few chapters in. I don't LIKE YA in general, but I really adored this book.

Full disclosure: I have a special love for post-apocalyptic YA novels. I may be in my forties, but I love the genre. So when my copy of In The After showed up in the mailbox as a sweepstakes win (which is why I'm not a verified buyer of the book here), I was very excited to start reading it. I planned to read the first chapter late last night before heading to bed...and forced myself to put it down after reading nearly a third of the book. I had nightmares about the world Amy must live in after They came...

And today I finished the book, and was very happy to discover that the sequel is coming out next year. This, for me, was on par with Hunger Games. I cannot wait for my husband and children to read it, so we can talk about it. And honestly, I think that if the series continues in the way it has begun, I would like to see it in a movie format as well.

This is a truly wonderful novel, a thrilling book that holds the attention of the reader from the first page until the last!

I personally actually really liked this book by Demitria Lunetta! I found this book to be very fascinating and enthralling. I loved a lot of things about this book and am happy that I got the opportunity to read it. The main character Amy is a strong character in my opinion. The way that she protects Baby in anyway possible and how she truly cares for her is very sweet. I found wits and will to survive very inspiring also and I was very invested in Amy and Baby.

There aren't many things I disliked about this book and think it is an incredibly strong book. The world that the author has built was very engrossing and interesting to read about. I thought the first half of the book was particularly strong whereas the second half kind of lagged a little. I loved the aliens introduced in the story and found them to be quite scary actually.

I thought it was kind of odd that an electric fence could keep these intelligent creatures out of yard of Amy's house though.

There are many twists in the book that do pay off so I suggest that you read the book up to the end because it does end well. I can't wait for the next installment in this series that I think has incredible potential. I found myself following Amy's scattered breathing as a creature approached and I think is what every book should do because then you have something that is truly special.

This is a spectacular novel that I suggest anyone give a chance because you might just gets sucked into this world as I did when reading it.

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

In the After by Demitria Lunetta
Book One of the In the After series
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: June 25, 2013
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from Goodreads):

They hear the most silent of footsteps.
They are faster than anything you've ever seen.
And They won't stop chasing you...until you are dead.

Amy is watching TV when it happens, when the world is attacked by Them. These vile creatures are rapidly devouring mankind. Most of the population is overtaken, but Amy manages to escape--and even rescue "Baby," a toddler left behind in the chaos. Marooned in Amy's house, the girls do everything they can to survive--and avoid Them at all costs.

After years of hiding, they are miraculously rescued and taken to New Hope, a colony of survivors living in a former government research compound. While at first the colony seems like a dream with plenty of food, safety, and shelter, New Hope slowly reveals that it is far from ideal. And Amy soon realizes that unless things change, she'll lose Baby--and much more.

What I Liked:

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, to be quite honest. I've had an eARC for months, and never could seem to bring myself to read it. The synopsis was a little chilling, and I don't really do well with post-apocalyptic reads or the end of the world or those sorts of thing.

But I enjoyed this book! Half of the book is spent in the world, and the other half is spent at New Hope. I liked this balance of the book. Some books spend very little time on the "outside", and way too much time in the dystopian world. I'm glad we got to see so much of Amy's world "After", and then we get so much from New Hope.

Amy's narration is very different from what is expected of most YA books. She knows the world before it was overrun by Them, and she survives the perils of the world After. Her voice is so unique! I admire her ability to survive, and how she used her surroundings to work to her advantage (the fence, grocery, basement, etc.).

I thought the addition of Baby was an interesting one. Baby is a toddler that Amy found in the grocery. Amy takes in Baby, and they live together in the After - for three years I believe. Amy and Baby do not speak, for fear of attracting Them, so Baby never retains the ability to speak (though Amy can). Instead, they come up with a modified version of sign language, and are able to sign into each other's hands.

I was never bored while reading this book - there is no way anyone could be bored, with so much action page after page! There were some boring passages that I glossed over, but nothing too long or detrimental to the story. The plot of the story is somewhat confusing, but in the After, and at New Hope. In the After, Amy describes both Before, and then she describes After. At New Hope, it switches between what is currently happening at New Hope, and what is in italics - something that we will get to see by the end of the book, that hasn't happened yet. I know, it sounds confusing even after I've read the book. But once you read the entire book, everything comes together.

If you couldn't tell already, New Hope is a dystopian society. Basically, people gravitated to this abandoned college campus and started building a carefully constructed society. It's weird there, because they have school, and work, but they also have forced impregnation and testing on Them (the creatures). It's implied from the introduction of New Hope that it is a dystopian society, and it really is.

There is a hint of romance, but nothing romantic really happens, and I don't have a ton of hope for this romance. I really don't think Amy and Rice are the greatest pair together, and they definitely do not have the strongest chemistry or attraction or romance. I guess the author didn't do a good enough job of convincing me that the romance is something. Because it felt really... meh.

I had a hunch, just from reading the synopsis, what the creatures were and where they came from and whatnot. My hunch was correct. It's so scary to think that this is something that could actually happen! The concept is very, very plausible. Think biological warfare.

The ending is expected, as soon as Amy and Baby reaches New Hope. I didn't expect the twist with Baby and her skills. I did expect Amy to do what she did at the very end. But I expected someone (not saying who) to come with her. But that's okay! We shall see in the next book.

What I Did Not Like:

I think I already mentioned this, but in the first part of the book, there were some passages that were slightly boring, and I skipped over them. Readers don't need to know so much about Before, or After. It gives the novel really solid worldbuilding, but then, for me, it makes the book less interesting because I get bored with huge paragraphs and no dialogue.

I also didn't like how the romance was almost non-existent. It's like the author waved it in front of our face and then hid it behind her back. I really felt nothing towards Rice and Amy. Their relationship, romantically, seemed very forced.

I was confused with the switches in the second half of the book. Obviously, there was a reason why the parts in italics were in italics. But it took me two of those italic passages for me to figure out that those passages were in the future (sort of). A cool aspect of the book, but a confusing one.

Would I Recommend It:

Yes, I would! I'm so pleased that I liked this book, but kind of annoyed that I didn't read it sooner. It's scary to think what could happen to our world!

Rating:

4 stars. It's not necessarily an OMG-huge-favorite-of-mine, but I really, really liked this book - a lot more than I was expecting! I mean that in the best way possible!

Amy is living in a silent world in order to keep the alien creatures that invaded earth from devouring her whole. This book is exactly what I want in my sci-fi; fast paced, awesome characters, and top notch world building. I connected with Amy very quickly. The way the author presents her and her thoughts just made it so easy. I found myself empathizing with her and her plight within the first chapter. It is rare that I connect with a character so quickly.

The pacing was practically perfect. Filled with edge of your seat action. Even the parts that focus on Amy hiding out in her home kept me frantically wanting to know what was to come next.

This is a novel that is both engaging and entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed this series start and can't wait for more!

In the After doesn't waste any time showing the evil nature of the little green men who unfortunately chose our planet to visit. They use us for a tasty dinner, and soon, there are few survivors. Amy is one, but her parents were not so lucky. Amy survives on her own, studying the aliens from the safety of her electrically fenced-in home. She learns their weaknesses, and she's able to scavenge for food while evading capture. She finds and rescues Baby, a stranded toddler, and for the next few years, the two girls survive on their own. I loved this section of the book. Even though it's primarily just Amy and Baby, it was never boring.

I could have happily followed Amy and Baby's survivalist struggles for the remainder of the book. Instead, a drastic change of scenery occurs when the pair are rescued and brought to a secure compound populated with other survivors. For Baby, especially, who has no memories before the invasion, the transition is difficult. Amy adjusts to this new life a bit more readily, but she quickly realizes that not everyone in New Hope can be trusted.

The use of flashbacks works beautifully in In the After. Sometimes this technique can seem gimmicky, and in the worst cases, it causes unnecessary confusion. Here, the time line is straightforward until Amy and Baby are rescued and brought to New Hope. Soon after, the chapters alternate between time periods, as present-day Amy struggles to fill in mysterious gaps in her memory. Flashbacks are presented to us at the same time that Amy recalls them, very effectively keeping the reader immersed in Amy's trauma.

There were a few twists, but none of them were very surprising. In particular, the "big" one was telegraphed early on when Amy made a very astute observation about the aliens. This was something that had not occurred to me until she mentioned it, but as soon as she did, the twist became obvious. Sure, I would have preferred the element of surprise, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of this book.

Note - I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

In The After by Demitria Lunetta is about how Amy, a teen girl and a toddler she finds survives when people all over the world are pretty much wiped out by very fast green creatures who are attracted to noise and light, and feed on people. Amy thinks of her normal life with her parents, her friends and school as "before" and the life she lives now in silence and alone, only going out at night to scavenge for food, as the "after."

I enjoyed this book very much! It is a page turner I did not want to put and and when I did, I looked forward to getting back to it! I was completely engrossed in this one, not knowing what was going to happen next, even though I was confused by the way it jumped around between present and future, I guess! I highly recommend it to anyone who likes science fiction end-of-the-world type books. I can't wait for the sequel! Give this new author a try.

I seem to have a thing lately for dystopians. I am so drawn to them that it is a little sickening really. And while I do love dystopians and have read quite a few in the past year, this is the first one that I can say I have read about an "alien invasion". And yes, normally that would not appeal to me but it so worked in this one. It some how was, well, maybe not realistic per se (at least not at first), but very much something that didn't seem too far out there by any means, especially towards the end.

This seems to be the year for debut authors. I have come across so many talented writers this year that are just now making a scene that it is insane and a little hard to keep up with. This is one of those authors and one of those books that you really don't want to miss out on. You do not want to pass this one by. The storyline pulled me in after the very first few pages and kept my attention the whole way through.

I really loved the whole concept of this story and I really liked Amy, Baby, Rice and Kay. There were twists in this one I didn't see coming and I was constantly wondering what was behind the Florea and what really caused everything to fall so completely apart.

New Hope had a slightly robotic sinister feel (think almost a Stepford Wife thing going on) to it from the very beginning and I loved watching everything come to light and go down. The Ward, Dr. Reynolds, even Amy's mom, all of it. I love that the ending was wide open for a sequel and for so much possibility. I know that I, for one, will absolutely be reading the next book and will eagerly be awaiting its release.

Civilization as we know it evaporates as the evil "them" overwhelm humanity and kill off 99% of the world. But Amy survives-- and she rescues "baby", a toddler. The Amy-baby interaction is pretty awesome. This is a story about a girl thrust into a god awful situation that finds a way to survive when the world is against her. That's part one of the book and it's great. Part two is Amy and Baby are "rescued" and taken to one of the last holdouts of humans. There, we move away from the evil "them" to evil humans, who turn out to be less benign than first appears. Unfortunately, part two appealed to me far less than part one. Part two is focussed on bad humans trying to control a rebellious Amy, who discovers the truth about the "them". The truth about the "them" I saw coming 10 miles away and so the mystery wasn't much of a mystery for me. And the psycho drama of Amy versus the controllers was okay, but not that great. In short, we have a 5 star part one mixed with a 3 star part two, which leads me to my lukewarm overall review. This story could have easily been bolstered by a decent romantic element, but the romance is almost absent. What little is present is handled very platonically and at a great distance, which I find kind of surprising. The story seems to so obviously cry out for romantic tension. Oh well, go figure. So, if you're a big fan of end of the world apocalypses, check this book out, but don't expect to be blown away. It's just a B/B- book IMO.

From the Militant Recommender Book Review Blog:
http://militantrecommender.blogspot.com/
Amy is a normal, happy teen. She might sometimes gripe about her parents, her mother, a government workaholic, and her dad, who's into green living. She enjoys school and her friends and then, one Saturday afternoon... the world as she knew it had ended. What was Before is over. She has to learn to live in the After. And, In the After, by Demitria Lunetta, is a wild, different, post apocalyptic look at life on earth, an earth taken over by fast, make that super fast, ravenous alien monsters, with incredible hearing that can find you and rip you apart if you just breathe too loudly.

That Saturday, Amy was home alone, while her parents were out. They are probably dead, now. Like everyone else she knows. It started with the TV broadcasts ... aliens had landed and were destroying anyone and anything alive. Then TV was gone, so was radio, after a while. She hunkers down with her books and what food they have on hand. Three weeks pass. She is safe because her mother had to protect the government secrets she brought home and had installed an electric fence which keeps Them away. She also had a gun, which her father had made sure she knew how to use, despite his reservations about having it in the house.

Needing to restock her provisions, Amy makes her way beyond the protection of the electric fence after dark. The creatures seem to disappear at night. She learns, on that first trip, what to do and what not to. Like wearing shoes. Even the sound of a sneaker on pavement can draw Their attention.

She begins to make trips to a supermarket to restock her shelves. It is on one of these trips that she finds Baby, a little girl, maybe 3 or 4 years old who has managed to survive, despite being wounded. At first, Amy isn't sure what to do with her, and thinks if the little girl makes a sound, she'll throw her to the wolves... or, in this case, to THEM. She decides to take her home with her and Amy's connection to Baby becomes the heart of this gripping, disturbing look at a future where you do what you can to survive and don't know quite who to trust anymore.

I loved Amy and Baby! They are wonderfully realized characters and you fear for them in this frightening world. I won't give away any more of the plot because it is a terrific, unputdownable , surprising and twisty story and if you enjoy post-apocalyptic fiction (or any fiction!), then don't miss this one!

IN THE AFTER had one of those synopses that left my heart pounding in my chest, and for good reason! With zombie-like aliens, a strong sense of family, and dystopia mashed together with post-apocalyptic (my two favorite genres), this book had me speeding through it with growing excitement. If you felt tired of these two genres, read IN THE AFTER, and instantly change that.

Three years ago, the world was overrun by Them - soulless creatures who ran faster than anything else, who heard even the slightest noise, and who gobbled up any human being it saw. Amy never dreamed that her mother's paranoia would save her from the apocalypse, but it did, and it saved Baby, a girl abandoned in a grocery store, as well. The two have it all, until they are miraculously picked up by a group of people from New Hope. New Hope is a dream come true, but as Amy stays there, she discovers that this colony isn't what it really seems.

One of the things that set IN THE AFTER apart from other novels of its genre was its strong emphasis on family. The majority of the book is set in present day, but Lunetta also includes flashbacks to three years ago, and how Amy survived. While the constant switches between time would otherwise annoy me, it worked very well here as it showed how Amy and Baby's relationship developed over the years, and also how Amy managed to survive. The relationship between our two heroines is so clear and genuine that you can't help but root for them. A refreshing change from the usual "lonely" environment other post-apocalyptic novels have, because IN THE AFTER showed that ultimately, family is what matters.

Which leads me to the characterization: can I gush about how great it was? Lunetta excelled in creating such believable and realistic characters and their interactions with one another. Amy is the very definition of a kickass heroine, and the best part is that she's an extremely likable character (which only made the second half of the book more unbearable). We actually get to see how she toughened up over the years, which really developed her character further. Baby was the sweetest thing ever. She was smart, capable of doing things that would put even adults today to shame, and kind. The secondary characters were equally as real, which I loved.

Lunetta also put a unique spin to her debut with the use of sign languages. None of the characters are deaf or mute, but because the creatures have an extreme sense of hearing, even the slightest whisper could lead Them to you. Therefore, Amy teaches both herself and Baby how to communicate using signs. I felt that it added more depth to the After - and depth is something is usually missed out in these kinds of books.

Even though I found several things a little unbelievable - particularly the formation of New Hope - and a certain twist near the end that didn't surprise me much, IN THE AFTER was an impressive debut charged with action and thrills and characters I fell hard for. If you're looking for a book that will redeem your faith in the post-apocalyptic and dystopian genre, this is it.

If you like YA dystopian fiction, this book fits the bill. A plague of little green aliens has landed and eaten most of the people on the earth. Amy is one of the few survivors. She and Baby, a toddler who she found, remarkably still alive, live alone for 3 years until, they are rescued and brought to a community that calls itself New Hope. There, she finds out that the little community is not really the paradise it pretends to be. The book ends with a cliffhanger.

I was thoroughly entertained by In The After. The story starts off with a good pace that maintains itself to the very end. It has a lot of mystery, twists, and unexpected turns that keep the reader on edge throughout the book. I loved that the story was written without a lot of confusing side-stories and other filler material. The author put a lot of work into developing the main character Amy, and it paid off well as you really do feel attached to her on an emotional level and have no trouble feeling her plight. The ending was especially well thought out, as it didn't feel rushed. In fact, it leaves the perfect ending to allow for a sequel, without leaving the book feeling unfinished. Very well done.

In the After, the debut novel, by Demitria Lunetta is stunning, terrifying and completely thrilling. Amy is stuck at home while both her parents are out when the world is attacked and her life is turned upside down. She has to learn how to relive her life so she can survive these new beings. At first, she has glimpses to the outside world and then the television goes. And then she runs out of food, and has to make changes to the life she knew without being killed by Them.

The suspense in this book felt real. At first, I thought things would be super cheesy- especially with a character named Baby. But no, I was genuinely intrigued and pulled into the world Demitria created. Every scene felt so believable, so much that I was there. Until Amy came to New Hope. I had SO many questions. I needed to more about the background of this place. This could be a great stand alone, but I'm hoping there's more. I need more answers as to how things got the way they did. I need to know more about Amy's mom and Baby too!

Overall, this was a great debut book and even though it left me thirsty for more, it was a satisfying read filled with all the great elements of a dystopian.

Once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to know what was going to happen next. I wanted to know why it was happening. I was intrigued by the story, and very pleased with the ending. This book is fantastic. It’s kind of an easy read, but that makes flying through the pages that much better. If you can, pick up this book as soon as possible. You won’t regret it.

In the After starts off strong, with lots of suspense to keep readers turning the pages. Loved the first half, but I've always been a fan of novels with a survivalist element to them. This was no exception.

Once Amy and Baby are taken to the compound, however, my focus started to shift to other things. Pity, too, since the book had such a strong start.

So the book's about aliens. Totally not what I was expecting, but you know, after I got over that initial "eh..." reaction, I started digging it. Aliens, who knew?

In a word: a terrifying horror story, with two of the most interesting silent characters ever, beautifully written and perfectly paced.

Having already read quite a few dystopians this year, it takes an original premise to even get me to pick one up these days. But In the After grabbed my attention because the two main characters are a teenaged girl and a six-year-old. This combo might sound odd, but it sure worked for me. Amy and Baby are two of the most resourceful, smart and lovable apocalypse survivors you're sure to meet anytime soon. I was on the edge of my seat during most of the book--both the first third that tells their story while they are living on their own, and the second two-thirds after they've been captured and taken to the compound called New Hope. Lunetta has a way of keeping the reader guessing, because there are not one but two major mysteries to the story. Some familiar dystopian elements are present--like the alien creatures that are picking everyone off, and a compound with strict rules that keeps the beasties out but also controls their citizens--but it's the way Lunetta tells her tale that feels fresh. And the added bonus (for me at least)? In the After puts teen romance in the back seat.

Amy has been on her own for three years, ever since They came and destroyed most of humanity. Thanks to her overly cautious mother, Amy's house is equipped with solar panels, a unit that collects rain water, and best of all, an electric fence that surrounds the property. This fence keeps Them out and Amy safe. Amy lives with a young girl that she calls Baby, who was only a toddler when Amy found her alone in a grocery store and brought her home. Because They have extremely good hearing, but bad eyesight, They look for food (humans!) during the day and hide away at night, when they can't see very well.

Amy and Baby are masters at creeping around without making a sound. They forage for supplies at night when it's safer, and they never, ever speak out loud. To do so would most certainly lead to their deaths, as They are listening for the slightest noise to lead them to Their prey. Instead of talking, Amy and Baby speak in sign language. But all these precautions can't keep them safe forever (otherwise, there wouldn't be a story to tell!) and after getting too close to a hovering craft that might just be a spaceship, the girls are captured and taken to a place called New Hope, a compound full of other humans who have also survived. But being around humans isn't necessarily safe either, as Amy is about to find out, and it will take all her survival skills to stay on her toes in this new world.

The story is divided up into three parts. The first third of the book is Amy and Baby trying to stay alive outside the compound. I did love this section, because the reader really doesn't know what is happening, who They are, and why They are killing and eating humans. This section is fraught with danger and tension, and even though Amy and Baby are so good at surviving, they still live in fear of being caught outside their house. Several nasty encounters with other human survivors happen in this section as well, leading us to worry even more about our favorite heroines!

The second and third parts of the story take place in New Hope, a community of some 3,000 survivors that stay safe behind an invisible wall of sonic noise that keeps Them out. I've read other reviews of In the After that didn't particularly like this part of the book, but I have to disagree with them. Yes, the story of New Hope and what's going on there does take a sharp left and feels much different than the first part, with new characters and new dangers. But the way Lunetta structures this section is brilliant. When part two begins, Amy is imprisoned in a place called the Ward, where she is seemingly undergoing psychiatric evaluation for something she did that she can't remember. The story cuts back and forth from her drug-induced days lying in a hospital bed in the Ward, to her assimilation into her new life as a part of the New Hope community. Eventually the two narratives meet up and the author finally gives us answers, but the journey to this exciting ending is so compelling that you don't really mind being in the dark.

There were several characters that I loved besides Amy and Baby. A girl named Kay, who just happens to be an ex-Japanese pop star, trains Amy to be a Guardian, one of the elite who go beyond the walls of New Hope and bring back supplies, among other things. And I liked the potential romantic character of Rice, a teen who helps Amy and Baby in many ways, but luckily doesn't become the dreaded insta-love boy toy, at least in this installment.

Lunetta gives us many poignant moments, as Amy struggles to adapt to her new life without her old family and friends. One such moment nearly brought tears to my eyes, as Amy notices that Baby has lost her first tooth; she laments that poor Baby will never be visited by the Tooth Fairy.

Some shocking reveals come at the end (shocking for me, at least!) and like all good stories, Amy has some hard decisions to make. I'm so looking forward to the next book, since I loved spending time with these characters. Lunetta's debut should be read by everyone who loves strong characters and intricate relationships, not to mention some pulse-pounding terror thrown in. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.

I really enjoyed this book, it belongs to the current wave of popular post-apocolyptic books (think The Hunger Games but with more science). Lunetta has an approachable writing style and the story is original enough to be interesting. I gave it four stars simply because the plot could be a bit predictable at times. In Amy we find a relatable protagonist: a fierce, intelligent and extremely courageous teenager who manages to survive in a horribly broken world. The antagonists are a bit more complicated but the plot-twist may blow your mind! I recommend this one as an easy weekend read!

Have you ever been in one of those reading funks where you feel like you'll never find another good book to read? Yeah, I was in one of those for a while, aimlessly reading, hoping to come across a novel by chance that would hold my attention till the end. I never thought that In The After would be the one to break me out of my book-related depression, but it definitely did the trick! I can't believe I procrastinated waited so long to finally give it a try. What I expected to be bland, humdrum, and uneventful turned out to be fast-paced, thought-provoking, and awe-inspiring.

Throughout the span of this book, Amy ages from 14 to 17 years old, which is pretty bizarre for well....any book really. In my opinion, the formatting and structure of this novel was really weird and confusing, but I'll elaborate on that later in my review. For some reason, I started into this expecting Amy to be one of those aggravating damsel in distress types and was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that she wasn't remotely close to one at all. What I really admired about her character was that although she was badass and did anything required for her survival, no matter how embarrassing it was, she acted like any other teenager.

When the "aliens" attacked, she broke down, crying herself to sleep every night. This was a pretty understandable and realistic reaction considering the fact that in her mind, she could've very well been the last human alive, stripped of everything that was normal or constant in her life. One second she's complaining about school or hanging out with friends, and in the next, she's isolated in a world that's no longer her own, scavenging for items like food or clothes that she took for granted in the Before.

However, after she fully grasped the concept that the apocalypse was really happening, she pulled herself together and forced herself to remain strong, not allowing herself a moment to dwell on her hopelessness. She learned to adapt to her surroundings and make the best of what she had, which I really admired about her. She chose to keep fighting when many others would've just given up. Throughout the whole novel, she utilized her exceptional intelligence, honed her intuition, made sure she learned how to properly defend herself, fought for what she believed was right, and retained her take-charge attitude, not allowing things to pass her by when she was able to do something about it.

In The After was fast paced and action packed. Although the plot was nothing I haven't seen before (corrupt governments, forced pregnancies, inventions gone wrong affair), Demitria revealed it in a way that captured my attention and never let go. I was expecting to fit in a couple of chapters here and there, but after getting through the first two chapters, I knew, without a doubt, that that wasn't going to be happening anytime soon. I finished In The After in one sitting, oblivious to how much time had passed, because I was just that emotionally invested in the plot and the characters revolving around it.

The only reason that I didn't give this epic novel a five star, or even six star, rating was because I wasn't a huge fan of the way Demitria structured it. Don't get me wrong, she strung sentences together and made them flow smoothly and evenly like a pro, I just didn't like the way she switched back and forth between the past and the present. It was bearable for the first half of the story. Although annoying, I learned to live with it and move on. But the second half? It just irritated me, and no matter how hard I tried to get used to the flow of it, I wasn't able to adapt with the constant change in time frames. I understand what the author was trying to accomplish, but sadly, it didn't work out very well, at least for me.

The romance in this one was surprising as well. Unlike most YA novels, this story focused on the plot instead of the romance, which I was extremely grateful for. The relationship between Amy and said love interest was important and affected how everything went down in the end, probably even more crucial to the overall story for the sequel, but it was on the side. Another thing that kept this novel apart from your average Dystopian novel was that instead of your typical broody, dark soldier love interest with a twisted past, we have a geeky and slightly awkward teen scientist who has mysterious secrets of his own.

Overall, In The After is a fast-paced novel that features a tough, badass, and intelligent heroine who doesn't take BS from anyone. Although the plot wasn't very innovative, I still loved it all the same, because Demitria was able to express it in a way that kept me hooked. The only attribute that irritated me was the way the author structured her novel, but that irritation was still easily overcome by my fascination with everything else. I recommend this novel to both guys and girls alike. Girls, because there's an awesome heroine who's pretty easy to connect to. And guys, because although there is a romance, it isn't the focus of the story, which I'm sure most of you will appreciate. xD

Heroine- 6/5
Rebellious, Brave, Intelligent
Romance- 4.5/5 Adorable and Cute
Action- 6/5 Never a Dull Moment
Writing- 3.5/5
Didn't like the structuring of the novel
Trailer- 5/5
Overall- 4.5/5

For more reviews, visit my website readinguntildawn(dot)blogspot(dot)com

*Review from [...]
(2.5/5 stars)

Amy categorizes everything into either Before or After "They" attacked. "They" being bloodthirsty aliens who will literally stop at nothing to destroy the human race. Super awesome premise for a YA Sci-Fi right? Right! Unfortunately, it wasn't at all what I was expecting, but let me break it all down for you:

What I liked: I freaking loved Amy. She's very Katniss/Tris and does whatever it takes to survive this alien infested world. Like she doesn't even talk in the first part of the book because in order to survive, you can't make noise- any noise will get you killed right away. And she's willing to fight for herself and Baby (the little girl that she stumbled upon and continued to raise throughout the first part of the story) however she has to. I also really liked Part 2 of the story because that's when they end up at New Hope- the compound where the human survivors live. New Hope has a new government system, an interesting education system, and a trippy psychiatric system. It was in this part of the book that I really got to let my Sci-Fi crazed brain run loose.

What I didn't like: Part 1 was boring, plain and simple. I honestly had a really hard time getting through it, almost to the point where I was ready to stop and call it quits. Also, I felt like the plot was very predictable and annoyingly so. If you have any experience with Sci-Fi (actually, experience within the genre might not even be necessary), you'll see it all coming from a mile away and that really bothered me. It's hard to get into a story that you feel like you've seen a thousand times before. Especially since it really reminded me of 5th Wave by Rich Yancey (which I liked much much better), but more predictable. I don't know, I was just expecting it to be much better than it actually was.

In all, the book was enjoyable if you can get over the predictability of it all. I didn't hate it, not at all, and I liked reading it once I got past the first part, but I don't think I'll be reading the sequel when it comes out. It's unfortunate because I feel like there was a lot of potential and if it would have gone in a different direction, I might have liked it. Oh well, on to the next book.

What is it that generally seals the deal for you when you're reading a post-apocalyptic or dystopian read? Do you strive to find that eerie feeling of inevitability that comes with the concept that the post-apocalyptic world you're experiencing through pages is one that you could possibly experience in real life? Or do you not care about the authenticity of the world and whether or not it is reasonable for our world today to reach the havoc to the point of the world in the novel? Where all you're really looking for is a quick and chilling read to pass some time, perhaps with a little, "What if?" lingering in the back of your mind?

I am the former type of post-apocalyptic/dystopian reader. As odd as it may sound, I love feeling so horrified that the complete and utter cataclysm presented to me in a fiction post-apocalyptic could possibly be a reality at some point in the future. That thrill of, "What if this actually happens?" adds such an inexpressible and thrilling ambience that immerses me into the novel more than anything else could be able to, and from then on I imagine that it's not only the characters in the novel fighting for their life in the post-apocalyptic, dystopian barren wasteland, but also me.

And that is why In the After is such a remarkable read for me. Although I may not have found the particular alien scenario to be one I see happening, Lunetta crafted her world in such a way that I couldn't help but picture myself in the world and have myself experiencing the apocalypse along with the characters. The novel itself does undeniably have some issues concerning pacing and the dystopian world represented in the latter half of the novel, which left me feeling rather detached at select times, but for the vast majority of the novel, In the After was nothing short of a thrill-ride for me, wherein I was experiencing every single occurrence in the novel along with the characters themselves.

The first quarter of In the After firmly establishes the of electrifying and wild world that is the After. Throughout some of the beginning of In the After we follow Amy as she finds herself one day dealing with the trivial things of everyday life in the Before, whether those actions are looked upon by Amy in flashbacks or dealt by her in the present, to her scavenging for food and struggling to survive in the harsh world overrun by the monsters--Florae--that have ravaged practically everything she once knew and loved from the Before. The juxtaposition of these two vastly different perspectives from the Before and the After made a huge impact on me and my reading experience as I started the novel, and I soon found myself thrust into the dangerous world of In the After along with Amy.

As well as that, character and relationship development takes center stage in In the After alongside the horror and suspense that accompanies the Florae. Similarly to T. Michael Martin's The End Games, In the After features a strong central, family relationship between Amy and Baby. However, I have to say I like the relationship between Amy and Baby in In the After more than the one between Michael and Patrick in The End Games for a few reasons, one being that Amy and Baby aren't directly related, but look to each other as sisters, and another reason being that I feel the relationship between Amy and Baby is met with much more depth and poignancy than Michael and Patrick's.

Lunetta's use of silence and its key role throughout most of the former half of the novel, as well as how Lunetta used silence to depict her world is both effective and downright chilling, and the placement of a touching relationship in a crude world brought out a brilliant and breathtaking contrast throughout the novel. Although there were quite a few parts that dragged as the somewhat dystopian society of the novel was introduced, In the After redeemed itself with surprising twists and thus I am able to say that, shocking, thrilling, suspenseful, and smart, In the After is an exceptionally impressive debut from Demitria Lunetta, and I have trouble thinking of a better and more exciting read to start off the summer.

ATTACK. APPOCALYPSE.

Amy is watching television when the president appears on the screen. It is finally happening. The life she knew will soon shift to something completely different. It will never be like before. EVER.
She is trapped in her electrical fenced house when THEY attack, but thanks to her dad’s way of living, she has water, power and a little garden on her roof. Just enough to survive for a few months; but it won’t last long. She even rescues “Baby”, an abandoned toddler, during a dangerous trip in town to get supplies,
Now, after almost 3 years of hiding, they are miraculously rescued and taken to New Hope, a survivors’ camp trying to rebuild society. It looks safe; until the underestimated dark side of the community comes out to light. And the more Amy discovers, the worst it gets. She now has to make a choice that could cost her life… and Baby’s. She stays here and faces the inconvenients of New Hope or she escapes back into the outside…

Very good for the first novel from this author. I will look for more from her. I am hoping this is not the end of Amy's story even though this had an ending of sorts. It was sort of an ending that promises a new beginning. The writing flowed easily and no glaring typos or misuse of the language! Yes. Both happy and surprised to report that.
I liked Amy and her relationship with Baby. I loved the story of their growth together and as individuals. If you like end of the world stories and those of dystopian communities with characters you can care about you will like this story.

This one is OK, but doesn't really add anything new or novel to the genre. The most compelling aspect is the relationship between Amy and the toddler, Baby. And the plot picks up when the two are dragged to New Hope, a settlement of survivors of an alien invasion. Unfortunately, the characters are on the flat side and it's not that easy to truly care for them. This is for those who really enjoy and love the genre while more general readers may be less impressed.

I'm very into the dystopian/zombie book genre these days and this book most definitely satisfies that desire.

The plot, characters and post apocalyptic world immediately drew me in and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to Amy and Baby. There were times when I literally held my breath as I was reading and I just couldn't put this book down. I devoured it in one sitting and look forward to more from this author.

In The After offers an interesting plot filled with likable characters accomplished by a well-written voice. While I wasn't as connected to the characters as I'd like, they appealed enough to justify reading the next book in the series.

Without a doubt this book's biggest strength is its pacing- it is the epitome of a pageturner. I was quite literally almost finished it as soon as I started it (I think that its safe to say that I have never read a 400 page book so quickly before). That being said, I must admit that I wasn't originally a fan of Amy's parallel storylines, one told in the present, one told in the future. However, I slowly came to really like the two parallel stories, especially when they converged- the manner in which the story was told is quite unlike anything that I have seen in the world of young adult before.

The next biggest strength of this book was Amy and Baby's relationship- I have never read of two people who are in sync to the degree that they are before (even between those who are actual siblings). Dialogue as we know it is quite literally not needed in their relationship- a single look can be the key to an entire conversation. Furthermore, I did enjoy the secondary characters, Gareth and Kay especially (I am convinced that Kay may be one of the most kick-butt female characters we have ever seen in YA before).

That being said, my largest complaint about this book was the romance between Amy and Rice- I personally didn't think that it deliver, that it was quite forced and unconvincing. Furthermore, I wish that the story had been a bit more unique- it was a bit too obvious for my liking, a combination of a number of popular post-apocalyptic and dystopian novels that we have seen as of late.

All in all, despite my complaints I did enjoy this book more than a book that I know that it will be compared to over and over again, "The 5th Wave" by Rick Yancey (mainly because I believe that this book didn't drag as much as that did). This book is perfect for those fans of fast paced action and adventure with it's "I Am Legend" meets "Independence Day" storyline. I personally will be continuing on with this series to see where Amy ends up on her journey and to learn more about Baby's mysterious past.

IN THE AFTER, by Demitria Lunetta, is a fast and fun read. But the flashbacks in the middle almost killed it for me. I think I just skimmed through almost EVERYTHING in italics. The only good thing about italics is they make me want to reread the EMILY OF NEW MOON trilogy.

But even though I wanted the middle of the book to be a tangible thing, so that I could kick it in the shins, I have to recommend this book to anyone who loves dystopian and apocalypse novels.

The first chunk was interesting. Stuck in a post-apocalyptic world with murderous flesh eating monsters to worry about, Amy has found ways to survive. She survives rapists, sabotage and avoids freaky space ships all with her only companion, a small girl she's dubbed Baby.

That chunk is super interesting, full of frights and worries and excitement. Then they get taken aboard one of those ships they've been avoiding only to end up in a settlement called New Hope. The book takes a big plummet after that.

Nothing tread is new or interesting for someone who reads a lot of YA. People thought dead are no longer. Amy feels that her skills are most useful in guarding the settlement despite the opposition she gets. No one is supposed to ask about the monsters because ignorance is bliss.

There is also a rather lackluster and flat romance and for some reason the leader singled Amy out for martyrdom. You know, cause sixteen year old girls who have already found their calling are super threatening to the regime.

Meh.

I absolutely love this book. The story grabs you from the get-go and never lets go. All the reader can do is hold on and enjoy the ride. The characters are all fleshed out and 3D, even the minor/secondary ones. The plot is a pretty fresh twist on a over used and cliche'd theme. Alien invasion.

I am now a big fan of Ms.Demitria Lunetta and am starting on the next book in this series tomorrow.

With twist after bizarre and unexpected twist, this book about life after a vicious invasion of man eating reptilian creatures from who-knows-where destroys humanity as we know it, is as complex and terrifying as any in its genre. I recommend knowing as little about the story as possible before reading it...the basic gist (teenage girl tries to survive against all odds with six-year-old orphan in post-apocalyptic society infested with alien creatures would be quite enough to go on). Anything more would be a spoiler, in my opinion, so chock full of surprises is this gripping novel.

Suffice it to say that I would highly recommend this 450+ page novel to anyone who is a fan of post-apocalyptic novels, whether they be young adults or older adults like myself. I'll also happily be picking up anything else this author writes in future.

In the After received great reviews so I was really expecting big things when I started reading. Almost immediately I started wondering if I was reading the same book as everyone else. An alien invasion of two legged cat people that hunt their prey with teeth and claw, can't see at night, and can wipe out the world but are stymied by an electric fence? Really? These creatures are little more than animals with less intelligence than a dog, but they defeated the world's armies? I can suspend logic and reason, but only so much and this was so ridiculous I found myself laughing out loud. Amazingly our protagonist finds a three year old that has managed to survive...yeah, three (once again, defeated the world's armies, but missed a three year old..). Eventually they are rescued and taken to New Hope where all is not as it seems, the "alien" threat seems significantly less for no real reason, and a love interest develops. If you can overlook how ridiculous the whole plot is the writing itself is entertaining.

After reading a string of contemporaries, I felt like I needed a change of pace. So I decided to give In the After a go! I'm always up for a post-apoc book! This book is divided into 3 parts. I will say Part One was the strongest for me. I was pulled in from the beginning. Lunetta had me completely captivated with Amy (our main character) describing the Before and After, as she refers to the state of the world. Before- everything was simple and normal and she really realizes the small things that you take for granted. After -is hard and lonely. Those small things you took for granted are nothing but a shadow of a dream you keep trying to hold on to. I liked Amy as a main character. She had her time to freak out and cry, but her survival instincts kicked in and she did what she had to do to survive. This is why I loved the first part of the book. It's all about survival. Lunetta does an amazing job creating this world where you are always on your guard, preparing for imminent danger. She is completely alone but is lucky her parents were so prepared. She is fortunate enough to be able to stay at home, have a safe place to live, a place to bathe, sleep, etc. However, she cannot stay holed up forever. She does eventually have to go out and forage for food. She finds a toddler, who she names Baby, and brings her home with her. For being alone for so long, Amy now finally has a companion. The two form a bond and Amy would do anything to protect and keep Baby safe. Baby is incredibly smart thankfully, and the two form their own form of communication (based loosely on sign language), as it is too dangerous to speak out loud for fear of Them coming. They are ruthless, carnivores who are only interested in killing and feeding on their prey. They are super fast, but they do not function as well in the dark.

Although Amy has Baby, she still longs to know if there are others still alive out there. However, she must be extremely careful as to who to trust. She does meet another human and finds herself in a potentially horrible situation. From then on, as craved as she is for human interaction, she will not make the mistake of being so casual in who she approaches.

Parts Two and Three are actually where the book took a completely different turn of events. We find out there is a human civilization called New Hope. Except the longer Amy stays, the more she realizes things are not as they seem. New Hope's ideals are not what Amy expects and she learns that not everyone is as trustworthy as they seem. This is not like dealing with aliens- Amy now has to protect herself against her own kind. I was ok with seeing how the society of New Hope worked, but then I felt like I was back reading The Program by Suzanne Young. And that was not the direction I expected this book to take at all.

We meet a whole slew of characters in New Hope that play an integral part of the story. My favorite being Rice, a seventeen year old who works as a scientist. He instantly takes to Amy and befriends her, trying to help her adjust to her new surroundings. We only get to know him on a very surface level though, so I am hoping for a bit more depth in the next book.

I am interested in the sequel because after the ending, I feel like it might go back to what I was originally looking for: a more in depth look at the world trying to survive in the wild. There are also quite a few questions to be answered and I definitely look forward to that. Overall- this is a decent post-apocalyptic book and I was very engaged and did not put it down.

I read "The Fifth Wave" not too long ago. When I first started "In the after" I thought these two books were very similar. After completing the book, I now like "In the after" more.

Part 1 of the book was excellent. Part 2 took some time to get used to. At first, I was very annoyed by the back and forth of the two different time periods. But by the end of the book I kinda understood why the author took this approach.

I will definitely read the next book in the series.

Good:
-Lots of action.
-The relationship between "Baby" and the main character.
-NO LOVE TRIANGLE!
-The love story in this book was very small.

Bad:
-Part 2 was very different from part one and it started out kinda slow.

In the After is a decent end of world YA novel. The characters are not fleshed out as well as they could be but the plot is rather interesting. The romance could easily have been nixed without any loss (and probably some improvement) to the story. There seems to be a huge market for these type of books right now. I can't say this one will stand the test of time but it's a worthy read in the "now"

.The story in the case is fascinating - the author conveys the scene, the mood, the smell with great skill without being verbose. I didn't realize this story was classified as young adult and I don't know if I would characterize it as that. It's a story about a teenager, but it's a very grown up story with themes that aren't particularly youthful. I seek out apocalyptic stories and especially liked this one with a female lead. Amy is smart and likeable. Her closest comparison is probably Katness from the Hunger Games series. I found her to be much more real and likeable than Katness. You won't find Amy whining in a corner. I can't wait for the sequel to In the After - I can't believe I have a whole year of waiting for it!

I found this worth reading. It definitely held my attention and I was drawn to the concept of needing to be quiet and use sign language! I found the twists and turns to be surprising and realistic for the most part. It is geared for teens, but as an adult, I enjoyed it.

This was my first alien book and I really enjoyed it. I read it pretty quickly really loving it all. There wasn't anything I didn't really like. Even though it was a sci-fi future book it really felt like a mystery. I guess the end for movies and books all the time and I did guess most things but there was some that surprised me. Personally I really liked most of the characters but to me some weren't true to themselves through the whole story (especially with Amy and baby at the end).

I know this is Sci fi But I would think that army bases and more people with guns would have survived the "turning". maybe a small percentage of well prepared biological warfare troopers survived with proper biological gear. Just a thought. Well... Book did mention virus had gone airborne though so I take this back about lots of military surviving because they have guns. I did like the great suspenseful quality of the reading. Hard to put down. I would think some character in the book would just kill the psycho sadist psychiatrist though that would end the bad guy from a future book. Grats

Oh my goodness! I am in love! This book is part hunger games dystopia, and part Fukuda's the hunt...I cannot express how much this was just the perfect book. If you like Mila 2.0, The Hunt, Hunger Games, any thing like that...you're in for a treat. Creepy, edgy, heart-wrenching, everything you want in a book.

Ms. Lunetta caught me window shopping at Wizard World in Chicago a few years ago. She told me about her book and it was right up my alley. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I got totally sucked in immediately. Thoroughly enjoyed the whole book and I'm trying to convince my 12 year old to read it now.

I couldn't put this one down. I thought the author did a spectacular job of setting up this strange life for the main character, surviving and living in silence, learning a new silent language and everything. It was so imaginative. The book could have stayed there in this pre-revelation stage and I would have loved it, but the major plot points that hit were pretty huge and exciting. A great, new take on the post-apocalyptic fare out there.

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. It kept me engaged and I could not put it down for anything. I was able to read books 1 and 2 back to back, which made this series even better, I believe! I cannot wait for the next installment!

I started this book on a Sunday morning, went to Church, came back and finished it that night. I simply couldn't put it down. It was one of the best books I've ever read. It was fast paced and well written. I can't wait for this author's next book (which I hope will be soon!).

Although this is a ya book- as an adult I really enjoyed this storyline and the unexpected plot twists. Lunetta created an imaginative world that would be terrifying to live in, but you can identify with the characters emotions and I loved the detail she took to really create a fully formed alternate reality. I would encourage adults and teens alike to check out this book, and I am looking forward to the upcoming series. If you enjoy post-apocalyptic reads, and as a fan of Walking Dead and Falling Skies, this fits into that genre completely.

I was lucky enough to get hold of an ARC of IN THE AFTER, and read it in one sitting. This. Book. Is. Incredible. It's so well written and plotted – there isn't one bit of the story where I felt as if I knew what was coming, and the worldbuilding is incredibly well-done. Amy and Baby are amazing characters. I was really sorry to finish it! If you're a fan of THE PASSAGE or THE STAND, you will love IN THE AFTER.

In The After follows the story of Amy, a young teen who happened to be in the right place at the right time when They came. As I kept reading, the story, the story only got more interesting and had me questioning what I would do In The After. Once I started reading it, I could not put this book down. The author Demitria Lunetta has done a fantastic job at creating a world full of Them, where survival of the fittest is the name of the game. Once again, I really enjoyed this book and highly reccomend it to anyone who is looking to get lost In The After!

What an intense story! I absolutely loved the relationship between Amy and Baby and watching how they struggled to survive in the After. It was a very special and unique relationship--I haven't read anything like it before.

IN THE AFTER is such a great post-apocalyptic book with very real characters and many interesting twists. With beautiful writing and authentic characters, it's everything you'd want in a good read!

I loved this book! Baby is probably my favorite character. Even though she doesn't speak, she's very complex. I loved reading about Amy's relationship with her parents before They attacked; Lunetta doesn't sugar coat what being a teenager is really like. This book should be called The Walking Florae! Can't wait for IN THE END next year.

I just finished "In the After" WOW! What an awesome book! I laughed I cried, my heart pounded with the characters and I just couldn't stop reading this book! I even would shout out loud at the book with excitement and make people stare at me. I can't wait to read the next book!

Perhaps I've read too many books with a "twist" like this one. I was so so so bored with <i>In the After</i>.

The book reminded me of <i>Origin</i> by Jessica Khoury because of the simple writing and development. That is not bad, though, not all books have to be sophistically written.

As always, writers think that a story without romance isn't complete. The story didn't need romance!!! Oh well, it's not my book.

I'm not going to waste words writing what didn't work for me. If you are just beginning to read dystopia you will definitely like this one, but if you've been reading for a while.... you can skip it. Nothing new in here.

This book is great! From the start it caught my attention and I felt like I was experiencing everything the characters were because of how descriptive it was! I'm going to be reading this book a second time!

Loved the book. Not normally a sifi reader, but a friend told me about the book. Great book from the start to the end. You don't want to put it down. I cannot wait for the next book to find out what will happen next to Amy. Thank you Demittra