LONDON, 2012: It arrives and with that the world is changed into an unending graveyard littered with the bones, wreckage, and memories of a dead pa...
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reviews
Jan 27, 2012
Keith
rated it: 
The disaster novel is a well-established form in British speculative fiction, and many authors have tried to imagine the consequences of the upheavals resulting from alien invasions, wars, climatic change, and numerous other likely or unlikely events. In recent years it has fallen out of fashion somewhat, but, with 20 Years Later, E J Newman has presented us with her contribution to its revival.
While many such stories deal with the onset and immediate aftermath of the disaster, in th More...
While many such stories deal with the onset and immediate aftermath of the disaster, in th More...
Jan 07, 2012
Darren
rated it:
20 Years Later is a book that I was aware of long before it was picked up by fledgling US publisher Dystopia Press. The publishers very kindly sent me a copy to review many months ago, but even before then I already knew a great deal about the story as Emma Newman, the author of 20 Years Later, had been podcasting the story through her website for some time. Three quarters of the way through doing this she got that publishing deal for the book, but Dystopia Press allowed her to continue hosting
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May 20, 2011
Heike Harding-Reyland
rated it:
Twenty years after a devastating event, which killed most of the world’s people, four teens meet in post-apocalyptic London. Trying to keep the safety of the places they are born into and at the same time facing the horrors of a world, where the fight for survival is played out daily between gangs of different backgrounds, the four main characters of the book stumble upon the secret that nearly destroyed the world and have to stand against forces that are more evil than anything they’ve known be
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Feb 07, 2012
Ronya
rated it: 
Twenty years after a horrific virus wiped out everyone except a handful of people, Zane and his mother Miri survive gang-run London by making themselves indispensable to both the Bloomsbury Boys and the Red Lady's gang. Miri has forbidden Zane to join any gang; he wants to become a healer like her. One night the Boys capture Titus and his sister Lyssa--and then can only watch as someone or something more powerful kidnaps Lyssa. Zane, Titus, and their friend Erin, one of the Red Lady's Hunters
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Jun 26, 2011
Lucy.skrypnek
rated it: 
If I had to describe this book in one sentence it would sound something like this: London, after an apocalypse, with vicious rivalry gangs, crazy doctors, and even kids with supernatural powers. Sounds like a lot to tackle in a book that is just over 300 pages, right? Well, E.J. Newman somehow is able to manage every aspect to craft a great new novel in the dystopic ya genre.
She doesn’t hold back. Her writing style helps for a constant flow that made me want to continue reading with More...
She doesn’t hold back. Her writing style helps for a constant flow that made me want to continue reading with More...
Nov 08, 2011
I give this a 'low 3'. (My 3 category - 'things I won't discourage you from reading, but that I wouldn't directly recommend either' might be too large...)
Pros:
- Potentially interesting setting.
- Writing is straightforward, and while that's not my favourite style, at least it's not annoying to read.
Cons:
- No idea who the narrator is or how they (she? based on style) know this information.
- Calling a terrible, undescribed event 'It' (yes, with the capital) More...
Pros:
- Potentially interesting setting.
- Writing is straightforward, and while that's not my favourite style, at least it's not annoying to read.
Cons:
- No idea who the narrator is or how they (she? based on style) know this information.
- Calling a terrible, undescribed event 'It' (yes, with the capital) More...
Jun 20, 2011
Becky
rated it:
Well I did enjoy it. The characters were good and it was a strong young adult story without getting to much, and yet I wanted more. Knowing it is the first in a series makes this a better book, had it been a stand alone, I wouldn't have enjoyed it there was to much build and not enough story. The energy around is good, and the premise is believable, I just had more questions that I wanted answered. Knowing they will probably be answered in the books to come made it better, but I felt there we
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Jan 27, 2012
Joanne
rated it:
Emma Newman is an accomplished writer of creepy short stories for adults that wouldn’t be out of place in a “Tales of the Unexpected” collection. 20 Years Later is her first novel, set in a post-apocalyptic London and aimed squarely at a YA audience. A mysterious disaster, refered to only as “It” has befallen the world, and now, twenty years after the event, the dilapidated city is ruled by rival gangs.
Zane and his mother live in Bloomsbury, Miri’s healing skills helping them to liv More...
Zane and his mother live in Bloomsbury, Miri’s healing skills helping them to liv More...
Jan 01, 2012
Michael
rated it:
This was a book of multiple feelings. I loved the idea and story a lot but i feel the execution could have been a little better. I love the world that she creates in this book and the characters as well.
The only thing that bothered me the most was the blocky dialogue that she used and how it seemed she would skip over some parts and didn't give enough details to help the reader understand the world completely. I also felt that Zane annoyed me way to much in some parts.
An More...
The only thing that bothered me the most was the blocky dialogue that she used and how it seemed she would skip over some parts and didn't give enough details to help the reader understand the world completely. I also felt that Zane annoyed me way to much in some parts.
An More...
Feb 15, 2012
Jenny
rated it: 
It had its moments; moments when I was completely sucked in and stayed awake way too long to finish chapters. So I'll give some credit to the author, there. And I thought it was pretty creative to "organize" this dystopia into gangs. But the credit ends there for me. The characters were completely flat, none of the major questions were answered except what "It" was (and if you haven't figured it out by about page 25, you should probably read more, or at least watch more tv),a
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Jun 27, 2011
Sara
rated it:
I won an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Goodreads. Thank you, Dystopia Press!
One of the most important things about dystopian novels is the worldbuilding, and it is impressive in this book. Not just the description of the world itself, but what has happened to society in the 20 years after It happened. The first half of the book meanders at a good pace through this world from the point of view of three very different children, and it's not until about halfway through the novel More...
One of the most important things about dystopian novels is the worldbuilding, and it is impressive in this book. Not just the description of the world itself, but what has happened to society in the 20 years after It happened. The first half of the book meanders at a good pace through this world from the point of view of three very different children, and it's not until about halfway through the novel More...
Jun 29, 2011
Kristin
rated it:
You may also read my review here: http://www.mybookishways.com/2011/06/rev...
3.5/5 Stars
20 Years Later takes place in a London devastated by an unknown horror 20 years earlier, an event referred to only as It. Ruled by roving gangs, fear and fights over territory are rampant, and killing is a daily event. 15 year old Zane and his mother Miri, have carved out an existence as healers, with no alliances with the gangs, and tolerated mostly for their healing abilities. When More...
3.5/5 Stars
20 Years Later takes place in a London devastated by an unknown horror 20 years earlier, an event referred to only as It. Ruled by roving gangs, fear and fights over territory are rampant, and killing is a daily event. 15 year old Zane and his mother Miri, have carved out an existence as healers, with no alliances with the gangs, and tolerated mostly for their healing abilities. When More...
Aug 03, 2011
Hannah
rated it:
This book started off a little slow -- but in such a way to create the detailed setting that was so important to the plot. I really enjoyed the world Emma Newman created, and each of the gangs were incredibly detailed and realistic. The main three, Zane, Titus, and Erin were well-developed and easily identifiable characters.
Although some areas of the writing style wasn't pleasing, the story kept me interested throughout the entirety of this novel. It was fairly fast paced -- no need to wo More...
Although some areas of the writing style wasn't pleasing, the story kept me interested throughout the entirety of this novel. It was fairly fast paced -- no need to wo More...
Jun 13, 2011
Mia (Girl about Books)
rated it:
Originally posted at Girl about Books
20 Years Later is an excellent and astonishing start of a new post-apocalyptic series! I just found out some weeks ago that the genres dystopia and post-apocalyptic are different in some ways and 20 Years Later is my very post-apocalyptic book I’ve read. It was also one of my anticipated reads this year and didn't let me down!
The story's plot is the one that piqued my interest in reading this book. The idea of "It", the reaso More...
20 Years Later is an excellent and astonishing start of a new post-apocalyptic series! I just found out some weeks ago that the genres dystopia and post-apocalyptic are different in some ways and 20 Years Later is my very post-apocalyptic book I’ve read. It was also one of my anticipated reads this year and didn't let me down!
The story's plot is the one that piqued my interest in reading this book. The idea of "It", the reaso More...
Jul 05, 2011
Marrion James
rated it:
20 Years Later is actually my very first post-apocalyptic novel read. Sometime ago, I actually don't have an idea the difference between post-apocalyptic and dystopian book. While absorbing the knowledge in my head, I was compelled and interested on reading this one. Let's find out shall we?
PLOT. WOW! From the prologue until the epilogue of the book is simply astonishing. The idea of creating the new world is really brilliant. The thought of the nearest destruction of the entire civi More...
PLOT. WOW! From the prologue until the epilogue of the book is simply astonishing. The idea of creating the new world is really brilliant. The thought of the nearest destruction of the entire civi More...
Aug 22, 2011
Precious
rated it:
Originally posted at Fragments of Life.
In 20 Years Later, a different London existed. It was divided and ruled by gangs. Bloomsbury Boys was headed by Jay. Young and brave, he stood as the leader and the older-brother-figure of the boys he led. They were in constant battle against the Gardners, suit and tie-wearing men who were grown-ups and twice the size of the boys they fought with. The Red Lady’s Gang was probably the strongest of the three gangs with strong hunters for its membe More...
In 20 Years Later, a different London existed. It was divided and ruled by gangs. Bloomsbury Boys was headed by Jay. Young and brave, he stood as the leader and the older-brother-figure of the boys he led. They were in constant battle against the Gardners, suit and tie-wearing men who were grown-ups and twice the size of the boys they fought with. The Red Lady’s Gang was probably the strongest of the three gangs with strong hunters for its membe More...
Jun 01, 2011
ABookGeek
rated it:
I've been wanting to read this book for a long time. I finally just bought it for my kindle and read it very quickly. For such a fast read, the post apocalyptic world is built and revealed very slowly. The reader learns about the small patch of London where Zane and his mother Miri live in a mutually beneficial relationship with two of the local gangs. Zane has managed to reach early teens living within this sanctuary of a garden where he and his mother raise the fruits and vegetables that feed
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Jan 03, 2012
Mokieblylk
rated it: 
The book reads like it belongs on a sixth grade book shelf at the highest....the concept seems good enough but the writing was boring, for one of the gangs I picture a bunch of Oliver Twist orphans running around with rocks. I finished reading it to be done with it, rather than knowing what happens next.
Jul 28, 2011
Booksahoy
rated it:
I really liked this book! There was pretty perfect balance of everyting. There was a nice balance of romance and action. The storyline was really great! I really liked the relationship between Zave and Erin although I really would have like it to blossom. For me, I was really surprised that there were more people living with them, I really thought it was a monster! I would've like Eve to be introduced early like Zane, Titus, and Erin. The relationship between Titus and his sister was really g
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Feb 01, 2012
April
rated it:
So I really enjoyed this book. WIthout the special powers I could actually see this would be the way of the world if there was a apocalyptic event. I really hope there will be another book after this I didnt want it to be over !
Dec 22, 2011
Lorrie
rated it:
2.5 stars
This book sounded really interesting when I read the synopsis, but after finishing the book, it was just okay. It started off a little slow, and it was kind of confusing. Even after finding out what "IT" was, it just kind of fell flat. And there just wasn't enough background for me. As I read through, instead of having questions answered, more questions piled up. I'm not sure if I liked the unknown prologue and epilogue...it seemed rather dramatic and didn't seem to fit w More...
This book sounded really interesting when I read the synopsis, but after finishing the book, it was just okay. It started off a little slow, and it was kind of confusing. Even after finding out what "IT" was, it just kind of fell flat. And there just wasn't enough background for me. As I read through, instead of having questions answered, more questions piled up. I'm not sure if I liked the unknown prologue and epilogue...it seemed rather dramatic and didn't seem to fit w More...
Feb 23, 2012
Rich
rated it:
I thought this was a great book, a little slow to start off with but once it got going it was an excellent read. Good characters and an interesting plot, which kept me guessing right up until the reveal. Looking forward to part two :)
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