In the After

May 20, 2013 Emily May rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, ya-na, dystopia-utopia, 2013

Two stars, eh? Looks like it must be a negative review, right? In this case, though, this isn't that much of a negative review. Rather, these are the reasons why I didn't love this book and the reasons why I think a whole bunch of other people probably will. So...

There's this book you might have heard about lately. It's called The 5th Wave. I know, I know, they've been so quiet about it, really toned down the promotion to about a thousand rotating banner ads on goodreads. So, maybe you haven't...more

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Jun 16, 2013 Giselle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, ebook, dystopia-or-post-apocalyptic

A stronger first half than the second, but overall this is a highly entertaining post apocalyptic book! I mean: zombie aliens!

The world in In the After has just been attacked by an alien species who are terrifyingly similar to zombies. These creatures eat humans, they're dumb, and they're relentless (they keep trying to get at you no matter how painful it may be to them). It is a tad reminiscent of The 5th Wave, although that book philosophizes more on what it means to be human and the consequen...more A stronger first half than the second, but overall this is a highly entertaining post apocalyptic book! I mean: zombie aliens!

The world in In the After has just been attacked by an alien species who are terrifyingly similar to zombies. These creatures eat humans, they're dumb, and they're relentless (they keep trying to get at you no matter how painful it may be to them). It is a tad reminiscent of The 5th Wave, although that book philosophizes more on what it means to be human and the consequences of such an event on humanity as a whole, whereas In the After concentrates on the main characters' direct survival story. It's fascinating to see the adaptive capacity of human beings. This book is Amy and Baby's story, and a great example of why love this genre.

Amy was just a little girl when the aliens came. We're initially introduced to her 3 years after, so her complete story is told with the help of flashbacks during her early days when she was clueless - she finds it a miracle she even survived. What I found the most interesting in those sequences were her discoveries regarding the aliens - their ways and habits. They're quite the fascinating creatures. Amy's past is also where we meet Baby, the other main character of the story. Baby, a fantastic addition to the story, was only a toddler when Amy found her. This child stole my heart from the first time we saw her stuffing her face with fruit, somehow still alive. Surviving in this world depends on stealth. If you can be quiet and blend in your surroundings, you've got a chance, and baby astounded me by how intelligent she was. This could easily have been unrealistic - being the mother of a hyper toddler and all - but I grew to believe in her instincts, and you also get an inkling that she's not just an ordinary child. These two quickly form a bond like no other, a bond that I could feel in the deepest pits of my heart. There is nothing like the relationship between two people living a catastrophe, I think Lunetta did a fabulous job at making this the essence of the story. While this bond grows, so do Amy and Baby. We see them develop their own language, learn how to get by with bare essentials, and mature - especially Amy - into strong, capable, and intelligent survivors.

Halfway through, this book turns from apocalyptic to a dystopia when they're brought to a survivor camp that soon has Amy unsettled with the controlling way it's governed - forced gestation for one. This is when the book becomes a little less… everything; less exciting, less chilling (though we still have our moments), less characterization, and we lose the intimate relationship we had with two lone characters that has now grown to include a full blown cast. Fortunately the main characters were already well developed and my connection with them formed; it's the characters we meet in the compound that don't particularly stand out. I was reluctant to let them in my Amy/Baby niche. I also wasn't a fan of the boring romance that blooms. I mostly found it distracting, as if it was maybe added to the book due to the annoying belief that every book needs romance. We do learn some interesting details, however, about the creatures and the current world situation. So while this second half didn't take away what I liked about the book as a whole, it prevented it from a possible 5-star.

Perfect for fans of zombie and apocalyptic novels, In the After is an engaging read that surrounds with the fear of the unknown, leads us to the beginnings of a dystopia, and ends with the promise of a thrilling sequel.

--
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.

For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads

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Mar 02, 2013 Celeste_pewter rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Two-second recap: Demitria Lunetta combines a mixture of some of the most feared scenarios in science fiction (alien invasion; being a sole human survivor; dysfunctional survivalist colonies), and her own unique brand of story-telling to create a stunning, terrifying novel of living life In the After.

***

What worked:

* The characterizations.

Lunetta’s created a strong, clever, proactive and likeable protagonist in Amy.

From the start of the book, we’re isolated in Amy’s head. Without any signific...more

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Mar 05, 2013 Jessica Figueroa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc

If I had to choose one word for this book it would be Intense.

When I first gotten read the summery I was under the impression that this was a zombie book. Little did I know that it was about aliens. I have never read a book with aliens because it isn't a topic that I usually like to come across. So reading this kind of book is a first for me. My first thoughts when reading this book was a little conflicting because I'm not into alien books or anything alien really. I would've put the book down i...more If I had to choose one word for this book it would be Intense.

When I first gotten read the summery I was under the impression that this was a zombie book. Little did I know that it was about aliens. I have never read a book with aliens because it isn't a topic that I usually like to come across. So reading this kind of book is a first for me. My first thoughts when reading this book was a little conflicting because I'm not into alien books or anything alien really. I would've put the book down if it wasn't for the action and the suspense of what going to happen next. So I had to put aside my negativeness against aliens and get through.

I loved the writing and how everything went smoothly. It was descriptive enough for me to get a picture of how things may have been and it wasn't over the top. (Meaning that some authors like to describe every single detail straying away from the story stretching it out unnecessarily making it dull, this book wasn't the case.)

The readers get to see from day one what happened to Amy and how everything progressed with her survival meanwhile everyone in the area was nearly gone. Amy is a smart girl who quickly learns to grow up and adapt to everything that happens in order to survive. At the ending of the part one I nearly fell over in shock and thought to myself thank goodness that wasn't the end or I would go crazy. Amy is not the type of person who can easily be fooled and questions everything and anything, even when she was in a place that was considered safe. She trusted her gut feeling and did something about it. I loved this book.

This book was unpredictable, normally I find a trend in most YA novels and there is no way I could pin this book to it.

You ever get those moment where you finally figure out what is going on a little before the big reveal? Yea I got one of those moments with this book. I couldn't even believe I guessed right.

This book had captured me and wouldn't let go until the very end. Highly Recommend to anyone. If you love post-apoplectic, zombies, aliens books your gonna want to get this book. Soon as the book comes out in store you must get it, your not going to want to pass up this great book. Be sure to write this book on your TBR list.(less)

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Jun 12, 2013 Jen Ryland added it

Shelves: debut-challenge-2013, edelweiss

In the After is an interesting amalgam of a book -- a book that started out as a post-apocalyptic survival story, then shifted to a psychological thriller, then to a sci-fi action story. Though I prefer my genre mash-ups to be a little more well-blended, I still think that there is a lot here that will appeal to YA readers.

As the book opens, Amy's world is coming to an end -- aliens have landed in Central Park, and half of the people on the planet are dead. Amy's parents never return home, and h...more In the After is an interesting amalgam of a book -- a book that started out as a post-apocalyptic survival story, then shifted to a psychological thriller, then to a sci-fi action story. Though I prefer my genre mash-ups to be a little more well-blended, I still think that there is a lot here that will appeal to YA readers.

As the book opens, Amy's world is coming to an end -- aliens have landed in Central Park, and half of the people on the planet are dead. Amy's parents never return home, and her life becomes a lonely tale of scavenging and hiding. She's able to survive because her dad outfitted her house with solar panels and her mom insisted on an electric fence and lessons for her tween daughter at the shooting range. (Yes, this all requires quite a bit of suspension of disbelief, but I was okay with it.)

After a month of this, Amy finds Baby, an abandoned toddler, in a grocery store. The two of them develop an interesting relationship that was one of my favorite parts of the book. In order to keep the aliens at bay, they have to be absolutely silent, so they stop speaking and develop their own sign language. The two of them become as close as a parent and child, or sisters. Their relationship was both touching and a little creepy.

And then … their situation changes. I don't want to say more, because part of the fun of the book for me was the suspense. But the middle part of the book had me glued to my kindle as I tried to figure out what the heck was going on with Amy and Baby. Since Goodreads lets me hide spoilers, here were my theories: (view spoiler) If you don't want to read the spoilers, let's just say that I became unsure as to whether Amy was a reliable narrator.

The final third of the book began to display some twists and turns I'd seen before and introduce new characters who weren't very compelling. Amy and Baby were the only two characters who seemed realistic and three-dimensional to me -- the rest seemed to be there just to fulfill a plot function. And … of course the book ended in the requisite cliff-hanger.

Still, I definitely enjoyed In the After. It was truly suspenseful and truly creepy at times. The psychological aspects -- Amy's odd relationship with Baby and Amy's seeming unreliability -- were the best parts of the story for me. But since this story is almost three different stories stuck together -- post-apocalyptic+ psychological thriller + sci-fi -- I'm guessing that different readers will have very different opinions.

Stop by my blog , YA Romantics,
and give me your take -- my full review goes up June 17 -- or leave them in comments.(less)

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Jun 10, 2013 Patty rated it 4 of 5 stars

In The After
By
Dumitria Lunetta

My "in a nutshell" summary...

There's the before and then there's the after and what's in between is a nightmare!

My thoughts after reading this book...

Amy's world and everyone else's collapses when meat eating alien creatures begin eating everyone in sight. Her world...her normal world...falls apart and a new one filled with terror begins. She survives longer than most people...she adapts and learns and doesn't make noise...noise is what attracts the nightmarish crea...more

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May 27, 2013 Once Upon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review

I'm not usually the biggest Science Fiction reader. I usually feel out of the loop and lost. But with In the After, I felt right at home. Well as at home as you can feel when you're reading about a girl who watches out her window as Western Civilization as we know it comes to an end. Amy, our stories main character is at home when They arrive. Life wasn't always sunshine and daisies for Amy before They arrived. She was a normal teenage girl with everyday mundane teenage problems. She had a hippi...more I'm not usually the biggest Science Fiction reader. I usually feel out of the loop and lost. But with In the After, I felt right at home. Well as at home as you can feel when you're reading about a girl who watches out her window as Western Civilization as we know it comes to an end. Amy, our stories main character is at home when They arrive. Life wasn't always sunshine and daisies for Amy before They arrived. She was a normal teenage girl with everyday mundane teenage problems. She had a hippie, green, peace loving Father and a Mother who worked for the Government and was gone a lot. Amy wanted for nothing except for maybe junk food because her father didn't believe in having artificial food around the house. But then They arrived and the world went quickly silent.

Who are They and why did they come here? What do they want from us? They are greenish chlorophyll colored Alien beings. They only come out in the daylight. In the dark, you could be face to face with one and as long as you don't move or make noise, they would walk right past you. They are fast, they move in the blink of an eye and they don't just kill or maim their victims; they consume them.

Lucky for Amy, her mother was paranoid Before. She had an electric fence installed around their property. Her father installed solar panels over their entire house and they were able to self sustain without the use of outside electricity. She is pretty much perfectly set up to live her life in the After except that she is completely alone. She's learned to live life without talking and has to eventually venture outside her secure compound to find new clothes, food, and other sundry items. One day while raiding a grocery store, she comes across Baby. Baby is the name Amy gives this young girl who is eerily quiet for a toddler but Amy can't just leave the poor thing behind to fend for herself. So they quickly become a duo living in this post apocalyptic world.

Resources are running out and they have to start venturing out further and further from their home to find supplies. They learn to travel by foot without shoes, their feet become callused to adapt to live in the After. They run across very few other people as the years pass by. Now, three years after They showed up, Amy and Baby are found and taken to a facility called New Hope where they have the chance to live in the After without ever having to worry about Them again, but is New Hope too good to be true and will two girls who learned to live in the After be able to fit in?

I really enjoyed this story. It was intense to say the least. It quickly got into the action and keeps up its fast pace throughout the story. I especially enjoyed the chapters after Amy and Baby arrive at New Hope. There is not a lot of character development, which after reading most books I would say is a bad thing, but in this story, character development would have just been out of place. We get to learn about the characters as they strive to adapt to their post apocalyptic world. I can't say much else without spoiling the whole story for you but I can say that when I finished reading, I gasped and then mentioned to my husband that I hoped this wasn't a stand alone book because it ended with one heck of a cliffhanger. I am extremely happy to see that this is the first in a series, I don't know how many books there will be but I look forward to reading where about the future of Amy, Baby and the rest of those alive In the After.(less)

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May 27, 2013 Ashley rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction

Right from the start I loved this book. You are thrown into the action from the beginning. The story is mostly told in the present with flashbacks of Amy's past. I think people who liked Ann Aguirre's Razorland series would love this book. It is action packed with a relatable main character. I read this book in one day, so that pretty much shows how much I liked it.

Amy Harris was fourteen when They first came. The monsters are hideous, snarly, scary predators that are incredible fast with impecc...more Right from the start I loved this book. You are thrown into the action from the beginning. The story is mostly told in the present with flashbacks of Amy's past. I think people who liked Ann Aguirre's Razorland series would love this book. It is action packed with a relatable main character. I read this book in one day, so that pretty much shows how much I liked it.

Amy Harris was fourteen when They first came. The monsters are hideous, snarly, scary predators that are incredible fast with impeccable hearing. The monsters took everything from her, friends, family, a normal life. She has to adapt to survive. In one of the first flashbacks you see her having to venture out of her home for the first time to get food and her looking back thinking she should have died. She has to learn to kill to survive. She eventually finds a toddler in the grocery store and deliberates whether she should rescue her or leave the toddler to die, but saving herself. Luckily, she rescues the toddler and names her Baby.

Baby is sweet, but mysteriously quiet. I enjoyed how Amy still told Baby fairy tales, which gave Baby something to believe in. Even during a post-apocalypse it was nice to think you can still get a Happily Ever After. Since Baby is only three when she is found she has no vocal skills and Amy develops an adapted version of sign language to use with Baby. I really liked that addition to the novel. I though it was something different that I haven't seen in the science fiction that I have read before. This way of communication probably saved them and allowed them to survive in silence for so long.

After three years of surviving she and Baby are rescued and brought to New Hope. To be honest once they were rescued and brought to New Hope I kind of lost a bit of interest in the story. I think this was mostly because I really liked Amy's narrative of survival and it switched from survival to her adapting to society. I also didn't really like the introduction of the love interest. I think the book could have stood on its own without this. It has a great story about survival and adaption. It just always seems a love interest is thrown into YA science fiction.

Overall, I thought this was a great debut for the author. It had a strong plot with interesting characters. There were some points that were predictable in the book. I guessed half the ending, but the other half I didn't really see coming. I can't wait for the author's next book.(less)

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Jan 23, 2013 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was good. I think about alien invasions but don't ever find a good book about it and this is perfect for you if you have that same problem.

This was a crazy take on alien invasion. It happened so fast at the beginning I didn't know what as happening until after, which is exactly how Amy feels. She was just once a spoiled girl, and now she is on her own learning to survive with these crazy alien monsters. But she is adjusting and hardening her heart until she finds Baby, who she lets in...more

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May 14, 2013 Phoebe rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi, young-adult, loved-it, strong-women, disaster, damn-my-friends-are-talented

If you read one alien invasion story this summer, this should be it.

YA sci-fi--my favorite genre!--has become a bit of a hard sell for me lately. Over the past three years I've just absorbed so much of it that even highly buzzed books often strike me as underwhelming. I'm so familiar with all of the tropes, all the common missteps, that it takes a real winner to steal my heart.

In the After by Demitria Lunetta is that winner.

It's not just that this is a well-rendered alien invasion story. It is,...more If you read one alien invasion story this summer, this should be it.

YA sci-fi--my favorite genre!--has become a bit of a hard sell for me lately. Over the past three years I've just absorbed so much of it that even highly buzzed books often strike me as underwhelming. I'm so familiar with all of the tropes, all the common missteps, that it takes a real winner to steal my heart.

In the After by Demitria Lunetta is that winner.

It's not just that this is a well-rendered alien invasion story. It is, and it's both realistic and compellingly paced. Unputdownable is a cliche, but I rarely finish a book in a few sittings these days. I finished this in two, half on the train ride back from New York City--annoyed when my train finally pulled into the station. Lunetta doesn't rely on cliff-hangers on unrealistic twists (though there are a few twists here). Instead, it's the voice and very immediate concerns of Amy, our heroine, which pull us through the narrative.

Amy is indeed a "strong female character," but because we're so grounded in her history, isolation, and desperation as aliens overcome the Earth, we intimately understand her strength. This isn't a person who was born knowing how to kick ass and take names but rather one who must use her moxie to survive. For three years, Amy, and a foundling toddler she dubs "Baby" live in Amy's parents' fortress-like apartment in near-total silence, all-too-aware that any noise they make might attract the bloodthirsty creatures that roam the streets.

What I most admired about this book was the way that Lunetta chooses to withhold or share information based on Amy's situation. At first, we're as clueless as she is. The opening section of the novel is, therefore, deeply claustrophobic and unsettling. When eventually the narrative begins to open outward, we completely empathize with Amy in her trauma and its aftermath, because we've been there with it, all along.

And, perhaps more importantly for a sci-fi geek like me, the science holds up. It's complex in its approach, thoughtful, sensible. The scientists aren't monsters, though they sometimes, out of their own out-of-whack survival instincts and desperation for preservation, do monstrous things. This is true for the society-building in the novel as well: it's complex, full of shades of grey.

It's not a perfect book--the narrative is a bit scattered, with flashbacks nested inside flashbacks; it becomes hard to follow, at times, because of its unusual chronology--but it's a really good book. Like ROOM meets DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS, but refreshing, all the same. And it ends on a perfect, juicy, compelling note. I can't wait for the sequel.(less)

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Jun 03, 2013 Wendy Hines rated it 4 of 5 stars

When THEY attack, Amy is home alone, her father went to the store and her mother to work. Most of the world is dead, but Amy quickly learns how to survive. Thanks to her dad's way of green living, she has water, a rooftop garden, power and an electric fence. She learns to scavenge without being heard, and she hasn't spoken a word in years. When scavenging at a grocery, she finds an injured toddler and takes her home. She names her Baby, and they create their own sign language and live like that...more

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Jun 05, 2013 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

Let me first say that this is definitely a young adult book. It took me just a few hours to read and the print is quite large in this advanced reader's edition. (Thank you Amazon Vine!) Regardless of its category, I couldn't put this book down! The first third of the book is the story you expect to read about a young girl surviving in spite of the odds against her. Amy is resilient, determined, and very, very smart. These characteristics suit her very well out in the world of After. Unfortunatel...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Beth (Curling Up With A Good Book) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, dystopian, young-adult

I first heard of In The After on Epic Reads Tea Time. I instantly knew I wanted to read it. I am all about a dystopian with evil creatures. I also loved the cover. The cover looks so creepy and the intro “They Destroyed Before….Now We Live IN THE AFTER….umm yeah! That was totally awesome…
So the story begins with the main character describing the new world. Now I have to say that I kept trying to figure out if the main character was male or female and we don’t really find out until later in the s...more I first heard of In The After on Epic Reads Tea Time. I instantly knew I wanted to read it. I am all about a dystopian with evil creatures. I also loved the cover. The cover looks so creepy and the intro “They Destroyed Before….Now We Live IN THE AFTER….umm yeah! That was totally awesome…
So the story begins with the main character describing the new world. Now I have to say that I kept trying to figure out if the main character was male or female and we don’t really find out until later in the story when her name finally appears. I did find that this distracted me a little and I couldn’t really connect with the character immediately. Now, as soon as I figured out the gender I was able to focus on the story and how things were unfolding from a female perspective.
The new world is full of these “Creatures” that remind us of what we have always been described as aliens. They are green and have sharp teeth and of course….we are their main cuisine. I love the horror aspect of the story. Dystopian novels are my favorite genres and basically for this reason….. The survival or more the story of survival. I love how the characters overcome the odds and fight for humanity…AWESOME…
I loved how Amy and Baby met and how Amy immediately felt a motherly protective hold over Baby. I love how they live each day learning each other and depending on each other. I also love the introduction of “other” characters and how Amy handles each situation.
My favorite part of the book is the first couple of chapters. Eventually Baby and Amy are “saved” and taken to New Hope, a compound for survivors. (Or so we think) I immediately could tell something was up. The characters in this part of the story were kind of bland and the surprises that occurred….well let’s just say I saw them coming. I felt like the 2nd half of the book lacked a lot of storytelling and really wanted it to be incredible.
I can’t give away the ending BUT because of the ending I am sure I will read the sequel and I just have a feeling that I will like it even more….This is a good, quick read and I would recommend it.
3-1/2 Stars
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Feb 08, 2013 Amanda Sun rated it 5 of 5 stars

What an intense story! I absolutely loved the relationship between Amy and Baby and watching how they struggled to survive in the After. A great post-apocalyptic book with very real characters and many interesting twists. Everything you'd want in a post-ap story!

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May 18, 2013 Harlee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: post-apocalyptic, arcs, harper

I received an Advanced Copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to HarperCollins.

When I began this book, I wasn't sure what to expect from it. Who are They and were did They come from? When I soon found that the creatures exterminating mankind were aliens, I was a little nervous. (Let me just throw this out there: I'm terrified of aliens and the possibility of an invasion. It's a problem really). Yet somehow, I was still intrigued. The suspense of these te...more I received an Advanced Copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to HarperCollins.

When I began this book, I wasn't sure what to expect from it. Who are They and were did They come from? When I soon found that the creatures exterminating mankind were aliens, I was a little nervous. (Let me just throw this out there: I'm terrified of aliens and the possibility of an invasion. It's a problem really). Yet somehow, I was still intrigued. The suspense of these terrifying scenarios kept me on the edge of my seat, allowing me to put my fears behind me and finish the book in one sitting.

"This is how I think of time: the past is Before and the present is the After. Before was reality; the After, a nightmare."

The story begins as the main character, Amy, describes her newly devastated world, the After: a world eaten alive by vicious creatures. She can only go outside at night. She can't speak without Them hearing. She's been hardened, living in the shadows of this soundless world by herself - until she finds Baby. The clever toddler gives Amy purpose, a reason to feel alive again. They help each other survive, communicating through their own improvised sign language, for three years. Then, one day, they're rescued. But the newfound safe haven leaves Amy questioning whether or not she has escaped the real monsters.

The author gradually unfolds the history of the invasion through the main character's perspective, giving us an intimate sense of her emotions toward the situation. Amy's voice throughout the story gives readers a true understanding of her desperation and strength. Her perceptiveness and good judgement doesn't falter at all and she always trusts her instincts.

While there isn't really a romance factor in the storyline, I really enjoyed the bond Amy formed with Baby. Their connection is sweet and heartwarming and I actually enjoyed their sisterly relationship even more than I enjoy some romantic relationships in YA novels these days.

I have no complainants toward the world-building in this book. I'm a stickler for realistic atmospheres in novels and the author did a great job of thrusting readers into this terrifying, fallen world.

All in all, In The After captures tons of raw emotion, providing a great deal of suspense and terror.(less)

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Feb 05, 2013 Hannah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Set to be released in the summer, In the After is a post-apocalyptic YA novel that follows a young girl, Amy, and the little girl she rescues, Baby, as they try to survive after aliens invade Earth and kill most of the population. That's the first half of the story; the second half follows Amy as she learns more about "Them" after she and Baby are rescued by a survivors' colony.

I really enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and easy to read; I read it in a couple of hours. I love post-apocalyptic...more

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Feb 07, 2013 Lindsay Cummings rated it 5 of 5 stars

finished in 2 days. loved it! super cool plot, fans of THE WALKING DEAD or ALIEN will eat this book up.

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Apr 01, 2013 Nicole McInnes rated it 5 of 5 stars

This. Book. It probably wasn't a good thing that I started IN THE AFTER on a night when I was alone in the house, because it scared the bejeepers out of me! Lunetta's skill at worldbuilding and at creating characters who are a) believable/realistic and b) work their way into the reader's heart are so impressive. I heartily recommend IN THE AFTER to anyone who appreciates chills and edge-of-your-seat suspense in their reading life. Somebody please tell me an IN THE AFTER movie is going to be made...more

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Jun 11, 2013 Jennifer Rinehart rated it 4 of 5 stars

So it's no spoiler to say this book has an alien invasion. Long story short, they showed up, kicked our collective butts back to the stone age and then comes the after parts, where humanity scurries around trying to eke out a dangerous existence, living on canned food and bottled water.

Amy, your everyday normal heroine is having a regular day when the invasion begins. Her parents are out and she's watching TV or trying to when the power cuts out, to everything. Right away she hears people scream...more

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May 11, 2013 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-mt-bookpile

Yet another dystopia, this one set just After the big event (alien invasion) and going forward a few years. Our Heroine, unnamed for most of the book but called Amy, survives mostly because she's living in a house that has an electric fence powered by solar energy (dad was eco-conscious) and has learned to be very, very quiet. She adopts/saves Baby, a toddler, and together they scavenge for goods, speak in modified sign language and try to live in the After. Then they meet a girl who ultimately...more

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Jun 11, 2013 Jade Walker rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi-and-dystop, ng-edelweiss, rated-c

In The After would have been an awesome book for me a couple of years ago, before I had basically read every YA post-apocalyptic survival book out there, but reading it when I did meant that I honestly felt like I was reading the same regurgitated storyline that I've read a hundred times now which meant that for me this book was just okay, nowhere near great.

What mostly fell short for me is that this book depends mostly on the storyline - the characters and the writing didn't really stand out to...more In The After would have been an awesome book for me a couple of years ago, before I had basically read every YA post-apocalyptic survival book out there, but reading it when I did meant that I honestly felt like I was reading the same regurgitated storyline that I've read a hundred times now which meant that for me this book was just okay, nowhere near great.

What mostly fell short for me is that this book depends mostly on the storyline - the characters and the writing didn't really stand out to me - and whilst the first half of this book was really enjoyable and tense, the second half became pretty samey and predictable. The difference was that the first half saw Amy and Baby surviving in the wild using street-smarts and survival skills and Amy was built up to be this tough character and in the second half it became the typical 'survivor safe-place with secrets' storyline which I am getting extreemly tired of. Sure, Lunetta takes it a different way and adds some twists in which will shock a lot of readers and actually a few of the twists did shock me, but the others I saw coming from a mile off.

The description of the aliens in this book was terrifying though, and Lunetta managed to create a world which stood out in survival fiction which is why I enjoyed the survival part of the book more. There are all the normal tropes from survival fiction but the creatures are freakier, there is science behind it, and there aren't really that many attacks from the creatures, so this book is more about building the suspense than actually throwing the action in.

I really enjoyed many of the characters in this book, I'd love for Rice to have got more focus in the book since he seems like he will be a key player in the future books. I will probably read the sequel, simply because the way that Lunetta leaves it suggests that the next book will go back to the survival fiction genre and that could be absolutely amazing.

Overall, In The After didn't live up to it's potential even though it started fantastically. This book could have been amazing but it fell short for me because it didn't really stand out in this extremely popular genre. I may still recommend it for fans of survival fiction because this series does have some awesome potential. I will be reading the sequel.

Overall Rating: C-(less)

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Apr 11, 2013 ~Tina~ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley-e-galley, arc, beam-me-up-scotty, apocalyptic-dystopian, sci-fi, young-adult, read-2013

3.5 star

"This is how I think of time: the past is Before and the present is the After. Before was reality; the After a nightmare."

It happened on a Saturday. Amy was just watching T.V when it happened. The world was under attack, being eaten alive by alien-zombie like creatures who hunt and devour human flesh. Amy couldn't leave her home for thee weeks. Fourteen-years old and all alone in a world terrorized by monsters. But Amy learns to survive. Learns that these creatures are noise and light se...more 3.5 star

"This is how I think of time: the past is Before and the present is the After. Before was reality; the After a nightmare."

It happened on a Saturday. Amy was just watching T.V when it happened. The world was under attack, being eaten alive by alien-zombie like creatures who hunt and devour human flesh. Amy couldn't leave her home for thee weeks. Fourteen-years old and all alone in a world terrorized by monsters. But Amy learns to survive. Learns that these creatures are noise and light sensitive. They move during the day, better to see their prey. So Amy learns how to live in darkness, alone and in a world without sound. But when she stumbles on a little girl no more then three years old, she begins to feel alive again. Baby is her reason and the only thing keeping her sanity. 3 years later they are both rescued and brought to New Hope. A fresh start. A place to begin again, only Amy begins to question the safe haven. Who are the real monsters here? The humans or the aliens....?

I've always loved survival/sc-fi stories. It's both scary and fascinating. I'm drawn to how one would go about living in a world at it's very end. Testing the human emotion, condition and how it effects spirit. Demitria Lunetta does really well with capturing desperation and the strength and weaknesses in humans. Giving up, fighting back, letting go and dare to hope again. In the After is a creepy thrilling post-apocalyptic story filled with monsters and madness that will leave readers on the very edge of their seats.

Funny enough when I think of all the characters in this book only two really seem to jump out. That would be Amy and Baby. They have such a sweet and tender connection. In a crumbling world it's hard to find anything really worth fighting for, specially when everyone you know has died. I liked that these two found each other, despite the age difference. I liked how they found their own way to communicate. It made it feel more personal and even drives the point of what kind of world they've been reduced to. They made the journey captivating till the very end. Rice was another character that I liked, but he had very little screen time that I couldn't quite connect with him the way I wanted to. Something I hope Lunetta changes in the next book.
The creatures are creatively written and pretty freaky my friends. The yellow fangs and droopy green skin. Unmerciful animals who don't bother waiting for their prey to die before being devoured whole. I liked that they move during the day instead of the night. It was refreshingly different compared to other reads.
New Hope, at first glance, is a safe haven to those who survived. A place to start over, to educate and learn how to be apart of a dying world. A place to rise above, a new civilization for when humans reclaim the earth. But once we get further in the establishment, we see that things aren't what they seem. Reality becomes fuzzy and everyone seems like they're tripping over themselves. Guarding a well kept secret, controlling, calculating and very suspicious. I wasn't expecting this kind of environment. I thought it would be more relaxed, a place to learn to live again for Amy and Baby.
But it's the twist that really made this book for me. I never would have guessed it. I mean, I knew something was up, but I wouldn't have predicted what we got. Lunetta does a really good job concealing the obvious till she's ready to let us in. This really was such an unfair brutal twist of fate.

All in all, I thought this was a cunningly entertaining debut. The writing is consuming, it's characters are heartfelt and the concept, while not entire original, still leaves a lasting impression in the world of apocalyptic reads.
I'm looking forward to seeing where Lunettta takes us next!

(Arc provided by Edelweiss and Harper Teen)(less)

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May 25, 2013 Kate rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc

For this review and more visit my blog

In the After is an enjoyable and exciting read but it does nothing new in the dystopian genre which is its biggest problem. I thought the storyline was good, it was full of action and excitement but it was nothing I haven’t read before. The general themes are the same, dystopian future, corrupt governments and forced pregnancies.

The writing was good but simple there was no flowery prose, instead there were a lot of action scenes. Lunetta is really good at wr...more

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May 26, 2013 Pixie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-releases, arc, edelweiss

In the After had all the makings to potentially be one of my favorites for the year but fell a little flat. Maybe my expectations had been too high. I’m not sure. I had been really excited for this title for some time so I did have high hopes. I mean, come on, aliens… it seems this is becoming popular lately, but I’m elated with the idea of aliens just popping up more and more. It’s something fresh and has so many interesting and unique possibilities to be worked with that I don’t feel like it’s...more In the After had all the makings to potentially be one of my favorites for the year but fell a little flat. Maybe my expectations had been too high. I’m not sure. I had been really excited for this title for some time so I did have high hopes. I mean, come on, aliens… it seems this is becoming popular lately, but I’m elated with the idea of aliens just popping up more and more. It’s something fresh and has so many interesting and unique possibilities to be worked with that I don’t feel like it’s a theme that could be easily tired out.

The action started out immediately for this one without any real buildup. As the reader, you’re taken right into the story with the narrator, Amy, and she tells it all in a quite simplistic manner that often I felt like she was just sitting there talking to me. Sometimes I liked that. Sometimes I didn’t. The pacing felt off though, and maybe that was just me. In the beginning she talks of finding this “toddler” but as time passes Baby grows into a 6-7 year old, and Amy grows into a 16-17 year old. When I think of the word toddler, I think of ages 2-3 years old. I was a bit confused to be honest, because I couldn’t recall the age of her in the beginning of the story. Had she been around 13 when the apocalyptic event began? I guess you could call me lazy for not wanting to go back and double check--or maybe I just didn’t care. I think it was 14. But it really felt off for some reason. And in the beginning the girl gave her parents barely an hour before she gave up all hope on her parents lives?? Maybe it was just me personally, but I know I would’ve had more hope than that. Instead it felt more, “Oh they’re not home… I guess they’re dead!” I felt so un-sympathetic toward her from the start with some of these characteristics and interactions.

When they arrive at the compound, things change and I felt it became not as interesting. Sure, you see how much humanity can change during an apocalyptic event. The effects that come with such a tragedy… And it’s realistic. But I felt the first half had more of the impact and action and suspense, and I liked seeing the survival side of things with her better before she was dragged into the compound. At the same time though, I liked meeting Kay and the other guardians. It was nice seeing some more character interaction. It was also where I learned more about things that were going on, more of the backstory, and so it helped clear a bit of the confusion from the beginning. I didn’t get into the budding romance really. It happened a bit quickly and I just didn’t feel it. The twist at the end was extremely disappointing, I admit. I saw it coming in a way. And without putting in a spoiler, it just was sad that it didn’t work for me like I’d hoped. Not what I’d expected out of this read. But meh.

What I really liked was the fresh take of being day walkers with a disability of night blindness. Normally, our monsters are night stalkers but in this case Lunetta makes the reader fear the day with hers--and sound--by providing a creature that thrives in the daylight and will chase after anything that’s making the tiniest noise. I found myself getting easily spooked right along with the characters. It was thrilling. I feel like there are still some unanswered questions. A possible sequel maybe? If so, I do look forward to seeing where it could go from here. This was an entertaining read that I enjoyed and read through quickly. Despite the minor nitpicks I had, In the After is an experience that I don’t think you want to miss out on. It’s gritty and suspenseful, and will have you checking over your shoulder if you’re too loud after you’ve read the book.

3.5 stars

<3
Pixie(less)

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Jun 11, 2013 Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-book-read, kindle-books

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...more

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May 26, 2013 Jessie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, favorites

4.5 Stars

HOLY SWEET MOTHER OF GOD! That was amazing!

When I first began this book, I didn't know what to expect from this, but somewhat dystopian and science fiction aspect. For about 10 chapters in, I was so confused and didn't know what's going on in the story. Being as a dystopian, post-apocalyptic novel, there has to be something that wiped out mankind and they are aliens. After you start getting used to the world and the alien aspect, it becomes an intriguing novel.

The writing style is amazi...more

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May 31, 2013 Jenni Arndt rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-ebook

Actual rating is 3.5

It took me quite a bit longer than usual to make it through IN THE AFTER. What started off as an intense look at an alien invasion turned into a dystopian tale that really started to wane at the 50% mark. The drive that kept me reading the novel was Amy and some of the connections that she makes along the way.

Amy was about as kick ass as they come. At no point in this novel did she let her guard down. She was incredibly resourceful and intelligent in the most dire of situati...more Actual rating is 3.5

It took me quite a bit longer than usual to make it through IN THE AFTER. What started off as an intense look at an alien invasion turned into a dystopian tale that really started to wane at the 50% mark. The drive that kept me reading the novel was Amy and some of the connections that she makes along the way.

Amy was about as kick ass as they come. At no point in this novel did she let her guard down. She was incredibly resourceful and intelligent in the most dire of situations. How she took charge of her fate and made sure that she lived in the After was great and also how she took charge once at New Hope as well. Her characterization is definitely the standout in these pages and I think I would have lost interest early on without her personality on every page. The best thing about the story is that even when there is a hint of a romance, Amy does not let it change her at all and it never becomes the focus of the story. Romance is definitely kept to a minimum here (thank you Demitria Lunetta!!) Along with being strong she is also very mothering. Once she takes in Baby and has a cohort in the After we see a side of her that is much softer and I think that is also something that helped her survive for so long, she gave herself a reason to live.

The world is ugly in this book. The creatures that have taken over are nasty and about as creepy as they come. With their green skin and sharp razor teeth that are too big for their mouths the pictures in my head were scary. I was pretty excited straight off the bat because I felt like I was getting the alien invasion story that I had longed for at the end of Rick Yancey’s THE 5TH WAVE but I just wish this one had the strong pacing that came along with it. We did meet a few interesting twists in the story, most of which were pretty easy to see coming but did still add interesting layers to the novel as a whole.

Once all of the reveals were said and done we get a clear picture of what happened in this world which was perfect to leave me satisfied (thank you again, Lunetta!) There were definitely some missed connections along the way that left me not feeling the emotion that was trying to be conveyed. Some of the people lost in the story really didn’t matter to me so I didn’t have my heart in those scenes as much as I would have liked to but I did enjoy the core group of characters that we meet. Leaving off at what some may see as a cliffhanger, but what I see as just moving on to the next chapter, I am excited to see where the series goes in the next installment. I just hope it comes with a little more depth to the secondary characters and is something I can really throw my heart into.

An Advanced Reader's Copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

--

You can read all of my reviews at Alluring Reads.(less)

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May 16, 2013 Sabrina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Short and Sweet:
In the After had my heart pounding from the first page. This story is a fresh take on the monsters that occupy a fallen world. Ms. Lunetta does a fine job of world building. I always dislike when a book overdoes 'explaining' instead of 'showing' what is happening: not a problem here. :) In the After has an amazing and terrifying atmosphere that unfolds at just the right pace.

To Elaborate....
Amy was 14 when the world was taken over by horrific, man-eating creatures. Neither of her...more

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May 24, 2013 Kristin (Blood,Sweat and Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

“This is how I think of time: the past is Before, and the present is the After.
Before was reality; the After, a nightmare.”

In The After was one of my most anticipated releases for 2013. So of course when I was given the chance to read it early I couldn't resist. Thankfully In The After not only met but actually exceeded my expectations!
Amy and Baby haven't spoken in years. To speak is to die.The only noise comes from Them, the zombie like creatures who've taken over the planet.

Amy and Baby ha...more “This is how I think of time: the past is Before, and the present is the After.
Before was reality; the After, a nightmare.”

In The After was one of my most anticipated releases for 2013. So of course when I was given the chance to read it early I couldn't resist. Thankfully In The After not only met but actually exceeded my expectations!
Amy and Baby haven't spoken in years. To speak is to die.The only noise comes from Them, the zombie like creatures who've taken over the planet.

Amy and Baby have survived due in part to Amy's father being Eco-Friendly. If it wasn't for the solar panels powering Amy's electric fence Amy and Baby might very well be dead. After coming across another survivor, Amy and Baby are betrayed. Now reunited with people for the first time in years, Amy and Baby must adapt to a new world order run under the thumb of someone from Before and a Doctor whose intentions aren't as genuine as they appear.

While I love this book it is the incredible characters who sell the story. Amy is 14 years old when the "Aliens" arrive. She's a typical teenager who grows up hard and fast. Amy is left all alone in The After until the day she stumbles upon Baby in an abandoned store eating spoiled grapes. She knows taking the toddler with her is dangerous but decides to save her anyway. Much to Amy's surprise the toddler knows how to keep quiet, knows that noise attracts Them. I love that Amy is resourceful enough to know that Toddlers will pick up things quickly so naturally sign language becomes the safest way they can communicate. Don't worry though it is quite easy to follow whom is "speaking" in the scene.

While the first half of the book focuses mostly on Amy and Baby's survival in The After, the second half has Amy and Baby arriving in a survivor city called, New Hope. After living almost 4 years in total silence the noise is almost deafening. Every instinct Amy and Baby have is to be quiet, be safe but here people talk, they laugh. It's loud, like Before. However, New Hope is filled with people, with life and that is hard to resist even for two battle hardened survivors like Amy and Baby.

Now I realize this book needed a twist and we definitely get one with the introduction of New Hope, however I was a bit bummed how predictable corrupt New Hope actually ended up being. All I could think about was how closely it resembled the fictional town Woodbury from the series The Walking Dead. Just slap an eye patch on Dr. Reynold's and call him the Governor already. I did however like that the citizens weren't entirely clueless. However, like most other books none were willing to rock the boat out of fear.

My only other disappointment with In The After was the introduction of The Ward. I really thought maybe it would end up being that Amy was in an institution all along and while the Doctors thought she was crazy she was actually prophesying The After. Sadly nope it just ended up being a place where bad citizens go to be "treated". I didn't like how the story jumped from one to the other. It did sort of kill the flow of the story and was one of the only real low points of the whole book.

Thankfully by the end the pacing had picked right back up and I was certainly left excited for the next book whenever it's released. In The After might not be the most unique book I've ever read but once you throw in two very strong mc's, a swoonworthy guy and actually scary monsters you have what I'm calling one of the best Science Fiction books of the year. I highly suggest picking up In The After and giving it a go. If you only buy one Science Fiction book this year make it this one! With that being said, I will be rating In The After by Demitria Lunetta ★★★★.(less)

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Jun 10, 2013 Brandi Kosiner rated it 4 of 5 stars

The set-up is so creepy, I cannot imagine these aliens, Them. They are so strong, but Amy luckily finds their weaknesses and even though her parents don't survive, their eccentricities from life helps her to survive in this almost post-apocalyptic setting. At first Amy thinks she is alone, the last person alive, but then she finds Baby, and runs into people slowly.
I loved the sisterly relationship between Amy and Baby, it kept me emotionally invested in the story while the encounters with The...more The set-up is so creepy, I cannot imagine these aliens, Them. They are so strong, but Amy luckily finds their weaknesses and even though her parents don't survive, their eccentricities from life helps her to survive in this almost post-apocalyptic setting. At first Amy thinks she is alone, the last person alive, but then she finds Baby, and runs into people slowly.
I loved the sisterly relationship between Amy and Baby, it kept me emotionally invested in the story while the encounters with Them, and the challenges of staying alive kept me involved with action and plot.
I was eager to find out more about this strong alien, why they are there, and how they got there. How others besides Amy survived, and where this mysterious group of other survivors mentioned in the synopsis would come into play. Demitria Lunetta gives those answers little pieces at a time, and keeps me reading with her great world building and attention to detail. Its intense, a little gritty, and the pacing is great throughout.
I enjoyed Amy's character, she is smart, snarky and resourceful. While she does what she has to in order to survive, she has a heart that is big and beautiful. She rescues Baby, and she takes in others. She still cares for others despite what she went through.
The jumps in time starting around 30% confused me though. I know that was the point because we are in Amy's head and she obviously doesn't know what is going on either. When I started getting suspicions of why she was drugged and confused I didn't like it but I knew that it was all part of the storyline, and like a sucker punch to the gut.
I didn't have it all right, but there were a few things I was right about and then other twists that caught me completely by surprise.
There was a hint of romance, and I hope that the next book advances it a little more, but I am okay with that. It was kind of refreshing for that not to be a driving factor in the book.
The ending is crazy, and all that it should have been for the book except that it was a bit of a cliffie but it left me yearning for the next book which I will definitely be reading.

Bottom Line: Chilling story of survival(less)

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