The idea presented in this book of a world suddenly without electricity and gunfire seemed interesting enough and I've already read the first book of the Island in the Sea of Time trilogy (and liked it a lot) that is somewhat linked with the universe shown in this book so I thought I'd give it a try. It started somewhat slow but I kept going. It didn't even bother me much when the coincidences of meeting just the right people started piling up, after all without them the book would probably be boring showing us how they all died without medicine or something ;) The thing that started bothering me the most was the character of Juniper. I liked her at first but the more she kept talking about Wicca traditions, religion and invoking all kinds of Wiccan gods/ patrons' names I started skimming over her parts in the book. I don't mind all that in small doses but it was just too much. She was also beggining to give off Mary Sue vibes (using a fanfic term), i.e. of a person that is in some ways too perfect etc.
So, character development - not so good. The plot - easy enough to guess unfortunately. I kept reading only to see more of the Bearkillers group but even that somewhat wasn't interesting enough to keep me reading this book. I'd have liked more interpersonal relations and development and a little less perfectionism of Juniper / Astrid type and the Wicca speak.