Review: Kahayatle (Apocalypsis, #1) by Elle Casey

  Kahayatle (Apocalypsis, #1) by Elle Casey
Genre: YA Apocalypse

Reviewer: K.F. Breene






My name's Bryn Mathis. I'm seventeen years old, and I live in a neighborhood outside of Orlando, Florida. I live alone because my dad died almost a year ago, along with all the other adults in the world. I'm almost out of food and the gangs of kids that roam around my town are getting more vicious by the day.

It's time for me to leave and find another place to live … a place where I can find food and shelter … a place where they won't be able to find me.

Alone, it might have been possible; but now I've got company. I'm worried that I don't have what it takes to get from here to my final destination.

And I have no idea what might be waiting for me when I get there



Alright, here's where we're at. I wrote a glossed over review on goodreads to hit points that might be of critical value for readers, not bash the author in any way, and pleasant enough to just get it out there. I didn't do any real internal comment because I was worried about people taking it wrong.

But I'm in a weird mood right now, so I'm just going to hit this with my style of writing.

First, let me make a confession about this book...

I read it because I needed a little fluff. I'd just finished Cannibal Reign, which punched me in the emotions with brass knuckles, and I wanted something that wouldn't take too much out of me.

Sally Sparrow quirked an electronic eyebrow when I told her this, sarcastically asking if I was under the impression dystopian apocalyptic ballyhoo could really be construed as fluff reading.

Yes, ma'am, when its Indy YA, it not only can, it most likely will.

Here's another confession:

This book was in a set of six, all priced at $0.99. Elle Casey was the headliner, with notice that she is a New York Times Bestselling Author.

What does that label mean, anymore? Sell 12 terrible books for $0.99, and you might hit that list. All 12 authors can claim that title. But...did you deserve it? Does it matter?

I'm not saying that is the case here, but that title is what made me choose this book over the others.

And here we are, at the book. I got exactly what I thought I would-- light, glossed over all potentially serious issues or worrisome details, and didn't tax me in any way. Actually, it didn't really make me invest in any way. It was exactly what I needed at the time.

The best part about the novel was the banter between the characters. That, to me, was the thing that kept me turning pages. It was cute and funny with a natural wit that rarely seemed forced. It was also nice seeing the family element, and the morality that the characters clung onto. I would give the book a nod to a friend purely on the chemistry between the characters.

It's YA, even though there was some swearing, so understandably some of the stronger emotions and real-world problems were dusted over. I was just coming off of an adult cannibal book (Cannibal Reign), so this actually worked for me- I needed a break from horror. I'm not sure if that was intended or not, so possibly if you want more depth, this isn't the place. If you want an apocalypse book without the heavy drama, though, you're golden.

Aside from that, there were a few other issues. The world building is lacking. It's like looking through a small scope at the current scene--no real history, and no real explanation why the characters end up as they do on a global scale. I felt like the virus/disease that killed the adults wasn't completely thought through, so it was mostly glossed over. I hate to say it, but since the book didn't make me invest much, I didn't really care about that hole. Had I not been coming off of Cannibal Reign, I would've scratched my head and wondered if I missed something.

The characters, while fun and enjoyable, aren't real complex. Bryn comes across as a little too perfect, though I did like her mostly, and she kind of continually combats the problems of the world in the same way. Peter has more weaknesses than strengths, and Bodo, the love interest, is...silly.

My biggest issue was that the plot skips along with more of a 'telling' style (lots of passive writing). I didn't really get stuck in. The humor with the characters had me turning pages, but for the goings-on in the story...it was a little too surface-level for me. I knew they would encounter some sort of conflict, but they always miraculously escaped unscathed, and untroubled, so I didn't have to clutch my iPad in anxiety like I would with a more...genuine apocalypse story.

Some reviews commented on the grisly nature of the story, and even go so far as to say its edgy.

I laughed at those ridiculous musings, because they were freaking adults writing the reviews. Really? Ass has you offended? Sweetie, a lot of kids have potty mouths these days. Simmer down.

No, there is no edgy dark anything in this book. It could have. It alluded to issues that should have been expressed as dark and edgy. For example, a 15 year old was pregnant. We learn that she got raped when she went for some water.

Ugh! Right? That has you cringing. She lost her virginity by being raped by some dirty--

I'll stop right there. Because that logic and realism did not breach the pages. The victim said it with a more-or-less written shrug, the main character (written in first person) strangely didn't panic or feel much at all, and the reader got away unscathed.

The author was like--ha! You thought I'd get real just then. I didn't! Eat that!

It's a good thing I don't write YA, obviously. I'd have an average rating of 2.1.

So, in short, this book was a good effort, it's a fine read, ideal for taking a break from more intense reads, and I found reasons to turn the page- always a good sign.

Oh, and there is a pretty steep cliffhanger. A good one, too, marketing-wise. (I don't mind cliffhangers) I was tempted to move on to the next story. Unfortunately, I think I'll hit some other books in my TBR pile instead. But if you like series, and don't mind the issues, you're all set.

I should also mention that this book has a goodreads average rating of 4.37. It has an amazon average rating of 4.7. There are no 1-star reviews on Amazon. Not even for the intense cliffhanger, which most Amazon readers will stab someone over.

I stared at those number in an open-mouthed gape. I...am obviously not in tune with the people loving this type of book. Or this book specifically?

But you know what they say, "Opinions are like assholes; everyone has one, and they all stink."

(I rounded up on stars)