The Island

(Abnormal/Variant, #1) #2

by M. Rose Flores

Two years after the end of the world, Cate and Marco have finally found a place for their people to start over. Sustainable and safe from zombies, the island is everything they hoped it would be. It seems the worst may finally be over; they can stop surviving and begin to live again. But the arrival of two new people sets in motion a chain of events that throw the island into unrest, and Cate must fight for her love, her people, and her sense of self. Can the inhabitants of Alcatraz Island find a way to come together when everything around them is falling apart?Almost two years before their arrival on the island, just after the event that ripped their family apart, Marco began an aimless journey. With his foster family gone—some dead, some vanished—once again, Marco was on his own and sure it was for the best; other people only slowed you down, ended up as liabilities, or worse. Alone was good. It was what he was used to. But on his journey south, he collected other wanderers and began to consider the idea of a cooperative group or, maybe, a found family. There was, after all, safety in numbers.Finally, together on the island, everyone assumes they are safe. But assumptions in a world run by zombies can be dangerous. Deadly. There is something going on in the city, terrifying and unnatural. Something that will change everything they think they know about zombies. And it’s coming to the island.The Island is not a stand-alone. It’s advised that book one, The End, be read first.

341 pages, Paperback

Published May 7, 2020

About the author

M. Rose Flores has enjoyed writing since she learned how to string letters together. She grew up in the vast green Pacific Northwest of the United States, which with its dense forests, four seasons, and proximity to the ocean made a perfect setting for The End. When she isn’t writing on her computer or in a notebook (though scraps of paper and the palm of her hand will do in a pinch), she works as a professional dog trainer and loves every part of it, even the copious amounts of drool. She believes everyone should be represented in literature and all other media. The End is her first novel.

Reviews

[Sue Wallace]

The island by M Rose Flores.
Two years after the end of the world, Cate and Marco have finally found a place for their people to start over. But are they safe?
Really enjoyable read. Good story and some good characters. Action throughout. Looking forward to the next book. 4*.

[Domi]

This book kept me reading well after I was actually supposed to do something else. Great story, good pace, nice action and emotion-filled at times. I read the first part, The End, before picking up this one and I was lucky because when it ended I wanted to continue reading. Ofcourse now I have the same problem with The Island, can not wait for the 3rd book in the series to come out!

I liked the fact that in the first book you get the background of Cate and her sister and their survival after the Zombie apocalypse occurs and in this second one you get filled in on the events Marco had to deal with and how he ended up with his group of people. The book has a good mix of past and current storylines, this is done without everything blurring together. The author doesn't shy away from people dying (which you would expect when living in a world filled with zombies) and it tugged heavily on my heartstrings at certain points. I might even have shed a tear...

The second book focuses on Marco's journey to Alcatraz and on the reunion between Cate and her girlfriend, Sam. (whom I didn't like btw) It's written well in the sense that you get why people behave like they behave, but you also see the growth in different characters and it makes sense that they are growing apart or starting to relate differently to eachother. I.e Cate/Sam, Cate and her sister and many more.

So, people looking for a post-apocalyptic zombie book with good action, but also strong characters and a story filled with emotion are definitely going to need to pick this one up!

[Myreadbooks]

I would like to thank Nine Star Press LLC and the Netgalley website for allowing me to read this book.

The story takes place two years after the events of the first book: "The end" where it was about the end of the world and nowadays Cate and Marco finally have a place to live normally and to start over. On this island they are far from the zombies, the worst seems to be far from them. Except that two new characters are going to make their appearance and sow chaos on the island of Alcatraz. Two years before their arrival on the island Marco wanted to travel aimlessly, he was living with a host family that has now either disappeared or some have died. But in his journey he thought why not live in a group rather than alone. Will the zombies come to the island?

A book read in one go so much I was hooked on the story so gripping, moving in some passages, addictive, captivating, filled with suspense and twists with endearing characters. I can't wait to read the whole series.

[Debara Whitmore]

A great read! I didn't think it was possible but, "The Island" Is even better than the prequel "The End". Character driven and rich with emotion, suspense, and vivid scenesI, I couldn't put it down and I am 52!