I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.
The idea behind these series of books is really interesting. I like that you get to watch a set of characters go through different scenarios, each one a different take on an end of the world type event. This is the first one in the series and I’m looking forward to reading more.
You get some basic background of each character and I wish we could’ve gotten to know them a little better since this is our first time meeting them (you wouldn’t need much more background in the other books) but you still get an idea of what they’re like. If they’re good people generally or not. Not everyone is looking out just for themselves or trying to help everyone they can. You get a nice mix of different ways of thinking to survive. It shows that what you might morally do normally doesn’t usually last when the world is ending and you’re just trying to live one more day.
Clint wasn’t a character I liked very well and while I get what happens to him, it’s never easy to see someone spiral down even more than they already are. The college group (Dub, Keri, Michael, and Barker) have it easier than most people and they’re smart about how they deal with things, with a few exceptions. There were a few times I wanted to yell at them not to be so stupid or think things through better but they’re young and don’t have the world experience that would’ve helped them more. The Oasis group have a good thing going and I can understand them being cautious in letting people in but I thought they were a little too cautious, they should’ve let a few more people in, saved a few more people. Be careful, yes, but there had to have been more people they could’ve helped.
The character I liked most was Danny. He’d been kicked in the teeth hard before the bombs had been dropped and just when things finally start going his way, once he found Oasis, it turns around and bites him hard. I teared up when they had to leave him behind.
The narrator, Mr. Pierce, did a really good job. I would’ve liked a bit more distinction between characters but I was still able to follow along with who was talking anyway. He did a very good job with this and I’m looking forward to hearing more of his work.
Overall, this is a pretty decent Apocalypse book and I’m really curious to see what the author does with the other scenarios he puts his characters through.