After the End

Author: Amy Plum
Series: After the End #1
Genre: Dystopian, Sci-Fi, Romance, Contemporary
Release Date: May 6, 2014

Summary: World War III has left the world ravaged by nuclear radiation. A lucky few escaped to the Alaskan wilderness. They've survived for the last thirty years by living off the land, being one with nature, and hiding from whoever else might still be out there. At least, this is what Juneau has been told her entire life. When Juneau returns from a hunting trip to discover that everyone in her clan has vanished, she sets off to find them. Leaving the boundaries of their land for the very first time, she learns something horrifying: There never was a war. Cities were never destroyed. The world is intact. Everything was a lie. Now Juneau is adrift in a modern-day world she never knew existed. But while she's trying to find a way to rescue her friends and family, someone else is looking for her. Someone who knows the extraordinary truth about the secrets of her past.

Review: My initial reaction after reading the summary for the first time went a little something like this:

 With a little some of this:

I know, you're probably thinking, "How can a book be contemporary and dystopian?? The answer to that being the first portion of the novel (about the first 30 pages) has a very dystopian feel. However, after Juneau ventures away from her home, it then moves into more of a contemporary feel since she is then in the present time/world.
With that being said! This was my first experience with Amy Plum. Let me tell you, I'm impressed. This story was so captivating, emotional, unique, and adventurous. Juneau was such an amazing main character! She was strong-willed, extremely capable, a fast learner, and quick minded. I really enjoyed that she wasn't weak or in need of assistance when it came to surviving.
The beginning of the novel reminded me of the movie The Village. The similarities between them being those of a community/clan of 40-50 people living out on their own, away from the world, and not telling the younger members of their clan about their situation. Only to have one of their members, Juneau in this case, have to travel outside and realize that the world is, in fact, not suffering from radiation and the aftermath of WWIII. However, that is where the similarities stop. Mainly because that is where The Village ends. The rest of the novel was extremely unique and well written.
After the End was set at a great pace. Leaving me with few complaints in that department. It is also written in duel POV. Juneau being one, and Miles the other. My only complaint with the POV was that I wished at certain points that Miles' POV were a little more lengthy. I was also extremely saddened, literally almost in tears, when Juneau had to leave her two huskies behind. I honestly wish that they could have gone along with her, but also realize that that would have changed the entire feel of the novel. A great piece of work. One that I'll definitely be recommending!

The second book in the series, Until the Beginning, releases on May 5, 2015