Review: Unexpected
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 21, 2013
An avid collector, I am always on the lookout for free books (paper & digital). I nearly always avoid "book one" freebies without so much as a second glance, unwilling to be drawn into a series for several reasons. I am grateful I did not pass this one up.This novella caught my attention with the author's well-written account. Using a future professor of history to narrate the "diary" of Sophie's journey (our present time), he held my attention with his main character's reactions & thoughts as she struggles with the horrific details of her new world. It is an unexpected combination of suspense, horror, emotion & determination, with gruesome details neither glossed over, nor highlighted. The story could stand alone, simply leaving the future to the reader's imagination. However, I gladly purchased the other books, believing the story to be both believable & well done. I was not disappointed.Note: with the harrowing details, this novella, like the remainder of the series, is not for weaker hearts or stomachs.In regards to the series: The development of the primary character & the growing understanding of the narrator's personal journey are both enthralling. As with the first, there are no improbable events, reactions or details. Much like a bystander at a wreck, I found myself unable to turn away. However, the series is much more than just descriptive gore, it is a journey with a determined mother to find her child.