Review: Great start to a promising series!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 5, 2013
I received this book to review from the Author. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way for providing them.Review:After: The Shock introduces us to a world gone mad after a solar flare strikes Earth. The majority of the population has been wiped out in the blink of an eye. Those unfortunate to survive have to deal with what is left behind. These aren't technically Zombies (since they aren't cannibals) but still scary nonetheless and I feel they are close enough to count. Zapheads as we learn are humans reduce to their most basic primal state. They kill without prejudice and exhibit all the traits a proper Z-head should. What's worse is they are evolving but into what exactly?!? That is the question and something I can't exactly answer for you. I thought I had a grasp on what the Zapheads were and was prepared to hate them all equally but by the end I was actually, dare I say it, feeling sorry for them. It's like Zapheads were in a foggy haze and as the book progresses they start slowly crawling back from whatever recesses in their mind they had been locked in. I really cannot wait to see where this transformation leads us in the next book. As the thought of them potentially coming out of this state is fascinating, especially considering what they'd done while in it.The Characters in After: The Shock were likable enough. The story is told from multiple POV's which is fun since we get to follow a variety of personalities and backgrounds. If you're wondering who my favorite might be, that would have to be Campbell. I felt he was the most grounded in reality and loyal to a fault as proven time and time again as he looks for his drunken friend Pete.What I didn't like however is the lack of world building. I don't know if the Author is holding out for the second book or is just going to skip it entirely but a couple pages at the beginning showing before the Flare would've been a nice to see. It doesn't downrate the book but personally I would of liked to see the characters in their lives before the world went to hell in a hand basket.Overall this was a great addition to the Post-Apocalyptic genre and a series I no doubt will follow. It does have a few small flaws but those can be forgiven since the story was just so entertaining. If you like unconventional Zombies, Post-Apocalyptic books and plausible dooms day scenarios then pick this up. I will be rating After:The Shock by Scott Nicholson ★★★★.