Review: Sci-fi Done Right
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 26, 2013
In the story dedication, Ally Blue thanks the masters of sci-fi, and I think she did them proud.Hell's End drew me into the story and kept me turning the pages, and never, ever gave me a break from the action. Just when the heroes seemed to get themselves out of one jam, they found themselve back in the fire again. I was so caught up in the action that when I found myself in a waiting room without my ereader, I bought the book again to download directly to my phone. Suddenly, the wait time didn't matter anymore.The world-building, the character developement, the engaging secondary characters, and the flawed heroes came together to create a vivid world  where I dared not blink for fear of missing something. There are no wasted words, and ever single one is needed to tell the story. And what a picture the author paints! Vicious nanobots? *Shivers*See something in a paragraph that seems small and insignificant? Well, you better remember it, because that's how cleverly the innuendo and plotpoints are woven in. What you skimmed over will make a reappearance later... with a bang. Beautiful writing and engaging descriptions helped me clearly see the world of Tuck and Ivan.Had this simply been the tale of two buddies, I would still have sung its praises, but as a bonus, we get two very different men (or so they seem on the outside) who find each other and forge a bond in the midst of adversity.Now, if you're wanting a hearts and flowers romance, that's not what you'll get here. A common enemy brings our guys together, and this is love in the trenches, when the fight for survival outweighs all other concerns. It's raw and rough, in a hellish nightmare world, but the meeting of minds and hearts can't be denied.Given the title and the open ends, I'm hoping there will be a sequel real soon. I'd love to see Sandman find some happiness, and for someone to offer the Gutters a better chance. Bravo, Ms. Blue. Well done. I'll be rereading this one and hoping for a sequel. Feel free to take that as a hint.