Afterwards

“There are so many things I enjoyed about this book, including that it pulled me out of a long reading slump because the pacing was mostly excellent and I was rooting for the main character all the way through. As a very brief synopsis, this is a story that takes places after a catastrophic illness and a world war break out. Many people try to find safety and community while others scramble for power and control. It is also healing journey for the main character, who is struggling with the impacts of war and PTSD. It’s clear to me that the author put a lot of research into this book, especially considering they wrote it in English (not their first language) and that it takes place in Canada, which is not where they reside. As a Canadian, I appreciated so many of the details that respectfully described the land and scenery (the forest, the lakes, etc.), including a genuine, healthy curiosity about the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island. There were important details about PTSD that felt natural, rather than contrived, in terms of how it was experienced by the main character, as well as some of the other characters who were, perhaps, further along in their healing journey. While there is plenty of tactical information, the story never got bogged down in those details and was written in such a way that it’s easily understood by someone who doesn’t have prior knowledge of weapons and and war tactics. There were tense moments, touching moments, and a sense of the author truly knowing who their main character is at her core. It is absolutely fascinating that this was written prior to Covid-19 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, because the similarities feel eerily familiar. If you’re interested in dystopian futures, nature survival, and PTSD, you will probably enjoy this book! There are two more in the series (I think the second one just became available) and I will look forward to reading those as well.”