Aftertime (An Aftertime Novel, Book 1)

She is in a situation where she has to be proactive and find something safe and good. She knows the man she loves is likely in danger and she does not know day to day if she will survive. Cassie does not even know if he still wants her or loves her. Sophie Littlefield for allowing the story to naturally go where she wrote it. Rarely are kids included in adult books of this genre and if they are — they are usually put there to pull on the emotional heart strings of the reader e. The Passage by Justin Cronin. Ruthie definitely does some heartstring pulling, but she is not just a throw in.

During Aftertime I was very stressed about Ruthie's well being and that does not change in Rebirth, but Ruthie has started to add to the story and she is an important character. The last third of this book is action packed and tense. It is full good guys, bad guys and gray areas — fighting, interrogation and escape scenes. It has horror filled gore scenes with zombies eating people, lots of fun stuff! I like Cassie, I like the characters and I love the story being told. I cannot wait for book 3. View all 7 comments. Mar 28, Tamara rated it liked it. I don't like how the author constantly uses a woman's body to get what she wants Apr 18, SuperHeroQwimm rated it it was ok.

Super slut shaming and annoying religious undertones and the only real encounter with beaters zombies occurred within the last 20 pages of a near page book! Oh and let's not forget that all 3, maybe 4 "sex scenes" were either rape or rape-ish. This one is a real winner. Jun 02, Jen Davis rated it it was amazing Shelves: It's an exceptional author who can move you with the beauty of the emotions they evoke. It's more obvious when it's joy, hope or love. But just as beautiful, in their own way, are the wrenching feelings Sophie Littlefield elicits in her dystopian Aftertime trilogy.

In this second installment, we see grief, despair, and hopelessness. It's heartbreaking, but you can't look away. You don't want to look away. You keep reading, refusing to relinquish the hope that after the darkness will come the daw It's an exceptional author who can move you with the beauty of the emotions they evoke.

You keep reading, refusing to relinquish the hope that after the darkness will come the dawn; after the misery, we'll be rewarded with some kind of triumph. Cass has created a makeshift home and family in the trading center known as the Box. She has reunited with her daughter Ruthie and she has allowed herself to fall in love with Smoke. But the fragile happiness she has found is short-lived.

When Smoke gets word that the Rebuilders have killed many of the refugees in the place where he once lived, he goes on a vengeance mission; one likely to lead to his death. And he doesn't even say goodbye. Cass decides to leave the Box with its founder, Dor, as he goes in search of his daughter Sammi, who was taken by the raiding Rebuilders. Cass is devastated by Smoke's abandonment.

She blames herself for allowing him access to her heart. She acts out, trying to harden herself. She makes reckless choices that you can see like a train wreck a mile away. And maybe that will alienate some readers. To me, it just made me see her as more broken. She is trying to rebuild the wall around herself that Smoke had penetrated, and somehow manages to drag Dor into her warped decisions in the process.

The book follows Cass, Dor and Ruthie as they infiltrate the Rebuilder camp and learn more about the group's nefarious plans. I suppose from this review, you'd never know this book is about a post-apocalyptic world, overrun by zombies. That's because, to me, that's just a backdrop to watch the lives of these characters unfold.

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To watch Cass break and rebuild. To watch Ruthie heal and grow.

Horizon (Aftertime, #3) by Sophie Littlefield

To watch Dor unwittingly shed his cloak of solitude and allow Cass in. And, of course, to see the human condition when people are stripped of the trappings of modern life Even more powerful than its predecessor. View all 3 comments. Jul 03, AH rated it really liked it Shelves: May contain mild spoilers for the first book in the series - Aftertime. If you haven't read Aftertime, what are you waiting for? When I finished reading Aftertime , I was left with a sense of hope.

Cass, Ruthie, and Smoke were a family. The world was beginning to show signs of Rebirth: Smoke leaves on a mission of vengeance without saying goodbye to Cass. Dor hears that the Rebuilders have attacked the Library settlement and they have taken his teenage daughter Sammi. Dor sets out on his own mission to rescue Sammi. Humanity has changed for the worse. The Rebuilders are a prime example of a cult-like totalitarian regime that forced its citizens to comply with their philosophy. When their sinister agenda was revealed, I was disgusted. All the main characters in this book are damaged in some way.

Smoke has a secret that he revealed only to Dor. Dor also has his issues. Cass brought a lot of baggage from her life Before. She was a recovering alcoholic and had been sexually abused by her stepfather. I was a little disappointed by Cass in this book, although I believe that she was portrayed accurately by the author. Cass has this ability to do anything that is necessary in order to achieve her goals. It seems to work for her, but it made me wonder about her morality.

The story is well paced and there are many exciting situations, as well as a few explosions. If you like post-apocalyptic books, add this series to your reading list. Review posted on Badass Book Reviews. Jul 11, Leea rated it it was amazing Shelves: It takes place right where Aftertime left off and you find Cass, Ruthie, and Smoke living in the Box. Things are going great, Cass and Smoke have fallen into a beautiful domestic bliss, well what one would call bliss when the world as we k 4. Things are going great, Cass and Smoke have fallen into a beautiful domestic bliss, well what one would call bliss when the world as we know it is over and the beaters are walking among us.

This is all about to change when word comes that Dor's daughter, Sammi is taken by the enemy. Talk about a page turner and lets just say some of your questions about Cass and Dor are answered in this book. Just some, you still want more information. First off, i'm officially a fan of Sofia Littlefields. Urban Fantasy books have found their way into my heart but the ones that make a home there always have a heroin who's damaged and you can't get more damaged than Cassandra Dollar, Cass is one messed up women and I love her to pieces.

God she's messed up, her mind is amazing to read, Littlefield was able to write Cass with such truth for lack of a better word. She's hurt, hurting, hurting herself and those she loves and cares about. All the while burning with this desire to take care of Ruthie, to live up to the heart wrenching promises she whispered in her darkest hour. It literally breaks your heart to feel the emotions and hurt coming off the page. Other review might focus on the world of "Aftertime" to be honest it's not unlike many other UF book that's come before.

What sets this series apart from the other is Littlefields ability to write human characters that bring this daring situations a jaring reality when you imagine those characters, damaged and raw facing these unimaginable threats. The absorbing of details. The filtering of distractions. The considering and calculating. And then—yes, just like now. The moment when Dor came to some conclusion, and his features relaxed and re-formed, chameleon-like, into a new public character he would play to achieve some unnamed end.

In Rebirth we get to see Dor in a new light and he stole my heart. He's a perfect match for Cass Both are damaged, raw and find ways to punish themselves for the wrongs done to them. David MacAlister was some kind of computer guy before Aftertime, he made a ton of money but you wouldn't know it now. His pierced and tattooed body shows the Aftertime world that Dor is not someone to be messed with. He takes Cass and Ruthie with his to find his daughter making it very clear that he doesn't care for them and he will not change his plans for them.

Dor is smart, he has the ability to understand the human experience and can connect with anyone. He uses this to his advantage when it's needed. In many ways he and Cass are so much alike. She learned a long time ago at the hands of her step-father that she can manipulate men with her body. She uses her sexuality to get what she wants and to in a way hurt herself over and over again.

Dor understands that about her, he doesn't judge her and this is why I feel they are better matched. But that was not all. He had saved her and she had saved him; she had tasted the salt of his sweat and his blood on her lips, and she had known the shape of his grief and his longing and she had drunk it in and wanted more. She had seen him and she had not turned away, and he had known her and had not turned away. The end of Rebirth is an action packed adventure, zombie horde, explosions and we find new characters added and our favorites are headed in a new direction. For me who lives in Northern California it's always interesting to find an author who writes about this part of the country.

In fact we find Cass and the gang in my neck of the woods, view spoiler [the Delta, not far from where I live in fact or at least from what's described I think it's not far. So that's very interesting. To say i'm excited to jump right into would be an understatement. I cannot wait to see what Littlefield has in store for this damaged characters. Apr 27, Alisha rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: This book, every bit as amazing as its predecessor—if not more so—takes a slightly different thematic and narrative focus whilst maintaining many of the elements that made the first book such a standout.

An absolutely wonderful piece of speculative fiction. Littlefield does it again! In this sequel to the amazing Aftertime , a fascinating premise and excellent narrative execution is built upon and expanded. This book is certainly not its predecessor, taking a diff Quick Take: This book is certainly not its predecessor, taking a different tone and focus but absolutely shining in every aspect.

I love it when a storyteller can draw out the most intense, realistic, and honest emotion from fantastical situations or unfamiliar settings. Littlefield does just that and more. Her characters are raw. Loved, as evidenced by the care taken in crafting them. Even as the dark reality of certain situations makes you want to look away, the story compels you to continue. But the thread of hope maintains, leaving the reader to really want to follow the cast through the hardest moments. Reading this book has only further solidified by affection and excitement for this trilogy.

View all 4 comments. As the title suggests, REBIRTH is a new beginning both for Cass and those who survived the zombie apocalypse, a beautiful and baleful story of horror and hope. The evils unearthed within their command center are sobering and shocking. Littlefield writes so expressively, so vividly, that she wrings every drop of rage possible out of her readers.

The Aftertime world is meant to be terrible, but the characters, the relationships, they are what make it worth fighting for. They make every small victory into a triumph that fuels all our hope. Equally well written are the characters. Cass is a woman driven by compulsions. Before, it was her addictions. Aftertime, it was reclaiming her daughter. You need to read this book. You will be disturbed, you will be compelled, and you will not be the same. Check out the book trailer for a peek at the cover.

A couple sex scenes. References to gang rape and torture. I liked this book better than the first book. Smoke, Cass, and Ruthie have been a family in the Box since Ruthie was rescued from the convent. Smoke is head of security and Cass grows food and medicine in her garden. All is as good as things get in Aftertime, until Smoke gets news that the school where Cass met him has been captured by Rebuilders. Smoke is set on revenge and leaves to kill the Rebuilders involved without saying good-bye to Cass.

Cass feels abandoned and betrayed, and the wall of I liked this book better than the first book. Cass feels abandoned and betrayed, and the wall of mistrust that Smoke crumbled around Cass is rebuilt stronger than ever. Although I was angry with Smoke for leaving and angry at Cass for not fighting him more, ultimately I understood that Smoke had to leave or he would not be the hero he is. Not able to stay in the Box without Smoke, Cass takes Ruthie and joins Dor on a mission to rescue his daughter, Sammie, who Cass met from her short stay in the library.

I was a little surprised by the way things played out in this book. This book was even darker than Aftertime and it gave even better insight to what people will be driven to do in order to not only survive, but to save their loved ones. I loved the ending of this book and can't wait for book 3.

View all 23 comments. May 12, Crowinator rated it liked it Shelves: I almost gave up on this one. Only my faith in how well Aftertime pulled it together and the fact that some Goodreads friends insisted this book improved kept me going during the first half of this sequel, when Smoke disappears to go on a revenge quest after the Rebuilders attack the school where he once lived and Cass descends even further into equivocation and self-loathing, mooning around beating herself up for trusting him and then beating herself up for not being g Actual rating: Only my faith in how well Aftertime pulled it together and the fact that some Goodreads friends insisted this book improved kept me going during the first half of this sequel, when Smoke disappears to go on a revenge quest after the Rebuilders attack the school where he once lived and Cass descends even further into equivocation and self-loathing, mooning around beating herself up for trusting him and then beating herself up for not being good enough.

Cass' love for Ruthie and hope for her future is even more beautifully described in this sequel. It has the perfect balance. Ending on a high note means I will return for the third book. If we don't learn more about Smoke in the third book, however, I will be giving up on this series. This is far too long for him to remain a cipher, especially as his relationship with Cass is supposed to have continued for months. I gave it a pass in Aftertime because Cass had just met Smoke and he filled the role of the heroic, wounded loner with a secret past, but I expected to learn more about his background, his thoughts and feelings, in this book.

I expected him to be real. Dor turns out to be an amazing complex character — he carries this book, more so than Cass — but I was still disappointed. The whole point of a love triangle is to have three equally developed characters, not two extremely well-developed characters and one non-entity. Overall, this book is worth if it you enjoyed the first one. Littlefield also continues to develop Ruthie with subtlety Ruthie never feels like an unthinking appendage or precocious waif , and she increases the tension with ominous changes in the Beaters including adding a new threat in mutant zombie crows.

But it is definitely a middle book with a lot of frustrating elements that I hope will be addressed next time. Jan 16, Fiona Shin rated it it was ok. As a writer, I have a really hard time writing reviews for other writers. A lot of it is "I'm a writer You need to know this. Except for one issue, but that's really not the point. Hey, then why did you mention it, you git?

On two separate occasions, I said "WTF is this shit?! But the book, despite all the issues I had with it, is incredibly readable, which is why I managed to crawl toward the last final pages, which seemed, after the relative slow pace of the first half, to rocket to a conclusion. My first issue with Rebirth: I apologize about the caps, but I feel so effing strong about this.

Anyways, he leaves her to go check it out for himself. After all, he was at this shelter for a while before he met Cass and his ex-lover was also there. She hates that he's going. In what universe does this not make her incredibly selfish? She resents the fact that he slept with someone before her and the book keeps mentioning the fact that Cass wishes his ex forgot her name She decides to go after him. This isn't necessarily bad in itself, but she decides to take something with her. At this point, I put the book down and looked at SO.

She sleeps with Dor. In the worst possible way. But only because the writing was pretty compelling. Oh, but how I wished I didn't. I had nightmares about this whole post-apocalyptic scenario, fueled by Starbucks Doubleshot, a B-complex vitamin, and an empty stomach. There were some other things I wanted to touch upon, but none of them were as bad as the three I posted above. Now, if you will excuse me, I'm going to go watch a month's worth of Sesame Street to get rid of the depressing aura this book gave me.

Jun 01, Vanessa theJeepDiva rated it really liked it Shelves: I love Cass Dollar. She is not a heroine I envy or want to be, but I love her strengths. She has will power, drive and a desire to see her daughter live and thrive in a world where that no longer seems like a possibility. Cass has been down many difficult roads in life, she has filled her life with numerous poor decisions and yet she still goes on. Rebirth picks up shortly after the end of Aftertime. Cass has her daughter Ruthie back.

She is living at the Box with her lover Smoke, life is going extremely well considering all of the circumstances. All is well until the school where Cass initially met Smoke, was attacked and burned by the Rebuilders. Sammi, Dor's daughter is among the survivors that have been taken away. This is a series that must be read in order.

There was little to no rehashing in these pages. Rebirth is a whole new adventure. Smoke leaves Cass at the Box to go on a vengeance mission. Feeling betrayed she leaves the Box with Dor on the quest to rescue his daughter. After reading Aftertime I was left with a feeling that the Rebuilders most likely had their own agenda in the scheme of things in this After World. This may have a little bit to do with the fact that she was actually one of the infected once, but recovered, and as a result, is something just a bit more than human. One of the things I loved most about Horizon is that finally, Cass is beginning to actually like herself.

Has Dor taken his place in her heart? There is not one simple character in these novels. They are full of rich and fully developed people as well as an environment thick with hardship and almost constant danger. There are a few jaw droppers in this one, and some mysteries from the past novels are wrapped up, to nice effect. The author has captured magic in a bottle with this series, and I highly recommend it! Dec 19, Anjana rated it really liked it.

I'm completely new to Sophie Littlefield. I didn't know what to expect from her, I assumed that the Aftertime Trilogy were dystopian novels, awesome ones at that due to its popularity on goodreads. So when I requested an arc of Horizon on Netgalley, I really didn't have any bars set. And so I got my first Sophie Littlefield novel, obviously, if I'm going to review this, I was going to do it right.

I did NOT know that this trilogy was adult dystopia. I'm a happy person but I like it when things get a little dark and twisty now and then. Love is easy, pain however, is not. It's a raw, intense emotion that most people just wouldn't know what to do with. Cass is a failure. Even in a post-apocalyptic world, she's a failure. She's failed as a mother, she was a recovering alcoholic but I guess the recovering part doesn't apply in Horizon. She's fallen off the wagon and if that's not enough, after years of sleeping around, now she's got intimacy issues.

She's extremely flawed and she makes an excellent protagonist! So moving on, as usual, 'love' isn't a significant part of the story. It's basically sitting on the sidelines, hungover and trying to keep up with the race. I'm not sure if I'm making any sense. I ramble when I'm excited.

I can't decide but I find myself not so surprisingly leaning towards Dor. Horizon is hands down the best out of all the three books! Okay so I didn't like the multiple POVs so much but the rest of it is just frickin' awesome! Sophie Littlefield is not afraid to go dark and deep into things that make your skin crawl. Drag me through shit just so I feel. Oh and a happy ending? Depends on what you think it means.

Apr 25, Libby rated it liked it Shelves: I have now read this entire trilogy and it poses a problem for me. Obviously I liked it well enough to read through all three books. I have to say that they all were easy reads and that the plot twists came fast and furious. It felt believable as an apocalyptic future. But I just couldn't be comfortable with the heroine of the story. After the first 2 or 3 chapters I was itching to smack her. She manufactured most of her problems out of her self-loathing and sicky need to punish herself.

She cou I have now read this entire trilogy and it poses a problem for me. She could analyze the same kinds of problems in others, but stubbornly refused to recognize her own homemade stumbling blocks. She was presented as intelligent and self-aware, but also self-deceiving and manipulative.

This is an accurate portrayal of the addictive personality, but just as these traits are destructive of family and friend relationships, they are hard on the reader, too. It's simply harder to care what is going to happen to a character you don't like. For a while, I almost didn't care if the flesh-eating zombies got her. However the secondary characters were likeable and their predicament how to survive and find security in a zombie-filled wasteland was compelling.

I think I would recommend it with the reservation that there is some fairly distasteful sex and a lot of gruesome violence and a general air of grim nastiness in these tales. These are not meant for the faint of heart or the prissy of mind. Dec 13, Josh rated it liked it Shelves: Cass Dollar and the inhabitants of New Eden, a place secluded from the Beater threat by a lake, soon discover their haven a hell as the Beaters evolve and become organised. The conclusion to the Aftertime series is less violent and suspenseful than the previous Cass Dollar and the inhabitants of New Eden, a place secluded from the Beater threat by a lake, soon discover their haven a hell as the Beaters evolve and become organised.

The conclusion to the Aftertime series is less violent and suspenseful than the previous books with Littlefield focusing more on Cass and her relationship with Dor and Smoke and their combined struggle to find a new settlement following New Eden being compromised. For the most part, HORIZON is about the survivors and the monsters man turns into — greed and violence become all consuming as a course towards a new home is plotted safe from the hungry mouths of the Beaters. Feb 01, Harlequin Books added it Shelves: An Aftertime Novel Category: This trio of novels gets my highest possible level of recommendation.

Some things have changed, but others are still the same. New Eden seems like the perfect setting to try and make a home in this post-apocalyptic world. The fact that it's a small cluster if islands makes this so. The Beaters cannot cross the water, and therefore it's easy to feel safe there, easy to guard. Of course, that's until the Beaters surprise the group with their seemingly never-ending resourcefulness and the Edenites are forced to leave their sanctuary in search of a safer place to live.

I was not happy that we missed so much. This big hunk of time flew by between Rebirth and this installment - Things were ten shades of messed up. Why is she even there? Why on Earth did Dor want to be with her? I just hate that this big question mark lies in my brain about that situation. Also, the ARC is packed with grammatical errors. Other than that minor detail, Sophie Littlefield has done it again. She's blown me away with yet another installment in the Aftertime series. As usual, I could barely put it down. I spent Christmas day finishing this book. It was just that great! The love triangle is as bitter and intense as ever.

I enjoyed the turmoil going on in Cass' mind the entire time. I really had no idea who she was going to choose. I won't give it away, but it is very dramatic! One thing I have to say I loved about this installment was the fact that there was so much action with the Beaters. They were everywhere in this book! I missed them in Rebirth. Littlefield definitely made up for it with this one. Those buggers are all over the stinkin' place! It's full of the gore that I adore. The drama, the violence, the intensity, the hope for a better future. I've enjoyed everything about this series, and this installment was no exception.

There seriously seems to be a never ending supply of plot twists! Horizon is packed with revelations of all sorts, and I have to say - I didn't see any of them coming.

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It's full of everything you could ever want in a novel like this. Action, intensity, gore, drama, betrayal, love, hope, etc. Not to mention, the ending is a shocker. You just have to read it! I'm pretty baffled as to whether or not this installment is the end of the series, but I certainly hope it's not. It seems it could go either way. Alcuni punti rimangono criptici, senza ricevere una spiegazione, mentre altri si incastrano alla perfezione con la trama. Hanno cibo e un posto sicuro dove dormire, ma la nuova situazione sembra destabilizzarla. Dor e Smoke sono il punto di forza del romanzo, con le loro doti e le loro debolezze.

Il suo corpo deve superare le ferite subite, ma la sua mente non ha mai smesso di immaginare un mondo migliore, in cui vuole giocare una parte importante. Se trovate affascinante questo personaggio, troverete una rivelazione importante che lo riguarda. Aug 24, Stacy rated it it was amazing Shelves: I really liked Smoke and hated her self destructiveness that led to the whole sticky situation. Cass, Ruthie and all the others that she came with have settled into community of New Eden.

Things are going well besides that fact that Cass started drinking again lightly and she doesn't feel like she really fits in. Behind the curtains Cass has continued her affair with Dor and they cant seem to stop themselves from being drawn to each other. Just when Cass realizes she really wants to be with Dor, Smoke wakes up confusing Cass even more. The Beaters are changing and getting smarter some how and the island becomes unsafe.

There are some new characters introduced. The one that sticks out the most is Red. I wont tell you much about him because that would be some major spoiling but I must say that Red was the absolute last person I expected in the story but he fit in extremely well.

There is a lot of loss and death. The emotions hit an all time high at the end of the book and I was shocked that it went where it did but it really did make sense when all was said and done. Cass is an extremely broken character and goes through a lot but I like that Sophie doesn't magically "fix" her. She ends up in a good place but she is still flawed and broken inside just happier and in a better place. I would actually love to read more about Cassie in the future I think her story is far from finished but if this is the last book then I could be happy at where it all ended. The Aftertime series has definitely been a hit for me and if you like Dystopian or zombie books, this series should be on your bookshelf.

Aug 16, Darcy rated it really liked it Shelves: Every time I read a book from this series it makes me think if I could survive what the character are going through in the book, sadly I don't think I could, and it makes me admire them even more, even the weak ones. I also think, maybe hope is a better sentiment, that these people finally get to a situation where they can start to rebuild life, but instead things seem to go from bad to worse. New Eden has it's problems, but the people feel safe and things seem to be going well.

Cass doesn't seem Every time I read a book from this series it makes me think if I could survive what the character are going through in the book, sadly I don't think I could, and it makes me admire them even more, even the weak ones. Cass doesn't seem to be adjusting to this very well, she has started drinking again, disgusting herself, and she is still carrying on with Dor and that makes her feel like she is slapping Smoke in the proverbial face.

In this tumultuous time Cass makes a few discovers that jar her thinking, that of the past and the present. Key people tell her secrets that make her understand then and their actions and allow her to understand her own actions. There were so many times during the book that I felt sorry for Cass. She really was between a rock and a hard place. I think part of her problems is that so often she thinks she should act a certain way, but that really isn't her. She needs to face who she is and what she wants and accept herself, bad parts and all.

I think by the end she has come more to that sentiment and it gives me hope for her and all the others. Oct 30, Lis rated it really liked it Shelves: Great ending to the trilogy. I savored this one because I wasn't quite ready to see it end. There were a few character surprises in the last installment. Cass is still fighting the demons of her past and trying to work thru her issues. It's survival of the fittest and the smartest but Smoke is still in bad shape. Tough decisions, fearing to trust the wrong person and facing new challenges back on the road.

Let me tell you a story before I start with my review. She is drinking again and her actions are not only affecting her but are starting to affect others. People are noticing her erratic behavior and are keeping their distance from her. Smoke has been in a coma for over three months, this is also taking a toll on Cass. Dor is in a relationship with a woman he met in New Eden named Valerie, but still he is having an secret affair with Cass.

Simmi has a group of friends her age and is relatively happy. Everything is going well, New Eden is located in a complex of islands surrounded by water thus inaccessible to Beaters zombies. With Cass help they are growing plants, food in not scarce and under the circumstances life is good. Beaters are becoming smarter and more organized, they are learning from the mistakes of other Beaters and soon they are learning to swim.

Because of this New Eden is not the safe heaven it was and New Edenites including Cass and her gang need to abandon it and look for a safer place where they can start a new life again. During their exodus and group of horse riders come to their aid. They come from the East with stories of a safe camp up North, were not Beaters nor blue-leafed Kaysev exists. After some general consensus they start their journey up North to this new land of hope, a journey full of dangers, with many Beaters encounters and other dangers along their way.

Horizon as previous books in this series was a heart wrenching one. Cass is a very flawed character, she is broken and trying to put her pieces together, she struggles everyday and fails as much as she succeeds. She feels so real is painful to see her suffer.

She will never be perfect, but I have hope she will be ok. There is a love triangle between Cass, Smoke and Dor, but with everything that is happening there is not time for love. He gave everything and puts his life in danger to save others many times. His love and admiration for Cass is noticeable, he sees her as she really is and still loves her and wants her because he also see the good in her.

He also loves Cass, in his way and as much as that allows him. Even though I wanted to slap Simmi more than once I understood her behavior, she is a teenager dealing with so many things at the same time that is easy to understand her and forgive her. I liked that she thought about her actions are realized she was doing something wrong, I also liked that she came around in time of need. New and surprising characters are introduced, characters that will give Cass some light about her days when she was a Beater.

The end as the whole book was a heart wrenching one but in my opinion the best it could have. Its amazing cast, a great world building, a fast pace and well structured plot made of Horizon a great read. These books were my first by Mrs. Horizon and Aftertime Trilogy in general will have an special place in my heart and my bookcase. If you like dystopian, apocalyptic and zombie literature these books are for you. Yeah, not your average post apocalyptic novel.

This being the finale book in the series wrapped up the story pretty well, although the introduction of new characters to advance the plot to the finale was a little cliche. Overall, it was alright. Dec 30, Lisarenee rated it it was amazing. We've all got our burdens to bear. Some are worse than others. So is the case with Cass. In the Before time, Cass struggled with both an alcohol and sexual addiction. Sexually abused by her stepfather for years, she was just overcoming her addictions and coming to terms with what happened to her when the apocalypse hit.

In 'Aftertime', she seemed to be recovered, but relapses are sometimes part of the course to recovery. While she didn't sink as low as she did in the Before time, Cass will need We've all got our burdens to bear.

Aftertime: An Aftertime Novel, Book 1 (Unabridged)

While she didn't sink as low as she did in the Before time, Cass will need to meet her inner demons full on, and this time do it not just for her daughter. She'll need to do it for herself. The rescue had landed everyone in a new predicament. They found themselves at the mercy of a new group of survivors whose status--friendly or hostile--was unknown. Thankfully the group, who lived in a settlement called New Eden, was well organized and welcomed them into their midst.

In 'Horizon', Cass will need to come to terms with what Smoke did and whether or not she can forgive and forget. Plus, the relationship is further complicated by what happened between her and Dor. She'll have to decide if Smoke truly is the man for her, but before that can happen, Smoke will need to come out of the coma he fell into. Just as everyone is starting to feel like things are starting to get back to some sort of normalcy, that false feeling of security is blown to bits as the survivors are forced to run once again for their lives.

I truly love this series, and if this truly is the last book, I will be extremely sad. I love how the book was nothing like I expected and the emotional connection to the characters was so real. The threat of becoming a Beater is still a constant threat either by the bite of a Beater or the eating of blueleaf which still creeps into the gardens of the survivors. Cass, as I stated before, has fallen off the wagon. Hurt by Smoke's betrayal and trying to deal with the fact he's in a comma, she's reverted to some of her old bad habits. She's begun drinking again, and the affair that she and Dor were supposed to end once their rescue mission was complete is still going on in secret.

Cass has slowly reverted into herself and is becoming withdrawn. In 'Aftertime', she worried what she'd done in those lost days between when the Beaters dragged her off and the day she found herself aimlessly wandering on her own. That is something that still haunts her thoughts and is yet another thing that drives her to drown out some of her pain at the bottom of a bottle. In 'Horizon', we finally find out what events took place in that blocked out time period. Plus, we find out what happened to her real dad, the one who left her and her mother all those years ago.

There is so much going on in this book. New Eden is very different from the Box and Cass has a hard time adjusting. I think she's filled with guilt and self loathing and just feels like her life is out of control. The only thing that keeps her even remotely grounded is her daughter Ruthie. I love how in this book we don't only see how Cass is affected, but how the teens such as Sammi are as well.

There is a lot of action and many twists, turns and surprises I didn't see coming. I loved this one as much as the first book in the series. Why is the book titled 'Horizon'? Well, while there are several mentions of the horizon in the book, none of them truly seem to define the title. If I had to take a stab at why 'Horizon' was picked as a title, I would have guessed it was because Cass and the rest of New Eden are traveling East toward the horizon.

Plus, if you look up the definition of horizon one of its definitions is 'range of perception or experience' and the perception of those from New Eden is that the East is what holds the best chance of survival. Yet, the true answer as to why the title was picked lies in the official book synopsis where it's stated, 'But she, and all of the other survivors, will fight to the death for the promise of a new horizon…. I'm loving the title. I felt it had a great blend of action and drama. If you love the series so far, I doubt you'll be disappointed. This one focused so much more on the main story then on the romance, even though there is romance intertwined throughout, that I'm opting not to rate it on my romance rating scale.

Overall, this book gets 5 out of 5 roses. To read more of my reviews, please visit my blog at www. Nov 09, Shanna Tidwell rated it it was amazing. Love love love the series! Do yourself a favor and read it! Jan 20, Krys rated it really liked it. This book was alright of course it didn't have the first book magic that 'Aftertime' had but I thought it was a lot better than 'Rebirth'.

Littlefield had this annoying habit of having the characters involved in a conversation and then taking an element of that conversation and going off to tell a back story, usually from Before, that had nothing to do with anything. Well it did but when she drifted it ruined the effect of the original conversation In 'Horizon' she did that a heck of a lot les This book was alright of course it didn't have the first book magic that 'Aftertime' had but I thought it was a lot better than 'Rebirth'.

In 'Horizon' she did that a heck of a lot less and I am grateful. Crazy as in the most happens in this book. There was no need to make one of the Edenites a pyromaniac. Actually there was a while group of them and they blew up like two buildings and made one very large bomb.

Littlefield didn't even go into WHY they had become pyromaniacs or when they jumped off the deep end into the pool of crazy and started making home-made bombs. Seriously why would anyone do that, especially Aftertime? I mean the mastermind after the explosion on the island died long before it was proven he did it and the second kid who blew something up was excluded from the group. In a time when every one, every resource is needed why would they practically kick him out? Couldn't they have given him a firm slap on the wrists or something?

If they believed him too dangerous they should have kicked him out for real or killed him. Just a small thing that bugged the crap out of me. Okay seriously so she was all cute and daring in the first two books but after seeing her mother killed in front of her, her kinda boyfriend and his brothers killed in front of her and abandonment issues with her father from Before she becomes this kid trying to be and adult. So just because you lose a few people who were close to you and you bashed in the heads of a few Zoms doesn't give you a medal that gives you the right to act like a total BITCH.

Do you see them acting like they're all hard and tortured? They just suck it up and deal whether it's with taking control of everything around you, drowning yourself in the bottle and world of sex, or taking on the world in a desperate suicide mission to atone for a horrid mistake. All of this is better than acting like a moody CHILD who feels the need to smoke kaysev cigarettes to 'forget her problems'. And when she sees her dad with Cass she just flips out and goes bat shit nuts and starts trying to sabotage Cass' acceptance into Eden.

I don't understand what the problem is, honestly. So yeah that is a little gross seeing your dad with his paws all over someone other than his 'girlfriend'. But seriously who doesn't have sex Aftertime?

Aftertime Series

Even if it's not with who you'd think that is one thing that will never go away because it's a coping mechanism and it releases stress. She was even thinking about having sex with her boyfriend before he DIED. It's not even any of her business what the adults do with their lives and she should not WANT to know because then you find out things like this. Anyway she was the only reason I took so long to finish this book because every time I got to a part where it was from her perspective I had to stop, steel myself, and continue on 'cause she just pissed me off SO MUCH.

I still don't like her very much even after I've finished the book. And that it was very random what happened to him, seriously. I mean I'm not quite sure if his wound was fatal or not. Not only that, but the zombies, as they grow ill and turn, start out on themselves, stripping the flesh off their arms and other places they can reach. Before she can be the kind of mother she wants for her daughter, she has to come to term with her own weaknesses — her self-loathing that manifests itself in destructive promiscuity and alcoholism, resulting from childhood sexual abuse.

She has to consciously choose every day to keep fighting her poor impulses instead of taking the easy way out, and that rings true though it can tedious at times to rehash over and over and over. Her focus on her daughter and her pride in not giving up keep her sympathetic. He belongs in a old-timey Western as the grizzled but young sheriff who takes the law into his own hands, his rifle at the ready, sitting on a ridge watching over the land, the setting sun at his back.

One of the things that annoyed me most about this novel is we never learn anything about him by the end; as the second most major character, I would have liked more development. Seriously, it sounds like flesh is hanging off her back throughout the whole story. I think that is just me being stupidly nitpicky, though, but it did pull me out of the story. I was perplexed about the kaysev and the blueleaf for quite a long time, but it all comes together well.

Things had already gone to shit, and then the zombies happened. Figuring out how widespread the zombies are — Are they just in California? Is the state actually quarantined? Which rumors are true? The ending, after Cass infiltrates the creepy cult Convent to retrieve her daughter, happens too fast and a little too conveniently, but it made for some great scary scenes and one totally gross scene that I did have to skip the details.

My major complaint with this book is it just kind of ends, and I wanted a little more closure to their time at the Convent. Still, it's a great set-up for the next in the series and I'm looking forward to reading it. The story follows Cass, a young mother and recovering addict, as she searches desperately for her daughter mere months after the mysterious infection set in and turned most of the population into ravenous, cannibalistic zombies.

Her only companion is a reclusive man known simply as Smoke. He agrees for his own reasons to help Cass and together they brave a world that is barely recognizable anymore. The horror is unimaginable. This is the world the Cass wakes up in. Alone and nearly skinned. A deeply damaged woman with a seedy drug and alcohol hazed past full of dark alleys and strange beds. The story is epic in scope. We get a real sense of the entire world ending and waking up to a nightmarish reality that few could have imagined.

1. by Sophie Littlefield.
2. .
3. From Corner Café to JSE Giant: The Famous Brands Story.
4. .

We never leave the POV of Cass, yet the people she encounters, both friend and foe, add their own piece to the Aftertime world. The dialogue in the first half of the book is understandably scant, but the story itself is startling and unputdownable from beginning to end. So please go buy this book when you can. I have to know what happens next. Two graphic sex scenes Jul 13, Brandi rated it did not like it Shelves: This book is horrible.

The synopsis says this is an arresting novel and I will never understand how this is so. The whole thing made me angry knowing that I spent money on it. I don't even think s This book is horrible. I don't even think somebody looking for a book to read as filler between actual GOOD releases will want to waste their time on this. That was why I bought it. I was recovering from surgery and just wanted something to enjoy while passing the time that didn't make me want to weep, or think any deep thoughts haha. This is clearly a review in which I rant far more than I bother to really discuss the novel I should be reviewing.

I find that I have not been very good at reviewing lately, and I'm starting to think it is because I feel like I have been bogged down by crappy books. Don't waste your time or money on this. Dec 17, Hannah rated it it was amazing Shelves: I love that book! So I must admit I am not very familiar with post apocalyptic world besides what we see in movies. Frankly I actually love this kind of setting but I didn't know many books that use it. Fortunately I got lucky because this book has exactly the type of post apocalyptic world I love most.

Additionally it has zombies which are actually here called as Beaters. Okay they not really Zombies, they don't eat your brain, instead they eat your flesh but not muscle. Which I think is even worse because these Beaters catch you and drag you to their layers where they slowly chew your body and you are pretty much alive all this time because they start with you back and shoulders and then only in the end they starts moving to your face and considering that they eat only meat and nothing else your organs are pretty functional.

I have no idea why Goodreads claim this is a YA book because it is so not! Anyways so we have Beaters and the world went down the hole but aside we also have these bad people who just pretty much are their for a Profite and they are called the Rebuilders, sorta let's create a functional society lies but in reality you either join us or we kill you. And this is not all, there are people who try to survive on their own, people who create this sort of shelter and so on.

Also back to the Beaters, so they started as zombies but over time they are starting to form gangs and plan their attacks. Jup, scary as hell. Our main character is names Cassie and she is the most flawed character I have ever met. Basically she is twenty something but her life has been a total disaster. Basically she was abused by her stepdad and her mom never really cared, she became an alcoholic over time, had a lot of random sex till one day she got knocked up but eventually her new baby Ruthie was taken away by social workers because Cassie could not provide and with her drinking problems and what not she was just a mess.

This story really starts with Cassie trying to find Ruthie in all this mess, when the outbreak of Beaters started she got her girl back but then they got attacked in one of the shelters and Beaters took Cassie away but ended up not eating her flesh completely so she has these terrible scars on her back and she didn't get infected which is rare but yeah now she is on her way to find her daughter. Basically in one sentence I absolutely love Cassie. She is this terrible terrible woman who really did not lead her life well but she wants her daughter to have a better life and now with Beaters out there she is the only one who can protect her so Cass really does everything she can and cannot to find her missing baby girl.

Okay next to Cassie we get introduced to Smoke, just a nickname, but he is this fighter who actually is not a fighter. Does that make sense? Hard to explain without spoiling. But all in all Smoke is cool, he doesn't judge and he helps Cassie which is all I need from him. There are of course many other characters, after all it is post apocalypse and everybody is just trying to survive Cassie and Smoke develop relationship over time but I think most strongest love in this book is Cassie's love for her daughter.

It is incredible what mother can do. I know this is a book and that this is post apocalyptic style but this story for some reason is very believable. I mean I loved everything about it but really sometimes while working alone I would look over my shoulder thanks to the creeps these Beaters give me. Cannot really think of anything. The religious cult maybe it was not bad but it as not exactly unique also. Love love love the series. Already started book two and book three is on my TBR as well.

Cannot wait to know more! Mar 05, Tamara rated it liked it. I'm not sure how I feel about this. Mar 15, Laura Lulu rated it liked it Shelves: I liked it, I loved the world building, I like Cass, I feel her pain, but I think I might have liked her more, and felt her pain a bit more personally if it had been written in 1st person, rather than third. But what really kept me from giving it 4 stars was Smoke. I wanted to like him, I'm always a sucker for the stoic martyr hero, but he just felt so one-dimensional--I'm hoping he gets waaaaay more fleshed out in the second book.

Which I'm starting now. So I did like it, but I d Eh, 3. So I did like it, but I didn't love it. View all 8 comments. Dec 29, Ian rated it it was amazing Shelves: Thank you Sophie Littlefield! You are an awesome writer. Yes it's a part of a series Jan 28, Torzilla marked it as did-not-finish Shelves: I actually thought that this was going to be a YA initially. Not entirely sure why I got the YA-vibe from the cover, but you can imagine my shock when a sexytime scene came at about the page mark I think it was around there. Let's start from the beginning, though.

This was the first book I read following my month of not reading for pleasure by the end of the college semester. I was anticipating a great read, particularly because of all the praise Littlefield's new series has received thus far. Go figure I would be the one to disagree with the public, once again. The back story and world building was excellent and the imagery made me nauseous because it was so descriptive and painted such a vivid picture in my mind.

I was excited about this story and about this world because of the strong start. And while I was somewhat iffy about Cass' character--primarily who she was and why I should like her--I was willing to overlook the bad to continue reading about such a rich world. Then shit hit the fan and my enjoyment dissipated. When Cass meets some people who are holing out in a school, I began to notice that, while the descriptions and back story were great, the character interactions were not.

They're a bit too wishy-washy for my tastes and never really give me a good sense of who these people are. Why should I care that they survived? Hell, why do I care that Cass survived? A mother searching for her daughter after the apocalypse Alas, there are more flashbacks and less Cass reflecting on finding her daughter. When Smoke suddenly becomes the focus of Cass' desires and I still have no idea why , it seems as if Ruthie takes a backseat to Smoke.

And of course our leading man was the typical broody, mysterious "hero. Unfortunately, Cass turned into a bipolar wuss. She went from being somewhat of a likeable character into a cry baby the second someone sent her the stink eye. Her reactions, her wanting to cry at every moment, her stupidity So poor characterization, the hero is not well fleshed out, the romance is sudden and rushed with no real reason showing why the two are attracted to each other , and Cass is borderline TSTL by the time I stopped reading.

Maybe she progressed further, and if she did, then I am happy I stopped reading this novel. If she cleaned up her act, then my loss. I would recommend checking those out before you do this one. If, however, Littlefield's novel has been on your radar like it was mine, it can't hurt to give it a shot, anyway. After all, it's just cynical old me going against the majority. Feb 17, Kt rated it it was amazing Shelves: Cass woke up brutally scarred with no memory of where she is, only having the horrifying thought that her daughter is missing.

In a land mostly barren she makes her way back to where she last saw Ruthie. Her journey is long and hard as the landscape isn't the only obstacle. A government plant turned hoards of people into mindless flesh eaters called Beaters. In the last stretch towards home, she meets up with the mysterious Smoke.

He quickly becomes her only chance at surviving to find her daugh Cass woke up brutally scarred with no memory of where she is, only having the horrifying thought that her daughter is missing. He quickly becomes her only chance at surviving to find her daughter as she realizes the Beaters aren't the only threat. It's the other survivors that are much worse, and if they find out what she really is, they won't hesitate to eliminate her.

This book was a very original take on the idea of Zombies. What I loved most about it was while the threat of the Beaters was very real, that wasn't the only thing standing in Cass's way. In fact, the people were probably more dangerous as the Beaters were at least predictable. Suspicions run very high, and almost everyone is joining one faction or another, and always questioning each other's alliances. I imagine this was probably a pretty accurate look at what could happen in the event of such a major fallout. It is in most people's nature to join together and be led.

It is just unfortunate that the majority of the leadership figures turn out to be corrupt in nature. Cass is probably the strongest, yet most broken character I have ever read about. Her past has huge skeletons in it, and her coping methods made her a serious addict. However, she never once flounders in her determination to find her daughter.

The obstacles she faces are absolutely stifling, making it amazing that she is able to continue on at all. Perhaps her "changed" nature did give her some help, but in the end it all came down to her iron clad will and perseverance. She is so afraid to care for anyone, and give her past this is completely understandable. However, her fear didn't stop her from showing compassion towards others, especially Smoke. Try as she might to just block him out, she quickly realizes that she actually cares for him. This story was as much about Cass's character growth as it was her journey to find her daughter, making it an absolutely incredible read.

The pacing of this book was excellent, as it more than kept my attention, yet didn't overwhelm. The last few pages of the book took off like a firecracker making me very unsure of how things would end. While it was a satisfying ending, I couldn't help but wonder at the abruptness of it, as I had originally thought this was a stand alone novel. I absolutely love these characters, so I was extremely happy to find out that Aftertime is in fact the start of a series. Make sure to check this book out, it will completely suck you in right from the start and make you really believe in a mother's love overcoming all obstacles; even the Apocalypse.

Mar 19, Aaron rated it liked it. So yeah, this fits the bill. Aftertime takes place in a dystopian future where agriculture in the United States had been wiped out by a bioterror attack. This of course ground modern civilization to a half. After that, a viral property in a synthetized plant the government hoped would halt the tide of starvation instead produced 28 Days Later type zombies called Beaters that recently started learning to hunt in packs for uninfected humans to carry off and eat alive.

Then things get kind of dark. Cassandra is a recovering alcoholic who used to collect doomed relationships like Pokemon cards. The one thing that was starting to get her life back is her three year old daughter and that was torn from her when Cass was attacked by Beaters and carried off to be devoured. Cass wakes up to find herself wandering and bloodied, but for some reason not a Beater. Not knowing what happened to her daughter, she spends the rest of the book looking for her. Littlefield creates a very bleak world where small communities try to hold off Beater attacks and the encroaching domination of those who think best how to rebuild the world with the purity of motive that only fascists can provide.

There is a Cormac McCarthy-like sparseness to the world which gives a rich contrast to the characters she puts in it. Littlefield explains what happened to the world throughout the book so that the reader finds out the totality of the apocalyptic damage instead of all at once, which I thought was a nice touch.

Character-wise, Aftertime is filled with some great, complex characters that drive the story well. Cass is joined early on in her search for her daughter by the mysterious Smoke, who some is found out about through the book while still leaving much to be answered. It is painful and beautful to watch unfold and really adds to the book. The only real complaint I had with the book is that the ending seemed a bit rushed. Overall I enjoyed it greatly and look forward to the second book in the series.

You may also read my review here: After waking up with her hair pulled out, skin flayed and raw, and at a loss as to where she is, she wanders the ruins until she comes across a young girl with a knife. This girl will lead her to a shelter, on of the last human outposts after bioterrorists have decimated the world, and left diseased, skin eating zombies, roaming and devouring. At the shelter s You may also read my review here: At the shelter she meets Smoke, and he offers to accompany her to find her young daughter, who was lost when Cass was attacked. What comes next is a harrowing journey to find her child, and her battle with the demons within herself.

Yes, Aftertime has zombies. Shambling, flesh-eating, rotting zombies. However, this is not a book about zombies. Cass is at once tough and resourceful, yet so raw and tangled inside. A recovering alcoholic, once using her body to quiet the despair within her, Cass must gather her wits in order to get back the one thing that means everything to her: I was riveted until the very last page! This book felt fragmented and distorted. Can't finish it, really. I may give it another try in some time, though.

Different than any other apocalypse book i've read. I cannot wait to read the next book and find out what happens to Cass, Smoke and Ruthie. Jan 07, Jess the Romanceaholic rated it really liked it Shelves: In a post-apocolyptic dystopia, civilization has fallen and Beaters, mindless flesh-eating zombies created by a disease originally spread by a plant dispersed through biological warfare, threaten the lives of everyone in existence. Cass was captured by the Beaters only to awaken two months later with no memory of what had happened to her, and wounds that indicated that not only had she been a victim of the Beaters, but that she herself had been infected and had recovered.

The only thing driving her on is finding her young daughter, whom she had only just gotten back after having lost custody of her due to her alcoholism for a single day before being taken by the Beaters. What follows is a horrifying, heart-stopping, gory narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat, gasping for air, as Cass tries desperately to find her daughter while navigating this dangerous new world where the Beaters are not the only threat to the weak.

What worked for me: Add to that the inevitable power struggles, how the powerful took advantage of the weak, and how everyday people found courage that they never imagined they possessed, and it's easy to imagine that this is a future that could actually happen. What didn't work for me: Cass had been molested as a child and turned to sex and alcohol to both mask her pain and give herself a false sense of control over her life.

Her relationship with Smoke felt like a continuation of this self-flagellation, and Littlefield told us, rather than showed us of the existence of deeper feelings on her part and really none at all on his. There were no ILY's at all in the story, both of which contributed to the feeling that the connection between Cass and Smoke was one of convenience rather than anything deeper. While it's true that this could've very easily been a device used by Littlefield to help the reader place themselves in this world, since neither the reader nor the characters ever really understood what the hell had happened, I found this to be disappointing.

It would've been nice to know more of Smoke's history as I got a distinct feeling that he somehow contributed to all the crap that had happened , and I wish that there had been some hint as to what was really going on in the rest of the world. Had the blueleaf spread to the rest of the country?

To the rest of the world? Or was this a situation similar to 28 Days Later , where spoiler alert for the movie here , the world hadn't fallen to the disease but rather had quarantined the infected areas waiting for the disease to die out before offering assistance? Is Cass a carrier? Has she somehow infected Smoke? Will poor Ruthie be "normal" again after her traumatizing experience?

What was really the deal behind The Convent? All of these questions are left completely unanswered, leaving a distinct sense of dissatisfaction in this reader. In the end, I feel exhausted. It's a good exhausted, however, rather like the kind you feel after a long run, or after accomplishing a hard task that you'd set out for yourself.

I think one redeeming fact to this story is that I do know that it's the beginning of a series, and as such, the missing answers to those questions I mentioned are hopefully forthcoming. I really hope that both Smoke and Cass are the stars of the next novel, as I am dying to know what will become of them. Jan 30, Pamela rated it it was amazing Shelves: There's something compelling about what life would be like after the end, something frightening and fascinating all at the same time. Aftertime is a fine entry into the genre, blending zombie horror seamlessly with a very human, emotional story.

Aftertime is a methodical novel. The pace is slow through the first half of the story, as Cass slowly regains her memory and tries to relearn how to fit into society--what's left of it, after the population was devastated by bioterrorism and disease. This new society is the most frightening thing about Aftertime 's world.

The people that are left live in small enclaves in public buildings, for the most part, places they can seal against the Beaters, diseased zombies that crave uninfected human flesh.