Aftertime

By Sophie Littlefield

In a dystopian California, a woman searches for her daughter with the help of an enigmatic outlaw in this “evocative, sensual, harrowing” zombie thriller (Publishers Weekly, starred review).

Awakening in a bleak landscape, Cass Dollar vaguely recalls enduring something terrible. With no idea of how many days or weeks have passed, she slowly realizes the horrifying truth: her daughter, Ruthie, has vanished—along with civilization as we know it. Instead of winding through the once-lush hills, the roads today see only cannibalistic Beaters: people turned hungry for human flesh by a government experiment gone wrong.

In a broken, barren California, Cass will undergo a dangerous quest to get Ruthie back. Few people trust an outsider—much less one who bears the telltale scars of a Beater attack. But she finds safety with a mysterious stranger, Smoke. And she’ll need him more than ever when his ragged band of survivors learn that she and Ruthie have become the most feared, and desired, weapons in a brave new world . . .

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Mar 26, 2013
• ISBN: 9781460309827

Sophie Littlefield

Sophie Littlefield grew up in rural Missouri and attended college in Indiana. She worked in technology before having children, and was lucky enough to stay home with them while they were growing up. She writes novels for kids and adults, and lives in Northern California. Visit her online at www.SophieLittlefield.com.

Book preview

Chapter 1

That it was summer was not in doubt. The nights were much too short and the days too long. Something about the color of the sky said August to Cass. Maybe the blue was bluer. Hadn’t autumn signaled itself that way Before, a gradual intensifying of colors as summer trailed into September?

Once, Cass would have been able to tell from the wildflowers growing in the foothills where she ran. In August petals fell from the wild orange poppies, the stonecrop darkened to purplish brown, and butterweed puffs drifted in lazy breezes. Deer grew bold, drinking from the creek that ran along the road. The earth dried and cracked, and lizards and beetles stared out from their hiding places among the weeds.

But that was two lives ago, so far back that it was like a story that had once been told to Cass, a story maybe whispered by a lover as she drifted off to sleep after one too many Jack and Cokes, ephemeral and hazy at the edges. She might not believe it at all, except for Ruthie. Ruthie had loved the way butterweed silk floated in the air when she blew on the puffs.

Ruthie, who she couldn’t see or touch or hold in her arms. Ruthie, who screamed when the social workers dragged her away, her legs kicking desperately at nothing. Mim and Byrn wouldn’t even look at Cass as she collapsed to the dirty floor of the trailer and wished she was dead.

Ruthie had been two.

Cass pushed herself to go faster, her strides long and sure up over a gentle rise in the road. She was barely out of breath. This was nothing, less than nothing. She dug her hard, sharp nails into the calluses of her thumbs. Hard, harder, hardest. The skin there was built up against her abuse and refused to bleed. To break it she would need something sharper than her nail. Teeth might work, but Cass would not use her teeth. It was enough to use her nails until the pain found an opening into her mind. The pain was enough.

She had covered a lot of ground this moon-bright night. Now it was almost dawn, the light from the rising sun creeping up over the black-blue forest skeletons, a crescent aura of orange glow in the sky. When the first slice of sun was visible she’d leave the road and melt into what was left of the trees. There was cover to be found—some of the native shrubs had survived. Greasewood and creosote still grew neck high in some places.

And it was easy to spot them. You saw them before they saw you, and then you hid, and you prayed. If they saw you at all, if they came close enough to smell you, you were worse than dead.

Cass stayed to the edge of the cracked pavement of what had been Highway 161, weaving around the occasional abandoned car, forcing herself not to look inside. You never knew what you would see. Often nothing, but...it was just better not to look. Chunks of the asphalt had been pushed aside by squat kaysev plants that had managed to root in the cracks. Past the shoulder great drifts of it grew, the dark glossy leaves hiding clusters of pods. The plants were smooth-stemmed without burrs or thorns. Walking among them was not difficult. But walking on pavement allowed Cass, now and then—and never when she was trying—to let her mind go back to another time...and when she was really lucky, to pretend all the way back two lifetimes ago.

Taking Ruthie, barely walking, down the sidewalk to the 7-Eleven, buying her a blue raspberry Slurpee, because Ruthie loved to stick out her blue tongue and look at herself in the mirror. Cutting across the school parking lot on the way home, jumping over the yellow lines, lifting Ruthie’s slight body and swinging her, laughing, through the air.

Yes, pavement was nice. Cass had good shoes, though she didn’t remember where she got them. They seemed like they might have been men’s shoes, plain brown lace-up walking shoes, but they fit her feet. A small man, then. How she’d got the shoes from him...it didn’t bear thinking about. The shoes were good, they were comfortable and hadn’t given her blisters or sores despite the many days of walking.

A movement caught her eye, off in the spiky remains of the woods. Cass stopped abruptly and scanned the tree skeletons and shrubs. A flash of white, was it? Or was it only the way the light was rising in the sky, reflected off...what, though? There were only the bare trunks of the dead cypress and pine trees, a stand of dead manzanita, the low thick growth of kaysev, a few of the boulder formations that dotted the Sierra Foothills.

Snap

Cass whipped her head around and saw the flash again, a fast-moving blur of fabric and oh God it was white, a slip of a little dark-haired girl in a dirty white shirt who was sprinting toward her at a speed that Cass could not imagine anyone moving, Cass who had run thousands of desperate blacktop miles one life ago, trying to erase everything, running until her legs ached and her lungs felt like tearing paper and her mind was almost but never quite empty.

But even Cass had never run like this girl.

She was twelve or thirteen. Maybe even fourteen, it was hard to tell now. Before, the fourteen-year-olds looked like twenty-year-olds, with their push-up bras and eyeliner. But hardly anyone dressed like that anymore.

The girl held the blade the way they taught the kids now, firmly in front of her where it would have the best chance of slicing through a Beater’s flesh. Because that’s what she thought Cass was, a Beater, and the thought hit Cass in the gut and nearly knocked her over with revulsion. Her hands went to her hairline where the hair was just growing back in, soft tufts, an inch at most. She knew how her arms looked, covered with scabs, almost worse now that they were healing, the patches of flesh falling away as the healthy skin pushed to the surface. But that was nothing compared to the ruin of her back.

She hadn’t been able to clean herself in days, and she knew she carried the smell. The long hair on the back of her head, the hair she hadn’t pulled out, was knotted and tangled. Her nails were blackened and broken. Real Beaters usually had no nails left, but how could the girl be expected to notice a detail like that?

In the second or two it took the girl to cross the last dozen yards of scrubby land, Cass considered standing firm, wrists out, chin up, giving her an easy target. They were taught well; any child over the age of five could find the jugular, the femoral, the carotid, the ulnar. They practiced on dummies rigged from dolls and clothes stuffed with straw. Sometimes, they practiced on the dead.

At the last minute Cass stepped out of the way.

She didn’t know why. It would have been easier, so much easier, to welcome the blade, to let it find its path to her vital core and feel the blessed release of her blood, still hot and red despite everything, bubbling over the slice in her flesh, falling to the hardened earth. Maybe her blood would help the land heal faster. Maybe on the spot where her blood fell, one of the plants from Before would return. A delicate mountain bluebell; they had been her favorite, the tiny blossoms shading from pale sky blue to deep lilac.

But Cass stepped out of the way.

Damn her soul.

Three times now it had refused to die, when death would have been so much easier.

Cass watched almost impassively as her foot shot forward, nimbly, her stance steady and her balance near perfect. The girl’s eyes went wide. She tripped, and in the last moment, when the blade flew from her hand and she lurched toward Cass, the terror in her eyes was enough to break Cass’s heart, if only she still had one to break.

Chapter 2

Everyone remembered the first time they saw a Beater. Usually, it was more than one, because even in the early days they gathered in packs, three or four or more of them prowling the edges of town.

Cass saw hers in the QikGo.

Cass worked in the QikGo until the end. Where else would she go? She couldn’t leave Silva, not without Ruthie. But as the world fell apart—as famine crippled Africa and South Asia, as one G8 capital after another fell to panic and riots in the wake of random airbursts, as China went dark and Australia mined its shores—Mim and Byrn held on all the tighter to their granddaughter. Cass had no detailed plan, only to wait until there were no more police, no sheriffs, no social workers, no one willing to come when Mim and Byrn called them to block Cass from seeing her daughter or even setting foot on their property.

When that day came, she would go to their house and she would take Ruthie back. By force if she had to. It would hurt, to see the anger and contempt on her mother’s face, but no more than it had hurt her that Mim refused to acknowledge how far Cass had come, how hard she had worked to be worthy of Ruthie. The ninety-days chip she kept on her key chain. The two-year medallion she’d earned before her single relapse. The job she’d held through it all—maybe managing a convenience store wasn’t the most impressive career in the world, but at least she was helping people in small ways every day rather than fleecing them out of their money, the way Byrn did with his questionable investment strategies. But she and her mother saw things through very different lenses.

It would not hurt Cass to see her stepfather, who was finally weaker than she was, his ex-linebacker frame now old and frail compared to her own body, which she had made lean and hard with her relentless running. She anticipated the look of powerlessness on Byrn’s face as she took away the only thing he could hurt her with. She looked forward even more to the moment when he knew he had lost. She would never forgive him, but maybe once she got Ruthie back, she could start forgetting.

That time was almost upon them. Cell phone service had started to go in the last few days and the landlines hadn’t worked for a week. Televisions had been broadcasting static since the government’s last official communication deputizing power and water workers; that had been such a spectacular failure, skirmishes breaking out in the few remaining places there had been peace before, that the rumor was the government had shut down all the media on purpose. Some said it was the Russian hackers. Now they said the power was out over in Angel’s Camp, and every gas station in town had been looted except for Bill’s Shell, where Bill and his two sons-in-law were taking shifts with a brace of hunting rifles.

Who was going to care about the fate of one little girl now?

Two days earlier Cass had stopped taking money from customers unless it was offered. Some people seemed to find comfort in clinging to routines from what was quickly becoming Before—and if people reached for their wallets then Cass made change. People took strange things. There were those who had come early on for the toilet paper and aspirin and bottled water—and all the alcohol, to Cass’s relief. Now people wandered the aisles aimlessly and took random items that would do them no good anymore. A prepaid calling card, a map.

Meddlin, her boss, hadn’t made an appearance for a few days. The QikGo, Cass figured, was all hers. No matter. She didn’t care about Meddlin. The others, the fragile web of workers who staffed the other shifts, had been gone since the media went silent.

On a brisk March morning, a day after the lights started to flicker and fail, Cass was talking to Teddy, a pale boy from the community college who lived in the apartments down the block with a handful of roommates who didn’t seem to like him very much. Cass made coffee, wondering if it would be the last time, and wiped down the counter. There hadn’t been a dairy delivery in weeks, so she set out a can of the powdered stuff.

When the door jangled they both turned and looked.

Feverish, Teddy said quietly. Cass nodded. The ones who’d been eating the blueleaf—the ones who’d lived—were unmistakable. The fever made their skin glow with a thin sheen of perspiration. Their movements were clumsy. But most remarkable were their eyes: the pupils contracted to tiny black dots. In dark-eyed people the effect was merely unsettling; in pale-eyed people it was both captivating and frightening.

If everything hadn’t fallen apart, there would have undoubtedly been teams of doctors and scientists gathering the sick and studying and caring for and curing them. As it was, all but those closest to the sick were just happy they kept to themselves.

Glass over over, one of them said, a man whose plaid shirt was buttoned wrong so that one side hung farther down than the other, speaking to no one in particular. A second, a woman with lank brown hair that lay around her shoulders in uncombed masses, walked to a rack that held only a few bags of chips and pushed it with a stiff outstretched hand, and as it fell to the floor, she smiled and laughed, not bothering to jump out of the way of the bags which popped and sprayed dry crumbs.

Gehhhh, she crowed, and Cass noticed something else strange about her, something she hadn’t seen before. The woman’s arms were raw and red, blood dried in patches, the skin chafed and missing in spots. It almost looked like a metal grater had been run up and down her arms, her shoulders, the tops of her hands. Cass checked the others: their flesh was also covered in scabs.

Cold alarm traveled up Cass’s spine. Something was wrong—very wrong. Something even worse than the fever and the unfocused eyes and the incoherent speech. She thought she recognized one of the group, a short muscular man of about forty, whose complicated facial hair was growing out into a sloppy beard. He used to come in for cigarettes every couple of days. He was wearing filthy tan cargo shorts, and the skin above his knees was covered with the same sort of cuts and scrapes as his forearms.

Hey, she said to him. He was standing in front of a shelf that held the few personal products left in the store—bottles of shampoo and mouthwash, boxes of Band-Aids. Would you like...

Her voice trailed off as he turned and stared at her with wide unblinking blue eyes. Dome going, he said softly, then raised his wounded forearm to his face and, eyes still fixed on her, licked his lips and took a delicate nip at his red, glistening skin. His teeth closed on the damaged flesh and pulled, the raw layers of dermis pulling away from his arm, stretching and then splitting, a shred of flesh about the size of a match tearing away, leaving a bright, tiny spot of blood that glistened and pooled into a larger drop.

For a moment he stared at her, the strip quivering between his teeth, and then his tongue poked out and he drew the ruined skin into his mouth and he chewed.

"Holy fuck, dude," Teddy exclaimed, stepping back so fast that his foot thudded against the front of the counter. Cass’s stomach turned with revulsion—the man had chewed off his own skin and eaten it. Is that what had happened to his entire arm? Were the scabs and open wounds his own doing?

Fuck dude, the man mumbled as he burrowed his teeth along the ruined flesh of his arm, his tongue probing and searching. Looking for undamaged skin, Cass realized, horrified. The pattern of the wounds—covering the forearm and upper arm, fading at the elbow—it was exactly consistent with what he could reach with his own mouth, and, as if to confirm her suspicion, the man twisted his forearm in his mouth, seeking out any bit of flesh that was left undisturbed, finally trailing up to his hand and taking a deep bite from his scabby palm so that blood trickled between his lips and ran down his chin.

Out, Cass managed to say. "Get out." She ran to the thin woman, the one who had toppled the chip stand, and pushed. The woman staggered backward, regarding Cass with faint interest.

Cass, she mumbled, as she found her footing. Cass castle hassle.

Cass stared at her. Then she made the connection: this was the girl who worked at the bank, on days when Cass took the cash down to deposit. Only Cass hadn’t seen her in a few weeks, since the banks closed, their windows shattered by looters who thought cash might somehow help, cash they found they couldn’t get because it was sealed in vaults no one could open.

The young woman used to wear her hair differently. She curled it every morning, and she favored bright eye shadow, green that shaded to black around her carefully rimmed lashes. She’d worn low-cut tops and dresses in colorful patterns, a far cry from what she wore now, a red knit t-shirt several sizes too big that was only partway tucked into her jeans.

Do you know me? Cass demanded, but the girl’s eyes flickered and shifted, and she murmured something that sounded like yam yam before shuffling over to where the others stood.

Something’s fucked up with them, Teddy said. Do you hear that? They’re all like...delirious.

Cass nodded. We have to get them out.

Teddy slipped past the little group and held the door open wide. We were just getting ready to close, he stammered, and despite her unease Cass noticed the we and was glad. Maybe Teddy would stay. Maybe he would keep her company. And when there was nothing left in the store to give away, maybe he would be there to help her figure out what to do next. Cass had been on her own for a long time now, and she had told herself she didn’t want anyone else, even on the days when she felt most alone, when the craving for a drink was almost unbearable.

But maybe, now, she did. A friend. How long since she had a friend?

Buoyed by the thought, she went up to the three feverish people. She put her hands to the back of the girl’s shirt, trying not to look at the raw and weeping flesh of her limbs, and pushed. The girl allowed herself to be guided to the door, and the others followed. When Cass got them outside, she ducked back in and shut the door, twisting the heavy bolt into place.

The day had been warm, but a low layer of clouds made a thin shadow over the sun. The three people she had locked outside looked up at the sun without blinking. Cass wondered if they were slowly going blind.

The girl took a step toward the man with the misbuttoned shirt, and for a moment Cass thought she was kissing him, pushing her face into the back of his neck. He didn’t flinch, but he didn’t turn to embrace her either.

That’s—he’s— Teddy said in alarm and Cass looked closer.

The woman shook her head and only then did Cass realize she’d sunk her teeth into the man’s flesh and was tugging at it. Tearing at it. Trying to rip off a shred.

Teddy turned away and vomited on the floor, as a bright trail of blood snaked down to the man’s collar, and the woman began to chew.

Chapter 3

The girl with the blade was named Sammi, but Cass didn’t find that out until later. As dawn broke, they left the road and traveled through the woods. By the time they got to the school, maybe a mile down, the sun was high in the sky. It was the clearest sky yet since Cass had returned, flawless blue, and as they rounded a sharp bend topped by a rock outcropping and what must have once been a beautiful stand of cypress, the school stood out in stark relief against the eye-searing blue.

It had been built in the last few years Before. The architect had gone in for broad stretches of stucco, a roof molded to look like cedar, vaguely Prairie-style window placement and overhanging eaves. The sign still announced, in iron letters against hewn stone, Copper Creek Middle School.

Cass knew this school. They’d built it halfway between Silva and Terryville. She had driven past it a hundred times, thinking about Ruthie going there someday.

She was close to home.

The girl hadn’t spoken a single word. Cass tapped the girl’s blade against her own thigh, loosening her grip on the windbreaker she’d taken off and looped through the girl’s sleeves as a kind of makeshift harness before remembering the dangers and grabbing it even tighter. I’m sorry, she mouthed, but only because the girl couldn’t see. She led them across the parking lot with sure, quick steps, shoulders held high, and Cass couldn’t help but admire her courage.

For all the girl knew, Cass would have followed through with her threat and sliced her ear to ear. The blade was a good one, a two-edged straight stiletto with a small guard, the blade itself perhaps six inches long. Someone loved this girl. Someone had made sure she had a good weapon, had cared if she lived another day.

She pulled the girl tight against her and bit out the words, hating herself for saying them—and knowing they were lies. When someone comes out, tell them I’ll kill you, she murmured. Tell them that first.

The girl only nodded.

It made sense to choose a school, of course. The threats of Before seemed minor now. Everyone worried that deranged people would come into schools and steal the children away, harm them, kill them. Or that one of the students would bring a gun to school and take out his classmates. Yes, things like that had happened back then, just often enough to keep everyone vigilant, and the schools had been built with more and greater safety measures until, in the end, they were fortresses, reinforced and sealed and locked down.

In some ways it wasn’t so hard to stay safe, even now. A basic wall could keep Beaters away. A fence, even one that was only ten feet tall, like those that surrounded the school’s courtyard. As long as there were no citizens close by, nothing to attract the Beaters and drive them into a frenzy of flesh-lust, nearly any barrier at all would be enough to make them lose their focus and wander back to their fetid nestlike encampments.

They said—at least, near the end of Cass’s second life—that the Beaters were waning. Cass wasn’t so sure. It was true that they had formed larger and larger groups, nomadic little bands that took over neighborhoods and entire towns, so they weren’t appearing in sporadic places as much. They seemed to have flashes of longing for Before, just as everyone else did. You could see them sometimes, doing homely little things. It was like the bits of speech that sometimes bubbled from their lips, phrases that meant nothing, fragments that tumbled from whatever was left of their minds, dislodged from memory that had given way to the fever and the disease. Cass had seen one trying to ride a bicycle, and falling off when its jerky motions caused the wheel to spin and flip. It tried again and again and then suddenly lost interest and wandered away. Another time she had seen one at a clothesline, taking the pins off one by one and holding them in its ruined hand, then reattaching them.

Cass had known a woman who had been a social worker Before. Her name was Miranda. They had not been friends, exactly, but they had sheltered together in the library before a half-dozen Beaters came through a back door that had been left open one day and dragged her off.

Miranda had once worked with violent offenders, counseling them to look deep inside themselves to find the key to who they were before abuse and anger had changed them. She had been extraordinarily successful, the pride of the Anza County Correctional System’s Anger Replacement Therapy program. Miranda had believed that in those moments when the Beaters appeared to be connecting to a memory, miming some homely everyday task, there was a chance to remind them of who they had once been. That if you could reach them in that moment—if you could reconnect the splintered shards of memory—that you could reverse the process of the disease. That the afflicted would comprehend the horror of what they had become, and choose to come back.

Miranda had wanted to try it. It wouldn’t be so hard to capture just one, she had argued at one of the town hall meetings Bobby held every few days. Bobby was the de facto leader of the ragtag group of a few dozen people sheltering in the library. Miranda tried to recruit a few of the men: one who used to be a deputy sheriff, several hard-muscle types who’d worked in construction, and, of course, Bobby. They all listened to Miranda’s plan: capture a Beater, bring it back...restrain it, observe it. Wait until the right moment and then she, trained in the ways of the desperate, the outcast, would speak to it.

Bobby listened, but he could not contain his incredulity. You think you’re, what, some kind of zombie whisperer? Because you got a few crack whores to give up their babies? Is that it, Miranda, you think a Beater’s like some guy beats his wife on payday?

Miranda had argued back, passionately. But when the Beaters came for her that day, breaking in that forgotten back door while the kitchen detail was cleaning up from a lunch of kaysev shoots and canned apple pie filling, when Miranda had taken some trash to the back hall by herself, it wasn’t reasoned argument that issued from her lips. It was screaming, as raw and desperate as the screams of any of the others who were taken, screams that echoed in Cass’s mind on nights when sleep wouldn’t come.

The school, though... Cass guessed that they had not lost anyone that way here. In addition to the fences, brick walls surrounded the entire courtyard. The doors would be the type that shut automatically. Guards would be posted. They undoubtedly did all their harvesting and raiding at night. Maybe they even had a few flashlights, some batteries.

Why had they let this girl out on her own? It made no sense. Even though it should have still been safe—the Beaters rarely went hunting before the sun rose high in the sky—what adult, what parent, would allow a child to go out alone? Had she somehow gotten separated from others? Had some greater threat come along?

There was a sudden clang and the door to the school burst open and a woman ran out, wailing. Her flip-flops slapped against the pavement, and she stumbled at the kaysev-choked median that once kept the carpooling moms in orderly lines. A pair of men chased after her, trying to restrain her, but the woman shook them off. Sammi! she screamed, but Cass pulled the girl tight against her and held the blade to the soft skin under her chin.

Stop there, Cass yelled. And then she added the one thing that might convince them to do as she said. I am not a Beater!

She watched them look at her, watched the terror in the woman’s expression and the fury and determination in the men’s slowly tinge with doubt. She felt their gazes on her ragged skin, her scalp where the hair was only now growing back. She waited, holding her breath, until she saw that they knew.

Until they saw that her pupils were like anyone else’s, black and pronounced.

I don’t want to hurt this girl, she called, trying to keep her voice steady. I don’t want any trouble. I am not a Beater and I can... She had been about to say that she could explain her appearance, but that was a lie. She couldn’t explain, and no one else could either. I can prove it, if you let me. I’m not asking to come in. I don’t want anything from you except to be allowed to continue into town.

Let the girl go, one of the men said.

The woman sank down to her knees and extended her arms beseechingly. Please, she keened. Please please please please please...

And something shifted inside Cass. A memory of Ruthie being carried away, screaming, sent to live with Cass’s mother and the man she’d married. The man who’d made her life hell. She remembered her own pleas, how she had gone down on her knees just like the woman before her now, how she’d collapsed on the floor after the front door shut behind Mim and Byrn and the court people carrying her Ruthie away, how she’d cried into the sour-smelling carpet until she could barely breathe.

She released the girl then and watched her go to her mother, jogging across the pavement, but not before glancing back over her shoulder. A defiant glance, sparked with victory. The girl felt she’d won. Well, Cass certainly felt like she’d lost, so maybe that was fitting.

The mother gathered the girl up in

Reviews for Aftertime

[henrimoreaux · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

To be completely honest I didn't have very high hopes for this novel having read a few negative reviews where people slammed the way the narrative wound the protagonists past and present into the story line making it hard to follow. That, and the idea of a ex-addict whose had her child removed by protective services didn't seem like a sympathetic or relatable lead character.So you can imagine my surprise when it turned out that the narrative in fact easily relayed the events from the past and present in a clear fashion, furthermore wise the protagonist certainly has her issues you do begin to sympathise with what led to her being in that position and the manner in which she is attempting to rebuild her life.Overall, I found it to be a pretty decent tale, although the way it drops the name of a novel-specific plant growing in certain places before even explaining what said plant is was a bit mind boggling. Will continue reading the series.

[sarah.hansrote · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

an amazing book about a world during a man made zombie apocalypse. Caused by the using of a modified plant that was supposed to change the world in better as a substitute of normal foodCass is apparently the only person that healed from the zombie virus and when she awakens back to herself again her only desire is to find her precious daughter Ruthie. After finding the last place where her and her daughter where before she got bitten, she discovers that her daughter was bitten too and that like her she was healed. The only problem was that a religious cult took her away to the big city where only women are accepted in the cult. She and her companion Smoke that is also the first person she encounters when she wakes, will infiltrate in the city where she will go in the cult to save her daughter, to discover that the cult is a group of psychos that makes you drink zombie blood and maybe even make you into one because they believe that the prayers of children will heal them.Crazy and passionate story.

[anissaannalise-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I had been searching for a good dystopian novel that wasn't YA & I mean, high & low. I love the YA novels but being an adult, I like to also read about people who've lived a bit longer & have grown up problems & issues. Even if they aren't problems or issues I've had, I like the peer/parity thing. I happened to see a post on Twitter recommending this book & I can't even say how thrilled I am for that. It was well worth the read & I have already bought the second in the series to read shortly.

The writing style is smooth & descriptive without being maudlin. The characters are extremely well drawn & not overdone to the point that you're not still deeply curious about them. Cass was phenomenal & I thought there was something wonderful about following her as a recovering alcoholic when the situation is rife with reasons to want or need to deaden ones senses. Smoke (or Ed) is a well crafted enigma & I need to know more! The portrayal of the Beaters is sometimes less frightening than the state of things with uninfected people & some of the best storytelling is to be found in those parts. I could go on & on but I don't want to give anything away. It's so good you need to experience it on your own.

If you're like me & have been craving an adult story after the great catastrophes & the zombies roam & you need less Y & more A, treat yourself to this series.

[has_bookpusher · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Full review to be posted soon.

Stark, chilling and gritty dystopian fantasy, with a flawed and realistic heroine determined to be reunited with her daughter. I really enjoyed this book and Cassie's quest to be reunited with her daughter was heartfelt and in my mind the real heart of this story although I did love how the romance with the mysterious Smoke developed. Like Cassie's reawakening from being a Beater - her emotions are starting to come alive and I loved that juxtaposition along with her battling her inner demons from her past as well as battling the real ones (human and Beaters) in her quest to find her daughter. Definitely will be picking up the followup. Only gripe is that I wished the world-building was explained more such as what was the cause for the collapse in society, who was behind the attacks and the time from the Before to the Siege to Aftertime - it was vague and felt like it was 6 months or so although how groups emerged to survive felt longer than it is.

[capnrandm · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book has the distinction of being one of the only "post-apocalyptic" stories that I've enjoyed, and I enjoyed it to the point where I read it in one sitting. Equal parts interesting premise, believable (and heart-breaking) heroine, and action, my only complaint about AFTERTIME is that it was over too soon. This book is all about a journey, but I would have loved more detail about Cass and Smoke once the destination had been reached.

Read Abigail's review at All Things Urban Fantasy.

[a_reader_of_fictions · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Sometimes I kind of think I should have made my blog dystopia themed, since so much of what I read these days falls into that category. This one is a pretty interesting world, although vaguely reminiscent of some others I have encountered. The story was relatively slow moving at several points, despite the thrilling content. It wasn't a bad read, but did not leave me wanting more.

The biggest problem I had with this book was Cass. I just could not relate to her. She is a recovering alcoholic, a bit of a nymphomaniac and a mother. The way she thinks often makes me want to knock some sense into her. She is incredibly mistrusting, and yet entirely willing to take advantage of those who are helping her. Her actions in the last chapter struck me as inconsistent; she suddenly stops worrying about all of that and embraces a new path. Too sudden!

On the other (well-gnawed) hand the zombies in Aftertime are definitely amongst the scariest I have read about. For one thing, they are super extra creepy. They do the usual zombie things, like continuing to follow a food source, even when they have missing limbs. What really freaked me out though was the progression of the disease that made humans into Beaters. First the Beaters eat whatever of their own flesh they can reach (their arms) and then they discover fresh human flesh. When they catch a person, they like to eat the flesh off of their backs while they are still alive. Yikes! Plus, these zombies are learning how to strategize. Now, that's just not fair.

Aftertime is sort of like a combination of Carrie Ryan's The Forest of Hands and Teeth and Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower. If you liked the aforementioned books or some terrifying zombie action, this book's for you!

[nikk1s · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book. The characters are so complex, and I became emotionally invested very early on. Cass is so complicated and interesting. She is strong and capable but broken and on a journey for peace in a world of chaos. You want her to succeed and to keep fighting. The characters are always moving to stay alive and so the action of the story keeps pace realisticaly. This story is dark and somber and the ending is hopeful but not in the traditional way of happy endings. This has become one of my favorites and I highly recommend to anyone looking for something new.

[mtrumbo_2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Standard zombie apocalypse fare

[mbg0312 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I kind of skimmed this one on my Android phone, but I regret not paying more attention to it. I'll probably re-read it at some later date, and I'm going to pick up her other novels - A Bad Day for Sorry and A Bad Day for Pretty. I quite enjoyed what I read, but I think I needed the dead-tree version to pay maximum attention. I'm definitely looking for more of her stuff.

[readaholic12_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Aftertime held great promise in the early chapters and quickly deteriorated into a rushed, formulaic, unsatisfying read. After reading Zone One and World War Z, my expectations were high, and this book and author disappointed. I'm surprised at the number of reviewers raving over this book on Amazon, and wonder what I'm missing. I feel this book is missing character development and plot structure in the second half, and perhaps cover art with a bare chested, long haired male model to help steer away readers like me who don't enjoy pulpy romance and with their apocalyptic reads.

[titania86_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

California has been reduced to a barren wasteland by a failed scientific experiment that created horrific creatures called Beaters. They are people who have turned savage, mutilating themselves, eating skin (both theirs and others’), and generally spreading around their sickness. Because of these creatures and the bioterrorism that created them, the government has fallen apart, leaving people to form their own factions and live by their own laws. Cass Dollar woke up horribly scarred and alone with no memory of the injuries, where she is, or how much time has passed. She also doesn’t know where her daughter, Ruthie, is or if she’s ok or if she’s even alive. Her daughter is everything to her and her main goal (besides, obviously, surviving) is to find her at any cost. Cass’s journey will take her to unlikely places and encounter many different types of people, but she will never stop trying to get to Ruthie.I wasn’t expecting a lot from Aftertime because it was published by Luna, an offshoot of Harlequin. I figured the zombie aspect would take a backseat to the romance because of this and prepared myself accordingly. I was completely wrong and I am very impressed with Aftertime. Although there is some measure of romance with Smoke, the sexy, mysterious man who helps Cass, the real story of the novel is about the love of a mother for her child and the lengths she will go to protect her. Cass hasn’t always been a great mom. Before the Beaters, she was a promiscuous alcoholic and, as a result, Ruthie was taken away from her. When she woke up, she tries to turn it all around with perseverance and will alone. She still isn’t a perfect character, but I think anyone could relate to her (well, except maybe super judgmental people) because we all make mistakes. Even with her colorful past, I like Cass and I admire that she braves death and dismemberment to make amends and protect her child where so many other people would just stay save and give up.This post-apocalyptic world is unique to others of its kind. Different factions argue for power and some stay neutral to befriend both sides. The Rebuilders try to take supplies and locations from people in the name of the government which no longer exists. They intimidate and harm people in the name of their false cause and make a lot of enemies. The Box is a small slice of hedonism that will sell drugs, booze, music, and sex in exchange for supplies. I’ve never really seen something like it in post-apocalyptic books, but it makes sense. People want to escape reality and drown their sorrows and now there are no laws in place to stop the drug and sex trade. The third faction is the Convent, a mysterious sect of religious women. Although devout in their own brand of religion, there is something weird about them, but they keep in the good graces of the Box and the Rebuilders to do trade and preserve their safety. They are incredibly creepy, but you’ll have to read to find out why.The zombies in Aftertime aren’t they typical undead variety, but they are frightening nonetheless. They only like to eat skin, instead of indiscriminately chowing down on any given body part. I think this is even more frightening because chewing off your skin isn’t likely to kill you. You will be slowly tortured by being flayed and then turned into one of them. They are alive, so are frailer than the undead, but they don’t seem to feel pain the same way and can push their limits beyond what normal humans can. I really like this new take on zombies and I can’t wait to see where else Sophie Littlefield takes them, especially if the virus evolves.Aftertime is an excellent zombie novel that surprised me with its realistic characters, post-apocalyptic societies, and crazy reimagining of zombies. The only negative aspects of the book were some editing problems, but I barely noticed them because the writing and story were so engaging. I would recommend this to any zombie fan and I eagerly await the next book, Rebirth.

[themusescircle · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

**The following review may contain SPOILERS** I'm not sure what is going on with me recently, but it's apparent that I have become obsessed with apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic novels as of late. From Ann Aguirre's Enclave to Daniel H. Wilson's Robopocalypse, I have a pretty vivid picture of what it would be like if vampires or robots took over the world. Now I can add zombies to the list! So here are a few things I loved about Aftertime. Cass, our protagonist, is more of a relatable character than a likeable one. She is a recovering alcoholic who allowed men to use and abuse her body because of her low self-esteem and lack of self worth. Cass has never really been good at anything except for 2 things-- loving her daughter and surviving. We've all heard stories on the news or read about people getting second chances after experiencing some kind of tragedy. Cass easily falls into this category. It's as if she's been asleep for a really long time and suddenly snaps awake. Speaking of waking up abruptly, that leads me to another thing I liked about the book. The story doesn't start before the apocalypse or way after. It starts with Cass walking after waking up without any recollection as to where she is or how she got there. But there is one thing she can't deny-- the fact that the "Beaters" (aka zombies) had somehow gotten to her and she survived. The proof was the torn, half eaten skin on her back...and the new growth of skin quickly regenerating. Creepy right? I give Sophie Littlefield a lot of credit for taking a different approach in hooking the attention of her readers. I also admire the author's zombie mythology. While it may not be wholely unique, there are still a few things that set it apart from zombies in other stories. The zombies or "Beaters" as they are called in Aftertime, only like eating skin. They don't get off on eating body parts or tearing out your internal organs to have a feast. Nope, these guys love skin, hence the reason why Cass's back is torn to shreds when we are first introduced to her. Also, these zombies are not stupid, mindless creatures. Some of them have retained knowledge from their pasts, which is why 1 may try talking while another might try pushing a wheel barrel down the street, etc. While they may try biting you on the spot, they much rather take you back to their "nest" so they can feast on your flesh without being interrupted. Yuck! Even though this story is about Cass and her grim determination to find her daughter and come to terms with her past, Littlefield brilliantly shows us the deterioration of human society through Cass's journey and the people she meets along the way. From those who rather live in isolation and fend for themselves to the Rebuilders who feed off people's fear in order to rebuild society in the way they see fit, to the junkie camps-- a place for people to trade things in order to get their next fix and rather drown themselves in alcohol and drugs then face reality. And lastly, the religious fanatics. Let me not forget to mention Smoke. Sexy, mysterious Smoke, the man who helps Cass continue her search for her daughter and stirs something deep within her heart... Okay so now for my dislikes. I can honestly say that my issues with this book has nothing to do with the author, but whoever was her editor. The editor did a shitty job for several reasons. One is the ungodly long run-on sentences here and there, the major one being on page 102. The sentence goes on for 12 lines and is marked as if it is one big paragraph. Sometimes run-on sentences work, but not in this case. There are also parts in the book where the author contradicts herself. For example, on page 123, Cass takes her shirt off, looks at her back in the mirror, and comes to the conclusion that the wounds weren't as bad as she expected and that they are healing fast. Then on page 140, Cass acts like she never had looked at herself in the mirror 30 pages before and is completely horrified by what she sees. Another contradition is when Cass and Smoke reach the library where there are other survivors. Smoke is only patted down to make sure he is not carrying any weapons. Cass, on the other hand, is taken into a bathroom by a woman who used to be her friend. There, Cass has to completely strip out of her clothes. Now, I get the trip to the bathroom was so that her friend could have a moment of privacy to tell her important information about Cass's missing daughter. I even get that the author needed a way for Cass's friend to see the scars on her back for a specific plot purpose. However, it makes no sense for Smoke only to be patted down while Cass has to get completely naked in order to prove she has no weapons on her. While you might think the run-on senstences and contradictions may be the author's fault, I put the blame more on the editor since they are the ones who are supposed to read the book for the sole purpose of correcting errors such as these. Overall, this was a solid first book in what I believe is going to be a trilogy. The second in the series-- Rebirth-- is already out. So if you are having trouble weeding through the hundreds of zombie themed books in search for something different, Aftertime is definitely worth it.

[cmwilson101 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Several elements of Aftertime (Luna Books) by Sophie Littlefield elevate the book far above standard dystopian/post-apocalyptic literature:1. Beautiful, gorgeous, lyrical prose2. Interesting, complex, complicated three dimensional characters3. Plausible, unique setting -- bio terrorism has ended the world as we know it and created "Beaters" (mindless zombie-like creatures)4. Interesting plot.Recovering alcoholic Cass wakes up alone with huge wounds on her body, strange physical attributes, and a burning desire to find her toddler daughter -- whatever it takes. Her journey leads her through a landscape devastated by bio terrorism and rift with danger. Excellent, interesting, exciting story. Highly recommended.

[stephy5g_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Exciting, rush of a read. This book keeps hooked until the end. You follow the characters through a journey of addiction and abuse to finally finding what she needs to make a her life right for her. The author uses great details to leaving little to the imagination but keep you coming back for more.

[c5ibarra · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wow, wow, wow! After reading numerous young adult dystopian tales, it was refreshing to read about survival in a post-apocalyptic world from an adult's point of view. Cassandra Dollar wakes up with injuries consistent to those usually inflicted by the Beaters (AKA flesh eating zombies) that are roaming the world since a government mission gone wrong. She vaguely remembers being attacked, but knows people can't recover from the infection that ravages the body after coming in contact with an infected's saliva. At least until now she had thought it impossible. Quickly the desire to reunite with her young daughter, Ruthie, sets Cass into motion and on a long and difficult journey. The need to know her baby girl is safe is the force pushing and driving Cass to continue even when the outlook looks hopeless. She finds an ally in a man named, Smoke, who puts his faith in Cass, even though she doesn't feel she deserves it. Together they search for Ruthie in a world defined by Before and After, and discover along the way that the Beaters aren't the only threat to humanity. Cass is one of the most damaged heroines I've ever met. She has suffered a difficult life littered with addiction and abuse, but not once does her maternal instinct falter. That is what made me love her. She is an amazing woman who I felt a connection to almost immediately. This book is gritty and violent. I was concerned during the first chapter that the gruesome and gory details would be too much for me to continue, but Cass makes you want to keep reading. The author's writing teamed with a fast paced plot, and relatable characters made is painfully difficult to put Aftertime down once I started reading. The romantic elements involving Cass and Smoke, was a nice addition to the plot. I like that the author incorporated tender, and sometimes not so tender, moments between the two without detracting from the action and survival that I've come to expect from dystopian and post-apocalyptic novels. Smoke is a man with so many layers, and I think we only saw a brief glimpse of who he is (and why) over the course of Aftertime. As far as Smoke is concerned, chivalry is not dead in Aftertime. He is always ready to sacrfice himself for the greater good. He is one of those men who is difficult not to love. I hope we'll learn more about what he is hiding, and his life Before. All around this is just a great read. Not for the faint of heart as the author touches on sensitive topics and doesn't spare readers the gruesome details. This is a book that will take root in your head and leave you pining for more. I'm eager to read more from the talented author!

[dgoo_6 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Aftertime was an engaging and exciting read with a strong and very flawed female heroine, a compelling story and, somewhat surprisingly for a post-apocalyptic novel with zombies, beautiful prose. I haven't read a book involving zombie like creatures before, but this story did not follow the path of zombie storylines that I think most people would be familiar with. The story was frightening, often chilling, with it's post eco, bio and energy terrorism world, one that didn't seem too far fetched given our current global political, bioengineering, and GMO climate. Highly recommended to science fiction or future dystopia fans.

[amanderson_2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Powerful characterization of a haunted, former alcoholic heroine whose one obsession is finding her little daughter in the messed up world of a near future California, post-bioterrorist attacks. She wakes up in a field after several weeks of memory blackout, during which she was a zombie, as the terrible scars on her back prove. She seems to be the first person to ever recover from the disease, which is pretty horrifically described. I will spare you all, but it's the stuff of nightmares. It seems to be caused by eating a fairly poisonous plant, a highly nutritious biologically engineered plant's hybrid cousin which causes euphoria but then turns people into flesh eating vicious zombies. Oh, you government and your unintended consequences. They also seem to be contagious zombies. Not quite following the science there, but the main concern is whether Cass wil survive and find her daughter amidst the wasteland of a dystopian, zombie filled California. Pretty good stuff.

[margk_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When the world falls apart and all you've ever known is taken away--your life turned upside down--how will you survive?How will you adapt?Will you change, and if so, who will you choose to become?What beliefs will you hold on to?What will you be willing to fight for?Will you lead or will you follow?These are the questions that I look for in dystopian/post-apocalyptic fiction. It is the exploration of human nature & behavior that fascinates me.One of the strongest of all animal instincts is the drive to survive. Unlike with other animals, however, the human struggle for survival is far more complex than just a hardwired fight or flight response. People are capable of awe-inspiring feats of bravery & ingenuity in the face of danger. They can be confronted with insurmountable odds and still refuse to give up. Some can even challenge that biological instinct for self-preservation and risk their own lives in order to protect, help, or save others. On the flip side, people are also capable of horrific acts of selfishness & brutality in order to preserve their own well-being. Some people will cheat, lie, steal, and kill--do whatever it takes, no mater who it hurts--so that they may live & prosper.Then there are those who choose to survive through blind acceptance of a path set forth by others who assume leadership & control. They accept & adapt to whatever social structures, conditions, rules, and expectations are set before them no matter how unfair or outright wrong they may be. They do so because they don't feel that they have the strength to survive on their own. They do so because they are afraid to challenge the status quo. Thus, they adapt to things like militant law, unjust persecution/punishment, segregation, and oppression.Aftertime by Sophie Littlefield addresses all of this and much more without any reservation. It does so by taking the reader on a fast-paced, action-packed journey through the eyes of a mother determined to be reunited with her daughter at whatever the cost.The story of Aftertime takes place in an unspecified near-future (probably about a couple of decades from now) in which international conflict between nations has reached a fever-pitch and bioterrorism has run rampant. With advancement in technology, biological weapons have been designed to attack livestock & vegetation with deadly precision. Consequently, widespread starvation forces scientists to artificially create a dietary substitute called K7 (kaysev)--a plant that is composed of essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Not long after crops of it are established, however, a new variety referred to as blueleaf starts to grow. As it turns out, when ingested, blueleaf causes a disease marked by delirium & high fever. Many die from the fever alone, but those that survive enter into the next stage of the disease. This stage results in gradual loss of almost all cognitive ability, fixed pinpoint pupils, and an insatiable hunger for human flesh. The infected slowly turn into zombie-like creatures called Beaters and spread the infection through their saliva.Be forewarned, Aftertime is not a light read by any means. It is not for everyone; it's certainly not for the faint of heart. There is some heavy stuff dealt with in this book and some very graphic imagery. And both the very best and the very worst of humanity is put on display.With that said, I will admit that I completely, unexpectedly fell in love with this book. Here are three most significant reasons why: (1) it made me think, (2) it made me experience a gamut of emotions, and (3) it gave me goosebumps.Need more reasons? Okay, here we go.I loved Cass. She was such a damaged, complicated, multilayered character and the epitome of a fighter. She reminded me of why I have such a deep respect & admiration for mothers. In fact, her unwavering determination and unmeasurable love for her daughter reminded me of my own mother. The combination of inner strength & selflessness that mothers possess is a painfully beautiful thing, and Cass continuously exuded it throughout this book. Despite her pain, fear and self-doubt, she never stopped pushing herself forward; never gave up on Ruthie. When I finished reading Aftertime, one of the first things I did was go over to my mom, give her a hug, and tell her that I love her. I was that moved by Cass's story.Then there was Smoke. As his name implies, he was a very mysterious, intriguing character. At first, I didn't know how to feel about him. I was a bit suspicious actually. I was worried that he had a not-so-nice ulterior motive for helping Cass. My distrust & fascination with him was fueled by the fact that he was very secretive and had a hard, dangerous, alpha male edge to his personality. I also initially thought that he had a bit of a White Knight complex...and maybe he did. Nonetheless, the way he helped and took care of Cass totally made me fall for him. Plus, there were moments when he was damn sexy.As for the writing, it was wonderfully descriptive; the imagery so vivid. Like I pointed out earlier, there were some gruesome, bone-chilling scenes in this book. There was blood, gore, and violence abound in Aftertime, but it wasn't simply for shock value. No, it was used in such a way as to make the reader experience the horror of Cass's dangerous reality; to make you feel her fear, panic, and disgust at what she witnessed & encountered throughout her journey.The depiction of Beaters and the way they fed on their victims was especially well-detailed. And I appreciated the twist on zombie lore. In Aftertime, Beaters did not simply kill their prey. They would subdue victims and then bring them back to the nest, where they would feed as a pack. Another difference was that Beaters only ate their victims' skin; they would tear it off bit by bit with their teeth and leave the rest of the body mostly untouched. They would also have superhuman speed & strength when in a feeding frenzy. Furthermore, to the characters' dismay, it was slowly revealed that the Beaters were evolving & becoming smarter--organized and almost strategic in their hunting. This added to the level of danger & excitement in the story.Finally, I'm sure Aftertime has its share of flaws and based on the Goodreads rating, there were quite a few people who didn't like this book, but I honestly find myself hard-pressed to pick out things I didn't like or felt were flawed. So there ya have it; different strokes for different folks.

[bookaddictdiary · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

As a fan of Sophie Littlefield's YA thriller Banished, I thought it only made sense to check out her new adult post-apocalyptic series, Aftertime. Though a far cry from Banished, Aftertime offered a new adventure for readers to enjoy filled with emotion, redemption, family and even zombies...Cass lived through the apocalypse, only to wake up in a devastated California filled with zombies and without her daughter, Ruthie. Without any knowledge of what's going on, Cass sets out to find her daughter, and ends up finding Smoke, a man who dares to trust Cass, and maybe even to love her. As Cass journeys through the new world, she finds that things aren't way they were before.Aftertime is a heavy-handed read filled with emotion and even more redemption for our main character. Probably the best thing the story has going for it is that it's more original than most post-apocalyptic novels out there I've read, with a realistic and honest plot that's still possible to relate to, despite the grim, dark future. However, I'll admit that at times the plot felt a little angsty, put the overall originality of the plot was worthwhile.Cass is also an honest character that I found myself rooting for. While she annoyed me at points, I grew into her story and wanted her to succeed in her quest -and even get the guy in the end. While I wouldn't say that this the best novel I've read in the genre, it's good for something different, and a quick read.

[elizabethjh_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a thrilling and haunting read! I loved the world descriptions, and really thought the idea of blueleaf was very fascinating and original. The talk and stories of the beaters left me on the edge of my seat as well as finding out what happened to Cass. The ending is what sealed a 5 star rating opposed to 4 stars for me. The ending was very shocking and suspenseful and wrapped this book up nicely as well as leaving the reading wondering....what will happen next?

[tlm0000 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I was very excited when I found out I would receive this book to review. The book didn't materialize when it was supposed to and I guess that should have been a sign. Two things will peak my interest; Zombies & End of Civilization books. This book has them both. The story line is interesting, the characters could be interesting, but they're not. The main character spends so much time remembering things that the story at times seems to move backwards instead of forwards. I understand the reason, filling in the back story, but I do not appreciate the way it is done.I did not like the pace of this book nor did I find any character to latch on to.

[alleycatfish_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this dystopian zombie novel. It is pretty much similar to many other novels of this type. You have your 'normal' survivors banding together, the crazy religious nuts being crazy, and the others who decide that they should start civilization over and be the leaders. I did find the origin of the Beaters to be an interesting take on zombies. I found it to be well written and am looking forward to reading the next book.

[crazybatcow · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

 The "romance" between Smoke (stupid name for a grown man - just because the world has gone to hell doesn't mean people would be taking on silly nicknames) and Cass is stretching it - 24 hours in and she's smitten with him? Yeah, whatever...Anyway, for the first 1/3 of the book, in the back of my mind, I was thinking "finally, a post-apocalypse story that doesn't have the women being herded for rape or the men creating gangs and shooting everyone who's not in theirs". Then we see the development of the "cliques" (no, none of them are original - the "militants", the "sinners", the "religious", the "hermits") but at least none of it devolved into the post-apocalyse serial rape "farms".As another reviewer suggested: this story is not as much about an apocalypse but more like the redemption of a woman, set in an apocalyptic environment. I liked the apocalypse - the origins, the response, the solution... it was all very believable and realistic. Even the zombies struck me as believable, for the most part (I'm still not sure why they are super fast).I did not relate to Cass on any level (and this is the main reason why this book only gets 3 stars) - there was some sense that her deep desire to find her daughter was more related to her addiction (and her need to redeem herself from it) than because she wanted to find her daughter. I see now that this novel is a Harlequin production, which means the personal redemption thread, and the quick romance, and Cass's sexual background make MUCH more sense now. As long as you keep in mind that this book isn't trying to tell you about surviving the apocalypse as much as it's trying to tell you about a woman's survival and redemption, you should like it. Oh, and there is no supernatural root to any of it - it's all a manmade tragedy.

[23blue · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Through this entire book I felt hope. Hope that our main character Cass would find her daughter, hope that there was some way the world would survive, and hope that there was somewhere safe. Despite the horrors of the world of this story I wanted her to make it and for there to be a chance at something more. This story does get resolved but is left open enough for her to write another which I would certainly read. Even through all the bad things people are banding together and making things work. A few twists take place with Cass being taken and recovering, scared but still recovering, the goofy my way or the highway reunification guys, the religious cult, the compound of safety and vice. One of the things I liked about this book was the ability of people to clear out an area and make it safer.

[dasuzuki · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

So I don't know how I missed the fact that this was a zombie book even though when I re-read the synopsis it says it right there. I thought it was just a dystopian story so I was doubly happy to start this book since I love zombie books. Sophie Littlefield's take on zombies is the perfect balance between traditional zombies but also some unique traits that make her zombies stand out. If you are looking for zombies that are somehow sexy or a romance between a zombie and a regular person go look for a different book. I don't know where the idea of sexy zombies came from but I want my zombies shuffling and flesh eating. There are some points where it can get a bit squeamish as the characters describe exactly how the zombies attack people and tear at their flesh as well as some of the cannibalistic actions they perform on themselves.Cass can come across as a little harsh because of all she has had to overcome and has learned to depend only on herself but you get glimpses at her vulnerability as people like Smoke, a fellow survivor who is helping her to find her daughter, begin to get beyond the shell she's built around herself. Smoke has his own mysterious past that we only get glimpses of but there are still a lot of unanswered questions that I suppose will be revealed in a sequel. The fascinating part of this book though were the different groups that evolved after most of the population fell prey to the beaters or sickness. You have those that believe prayer can cure the beaters, those that take advantage of people's need to escape reality for a few hours and those that want to create a new world order.The story dragged a little but next thing you know the story starts zooming along and you are at the climax before you even realize it. I enjoyed this book but it didn't enthrall me so although there were enough unanswered questions to make me think there will be a second book I'm not sure I will read it.

[alishaneedstoread · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Quick Take: This book had my pulse racing for much of the time I spent reading it. The lush visuals, the emotions, the mystery and (of course) the high chill-factor made this an absolutely wonderful read. I was so spooked and unnerved, but absolutely could not tear my eyes from the page.Review:So, this book has an official blurb and all, but really I think the story as a whole somewhat defies brief description. The best that one can do is to describe the beginning, which is intentionally disorienting; the protagonist herself can barely gather her wits about her enough to make coherent thoughts, and even has a chunk of time missing from her memory. What's immediately clear is that the world--at least from the protagonist's perspective--is different; something hugely substantial has happened, and the desolate landscape is almost unrecognizable.From the moment Cassie began describing her surroundings and checkered memories, I was hooked. She's a very emotionally (and physically!) damaged individual, and spend a lot of time thinking about her failings. Her main source of guilt is the fact that she does not know where the whereabouts two-year-old daughter, Ruthie. This in fact becomes the main driver of the story; Cassie will stop at nothing to find her child. Politics related to a post-apocalyptic environment? The fate of the world? Not the focus here; it's barely even addressed, actually. This book is all about the emotions, motivations, and perseverance of the main character. Most other characters are unimportant, save for the contributions they make to Cassie's journey; in this way, this book is very much an odyssey in the vain of...well, The Odyssey. ^_^What's also found in spades is horror. The imagery used in this book ranges from violent and gory to chilling and quietly moving. Yes, there are zombies here, called Beaters. Indeed, there is much flesh being rent from bones. ..and yes, it all freaked the living daylights out of me. I contemplated putting the book down in a fit of whimpiness, but found it was difficult to do so; Littlefield really manages to draw the reader in with her descriptions, even the intensely grotesque ones.The pacing of this book feels effortless; as in any good odyssey, there are moments of high-tension punctuated with some emotion and personal development. Cassie is sympathetic, and her internal struggles resonated easily. There is a romantic element in this book, though it by no means overtakes the story. I found that it was developed in a believable and understandable fashion; I appreciated that it wasn't overly sweet and dramatic, which might not have fit in with the tone and focus of the book.So. If you decide to read this book, what can you expect? You'll find a fair amount of gore, violence and human desperation. You'll also find a vast physical and emotional journey that is both touching and haunting. This book will be the first in a series, though I'm not clear on how many books there will be in total or whether it will continue its focus on Cassie. Regarding the latter, I sure hope she remains the protagonist; I'm hooked on her personal story and will gladly freak myself out on flesh-thirsty zombies to find out how she fares.

[suetu_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The past was Before. The present is Aftertime. Once upon a time, monsters were the stuff of b-movies and campfire tales, and could safely be ignored. And ignore them I did. Last year, a slew of authors got me to believe enough in their science-based vampires to be frightened. It seems that this may be the year of the zombie for me. Not the Voodoo, risen from the dead, magical kind, but the scary, all-too-real, disease-transmitting kind. Sophie Littlefield’s kind. Ms. Littlefield, it seems, doesn’t want to be pigeonholed. Her latest novel, Aftertime, is a radical departure from anything we’ve seen previously. The first-person narrator is Cass Dollar. Cass has awakened after an indeterminate period of time, badly wounded, in clothes she has never seen before. As she seeks to orient herself, so does the reader. We discover that Cass lives in the near future in Northern California . The details of what happened to Cass, and to the country, are somewhat sketchy, and sussing them out is part of the pleasure of the novel. (There are details, but I don’t want to spoil them for you.) What is clear is that something led to a disease. Many of the old and young died outright. But surviving the initial fever was a far worse fate. It is the diseased survivors that have become zombie-like cannibals, predators, killers, and spreaders of disease. Cass awakens in a terrible state. She partially remembers being attacked, and given her appearance, it’s hard to escape the conclusion that she was turned. Certainly, she has lost time. But far, far worse, she has lost her three-year-old daughter. Finding Ruthie is Cass’s quest. The reader navigates this altered, post-apocalyptic landscape alongside her, and Cass’s voyage of discovery becomes ours. In many cases, empathy with the central character will carry you through a book. I have to admit that I didn’t really relate to Cass. I share neither of her most distinguishing and motivating characteristics: motherhood and addiction. Cass isn’t a warm and fuzzy character. (I’m pretty sure the warm and fuzzy have died off in this harsh world.) But I cared about her, and I cared about her quest. I was with her in horrified fascination every step of the way. Leading up to the startling final pages of this book, I thought to myself: All bets are off. I had no idea what Littlefield was going to do, up to and including kill off her narrator. She managed to pull off one of those great endings that made me feel completely satisfied as though the story had been told. And yet… I wondered. Has the whole story been told? Certainly, I’m still curious about a lot of what went on Before. And while Cass’s tale came to a satisfying conclusion without annoying hanging threads, it’s a brave new world. There are surely more tales to be told. I was curious enough to make inquiries, and I learned that Aftertime is, in fact, the first of a trilogy. Excellent!

[jamesterck · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My opinion: First off we meet Cass, who is wandering by herself alone. She has no recollection of what happened to her, but she has scars all over her body. A new plant species was introduced to the U.S. and by eating it, people developed a severe fever. If they survived that initial fever, they would slowly develop into what we would consider zombies; they are driven by the need to eat human flesh and only that. Cass knows she was attacked by these creatures, called Beaters, and she did get the disease for a while, but somehow her body fought it off. The attack happened two months previously and now Cass has no idea where her 3 year old daughter Ruthie is, but she knows she needs to find her. Due to the scars though, she knows it will be hard to prove to anyone that she isn't a Beater, so luckily she wanders across a young girl. The girl takes Cass back to the place where she's staying and is able to plead her case. There she meets a Smoke, a man who is determined to help keep people safe and help keep sort of an order. He agrees to take her to the Library where she lived with her daughter before she was taken, to see if by some miracle Ruthie is still there. Cass hates relying on other people, but she knows early on that she can trust Smoke. When they get to the Library, Cass is treated as a stranger. A woman she used to know there confides that if they know that she was attacked by Beaters, she will most likely be disposed of. She also learns that her daughter was bitten and developed a fever and signs of the disease too, but like Cass she recovered. But Ruthie is not there anymore, she has been sent to a place called the Convent where they believe their faith will cure anything (but to a lot of people it seems more like a cult). So Smoke accompanies Cass on her journey, and they find themselves growing closer and closer with each passing day. But Cass knows that her ultimate goal is to find her daughter, and she can't let anything distract her...not even the man who would give his life for her.I really, really liked this book. Cass was definitely tough; living in times like that would be hard enough, but not to know what happened to your child was be impossible. I really liked Smoke too, he was so confident and kept his morals even when the rest of the world was becoming almost barbaric. It was obvious he would do whatever he had to to keep Cass safe and help her in her mission. She held back from him a lot, because she was afraid that she could be a carrier for the disease and infect him somehow. Cass had a rough time growing up; her dad was suddenly gone, her mom remarried and her stepdad sexually molested her. Then she ended up becoming an alcoholic and sleeping with lots of different men. She got pregnant and still had trouble changing. Her mom took Ruthie and then Cass became obsessed with getting her child back. So she cleaned herself up, which is really admirable, but still her mom would not give Ruthie back to her. So when the disease started changing people and chaos erupted, she took Ruthie, and that's how they ended up at the Library. I think she constantly feels like she has to make up for the bad choices she made earlier in her life, make it up to Ruthie for not being there for her like she should have been the whole time. It's easy to believe that this is what the world would look like if something like this happened; it reminded me of a lot of the zombie movies I have seen, half of the U.S. was blocked off to contain the disease from spreading. It also reminded me of the game Fallout; while not the same premise, the outcome was much the same, groups of people forming their own societies with different rules and ideals and having to trade items for other items since money became worthless. It was a really good book, keeping you guessing on what will happen at the end and a lot of suspense. I look forward to reading more from this author!My rating: 4/5 stars

[pollywannabook · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Review courtesy of All Things Urban FantasyI’m unabashedly obsessed with the new AMC show The Walking Dead about the zombie apocalypse and the few remaining human’s struggle for survival. It’s shocking, and heartbreaking, and so beyond words awesome that my love for zombies has reached an all new high. I can’t get enough. Which is why I’m geeking out of my mind after reading AFTERTIME because I felt almost the same way reading it as I do watching The Walking Dead: Captivated.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. Zombies carry off children to feast on in their nests, power hungry men seize what little society is left and begin Rebuilding it to suit themselves, cults thrive, oblivion is sought after by anyone sane enough to know what’s happening on the streets each night. The horror is unimaginable. This is the world the Cass wakes up in. Alone and nearly skinned. Desperate to find her daughter, terrified of what she can’t remember, and fiercely determined to survive. She’s like Terminator’s Sarah Connor and Downside Ghost’s Chess Putnam rolled into one. A deeply damaged woman with a seedy drug and alcohol hazed past full of dark alleys and strange beds. She’s clawed her way out of addiction and has only one care in the world: her daughter. 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. 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.AFTERTIME is hands down the best zombie book I’ve read all year. Hide your wife, hide your kids, and hide your husbands ‘cause they eating everybody out here. Seriously. No word on the sequel yet, but AFTERTIME is the start of a planned series. So please go buy this book when you can. I have to know what happens next.Sexual Content: Two graphic sex scenes