I was very excited to read this book; I saw the title on several apocalyptic book recommendation lists after The Last Of Us TV show ended. I thought it was okay but it felt more like a rushed first draft than a finished book.
I loved the chemistry between Jamie and Andrew; they're both very likable, their relationship has a good build to it, especially tangling their growing protectiveness of each other and their hatred of violence and murder. The humor was very well done, had me laugh out loud in several places.
Where the book lets me down is in pacing. Everything felt rushed. When the first jump of months of Andrew recovering at Jamie's cabin happened, I was disappointed. I wanted to see more of their early relationship. That rushed feeling happened multiple times, months of time or miles of travel skipped between chapters. And things happen so quickly, like meeting Henri was so fast that, when they later decide to go looking for her daughter, I had no idea who they were talking about; or escaping from the lions which happened off-screen. I also have to agree with people who are frustrated that the boys are hunted down because of homophobia. Everything about the people at the Fort was way more heavy-handed with the message than it needed to be. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mind set to have this message thrown in my face when all I wanted was an apocalyptic road-trip book, but I found myself really annoyed with the inclusion of this group and how they linger over every part of the second half of the story.
All in all, the book has a pair of great lead characters who I love but rushed through the story to a frustrating antagonist group who fades off with no resolution and an ending that felt very abrupt. A promising premise that was disappointing by the end.
I loved the chemistry between Jamie and Andrew; they're both very likable, their relationship has a good build to it, especially tangling their growing protectiveness of each other and their hatred of violence and murder. The humor was very well done, had me laugh out loud in several places.
Where the book lets me down is in pacing. Everything felt rushed. When the first jump of months of Andrew recovering at Jamie's cabin happened, I was disappointed. I wanted to see more of their early relationship. That rushed feeling happened multiple times, months of time or miles of travel skipped between chapters. And things happen so quickly, like meeting Henri was so fast that, when they later decide to go looking for her daughter, I had no idea who they were talking about; or escaping from the lions which happened off-screen. I also have to agree with people who are frustrated that the boys are hunted down because of homophobia. Everything about the people at the Fort was way more heavy-handed with the message than it needed to be. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mind set to have this message thrown in my face when all I wanted was an apocalyptic road-trip book, but I found myself really annoyed with the inclusion of this group and how they linger over every part of the second half of the story.
All in all, the book has a pair of great lead characters who I love but rushed through the story to a frustrating antagonist group who fades off with no resolution and an ending that felt very abrupt. A promising premise that was disappointing by the end.
