gilda_elise

Five years ago, ordinary Americans fell under the grip of a strange new malady that caused them to sleepwalk across the country to a destination only they knew. They were followed on their quest by the shepherds: friends and family who gave up everything to protect them.

Their secret destination: Ouray, a small town in Colorado that would become one of the last outposts of civilization. Because the sleepwalking epidemic was only the first in a chain of events that led to the end of the world--and the birth of a new one.

The survivors, sleepwalkers and shepherds alike, have a dream of rebuilding human society. Among them are Benji, the scientist struggling through grief to lead the town; Marcy, the former police officer who wants only to look after the people she loves; and Shana, the teenage girl who became the first shepherd--and an unlikely hero whose courage will be needed again.

Because the people of Ouray are not the only survivors, and the world they are building is fragile. The forces of cruelty and brutality are amassing under the leadership of self-proclaimed president Ed Creel. And in the very heart of Ouray, the most powerful survivor of all is plotting its own vision for the new world: Black Swan, the A.I. who imagined the apocalypse.

Against these threats, Benji, Marcy, Shana, and the rest have only one hope: one another. Because the only way to survive the end of the world is together.

Amazing. Absolutely amazing. I loved the first book; I adore this one.

Was there anything wrong with the book? Not that I could see. Okay, it’s long. Really long. But that just added to the pleasure.

The plot was engaging and original in its rendition, and it kept me hooked to the very end. Even though the book jumps around, there being several scenarios being played out, I never felt confused or irritated that the characters I mostly cared about weren’t center stage. They would be back.

And were they ever. The characters were compelling and fully finished, and I came to appreciate even those that I didn’t like. The ones that I did, all I could do was follow their journey and hope that they would make it to the end. Some did, some didn’t. But that was okay, because that’s the way it is sometime.

But who could ever forget the “very good dog,” Gumball? Not me.