Stormi's Review: Past This Point by Nicole Mabry
APC
PUBLISHER: Red Adept Publishing, LLC
RELEASED: September 3, 2019
GENRE: Post-Apocalyptic, Sci Fi
LENGTH: 374 pages
FORMAT: eBook, Paperback
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Karis Hylen has been through the New York City dating wringer. After years of failed relationships, she abandons her social life and whittles her days down to work and spending time with her dog, Zeke. Her self-imposed exile ends up saving her life when an untreatable virus sweeps the east coast, killing millions.
Alone in her apartment building, Karis survives with only Zeke, phone calls to her mom, and conversations with two young girls living across the courtyard. With the city in a state of martial law, violence and the smell of rotting corpses surround her every day. But her biggest enemy is her own mind. As cabin fever sets in, vivid hallucinations make her question her sanity.
In addition to her dwindling food and water stash, Karis must now struggle to keep her mind in check. When a mysterious man enters the scene, she hopes she can convince him to help her make it to the quarantine border. With the world crumbling around her, Karis discovers her inner strength but may find that she needs people after all.
FIVE BOUNDLESS STARS
In terms of "apocalyptic" type books, I have to say I have never been a big fan. I can watch an apocalyptic show all day, but reading about it just hasn't been my thing. This book was crazy from start to finish, and I LOVED it.
Karis is living in New York when an outbreak of an unknown virus starts spreading. As the disease spreads further, the city is evacuated, and she is left alone in her apartment except for her dog, Zeke. Soon the only thing she wants is to get to is her family in California. For weeks and weeks, she is alone in her building. She is only talking to her dog and two young girls. The whole eastern side of the US was devastated by the virus. Daily the death toll rises. Karis becomes determined. She is committed to survive and make it to her family.
This was one of those books that you feel. When Karis would get scared, I felt it. When she started getting crazy in the head, I felt it. When she was sad, oh yea I felt it. Talk about some awful boo hoo moments. My goodness, I felt it. This book was just written so well. The characters were real and likable, mostly. The girls, Emma and Julia, were just amazing in my eyes. I loved their quirky personalities. We can't forget about my favorite character. Yep, of course, its Zeke. He stole my heart early on. While this story was about a virus, it was also a story of growth. Karis not only survived but grew as a person through her ordeal. She was a bit of a recluse. Not wanting to date or go out. Not wanting to let people in. By the end, she is very visible, from the reader's viewpoint, anyway, a new and happier person.
I have no complaints about this book, but I did get a shock. When a certain someone came on the scene, I was like, OH NO! By the end, I was screaming YES! This has been one of the best books I have read this year. Definitely in my Top 5 for this year!
P.S. to the author and future readers....every time someone coughs now I'm like OH NO!!! Ha!