Personal Apocalypse (The Hopeless World Book 1) by Nazarea Andrews Blog Tour (Review)

Hey readers! Ethan here with quite possibly one of my most exciting reviews of 2015! I always love when I devour an extremely anticipated novel and it turns out to be everything I was anticipating and more. This time I'm reviewing the first novel in the spin-off series to another of my all-time favorite series. On the chopping block this time? Personal Apocalypse by Nazarea Andrews. Today's stop on the blog tour will feature my thoughts on the novel as well as some awesome promo. Before we get to my thoughts, here's a bit about the novel and our author:

Josiah grew up in a dying world. The Holdout survived, but when you are the son of Sylvia Cragen, you give up delusions early. He knew that they would die bloody--it wasn't a matter of if. Only when.

Parker shouldn't be alive. He should have died long before scouts from the Last Holdout rescued him. And he knows better than to believe that sailing away from the safety of the Holdout is a good idea.

Now, without the Holdout to protect them, all of his nightmares are coming true. Josiah is just crazy enough to believe that a fresh start is a good thing. But Parker has lived as prey, hunted by zombies and survivors before--and he knows that no one really survives. In the wild, zombie claimed world outside the walls of safety, there is only the dead walking.

          

Nazarea Andrews

Nazarea Andrews is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. She loves chocolate and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids. She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, and overgrown dog. She is the author of Girl Lost, Edge of the Falls, and The University of Branton Series. 

Find Nazarea Andrews

Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Goodreads *

*****

My Thoughts:

As any of my regular readers will well know, Ethan here is not a huge fan of the zombie paranormal-sub genre. Well, I wasn't. Not until Nazarea Andrews. It's been a couple of years now since I was first introduced to Andrews and her incredible World Without End series, but I still cannot get over how incredible it was. When the series ended last summer, I was devastated to see a favorite of mine was finished. Imagine my shock and surprise when I discovered Andrews had an ace up her sleeve: a spin-off series!

Picking up right where the World Without End series finished, this new series, beginning with Personal Apocalypse continues to follow the story of life after Eli-Milan has decimated the planet, but with two new starring characters: Josiah and Parker. Anyone who finished the previous series will remember Finn (our former male-MC's) discovery of a brother and their interesting relationship. This first novel explores that relationship and really gives us an insight to the family dynamic we were really excited to discover in the previous series finale. While this is an entirely new series, we still have huge flashbacks from WWE. Nurrin and Finn are still major characters in Personal Apocalypse, but to avoid spoilers I won't mention too much there.

Now, this all being said, PA is an entirely new series. While a spin-off, it isn't necessarily imperative that you have read the previous series to understand what is happening. Andrews does an absolutely incredible job introducing her world to readers in a way that both series vets and new readers will be immersed into the world without being lost. It's an incredible novel to introduce you to this literary universe that Andrews has crafted.

One of my favorite parts about PA is that while it absolutely is full of the horror you would expect from a novel of this genre, you definitely don't have the gore and violence we've seen from her in the past. Why? Personal Apocalypse is just that. Personal. It's an extremely psychological read. Way more personal than I was expecting from Andrews and this new series. It's an emotionally gripping tale that will leave you hooked until the very last page.

I have to say that as much as I loved WWE, this new series is seriously a hard-hitter. Andrews has evolved so much as an author in the past few years that it is absolutely astounding to see the two compared. The characters in this series are definitely set to give Ren and Finn a run for their money as well. I can't say enough how absolutely blown away I was by Personal Apocalypse. It's truly a testament to the writing style of Andrews to be able to capture readers for so long and across series as she has.

Through emotional twists, horrific new terrain, and writing the history of a world we only thought we knew, Andrews blows the doors wide open with Personal Apocalypse. I know don't know about anyone else, but I know this reader was thoroughly impressed. It should come as no surprise that I am granting Personal Apocalypse a near-perfect 5-star review. Do not miss this opportunity to check out this read, add it to your TBR today! 

*****

Alright readers, that's all I have for you on the topic of Personal Apocalypse by the incredible Nazarea Andrews. As you guys can clearly see, I absolutely loved every page of this incredible novel and I absolutely cannot wait to see what Andrews does next with this series. This world she has built is one of my favorite literary realms and I know each installment is going to be better than the last! Huge thanks to InkSlinger PR for allowing me to be a part of the tour and supplying me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

Ruin of the World (The World Without a Future #4) by Nazarea Andrews Release Day Launch

Today is the release day blitz for Ruin of the World by Nazarea Andrews. This is the fourth and final installment in The World Without End series. Don't miss this exciting conclusion, be sure to enter to win a zombie prize pack below, and play our quiz to find out which character from the series you would be during a zombie apocalypse!

     

When the zombies rose, we thought the world ended. It didn’t—it just broke, in a way we couldn’t fix. And we found ways to continue, reasons to fight. Faith. Family. Politics. Obsession. The most dangerous of all—hope. But when all of that is stripped away, and nothing remains but rage and betrayal—that is the true end of the world.

Return to the World Without End, for a final battle for hope and survival in the exciting conclusion to Nazarea Andrews’ phenomenal series.

 

Nazarea Andrews is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. She loves chocolate and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids. She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, and overgrown dog. She is the author of Girl Lost, Edge of the Falls, and The University of Branton Series. 

Find Nazarea Andrews

Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Goodreads *

EXCERPT 

I have little left in life. Little that matters. Kelsey has been lost to me for almost a decade, and I have turned away from every door my family name might open. Even places where I could be accepted because of my prestige and the dubious favor of 1, it’s not real. The favor is bought with blood and people are fickle. So fucking fickle. The man I called brother is dead, his ashes scattered across a nameless desert, a thousand miles in my past. Even that has been taken from me. And I accepted it. I accepted every fucking thing, adapting and moving forward. Because that’s what you do. You move forward, and you adapt and you fucking get on with it, because the alternative is no better than death. I don’t know how to move on from this. I don’t know how to let go of the only thing that matters. What is the only thing that matters? She always gave the answer I demanded, the one that hid the truth. The one that framed it in a way that made her comfortable and able to accept me. I can see her now, the annoyance and the desire she tried to fight, the resignation, the fierce hope. What is the only thing that matters? Her.

PURCHASE THE PREVIOUS BOOKS IN THE SERIES

THE WORLD WITHOUT A FUTURE (book #1) 

Buy Links: Amazon: http://amzn.to/1cgCuW2

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THE HORDE WITHOUT END (book #2) Buy Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Itnc04 Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1bHgEOn

THE FUTURE WITHOUT HOPE (book #3) Buy Links: 

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Ess7so Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1Rqoeye

 

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Ruin of the World (The World Without End #4) by Nazarea Andrews Review

Hey readers! Happy Monday! I know this is coming at you bright and early, but I've got lots of feels to share! Today is the release day for Ruin of the World, the final novel in the World Without End series by Nazarea Andrews and I couldn't wait one more second to share my thoughts with you all! Before we get to my thoughts, here's a bit about the novel and Nazarea:

     

When the zombies rose, we thought the world ended. It didn’t—it just broke, in a way we couldn’t fix. And we found ways to continue, reasons to fight. Faith. Family. Politics. Obsession. The most dangerous of all—hope. But when all of that is stripped away, and nothing remains but rage and betrayal—that is the true end of the world.

Return to the World Without End, for a final battle for hope and survival in the exciting conclusion to Nazarea Andrews’ phenomenal series.

Nazarea Andrews is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. She loves chocolate and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids. She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, and overgrown dog. She is the author of Girl Lost, Edge of the Falls, and The University of Branton Series. 

Find Nazarea Andrews

Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Goodreads *

*****

My Thoughts:

Almost exactly one year ago, I was introduced to The World Without a Future. It sat on my Nook forever. I just kept looking at it saying 'nope', because it was zombies. As you guys have now heard for about 10 books, I hated zombies. While they still aren't my favorite novels, I can say that thanks to Nazarea Andrews, I have a whole new respect for the genre! From the very first page, Andrews has taken us on an adventure that I couldn't stop reading. Page after page of horror and heartbreak, all leading up to an end I never wanted to see come. Sadly, Ren and Finn couldn't go on forever.

The Ruin of the World is the final novel in the series.

Friends, I've caught the feels. I've been telling Andrews for months that I wasn't ready for this to end. How can you say goodbye to the characters and world that changed your life? I'm here to tell ya, it isn't easy!

Book three, The Future Without Hope left us, in true Nazarea Andrews form, with a huge cliffhanger. I can't even begin to say how pumped I was to read this novel! And I was not disappointed, at all!

Like the previous three installments, this novel follows the dual POV story of Finn O'Malley and Nurrin Sanders on their adventures across the post-apocalyptic United States after zombies have taken over. Death has followed them at every turn, yet both Ren and Finn have persevered, against the odds, in their journey to, well... to... what is their journey? After three books of craziness, I believe their one goal is to survive. To find a way they can live a life free of the hordes and without boundaries. Yes.

The characters in the novel were written to perfection! Finn continues to be the most confusing male character I've ever read, while Ren continues to be one of the best female protagonists in literary history. Both characters are strong willed, intelligent, and emotionally handicapped, but I love them anyway. After spending so much time with these characters, is it strange to say they feel like family? Where the first few novels were really Nurrin's time to shine, these last two novels really did an incredible job of showcasing Finn's backstory. It is only in Ruin that we finally begin to see some of the details of Finn's dark past including his family history and his stories of fighting the war in the East. Ethan, my favorite character for obvious reasons, plays a much larger role in this novel and we see the completion of his story arc. I couldn't have been more pleased with his role in the series! Andrew and Omar are back as major players in this final installment as well and I loved how their stories ended as well!

The development we see throughout the series was incredible. Book one starts with Ren being an immature young girl whining to become a Walker in the safety of her Haven. By the final pages of book four, that girl has completely changed; Nurrin has grown into a mature, strong, soldier. A woman with no reservations, nerves of steel, and a healthy respect for her values. I think her character transformation over the course of this series is truly a work of literary perfection and a huge testament to the writing of Nazarea Andrews. Huge kudos to you, Nazarea Andrews, you've made your readers very proud!

The plotline of book four took a big turn from the previous installments in the series. while the hordes were definitely an issue, it's almost as though they were as prominent in Ruin. Maybe it's just because I'm so used to reading them in this series, but it almost seemed as though the biggest enemies were the humans in the story, not the horde. Interesting food for thought, huh?

The plot introduces us to a handful of new and very important characters. I won't spoiler some big events for any readers, but I don't think anyone will be disappointed. I can say that I was absolutely shocked to be introduced to a couple of characters. The entire dynamic of the story changes and the readers learns that there really is hope in the world. Maybe the Haven's had it wrong all along, By the time you finish the final page, you'll be questioning the entire series! It's that mind blowing.

While I will say that the novel didn't end on the note I was hoping it would, I was still very pleased with the ending. It doesn't answer all of the readers questions, but it leaves you with the understanding that sometimes all the questions you have can really bring you down. It's important to just let go of your confusion and go with the story in order for it to make sense. Andrews is a literary genius. Even I didn't quite understand the ending to this series until I had time to sit back and really reflect on it. I am so proud that Andrews did these characters justice.

The setting for this novel was also different than the others. This is the first and only novel in the series that does not take place within ANY Haven. That was a strange situation, but one I think ultimately worked out well for our characters and their story in the end. It all just fits people, you're going to love it!

It is with great sadness that I end this review. This is a very bittersweet moment for me as a blogger. This is really the first series that I have been with since almost the very beginning. It's been an amazing adventure and I am so happy that I have had the honor to take it! Nazarea Andrews, you ma'am are amazing. Please don't ever stop writing. You've turned me into a believer on more than one occasion and I know I'm not the only one! What an incredible end to one of my all-time favorite series!

It should come as absolutely no surprise that I am granting Ruin of the World by Nazarea Andrews an incredibly well-deserved 5-star review. I have given each novel in this series a 5-star rating, making it one of the only series I have granted a perfect review to! Sure there were issues I had at times, but in the end I was left with some of the greatest bookish feels imaginable! I cannot recommend this series any more highly to any fan of paranormal novels, the NA genre, zombies, thrillers, or anyone who is looking for something different to shake up their TBR! You don't want to miss this folks! Add Ruin and the rest of the series to your shelf ASAP!

*****

Alright readers, that is all I have for you on the topic of The Ruin of the World by Nazarea Andrews. Unfortunately it also seems like this is the end of our Zombie adventures with Nazarea for the time being. Reviewing these four novels and following this journey has been a great honor to me. This series changed my bookish life. Prior to last summer, I deplored the very idea of zombies and wanted nothing to do with them. When I was introduced to the writings of Andrews, my world was forever changed. I'd like to think that my views on the zombie subgenre have completely changed for the better because of Andrews and this series. For that, I will be forever grateful. Bless you N and many thanks for the hours of thrills and excitement you have brought to me and readers everywhere! I cannot wait for our next adventure together!

Add this series to your TBR ASAP! You won't be disappointed! Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

Deadland Rising by Rachel Aukes Review

Hey readers! Big release day today! I was lucky enough to get an early copy of this one and I read the entire thing in two sittings. SUCH an incredible novel! What am I raving about? Deadland Rising, the final book in Rachel Aukes' incredible Deadland Saga. Here's a bit about the book and our author before we get to my thoughts!

The search for hope in a shambling world...

Winter has arrived. 

It has been nearly one year since the zombie hordes claimed the world. As the plague eats away at its victims’ bodies, the Fox survivors search for a safe place to rebuild what they have lost. But a dangerous new threat has risen, hunting them from every direction. To survive, Cash, Clutch, and their small band of refugees must put their faith in a group of strangers and a new government with radical plans. It will take all of the Fox survivors’ strength and courage to endure in this barren, hostile world. Even that might not be enough.


(Deadland Rising is a journey through Dante Alighieri's Paradiso, the classic tale on the seven virtues… zombie apocalypse style!)

 

Rachel Aukes

Rachel Aukes is the international bestselling author of 100 Days in Deadland, which was named one of the best books of 2013 by Suspense Magazine and one of the best zombie books by the Huffington Post. She also writes romantic science fiction and fantasy under the pen name Berinn Rae, which includes the RWA award-winning short story "Stealing Fate," a USA Today recommended read. Rachel lives in Iowa with her husband and an incredibly spoiled sixty-pound lap dog. When not writing, she can be found flying old airplanes and trying (not so successfully) to prepare for the zombie apocalypse.  

 

Find Rachel Aukes

Website ** Twitter ** Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

"Believe me, if I could change the past, there'd be plenty I would do differently. But I can't, and you can't either. We have to accept things as we see them and keep on living."

                                                                              -Clutch, Deadland Rising P. 52

At the beginning of my other two reviews for this series, I felt the need to explain to my readers that I am generally not a fan of the horror genre. I don't like horror, I deplore zombies, and I don't handle suspense well. Well folks. I'm not even going to write that anymore, because that would be a complete lie. Thank Rachel Aukes, you've ruined horror for me! No longer do I fear the unknowns of the literary world. No longer do I mock zombies, Rachel Aukes has made me a believer.

Going into this novel was one of the most bittersweet experiences I have had as a blogger. As anyone who read my other two reviews and read my year end recap could tell you, this was one of my most anticipated reads of 2015, so of course I was pumped to check it out. On the flip side, I knew this would be my final adventure alongside the characters I had grown so incredibly close to. 400 pages to see if these heroes would live, die, or even become the living dead themselves. Emotions ran high, but I knew with Rachel Aukes at the helm, I would not be disappointed.

I'll just flat out tell you now that if today was the final day of 2015, Deadland Rising would be among my top reads of the year. I was expecting a whole lot out of this novel and, thankfully, Rachel Aukes did not disappoint, not even a little.

In true Rachel Aukes fashion, this entire novel was very fast paced. Picking up mere days after the second novel, we find our characters in quite the conundrum. Making their way across the plains of the Midwest in search of New Eden, their promised paradise and home to other survivors of the zombie apocalypse, proves to be more of a journey than anticipated. It's been nine months since the infection spread rampant across society, resulting in massive casualties and complete breakdown of modern civilization. What remains of the government bombed the metropolitan centers of the US in an effort to kill the infection, killing any possible survivors as well. With the plummeting temperatures of winter quickly taking over, the zeds have migrated south towards warmer temperatures. Those that remain are slow, sluggish, and stand like statues on the frozen plains. While the number of zeds may have decreased, Cash, Clutch, Jase, and the gang must fight off bandits and bands of rabid angry dogs to make their way to New Eden before winter stops them in their tracks. 

The plot line to this novel is a little more defined that its' predecessors. Unlike the other two stories where the only plot was 'survive', out gang has a mission now. It's a big change of pace from the other two stories where you never know what may happen next, though this novel is full of the unexpected. In true form for a conclusion, Rachel Aukes makes sure to tie up all loose ends. By the time you close your cover, you know whats happened to most all characters. Those that haven't been killed, that is. I'm not going to spoil the ending for anyone, but I can tell you that I was pleased. Immensely. The story wraps up in a way that says "yes, this is the end of the story, but you never know what the future may hold'. Rebuilding society won't happen overnight, but the reader is left with hope for a better tomorrow.

This series has a huge cast of characters. Unfortunately many of them do not make it to the end, but Rachel gives us so many new ones to fill their place. Even though this is a final novel in the series, we are still introduced to a dozen or so new characters that really help to move the story to its' conclusion. New survivors, new doctors, new politicians, new enemies, friends, and animals, will have to work together to survive the end of days in this amazing conclusion. With such a large cast, one may wonder how everyone gets their time to shine. I will admit that I would have liked to have seen more from some characters and less from others, but in the end, this first person POV is told from Cash, who narrates the series to perfection. Seeing the world through her eyes is truly a treat. All of my favorite characters play huge roles in the novel: Clutch, Cash, Jase, Hali, Benji, Griz, and so many more. 

I'm not going to lie to you guys. In true Rachel Aukes fashion, not every character will make it to the end. There will be feels people. Let's just hope you fight them off better than I did. Oh man, I caught those feels hardcore.

The world isn't the same after the outbreak, but Aukes does a great job with her settings in the story. Everything is described in vivid detail, giving this entire series the feel of a motion picture. It isn't hard for me to close my eyes and picture everything as it happens. With the inclusion of some new vernacular and a whole new government, Aukes paints the picture of the future of the Americas where Northern Mexico, the US, and Canada have combined forces into one major state. This picture is far from complete, but gives the reader great insight to what the future may bring.

I'd also like to take note of the level of accuracy that Aukes has included in this series. A world without electricity, running water, human maintenance is a scary thought. Many things such as the breakdown in gasoline chemicals (rendering it useless after time) never occurred to me, yet Aukes made sure to include it anyway. Of all the apocalyptic novels I have read, this one is my far the most realistic and I give huge props to Aukes for that.  

With this series, Rachel Aukes set out to tell a gripping horror story against the backdrop of Dante Alighieri's Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. Aukes is no casual author, she meticulously analyzed Alighieri's groundbreaking and timeless tale in order to craft her story. Everything is there, from hell to paradise, Rachel Aukes did an incredible job. I have seen authors attempt this in the past with horrendous results, but as a huge fan of the Divine Comedy myself, I can say that Rachel Aukes definitely does it justice. I am confident that Alighieri would be a fan himself, that is, if he weren't stuck back in the thirteenth century. 

As you can see, I was a huge fan of this final installment of the Deadland Saga. From page one of 100 Days in Deadland, I knew this was going to be a special series. Never once did I read anything in these novels that I wanted to change. Each death served a vital purpose, ever downfall was necessary, and every small victory made my heart soar. Rachel Aukes delivered a stronger punch in her final novel than I even thought was possible. When closing the back cover, I wasn't left with sadness. I wasn't left with regret, fear, or anxiety. I was left with hope. Hope that our world could possibly overcome our difference and come together to form a better society for us all. 

It should come as absolutely no surprise to anyone that I am granting Deadland Rising by Rachel Aukes a near-perfect 5-star review. Of all my reads, I'm not sure one has ever taken me on quite the journey as this one has. Huge kudos to you Mrs. Rachel Aukes, you truly are the "Queen of Scream". I cannot wait to see what we can expect from you next. 

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Click the covers below to see my five star reviews of the first two novels in the Deadland Saga!

     

I'll be honest and tell you guys that I have no idea what Rachel Aukes has up her sleeve next. More paranormal? More horror? I couldn't tell you, but what I do know is that through this series Rachel Aukes taught me so much about the book world. I learned through her that horror novels are about so much more than gore and being on the edge of your seat. The scariest things in life are the thoughts that your life as you know it may cease to exist one day. Would we be able to survive? Rachel poses some incredible questions with this series and always has left me with more thoughts than a book usually does. It is due to her in depth analysis of not only classical literature, but also the human psyche, that Rachel Aukes will forever remain a favorite author of mine. She just 'gets' it, ya know?

While it is with great sadness that I post this about this final novel in the Deadland Saga, it is with a warm heart that I say a huge thank you and congratulations to the author, Mrs. Rachel Aukes. Thank you for supplying the bookish world with hope, with fear, with a better outlook on the human experience. Thank you Rachel Aukes, this series will forever made an impression on my bookish heart and soul! I look forward to our next incredible adventure together!

Special thanks to Rachel Aukes for supplying me with a copy of this novel and for being such a great friend and supporter. 

What do you guys think? Sound like the novel for you? Sound off in the comments below and don't forget to grab your copy!

Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

The Future Without Hope (The World Without End #3) by Nazarea Andrews Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

Hey readers! Happy Saturday and welcome to my stop on the blog tour for The Future Without Hope by Nazarea Andrews. Anyone who follows this blog knows just how important this series is to me, it's one of my favorites! Today's stop will feature a review as well as an awesome giveaway. Before we get to that, here's a bit about the book and our author:

The Future Without Hope by Nazarea Andrews

Separated from Finn, captive of the Order, Nurrin has no hope left. But she has survived twenty years of zombies--and she has the unshakable faith that Finn will find her.

But Finn is a long way away. The Order's influence runs deeper than was ever suspected, and politics are shifting--and zombies may not be the most dangerous thing she's facing.

Finn always thought the war stripped him of all he had to lose. But with Nurrin missing and doors closing in his face, he realizes there is always more for the world to take--and he will drag the remains of civilization down with him before he gives up on the only promise that matters.

Coming November 20th, 2014

Nazarea Andrews 

Nazarea Andrews is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. She loves chocolate and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids. She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, and overgrown dog. She is the author of Girl Lost, Edge of the Falls, and The University of Branton Series. 

Find Nazarea Andrews

Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Goodreads *

 

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My Thoughts:

Anyone who hangs around here often knows that prior to a few months ago, I was one of the biggest anti-zombie people you had ever met. I love paranormal, but anytime I heard zombies were involved, I politely declined. Okay, maybe not so politely. Regardless.... I was not a zom fan. A few months ago I was picked to be part of the blog tour for the second installment in this series and was pretty excited since the ratings were so high. I had absolutely zero idea what I was getting in to. I had no idea my literary life was about to be changed completely! Thanks to N and this zom series I have connected with so many amazing authors and so many great reads, but this series will always hold a special place in my heart. So what did I think? It was amazing. Duh.

So I will go right out and say that this novel was vastly different than it's two predecessors. There isn't as much buildup and the action was not as intense. What did this novel have that the others lacked? Emotion. Good God. This novel had me on such a roller coaster of feels I can't even begin to describe them. One minute you are cheering for Ren and her plight and the next you want to break down alongside her and give her the hug she desperately needs. Ren goes through a lot... a lot in this book. So much that at some points it was hard to process it all. I had to close my eyes and say a book prayer for her on more than one occasion. Seriously, that girl is one brave lady.

So it's got emotions, some actions, but what else? What does this store bring to the table? While the zom presence was not as important in this novel, we get to see the other side of this post-apocalyptic dystopia, the crumbling of society. Sure we caught glimpses of it in the other novels, but this is the first time we really see just how influential the government, or lack thereof, is in our story. We see their forms of resistance and their hesitations in doing what is best to help the people of the havens. I have to say that after reading this, Nazarea chose a perfect title, "The Future Without Hope" is extremely fitting. Is there hope for Ren, Finn, and the gang? Is there ever to be a light at the end of this tunnel? One can only hope, I know I sure do!

One thing I really liked about this novel was that we got a few glimpses into life pre-zoms. I have been begging N for some stories about the outbreak and about what life was like prior to it. While we still didn't quite get a whole story out of it, we definitely get to see a bit more of an insight into the life of the survivors. Also, we finally get to learn more about the War in the East that has been talked about for two books now, so that was awesome. Finn is such a complex character who I hate one minute and love the next, I was glad to see that N really went out of her way to give us more of a reason to be on Team Finn. Especially after some spoiler-y plot twists that happen!

Caleb plays a huge role in this story as well which was awesome! Especially considering book two was all about finding him. While his story eventually led to more feels, I really like how his storyline plays out in this novel. Caleb plays a huge role in Ren's story, so it was great to see him have some time in the spotlight. I just can't help but think how far this series has come in just three books! Incredible!

I highlighted 19 amazing quotes from this novel and always try to share my favorites with you guys. Rather than share that many, I think I will just share my favorite. It's a little long, but it's a great example of some of the amazing emotions that Nazarea throws into Future:

"Finn once said that hope is what killed us. Hope is what made up get up and keep trying when logic said we were dead. And hope being crushed is what would kill us in the end.

I didn't understand that, when he said it. It's a stupid f*ckin emotion. Zombies kill. Emotions just make you weak.

I didn't get it, because I was just a stupid f*ckin haven girl.

I get it now."

Did you catch some of those feels? I know I did. In the end, Nazarea really outdid herself with this novel. I do not have any complaints about this read. It was perfect for this series. N has mentioned that she has ideas for a couple more books and isn't exactly sure when this series will be ending, but I know in her talented hands, we can all rest assured that it will be an incredible ending, when it comes! Speaking of endings, HUGE CLIFFHANGER! Anyone familiar with this series knows N has used them before, but this time MAN IT'S A BIG ONE! Ahh!

All-in-all, I am granting Nazarea Andrew's The Future Without Hope was well deserved 5-star review. This near perfect read was unique, chilling, and heartfelt in true Nazarea form. This novel was an absolute pleasure to read and I cannot wait for more!
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GET YOUR COPY NOW!

The Future Without Hope (Book 3)

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Catch up on the series!

 The World Without a Future (Book 1) 

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 The Horde Without End (Book 2) 

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I am so pumped for everyone to get their hands on this incredible third installment of one of my favorite series! Anyone who read this will be itching for more, trust me. As always, a huge thanks to the team at InkSlinger PR and to our author, and my dear friend, Mrs. Nazarea Andrews for allowing me to participate! ! Until next time, Happy Reading! 

-Ethan

Afterworld Seriez by Karice Bolton Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway

Hey everyone and welcome to my stop on the blog tour for the Afterworld Seriez by Karica Bolton! I am super excited to have you stop by today! My post today will feature an excerpt and an awesome giveaway! Before we get to all of that, let's take a minute to learn a bit about the books and our author:

Afterworld Seriez by Karice Bolton
Genres: New Adult, Post-Apocalyptic

Scientists are the new rock stars. The infection has been contained for nearly three months, and the world is celebrating. But humans are still dying. Rebekah Taylor has seen it firsthand. Her husband was killed right in front of her by the very creatures that humans were told they no longer had to fear.

Rebekah is determined to find out who is responsible for the death of her husband and the obvious cover-up. Fueled with revenge, she begins to find answers that lead to one frightening conclusion. The apocalypse might be over, but the battles are just beginning.

The outbreak might be over, but the nightmare is just beginning...

Rebekah vows to expose the truth behind the RecruitZ that are killing the innocents. These creatures must be stopped, but so should the people controlling them. When Rebekah uncovers who is behind the uprisings, her own life becomes in danger.

Rebekah knows that she is not alone in this fight but vengeance alone won't help her and the others to victory. It is up to her to uncover the truth for the public before the world is turned over to an elite few.

Regardless of what may happen to her, she knows it's a race against time to destroy these creatures and the monsters controlling them before there is no one left worth saving.

Karice Bolton

Karice received an MFA in Creative Writing from the U of W. She has written fifteen novels and has several exciting projects in the works. Karice lives with her husband and two English Bulldogs in rainy Washington.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

EXCERPT

I gripped the console as I watched the twitches and spasms of the zombies’ movements closing in on us. They were everywhere…the grass, the sidewalk, the driveway. There was no mistaking the rotting, grey flesh that exposed the muscle and bone of the undead. They were something I’d run from countless times, but this time we had nowhere to run. The undead had us trapped. They would rip us to shreds in an instant.

“I think some of ‘em are new,” I said, turning my attention back to Gavin.

There were some clean-looking zombies staggering toward us, their flesh mostly intact. That made no sense. The outbreak had been contained for months. There should be no freshly infected roaming around. Everyone had been vaccinated. The only stragglers evading capture had been around awhile, so their bodies were beat up badly by the time they were caught. Not these.

“Let’s hope not,” he murmured, not bothering to look out the window to confirm nor deny my suspicions.

“We can’t run. They’d totally get us before we got away,” I said, hoping he’d correct me, tell me that we had a chance.

He didn’t.

He slammed his fist into the steering wheel and looked over at me. When the outbreak happened, we never looked back. We were always on the move, running from the disease that took our families and friends. That was the key to survival. Never stay in one place. Always stay on the move. Now we had nowhere to move. I glanced over at Gavin and saw the fear in his eyes. Even with everything we’d encountered, his eyes had never held this amount of terror.

“Babe, whatever happens…”

“Knock it off,” I said.

“We have nothing to fight them with, and a horde this size needs a distraction.”

“Don’t you dare,” I hissed, shaking my head. The fear was pulsing through me at an unstoppable rate. “We didn’t live through the outbreak to die now.” 

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Alright readers, that's all I have for you on the topic of the Afterworld SerieZ by Karice Bolton. I am actually in the middle of reading this series and will have reviews for these in the coming weeks so be on the look out for those! Special shout out and thanks to the awesome team at XPresso Book Tours for allowing me to participate! Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan

The Future Without Hope by Nazarea Andrews Release Day Launch

 

 Today we have the release day launch of The Future Without Hope by Nazarea Andrews. I am so excited about this sexy zombie romance. Nazarea is sharing an exclusive excerpt and a awesome giveaway. Be sure to enter and check out all the book details!!

The Future Without Hope by Nazarea Andrews

Separated from Finn, captive of the Order, Nurrin has no hope left. But she has survived twenty years of zombies--and she has the unshakable faith that Finn will find her.

But Finn is a long way away. The Order's influence runs deeper than was ever suspected, and politics are shifting--and zombies may not be the most dangerous thing she's facing.

Finn always thought the war stripped him of all he had to lose. But with Nurrin missing and doors closing in his face, he realizes there is always more for the world to take--and he will drag the remains of civilization down with him before he gives up on the only promise that matters.

Coming November 20th, 2014

Nazarea Andrews 

Nazarea Andrews is an avid reader and tends to write the stories she wants to read. She loves chocolate and coffee almost as much as she loves books, but not quite as much as she loves her kids. She lives in south Georgia with her husband, daughters, and overgrown dog. She is the author of Girl Lost, Edge of the Falls, and The University of Branton Series. 

Find Nazarea Andrews

Website ** Twitter ** Facebook ** Goodreads *

 

Exclusive Excerpt:

I go to the Underground. It’s deserted this early, but I know some of the acolytes will be there, and a few priests. It’s a gamble, but it’s what I have.

I could go to Omar. It would take very little to reach out to the High Priest, and I know him—he might be loyal to the Order, but he’ll do whatever he can to destabilize the Red Priestess. Even helping me steal back a sacrifice.

But that would mean trusting him. And I’m not ready for that. Not yet.

So I go to the vice clubs.

The doors are locked. I bang once, and wait impatiently until two acolytes pry open the door. “The clubs are closed until sunset,” the one in green robes lisps.

“I’m not here for the vice clubs,” I say. “I need to see the High Priest of the Haven.”

They exchange a quick look, and then the Red shakes her head. She’s familiar—the same acolyte who attended me when I fought. The sweet hospitality in her eyes from the previous night is gone now, replaced with a cool reserve that borders on hostility. She isn’t a woman impressed right now. She’s a fledgling priestess protecting the Order. And that makes me smile, slow and amused.

“He isn’t here.”

“Tell him that Finn O’Malley needs to see him. He has two hours to meet me at the house on the edge of the wall and return what he took from me. If I don’t have her by then, I will start killing his priests—and I won’t stop until every member of the Order in 1 is dead.” I pause, and stare at them. Their eyes are wide, fear mixing with anger and shock.

GIVEAWAY

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GET YOUR COPY NOW!

The Future Without Hope (Book 3)

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Goodreads 

Catch up on the series!

 The World Without a Future (Book 1) 

  Amazon | Barnes and Noble 

 The Horde Without End (Book 2) 

  Amazon | Barnes and Noble  

I gotta tell you guys that I actually read this ARC a few weeks ago and I absolutely LOVED this story. I am so pumped for everyone to get their hands on this incredible third installment of one of my favorite series! Anyone who read this will be itching for more, trust me. As always, a huge thanks to the team at InkSlinger PR and to our author, and my dear friend, Mrs. Nazarea Andrews for allowing me to participate! HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY N! Until next time, Happy Reading! 

-Ethan