Until the End of the World

By: Sarah Lyons Fleming

Narrated by: Julia Whelan

Cassie Forrest isn't surprised to learn that the day she’s decided to get her life together is also the day the world ends. After all, she’s been on a self-imposed losing streak since her survivalist parents died: she’s stopped painting, broken off her engagement to Adrian and dated a real jerk. Rectifying her mistakes has to wait, however, because Cassie and her friends have just enough time to escape Brooklyn for her parents’ cabin before Bornavirus LX turns them into zombies, too. This is difficult enough, but Cassie’s tag along ex-boyfriend and her friend’s bratty sister have a knack for making everything, even the apocalypse, more unpleasant. When the two attract a threat as deadly as the undead to their safe haven, Cassie’s forced to see how far she’ll go to protect those she loves. And it’s a lot farther than she’d anticipated. This, coupled with Adrian’s distant voice on Safe Zone Radio and, of course, the living dead, threaten to put Cassie right back into the funk she just dragged herself out of. Survival’s great and all, especially when you have leather armor, good friends and home-brewed beer, but there’s something Cassie must do besides survive: tell Adrian she still loves him. And to do that, Cassie has to find faith that she’s stronger than she thinks, she’s still a crack shot and true love never dies.

2014 Voice Arts Award Winner

2015 Audie Finalist - Solo Narration, Female

©2013 Saray Lyons Flemin (P)2014 Podium Publishing

Loved every minute of this

I am a person who watches Walking Dead. That being said, I loved this book. It's basically like a season of walking dead with people who actually make good decisions and with more character development. This book is more about the relationships than the gore, but I loved that aspect of "zombie apocalypse" and the dangers constantly lurking. There were many surprises in this book, and I was on the edge of my seat listening (shouting out loud as things happened). I loved it and can't wait for the next one to come out.

✫✫ 5 Stars ✫✫

I wasn't sure this book would be for me since it's not my normal genre but a friend said I had to listen to it and she was right! I enjoyed this book so much! The very beginning started a little slow but I think that was required to get you a feel for what things were like in this world. The author did a fantastic job putting together a story with so many different characters, the excitement of the time and the drama of being scared for your life without going over the top. The Lexer fight scenes had me on the edge of my seat. I loved Cassie, she was a great character because she had enough background in survival to help so many people but she wasn't a saint. In the beginning there were a few characters I hated and wanted gone but by the end of this book I was freaking out for them and wanted them to be ok. The ending was hard but also bitter sweet. I was cheering for this group of unconventional friends and couldn't wait to start the next book.

Julia Whelan is one of the best narrators I've listened to so I knew going in that this would have amazing narration and it really did!

Guys beware!

Guys would probably want to steer clear of this series. I will say, however, I myself will pick up the rest of the series because its still a pretty quality read. I'll tell you why at the end. What is lacking in this series is action and bloody zombies which, although good, are few and far between, and very short events.

What this book is about is character relations, depth and development. And it just goes on and on and on about this, with nary a zombie in sight.

The big thread in the story is how Cassie dumps her boyfriend for seemingly not being lovey dovey enough, although he is rich and brings the bacon home. While dating him, she is still in love with her ex hippie boyfriend who ran off to a farm. Unfaithful in the heart, no wonder she can't work it out with her current man. So finally on the day of the apocalypse, she dumps him. And then she gets all angry at him because he is angry he got dumped. Like really? Gee, maybe he loved her. Give the guy a break, so he scowls from time to time, sheesh! Guys and girls will definitely have different opinions about how this story plays out.

3 redeeming points to this story.:

1. The character development. People change.
2. I liked the survivor aspect, growing food, caning, stuff like that.
3. Elizabeth. Narrator is just nails this little girls voice. Unlike what is to be expected in zombie stories, this little girl doesn't burn down the house and let the zombies in the back door.

Narrator is very good. Guys sound a bit dopey though, like Papa Bear from Goldilocks.

Girls will love this series. The strong muscle in the book is gay, so gays would probably like this book too. Other guys should only read if they can't get their hands on something better. You won't puke, but may pull you hair a little trying to hurry up to the next zombie sighting.

Different and fresh twist on zombie fiction

I loved this book! I love The Walking Dead and World War Z and all of the other traditional zombie fiction stories. This was a refreshing take because it was from a female perspective. Other zombie stories have amazing female characters but this is a woman’s (girl really) story. She is prepared but not a superhero. She is capable but also thinking about her love life. It’s a really human experience. Her friends are very human and real. I like how the characters change in the new world! Really great story!

great listen

This was a great book! It ended with enough of the loose ends tied up to make you feel like reading it wasn't a waste. The story, the narrator and the overall feel were so enjoyable that I would have purchased the second one even if I wasn't wondering about a few lost folks and what will happens next to our little group. If you like zombie books or books about struggling to survive a credit isn't wasted here! On a side note, the narrator does a very convincing male voice; she makes each voice unique enough that you do not have to question who said what.