Days Since...: Xavier: Day 853

Almawt Virus Series, Book 2

By: Robert Wilson

Narrated by: Matthew Crow

Length: 5 hrs

Publisher's summary

What if your fate was put in the wrong hands? What if taking it back was your only option?

The Second Alliance presses on.

The town of River's Edge is under their control. In two years since the virus, Xavier finds himself alone. His sister is dead. His mother is missing. His father is out searching for her.

He thought it couldn't get any worse, but the Second Alliance proves him wrong - cracks in their facade reveal the grim truth of their presence.

While the other survivors submit to this harsh new reality, Xavier refuses to bend. Someone must ignite the revolution before the Second Alliance swallows the town whole. Alone, Xavier doesn't stand a chance. But if defeat promises death, will anyone follow him into the darkness?

The world of Almawt seemed so simple before, but the second installment in the series will change your perspective on everything.

This dystopian, post-apocalyptic thriller is the second book in Robert Wilson's Days Since... Almawt Virus series. Look for the third installment of the series: Days Since... Jenny: Day 986

©2017 Power Shift Publishing, LLC (P)2020 Power Shift Publishing, LLC

Too juvenile for me

Better than volume one but not to my liking. The narrator is a detriment to the value of the story. I suggest marketing the series as YA action.

Kept me guessing!

I decided to listen to this story about a world that has been destroyed by a virus in the middle of a pandemic. Depending on your outlook, it is either the perfect time for this kind of story or not the right time at all. It turned out that this was a good time for me to tackle this kind of story and I ended up really enjoying my time with this book.

This is the second book in the Almawt Virus series but it was a completely different point of view than we saw in the first book with very little connection. It is my understanding that the third book really ties the first two books together but I feel like the first two books can both be read as stand-alone stories in a pinch.

This book follows Xavier. Xavier is a rather normal teenage boy. He has no special abilities and is alone in the world. His sister died during the outbreak and his mom never came home from her position as a doctor at the local hospital. After helping to form the community that Xavier lives in, his father left to find his mother and hasn't been heard from since. The Second Alliance has taken control of the community and things are changing but not for the better. Xavier comes across some privileged information which helps him to see what is actually happening a lot more clearly.

This story was told from Xavier's point of view in both the present day and in the past through flashbacks. I expected to see some flashbacks in this story so I was really looking for them which helped to eliminate some of the confusion that I had with the first book in the series. This was a story that was able to keep me guessing and I have to admit that I was completely surprised by the way it ended.

Matthew Crow did a good job with the story. He has a very clear voice which I found very easy to follow. I think he did a good job with all of the character voices which added to my enjoyment of the story. I wouldn't hesitate to listen to more of his narration work.

I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy end of the world stories. I found Xavier to be a character that was easy to cheer on and I loved that the story kept me guessing until the very end. I look forward to reading more of this series very soon!

I received a review copy of this audiobook from the author/narrator and have voluntarily left this review.

Wow

Wow! That was a 180 degree turn from the first book. These people are not good people in the long run, but how can you decide who is good and who is not? Xavier tried to do what he could for the benefit of all the people in the town his father built and it ended bad for him. I understand the need for law and order in trying times but to kill children really sucks. In times such as those depicted in the book you almost feel like you are back in WWII. The Second Alliance might think they are good but their actions say something entirely different at times. I am going to get the next book in the series to see what happens with one of the escapees but I am not sure after that. I was a soldier for a long time and I would never have thought to do something like this in all my time. But I will say the story is well written and narrated. It follows the life before and after for a young man who just wants stability, but see’s a wrong and wants to right it.

Thrilling!

Days Since...: Xavier: Day 853, the second installment in the Almawt Virus Series is an entertaining and thrilling post-apocalyptic tale. The world-building is brilliantly done, portraying a stark and bleak dystopian setting where humanity is on the brink of extinction. This time around the storyline centers on Xavier, and it's compelling, gritty, and suspenseful with dark elements. I don't want to give the plot away, so the only thing I will add is that this was an excellent follow-up to the previous book with a totally epic ending. I can't wait for the third book!

Matthew Crow did an excellent job with the narration. I thought he captured the characters' personalities and emotions very nicely. Overall, this was a great audiobook, one I recommend. I was given a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Loved it

Robert does an excellent job bringing us back to the world after the Alwart virus. In this story we follow a young kid who lives at Rivers Edge, his former school. The narrator does an excellent job at bringing the characters to life and keeping you on the edge of your seat. Love the story and the character Xavier. The author uses a great hook in the prologue keeping you listening to find out what has happened and why. The listener feels like they are going through the same struggles and triumphs Xavier does. This is a must listen to story. A totally different take on what happens after the apocalypse.

Rise and Fall of Xavier!!!

2nd attempt at a review due to technical difficulties o.o

I'm a lucky fellow to have been able to read/ listen to both the kindle/auduble version of Days Since: Xavier day 853. I was given the chance to do so for an honest non bias review. Though this might slightly change of what i had intended to say in my first attempt, I'll do my best to tell it like it is.

Over all. The immature Mc/ Man within said Mc is someone who i can really sit behind and say yeah he's the man. I really enjoyed how Mr. Robert brought about the characters growth. You get to futher know a bit more about the realities about the almawt virus from the perspective and survival of the current encampment in which Xavier resides with. You also get to see another deeper , darker side of the S.A. which you really didnt get to see in the first book. There was slight hint to it but you could more or less understand such a strict reality due to the apoc aftermath.

story wise. I really enjoyed the growth of the character growth. You see this immature kid trying to create a niche within this new world. Trying to find answers to a past and a future he is carving out of what ifs and also wondering what happened to his family (parents). You see the corrupt nature of man/society and the governing brought about from the fall of civilization. You see what others would do to their fellow man just to gain power and you see said power set out to take over/ rape and pillage all in the name of the better good. You find yourself seeing a boy growing into a man and becoming the unsung hero/resistance movement against the golliath before him. Which also brings up the theme of "Hope". You also see and moreover find yourself with a loss so unfound you're left with wanting more even at the sudden disappointment of death. And you ask why.. lol Just damn WHY!

Performance wise- I really enjoyed the structure of focusing on said main character and development. For me personally i see this as a step up from Thomas. Im as sad and happy about the way things turned out but thats because i've already managed to read book 3 and listened to it to know better haha. The author really did a good job with Xavier and his role as he becomes the chink in the armor and rachet in the the cog which may soon disable the Mighty Alliance.

Definite must read or even Listen. Dont forget to do your part in also review Mr. Robert Wilsons novel. So far its a slow really chill pace series. Not over kill or lacking there off, but honestly just right and fullfilling. Thanks for making such an awesome continuation to the Almawt series.

3.75★s It’s very important to read Book 3!!!

*Sigh* Being this is a "bridge" series I feel it need to give some leeway in my frustration. I'm truly not certain at this point where the series is going. I think we're getting disjointed stories. There is no strong connection between Thomas & Xavier really.

For all intents and purposes he has been totally abandoned and left to fly on the memories of his dad's shirt tails.

I'm hoping the next book brings the first two books together! I feel like the story after plooding through 4½ hours just abruptly ended. And it was NOT a good ending. With no cliff hanger either.

The narrator was okay but he didn't feel invested in the story...just my opinion.

My star ratings include these 5 elements:
.5★ story line
.5★ engaging characters
1★ use of world building/descriptions
.75★ the ending
1★ narration or editing

*→Update after reading book 3: you HAVE to read all of the book for the ending here to make sense!!

Close to home fiction

Robert Wilson is a great up-and-coming author. His attention to detail and descriptive writing style is refreshing.
Days Since isn't your typical apocalypse thriller where the hero is an unbelievable badass. Instead, the hero is a normal kid in an extreme situation...forced to become the hero. In the current state of the world, this fictional work could truly be non-fiction.

Who Can Be Trusted?

The second book of the 'Almawt Virus' series, 'Days Since...:Xavier: Day 853', gives the reader a different perspective from Book One. This book centers on Xavier, a 15-year-old who, along with his father, started a community at the local high school in the wake of the devastation from the virus. River's Edge is meant to be a safe haven for its residents, a place to start over after so many have died. At the time the book begins the community has had to defend themselves from those who would take what they have. Enter the Second Alliance, offering military protection.

In this second book of the series, there is a more explicit description of how the Second Alliance operates. It is left unclear how many townspeople realize the measures being taken against them, but one person who doesn't buy their message is Xavier. If the SA were there for benevolent reasons, then why are their guns pointing inward?

Robert Wilson gives the reader a lot of suspense with his writing. There is a foreboding feeling that gets stronger the further along in the story the reader gets. The ending is believable, if tragic and depressing. I don't think the book needs a cliffhanger, but there is a final scene that gives the reader hope for the future of these characters.

The scenes with Xavier and Grant resonate well. They have a nice mentor/student feel to them. I enjoyed these scenes quite a lot. When Xavier is outside the walls of the town his character truly shines. He's young but there is a sense that he could handle himself, if not for the SA.

Like with the 1st book, Matthew Crow does an OK job. I still feel like the narration is a little flat and unemotional, especially during dialogue. I'm thinking this may be a deliberate stylistic choice, but I would prefer it be more dramatic.

This audiobook was provided to me for free as a review copy, at my request. I have written this voluntary opinion of it in exchange.

Recommended.

Days since...:Xavier

Excellent second book in this series! After the second alliance comes and makes life worse,Xavier is alone. Matthew Crow was a fine narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.'