Let's talk about "The End of All Things" by Lissa Bryan @lissabryan

Imagine you're a twenty-two year old woman who lives close to her parents in a quiet city you love. Out of the blue, an inexplicable epidemic hits the planet. 

Around you, people start dying: you lose your neighbors, your friends and, eventually, your parents. You are now alone in your apartment, in a deserted town full of decomposing corpses. As the illness spreads, the utilities stop working, and the same happens to radio and TV. But, strangely, you are immune. 

So, what do you do?

Lissa Bryan makes us see the world – a world that is falling apart – through the eyes of Carly Daniels, and from the beginning we're encouraged to think about what we would do in her shoes.

At first, Carly lives in denial and simply waits for the nightmare to pass. She tells herself that somebody will come; somebody will start putting the chaos in order, and civilization will resume. She lives a suspended existence, doing absurd things, like going regularly to a supermarket, taking what she needs from the depleted shelves and leaving money for it. It's obvious that nobody will ever collect that money, but Carly refuses to face reality.

An unusual friend is the only reason why she's still retaining some sanity: she's adopted a puppy, but it's not the dog she believes it to be.

Carly becomes very scared and suspicious, and even more so when a healthy man camps in the street in front of her house. A biker with tattoos, he is the epitome of what her father warned her about before succumbing to the illness. But, we soon learn, Justin is a decent guy – besides being quite handsome - and he manages to win her trust. A former military man who served in a special corp – one that Carly's father knew well and trusted – Justin is particularly suited to survive the end of civilization. And a key to survival is to get the hell out of Carly’s town, because they're in Alaska and there is no way to survive the winter, when it comes.

The journey toward warmer climates begins. Carly and Justin leave with Sam— not a dog, like Carly had thought, but a stray wolf cub.

Lissa Bryan describes this adventure very well, and once again we reflect upon the characters' choices. Carly and Justin go by bike; when they collect what they'll need they don't take money or gold, but food and medicines, for themselves and for bartering. Some weapons and ammunitions prove to be more useful than any luxury or electronic device. As they go, they collect animals too – Carly is special in this sense, because even wild animals come to her. After Sam the wolf, a horse and a cat will follow.

The plot is realistic and full of twists. The main characters meet other survivors occasionally, and Carly has to learn a hard lesson: she can’t save everybody, and the little they have is not for sharing. Plus, in a world that has reverted to a jungle, there are predators out there; people prepared to kill for what they need. It is not surprising that a love story develops among the former soldier and the girl, and their love isn't out of necessity – like it is the case of other people they meet - but it represents the real meeting of two soul mates. Carly and Justin talk about their past, they share their secrets and help each other to continue hoping.

Over the months, their love will fully blossom.

Lissa Bryan has written a wonderful story, an apocalyptic on the road tale that will capture you from the first page. You read on with suspended breath as Carly and Justin encounter and overcome dangers and difficulties, in the hopes that somehow, somewhere, there will be a safe haven for them.

While the story is completed in itself, we understand that there is going to be a sequel, one worth waiting for.

Camilla & Raum 

The End of All Things is available on the TWCS site

• Link to purchase book: http://ph.thewriterscoffeeshop.com/books/detail/81
• Author Webpage: http://lissabryan.blogspot.com/
• Author Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lissa.bryan?sk=wall
• Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5442345.Lissa_Bryan

Lissa Bryan is an astronaut, renowned Kabuki actress, Olympic pole vault gold medalist, Iron Chef champion, and scientist who recently discovered the cure for athlete's foot.... though only in her head. Real life isn't so interesting, which is why she spends most of her time writing.

Her first novel, Ghostwriter, was released October 11, 2012.