Goodreads | Amazon
ebook, 168 pages
Expected Publication: October 10, 2014 by WB Publishing
Series: The Zero Trilogy #1; Companion to Collapse Series
Source: Received from author for review
From Goodreads:
Elle is a survivor. Since the collapse of modern society, she’s been living in the remains of downtown Hollywood, California, foraging for food and fighting for her life. And then everything changes. After she is forced out of her home, she heads north. What she finds is a group of bunker survivors, unlikely comrades, and the hope of a safe haven. Together, they journey toward the dregs of civilization, facing starvation, imprisonment and death. They are alone, but they are ready. Day Zero begins today. A novella, the first installment in The Zero Trilogy, a novella series complementing the international bestselling Collapse Series.
This novella is extremely fast paced, a quick read, but fits quite a bit into its pages. Though it is set in the same world as the Collapse series, I don’t think it is imperative for the reader to have read that series (though, since I really like it, I would recommend it!) to enjoy this one.
Day Zero features Elle, who has been living on her own in California during the majority of the time that has passed since the EMP strike. Elle stays by herself for self-preservation, and has no plans to seek companions any time soon. When we are first introduced to Elle, she is seemingly hardened and unfeeling, and not particularly likable.
But, Elle’s best laid plans go astray, and she encounters a group of youths who have been sequestered in a bunker and have absolutely no idea about the horrors that lie in front of them. Even though Elle has survived thus far remaining alone, she shows that her humanity prevails as she helps the group navigate the harsh scene that awaits them as they try to escape the rampant criminal groups that have taken over Elle’s one-time home. Elle has definite character growth, but in a subtle and believable way.
Day Zero starts the series off with a definite bang. While I would have liked some more insight on the characters, there is certainly only so much a book of this length can contain, and I am sure that more facts will be revealed as the series continues. I probably would sympathize with them a bit more if I knew more of their story, however. The book is non-stop action from start to finish, and even though the world is a mess, and a very dark and dismal place, there are glimmers of hope along the way that kept me from feeling overwhelmed. Overall, I enjoyed this story, and cannot wait for the next installment!
The novella might be a good way to try out this author. I hadn’t heard of the collapse series, but this sounds good. I worried at first, because I don’t like books where the one character is on their own. Some of my favorite parts of books are their interactions and relationships. I think it’s better to have a short novella than dragging it out too long. I guess there was no time in between all of the action for character building, but as long as they make me care about them, that’s not a deal breaker. Nice review! 🙂