Krista Reviews: Demitria Lunetta’s – “In the After”

They hear the most silent of footsteps.
They are faster than anything you’ve ever seen.
And They won’t stop chasing you…until you are dead.

Amy is watching TV when it happens, when the world is attacked by Them. These vile creatures are rapidly devouring mankind. Most of the population is overtaken, but Amy manages to escape—and even rescue “Baby,” a toddler left behind in the chaos. Marooned in Amy’s house, the girls do everything they can to survive—and avoid Them at all costs.

After years of hiding, they are miraculously rescued and taken to New Hope, a colony of survivors living in a former government research compound. While at first the colony seems like a dream with plenty of food, safety, and shelter, New Hope slowly reveals that it is far from ideal. And Amy soon realizes that unless things change, she’ll lose Baby—and much more.

Rebellious, courageous, and tender, this unforgettable duo will have you on the edge of your seat as you tear through the pulse-pounding narrow escapes and horrifying twists of fate in this thrilling debut from author Demitria Lunetta.

Hardcover, 455 pages  Published June 25th 2013 by HarperTeen  ISBN   0062105450 (ISBN13: 9780062105455)

Amy finds herself alone after the invasion that decimated all living things on the planet. Fortunately, her home is protected by an electric gate because dangerous creatures with enhanced hearing abilities are attracted to noise. This is Amy’s concern when she has to leave her house for supplies, and plays a role in bringing home Baby, the child she finds still alive in a grocery story. Baby is extremely quiet and has somehow been able to survive on her own. They soon make up their own hand signs for communication.

Amy learns how to survive, as well as the basics of how the creatures work, so she can stay alive. After several years of no contact with other humans and scavenging to survive, they are picked up and taken to New Hope, a colony of survivors. Yet this new situation, living with other people, may lead to Amy to run back to her previous life of hiding from the creatures. She had always focused daily on survival, but when they are rescued, it seems that all her years of hiding and fear should be put aside and forgotten. That is not so easy.

There is the constant feeling of paranoia and not knowing what they will find while out scavenging. There is always danger, not only with the creatures, but other survivors too. Amy is patient and cautious—intuitive enough to stay alive. What I enjoyed most about this story is the atmosphere: a lingering feeling that hovers over the story and fills you with anticipation until the end. It’s good that this is just book one of the series. Before, life was considered normal, but after…there is no normal anymore.

I enjoyed this story and am looking forward to continuing this series. If you like invasion stories, post-apocalyptic settings, and strong female leads, I believe you will like this too.