this is a well written book, I struggled to get through it. I felt like it dragged in some places. I would have loved a little more action to keep it more interesting. I also wish there was more about what happened to the world but I understand that was the point of the book. The mystery of it.

Ernie Gammage captures a post-apocalyptic story with such imagination and creativity that you feel the sense of reality.

It's storyline starts with two scavengers Sophie and Markus, searching through the ruins of a collapsed world 'The before', and uncover a sealed box. Finding out more information about the contents of this box takes them on a path of complicated life and death situations. Gammage creates an 'on the edge of your seat' feeling when Sophie and the box disappears . After all they've gone through you just feel compelled to keep reading in hope that they find each other again, and hope that the box contents helps create a better future.

Thank you for selecting me to read this book Gammage. I look forward to reading your future creations.

After the Before was a very innovative take on a post-apocalyptic scenario, where parts of language have been lost and the remnants become total names, Ai really does take over what is left of the world for a time, and unfortunately, the human race changes very little. Most of the Before has been lost to time and destruction from human inventions, and an artifact is found that may start the whole thing over again. Amid the daily struggles of foraging for food and finding shelter, someone is always trying to rule the world, or what’s left of it. This novel examines a time well-past the warning stages of what may happen if changes aren’t made for the sake of humanity itself. It also captures the courage and strength of the human spirit to rise above the worst of circumstances.

After the Before by Ernie Gammage is a character driven dystopian-esque novel.

I was first taken in with the title and the cover, piquing my interest and wanting to know more.

The book started off a bit slow as it begins to introduce you to characters. I had many questions throughout the story in regards to worldbuilding, some that were answered some that were not. I would have definitely liked some of them to be answered or for there have been a bit more depth to them, specially when it came to some of the word usage and why characters/their world was the way it was. I did enjoy all the different characters.

The plot was definitely character driven, and does a decent job delving into some of the characters pasts. Giving some moments for understanding why they act the way they do in a world based on survival. There were a couple I feel their pasts weren't touched on enough.

The story became a bit more fast paced at the end, and while I was not entirely happy with the conclusion or the pacing, I did mostly enjoy my time reading this book. I just wish that there had been more depth and some questions answered.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review After The Before.