I never mentioned my first review on Amazon because I didn't like it much. The reviewer was blatantly honest, which is something I respect, but I wish it could've been a little better. If you would like to read that review go to Beyond the Walls Reviews. The second review is 4 out of 5 stars, and I am very pleased. The reviewer was also honest, but he gave his opinion on everything --- both good and bad parts of the book. I respect him so much more for that, and I just wanted to share this review because maybe it'll make you more interested in reading Beyond the Walls.
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I think I would like to split this review into two parts to give it my "real rating"...
The concept is interesting and grabs your attention. Years after the "zombie apocalypse", people are now living "behind the walls". This is an enclosed area where everyone is divided into "classes" - the people, the guards, the doctors/scientists.
The people are all the same - you live in white buildings, you wear white clothes, you eat the same "mush" each day, you take the same pills each morning and night (to keep you emotion free), and while you live in "units" with your family, there is no touching, no hugging, no "I love you", no caring...unless, that is, you are immune to the medications that in everything from the food to the toothpaste to the "air freshener" that is sprayed in your room each night.
And, if you are immune, you must hide it otherwise, otherwise, you become one of the "chosen" and that is not a good thing.
October is immune to the medication but has lived her entire life hiding her emotions and fitting in - except when she is with her boyfriend Kay. Kay has been teaching her in an old library how things were "before" and wants her to now escape the Walls and run away with him because living, even for a short time, is better than existing, like they do inside the compound.
October is not ready to leave her family and take the last step of running away but Kay takes his sister and runs anyway. At this point, the story splits into two paths - that of October and her life in the compound and that of Kay on the outside while he is waiting for October to show up while still trying to stay alive.
The first 3/4 of the book was really good - I didn't see the spelling errors that the other reviewer had (I must have gotten the revised version) and the concept and "mystery" attached to the Walls kept me wanting to find out what happens next.
The last 1/4 of the book though got a bit "rushed" to me - like the author is trying to fit a whole lot of concept and information into a little bitty section. The newly introduced characters did not seem as "real" as October and her friends and the Kay story line kind of went downhill too although I really liked Juliana.
That being said, I give the first 3/4 of the book a 4 star and the last portion 2 1/2 stars. I really hold out hope though for the sequel that is going to be coming out before too long and will purchase it. That is how I came up with the 3 1/2 to 4 star rating.
I do encourage the writer to perhaps look a bit more into how they write the new characters - they are almost caricatures of evil instead of perhaps "real" people like the others in the book. Just my opinion...
Despite the last part of the book, I will be purchasing the sequel because I do want to find out what happens to October next..
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Now, with that shared, I'm going to say this review inspired me to fix Beyond the Walls a bit. I think I'm going to focus on the last 4 or 5 chapters and give them a little more detail. The book will be free again at some point, for those of you who have already bought it and would like to read the changes, and I will update on here as well as twitter and amazon when it is free. Please keep an eye out and be supportive. I thank everyone who has read the book for supporting me and giving my book a shot!
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