Lets get this out of the way first: I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author in exchange for an unbiased review. Now that that has been said, on to my review!

I was very (very) pleasantly surprised by this book. When I first read the description, my reaction was 'Okay. Yet ANOTHER zombie story.' and prepared myself for a decent but not incredible listen. The depth of character from both before our protagonist transitions into a zombie is absolutely amazing. (At that point having changed in to a being with two consciousnesses simultaneously existing as both the woman she was and the monster she has become.) The book is written so beautifully as to be almost poetic and the narration is so emotional that I don't think I could give the narrator justice in mere words. I will be looking forward to any future works by this author as well as the narrator. This book has all the makings of a classic. Think along the lines of Thomas Hardy, Mary Shelley and Emily Bronte. ( )

ABR's original The End audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.

The End by Adam M. Booth. Performed/narrated by Shiromi Areserio. 1 hour and 51 minutes long, Contemporary, Sci-fi, fantasy. Unabridged Audio. 18+ years. Some scenes are graphic in the description of the zombies eating humans. So if this is not your type of book then I would not recommend it to the faint of heart.

This book is an account of one woman’s memory of being part of a zombie apocalypse from the zombie’s perspective. I thought this was quite a unique twist on a zombie’s thoughts especially when I thought zombies were just mindless, hunger driven for the brains and flesh of their victims. But, on contra my listeners. Zoe is a single mom looking to see that her daughter is at good school. Overworked, underpaid as a single parent Zoe is heading to the train station to meet up with one of the many guys she is dating. A weekend to unwind the grind. Well, Zoe found herself right into the start of the Zombie Apocalypse at the train station. Seeing someone coming at her and not knowing at the time until he comes face to face with her. She realizes that this is not human anymore with the deep sunken eyes and flesh hanging off his face. As he grabs her and starts to gnaw on her. Screaming as he clings to her and feeling herself floating in and out of conscientious. Then, waking up wondering what had just happened in a slumped pile and then the desirable thirst for human flesh and brains comes to her.

Next Zoe could only think of one thing and that was getting to her daughter. As she goes through the countryside getting to her Zoe tells her side of her experience of attacking those to so she could survive. When she actually shows that she has feelings of quilt yet no regrets to what she has to do to survive.

Will Zoe make it in time to see her daughter? What challenges does she come across getting there? Will her daughter know that this is her mother? All great questions that Zoe will recall throughout this short novella. How she will be recalling this tale some century later. Adam M. Booth really put a lot of thought into condensing this story in such a way that it is a stand-alone book.

Shiromi Areserio is a fantastic narrator/performer. I have listen to other books that she has performed with her beautiful British/Australian accent. She speaks in such a way that you can feel that this is a thought being spoken by Zoe and when people are actually speaking – okay screaming outloud. Great job.

All thoughts are solely mine and no way influenced by others. Please like and leave comments below good or bad love to hear them.

Audiobook provided for for review by the author. ( )

THE END Adam M. Booth I once read a post-apocalyptic story which included the pov on the infected and I absolutely loved it. In that story it was a man who was infected. This story from the woman's POV is every bit as frightening. To be aware of the horrific things going on around you. Try as you might, you are unable to stop yourself from participating and satisfying these uncontrollable urges which have invaded your body. Is it really you? Are you sharing your body with an entity? Can is be stopped? Do you have the willpower to stop it? Has this monster lived inside of you all along. Has it been waiting for the end of the world, so that it may awaken to fulfill a curse? Will I ever be myself again? Is this the new me? If I do changed back into myself, how will I live with myself knowing the thins I have done?
It raises many unspoken questions as it does spoken.This is the substance of great writing.
For me,I think the ending needed a little more emotion. It seemed to wind down too soon and too fast. Other than that, it is a great buy for those who enjoy this genre as I do.

I love zombies! Vampires too...but I digress...

As one reader mentioned there are a few grammar/spelling issues, but it definitely doesn't take away from the story. It was raw, as I imagine a zombie's existence would be. I was surprised by a few things...I won't give those away...but they made the story and showed what the writer was trying to get across, I believe, the darkest parts of humanity.

One of my favorite scenes was when the main character, in zombie form, was frozen to the ground in a field. The description of her pain was so graphic and realistic, I could almost feel it myself. The progression of the rot in her body was also written in a very realistic way.

I liked the writing style too. It was very poetic, very thought-provoking. This is a book that makes you think about humanity, what we're capable of, how we can be monsters without ever being turned into a flesh-eating zombie. This was a very enjoyable read for me! And I definitely recommend it to others. ( )