I'd almost rate this 4.5 stars I enjoyed it that much. I found the story really entertaining and it moved at a good pace. I haven't read anything quite like this before which is probably why it took me by surprise and had me enjoying the ride. While I love apocalyptic reads, I've never read one post-EMP (Electro Magnetic Pulse for those not in the know... Which was totally me yesterday lol). The pulse comes from unknown origins but knocks out all electronic devices in what seems to be the most of the U.S.A. As a result, the country is thrown into chaos.
I didn't know a lot about this book going in and I think that amped up my enjoyment of the story. If you want to go in blind, too, maybe skip this next bit. When the EMP hits, Hannah escapes the prison she's been kept in for 5 years. She's on the verge of probable death due to the biting cold when she crosses the path of Liam, a former special forces soldier with his own demons. Without spoiling too much, they forge on together as Hannah is desperate to be united with her husband and son in their small town she was taken from. The major problem (I mean, apart from the bitter snow, the EMP and the world going berserk)? They're being hunted by her former captor and Hannah is pregnant.
While I probably would have liked a bit more detail on Hannah's captivity, I loved how the author didn't gloss over her PTSD. I thought it was handled well, especially since it was a shorter read. For lovers of romance such as myself, there's none to be found here so far, but it honestly didn't bother me because the story drew me in so much. I'm also going to assume there's a bit more of this further on in the series. Hannah and Liam were both solid characters. The story was told from both of their points of view as well as several chapters from their stalker. I'm not gonna lie, I loved this and thought it added extra depth to the story.
The story is set out in days. I thought the week or so was a bit of a short time frame for the world to descend into such madness. I mean, I get it, but it seemed to jump to extremes a bit quickly for the purpose of adding drama. That's a minor thing, however, as I found the story line great and the writing solid. As I said above, it was a quick read but it sure packed a punch. There was a lot of well-executed tension, suspense and drama which is why I finished it in a day or so.
Obviously due to the background of the female lead, there's elements of abuse, torture and forced captivity touched on for anyone with triggers. The antagonist is ruthless and brutal, causing a few ickier moments that helped ramp things up a bit.
You get a few snippets of the main characters' past but there are plenty of gaps that I assume continue to be filled in in later books. As this is a series, there's only temporary closure with Hannah and Liam's story being far from over. I'll definitely be continuing with this series in the future.
LizzyK2