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After the Flood

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"After the Flood" by Kassandra Montag is a post-apocalyptic novel set in a world where rising floodwaters have submerged most of the land, leaving only scattered settlements on high peaks and people living on boats. The story follows Myra, a mother trying to survive with her daughter Pearl, as they embark on a dangerous journey to find Myra's older daughter, Row, who was kidnapped years ago. The book is praised for its fast-paced writing style, strong character development, and a plot filled with adventure, survival, and emotional depth.

The novel explores themes of family, survival, trust, and resilience in the face of disaster. It follows Myra's desperate quest to reunite with her lost daughter, navigating a treacherous world filled with marauders, challenges, and unexpected alliances. The gripping narrative, well-developed characters, and vivid world-building make "After the Flood" a compelling read that delves into the complexities of human nature and relationships in extreme circumstances.

Characters:

Characters, especially the protagonist Myra, are complex with relatable flaws, though some secondary figures lack development.

Writing/Prose:

The prose combines poetic descriptions with a focus on character emotions, creating a blend of literary and action-driven storytelling.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative centers on a mother's desperate quest to find her kidnapped daughter amid a drastically flooded world, exploring themes of survival and intricate familial bonds.

Setting:

Set in a future where most of the world is submerged, the ocean-dominated landscape adds to the story's tension and survival elements.

Pacing:

While the beginning is engaging, the pacing fluctuates with some slow sections that may detract from overall momentum.
Seagulls circled over our boat, which made me think of Row. The way she squawked and waved her arms when she was first trying to walk; the way she stood completely still for almost an hour, watching t...

Notes:

The story is set over a century in the future where climate change has caused catastrophic flooding.
Most of the world's land is now underwater, leaving only mountain peaks above the sea.
The protagonist, Myra, is searching for her kidnapped daughter Row in a harsh, flooded world.
Myra's younger daughter, Pearl, is raised entirely on a boat, learning to fish and survive before she can walk properly.
The narrative includes themes of human trafficking, survival, and ethical dilemmas in a dystopian setting.
Myra's character is deeply flawed; her obsession with finding Row endangers her second daughter Pearl.
The story features a co-existing raider society that exploits vulnerable populations.
After the Flood has been compared to the movie Waterworld and includes elements of maternal love and sacrifice.
The author Kassandra Montag explores the psychological impacts of survival in an unforgiving environment.
The writing is noted to be more literary than typical science fiction, focusing on character development and poetic prose.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers include themes of kidnapping, human trafficking, violence, and suicide, which may be distressing for some readers.

From The Publisher:

A Chicago Tribune Best Book of the Year

An inventive and riveting epic saga, After the Flood signals the arrival of an extraordinary new talent.

A little more than a century from now, our world has been utterly transformed. After years of slowly overtaking the continent, rising floodwaters have obliterated America's great coastal cities and then its heartland, leaving nothing but an archipelago of mountaintop colonies surrounded by a deep expanse of open water.

Stubbornly independent Myra and her precocious seven-year-old daughter, Pearl, fish from their small boat, the Bird, visiting dry land only to trade for supplies and information in the few remaining outposts of civilization. For seven years, Myra has grieved the loss of her oldest daughter, Row, who was stolen by her father after a monstrous deluge overtook their home in Nebraska. Then, in a violent confrontation with a stranger, Myra suddenly discovers that Row was last seen in a far-off encampment near the Arctic Circle. Throwing aside her usual caution, Myra and Pearl embark on a perilous voyage into the icy northern seas, hoping against hope that Row will still be there.

On their journey, Myra and Pearl join forces with a larger ship and Myra finds herself bonding with her fellow seekers who hope to build a safe haven together in this dangerous new world. But secrets, lust, and betrayals threaten their dream, and after their fortunes take a shocking-and bloody-turn, Myra can no longer ignore the question of whether saving Row is worth endangering Pearl and her fellow travelers.

A compulsively readable novel of dark despair and soaring hope, After the Flood is a magnificent, action packed, and sometimes frightening odyssey laced with wonder-an affecting and wholly original saga both redemptive and astonishing.

Ratings (11)

Incredible (1)
Loved It (6)
Liked It (2)
It Was OK (2)

Reader Stats (48):

Read It (14)
Want To Read (28)
Not Interested (6)
 
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