After the Before is a gritty, post-apocalyptic journey that follows Sophie and Markus, a pair of scavengers navigating the ruins of a collapsed world known only by the mythic shadow of “The Before.” When they uncover a mysterious box during a routine dig, their discovery sets them on a harrowing trip to the City, accompanied by the enigmatic Jen and the quiet, foreboding Barth. Along the way, they encounter religious fanatics, deadly mechanical beings called A-Eye, and a stark landscape filled with craters and threats. The book weaves together themes of survival, memory, trust, and the search for truth in a fractured future.

I found myself pulled in by the writing right from the first chapter. Gammage has a way of crafting scenes that feel raw and alive. The world is bleak, but there’s something beautiful in how it’s described, grimy yet human, desperate but never hopeless. The dialogue is clean and believable, with just enough punch to feel natural. The pacing struck a good rhythm, alternating between tense action and slower, character-driven moments. I especially liked how Gammage peeled back layers of history and emotion without ever dumping too much at once. The whole story feels personal, even as it tackles big, almost mythic ideas about civilization, memory, and identity.

But what really got to me were the relationships. Sophie and Markus have this bond that’s never overly defined, and that ambiguity felt real. I also appreciated Jen’s quiet strength and Barth’s silent loyalty, which made his eventual speech hit even harder. Luther felt a little too on-the-nose as a symbol of corrupted faith, and sometimes the A-Eye threat drifted into the background when I wished it had more weight. I kept waiting for the machines to play a bigger role. Still, the story never lost my interest, and even the quieter stretches had a kind of anxious tension that kept me turning pages.

After the Before left me thinking about where we’re headed and what we choose to remember. It’s not a flashy book, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s thoughtful and full of grit. I’d recommend it to anyone who likes post-collapse fiction that isn’t just about survival but about what it means to live with a past you barely understand. Fans of Station Eleven or The Road will feel right at home here.

Pages: 236 | ASIN : B0F8F25BN3