Survival Kit's Apocalypse was nothing like what I expected, based on the title. The main character has a past which puts the Apocalypse to shame, and is first just kind of aimlessly walking about until she stumbles on a bunch of brothers who almost fall over each other to please and woo her as she is such a special snowflake.

Maybe, had I expected less an Apocalypse survival story, I wouldn't have minded so bad, but now I didn't really care for it. It was very easy for me to put away, and more difficult to pick it up again (always a dangerous situation). It just really wasn't for me, I'm afraid, so I won't be continuing the series.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This is a story about a man who walks over 1000 miles to get home after an EMP attack. I loved the ending. Not all sunshine and rainbows but a slow building back of a civilized life.

Even if it means quitting their boy band mid-tour, Troy Tanner isn’t going to watch his little brother snort his future away after addiction destroyed their father. On a private jet taking him home from Australia, he and pilot Brian Sinclair soar above the vast South Pacific. Brian lost his passion for flying—and joy in life—after a traumatic crash, but now he and Troy must fight to survive when a cyclone strikes without warning.

Marooned a thousand miles from civilization, the turquoise water and white sand beach look like paradise. But although they can fish and make fire, the smallest infection or bacteria could be deadly. When the days turn into weeks with no sign of rescue, Troy and Brian grow closer, and friendship deepens into desire.

As they learn sexuality is about more than straight or gay and discover their true selves, the world they've built together is thrown into chaos. If Troy and Brian make it off the island, can their love endure?

Review

I love an island survival story. I grew up reading everyone you can think of and my addiction to Blue Lagoon was off the hook so it figures I love the grown up versions (not that Blue Lagoon wasn't but I was a kid) too.

I almost didn't pick this one up because I am not a fan of two straight guys falling in love but Will from The Big Gay Fiction Podcast loved this book and I have never read a bad Kiera Andrews book so I bought it. 

It was so good. Its a slow burn as it should be and love is strong and grand. Both heroes are complex and making their lives work as a couple both on the island (extrovert/introvert problems) and off the island (fame and oh hello discovered bisexuality is realistically done. 

It is a great story and romance. Woo hoo!

"Tell me how you survived the whale attack," the reporter said.

- opening lines

 

Could you survive if the whale watching boat you were on capsized and you were left floating in the cold ocean? Travis and Marina are in just such a situation. Luckily, Travis is wearing an immersion suit, and Mariana has survival supplies in her vest (and a lot of knowledge). All they have to do is stay out of the water, find land, and get rescued. Simple, right?

So, this is a good book, but the plot is a little thin. Things resolve a bit too easily for me, but I don't think kids will mind. At the end of the book, there is a section with "U.S. Coast Guard-Approved Cold Water Survival Tips" which kids will probably find very cool and informative.

It's about 100 pages, easy to read and about survival, kids will love it.

Recommended to: Grades 3-5 (and some second graders), fans of the I Survived series, adventure fans, reluctant readers

I was disappointed in this final book. It didn't do anything for me like the first two books. The pace was so slow and nothing exciting happened. I honestly got bored with it. The best part was the last few chapters I thought, up until the ending that is. Their solution for killing the spiders and saving the world was so completely anti-climatic it was utterly ridiculous.