Early Review of Rebirth (Aftertime, #2) by Sophie Littlefield

Title: Rebirth (Aftertime, #2) by Sophie Littlefield
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Dystopia
Format: Paperback, 384 pages
Publisher: Luna; Original edition (July 19, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0373803397
ISBN-13: 978-0373803392
Notes: Has sex and violence (rape). 

We've all heard of incidents where violence runs amuck. Where chaos reigns and law and order seems nonexistent. Usually such scenes can be found after a disaster of a large magnitude. This is what has happened in Aftertime (the name of the first book in the series). A bio terrorist attack on the US left many dead and others fighting to survive. Next, a bioengineering experiment gone wrong left a portion of the survivors seemingly inhuman. They're called beaters. Once human, they now survive on human flesh, and are, in essence, zombies. They pose a threat to those survivors who are still human. While pockets of order still remain, one group, known as the Rebuilders, is attempting to takeover. Promising shelter and safety from Beaters, the group sounds ideal, however, it has a hidden agenda. In Rebirth, we get to find out what that agenda entails.     

In Aftertime, we followed the story of Cass. She found her daughter, and she, Smoke, and Ruthie became a makeshift family living in the Box. The Box is a community that while not perfect, offers security. In Rebirth, the school where Smoke and Cass met has been attacked by Rebuilders on a recruiting mission. You are either with the Rebuilders or you're against them which makes you their enemy. You have two choices when they find you, join or die. Many in the small group that lived at the school died resisting. The others were taken as prisoners. When Smoke hears what happened, he is profoundly affected. He takes off on what Cass believes is suicide mission. She does not expect him to survive. He doesn't even say goodbye.

With Smoke gone, Cass determines it's time to leave the security of the Box. She believes, in time, the small community will not be able to survive. She decides to help Dor with his mission to find and rescue his daughter, Sammi. Dor was informed that Sammi was among the survivors of the school massacre. Cass convinces Dor that since she and Ruthie are Outliers, the Rebuilders will be interested in them, and that will give him a better chance at getting access to their society. Outliers are resistant to the bioengineered component that transforms a person into a Beater. They may be key to the world's survival.

In this book we get to know more about Dor and his life. He is the leader of the Box and was a bit elusive in Aftertime. We also see more of the flaws in Cass' character. She will do things in Rebirth that Smoke, if he survives, may never be able to forgive her for doing. Then again, she may not be able to forgive him for abandoning her and Ruthie.

I didn't like what I saw in Cass this time around. She did a couple of things that did not sit well with me. It's obvious she still has issues from the abuse she suffered as a child. While I may have had issues with what Cass did, I feel Littlefield stayed true to the characteristics she developed for Cass in Aftertime, so I give her kudos for that. I look forward to seeing what the next book in the series will bring. The book leaves off on a cliffhanger, as a confrontation is about to take place. I can't wait to see what happens. Also, Dor wanted to tell Cass something about Smoke that would have made her understand why Smoke left her. Unfortunately, he never did tell her, and I sooooo want to know what that was. I'm also starting to wonder if maybe Dor is the right man for Cass? I look forward to finding out if that relationship will deepen or cause problems in the next book. Additionally, there's still a question as to who will survive--at least one character was teetering on the brink of death. 

Wondering why the book is called Rebirth? I believe it's because part of the plan of the Rebuilders is to "Rebirth" the nation, or at least their portion of it. My overall rating for this one is 4 out of 5 roses. 

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