Michael Nelson is a teenager home alone when the Zombie Apocalypse begins. When it becomes apparent that his parents aren't coming home, he sets out from Kansas City to his Grandparent's farm in Illinois. Along the way he meets Abbie Nelson, a foster child who had been looking to escape. This story follows the teenagers as they navigate the post-apocalyptic world with hope and trust in each other to guide them.
"A Darkness Shattered" is the first book in the Darkmind Saga.
It has been a very long time since I last stayed up all night and read a book. At 3am I realized that I needed to put my Kindle down and get some sleep. "A Darkness Shattered was so vivid a telling of a post Apocalyptic world that the imagery of the narrative kept me entranced. Clothier is a brilliant storyteller who manages to be vivid and descriptive without bogging the story down in any way.
Clothier highlights his Zombies by giving us the child zombie in the party dress and the well-dressed zombie and the zombie in uniform shirt (to name a few). They are an image of who they were and who they'll never be again. Clothier's zombies aren't a character as a whole; they're everyone you know in your life.
This story isn't about the Zombies though, not really. It's about Michael and Abbie and their struggle to survive. Its about the way humans react in the face of crisis. How they become who they were really meant to be. It's about young love blooming in terrible odds.
This is a coming of age story, and done so wonderfully that I am eagerly anticipating the next novel in this series. What happens to Michael and Abbie? Where will they go next? This is a great read that I'd recommend for anyone who likes sci-fi or dramas about human nature.
(reviewed 6 days after purchase)