Survivors (an Aftertime novella)by Sophie Littlefield

Cass Dollar outlasted the fall of civilization. But surviving Aftertime requires the kind of toughness that can conquer the violent landscape of California and still retain its humanity.

When a young boy and his dying grandmother are brought to the Box, the survivalist community where Cass takes shelter, she realizes that without her help he won't be long for this unforgiving new world. But while the Box is a haven from the roaming marauders—and the flesh-hungry Beaters—it forbids children within its confines. The boy will be turned out to fend for himself. All that stands between him and the brutal wilderness is Cass's protective instincts, and the stubborn resolve that's gotten her this far Aftertime.

my thoughts~ A quick and easy read that really hasn't added anything to the continuing story, yet. It does introduce Feo, an 8 or 9 year old who Cass tries to take under her wing. But sometimes things don't work out the way you think they will. Next up is Rebirth, the second book in the Aftertime series!

Aftertimeby Sophie Littlefield

The world’s gone.

Worse, so is her daughter.

Awakening in a bleak landscape as scarred as her body, Cass Dollar vaguely recalls surviving something terrible. Having no idea how many days—or weeks—have passed, she slowly realizes the horrifying truth: Ruthie has vanished.
And with her, nearly all of civilization. Where once-lush hills carried cars and commerce, the roads today see only cannibalistic Beaters—people turned hungry for human flesh by a government experiment gone wrong.
In a broken, barren California, Cass will undergo a harrowing quest to get her Ruthie back. Few people trust an outsider, let alone a woman who became a zombie and somehow turned back, but she finds help from an enigmatic outlaw, Smoke. Smoke is her savior, and her safety. For the Beaters are out there. And the humans grip at survival with their trigger fingers. Especially when they learn that she and Ruthie have become the most feared, and desired, of weapons in a brave new world...

My thoughts~
I requested to review the 3rd book in this series, without knowing there were to 2 more books and a novella that came before! So of course, when I found out it was part of a series, I just had to read them first. I enjoyed reading Aftertime, all though it did take me a minute to get used to there being zombies, or Beaters as they are called in the book, instead of werewolves, vampires, etc.
I hope if the world goes to Hell in a hand basket, that I have a "Smoke" by my side. Here is a man who leaves his "home" with others like him, to help Cass get her daughter back. They encounter the "rebuilders", Beaters, a town that was created and serves as a "stop over" & home to people who have something to trade for drugs, alchol, sex, water, food and a Cult of women who believe the Beaters can be healed with prayer. I think this is my first adult Dystopian read, and I have to say that I enjoyed it!