Review by Cazrichmond -- The Beginning of the End - It S...

[Caroline Anne Richmond]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Beginning of the End - It Starts" by John K. Williamson.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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The Beginning of the End - It Starts by John K. Williamson is a graphic thriller describing the events after nuclear warfare breaks out. This fictional story is an apocalyptic adventure, including a group of characters who fight to survive the chaos and inhumanity of this nuclear Armageddon. The novel is action-packed, and in parts terrifying to read, describing the decline of humanity.

On December 15th, at 6:30 pm, nuclear weapons attack the United States of America. New York, Washington, D.C., the Carolinas, and Florida are all hit. No life survives these catastrophic weapons, and the world will never be the same again. Those who remain fear the nuclear fall-out and leave their positions to flee to safety. With no order, anarchy breaks out, and the streets are filled with crime. Everyone is out for themselves with the mentality, kill or be killed.

Prisoners John and Marvino discover what is happening in the world outside their prison and know they must escape. Janay, a female prison officer working the night shift, realises she must get home to her children but realises she is alone in the jail. She must work out a plan to escape. Henry, an ex Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran, and now surgeon, finds the hospital he works in deserted, realising what is happening he uses all his skills and training to navigate the streets of Chicago. With every minute becoming more dangerous, the characters fight for their lives in a world that has become more like Hell.

The book contains a fascinating storyline that is horrifyingly captivating from the minute you begin reading. The story immerses you in the dire situation each character finds themselves in. The variety of characters is very entertaining, and they all have interesting backstories. I enjoyed how some characters are not very likeable, but as the story moves on, you root for them and become very fond of them. I enjoyed the camaraderie between characters and how they all depend on each other to survive. The survival instinct becomes very clear as the story moves on, and it is interesting reflecting on how humankind would react to such a terrible incident.

Each character has to become ruthless to survive. Killing becomes a necessity. Each character adopts a more instinctual way of life with the focus to stay alive. I thought the author had created an interesting concept of how people may react if there were no government and legal control, no emergency services, and no modern luxuries. I think it’s quite a sobering thought and not far away from the realms of reality.

I am a fan of fictional horror, gore, and violence, and this book ticked all of those boxes. There are many violent, gory, and sexually violent scenes that can be difficult to read. Even being a lifelong horror fan, I was shocked at some more disturbing parts and would advise extreme caution for more sensitive readers who would not enjoy these themes.

This is the first book in this series, and I can’t wait to read the next instalment. It is an amazing end of the world story that cuts close to the bone. It is only for adult readers with a strong stomach who enjoy adult themes and are not offended by extreme violence. Also, there is a lot of profanity that may not appeal to every reader. I loved the story and the characters and found nothing to dislike about the book. I didn’t find any grammar or spelling mistakes, so I believe it has been professionally edited. I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars because it is an epic story that I found hard to put down.

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The Beginning of the End - It Starts
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[Satwik Mohanty]

I have to agree, some of the scenes in this book were too vulgar. Except for that, great story with good character development. Thanks for the detailed review!

[Jasy95]

Thanks for the great review! It sounds like this was a great book and I'll definitely add it to my list.