The End Begins: Sudden Darkness by Margot Hovley

The End Begins: Sudden Darkness

Author: Margot Hovley

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Published Date: September 2012

Softcover; 162 pages

Genre: YA DYstopian

ISBN# 978-1-60861-144-7

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: free review copy in exchange for an honest review

Goodreads Summary

“Brothers and sisters, may I have your attention,” President Green said into the megaphone. I held my breath. What would he say next? At that moment, I wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d said the moon was scheduled to turn to blood next Tuesday night. “As you know, alarming events are unfolding. People are scared and confused. Life as we have known it will never be the same, it seems.”

The news has been filled with stories of tragedy and turmoil. But world events like the recent bombings in London seem far removed from eighteen-year-old Amelie Hatch’s quiet life in Zillah, Washington. She’s content with the predictable pattern of her life—school, friends, work. But when Amelie’s father leaves on a mysterious Church assignment, concerns escalate as the family is left with few answers.

Then, in the span of moments, Amelie’s world erupts in chaos. Terrorists have attacked the US power grid. There is no electricity. Vehicles have ceased working. The nuclear facility at nearby Hanford is compromised, and radiation may be flooding the area. Without the guidance of their father, Amelie’s family faces a monumental task at the request of the leaders of the Church: members of their stake have been asked to walk to zUtah, where they will find safety in Zion.

Fleeing her home and the life she knows, Amelie sets off on the arduous journey toward the refuge of Utah. There is danger around every corner as the group faces gunfire, kidnapping, and new terrorist threats. And as she finds herself drawn to two very different men, Amelie recognizes a more personal peril—she’s in danger of losing her heart.

Review

Amelie (pronounced ah-may-lee) is an 18-year-old senior in a small high school in Zillah, Washington. She lives on a farm, loves music, plays piano, and works hard despite her leg that was crippled in a devastating injury as a little girl. Her father leaves town on a business trip, and other than a visit from local celebrity Ryan Cook, Amelie’s life in Zillah is nothing out of the ordinary.

Until the night the power goes out.

When Amelie and her family are instructed to pack up necessities and prepare to leave Zillah for Salt Lake City, UT, her life changes in a way she never expected. The tanks in the Hanford nuclear facility are leaking, the government is in chaos, and an EMP has wiped out electricity and communications. To make matters worse, she and her family must make the trip without their father.

I was quickly pulled into the story. After the power goes out and the situation is revealed, I started wondering about what my family and I would do in similar circumstances. I was suddenly aware of how much I need to work on our emergency preparedness.

I liked Amelie, though sometimes she was too hard on herself. She’s a strong female character, not flighty or flirty. I admired her determination to walk the distance, despite the pain and discomfort from her leg. She’s an easy character to sympathize with, and I experienced every emotion she did. Other than a few phrases Amelie used that felt more like something her grandma would say (ie, “dratted boy”) I enjoyed her voice and read the book in a single sitting.

This was a story that made me think, but was also suspenseful enough to keep me turning pages. Several things happen that I won’t spoil here. I’m hoping this is a series because I’m curious to know what happens in this post-attack America. I wonder if other groups of Saints from around the West were called back to Salt Lake City. How was it for them? Did they encounter the same issues Amelie’s group did?

Readers looking for a clean YA Dystopian novel with suspense and bit of romance will enjoy Sudden Darkness. Don’t be surprised if you feel the urge to update your 72-hour kit after reading it.

**Interesting tidbit: The day after I finished this book I read on a news site that officials had discovered multiple tanks leaking nuclear waste in Hanford, WA. I had never heard of Handford before reading Sudden Darkness and then eerily there was news about the leaks the next day. Creepy!

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