There is no evil corporation to topple, no tyrannical government to overthrow, no rag-tag band of survivors to lead.
Two people survived the end of the world. L and M don’t remember their names. They don’t know what happened. They don’t understand why they’re alive.
They know they’re addicted to a drug that kills them. And they know that after dying, they briefly live in the world as it was.
L and M try to fight the addiction, but the pull of the past is too strong. The joy of those eight minutes and thirty-two seconds before the drug wears off.
But there’s a heavy cost: missing memories, vicious withdrawal, and far too many secrets. Still, they pay the price, and slowly begin to reconstruct what happened to the eight billion who died.
Worst of all, they discover who killed them.
Title: Eight Minutes, Thirty Two Seconds | Author: Peter Adam Salomon | Publisher: PseudoPsalms Press | Pub. Date: 03, April, 2019 | Pages: 184 | ASIN: B07QL3WB89 | Genre: YA Sci-Fi | Language: English | Triggers: Drug use (synopsis) | Rating: 3 out of 5 | Source: Received from the author for review consideration
Eight Minutes, Thirty Two Seconds Review
Eight Minutes, Thirty Two Seconds was a very fast read. The story was absorbing and the characters were very engaging. The jumps back and forth through time work well since each jump is clearly defined in time and through the people who’s memories they are visiting.
The premise is very intriguing. The world has ended and no one left really knows why. You find out throughout the book in bits and pieces. About a third in I was ahead of the characters on what was going on but the way the scenario is set up it makes sense so you don’t get the usual frustration of waiting for them to catch up.
The writing is top notch and flows well off the page. I could see this as a movie very easily. It might not be the biggest ‘brainy’ movie of the year but it would make for a really enjoyable techno/sci-fi thriller. It also had a lot of science in it that was pretty damn interesting.
My main issues with it only came about when I started thinking more on the plot and how realistic it could possibly be. And I can’t talk about it without spoiling it! Because I really don’t want to. Watching how the story unfolded was a lot of what drew me to it. There were a lot of moments when I was really invested in what was going on.
Another thing that kind of made me iffy was the ending. I get what they were going for but if you put a little thought into it, it doesn’t seem very feasible. And it got a little confusing why the (quite literally) bone-shattering addiction was just…gone. Maybe I missed something, it did get a little jumbled near the end but…
All in all it’s a good, fast-paced read that I would recommend to a YA reader with an interest in science fiction.
You can find this book at many retailers via clicking on the appropriate link on Goodreads (Buying direct from retailers is a good way to support indie authors); however, in the spirit of supporting literacy programs, we would like to point out that you may be able to purchase this book through BetterWorldBooks.
GracieKat was the first co-host of Sci-Fi & Scary, Lilyn’s partner-in-crime, and sub-head of the Kali Krew. She reviews horror books, movies, and games for the site. She also does a weekly Focus on the Frightful feature, and is the site list-maker. She is also in control of the Sci-Fi & Scary podcast which will relaunch soon.
