Charlie and the Children of the Zombie Apocalypse is a wildly entertaining and refreshingly unique take on the zombie genre. Blending dark humor, action-packed storytelling, and a surprising amount of heart, this novel follows the irreverent Charles Gilbert Billingsworth VIII—better known as Charlie—who thrives in the chaos of a zombie-infested world. But Charlie’s carefree existence is upended when he discovers two orphaned children, one of whom harbors a secret that could change everything.

The novel’s tone is set early on with Charlie’s sardonic wit and daydreaming tendencies, which provide comic relief against the grim backdrop of the apocalypse. His transformation from a self-centered, thrill-seeking zombie slayer to a reluctant protector is both compelling and deeply satisfying. The dynamic between Charlie and the children—particularly the mysterious, powerful one—is a highlight of the story, blending humor, tension, and genuine emotion.

Running parallel to Charlie’s storyline is the fierce and determined Kalila Trout, a survivor on a mission to avenge the destruction of her village by the ruthless warlord King George. Kalila’s grit and resolve make her a formidable counterpoint to Charlie’s laid-back attitude, and their eventual alliance brings a fresh energy to the narrative. The interplay between these two vastly different characters is one of the novel’s strengths, as they learn to trust each other while facing escalating threats.

The action is fast-paced and thrilling, with creative twists on the zombie apocalypse formula. The emergence of a new race of zombies adds an additional layer of danger and intrigue, raising the stakes as the characters fight to survive. The world-building is sharp and immersive, from the eerie desolation of the zombie-infested world to the brutal reign of King George and his army.

What truly sets the book apart, however, is its unexpected emotional depth. Themes of redemption, family, and resilience are woven into the narrative, giving it a resonance that goes beyond typical zombie fare. Charlie’s growth, Kalila’s quest for closure, and the children’s struggle for safety add a human touch that elevates the story.

Charlie and the Children of the Zombie Apocalypse is perfect for readers who enjoy irreverent protagonists, high-octane action, and a fresh spin on apocalyptic storytelling. Fans of Zombieland or Shaun of the Dead will find much to love here, but the novel’s heartfelt moments ensure it stands out in its own right. With humor, heart, and plenty of zombie-slaying mayhem, this is a must-read for fans of the genre.

Truly just a well written zombie book. The characters and world were really well thought out. The story kept me engaged the whole time. On to book two!

This book was not what I was expecting. I was expecting a typical zombie book. However, The Afters' new take on zombies is refreshing when the media is saturated with the undead. I'm VERY excited to read part 2.

Not another piece of Zombie media?!

When I saw this was a zombie novel, I was in—sight unseen. People might complain that zombies are overdone, but I'm afraid I have to disagree. I received this ARC from Victory Editing on NetGalley.


Plot:

The world has ended, and zombies now inhabit the lands. A young man named Charles Gilbert Billingsworth VIII is doing just fine—more than fine—thriving in this apocalypse. That is until he stumbles upon two children desperately needing an adult. Unfortunately, Charles is that adult.

Meanwhile, Kalila stalks after the people who killed her husband.


What did I like:

Zombies. Writing a zombie novel is a bold statement. In today’s age, anything zombie-related is treated as a meme. There's a cultural fatigue that has set in for zombies, with many feeling that the genre has been overdone. However, I still find the concept of zombies intriguing and was drawn to this novel despite the prevailing sentiment.

Because of all the hate, you must do something different to make your story stand out. The author, Chris O’Connell, delivered a perfect midpoint twist that I didn’t see coming. It would have been more obvious if I had read the blurb on the back. But what can you do? He did a good job setting up the sequels.


What didn’t I like:

The writing style hurt my brain. And that’s not the author's or the editor's fault. They were just following the house style. For example, while people are speaking, the MC will sometimes comment on the speaker, which is fine. But there’s no break in the dialogue. The speaker will finish talking, and instead of using a period, a comma and end quotes will be used. Followed by the MC’s thoughts. It feels like a break should be there.

At times. The dialogue is tough to follow. Just the occasional dialogue tag would be appreciated.


Final thoughts:

Writing a zombie novel is so cool. Setting yours apart from the rest is even cooler. But there are some technical issues. The writing style, particularly the use of dialogue and the lack of breaks can be challenging to follow. Sure, maybe I’m just being overly critical. And hell, maybe I’m not as learned as I’d like to think. But there were times that the grammar and formatting pulled me out of the immersion.

Anyone who loves zombies should read this. It might have some technical issues in my mind, but that doesn’t take away from the story here.

I received a copy of this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Zombies are not really my thing. I love a horror novel, but I tend to avoid zombie stuff. That said, I really enjoyed this book. Charlie was an excellent MMC, and I really appreciated his humor (particularly internal), there was a lot of comedic relief through his inner monologues. Also, I really appreciated the attention to detail by the author. Everything was so precise - the sounds described, the weaponry - it all felt like it could be a true account, not something you have to really suspend belief to enjoy.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A brilliant and somewhat light hearted zombie tale. I really liked the new type of zombie the author introduced. Well told, with some likeable and hateable characters. I honestly cannot wait to start book 2.

This was such a fun read. I really loved the slightly different take on zombies and the world the author created. I enjoyed how everything came about, how there are different levels of infection and immunity and everything. I also loved the voice of our main character Charlie. He is more laid back, having fun in the zombie apocalypse kind of person but also a super sweetheart. I loved that. He was so kind and caring and was great to read. He was so much fun to read.

Now when the book opens he is living in this loose knit community of survivors and scavenging for things they need. Of course some issues come up and I loved the ending, though I am hoping we find out more in the next book because I do have some questions. But the zombies were really interesting and I loved all the characters. I can't wait to read the next book and see what happens.

I found it to be an engaging read that kept me hooked from start to finish. The world-building is one of the book's standout features. O'Connell crafts a vivid and immersive seting that feels both familiar and refreshingly unique. The characters are well-developed, each with their own distinct motivations and arcs, which made me genuinely care about their journeys.
However, I did find some pacing issues in the middle of the book, where the plot seemed to drag a bit, making it hard to maintain momentum. While the dialogue is often sharp and witty, there were moments where it felt a bit forced.
Despite these minor drawbacks, the intriguing premise and the emotional depth of the story more than made up for it. I’m definitely looking forward to the next installment!

This is what a good post-apocalyptic zombie novel should be! You get a good background story, a how shit hit the fan explanation not just thrown into the middle guessing what it could've happened, you get some of the best characters with actual personalities, a plot that evolves and engulfs you, a unexpected twist of events and a great adventure of growth and choosing your family. This overall has been one of my favorite reads of the summer and I can’t wait to dig into book two. If you’re a fan of zombieland, the walking dead and the anime/manga I am a hero this book right here is for you. This is a solid 6/5 for me. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. This is a delight and will be ordering a physical copy. Now ya’ll go read this one!

Charles Gilbert Billingsworth the VIII is living his best life during the zombie apocalypse. He has a house on an island, plenty of guns, and a feisty, take-no-crap neighbor named Bertha. All that changes when he rescues two children from the zombies while out on a supply run. One of the children has a very special ability.

Kalila is not fairing as well as Charles. After watching her family be murdered by a group of people loyal to their leader, "King George," she goes on a war path for revenge. When Charles' and Kalila's paths cross, they decide to ban together for revenge and survival. What they didn't plan on was a new variant of zombies that are smarter and quicker than anything they have ever seen before.

This was a 5 star read for me. There was humor to Charles that I related to. There was action sequences that got my heart racing. The character had just enough development and background to them that I cared what happened to them. This gave me "The Last of Us" vibes with the subtle humorous scenes mixed in with action, sadness, and loss. Very well written and I will definitely be continuing to Book Two.

Zombie apocalypse always sounds like such great fun. In this case I could not do with the writing style. It’s humorous and it feels like you are in someone’s head but then it’s told in third person or is it? I could not get into it.

The Afters: Book One by Christopher O'Connell was such a blast!
I’m a major zombie apocalypse fan and this story was a fun one to read.
This book has an easy to follow plot and interesting characters.

Thank You NetGalley and Victory Editing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Fun zombie end of world book. Loved the main characters and the side characters. Definitely had a “OMG” & "WTF" moment that came out of nowhere but it made the story even better. Can’t wait for a second book!

It is well executed and a great read.

This is an intriguing zombie apocalypse story. I hated the beginning, but then it got a lot better. The characters are well-fleshed out, and you truly come to care for them. There are still a few typos in here, which really should have been fixed by now, considering this was published in 2017. Still, I enjoyed the book and want to read more about the main characters.

On to Book Two!

I received a copy from NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op (thank you!) in exchange for my honest opinion.