Aftermath: Into the Unknown by Lena Gibson

Robin dreamed of attending Yale and using her brain. Kory lived on the streets of Seattle and relied on his brawn. Without the asteroid, they never would have met.

For three years, Robin and her grandfather have been hiding, trusting no one. When a biker gang moves into town, Robin can no longer scrounge or tend her garden. Because her grandfather is dying, he urges her to join her extended family—800 miles away in a bunker city in South Dakota, but she doesn't want to leave.

Desperate, her grandfather disappears to force Robin into action and meets Kory, who’s with the bikers but disillusioned. Seeing a man who likes to read and could protect his granddaughter, he convinces Kory he can start over and accompany Robin on the long journey.

Unaware of her grandfather’s plan, Robin exposes her hiding place searching for him, and Kory saves her. On the run, they battle the elements and survivalists, learning to trust each other. If they can't reach the safety of Vita xTerra, they won't survive long enough to have a future together.

Prepare for another non-stop, post-apocalyptic road trip in Aftermath: Into the Unknown as they fight for love and survival.

---

Aftermath: Into the Unknown is a fast-paced, post-apocalyptic road trip that blends survival, romance, and grit in a world reshaped by catastrophe. Though it’s set in the same world as Lena Gibson’s earlier book, this novel stands alone—but I’ll admit, I didn’t realize until two-thirds of the way through that I’d actually read the first one! That might say more about me than the book itself, but it did leave me feeling a little disoriented at the start until I caught up with the story’s unique setting and stakes.

The novel excels in its attention to detail, particularly when it comes to the decaying world. From scavenged supplies to the challenges of finding what’s still safe to use, the survival elements felt authentic and well-researched. This realism, paired with a strong pace, kept me turning pages.

Robin and Kory are compelling leads, and their journey—both physical and emotional—is fraught with danger and growth. While I skimmed some of the spicier moments, they’re relatively brief and make sense for the plot and character development. The supporting cast adds depth to the world, with side characters ranging from cautious survivalists to outright threats, reflecting a believable spectrum of human responses to disaster.

If you enjoy post-apocalyptic stories with a mix of action, romance, and survival, this is worth picking up. I’d definitely read more in the Aftermath series if the author continues it—there’s so much potential to explore in this world.

If you liked this book, you might enjoy:

• Book: The Road by Cormac McCarthy – For its raw, emotional survival journey.
• TV Show: The Last of Us – A gripping tale of survival, trust, and connection in a dangerous world.