I purchased this novel completely on a whim. For the first half, I was fascinated. Gregory captures the idea of a post-apocalyptic novel with a spin I've never seen before. America is not a wasteland; people are not wandering around through the forest with makeshift weapons. After the zombie apocalypse hit, the government acted in time for only 75,000 casualties to occur. I loved the family dynamics in the Mayhall household. I loved the descriptions of Stony himself. What I didn't love was the second half of the novel, when Stony is forced to flee his home. I will not share any spoilers, but what happened next seemed dramatic and unbelievable, much more fantastical than the semi-realistic world painted only chapters before. I had trouble finishing the novel.