A Beginning at the End

By: Mike Chen

Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller

From the New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Brotherhood

Four survivors come together as the country rebuilds in the aftermath of a devastating pandemic. A character-driven postapocalyptic suspense with an intimate, hopeful look at how people can move forward by creating something better.

Six years after a virus wiped out most of the planet’s population, former pop star Moira is living under a new identity to escape her past—until her domineering father launches a sweeping public search to track her down. Desperate for a fresh start herself, jaded event planner Krista navigates the world for those still too traumatized to go outside, but she never reaches out on her own behalf. Rob has tried to protect his daughter, Sunny, by keeping a heartbreaking secret, but when strict government rules threaten to separate parent and child, Rob needs to prove himself worthy in the city’s eyes by connecting with people again.

Krista, Moira, Rob and Sunny meet by circumstance and their lives begin to twine together. When reports of another outbreak throw the fragile society into panic, the friends are forced to finally face everything that came before—and everything they still stand to lose. Because sometimes having one person is enough to keep the world going.

Bland

The narrator was the highlight of this audiobook, as the story was middling, at best. Characters were well-developed, but the overall story felt a bit bland and uninspired. After listening, I feel like it just sort of exists without any reason.

our future?

The story that unfolds throughout this book is interesting. All the characters are likeable and well fleshed out. Each comes with their own baggage and somehow they all come together for the sake of a child.

What I found most fascinating about this book, though, was the society portrayed after a global pandemic. Was Mike Chen psychic when he started writing this book? Obviously, this is not a record of the current COVID pandemic, but there are definitely ideas about how society functions post pandemic that provide food for thought.

The narration was generally good, with different characters clearly distinguished, although Moira's British accent wanders around a little, but not so much that it is is disturbing. I'm not sure about the breathiness in the general narration- that became a little grating, and is the reason for 4 out of 5 stars.

A thoughtful take

Mike Chen gets full marks for this. It’s both prescient, and a nice callback to some of my favorites in the long tradition of post -apocalyptic, -pandemic, - alien contact world building.
Emily Woo Zeller is usually a spectacular narrator, and this is not an exception.

The characters were perfect examples, in all the flawed foibles of humanity. and in their resolution of Self.
If A Beginning at the End looks even vaguely interesting you’ll probably enjoy this unexpected gem.

End of the beginning?

Interesting take on recovery after a pandemic. Decent character development; great performance with voices; somewhat predictable plot

yes, I bought this before the coronavirus

... and, even though it is not a scary book, it scared the hell out of me because of current events