REVIEW: The face of adult fiction has changed by leaps and bounds since I began reading it as a young teen. More specifically this statement caters to the realm of inspirational (or Christian) fiction since, for many years, that was my jam. This is for a variety of reasons not the least of which is authors having more creative control through the implosion of independent publishing. One of these authors is Amy Matayo. Her latest novel is a risk. A risk that so far, is earning rave reviews.Inside the pages of "The End of the World," Amy has crafted magic. Not the ordinary kind of magic one might associate with a fairy tale or otherworldly fable, rather it’s a kind of dark magic that finds its blank space of impossibilities and floods it with breathtaking, heartbreaking, and healing possibilities. There are some novels, no matter how hard a reviewer tries, that simply cannot be accurately described in mere words. Or that is a dilemma I find myself in with too great a frequency. This novel is one of those.Rich storytelling is a consistent plug throughout the entire novel rather than just playing to being a one-dimensional plot thread. Amy wrote this as if it were something dear to her heart, which is obvious from the opening paragraphs of the book because it’s a beautifully controversial story with extraordinary results. Whether or not I simply spaced when it came time to reading the book or I didn’t pay close enough attention to the synopsis, the one thing that took me by surprise was how young its male lead is when the story opens.Damaged in so many ways is this story. But it’s BECAUSE of these shattered pieces that this book (or characters if you like) is strong. Heartbreaking might even feel too common because of all that Shaye has gone through. Her life is messy and complicated, and because of how she was treated, she felt she deserved nothing better. Exquisitely written to page, as a form of redemption (for her), there was a boy who came along who tenderly showed her otherwise.This is a novel tough to describe. There’s nothing easy about it, which is why this is a five-star caliber read. It's raw. It's real. It packs a sucker punch. Just when you think these characters are fully able to heal, their past rears its ugly head again. The writing is brilliant. The characters are memorable, and the book difficult to put down. In short, it’s a keeper that will stay with you long after its final page.Content: while there is nothing graphic or distasteful in this novel, be aware this is a PG13 book. Conversation deals with child abuse (sexual), a woman engages in unhealthy physical relationships (a child results from one) and abortion is a topic discussed.Sincere thanks to the author for providing a complimentary e-copy of this book.