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

Five stars. FIVE STARS! Do y’all see me? 5 stars!!

I adored this book from the first word to the last! I adored this story even when it hurt my heart and made me cry. I adored this book for the reminder that other people’s actions are a reflection of themselves and not me.

I absolutely adored this book for the message that being queer is ok! It’s not bad to be gay and if other people don’t like it, that’s a them problem! Queerness is a part of who we are, and no one has the right to make anyone feel less than over it.

There were parts of this book that had been crying. I highlighted so much of it for beautiful writing. Writing that made me laugh. Messages that I need to remember as an adult. This book needs to be required reading. I don’t care how old you are.

Alex Wise is a little Black gay boy who is trying to figure out how to get his friend back when the world goes nuts. His mother, overwhelmed, says she’ll be sending Alex and his sister to be with their father over the summer. Something Alex absolutely does not want.

And I don’t blame him! His daddy is trash! Tope it off, he’s got a whole new family and is treating his new son leaps and bounds better than Alex.

It’s just Alex and his little sister Mags on the most uncomfortable cruise of a lifetime, with their teacher Dexter. He’s also on vacation, it’s summer, and he’s on the same cruise. He’s someone Alex feels he can confide in when all the other adults have failed him.

This book is wonderfully diverse and also wonderfully Black. It was so nice reading this because the language reminded me of friends and my family. So did the characters.

I think this book is an important read because the messages are so important and you are never too old to be reminded that you are enough.

I will be telling everyone I knew to read this book. I can’t wait for the rest of the series. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. A big thank you to Terry J. Benton-Walker for writing such a fantastic book.

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Alex's parents are divorced and he hasn't seen much of his father since he moved out, especially now that he is remarried and has a step son, Nick, who is interested in basketball in the same way that the father is. Now that summer break is here, Alex is hoping to invite his former best friend, Sky, to a concert. The two fell out after Alex came out to Sky, Sky admitted that he also was sometimes attracted to other boys, and a classmate, Larry, called both friends gay. After that, Sky stopped talking to Alex. When his mother cancels the concert and forces both Alex and his sister Mags to go on a cruise with their father and their new family, Alex feels like he has lost his chance to reconnect with Sky. There's also the small issue of a shadowy figure who is skulking around both him and his sister. They aren't sure what's going on, but it's frightening. On the ship, Nick, Alex, and Mags are hanging out, getting burgers, when the shadowy figure attacks Mags and drags her overboard. Alex jumps in after her, and Alex's teacher, who also happens to be on the cruise, does as well. Unfortunately, the ship is in trouble as well, and in the chaos, the three can't be helped. Still, the wake up on an island, having been saved by Liam. Liam is the lone surivor of Paradisium, a world that was destroyed by the Four Horsemen of the Apocolypse. They're back, and Death takes over the body of Mags. Alex is channeling Orin, the advisor of Liams' mother. Orin (who uses the pronouns they/them) can do magic, but Alex doesn't see a lot of that. He, along with his best friend Loren, eventually meet up at the hospital, and when they see Mags on television spouting off about the end of the world, they know they have to save her, even if it means fighting major forces of evil. THe group forms a plan, but not everything works the way they want it to, and their fights are interspersed with periods of planning and personal reflection. Will Alex be able to avert the end of the world?
Strengths: This gets bonus points for tying in to the mythology of the Four Horseman; I can't think of another middle grade book that does that. There are some good dystopian elements to this, with factions taking over supplies, people dying (there's Famine and Pestilence gadding about, after all), and worried folk pledging themselves to the Horsemen as Riders. There's also a lot of positive behavior being modeled, with people apologizing for their behavior, Alex trying to retain the idea that he "is enough" even those his father doesn't make him feel that way, and a lot of acceptance about different issues of gender and sexuality.
Weaknesses: If you fall off a cruise ship, your survival rate is only about 15%. This is just one of the reasons I've never been able to commit to going on a cruise. This bothered me; both Mags and Cam would almost surely have been killed.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like Perry's Cameron Battle or Oshiro's The Insiders, both of which are mentioned in this book.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Children's, Labyrinth Road and Terry J. Benton-Walker for providing me with an eARC of Alex Wise vs. the End of the World.

⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ rounded up. Available 26 September 2023

I thoroughly enjoyed this read. I had read Blood Debts and was looking forward to this 'gods taking over kids' story so much. It didn't let me down.

Alex is a wonderful Middle Grade MC. A Black Queer Tween lost in shame that was thrown onto him by society, and even worse, his former best friend. The greatest thing that any queer kid can learn is that the shame you are feeling is not yours, it is not your burden, it is everyone else's trash that you should absolutely throw out! This story beautifully presents this process for Alex whilst he survives regular threats to his life by being turned into a previously human dust pile.

This fits perfectly into the urban grounded mythology MG/YA for teen readers, specifically like the Rick Riordan Universe. But this gives us stronger PoC and Queer representation - that isn't having a go at Uncle Rick just acknowledging the limitations of presenting diverse characters without lived experience.

Terry actually says it best in the acknowledgements with noting that Alex Wise and Cameron Battle could either be brothers or best friends. If you enjoyed the Cameron Battle books then this is a perfect next read. Highly recommend.

This was such a fun book that is going to be well-loved my middle grade readers for years to come.

Alex Wise is having a real tough go of it. Between feeling like his dad doesn’t want him around to being expected by his mom to watch over his younger sister, to notice a strange Shadow Man following him around… it really does seem like everything is piling up. And then the apocalypse happens and the younger sister who he’s supposed to be protecting is, well, passed by Death, ruling over the Four Horsemen. Suddenly, Alex finds himself trusting friends new and old to try and get his sister back, saving the entire world in the process.

This book is the perfect recipe for middle grade. There’s action! Plot! Relatable characters! Life lessons that unfold naturally and aren’t force fed! As someone who reads a lot of middle grade book for students, this is a very tricky needle to thread. But Terry J. Benton-Walker threads it with ease.

What I think I loved most about this book was that it was really honest. The situations that Alex finds himself in are realistic circumstances that any child or teen might face. Not the apocalypse of course, but parents divorcing and feeling like you’re not good enough for one of them. Having a falling out with a friend who you might have more than friendly feelings for. Just trying to navigate your place in the world. It really worked for me.

4 stars

Wow! Another winner by Terry J Benton Walker. After having loved Blood Debts, I was thrilled to be able to review his new middle grade novel. It gave me Percy Jackson vibes from the start! I appreciated the honest authors note that opened the book linking the story to real life childhood experiences and trauma. While the main character is gay and yes he does go on a journey of self discovery - that’s not the main focus of the book. It’s about friendship and discovering your strengths in times in struggle (although hopefully none of us will have to tasked with stopping the apocalypse anytime soon ). A great read for any middle grade reader who enjoys adventures and the supernatural.

I'm so excited for young readers to have Alex Wise. He's funny, he's authentic, he's complicated. Alex Wise feels like the next Percy Jackson, while carving out his own unique lane. Terry J. Benton-Walker has a fun unique spin on the apocalypse and I truly can't wait to see what's next from him!

Thank you to NetGalley & the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I would have loved Alex when I was a kid. I think now more then ever we need stories with kids like him and his friends. I’m in NEED of a book 2 already. Terry has me in a chokehold for 2 series now!!

From the very beginning, I was invested with Alex and his friends. I shared in his woes and triumphs. I actually had a list of people I liked and hated and had to keep taking some off to put them on the other list. We get magic, death, epic battles, powers beyond your wildest belief, & a middle schooler who just wants his friends and family to accept him for being gay.

I’ve been reading a bit more middle grade books lately and I’m not ashamed to say I love them. I love seeing different kids getting representation. I love seeing queer and brown kids get to become the heroes. It makes me tear up. Speaking of tearing up, I did a bit of that here. The plot twists just kept the sobs coming! I laughed and smiled and felt every emotion humanly possible (including rage for sure).

I have now successfully read everything Terry has to offer until the second Blood Debts book drops. I’m so happy and proud of him and all that he’s doing! I look forward to more books like this to come in the future.

I got the pleasure of meeting this author in person at TLA, which was super cool!!! He is so sweet and humble.
This gave me Percy Jackson vibes, and I enjoyed it.
Alex is tired of being picked on and isn't happy spending time with his father and new family. I love how his best friend is always there for him no matter what and calls things like she sees them. We all need a friend like that.
When being on the cruise goes wrong, and he finds himself on an island, everything changes for Alex. What he unlocks is a power that found its way to him. When his sister becomes a part of the apocalypse well, Alex is determined to get her back, and with the help of his friends and teacher, they will have an adventure. This is a decent read, especially for middle schoolers. They will likely enjoy the action that is within the story. I would love to have this in the library, but because it does have Alex having a crush on the same sex, I am not sure if I would get backlash.
As soon as the Gods make their appearance, the action takes off, and the plot stays at a steady base. It will be a race against time, new friends will be made, hopefully Alex can get his sister back.
Favorite quote: " The sadness of grief is linked to happiness. You can't have one without the other.
"The only way to get rid of the grief from having loved is to never have loved at all. Who wants that?"
"No wonder adults are stressed all the time. It takes a lot of planning and forethought just to be alive. "

This story is going to stay with me forever. It contains very promising narrative components that work well as implemented: a black protagonist who struggles with his crushes on other boys and the friendship fallout that results; complex family dynamics, especially around the main character's father; robust character development that makes the hearty length of the book all worth it in the end.

Speaking of the end, it feels a little abrupt; other distractions include the occasional (but probably inevitable) forced modern slang (although the author works through that better than some others have) and some creative turns of phrase that feel like a pretty puzzle piece with corners just dented enough that you kind of have to force it into the right space (e.g. "and the arena falls so quiet I could hear a flea humming a lullaby").

Overall, a way more enticing and generally less dystopian apocalyptic introduction to a probable series than I could have expected as somebody who stridently avoids such content. I'd recommend giving this one a try.

This is the second book I’ve read by this author and neither disappoint. I wish there were more books like this when I was growing up. The representation in is novels are amazing. Thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end.

Thanks so much to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC copy of this book!

I have scheduled promotional posts around release day for this book and I will provide a full review on my Instagram once I am able to get to this read.

Rating 5 stars on Netgalley as a placeholder for me to update later once the review is complete.

Will also complete a review on Goodreads once read.

Thanks again!

Thank you Labyrinth Road, Random House, and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Terry Benton Walker always empress me and Alex Wise vs The End Of The World was no different! Alex Wise is tired of people walking away from him and when his mom wants to send him and his little sister on a cruise with his estranged dad his summer just got worse. When a Shadow Man throws his sister overboard he’ll jump in to save her. This begins their battle against the horseman of apocalypse, along with his best friend Loren and the mysterious Liam. Can Alex says his sister? Can they stop the end of the world? A quick paced adventure full of wit and heart! I loved Alex’s journey, his struggles with knowing himself, and his strength and determination! So many queer kids will find themselves in Alex, especially queer black kids! As always with Terry’s books I was drawn in and couldn’t put it down, now I’ll have to wait impatiently for book 2! Can’t wait to read this again!

Terry J. Benton-Walker did it again, Blood Debt wasn't enough. Alex Wise vs. the End of the World was mind blowing. I loved every second of this book. This is books I wish I had when I was younger.