After The Carnage is a short collection of short stories. The stories are set around the world, from Australia to Pakistan, from Paris to Istanbul. The stories may be short on words but they certainly pack a punch.

Tara June Winch writes hauntingly beautiful stories of loss, of love, of life. Of heartbreak and hardship.

Most of the stories in the collection offer us a glimpse into a small moment of a character's day. As the title suggests, all the stories happen after the carnage. The characters struggle with feeling out of place, coping with loss, or trying to make sense of their identity/situation.

We're shown how ordinary people deal with the fall out of life and love. How they cope when their reality doesn't live up to the one they imagined.

TJW is such a talented writer who understands people; who can really get into the nitty gritty. Her writing is raw. Her characters come alive and each story feels different. She has a unique ability to dive deep into the tiny moments and small facets of life.

The stories end without a definitive ending. There's more to know and it leaves you pondering what happens to each character. If you want a book that will make you think, this is it.

If you loved The Yield and want more TJW, I'd recommend After The Carnage. It's very different but is an excellent collection of short stories. And I think you'll love it too. I'd also recommend it for any short story lovers.