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Blackbirds (Miriam Black #1)

by Chuck Wendig (Goodreads Author)

3.92 of 5 stars 3.92 · rating details · 1,491 ratings · 429 reviews

Miriam Black knows when you will die.

She’s foreseen hundreds of car crashes, heart attacks, strokes, and suicides.

But when Miriam hitches a ride with Louis Darling and shakes his hand, she sees that in thirty days Louis will be murdered while he calls her name. Louis will die because he met her, and she will be the next victim.

No matter what she does she can’t save Louis....more

Paperback, 358 pages

Published April 24th 2012 by Angry Robot

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Apr 20, 2012 Tatiana rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, series-dropped-lost-steam, urban-fantasy, b

As seen on The Readventurer

2.5 stars

There have been a few conversations on Goodreads lately concerning the dangers of labeling and categorizing books, especially books written by women and especially calling them chick-lit or dystopian romance. Many eloquently and convincingly argued that giving fiction written by women these labels is dangerous and detrimental because it dismisses these books and alienates its potential male readers. On a logical level, I do understand these people's concerns,...more

72 likes · like · see review

May 19, 2012 Lou rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, mystery-thriller, supernatural

A story featuring a main protagonist Femme fatale, I can see the future kind of gal.
She knows how you will die, when you will die year, day, hour and minute, but she does not know where it will take place exactly. The location is a mystery for her to solve.
She considers herself in this story as a hideous little no good-nik. She says she does horrible things and has horrible thoughts. Curses, drinks and smokes.
I reckon she still has heart and guts.
Change the course of fate can it be?
This dwindl...more

14 likes · like · see review

Apr 23, 2012 Jillian -always aspiring- rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of Stephen King's early novels

Shelves: 2012-reads, could-have-been-better, left-me-feeling-conflicted, left-me-feeling-drained, left-me-with-mixed-feelings, freaked-me-out-a-bit, reviewed

A few weeks ago, I came across an essay written by Neil Gaiman and titled "All Books Have Genders": the beginning of the essay touches upon the truth that, whether we (readers or writers) like it or not, most books can be defined as either girl books or boy books. What determines what a book's "gender" is? I'd say it's a mixture of things, particularly the main character, the mood of the story, the focus of the plot, and the narrative's voice. What does any of this have to do with the novel I'm...more A few weeks ago, I came across an essay written by Neil Gaiman and titled "All Books Have Genders": the beginning of the essay touches upon the truth that, whether we (readers or writers) like it or not, most books can be defined as either girl books or boy books. What determines what a book's "gender" is? I'd say it's a mixture of things, particularly the main character, the mood of the story, the focus of the plot, and the narrative's voice. What does any of this have to do with the novel I'm reviewing? Well, despite having a female lead, Blackbirds by Chuck Wendig is undoubtedly a "boy book."

As far as being a "boy book," there's nothing wrong with that, but I suppose my expectations muddled my reading experience a bit. You see, Blackbirds's synopsis gives the promise of urban fantasy: Miriam Black, through touch alone, can know how the person she's touching is going to die. For Miriam, it's an instant thing, experiencing someone's death in the span of a few moments even if the dying itself may last minutes or hours from the person's eventual perspective. Given this dark gift, it's not unexpected that Miriam's become affected by its power...but sometimes she seems less a "realistically-written woman damaged by her strange ability" and more "damaged woman written with the voice of a guy." There's a difference, believe me, especially when you're reading it.

Now, Miriam's gift leads to her gaining the attention of quite a few unsavory characters: a con artist, two dangerous people claiming to be FBI agents, and a creepy hairless man who stabs someone through the eye in one of Miriam's death visions. The problem? Miriam seems to be the cause of that last death, and over the course of the novel she attempts to maneuver a way to prevent this death even though she had long ago accepted that fate is a merciless storm that won't be diverted no matter what she does.

For the first 100 pages or so, I rather liked the novel (the thought-provoking aspects of fate particularly intrigued me), but at some point the story became quite gratuitous with its moments of gore, akin to movies like the Saw series. If such movies are your thing, then you'll probably enjoy Blackbirds. As for me, I don't mind gore -- unless it's used for shock factor or a way to include narrative punch. Sadly, Blackbirds seemed to thrive on using gore in just those two ways, and thus reading the book became quite an unpleasant experience for me at times.

Given my mixed feelings on this first novel, I can't say I would follow Miriam through an entire series, but perhaps I'll see where her journey goes in the sequel, Mockingbird. As for whether you should read it or not, I'd recommend reading a few reviews and sampling the novel's first few pages before you commit to reading it in its entirety. It's definitely not one of those urban fantasy novels that will jive with everyone, but I'm certain it will find its audience who will enjoy it for what it is with few complaints.

(Note: I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.)(less)

26 likes · like · see review

May 28, 2012 Rae M. added it

Shelves: net-galley, released-2012, paranormal, adult-fiction, adult-paranormal, dark-fiction, heroines-that-kick-some-ass, favorites-2012, read-in-2012, 05-stars, review-or-comment, ebook, favorites-all-time, favorite-heroine, fantastic-heroine

Here's the thing about Miriam Black. She's lurid, vile, bad-mouthed. She has an attitude problem, more than one. But I love her anyway. That's the real charm about Blackbirds, finding yourself liking somebody you quite frankly should hate. And that's the heroine of Blackbirds, the anti-heroine.

The writing is lovely, graphic and detailed. The plot-line had just enough excitement and just enough background. Including Miriam's life before with her mother really helps flesh out her character. She's...more

8 likes · like · see review

Apr 18, 2012 Jason rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Jason by: Netgalley

Shelves: read-2012, e-books, netgalley

5 Stars

I received this incredibly fun read from Net Galley and F#ck ‘n A, Miriam is one cool ass, strong, brave and extremely foul mouthed piece of trash that captured my heart and my interest as she let her first explicits fly. This is a very cool book… it was my first Wendig novel, but surely will not be my last. I loved that Wendig holds no punches back. He writes with a gritty and raw flare, without pussy footing around being politically correct. Yes, he can be vulgar, the language is rough,...more

17 likes · like · see review

Apr 23, 2012 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: love-in-a-book

This review originally appeared on Clear Eyes, Full Shelves.

FNL Character Rating: Tyra during the Powderpuff football game when she stupendously goes all HAM on Lyla Garrity.

The only thing I truly know about my future is the inevitability of my death. Like everyone else, I’d prefer that the time and manner of my death be peaceful, painless...and postponed for as long as possible. But perhaps that’s not to be. I don’t know the future.

But what if we could know the future?

In the case of a fluid fut...more

8 likes · like · see review

Nov 12, 2012 Georgina Taylor rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Absolutely. Bloody. Brilliant. Deeply complex characters. Great plot, woven together with real skill and flair. A page turner. Couldn't put it down. Seriously impressed. Damaged people wear their scar tissue like armor, soft areas are a weakness not to be shown. Real violence is bloody and gruesome. Real women don't wait for 'heroes' to come to their rescue. Miriam Black is a real woman, scar tissued, foul-mouthed, highly-sexed (hey--what's wrong with that?), big appetite, burps, flaws and all....more

5 likes · like · see review

Apr 26, 2012 Aleeeeeza rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-release, arc-netgalley-galleygrab, readalong, 2012-read, just-not-my-thing-you-know

2.5-2.75 stars

review before/while reading: readalong with jessie!

EXCITEMENT!

review after reading: EXCITEMENT!

but unfortunately, this excitement was of a drastically different sort than the first one. as in, OH MY GOD I'M SO GLAD I HAVE SUCH GREAT SKIMMING POWERS OR I'D HAVE NEVER GOTTEN THROUGH THIS BOOK! kind of excitement.

this book starts off wonderfully well. you have this broken-and-jaded-yet-filled-with-hilariously-witty--and-wry-quips main character and a great premise, and a general premo...more

11 likes · like · see review

Jun 09, 2012 Mia rated it 5 of 5 stars

I didn’t know what to expect from Blackbirds by Chuck Wendig. I stumbled upon his blog, liked the things he said there and that led me to download Blackbirds as my first Wendig read. Serendipity! I just wish it led me to Chuck Wendig sooner.

Blackbirds is a tragic tale of persistence and endurance for their own sake. Miriam's young age of twenty-two belies the old soul borne of her experiences. With every touch, she sees more than one lifetime’s worth of death in all its unedited reality. But sh...more I didn’t know what to expect from Blackbirds by Chuck Wendig. I stumbled upon his blog, liked the things he said there and that led me to download Blackbirds as my first Wendig read. Serendipity! I just wish it led me to Chuck Wendig sooner.

Blackbirds is a tragic tale of persistence and endurance for their own sake. Miriam's young age of twenty-two belies the old soul borne of her experiences. With every touch, she sees more than one lifetime’s worth of death in all its unedited reality. But she can only watch, a perennial observer. She cannot change the outcome, only inadvertently further it. This impotence leads her from one mistake to another with an increasing sense of futility.

Wendig is a sleight of hand master storyteller. With one hand, he reveals glimpses of his characters' origins and some of what drives their actions. With the other hand, he deftly obscures the rest of the details with an air of mystery, letting the reader’s imagination fly where it may. The seemingly chaotic transitions mimic Miriam's inner, rudderless turmoil. The fast pace also serves to build up the tension until the ultimate urgency leading to the story's conclusion.

This book has shades of many things: satire, fantasy, noir mystery and – wait for it – romance. Yes, romance, but of a very different species. In the interest of full disclosure, I confess I’m not a romance reader. I am drawn, however, to the romance aspect of this book. Why? It feels real, that's why. Miriam meets Louis and, of course, immediately sees when and how he dies. What surprises Miriam is seeing herself present at Louis' violent death and hearing him say her name before the appointed time. This is definitely not a meet-cute.

I don’t imply that meets-cute never happen. For the most part, however, relationships do not often sail into a glorious sunset. It requires much trudging knee-deep in murky, muddy waters. When this type of relationship perseveres, I am fascinated. For me, Miriam and Louis’ relationship speaks to commitment – an allegiance and steadfastness *despite* rather than *because*.

The other characters’ presence is similarly loud and glaring. Some believe in Miriam’s ability, some don’t. But they are all unique in their belief or disbelief. Interesting in their own rights, they propel the story in a manner that would suffer without their appearance.

Blackbirds is a tale of defiance. After years of ineludible helplessness, Miriam gives fate or destiny or the gods the middle finger. She aims to reclaim control despite the seeming futility of her circumstances. She doesn’t have much to lose – or to gain, for that matter – but she is now determined to resist the flow, fight the tide. She expects to fail but nevertheless asserts her right to make a decision, fate be damned.

Be warned. Blackbirds is coarse, immodest, messy and heartbreaking. It’s a literary punch in the gut – takes your breath away and lingers in your mind long after you recover from being doubled over in pain. It’s certainly not for delicate sensibilities. Profanity, sex and violence all play a role in this story.

I'm not delicate. Mockingbird, I'm waiting. Punch me again. I can take it.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

May 21, 2012 Livvy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs, fantasy, may-2012, adult, swoony-male, kick-ass-female-lead, summer-reading-challenge-2012, 4-stars

This review is also published at: http://nerdybookreviews.wordpress.com/

After seeing some very positive reviews I was determined to like this book, for the first quarter of the book I hated the language, the violence, but I stuck with it. I’m so glad I did because once I finished this book I really enjoyed it.

Miriam is one of the strongest female leads I’ve seen in a while. She stuck to her character traits. She was sarcastic, full of bad habits (smoking, drinking, swearing), didn’t care about...more

4 likes · like · see review

Jul 10, 2012 Angela rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, adult-fiction, ebooks, first-reads, read-2012

3.5*

This was a good urban fantasy with a decent plot and strong female protagonist.

The concept of the novel is an intriguing one where Miriam, our not-so-heroine, can see how a person dies when there is skin-to-skin contact. These death scenes are interesting to read and offer a various array, from natural causes and illnesses, to old age, murder and road accidents amongst many others. Also, seemingly, Miriam is unable to change the course of someone’s fate so instead leeches off those who are n...more 3.5*

This was a good urban fantasy with a decent plot and strong female protagonist.

The concept of the novel is an intriguing one where Miriam, our not-so-heroine, can see how a person dies when there is skin-to-skin contact. These death scenes are interesting to read and offer a various array, from natural causes and illnesses, to old age, murder and road accidents amongst many others. Also, seemingly, Miriam is unable to change the course of someone’s fate so instead leeches off those who are near death and then empties their wallets when they do die.

I was initially concerned that this book would disappoint me as I read a similar book last year entitled Numbers by Rachel Ward which is a YA novel about a girl who can see the date someone is going to die. Again, that was interesting premise but that book completely failed to deliver for me. Blackbirds thankfully did not fail to deliver, though I did have a few problems with it which I will explain shortly.

One thing I cannot figure out is when exactly the interview occurred. Was it after the main events of the book with Louis (who I thought was a great character, much stronger and better written than Miriam) or was it before? It is not clearly defined in the book and I think a dating system of some kind at the beginning would be helpful, especially with the flashbacks as well.

Wendig has attempted to write Miriam as a modern day liberated femme fatale but I personally did not find her ‘voice’ all that believable. This could possibly be down to the mere fact that the author is male and therefore his female character has more masculine qualities then feminine. I do not mind curse words, in fact I love curse words and swear quite a lot myself (depending on the company and the circumstance of course) but even I found the amount of cursing in this book to be too extensive and unnecessary. There really is no need to pepper every single thought that pops into Miriam’s head or every single sentence that comes out of her mouth with mass amounts of 'fucks'. This does not make Miriam seem liberated or “badass”, it makes her sound like a moron. Pick the right moment for the swearing please Wendig.

On a similar note, another reason why I did not find Miriam’s voice believable is her constant referencing to penises. No offence to all men out there, but women really are not that obsessed with male genitalia that we litter our conversations with phallic metaphors. I also found Miriam to be quite bland and her inappropriate sarcasm and wit I found to be rather grating at times. I could not envision her at all and had absolutely no empathy for her.

That being said, I did enjoy this book. I have read a few reviews where they found this to be a bit too graphic in its violence but I was fine with it; I have read worse in the past so the level of violence and gore in this book did not bother me, though I would not recommend this book to anyone who is squeamish in the slightest or easily disgusted, you will not enjoy it. However, if you like a well written story with strong prose and do not mind graphically detailed violent behaviour (of which there is a lot) then give this one a go.

An advance reader copy was kinfly supplied by the publisher through Netgalley. (less)

3 likes · like · see review

Feb 14, 2012 Theresa rated it 5 of 5 stars

When you look at a cover for a book like Blackbirds you think you're going to get something in keeping with the ethereal image; but Chuck Wendig offers something else entirely-- and that's not a bad thing at all.

Miriam Black can see a person's death whenever she makes skin-to-skin contact: she knows the exact moment and circumstances and sees it all with disturbing clarity. Miriam has adapted to her strange life by becoming a scavenger of the dead. Knowing when someone will die alone doesn't pro...more

5 likes · like · see review

May 01, 2012 Stefan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: advance-reading-copy, ebook, fantasy, www-tor-com-review, far-beyond-reality-review

Miriam is a drifter with an unusual gift: when she touches someone skin to skin, she sees a brief vision of the circumstances of that person’s death. It could be decades into the future or later the same day. Some deaths are accidents, some are of old age. Regardless, the first time Miriam touches someone, she sees when and how that person will die.

She occasionally uses this gift (or curse?) to loot some cash from the recently or soon-to-be deceased, which allows her to stay in motels and keep a...more

3 likes · like · see review

Apr 28, 2012 cupcake rated it 4 of 5 stars

I would hate to be Miriam Black.

When Miriam touches someone, skin on skin, she sees their death. Sometimes she sees it in a flash, if it's a quick one, and sometimes she sees several minutes of agony. All it takes is her skin touching someone else's, and she's done. She knows how they die.

Blackbirds, a rough, unflinching suspense tale from Chuck Wendig, introduces us to Miriam and the torture of knowing how people die, yet being powerless to stop it. Miriam tried, once, but her failure to save a...more

1 like · like · see review

Jun 06, 2012 Adam rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Engaging, visceral storytelling with frantic pacing and distinctive voice. Chuck Wendig already has my endless admiration for his posts on writing at terribleminds.com, which come thick and fast and loaded with just the right balance of charm and vinegar, but his fiction is just as entertaining. Miriam Black is a protagonist to be reckoned with and her journey through the book feels as relevatory for her as for the reader, which is exactly as it should be. Stylistically, the 3rd person present n...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jul 25, 2012 Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: indie-authors

It's objectively impossible to read this book and not love (or love to hate) Miriam Black's character. And for that matter, all the characters in this book were hits - there were no usless "misses" or filler characters snuck in to cheat at advancing the plot. Speaking of plot, it was twisty and action-packed. The story was tightly constructed and driven by the dynamic nature of the characters, chiefly Miriam Black. I can't wait to see an encore performance of Miriam Black in Wendig's next work.

W...more

1 like · like · see review

May 27, 2012 Maxine McLister rated it 4 of 5 stars

When Miriam Black touches someone, she sees how they will die. Most of the time, it's of natural causes and in old age. However, sometimes it's violent and very soon. Driven by a sense of shame and, frankly, finances, she crisscrosses the country in search of these soon-to-happen deaths. She stalks the nearly departed and, after they die, she robs the corpse. Not a pleasant career choice to be sure but, on the upside it keeps her in food and cigarettes. On the downside, though, she's not sure if...more When Miriam Black touches someone, she sees how they will die. Most of the time, it's of natural causes and in old age. However, sometimes it's violent and very soon. Driven by a sense of shame and, frankly, finances, she crisscrosses the country in search of these soon-to-happen deaths. She stalks the nearly departed and, after they die, she robs the corpse. Not a pleasant career choice to be sure but, on the upside it keeps her in food and cigarettes. On the downside, though, she's not sure if she's just a witness to something she cannot change or if, in some way, she's causing it. Still, it's a living and a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

She is, in fact, one of the most foul-mouthed, low-life, slutty protagonists you are ever likely to meet in literature. Her attitude is as black as her name and she's not afraid to use violence to get what she wants. Yet, underneath all her black camouflage, one can sense the heart of a vulnerable, frightened little girl and it's hard not to root for her.

On one of her cross-country jaunts, she meets Louis, a gentle giant of a trucker. She sees his death, a particularly violent one, but she also sees that she is somehow involved, this time not just as an onlooker but as a participant although she can't suss out what her role will be. But she kinda likes the big lug and is determined to beat the crap out of fate for a change and save him

Unfortunately, her unorthodox lifestyle has attracted the attention of some unsavoury characters and now she's on the run and Louis' on his own. She may have to reevaluate her priorities and live to challenge fate another day.

Blackbirds is like nothing I have ever read before. In many ways, it reminded me of a graphic novel. For one thing, it is uber-violent and blood soaked. The characters all exist on the periphery of society - cons, drug dealers, drifters, and truckers who live their lives in ratty motel rooms, surviving on booze, cigarettes, and crappy takeout. They are constantly on the move looking for the next big score or next big load, and doing whatever it takes to get them through the night.

Blackbirds is dark, depressing and oh, so engrossing. It is an action-packed kill-a-minute thrill ride spewing blood and vitriol across every page and it is definitely not for the weak of heart or stomach. If you want sunshine and lollipops, stay away but if you enjoy a walk on the seamy side of life, this one's for you.
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1 like · like · see review

Jun 11, 2012 Tamahome rated it 3 of 5 stars

Review: http://io9.com/5910098/the-creepy-sex...

I read it for 20 minutes. I wasn't bored. This woman won't get a show on Disney any time soon.

page 120/358: Ok, I'm speeding along so I'll probably finish it. There's usually something smart and witty going on on every page. The content is pretty dark though. If you're a Stephen King fan you probably won't mind it. This is no hyped first novel. He actually has some ebooks about writing. The prose is sharp, unlike the clunky Wool which I was checkin...more

3 likes · like · see review

May 10, 2012 Jayla rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: nook-reads, netgalley, 2012-reads

Blackbirds by Chunk Wendig was an interesting read. A GOOD interesting read. This book is dark and gritty and down right nasty. I wasn’t really expecting anything less that grotesque horror and that is what I got. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find some light humor sprinkled around the pages of this book. While it lifted the mood of the novel, the heaviness of the book still clung to me.

Not only is Mr. Wendig’s writing brilliantly gritty, but it’s raw and edgy, just as it should be. Mr....more Blackbirds by Chunk Wendig was an interesting read. A GOOD interesting read. This book is dark and gritty and down right nasty. I wasn’t really expecting anything less that grotesque horror and that is what I got. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find some light humor sprinkled around the pages of this book. While it lifted the mood of the novel, the heaviness of the book still clung to me.

Not only is Mr. Wendig’s writing brilliantly gritty, but it’s raw and edgy, just as it should be. Mr. Wendig’s humor is just as dark as the tone of the novel. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the sentences and insults that Chuck wrote down, particularly those that came out of Miriam Black’s mouth. She was a hoot.

Miriam Black is a very complex character. And you might be thinking that “Well yeah. She sees when people are going to die, after all”. But her depth goes much more than that. The toll that this ‘gift’ takes on her puts a heavy weight on her young shoulders. On the outside she is kick-ass and witty, but the pain that encompasses her on the inside is what makes her so complex. It’s something I wouldn’t want to wish on anyone.

Everything clicked together so well. The only true ‘good guy’ was Louis, the man whom Miriam feels a deep connection to. Despite this, the novel is pretty well-balanced. In the beginning I was worried that I wasn’t going to get the full story on Miriam abilities, but the ‘interludes’ placed within the book were helpful. They not only showed us bits of the Miriam’s past, but it also gives the reader insight into a few minor characters as well. In regard to Miriam and her gift, all of my questions weren’t answered, but I am confident that they will be in the sequel.

This novel is not for the faint of heart. There is a lot of blood, gore, and some sexual scenes/references, but none of that bothered me. I was actually very excited to read this book. It was a nice contrast from the other novels I have read these past few weeks.

Mockingbird, the second novel in the Miriam Black series, is due to come out in August of this year. That is interesting seeing as how Blackbirds was just published on April 23rd of this year. Either way, I am looking forward to reading Mockingbird and continuing to read books by Chuck Wendig.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 29, 2012 Shaheen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, angry-robot

I don’t usually read Urban Fantasy and I usually find it difficult to enjoy (I read the first book of the Dresden Files earlier this year and disliked it). I had no such problems with Blackbirds, so make of that what you will. The book begins by introducing the rough and gritty Miriam Black. Miriam has the ability to see exactly when and how you will die just by touching you. Cool huh? Not so for Miriam, who is tortured with the knowledge of the impending demise of strangers and is powerless to...more I don’t usually read Urban Fantasy and I usually find it difficult to enjoy (I read the first book of the Dresden Files earlier this year and disliked it). I had no such problems with Blackbirds, so make of that what you will. The book begins by introducing the rough and gritty Miriam Black. Miriam has the ability to see exactly when and how you will die just by touching you. Cool huh? Not so for Miriam, who is tortured with the knowledge of the impending demise of strangers and is powerless to stop it.

Miriam is one foul-mouthed, bad-assed woman! Just from reading the first page I knew I was going to like her - she makes sarcastic comments all the time, peppered liberally with inventive swearing. The only thing that I did not enjoy about Miriam’s character is that she could have been replaced with a male character without impacting the story - I feel the author has fallen into a trap and written his “tough woman” as a “man with a woman’s name”. However, I concede that I do not know enough about Miriam to make a conclusive judgement on the matter, as Wendig has stated that there is a lot more to be revealed about her past in the upcoming sequel, Mockingbird.

In the end, the plot of the book is really quite simple (and enjoyable), punctuated with violence and gore to the heights of which I rarely read. If you’re squeamish, or hate Tarintino movies, then this book really isn’t for you. I, however, enjoyed it! The action scenes are beautifully choreographed and don’t have any super-hero antics. Being written in present tense means that the book plays out rather like a movie, and has all the more impact because of it. There’s also sex in the book, but it’s a far cry from the sexy scenes in say, Richelle Mead’s Dark Swan series. We’re talking gritty sex scenes that aren’t sexy and are fairly confronting to boot.

Blackbirds is a great read, I loved it and will be continuing to read the series as it becomes available. I recommend it to all mature readers who are interested, but feel because of the gore, language and sex scenes portrayed in it that it is unsuitable for a child.

You can read more of my reviews at Speculating on SpecFic .
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Apr 26, 2012 Cynthia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley-arc

This book is dark and mean as a snake. The story of a girl who can, by mere touch, see her subject's future death in its entirety, is positively riveting on a visceral level. She meets a trucker, a nice man, definitely not her type... but when she shakes his hand, she knows that he will die because of her and her name will be the last thing he says. The characters are no more than silhouettes but those shadows have substance and come to life. Chuck Wendig tells a gritty and cruel tale, leaving y...more

1 like · like · see review

Jun 21, 2012 Paula rated it 4 of 5 stars

I feel like four stars is a little high a rating, but three stars is too low, so I'm rounding up.

What can I say that hasn't already been said? Probably nothing, so I'll say this. I feel like the book could stand to lose a bit of the profanity and still maintain she same atmosphere. I don't normally have anything against profanity, but there were moments when it felt a bit gratuitous. The same could be said for the violence. I get why it was there, but it also felt a bit gratuitous at times and t...more

1 like · like · see review

Jun 14, 2012 Phil Hornshaw rated it 5 of 5 stars

After having followed author Chuck Wendig on Twitter and read his Terrible Minds blog for probably the last year or so, I knew what I was getting into with Blackbirds. Or at least, I thought I did. But while the text was as edgy and intense as I expected, it's still worth noting that Wendig's greatest weapon is his command of language and his expert ability to craft a rough, gritty, disgusting scene. Reading Blackbirds is like hanging out in the back room of a dirty bar, tied to a chair, some pi...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 11, 2013 Saretta rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Saretta by: Francesca

Shelves: fantasy, language-eng, other-violence-lots_of, other-weird, sfida-alphabet, sfida-babele, sfida-eroine, sfida-viaggiousa, format-ebook, sfida-catena

4.5/5

Questo romanzo mi è decisamente piaciuto, forse non contiene elementi particolarmente nuovi ma lo stile è avvincente.
Lo scrittore ha optato per una protagonista femminile che sicuramente non ricalca la femminilità classica - anzi - ma che mi pare ben riuscita nei suoi eccessi; poi de gustibus, però io leggo sempre volentieri storie con personaggi simili a Miriam.
Come in altri libri dell'autore non si lesina sulla violenza, presente sia nella realtà che nelle visioni della protagonista.
Tra...more

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Jun 08, 2012 Heidi Ward rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: death, urban-fantasy, very-disturbing, 21st-century, series-or-sequel, own, kindle, black-comedy, adventure, crime-and-mystery, blogged

If Joss Whedon and Chuck Palahniuk had a love child, she might be called Miriam Black. A foul-mouthed and totally kick-ass borderline sociopath, Miriam also sees the future . . . or at least one particular kind of future: your death. With a simple touch of her hand, she knows exactly when, where and how you're gonna snuff it, and it's mostly not very pretty.

Neither is her life. When we meet Miriam -- in a cheap hotel room, posing as a truck-stop hooker -- it's just another day for her. On the g...more If Joss Whedon and Chuck Palahniuk had a love child, she might be called Miriam Black. A foul-mouthed and totally kick-ass borderline sociopath, Miriam also sees the future . . . or at least one particular kind of future: your death. With a simple touch of her hand, she knows exactly when, where and how you're gonna snuff it, and it's mostly not very pretty.

Neither is her life. When we meet Miriam -- in a cheap hotel room, posing as a truck-stop hooker -- it's just another day for her. On the grift, she makes her way by profiting from deaths foreseen. Having long ago come to the conclusion that she can't beat fate, so might as well profit from it, the self-proclaimed "vulture," is watching the clock on her current seedy mark (it's three minutes and counting) so she can liberate his cash and valuables, and move on. You can imagine how it's hard for her to make friends.

But when Miriam hitches a ride from nice-guy trucker Louis, she senses her own presence at his strange and violent death a few weeks hence. The vision haunts her, and somehow, a chance ride turns into an uneasy friendship, which kick-starts a twisted race to beat the reaper -- and maybe change the future.

I bought this book because I couldn't resist its gorgeous cover art, but Chuck Wendig really delivers the goods: Blackbirds is a fast-paced, ultra-violent supernatural noir, with cheeky dialogue and a vivid pop-culture vibe. 4.5 stars instead of 5, because sometimes the writing is too self-consciously edgy (a freeway has a "crusty, broken dividing line like a spattered stripe of golden piss"), but just as often lines made me laugh out loud.

At the time I picked it up, I was unaware that Blackbirds is the start of a series. Sometimes this really bugs me -- can nobody write a stand-alone anymore? -- but in this case, I'm glad. Miriam may have morals deep into the grey zone (and a mouth like a sailor, and a serious drinking problem . . .) but she's good, snarky company. And contrary to some other reviewers here, I find Miriam to have a very believable "female voice." She may not be a role model, but like Arya Stark, Lisbeth Salander, or any number of Whedon's women before her, she's one girl that doesn't take any shit. Even from fate.

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Jan 30, 2012 Amanda Makepeace rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Would you want to know when, where and how you were going to die? No? Well, neither does Miriam Black, but that’s her lot in life.

If you know who Chuck Wendig is, then you know all about his colorful use of language. Blackbirds is awash in the foulest of foul obscenities, but I realized immediately this was not Wendig spouting off vulgarities–this was Miriam Black. Everything about her, from the way the she spoke to how she moved, was unique, harsh and real. You feel her pain but you also can’t...more

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Apr 30, 2012 Melissa Mason rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, edelweiss-netgalley

Miriam is a bad ass that doesn't take crap from anyone. She has a gift, though she thinks of it as a curse, which allows her to see how everyone will die just by touching them. All she needs is skin on skin contact and she will be able to see when and how someone dies. She is a wanderer, never sticking around in one place very long and never letting her guard down. Her life changes when she gets in a truck with a man named Louis. The brief touch of his hand lets her see that he will die in rough...more

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Apr 24, 2012 Lauren Smith rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, arc-review-copy, fantasy, angry-robot

Miriam Black can see when people are going to die. One touch, skin on skin, is all it takes to give her a vision of exactly when and how it’s going to happen. Several years of living with this curse have made her a caustic, jaded human being, and she’s only in her twenties. She has no job, but gets by looking for people who are going to die soon, stalking them, and taking their money when they kick the bucket. It’s enough for her to survive on, and she never gets close to anyone.

Then she hitches...more

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Mar 06, 2013 the scarecrow rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Nobody

My reactions to this book are as follows;

description

If you want to read a more coherent review, one can be found here.

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Jul 15, 2012 Lewis Dix rated it 5 of 5 stars

I literally read this book front to back in about five hours. I could not put it down, much to the chagrin of my wife, children, and dogs. Definitely not for the faint of heart, but a great page-turning read non-the-less.

I'm not sure that I'd consider it urban fantasy. More of a paranormal thriller in line with works by Steven King and Dean Kootz....that's not to say that Chuck Wendig writes like them, for he has a voice and style all his own! Something like a strange but wonderful combination...more

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About Chuck Wendig

Chuck Wendig is a novelist, a screenwriter, and a freelance penmonkey.
He has contributed over two million words to the roleplaying game industry, and was the developer of the popular Hunter: The Vigil game line (White Wolf Game Studios / CCP).

He, along with writing partner Lance Weiler, is a fellow of the Sundance Film Festival Screenwriter's Lab (2010). Their short film, Pandemic, will show at th...more

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Quotes from Blackbirds

“Did you just say shrug instead of actually shrugging?” — 2 people liked it

“A lady should be respectful," is all he manages through gritted teeth. He pitches the towel in the corner.
Miriam snorts. "That's me. My fair fuckin' lady.” — 1 person liked it

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Blackbirds (Miriam Black #1)

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