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Chasers (Alone #1)

by James Phelan (Goodreads Author)

3.54 of 5 stars 3.54 · rating details · 379 ratings · 94 reviews

Four Teenagers.
One Destroyed City.
Thousands of
Infected Predators.

Jesse is on a UN Youth Ambassadors camp in New York when his subway carriage is rocked by an explosion. Jesse and his three friends, Dave, Mini and Anna, crawl out from the wreckage to discover a city in chaos.

Streets are deserted. Buildings are in ruins. Worse, the only other survivors seem to be infected w...more

Paperback, 256 pages

Published October 30th 2012 by K-Teen (first published May 27th 2010)

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Apr 07, 2013 Giselle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, own, dystopia-or-post-apocalyptic

Wow I haven't had an ending catch me this off guard in a long time! Well played, Phelan! Well played! Almost grabbed you a 4 stars, there!

Alas, the book isn't without its flaws. There could have been more action to stir things up, more Chasers for sure, and a LOT more answers even for a first book in a series--we basically learn nothing of what happened, why, or how far this apocalypse spans. All we know, is that Jesse and his friends got off the subway after an explosion and the whole city is i...more Wow I haven't had an ending catch me this off guard in a long time! Well played, Phelan! Well played! Almost grabbed you a 4 stars, there!

Alas, the book isn't without its flaws. There could have been more action to stir things up, more Chasers for sure, and a LOT more answers even for a first book in a series--we basically learn nothing of what happened, why, or how far this apocalypse spans. All we know, is that Jesse and his friends got off the subway after an explosion and the whole city is in shambles. The only "survivors" they meet are these infected humans who have a strange unending thirst for anything drinkable, which includes blood. As a post apocalyptic book I can say this is quite different. They're far from vampires, but also pretty far from being zombies, so what we get is the always scary unknown. We don't know what caused it or what they really need, exactly, and if they can recover--though we do get intriguing developments on their parts. I thought this was done well and I couldn't quench my thirst (ha!) for answers fast enough, leaving me to fly through this book in no time. Thus it's unfortunate that we don't at least get a hint of what caused this bizarre set of circumstances that add up to what seems to be the apocalypse. At least it's only book 1!

Since we get no answers you're probably wondering what the book shells out. Well this book is more about surviving in the early days of a disaster such as described than anything. We don't get a lot of crazy thrills or heart pounding sieges, we basically hole up in 30 Rock with our characters. I didn't mind this as much as other reviewers, it seems. It kind of reminded me of This Is Not A Test by Courtney Summers, where the book is very tame in action, but heavy with the fear of the unknown in addition to having a strong psychological base. This one may not be as psychologically messed up, but we do see glimpses of Jesse's mental instability pop up towards the end especially. As for the fear of the unknown, I think not knowing if and when these strange beings will be hanging out and about gives the book a lot of tension. I personally enjoy these types of survival books more than those that are filled with nothing more than cheap thrills. So yes, the book is slow paced as far as "infected" action goes, but I can't say I was bored for a minute while reading it. The fascinating nature of the plot kept me captivated. In the end, I'm thankful for the character driven plot that we got in this first novel and I think it will add up to a much stronger sequel as well, knowing what we know now. It makes for a very realistic representation of someone's psychological profile in such a terrifying situation.

I appreciated the NYC setting a lot too. It's a setting that's familiar, maybe a little overused, but what better way to show the monstrosity of an emptiness like Jesse is experiencing? When you're alone in New York City, you're truly and undeniably alone. I think the author may have gone a little overboard trying to bring this setting to life, though. With mentions of every street corner, every building, every sight, it becomes a little tiring unless you actually live in the area and are able to follow these details. Otherwise it's simply blah blah that you come to ignore. It's not like it makes a difference if I know that our characters are on 7th street, or on 59th, all I need to know is how far they have to run, eh?

I think this is one instance that would work better if it was made into one large stand-alone novel, instead of 3 short (230 pages) books. I guess one argument for it being so short is that the slow pacing never has time to bore, but it did leave time to ponder and get impatient for answers. I will definitely be reading the sequels, I did really enjoy it despite it not being perfect--this is the type of apocalypse that fascinates me for real. You're suddenly in a world that just went poof! With that said, I'm thinking the series, when finished, will be better rated than its individual installments. Either way, the ending of this one alone is brilliant, thus worth the read! At least I think so!

--
A copy was provided by the publisher for review.

For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads

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Sep 18, 2012 Karin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads, post-apocalyptic, youngadult, survival, zombies

As you can see from my rating, I thought is book was OKAY. It didn't take long for me to read and I definitely wanted to finish once I started, but... At times the story was boring. Even though the kids in the story explored the building they decided to consider their Home Base we didn't get to see a lot of what they did. It was just skimmed over. Basically, there was too much talking and not enough doing.

The ending is what really had me going, "Huh???" It might have worked better for me if the...more

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Jul 02, 2010 Clare Cannon rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 13-15yrs

Imagine an apocalyptic world where the only other human survivors have a vampire virus that makes them want to drink you, alive. You would wonder how a novel about such a theme could possibly be bland, yet this one is. There is much waiting, a good amount of conversation, and very little action.

The lack of action does offer scope for speculation about why the world has suddenly become so like hell, and who caused it. Yet the speculation doesn’t go deep either: Question: who did this? Why did it...more Imagine an apocalyptic world where the only other human survivors have a vampire virus that makes them want to drink you, alive. You would wonder how a novel about such a theme could possibly be bland, yet this one is. There is much waiting, a good amount of conversation, and very little action.

The lack of action does offer scope for speculation about why the world has suddenly become so like hell, and who caused it. Yet the speculation doesn’t go deep either: Question: who did this? Why did it happen? Answer: there is no reason, no justification for such a calamity.

The teens demonstrate a fitting horror of violent death, of terrorism and war, and in the midst of these a desire to return to ‘normal life’. But you don’t need to read a novel to learn that these things are bad, and there’s little originality in the way this sentiment is communicated.

In such drastic circumstances for the humans, it is ironic that the teens’ description of an ‘ideal world’ centres on no killing of animals for fun (or for food). The ‘small country’ perspectives on ‘big country’ offered by the Australian protagonist who is on his first visit to New York also feel a little lame.

Friendship is fine as far as it goes, though it too fizzes away to simply being able to survive on one’s own on the strength of friends held in memory. There is one instance of kindness to a stranger... perhaps that stranger will feature more significantly in a later volume. There is discussion of family situations, these mostly consist of divorced or separated parents except for one girl who has two mothers, little detail is given.

At one point a suitcase of drugs is found and they discuss whether to throw it away. They don’t want to take them, and medicinal purposes are ruled out as they don’t know how to use the drugs medicinally. But they do keep them in case they need to trade with them later. The group also consider the possibility of suicide if all became desperate, but firmly resolve that it would not come to that.

In spite of the heavy themes summarised here, they are often presented in passing through dialogue and description and are at such a superficial level that they probably wouldn’t be taken too seriously.
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Apr 03, 2013 Katrina Lantz rated it 5 of 5 stars

AFTERGLOW:

During the first half of this book, I was pretty sure I wasn't going to love it. Like it, yeah, like 4 stars like. But then I read this:

We are all storytellers.
We write our stories
where and when we
can.
This is mine.
I have nothing.
I have everything.
I am alone.

Maybe you have to have context for this to hit you as hard as it hit me, but it was at this moment that I understood the theme, appreciated the series title, and fell in love with the book. It's a little less than 3/4 into the bo...more

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Mar 01, 2013 Shelton rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Chasers by James Phelan
A teen fiction Book

In this book “Chasers by James Phelan,” New york has turn into a wasteland turning all communication and power off and turning skyscrapers into ashes. Jesse is the main character jesse is alone in the chaos and later finds friends in deserted of people New York. Jesse friends are Dave, Anna and Mini. Later on in the book they soon find out there is a virus that turn into the remaining humans into “Chasers.” Now they must find a way to survive. Will jess...more

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Feb 03, 2013 Milly rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Thank God that Chasers was reasonably short, or I don't think I'd have finished it.
Jesse and his friends are on the subway in New York when there is some sort of apocalypse and the four friends find themselves alone in a ruined city. However, they are not completely alone. Mutinated humans the group dub 'Chasers' are endlessly thirsty, for any liquid, water, blood, anything. They must find a way to get out of New York, but how can they when they are the only sane ones left?
I found this book ve...more

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Oct 30, 2012 Tony rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen

I don't read much teen fiction, and I'm growing increasingly weary of zombie-themed everything, however I needed a light book for my subway commute, and this more or less fell into my lap the other day. The story takes place in Manhattan, where we meet four teenagers on some kind of United Nations-sponsored camp. Jesse, from Melbourne, is the narrator -- with Dave (American), Mini (Taiwanese), and Amira (English) as his friends. The four of them are riding the subway when there's an explosion. J...more

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Oct 29, 2012 Heather Boustead rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: action-adventure, apocalyptic, ebook, horror, young-adult, thriller

Chasers
Alone Book One
By James Phelan

Jesse, Anna, Dave and Mini are all attending the Un Youth Ambassadors camp in New York, as they are on their way to see the 9/11 memorial their subway carriage is derailed by a massive explosion. The four teenagers from around the world are the only one to survive and soon crawl their way to the surface to find that all of New York City has suffered from a devastating attack. When they come across what appears to be survivors they are elated, but soon have the...more

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Aug 14, 2012 Tom rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Got this at an airport a few months back, but finally got the time to read it over the weekend - and what a read! I then googled the book to see what people are saying about it, and it's cool to see that I'm not alone in my reaction.

I've since loaned Chasers out to a friend at work who doesn't read many novels, and sold him on the premise as "I am Legend" meets "The Sixth Sense". I'll get him to report back here once he's done.

I love the zombie/post-apocalyptic type genre, and this first book an...more

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Apr 03, 2012 Gail Jones rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Book review: ‘Chaser’ by James Phelan. Sorry but this is the first book in ages that I actually gave up on. The book is written in the first person, Jesse, who is Australian. He and three companions are the only survivors of a subway crash. When they surface they find Manhattan decimated and the few people left have turned into freaks seeking liquid whether it be rainwater or blood, they don’t care and are happy to kill for it.

There isn’t a lot of gore despite the subject, in fact by the time I...more

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Sep 05, 2010 Bree T rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, paranormal, mystery, young-adult

Jesse is a 16yo boy from Australia visiting New York on a UN Ambassador’s camp. He’s on a subway with 3 other friends he’s made on the camp – Dave a confident American boy, English girl Anna and Taiwanese Mini – when an explosion rocks the train. When Jesse comes to almost an hour later, he and his friends are the only survivors on the subway and they decide to find a way out before they are engulfed by a fireball like the one they just escaped or smashed into by another train.

Out on the streets...more Jesse is a 16yo boy from Australia visiting New York on a UN Ambassador’s camp. He’s on a subway with 3 other friends he’s made on the camp – Dave a confident American boy, English girl Anna and Taiwanese Mini – when an explosion rocks the train. When Jesse comes to almost an hour later, he and his friends are the only survivors on the subway and they decide to find a way out before they are engulfed by a fireball like the one they just escaped or smashed into by another train.

Out on the streets, it’s chaos. Buildings are falling down, the streets are a mess of crashed cars and vehicles, there are no people. And then there are people and to the kids horror, these people are either very dead or…not right. They are infected by something, possessed where they crave liquids. An unquenchable thirst where they will drink anything available to them. Muddy water from the street, the flow of a fire hydrant, snow, the blood of the dead. They walk, single-mindedly without seeming to hear or understand pleas to stop. They stare vacantly, fixedly interested only in satisfying that never ending thirst. Whatever they can get their hands on will do and if they see someone fall, even one of their own group, they fall upon them, devouring them. The four see some truly gruesome stuff and they figure out pretty quick that they need to hide. Find somewhere and hole up and wait for rescue, or until whatever is infecting the city is cured. Somewhere high that gives them 360 views of the city and what is happening. Forewarned is after all, forearmed!

Led by the confident Dave, with his knowledge of New York City they end up in the GE Building, located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza and referred to in the book by it’s nickname ’30 Rock’. 70 stories high with an observatory that goes from floors 67-70, they discover it is perfect for their needs. They pick the top floor- the Rainbow Room – as their base and set about making themselves comfortable. There is plenty of food and drink and they raid the lower floors for other things they need – bedding, clothes, iPods etc for entertainment. They can get no TV, no radio, no internet but they have a generator they took from an abandoned FDNY truck that will provide them with 9hrs of power per full tank. They cook themselves meals, they watch DVD’s, they watch the city. They survive.

Dave, who lives in Brooklyn, wants to try and get there to check on his family but Jesse insists on going instead. His argument is that Dave must say with the girls as he is better equipped to protect them and Jesse is used to being on his own. He takes an abandoned police car and tries to make it but the Queens Midtown Tunnel is blocked by horrific things that he cannot bear to think about. He turns back for 30 Rock and his friends.

They know they have to get out of the city. Although there are noises about leaving the safety of 30 Rock (it seems the infected don’t hunt as such, merely take advantage of opportunities that cross their path) there have been incidents. They encountered an infected at close range and Jesse had a disturbing encounter on floor 59 of the building that his mind has now repressed. They need to find out what is happening to the city and if there are any others like them. Jesse, watching from the Observation Deck one night notes that lights are on in New Jersey – lights that aren’t just emergency lights. They decide it is there they must go, and make preparations to leave 30 Rock.

The novel is fast paced, engaging at the beginning but with several frustrating periods of arguing and inaction. It’s too hard to explain this in great detail without revealing a spoiler that would ruin the book spectacularly for anyone that wanted to read it – something that I, in my blithe ignorance, didn’t see coming at all and it about knocked me out. It rescued the book for me actually, when I was starting to get annoyed by the characters having discussions like “We must stick together. You know what happens in horror movies when they don’t stick together” and then promptly, one of them being all “I must go off on my own!”. The reasons for this, as well as their lack of regard for their families and friends back home (apart from Dave and even his concern is sort of vague) are all made startlingly clear in the final chapter and it was that revelation that made me definitely want to read the second book.

It’s not without its flaws but it’s got entertainment value in spades for the YA market. I would have no hesitation recommending it for the 11-16yo market, boys or girls. It’s descriptive enough of the grotesque to interest the boys but not overly so. It doesn’t go too far and the idea of a “thirst” for every sort of liquid was a nice take on what could’ve just been a trite vampire ‘evil’. The touches of humanity shown to the ‘chasers’ on several occasions were intriguing too, making you wonder if the infection could be cured, or varied in degree of seriousness. You close out the book absolutely no closer to knowing what has happened, what caused it, or if applicable, who caused it than you were on the first page and I’m interested enough to also keep reading so that I can find out.(less)

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Aug 15, 2011 Marj rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

If you found John Marsden's 'Tomorrow, when the war began' series scary, then this book is definitely NOT for you.
Jesse and his three friends' school trip is interrupted by a massive explosion. They find themselves stranded in New York, a city in chaos, abandoned except for zombie-like 'chasers' infected with a virus which makes them thirst for any liquid including human blood.
The four teenagers have a desperate struggle to survive, using every skill they've developed and finding more strength...more

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Apr 24, 2011 Jess - The Tales Compendium rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am in two minds about this book. On one hand I really enjoyed it but when looking back, not a great deal happened. It is like the movie you kept watching, even though it had no really big storyline, because you wanted to see what happened at the end.

This is James Phelan's first foray into YA literature and while the premise of the story is perfect, I do feel it is missing action, the kind that young adult readers need in a book to stay with the story. This could mean they don't stick with the...more I am in two minds about this book. On one hand I really enjoyed it but when looking back, not a great deal happened. It is like the movie you kept watching, even though it had no really big storyline, because you wanted to see what happened at the end.

This is James Phelan's first foray into YA literature and while the premise of the story is perfect, I do feel it is missing action, the kind that young adult readers need in a book to stay with the story. This could mean they don't stick with the story and therefore do not discover just how good it really is. While this wasn't the case for me, I do think it will be a problem for many that do pick it up.

That said, Phelan is a very good writer as I was constantly on edge waiting for the climax, reading the whole book in an afternoon. To me, the fact that the big twist didn't come until the last chapter didn't deter me as he has built the story up for book 2 in the trilogy to be really exciting (well I hope that is the case anyway). The first chapter of book 2 can be found at the end of Chasers and it sounds like there will be a great deal more action in it, with the reader finally get some answers to what has happened to New York City because at the end of Chasers, we still have no idea what caused the sudden destruction. The characters had plenty of theories but nothing particularly concrete. The story finished very much on a 'to be continued...' cliff hanger.

There were a couple of times when I got slightly confused as to the way a character suddenly reacted to a comment or action by another character. Sometimes it just didn't make sense and I wondered if it was a writing error or part of the story. Without spoiling anything, I can say that it was part of the story. This too applies to the rather annoying lack of speech marks!

Chasers has a lot of similarities to Charlie Higson's The Enemy; children fighting for survival, being alone with no authority figures, having to rely on themselves and their own instincts. I have to say that I prefer The Enemy as more happens in the story and there is more depth to the characters that Higson has created. Bottom line, if you don't have the patience to stick with Chasers until at least the second book, don't bother.(less)

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Dec 09, 2012 Kristin (Blood,Sweat, and Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Review:

I've had this book to review awhile now and was so excited to finally sit down and read it. While I did end up finishing Chasers it left me feeling deflated and confused. How could such a great idea turn into such a bunch of nothingness? While Chasers was certainly an OK book it wasn't nearly what I expected it would be and here is why:

The Characters: Anna, Dave, Min and Jesse were the sole focus in the book. Jesse was the Main Protagonist but I found him to be boring and I was left scrat...more Review:

I've had this book to review awhile now and was so excited to finally sit down and read it. While I did end up finishing Chasers it left me feeling deflated and confused. How could such a great idea turn into such a bunch of nothingness? While Chasers was certainly an OK book it wasn't nearly what I expected it would be and here is why:

The Characters: Anna, Dave, Min and Jesse were the sole focus in the book. Jesse was the Main Protagonist but I found him to be boring and I was left scratching my head concerning many choices he made. Dave on the other hand seemed to grip the situation a lot better so I connected to him more even if he never really did much throughout the book. The two females provided little bits of comic relief but were never really utilized to the extent one would expect in this scenario. Anna was downright unlikable but I think the Author intended to write her that way so I can forgive that. Min could of been put to better use but at least she was likable and I really wish Jesse and her had hooked up instead of him pining away for Anna.

The Pacing: This book was slooow. I kept waiting for the Action to kick in but it never did. For a book that clearly favored the male sex I expected way more running and gunning but instead was treated to the group in 30 Rock playing house and wasting the generator fuel on unnecessary stuff. What little Action did take place seemed to be kept very PG. If the Chasers had to constantly drink you'd expect them to be in a frenzy ripping into a person to get at the precious liquid inside but instead it's like the Author censored himself to not shock and horrify the reader to much. This book needed an injection of shock and awe, pulse pounding action might of made things more enjoyable to read knowing that a real threat was waiting outside.

The Infected: These "zombies" reminded me of of The Crazies but mixed with Vampires. We have no clue what caused them or even why some behave one way and others another. They also seemed to have to drink constantly but again no clue why. You would think in a place like New York City the group would be under constant threat but yet they only ever see pockets of infected aka Chasers. I never felt the Chasers were a threat and was left underwhelmed by any interaction that actually happened with them. Except the one boy that Jesse finds, I wish the Author had expanded on him more as that actually was interesting and could of really changed how I viewed the book.

The Dialogue: By far the worst part of this book. I had a hard time following which character was speaking and don't even get me started on lack of punctuation marks. I don't know if this was done because of sloppy editing or intentionally by the Author but either way it made the book incredibly hard to read and that alone knocked off two stars. I also felt that the Author kept throwing out stereotypes based on character nationality vs. having meaningful conversation. Jesse is constantly acting like he doesn't want to know more but I'd think in that scenario you would want to find out anything and everything about your companions.

By the end Chasers left me feeling indifferent. I neither liked nor hated the book it was just a solid OK for me. By all means give Chaser a shot and form an opinion for yourself. I would actually be curious to see What you thought. While I don't think I will be continuing this series, I might not swear off the Author entirely. I could see little blips of potential in the writing. So I guess that says something. If you like Post-Apocalyptic themes with a mix of Zombies and Vampires then I suggest picking this up at your local library and giving it a try. I will be rating Chasers by Jame Phelan ★★★.

*Reviewed through Netgalley. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for providing them.(less)

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Sep 20, 2012 Christina (Ensconced in YA) rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: net-galley

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Chasers by James Phelan is about a group of kids that are stranded in New York after some event happens that leads to possibly zombies (not really sure what they are). They fight to survive.

I think that probably sums up the whole book. There's not much plot, just wandering around 30 Rockefeller Center and then wandering occasionally outside to see zombie like people. The characters are not very enticing, and if I had not gotten...more

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Dec 23, 2010 Rosa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Aparently this is James Phelan's first attempt at writing a YA book... It's not too bad, the story line is very interesting and dramatic.

Four teenagers, Jesse, Anna, Min and Dave were underneath sea level in a train when it happened... They were unaware of the buildings and skyscrapers collapsing above them but they were aware of the large, fireball the was chasing them... In the entire train, they were the only survivors, the other passengers laid dead among them, the impact caused the bodies t...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Brandy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopian, netgalley, nook, ya

Australian teen Jesse is in New York City as part of a UN youth program. After what seems to be a horrific attack on NYC, he wakes up in a destroyed subway tunnel and makes his way out to safety with his group of friends. As he finds a way to hole up and survive, he comes face-to-face with victims of a mysterious illness that he calls Chasers which are driven by an overwhelming thirst that drives them to drink anything they can find - even the blood of living people. Jesse has to learn to surviv...more

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Dec 08, 2012 Aurora rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My god! This book was cra-azy. In the beginning, when the teens see the chasers, I was just like, 'Oh, this is just going to be another zombie apocalypse book with plenty of zombie-killing action.' But I was wrong.
This book accurately showed the emotions of how teenagers would act when faced with this situation and how they would try their hardest to stay put and whatever.
The one thing that annoyed me while I was reading was the lack of speech marks, but when I got to the massive twist at the en...more

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Oct 12, 2012 J.A. Belfield rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Well, this one turned out as a bit of a surprise.
The opening was a little rocky, as the tense seemed to keep switching back and forth and I had no idea if the author was aiming for present or past, but that soon smoothed itself out (for the most part). And once it did, I was off at a jog.
I say a jog and not a sprint, as this wasn’t a fast paced book for me. And there did seem to be a few spots where the characters did very little.
However, what one might consider to be lulls in the plot really a...more Well, this one turned out as a bit of a surprise.
The opening was a little rocky, as the tense seemed to keep switching back and forth and I had no idea if the author was aiming for present or past, but that soon smoothed itself out (for the most part). And once it did, I was off at a jog.
I say a jog and not a sprint, as this wasn’t a fast paced book for me. And there did seem to be a few spots where the characters did very little.
However, what one might consider to be lulls in the plot really aren’t. The reader just doesn’t realise that until they reach that final paragraph and everything is so suddenly, saddeningly, and horrifyingly clear.
I also struggled for a little while because all the speech marks suddenly dropped from every bit of dialogue, which meant I was left having to sometimes separate it from the narration. But again, I soon got into the flow of recognising the difference.
However, again, the ending brings enlightenment even on that. Because on reaching that absolute humdinger of an ending, I’m left wondering if said lack of speech marks is actually intentional—and, if they are, I’d then have to admit how freaking ingenious that was.
So, what about that humdinger of an ending? Well, I’ve announced it as such for a couple of reasons. 1), because there is such a brilliant twist that took me 100% by surprise (and did actually remind a little of a very popular film, which I won’t mention it as to do so could be too spoilerish), and 2), because it does end on a cliffhanger, and I’m now left wondering where it can go from here, and how in the world the author can blindside me again like they have in Chasers. Because I will be expecting nothing less of them now.
So would I recommend this?
It’s a post apocalyptic slash zombie(ish) book. Of course I recommend it.
On top of that, the descriptions were great, the MC was relatable and likeable, and I know I connected with him because I cried through that bloody ending.
Just don’t go into this one expecting all your questions answered by the end. Because they won’t be. I still have absolutely no idea how this atrocity happened.
The only plot niggle I have is this: If buildings keep collapsing all around the city … should one question the believability that the one Jesse chooses to hole up in (right near the very top when—like I mentioned—other buildings are falling down) just happens to be one that stays intact and doesn’t so much as shudder? That’s my only major niggle. Otherwise, I enjoyed this one quite a lot.
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May 18, 2011 Hayesy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

63/100 I was torn between giving this book three or four stars. It wasn't amazing, and it was nowhere near original. I allways tend to enjoy against the odds survival stories, but after the beginning, I struggled to appreciate the book. The characters were safe for a good three quarters of the book. In fact, I'd go as far as to say they eat more Ice Cream than they do worry about zombies. Maybe I'm exaggerating, but still...

The characters aren't really that likable. The main protagonist, who is...more

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Mar 26, 2013 Savannah (Books With Bite) rated it 3 of 5 stars

For me, this book is typical and what I thought. It was a quick and easy read.

So the plot is about these teens taking a ride on the subway and all of the sudden, BAM! Explosion! And when they wake, nothing is the same. People are acting funny, like zombies. I especially enjoyed the beginning part of the book. The descriptions of the characters along with the scene of an unexpected explosion filled with blackness, had me at the edge of my seat. This part is particularly my favorite.

There really w...more

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Dec 25, 2012 Stephanie Cover2CoverBlog rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: early-review, ya

Background: Jesse is on a UN trip with a bunch of other teens, when all of a sudden there is an explosion and a crash on the subway. He awakes to find that only himself and his friends are alive and have not become infected. Those who are infected are now Chasers, people with an unquenchable thirst, who will strive to get a drink by any means necessary.

Review: Great premise right?! yea, I thought so too. I dove into this book and the plot was very fast paced and entertaining. I must also admit w...more

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Jan 29, 2013 Helensvale Library rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: yp, sam

Chasers is a post-apocalyptic novel that brings to life a new form of monster - a zombie/vampire mix! James Phelan creates a horrifying image in his 'chasers' together with a horrifying reality for the four main characters. Jesse, Anna, Dave & Mini are the only survivors after a massive explosion that has rocked New York City to its core. They were on board the subway when the catastrophic attack hit and when they scrambled to the surface they are faced with total devastation. Streets are de...more

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Apr 17, 2012 Turtleduck rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a strange read for me. On one hand I was very interested in finishing this book so that I would get some resolution about the events that caused the virus. On the other hand the book was not exciting to any great extent. The blurb on the back makes one think of an exciting, adrenaline fueled journey through destruction, but in reality the book lacked this excitement. Aside from the initial chase to the building which became their home, there was little action. I expected some major even...more

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Oct 22, 2012 Pam rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks-read-in-2012, paranormal-read-in-2012, read-in-2012, ya-read-in-2012

I received this book from NetGalley for a honest review. Jesse and his friends, Dave Anna and Mini escape a subway car accident that leaves everyone else dead. When they get to the top side they find New York City a whole new place. Sky scrapers are falling and what people they see seem to be crazy for something to drink. They find a place to stay while they try to figure out what has happened and what is going on. Jesse knows he needs to leave but there is danger every where.

This is a little...more

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Oct 05, 2011 Kirsti rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I feel odd giving this book 3 stars. I liked it, then I didn't like it, then I liked it again, only to end up hating it. Honestly, the lack of quotation marks just annoyed me. You understand at the end WHY it's set up that way, but there could have been quotation marks and it wouldn't have detracted from the whole OMG! cliffhanger ending. I can honestly say I didn't even like the main character, and forgot his name early on. Reading the back of the book now informs me it was Jesse. The writing w...more

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Nov 10, 2012 Jen*The Geeky Book Gal* rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy-paranormal, vampire

Goodreads summary:
The trip of a lifetime just turned into the end of the world.
When Jesse crawls out of the wreckage of a subway car and emerges into daylight, he’s greeted by a living nightmare. An unexplained force has destroyed New York City, turning skyscrapers into ash, cutting off all power and communication. Jesse and his new friends, Dave, Anna and Mini are dazed but unhurt. The other survivors are not so lucky. Every human being they encounter is infected, gripped by an unquenchable thi...more

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Oct 18, 2012 Bane of Kings rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, zombies, netgalley

“An interesting tale that impresses, and delivers a fantastic, mind-blowing conclusion that you will not see coming.” ~The Founding Fields

When I started reading Chasers, the second title that I’d read from NetGalley, I had no idea what to expect. I’d never heard of James Phelan before, and the only thing that I knew going into this was that it was a post-apocalyptic zombie tale set in Manhattan, New York. And aimed at Young Adults. However, after the first few chapters, I started to get used to...more “An interesting tale that impresses, and delivers a fantastic, mind-blowing conclusion that you will not see coming.” ~The Founding Fields

When I started reading Chasers, the second title that I’d read from NetGalley, I had no idea what to expect. I’d never heard of James Phelan before, and the only thing that I knew going into this was that it was a post-apocalyptic zombie tale set in Manhattan, New York. And aimed at Young Adults. However, after the first few chapters, I started to get used to the idea that there were several things that were different about this novel, but also several things that were similar to other zombie novels that I’ve read. For example, there’s no speech marks when the characters are speaking. At first, I thought, as we stick with four characters throughout the novel, it wouldn’t work, and Phelan wouldn’t pull it off, like Alden Bell had achieved in the superb The Reapers Are the Angels. As it turned out, it worked perfectly, especially with the way it ended, which I’ll observe in more detail later in this review.

"Four teenagers. One destroyed city. Thousand of infected predators.

Jesse is on a UN Youth Ambassadors camp in New York when his subway carriage is rocked by an explosion. Jesse and his three friends, Dave, Anna and Mini, crawl out from the wreckage to discover a city in chaos. Streets are deserted. Buildings are in ruins. Worse, the only other survivors seem to be infected with a virus that turns them into horrifying predators…"

Lets start with the characters. The Dramatis Personae, as you’d expect from a post-apocalyptic novel, is very small with just Jesse, Dave, Anna and Mini. They’re the only characters that aren’t Zombies, or – as they’re labelled here, Chasers, that feature in the whole novel so if you don’t like how they’re portrayed then it’s tough because you’re going to be stuck with them. Whilst they may not have been particularly memorable characters, Jesse, the narrator, is a likable and believable enough character to get behind and root for.

Whilst the ending of the book is great, the rest of it is a slight let down. Despite the subtle hints dropped (try looking for them and you still won’t find them, that’s how subtle they are) as to where the ending is leading over the course of the book, the overall build-up is slow. Although the novel isn’t particularly a long one, once Jesse, Dave, Anna and Mini take residence in a large, tall skyscraper, the novel seems to drag a little bit. They don’t really feel under threat whilst they’re there, and that’s what I didn’t really like about Chasers. I just felt that Phelan should have increased the tension during the middle chunk of the novel, as I felt that nothing was going to happen to the characters whilst they were in the skyscraper. Thankfully though, this changes towards the end of the book, with the last 3/4′s of the ending being worth the read through of the rest of it.

Read the Rest of the Review: http://thefoundingfields.com/2012/10/.... (less)

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Nov 20, 2012 Wanda (Good Choice Reading) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, own, read-in-2012, reviewed

3.5 stars

As many of you may know, or even experienced first hand the recent events of Hurricane Sandy. Why am I speaking of Hurricane Sandy in my review? Well, I decided to pick up Chasers while stuck at home with no where to go, while I wait out this hurricane. And the first thing I can tell you about this book is that I should not have read it during this hurricane, because I felt like I was experiencing something very similar to happen. There wasn't a soul outside. Nothing, except there weren...more

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Apr 26, 2013 Tayla rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: finished, action, adrenaline-rush, adventure, bitter-sweet, cliffhanger-ending, fast-past, sad-ending, unique, modern-set, trilogy, 5-stars, cover-isn-t-half-bad, made-me-cry, romance-involved

With a zombie-alien theme, this novel is really quite an interesting read. While there were slow bits in it, as the book progressed, I really was hooked on the slightly disturbing storyline. However, the book wasn't without a few flaws. There could have been more action to stir things up as it was a little dry in the beginning, and more answers even for a first book in a series. We basically learn and know nothing of what happened, why, or how far this apocalypse spans for the entire first novel...more

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About James Phelan

James Phelan was born on the 21st of May, 1979, in Melbourne, Australia. His creative spirit was nurtured from a young age, and he credits his overactive imagination to being exposed to authors such as Roald Dahl and Paul Jennings, as well as such works as The Hobbit, Treasure Island, The Jungle Book, Tales of the Punjab, Siddhartha, and The Little Prince.
As a teenager James discovered a love of g...more James Phelan was born on the 21st of May, 1979, in Melbourne, Australia. His creative spirit was nurtured from a young age, and he credits his overactive imagination to being exposed to authors such as Roald Dahl and Paul Jennings, as well as such works as The Hobbit, Treasure Island, The Jungle Book, Tales of the Punjab, Siddhartha, and The Little Prince.
As a teenager James discovered a love of geo-political thrillers, of being entertained and informed on topical global events. James cites influences on the Fox series from reading such authors as Alistair MacLean, Clive Cussler, Jeffery Archer, Ken Follett, Tom Clancy, Jack Higgins, Robert Ludlum, John le Carre, Ian Fleming, and Jeffery Deaver.
In 1995, aged fifteen, James started his first novel, which he went on to develop as part of his major VCE English assignment in 1996. A thriller involving a terrorist attack on the 2000 Sydney Olympics, James eventually abandoned the storyline when Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six was published in 1998. While this story idea died, the lead protagonists of Lachlan Fox and Alister Gammaldi lived on as James went in search of another introductory tale for these series characters.
After high school James went on to study in Architecture, and then English Literature, eventually graduating with a PhD in Writing. It was during his masters degree and while working at The Age newspaper James developed the idea that would become his first published book, and would lead to seeing his novels in print.
Literati: Australian Contemporary Literary Figure Discuss Fear, Frustrations and Fame was published to critical acclaim in August 2005, by John Wiley & Sons. Comprising 21 candid interviews with key Australian authors and publishing figures, Literati answered many questions for would-be writers, those in the industry, and readers with a keen interest in the writing and publishing process.
FOX HUNT (Hachette, 2006) would prove to be the story to propel Lachlan Fox and Alister Gammaldi into the world stage of successful international thriller characters. FOX HUNT is a bridging novel between the aftermath of the Cold War and the new era of globalisation and War on Terror. It is a book that pays homage to the greats who have defined the genre and reflects the times we now find ourselves in. From Chechnya to New York, Venice to Washington, the storyline looks at the dangers of the Star Wars Missile Shield (aka Missile Defence), and the fragile reality of the remnants of the Cold War: political, military, and personal. Fox and Gammaldi must race against time before an ex-Soviet weapon is used by terrorists against the US.
PATRIOT ACT (Hachette, 2007) is the sequel to FOX HUNT and the second book in the Fox series, where we meet Lachlan Fox and Alister Gammaldi living in New York, working for the Global Syndicate of Reporters. This storyline involves rogue French agents attempting to hack into the NSA’s computers and Echelon system. It looks at the inherent dangers of communications and signals intelligence if it falls into the wrong hands, and centers around the “USA Partiot Act” introduced after the September 11th terrorist attacks. Ultimately, it is a story of love and betrayal, on both a personal and nationalistic front. This story introduced a love interest for Fox, as well as a CIA conspiracy that leads into the next novel.
BLOOD OIL (Hachette, 2008) introduces a 3 book arc of antagonists in the form of UMBRA, a tale of friendship and redemption set in the chaotic scene of Nigeria. This is a dark tale for Fox as he battles his personal demons and what it means to seek out the truth at any cost.
LIQUID GOLD (Hachette, 2009) sees Fox and Gammaldi uncovering a water crisis between India and Pakistan that has repercussions to the highest levels, all the while with the key characters questioning relationships, brotherhood, and faith against an intense deadline.
RED ICE (Hachette 2010) is the first Fox novel to be set within a 24-hour time frame.(less)

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