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Deadline (Newsflesh Trilogy #2)

4.16 of 5 stars 4.16 · rating details · 7,390 ratings · 1,168 reviews

Shaun Mason is a man without a mission. Not even running the news organization he built with his sister has the same urgency as it used to. Playing with dead things just doesn't seem as fun when you've lost as much as he has.

But when a CDC researcher fakes her own death and appears on his doorstep with a ravenous pack of zombies in tow, Shaun has a newfound interest in lif...more

Mass Market Paperback, 581 pages

Published June 1st 2011 by Orbit

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Aug 09, 2011 Kemper rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, horror, thriller, zombies, germs-viruses, vast-conspiracy

When I reviewed the previous book, Feed, I noted that that there were very few zombie attacks in it despite it being called a zombie book. Compared to Deadline, that one now looks like The Night of the Living Dead.

There’s an opening chapter here with our intrepid heroes escaping a pack of zombies that ends on page 18. We don’t get another actual zombie encounter until over 500 PAGES later. Not that there aren’t zombies around. The characters flee a major city right before it gets firebombed du...more

59 likes · like · see review

Apr 18, 2013 Penny rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: disappointing, dystopian, i-see-dead-people, i-think-i-m-gonna-be-sick, reviewed-books, weirds-me-out, wish-i-could-unread, zombies-aliens-vampires-dinos, incesty, crazypants-protagonist, blerg, siblings-that-hug-and-kiss-a-lot

***Warning: this review contains spoilers for Feed***

I really don't know what I can say about this book besides how disappointed and frustrated it left me. Not that I was expecting something incredible mind you. I mean, it's not like Feed left me begging for more so I have no idea why I gave Deadline the time of day.

Actually I do know. ~~I'm not too bright.~~ I was going to purchase The Demon's Surrender on Tuesday June 14th, because that's when it was released, but for whatever reason the audiobo...more

25 likes · like · see review

Jun 01, 2011 Wendy Darling rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, pn-zombies, dystopian-post-apocalyptic-utopian, heroines-butt-kicking, favorites-all-time, read-2011, made-my-heart-hurt, thriller-suspense, crush-worthy-boys, sci-fi-or-futuristic, 2011-favorites, 2011-5-✮-books, 2011-publication, action-packed, supportive-author

This review does not contain spoilers for either FEED or DEADLINE. One year has passed since Shaun and Georgia Mason found more than they bargained for as they investigated the truth behind the Kellis-Amberlee virus, a mutated cure for human disease that led to the uprising of the dead. The events that transpired then have an enormous impact now as the high-profile bloggers from After the End of Times uncover a conspiracy that is even bigger than they ever imagined. A CDC researcher fakes her ow...more This review does not contain spoilers for either FEED or DEADLINE. One year has passed since Shaun and Georgia Mason found more than they bargained for as they investigated the truth behind the Kellis-Amberlee virus, a mutated cure for human disease that led to the uprising of the dead. The events that transpired then have an enormous impact now as the high-profile bloggers from After the End of Times uncover a conspiracy that is even bigger than they ever imagined. A CDC researcher fakes her own death in a spectacular fashion and shows up at their headquarters, and soon the whole team is battling zombies, mutant dogs, and the ever-present ghosts of their past.

When I finished this book late last night, my thoughts were "I have not a single criticism to offer. Not a single one." And this still holds true. Without exception, every question and doubt I raised with Feed is answered here. The action is incredibly intense, the story is densely and intricately plotted, and the book is exceptionally well-paced and exciting. Readers who are leery of zombies still shouldn't have much of a problem, because although there are more tense encounters with the undead, the violence is relatively contained and there are no gross or gratuitous scenes. Most of the terror comes from heart-pounding action and chase sequences, as well as the knowledge of the overwhelming consequences if the team fails in its quest for truth and justice.

Shaun, Georgia, and Buffy all loom large in this sequel, but we also get to know the other staffers better, including the elegant Mahir, the fiercely determined Becks, the quietly steady Alaric, and the sad, tragic Maggie. Most significantly, however, the narrator has shifted to Shaun, whose personality comes through loud and clear in his bitterly funny words, his decisive handling of his team, and his desperately emotional struggle to hang onto what he loves most. Mira Grant met and exceeded every expectation I had for this book, particularly in the devastating truth that comes to light about what might have been. I knew from Feed to expect an emotional reaction, but I could not have prepared myself for the terrible knowledge that these characters have to face. I was literally whimpering from the pain, and tears were streaming so hard that I couldn't see the page.

This is my third 5 star review for a 2011 book, and it is given with no reservations or qualifications. This is a searingly intelligent novel, with hard questions about medical ethics, government responsibility, and the nobility and folly of human nature. And just when you think the author has delivered everything she possibly could, there is a HUGE twist at the end that made me bolt upright and scream in the middle of the night. This twist has far-reaching consequences for both the characters and for society as a whole, and it also answered questions I had about the future in a crazy and unthinkable way.

It will be another year before the third book in this trilogy will be released, and I'll spend much of that time waiting in agony to find out what happens to the characters I've come to care about so much. But oh my stars, what a pleasure it is to be so incredibly excited and thrilled and moved by an author's work.

This review also appears in The Midnight Garden. An advance copy was provided by the publisher.

REMINDER: DO NOT read the synopsis for this book anywhere if you haven't already read FEED, as it contains potential spoilers for the first book. And please do be careful of reviews that may spoil this one.(less)

61 likes · like · see review

Jun 15, 2011 Lucy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: zombies, gloomy, horror, crappy-sequel, wasn-t-for-me, adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I had a lot of mixed feelings about the first book in the Newsflesh trilogy, Feed. I thought there were some technical problems with the world building, including how bloggers became the voice of a generation and helped people stay informed during the uprising. For one thing, I never thought conventional media would fail quite as hard as Mira Grant wanted me to believe it would and for another thing I always thought bloggers would spread a lot of misinformation as fact, you know, the way they do...more

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Oct 31, 2011 karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: death-is-not-the-end, tastes-like-people, october-is-spooky

i have learned nothing from horror movies. i have fallen victim to the most elementary trap. never, ever think you are out of danger. never say things like "phew, i'm glad that didn't happen etc etc" i have said this.

(view spoiler)...more i have learned nothing from horror movies. i have fallen victim to the most elementary trap. never, ever think you are out of danger. never say things like "phew, i'm glad that didn't happen etc etc" i have said this.

(view spoiler)

so the lesson to be learned is - you are never out of the woods.

however - despite THAT THING I DISCUSSED IN THE SPOILER, this book was more fun than the first one.the stakes were higher, there was a good mixture of dramatic and action-y sequences, and it really moved the characters further into their situation, rather than succumbing to the bloated, "filler-feeling middle novel of a trilogy" syndrome.

although the ending... yes, it is a "cliffhanger," and at first, i was like "yyyyyayyyyyy!" and then i stopped to think about it, and i was more like "hey, wait a second, no." because up until that point, the book had been very respectful, i thought. this may surprise you, but i am no virologist. and for the most part, when this book starts talking all smart about science, i just bat my eyes and look all cute and assume the author has done their research. and i have to admit that what she's imagined here, as a potential danger - sounds convincing. i am on board. also on board with miniaturizing bulldogs to be the size of cats. emphatically on board with that, by the way.less so with what happens in the epilogue and first chapter teaser for book three. unless there is as much convincing science-y sounding detail to satisfy all my "waaaaaait"s, i will remain disappointed by the turn. but also unreasonably elated, because (view spoiler)

but overall, i really liked this book. the action was genuinely gripping, and i like the secondary characters a lot. shaun is kind of a tool, unnecessarily antagonistic over very natural human responses to situations, very one-note, (view spoiler) but i thought this was a solid follow-up, and i am definitely going to read the next one, and even go so far as to track down the (shudder) online stories that people are telling me about.

and this book marks the end of "zombie month 2011". or "zombie three weeks 2011," which is less catchy.(less)

47 likes · like · see review

Jun 03, 2011 Maja rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-can-t-wait-to-read-in-2011, zombies-zombies-everywhere, post-apocalyptic, male-pov, books-that-changed-me, cliffhanger-ending, made-me-cry, never-saw-it-coming, favorites, own-a-dtb, reviewed-in-2011

I am breathless, speechless and whateverless (probably mindless) at the moment. The best I can do is quote my favorite, if sometimes cowardly Newsie, Alaric Kwong:

"Son of a chicken-fucking soy farmer and a diseased convention-center security guard."

Now what?!?

28 likes · like · see review

Jun 24, 2012 Ceridwen rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Bird Brian

Shelves: 9-11, zombies, omg-were-all-going-to-die, pulp, the-future-is-now, reviewed, america-and-environs

My review for the first in this series was a little sloppy, so I'm going to try to tighten things up, partially to avoid the spoilers inherent in reviewing the second in a series, and partially because I missed out saying some things about the Newsflesh world.

This series takes place about a generation after a zombie apocalypse brought on by genetically engineered cures for the common cold and cancer meeting up and having a very serious unintended consequence. I don't even play a scientist on tv...more My review for the first in this series was a little sloppy, so I'm going to try to tighten things up, partially to avoid the spoilers inherent in reviewing the second in a series, and partially because I missed out saying some things about the Newsflesh world.

This series takes place about a generation after a zombie apocalypse brought on by genetically engineered cures for the common cold and cancer meeting up and having a very serious unintended consequence. I don't even play a scientist on tv, but I thought the way the pathogen was described worked. It's a little like this horror show that exists in the natural world today. Upshot of the article: a fungus invades the brains of ants, somehow forcing the ants to climb up branches, where they clamp on and have fungus shoot out of their heads, a la Alien.

(view spoiler)

Shudder.

So, society is understandably twitchy and messed up after such a cataclysm. On a nuts and bolts level, I have some serious quibbles with this world. I work in the trades, and when Shaun says something offhand about how everyone orders their groceries these days, I think, yes, and who delivers them? Just today, I was in an upper middle class neighborhood looking at a client's house, and the parking was tight because of all the various service vehicles on the street. Yes, a community can moat up, but it takes an entire other community to keep that moat in place, and I just have some questions about how that exactly works here, even though I admit that this sort of niggling question isn't really in the purview of this story. This world is made up of a lot of people hiding in their houses - this is a world of terror - not to put too reductive a read on it, this is a 9/11 world, where politics is terror and vice versa. Leaving aside my societal quibbles, I thought the questionings about a society based primarily on terror here were subtle and worthwhile.

However, first person narratives live and die for me in the strength of the main character, and Shaun is no Georgia from the first book. It's not even so much that he's an asshole - which he is, with bells on - it's just that I didn't buy his grief mechanism or his particular flavor of insanity. I almost want to say it's too literary an insanity, but I'm not sure that that is exactly what I mean. I guess I just mean that I know grief, and while parts of his grief rang true for me - the anger, the violence - other parts were too...coherent? convenient to the plot? to pass my smell test. But grief is personal, so maybe this will work for others; I'm not trying to extrapolate my experience, just relate it.

And despite my problems with Shaun the narrator, I thought the secondary characters were much better drawn in this book. In Feed, we spent a lot of time on secondaries that I also didn't buy - the Senator, the parents Mason, even Buffy - but here Mahir, Becks and Maggie (is it Maggie?) were given room to be people. The plotting is much less straightforward, which is pretty classic second book - I'm sure the second Scream film could fill you in on the rules for sequels - and while I appreciate the coming armageddon, the way that armageddon is relayed by a really bloodless (heh) third party experience is a little wan. The way the two intrusions into the CDC were nearly identical in terms of concrete action was a little lame too, though the opening bit with Dr. Kelly and the zombie swarm was a well-written action sequence.

If you didn't like the first book, this is not going to change your mind. Even though these characters cover a lot of ground, Grant's skills in the visceral thrills department have never been strong, which may or may not be a stylistic choice. There's an almost numbing repetition of blood testing sequences - characters slap their hands on the pad roughly one thousand times and then watch the lights stabilize to green - but I think this might be pointed - the concrete effects of a fear state. (Actually, I kind of want Bird Brian to read these, what with all the government conspiracies and medicine. ) So, fun books, maybe not especially deep, but certainly perfect for sitting on the back porch in the sun. (less)

18 likes · like · see review

Jan 04, 2013 Ariana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, great-books, dystopia, zombie, series, beloved, rereading-material, best-of

Last Page Impression: Oh.My.God! Wow... I mean: WOW!!!!!!!

“I guess in the end, it doesn’t matter what we wanted. What matters is what we chose to do with the things we had.”

Damn, this book was insane!
I need a whole constellation lined up to rate it properly, because only 5 stars doesn't seem to make it justice.. I loved every single word of it.

Deadline is one of those books that you want to read slowly, to savor every phrase, every discovery, every nuance, every little moment. Deadline is one...more

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Jun 02, 2012 Tina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebooks, best-2011, 2011, dystopia-post-apocalyptic, favorites, sci-fi, 2012

Original post at One More Page

One of my best book discoveries last year was Mira Grant's Feed, the first book in the Newsflesh trilogy. I was so excited about it when I heard it was about zombies AND blogging, and it was my first big Kindle purchase. It remains as one of my favorite books, one that I have given away as gifts and prizes numerous times. I was excited for the next book, Deadline, but I wasn't expecting that much, given that second books are usually so-so compared to the first book...more

10 likes · like · see review

Jun 03, 2011 Catie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: horror, read-in-2011, sci-fi, series, speculative-fiction

I am not even going to try to abstain from spoilering because I really need to get some things off my chest…but I pinky swear promise not to spoiler Deadline. If you haven’t read Feed, check out Wendy’s review which ingeniously omits any spoiler information.

(view spoiler)...more

14 likes · like · see review

Sep 11, 2012 Kristalia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, reviewed, cut-my-heart-out, dark, best-couple-award, be-my-hero-plz, new-adult, adult

Final rating: ★★★★★/★★★★★

So far, my favorite book in trilogy (oh how i wish there were more of the books). At least i sat and read them all at once - it's always better than being confused with what happened earlier.

Do not read this if you didn't read Feed. p.s. contains some heavy spoilers for first book.

Soooo, after the glorious mindfuck scene from first book - aka the part where (view spoiler) we have Shaun's perspective and narration. WOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO! Just wha...more

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Apr 12, 2012 Nikita Ompang rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned, novel

I-
I'm not really sure on how to make a review of this one, or if I could. I don't think no amount of 'reviewing' would justify how ~~good~~ GREAT this book is.

Just..
Just READ IT!!!

~~Although I'm still contemplating if I would really make a review. I need more time to think. I'm utterly dumbfounded and speechless.~~

*deep breaths*
After roughly two weeks of brooding over this book, I was finally able to fix the short circuit in my brain which I had the moment I finished reading this AWESOME book. Reading...more

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Jun 07, 2011 Katie(babs) rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. One of my most anticipated books for 2011 was Deadline by Mira Grant. This is the second book in her Newsflesh series. The first book, Feed, was one of my favorite books of last year and may end up being one of my favorite books of the decade. Feed was an explosive reading experience for me because all my emotions were engaged. Mira combines the zombie myth with technology and on-line blogging that worked wonders.

Feed had a very unique protagonist with George Mason. George lived and breathed re...more One of my most anticipated books for 2011 was Deadline by Mira Grant. This is the second book in her Newsflesh series. The first book, Feed, was one of my favorite books of last year and may end up being one of my favorite books of the decade. Feed was an explosive reading experience for me because all my emotions were engaged. Mira combines the zombie myth with technology and on-line blogging that worked wonders.

Feed had a very unique protagonist with George Mason. George lived and breathed reporting the news, blogging her complete obsession. And because of this, she was killed. George stumbled upon something big and not at all planned. She and her brother, Shaun found themselves in a world of political espionage where someone was using the zombies (that were unleashed on the world because of a cure created to combat the common cold twenty five years ago) as a way to control society and for their own maniacal greed.

Deadline begins almost two years after the events of Feed and this time we’re in Shaun’s head as he comes to grips with losing George, his best friend and soul mate. Shaun still grieves over the loss of George and the guilt he couldn’t save her. He was the one to end her life by shooting her as she succumbed to the Kellis-Amberlee virus running through her veins that would transform her into a zombie. But Shaun doesn’t just have the memories of George to keep him company. George speaks to him in his head. He and she have full conversations. Is Shaun going crazy? Perhaps. But Shaun doesn’t care. As long as George talks to him, he can keep on living and reporting the news.

Shaun still runs his blog and has a new crew to help him. There’s Rebecca, aka Becks, an Irwin, who likes poking zombies with a stick as much as Shaun used to do. There’s Alaric, a Newsie trying to make strides as a journalist, Dave another blogger and Mahir, who blogs from London, England on behalf of Shaun. Then there’s the eccentric Maggie, who’s a bit on the wacky side, the daughter set to inherit her father’s Pharmaceutical company who blogs about movies, the majority being horror ones. Shaun and his motley crew are very popular bloggers who navigate in a world gone to hell. The hungry undead have become a way of life and the only thing the living can do is be aware that this new type of threat is all around them and won’t go away.

Shaun would love to get his hands on the person or people responsible for injecting George with the virus that killed her so mercilessly He lives for revenge. And he may get his revenge when Dr. Kelly Connolly from the CDC comes to Shaun with shocking news. She planned her own death. One by one, each member on her research team has been killed, and she was next. The CDC not only is still trying to find the cure of the Kellis-Amberlee virus, but are involved in something straight out of a science fiction novel. They have created illegal clones and are experimenting on them. It seems the d Kellis-Amberlee virus may not be as dormant as the public believes. There’s a big conspiracy that Shaun takes upon himself to investigate. Anyone along with him are in grave danger, not from infection, or from the zombies, but those people who would kill to keep their findings a secret until they decide to unleash it on the world.

Deadline builds at a steady rate where you turn each page, uncertain what’s going to happen. The first 500 pages moves slowly but doesn’t bore you. Everything is metrically planned out, much like a ride on a roller coaster. You sit there in that small seat, your heart pounding as you climb up that rickety track, waiting to reach the top. And when you finally reach the top, you fall from such a height where your stomach drops down to your feet. Your adrenaline is running and you open your mouth as screams burst forth from your mouth. Deadline is a roller coaster of a book.

Shaun really comes into his own in Deadline. I really couldn’t stand him in Feed. He was an immature, spoiled thrill seeker who finally grows up and man’s up after George’s death. Shaun has iron balls and is not afraid to use them. He’s on a mission and will die to find out the truth and bring down anyone who is out to destroy the world for a second time. He and his team are a cross between the characters from Scooby Doo and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Shaun is a one man Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein from All the President’s Men. He’s tenacious, dedicated to reporting the news and in the immortal words of Harold Beale from Network, “I'm a HUMAN BEING, God damn it! My life has VALUE!'. I want all of you to get up out of your chairs. I want you to get up right now and go to the window. Open it, and stick your head out, and yell, 'I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!” Shaun is angry and more alive than he has ever been and wants to right the wrongs done to humanity and most importantly George.

Deadline scared the living crap out of me. A quarter away from the end of the novel, the shit got very real where I was shaking in fear. I can’t even tell you the last time a book made me have such a physical reaction. Talk about a doozy of an event that occurs out of the blue and one I never saw coming. And this isn’t even the shocking OMGWTF twist of all twists that’s announced in the last sentence on the last page. This is one of the best cliffhanger endings I read next to Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. Your mouth will drop, your body will tense up and you’ll be not only on the edge of your seat, but climbing it. Talk about a rush. I think I felt high the entire time I read.

Deadline is as close to a perfect read as you can get. Every one of my emotions were engaged. Deadline will be in my top 10, most like my top 5 of 2011. This is a book that I want to squeeze tight as I lie in bed awake, so very afraid the undead will finally rise up and come for me, hungry for my flesh. Not many authors can make me jumped at my own shadow, but Mira has. I shake my fist at her for making me feel this way and yet I ask for more

Side note: There was a goof in regards to George’s date of death. The year stated is 2032, when it should be 2039. When I read this, I was more than confused, but then asking Mira about it, she admits that it was a mistake that got through to the book somehow. Even with this issue, don’t think Deadline isn’t full of awesome. It is. I want to have babies with it.(less)

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Nov 04, 2012 Giselle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: zombies, dystopia-or-post-apocalyptic

This review contains no spoilers of either Deadline or Feed

One fine if not perfect installment in the Newsflesh Trilogy, Mira Grant brings us yet again into the lives of some of the most amazingly compelling character, in a terrifyingly real zombie apocalypse setting, with some dire happenings on the horizon.

This time, it's Shaun that we get the pleasure to know even better, as he is the narrator of this sequel. After the events in Feed, Shaun is undergoing some very severe PTSD and mental inst...more This review contains no spoilers of either Deadline or Feed

One fine if not perfect installment in the Newsflesh Trilogy, Mira Grant brings us yet again into the lives of some of the most amazingly compelling character, in a terrifyingly real zombie apocalypse setting, with some dire happenings on the horizon.

This time, it's Shaun that we get the pleasure to know even better, as he is the narrator of this sequel. After the events in Feed, Shaun is undergoing some very severe PTSD and mental instabilities. Let me tell you, this makes for some fascinating character development. I was absolutely taken by his situation. The prison he makes himself in his mind shows us how humans cope with certain traumas and I though it was especially well done and very... sad; however, underneath it all, somehow, it's also beautiful.

The many characters walking alongside Shaun are not thrown under the bus as far as character building. Every single one has a place in my heart. Their personalities are solid, distinct. Their emotional states are palpable. They are not characters anymore, these are people that took me with them and made me a part of their journey.

I was consumed by terror from the many intense events that occur in this novel. But, like the first, don't think this novel is about the zombies. Its setting is decades after the zombies came. Now they live, they survive, and they have been surviving for so long that the zombies are a way of life for them. Thus, the book involves zombies, sure, but don't expect The Walking Dead. The terror is not from zombies, the terror is from a messed up, crooked, twisted government that has it out for this particular team of bloggers. It's from finding out more and more disturbing secrets and manipulations from these "leaders". The zombies, they simply give off a constant worrying tone; you know they're lurking, and could be waiting for you at every turn. Isn't the unknown the biggest fear of all?

From non stop action to immense characterization, Deadline was even better than its predecessor--which very rarely happens in my experience. The details are raw, vivid, inside a world that is extremely well built. Mira obviously has done her research to all the minute details, turning this book into the most realistic zombie fiction I have come across, yet. And yes, there is a cliffhanger, and it will change your life! (Not really, but close!)

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

(less)

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Jul 20, 2011 Corry L. rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: sf-f

I quite liked Feed, the first book in this series. Sure, it had enough plot holes to drive an army of bulldozers through, but the voice was snappy and compelling, and George and Shaun were likable characters. So I was excited to read Deadline (book 2 in the Newsflesh series).

Deadline came equipped with the same voice as in Feed, but--maybe because I wasn't doped on Vicodin and woozy from getting dropped 20 feet to the ground by a climbing partner I (formerly) trusted--but the voice lost some of...more I quite liked Feed, the first book in this series. Sure, it had enough plot holes to drive an army of bulldozers through, but the voice was snappy and compelling, and George and Shaun were likable characters. So I was excited to read Deadline (book 2 in the Newsflesh series).

Deadline came equipped with the same voice as in Feed, but--maybe because I wasn't doped on Vicodin and woozy from getting dropped 20 feet to the ground by a climbing partner I (formerly) trusted--but the voice lost some of its snap in this book. But hey, there was great emotional resonance in Feed, so I was willing to run with it.

I kept turning pages despite the one-dimensional secondary characters, despite the narrator continuing to freak out about the same thing, looping on his issues and never making progress on them throughout the book. I kept reading as from chapter to chapter, the plot barreled forward on tenuous grounds that went, predictably: oh crap, there's this great big conspiracy and we have to go somewhere (randomly chosen) where the (coincidentally) awesome/evil person in charge there will make us go running on to the next plot point saying "holy shit, how did we make it out of there alive?"

Evil, one-dimensional villains who nearly kill the main characters for no reason other than, dude, they're evil? Check. But I expected that from Feed. The beginning of Deadline showed promise that maybe the evil Bad in Feed would fit into a larger conspiracy that actually made sense. Hah.

And what's the grand prize for 670 pages of repetitive "the world is going to end" running around randomly? Nothing.

The book doesn't end.

That's right. 670 pages of repetitive worrying about stuff and running from place to place with no plan but... um, good intentions? Except their intentions aren't really that clear. The blogger characters don't actually blog any of their great investigations.

And then, just when you're like, hey, there aren't many pages left, this must be wrapping up soon--be it with some free threads to pick up in the next book--boom. The end. Wait for the next book, kids, maybe it will resolve something.

Maybe.

I am honestly interested in how these plot threads resolve, but I'm beginning to doubt whether they will do so in a satisfactory fashion. Maybe I'll get my husband to read Book 3 first and let me know.(less)

5 likes · like · see review

May 22, 2012 Noel rated it 5 of 5 stars

In general, I am not a serious sequel fan (My Discworld obsession nonwithstanding). Put a Roman numeral after a title, and I tend to roll my eyes. Also? I tend not to be a fan of Zombie *anything*. The usual "logical conclusion" to a zombie story creeps me out far too much to want to have anything to do with it.

However, a friend of mine, also knowing my fondness for Heinlein, suggested /Feed/. /Feed/ had me so hooked, that I was eagerly awaiting /Deadine/ from the instant I finished the first b...more

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Jun 04, 2011 Jean Pearl rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: EVERYONE!

Shelves: series-to-die-for, favorites

Straight to the point: I ABSOLUTELY TOTALLY INCREDIBLY LOVE THIS BOOK TO DEATH! If you ask me, which is the better one of the two books of Newsflesh series so far, I won't go far to say this book is better. Believe me, both of them held the same awesomeness I come to really seek for an apocalyptic, sci-fi type of book such these two. Feed might have been pushed me to struggle a bit at first, but I tell you, the fruit of the labor is like the sweetest thing ever. Ironic, since I bawled so much at...more Straight to the point: I ABSOLUTELY TOTALLY INCREDIBLY LOVE THIS BOOK TO DEATH! If you ask me, which is the better one of the two books of Newsflesh series so far, I won't go far to say this book is better. Believe me, both of them held the same awesomeness I come to really seek for an apocalyptic, sci-fi type of book such these two. Feed might have been pushed me to struggle a bit at first, but I tell you, the fruit of the labor is like the sweetest thing ever. Ironic, since I bawled so much at that. Haha. Deadline on the other hand, immediately yanked me to pump on action that I suddenly have no time to think what to feel since I'm already in the middle of something I don't want to ever get away to feel. From there on out, I knew I had to brace myself for a wilder ride. I knew I was in for another predicament the time the characters were on it for themselves. It had to be because from the way the things were gradually happening, or unfolding to be more precise, I never been on to as terrifying and suspenseful as the twist of events that had ensued in this book. I swear to death I love and enjoy every moment of this book. As for the characters, God, I love Shaun. Enough said! And God, I think I miss Georgia than Shaun ever misses her. No joke. And despite everything (which are mostly petrifying, I mean it with a capital PETRIFYING), I am so suddenly ecstatic as I read the CODA (which was literally the ending of the book, sort of.) At first I was really shocked. Then it took me two heartbeats to comprehend what was happening, and the next second, I found myself goofily smiling. Because I was that (still am) happy! I swear! That's how badly I miss Georgia. Even if it might be the (ahemn...a little spoiler)(view spoiler), but I don't care. As long as her memories are intact, all is more than well for me. Oh gosh. I can't elaborate enough how I love this book that much so I leave you all to see and witness it for yourself, if you ever feel like reading a very very very great book. Like what the Publisher Weekly stated, this book is a masterpiece of suspense. Go figure! ;)(less)

7 likes · like · see review

Jun 10, 2011 Jo rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Jo by: Catie

Shelves: ya, boy-crush, when-can-i-move-in, things-are-rotten-in-the-state-of-d, e

This review is relatively spoiler free.. but if you don't want to know ANYTHING about this or Feed... look away now.

Initial Thoughts.
WHAT IS WITH THE ENDINGS OF MIRA GRANT’S BOOKS? And, what was that? We have to wait for months until the next book comes out?! COME ON.

High points.
Shaun. (S)He’s hearing voices. Less of the technical jargon for simpletons like me. More zombie action. Things are rotten in the state of… um, America. Underground scientists. The Academy Award for Best Supporting Cast g...more

13 likes · like · see review

Oct 08, 2012 Madame X rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: zombies, superior-worldbuilding, post-apocalyptic-or-dystopian, extra-gritty, breakneck-pacing

One bad thing about (view spoiler) Shaun to narrate the sequel, DEADLINE. I wasn’t sure I wanted to read a book written entirely from Shaun’s point of view. Especially not depressed Shaun, who’s not nearly as much fun as comic-relief Irwin Shaun was.

One good thing about (view spoiler) is that I knew from the first page of DEADLINE that Mira Grant doesn’t pull her punches. I kne...more

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Jun 02, 2011 Samantha rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi

Deadline is the second book in the Newsflesh trilogy and keeps the hits coming after Feed while avoid avoiding all the standard pitfalls that trap many sequels. Grant keeps the story arcs twisting and blood pressure rising without ever allowing the book to become a mockery or unbelievable. The characters continue to be real and so strong that they pull the readers further into their story. I love the fact that the reader gains a deeper perspective on the plot while understanding that the third b...more

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Jun 08, 2011 Angela James rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, my-faves

Warning: okay, this does end with a bit of a cliffhanger BUT the first chapter of the next book is also provided, so I don't really count it as a cliffhanger, because you're given enough information to answer your "what the hell!!??" moment.

I found that I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as I enjoyed the first. I'm not sure I can put my finger exactly on why, but I think it might be that this one felt more unfinished than the first. I definitely felt like I could read the first and be satis...more

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May 10, 2012 Alex Telander rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2011, books-read-in-2012

Warning: This review contains spoilers for Feed and Deadline.

On the first day of May of 2010, Mira Grant graced the world with the first book in the Newsflesh Trilogy, Feed . . . and it was good; it was very good. And now, on the thirty-first day of May of 2011, the long wait is over and readers get to finally enjoy the sequel, Deadline. Once again Grant has achieved the incredible with a long story of over six hundred pages that will have you wide eyed and mouth wateringly hooked from the very...more Warning: This review contains spoilers for Feed and Deadline.

On the first day of May of 2010, Mira Grant graced the world with the first book in the Newsflesh Trilogy, Feed . . . and it was good; it was very good. And now, on the thirty-first day of May of 2011, the long wait is over and readers get to finally enjoy the sequel, Deadline. Once again Grant has achieved the incredible with a long story of over six hundred pages that will have you wide eyed and mouth wateringly hooked from the very first to the very last. Middle books in trilogies are often weak compared to the strong start and captivating end, but Deadline is a worthy next installment that is as good as Feed in many ways, making it feel more like a continuation of the same book.

Shaun Mason is in a very dark place. In a world where every person wakes up with the fear of zombies in their minds, as well as the terror of somehow amplifying at any moment, Shaun doesn’t really care anymore. When he had to shoot his sister and kill her before she fully amplified, it was definitely a turning point in his life. And now he has very little to live for; his sister was everything to him, and had always joked about what she would do when he was dead, because he was the risk taker. There was no scenario for when George was killed and Shaun was left all alone. Though there is one little light in this dark, dark tunnel and that is that Shaun still talks to his sister . . . in his head. She’s alive and well in his brain and he talks to her, has conversations with her, even argues with her. Fortunately, anyone else who spends time with him knows that Shaun is now pretty much crazy and they all just deal with it.

But the world must go on and Shaun has a news organization to run, along with an experienced team, he makes the decisions when he has to and lets the talented people he has working for him do what they do best., while the former daredevil who used to fly in the face of danger for the chance to get some great zombie footage is no more. And then a member from the CDC drops into their laps with an incredible story to tell. A story that has everything to do with the Kellis-Amberlee virus, how it might have got started, and where the CDC is on the cure. She’s also faked her own death and appears to be off the radar, and then a devastating outbreak coincidentally happens right where Shaun and his team are currently hanging out. Some make it out, while others are incinerated, as outbreak protocols are followed. This event awakens the spark and drive that has been missing in Shaun for some time. Now he has something to go on, a clue that will lead him on the trail to finding out who had his sister killed and how this virus got “accidentally” released and destroyed the world.

Deadline continues right where Feed left off, and Grant manages to keep the pace and fear and excitement going throughout, supplying plenty of horror, scifi tech, and lots of fascinating medical and virus details that add further to the story. She also addresses the harsh reality that she created in Feed, where no one is safe from becoming the walking dead, and lives will be lost no matter what. Readers will find Deadline a worthy addition to this fantastic trilogy that is as good as anything created by the likes of Stephen King and Dean Koontz, with an ending that will leave them yearning for May of 2012 and the thrilling conclusion in Blackout.(less)

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Jun 08, 2011 Elizabeth Salom (elistar) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, sci-fi, dystopian, zombies

Disclaimer - I actually think this book is closer to a 4.5. It was *almost* as wonderful as Feed. Don't get me wrong, I really, really loved it, but it just didn't match my experience with Feed, where I was literally sobbing at the end of the book. I'm a sucker for those.

And the ending - OMG. I still can't believe it. The writing was just as great and natural as in Feed, though I was just a little annoyed by the repeated use of the word "deadpan". Another small thing that bothered me and stopped...more

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Jun 06, 2011 Qazyman rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Mira Grant Deadline

Government Conspiracy, Viral outbreak, Social Commentary……Most writer’s use these as the backbone of a story, Mira Grant uses them as a stepping stone, from there taking reader to levels of interaction most writers only dream of.

This is an Author in full command of her trade.

This book doesn’t flow with the same efficiency as “Feed”, and main characters problems, because of the events of the first book, can’t be described as entertaining, but when the Author puts her character...more

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May 25, 2012 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, read-in-2011, read-in-2012

Aaahhhhhhhh I want the next book NOW.

This book is just as good as Feed, if not better. It sucked me in completely. I'm looking forward to rereading these two books before the third one comes out.

Edited May 25 2012: I just finished re-reading in preparation for Blackout, and like with Feed my rating holds overall. I did notice things more (they slam everything! Hands into testers, keys into ignitions, everything is slammed. Also, I may be mistaken, but I think Shaun may be a bit crazy or somethin...more

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Dec 15, 2011 Miss Clark rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, futuristic-and-or-dystopian, mystery

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

I was better with that sort of ______ when George was alive because I had something to protect. She didn't like touching people, so I touched them for you. She didn't like emotional displays, so I took up the slack. Only without her around to give me an excuse, it was like I didn't even know where I was supposed to start.

We always figured she was the one whose emotional growth got stunted by the way we were raised. It was sort of weird to realize the damage extended to cover both of us.

Happy bi

...more

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Feb 27, 2013 Jen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011, sci-fi, urban-fantasy, read-as-audio, re-read-in-2013

So, um, what the hell just happened there?

Also, I NEED THE NEXT BOOK!

I very much recommend the series, mostly because I want the rest of you to suffer with me while we wait for book 3 of the trilogy.

-----
First read in print 6/5/11
Re-read as audio book 2/27/13

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 09, 2011 Nojh rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everybody, after they've read FEED

Shelves: post-apocolypse, conspiracy, zombies, science-fiction

DEADLINE is the sequel to FEED, the book about Politics, Blogging, and Zombies. DEADLINE is not about Politics, Blogging, and Zombies. It is about Conspiracies, Zombies, and Blogging. The second novel in a trilogy, DEADLINE once again introduces us to a post-apocalyptic future where humanity survives, in fear of, a zombie plague. Where FEED introduced us to the world and it's politics, giving us a glimpse into conspiracies that run a zombie infested America, DEADLINE jumps right into the conspir...more

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Oct 24, 2011 Kaia rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: ineffectual-zomgbies, love-hate-relationship, what-the-actual-f-ck, zomgbies, actually-made-me-angry, you-fail-research-forever

Holt shit, you guys, this is so long I have to put the rest of it in the comments!

(view spoiler)...more

18 likes · like · see review

Aug 05, 2012 Rachel rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: apocalyptic, dystopian, 2012-book-challenge

This was a major disappointment. I loved the worldbuilding in Book 1 but somehow that worldbuilding crumbled in the sequel. Things were added that, in my opinion, didn't fit and felt completely implausible to this world. I realize this sounds silly in a story filled with zombies but one of the things that made this work for me was the fact that the fantasy aspects of the story felt rooted in reality. The items that were added in this book did not feel as if it was building on what we learned pre...more This was a major disappointment. I loved the worldbuilding in Book 1 but somehow that worldbuilding crumbled in the sequel. Things were added that, in my opinion, didn't fit and felt completely implausible to this world. I realize this sounds silly in a story filled with zombies but one of the things that made this work for me was the fact that the fantasy aspects of the story felt rooted in reality. The items that were added in this book did not feel as if it was building on what we learned previously, but instead felt like they were randomly inserted without thought to the science of this world. They were foreign, more than a little ridiculous, and stretched the bounds of believability. Also:

1. Too many details that were unnecessary to the plot and slowed the pace down. The first book also contained quite a bit of details but but it did not bother me because I was fascinated by the world. In this book they were just superfluous and did nothing to move the plot forward, add to characterization, or build on the world.

2. Too much repetition as if the reader could not be trusted to remember facts or plot points. There was a lot of information in this book that felt redundant and could have (and should have) been eliminated without detriment to the story.

3. The plot and overarching conspiracy plot began to fall apart, did not make logical sense in some places, and contained some major holes. Honestly, the plot of this book seemed like an afterthought; it did not feel like a natural progression of the events of Book 1. Also, the lengths taken to kill our protagonists were over the top. I'm sure there are far easier ways for people with such power to get this accomplished and covered up.

4. Spoiler ahead that ruined this book and book 1 for me: (view spoiler)

5. Major spoiler ahead that ruined the entire series for me: (view spoiler)

One thing I did like about this book was Shaun's POV. I really like Shaun and I found reading about his (view spoiler) compelling. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough. Point 4 and 5 were too much to handle and ruined the series for me. It also makes me wary of the author so I will not read any of her future works without first reading spoilers/reviews. (less)

1 like · like · see review

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I feel really bad for Dr. Kelly.	2	8	Mar 24, 2013 11:02am
SOS: Serious Over...: November Buddy Read - Deadline by Mira Grant	34	27	Feb 03, 2013 04:32pm
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Creative Reviews: Deadline (Newsflesh Trilogy, #2) - Mira Grant	1	5	Aug 14, 2012 10:54pm

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About Mira Grant

Born and raised in Northern California, Mira Grant has made a lifelong study of horror movies, horrible viruses, and the inevitable threat of the living dead. In college, she was voted Most Likely to Summon Something Horrible in the Cornfield, and was a founding member of the Horror Movie Sleep-Away Survival Camp, where her record for time survived in the Swamp Cannibals scenario remains unchallen...more

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Quotes from Deadline

“I just find it interesting that kids apparently used to cry when Bambi's mother died. George and I both held our breaths, and then cheered when she didn't reanimate and try to eat her son.” — 60 people liked it

“I guess in the end, it doesn’t matter what we wanted. What matters is what we chose to do with the things we had.” — 43 people liked it

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Deadline (Newsflesh Trilogy #2)

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