You know, I really love Zombie books. But you know what else? I really love alternative zombie books. Books where an old monster is tackled in a uniqu...moreYou know, I really love Zombie books. But you know what else? I really love alternative zombie books. Books where an old monster is tackled in a unique way. In Warm Bodies we got R, the zombie with a soul. (Don't ask. Just read it. Amazing book.) That had never been done before, at least that I'm aware of. Then I read Feed I got a book where zombies were secondary to the Government conspiracies. Also, GREAT!
Well, Rot & Ruin was a compassionate book about Zombies. This was a book where, in a sense, the zombies were the victims and Humans were the villains. This was a book where when a Zombie was 'quieted' I would cry. This book reminded you that inside every scary zombie there used to be a person. A mother, a sister, a friend...
In Rot & Ruin Tom and Benny Imura survived 'First Night', which is what they call the first night that dead humans woke up as flesh eating monsters, and found a haven in Mountainside where other survivors have found a way to sort of thrive. It is now 14 years later, a 15 year old Benny has to decide what job he wants in order to keep his full rations of food. Anyone without a job is dropped to half rations. After a series of flops he finally decides to become a Zombie Hunter with his older brother Tom, whom he has no respect for. From here chaos ensues. Benny's world is flipped upside down.
In the beginning of this book Benny was a real DICK. Honestly. I even wrote a little note in my book that said 'Benny is a DICK'. You can tell right away that Tom is strong and amazing, and though you don't know what it is, you anticipate that he did something completely admirable and brave. And Benny HATES him. Benny calls him a coward. So all you can think about is what an ungrateful little dick he is. Or at least that's all I could think about.
I figured that part of the story was that he would grow, and he would discover a lot of truths. I was right. He did. And by the end I cared about him, as much as I do Tom.
You like Zombies? You like books about family? You like books about always being merciful in the face of great fear and war? Guess what, Me too! Sounds like we've got a lot in common. If you think so, grab this book. :)(less)
Hot diggity dog, that was good! I couldn't put this one down, especially the last half.
I know we've been all 'Adam or Sam', 'Sam or Adam', but how's t...moreHot diggity dog, that was good! I couldn't put this one down, especially the last half.
I know we've been all 'Adam or Sam', 'Sam or Adam', but how's this for a response, "Gimme Bran!" I mean, the more I read these books, including A&O the more awesome I think the Marrok is! YUM. And you know who else I adore? Stefan!! I keep waiting for the shoe to drop and for him to betray Mercy but he never does. He just gets better more and more interesting! (See all the exclamation points! Me happy reader!)
I also think that Mercy and Adam's relationship finally hit it's stride in this one. There were some sweet, touching, even steamy scenes in this installment.
I slid out of bed and realized I was stark naked. Which was only to be expected. But there was no sign of underwear on the floor or in the bedding. I was head and shoulders under the bed when Adam said, from the doorway, "I spy with my little eye something that begins with the letter A." "I'll spy your little eye and squish it," I threatened, but, since the bed hid me, there was a grin on my face.
My last little bit of nervousness comes from what's going to happen to poor Sam. I hope that he's got all his hopes and dreams coming to fruition soon, with the right mate.
So good that I wish I could dive right into book 5. Alas, I have to break for another Anna Charles book, because I'm so rigid with series reading. Woe is me.(less)
Holy Bajeebers!!!! I could literally NOT put that book down!
Yesterday I read about 3 chapters, and then today it was like a freight train. I couldn't...moreHoly Bajeebers!!!! I could literally NOT put that book down!
Yesterday I read about 3 chapters, and then today it was like a freight train. I couldn't stop reading if my life depended on it.
Where the heck do I even start...?
The book starts off with the most heart wrenching scene I've ever read before, or it's up there at least. This is a mild spoiler, I suppose, but I'm not hiding it because it is actually the very first scene you will read. The book starts off with a woman standing in shock on her front porch as her 3 year old son, now a zombie, reaches his hands under the door, scraping the skin off, trying to get to her... to eat her. At the window her undead 12 year old son and husband also clamoring to break the glass and devour her, the latter having killed his sons. I can't even imagine the horror of this moment for Jenni. Absolutely gutting. Right before she's toast a woman pulls up in a truck and saves her life. They go on the run, on a mission to save Jenni's last remaining son who's away at camp, and also to find a safe place where they can try to survive.
This book was edge of your seat from start to finish. One horrifying moment rolls into the next, and you're just steamrolled right along with it.
Jenni and Katie (the rescuer) bond immediately, as you would in that type of situation because life and death will do that to you. Katie is the rational heroine, the calmer one. Jenni is insane, duh after what she saw, but it works in their favor because she's one tough bitch. Then you have Travis (picture Blake Shelton as a hero in the zombie apocalypse) who's your laid back Texan, with a gentle side. And Juan, the Mexican American with a potty mouth (loved him!). Nerit and Ralph, Jason, Jack, and a whole host of characters all fighting to stay alive and build a life.
My only complaint, sometimes their reactions were a little unbelievable. Jenni doesn't feel as grief stricken as you would think that a woman would be after witnessing the death of her children. (view spoiler)[Katie conveniently isn't a 'lesbian' because then you wouldn't have a love story between her and Travis (hide spoiler)]. I think think the book could have been a lot more original if she hadn't held back with the character emotion.
Overall, what a ride. I'm still feeling my heart pound with adrenaline over here. Thanks Leea (my fellow Golden Girl), for letting me tag along on your read! I'm so glad I decided to be a copycat! (less)
It's books like this that really really make me wish that I could do half star ratings. This book is definitely somewhere between a 4.5 and a 4.75 sta...moreIt's books like this that really really make me wish that I could do half star ratings. This book is definitely somewhere between a 4.5 and a 4.75 star rating.
R was fascinating. Watching his slow transformation was absolutely fascinating. I loved how in the beginning you completely felt the monotony of riding the airport escalators. Despite such beautiful prose Marion did a superb job portraying the gruesome and thoughtless aspects of being a zombie. He didn't seem to hold back, at times the wording would actually make me feel a bit sick.
I loved the concept of why the Zombies went for the brains. And how they derived energy from eating human flesh.
I thought that the relationship between R and Julie was touching and sweet. Julie was spunky, but also a bit of a mess. But the real beauty in the love story in this book was that you got to watch it develop through R. His voice was so strong, but also vulnerable. Even though he was a little bit gross, he made you love him.
There were a couple things that I had a hard time with. There was alot of back and forth that I thought was unnecessary. Things that were stated but didn't seem to have any bearing on the story at all.
It doesn't really matter though because regardless of 2-3 personal issues, this was a really great book with a really great message. Definitely well worth reading and I look forward to others by this author.(less)
This one felt as though parts of it jumped around a little more than the others. I couldn't quite conn...moreAnother great installment of a super fun series.
This one felt as though parts of it jumped around a little more than the others. I couldn't quite connect the end to the beginning and at times I felt like some things were maybe a little bit of a leap, BUT it also had all my favorite 'Mercyisms' that I loved.
So fun... now is the loooooooong wait for 2014!(less)
It was so good. The author really knew how to paint this world. The language, the imagery, the characte...moreI don't even know what to say about this book.
It was so good. The author really knew how to paint this world. The language, the imagery, the characters. It was deep. It had an old west/purgatory kind of feel to it. So unique.
I just didn't like it. Wait, no- rephrase, it'll stick with me for a long time. I'm going to think about what happens in this book for years. Because of that I may end up taking this up another star like I have with other books. But in this sense, it's not a good thing that it's going to stick with me. I know, like Thorn Birds, that the end of this book is huge. I applaud the author for what he wrote, for having the balls. I'm just largely disappointed on a personal level. I'm personally affronted. (view spoiler)[I am PISSED that she died (hide spoiler)]!
I'm sorry, this is shitty. I'm in such turmoil over this book that I can't really write a coherant legitimate review. Epic Fail, for those of you who were waiting for my thoughts on this, hit me up in a week or so. :)(less)
Whew! Man, my head is in a whirl. That was intense! While I'm glad that I don't live in a world where I need to be, there's a part of me that wishes I...moreWhew! Man, my head is in a whirl. That was intense! While I'm glad that I don't live in a world where I need to be, there's a part of me that wishes I were as badass as Nerit. That bitch ROCKS.
The trucks were about ten feet from the gate when Juan gave the signal. The crane, which had been stationed overhead early that morning, dropped a small storage unit onto the bandits' vehicles. Nerit smiled with satisfaction as it crashed down, clipping the front end of the blue truck and sending the hood flying. The big black truck jackknifed across the road. All went silent below. Juan clutched his binoculars tight. "We're winning, right, Nerit?" "We're not planning to win." Juan frowned. "I don't understand." "We're going to make them fear us," Nerit answered with a cold smile. "And that is far more effective."
I don't have much more to say on this series right now, since most of the first books review stands for this one too. I do want to go on record as saying that (view spoiler)[while I'm still a tad bit bothered about how the author didn't just keep Katie a lesbian, (thought it was cool to have a lesbian heroine in a zombie novel,) I did like the fact that Katie saying that she fell in love with people for who they are a not for their gender was beautiful (hide spoiler)]. I believe that this is possible, because it's on a deeper level.
Um, I also read an explanation for Jenni and her coping mechanisms, and I understand them. I understand them even if I find it hard to relate to her. I can say that even though I don't easily relate to her, she has grown on me. I love her passion. And I love her with Juan.
The best addition to this story was Calhoun. I don't know how many times his antics had me wiping tears of laughter off my face; in the middle of the zombie apocalypse at that!
(this is rather long, I'm sorry!)
A man was coming down the street on a motor scooter. Its engine was coughing and sputtering, and the exhaust was a cloud of dark smoke. He was dressed in very old jeans, a leather jacket, and a beat-up, greasy straw cowboy hat that was so badly warped, it looked like a banana sitting on his head. Even from this distance, he looked dirty and smelly. "Who the hell is that?" Jenni stood up and tried to get a better view. The man cruised up to just under the fire escape. "Now, I am a taxpaying citizen of not only this country, but this city and county as well, and when the mayor decides to steal my property by sending rabid CIA clones to try to tear down my fence, I have a God-given, constitutional right to defend myself. And if you think I'm going to just sit back and not complain, you have another think coming. I fully intend to speak with the police, even if they are a bunch of coke-snorting, Mafia thugs, about what Mayor Reyes has been doing, and I will have justice. I killed the clones, but I figure since they are clones they don't count as a life-form, so it don't count as murder. Besides the mixture was bad on that batch and they had all sorts of things wrong with them..." The man spoke earnestly, as if he were being interviewed by a reporter on TV, his hands moving eloquently. "...so even if they sit outside my house and snort up on coke so they don't feel a damn thing, I will defend myself. A good knock to the head seems to do the trick. Now the aliens, well, they don't die so easily..." A zombie runs around the corner but a nice hole through it's head sends it sprawling. "...And that's what I'm talking about. Now the damn clones are everywhere! I'm am going to write to the president of the United States, even if he is in league with the aliens, to let him know of the blatant abuse of taxes to fund this cloning program..."
And that's only the beginning, the man talks about Vampire's trying to bite him, and even grins with glee at one point cause he thinks he's 'hit on something'. Adding a conspiracy theorist to the story was tres brilliant! I love Calhoun, and I love his interactions with everyone in the fort. Hilarity all around!
And since Calhoun and Nerit were my favorites in this sequel, I have to post one more quote bit.
Calhoun emerged from the shadows, flipping on his video camera and aiming it at her face. The red light blinked at her. "The queen of the Amazons is in full battle mode. There is a look of death in her eyes and she is-" He falters as she stared into the camera. "-kinda hot." Nerit burst out laughing and patted Calhoun's shoulder as she passed him. "She walks confidently, preparing to amass the defenders of this illegally built fort. The mayor has yet to explain himself and release an accurate accounting of how much taxpayer money was used in its construction. Meanwhile..." Nerit turned and gave Calhoun a look. He stared, sudden silent. "Yes, Your Majesty?" "It's time for you to turn off the camera and do what you're supposed to," Nerit said. Calhoun dramatically sighed, then tucked it away in his backpack. "You're a mean old bitch." "I haven't pitched you over the wall yet." "Are you the one pitching people over the wall?" "Would you be surprised if I was?" Calhoun considered this, rubbing his grizzled chin. "Nope." Nerit shrugged. "Just get to your position." "Wanna go out?" "No." "Have sex?" "Definitely not." Nerit smirked and walked away. "Damn Amazons."
I'm going to give this review my best shot, but I can already tell that this is going to be a tough one for me.
Katie, Jenni and the gang have made a h...moreI'm going to give this review my best shot, but I can already tell that this is going to be a tough one for me.
Katie, Jenni and the gang have made a home. A home that another group of survivors (including a senator) want to take over. Horrible things happen, and people we love don't make it. It hurt, and made me cry messily at work!
Despite all that, this trilogy ends on a hopeful note, still full of love and fighting to survive.
We got some wonderful new characters in this final book, which makes this story full of different people and multiple view points.
Rune is a biker who can see the dead. Not the same dead that everyone else is seeing these days, but the spiritual dead. He's an interesting nomadic character, ever settling down for too long otherwise the ghosts will know that he can see them.
Kevin made a brief appearance in the first book but he joins our cast of characters more full time in this one, and he grew on me quickly.
Dale... lol... Who brought out the books first and only triangle, that actually didn't annoy me at all.
I'm sorry... this review sucks. I am mentally exhausted. Just worn out. I'm also in mourning.
(view spoiler)[I did struggle with the ghost aspect. It was one thing when Dale could see them, it was another when the whole town was able to see them. And I'm still not sure why all of the sudden they were able to cross over to the other side. They never really explained why they started going toward the white light. (hide spoiler)]
So much happened in this book that I'm at a loss for how to review it without including spoilers. (Leea, I hope you captured it better than I did.) (less)
I'm struggling to write this review. Normally when I review a book I find that the words should just flow right from my mind because I've been so insp...moreI'm struggling to write this review. Normally when I review a book I find that the words should just flow right from my mind because I've been so inspired. I usually have so much to say. But occasionally I'll read one of those books that just blows the mind and I'll sit in front of this computer and stare at the screen unable to find words; just ANY words. Imagine me sitting here and I'm like this, 'duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh'.
I'm like that right now. What can I possibly say that would give you an understanding on how much I loved this book. I can go on and on about how I loved all the political intrigue, how the futuristic world that she created for this setting was so clever and smart, that I felt like she created a future that was possible (despite the zombies). I could go on and on about Shaun and George's special relationship beyond the fact that they were brother and sister. They were two halves of a whole. I think that was a fine line the author walked, just a little too much and it could have been creepy but she seemed to write this deep connection between George and Shaun that came across as endearing and enviable.
I say all this but I don't feel like it really does the book justice. I think that I am just stuck saying 'read the book'. It is political, there are slow moments that could be considered too informative, but by the end of this book I feel like all of that became worth it.
Amazing.
(afterthought, I'm so in looooooooove with Shaun!)(less)
Wow, was it just me or did James just kinda come out of nowhere? I mean, he was alright in the first book but in this one he really blew me away. Jame...moreWow, was it just me or did James just kinda come out of nowhere? I mean, he was alright in the first book but in this one he really blew me away. James was my favorite part of this book.
BUT, other than James, everything was exactly as it should be. Lots of humor, great characters and character interaction. Clever story, with an unexpected focus.
Yep, still lovin this series! More, more, more!(less)
I'm finding books hard to review these days. I'm not sure why... perhaps I've been reading a lot of sequels so I feel like everything I write has been...moreI'm finding books hard to review these days. I'm not sure why... perhaps I've been reading a lot of sequels so I feel like everything I write has been said on the previous books. I'm going to try to keep this review about what actually happened in this book and not reiterate what I like about it in general. (So mini-spoilers ahoy)
Lilah grew on me in this one. I've heard others say that, but being inside her head went a long way toward making me understand her more.
I enjoyed the realism of the toll that this situation would likely cause between people. Nix and Benny fought and grew apart, questioning their love for each other which just felt honest.
Chong finally felt brave. I know it ended (view spoiler)[with the idea that Chong dies, and he very well might have. I'm just not sure I like that ending. He just picked up the bow! I thought we were going to see him come into more of his own. So I choose to hold out hope that he doesn't actually die.
Anyway, it was good. I can't wait for the next one. Unfortunately this is a weak review. (hide spoiler)](less)
Well! How fun was that! An Urban Fantasy about a zombie, complete with humor, action, and even a love interest. (view spoiler)[Can I just pause for a...moreWell! How fun was that! An Urban Fantasy about a zombie, complete with humor, action, and even a love interest. (view spoiler)[Can I just pause for a second to say how GLAD I am that Marcus was a zombie too? I mean, the concept of doing it with a zombie that could potentially be rotting, or kissing one who eats brains... soooooo not appealing. It makes it so much more tolerable that both sexual parties are the same. (hide spoiler)]
I enjoyed Angel. I thought she was self-deprecating in a humorous way, and yet you could tell that she wanted to be worthwhile. I thought she had a fun voice.
I'm not sure that this will go down in the Kate Daniels/Fever/Downside Ghosts favs category, but it was still pretty fun to read. I’ll be eager to pick up the second.
I had this big review that I was going to type out. It was going to start with some Bang's and some Moans, and maybe some kooky written sound explosio...moreI had this big review that I was going to type out. It was going to start with some Bang's and some Moans, and maybe some kooky written sound explosions (KaBOOOOMMM), because that's how this book was. I felt like I was right there with him, fighting the zombies and sticking it to 'The Man'. Except things didn't go as I thought they were going to.
I'm sort of sad.
Here's the thing, my world has been chaos these last few days. My husbands Grandpa died, so it's been viewings and funerals. Then today I was gone all day for Mother's day. The thing is, all of this started when I had like 15% left in this book so the most important part of the book was fraught with distraction. I couldn't really get into the hype because I was only getting to read once every 10 hours, and then it was only like 2 pages. The emotion just wasn't there for me, but it was not because this book wasn't amazing which is why I'm still giving it the 5 stars that I'm positive it deserves.
It stinks, I waited a year for this book and when I was finally able to read it outside forces prevented me from really being able to enjoy it. Oh well, that just means I'll definitely reread.(less)
That was one insane cliffhanger! Shaun is gonna officially shit his pants!
And Shaun... what the heck is going on and why do we have to...moreOh holy hell...
That was one insane cliffhanger! Shaun is gonna officially shit his pants!
And Shaun... what the heck is going on and why do we have to wait so long for the next book.
I almost wish that I had waited longer to read this one, I feel like there's about a year before Blackout comes out.
Okay, so where to start. This book didn't make me quite as emotional as the first one. There were a few times that I started to really break down, but overall it was more of an adrenaline rush then the first one. You can definitely tell that because the first book was more about George, it was written from more of a Newsie perspective, and Deadline was more about Shaun so it had more of an Irwin feel. I really liked it, but I think that I tend to be more of an emotional reader I really connected more to Feed.
There are a few times when the connection that Shaun has for George made me squirm a bit. I'm sure that George and Shaun's relationship could be considered unhealthy, but I think when you are lonely and the parents who are supposed to love you only care about how you make them look to the populace; when all the affection you need as a child comes from your sister, well then you would instinctively clutch the one person in your life as close as you can. The only thing they had that was constant was each other, the only person they could count on was each other. To suddenly have that taken away and be forced to be alone... it would stunt you a bit. While I do think that it was "unhealthy", I struggled with seeing it as inapproriate. I found it understandable, but also incredibly sad.
I had hopes that Shaun would be able to let Becks in... or somebody. That he would learn that it is okay to have connections with other people. I hoped that he would find something else to want to live for. I can only imagine that George would have been alright with that.
What an interesting way for the zombie apocalypse to start. It actually reminds me a bit of a documentary my husband and I watched explaining how the...moreWhat an interesting way for the zombie apocalypse to start. It actually reminds me a bit of a documentary my husband and I watched explaining how the zombie apocalypse is possible. A strain of disease that's aggressive... do I think it's possible, nah... but what was fun about watching it/reading this, was maybe seeing how the science of it was completely possible.
I won't get too much into it. Let's just say that this zombie is created in a lab, by a man filled with vengeance.
Dead of Night actually takes you through the very first bitten, through the desecration of the entire town. One bite after another, all in the course of one day. Despite how fast paced it sounds, the first half was rather slow. There are many POV's but for the most part were following Desdemona Fox and her ex Billy Trout. Dez is a cop with the Stebbens PD, and Trout is a respected journalist. (Shades of Feed, huh? Dez would be your Irwin and Trout would be your Newsie.) I personally enjoyed reading about Trout, because that's where you got your backstory. Dez was where the action was. The second half was action packed, and even brought out the waterworks.
Overall, good book. Not quite as good as Rot & Ruin... but a fun Zombie Apocalypse.(less)
MILD Spoiler: My heart is broken. How do you go on reading these books now?!
I don't have a review in me for this one. It was good, as good as the first...moreMILD Spoiler: My heart is broken. How do you go on reading these books now?!
I don't have a review in me for this one. It was good, as good as the first. Except no assholes, at least not ones who weren't supposed to be assholes.
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