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The Enemy #3
The Fear
HE DOESN'T KNOW IT BUT DOGNUT IS ABOUT TO SET OFF A CHAIN OF EVENTS THAT WILL AFFECT EVERY KID IN THE CITY. The sickness struck everyone over the age of fourteen. Mothers and fathers, older brothers, sisters and best friends. No one escaped its touch. And now children across London are being hunted by ferocious grown-ups . . . they're hungry. They're bloodthirsty. And they aren't giving up. DogNut and the rest of his crew want to find their lost friends, and set off on a deadly mission from the Tower of London to Buckingham Palace and beyond, as the sickos lie in wait. But who are their friends and who is the enemy in this changed world?
460 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
371 people are currently reading
6372 people want to read
About the author
Charlie Higson
123 books1,501 followersHigson was educated at Sevenoaks School and at the University of East Anglia (where his brother has taught since 1986 and is now a professor of film studies) where he met Paul Whitehouse, David Cummings and Terry Edwards. Higson, Cummings and Edwards formed the band The Higsons of which Higson was the lead singer from 1980 to 1986. They released two singles on the Specials' 2-Tone label. Higson then became a plasterer before he turned to writing for Harry Enfield with Paul Whitehouse and performing comedy. He came to public attention as one of the main writers and performers of the BBC Two sketch show The Fast Show (1994-2000). He worked with Whitehouse on the radio comedy Down the Line and is to work with him again on a television project, designed to be a spoof of celebrity travel programmes.[1:]
He worked as producer, writer, director and occasional guest star on Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) from 2000 to 2001. Subsequent television work has included writing and starring in BBC Three's Fast Show spin-off sitcom Swiss Toni. He is currently starring in Tittybangbang series 3 on BBC Three and has appeared as a panellist on QI.
He published four novels through the early to mid 1990s which take a slightly dystopian look at everyday life and have a considerably more adult tone than his other work, with characters on the margins of society finding themselves spiraling out of control, leading him to be described by Time Out as 'The missing link between Dick Emery and Brett Easton Ellis' [2:]
In 2004, it was announced that Higson would pen a series of James Bond novels, aimed at younger readers and concentrating on the character's school-days at Eton. Higson was himself educated at Sevenoaks School where he was a contemporary of Jonathan Evans, current Director General of MI5. The first novel, SilverFin, was released on 3 March 2005 in the UK and on 27 April 2005 in the U.S. A second novel, Blood Fever, was released on 5 January 2006 in the UK and 1 June in the U.S. The third novel, Double or Die, was published on 4 January 2007 having had its title announced the day before. The next, Hurricane Gold, came out in hardcover in the UK in September 2007.[3:]In this year he also made a debut performance on the panel show QI. His final Young Bond novel, By Royal Command, was released in hardcover in the UK on the 3 September 2008.[4:]
Charlie has signed a deal to pen a new series of children's books for Puffin. According to the author, "They are going to be action adventures, but with a horror angle
He worked as producer, writer, director and occasional guest star on Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) from 2000 to 2001. Subsequent television work has included writing and starring in BBC Three's Fast Show spin-off sitcom Swiss Toni. He is currently starring in Tittybangbang series 3 on BBC Three and has appeared as a panellist on QI.
He published four novels through the early to mid 1990s which take a slightly dystopian look at everyday life and have a considerably more adult tone than his other work, with characters on the margins of society finding themselves spiraling out of control, leading him to be described by Time Out as 'The missing link between Dick Emery and Brett Easton Ellis' [2:]
In 2004, it was announced that Higson would pen a series of James Bond novels, aimed at younger readers and concentrating on the character's school-days at Eton. Higson was himself educated at Sevenoaks School where he was a contemporary of Jonathan Evans, current Director General of MI5. The first novel, SilverFin, was released on 3 March 2005 in the UK and on 27 April 2005 in the U.S. A second novel, Blood Fever, was released on 5 January 2006 in the UK and 1 June in the U.S. The third novel, Double or Die, was published on 4 January 2007 having had its title announced the day before. The next, Hurricane Gold, came out in hardcover in the UK in September 2007.[3:]In this year he also made a debut performance on the panel show QI. His final Young Bond novel, By Royal Command, was released in hardcover in the UK on the 3 September 2008.[4:]
Charlie has signed a deal to pen a new series of children's books for Puffin. According to the author, "They are going to be action adventures, but with a horror angle
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 651 reviews
August 16, 2016
mmm... this could be made into a TV series... if done properly would make great viewing
August 28, 2019
Book three in The Enemy series and I just can't believe this is YA, it's so gross, gory and goddamn edge of your seat and I am truly enjoying it.
Charlie Higson is a total demon to his characters though, im starting to see it's a Charlie trait to bash the characters up until they are on their knees and dying.
So basically everyone over the age of 14 has turned into a zombie and we are now just over a year since the world as we know it ended. Across london we have three main sets of kids/teens living in Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and the Natural History Museum and this book centres around them, their discovery of each other, their alliances. Theres so many plot lines and sub plots going on but it all links and makes sense.
I'm really enjoying this, I love how different the three sets of kids are, how they seem to have set up their tribes hierarchy in relation to their abodes, how they react to each other, their loyalties, their enemies.
I shall be diving straight into book four, the adults sickness is evolving and I cant wait to see what is going to happen!
Charlie Higson is a total demon to his characters though, im starting to see it's a Charlie trait to bash the characters up until they are on their knees and dying.
So basically everyone over the age of 14 has turned into a zombie and we are now just over a year since the world as we know it ended. Across london we have three main sets of kids/teens living in Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and the Natural History Museum and this book centres around them, their discovery of each other, their alliances. Theres so many plot lines and sub plots going on but it all links and makes sense.
I'm really enjoying this, I love how different the three sets of kids are, how they seem to have set up their tribes hierarchy in relation to their abodes, how they react to each other, their loyalties, their enemies.
I shall be diving straight into book four, the adults sickness is evolving and I cant wait to see what is going to happen!
January 27, 2013
What are you afraid of? Drowning, fire, suffocation, abandonment, being eaten alive, having your head used as a centerpiece? Well…all that and more can be found in Charlie Higson’s world. *grins* I love this man!
The Fear, fun, and action picks up five days before the end of the previous book, The Dead. Mr. Higson has been playing with the timeline all along, but this story just fit and locked into place with the previous books like a key in a lock. Beautiful, bloody storytelling! With patience, power, detail, and oh-I-see-now revelations-- everything comes together. Brilliant! :) Let’s dive back in to a world where every adult over the age of 16 is out for blood! Kid blood!
This story focuses on DogNut, Courtney, and a small group of kids determined to step out from behind the walls of “safety” to explore, hunt, and search for new kids and old friends. Restlessness and the need to know propel the gang across London to hook up with other bands of kids and settlements.
”It’s safe here, but I been feeling more and more boxed in lately. All we do is get from one day to the next. I’m taking control of things. Hitting back. Not letting the sickos rule my life.”
DogNut was not one of my favorite voices from the last tale, but he certainly has a unique, memorable, and hilarious style and way of expressing himself. He can make me smile one minute and groan the very next. Haha…You can never predict what will come out of that boy’s mouth. Can DogNut lead, protect, and make the decisions necessary to survive though? He will need all his strength, courage, and every trick in his bag to survive the horrors in the streets of London. Hold on! It is going to be a wild, bloody, gore filled ride!
One of my favorite aspects of Higson’s writing is the way he pulls together so many kinds of voices and perspectives. From kids to sickos, readers get to taste all sides. He is constantly changing the view. One minute we are down on the street laughing and poking fun with the kids as they pick their way through the rumble of London. Then *BAM* readers are floors above the same gang looking down—watching as a horde of grownups push, drag, and drool along to surround the kids. From laughing to stomach dropping shock in a blink of an eye! Truly stunning. The suspense, action, running, twitching, decaying, and blood splatter never stop! Your heart will be racing along with the action!
My reading heart falls in love with plots, villains, heroes, lovers, and endings almost every day. :D But I can’t remember the last time I wanted to latch on to one scene and profess my undying devotion. There is a chapter here that I want to carve out, hold it up to the heavens and say—See this! This is perfect! The Collector. *bows head in creepy awe* The first time DogNut’s gang falls into The Collector’s den of horrors and STUFF is unforgettable. I sucked in a breath and never let it out until I needed air to swear and shout—“GET OUT OF THERE.” The suspense, fear, filth, and horror will leave you breathless and grossed out. I actually got up and washed my hands after this scene. A powerful chapter in my reading life I will treasure. Do you want to know what The Collector collects? *shivers*
Sorry I know I’m gushing all over the place. So let me get one point in at least. Haha… This story is layer after layer of life, history, loyalty, courage, power, and friendship. My heart kept pulling out one thread over and over though—We can’t do it alone. Whether life is full of zombies or not, life is too hard, cold, and lonely without love, friends, and support to help us along the way. This story is filled with death, but it pulses with life. Pages and moments chock full of heart shattering pain and decisions, but also hope and love. Friends holding on to friends. Never giving up. Searching for more. This supposed upside down world, where psychos rule, grownups literally fall apart, and kids show tremendous strength every single day filled my heart with love, disappointment, pride, pain, and hope. Everything life is about.
All that said, you would think the blood, chunks of flesh, brains, and buckets of ooey-gooey fun would be what gave me a true *chill* here. But really one line got through my hardened horror wall of defenses. One line sent cold, cold shivers dancing down my spine and straight to my heart….
”What difference will one more day make?”
I am dazzled and addicted! Can’t wait for more. I am waiting by the door until the next book comes from across the pond….waiting, waiting, waiting!
Favorite DogNut insult:
“skonky ratburger” hehe…Huh? :D
Favorite Description:
This one actually made me “eewww”.
“foul cocktail of bodily fluids”
October 9, 2012
I have to admit, I wasn’t looking forward to reading this book. Well, I wasn’t not looking forward to it because it’s Charlie Higson and you know you’re pretty much going to be left speechless after you’ve finished one of his books in this series but, from the synopsis I was a bit ‘meh’. I mean, there are only so many times you can read about a group of London misfits walking across the city finding other London misfits and fighting the occasional zombie. Do you get what I’m saying?
And while the second book offered me a chance to find out more about the gang in the Tower of London, I wasn’t especially sold on an entire book about DogNut. Eh, he was a non-character to me in The Dead. I didn’t dislike him but…. Ehhhh.
Oh Mr Higson, you are the King of the YA Castle and all the others are dirty rascals. And I am the fool for doubting that you knew exactly what you were doing.
Because by the time I had finished this book, I was hopelessly devoted to DogNut and I would have followed him all across London in a heartbeat.
Before I go into full on "RA RA RA HIGSON *high kick*" mode, and believe me it’s coming, I might as well get the bits I wasn’t too mithered about out of the way. Because even though I am, um, enthusiastic about these books… there were some parts that I could’ve done without.
Like David. I just don’t get that character at all. And Paul. Actually, that whole…. situation is a bit odd. And Brooke… well, she’s interesting. I haven’t decided properly just yet about our Brooke.
Except when she describes boys as “hunks”. I am very decided on that fact and I have come to the conclusion that no girl ever would describe a guy as a “hunk” without immediately cackling a moment later. But maybe I’m just being a bit picky because I am Team Courtney.
I think the problem with having books like these that have so many characters within them is that you’re bound to get your favourites and I tended to get a bit cranky and impatient when we weren’t spending time with them.
Also, and this is just me being stupid so this doesn’t count as a black mark against the book as such but I had somehow managed to convince myself that one of the story threads was the beginning of The Kid's story, but it wasn’t. At all. And this made me sad because I genuinely missed him. He’d better be in The Sacrifice or else…. or else.
But soon those minor niggles flittered away because I got to the end and I was flabbergasted. And there aren’t many books I can say that about, which is a shame because I love the word flabbergasted and wish to use it more often.
My favourite thing about this book was that it is so obvious that Mr Higson never ever runs out steam. Usually at this point in a series, the author has run out of things to say, lost their grip on their characters and run out of ideas and the plot is so thin it could get lost in your back teeth. But in this book, and let’s remember this is the third in the series, Higson’s story is still racing ahead and I have absolutely no idea how it’s going to end.
I adore how these kids’ stories have been set in motion right from the beginning and Mr Higson has handed you all the pieces you need to fit them together and just leaves you to it. This actually makes it worse because when the pieces do come together and you’ve worked it all out, you can’t even blame him for all the feelings because he didn’t hide anything from you.
He has obviously thought about every single detail in this series, interweaving the stories and the characters together and ensuring that if he started a character’s story in the first book, he sure as hell finishes it eventually.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that’s my attempt at being cryptic and mysterious because I simply refuse to spoil the bit that got me so worked up. It made me leap across my room and play bookshelf Jenga to retrieve my copy of The Enemy and The Dead and shout “NO BLOODY WAY!”.
Well, ok, I didn’t shout as such but I definitely whispered it in a shocked manner.
Seriously, I have no idea what I’m going to do when this series is over. I’m almost tempted to dress as a zombie and lurch around a group of under 15 year olds in a terrorising manner just so I can feel like I’m back in this story.
But I won’t.
Because that would be odd.
And there is a chance I would get scowled at and/or bottled.
You can read this review and lots of other exciting things on my blog, Wear the Old Coat.
And while the second book offered me a chance to find out more about the gang in the Tower of London, I wasn’t especially sold on an entire book about DogNut. Eh, he was a non-character to me in The Dead. I didn’t dislike him but…. Ehhhh.
Oh Mr Higson, you are the King of the YA Castle and all the others are dirty rascals. And I am the fool for doubting that you knew exactly what you were doing.
Because by the time I had finished this book, I was hopelessly devoted to DogNut and I would have followed him all across London in a heartbeat.
Before I go into full on "RA RA RA HIGSON *high kick*" mode, and believe me it’s coming, I might as well get the bits I wasn’t too mithered about out of the way. Because even though I am, um, enthusiastic about these books… there were some parts that I could’ve done without.
Like David. I just don’t get that character at all. And Paul. Actually, that whole…. situation is a bit odd. And Brooke… well, she’s interesting. I haven’t decided properly just yet about our Brooke.
Except when she describes boys as “hunks”. I am very decided on that fact and I have come to the conclusion that no girl ever would describe a guy as a “hunk” without immediately cackling a moment later. But maybe I’m just being a bit picky because I am Team Courtney.
I think the problem with having books like these that have so many characters within them is that you’re bound to get your favourites and I tended to get a bit cranky and impatient when we weren’t spending time with them.
Also, and this is just me being stupid so this doesn’t count as a black mark against the book as such but I had somehow managed to convince myself that one of the story threads was the beginning of The Kid's story, but it wasn’t. At all. And this made me sad because I genuinely missed him. He’d better be in The Sacrifice or else…. or else.
But soon those minor niggles flittered away because I got to the end and I was flabbergasted. And there aren’t many books I can say that about, which is a shame because I love the word flabbergasted and wish to use it more often.
My favourite thing about this book was that it is so obvious that Mr Higson never ever runs out steam. Usually at this point in a series, the author has run out of things to say, lost their grip on their characters and run out of ideas and the plot is so thin it could get lost in your back teeth. But in this book, and let’s remember this is the third in the series, Higson’s story is still racing ahead and I have absolutely no idea how it’s going to end.
I adore how these kids’ stories have been set in motion right from the beginning and Mr Higson has handed you all the pieces you need to fit them together and just leaves you to it. This actually makes it worse because when the pieces do come together and you’ve worked it all out, you can’t even blame him for all the feelings because he didn’t hide anything from you.
He has obviously thought about every single detail in this series, interweaving the stories and the characters together and ensuring that if he started a character’s story in the first book, he sure as hell finishes it eventually.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that’s my attempt at being cryptic and mysterious because I simply refuse to spoil the bit that got me so worked up. It made me leap across my room and play bookshelf Jenga to retrieve my copy of The Enemy and The Dead and shout “NO BLOODY WAY!”.
Well, ok, I didn’t shout as such but I definitely whispered it in a shocked manner.
Seriously, I have no idea what I’m going to do when this series is over. I’m almost tempted to dress as a zombie and lurch around a group of under 15 year olds in a terrorising manner just so I can feel like I’m back in this story.
But I won’t.
Because that would be odd.
And there is a chance I would get scowled at and/or bottled.
You can read this review and lots of other exciting things on my blog, Wear the Old Coat.
November 30, 2016
“...the smell that came out of the lorry was disgusting. Sour and rotten. 'Jesus, who's died?" he said. 'About four-fifth's of the population of the world' said Justin.
'Very funny”
HOLY FREAKIN HELL these books are so much better then I actually remember them being the first time. I cannot believe this !!
WHAT IS THE ENEMY? It's The Walking Dead meets the Gone series. In the near future, the entirety of the population over 15 is either dead, or diseased and now "zombies" (or sicko's as the kids call them) who are looking to eat all the kids they can
AND ITS FREAKIN WILD.
Ok it sounds like trash
(it kinda is sometimes)
BUT ALSO ITS SO GOOD
psa ! The third one, THE FEAR, is definitely the best so far!
Especially because all the different groups are now meeting and interacting and merging together
When Brooke met up with Maxie and Blue I yelled !!!!!!
ANYWAY
REASONS WHY THE FEAR + THIS WHOLE SERIES IS THE BEST
→ It's got lots of different storylines, which all merge up together. LIKE BASICALLY all the kids move into different areas of London - you got the Buckingham Palace Crew, London Tower Crew, Natural History Museum Crew, Parliament House Crew .... and then they all meet up, and all their stories combine and it's BEAUTIFUL. It's so beautiful. Also, they all shit talk the other crews which is a good laugh for me, the reader, who knows them all individually and loves them all.
→ The timeline. So you'll be following one crew, but while you're following them other crews are making deals and working together. You'll switching perspectives and realise what's going on behind other crews backs. I love how it seems like the world is always active and things are happening no matter which characters you're following at that time
→ The zombies. They are. freakin. terrifying. SO SCARY. The zombies are organised !! they make plans !! they ambush kids !! some of them use knives and things !! some of them even talk a bit !! yikes yikes yikes. Also there are different zombie groups and like, sub groups within the zombies so they are actually really interesting !!
→ The setting. The books are all set in London, and the fact the kids are living in iconic London places is so cool !! I love it !!
→ Fast paced af. Literally so much happens, and not all fights between kids and zombies. There is a lot of politics between the different groups of kids, lots of little fights between them and exterior plots, like discovering cures for the sickness or some religious stuff going on which means it's actually alot more complex then kids fighting zombies
→ The different groups of children. Love how they all have different cultures, ideologies, beliefs. Love how each group is v different ! Love how there is lots of politics and drama between the groups and there are even people who don't fit into groups, some kids who are good and want an organised world, some who are anarchists, some who are loners. Some who drift. It's very cool getting to know them all !! I love the diversity
SOME OF THE LETDOWNS
→ The characters can be a bit boring and plain. Not all, some of them I love so much !! But some of them are boring and not very deep. The characters do go through character growth, but this is more about the plot and so the characters suffer a little because of it
→ Lack of diversity. Anytime there is a character that is a "minority" they die. It's so annoying. In all of these kids its a bit urggh most of them are white and straight. Like why god WHY. I'm annoyed the diverse characters are always killed off. It's not good enough imo
→ Rep of women can be a bit iffy at times. There are some great female characters (Jackson, Courtney, Nicola) but in general the way that women are talked about and portrayed is a little stereotypical and blergh at times. I don't like it how the women are stereotyped really badly into "mothers", "bitches", "weaklings" u know it's the worst
HEY THO ! These books get better and better with each one, and after book3 we are caught up with the events at the end of The Enemy which is exciting !!
I'm coming up to the books I've not read yet (I had to reread the series to finish it because I couldn't remember) and I'm excited to see where it goes from here
I really recc these books ! They are fun and read really quickly, and are actually alot more complex then they let on.
ALSO THE NEW COVERS ARE THE BEST
“If we make our own history, if we tell stories that bring us together, we'll be stronger. It'll give us something to believe in. The sickos can't do that – they're no better than animals – but we can. Every battle we win we have to tell the story over and over, so that we can win more battles. People love stories. They've told stories since even before they could write. Myths and legends, stories of heroes and villains, gods and monsters. Real things happened, the story got told and then the stories became legends. That's what we've got to do – tell our own heroic stories.”
May 1, 2024
4.5 stars
May 1, 2024
Such a fun series! Disclaimer: graphic zombie violence 😱 Book 1 in this series ended in such a great place that I was disappointed, at first, when books two and three were prequels. I’m not even a little disappointed anymore! Learning about new groups of kids was fun and the end of this tied in perfectly with the end of book one so now we’re ready to move forward! I can’t wait to get to the next book! 4.75 stars rounded up to five!
October 9, 2015
*No spoilers*
These books are destroying my soul and I don't think I can take it haha.
The Fear begins a few days before the start of The Enemy, and features primarily characters from The Dead as they journey across London trying to find what happened to their friends that they got separated from a year ago. It does get to a point where it happens simultaneously with The Enemy. I really liked the way that this was done and it brought the groups characters together neatly.
I keep finding myself getting so attached to these characters, and when some of them die I actually feel the loss. I need to start realising that no one is safe, so stop getting attached! There was a couple of changes of opinion from the first time I was introduced to them. One was far more deviant and ruthless than I first thought, and another had much more depth. And there is one character that just needs to die so badly!!!!!
One thing I do appreciate is that some of the chapters are actually from the view of the infected adults. I feel like it just adds more to the story to see inside the head of the villains. These adults are just getting scarier too - they are actually thinking and plotting and becoming very formidable zombies.
There is rarely a dull moment throughout these books and its so tense the majority of the time. I'm really not sure I can take much more from them. They are giving me so many feels!
These books are destroying my soul and I don't think I can take it haha.
The Fear begins a few days before the start of The Enemy, and features primarily characters from The Dead as they journey across London trying to find what happened to their friends that they got separated from a year ago. It does get to a point where it happens simultaneously with The Enemy. I really liked the way that this was done and it brought the groups characters together neatly.
I keep finding myself getting so attached to these characters, and when some of them die I actually feel the loss. I need to start realising that no one is safe, so stop getting attached! There was a couple of changes of opinion from the first time I was introduced to them. One was far more deviant and ruthless than I first thought, and another had much more depth. And there is one character that just needs to die so badly!!!!!
One thing I do appreciate is that some of the chapters are actually from the view of the infected adults. I feel like it just adds more to the story to see inside the head of the villains. These adults are just getting scarier too - they are actually thinking and plotting and becoming very formidable zombies.
There is rarely a dull moment throughout these books and its so tense the majority of the time. I'm really not sure I can take much more from them. They are giving me so many feels!
September 4, 2012
Zombie horror really doesn't get any better than this. I've really enjoyed J.L. Bourne's Day By Day Armageddon series and Z.A. Recht's Morningstrain Trilogy, but Higson's The Enemy/The Dead/The Fear series is really superior in a number of ways.
For those unfamiliar with the series, Charlie Higson's books are set in contemporary London where a "28 Days Later" style virus has affected every adult, turning them into a ravenous flesh-eating monster. Children and young teens are unaffected and band together in little tribes to survive. The whole thing is kind of a "Lord of the Flies" meets Night of the Living Dead.
The books benefit from a number of intriguing distinctives. Each has the best elements of survival fiction. The reader is easily drawn in by these kids' creative and at times ingenious attempts to survive in a hostile urban wasteland. Furthermore, the books are very British and the reader is treated to a somewhat exotic (to an American reader) teen culture. Additionally, the element of adults preying upon children is horrific on a scale rarely seen in young adult fiction. Honestly, these books are the most horrifying young adult literature I've ever come across.
Finally, Higson uses a really interesting narrative style I've never encountered before. Though he's already written three books in this series, the books are not strictly chronological. They should probably be read in the order of publication, but don't necessarily need to be. Minor characters that wander into the first book's third act have their back story developed in the third book for example. It is difficult to explain how the author accomplishes this, but it definitely makes for gripping reading.
For those unfamiliar with the series, Charlie Higson's books are set in contemporary London where a "28 Days Later" style virus has affected every adult, turning them into a ravenous flesh-eating monster. Children and young teens are unaffected and band together in little tribes to survive. The whole thing is kind of a "Lord of the Flies" meets Night of the Living Dead.
The books benefit from a number of intriguing distinctives. Each has the best elements of survival fiction. The reader is easily drawn in by these kids' creative and at times ingenious attempts to survive in a hostile urban wasteland. Furthermore, the books are very British and the reader is treated to a somewhat exotic (to an American reader) teen culture. Additionally, the element of adults preying upon children is horrific on a scale rarely seen in young adult fiction. Honestly, these books are the most horrifying young adult literature I've ever come across.
Finally, Higson uses a really interesting narrative style I've never encountered before. Though he's already written three books in this series, the books are not strictly chronological. They should probably be read in the order of publication, but don't necessarily need to be. Minor characters that wander into the first book's third act have their back story developed in the third book for example. It is difficult to explain how the author accomplishes this, but it definitely makes for gripping reading.
February 13, 2016
I loathe the relentless fat-shaming, and the gratuitous sexism, and the shallow characterization, but as adventure stories I just can't stop reading them.
Library copy
Library copy
December 21, 2017
I love that we got inside the head of the Mothers and Fathers - it was so uncomfortable and yet intriguing. I love the originality, and especially the realistic nature even though it's sci-fi.
May 22, 2025
3.5
Tutaj już było zdecydowanie lepiej niż w tomie 2, polubiłam masę postaci ale nie wiem czy wybaczę uśmiercenie mojej ulubionej :C bardzo mnie to zdołowało do końca książki - mimo to wciąż się dobrze bawiłam. (doceniam również to że pisał to dorosły facet a dialogi wcale na to nie wskazują, nie są żenujące ani sztuczne)
Zrodziły się kolejne pytania i jestem bardzo ciekawa co wydarzy się dalej w związku z rozmowami na temat wirusa.
Tutaj już było zdecydowanie lepiej niż w tomie 2, polubiłam masę postaci ale nie wiem czy wybaczę uśmiercenie mojej ulubionej :C bardzo mnie to zdołowało do końca książki - mimo to wciąż się dobrze bawiłam. (doceniam również to że pisał to dorosły facet a dialogi wcale na to nie wskazują, nie są żenujące ani sztuczne)
Zrodziły się kolejne pytania i jestem bardzo ciekawa co wydarzy się dalej w związku z rozmowami na temat wirusa.
April 23, 2015
I am emotionally distraught after reading this book. holy freaking sh*t!
I finished reading The Fear last night and I am still not completely over what had happened! I totally started to bawl my eyes out once I was less than 100 pages towards the end. HOLY GUACAMOLE! Talk about an ending!
Seriously, each book in this series keeps getting better and better than the last. Just like the previous two books, The Fear was full on action-packed, gruesome, heart-wrenching and just plain insane.
I grew emotionally attached to the characters in The Fear. Especially to Dognut, Courtney and Shadowman; They were my favorite. I loved how well they all worked together with their groups (except for poor shadowman, he had the worst luck with his.) Charlie did an absolute phenomenal job at bringing all these individual characters to life. I felt their fears, worries, excitement and everything else in between; like if I were right there with them. The only characters that I absolutely loathed were David, Jester and Paul. They are deranged! Someone, please, get rid of them! It's also extremely nerve wracking to see just how evolved the "strangers" [zombies] are becoming!
Anyway, The Fear, so far, is my favorite of the series. I can't wait to read The Sacrifice next month! I highly recommend anyone who loves post-apocalyptic zombie books, to read these if you haven't already. If you love The Walking Dead, you will love The Enemy series too!
I finished reading The Fear last night and I am still not completely over what had happened! I totally started to bawl my eyes out once I was less than 100 pages towards the end. HOLY GUACAMOLE! Talk about an ending!
Seriously, each book in this series keeps getting better and better than the last. Just like the previous two books, The Fear was full on action-packed, gruesome, heart-wrenching and just plain insane.
I grew emotionally attached to the characters in The Fear. Especially to Dognut, Courtney and Shadowman; They were my favorite. I loved how well they all worked together with their groups (except for poor shadowman, he had the worst luck with his.) Charlie did an absolute phenomenal job at bringing all these individual characters to life. I felt their fears, worries, excitement and everything else in between; like if I were right there with them. The only characters that I absolutely loathed were David, Jester and Paul. They are deranged! Someone, please, get rid of them! It's also extremely nerve wracking to see just how evolved the "strangers" [zombies] are becoming!
Anyway, The Fear, so far, is my favorite of the series. I can't wait to read The Sacrifice next month! I highly recommend anyone who loves post-apocalyptic zombie books, to read these if you haven't already. If you love The Walking Dead, you will love The Enemy series too!
March 31, 2016
Good book overall. But also really confusing, and I feel there were a lot of pointless bits in it, and a lot of random characters who all just died in the end. Confusing because in each book so far (3), there's been a different group of characters to remember, and it's so frustrating because I haven't been reading them back to back, so I really can't remember the first or second book's characters, or the events that happened. I liked this book because it tied some characters from the other books together, and gave me different perspectives on some of the other events, but I still feel like it could've been easier to understand. And I also think that there were a lot of random pointless fighting scenes that take up so much time and ink.
December 20, 2014
This series is getting better each book. I got confused with the timeline at first but now it's coming together and all fitting in. Really good book and a great addition to an exciting series.
October 2, 2011
I thought it was absolutely brilliant. Here are a few reasons why.
The kids.
They are so varied; some a devious, others honourable, but they are all absolutely terrified by 'the sickos' that plague their existence. David is a particularly ruthless and calculating character, busy plotting to take over London in the new world in the relative safety of Buckingham Palace. Shadowman is a great addition - a real hero to root for and feel nervous about whenever he's attacked. To bring someone so immediately likeable into the series three books in is a great achievement.
The action.
Charlie Higson writes brilliant action scenes and can create some terrifying scenarios of kids stuck in cluttered and dirty houses with hoards of zombies (or one particularly disturbing 'collector'). He's also not afraid to 'go there' with the gore. This particular description was perhaps the highlight:
“There was a tearing noise and half the mother’s face came away. Shadowman was left with a handful of skin and pus.”
Disgusting, but brilliant, right?!
The premise.
It would be very easy for Higson to let the situation take a back seat and to stay away from tough questions about whether the kids should sympathise with the undead, whether they should try to rebuild their society, whether they should try and find a cure for the disease. The fact that he addresses them through the kids themselves adds a sense of reality and perspective, reminding the reader of just what a shitty situation the kids are actually in.
I highly recommend this and the previous books in the series to anyone who has enjoyed anything remotely zombie related. One word of warning though, it isn't suitable for younger readers. (I know a lot of books say that these days, but really. Seriously.) The reasons outlined above make this book and series far more than a blood-filled, unrealistic zombie-fest. It feels very real and could absolutely terrify many 'teen' readers out there.
Absolutely, bloody, brilliant though. Can't wait for the next one, The Sacrifice, which is out next year.
The kids.
They are so varied; some a devious, others honourable, but they are all absolutely terrified by 'the sickos' that plague their existence. David is a particularly ruthless and calculating character, busy plotting to take over London in the new world in the relative safety of Buckingham Palace. Shadowman is a great addition - a real hero to root for and feel nervous about whenever he's attacked. To bring someone so immediately likeable into the series three books in is a great achievement.
The action.
Charlie Higson writes brilliant action scenes and can create some terrifying scenarios of kids stuck in cluttered and dirty houses with hoards of zombies (or one particularly disturbing 'collector'). He's also not afraid to 'go there' with the gore. This particular description was perhaps the highlight:
“There was a tearing noise and half the mother’s face came away. Shadowman was left with a handful of skin and pus.”
Disgusting, but brilliant, right?!
The premise.
It would be very easy for Higson to let the situation take a back seat and to stay away from tough questions about whether the kids should sympathise with the undead, whether they should try to rebuild their society, whether they should try and find a cure for the disease. The fact that he addresses them through the kids themselves adds a sense of reality and perspective, reminding the reader of just what a shitty situation the kids are actually in.
I highly recommend this and the previous books in the series to anyone who has enjoyed anything remotely zombie related. One word of warning though, it isn't suitable for younger readers. (I know a lot of books say that these days, but really. Seriously.) The reasons outlined above make this book and series far more than a blood-filled, unrealistic zombie-fest. It feels very real and could absolutely terrify many 'teen' readers out there.
Absolutely, bloody, brilliant though. Can't wait for the next one, The Sacrifice, which is out next year.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2011
Holy crap. I hope there's another book coming out because that was one heck of a cliffhanger.
March 11, 2015
Ladies and gentlemen, after reading this book, I have an announcement to make: Charlie Higson is a friggin’ genius.
Having read the first three books in The Enemy series, I have become enamored with his writing abilities and absolutely shocked by how each book becomes progressively more and more fantastic, even when I don’t think it’s possible.
Higson’s ability to interweave multiple story arcs, character arcs, and plotlines without sacrificing the quality or depth of any of them is absolutely magical. And, as each book introduces new characters or brings you into the mind of a previous side character, the fact that he is able to keep them all straight, stay true to who they are as characters, and develop each of their individual voices so effortlessly is truly amazing. Especially as he begins to tie the timelines together from the previous two books.
In The Fear, we once again find ourselves in a post-apocalyptic London ravaged by diseased, zombie-like grownups and the now-orphaned kids who are trying not only to survive, but also to rebuild some sort of society. Reintroduced to former side characters Dognut, Courtney, Brooke, Jester, and David King (and meeting the amazing Shadowman for the first time), we find ourselves leaving the minds of previous main characters like Ed, Maxie, Blue, and Small Sam … but still seeing, from characters who’ve never even met them, the ripples their actions and existences have on this world.
You see how every character is interconnected, every action has a consequence, and everybody matters. Small Sam’s actions in The Enemy? The girl who’s presence in Buckingham Palace helped the Waitrose kids learn the truth about David King? David King’s desperate, bizarre need to hold a small army? There were times when the realizations had chills running down my spine.
Here’s the thing, though: This book is not for the faint of heart. Charlie Higson’s writing has become more brutal, the deaths of his characters more cruel and unexpected, the relationships more deep and believable and ultimately devastating in this harsh world. There are times when you can’t quite remember when this is supposed to take place, who has done what, what’s supposed to have happened before this; but then he answers those questions by taking you back through the previous books from another character’s perspective. There are scenes that seem so familiar that you feel like you’ve read them before, only to realize that you have, but from the other side.
It’s truly ingenius and I don’t understand how these books have not garnered all the hype in the world. You want a good post-apocalyptic book? It’s this one. You want a good zombie book? It’s this one. You want to market a book as some sort of YA Game of Thrones with a twist? It’s fucking this one.
Having read the first three books in The Enemy series, I have become enamored with his writing abilities and absolutely shocked by how each book becomes progressively more and more fantastic, even when I don’t think it’s possible.
Higson’s ability to interweave multiple story arcs, character arcs, and plotlines without sacrificing the quality or depth of any of them is absolutely magical. And, as each book introduces new characters or brings you into the mind of a previous side character, the fact that he is able to keep them all straight, stay true to who they are as characters, and develop each of their individual voices so effortlessly is truly amazing. Especially as he begins to tie the timelines together from the previous two books.
In The Fear, we once again find ourselves in a post-apocalyptic London ravaged by diseased, zombie-like grownups and the now-orphaned kids who are trying not only to survive, but also to rebuild some sort of society. Reintroduced to former side characters Dognut, Courtney, Brooke, Jester, and David King (and meeting the amazing Shadowman for the first time), we find ourselves leaving the minds of previous main characters like Ed, Maxie, Blue, and Small Sam … but still seeing, from characters who’ve never even met them, the ripples their actions and existences have on this world.
You see how every character is interconnected, every action has a consequence, and everybody matters. Small Sam’s actions in The Enemy? The girl who’s presence in Buckingham Palace helped the Waitrose kids learn the truth about David King? David King’s desperate, bizarre need to hold a small army? There were times when the realizations had chills running down my spine.
Here’s the thing, though: This book is not for the faint of heart. Charlie Higson’s writing has become more brutal, the deaths of his characters more cruel and unexpected, the relationships more deep and believable and ultimately devastating in this harsh world. There are times when you can’t quite remember when this is supposed to take place, who has done what, what’s supposed to have happened before this; but then he answers those questions by taking you back through the previous books from another character’s perspective. There are scenes that seem so familiar that you feel like you’ve read them before, only to realize that you have, but from the other side.
It’s truly ingenius and I don’t understand how these books have not garnered all the hype in the world. You want a good post-apocalyptic book? It’s this one. You want a good zombie book? It’s this one. You want to market a book as some sort of YA Game of Thrones with a twist? It’s fucking this one.
July 24, 2022
Trigger warnings: death, violence, death of a child, gore, body horror, cannibalism, blood.
22/7/2022
Continuing my back-to-back reread, this one is where the overarching plot really starts to become apparent in more than just a "everyone over the age of 14 got turned into a zombie, the kids are struggling to survive" way.
3/6/2016
On reread, I'm bumping this up to 4 stars. Reading the books back to back, it's so obvious how many threads are running through the story and how they're all starting to pull together. Yes, it's gory and horrific and heartbreaking. But it's also fun and tense and constantly intriguing, even when it's stabbing you in the feels by killing your favourite characters.
22/5/2015
3.5 stars. I don't know what it was about this book, but I didn't enjoy it QUITE as much as the previous books. I feel like it was partly because it felt gorier - there's a huge fat zombie guy who keeps children as toys and rips off their limbs so they can't escape and then creates tableaus with their body parts, for starters - and partly because the story was split between multiple locations and it was a little tricky to keep track of it all sometimes.
This is the book where the events of books 1 and 2 start to blend together, so I'm REALLY interested to see what happens in book 4, especially seeing as the zombies are becoming meaner and smarter and are forming armies and using weapons. So...that's interesting.
As always, don't get attached to ANYONE in this book. If you do, Higson will laugh maniacally while jumping up and down on your heart. The deaths are usually pretty quick - this is YA after all - and the story ploughs on leaving the reader little time to mourn for the characters. Which is kind of sad because the characters are generally great (except for David and Paul), and yet it's hard to have feels when these amazing characters get killed off because it all happens so quickly.
In short, I enjoyed it - although not QUITE as much as the previous books - and I'm excited to see where things go from here.
22/7/2022
Continuing my back-to-back reread, this one is where the overarching plot really starts to become apparent in more than just a "everyone over the age of 14 got turned into a zombie, the kids are struggling to survive" way.
3/6/2016
On reread, I'm bumping this up to 4 stars. Reading the books back to back, it's so obvious how many threads are running through the story and how they're all starting to pull together. Yes, it's gory and horrific and heartbreaking. But it's also fun and tense and constantly intriguing, even when it's stabbing you in the feels by killing your favourite characters.
22/5/2015
3.5 stars. I don't know what it was about this book, but I didn't enjoy it QUITE as much as the previous books. I feel like it was partly because it felt gorier - there's a huge fat zombie guy who keeps children as toys and rips off their limbs so they can't escape and then creates tableaus with their body parts, for starters - and partly because the story was split between multiple locations and it was a little tricky to keep track of it all sometimes.
This is the book where the events of books 1 and 2 start to blend together, so I'm REALLY interested to see what happens in book 4, especially seeing as the zombies are becoming meaner and smarter and are forming armies and using weapons. So...that's interesting.
As always, don't get attached to ANYONE in this book. If you do, Higson will laugh maniacally while jumping up and down on your heart. The deaths are usually pretty quick - this is YA after all - and the story ploughs on leaving the reader little time to mourn for the characters. Which is kind of sad because the characters are generally great (except for David and Paul), and yet it's hard to have feels when these amazing characters get killed off because it all happens so quickly.
In short, I enjoyed it - although not QUITE as much as the previous books - and I'm excited to see where things go from here.
March 25, 2013
Charlie Higson scares the crap out of me...or at least his stories do, I've never met the man himself. Higson is proof that just because an author's book get tagged as a "young adult" title doesn't mean the work is second tier. Higson is a master of plot, stringing together pieces like the series is one giant jigsaw puzzle. He does for books what J. Michael Straczynski did for television. No scene is wasted, no plot point is a throw away, it all fits together, brilliantly in the end, and believe me you will absolute joy, as well as a healthy bit or terror, when you see some scene from an earlier book shown in a different book from a different "camera angle." Higson is brutal and unrelenting to his characters, as befits the giant sandbox of post-apocalyptic London he has cast them down into. I have only three questions:
1. When is the next book in the Enemy series going to get to the States?
2. Why am I not already reading the next book in the enemy series? (and preferably the one after that and so forth.)
3. Why are all books not written by Charlie Higson? I for one think he could do wonders for the bible.
As a librarian I was introduced to this series by a teen at my branch, and now I have returned the gruesome by recommending it to about a dozen other people.
1. When is the next book in the Enemy series going to get to the States?
2. Why am I not already reading the next book in the enemy series? (and preferably the one after that and so forth.)
3. Why are all books not written by Charlie Higson? I for one think he could do wonders for the bible.
As a librarian I was introduced to this series by a teen at my branch, and now I have returned the gruesome by recommending it to about a dozen other people.
October 8, 2016
I really like how The Fear connected the first two books in the series. A lot of events towards the end of this book actually occurred in the first book, so I was really confused at times. There were some pretty boring parts of the book, but the suspenseful parts made up for it by a long shot. Charlie Higson proved, once again, that he can kill anyone in this series. Two of my favorite characters died together towards the end of the book, and I was slightly heartbroken over that. I thought it was really cool that there were more chapters centered in the minds of those infected as they slowly became more intelligent again. It was a very freaky thing to read as one such adult struggled to remember her life and remembered her children only as being delicious.
June 7, 2016
"We're the new generation. We're the survivors. We're making a whole new world here. In the future, kids are going to want to know what happened."
Wow, a very very good book 3. Although I'm tired of getting to know a whole group of kids only have most of them die by the end, I'm at least remembering who our key players are and how they are going from book to book.
But I can already tell that the order is killing me. I wish I'd read 2 first, then this one, then the next one THEN book 1 THEN book 5. Because I'm going to have to read book 1 to remember what happened before I read 5 due to the time frame jumps and all the deaths between them.
Wow, a very very good book 3. Although I'm tired of getting to know a whole group of kids only have most of them die by the end, I'm at least remembering who our key players are and how they are going from book to book.
But I can already tell that the order is killing me. I wish I'd read 2 first, then this one, then the next one THEN book 1 THEN book 5. Because I'm going to have to read book 1 to remember what happened before I read 5 due to the time frame jumps and all the deaths between them.
January 24, 2023
Couldn't put it down!
December 15, 2019
This and other reviews can be found on The Psychotic Nerd
Short and Simple Review
It has been a while since I have read The Dead, eight years to be exact. For some reason, I never got around to picking up this book until now. I loved the previous two books, giving them both 4 stars, though love is a weird term to use for this series. This series is terrifying and gory and is not enjoyable to read, but I guess I found the series captivating. I still find it captivating, though not as much as I used to. This book follows multiple characters and groups of kids, even some zombies, but it mostly follows DogNut and his group. My memory of the last two books is foggy, but this one did a great job of recapping things and I never felt lost. We do see a lot of characters from the previous books which is interesting. I like how things connect, but since I have that foggy memory, it did not make a big impact on me. Higson does do a great job of creating this terrifying world, interesting characters, and slowly connecting everything together.
But, I think I am done with this series. Yes, this is interesting, but I am not as interested in these books anymore. Even though I am giving this 3 stars, I had a hard time with the gore and I just do not like picking up apocalyptic books anymore. Maybe it is also weird for me now because, when I read the first two books I was fifteen, now I am twenty-three and would be one of those in the series craving the flesh of children. Not really something I want to think about. Anyway, while this one ended on a cliffhanger, I think I will stop reading these books and read books that are more like my current taste.
Short and Simple Review
It has been a while since I have read The Dead, eight years to be exact. For some reason, I never got around to picking up this book until now. I loved the previous two books, giving them both 4 stars, though love is a weird term to use for this series. This series is terrifying and gory and is not enjoyable to read, but I guess I found the series captivating. I still find it captivating, though not as much as I used to. This book follows multiple characters and groups of kids, even some zombies, but it mostly follows DogNut and his group. My memory of the last two books is foggy, but this one did a great job of recapping things and I never felt lost. We do see a lot of characters from the previous books which is interesting. I like how things connect, but since I have that foggy memory, it did not make a big impact on me. Higson does do a great job of creating this terrifying world, interesting characters, and slowly connecting everything together.
But, I think I am done with this series. Yes, this is interesting, but I am not as interested in these books anymore. Even though I am giving this 3 stars, I had a hard time with the gore and I just do not like picking up apocalyptic books anymore. Maybe it is also weird for me now because, when I read the first two books I was fifteen, now I am twenty-three and would be one of those in the series craving the flesh of children. Not really something I want to think about. Anyway, while this one ended on a cliffhanger, I think I will stop reading these books and read books that are more like my current taste.
November 8, 2024
I could not put this down - a brilliant third installment that feels like it has now wrapped up explaining the universe and giving backstory to all of the characters. We're now ready to get into the action.
It did a brilliant job in terms of introducing and expanding on different elements - the introduction of Shadowman, the tragic story of Brooke, the selfish ways of Jester, and giving further insight into the infection.
The Fear potentially has the most downer ending yet in the series, what with David's evil plan and the deaths of a couple of beloved characters, but this only makes me want to read on. Charlie Higson does a brilliant job of pacing the book - during the quieter moments of DogNut's time in the museum, we have chapters of Jester and Shadowman's ill-fated expedition to find other kids in London.
Where other Zombie and apocalyptic media may fail in making the consumer care about the fates of tertiary characters, Higson has such a way with descriptions and capturing emotions that I was saddened by even a minor character's demise, particularly in the case of young Olivia.
I'm so excited to begin reading The Sacrifice and see how the story continues with Maxie, Brooke, Ed, Small Sam and the others as they fight against the grown-ups and David's tyranny.
It did a brilliant job in terms of introducing and expanding on different elements - the introduction of Shadowman, the tragic story of Brooke, the selfish ways of Jester, and giving further insight into the infection.
The Fear potentially has the most downer ending yet in the series, what with David's evil plan and the deaths of a couple of beloved characters, but this only makes me want to read on. Charlie Higson does a brilliant job of pacing the book - during the quieter moments of DogNut's time in the museum, we have chapters of Jester and Shadowman's ill-fated expedition to find other kids in London.
Where other Zombie and apocalyptic media may fail in making the consumer care about the fates of tertiary characters, Higson has such a way with descriptions and capturing emotions that I was saddened by even a minor character's demise, particularly in the case of young Olivia.
I'm so excited to begin reading The Sacrifice and see how the story continues with Maxie, Brooke, Ed, Small Sam and the others as they fight against the grown-ups and David's tyranny.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2025
I’m telling a trusted adult on you Higson
October 18, 2012
When I was younger and less responsible (ha), I would sometimes stay up late into the night, as late as it took, in order to finish a really good book. It's been awhile since I did that, but I think Charlie Higson deserved it. 1:40 a.m. isn't that intense, but let's just say I'm tired now. Worth it? Yes.
The only problem with reading this way is that after awhile my brain was getting a little fuzzy; plot events started to blur together. Apology in advance for any weirdness in this review.
I really like the way Higson is developing his series. He started things off with The Enemy (which was phenomenal, go read it), then backtracked and told a new story with new characters in The Dead, which took place before the events in the first book. Now we have The Fear, which serves as a bridge between the two books. It's really a beautiful setup.
And I truly think Mr. Higson is getting better and better at what he does - which is writing gruesome zombie thrillers while juggling enormous casts of young characters, many of whom die within one chapter of being introduced to the reader. For the most part, I stayed on top of this during the first two books. It usually isn't hard for me to tell which characters are expendable, and I don't let myself get too attached to them.
Well, so much for that.
Thanks for killing my favorite characters, Higson. You're a pal.
And the series has grown in more than just its ability to stomp on my heart. If you've read the books or even any reviews of them, you know that there are events and descriptions within that are seriously messed up. Violent, sickening, and just plain gross. The creep factor goes WAY up in The Fear. I would love to see these books made into films, but there is literally no way they could be given a rating appropriate for actual young adults. This isn't a bad thing - since the books don't have that much popularity, there aren't such high expectations that a potential movie would have to be kid-appropriate. Like, say, when Hunger Games was getting made into a movie.
(Yeah, so this will never be adapted to film. Just let me have this one dream, okay?)
It's just difficult to imagine a book where young kids have their limbs literally ripped off by zombies being turned into a PG-13 film, you know?
The only problem with reading this way is that after awhile my brain was getting a little fuzzy; plot events started to blur together. Apology in advance for any weirdness in this review.
I really like the way Higson is developing his series. He started things off with The Enemy (which was phenomenal, go read it), then backtracked and told a new story with new characters in The Dead, which took place before the events in the first book. Now we have The Fear, which serves as a bridge between the two books. It's really a beautiful setup.
And I truly think Mr. Higson is getting better and better at what he does - which is writing gruesome zombie thrillers while juggling enormous casts of young characters, many of whom die within one chapter of being introduced to the reader. For the most part, I stayed on top of this during the first two books. It usually isn't hard for me to tell which characters are expendable, and I don't let myself get too attached to them.
Well, so much for that.
Thanks for killing my favorite characters, Higson. You're a pal.
And the series has grown in more than just its ability to stomp on my heart. If you've read the books or even any reviews of them, you know that there are events and descriptions within that are seriously messed up. Violent, sickening, and just plain gross. The creep factor goes WAY up in The Fear. I would love to see these books made into films, but there is literally no way they could be given a rating appropriate for actual young adults. This isn't a bad thing - since the books don't have that much popularity, there aren't such high expectations that a potential movie would have to be kid-appropriate. Like, say, when Hunger Games was getting made into a movie.
(Yeah, so this will never be adapted to film. Just let me have this one dream, okay?)
It's just difficult to imagine a book where young kids have their limbs literally ripped off by zombies being turned into a PG-13 film, you know?
October 13, 2011
Great book! Although it couldn't help but feel like a prologue. It fills in all the gaps created by the last two books in the series. In fact, the feeling i have after reading it, closely resembles that after watching "Deathly Hallow's Part 1".
And that feeling is, WHERE IS THE REST!?
In case you didn't know, in a nutshell, this book is the third in a series (with more to come) where all adults over the age of 14 (is it 14? i think it was) have either died, or become brainless, kiddy-eating zombies.
In this third book, Dognut, a side character from the second book (NO SPELLCHECK, i DO mean Dognut, Stop trying to correct it to DONUT, jeez), travels across the zombie-plagued London to reunite with some of the friends they were split up from, and the girl he 'Likes'.
However the zombies are becoming less brainless as these novel's progress, and are becoming much more of a formidable opponent. And again, the question is raised: Who is the real enemy?
For kids are taking up settlement, and surviving in different ways. David however, the leader of the group who have found refuge at Buckingham palace, is power hungry to take over all that is left.
The main character of this novel, was really 'Dognut'. And he was brilliant. I didn't like him in the last book, and if i met him in really life, i probably would have thought he was a wander, but he was my favourite character in this book!
As with the rest of the books in this series, one of the best parts of reading them, is the fact that you really don't know who the author will kill off. Or the zombies, rather.
You know that none is safe, which really adds to the suspense. However in this book, i found there were slightly less death's throughout the middle and beginning, which all lead up to a big blood bath at the end, which was ultimately quite shocking.
Some great characters that i were sticking out for, ended up sadly dying, which ended up being quite tragic. However the 'Hollaway' kids were briefly introduced in this book (The set of kids from the first novel) Which only means they will be in the next book, 'The Sacrifice". And i've been waiting for them to reappear since the start.
Maxie and Blue FTW!
One other thing i love about this series, is that it features great landmarks in London as set pieces, and what makes it even cooler, is that half of these places i have actually BEEN to. The imperial war museum for one, i went there on a school trip in year 9. For some reason i find this extremely cool and amusing.
Well, at least it made it easier to picture!
A great series, that is extremely unpredictable, and features brilliant characters!
But the prize question. Is it scary?
Not from my point of view, i'm used to horror movies and books (COUGH-STEVENKING-COUGH) however some parts i think would be disturbing to others, and i even found some bits quite disgusting and gross.
Make sure you check this series out!
That is all ;)
And that feeling is, WHERE IS THE REST!?
In case you didn't know, in a nutshell, this book is the third in a series (with more to come) where all adults over the age of 14 (is it 14? i think it was) have either died, or become brainless, kiddy-eating zombies.
In this third book, Dognut, a side character from the second book (NO SPELLCHECK, i DO mean Dognut, Stop trying to correct it to DONUT, jeez), travels across the zombie-plagued London to reunite with some of the friends they were split up from, and the girl he 'Likes'.
However the zombies are becoming less brainless as these novel's progress, and are becoming much more of a formidable opponent. And again, the question is raised: Who is the real enemy?
For kids are taking up settlement, and surviving in different ways. David however, the leader of the group who have found refuge at Buckingham palace, is power hungry to take over all that is left.
The main character of this novel, was really 'Dognut'. And he was brilliant. I didn't like him in the last book, and if i met him in really life, i probably would have thought he was a wander, but he was my favourite character in this book!
As with the rest of the books in this series, one of the best parts of reading them, is the fact that you really don't know who the author will kill off. Or the zombies, rather.
You know that none is safe, which really adds to the suspense. However in this book, i found there were slightly less death's throughout the middle and beginning, which all lead up to a big blood bath at the end, which was ultimately quite shocking.
Some great characters that i were sticking out for, ended up sadly dying, which ended up being quite tragic. However the 'Hollaway' kids were briefly introduced in this book (The set of kids from the first novel) Which only means they will be in the next book, 'The Sacrifice". And i've been waiting for them to reappear since the start.
Maxie and Blue FTW!
One other thing i love about this series, is that it features great landmarks in London as set pieces, and what makes it even cooler, is that half of these places i have actually BEEN to. The imperial war museum for one, i went there on a school trip in year 9. For some reason i find this extremely cool and amusing.
Well, at least it made it easier to picture!
A great series, that is extremely unpredictable, and features brilliant characters!
But the prize question. Is it scary?
Not from my point of view, i'm used to horror movies and books (COUGH-STEVENKING-COUGH) however some parts i think would be disturbing to others, and i even found some bits quite disgusting and gross.
Make sure you check this series out!
That is all ;)
September 30, 2011
The fear is book three in the enemy series it follow five days before the last book ends. If you have not read the series DO! This series is like no other. Any way The fear followers the story of a few groups of kids in deep trouble they are all trying to survive in a world where all the grownups seem to have been turned into zombies . While zombies and dead kids is bad enough there is also lots of other things going on that give you chills the way some kids have turned into power hungry cold beings while other seem to really be working for a better future. The series is set in London and as I live close to there you can’t help but feel cold shivers when going by a building that’s been used in the book.
The Author has brilliantly written the book in a way were everything feels so real and downright creepy and scary at times. There was long moments in the book were I held my breath fearing for the characters and willing them to KEEP GOING! It was easy to get hooked into this world that the author has written. The book showed you lots of things you never got to see in the first or second book and if you have read all the books like I have you will see that each book is like a piece of puzzle and they all fit together in a wonderful and perfected way.
I felt that while the book is action packed with more blood and guts then a slaughter house there was so much more going on. David is one character while power hunger and evil to me he also kind of makes the book cool because you’re willing other character to over thrown him. There are lots of other characters that you start to love but you’re always scared that they will not last with all the zombies about. I loved every moment of the book and by the end all I could think was...please Charlie Higson write the next book fast I’m dying to know what happens next.
I give the book a massive 5 stars
This series just keeps getting better and better.
The Author has brilliantly written the book in a way were everything feels so real and downright creepy and scary at times. There was long moments in the book were I held my breath fearing for the characters and willing them to KEEP GOING! It was easy to get hooked into this world that the author has written. The book showed you lots of things you never got to see in the first or second book and if you have read all the books like I have you will see that each book is like a piece of puzzle and they all fit together in a wonderful and perfected way.
I felt that while the book is action packed with more blood and guts then a slaughter house there was so much more going on. David is one character while power hunger and evil to me he also kind of makes the book cool because you’re willing other character to over thrown him. There are lots of other characters that you start to love but you’re always scared that they will not last with all the zombies about. I loved every moment of the book and by the end all I could think was...please Charlie Higson write the next book fast I’m dying to know what happens next.
I give the book a massive 5 stars
This series just keeps getting better and better.
June 27, 2017
2.5 stars.
After loving the last two books I was really disappointed with this one. My main issue was the romance, love triangle, and the fact I didn't like DogNut, Brooke or Courtney at all. Most of the characters I liked from the last book weren't in this one or only showed up briefly. When the focus shifted to Justin or Shadowman I enjoyed it a lot more. It got much easier to read towards the end as well when events started catching up with the first book.
After loving the last two books I was really disappointed with this one. My main issue was the romance, love triangle, and the fact I didn't like DogNut, Brooke or Courtney at all. Most of the characters I liked from the last book weren't in this one or only showed up briefly. When the focus shifted to Justin or Shadowman I enjoyed it a lot more. It got much easier to read towards the end as well when events started catching up with the first book.
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