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Flesh & Bone

(Rot & Ruin #3)

Jonathan Maberry (Goodreads Author)

4.21 · Rating details · 10,912 ratings · 878 reviews

Reeling from the tragic events of Dust & Decay, Benny Imura and his friends plunge deep into the zombie-infested wastelands of the great Rot & Ruin. Benny, Nix, Lilah and Chong journey through a fierce wilderness that was once America, searching for the jet they saw in the skies months ago. If that jet exists then humanity itself must have survived…somewhere. ...more

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Hardcover, 1st Edition, 469 pages

Published September 11th 2012 by Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers (first published September 10th 2012)

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· 10,912 ratings · 878 reviews

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Apr 09, 2018 Kyle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Very much like the previous books in this series. So if you liked those you'll probably like this one too.

I very much enjoyed the first two books but found this one to be a little too of the same thing. About fifty or sixty percent of the way through it I just felt stalled. I felt like, "Okay I've been here before can't you offer me anything new?" Don't get me wrong, there was plenty of action and I still really enjoy the characters. It was just a bit too much of the same thing.

Now once I

...more

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Feb 16, 2014 Shelby *trains flying monkeys* rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorite-series, zombies, read-2014, end-of-the-world

This was more of a 4.5 star book.

This series is fast becoming my favorite zombie series ever. Benny Imura in the first book Rot and Ruin was beyond childish. He has started growing on me in the last books and now I'm actually a fan of his.
This book is very fast moving. With zoms/gray people/walkers every where. The virus is starting to mutate and I'm fascinated to see where Maberry goes with it.

In this book the four teenagers are still trying to find the jet that they saw fly over in book ...more

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Sep 12, 2012 Kimmie rated it liked it

Arrrrggghhhh, this book is so frustrating! I likedit, don't get me wrong, but it is my least favorite in all the books. Why, why, why, why did there have to be another group of wrong doers introduced into this series? Hasn't Chong had it hard enough as it is? Why the heck do they keep getting separated? Why are they always finding themselves deeper into trouble? I'm not sure frustrating even covers what I feel after reading this book. I did not like how it covered only one stinking day ...more

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Jan 10, 2012 Trudi rated it really liked it

Shelves: zombies, 2012, apocalyptic-types, infection, young-adult, my-boys, series, survive-this, science-fiction, october-country

This book flirted with three stars a few times along the way. I found myself getting frustrated at certain points and harrumphing or sighing in exasperation. (view spoiler)
This book flirted with three stars a few times along the way. I found myself getting frustrated at certain points and harrumphing or sighing in exasperation. (view spoiler)

This is a book about grieving and loss. I get that. Benny's group have lost so much and experienced unspeakable tragedies. In a very real way, this is the story of them coming to terms with that loss, facing up to it, learning to let their loved ones go and make the conscious choice to move forward. Benny, Nix, Lilah and Chong all express their grief and the lingering effects of trauma in different ways, but Nix is perhaps having the hardest time finding herself again, or put another way, discovering who she has become. Benny must learn this along with her, and it is a painful and confusing lesson for them both.

There is a new threat introduced in the guise of a menacing cult known as 'reapers', founded and controlled by bona-fide psychopath Saint John of the Knife. John has a power-hungry and ruthless rival in Mother Rose. It took most of the book for me to warm up to the idea of this group and get on board with the threat they represent and where their ambitions are taking the story. For a good long while I resented their presence and how much time and dialogue Maberry gives them. I did arrive at begrudging acceptance by the end however, and their existence does add an interesting layer to life post-apocalypse.

I resisted warming up to the introduction of Joe Ledger as well. (view spoiler). But by the end I had come to grudgingly like him and turned the last page hoping to see more of him in Book 4.

We learn much more about life in the Rot & Ruin in this installment and just how insulated Mountainside residents are from any knowledge, and as Tom suspected all along, how determined the townspeople are to hold on to their ignorance at any cost. So while this book flirted several times with three stars, I am giving it four because I love the characters Maberry has created and this series has really found its way into my heart. I'm also chomping at the bit to see where this story goes in Fire and Ash, always a good sign. Finally, Maberry dedicates this book to "librarians everywhere" which pleased me muchly. What can I say? Flattery will get you everywhere :) ...more

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Jul 18, 2012 carol. rated it liked it

Shelves: young-adult, end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it, zombies

An in-between series book, with several major developments paving the way for a future ultimate conflict. It is worth reading if you are at all invested in a decent young-adult zombie series (yes, I realize that phrase may seem a contradiction in terms--however, they exist).

Benny continues to waiver in that in-between land of almost-grown-up, warring with feelings of inadequacy, emotional loss and growing self-reliance. The group is in badlands-like area, and Benny gets caught in a ravine, and ...more

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Dec 18, 2011 Nandanie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-enjoyed-top-favorites, favorites, 2012, recommended-by-a-friend-or-gr

I need this! After the tragic ending in book 2 that left me in tears, I am sooooooooooo despersate to read this! These books just keep getting better and better! And I bet you, when this series ends, I am going to cry!

Thanks Jonathon for adding such a good series in the media!

P.S. The cover looks really creepy! But that is the theme right? Love it! =)

..................................................................................................

OMG! THAT WAS THE BEST THIRD BOOK OF A SERIES I ...more

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Oct 21, 2018 Justine rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2018, zombies, tickled-pink, young-adult

Rot & Ruin -
Dust & Decay -
Flesh & Bone -
Fire & Ash -

“No matter how long the night is, the sun always comes up.”

With a series this long, some would say, it’s just the same as the first two books in the series. And I am telling you it definitely is completely different from the earlier books.

Flesh and Bone began on a very emotional high. With the loss that had happened throughout Rot & Ruin and Dust & Decay. It finally caves in, it dealt with the grieving of the ...more

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Jul 14, 2019 Emma rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: zombies, ya, post-apocalypse

4.5 stars. Religious maniacs rule the day; what was lost is found; a little girl is rescued; sanctuary exists; zoms are mutating; in which we lose one of our own.
Lots of action right from the start. Thumping good read.

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Aug 04, 2012 Brigid ✩ rated it really liked it

Shelves: sci-fi, zombies, on-my-kindle, young-adult, dystopia, adventure, futuristic

Actual rating: 3.5 Stars

*Note: I can't really avoid spoilers for the first two books in this review, so if you're planning on reading them, then you probably shouldn't read this! (Unless you don't care about spoilers––in which case, go right ahead.)

So, don't get me wrong ... I'm a big fan of this series. Especially as someone who doesn't delve much into the whole zombie/horror genre, I find this series to be impressing over all. They're well-written, they're exciting, there are some terrific ...more

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Sep 22, 2012 Jason rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: e-books, read-2012

4.5 Stars

“”‘He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster,’””

Flesh and Bone, book 3 of the Benny Imura series was one of my most anticipated reads for 2012 by one of my favorite authors. I am not really that big into young adult fiction, but when an amazing horror author like Maberry puts a zombie series to life, it is sure one not to be missed. The story of the two brothers Benny and Tom through the first two books found many of the main plot lines ...more

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Apr 06, 2012 Brooke added it

NOT AVAIL UNTIL SEPTEMBER!!! DAMN YOU JONATHAN MABERRY!!!!!

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Sep 13, 2013 Caru rated it liked it

Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars

My Opinion Of This Book: Liked it.

_________________________________

The first book in this 4-book series, Rot & Ruin, blew my mind away and introduced me to a whole new world of zombies. The second book, Dust & Decay, was amazing, but the ending left me heartbroken and I was left unsure if that ending was good for the story. Now Flesh & Bone, the third book in the series, is my least favorite, but I still overall enjoyed it.

THE GOOD.
~Chong: There is some ...more

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Sep 20, 2012 Jen rated it it was amazing

PROTIP: Read the novella "Dead & Gone" for a better understanding of the background of Riot and The Church of the Darkness, which are major facets of this book.

Hooray for another Maberry book! They really can't come fast enough. Flesh & Bone continues the story of Benny and his friends while they navigate the rot and the ruin, encountering everything from a dangerous death cult to a mysterious haven known only as "Sanctuary." Will it be everything they hope for?

Maberry delivers on the ...more

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Feb 23, 2014 Dana rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2014, young-adult, dystopian, horror

"It was why Lilah did not fear death. So many of the people she loved were waiting for her there" - Flesh and Bone

I liked this book BUT Kind of annoyed at how many times Benny says sorry to the zombies he kills. I'm Canadian and even I think this is getting to be too much. He is becoming way too deferential to these zombies and my eyes are getting exhausted from all the rolling.

And another thing, while I'm on a tangent and all, what the hell is up with Chong? He is the Lorrie of this book ( ...more

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Feb 23, 2015 Mauoijenn rated it really liked it

Shelves: freaks-4all-ages, just-4-thought, 2015-rc, horror-gore-bloody, creepy-fun-times, dying-dead-death, fantasy-sci-fi, braaains-4-dinner

Another great book in this awesome series!! A felt it was a little action less then the previous ones but still good none the less. On ward to book #4.

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Jul 15, 2019 Amanda rated it really liked it

4.5 this series is so surprisingly awesome!

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Aug 31, 2012 Heather Faville rated it it was amazing

Having spent the month since the devastating ending of Dust & Decay healing their bodies and, attempting, to heal their spirits, Benny, Nix, Lilah and Chong continue on in search of the jet they have seen flying overhead. Benny and Nix are having relationship troubles as a result of everything that has happened in the last year and the lack of communication between the two. Lilah and Chong are still working out the details of their relationship with her being The Lost Girl and him a mere Having spent the month since the devastating ending of Dust & Decay healing their bodies and, attempting, to heal their spirits, Benny, Nix, Lilah and Chong continue on in search of the jet they have seen flying overhead. Benny and Nix are having relationship troubles as a result of everything that has happened in the last year and the lack of communication between the two. Lilah and Chong are still working out the details of their relationship with her being The Lost Girl and him a mere Town Boy. As always, there are zoms to contend with as they travel and the unfortunate discovery that some of the zoms are faster and a bit smarter than what they have been used to. However, there is, also, a new evil afoot who call themselves Reapers. They are a form of religious cult who bring the darkness to those who were not 'blessed' with the zombie virus.

Much of Flesh & Bone finds our young group separated from each other in one form or another. Benny and Nix have an interesting encounter with Saint John of the Knife and come across an interesting find. Lilah, having gone off in search of a young girl's family gets caught fighting for her life and being saved by a very cool new addition to the world of Rot & Ruin. Our "town boy" Chong, having been separated from the group while fleeing the Reapers finds himself caring for a child, Eve, whose family has been lost to the Reapers and being cared for himself, by Riot, the daughter of Mother Rose, the leader of the cult from which they are running.

New friends are met, battles are fought and lives are lost. The action is practically nonstop and the attention to detail is spot on, as is the norm for Mr Maberry. The journey our friends take in Flesh & Bone is not just one of reaching a destination, but in allowing each of our characters to find their true self and determining what they are looking for as they seek out this new possibility of life in the rot & ruin.

Flesh & Bone is a definite MUST READ for all fans of the Rot & Ruin series. If you haven't read books 1 and 2 yet, well....what are you waiting for go get them NOW! ...more

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Mar 31, 2012 Alondra rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-own, horror-chills-and-thrills, dystopian

5 Stars

This was another twist on the fates of Benny Imura and his friends. After the death of one of their own; they are forced to fend for themselves in the great Rot and Ruin. With the continuation of their journey from their hometown, Mountainside; we meet a new set of foes... The Reapers. These are a collection of religious zealots following a known serial killer... great. Not only are they trying to survive zombies, but people who lust for the kill, too.?? And if that doesn't get you angry, ...more

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Aug 15, 2012 Regina rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorite-authors, ya, post-apocalyptic, audio-also-listened-to, narration-is-great, zombie, listened-to-audio-only, favorite-series, bingo-round-9

This was so good. I am glad I waited for the audio version to be produced. with Flesh and Bone Mayberry adds so much to the Rot & Ruin world. I was not sure he could do it given the characters that were killed off in the previous book. But wow, he did. This is a great book and I can't way to read #4.

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Sep 03, 2012 Jessica Meigs rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Holy cow. Just...holy cow.

When I get my thoughts a little better together, I'll come back for a more coherent review.

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Feb 06, 2012 Shelley rated it really liked it

Shelves: borrowed-library, arc-wishlist, 2012-releases

*Genre* Dystopian
*Rating* 3.5-4

*Review*

“Don’t forget the first rule about the RUIN; out here everything wants to kill you.”

Flesh and Bone is the third novel in the Benny Imura series. The story picks up a month after the devastating events of Rot & Ruin. Benny Imura, Nix Riley, Lilah the Lost Girl and Lou Chong are still searching for the mysterious plane they saw while trying to come to terms with Tom’s shocking loss.

They have left California behind, and are now in Nevada where Nix and *Genre* Dystopian
*Rating* 3.5-4

*Review*

“Don’t forget the first rule about the RUIN; out here everything wants to kill you.”

Flesh and Bone is the third novel in the Benny Imura series. The story picks up a month after the devastating events of Rot & Ruin. Benny Imura, Nix Riley, Lilah the Lost Girl and Lou Chong are still searching for the mysterious plane they saw while trying to come to terms with Tom’s shocking loss.

They have left California behind, and are now in Nevada where Nix and Benny are having issues with their relationship and Lilah is coming to terms with her feelings for Chong. Things in the Ruin are also quickly changing. It appears that the zombies are getting faster and have a general understanding of what is happening around them while animals are now appearing as infected and causing problems for the group.

I have not read the novella Dead & Gone before picking up Flesh Bone. I probably should have and may do so sometime in the near future since many new characters appear and make an immediate impact on Benny & Crew. Maberry introduces readers to Riot, Eve and her family, as well an organization called the Night Church and its psychotic leader Saint John of the knives who is just plain evil in every way imaginable.

There’s also Mother Rose who leads a group known as Reapers who follow the doctrine of the Night Church and the god Thanatos by crossing the country killing everyone who refuses to join their crusade. Mother Rose also has a few choice secrets of her own that slowly unravel as the story reaches its pinnacle.

Not everything is dark and dreary or foreboding this time out. We have the arrival of Captain Joe Ledger of the Rangers and his zombie killing dog Grimm to the story. Fans of “Patient Zero” will immediately recognize who Captain Ledger is. I must say that Joe’s arrival was a pleasant surprise and one that I hope continues over the course of the next installment. There is a definite past between Joe and Saint John that I would love to see played out in this series.

We’re also discovering that the world didn’t exactly end on FIRST NIGHT as most believed when Benny and Nix discover all sorts of interesting things. They also learn that there is a place called Sanctuary run by the Children of God Monks and it appears that a new American nation is attempting to rise up out of the ashes left by the destruction of FIRST NIGHT.

Flesh & Bone is action packed and emotional right from the onset as Benny and crew are forced to fight against not only zombies, but the Reapers and infected animals as well. I’m happy to say that Maberry has once again written an outstanding novel that has everything I expect from a horror/dystopian novel. I’m definitely looking forward to reading Fire and Ash when it releases September 26th 2013.
...more

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Feb 08, 2012 Christy LoveOfBooks rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: e-book, read-in-2012

I can’t believe it’s over! Flesh & Bone went by way too fast. This series is one of my most favorites, and one of the few I read as soon as the books are released. I know it seems like my blog is becoming a Jonathan Maberry fan page lately, but the man has an amazing gift for writing that I can’t get enough of.

Flesh & Bone picks up about a month after Benny, Nix, Lilah, and Chong disembarked on their journey east. Leaving the only home they’ve known in the Central California mountains I can’t believe it’s over! Flesh & Bone went by way too fast. This series is one of my most favorites, and one of the few I read as soon as the books are released. I know it seems like my blog is becoming a Jonathan Maberry fan page lately, but the man has an amazing gift for writing that I can’t get enough of.

Flesh & Bone picks up about a month after Benny, Nix, Lilah, and Chong disembarked on their journey east. Leaving the only home they’ve known in the Central California mountains behind, in search of the mystery jet. The book is action packed right from the start. Their skills are put to the test, not only physically, but intellectually, as well. Of course, Maberry has to make me cry at least once in these books, so get your tissue ready.

Benny, Nix, Lilah, and Chong were great as always. Nix and Lilah are fierce, and anyone should think twice when crossing them. I love those girls so much, especially Lilah. She’s truly one tough chick, yet she really does want the love she’s only read about in books. And I love how everyone is so confident in her abilities. Sometimes I felt a little sorry for Benny and Chong, because I know it can be tough with not only one, but two dominant females. Mostly, though, it made me laugh. Chong especially made me laugh, with all of his smart-ass remarks.

There are new monsters in Flesh & Bone, and I don’t mean the zombies. The Night Church is making their way across the country, killing everyone who doesn’t join them. It’s a good idea to read the novella Dead & Gone prior to starting this book. It’s not necessary, but it’s a lot nicer to have some background on Riot and the Night Church. Riot has ties to the Night Church, but wants nothing to do with them. I don’t blame her, because they psycho! It gets very ugly when it all come to a head in Nevada, with Benny and the gang right in the mix.

Those who are fans of Maberry’s Joe Ledger series are in for quite a treat! Prior to the release of Flesh & Bone, I saw on Maberry’s facebook that Ledger would make a cameo, so I thought it would be something small, like just a mention in passing. Wrong, there is a lot of him! I was beyond giddy. The way he was incorporated into the story was brilliant! There were a few other references that I found humorous, too.

Overall, Flesh & Bone is a great addition to an amazing series. I highly recommend this series, even to people who aren’t into zombies. I can’t wait to get my hands on the fourth and final book, Fire & Ash, due out in 2013.
...more

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Jan 12, 2012 Sue Smith rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-read-in-2012

This book is not an easy book to review. Why?, you ask. Well, I'll tell you ... but forgive me if I meander like a zombie after a bite to eat .... I want to give the story justice!

Firstly, let me assure you that it's a great book. I do love how Jonathan Maberry makes the existence of zombies a frighteningly realistic thing, with a human element that just adds to the horror of it. And this particular chapter into the 'adventure' of a group of young friends really brings that to light even more This book is not an easy book to review. Why?, you ask. Well, I'll tell you ... but forgive me if I meander like a zombie after a bite to eat .... I want to give the story justice!

Firstly, let me assure you that it's a great book. I do love how Jonathan Maberry makes the existence of zombies a frighteningly realistic thing, with a human element that just adds to the horror of it. And this particular chapter into the 'adventure' of a group of young friends really brings that to light even more so. I don't think I'd like to see this happen to the world. It truly would be a scary place to be, especially because the craziness and extremisms would be such an easy thing to visualize happening. Peace and keeping it are always on a fine balancing wire together.

What makes this book so much different from the first two of the series is that it loses the ‘youth’ factor in it. It’s a sadder book and the a lot more heavy. The comedic sarcasm that was so prominent in the lead character(s) is still there, only you really feel how flat it falls in the denseness of the tragedy of the life –or what’s left of it – that they find themselves a part of. In truth, these kids grow up fast because they have to but not because it’s easy to do, or wanted. They all long for something they can no longer have and they all have to continue on with life, and those don’t always mix as easily as it did before. It’s that old adage that you don’t really know what you got until you don’t have it anymore.

And this new heaviness that the previous two books had in short supply, nearly dropped my rating to three stars. I missed the levity to offshoot the tragedy I suppose. It’s hard to give it full marks when it’s so different feeling from the first two, but I don’t think it lacked merit.

Oh – did I mention that there are zombies in this book? Sheesh … do I really have to?! Of course there are zombies in this book!! Only there’s an added element to the horror of a zombie plague that makes them beyond horrible. (Where Jonathan Maberry gets his ideas is beyond me). Let’s just say that it’s a mutation of a zombie genetic mutation that would really put a strain on the remaining live people that are left to face them and survive without succumbing to it.

Lordy I’m glad we don’t really have to deal with zombies.

Great book! Can’t wait for the finale.
...more

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Mar 21, 2015 Karen’s Library rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: horror, read-more-than-once, zombies

I just finished rereading this remarkable book but this time on audio, which I highly recommend! Just as good the second time around!

Here is my original review:
Another fantastic non-stop action book in the The Rot & Ruin Collection: Rot & Ruin; Dust & Decay; Dead & Gone; Flesh & Bone series! For the first time ever, I actually tried to slow down my reading because I knew that once I finished, the book would be over. I never want this series to end.

The new evil doers were ...more

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Jun 08, 2014 Joey rated it did not like it

Shelves: my-library

Can not finish. Loved the first one, the second was Ok, but this one is unbearable. If I had to read the phrase "Warrior Smart" one more time....
Chapter after chapter is dedicated to reminding us how short our memories are by telling us again and again what had happened in the first two books. Not just a sentence or two but page after page after page. The book has very little to do with zombies but everything to do with awkward teenage love. But being I hate not finishing a book, I will TRY to ...more

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Apr 08, 2016 Kelly (Diva Booknerd) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: bookgasm, pleasure-reads

The only series that has been able to fill The Walking Dead void in my life between seasons. Dropping everything else to binge and finish off this series. Love. It.

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Nov 12, 2017 Abbie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Actual rating - 3.5

Another enjoyable read in the series. Looking forward to the next one.

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Jul 07, 2012 Shannon Kitchens rated it it was amazing

Shelves: top-picks-of-2012, ya-reads-for-non-ya-readers, boy-books, zombies, horror, a-decade-of-books

I'm a writer. And when I read a book, I often notice little writery tricks. I can see where the story is going, and I can appreicate it on a technical level. But, what sets a story/book apart for me, is its ability to make me forget I'm a writer. Make me forget it's following certain paths that stories take. Make me hope and wish for something that the logical part of my brain knows can't happen. Make me forget I'm reading a story but instead glimpsing a slice of some other place. Flesh & ...more

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Sep 10, 2013 Elizabeth rated it really liked it

** spoilers for the previous books in the series**

In spite of tragedy, Benny Imura surges on to find the airplane he saw flying through the air with the help of his friends, Nix, Chong, and Lilah. They still traverse the Rot and Ruin towards the unknown, but their hope stays strong. The world is a wild place now. Exotic animals hunt them. Zombies attack them in swarms and not just slow, normal zombies, but faster, evolving zombies. A death cult grows large and picks off towns and villages one by ** spoilers for the previous books in the series**

In spite of tragedy, Benny Imura surges on to find the airplane he saw flying through the air with the help of his friends, Nix, Chong, and Lilah. They still traverse the Rot and Ruin towards the unknown, but their hope stays strong. The world is a wild place now. Exotic animals hunt them. Zombies attack them in swarms and not just slow, normal zombies, but faster, evolving zombies. A death cult grows large and picks off towns and villages one by one, leaving a wake of blood and death. A small band of survivors try to fight back, but the odds don't look good. Benny and his friends must remain constantly vigilant that everything in the Rot and Ruin willy try to kill them in order to survive.

Flesh and Bone is the third in the series and it's going very strong. Benny and his friends are in emotional shambles at this point because of Tom's death. Benny is acting recklessly to prove to a disembodied Tom in his head that he can be the samurai he was taught to be. Nix is distant and lost in her own thoughts much of the time, making her relationship with Benny strained even further. Nix's journal is interspersed in between the chapters, giving insight to her emotions and thoughts that she keeps from the others. Her journey to find the airplane means more to her than the others know. Lilah and Chong are both suffering from the loss, but maintain more of who they were before. Through most of the novel, these characters are separated and each go through their own struggles. I enjoyed seeing the story from each character's point of view and I especially liked the insight into Lilah who has a weakness for classic romantic literature underneath her steely exterior.

A new Big Bad is introduced in this novel: the Night Church. They are a fanatical death cult that see survivors as an affront to God's will because the zombies were created to destroy the human race. The cult feels it's their duty to "open red doors" in people and release them into the bliss of death. These people are incredibly frightening because of their stalwart faith that what they are doing is right. Saint John of the Knife is the most zealous and frightening of the bunch, thinking of bigger and more effective ways to accomplish their goal. The leader of the cult is Mother Rose, who doesn't believe in the dogma at all and uses the cult to gain power and eliminate the opposition. These two main villains are incredibly dangerous in their own way and are the best of the series so far. Their dynamic together is interesting and you wonder who is really fooling who in the situation and when they will find out the truth about each other.

Flesh and Bone has character development, super creepy villains, and, of course, zombies. Interesting things happen with these zombies that I never saw coming. The zombies still have a huge presence in the novel and become even more frightening than before. Paired with the human villains, the odds against our heroes are astronomically high. I can't wait to read the final book in the series, Fire and Ash. ...more

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Nov 20, 2012 Christina (Ensconced in Lit) rated it really liked it

I'm a big fan of the previous two books in this quartet. The first, Rot and Ruin, was probably my favorite read of the year. The second, was almost as strong, and ended with heartbreak that I had to deal with for a few weeks before picking up the third. This installment is my least favorite of the three for a few reasons, but definitely worth reading, and thoughtful in its own way.

Flesh and Bone is the third out of four books by Jonathan Maberry about the zombie apocalypse that has fallen on the I'm a big fan of the previous two books in this quartet. The first, Rot and Ruin, was probably my favorite read of the year. The second, was almost as strong, and ended with heartbreak that I had to deal with for a few weeks before picking up the third. This installment is my least favorite of the three for a few reasons, but definitely worth reading, and thoughtful in its own way.

Flesh and Bone is the third out of four books by Jonathan Maberry about the zombie apocalypse that has fallen on the world. Benny, Chong, the Lost Girl, and Nix are struggling to survive in the Rot and Ruin after still reeling from deaths of loved ones. They encounter more evil than they thought possible-- a group of Reapers whose sole purpose is to have everyone join the Gray Walkers that abound the earth. New characters are introduced (including a terrifying Big Bad), and the mystery of the plane is solved.

What I Loved: The development of Chong was probably my favorite part of the book. He's come so far and his relationship with the Lost Girl is very sweet. This makes the ending that much more poignant. Also, we get the introduction of a new cult, which is terrifying in its sway in this awful world. I can imagine people giving up and joining a cult to end the human race. We see this kind of depression in medicine all the time-- and I can't imagine if the world was actually as bad as people saw it, what that would do to the human psyche. Maberry is terrific at coming up with new ethical dilemmas, and he is very thoughtful in his dealings with them.

What I wasn't as thrilled about: I know my reaction to this book is a little bit like my reaction to Harry Potter book 5. It was a must read, but because of how annoying adolescent Harry was, it was my least favorite. I had the same reaction to Nix-- so many times in the book, I just wanted to shake her. She exhibited all the worst characteristics of female communication (i.e. men need to just know what we are thinking), and was a complete brat to Benny for most of the book. Also, the first half of the book was more of the characters just wandering around in the Rot and Ruin, and seemed like just filler for the last 25%, which was non-stop action and intrigue to the end.

That said, there is no doubt that I'm following this to the end and cannot wait to pick up the fourth and final installment of this series, which is probably the best set of books I've read this year. ...more

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You Are Never Too...: Flesh & Bone (Rot & Ruin #3) July 8, 2019	14	6	Jul 15, 2019 08:32AM
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I need a reminder of how it ended	1	16	Oct 31, 2013 09:55PM
David Estes Fans ...: Flesh & Bone Buddy Read!	52	32	Jun 25, 2013 09:55AM
Jonathan Maberry : Flesh & Bone	11	33	Nov 06, 2012 10:58AM
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About Jonathan Maberry

Jonathan Maberry

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JONATHAN MABERRY is a New York Times best-selling and five-time Bram Stoker Award-winning author, anthology editor, comic book writer, magazine feature writer, playwright, content creator and writing teacher/lecturer. He was named one of the Today’s Top Ten Horror Writers. His books have been sold to more than two-dozen countries.

He writes in several genres. His young adult fiction includes ROT JONATHAN MABERRY is a New York Times best-selling and five-time Bram Stoker Award-winning author, anthology editor, comic book writer, magazine feature writer, playwright, content creator and writing teacher/lecturer. He was named one of the Today’s Top Ten Horror Writers. His books have been sold to more than two-dozen countries.

He writes in several genres. His young adult fiction includes ROT & RUIN (2011; was named in Booklist’s Ten Best Horror Novels for Young Adults, an American Library Association Top Pick, a Bram Stoker and Pennsylvania Keystone to Reading winner; winner of several state Teen Book Awards including the Cricket, Nutmeg and MASL; winner of the Cybils Award, the Eva Perry Mock Printz medal, Dead Letter Best Novel Award, and four Melinda Awards); DUST & DECAY (winner of the 2011 Bram Stoker Award; FLESH & BONE (winner of the Bram Stoker Award; 2012; and FIRE & ASH (August 2013). BROKEN LANDS, the first of a new spin-off series, debuts in 2018.

His thrillers include The Joe Ledger Thrillers from St. Martin’s Griffin (PATIENT ZERO, 2009, winner of the Black Quill and a Bram Stoker Award finalist for Best Novel; EXTINCTION MACHINE, (2013; now in development for TV by SONY); PREDATOR ONE, and others. His first middle grade novel, THE NIGHTSIDERS BOOK 1: THE ORPHAN ARMY, was named one the 100 Best Books for Children 2015, with a sequel, VAULT OF SHADOWS debuting this year from Simon & Schuster. His standalone teen science fiction novel, MARS ONE, is in development for film by Zucker Productions and Lone Tree Entertainment. His upcoming standalone suspense novel, GLIMPSE, has gotten advance praise from Clive Barker, Scott Smith, James Rollins, Heather Graham and Charlaine Harris.

His horror novels include The Pine Deep Trilogy from Pinnacle Books (GHOST ROAD BLUES, 2006, winner of the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel and named one of the 25 Best Horror Novels of the New Millennium; DEAD MAN’S SONG, 2007; and BAD MOON RISING, 2008), as well as DEAD OF NIGHT, 2011 (named one of the 25 Best Horror Novels of the New Millennium) and its sequel, FALL OF NIGHT, 2014. He also wrote the movie novelization, THE WOLFMAN, 2010, winner of the Scribe Award for Best Adaptation; and DEADLANDS: GHOSTWALKERS, an original novel inspired by the million-copy-selling role-playing game. He has also written the foreword to a new annotated edition of DRACULA from Writers Digest Books.

Jonathan and colleague #1 NY Times bestseller Kami Garcia (Beautiful Creatures) each wrote an X-FILES ORIGINS novel for teens; with Kami focusing on Fox Mulder in AGENT OF CHAOS; and Jonathan telling the backstory of young Dana Scully in DEVIL’S ADVOCATE.

Jonathan is the creator, editor and co-author of V-WARS, a shared-world vampire anthology from IDW, and its sequels, V-WARS: BLOOD AND FIRE, V-WARS: NIGHT TERRORS, and V-WARS. And he writes a best-selling monthly V-WARS comic. A board game version of V-Wars was released in 2017; and the series is in development for TV by IDW Media.

He is also the editor of the dark fantasy anthology series, OUT OF TUNE (JournalStone), a series of THE X-FILES anthologies which launched in 2015; SCARY OUT THERE, an anthology of horror for teens; and the anthologies ALIENS: BUG HUNT, NIGHTS OF THE LIVING DEAD (with George Romero), JOE LEDGER UNSTOPPABLE (with Bryan Thomas Schmidt) and two volumes of mysteries: ALTERNATE SHERLOCKS and THE GAME’S AFOOT (with Michael Ventrella).

Jonathan was an expert on the History Channel documentary series, ZOMBIES: A Living History and TRUE MONSTERS. And he was participated in the commentary tracks for NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD: REANIMATED.

His many nonfiction works include VAMPIRE UNIVERSE (Citadel Press, 2006); THE CRYPTOPEDIA (Citadel, 2007 –winner of the Bram Stoker Award for Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction; co-authored by David F. Kramer); ZOMBIE CSU: The Forensics of the Living Dead (Winner of the Hinzman and Black Quill Awards and finalist for a St ...more