2026 Bookish Books Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)
2026 Cover Lovers Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)
2026 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge
2026 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge
Booklist Queen's 2026 Reading Challenge
2026 52 Club Reading Challenge
2026 Craving for Cozies Reading Challenge
2026 Medical Examiner Mystery Reading Challenge
2026 Mount TBR Reading Challenge
2026 Around the Year in 52 Books Reading Challenge
Shelf Reflection Candy Reading Challenge for Kids (and Adults)
2026 Countdown Reading Challenge
Dragon Rambles' Law of Fives Bingo
2026 Southern Literary Reading Challenge
2026 Reading Challenge (by Linz the Bookworm)
2026 Pioneer Book Reading Challenge
European Reading Challenge 2026
2017 Pick Your Poison Reading Challenge (retired challenge - doing old boards for fun)
2026 Reading Challenge Addict Reading Challenge
The 100 Most Common Last Names in the U.S. Reading Challenge
The Life Skills Reading Challenge
Showing posts with label Zombies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Zombies. Show all posts
Thursday, December 09, 2021
Body-Positive YA Horror Novel Hilarious and Powerful
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Vivian Ellenshaw knows she's overweight. She also knows it doesn't matter. The teen is comfortable with who she is—a smart, funny, athletic soccer star—and with how she looks (even if her plus-size body bothers her mother and her new stepdad). Vee is not exactly thrilled, then, when her parents decide she needs to spend her winter break at a weight-loss camp. She's even less enthusiastic when she realizes who's going to be accompanying her on the van ride to Flagstaff: Allison DuMonde, her former BFF. Although the camp van driver is a hot college student, a definite plus, Vee is not happy about the situation, which seems to be getting worse by the second.
I've been looking forward to reading Eat Your Heart Out, the newest YA novel from local Arizona author Kelly deVos, ever since I heard about it. It's got a fun premise (with a hard-core message behind it) that just makes me laugh. The set-up is unique, the characters are likable, and the action is pretty much non-stop from the get-go. Although the book is gory and sad (in places), it's also surprisingly upbeat and funny. Most of all, it's an empowering, body-positive novel that smashes stereotypes and reminds us all that everyone is more than what their outward appearances might suggest. I could have done without the constant F-bombs blasting all over the place, but otherwise, I enjoyed this entertaining read and its many powerful messages.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Starfish by Lisa Fipps [sans zombies])
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language, violence, blood/gore, and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Eat Your Heart Out with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
YA Zombie Western Satisfies On Every Level
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Dusty and desolate, the mostly abandoned town of Glory, Texas, is little more than a pile of dirt in a vast, unforgiving desert. It's a miracle anything survives in the rough, ugly settlement. With "shakers"—mindless, cannibalistic zombies—haunting Glory's perimeter and greedy, heartless men-monsters ruling its interior, no one escapes Glory unscathed.
Daisy "Willie" Wilcox lost her mother to the shaker disease last year, but the 17-year-old is determined not to let any harm come to her three younger siblings. They might be penniless, but she's doing everything in her power to keep them sheltered and safe. When a pair of violent shaker hunters accuses Willie's no-good, never-around father of stealing from them, Willie knows she has to take their threats against her family seriously. She doesn't have $3 to give the men, let alone $300, but with a little help, she thinks she can track down her drunken dad. After tricking a pair of more benign shaker hunters into accompanying her, she sets off on a desperate, perilous journey across the cruel, callous desert. Willie will do anything, risk everything, to protect her siblings. Even if it kills her—and it probably will—she'll fight to the death to save her family.
As a desert dweller who's enjoyed a number of YA westerns in the past little while, I found everything about Devils Unto Dust—a debut novel by Emma Berquist—appealing. From its gritty cover to its enthralling premise to its action-packed plot to its endearing characters, this is one of those books that just satisfies on every level. True, it's not the most original zombie tale out there, but what it lacks in creativity it makes up for in solid writing, relatable characters, and an engrossing storyline. Besides a little blood and gore, it's also a clean novel that has a lot of crossover appeal. I thoroughly enjoyed Devils Unto Dust and can't wait until Berquist's new book (not a sequel) comes out next year.
(Readalikes: Dread Nation by Justina Ireland)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Devils Unto Dust from Amazon with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Friday, April 27, 2018
Exciting and Original, Alternate History Zombie Novel an Engrossing Read
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
The War Between the States was in full-swing when the country got the shock of its young life—its dead soldiers were not remaining dead. They were rising up, hungry and rabid. With shamblers turning everyone in their paths, war was derailed and desperate Americans had to learn to fight the growing zombie menace. An enterprising government came up with a brilliant solution. To create an army of monster-slayers, it passed the Native and Negro Reeducation Act, which required every Native and Negro child to attend combat school starting at 12 years old. While certain cities have since been declared shambler-free, these "throwaway" children still have plenty of fighting to do in order to keep their betters from being bitten.
At 17, Jane McKeene is in her third year at Miss Preston's School of Combat for Negro Girls in Baltimore. Despite being the daughter of one of the wealthiest white women in Haller County, Kentucky, Jane's mixed-race ethnicity destines her for a life of servitude. Although her fondest desire is to return home to check on her family—from whom she has heard nothing—she's making the best of her situation. She's training to be an Attendant, a combination chaperone/bodyguard for rich white girls. While such a career will hardly give her the freedom she craves, it beats harvesting cotton or slaving away in a hot kitchen. Besides, she's a skilled fighter. If she can just manage to keep her mouth shut and her manners in check long enough, a secure future will be hers.When local families start to vanish, Jane's skeptical of the official "shambler attack" explanation. Something else is going on, something much more disturbing. Not one for leaving well enough alone, she launches her own investigation into the strange disappearances. Before she knows it, she's embroiled in a plan more sinister than she ever could have imagined. With her bright future, not to mention her very life, on the line, she has to escape and find her way back to Kentucky. The shamblers aren't the only monsters Jane encounters as she fights for survival in a grim, violent world that considers her—and others like her—very much expendable.
I've been dying to read Dread Nation, a debut novel by Justina Ireland, ever since I heard about it. I was thrilled, then, when I won a copy of it from YA author Mindy McGinnis (if you like book giveaways, you have to check out her blog). The story gripped me from the very first page with its intriguing blend of horror, adventure, alternate history, and humor. Jane's impossible not to like. She's tough and sassy, but also compassionate and loyal. It's easy to root for her as she struggles to make her way in a grisly world where her life is valued only for its sacrificial power. With plenty of action to keep readers turning pages, Dread Nation is an entertaining novel so engrossing you almost don't recognize its allegorical nature. Ireland definitely has some messages—about race, about individual worth, about the value of all life—that she's trying to get across. And she succeeds without breaking the story's stride in the least. In short, I loved this book. I can't wait to see what happens next to the intrepid Jane McKeene.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of the Ashes trilogy [Ashes; Shadows; Monsters] by Ilsa J. Bick)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), blood/gore, violence, and sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I won an ARC of Dread Nation from the always generous Mindy McGinnis. Thank you!
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Despite More Generic Vibe, Contaminated 2 Still a Compelling, Can't-Put-It-Down Survival Story
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
(Note: Although this review will not contain spoilers for Mercy Mode, it may inadvertently spoil plot surprises from Contaminated. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)
It's been several years since the tainted diet drink, ThinPro, started turning normal people into zombie-like freaks. The Contaminated ("Connies") are less feared now, but still viewed by most with cautious suspicion. Even when the affected are wearing the shock collars that are supposed to keep them from turning violent. To contain further outbreaks, the regions of the U.S. hit hardest by the epidemic have been identified as "black zones." Under strict military rule, healthy citizens fight for basic needs—food, shelter, medicine—while soldiers patrol constantly looking for any sign of Connie trouble.
Ever since Velvet Ellis removed the collar from her mother's neck, she's doubted any official information about Connies. After all, the older woman didn't die like the government said she would—in fact, she got better. At least for a little while. Now, 17-year-old Velvet's even more worried. Her makeshift family—she, her younger sister, their mother, and Dillon, her on-paper-only husband—are barely surviving as it is. With her mom ailing and Velvet feeling some effects that can only be related to her own ingestion of ThinPro, she's got plenty to fret about. Especially when the government institutes mandatory testing for the disease. Determined to keep her family together at all costs, Velvet must do whatever it takes to survive.
I loved Contaminated, the first book in Em Garner's dystopian "zombie" series because it brought something new to the genre. It felt fresh and original. Mercy Mode, the second installment, feels less so. Still, despite a more generic vibe, the novel features a tense, taut plot line; strong, sympathetic characters; and a powerful, compelling central conflict. Anyone can relate to Velvet's desperate plight to save the people who mean the most to her. Because achieving her goal takes the unselfish sacrifice of her own wants, she's a noble heroine—it's impossible not to root for her success. Like its predecessor, Mercy Mode is a fast-paced, can't-put-it-down read that will stay with you long after you finish it.
(Readalikes: Contaminated by Em Garner; also the Moon books by Susan Beth Pfeffer [Life As We Knew It; The Dead and the Gone; This World We Live In; The Shade of the Moon])
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and intense situations
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Contaminated A Uniquely Compassionate "Zombie" Tale
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
"They're not zombies, they're just people" (32).
When ThinPro hit the market, people went crazy for it. So crazy that the demand for the diet drink outweighed the company's ability to produce a safe, quality product. The result? Questionable ingredients. Which led to not just a public outcry, not just an FDA crackdown, not just an embarrassing public scandal, but the unthinkable: zombies. Maybe not the shambling, bloodthirsty nightmares slobbering their way across movie screens, but something like them. Ordinary citizens turned violent. Dangerous. Became something not quite human.
Two years after the epidemic was unleashed, the Contaminated (known as "Connies") aren't being hunted down, they're being rounded up and rehabilitated. With shock collars keeping them controlled, the Connies can be safely reintroduced to their homes and communities. Theoretically. If, that is, anyone actually wants to claim their Contaminated relatives.
Ever since her parents were taken in the first wave of Connie round-ups, Velvet Ellis has been searching for them. When she finally finds her mother imprisoned in a kennel, the 17-year-old vows to bring her home. She doesn't care what complications might arise, she just wants her mother back. Even if the woman is about as interactive as a goldfish.
Velvet's weary enough from two years of trying to keep herself and her little sister alive, but having a Connie around makes everything more complicated. With fear of Connies still rampant, Velvet gets little support from anyone. Still, she'll do anything to protect her mother. Especially when the military comes sniffing around. How far will she be forced to go in order to keep her mom safe? Velvet has risked everything to prove that Connies aren't monsters—does she believe it enough to remove the shock collar from around her mother's neck? Is she willing to risk all their lives by trusting a Connie?
I've read a lot of zombie novels, enough to know just how different Contaminated by Em Garner is from its shelf-mates. First off, it's sympathetic toward the afflicted. Compassionate, even. That's rare in a genre that generally glorifies violent, bloody zombie hunts. Second, it's not really about the zombies/Connies. At its heart, Contaminated is a gritty survival story about one girl's desperate plight to keep her family together. That passionate struggle is what kept me reading, kept me cheering for Velvet's success, kept me thinking about the novel long after I'd finished it. With a tense, taut plotline, sympathetic characters and a unique premise, Contaminated brings something new to the zombie genre. It's a compelling, can't-look-away read that will appeal to anyone who digs a good survival story, zombie lover or not.
(Readalikes: its sequel, Mercy Mode by Em Garner)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and disturbing content
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Saturday, January 10, 2015
Nothing New or Original Makes Zombie Novel a Meh for Me
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Dealing with a monster is nothing new for Scarlet, a 33-year-old single mother of two girls. After all, she does battle with her slutty ex-husband every day. Nate Oxford fights a boring desk job that's about as fulfilling as his marriage. Being with his 7-year-old daughter is about the only thing that gives his life meaning. Eighteen-year-old Miranda Hayes' only concern is getting away, road-tripping with her sister and their boyfriends.
These three very different people are going about their daily business when the world goes stark, raving mad. A vicious outbreak is consuming people all over the globe, turning them into bloodthirsty zombies. None of them are safe. All of their panicked minds come up with the same solution—Red Hill. Although the isolated ranch doesn't belong to any of them, they head there anyway, praying to be let inside.
As the fates of the trio intertwine, they must learn to trust each other in order to survive. But as their world becomes an increasingly deadly place, the question becomes not just how to keep going, but why? Is it worth living if it means doing so without their loved ones in a world gone hopelessly awry?
I've read a lot of zombie novels and Red Hill by Jamie McGuire is pretty much the same as all the rest. It's more upbeat, true, but it's still the same ole same ole. McGuire's characters are likable, although they all seem pretty blasé about the whole zombie thing. Their emotions, especially at first, just don't ring very true. Because Red Hill takes place in a remote location, it's not as action-packed as other horror novels—really, the story is more about the humans than the zombies. All in all, though, this is a pretty average monster novel. There's nothing new or original about it. Thus, it was just an okay read for me.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other zombie novels)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, violence, blood/gore, and sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Red Hill with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Friday, April 04, 2014
New Bethany Wiggins Dystopian: How Did I (Almost) Miss This One?
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
So, I'm still trying to figure out how I missed the fact that Bethany Wiggins wrote another book (actually, two). I enjoyed her debut, Shifting, then somehow lost track of her. When I discovered Stung, the first installment in her YA dystopian series, I was shocked. As far as I can tell, the novel's received very little buzz. Which is a crying shame, since it's a taut, well-crafted post-apocalyptic thriller. Original? Well, okay, it's kind of the same ole, same ole plot-wise, but still, it's better written than many of its contemporaries.
The publisher's plot summary describes the book well—and in one concise, compelling paragraph, no less:
Fiona doesn't remember going to sleep. But when she opens her eyes, she discovers her entire world has been altered-her house is abandoned and broken, and the entire neighborhood is barren and dead. Even stranger is the tattoo on her right wrist-a black oval with five marks on either side-that she doesn't remember getting but somehow knows she must cover at any cost. And she's right. When the honeybee population collapsed, a worldwide pandemic occurred and the government tried to bio-engineer a cure. Only the solution was deadlier than the original problem-the vaccination turned people into ferocious, deadly beasts who were branded as a warning to un-vaccinated survivors. Key people needed to rebuild society are protected from disease and beasts inside a fortress-like wall. But Fiona has awakened branded, alone-and on the wrong side of the wall . . .
I love the whole Sleeping Beauty aspect of this novel. It brings a new spin to an overly-familiar storyline, while introducing the reader to the rules of Fiona's dystopian world in a way that feels both natural and suspenseful. Fi's a sympathetic character, one who's easy to relate to and root for. As you can imagine, Stung offers plenty of action, intensity, and zombie gore. A bit of romance, too. Overall, it's a fast-paced, engrossing tale that stands out from its peers (at least for me) because of its tight prose, interesting characters and heart-pounding action. So what if Stung's nothing we haven't seen before? I enjoyed it. A lot.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Ashes and Shadows by Ilsa J. Bick; Ashfall and Ashen Winter by Mike Mullin; and, of course, its sequel, Cured by Bethany Wiggins)
Grade:
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Ashes and Shadows by Ilsa J. Bick; Ashfall and Ashen Winter by Mike Mullin; and, of course, its sequel, Cured by Bethany Wiggins)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs); violence/gore; and references to rape
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Friday, October 26, 2012
I'll Take More Human Drama, Less Zombie Gore, If You Please (With a Giveaway!)
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
(Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for Shadows, it may inadvertently spoil plot surprises from Ashes, its predecessor. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)
Although Alex has lived in relative safety for the last few months, she knows she can't stay in Rule. Sure, it's zombie-free, but there are other predators in the city. And these animals are still in control of their brains—they know all too well how to manipulate teenage girls, to use them, to break them. Alex can't let that happen to her. She's already lost the people she loves most; she can't lose herself as well. But outside the protected town are horrors she can barely fathom, let alone fight. Captured by a sinister group of Changed, she waits ... to die.
Unbeknownst to Alex, Tom Eden is alive. Still recovering from the near death experience that led to his separation from Alex, he's hiding out in Wisconsin. Although he's being sheltered by good people, he knows he's not completely safe. The Changed are always out there, as are the bounty hunters who roam the ruined country looking for able-bodied men to kidnap and sell to the highest bidder. Trekking through the snow to Wisconsin, where Tom believes Alex is still living in Rule, will not be an easy journey. But it's one he has to take. He can't live without Alex.
As Tom and Alex fight their individual battles for survival, they inch closer and closer to each other. But in a world like theirs, where death lurks around every corner, there's little chance the two will ever meet again. Especially when fighting to stay alive seems to be an exercise in futility. Still, Tom trudges on. Still, Alex fights. Still, they hope—for a better life, for a better world and, however impossible it seems, for each other.
So, the thing I loved most about Ashes, the first book in Ilsa J. Bick's YA zombie trilogy, is that it wasn't really about the zombies. They were present, of course, but the blood and guts took a backstage to the human drama. In Shadows? Not so much. This time, it's more about the gore. Which got old. And nauseating. Really nauseating. The story's exciting— it's an edge-of-your-seat, can't-breathe-'til-you-finish, thrill-a-minute horror extravaganza. And because Bick wrote it, the book's so compelling that you can't stop yourself from reading it even though it's making you physically ill. My overall feelings on this one, though? It kept me totally absorbed, but I was a tad disappointed. I wanted more humanity, less zombie action. Still, I enjoy this series and I can't wait to see how it all ends up. I really can't, because Bick always surprises me. Even if it's with the kind of gore that makes me throw up in my mouth—and swallow it down because I don't want to waste time throwing up when I need to be turning pages to find out what's going to happen next. Yeah, it's totally like that.
(Readalikes: Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick; also other zombie novels like The Passage by Justin Cronin; The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan; Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry; The Enemy by Charles Higson; etc.)
Grade: B-
If this were a movie, it would be rated: R for language (a few F-bombs as well as milder invectives), violence/gore, and sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I received two finished copies of Shadows from the generous folks at Egmont USA. Thank you!
----------
Giveaway time! The very generous people at Egmont USA have given me an extra copy of Shadows to give away to one of you. It's a brand new, hardcover zombie book, just in time for Halloween. What's not to love? What do you have to do to win it? How about this: Leave me a comment telling me about the best Halloween costume you ever wore. Please be sure to leave an email address along with your answer. As always, I'll give you extra entries for spreading the word about the giveaway (1 extra entry per method of word-spreading). I'll choose a winner on October 31st. Giveaway is open to readers with U.S. and Canadian addresses only. Good luck!
Although Alex has lived in relative safety for the last few months, she knows she can't stay in Rule. Sure, it's zombie-free, but there are other predators in the city. And these animals are still in control of their brains—they know all too well how to manipulate teenage girls, to use them, to break them. Alex can't let that happen to her. She's already lost the people she loves most; she can't lose herself as well. But outside the protected town are horrors she can barely fathom, let alone fight. Captured by a sinister group of Changed, she waits ... to die.
Unbeknownst to Alex, Tom Eden is alive. Still recovering from the near death experience that led to his separation from Alex, he's hiding out in Wisconsin. Although he's being sheltered by good people, he knows he's not completely safe. The Changed are always out there, as are the bounty hunters who roam the ruined country looking for able-bodied men to kidnap and sell to the highest bidder. Trekking through the snow to Wisconsin, where Tom believes Alex is still living in Rule, will not be an easy journey. But it's one he has to take. He can't live without Alex.
As Tom and Alex fight their individual battles for survival, they inch closer and closer to each other. But in a world like theirs, where death lurks around every corner, there's little chance the two will ever meet again. Especially when fighting to stay alive seems to be an exercise in futility. Still, Tom trudges on. Still, Alex fights. Still, they hope—for a better life, for a better world and, however impossible it seems, for each other.
So, the thing I loved most about Ashes, the first book in Ilsa J. Bick's YA zombie trilogy, is that it wasn't really about the zombies. They were present, of course, but the blood and guts took a backstage to the human drama. In Shadows? Not so much. This time, it's more about the gore. Which got old. And nauseating. Really nauseating. The story's exciting— it's an edge-of-your-seat, can't-breathe-'til-you-finish, thrill-a-minute horror extravaganza. And because Bick wrote it, the book's so compelling that you can't stop yourself from reading it even though it's making you physically ill. My overall feelings on this one, though? It kept me totally absorbed, but I was a tad disappointed. I wanted more humanity, less zombie action. Still, I enjoy this series and I can't wait to see how it all ends up. I really can't, because Bick always surprises me. Even if it's with the kind of gore that makes me throw up in my mouth—and swallow it down because I don't want to waste time throwing up when I need to be turning pages to find out what's going to happen next. Yeah, it's totally like that.
(Readalikes: Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick; also other zombie novels like The Passage by Justin Cronin; The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan; Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry; The Enemy by Charles Higson; etc.)
Grade: B-
If this were a movie, it would be rated: R for language (a few F-bombs as well as milder invectives), violence/gore, and sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I received two finished copies of Shadows from the generous folks at Egmont USA. Thank you!
----------
Giveaway time! The very generous people at Egmont USA have given me an extra copy of Shadows to give away to one of you. It's a brand new, hardcover zombie book, just in time for Halloween. What's not to love? What do you have to do to win it? How about this: Leave me a comment telling me about the best Halloween costume you ever wore. Please be sure to leave an email address along with your answer. As always, I'll give you extra entries for spreading the word about the giveaway (1 extra entry per method of word-spreading). I'll choose a winner on October 31st. Giveaway is open to readers with U.S. and Canadian addresses only. Good luck!
Monday, July 30, 2012
Craving a Raw, Pulse-Pounding Zombie Adventure? Look No Further.
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Most people fear the end of the world. Not Sloane Price. She welcomes it. Ever since her older sister took off, leaving Sloane to deal with her abusive father alone, she's been longing for the blissful nothingness of death. So, when a zombie outbreak turns her hometown upside down, Sloane's not particularly worried about survival. It's only by chance that a group of her classmates finds her. And saves her.
Now, Sloane and five other teenagers are holed up inside Cortege High School. Although they can hear the undead banging on the doors, the group feels safe enough for now. They've got food, shelter, even water. It won't last forever, but for now, the kids can breathe a little easier. But as the days wear on, it becomes obvious that zombies aren't the only danger they face. Fear, boredom, depression, turf wars, divided loyalties—every little thing becomes a life-or-death struggle for the kids barricaded inside the school.
At first, Sloane feels removed from all the drama. What does it matter, when all she really wants to do is die? But is that still her strongest desire? As the situations inside and outside the school become increasingly desperate, Sloane has to decide what she really wants—to live or to die?
So, I've realized that my favorite zombie novels aren't really about the zombies at all. The allure for me is not in the blood, it's not in the gore, it's in the human reaction to a world gone mad. Which explains why I found This Is Not A Test by Courtney Summers such a riveting read. Because while it is about zombies, it's also not about zombies. It's really about people—six scared teenagers, who are trying their best to survive their fear, their grief, their hunger, their fury. Themselves. The book quickly becomes less horror novel, more psychological thriller, which just makes it more of an edge-of-your-seat, can't-go-to-sleep-until-you-finish-it read. Considering the premise, it won't surprise you to learn that This Is Not A Test is an ultimately hopeful, but in the meantime very bleak and depressing kind of story. No matter. I loved it, still. If you're craving a raw, pulse-pounding zombie adventure, look no further—you just found it.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick as well as other zombie novels, like Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry; I Am Legend by Richard Matheson; The Passage by Justin Cronin; The Enemy by Charlie Higson; The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan; etc. Also reminds me of Trapped by Michael Northrop, although Trapped isn't about zombies.)
Grade: B
If this were a movie, it would be rated: R for strong language, violence/gore, depictions of underage drinking and sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of This Is Not A Test from Amazon with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
Just Go Read The Book. You Can Thank Me Later.
(Image from Barnes & Noble)"Of course, that was then and this was the end of the world" (265).
So, here's the thing: The best zombie apocalypse book I've read to date isn't even really about zombies. I mean, it is. They're definitely there in all their blank-eyed, foot-dragging, gut-slurping glory. It's just that there's so much more to Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick that you kind of forget about the zombies. How to explain this epic novel, the first in what promises to be a most excellent trilogy? Well, it's like dumping all your favorite dystopian stories into a blender, selecting the finest mix-ins (vivid prose, intriguing characters, heartpounding suspense, etc.), hitting puree, and pouring out the perfect blend of dystopian goodness. Yep, that's Ashes.
The story begins in Michigan's Waucamaw Wilderness, where 17-year-old Alex Adair is hiking in the woods. She's toting camping gear, her father's Glock, and a black case that holds all that remains of her parents. The tent and sleeping bag are necessities for the days-long hike to Lake Superior, where she plans to spread the ashes. And the pistol? Well, that's just in case. Just in case she finally finds the guts to blow the cancerous, inoperable tumor out of her head once and for all.
Before Alex has time to make it anywhere near the lake, it happens. An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) lasers the Earth. A flock of birds drops out of the sky, dead. A terrified doe bolts off the edge of a cliff. The kindly, old hiker Alex had just been talking to collapses and doesn't get up. Alex is alive, but ... changed. The haze in her head, a constant reminder of the cancer inside her, is gone, replaced by a weird sense she doesn't understand and can't explain. She doesn't have time to worry about it, either, because the world's gone crazy in the most inexplicable way possible and now she's fighting for her life on a remote mountain in the middle of nowhere. To make matters worse, she's now got 9-year-old Ellie to take care of. And precious few supplies. When they meet up with Tom Eden, a 20-year-old soldier on leave from an assignment in Afghanistan, the makeshift family has to find someplace to hide. The forest is crawling with wolves, coyotes, and something much more sinister. Something that looks human, but isn't. Not by a long shot.
While the trio hides out in the woods, they try to make sense of what's happening in the outside world. Widespread damage, they know that. Millions of deaths, they know that, too. Then there are the teenagers, who didn't die, not exactly, but changed into rabid zombies. Why Alex and Tom were spared they don't know. The hunt for answers takes them out of the mountains, into what was once civilized society. Now, it's more like a war zone. All the rules of safe, normal life have flown out the window. Everything has changed.
Desperate for food, shelter and medical help, Alex heads for the nearest settlement of survivors. No matter how crazy the world's gone, it's human nature to take in the helpless. No matter what she's seen, she has faith in people's innate goodness. No matter what, she has to get help. The heavily-guarded village of Rule offers that, but not without some strings attached. Alex will do anything to keep Ellie and Tom alive - even if it means living by strict, unfathomable laws. But the longer she stays in the town, the more unsettled she grows. Something's very wrong in Rule. Only one question remains: Will she survive longer in Rule or outside of it?
Grrr. My measly summary doesn't even come close to describing Ashes with any kind of accuracy. The book's hard to classify since it's part surival story, part sci fi adventure, part horror story, part psychological thriller, and 100% post-apocalyptic, dystopian awesomeness. Mostly, though, it's the story of a tough, courageous girl finding her will to survive in a world devoid of hope. Tense, taut, riveting, engrossing, unputdownable ... Oh, forget it, I give up - just go read the book.
You can thank me later.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of a bunch of dystopian novels - The Passage by Justin Cronin, The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan, Birthmarked and Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien, the Chaos Walking series [The Knife of Never Letting Go; The Ask and the Answer; Monsters of Men] by Patrick Ness, the Last Survivors series [Life As We Knew It; The Dead & The Gone; This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer, Wither by Lauren DeStefano, Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry, and lots more)
Grade: B+
If this were a movie, it would be rated: R for language (a couple of F-bombs, plus milder invectives), violence and gore
To the FTC, with love: I bought Ashes from Amazon with some of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Who Needs Candy Canes and Mistletoe When You've Got Zombies?
(Image from Indiebound)
I don't know about you, but nothing gets me in the holiday spirit quite like ... zombies. Something about rotting flesh, vacant eyes and gaping, hungry mouths just says Christmas to me. Okay, maybe not, but I wanted to read Rot & Ruin, Jonathan Maberry's YA horror novel, before the year ended. Even if its content is more suited to October than December.
The story takes place in central California, 14 years after a zombie outbreak decimates the country's human population. Small enclaves of the living remain, their makeshift towns dotted throughout the state, probably the whole U.S., maybe even the world. Fifteen-year-old Benny Imura wouldn't know; he's lived inside the thick walls of Mountainside his whole life. He knows about the living dead, of course, but he's never been foolish enough to venture beyond the town into their territory. Although its littered with signs of human habitation - smashed cars, crumbling buildings, abandoned homes - the great Rot and Ruin no longer belongs to the living. Only armed bounty hunters journey out into the wasteland, and then only to scavenge for supplies or complete contracted zombie kills. Everyone else stays inside the walls. Safe.
Zoms really aren't Benny's problem. Sure, he collects the trading cards, listens to hired guns brag about their kills, and practices defensive maneuvers in Scouts, but he's content to keep his distance from the brainless monsters. Benny's got enough to worry about. If he doesn't find a job - and soon - his food rations will be cut. The prospect propels him to search for a fulfilling career, something other than the family zombie killing business. Only no one seems to be hiring scrawny kids with poor eyesight. Resigning himself to an apprenticeship with the most boring bounty hunter in town (who happens to be his big brother, Tom), Benny sets about learning the grisly art of executing zombies for cash. It wouldn't be so bad if his teacher was a celebrity hunter like Charlie Matthias, who's always swapping cool hunting tales down at Lafferty's General Store. But it's not. It's his goody-to-shoes older brother. The rest of the town respects Tom's gentle ways, but Benny knows something no one else does - despite his impressive sword-fighting skills, Tom's a coward, the last person on Earth who should be dishing out advice.
As little as Benny respects his brother, spending time with Tom opens his eyes to things he's never even considered before. He learns that things and people are not always what they seem; that zombies aren't the only creatures to fear in the Rot and Ruin; and that true heroes are those who don't let their nightmarish living conditions steal their humanity. What he sees outside of Mountainside will change him. Forever.
While most of Rot & Ruin can be described as typical horror novel fare, there is one thing that sets it apart - the characters' empathy for the zoms. Tom's idea of euthanizing zoms calmly and compassionately is not a concept I've seen explored before in zombie lit. It makes for an interesting aside. The main focus, though, is action, and there's plenty of it. Gore, too. The book's more than bloody enough to satisfy young horror fans without getting as graphic as, say, a Stephen King epic. Even still, the plot sags at times, the players have some cheesy interactions, and the writing's nothing special. All in all, though, it's a quick, enjoyable read. More ghosts and goblins than candy canes and Santa Claus, but still ...
(Readalikes: The Passage by Justin Cronin; The Enemy by Charlie Higson; I Am Legend by Richard Matheson; and The Forest of Hands and Teeth and sequels by Carrie Ryan)
Grade: C
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 for language (no F-bombs), gore, and some sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: Another library
finefind
Friday, September 24, 2010
Confusing Vampire/Zombie Novel Just Kinda Sucks
(Image from Barnes & Noble)It all starts with a deadly virus, a plague that storms through town, killing everyone
. Then, it brings them back. Now, herds of vampiric zombies roam the streets, hunting for fresh blood. As far as Robert Neville knows, he's the only warm-blooded creature left in L.A., probably the sole survivor in all of California, maybe the entire world. He spends the daylight hours hunting the undead, fortifying his home against their nightly attacks, and combing the silent library for ideas on how to save what's left of the world. At night, he barricades himself inside his house, numbs his mind with liquor, and prays for the dawn. Even when there's nothing left to live for, Robert refuses to let the monsters take him. He may not win this war, but he refuses to give up.
. Then, it brings them back. Now, herds of vampiric zombies roam the streets, hunting for fresh blood. As far as Robert Neville knows, he's the only warm-blooded creature left in L.A., probably the sole survivor in all of California, maybe the entire world. He spends the daylight hours hunting the undead, fortifying his home against their nightly attacks, and combing the silent library for ideas on how to save what's left of the world. At night, he barricades himself inside his house, numbs his mind with liquor, and prays for the dawn. Even when there's nothing left to live for, Robert refuses to let the monsters take him. He may not win this war, but he refuses to give up.Robert's been alone for so long that when he spies a living woman darting down the street, he can barely coax his voice into shouting. Is it possible that he's not the only human left on Earth? Can Ruth help him save their world? Or is she the harbinger of a whole new kind of evil? Robert's about to find out ...
With an army of bloodthirsty zombies intent on devouring the last human on the planet, I Am Legend by Richard Matheson has the makings of a horror masterpiece. Published in 1954, it was influential in popularizing the idea of a disease-induced apocalypse. That concept, coupled with the idea of zombies taking over the world, makes for an intense and affecting story. Unfortunately, the main character makes a rather abrupt (yet somewhat ambigious) exit before his story has the chance to reach anything resembling a climax. What follows is a weird group of unconnected, macabre little tales that could have been penned by the legendary Stephen King. Although each is shivery in its own right, I kept waiting for the vignettes to tie back into the main story. Never happened. I spent the whole second half of the book wondering if I was missing some big, symbolic statement or if a bewildered editor somewhere had mistakenly glued together two different books. I'm still not sure. Matheson, surely, had a reason for finishing I Am Legend the way he did, but if there's some big message here, it's way too subtle for me. I don't get it. At all.
If you liked the 2007 film adaptation of I Am Legend starring Will Smith, then I suggest sticking to the first half of the novel and dreaming up your own ending. Matheson's, quite frankly, sucks (pun intended).
(Readalikes: The Enemy by Charlie Higson; The Passage by Justin Cronin; The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan)
Grade: C-
If this were a movie (and it is!), it would be rated: R for strong language, gore, and a small amount of sexual content
To the FTC, with love: Another libraryfine find
If this were a movie (and it is!), it would be rated: R for strong language, gore, and a small amount of sexual content
To the FTC, with love: Another library
Sunday, August 01, 2010
The Passage A Riveting Dystopian Epic
(Image from Barnes & Noble)Dystopian fiction, as I told my husband the other day, should only be read by optimists. Cynics are depressed enough as it is. After all, reading end-of-the-world novels is enough to make even me - the possessor of an annoyingly, eternally sunny outlook - a little worried. Doomsayers rarely sway me, but books about apocalyptical destruction always give me pause. I ask myself: How long could I, or anyone for that matter, survive in a world rocked by global d
isaster? Could people made soft and compliant by microwave ovens, automatic dishwashers, and the like figure out a way to eke out a life if doing so suddenly became a whole lot less convenient? Would I be one of the first to lay down and accept my dismal fate or would I be one of the strong, fighting to reclaim life as I once knew it? You've probably guessed by now that I'm a glass-half-full kind of girl and I'm really not too concerned about zombies decimating the human race or meteors destroying the Earth, but every dystopian book I read makes me think. And fret. Just a little.
My latest foray into the genre is not so much a dystopian story as it is a dystopian epic. At nearly 800 pages long, The Passage by Justin Cronin is the first book in a planned trilogy. It starts like many disaster tales do - with a top secret government/military experiment that's quickly going awry. Although FBI agent Brad Wolgast doesn't know every detail of Project NOAH, he knows enough not to ask questions. Rounding up Death Row inmates for medical research isn't the funnest job in the world, but the ethics don't bother him too much. If a serial killer can help find a cure for cancer, why not let him have a chance to redeem himself? It's only when Wolgast receives his latest assignment that he feels a bit of unease: the FBI wants him to bring in 6-year-old Amy Bellafonte. Delivering a murderer to a secret government facility is one thing, taking a child is quite another. Despite his misgivings, Wolgast does as he's told. It doesn't take the agent long to realize Amy's no ordinary kid. Whatever his superiors want from her, it can't be good. And he won't let them take her.
Ninety some years later, Project NOAH's turned into a national, if not global, disaster. Peter Jaxon's never heard of the government experiment, but the 21-year-old's intimately familiar with its outcome. In a land once known as California, Peter lives in a walled fortress with a handful of others. Occasionally, someone wanders into the settlement, but no one's come in 30 years. Maybe there are other humans out there, maybe not. Maybe they really are the only people left in the world. They're not the only creatures, though, not by a long shot. Hundreds, possibly thousands or millions, of virals stumble across the landscape. Zombies, vampires, jumps, smokes - whatever you call them, it's best to stay out of their way. Barring that, the only thing you can do is pray you get off a clean shot - straight to the sternum - before they rip you apart. That is, if you still believe in God, which Peter definitely does not.
It's on a foraging mission that Peter encounters a mysterious young girl, a child who doesn't seem to be wholly human or viral, but some incomprehensible combination. It's clear from the start that she's important, but how? As Peter studies the girl, he learns things that blow his mind, secrets about the long-ago government, a project called NOAH, and a special little girl named Amy. Her powers, both dark and dangerous, are already causing problems in the peaceful settlement - still, Peter knows he has to take a chance on her. It may be the only one left for him, his friends, and whatever's left of the human race.
Although the story isn't nearly as original as I hoped it would be, The Passage still manages to be completely riveting. With a furiously-paced plot, complex characters, a little bit of romance, and plenty of good, old-fashioned dystopian carnage, the book thrills on every level. The (kinda sorta) cliffhanger ending is a teensy disappointing (especially after zipping through 800 pages to find out what happens), but it just means there's more to come from Cronin. I, for one, can't wait.
(Readalikes: The Enemy by Charlie Higson and The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan; Cronin's writing and the book's structure are reminiscent of a Stephen King epic)
Grade: B
If this were a movie, it would be rated: R for language, violence/gore, and some sexual content
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Creepy-Fun The Enemy Has Me Double-Checking the Locks
(Image from Barnes & Noble)After trembling through more than one book-induced nightmare, I made a vow: I will never read a scary book at night, especially if (A) My husband is out of town or (B) I am the only adult in the house who is awake. I've lived by this rule for years. Yet, somehow, in the wee hours of Tuesday morning, I found myself whipping through the last third of Charlie Higson's dystopian horror novel, The Enemy. The combination of 32 oz. of Baja Blast and a 3-hour aftern
oon nap had me wide awake at 2 a.m. What better time to read about zombies, right? Um, riiiiight.
The story opens a year or so after a strange disease hits the streets of London. In the city, and presumably across the globe, adults are decomposing. They're still alive - sort of. As their flesh slowly rots away, they lumber through the streets in packs looking for stray children to eat. The moaning, drooling grown-ups aren't too smart, but they're strong and their constant hunger makes them determined. They're getting more aggressive by the day.
London's young survivors are holed up in vacant supermarkets and other buildings, leaving their fortresses only to scavenge for food in the empty city. Even with the adults dragging off kids every day, there are too many mouths to feed. It's becoming clear to Arran, the leader of the Waitrose gang, that they're going to have to move on before they starve to death. But where can they possibly go? They can't exactly hop online to find a safe place - as far as they know, the whole world's filled with slathering, kid-crunching zombies.
When a strange kid in a weird patchwork coat shows up at Waitrose offering a solution, Arran's more than a little skeptical. The new boy, Jester, swears he's part of a group living at Buckingham Palace. He offers Polaroid proof showing the unbelievable - kids, lots of kids, looking clean, well-fed, and safe. Living on the mean streets has taught Arran not to trust anyone, but if what Jester's saying is true, he could save his whole group. His fighters could relax, they could all eat fresh food, sleep in real beds, live like royalty. A vote decides it. To Buckingham Palace they go. Only getting there won't be that easy - and surviving there might be harder still.
The Enemy starts with an unnerving sentence: "Small Sam was playing in the parking lot behind the Waitrose supermaket when the grown-ups took him" (3). With a beginning as auspicious as that, it's probably no surprise that, with each succeeding page, the story gets more and more chilling. Although I found myself laughing at certain passages ("A parent might have grounded you, a teacher might have kept you after school, and the police might have arrested you, but none of them would have tried to eat you, like the grown-ups who wandered the streets these days" [19]"), the book's definitely spooky. It's also a fast-paced thrill ride with plenty of horror-typical blood and gore. Character development is not The Enemy's strong point, but the kids are, for the most part, young and helpless enough to garner immediate sympathy. The older ones are tough, brave, and fiercely protective of the younger children, making them admirable as well. Although Higson doesn't divulge all the secrets of his freaky dystopian world - leaving me with plenty of unanswered questions - it had me convinced enough to keep flipping through pages at 3:00 in the morning. And double check all my locks. And make sure all the windows were secure. And peek outside to confirm the neighborhood was as zombie-free as it seemed.
The Enemy isn't as complex as some of the other YA dystopian books out there, but it's definitely a fun, creepy read. It moves quickly, but even so, I recommend starting it early in the morning because, trust me, you're going to want to finish it long before dark.
(Readalikes: Reminds me a lot of the Gone series by Michael Grant and a bit of The Forest of Hands and Teeth books by Carrie Ryan)
Grade: B
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 for mild, but frequent language (no F-bombs); violence; and mild sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of The Enemy from the generous folks at Disney/Hyperion. Thank you!
Friday, June 12, 2009
The Village Meets Dawn of the Dead in Pitch-Perfect Forest
Once upon a time there was a village. A quaint little village nestled in the forest, far away from 
city lights and noise. The residents lived simple lives - school, work, marriage, children, death. From the Cathedral in the middle of town, The Sisterhood ruled uncontested. Everyone followed their edicts without question. Well, except for the Unconsecrated. The undead just wouldn't listen.
In The Forest of Hands and Teeth, Carrie Ryan's constructed a creepy postapocalyptic world in the form of an idyllic little community surrounded by strong, metal fences. On one side, people go about their daily business; on the other, flesh-hungry zombies clamber to get inside. A bite from one of the creatures means infection, death, and returning to "life" as a mindless zombie. This is the way it is. This is the way it's always been. At least that's what The Sisterhood teaches; thus, that is what everyone believes.
Everyone except Mary, that is. She's heard her mother's stories about the ocean, about buildings that touch the sky - despite what The Sisterhood tells her, she believes there is a world beyond her own. A world that's safe, unmarred by the Unconsecrated. She longs to find the ocean, but there's so much standing in the way - her family; her betrothed; the zombies; the danger; the uncertainty. More and more though, she's questioning what she's been taught and The Sisterhood is not happy about it. When Mary stumbles upon their secrets, her world begins to tilt. When the unthinkable happens, it threatens to fall apart completely. Suddenly, she's on the run, blindly chasing her dreams, dragging loved ones along with her in her desperate search. Relentlessly pursued by the undead, Mary must keep herself alive - somehow. But, what if this really is the end? What if she is the last person on Earth? What if there is no ocean? What if the stories she's been told are only that - fairy tales spun from her mother's imagination? How long can she survive before the Unconsecrated take her, too?
If the story sounds bleak, that's because it is. From its haunting cover to its last sentence, The Forest of Hands and Teeth is a dark, intense ride. It's provocative, compelling and just downright shivery. The chilling tone doesn't let up for one second. It's a pitch-perfect, brilliantly executed, absolutely unputtdownable little horror novel. Yes, it's dark; yes, it's intense; yes, it's bleak; yes, you should run out and get it right now.
Grade: A
(Book image from Barnes & Noble)
city lights and noise. The residents lived simple lives - school, work, marriage, children, death. From the Cathedral in the middle of town, The Sisterhood ruled uncontested. Everyone followed their edicts without question. Well, except for the Unconsecrated. The undead just wouldn't listen.
In The Forest of Hands and Teeth, Carrie Ryan's constructed a creepy postapocalyptic world in the form of an idyllic little community surrounded by strong, metal fences. On one side, people go about their daily business; on the other, flesh-hungry zombies clamber to get inside. A bite from one of the creatures means infection, death, and returning to "life" as a mindless zombie. This is the way it is. This is the way it's always been. At least that's what The Sisterhood teaches; thus, that is what everyone believes.
Everyone except Mary, that is. She's heard her mother's stories about the ocean, about buildings that touch the sky - despite what The Sisterhood tells her, she believes there is a world beyond her own. A world that's safe, unmarred by the Unconsecrated. She longs to find the ocean, but there's so much standing in the way - her family; her betrothed; the zombies; the danger; the uncertainty. More and more though, she's questioning what she's been taught and The Sisterhood is not happy about it. When Mary stumbles upon their secrets, her world begins to tilt. When the unthinkable happens, it threatens to fall apart completely. Suddenly, she's on the run, blindly chasing her dreams, dragging loved ones along with her in her desperate search. Relentlessly pursued by the undead, Mary must keep herself alive - somehow. But, what if this really is the end? What if she is the last person on Earth? What if there is no ocean? What if the stories she's been told are only that - fairy tales spun from her mother's imagination? How long can she survive before the Unconsecrated take her, too?
If the story sounds bleak, that's because it is. From its haunting cover to its last sentence, The Forest of Hands and Teeth is a dark, intense ride. It's provocative, compelling and just downright shivery. The chilling tone doesn't let up for one second. It's a pitch-perfect, brilliantly executed, absolutely unputtdownable little horror novel. Yes, it's dark; yes, it's intense; yes, it's bleak; yes, you should run out and get it right now.
Grade: A
(Book image from Barnes & Noble)
Subscribe to:
Posts
(Atom)
Readin'
Beach Thriller by Jamie Day
Listenin'
Hidden Rooms by Kate Michaelson
Followin' with Feedly
-
-
-
-
Seven Gift Ideas for Bloggers13 hours ago
-
A Curse Carved in Bone14 hours ago
Grab my Button!
Blog Design by:
2026 Goodreads Reading Challenge
2024 - Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction
2023 - Middle Grade Fiction
2022 - Middle Grade Fiction
2021 - Middle Grade Fiction
2020 - Middle Grade Fiction
