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jen1988's review against another edition
5.0
Don't usually read sci-fi but I was hooked straight away with this book. It begins with a lady sending an email, an email which will start the process of the apocalypse. The pacing of the story is perfect, it's not a fast paced thriller, it's even better. Not one moment of this book was boring, I enjoyed every moment of it.
We are introduced to various characters, witness horrible deaths and sadness. We see how a virus is spread throughout various parts of the world and how it affects all these people. We meet the people who have started the virus. I kept reading through all this desperate to know why this was happening?
The revelation is timed perfectly. The characters are brought to life effortlessly and you will love them (and hate some). It's a compelling read reminiscent of the works of great authors like James Herbert and Stephen King. I loved the ideas in this book and think that this is a unique apocalypse story, a good mix of tension, action, conflict and human emotion.
Although this is part one of a trilogy it ends very well, although of course leaving the story open to be continued and I will definitely be continuing it. I loved the fact that this book is set partly in the UK and finally Wales gets a mention but then the author is from Wales.
I had an ebook copy of this book but it is also available in paperback.
We are introduced to various characters, witness horrible deaths and sadness. We see how a virus is spread throughout various parts of the world and how it affects all these people. We meet the people who have started the virus. I kept reading through all this desperate to know why this was happening?
The revelation is timed perfectly. The characters are brought to life effortlessly and you will love them (and hate some). It's a compelling read reminiscent of the works of great authors like James Herbert and Stephen King. I loved the ideas in this book and think that this is a unique apocalypse story, a good mix of tension, action, conflict and human emotion.
Although this is part one of a trilogy it ends very well, although of course leaving the story open to be continued and I will definitely be continuing it. I loved the fact that this book is set partly in the UK and finally Wales gets a mention but then the author is from Wales.
I had an ebook copy of this book but it is also available in paperback.
ninjabunneh's review against another edition
4.0
Someone has it out for humanity, and they will do anything they can to wipe humans off the face of the earth. At least, that's what you think when you start reading The Cleansing. Something pokes in the back of your mind. Something is a bit off, a tad strange about these apolcalyptic crazy fanatics.
Some strive to do what's right and helpman womankind.
Too late for that, unfortunately.
But, BOOM! Humanity is wiped out (in a quiet way). There are a few survivors who then must learn how to cope in a post-apocalyptic world.
This is the most vague review I think I have written in a good long while. See, the problem is that anything I say would be too revealing. This book has a lot of twists and unexpected turns.
If you're looking for a creepy, end of the world book, this is a goodie. The slight mind-fuckery doesn't hurt either.
4 Ninja-Bunneh-Wearing-Bio-Hazard-Suits stars
(Thank you to NetGalley and Mr. Kates for the arc. I received no fluffy bunnehs in exchange for an honest review)
Some strive to do what's right and help
But, BOOM! Humanity is wiped out (in a quiet way). There are a few survivors who then must learn how to cope in a post-apocalyptic world.
This is the most vague review I think I have written in a good long while. See, the problem is that anything I say would be too revealing. This book has a lot of twists and unexpected turns.
If you're looking for a creepy, end of the world book, this is a goodie. The slight mind-fuckery doesn't hurt either.
4 Ninja-Bunneh-Wearing-Bio-Hazard-Suits stars
(Thank you to NetGalley and Mr. Kates for the arc. I received no fluffy bunnehs in exchange for an honest review)
sjj169's review against another edition
3.0
It's really hard to review this book. I can't tell much of the storyline because the least thing could be a spoiler. I hate dang spoilers.
I can tell you that the story for me was a fresh storyline on the whole "end of the world" theme. The thing I think I can tell you is that at the beginning of the book you will wonder about Milandra being able to "push" her messages across. The author does wind this up and explain why. He almost lost me in the explanation. I was like DaFuq? I did keep reading and came back into the story and ended up having a good read.
More like 3.5 stars.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC
I can tell you that the story for me was a fresh storyline on the whole "end of the world" theme. The thing I think I can tell you is that at the beginning of the book you will wonder about Milandra being able to "push" her messages across. The author does wind this up and explain why. He almost lost me in the explanation. I was like DaFuq? I did keep reading and came back into the story and ended up having a good read.
More like 3.5 stars.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC
reading_rainy's review against another edition
3.0
The message has been sent out to the select five thousand.
*slight spoilers below*
They’ve been living amongst us for thousands of years. Each chapter has a different POV, some human, some alien. The cruelty of some of the aliens was too much. Sick and dying humans begging for help, only to be tortured? It wasn’t pleasant to read. The aliens have some kind of mind control so the odds feel grossly off balance and there isn’t much hope. Any surviving humans are turned instantly into “drones” or slaves to clean up the dead bodies. The 5000 congregate and set up base in the UK. Many of them pilots, high government officials, or ex-military.
There is only ONE alien who doesn’t participate. And I’m assuming he will lead whatever surviving humans who haven’t been mind-controlled to some sort of safety? Because this story was so dark, I’m on the fence about continuing the series. I like a little hope in my dark apocalypse stories. I swear, if something happens to the dog, it’s over.
They are coming. Begin immediately. Mercy is not an option. Acknowledge.What a depressing, creepy story. It had feelings of The Stand by Stephen King, except there isn’t much heart here. It’s 5000 aliens/entities spreading a flu-like virus that kills off over 99% of the human population.
*slight spoilers below*
They’ve been living amongst us for thousands of years. Each chapter has a different POV, some human, some alien. The cruelty of some of the aliens was too much. Sick and dying humans begging for help, only to be tortured? It wasn’t pleasant to read. The aliens have some kind of mind control so the odds feel grossly off balance and there isn’t much hope. Any surviving humans are turned instantly into “drones” or slaves to clean up the dead bodies. The 5000 congregate and set up base in the UK. Many of them pilots, high government officials, or ex-military.
There is only ONE alien who doesn’t participate. And I’m assuming he will lead whatever surviving humans who haven’t been mind-controlled to some sort of safety? Because this story was so dark, I’m on the fence about continuing the series. I like a little hope in my dark apocalypse stories. I swear, if something happens to the dog, it’s over.
kerrikins's review against another edition
4.0
*wriggles happily*
Oooh, I quite enjoyed this!!
I've loved science fiction and dystopia for ages. Take our ordinary world and throw it into chaos in a good book and I'm happy, and The Cleansing does just that. :D
The book starts out by slowing building to an apocalyptic event for the people of Earth, as humankind is taken off guard and left helpless in the face of a horrible threat that sweeps across the planet, leaving death and destruction in its wake. Within a matter of weeks most of the human race is dead, and that leaves those behind to pick up the pieces...
Our hero is Tom, a quiet, unassuming teacher who's just beginning a relationship with Lisa, a fellow teacher. He's more worried about how to tell his boss that he and Lisa are dating than about the future of the world, but that changes pretty much overnight, leaving him to deal with the fallout.
Not all is as it should be, though, and that's really the story of The Cleansing. The story slowly reveals itself as the book continues, and it's quite fascinating, I have to say. The slow progression of humanity's demise is laid out in exquisite detail in the book, but mixed in with that is the other story - the one that describes how, and why, and who. Combine the two together and it's a gritty book that's sure to please post-apocalyptic and dystopia lovers.
It's not completely perfect - there are a few things that I was left questioning about the logistics of it all, and some of the story is given to us in info-dumps and telling, not showing, which is one of my pet peeves. Within the context of the story it makes sense, though, and I am willing to do some handwaving for the sake of the overall story, since it's more telling us about the present and building towards the future than analysing what went on in the past and how.
Definitely worth checking out! I know I'm being intentionally vague, here, but you'll regret it more if I give away what the book is about. :D
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
Oooh, I quite enjoyed this!!
I've loved science fiction and dystopia for ages. Take our ordinary world and throw it into chaos in a good book and I'm happy, and The Cleansing does just that. :D
The book starts out by slowing building to an apocalyptic event for the people of Earth, as humankind is taken off guard and left helpless in the face of a horrible threat that sweeps across the planet, leaving death and destruction in its wake. Within a matter of weeks most of the human race is dead, and that leaves those behind to pick up the pieces...
Our hero is Tom, a quiet, unassuming teacher who's just beginning a relationship with Lisa, a fellow teacher. He's more worried about how to tell his boss that he and Lisa are dating than about the future of the world, but that changes pretty much overnight, leaving him to deal with the fallout.
Not all is as it should be, though, and that's really the story of The Cleansing. The story slowly reveals itself as the book continues, and it's quite fascinating, I have to say. The slow progression of humanity's demise is laid out in exquisite detail in the book, but mixed in with that is the other story - the one that describes how, and why, and who. Combine the two together and it's a gritty book that's sure to please post-apocalyptic and dystopia lovers.
It's not completely perfect - there are a few things that I was left questioning about the logistics of it all, and some of the story is given to us in info-dumps and telling, not showing, which is one of my pet peeves. Within the context of the story it makes sense, though, and I am willing to do some handwaving for the sake of the overall story, since it's more telling us about the present and building towards the future than analysing what went on in the past and how.
Definitely worth checking out! I know I'm being intentionally vague, here, but you'll regret it more if I give away what the book is about. :D
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
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