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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
This book gave me all the feels. I was angry. I was heartbroken. I was smitten. I was terrified. I was grossed out. I am still thinking about the ending 24 hours later.
The premise of the book is that it's 25 years after the zombie apocalypse has gone down. We are following the journey of 15 year old Temple. She's a loner who has figured out how to survive on her own. We know something bad has happened in the past that doesn't get explained until towards the end and it has left her guilt ridden and wary of settling down anywhere and making lasting connections.
Temple is wonderful. She is bristly, a smartass, philosophical, honorable, and broken. I absolutely loved her. Her voice was so clear and distinct. She was flawed and guilt-ridden.
There were two very minor things that irked me. You know when you are watching a horror movie and the characters are doing something really stupid and you are yelling at them "Don't go into ____!!!" I had two of those moments in this book. You've grown up in the zombie apocalypse. Shouldn't you be a little more wary of certain situations?
Oh and the writing is absolutely beautiful. I don't know what else to say about it. So I won't say anything more.
Now I come to the ending. I'm not really sure how to talk about this without spoilers so the rest of this review will be hidden.
Bottom Line: Absolutely fantastic book!!!
The premise of the book is that it's 25 years after the zombie apocalypse has gone down. We are following the journey of 15 year old Temple. She's a loner who has figured out how to survive on her own. We know something bad has happened in the past that doesn't get explained until towards the end and it has left her guilt ridden and wary of settling down anywhere and making lasting connections.
Temple is wonderful. She is bristly, a smartass, philosophical, honorable, and broken. I absolutely loved her. Her voice was so clear and distinct. She was flawed and guilt-ridden.
There were two very minor things that irked me. You know when you are watching a horror movie and the characters are doing something really stupid and you are yelling at them "Don't go into ____!!!" I had two of those moments in this book. You've grown up in the zombie apocalypse. Shouldn't you be a little more wary of certain situations?
Oh and the writing is absolutely beautiful. I don't know what else to say about it. So I won't say anything more.
Now I come to the ending. I'm not really sure how to talk about this without spoilers so the rest of this review will be hidden.
Spoiler
Moses you fucking bastard. You're asshole of a brother tries to rape Temple. She kills him in self-defense. And even though your brother is an asshole and it was self-defense you feel obligated to hunt her down and kill her. Even though you've come to like her. She's become a kindred spirit. She's almost like a daughter to you. Why do you have to kill her?!?! I know you technically didn't kill her. That bitch mutant Millie did but you are still responsible. At the same time I can't imagine another ending. There was never going to be a happy ending for her. She was too broken. I might have been happy with her making it to Niagra Falls and having some philosophical epiphany it if was done right. Ok rant over. I hated the ending but I'm not sure how it could have gone any other way.Bottom Line: Absolutely fantastic book!!!
really glad i returned from this book, after getting distracted from shiny library holds. really unlike most zombie content i've consumed! it really picked up for me when maury entered the narrative. loved the gothic storytelling and all of the relationships that temple built with folks she met along the way. i had no idea this was the same author as when we were animals.
So this was way outside my usual fare and I'm not sure zombies are really for me. That being said, Temple was pretty kick ass. I did love how snarky, ballsy and capable she was. All of these stars are for her.
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow! A powerful and different zombie book. Set far into the future of the zombie apocalypse. Temple kicks ass. Would take down any heroine I've read so far. I like that the author took risks in the ending.
I'm usually unable to look past some of the issues I felt this book had (illogical pacing, unreasonable scenarios, baffling timing, rejected realism) - - but the strengths outweigh the weaknesses, and frankly hide them in some really sweet smoke and mirror business that I don't care to look at too closely.
It's not the best zombie book you're going to read - - but it is easily better than 85% or more of them.
I won't reread it - but I liked it and was happy to turn the pages.
It's not the best zombie book you're going to read - - but it is easily better than 85% or more of them.
I won't reread it - but I liked it and was happy to turn the pages.
What an odd, sad, disgusting book.... That being said, I really enjoyed it...
I'm not even sure where to begin rating this book. Probably 3.5. Probably going to review it on the good vs. bad scale.
Good
It was beautifully written. Very descriptive and I was completely absorbed into the world.
I also LOVE Temple's character. Her empathy for the "slugs" and her strength was admirable.
Bad
Things went downhill for a bit when the giant hillbillies came into play. "Mama" reminded me of the fat female character on "Squidbillies" who lays around, so it became more comical to me. It took on a completely different element for that part of the book and I grew annoyed.
The other part I didn't like was the ending. That stupid giant hillbilly girl... are you kidding me?! Did Moses kill the hillbilly girl because he wanted to kill Temple or because he thought of her as his daughter? Was Moses actually planning on really killing Temple?? I just didn't get it, I suppose. He HAD to kill her throughout the whole novel, then he feels sorrow for her after she's dead? I didn't understand it! I was left confused, unsatisfied, and heartbroken. If I was the author, I think I would have ended it where Moses' gun was at her forehead - leaving the reader to guess what he would do.
All in all, I liked the book and won't forget it. It's been on my mind days after finishing.... just don't know how to deal with the ending.
Good
It was beautifully written. Very descriptive and I was completely absorbed into the world.
I also LOVE Temple's character. Her empathy for the "slugs" and her strength was admirable.
Bad
Things went downhill for a bit when the giant hillbillies came into play. "Mama" reminded me of the fat female character on "Squidbillies" who lays around, so it became more comical to me. It took on a completely different element for that part of the book and I grew annoyed.
The other part I didn't like was the ending. That stupid giant hillbilly girl... are you kidding me?! Did Moses kill the hillbilly girl because he wanted to kill Temple or because he thought of her as his daughter? Was Moses actually planning on really killing Temple?? I just didn't get it, I suppose. He HAD to kill her throughout the whole novel, then he feels sorrow for her after she's dead? I didn't understand it! I was left confused, unsatisfied, and heartbroken. If I was the author, I think I would have ended it where Moses' gun was at her forehead - leaving the reader to guess what he would do.
All in all, I liked the book and won't forget it. It's been on my mind days after finishing.... just don't know how to deal with the ending.
To start off, this book had so many logistical errors that I almost couldn’t take it seriously. 2+ decades into the apocalypse and they still have running cars? Gasoline easily available? Cheese crackers in convenience stores?! It’s complete and total bull%!?$.
If you ignore those issues, I guess it was “just okay”. It wasn’t terrible. It wasn’t necessarily good, either.
I did like the ending however. I’m in a sad mood so it was perfect for me.
If you ignore those issues, I guess it was “just okay”. It wasn’t terrible. It wasn’t necessarily good, either.
I did like the ending however. I’m in a sad mood so it was perfect for me.
4.5 stars
A really great zombie book with a lot of heart. I would say the ending of the book bumped it up an extra .5 star for me, but it’s a great read throughout and very difficult to put down. The writing is beautiful too. Wish I read this one much sooner.
A really great zombie book with a lot of heart. I would say the ending of the book bumped it up an extra .5 star for me, but it’s a great read throughout and very difficult to put down. The writing is beautiful too. Wish I read this one much sooner.