Scan barcode
arock1013's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
mountainblue's review against another edition
1.0
1.5 meh stars
I really wanted to like this book because there are a lot of great reviews about it and it is highly rated on GR but it turned out to be same old same old zombie apocalypse and I've read better to be honest.
I wanted to experience the thrill/horror and the gory details and the fight for survival of a zombie apocalypse but all I got was reports after the fact from the internet, radio report and small experience retold by side characters of the fall of different cities and vague reposts of chaos in other countries. In the end, the boring plot, the lack of action and character development made it difficult to lose myself in the story.
I also couldn't stand the main character's immaturity, character inconsistencies, and the annoying relationship and angst involving Cassie (the protagonist) and Peter (her ex) who was selfish, self centred and Cassie's angst over Adrian, the one that got away. The relationship drama gave the book a typical YA book feel to it. I don't like to skim-read or quit on a book but I was bored silly seeing the world's end from Cassie's POV. I think I would've enjoyed this book if the story was told from a multi POV.
And I can't believe no one called Peter and the equally immature Anna out on their behaviour and whatever was going on between them. SMH.
I struggled to connect or even like the main character, Cassie, because she was inconsistent and would think or plan to do something decisive or ruthless (like setting Peter or Anna straight) and then go on to say or do the complete opposite and show herself to be weak and resentful because she is unable to be true to herself and say what she means. She came across a bit annoying, immature, adorably clumsy (when it was convenient) but somehow she had a well-honed survival instinct and the ability to think on her feet and act ruthlessly when needed. She even had the gear, weapon stash and a well stocked cabin prepared for the apocalypse. She even had had all her close friends along for the ride. Her inconsistent personality and Mary sue character got on my nerves.
I know there are a lot of people who liked this book but I guess this is not my cup of tea and not what I look for in a zombie apocalypse book.
Cassie Forrest isn't surprised to learn that the day she’s decided to get her life together is also the day the world ends. After all, she’s been on a self-imposed losing streak since her survivalist parents died: she’s stopped painting, broken off her engagement to Adrian and dated a real jerk. Rectifying her mistakes has to wait, however, because Cassie and her friends have just enough time to escape Brooklyn for her parents’ cabin before Bornavirus LX turns them into zombies, too.
I really wanted to like this book because there are a lot of great reviews about it and it is highly rated on GR but it turned out to be same old same old zombie apocalypse and I've read better to be honest.
I wanted to experience the thrill/horror and the gory details and the fight for survival of a zombie apocalypse but all I got was reports after the fact from the internet, radio report and small experience retold by side characters of the fall of different cities and vague reposts of chaos in other countries. In the end, the boring plot, the lack of action and character development made it difficult to lose myself in the story.
I also couldn't stand the main character's immaturity, character inconsistencies, and the annoying relationship and angst involving Cassie (the protagonist) and Peter (her ex) who was selfish, self centred and Cassie's angst over Adrian, the one that got away. The relationship drama gave the book a typical YA book feel to it. I don't like to skim-read or quit on a book but I was bored silly seeing the world's end from Cassie's POV. I think I would've enjoyed this book if the story was told from a multi POV.
And I can't believe no one called Peter and the equally immature Anna out on their behaviour and whatever was going on between them. SMH.
I struggled to connect or even like the main character, Cassie, because she was inconsistent and would think or plan to do something decisive or ruthless (like setting Peter or Anna straight) and then go on to say or do the complete opposite and show herself to be weak and resentful because she is unable to be true to herself and say what she means. She came across a bit annoying, immature, adorably clumsy (when it was convenient) but somehow she had a well-honed survival instinct and the ability to think on her feet and act ruthlessly when needed. She even had the gear, weapon stash and a well stocked cabin prepared for the apocalypse. She even had had all her close friends along for the ride. Her inconsistent personality and Mary sue character got on my nerves.
I know there are a lot of people who liked this book but I guess this is not my cup of tea and not what I look for in a zombie apocalypse book.
v_nerdbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Hello book friends,
I’m super happy to bring you a review for a new series that I think is going to keep me busy for a while as I couldn’t tear myself away from it.
Sorry for being MIA for a while, Real Life bitch-slapped me in the face for a while and I kind of got stuck in a bit of a slump!
But I think I’m back and ready to make up some lost time (and reviews!)
Why did you pick it up Vicci?
Well, I saw lots of people talking about this book in a Facebook group that I am in, and you know how I don’t like to be left out of anything!!
Well, I have found myself a new series to binge, I can’t wait to read the next one in this series, I was on the edge of my seat for most of it.
A genre that I wouldn’t usually read was being banded around on a FB group that i am in, then I heard the narrator, Julia Whelan…..and I was invested.
I promptly bagged the whole series on KU and upgraded the Audio’s for £3.47 each!!! what a bargain!
Told in the POV of Cassie, we see her in her home town of New York, there seems to be some sort of “flu” epidemic that is sweeping the city, so people are being quite cautious, but until she gets a call from her friend explaining that people are dying and there is no cure does she really start to worry.
Her friends tells her to get out of town immediately, so her and her friends try and do just that, except it turns out that the people that are dying from this epidemic, have not done being dead yet!
This was such a great story, I was so invested in all of the characters, and they were all brilliantly narrated by the awesome Julia Whelan, one of my favourite narrators, who bought every one of them to life in my head.
This is not a gory book, there is a little gruesome talk, but nothing too bad, if you liked The Walking Dead then you will probably like this, as it is about a group of people trying to survive.
Try it, You never know, you might like it!!
Book 1 is only £2.49 on audio or free on KU, what have you got to lose?
I’m super happy to bring you a review for a new series that I think is going to keep me busy for a while as I couldn’t tear myself away from it.
Sorry for being MIA for a while, Real Life bitch-slapped me in the face for a while and I kind of got stuck in a bit of a slump!
But I think I’m back and ready to make up some lost time (and reviews!)
Why did you pick it up Vicci?
Well, I saw lots of people talking about this book in a Facebook group that I am in, and you know how I don’t like to be left out of anything!!
Well, I have found myself a new series to binge, I can’t wait to read the next one in this series, I was on the edge of my seat for most of it.
A genre that I wouldn’t usually read was being banded around on a FB group that i am in, then I heard the narrator, Julia Whelan…..and I was invested.
I promptly bagged the whole series on KU and upgraded the Audio’s for £3.47 each!!! what a bargain!
Told in the POV of Cassie, we see her in her home town of New York, there seems to be some sort of “flu” epidemic that is sweeping the city, so people are being quite cautious, but until she gets a call from her friend explaining that people are dying and there is no cure does she really start to worry.
Her friends tells her to get out of town immediately, so her and her friends try and do just that, except it turns out that the people that are dying from this epidemic, have not done being dead yet!
This was such a great story, I was so invested in all of the characters, and they were all brilliantly narrated by the awesome Julia Whelan, one of my favourite narrators, who bought every one of them to life in my head.
This is not a gory book, there is a little gruesome talk, but nothing too bad, if you liked The Walking Dead then you will probably like this, as it is about a group of people trying to survive.
Try it, You never know, you might like it!!
Book 1 is only £2.49 on audio or free on KU, what have you got to lose?
laci's review against another edition
5.0
This wasn't a book about zombies, but about diverse people who had to cooperate during a zombie outbreak, and their relationships. It also avoided some of the silly mistakes that many contemporary zombie-themed works do, which is always nice (and required for any sort of good rating.)
There weren't any ground-breaking ideas or big shocks or anything of that sort, but it still gets a good rating because what it did, it did well and I'd always looked forward to reading on.
There weren't any ground-breaking ideas or big shocks or anything of that sort, but it still gets a good rating because what it did, it did well and I'd always looked forward to reading on.
taysbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
This book was enjoyable, and a nice palate cleanser between some of massive fantasy tomes I'm planning on reading soon. I'm definitely intrigued to read more in this universe. The plot was pretty fast-paced, and I never thought it was dragging.
**SPOILERS AHEAD**
My main issue is the way the characters, specifically Cassie, behave. I understand the author wanted there to be an internal group struggle, but until like 70% of the way in the book, Cassie just fucking wrings her hands when she has to deal with Peter and Ana. Then, within the next 50 or so pages, they've magically all made up. I felt like this "conflict" was extremely artificial and unrealistic in its handling.
Furthermore, I feel like there are a bit too many characters in the book. This isn't something structurally wrong, but I felt like the Penny/James dynamic added absolutely nothing.
**END SPOILERS**
Overall, I was happy with this book. It was good, and definitely got better in the last 25%. I will most likely end up reading the rest of the series, and hope that my problems with characterization subside in later books.
**SPOILERS AHEAD**
My main issue is the way the characters, specifically Cassie, behave. I understand the author wanted there to be an internal group struggle, but until like 70% of the way in the book, Cassie just fucking wrings her hands when she has to deal with Peter and Ana. Then, within the next 50 or so pages, they've magically all made up. I felt like this "conflict" was extremely artificial and unrealistic in its handling.
Furthermore, I feel like there are a bit too many characters in the book. This isn't something structurally wrong, but I felt like the Penny/James dynamic added absolutely nothing.
**END SPOILERS**
Overall, I was happy with this book. It was good, and definitely got better in the last 25%. I will most likely end up reading the rest of the series, and hope that my problems with characterization subside in later books.
setaian's review against another edition
4.0
Everything in this book I've seen before. It's not bad...honestly it's really good fun but it's typical for the genre.
artist_lace's review against another edition
4.0
This book felt like a comfort to me, despite the zombie apocalypse setting. I'm a sucker for the romantic notion of survival-focused living and re-building community.
sirius_feanor's review against another edition
3.25
I put this on my list after I read World Departed and absolutely loved it. So I wanted more of this world. This one is okay, but not as good as the WD. Most of the characters are supposed to be almost 30, but they all seemed like they are young adults or even teenagers.