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bookworm151719's review
4.0
Absolutely loved this book! Would give it 5 stars but..... the ending made mw mad. REALLY mad. The wrong person died, and I really can't get into Benny & Nix as a couple. They just seem..... wrong together, somehow.
apopenhagen's review
5.0
Oh. My. Goodness. I absolutely adored Rot & Ruin, even though it took me a bit to get emotionally invested. I loved the entire cast of characters. The villains were truly evil, Benny and Nix's relationship was adorable, Chong was funny, Lilah was mysterious, and Tom Imura was amazing.
In this book, we've got the same cast with a few new additions, including the crazy Preacher Jack, White Bear, and a few new goons. None of the characters change in a bad way (besides maturing, which is expected when you're running around in the forest being chased by the living dead). The plot is fantastic and I could hardly put it down. I also loved how Tom and Benny's relationship changed throughout the two books.
Of course, I quite nearly cried at the end - you'll see what I mean when you read it. *sniff sniff* Oh, well. All good things have to come to an end, I suppose.
Now the only question is whether or not there will be a third. It didn't sound like it from the end, but who knows, I'm sure there's more Mr. Maberry could write about.
In this book, we've got the same cast with a few new additions, including the crazy Preacher Jack, White Bear, and a few new goons. None of the characters change in a bad way (besides maturing, which is expected when you're running around in the forest being chased by the living dead). The plot is fantastic and I could hardly put it down. I also loved how Tom and Benny's relationship changed throughout the two books.
Of course, I quite nearly cried at the end - you'll see what I mean when you read it. *sniff sniff* Oh, well. All good things have to come to an end, I suppose.
Now the only question is whether or not there will be a third. It didn't sound like it from the end, but who knows, I'm sure there's more Mr. Maberry could write about.
trisha_thomas's review
4.0
"Warrior smart."
I did not expect this one to be so good. But it is 'edge of your seat' adventure from page 1 on. And even though there was some back and forth confusion about feelings....it didn't overwhelm the story or even get distracting.
The characters are just amazing. Benny, Tom, Lilah, Nix & Chong...I feel like we get to know them so much more in this one. There is some soul searching, some philosophy - which I think is pretty understandable when talking about zombies and the rebuilding of the world.
I also like that the good guys made mistakes. They didn't get it right and sometimes that really cost them. I think that's more true than your perfect 'happily ever after" stories. This is a zombie apocalypse, not everyone can hack it all the time.
I am excited about where book 3 will take this story.
I did not expect this one to be so good. But it is 'edge of your seat' adventure from page 1 on. And even though there was some back and forth confusion about feelings....it didn't overwhelm the story or even get distracting.
The characters are just amazing. Benny, Tom, Lilah, Nix & Chong...I feel like we get to know them so much more in this one. There is some soul searching, some philosophy - which I think is pretty understandable when talking about zombies and the rebuilding of the world.
I also like that the good guys made mistakes. They didn't get it right and sometimes that really cost them. I think that's more true than your perfect 'happily ever after" stories. This is a zombie apocalypse, not everyone can hack it all the time.
I am excited about where book 3 will take this story.
jesscinco's review
2.0
I wasn't quite as interested in this installment as I was the first. The plot was very similar to the first, I wish there was more included about the overarching mystery of what the zombies are and where they came from. It's an OK action/zombie book, although it could have been distilled a little more.
gordcampbell's review against another edition
4.0
Wonderful storytelling again. End of the world, civilization in decay, zombies, strong youth characters ... What's not to love?
booknookie's review
4.0
You can read more of my reviews at my blog The Book Chick.
How can I explain why I only gave four stars to a book I more or less loved, without spoilers and trashing the book completely? It almost feels impossible but I will give it a try.
This is the second book about Benny Imura. The series is not an stand alone and I do recommend to read it in order. The first books name is Rot & Ruin and hereyou can read my review of it. I did love the first book. I have experience of Jonathan Maberry from his Joe Ledger series and this series is much easier than Ledgers. Probably because it is written more towards young and young adults. Ledger series is not.
The book starts off about 8 months (or so) after the first book ended and it started off quite slow. Then it really did pick itself up on both speed and action. We get to follow Tom, Benny, Nix, Lilah and Chong when they venture out in the wasteland in the search of the flying jet. Then off course everything goes to shit, as expected, and then it is one action filled event after the other.
And it is here my problem starts. The book is action filled and quite exciting. But when you have read 400 pages of "the same thing" you are starting to get a little bored. It is bad decisions after bad decisions and events so big, horrific and not survivable that at some point, my mind just shuts off. I read the story but I did not feel it anymore. It is like seeing one of those really bad, cheep, slasher movies that you just can't take serious. Then it all changed again. And the ending really pissed me off. That is not how it was supposed to end. Come on! But now when I have had some time to think on it, I do see that it was the only possible end. And it only made a mystery even bigger, the mystery that is going through the Rot & Ruin. Because something is not right, and right now, no one know what or why.
So after taking everything in account, the book ended on a weak four star. I would have giving a five if not for the end. I know it was the only possible end, but still, I did not like it at all.
I do not read a lot of male authors. It is not a conscious choice, it is just because there are really few male authors who write in genres that I prefer to read. But god damn, Maberry is and probably always will be one of my favorites. I still have a lot of his books to read and I can hardly wait.
How can I explain why I only gave four stars to a book I more or less loved, without spoilers and trashing the book completely? It almost feels impossible but I will give it a try.
This is the second book about Benny Imura. The series is not an stand alone and I do recommend to read it in order. The first books name is Rot & Ruin and hereyou can read my review of it. I did love the first book. I have experience of Jonathan Maberry from his Joe Ledger series and this series is much easier than Ledgers. Probably because it is written more towards young and young adults. Ledger series is not.
The book starts off about 8 months (or so) after the first book ended and it started off quite slow. Then it really did pick itself up on both speed and action. We get to follow Tom, Benny, Nix, Lilah and Chong when they venture out in the wasteland in the search of the flying jet. Then off course everything goes to shit, as expected, and then it is one action filled event after the other.
And it is here my problem starts. The book is action filled and quite exciting. But when you have read 400 pages of "the same thing" you are starting to get a little bored. It is bad decisions after bad decisions and events so big, horrific and not survivable that at some point, my mind just shuts off. I read the story but I did not feel it anymore. It is like seeing one of those really bad, cheep, slasher movies that you just can't take serious. Then it all changed again. And the ending really pissed me off. That is not how it was supposed to end. Come on! But now when I have had some time to think on it, I do see that it was the only possible end. And it only made a mystery even bigger, the mystery that is going through the Rot & Ruin. Because something is not right, and right now, no one know what or why.
So after taking everything in account, the book ended on a weak four star. I would have giving a five if not for the end. I know it was the only possible end, but still, I did not like it at all.
I do not read a lot of male authors. It is not a conscious choice, it is just because there are really few male authors who write in genres that I prefer to read. But god damn, Maberry is and probably always will be one of my favorites. I still have a lot of his books to read and I can hardly wait.
everthereader's review
5.0
This was one of the best books I ever read. That is except the ending. I'm bawling right now.
Spoiler
WHY DID TOM HAVE TO DIE?! MY FAVORITE CHARACTER. :(Spoiler
I MUST KILL MABERRY RIGHT NOW!Spoiler
NEWS FLASH: I WILL FOREVER BE IN DENIAL OF TOM IMURAS DEATH!Spoiler
witchofottawacounty's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Lilah and Chong feel forced
emay_26's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0