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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
I loved the short story "Family Business" in The New Dead anthology so I was really looking forward to Rot and Ruin, which takes that original story and expands on it. The first few pages did give me a sense of deja vu but there was enough added to keep me pressing through. I am not one of those people who immediately dismisses the YA genre because it is written for a non-adult audience. I believe that the age group that YA is really meant for is smart enough to not be talked down to and that's why the best YA novels can appeal to both young adults and adults. Rot and Ruin is one of those books. It's a great ride written written by an author who knows how to take the reader on one (I highly recommend the Joe Ledger books to any adults, they're fun).
Rot and Ruin tells the story of Benny Imura, a fourteen year old growing up in a post zombie apocalypse "Safe Zone". He must find a job before he is 15 or his rations will be cut in half. After resistance, mostly on Benny's part, Benny becomes an apprentice zombie bounty hunter to his brother, Tom. Due to some resentments Benny has against Tom for events happening on First Night (The night of the zombie outbreak), Benny and Tom's relationship is strained when Tom takes him outside the gates for the first time into the Rot and Ruin, where zombies still roam. Tom views his responsibilities as a zombie killer with better intentions than the bounty hunters that Benny idolizes. Throughout the events of the book, Benny learns his brother's approach to the job might be the right one for him and that life is not always safe, whether the threat be zombie or human, inside or outside the gates.
I love the relationship between Tom and Benny even while Benny is hanging on to his resentments. It feels like a real brother relationship and Tom and Benny are well fleshed out characters. I also thought Nix, Benny's friend and later love interest, was an interesting character. I've always enjoyed Maberry's strong female characters and Nix is definitely one of them. I found her to be more approachable than Lilah, the Lost Girl Benny and Tom go hunting for who has lived on her own since her caretaker died, out in the Rot and Ruin. But even Lilah is an interesting character because she represents the effects of having no human contact for so many years and having to defend yourself. In a way, she's like the zombies at first, an almost soulless killing machine until she befriends Nix and Benny.
The only reason I give this story four stars is because it didn't pack quite the emotional punch of the original short story. It couldn't (for me, at least). The characters' adventure into the Rot and Ruin is much longer and much more action packed, dampening the emotional impact of the end. It still made me cry though. So maybe 4 1/2 stars for real?
Rot and Ruin tells the story of Benny Imura, a fourteen year old growing up in a post zombie apocalypse "Safe Zone". He must find a job before he is 15 or his rations will be cut in half. After resistance, mostly on Benny's part, Benny becomes an apprentice zombie bounty hunter to his brother, Tom. Due to some resentments Benny has against Tom for events happening on First Night (The night of the zombie outbreak), Benny and Tom's relationship is strained when Tom takes him outside the gates for the first time into the Rot and Ruin, where zombies still roam. Tom views his responsibilities as a zombie killer with better intentions than the bounty hunters that Benny idolizes. Throughout the events of the book, Benny learns his brother's approach to the job might be the right one for him and that life is not always safe, whether the threat be zombie or human, inside or outside the gates.
I love the relationship between Tom and Benny even while Benny is hanging on to his resentments. It feels like a real brother relationship and Tom and Benny are well fleshed out characters. I also thought Nix, Benny's friend and later love interest, was an interesting character. I've always enjoyed Maberry's strong female characters and Nix is definitely one of them. I found her to be more approachable than Lilah, the Lost Girl Benny and Tom go hunting for who has lived on her own since her caretaker died, out in the Rot and Ruin. But even Lilah is an interesting character because she represents the effects of having no human contact for so many years and having to defend yourself. In a way, she's like the zombies at first, an almost soulless killing machine until she befriends Nix and Benny.
The only reason I give this story four stars is because it didn't pack quite the emotional punch of the original short story. It couldn't (for me, at least). The characters' adventure into the Rot and Ruin is much longer and much more action packed, dampening the emotional impact of the end. It still made me cry though. So maybe 4 1/2 stars for real?
Spoiler
well you know what they say. if you ain't see em die, they ain't dead.
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
dark
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This was a good story and I’ll most likely continue the series. I just wish it was more zombie-ish (if that makes sense). I feel like all of the interactions with the actual zombies weren’t very scary. I suppose that’s why I have such a hard time finding zombie books that I actually enjoy. They’re never scary enough.
I liked the concept of "quieting" the undead, etc, but for me the writing was a bit trite and seemed aimed at a middle-school mentality. Perhaps it didn't help that I listened to the audio version and the reader's singsong delivery was uninspired and uninspiring. I stuck it out to complete the book because I wanted to know what would happen. I don't think I'll be picking up any more books in the series, though.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
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:
N/A