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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
There's a good story here. I enjoyed a lot about this book. But I found Benny's character so obnoxious in the beginning that I almost gave up before finishing the first chapter. He definitely improves as a character as the story progresses, but there are still inconsistencies throughout that I think are a weakness of the writing. I also found that the writing was too dramatic at times. Subtlety was rare, almost as if the writer didn't trust the reader to understand basic nuance and human behavior.
There are certainly strengths to this story, though. The book is set 14 years after the zombie apocalypse began, and we get character remembrances of First Night as well as a very interesting rendering of what the world could look like for survivors who seclude themselves from the living dead. The bounty hunters, despite their weird blend of Wild West/gangster nicknames, are a believable and scary bunch, and I fully believe that this kind of world is possible (were zombies actually real, of course).
Despite my early reservations and occasional eye-rolling at the descriptions, I really enjoyed this and will be reading the sequel soon.
There are certainly strengths to this story, though. The book is set 14 years after the zombie apocalypse began, and we get character remembrances of First Night as well as a very interesting rendering of what the world could look like for survivors who seclude themselves from the living dead. The bounty hunters, despite their weird blend of Wild West/gangster nicknames, are a believable and scary bunch, and I fully believe that this kind of world is possible (were zombies actually real, of course).
Despite my early reservations and occasional eye-rolling at the descriptions, I really enjoyed this and will be reading the sequel soon.
A tough book to rate. Benny was almost too horrible in the beginning. He was such a brat, such an annoying MC, that I wasn't sure I was going to be able to keep going.
about 1/3 of the way, the book suddenly opens up. You get to know Nix, Tom and about this.....Lost Girl. As Benny (MC) moved away from spouting about himself and his thoughts and just kept trying to keep up with everyone else it was a much better book.
But, I never felt invested. I don't know if it was because Benny ranged from "I did this" kind of statements to then "Benny then ran..." It switch it's narration. Although I think that's great (because Benny was pretty awful up until about 2/3 of the book) but it also kept me a bit removed from all the drama and chaos.
I've also never read such a romanticized version of zombies. The one family actually put flower wreaths around one?!?! To maybe make him smell better? I don't know, it was certainly a new take on zombies - I'm still trying to decide what I thought of it.....
about 1/3 of the way, the book suddenly opens up. You get to know Nix, Tom and about this.....Lost Girl. As Benny (MC) moved away from spouting about himself and his thoughts and just kept trying to keep up with everyone else it was a much better book.
But, I never felt invested. I don't know if it was because Benny ranged from "I did this" kind of statements to then "Benny then ran..." It switch it's narration. Although I think that's great (because Benny was pretty awful up until about 2/3 of the book) but it also kept me a bit removed from all the drama and chaos.
I've also never read such a romanticized version of zombies. The one family actually put flower wreaths around one?!?! To maybe make him smell better? I don't know, it was certainly a new take on zombies - I'm still trying to decide what I thought of it.....
I really really liked this book. I wouldn't typically choose a zombie book, but this one was assigned for a YA lit class I took. I was pleasantly surprised! There is a lot of conversations in the book about being human and what it looks like to give others dignity.
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
DNF. Promised my friend (who recommended it to me) that I would read at least 50 pages, so I did. And I hated it. It was badly written, and I was just so bored. Nothing happened, and I'm not a fan of slow-paced books. I could not make myself care about any of the characters at all.
I will read anything Jonathan Maberry writes. He cold update the phone book and I would enjoy it. I have loved reading his books for the longest time, since GHOST ROAD BLUES.
This is the first I've had the pleasure of listening to.
Zombie apocalypse, dystopian future. It doesn't even feel like the time is that far off. Benny Imura is 15 and in this timeframe, 15 is decision making time. 15 means you can go to school but you have to have a job to continue earning your rations. He doesn't know what he wants to do but he knows he doesn't want to become a hunter like his older brother. Benny has grown up with little to no respect for Tom and no way is he going to follow in his footsteps.
He tries several different options, but none are a good fit...he ends up apprenticing with his brother to become a zomb hunter.
He learns what life is like outside the fence, both for the people he thought he knew and the zombs.
Emotions and action aplenty. Cringe-worthy descriptions, fight scenes are amazingly articulated.
Definite recommend.
This is the first I've had the pleasure of listening to.
Zombie apocalypse, dystopian future. It doesn't even feel like the time is that far off. Benny Imura is 15 and in this timeframe, 15 is decision making time. 15 means you can go to school but you have to have a job to continue earning your rations. He doesn't know what he wants to do but he knows he doesn't want to become a hunter like his older brother. Benny has grown up with little to no respect for Tom and no way is he going to follow in his footsteps.
He tries several different options, but none are a good fit...he ends up apprenticing with his brother to become a zomb hunter.
He learns what life is like outside the fence, both for the people he thought he knew and the zombs.
Emotions and action aplenty. Cringe-worthy descriptions, fight scenes are amazingly articulated.
Definite recommend.
I never thought zombie books would be on my list of must-reads. But after devouring (sorry, bad pun when discussing zombies, eh?) Charlie Higson’s The Enemy and now Rot & Ruin, I think I can safely say I’ll be snatching up zombie-themed tomes!
Being someone who loves books with characters that draw you deep into their lives and make you care about their outcomes, Rot & Ruin was a sure-fire win for me. Benny, Tom, and Nix are main characters that have you cheering, cringing, and groaning right along with them. Minor characters like Motor City Hammer & Charlie Pink-Eye are equally engaging. I also never imagined I would feel sorry for zombies but Maberry does a fantastic job of humanizing these fearsome creatures.
Finally, in this day-and-age of me reading more books in order to provide better readers’ advisory services at work, I rarely read sequels any more. I usually read the first in a series to get a feel for the book and then move on to the next title on my long to-be-read list. But Rot & Ruin? I’ll be clamoring for the next book. I cannot wait to find out what happens next!
Cautions for those who want them: a couple of kisses, several “effings” (and yes, that is how they appear in the book 9 times out of 10), and violence (it is a zombie book after all!)
Being someone who loves books with characters that draw you deep into their lives and make you care about their outcomes, Rot & Ruin was a sure-fire win for me. Benny, Tom, and Nix are main characters that have you cheering, cringing, and groaning right along with them. Minor characters like Motor City Hammer & Charlie Pink-Eye are equally engaging. I also never imagined I would feel sorry for zombies but Maberry does a fantastic job of humanizing these fearsome creatures.
Finally, in this day-and-age of me reading more books in order to provide better readers’ advisory services at work, I rarely read sequels any more. I usually read the first in a series to get a feel for the book and then move on to the next title on my long to-be-read list. But Rot & Ruin? I’ll be clamoring for the next book. I cannot wait to find out what happens next!
Cautions for those who want them: a couple of kisses, several “effings” (and yes, that is how they appear in the book 9 times out of 10), and violence (it is a zombie book after all!)