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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
I'm not anti-zombie in any way, shape, or form, but I tend to only read/watch stuff with zombies when I'm really in the mood for them.
Twice has sort of reignited my ... er ... hunger? for them?
I seriously loved how this author didn't just rehash other zombie stories and instead made it undeniably his own. I also enjoyed that he didn't sugar-coat anything; there's lots of gory parts in this book.
I liked the setting, the philosophical parts, the characters, and the plot ... so that's a win. Only thing I can nitpick is how the heroes kept falling for the villains traps, but, I kind of liked that the heroes didn't just run through the gauntlet of this story with no obstacles in the way. Another nitpick is the blatant foreshadowing that SOMETHING BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN ... but it's not like I haven't seen that before (kind of reminds me of Goosebumps books, to be honest.) I never really felt like I was being hit over the head with a foreshadowing hammer over and over though. It's not subtle, no, but it does make you want to read on to see what's going to happen next.
This is seriously a great start and honestly I'm already reading the next book and this is the perfect time of year to start this sort of book.
Twice has sort of reignited my ... er ... hunger? for them?
I seriously loved how this author didn't just rehash other zombie stories and instead made it undeniably his own. I also enjoyed that he didn't sugar-coat anything; there's lots of gory parts in this book.
I liked the setting, the philosophical parts, the characters, and the plot ... so that's a win. Only thing I can nitpick is how the heroes kept falling for the villains traps, but, I kind of liked that the heroes didn't just run through the gauntlet of this story with no obstacles in the way. Another nitpick is the blatant foreshadowing that SOMETHING BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN ... but it's not like I haven't seen that before (kind of reminds me of Goosebumps books, to be honest.) I never really felt like I was being hit over the head with a foreshadowing hammer over and over though. It's not subtle, no, but it does make you want to read on to see what's going to happen next.
This is seriously a great start and honestly I'm already reading the next book and this is the perfect time of year to start this sort of book.
I don't read a whole lot of zombie novels, preferring to stick to The Walking Dead graphic novels and not really branching out from that often. I reserved this back around Halloween though and oh. Man. It was amazing! I loved everything about it, and especially the sort of fresh premise of the story. Too often zombie novels fall into the same old mold, and that's one reason why I never read them. This one had some cool new takes on the genre, and I can't wait to see what comes next!
Also Tom Imura is everything, man. Every. Thing.
Also Tom Imura is everything, man. Every. Thing.
This review is from my blog, Starting the Next Chapter.
Rot & Ruin turned out to be a much different zombie novel than I had originally anticipated. Don't get me wrong, there are scads of horrifying zombies in this book, as well as a lot of dangerous situations for Benny to get through. However, there is also a distinct lesson to be learned. This message was pleasantly surprising and gave me a lot to think about as I read this eerily intriguing book.
The plot that runs throughout Rot & Ruin is one filled with several elements, including survival, forgiveness, and the question of just what it is that makes us human. While some truly horrifying things happen in this novel, there is also an element of hope that can be garnered if one pays close enough attention. I found that I appreciated this added touch and the way it was orchestrated. It made for such a thought-provoking zombie story that I was taken very much by surprise.
At first, I was put off by Benny as a character. He is such an angry character at first, and I sensed that his anger was misplaced. However, as the story progressed, he began to take on a great deal of depth that transformed him from an angry, oblivious teenager to a compassionate, loyal young man. His older brother, Tom, is definitely one of my favorite characters in this story. He is amazingly patient with Benny and holds a great deal of sympathy for both zombies and their living families. I was very surprised at that particular character trait and became more intrigued the more I learned. As for the villains, I was very surprised and appalled. They are not who you might think and their heinous actions are completely despicable. You will find yourself becoming very invested in justice when it comes to these characters, which definitely aids in drawing a reader into the story.
The setting in which Rot & Ruin takes place is perfection. The world post-apocalypse is a bleak one and the remaining people are left trying to survive it. The landscape is both ominous and eerie. Never has a forest seemed so frightening. Each time Benny and Tom made their way into the Rot & Ruin, I felt very concerned about what was going to happen. The descriptions of the land made for a definite sense of foreboding and spine-tingling fright.
I was very much impressed with Rot & Ruin and immediately picked up the second novel, Dust & Decay. I had to work a little harder to get into it, at first, but I soon found myself immersed in Benny's story and became invested in what happened to the characters. If you're looking for a zombie-centered story with something to think about, you will likely enjoy Rot & Ruin. I know I did.
Rot & Ruin turned out to be a much different zombie novel than I had originally anticipated. Don't get me wrong, there are scads of horrifying zombies in this book, as well as a lot of dangerous situations for Benny to get through. However, there is also a distinct lesson to be learned. This message was pleasantly surprising and gave me a lot to think about as I read this eerily intriguing book.
The plot that runs throughout Rot & Ruin is one filled with several elements, including survival, forgiveness, and the question of just what it is that makes us human. While some truly horrifying things happen in this novel, there is also an element of hope that can be garnered if one pays close enough attention. I found that I appreciated this added touch and the way it was orchestrated. It made for such a thought-provoking zombie story that I was taken very much by surprise.
At first, I was put off by Benny as a character. He is such an angry character at first, and I sensed that his anger was misplaced. However, as the story progressed, he began to take on a great deal of depth that transformed him from an angry, oblivious teenager to a compassionate, loyal young man. His older brother, Tom, is definitely one of my favorite characters in this story. He is amazingly patient with Benny and holds a great deal of sympathy for both zombies and their living families. I was very surprised at that particular character trait and became more intrigued the more I learned. As for the villains, I was very surprised and appalled. They are not who you might think and their heinous actions are completely despicable. You will find yourself becoming very invested in justice when it comes to these characters, which definitely aids in drawing a reader into the story.
The setting in which Rot & Ruin takes place is perfection. The world post-apocalypse is a bleak one and the remaining people are left trying to survive it. The landscape is both ominous and eerie. Never has a forest seemed so frightening. Each time Benny and Tom made their way into the Rot & Ruin, I felt very concerned about what was going to happen. The descriptions of the land made for a definite sense of foreboding and spine-tingling fright.
I was very much impressed with Rot & Ruin and immediately picked up the second novel, Dust & Decay. I had to work a little harder to get into it, at first, but I soon found myself immersed in Benny's story and became invested in what happened to the characters. If you're looking for a zombie-centered story with something to think about, you will likely enjoy Rot & Ruin. I know I did.
This book was very slow going, but I decided to try it because I normally like post-apocalyptic series such as The Walking Dead. But this one just did not do it for me, it was way to slow. I also feel like the author gave away too much of his backstory in one book, and could have saved some of it. I did like the idea of the zombie collector cards though. But this book started off slow and ended on a little bit higher hill to climb. Small cliffhanger but I decided to not read the rest of the series.
Who knew that zombism was a disease? My students even argued with me about this so I used textual evident to support my answer. It was a good exercise even though I suspect they're right.
Jonathan Maberry has created a new type of zombie, it's a virus!
I'd recommend this book to the students who enjoy horror and are competent readers.
Jonathan Maberry has created a new type of zombie, it's a virus!
I'd recommend this book to the students who enjoy horror and are competent readers.
What fun! A zombie book that's not really about the zombies at all. I mean, it is, in the sense that zombies are present throughout the book and pose a constant threat to the protagonists. But it isn't in the sense that it's more about the living and what they're living for.
Benny has grown up with his older brother Tom raising him. Their parents? Killed on "First Night", the night of the zombie apocalypse. And all Benny remembers is Tom carrying him and running away from their mother. Thus, in Benny's eyes, his brother is a coward, even if he is a zombie hunter. In fact, Benny worships at the feet of the town's big, bad zombie bounty hunters and can't understand how his brother could even compare. Now that Benny's turning 15, he has to find work or lose his rations. After failing (or recoiling in horror/boredom) in a variety of jobs, Benny finally decides to try out the "family business". His first trip with Tom is a life-changing journey into the vast "rot and ruin", the zombie-infested land outside of the town gates. His world view will never be the same.
This is the thinking person's zombie novel. The relationship between Tom and Benny is painfully realistic. The bounty hunters are palpably disturbing. And the "Lost Girl"? I want to be her friend. Also, I *might* just have a bit of a book-crush on Tom. His zen-like patience concealing some serious potential to fight like a samurai....his compassion and intelligence....and he raised a bratty little brother! le sigh...
Benny has grown up with his older brother Tom raising him. Their parents? Killed on "First Night", the night of the zombie apocalypse. And all Benny remembers is Tom carrying him and running away from their mother. Thus, in Benny's eyes, his brother is a coward, even if he is a zombie hunter. In fact, Benny worships at the feet of the town's big, bad zombie bounty hunters and can't understand how his brother could even compare. Now that Benny's turning 15, he has to find work or lose his rations. After failing (or recoiling in horror/boredom) in a variety of jobs, Benny finally decides to try out the "family business". His first trip with Tom is a life-changing journey into the vast "rot and ruin", the zombie-infested land outside of the town gates. His world view will never be the same.
This is the thinking person's zombie novel. The relationship between Tom and Benny is painfully realistic. The bounty hunters are palpably disturbing. And the "Lost Girl"? I want to be her friend. Also, I *might* just have a bit of a book-crush on Tom. His zen-like patience concealing some serious potential to fight like a samurai....his compassion and intelligence....and he raised a bratty little brother! le sigh...
I read this back in high school and enjoyed it, though it wasn't really my cup of tea. I'm reading the comic now, and was reminded how much I enjoyed the book, so I borrowed the e-book from my local library and plan on reading all in the series now!
I'm a huge zombie fan, so even the slightest mention of the "z-word" gets me interested.
This book was no exception. However, what kept my attention throughout the book wasn't the killing of zombies (because honestly there wasn't much of it), but of every day life of people living in the zombie apocalypse. Never have I read a book on what happens to life years after the start of the zombie apocalypse until now.
In Rot & Ruin, fourteen years have passed since First Night, when the dead started walking again. This book focusing on Benny and Tom Imura, two brothers living in a small town, trying to get by and live life the best they can in the new reality. True that it isn't a typical zombie read, but that's what I liked about it. Before always focus on the beginning of the apocalypse, never what happens in the aftermath, and I love that Maberry stepped out of the box!
This book was no exception. However, what kept my attention throughout the book wasn't the killing of zombies (because honestly there wasn't much of it), but of every day life of people living in the zombie apocalypse. Never have I read a book on what happens to life years after the start of the zombie apocalypse until now.
In Rot & Ruin, fourteen years have passed since First Night, when the dead started walking again. This book focusing on Benny and Tom Imura, two brothers living in a small town, trying to get by and live life the best they can in the new reality. True that it isn't a typical zombie read, but that's what I liked about it. Before always focus on the beginning of the apocalypse, never what happens in the aftermath, and I love that Maberry stepped out of the box!
The more I read Rot & Ruin the more i liked it. During the first few chapters I was not impressed. . . at all. But upon further reading I ended up really like this book.
Rot & Ruin is a coming of age story. The book begins with Benny Imura, just turning 15 and having to find a job, otherwise his food rations get cut in half. He tries out and applies to jobs all over the fenced in town of Mountainside where he lives. But Benny comes up with nothing. His last choice would be to work with his brother, Tom, who is a Bounty Hunter. (Tom goes out into the Rot and Ruin and hunts zombies.) Benny, not having any other job prospects, reluctantly begins his training with Tom. So starts the emotional journey Benny goes through in order to learn what the "real" world and the people left in it, are like.
When I started reading this, I strongly disliked Benny. He was whiny, and I felt immature for 15 years old. But, seeing as this is a 'coming of age' story, I hoped that Benny would become a lot less inclined to whine and moan and hate his obviously bad ass older brother. Luckily, Benny's attitude changes quickly after a few chapters in.
I love Tom. His character was nearly perfect. He liked to 'go all Zen' as Benny puts it, with introspect that seemed older then his years. He teaches Benny about right and wrong, swordsmanship and a to give respect when it's deserved. I liked his patience with Benny, since he blamed Tom for their parents deaths, it took a lot of time (years!) for Benny to come around. . .
Nix was also an awesome character. She was fierce, tough and smart, as well as having a huge crush on Benny. They go through some awkward situations while trying to figure out what to do with themselves and their feelings for each other.
The plot was constantly moving. Once I felt like I had it figured out, and in what direction I thought it was going, it would change up and move somewhere completely different. At some points it was easy to know what was next,. But I liked the relationship building, Benny growing emotionally, and the world building of what California had become since 'First Night' happened.
Even though this is a book for YA, perhaps even older middle grade, there was still some gore and death. Which honestly surprised me. But you can't have a zombie novel with out some gory details, and at least someone dieing right? Right. So I was impressed by how tactful these parts were written, and how Maberry went through issues such as revenge, hatred and righting a wrong. It was handled splendidly.
The ending was as happy as one can expect for a post apocalyptic zombie story to be, and leaves plenty for a sequel with out there being a massive cliff hanger, which I am happy about.
I'm going to be reading the next one for sure.
Rot & Ruin is a coming of age story. The book begins with Benny Imura, just turning 15 and having to find a job, otherwise his food rations get cut in half. He tries out and applies to jobs all over the fenced in town of Mountainside where he lives. But Benny comes up with nothing. His last choice would be to work with his brother, Tom, who is a Bounty Hunter. (Tom goes out into the Rot and Ruin and hunts zombies.) Benny, not having any other job prospects, reluctantly begins his training with Tom. So starts the emotional journey Benny goes through in order to learn what the "real" world and the people left in it, are like.
When I started reading this, I strongly disliked Benny. He was whiny, and I felt immature for 15 years old. But, seeing as this is a 'coming of age' story, I hoped that Benny would become a lot less inclined to whine and moan and hate his obviously bad ass older brother. Luckily, Benny's attitude changes quickly after a few chapters in.
I love Tom. His character was nearly perfect. He liked to 'go all Zen' as Benny puts it, with introspect that seemed older then his years. He teaches Benny about right and wrong, swordsmanship and a to give respect when it's deserved. I liked his patience with Benny, since he blamed Tom for their parents deaths, it took a lot of time (years!) for Benny to come around. . .
Nix was also an awesome character. She was fierce, tough and smart, as well as having a huge crush on Benny. They go through some awkward situations while trying to figure out what to do with themselves and their feelings for each other.
The plot was constantly moving. Once I felt like I had it figured out, and in what direction I thought it was going, it would change up and move somewhere completely different. At some points it was easy to know what was next,
Spoiler
like leading a pack of zombies to a camp of evil doersEven though this is a book for YA, perhaps even older middle grade, there was still some gore and death. Which honestly surprised me. But you can't have a zombie novel with out some gory details, and at least someone dieing right? Right. So I was impressed by how tactful these parts were written, and how Maberry went through issues such as revenge, hatred and righting a wrong. It was handled splendidly.
The ending was as happy as one can expect for a post apocalyptic zombie story to be, and leaves plenty for a sequel with out there being a massive cliff hanger, which I am happy about.
I'm going to be reading the next one for sure.
WOW! May I say wow wow wow wow wow! This book was epic. I don't have words. Well actually I technically do. This book was a great zombie book filled with action and just great plot.