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qalminator's review
5.0
Awesome. Just awesome.
I've enjoyed a lot of Seanan MacGuire's work, and only just started looking at her stuff written as Mira Grant. I was initially not too enthused about Newsflesh, as zombies really aren't my thing, but Grant makes them fresh and interesting and fascinating, with a lot of shout-outs to "classic" zombie schtick for those who were already into zombies.
The first book could have worked as a standalone, and I suspect it was written that way in case it didn't do well enough to merit a sequel, but it's in the second book that things really start to get interesting. There's a huge conspiracy plot that begins in the first book and threads its way through the rest, and does eventually get resolved, but what I really liked was the medical details about the zombie-virus (Kellis-Amberlee). Everything felt well-researched and plausible.
One detail that annoyed me slightly.
I've enjoyed a lot of Seanan MacGuire's work, and only just started looking at her stuff written as Mira Grant. I was initially not too enthused about Newsflesh, as zombies really aren't my thing, but Grant makes them fresh and interesting and fascinating, with a lot of shout-outs to "classic" zombie schtick for those who were already into zombies.
The first book could have worked as a standalone, and I suspect it was written that way in case it didn't do well enough to merit a sequel, but it's in the second book that things really start to get interesting. There's a huge conspiracy plot that begins in the first book and threads its way through the rest, and does eventually get resolved
Spoiler
in part, by kidnapping the presidentOne detail that annoyed me slightly.
Spoiler
In the first book, I came away with the impression that George and Shaun were both asexual. Apparently that was not the intention, as it became clear in the second book that they had been lovers. Not quite incest, as they are unrelated, adopted siblings. I was mostly disappointed because of how rare ace representation is, though some might object to the near-incest. I misread a detail in the first book, and I rather suspect the intention there was made explicit in the second book because I wasn't the only one.reanimatedreader's review
3.0
Kindle Unlimited. Only read the third book as I’ve read the others separately but the third wasn’t on unlimited.
I’m still enjoying the science behind this virus and how society is recovering from a global pandemic.
I’m still enjoying the science behind this virus and how society is recovering from a global pandemic.
alisonburnis's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This trilogy was riveting and extremely relevant to the COVID era, even if a human-made virus that turns people into zombies isn’t exactly the same. Set in the 2040s, this follows journalist sibling duo Georgia and Shaun, who aspire to become top independent journalists. They get picked to follow the presidential campaign of Senator Ryman and find themselves deep into the world of conspiracies and a world decades deep into terror from zombies.
Grant (a pen name for Seanan McGuire) has created a spectacular dystopian world. The info and world-building, the science, and the way people live after a period of prolonged fear - yes. That piece was especially true, with all of the different stances and opinions. I really enjoyed this tense, wild ride of a trilogy. Looking forward to reading the other things in the Newsflesh universe!
Grant (a pen name for Seanan McGuire) has created a spectacular dystopian world. The info and world-building, the science, and the way people live after a period of prolonged fear - yes. That piece was especially true, with all of the different stances and opinions. I really enjoyed this tense, wild ride of a trilogy. Looking forward to reading the other things in the Newsflesh universe!
re_stearns's review
5.0
Yes, I bought all the stories from this universe already, but I bought them in audio and I was moving house at the time, so they all flew by too quickly. I regret nothing.
cats_read_books's review
2.0
This series would have been more enjoyable had it been at least 30% shorter. There is so much downtime between events that's just not filled in interesting ways, but with all kinds of info dumping about blogging, journalism, techy camera & computer equipment talk. It was tolerable in the first book for world building but it was just annoying after that. I ended up skim reading most of the series. George haunting Shaun is a majorly belabored plot point and I can't figure out why. So that he won't be super shocked when he sees George's clone?
And of course I have to mention the brother/sister but not really romance. What in the actual heck??? During the first 2 books it bugged me that their relationship was just... off. It was vaguely disturbing. In the last book it comes out that they've just been a romantic couple for... how long? Years? Since puberty? Before that? It's fucking weird, y'all. And, again, why? Why turn it into a freaky romance?
These books had some cool action scenes and some of the world building was neat, like how the world changed post-zombies, but it's just all overshadowed by the gross romance and major info dumping that doesn't do anything to move the plot along or enrich character development.
And of course I have to mention the brother/sister but not really romance. What in the actual heck??? During the first 2 books it bugged me that their relationship was just... off. It was vaguely disturbing. In the last book it comes out that they've just been a romantic couple for... how long? Years? Since puberty? Before that? It's fucking weird, y'all. And, again, why? Why turn it into a freaky romance?
These books had some cool action scenes and some of the world building was neat, like how the world changed post-zombies, but it's just all overshadowed by the gross romance and major info dumping that doesn't do anything to move the plot along or enrich character development.
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