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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
This was a reread.
I have missed this world so very much.
Superheroes and zombies have always been my jam. This book is just as amazing as the first time I read it.
I cannot wait to devour the rest of the series so I can finally complete it!
I have missed this world so very much.
Superheroes and zombies have always been my jam. This book is just as amazing as the first time I read it.
I cannot wait to devour the rest of the series so I can finally complete it!
Read this and other reviews at Ampersand Read.
Zombies and superheroes. Is there a more awesome combo?!
This book only has a couple of slow spots (tactical meetings, backstory for some but not all of our undead-fighting pals), and the rest is action, action, action. In a way, it reads like an action packed TV show. It's very "baddie of the week" (although in this case, it turns out to be the same couple of baddies).
I liked the variety of powers, and the fact that it felt like not all of the superheroes were invincible. In fact, only the Mighty Dragon/St. George (took me a little bit to realize both names were in reference to the same hero) can wade into a horde of zombies and not be bitten because they physically cannot bite through his flesh. Their emotional wounds are also present, as you might expect in a world where loved ones have turned dead and ravenous for your own flesh.
There are a couple of points where you feel as if all hope is lost (as all good action-based stories go - there have to be stakes that feel real in order for the whole thing to pay off), and our heroes pull ahead (spoiler alert?). So it definitely keeps things spicy and keeps you turning the pages.
I'm looking forward to the next installments fleshing (ha! Pun unintended...) out the rest of the hero characters. In this first book, everyone's tragedies are just briefly touched upon. You get the most out of St. George, but you get a taste of some pretty tragic stuff from a couple of the others.
Overall, it's well-paced and the characters interesting...so far. There are a lot of them, and I'm nervous for how that will be handled in the next book or two. Could be hard to juggle all of that backstory and still give readers characters to root for and feel empathetic for.
Zombies and superheroes. Is there a more awesome combo?!
This book only has a couple of slow spots (tactical meetings, backstory for some but not all of our undead-fighting pals), and the rest is action, action, action. In a way, it reads like an action packed TV show. It's very "baddie of the week" (although in this case, it turns out to be the same couple of baddies).
I liked the variety of powers, and the fact that it felt like not all of the superheroes were invincible. In fact, only the Mighty Dragon/St. George (took me a little bit to realize both names were in reference to the same hero) can wade into a horde of zombies and not be bitten because they physically cannot bite through his flesh. Their emotional wounds are also present, as you might expect in a world where loved ones have turned dead and ravenous for your own flesh.
There are a couple of points where you feel as if all hope is lost (as all good action-based stories go - there have to be stakes that feel real in order for the whole thing to pay off), and our heroes pull ahead (spoiler alert?). So it definitely keeps things spicy and keeps you turning the pages.
I'm looking forward to the next installments fleshing (ha! Pun unintended...) out the rest of the hero characters. In this first book, everyone's tragedies are just briefly touched upon. You get the most out of St. George, but you get a taste of some pretty tragic stuff from a couple of the others.
Overall, it's well-paced and the characters interesting...so far. There are a lot of them, and I'm nervous for how that will be handled in the next book or two. Could be hard to juggle all of that backstory and still give readers characters to root for and feel empathetic for.
Zombies and superheroes, what more could a girl want? Well, something. I'm not sure what as I did enjoy the book and I will read the next one (when it stops being £6.95) but there was something missing. I think it might have been characterisation. Perhaps that will get better with subsequent books in the series.
Interesting premise but tends to fail in certain areas due to poor writing.
3.5, but I'm rounding up for super snappy dialogue and action as well as a really interesting take on the spread of zombie infection. If you like superheroes and zombies and both together, you'll like this!
Holy cow. This book was SO good. I'm both shocked and thrilled that I hadn't read it before... because now I have a whole dang series to look forward to!
Seriously, this was both original and well worn in all the right places. As dozens of others have said, this is a zombie/ superhero mashup, think Watchmen meets 28 Days Later. However, it doesn't feel overdone or hackneyed. Honestly I just can't describe it well enough to do it justice. Just do yourself a favor and read it. You can thank me after.
Seriously, this was both original and well worn in all the right places. As dozens of others have said, this is a zombie/ superhero mashup, think Watchmen meets 28 Days Later. However, it doesn't feel overdone or hackneyed. Honestly I just can't describe it well enough to do it justice. Just do yourself a favor and read it. You can thank me after.
This book had an interesting way of making zombies but it had some pretty big flaws. Minor, but it isn't internally consistent when it comes to handling zombie bites for super heroes.
But more egregious was the fact that the entire climax / final fight is completely pointless. It could have been resolved in exactly one second and no attempt was made to explain why it wasn't done. That's the problem with using super heroes. If one of them would be the "perfect" solution to a problem, you must explain why they didn't solve it.
But more egregious was the fact that the entire climax / final fight is completely pointless. It could have been resolved in exactly one second and no attempt was made to explain why it wasn't done. That's the problem with using super heroes. If one of them would be the "perfect" solution to a problem, you must explain why they didn't solve it.
While superheroes vs zombies seems like some sort of satirical sendup of Hollywood, the concept does capture something in the zeitgeist of the 21st century. In fact I’m somewhat surprised that we haven’t seen a series of movies on SyFy featuring this theme.
In Peter Clines’ debut novel, he goes all in on the genre tropes. The story takes place after the zombie apocalypse. A small group of superheroes and a larger group of normal humans have taken shelter on a converted movie studio lot in Los Angeles. They’re trying to survive, but in addition to the millions of swarming “exes” (Clines word of choice instead of zombie), they are also menaced by the remnants of a street gang who want the weaponry the superheroes have access to.
The strength of Ex-Heroes lies in the pacing and action sequences. With so many constant threats to survival, there are plenty of opportunities for heroics. Zombies to kill, humans to rescue, evil gangbangers to overcome. Clines does a good job of taking a story that seems to fit more naturally into a comic format & convert it into a novel.
The weakness of the novel lies in the characterizations. Clines chooses to basically simply file the serial numbers off several famous superheroes. This approach is fine, but even the flashbacks used to establish the heroes identity before the outbreak are not enough to make me really care about any of the characters. This diminishes the stakes significantly.
In short, while a quick & fun read, Ex-Heroes was on the whole disappointing. I wish I’d read the graphic novel instead.
In Peter Clines’ debut novel, he goes all in on the genre tropes. The story takes place after the zombie apocalypse. A small group of superheroes and a larger group of normal humans have taken shelter on a converted movie studio lot in Los Angeles. They’re trying to survive, but in addition to the millions of swarming “exes” (Clines word of choice instead of zombie), they are also menaced by the remnants of a street gang who want the weaponry the superheroes have access to.
The strength of Ex-Heroes lies in the pacing and action sequences. With so many constant threats to survival, there are plenty of opportunities for heroics. Zombies to kill, humans to rescue, evil gangbangers to overcome. Clines does a good job of taking a story that seems to fit more naturally into a comic format & convert it into a novel.
The weakness of the novel lies in the characterizations. Clines chooses to basically simply file the serial numbers off several famous superheroes. This approach is fine, but even the flashbacks used to establish the heroes identity before the outbreak are not enough to make me really care about any of the characters. This diminishes the stakes significantly.
In short, while a quick & fun read, Ex-Heroes was on the whole disappointing. I wish I’d read the graphic novel instead.
Yet another zombie series but this one has a new component that I've wanted for some time - super heroes (actually, more closer to mutants but you get the idea). It's a mash-up of a zombie apocalypse (set in LA) and superheroes who are fighting to protect an enclave in the middle of a city of zombies.
It worked for me on all levels. The plot was nothing new but the super powers where well-done and , in some cases, damn interesting. The main characters were engaging, believable, and developed in interesting ways as the story progressed. One of the mechanics I thought worked very well was the short flash-backs for each of the main characters; mainly focusing on the time when they acquired their powers or were actively using them before the apocalypse hit.
All in all, a great read for those who are looking for something new from the walking dead and those caped crusaders.
It worked for me on all levels. The plot was nothing new but the super powers where well-done and , in some cases, damn interesting. The main characters were engaging, believable, and developed in interesting ways as the story progressed. One of the mechanics I thought worked very well was the short flash-backs for each of the main characters; mainly focusing on the time when they acquired their powers or were actively using them before the apocalypse hit.
All in all, a great read for those who are looking for something new from the walking dead and those caped crusaders.
I'm not very interested in zombie tales, but this one had a few interesting twists.