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mauvenotebook's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
linzthebookworm's review against another edition
5.0
I got this book from Blogging for books in exchange for a book review. I had been eying it for sometime, and finally decided to pick it up. I'm so glad it did! It's a very vulgar and grimy look into Zombies and drug addicts. I would have never thought about drug addicts being the lone survivors, but I thought that this book gave the whole zombie theme an interesting twist.
With the romance between KK and Chase, the drug story, and the zombies it felt like I was getting three stories in one. It ended more like how I would think a Zombie Apocalypse would end - not necessarily with survival, but with a lot of unknowns. I really felt like this story came full circle. Great read!
With the romance between KK and Chase, the drug story, and the zombies it felt like I was getting three stories in one. It ended more like how I would think a Zombie Apocalypse would end - not necessarily with survival, but with a lot of unknowns. I really felt like this story came full circle. Great read!
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
Review of a Newbooks advance copy.
'Not another zombie apocalypse book?' I hear you groan. Well, yes, but I defy you to find a more original take on the genre than Fiend.
Chase is not a hero. He's a junkie who didn't even know an apocalypse was upon him, spun out on crystal meth.
And yet Chase is our eyes on this world, in what might be a conventional zombies-take-over-and-humans-make-a-desperate-stand story.
Chase and his friend Typewriter (never really explained) come down off a long drug high to slowly realise that almost the entire population have turned into zombies (in this book they are not referred to as zombies but as Chucks, or Chucklers, referring to the ominous laughing noises they make).
Will they make a stand, save as many people as they can, build a new life? Or fight each other for the dwindling drug supply they have left?
We never see this perspective in a book, the totally selfish and obsessive addict almost obvious to the world (and chaos) around them.
We see Chase's story and connection to KK, his now-clean ex-girlfriend, the one person he feels something for. Will this turn him around?
As bleak as The Road, violent as Breaking Bad, it's a dark, depressing and depraved story that shocks and appals in equal measure.
And yet you can't stop reading it. Even when you're sure you know it can't possibly end happily, you want to hope you're wrong and that anyone can be redeemed, that global catastrophe would make anyone a better, more selfless person. So will it?
You'll have to read Fiend to find out. It comes as no surprise to learn that the author has experience as a recovery drug addict with the very problem Chase has, the descriptions of drug highs and cravings are very vivid and real. And these characters do spend a great deal of time seeking drugs or taking them, though this doesn't slow the story down at all somehow.
Don't expect an easy summer read, but you can expect some deep thoughts and very visual, surely destined-for-the-movies zombie action.
Trainspotting meets George A. Romero.
'Not another zombie apocalypse book?' I hear you groan. Well, yes, but I defy you to find a more original take on the genre than Fiend.
Chase is not a hero. He's a junkie who didn't even know an apocalypse was upon him, spun out on crystal meth.
And yet Chase is our eyes on this world, in what might be a conventional zombies-take-over-and-humans-make-a-desperate-stand story.
Chase and his friend Typewriter (never really explained) come down off a long drug high to slowly realise that almost the entire population have turned into zombies (in this book they are not referred to as zombies but as Chucks, or Chucklers, referring to the ominous laughing noises they make).
Will they make a stand, save as many people as they can, build a new life? Or fight each other for the dwindling drug supply they have left?
We never see this perspective in a book, the totally selfish and obsessive addict almost obvious to the world (and chaos) around them.
We see Chase's story and connection to KK, his now-clean ex-girlfriend, the one person he feels something for. Will this turn him around?
As bleak as The Road, violent as Breaking Bad, it's a dark, depressing and depraved story that shocks and appals in equal measure.
And yet you can't stop reading it. Even when you're sure you know it can't possibly end happily, you want to hope you're wrong and that anyone can be redeemed, that global catastrophe would make anyone a better, more selfless person. So will it?
You'll have to read Fiend to find out. It comes as no surprise to learn that the author has experience as a recovery drug addict with the very problem Chase has, the descriptions of drug highs and cravings are very vivid and real. And these characters do spend a great deal of time seeking drugs or taking them, though this doesn't slow the story down at all somehow.
Don't expect an easy summer read, but you can expect some deep thoughts and very visual, surely destined-for-the-movies zombie action.
Trainspotting meets George A. Romero.
madmooney's review against another edition
4.0
Shawn of the Dead, with the subtitution of the tragedy of drug addiction for humour.
amybraunauthor's review against another edition
2.0
It's a good thing I've read American Psycho, because this book is awful. Not awfully written, but the kind of awful that makes you want to sulk and loathe humanity and kick the first junkie you see. Seriously. I don't hate this book, but I almost quit it. And I haven't almost quit a book series since Twilight. I was doing okay, moderately sympathizing with the main character, allowing myself to be lost in the whole "What if meth-heads could survive the zombie apocalypse," when the MC did something that I CANNOT get past. Honest to God, I read the scene twice, then pretty much said f*ck this book, and almost stopped reading. Alas, I read it on my laptop, and didn't want to break my computer. That being said, it's not poorly written, and if you can tolerate the ass end of society, maybe you'll like it. I didn't, and I can't say I'll recommend it to anyone.
saraa_t's review against another edition
3.0
If I were ever to imagine what the zombie apocalypse plus a few meth addicts would look like, it would be the plot of this book pretty much exactly. Interesting idea, but fairly predictable.
beastreader's review against another edition
2.0
Chase and his friend, Typewriter are just chilling shooting up and smoking drugs. Just another day for them. That is until Chase sees a little girl outside tearing a dog apart with her teeth. At first Chase thinks he is hallucinating from a major high but than he realizes that what he is seeing is real. The girl has spotted Chase and is walking towards him with blood and dog hair hanging off her. Chase grabs Typewriter and they run upstairs. Typewriter ends up bashing the girls head in with an actual typewriter. This is when Chase and Typewriter realize that a zombie apocalypse has started. Chase must save his girl KK.
When I first started seeing this book being promoted I really wanted to read this book. One because it was a zombie book. Two because it was promoted as being humorous. So my conclusion is after reading this book…that there are zombies, there are some funny toilet bowl humor lines, and drugs can help you survive a zombie attack.
First off I had no problems with the humor. In actuality it did put a smile on my face. The other aspects of this book that I did like were the zombies. They are flesh-eating maniacs. Also, the fact that the zombies giggle is really creepy. I mean it is bad enough to fend off a zombie who sees you as it’s next snack but to do so while giggling will give you chills up your spine.
Ok so the issues I had with this book were the characters and the story line some. I don’t know if me as the reader was meant to like Chase, his friend, and his love interest but I did not like or even care for them. I understand the effects of drug use and that it can really mess with your brain and though process and thus this is why it seemed like Chase was so whinny all the time but still it is a zombie attack, which means…no rules. Typewriter seemed to be tougher than Chase. Than there was the romantic relationship between Chase and KK. I must have missed something as I did not feel any connection between them. KK in fact was hung up on another guy and Chase’s feeling for her seemed more stalker like. Lastly, I wanted more fighting scenes with the zombies. More blood and gore is always better.
When I first started seeing this book being promoted I really wanted to read this book. One because it was a zombie book. Two because it was promoted as being humorous. So my conclusion is after reading this book…that there are zombies, there are some funny toilet bowl humor lines, and drugs can help you survive a zombie attack.
First off I had no problems with the humor. In actuality it did put a smile on my face. The other aspects of this book that I did like were the zombies. They are flesh-eating maniacs. Also, the fact that the zombies giggle is really creepy. I mean it is bad enough to fend off a zombie who sees you as it’s next snack but to do so while giggling will give you chills up your spine.
Ok so the issues I had with this book were the characters and the story line some. I don’t know if me as the reader was meant to like Chase, his friend, and his love interest but I did not like or even care for them. I understand the effects of drug use and that it can really mess with your brain and though process and thus this is why it seemed like Chase was so whinny all the time but still it is a zombie attack, which means…no rules. Typewriter seemed to be tougher than Chase. Than there was the romantic relationship between Chase and KK. I must have missed something as I did not feel any connection between them. KK in fact was hung up on another guy and Chase’s feeling for her seemed more stalker like. Lastly, I wanted more fighting scenes with the zombies. More blood and gore is always better.
shigatoxin's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book…..holy shit. Phenomenal. The story is dark and drew feelings out of me I didn’t expect to be feeling. This book immediately jumped towards the top of my favorites.
I read other reviews regarding Stenson’s lack of quotation marks with the dialogue. Maybe he just doesn’t like to use them, but I thought it helped convey a sense of paranoia and immersed the reader in the chaos.
I read other reviews regarding Stenson’s lack of quotation marks with the dialogue. Maybe he just doesn’t like to use them, but I thought it helped convey a sense of paranoia and immersed the reader in the chaos.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Gore, Death, Cursing, Blood, Drug use, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Self harm
Minor: Suicide
lyrareadsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
For the story and writing alone I'd go 4 or 4.5. I listened as an audiobook and the excellent narration enhanced the story and made this a full out 5 for me. In the zombie apocalypse, the only survivors are meth addicts and getting spun makes the difference between life and death.