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muddywookiee's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
eddasm's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
colorfulleo92's review
3.0
Hm well this was okay I guess, not that bad as a horror but it wasn't really my jam. Not the apocalypse-zombie-end of days theme for me but wasn't horrible to listen to
shiny_'s review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Generously, you could call this book 28 Days Later meets Dead Space with shades of War of the Worlds. But that would be awfully generous for what is a bog standard zombie apocalypse plot where our zombies resemble Dead Space's visceral, monstrous necromorphs instead of the usual cadavers.
Close encounters with the infected are easily the highlight of this book, Hawkins lavishing the mutated antagonists of his story with the lurid, disgusting descriptions they demand. He keeps the variety way up, no two mutants ever quite the same. But there's too much of a good thing in the end here - the book wound up feeling like a literal menagerie of horrors, each paraded by just long enough to get a good look at them before they're whisked back behind the curtain so another can emerge.
There's frankly not much else to say about this book. Those familiar with the genre will find nothing surprising, and the characters are practically cardboard cut-outs. You can probably guess the entire plot right now. Like the movies and games it resembles, though, that's not what you stick around for - it's seeing what grisly horror will pop out of the dark next.
Close encounters with the infected are easily the highlight of this book, Hawkins lavishing the mutated antagonists of his story with the lurid, disgusting descriptions they demand. He keeps the variety way up, no two mutants ever quite the same. But there's too much of a good thing in the end here - the book wound up feeling like a literal menagerie of horrors, each paraded by just long enough to get a good look at them before they're whisked back behind the curtain so another can emerge.
There's frankly not much else to say about this book. Those familiar with the genre will find nothing surprising, and the characters are practically cardboard cut-outs. You can probably guess the entire plot right now. Like the movies and games it resembles, though, that's not what you stick around for - it's seeing what grisly horror will pop out of the dark next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Child death, Death of parent, Pandemic/Epidemic, Suicide, Violence, Body horror, Cannibalism, Death, Fatphobia, and Gore
Moderate: Sexual violence and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Alcohol, Trafficking, and Vomit
wims's review
3.0
No matter how much of a lover of the apoc/zompoc genre I am, this book was not really my style. It is much more horror than apoc book. Hawkins describes with zest quite an extensive variety of mutations in great detail.
I finished it. Since I have no issue quitting books I don't like, I guess that says something? But honestly, I had trouble remembering which of the major characters was which and I honestly didn't care much about who survived and who didn't.
I listened to this book on audio and the narrator was a little more "ominous" sounding than is my preference but it was fine to listen to.
I finished it. Since I have no issue quitting books I don't like, I guess that says something? But honestly, I had trouble remembering which of the major characters was which and I honestly didn't care much about who survived and who didn't.
I listened to this book on audio and the narrator was a little more "ominous" sounding than is my preference but it was fine to listen to.
seddso's review
3.0
This was gripping and kept me reading because I love apocalyptic stuff , but I couldn't get on board with the weird monster things - so it's a 3, for the page turner effect
kittyshep's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The premise of this book was very interesting to me, unfortunately I felt it didn't deliver. I found it hard to root for any of the characters here. The pacing was also incredibly slow at some points and almost glossing over other events so quickly I found myself wondering, wait, what just happened?
To the books credit, I really enjoyed the depictions of the infected and this semi unique take on a zombie apocalypse. The descriptions were abundant and the violance gratuitous in a way that I enjoyed. Just not enough to find myself really liking this book. It was never bad enough to where I wanted to DNF, however, I can't see myself continuing this series either.
To the books credit, I really enjoyed the depictions of the infected and this semi unique take on a zombie apocalypse. The descriptions were abundant and the violance gratuitous in a way that I enjoyed. Just not enough to find myself really liking this book. It was never bad enough to where I wanted to DNF, however, I can't see myself continuing this series either.
jstatt's review
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
As seems the way with all the Rich Hawkins books I've read this leans closer to traditional horror than it does lovecraftian. Which isn't to say its not a good horror book, its actually a really good zombie apocalypse story. That being said there aren't all that many truly lovecraftian aspects to the story.
This story is also very, very violent and depressing (something Rich Hawkins is very good at), its almost like The Road but set in a zombie apocalypse that makes 28 days later's zombies look cute and cuddly by comparison.
I found the characters not to be all that interesting. I did like some of them, Ralph and Frank especially, but for the most part they are just the view port with which the horrors and mayhem are portrayed to you through.
All in all I recommend the book to people who want a dark, scary, and depressing survival story, but not to someone who wants a real-deal lovecraftian horror.
Spoilers for the end --->To be honest I don't even know if I'll read the sequels, I suppose it depends on if it follows Joel, Anya and Florence or if it follows another group of survivors. I found Joel to be the least interesting character of the group and with Ralph and Frank dead I don't know interested I'd be in the rest of the story.
This story is also very, very violent and depressing (something Rich Hawkins is very good at), its almost like The Road but set in a zombie apocalypse that makes 28 days later's zombies look cute and cuddly by comparison.
I found the characters not to be all that interesting. I did like some of them, Ralph and Frank especially, but for the most part they are just the view port with which the horrors and mayhem are portrayed to you through.
All in all I recommend the book to people who want a dark, scary, and depressing survival story, but not to someone who wants a real-deal lovecraftian horror.
Spoilers for the end --->
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death of parent, Gore, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, and Suicidal thoughts
vokram's review
3.0
Title: The Last Plague
Author: Rich Hawkins
Publication Date: Aug 2014
Genre: Zombie
Score: 2.5/5
This book was minimally ok. Lots of telling, not much showing. An unknown plague sweeps Britain transforming the infected into alien monstrosities. Four men are having a bachelor’s weekend when it starts. They travel across a horribly changed country. This is a gore-filled book and not for those with weak stomachs. Not great.
Author: Rich Hawkins
Publication Date: Aug 2014
Genre: Zombie
Score: 2.5/5
This book was minimally ok. Lots of telling, not much showing. An unknown plague sweeps Britain transforming the infected into alien monstrosities. Four men are having a bachelor’s weekend when it starts. They travel across a horribly changed country. This is a gore-filled book and not for those with weak stomachs. Not great.
tykewriter's review
3.0
It's the end of the world for these likely lads, but they knuckle under and face it together like the old pals they are. It's grim, it's gory, there's blokeish banter, and the horror is full on as a mysterious alien virus tranforms most of Britain's population into flesh-hungry monstrosities. Zombies are kind of cuddly in comparison. This is a competent and nicely paced horror story that will keep you turning the pages. While it's not the most original in its concepts and execution, it certainly demanded -- and held -- attention. (I was reminded of a few other books I'd read, but if we get right down to it, much the same could be said of most fiction.) It was certainly worth the read.
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