Reviews

Silent City by Sarah Davis-Goff

experfectionist's review

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dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

jam_scot's review

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adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

kbrenn12's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced

3.0

coneyboro's review

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3.0

I hadn't realised this was a sequel until after I read it and looked at some of the reviews. I struggle a little with books written in the first person, with only the one point of view.
An interesting take on zombies with a female lead, but for me, even the action scenes weren't enough to make me feel any real concern for the characters. The ending leaves things open for a follow up, but not for me.

ceridwenanne's review

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dark emotional tense medium-paced

4.0

There aren't a lot of zombie apocalypse stories set generations after the cataclysm; they tend to be last night stories, up to maybe a decade years in. I really dug Davis-Goff's titular silent city, and the real sense of scarcity and deprivation. Like,  cloth itself is a valuable commodity, and Orpen just about flips when she finds a shitty travel toothbrush. I probably liked this better than its predecessor. I had the same frustration with Orpen's naiveté at points (which isn't a criticism of the novel), but sometimes Davis-Goff let her go on and on about how she was so attuned to her fellow banshees and their wordless connection. I knew that was bullshit, and got a little tired of hearing about it. I would totally read another book in this world though. 

essjay's review against another edition

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4.0

I think I liked this a little more than Last Ones Left Alive, but only just. There were some sections that were particularly creepy and well written, that left me with that feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach that not much manages to evoke. I do feel the ending to this one is far stronger than the first, and would likely read more stories set in this particular post-apocalyptic Ireland. 

pastelhellion's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

So glad there was a sequel, to expand on this world!

Starts off with a time-skip which isn't my favourite thing, but I couldn't put it down otherwise. Looking forward to the next instalment (I hope!)

zo_murph's review

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This is a thought-provoking novel that caused me to reflect on modern-day patriarchs 

deucaliakat's review

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adventurous challenging dark sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

World War Z meets The Last of Us meets Mad Max. Feminine rage but with realistic expectations. I really enjoyed this one 

lattelibrarian's review

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adventurous dark slow-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? It's complicated

3.75

"We cannot choose how we die in this world. But there is choice in how we live."

Orpen found the banshees 6 years ago and became the last outsider to enter Dublin. She  thought banshees were meant to protect from the flesh-eating skrake beyond Dublin's walls, but it turns out that banshees are just management's bullies. When she finally speaks up about escaping the city, the other banshees in her squad confess that they've just been waiting for her to say it--and begin plotting a revolution.

This atmospheric zombie tale grapples with a failing city that's having trouble dealing with skrake as well as its own citizens. This is a slow-burn world-builder filled with wallers, runners, breeders, and management. We visit each of these and learn more about the city and its shortcomings, further cementing Orpen's idea to leave. It's hard to say whether this is a found-family or even found-friend read, as each woman is so hardened that they both argue and split apart, only coming together when truly necessary. 

Great for fans of the Commonwealth era of The Walking Dead.