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geekwayne's review
3.0
A novella length book about 2 warring factions of humans in a not too distant. One set is infected with sores and blisters. The discharge is infectious. The other group is uninfected and trying to remain that way.
The story follows a man named Tanner Kline, who is a Sweeper. It's his job to eliminate the infected and protect his village. On a hunt one day, he is captured by a tribe of the infected and their leader Lila. The infected live in tribes in the woods, not in walled houses and they hate and fear the Sweepers who bring death to them. The animosity between these two people is tense and the story is told from both viewpoints. It seems that there might be a form of peace, then a horrific act ends that. There are chapters that give a history of what's happened in a sort of mythological way.
The title was a bit confusing to me, but by the end, it made more sense. I liked the characters and the way the story ends. It's well written and paced well. The story is brutal, violent, and pulls no punches, so if you like your stories that way, check it out.
The story follows a man named Tanner Kline, who is a Sweeper. It's his job to eliminate the infected and protect his village. On a hunt one day, he is captured by a tribe of the infected and their leader Lila. The infected live in tribes in the woods, not in walled houses and they hate and fear the Sweepers who bring death to them. The animosity between these two people is tense and the story is told from both viewpoints. It seems that there might be a form of peace, then a horrific act ends that. There are chapters that give a history of what's happened in a sort of mythological way.
The title was a bit confusing to me, but by the end, it made more sense. I liked the characters and the way the story ends. It's well written and paced well. The story is brutal, violent, and pulls no punches, so if you like your stories that way, check it out.
petealdin's review
4.0
Nice spin on the Apocalypse. Twists and turns. Action aplenty. Well crafted. A quick read. Well worth the price of admission.
jljaina's review
3.0
This was not what I expected. I expected more horror, but got a glimpse into a sad, broken, infected future. An infection spread across the world, infecting and killing most of civilization. Those that remain, like Tanner, are working toward creating a safer world for their families. At first I thought the infected were more like zombies, or crazies. but no, they are just sick and have boils.
It is an interested, dual perspective story, from both sides of the dilemma. Are the infected still human? Do they have worth? But when their very skin is death to others, what is a father to do? It sets up quite a moral question for the reader. It lets you potentially choose a side. Regardless, it is a sad, bleak outlook. This book is violent and tragic.
It is an interested, dual perspective story, from both sides of the dilemma. Are the infected still human? Do they have worth? But when their very skin is death to others, what is a father to do? It sets up quite a moral question for the reader. It lets you potentially choose a side. Regardless, it is a sad, bleak outlook. This book is violent and tragic.
avoraciousreader68's review
5.0
4.5
Book source ~ Many thanks to NetGalley and Hydra for providing a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Centuries ago a virus caused a great divide in the people of the United States. The virus caused many people to die, but those that didn’t became carriers capable of infecting others. The sick and carriers were separated from those uninfected and made to live in prison camp conditions. Eventually those infected escaped and built villages far from the others. The infected came to be known as the People amongst themselves, but the others called them Spewers. Spewers called the others Clear Skins, but the others called themselves Settlers.
Tanner Kline is a Settler and a trained Sweeper. He goes outside the settlements and sweeps for Spewers. If he finds any he shoots them. Lila is a protector for the People. She has no gun and uses a spear, her wits and her physical prowess to protect herself and her People from the Sweepers. The meeting between Tanner and Lila creates a spark that ignites a deadly war between the two factions and obliterating the uneasy balance maintained for so many years.
This is a compelling story told from two polar opposite points of view. You have Tanner who is trained to protect the Settlers from the deadly Spewers and you have Lila who is trained to protect the People from the deadly Settlers. Both think they are noble and doing the right thing and yet they are on opposite sides. Who’s to say which group is right? If they had just left each other alone then the ending that comes to pass could have been avoided. Though I have to say I was quite impressed with that final scene. Very clever!
The writing flows smoothly and the tension ratchets up with each page until the grand finale. This is a story that will stick with you when you are finished.
Book source ~ Many thanks to NetGalley and Hydra for providing a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Centuries ago a virus caused a great divide in the people of the United States. The virus caused many people to die, but those that didn’t became carriers capable of infecting others. The sick and carriers were separated from those uninfected and made to live in prison camp conditions. Eventually those infected escaped and built villages far from the others. The infected came to be known as the People amongst themselves, but the others called them Spewers. Spewers called the others Clear Skins, but the others called themselves Settlers.
Tanner Kline is a Settler and a trained Sweeper. He goes outside the settlements and sweeps for Spewers. If he finds any he shoots them. Lila is a protector for the People. She has no gun and uses a spear, her wits and her physical prowess to protect herself and her People from the Sweepers. The meeting between Tanner and Lila creates a spark that ignites a deadly war between the two factions and obliterating the uneasy balance maintained for so many years.
This is a compelling story told from two polar opposite points of view. You have Tanner who is trained to protect the Settlers from the deadly Spewers and you have Lila who is trained to protect the People from the deadly Settlers. Both think they are noble and doing the right thing and yet they are on opposite sides. Who’s to say which group is right? If they had just left each other alone then the ending that comes to pass could have been avoided. Though I have to say I was quite impressed with that final scene. Very clever!
The writing flows smoothly and the tension ratchets up with each page until the grand finale. This is a story that will stick with you when you are finished.
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