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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
There are 3 groups trapped in a snowstorm heading to a retreat in the mountains. Hannah's group has just been a bus crash and they need to figure out how to get out and make their way up the mountain. Meg's group is stuck on a gondola that has stopped. Carter is at the retreat with some other people. As the story progresses you figure out that they are living in a dystopian future that has some sort of pandemic and they are all interconnected to a point. Hard to give more info with spoilers but overall a good story.
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Animal death
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Three plots, three trapped in one location scenarios, and three points of view. That’s all you need to know going into this one.
Was this one realistic? Absolutely not, but I still devoured this book and really enjoyed it. This one was impossible for me to put down because each chapter ended with a cliffhanger and I HAD to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. I didn’t guess any of the twists - not even the smaller ones - so it gets a ton of points for that. This was my first book by this author, but I will definitely be picking up more!
Was this one realistic? Absolutely not, but I still devoured this book and really enjoyed it. This one was impossible for me to put down because each chapter ended with a cliffhanger and I HAD to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. I didn’t guess any of the twists - not even the smaller ones - so it gets a ton of points for that. This was my first book by this author, but I will definitely be picking up more!
The Drift has a dark pulsating heart, a constant reminder of the evil that humanity can do. C.J. Tudor has the ability to wrong foot her readers at every turn. Superb.
The Drift was immediate cover love…I know, I know, shoot me! But it called to me like a siren awaiting its next prey. Well let me just say, this book got its talons into me nice and early. I know its likely an unpopular opinion, but I love a story about viruses and post-apocalyptic worlds. And this take had me salivating with its torturous narrative and blood thirsty scenes. What made it even better was just how all the intricate storylines interweaved into a final reveal, I’m not ashamed to admit that I had no idea what was about to smack me upsides the head.
C.J Tudor is a relatively new to me author and I’ve instantly fallen in love with her storytelling. It’s sharp and punchy and she isn’t afraid to tackle those hard-hitting themes. I think especially during lockdown times we became so insular – we had no routines, no sense of anything else going on in the world, just those four walls, day in and day out. It was a form of torture for many. Anyway, I digress, Tudor created a story that allowed the reader to experience many different perspectives. The effect these conditions created the longing for loved ones and time to plot against those who have done us wrong.
The Drift follows three groups of people, narrated by Hannah, Meg, and Carter. Hannah and her group have been involved in a crash after the bus that was taking them to “The Retreat” to be involved in trials that could significantly help them if they were to become infected. Hannah’s father, Dr. Grant is the professor running the establishment and boy is he a cold son of a cow if you ever met one. Absolute rage this character brought out in me. The trials aren’t exactly legal nor ethical but don’t let that stop powerful men. Hannah and her group wake up after the crash, feel discombobulated and realise that they’ve been drugged. They are surrounded by the dead and very quickly realise that either the cold will kill them or the department because at least one of them is infected.
Meg and her group are trapped in a cable car. They are around 1000 feet in the air with no where to escape. They were also on their way to The Retreat. They also awake after being drugged and find that someone has stabbed a member of their group. Who managed to smuggle a knife on board. Quickly they become weary with exhaustion and hunger and tempers become frayed. Meg is an ex- police officer who has nothing left to live for and a palpable sense of resentment towards The Department. Her six-year-old daughter died during the outbreak and just desperately wants to be with her again. Her pain made my heart ache.
Carter is a member of staff within The Retreat. Boy, has he had a hard time of it. After being trapped in the hypothermic conditions his face is a mess from nerve damage. It used to bother him but now not so much. It means that mostly people keep away from him. The Retreat has few numbers now and they take it turn to do chores and the dreaded grocery run – this involves a trek down the mountainside on ski’s. You just have to watch out for the Whistlers – the infected that now live in droves around buildings. One thing you need to remember is to keep out of the basement, that’s where the isolation chambers are kept.
The Drift was immediate cover love…I know, I know, shoot me! But it called to me like a siren awaiting its next prey. Well let me just say, this book got its talons into me nice and early. I know its likely an unpopular opinion, but I love a story about viruses and post-apocalyptic worlds. And this take had me salivating with its torturous narrative and blood thirsty scenes. What made it even better was just how all the intricate storylines interweaved into a final reveal, I’m not ashamed to admit that I had no idea what was about to smack me upsides the head.
C.J Tudor is a relatively new to me author and I’ve instantly fallen in love with her storytelling. It’s sharp and punchy and she isn’t afraid to tackle those hard-hitting themes. I think especially during lockdown times we became so insular – we had no routines, no sense of anything else going on in the world, just those four walls, day in and day out. It was a form of torture for many. Anyway, I digress, Tudor created a story that allowed the reader to experience many different perspectives. The effect these conditions created the longing for loved ones and time to plot against those who have done us wrong.
The Drift follows three groups of people, narrated by Hannah, Meg, and Carter. Hannah and her group have been involved in a crash after the bus that was taking them to “The Retreat” to be involved in trials that could significantly help them if they were to become infected. Hannah’s father, Dr. Grant is the professor running the establishment and boy is he a cold son of a cow if you ever met one. Absolute rage this character brought out in me. The trials aren’t exactly legal nor ethical but don’t let that stop powerful men. Hannah and her group wake up after the crash, feel discombobulated and realise that they’ve been drugged. They are surrounded by the dead and very quickly realise that either the cold will kill them or the department because at least one of them is infected.
Meg and her group are trapped in a cable car. They are around 1000 feet in the air with no where to escape. They were also on their way to The Retreat. They also awake after being drugged and find that someone has stabbed a member of their group. Who managed to smuggle a knife on board. Quickly they become weary with exhaustion and hunger and tempers become frayed. Meg is an ex- police officer who has nothing left to live for and a palpable sense of resentment towards The Department. Her six-year-old daughter died during the outbreak and just desperately wants to be with her again. Her pain made my heart ache.
Carter is a member of staff within The Retreat. Boy, has he had a hard time of it. After being trapped in the hypothermic conditions his face is a mess from nerve damage. It used to bother him but now not so much. It means that mostly people keep away from him. The Retreat has few numbers now and they take it turn to do chores and the dreaded grocery run – this involves a trek down the mountainside on ski’s. You just have to watch out for the Whistlers – the infected that now live in droves around buildings. One thing you need to remember is to keep out of the basement, that’s where the isolation chambers are kept.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
This book gripped me from the beginning, and I loved the wild ride it took me on. However, when the pieces began falling into place, the payoff didn't feel as powerful as it should have for me. Once I understood each group was in a different period of time, and Daniel, Sean, and Carter were all the same man, every other revelation was just... eh. And the big helicopter/gangster shoot-out at the end? It felt like way too much. There were a few other moments that felt too tidy/easy for my liking. Still, a fun read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Medical content, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Classism
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Vomit
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
This book had me at the edge of my seat from start to finish. Tudor is the master of pacing her ability to maneuver between characters without the story dropping off is a difficult feat. This is the perfect end of the world read and my one grievance lies with the want the book left with me at the end. It wasn’t particularly satisfying, the end of the world never is, so I understand the intention it just fell flat for me personally. My favorite part is the unique plot twist that gives the reader a fresh context to the story. 10/10 recommend to any thriller/horror/mystery readers.