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A review by adperfectamconsilium
The Poison Balance by Lucy Ghose
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a fast paced eco-thriller which has a real dystopian horror edge to it.
I think the author sums it up at the start with a content warning where she says 'Expect sex scenes, bad language, substance abuse, violence, gore and zombies - a lot of them!'.
If that sounds like the book for you (and if not, why not? No, seriously. Why?) then get ready for an entertaining read.
It's a simple premise. The climate change has created acid rain which is destroying trees and gradually, buildings. The disaster reaches a tipping point. The poison balance has been reached and suddenly getting caught in the rain means extensive brain damage and turning into a flesh eating zombie or 'howler'.
The story is mainly told from the point of view of two characters, Amy and Joel. We briefly get a third POV from Mei in Beijing. She's awesome and I wanted more of her in the story.
Amy is 25, a failed PhD student with a chequered past working as a scientist intern and she's paired up with Professor Joel Harket, forty-something self-loathing but handsome Norwegian.
Can they convince the powers that be at the UN Air Health Summit of the impending apocalypse or is humanity doomed?
The story moves from London to Beijing and back again and the scientific thriller soon gives way to zombie carnage. Think 28 Days Later meets The Girl With All The Gifts.
There's plenty of action and although the plot moves quickly it flows well and is never confusing. It's a gripping page turner and an accomplished debut with an ending that leaves you ready for the sequel.
The romance element veers a little into Young Adult fiction territory. Two people that start by hating each other, argue over everything while not saying what they feel and in a surprise to no one fall in love while most sane people would be too preoccupied with trying not to get eaten by zombies. But it's as realistic as most Hollywood blockbusters and doesn't detract from the excitement of the plot.
Moody Joel and foul mouthed kick-ass Amy. Fiction's new power couple.
The rain falls, the world burns and humanity howls. Welcome to the near future.
I think the author sums it up at the start with a content warning where she says 'Expect sex scenes, bad language, substance abuse, violence, gore and zombies - a lot of them!'.
If that sounds like the book for you (and if not, why not? No, seriously. Why?) then get ready for an entertaining read.
It's a simple premise. The climate change has created acid rain which is destroying trees and gradually, buildings. The disaster reaches a tipping point. The poison balance has been reached and suddenly getting caught in the rain means extensive brain damage and turning into a flesh eating zombie or 'howler'.
The story is mainly told from the point of view of two characters, Amy and Joel. We briefly get a third POV from Mei in Beijing. She's awesome and I wanted more of her in the story.
Amy is 25, a failed PhD student with a chequered past working as a scientist intern and she's paired up with Professor Joel Harket, forty-something self-loathing but handsome Norwegian.
Can they convince the powers that be at the UN Air Health Summit of the impending apocalypse or is humanity doomed?
The story moves from London to Beijing and back again and the scientific thriller soon gives way to zombie carnage. Think 28 Days Later meets The Girl With All The Gifts.
There's plenty of action and although the plot moves quickly it flows well and is never confusing. It's a gripping page turner and an accomplished debut with an ending that leaves you ready for the sequel.
The romance element veers a little into Young Adult fiction territory. Two people that start by hating each other, argue over everything while not saying what they feel and in a surprise to no one fall in love while most sane people would be too preoccupied with trying not to get eaten by zombies. But it's as realistic as most Hollywood blockbusters and doesn't detract from the excitement of the plot.
Moody Joel and foul mouthed kick-ass Amy. Fiction's new power couple.
The rain falls, the world burns and humanity howls. Welcome to the near future.