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lindsayb 's review for:
The Reapers Are the Angels
by Alden Bell
Seriously. This review has spoilers. I will give away the ending. And that would be a real shame for anyone who hasn't read it yet but would like to.
I'll be the first to say I'm a lightweight when it comes to horror books. Since I read one maybe once a year (and that's only in recent years), it's not really my place to say where an author or book stands in the genre, but dang, I must say that this book was great. It stressed me out, but I couldn't put it down and I didn't want it to end. It reminded me of The Road meets The Grapes of Wrath meets I Am Legend, but it wholly held its own as well. I liked that the book is a right balance of contemplation and action and that the two are not mutually exclusive. Man, those discussions especially between Temple and Moses Todd. It's great when a zombie apocalypse novel can really make a genuine stretch into discussions of humanity that ask you to regard these notions in the context of your life and not just of this particular world. Of course, I couldn't help thinking of The Walking Dead comics, which I thoroughly enjoy, but dare I say got me thinking in terms of my reality.
There were a couple spots that upset me, at least initially--the mutant "inheritors" for one. For an inexplicable reason I'm super picky about sci-fi/fantasy to a point where I can accept flesh-eating cadavers, but not 10-foot-tall skeletal semi-zombies. Bell didn't give me chance, though, to dwell on that point because the story kept on moving and shit got REAL. And I am still SO MAD that Temple freakin' died at the end! What the what?! I love that girl from the bottom of my heart. And by Minnie? I can't tell yet whether that ending will work itself out for me after it's had some time to settle...whether it's ludicrous in a good way or a bad way. It appears that perhaps this is the start of a series. However, as much as Moses Todd was a great foil to Temple, I feel cheated that Temple won't be in a potential sequel. I mean, don't get me wrong, Alden Bell is a great writer and I'm going to absolutely read his next novel (apparently, yes, following Moses and Abraham), but I just wish Temple could be there for it.
I'm so glad that this book won an award--it should win more awards--though seeing as it's an Alex Award, I'm not sure how comfortable I'd be giving it to a teen considering the type of violence and sex contained here. At least a younger teen. Or the repercussions of their parents finding out that it was my doing putting it in their hands. It certainly is moving though, and I'm pretty sure I would have loved it when I was 17 as much as I do now. Do yourself a favor and read this book. It's a doozy and well worth it.
I'll be the first to say I'm a lightweight when it comes to horror books. Since I read one maybe once a year (and that's only in recent years), it's not really my place to say where an author or book stands in the genre, but dang, I must say that this book was great. It stressed me out, but I couldn't put it down and I didn't want it to end. It reminded me of The Road meets The Grapes of Wrath meets I Am Legend, but it wholly held its own as well. I liked that the book is a right balance of contemplation and action and that the two are not mutually exclusive. Man, those discussions especially between Temple and Moses Todd. It's great when a zombie apocalypse novel can really make a genuine stretch into discussions of humanity that ask you to regard these notions in the context of your life and not just of this particular world. Of course, I couldn't help thinking of The Walking Dead comics, which I thoroughly enjoy, but dare I say
There were a couple spots that upset me, at least initially--the mutant "inheritors" for one. For an inexplicable reason I'm super picky about sci-fi/fantasy to a point where I can accept flesh-eating cadavers, but not 10-foot-tall skeletal semi-zombies. Bell didn't give me chance, though, to dwell on that point because the story kept on moving and shit got REAL. And I am still SO MAD that Temple freakin' died at the end! What the what?! I love that girl from the bottom of my heart. And by Minnie? I can't tell yet whether that ending will work itself out for me after it's had some time to settle...whether it's ludicrous in a good way or a bad way. It appears that perhaps this is the start of a series. However, as much as Moses Todd was a great foil to Temple, I feel cheated that Temple won't be in a potential sequel. I mean, don't get me wrong, Alden Bell is a great writer and I'm going to absolutely read his next novel (apparently, yes, following Moses and Abraham), but I just wish Temple could be there for it.
I'm so glad that this book won an award--it should win more awards--though seeing as it's an Alex Award, I'm not sure how comfortable I'd be giving it to a teen considering the type of violence and sex contained here. At least a younger teen. Or the repercussions of their parents finding out that it was my doing putting it in their hands. It certainly is moving though, and I'm pretty sure I would have loved it when I was 17 as much as I do now. Do yourself a favor and read this book. It's a doozy and well worth it.