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A review by booksong
Plague by Michael Grant
5.0
Just as I hoped, "Plague" stays true to the riveting, brutally honest roller-coaster this series has always been. It's not exactly like each book gets better, but like the story as a whole gets deeper, more layered. I loved every second of it.
Once again, the author effortlessly balances a wide cast of familiar characters as the numerous subplots and point-of-views unique to the book begin. Caine and Diana, hashing out their twisted, complex, brilliant relationship on the island far away from Perdido Beach. Sam and a group of his friends pursuing a new lead on a source of fresh water and food. Brittany/Drake, dreaming of death and escape in a cell guarded by Orc, the broken alcoholic. Astrid, wondering if saving her brother is worth losing the FAYZ.
It's funny...this book (and indeed this series) can simply be described in three words: "It Got Worse." The phrase "catching a break" simply does not exist for these characters, because after all, "It's the FAYZ." But despite that, it isn't depressing...sometimes it's even triumphant when these overwhelming odds are overcome. Sure, some parts will make your stomach twist, your heart pound in sympathy, your mind recoil at such terrible choices, terrible situations. But the characters stand up to it. They deal with it. They may do so as monsters or saints, they may deal with it by going insane, seizing power, praying zealously, bucking up, running away, killing, breaking down, questioning the very fiber of their lives, minds, and morals...a multitude of ways, just like real people. That facet of this series never ceases to amaze me. I love these characters, even the most evil (Oh Drake, am I ever looking at you). I respect them more with every book. Dekka and Sanjit noticeably were favorites of mine in "Plague," but everyone got their moments of overt or quiet epicness. Yes, this book may be depressing in many ways, but I've read other series that really are little but spirals of depression. But those series don't have giant evil cockroaches being crushed with levitated cars or having their heads blown off with sawed-off shotguns by young girls. So there you are.
The plot twists and turns, liberal doses of horror, gore, suspense, character development, gasp-out-loud moments, action, more horror, and pure badassery are on pretty much every page. This book is very much not for the queasy; if you thought the previous books were bad, you might not want to eat anything before reading this. For some reason, I love the unapologetic viciousness of these books, though. Grant has created his dystopian child-society, populated it with very real characters, and now he's not afraid to bring down all hell on them, if that's what the plot demands. I respect and admire that, and it sure makes for one heck of a novel.
Once again, the author effortlessly balances a wide cast of familiar characters as the numerous subplots and point-of-views unique to the book begin. Caine and Diana, hashing out their twisted, complex, brilliant relationship on the island far away from Perdido Beach. Sam and a group of his friends pursuing a new lead on a source of fresh water and food. Brittany/Drake, dreaming of death and escape in a cell guarded by Orc, the broken alcoholic. Astrid, wondering if saving her brother is worth losing the FAYZ.
It's funny...this book (and indeed this series) can simply be described in three words: "It Got Worse." The phrase "catching a break" simply does not exist for these characters, because after all, "It's the FAYZ." But despite that, it isn't depressing...sometimes it's even triumphant when these overwhelming odds are overcome. Sure, some parts will make your stomach twist, your heart pound in sympathy, your mind recoil at such terrible choices, terrible situations. But the characters stand up to it. They deal with it. They may do so as monsters or saints, they may deal with it by going insane, seizing power, praying zealously, bucking up, running away, killing, breaking down, questioning the very fiber of their lives, minds, and morals...a multitude of ways, just like real people. That facet of this series never ceases to amaze me. I love these characters, even the most evil (Oh Drake, am I ever looking at you). I respect them more with every book. Dekka and Sanjit noticeably were favorites of mine in "Plague," but everyone got their moments of overt or quiet epicness. Yes, this book may be depressing in many ways, but I've read other series that really are little but spirals of depression. But those series don't have giant evil cockroaches being crushed with levitated cars or having their heads blown off with sawed-off shotguns by young girls. So there you are.
The plot twists and turns, liberal doses of horror, gore, suspense, character development, gasp-out-loud moments, action, more horror, and pure badassery are on pretty much every page. This book is very much not for the queasy; if you thought the previous books were bad, you might not want to eat anything before reading this. For some reason, I love the unapologetic viciousness of these books, though. Grant has created his dystopian child-society, populated it with very real characters, and now he's not afraid to bring down all hell on them, if that's what the plot demands. I respect and admire that, and it sure makes for one heck of a novel.