A review by orionmerlin
Gone by Michael Grant

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Characters – 8/10
I have to give credit where it’s due—Grant knows how to write a cast that sticks in your head. Sam is the classic reluctant hero, but at least he has some internal struggles that make him interesting. Astrid is smart (maybe too smart for the rest of these kids), Quinn is that friend who can’t decide if he’s loyal or a liability, and Caine is a power-hungry sociopath because of course he is. Some of the villains, like Drake, feel like they were yanked straight from a Saturday morning cartoon, but hey, at least they’re fun to hate. Overall, a strong lineup, even if some characters lean toward caricature.
Atmosphere/Setting – 9/10
If there’s one thing this book nails, it’s the vibe. The FAYZ is unsettling, chaotic, and dripping with the kind of tension that makes you wonder if civilization was ever a good idea in the first place. The sense of isolation is so intense, I almost wanted to check my own cell signal just to make sure I wasn’t trapped in some dystopian nightmare. The town, the beach, the nuclear plant—it all feels vivid and real, which makes the creeping horror of kids turning feral even more effective.
Writing Style – 7/10
Grant’s writing is clean, snappy, and gets the job done. No frilly nonsense, no long-winded metaphors about the meaning of existence—just straight-up action and dialogue. Sometimes, though, it reads like a script for a TV show aimed at teenagers who think talking really fast makes dialogue witty. It’s entertaining, but I wouldn’t call it literary gold. Still, it’s engaging enough to keep the pages turning, and that’s what matters.
Plot – 8/10
A bunch of kids wake up in a world without adults, and everything immediately goes off the rails. No waiting around for things to simmer—this book drops you straight into the madness. The stakes are high, the conflicts are brutal, and there are some genuinely great twists. Sure, there are moments where it drags (because how many power struggles between hormonal teenagers can one book really sustain?), but the core story is strong. Some twists are predictable, but others had me actually surprised, which is saying something.
Intrigue – 9/10
I’ll admit it—I was hooked. The mystery of the FAYZ, the escalating conflicts, the bizarre powers, and the sheer what-the-hell-is-happening energy kept me flipping pages way past my bedtime. If a book makes me forget to check my phone, it’s doing something right. The pacing occasionally stumbles, but overall, I was invested in seeing how this apocalyptic playground of chaos would play out.
Logic/Relationships – 7/10
For a book about mutant children trying to survive in a dystopian nightmare, the logic holds up surprisingly well. The characters mostly act in ways that make sense, given their situations, though some relationships feel a little forced (cough Sam and Astrid cough). The world-building does just enough without getting bogged down in sci-fi technobabble, though I still have questions about how some of these powers actually work. There are occasional “wait, but why?” moments, but nothing that completely derails the experience.
Enjoyment – 8/10
Did I have fun? Absolutely. Did I roll my eyes at some of the melodrama? Also yes. But overall, Gone is a wild ride, and I can’t deny that I enjoyed every bit of the madness. It’s exactly the kind of book that makes you want to binge the rest of the series, even if you know it’s going to mess with your emotions. I’d definitely recommend it, especially to fans of fast-paced, slightly unhinged dystopian stories.
Final Score: 8/10
Is Gone a literary masterpiece? No. Is it an absolute blast? Yes. It’s got action, chaos, creepy powers, and enough drama to keep you hooked. Flawed but highly entertaining—I’d read it again in a heartbeat. 
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