Since mankind began, civilizations have always fallen: the Romans, the Greeks, the Aztecs…Now it’s our turn. Huge earthquakes rock the world. Cities are destroyed. But something even more awful is happening. An ancient evil has been unleashed, turning everday people into hunters, killers, crazies.
I was initially drawn to this book because of its post apocalyptic premise and the similarities with the movie 28 Days Later. I'm obsessed with a great chaotic book with an end-of-the-world feel. This book had a lot of great action sequences which fit that bill perfectly. With people turning evil and crazies on the rise, the world has turned into a vicious and terrifying place. Roberts has thrown together this fantastically crazy world that feels insanely real. There was plenty of gory details and thrilling scenes including devastating car crashes, adrenaline fueled chases, and anxiety filled fights between the sane and the insane.
The world building was the greatest aspect of this novel. Everything felt very real and horrifying. However, the character building was lacking. The four alternating perspectives made it difficult to become involved in the character's lives. Just as you begin to connect with one character, the chapter ends and your thrown into a completely different story. I had a hard time keeping people and stories separated- after awhile things started blending together. It might have been a better if the book was limited to two perspectives (such as one guy and one girl). That would allowed for more developed characters and a stronger relationship between character and reader.
Overall, this book is definitely satisfying for any adrenaline or apocalyptic junky. The plot is fast and constantly on a high which keeps you turning pages and biting your nails. The characters were definitely lacking in my opinion, but that was made up with the chaos and crazies invasion. There is apparently a sequel to this book, and I'm interested in seeing where the band of survivors are headed to next.
Ohh... So interesting! I had been keeping an eye on this novel after reading another review, where precisely characters were one of the strong points! Now I have to wonder...
ReplyDeleteI will still consider this book for when I find a bit of time, though. You say that the world is extremely real, and in an apocalyptic novel that's the most interesting aspect, I think: that you can almost believe that it could happen.
Thanks for the great review!
Ron @ Stories of my life
I also love apocalyptic settings and would like to check this out in the future. Sounds like an entertaining read :)
ReplyDeleteGreat review!