Graphic Novel Review: The Last of Us: American Dreams by Neil Druckmann

The Last of Us: American Dreams by Neil Druckmann

Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Zombies, Survivalist Adventure, Gaming
Series: Last of Us (video game tie-in)
Publisher: DarkHorse Comics
Date of Publication: July 2013

Great art, but a rather straightforward story without enough meat to be as powerful a tie-in to the game as it should be.

3 out of 5 stars

Nineteen years ago, a parasitic fungal outbreak killed or infected almost everyone. Those that remain are sequestered within military-run quarantine zones. Not everyone is pleased with the arrangements, and various groups have arisen with their own plans for survival.

Among them are the rebel group known as the Fireflies, led by Marlene, whom players of the game this graphic novel is based on should recognize. Players will also recognize Ellie, one of the main characters of the game. Here, she is 13 years old and unhappy in the orphanage. She meets fellow inmate Riley, who has dreams of joining the Fireflies. Ellie reluctantly joins her in tracking them down, a process which involves a few misadventures and dangers for the young teens.

When they do meet Marlene and the Fireflies, it is, unsurprisingly, not what they expected. Moreover, Marlene knows much about Ellie from her mother, adding a bit of mystery to an otherwise fairly straightforward story.

I considered whether the fact that I have not yet played the game would negatively impact my appreciation for this, but, as a prequel, I felt it ought to be able to stand on its own and entice me to get off my guns and go buy it. Having read other game tie-in books and comics, I don't feel there was enough meat in this one.

The art was very gritty, despite its childlike appearance. I'm a fan of anime and manga, so I'm not at all opposed to the large-eyed style that lends itself well to younger characters. It still strongly conveys the necessary emotion.


With thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.

YA Weekend Book Review: Angelfall by Susan Ee

Angelfall by Susan Ee

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Fantasy

Series: Book 1 of Penryn and the End of Days

Publisher: Skyscape

Date of Publication: August 28, 2012

Author Information: Website | Twitter


I tend to go into young adult novels of this type with a fair amount of wariness and trepidation, so color me surprised when this turned out to be a book I really enjoyed. Then I discovered it was actually first released as a self-published indie, and that just completely floored me. I am beyond impressed.

Anyway, at first glance, I couldn't see what all the fuss was about. It's got all the makings of a Young Adult, paranormal, post-apocalyptic-dystopian-type novel starring a teenage female protagonist narrating in the first person present tense, and of course, there's always the promise of some romance. Though, I suppose there's something to be said of its "End of Days" scenario with the invasion of warrior angels coming to destroy the world. Even early on, when I barely knew anything about this book, the subject was what made it stand out for me.

The book starts six weeks after the angels of the apocalypse have descended, demolishing civilization as we know it. Penryn carries the responsibility of taking care of her mother, who has schizophrenia, as well as her little sister Paige whose legs are paralyzed and she needs a wheelchair to get around. When an angel steals Paige and carries her off, Penryn will do anything to get her back, including allying herself with the enemy. She forms a tentative agreement with Raffe, a warrior angel whom she rescues after finding him bloodied and lying in the street, beaten and broken with his wings cut off.

I'll admit that I started this book with a skeptical mindset, unconvinced it would win me over, even with all the great stuff being said about it. I love reading YA novels, but I also can't help but hold them to a higher standard, mostly because the genre is so over-saturated and it takes a lot for one to really stand out for me. And at first, I found that I liked Penryn, liked the introduction of Raffe, and liked the direction of the story...but still nothing made me truly love it.

That changed somewhere along the way, and I don't even know when it happened. Maybe it's because at no point did I find this book boring; the plot is constantly driving forward, and even when there's no action happening on the page, there's still plenty of tension to keep you interested in the story.

Penryn, too, sets herself apart as a strong heroine, who takes the weight of the world upon her underfed shoulders. Having your troubled mother and disabled sister depend on you when the world is crumbling before your eyes can't be easy, but she handles it with grace and maturity and none of the angst or dramatics. She's quick-witted and thinks on her feet, even if her plans don't always work out perfectly. My favorite scene is when she decks a chauvinist meathead for making lewd comments at her, with the expectation that potential allies would come to her aid, only to find herself fighting alone. But she ends up winning! Nice job, Penryn.

The climax and ending were also really well done. I'm amazed at how everything came together, since very often at this point of a book I will find myself spotting plot holes or picking apart illogical points in the story, ultimately just resigning myself to go with the flow. And yet, I really don't recall doing a lot of that here, but maybe it's because I was just so completely focused on the twists and surprising developments that I wasn't concentrating on thinking about much else.

And finally, how I really know this book made an impression on me? The fact that as soon as I finished, I quickly went online to find the next book...only to discover it's not coming out until November. Hey, well, something to look forward to.

4.5 of 5 stars

"The strong heroine sets herself apart in this story that is 

constantly driving forward. I am beyond impressed"

Audiobook Review: Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey

Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey

Genre: Post-Apocalyptic, Dystopia

Series: Silo #1 (collecting Wool #1-5)

Publisher: Broad Reach Publishing

Publication Date: January 2012

Author Info: www.hughhowey.com

Wool Omnibus is a collection of novellas that began as a short story that quietly became more popular than the author expected. Since then, Howey has followed through with further stories about the people of this distant, post-apocalyptic dystopia with Shift and finally, Dust. Initially available only in ebook format on Amazon, Wool is now available in print and audiobook, is part of Kindle Worlds and apparently has even been optioned for film. I’m sure some credit goes to Wool #1 being in the right place at the right time and a lot goes to the author’s excellent storytelling and character building. But overall, Wool should serve as motivation for all writers to get on out there and tell your story. You never know what might happen!

Wool begins with the resigned death walk of Sheriff Holston, who is heading outside the silo for “cleaning.” This is the punishment for all those who harbour thoughts of the outside. Ironically, cleaning takes place outside, meaning the criminals actually get their wish. Wrapped in suits that can only protect them from the harsh elements for so long, cleaners are tasked with cleaning the screens to the outside world, reminding everyone inside of its horrors and why no one should ever want to leave the safety of the silo.

I can see why this initial short story captured people’s attention. It is a compelling read filled with questions and emotions and a clear backstory that makes a reader demand more. Fortunately, listening to the complete omnibus meant I didn’t have to wait to meet the other people living within the silo and eventually learn the reason behind Holston’s punishment and that of his wife before him.

One of the really striking things about the Silo Saga is that, unlike many of the other post-apocalyptic stories that I’ve read, it takes place so far into the future that the people within the silo have no idea that there ever was a world outside of their home in the immense underground structure. I liked the way Howey made this evident through little things that we take for granted. Phrases such as “a bull in a China shop” hold immediate meaning for us now, but to the people of the silo, a bull is practically a mythical creature and a china shop would not exist at all. This is symptomatic of the ignorance that the people are kept in in order to protect them from the outside world and subsequently prevent uprisings. Inevitably, information will slip out here and there, and an idea will start to fester and grow.

Hoslton’s death leaves the position of sheriff open and in the next story, the mayor and deputy go on a mission to find the right candidate for the job. Jahns and Marnes are a lovely, elderly couple who are honest and good folk who care for their people and want to do their job well. I loved the way their journey through the many floors brings them closer together, while simultaneously introducing the intricate layers of the silo, complete with its politics, mechanical functions and the lives of the people who live there. Howey has a gift for character building, endearing important characters to you before moving on.

Following the selection of Juliette as the new sheriff, the story settles in with her as the main character as she susses out Holston’s mystery. This inevitably leads to trouble that dominates the rest of the series. Here the focus gradually moves away from the more personal character developments to deal with the new struggles. Other characters and their point of views are introduced, though I didn’t come to care for these characters as much as I did with the previously introduced ones.

By the end of Wool, a whole world is opened up, while the mystery of the past remains, enticing me to learn all there is to know through Shift and Dust.

Finally, In terms of the audiobook, Amanda Sayle did a reasonably good job, however, I had a hard time dealing with her male voices. Some were very annoying and did not do the particular characters justice.

4 out of 5 stars

Book Review: The Plague Forge by Jason M. Hough

The Plague Forge by Jason M. Hough

Genre: Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic

Series: The Dire Earth Cycle #3

Publisher: Del Rey Spectra

Publication Date: September 24, 2013

Author Info: www.jasonmhough.com

With thanks to Netgalley and Del Rey Spectra for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The second book of the Dire Earth Cycle, The Exodus Towers, ended with a slow, tense burn that continues in The Plague Forge. Skyler Luiken, the main character, now shares the spotlight with Tania Sharma and Samantha Rinn and all are on separate missions to retrieve the last three alien artifacts to complete the puzzle on the alien “Builders” Key Ship. Tania and Skyler’s teams deal with the ever present threat of subhumans and the SUBS disease, while Samantha, within Darwin, must steal the blue artifact from the cold and deadly Grillo and his Jacobites.

Initially, I appreciated the way the Jacobites, a cult based on Jacob’s Ladder, were unobtrusively incorporated into the story. I’m not fond of religious cults as authors often allow them to take up a lot of the plot with preaching and indoctrination. In the previous book, they did play a prominent role, which continued here as the official Big BadTM, but Hough did not bog the story down with their zealotry as I feared. The Jacobites and their leader, Grillo, existed as our heroes’ foil, and, while they did attempt to indoctrinate a few people here and there, it was not their prominent function within the plot.

Similarly, the characters of Pablo and Vanessa, Skyler’s new crewmates, served their plot function as efficient soldiers in Skyler’s new crew, but as actual characters, I would have liked to see them be more fleshed out. I never gained a connection with them as I had with Skyler’s original crew, no matter how often Skyler referenced them as “his crew.”

Otherwise, I really liked a lot of Hough’s characters, including some that were not meant to be liked, such as the deplorable Russell Blackfield. I’ve really enjoyed the insight into his character. When he was first introduced, he was the evil despot, but I loved that Hough allowed us to see more of him as the trilogy progressed without merely turning into a bad guy to be destroyed or redeemed. I respect that all the characters were very much flawed and the heroes weren’t necessary likable, while the evil despots weren’t necessarily bad, considering the circumstances. And I loved that Hough was not afraid to kill his babies. No one died needlessly, but it certainly raised the stakes to realize that any of them could die at any time.

As this was the final book in the trilogy, it meant that we finally got the answer to the question that hung over the entire story: What the hell do the Builders want?? Of course the heroes would obtain the three artifacts and of course they would put the puzzle together and meet the Builders, who were already on their way. But when I finally got to the answer, I was shocked by it and by the pithy perfection of its delivery. It offered the closure I needed, while opening an exciting, entirely new door. Don’t walk into this expecting any sort of happy ending, considering the devastation the Builders have caused, but Hough left me with a bittersweet offer of hope and forgiveness that surprised me and left me in 2am tears.

4 of 5 stars

Audiobook Review: Black Feathers by Joseph D'Lacey

Black Feathers by Joseph D'Lacey

 This was an audiobook read, narrated by the magnificent Simon Vance.

The birth of Gordon Black signifies the end of the world. Year after year following his birth, the world slides into more and more poverty and destruction. People call it the Black Dawn and the Crowman becomes its symbol. Whether the Crowman is a harbinger of the final end or the saviour of the world, no one is certain, but when the Ward goes after a teenaged Gordon, they are certain that the Crowman must be stopped by any means and that Gordon, tasked by his family to find the Crowman, must be captured. Meanwhile, in the post-apocalyptic future where life has reverted back to a time before technology with remnants of the old world buried, a young girl named Megan is summoned to take her place as the first ever female Keeper. Her task? To write the Crowman’s story.

This book is a cautionary tale (that occasionally gets a bit too preachy in its warnings against our reliance on technology and modern comforts and convenience, etc) and is told in a very unique way with very interesting characters. Gordon’s journey is intriguing, and I liked the way Megan’s role is worked in, with her seeing the events of the past in order to record the dark and painful tale of the Crowman.

The Crowman himself is a fascinating character. Is he a creature of good? Is he evil? Throughout the book, we get glimpses of his development and his influences on the world, but we’re never quite sure of his purpose and how he will decide the world’s fate. Is the world’s fate a decision for him to make? Or is the Crowman simply just doing his part in an incomprehensible cycle?

I was not overly fond of the Ward. The Ward represents the ruling party who wish to maintain control throughout the chaos and the Crowman is a threat to their hold on everything. They are Big Bad Corporations, The Man, Big Brother and every other example of oppressive regimes that we’ve seen in the past. Personally, I would have enjoyed their part more if they weren’t represented in such a heavy handed manner. In a time of chaos, it is understandable that there are those who try to control and take advantage. But those trying to maintain order and fairness, such as not allowing people to hoard food while others starve, is not necessarily evil. I would have liked it if the purpose of the Ward was as ambiguous as that of the Crowman.

Overall, I enjoyed Black Feathers. It was very good, but there’s a “but” floating around in my head somewhere that I’ve yet to put my finger on... Whatever that may be, for better or for worse, the book has stayed on my mind since finishing it, and I definitely approve of a book that keeps me thinking long after I’ve finished reading the last page.

4 of 5 stars

Book Review: The Exodus Towers by Jason M. Hough

The Exodus Towers by Jason M. Hough

Genre: Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic

Series: The Dire Earth Cycle #2

Publisher: Del Rey Books

Date of Publication: August 27, 2013

Author Info: www.jasonmhough.com

With thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Exodus Towers takes up shortly after The Darwin Elevator. The "traitors" are now separated from Darwin, Australia after the discovery of a second alien elevator in Belem, Brazil. Skyler Luiken and the colonists are working to set up, well, a colony, using the new alien towers and their transportable auras. Tania Sharma and her crew are supporting them from above and desperately trying to keep Russell Blackfield from finding out about the colony, while still maintaining the food for air and water trade with him. Meanwhile, Sam Rinn and Kelly Adelaide are still imprisoned by Blackfield within Nightcliff.

From the first image of a girl dancing among the ghosts of desolation, I was hooked. Things quickly picked up from there, moving along at a spiralling pace that introduces some intriguing new characters, eager to stake a claim in the aftermath of Neil Platz’s death and Blackfield's anarchy. The Jacobites take on a greater role and Skyler learns that he isn’t as unique as he thought.

And all the while, the mystery of the aliens and their purpose continues to loom over them, now with a clock ticking down, if Tania’s calculations on the “Builders’” schedule is correct.

For the first half of the book, my thoughts went off the rails because of how much was happening. I hate to use typical review buzz words, but I’m going to have to fling out “action-packed” and “edge of your seat” to describe the suspense, drama and excitement as I hopelessly devolved into subhuman squeals, flails and tears. I may have even uttered a loud “**** YEAH!” at one point.

Fortunately, before my review completely deteriorated into “lakjdflajf!!!,” with me huddled in the corner desperately reading The Plague Forge, impatiently awaiting news about when The Dire Earth Cycle is going to be made into movies, the second half of the book settled down and allowed my nerves to do the same.

Time is a big factor, with the Builders’ scheduled to – do something – in two years from where the book begins. After the initial action, events skip quickly through the more mundane aspects of taking control of Nightcliff and setting up the colony. This part of the book might seem dull to some, but, as I said, time is a factor and I appreciate the way Hough worked all of this preparation in under the continued, ominous mystery of the Builders. Are the Builders malevolent or benevolent? Their SUBS disease has wiped out/converted 90% of human life on earth, while their elevators and aura towers are protecting the rest. WHAT THE HELL DO THEY WANT???

*ahem* Sorry.

Also during this time, the characters and their relationships change significantly and sometimes surprisingly. Certain relationships that seemed to have been forged in The Darwin Elevator have not ended up where I expected – and I love that! I might be disappointed that I don’t get what I thought were OTPs, but I love that Hough hasn’t taken the obvious routes.

I am really happy to spend more time with Sam, one of my favourite characters from the previous book. She’s a rough and tumble woman of Amazonian height who can hold her own against any man. She began as a dangerously subordinate member of Skyler’s crew, but she really impressed me after Jake’s death, showing a side of herself that isn’t just about the typical bluff and bluster. This continues in Towers, where she gets to display intelligence, leadership and compassion. Meanwhile, Hough continues to reveal that his other lead characters are not perfect and sometimes, aren’t even likable.

One thing I really want to praise is the diversity of Hough's survivors. Too often, post-apocalyptic stories forget that the rest of the world exists. It's ironic that the survivors have all been sequestered into one small pocket on the bottom of the world, yet Hough has made it clear that, when the crisis hit, everyone from everywhere attempted to make their way to Darwin. That means that the one million remaining humans are a true cross-section of the billions of people that used to live on the planet, and it does not feel like tokenism when we meet characters from various cultures, some of whom don’t even speak English.

Click here for more on The Dire Earth Cycle, including an interview with author Jason M. Hough.

4 of 5 stars

Book Review: The Darwin Elevator by Jason M. Hough

The Darwin Elevator by Jason M. Hough

Expected Date of Publication: July 30, 2013

Wow, what a pleasant surprise this was. My thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me with an e-ARC of The Darwin Elevator in exchange for an honest review. Loved this book! I don't think I've had this much fun with a new sci-fi novel since James S.A. Corey's Leviathan Wakes.

The book takes place in mid-23rd century Darwin, Australia. The city is home to the last bastion of humanity, thanks to an alien plague that's wiped out most of the planet, turning its victims into mindless, savage "subhumans" or "SUBS". The unknown aliens were also responsible for the presence of a giant space elevator that keeps Darwin enveloped in an invisible plague-suppressing Aura. So too, one other effect of the great Darwin Elevator is a clear division of classes, with the privileged "Orbitals" living high up on one end of it, and the less fortunate masses living down below.

Skyler is the head of one of the many scavenger teams that operate out of Darwin, but he and his specially handpicked crew have the distinct advantage of being immune to the plague, allowing them to travel beyond the Aura without the aid of vac-suits or fear of infection. Their immunity, however, does not protect them against the violence of the infected, so it is disconcerting to all when the elevator begins to experience power instabilities, and even worse -- cases of SUBS are being reported within the Aura, which everyone had thought was too secure to ever fail. Amidst conspiracies and the rising class tensions, Skyler is unwittingly pulled into a conflict whose result could determine the fate of humanity.

With all the talk of aliens, I first thought I should be settling in for a rollicking space opera, but as it turns out, the story is mostly all earthbound (for now, at least). Despite that, the book still has all the good stuff, just without the space. It's intense. It's dramatic. It's sweeping. And most important of all, it's fun. Throw in plenty of action and adventure and also some of that post-apocalyptic goodness, and you have this book. The descriptions of the abandoned, desolate and crumbling landscapes outside the Aura put me in mind of games like the Fallout series, just without the radioactivity. You really get the feeling like a subhuman can jump out and attack at any second. It's fantastic.

Another thing that made me like this book so much was the pacing of the story, the way it teased me into these "not-quite-there" action-suspense sequences at the beginning (that almost got me all frustrated!) before coming down seriously hard with the gun-fighting and battle scenes for real. Basically, things really heat up around the midway point, and they don't slow down from there. 

For a sci-fi novel, this book was also very easy to follow. Even with all the advanced science fiction elements and alien technology, it wasn't hard for me to grasp the concepts and picture the descriptions in my head. I'm always a fan of books that can do this without bogging the story down with all the techno-lingo. Thanks to very natural and sometimes humorous dialogue, the characters are also very likeable, and even the disgusting perverted pig of an antagonist is someone you'll love to hate.

All in all, just a really impressive debut. I really wish I'd gotten to this sooner. Can't wait to find out what happens in the next book, Jason M. Hough is going straight onto my list of new science fiction authors to watch.

Note: Just found out that The Darwin Elevator started life out as a NaNoWriMo project! Even more cool!

Final verdict:

4 of 5 stars

Book Review: Three by Jay Posey

Three by Jay Posey

Expected Date of Publication: July 30, 2013

Thank you to NetGalley and Angry Robot for providing me with a pre-release copy of Three in exchange for an honest review. This futuristic, post-apocalyptic science fiction novel piqued my interest as soon as I saw it, and I knew even from reading its simple and brief description that I definitely had to check it out.

The story opens, introducing us to a world where society has crumbled and human activity only exists in pockets of safe zones across a devastated landscape. When the sun sets, creatures known as the Weir come forth and the night is filled with their glowing blue eyes and sounds of their electrifying howls. The setting is unmistakably post-apocalyptic and even has the slight feel of a western, but at the same time it appears a significant portion of technology has survived. Throughout this novel you will encounter characters utilizing high-tech weapons, implants, chems, mechanical limbs and the like.

The book features our eponymous protagonist Three, a lone gunman who has turned to bounty hunting to make a living. One day, he emerges from the wasteland to collect on a successful job and encounters a distressed woman pleading for help with her young son in tow. Three has always worked alone and prefers it that way, so he is surprised to find himself accepting the mantel of protector to Cass and her boy Wren. To keep themselves alive, the trio must go on the run to escape the merciless adversaries who are after them.

I remember finishing the prologue and being a little unsure about what to make of it, which really isn't all that unusual given how it typically takes me at least a few chapters to get a feel for a book. But then I read the first chapter which introduces Three, and I was hooked. There's just something about him that makes the reader want to learn more, his character being a man of few words notwithstanding. While Three may play to the familiar dangerous-looking-but-honorable-tough-guy archetype with simple and straightforward motivations, the author definitely knows how to present his character as someone you want to root for right away.

I also liked the trust and respect that develops between Three and Cass over the course of their journey. To me it felt really natural and gradual, even with the many trying yet justifiable obstacles along the way. Cass loves her son Wren and guards him with the ferocity of a lioness protecting her cub, so it's such an engrossing process to see her views evolve as she begins to accept Three and make room for him in their lives.

I very much enjoyed the setting as well, which I talked a bit about at the beginning of this review. There are elements of it that will be familiar to readers of post-apocalyptic science fiction, but it also feels unique. My one regret is that the book didn't provide as much context as I'd have liked, such as how the world became this way, how some of this strange and awesome technology came about, what gave rise to the Weir and where they go during the daytime and how they turn others into one of them, etc. None of this information is necessary to understand and follow the story, of course, but my curiosity gets the better of me sometimes, and it sucks having these questions hang at the back of my mind as I'm reading, especially for such a fascinating world.

Needless to say, for a debut novel, I thought this was very impressive. Three may be a little light on plot, but I like that it makes up for this with its fast pacing and well-written action sequences, sometimes alternating between the viewpoints of the various characters like you see in movies, creating this atmosphere of danger and suspense.

If his goal was to leave me wanting to know more about these characters and this world, then Jay Posey definitely succeeded. I wasn't sure before if this was going to be a series and if there were going to be any more books, since the story's ending tied up rather nice and neatly (which was a nice plus). But then some digging around showed me that Legends of the Duskwalker is indeed going to be a series, so I'll be sure to be on the lookout for more by this author in the future. There's still so much I want to know about the history of some of these characters, how they got to where they were, and what else is in store for them.

Final verdict:

 4 of 5 stars

Audiobook Review: Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

At its heart, Warm Bodies is a "zombie book" because it's a book about zombies, but it's definitely not your classic post-apocalyptic survivalist adventure involving gory battles with the brain-eating hordes. This sets the story apart and makes it original, but it also helped that I went in knowing what to expect.

The zombies themselves also aren't very typical. On the surface, they appear to be of the usual shambling, moaning and in various-stages-of-decay variety, but the ones in this book are able to maintain a semblance of a structured society. Communication between them is just good enough to allow things like organized hunts or a rudimentary class system, and zombie couples even have wedding ceremonies and are given zombie children to teach and raise.

The book also gives a plausible reason as to why zombies like eating human brains, explaining that it gives them a cerebral high while letting them relive the memories and experience the emotions of their victims. It is in this way that R, our zombie protagonist and narrator, becomes fixated with a girl he encounters on a routine hunt, after killing her boyfriend and chowing down on his grey matter.

In a way, the style and writing reminds me books I've read in the past where the story is told in the point-of-view of a dog or any other kind of animal. In each case the author has to find a convincing way to explain to the reader why their narrator is obviously intelligent and eloquent enough to tell a story, but can't express that outwardly. R, for example, can think and wax philosophical with the best of them in his head, but can't manage to put together more than a couple words or a handful of syllables when he tries to speak.

A persistent need to expound upon this dissonance is very characteristic of these types of books, so the first step on the path to enjoying myself was being able to accept anything and everything the story throws at me. However, a process like that generally takes time, and the fact this book is so short and proceeds at such a break-neck pace probably wasn't the most ideal for me personally, but I could just be a stickler for the details.

If I could do it all over again, though, I would not have chosen the audiobook. My current rating probably wouldn't have changed much even if I had read the text version, because the story, while fun and interesting, was still a bit melodramatic and too cheesy for my tastes. Still, I can't help but suspect listening to the audio version played a part in preventing my full enjoyment of the novel, though I have to admit it's not through any fault of the audiobook production company or voice actor. In fact, Kevin Kenerly was very good. 

Unfortunately, the nature of Warm Bodies just simply does not lend itself to be converted that well into voice format, mostly due to the amount of internal dialogue, random and sudden interruptions or changes of perspective, as well as memories and flashbacks galore. This works well on the page, but makes the story hard to follow if you're listening to it, for obvious reasons. I snapped this version up from my county library's digital collection because there was no one else on the waiting list, but I kind of wish I had been a little more patient and waited for the ebook version. The experience might have been vastly different.

But in the end, it was the story that didn't quite grab me. Despite the naughty language and several detailed scenes of gory violence, this is a young adult novel...and for me reads "too much" like a young adult novel. Aside from the underlying angsty vibes, I just felt that it tried a bit too hard to be profound with its pages and pages of R trying to figure out hope, life, love. Don't get me wrong, I think the novel does a great job of asking the question what it truly means to be alive, but there's nothing all that revelational despite the frequently over-the-top prose.

Ultimately, this book might be better for a fan of YA romance than for the die-hard zombie reader. Like I said, I knew what I was getting into before I started the book, but a part of me had still hoped for a little more action and a little less Romeo and Juliet references. 

As always, your own mileage may vary, though! Case in point, please also check out my fellow contributor Tiara's review of Warm Bodies to see her take on the book!

Final verdict:

 3 of 5 stars

Comic Review: East of West #1 by Jonathan Hickman

East of West #1 by Jonathan Hickman

This comic starts as an alternate retelling of US history that deviates during the Civil War.

Two new leaders rose up out of that conflict, a Native American chief who becomes chief of chiefs, gaining control of all the tribes and forming The Endless Indian Nation. A former soldier named Elijah deserts the union and becomes a prophet. Soon the war escalates with attacks from the Nation and the religious, causing the it to linger on for 20 years until a comet hits the United States. Out of that event, seven territories come into being and form peace (that's probably tenuous and rife with old hostilities if I'm to judge by later panels).

Running parallel to this is a story about the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, except there are only three. War, famine, and conquest (who has replaced pestilence, I suppose) have been reborn as children who are continuing their mission with the added goal of finding Death who was not reborn alongside them. Their mission isn't quite clear to readers yet, Some readers may know the biblical significance, but we don't know how that'll play out in this story just yet. Childish glee mixed with malicious intent makes them very unsettling. The only thing we know for sure at this point is that they must find Death.

I would be lying to you if I said this makes a ton of sense at this point. It's Jonathan Hickman. I'm sure it's not supposed to make any sense right now. Hickman has a way of leaving his readers a little boggled at first, but you can always tell he's setting you up for some incredible. Even with the slight fog, the story is engaging. Hickman has combined elements of history, sci-fi, the supernatural, and fantasy with a heavy dose of the old west, giving reads an unusual blend of ingredients that are delectable together. An innocuous motorcycle turns into a metal grasshopper, saloons that appear as they would in 1800s, end time prophecies with visions and words shared among many no matter their race or affiliations--all these things ask you to continue this journey into the strange.

You want to know more about what's going on, how this alternate United States works. Some elements are cleared up by the end of the book, but then, you're left with even more questions. I want to know more about the different territories, but I am a little apprehensive about how it might be handled, especially since one of the territories is "The Confederacy, " and that could get prickly. The art is beautifully done by Dragotta, nothing short of phenomenal to be honest. The landscapes and people are darkly gorgeous. There's nothing "stock" about the art presented. Dragotta managed to pull so much uniqueness from the story presented.

My interest is piqued. I'm not sure where this story is going at this point, but I am certain that I want to follow it.

Story:

3.5 of 5 stars

Art:

4.5 of 5 stars

Final Verdict:

4 of 5 stars

Armageddon's Children by Terry Brooks

Armageddon's Children by Terry Brooks

Many years ago, I tried to read The Sword of Shannara but the story and characters failed to capture my attention and I set it aside. I grant that I didn’t get very far into the book, but I had read enough by that time to know when a book just isn’t working for me, even that early on. Fastforward to the present and my brother is on the phone raving about the new Genesis of Shannara series. I trust his judgement, so here I am!

The Genesis of Shannara is, as the series title suggests, the beginnings of the world created by Terry Brooks. Shannara fans are likely to recognize characters, events and artifacts, but someone new to the series like myself, is by no means alienated. This is a clean introduction to this realm, and an introduction to the characters whom we will, presumably, be following through the series. Armageddon’s Children takes place in a post-apocalyptic earth, destroyed by the follies of man. Violence and mutation have reduced the human population to mere thousands. Many of the surviving humans live in compounds, some hide in ruined cities, but all are hunted by the various demonic (formerly human) creatures led by the “Old Man” at the bidding of the Void. We meet Logan Tom first, as he and his family attempt to escape an attack by once men and demons. Logan is orphaned in the process.

Logan’s tragic story is similar to many of the characters that follow, most of them teens or pre-teens or adults who were forced to grow up far too soon. The overwhelming theme is that these characters are survivors of their horrible reality and must stay one step ahead of the evil closing in on them in order to remain alive. My original complaint with the lack of interesting characters in The Sword of Shannara does not apply here. While I feel that the characters fit into various established tropes as – well, children of an Armageddon, they are still unique enough in and of themselves to be appealing and I enjoyed the way their stories and connections are unravelled as the book progresses.

As I said, this is an introductory novel and it very much plays out as one. The story establishes that the humans are being hunted by the Old Man and his minions and, eventually we are introduced to the quest that will bring the main characters together and move them forward. For this book, there is little progression in regard to that journey. This book is about letting us meet the main characters and grow to love or hate them as needed. Every major player, including the Old Man, is allowed moments to reveal their inner thoughts and motivations, as well as the events and people that have made them who they are. Many secondary characters also have back stories, strengthening the reader’s sense of attachment and understanding of just how awful this world is.

The original Shannara series is firmly seated in the fantasy genre, complete with swords and sorcery. Logan and his fellow Knight of the Word Angel Perez carry staves that are definite sources of yet to be fully explained magic, but otherwise, there is very little magic in this world just yet. The idea is that that the future world of Shannara comes from the one we know now, following this cataclysm – a concept that really intrigued me. I really liked the idea of the magic slowly leaking (back) in. Fire from a staff here, telepathy there. And when the elves are introduced, having hidden themselves away from humanity for centuries – even they do not display a significant use of magic.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, in that it does a good job of making you comfortable in its world and with its characters, and provides just enough mystery to entice you to continue on with the series to find out where this is all leading. For those who already know where it is all leading, I imagine it is nice to finally get the full details. For people like me who are new to the world, let’s just say I find myself looking forward to learning more about the genesis of Shannara. if I like this series enough, I’d not be opposed to trying The Sword of Shannara again.

3 of 5 stars

The Twelve by Justin Cronin

The Twelve by Justin Cronin

The Twelve is the follow-up to The Passage and the second novel of what is a planned trilogy. In the first book, we saw the world before and after it was ravaged by a viral plague that turns its infected victims into vampire-like creatures. This sequel continues the saga, further chronicling our group of main characters in the post-apocalyptic future, as well as filling in the events of the past leading up to the outbreak.

Plot-wise, our group of survivors in the future -- Alicia, Peter, Michael, Sarah, etc. and of course, the all important and influential Amy -- take action to fight back against the virals and their collaborators, and even aim to take down the twelve original infected plague-bearers from the government experiments performed before the world fell (hence, the title). That's the main story of this series, which I found enjoyable enough, but it wasn't what I liked best.

Actually, even now I am surprised that I like this book as much as I do, given my tepid response to its predecessor and especially considering that The Twelve was written in much the same format and style. Though many of the characters in the first book return for the sequel, a few have perished and a handful more are also added. And not surprisingly, Justin Cronin continues to exhibit his long-windedness by insisting on writing back stories for pretty much every single one of them.

While I'm usually one to welcome any and all forms of character development including back stories or other devices authors use to flesh out their characters, I recall that Cronin's way bothered me greatly in The Passage. The book wasn't what I expected; thinking I was going to get a good old-fashioned apocalyptic story, instead I was bogged down by chapters full of flashbacks and found myself wondering when we'll actually get to the part with the end of the world. I was several hundred pages deep already before it finally happened, and the worst part was, when it came it wasn't even all that great or exciting.

That brings me to what I liked best about The Twelve. Yes, Cronin is still as verbose as ever, but the first part of the book and its focus on the early days of the plague and the downfall of the country was exactly what I wanted from The Passage, and which it didn't deliver. It was good to see some of that covered in the second book, even if it wasn't nearly as much as I'd hoped for. Still, it was something, and it filled in many of the missing pieces.

I am also seeing how all the characters are coming together, their connections and relationships like loose threads finally being tied up. This actually made me feel a lot better about this series, since another one of my frustrations with the first book was how I would get emotionally invested in someone (while irritating at times, those lengthy back stories have a tendency to do that to me) only to see them die or have the story change perspectives or skip ahead in time. Often, this made me feel cheated and almost punished for caring about a character. After all, why spend all that time writing about them, just to kill them off and never return to them again?

Well, The Twelve showed that this wasn't always the case. Some of the characters I never expected to see again from The Passage make an appearance, proving Cronin still has plans for them yet. That went a long way in mollifying me and assuring me that I didn't waste my time, and also gives me hope that the third book will continue this trend in weaving all these seemingly random characters together. After this book, I'm starting to get an inkling of just how big the web is.

Only read this book if you've read the first one already, as this doesn't appear to be a story with a real beginning or end, all its parts seeming more like puzzle pieces coming together to form one overarching, comprehensive epic.

Final verdict: 

4 of 5 stars