* See what I did there?
Author: Carrie Ryan
Genre: YA zombie dystopian
Published: 2009
Content Rating: R for zombie violence
All her life, Mary has only known the village--the Sisterhood that rules it, the fences that surround it, and the ever-hungry Unconsecrated trying to get in. Life is...okay--restricting, depressing, and the boy she likes is marrying her best friend--but things get worse when Mary learns secrets about the Sisterhood that threaten to destroy them all.
This book hooked me pretty fast. Even the cover and the title make me want to read it (plus I have a thing for zombie apocalypses). The writing--something I rarely care about in favor of a good story--is fantastic. It's beautiful, creepy, and tense.
I did have a problem whenever Mary did something stupid. I know, she's been through a lot and doesn't have much hope, but it was hard for me to excuse her occasionally-risky behavior in a world where the smallest risk can get you zombified. Other than that, I thought this book was great. The zombie scenes were properly scary, and the world was properly interesting.
I've read some folks who were upset that not all secrets were revealed, nor all questions answered, but that didn't bother me at all. They gave the information I cared about, and I can fill in what I like pretty readily. If you like zombie stories, check this one out.
I seem to always have a bone to pick with these books. :-)
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you regarding how it started. Hooked fast; excellent writing.
But by the end, I utterly hated the main character. She seemed like a spoiled brat and a Mary Sue. All the boys loved her, and people died for her, and she had--as far as I could tell--completely selfish and irrational reasons for wanting to do what she did. Bleargh.
I was so disappointed in that book, because it starts SO strong and awesome, but by the end, I wanted the protagonist to fall in a hole.
I've wanted to read this series for a while, because I love all things zompoc, but I haven't found the time yet.
ReplyDelete@JJ: I know you're not alone in that sentiment, JJ, and I admit it almost ruined it for me at one point. I think I was so into the intense action and the world that, by the time I didn't like her anymore, I didn't care either ;-)
ReplyDelete