Not quite post-apocalyptic, not quite zombies, not quite vampires, and yet, definitely one of my favorite books OF ALL TIME.
Before I was a normal kid, in a normal high school, with
normal friends. My twin, Mel, was different in the Before too, she still had
autism, but she was... better. But then people began turning into monsters.
Bloodthirsty, mindless, and hungry Ticks, whose had developed a nasty case of
the munchies for teenagers. Mom didn’t have a choice, the Government said they
could keep us safe, quarantine the youth of the nation until things were better
under control. She couldn’t have known what this place would really be like.
Ever since we, along with every other kids of the area were
quarantined to the Farm, Mel has become almost completely dependent on me. I
have to keep her safe, I have to keep us out of trouble and as far away from
attention as I can, because I don’t want either one of us to end up like the “troublemakers”
that are tied up outside of the Farm’s fences.
I don’t know what
could make someone scream like that, and I definitely don’t want to find out.
I have to get Mel out of here. She only communicates through
nursery rhymes now, and have the time I don’t know if she’s trying to tell me
something or just mumbling nonsense, plus, if I turn my back for a second she’ll
unpack our escape bag that has taken me months to gather supplies for. She’s so
innocent. She doesn’t understand the danger that lurks behind every corner here,
what the others will do to keep themselves safe. I didn’t know how I was going
get us out, but I knew we had to try.
Then came Carter.
I knew him from the before, back in our high school. I may
have possibly had a crush on him, and once in a while I though the feeling
might be mutual. Then one day he was just gone. Now, after all that’s happened,
I’m supposed to believe that he just showed up here out of nowhere, on the eve
of our planned escape? I wasn’t the trusting kind in the Before, so I’m
downright paranoid now. I don’t trust him, but he might be the only way I’ll
ever get Mel out of here.
What I thought ( = 1 word ): WHOA!
What I thought ( >1 word ):
I didn’t think I would like it.
It just sounded
to weird and predicable, and honestly, maybe a little to girly. I mean, c'mon, high school crush pops out of nowhere to save the day, how... feminine and ninny-ish. It's a really good thing that I didn't look up the author before getting the book as well, as she is known for writing harlequin romances (If you can't tell, not my favorite genre). But, being the
book-junkie that I am, I went out on a limb and bought the book.
And then proceeded to
read it within 24 hours!
The characters are engaging, you feel their
adrenaline rush, the love between sisters, the urgency to escape the evil Farm, the betrayal
from trusted friends, the horror of what our society has become.
If you enjoyed
the Hunger Games, The Darkest Powers trilogy, or maybe even the Twilight series
(hey, it’s a little girly, but the books are still good), then this is THE BOOK
to read next.
Now, just to say you’ve been forewarned, the violence is graphically
described, and I can honestly say that this book had a few gross scenes that
made even my stomach turn a little (and that takes a lot, trust me). But
violence aside (which, let’s face it, the violence is necessary for this type
of tale), this is one of the best books I’ve read for a long time, and one I’m
so glad I bought. I am eagerly anticipating the next book in the series, and
you will be too. SO GO GET THE BOOK!!!
Overall :
4.5/5 stars, graphically violent but excellently written and practically impossible to set down. Definitely one for the home collection.
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