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The Becoming #1
The Becoming
The Michaluk Virus is loose. In the heart of Atlanta, Georgia, the Michaluk Virus has escaped the CDC, and its effects are widespread and devastating. Most of the population of the southeastern United States have become homicidal cannibals. As society rapidly crumbles under the hordes of infected, three people—Ethan Bennett, a Memphis police officer; Cade Alton, his best friend and former IDF sharpshooter; and Brandt Evans, a lieutenant in the US Marines—band together against the oncoming crush of death and terror sweeping across the world. As Cade, Brandt, and Ethan hole up in a safe house in Tupelo, others begin to join them in their bid for survival. When the infected attack and they’re forced to flee, one departs to Memphis in search of answers while the others escape south to Biloxi, where they encounter more danger than they bargained for. And in Memphis, the answers that one man finds are the last answers he wanted, answers that herald a horrific possibility that there may be more to this virus than first suspected. “Fast zombies become slow zombies become kick-ass.”—Peter Clines, author of EX-HEROES and EX-PATRIOTS “I can’t wait for part 2 to be released … it’s definitely an entertaining must read. Great job Jessica—two CrackBerry thumbs up!”—CrackBerry.com “From the chilling opening scenes to the tension-filled climax, Jessica Meigs has crafted a story that reminded me that zombies are really scary.”—Kevin J. Burke, author of THE LAST MAILMAN
236 pages, Paperback
First published November 12, 2011
629 people are currently reading
3361 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Meigs
30 books181 followersJessica Meigs is the author of The Becoming, a post-apocalyptic thriller series that follows a group of people trying to survive a massive viral outbreak in the southeastern United States. After gaining notoriety for having written the first two books in the series on a variety of BlackBerry smartphones, she self-published two novellas that now make up part of the first book in the series. In April 2011, she accepted a deal with Permuted Press to publish The Becoming as a series of novels. The first of the series, entitled The Becoming, was released in November 2011, and was named one of Barnes & Noble’s Best Zombie Fiction Releases of the Decade by reviewer Paul Goat Allen.
In 2019, Jessica began self-publishing again, this time exploring a new universe with The Unnaturals Series, in which a group of government-employed agents discover that the wheels of the Biblical apocalypse are in motion…and they’re the only ones who can stop it.
In late 2020, after obtaining the rights for the series back from the publisher, Jessica began reissuing The Becoming Series in revised and expanded editions. The new editions of the series are available now on all major ebook retailers.
Jessica lives in semi-obscurity in Demopolis, Alabama. When she’s not writing, she works full time as an editor, copyeditor, and proofreader. She can be found on a variety of social media platforms and on her website at www.jessicameigs.com.
If you are an author interested in exploring Jessica’s editorial services, you can check out her editing website at www.editsbyjessica.com.
For rights inquiries, please contact Jessica via the contact form on her website.
In 2019, Jessica began self-publishing again, this time exploring a new universe with The Unnaturals Series, in which a group of government-employed agents discover that the wheels of the Biblical apocalypse are in motion…and they’re the only ones who can stop it.
In late 2020, after obtaining the rights for the series back from the publisher, Jessica began reissuing The Becoming Series in revised and expanded editions. The new editions of the series are available now on all major ebook retailers.
Jessica lives in semi-obscurity in Demopolis, Alabama. When she’s not writing, she works full time as an editor, copyeditor, and proofreader. She can be found on a variety of social media platforms and on her website at www.jessicameigs.com.
If you are an author interested in exploring Jessica’s editorial services, you can check out her editing website at www.editsbyjessica.com.
For rights inquiries, please contact Jessica via the contact form on her website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
March 17, 2013
Starting a new zombie series is always bittersweet. Because a good zombie story is not about the zombies, it's about the characters. Characters that you will shortly begin to know and love, characters that you truly care about, but… you know death will eventually come knocking to at least one of their doors. However, this is exactly why I love zombie books. It's not for the gore, and I'm not very impressed by those who try to romanticize them nowadays; zombie books are about surviving! They take you into the lives of families and friends after the world has gone to hell, and you get to root for them, and hope against all odds that they will survive, because thinking of losing even one is torturous. If done right.
Jessica does! She brings to life many characters that become the heart of this story. We visit them pre-zombocalypse. We see them live very happy, normal lives before the end of the world is upon them. Then we see them grow into fierce survivalists that they have to be, or become, making you question how you would fare in their situation. Would you collapse over the loss of a loved one and get yourself killed in the process? Or would you accept that they would want you to fight to survive--literally to the death? I loved how we saw different ways people deal with grief, especially in such high stake situations. We visit all the emotional effects such a disaster can bring; anger, loneliness, paranoia. We also see loyalty, relationships grow, a hint of some brewing romance, as well as a whole heck of a lot of adrenaline pumping moments.
Told from several perspectives, we first get to travel with the characters as a group and see how each one is coping, but eventually, we also see what happens to each perspective after some of them separate. This creates even more suspense as you're constantly worried about what's happening to the others, while you're never wanting to leave your current characters. Each journey is filled with action and terrifying situations that I love to see in my zombie books. We also meet new people along the way that join the already fantastic cast of original characters.
As in any such apocalyptic situations, the characters don't always know exactly what has happened: what caused this virus and how it works. In this case we do get some initial hints on how it all started, and while some of these speculations are basically just that: speculations, It's fascinating, I love speculating about crazy happenings that could very well be occurring in those secret hidden CDC labs under China right now! (this review is now flagged). We also learn some very interesting facts about these zombies that make them a little more unique than your traditional mindless undead flesh eaters--which are impossibly scary in of themselves if only for the fact that they never EVER stop, and numbers are clearly on their side. Jessica's zombies however… these will chill your bones. I predict a very epic showdown in the end of the series that could possibly be ridiculously awesome!
For the likeminded zombie fans, this is one series that I would not hesitate to recommend. It has the perfect mix of zombie action, character building, and suspense, all wrapped in a completely badass cover!
--
An advance copy was provided by the author for review.
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
Jessica does! She brings to life many characters that become the heart of this story. We visit them pre-zombocalypse. We see them live very happy, normal lives before the end of the world is upon them. Then we see them grow into fierce survivalists that they have to be, or become, making you question how you would fare in their situation. Would you collapse over the loss of a loved one and get yourself killed in the process? Or would you accept that they would want you to fight to survive--literally to the death? I loved how we saw different ways people deal with grief, especially in such high stake situations. We visit all the emotional effects such a disaster can bring; anger, loneliness, paranoia. We also see loyalty, relationships grow, a hint of some brewing romance, as well as a whole heck of a lot of adrenaline pumping moments.
Told from several perspectives, we first get to travel with the characters as a group and see how each one is coping, but eventually, we also see what happens to each perspective after some of them separate. This creates even more suspense as you're constantly worried about what's happening to the others, while you're never wanting to leave your current characters. Each journey is filled with action and terrifying situations that I love to see in my zombie books. We also meet new people along the way that join the already fantastic cast of original characters.
As in any such apocalyptic situations, the characters don't always know exactly what has happened: what caused this virus and how it works. In this case we do get some initial hints on how it all started, and while some of these speculations are basically just that: speculations, It's fascinating, I love speculating about crazy happenings that could very well be occurring in those secret hidden CDC labs under China right now! (this review is now flagged). We also learn some very interesting facts about these zombies that make them a little more unique than your traditional mindless undead flesh eaters--which are impossibly scary in of themselves if only for the fact that they never EVER stop, and numbers are clearly on their side. Jessica's zombies however… these will chill your bones. I predict a very epic showdown in the end of the series that could possibly be ridiculously awesome!
For the likeminded zombie fans, this is one series that I would not hesitate to recommend. It has the perfect mix of zombie action, character building, and suspense, all wrapped in a completely badass cover!
--
An advance copy was provided by the author for review.
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
June 15, 2012
This is a 4.5 star review.
What can I say? Jessica Meigs is an awesome writer! She really hits it out of the park with this debut novel. The writing is crisp, exciting, dynamic, and freakin' scary! Her characters are well-defined, make sense, and interact with each other very realistically. Her zombie mythos has a slight new twist to it, which I found to be fun, and there were some seriously intense scenes that had me gripping my tablet with both hands.
I read this book in ONE sitting, curled up on my bed, in the dark, with my cats and hubby, unable to go to sleep until I was DONE.
This book rocks it!
What I truly love about this book is that Jessica makes the story fresh though there are a few tropes that are now zombie standards (zombie kid-check, stop at gun store-check, military badass-check, tormented cop-check, badass chick with anger issues-check). Her writing is so deft, so spot-on, that even if you guess what is about to happen, you're still scared for the characters. That is GOOD writing. I love it when an author can take something that people declare as "over" or "worn out" and knocks it out of the park. The characters felt real to me and I was more emotionally invested in them than I thought I would be.
Honestly, this book should be a must-read for anyone who loves zombies, post apocalyptic fiction, or likes kickass heroines.
Jessica Meigs is one of the best new authors I've read in the last year.
What can I say? Jessica Meigs is an awesome writer! She really hits it out of the park with this debut novel. The writing is crisp, exciting, dynamic, and freakin' scary! Her characters are well-defined, make sense, and interact with each other very realistically. Her zombie mythos has a slight new twist to it, which I found to be fun, and there were some seriously intense scenes that had me gripping my tablet with both hands.
I read this book in ONE sitting, curled up on my bed, in the dark, with my cats and hubby, unable to go to sleep until I was DONE.
This book rocks it!
What I truly love about this book is that Jessica makes the story fresh though there are a few tropes that are now zombie standards (zombie kid-check, stop at gun store-check, military badass-check, tormented cop-check, badass chick with anger issues-check). Her writing is so deft, so spot-on, that even if you guess what is about to happen, you're still scared for the characters. That is GOOD writing. I love it when an author can take something that people declare as "over" or "worn out" and knocks it out of the park. The characters felt real to me and I was more emotionally invested in them than I thought I would be.
Honestly, this book should be a must-read for anyone who loves zombies, post apocalyptic fiction, or likes kickass heroines.
Jessica Meigs is one of the best new authors I've read in the last year.
April 8, 2012
There is a really good story somewhere in The Becoming. The action scenes are full of intensity, and the zombies are unlike any I’ve ever read about. This book, this series, has potential. Unfortunately, I think the writing kept that potential from being reached.
I didn’t have too many issues with the book, but the ones I did have appeared so frequently they were overwhelming. They hijacked my reading experience. I think the author needed a better editor. Admittedly, I read The Becoming as the two separate novellas, The Becoming: Outbreak and The Becoming: Safe House, that were put together to make the novel. Perhaps the combined unit fixes some of the issues I found. I won’t know; reading the two novellas was frustrating enough that I don’t think I can attempt to read any form of this story again.
The biggest issue I had was the profligate use of adverbs. It was difficult to find consecutive non-dialogue sentences that were free of adverbs ending in –ly. Such heavy use was unnecessary. Cade can look back at the vehicle; she doesn’t have to “finally” do it “reluctantly.” In many cases, the adverbs did not add much to the ideas or actions they modified. It was too much.
Facial and bodily expressions were another. I don’t know how many times jaw were clenched and knuckles went white, but it was a lot. The Becoming is full of action and motion. I didn’t see a need for so many grins, frowns, and raised eyebrows. Often, these expressions did not match the emotions described in the surrounding sentences. It was, in a way, reminiscent of a lot of 1980s Japanese cartoons, when characters gasped and sighed in exaggerated fashion.
The last issue I’ll list here is four-dimensional awareness, which manifests in two ways: physical positioning and time relation. I’m not sure the author performed any blocking while writing. Many of the physical actions seem implausible. For instance, I don’t think Cade would be able to throw a forceful punch while holding a rifle. How can Nikola see Ethan riding a motorcycle if she’s hiding in a basement? Why is a rifle Cade’s weapon of choice when surrounded by zombies? None of this makes sense to me.
Time relation was a serious problem. On one page we read that they’ve been hiding in a particular house for “about a month and a half now, unmolested for the most part…” but on the next we learn that it was “their third day at their third hide out, or safe house…” Another time, “They faced off for several more silent, tense minutes, but it didn’t take Ethan long to shift his eyes away from Cade’s.” Several minutes is a long time before shifting eyes. Things like this make me question the author’s intent.
I think a good editor could have helped the author fix a lot of these issues. As I mentioned earlier, there is a good story in there somewhere. This product, however, is not it. I may or may not read the The Becoming: Brothers in Arms novella (Book 1.5 of the series)—it is already on my Kindle—but the series will not continue past there for me.
I didn’t have too many issues with the book, but the ones I did have appeared so frequently they were overwhelming. They hijacked my reading experience. I think the author needed a better editor. Admittedly, I read The Becoming as the two separate novellas, The Becoming: Outbreak and The Becoming: Safe House, that were put together to make the novel. Perhaps the combined unit fixes some of the issues I found. I won’t know; reading the two novellas was frustrating enough that I don’t think I can attempt to read any form of this story again.
The biggest issue I had was the profligate use of adverbs. It was difficult to find consecutive non-dialogue sentences that were free of adverbs ending in –ly. Such heavy use was unnecessary. Cade can look back at the vehicle; she doesn’t have to “finally” do it “reluctantly.” In many cases, the adverbs did not add much to the ideas or actions they modified. It was too much.
Facial and bodily expressions were another. I don’t know how many times jaw were clenched and knuckles went white, but it was a lot. The Becoming is full of action and motion. I didn’t see a need for so many grins, frowns, and raised eyebrows. Often, these expressions did not match the emotions described in the surrounding sentences. It was, in a way, reminiscent of a lot of 1980s Japanese cartoons, when characters gasped and sighed in exaggerated fashion.
The last issue I’ll list here is four-dimensional awareness, which manifests in two ways: physical positioning and time relation. I’m not sure the author performed any blocking while writing. Many of the physical actions seem implausible. For instance, I don’t think Cade would be able to throw a forceful punch while holding a rifle. How can Nikola see Ethan riding a motorcycle if she’s hiding in a basement? Why is a rifle Cade’s weapon of choice when surrounded by zombies? None of this makes sense to me.
Time relation was a serious problem. On one page we read that they’ve been hiding in a particular house for “about a month and a half now, unmolested for the most part…” but on the next we learn that it was “their third day at their third hide out, or safe house…” Another time, “They faced off for several more silent, tense minutes, but it didn’t take Ethan long to shift his eyes away from Cade’s.” Several minutes is a long time before shifting eyes. Things like this make me question the author’s intent.
I think a good editor could have helped the author fix a lot of these issues. As I mentioned earlier, there is a good story in there somewhere. This product, however, is not it. I may or may not read the The Becoming: Brothers in Arms novella (Book 1.5 of the series)—it is already on my Kindle—but the series will not continue past there for me.
December 27, 2014
I don't know if it's because I just can't concentrate when listening to audio books...or I'm just choosing the wrong titles but this just didn't do it for me.
So again - I have to say...."it's not you - it's me"
So again - I have to say...."it's not you - it's me"
October 21, 2014
I wanted to like the book. The image of a strong female lead is compelling... but that just didn't pan out.
Cade, a former sniper, can't seem to think of a plan without a guy doing it for her.
Ethan starts out as a nice guy and transforms into an idiot.
Brandt is a cardboard cut out of a marine.
Theo is the most interesting character because he's the most 3 dimensional of the characters.
The other characters are utterly forgettable.
To be honest, I had a tough time getting past the annoying behavior of Cade. She's not a strong female lead. She demands a plan then complains about the plan she demanded for.
I also had a tough time getting a feeling for the threat level. There are times where the characters seems to move about with complete freedom, but often are written as pinned down by these diseased people (zombies) and struggling daily to survive. Where are they getting fresh water from? Where are they getting their food from? The characters seems to always be well fed, hydrated and well armed... so where's the struggle to survive?
They drive around seemingly without fear as we rarely see these zombies unless they happen to stop driving around and barricade themselves into a safe house. Huh?
The author did start the book out very well, and did a good job of hooking the reader. It was the follow through that's lacking.
Cade, a former sniper, can't seem to think of a plan without a guy doing it for her.
Ethan starts out as a nice guy and transforms into an idiot.
Brandt is a cardboard cut out of a marine.
Theo is the most interesting character because he's the most 3 dimensional of the characters.
The other characters are utterly forgettable.
To be honest, I had a tough time getting past the annoying behavior of Cade. She's not a strong female lead. She demands a plan then complains about the plan she demanded for.
I also had a tough time getting a feeling for the threat level. There are times where the characters seems to move about with complete freedom, but often are written as pinned down by these diseased people (zombies) and struggling daily to survive. Where are they getting fresh water from? Where are they getting their food from? The characters seems to always be well fed, hydrated and well armed... so where's the struggle to survive?
They drive around seemingly without fear as we rarely see these zombies unless they happen to stop driving around and barricade themselves into a safe house. Huh?
The author did start the book out very well, and did a good job of hooking the reader. It was the follow through that's lacking.
June 7, 2022
After a slow start and confusing middle, this book finally came together for me! At first it seemed all the character groups had nothing in common. Their attitudes went from annoying to tolerable and the story of survival had me hooked!
Overall 3.5 stars … And I would read another book in the series.
Overall 3.5 stars … And I would read another book in the series.
June 2, 2012
Wickedly Bookish Reviews
http://wickedlybookish.blogspot.com/
The Becoming, the first book in a new trilogy and Meigs' first novel follows three main characters as they experience the initial outbreak of the zombie virus Michaluk and fight to survive. Cade, Ethan, and Brandt pick up other survivors along the way, but when Ethan insists on returning to Memphis to find closure with the loss of his wife, Cade and Brandt forge on to find a safe place for their group.
Finally! A strong female lead character in a zombie series other than the Newsflesh Trilogy! I've been reading a lot of zombie fiction lately and I have to say I'm sickened with the amount of wimpy, whiny, practically useless female lead characters. The Becoming was a breath of fresh air for me and certainly for the genre itself. Finally a woman who can hold her own and is just as gritty as the boys. While there were still times I was frustrated with Cade's often overly dramatic actions, I still enjoyed her character.
Really each character Meigs has crafted for this novel is well developed and relatable. For me, there is nothing better than well written, character driven apocalypse fiction and this novel delivers it in droves!
One other thing that really stuck out to me was how much more cinematic this novel felt to me than others I've read of the genre. In the first chapters of the book, the tension is slowly and carefully built, setting the reader up for horror moviesque anticipation for the action to kick off. The tension had me biting my nails as I waited for the first zombie to rear its ugly head. This is one of the first zombie novels that truly made me experience horror rather than simulating it with over the top gore and action. Meigs played on my worst fears from the very beginning, sucking me into her world completely.
I think the only thing that rubbed me the wrong way about this book was the fact that the main characters took forever to catch on to what was happening. As this book is set in our world, which has been saturated with zombie movies, books, and pop culture for decades, I would have expected the main characters to have caught on right away. Instead, they spend the first quarter of the novel going, "This is so weird! I wonder what could be happening?" Umm... duh... A real world example would be the incident in Miami recently where a naked man was gunned down by police as he ate the face of another naked man. Although it has been ruled that the man was incredibly high on an illegal narcotic that caused him to act this way, many people associated the actions with zombie like behavior. No, I'm not insane, I don't think the zombie apocalypse is upon us, my point is, people are smarter than you think. It doesn't take an erstwhile Marine you randomly meet to tell you its freaking zombies chapters later. I really felt this dumbed down her otherwise impressive and capable heroes for me. Really, this may not make much of a difference for other readers, but it is kind of a sore spot for me when it comes to zombie fiction in general.
The Final Verdict
Regardless this was an amazing read for me full of action, true horror, and visceral emotion. Well written and superbly edited, The Becoming is a zombie novel you don't want to miss. Looking forward to the rest of the series!
FTC Disclosure
I was provided a copy of this book by the author and IO Tours in exchange for an honest review. I received no compensation for the views stated. All opinions are my own.
http://wickedlybookish.blogspot.com/
The Becoming, the first book in a new trilogy and Meigs' first novel follows three main characters as they experience the initial outbreak of the zombie virus Michaluk and fight to survive. Cade, Ethan, and Brandt pick up other survivors along the way, but when Ethan insists on returning to Memphis to find closure with the loss of his wife, Cade and Brandt forge on to find a safe place for their group.
Finally! A strong female lead character in a zombie series other than the Newsflesh Trilogy! I've been reading a lot of zombie fiction lately and I have to say I'm sickened with the amount of wimpy, whiny, practically useless female lead characters. The Becoming was a breath of fresh air for me and certainly for the genre itself. Finally a woman who can hold her own and is just as gritty as the boys. While there were still times I was frustrated with Cade's often overly dramatic actions, I still enjoyed her character.
Really each character Meigs has crafted for this novel is well developed and relatable. For me, there is nothing better than well written, character driven apocalypse fiction and this novel delivers it in droves!
One other thing that really stuck out to me was how much more cinematic this novel felt to me than others I've read of the genre. In the first chapters of the book, the tension is slowly and carefully built, setting the reader up for horror moviesque anticipation for the action to kick off. The tension had me biting my nails as I waited for the first zombie to rear its ugly head. This is one of the first zombie novels that truly made me experience horror rather than simulating it with over the top gore and action. Meigs played on my worst fears from the very beginning, sucking me into her world completely.
I think the only thing that rubbed me the wrong way about this book was the fact that the main characters took forever to catch on to what was happening. As this book is set in our world, which has been saturated with zombie movies, books, and pop culture for decades, I would have expected the main characters to have caught on right away. Instead, they spend the first quarter of the novel going, "This is so weird! I wonder what could be happening?" Umm... duh... A real world example would be the incident in Miami recently where a naked man was gunned down by police as he ate the face of another naked man. Although it has been ruled that the man was incredibly high on an illegal narcotic that caused him to act this way, many people associated the actions with zombie like behavior. No, I'm not insane, I don't think the zombie apocalypse is upon us, my point is, people are smarter than you think. It doesn't take an erstwhile Marine you randomly meet to tell you its freaking zombies chapters later. I really felt this dumbed down her otherwise impressive and capable heroes for me. Really, this may not make much of a difference for other readers, but it is kind of a sore spot for me when it comes to zombie fiction in general.
The Final Verdict
Regardless this was an amazing read for me full of action, true horror, and visceral emotion. Well written and superbly edited, The Becoming is a zombie novel you don't want to miss. Looking forward to the rest of the series!
FTC Disclosure
I was provided a copy of this book by the author and IO Tours in exchange for an honest review. I received no compensation for the views stated. All opinions are my own.
May 23, 2013
This book is unbelievable. A marine, an Israeli soldier, and a Memphis cop. They shoot people four times and the people keep coming and they ask “wtf?” The dialog is terrible, not what trained people would say or how they would act. 30% in and they are still “wtf, people sure are acting crazy”. No mention of zombies as of yet. They think people are just rioting and if they can get to the cops or the hospital they can get help even though they watch guys chase down and eat another guy. Unbelievable.
It is hard to believe two grown men and a woman can be so oblivious. And if I have to hear about the IDF one more time! Or hear someone say, What’s the plan? Ridiculous. The lead guy was an immature blockhead. The praised Israeli sharpshooter was scatter brained at times and the marine, I couldn’t picture him well in my head. An average book. Don’t know if I will continue the series. Moving on for now.
It is hard to believe two grown men and a woman can be so oblivious. And if I have to hear about the IDF one more time! Or hear someone say, What’s the plan? Ridiculous. The lead guy was an immature blockhead. The praised Israeli sharpshooter was scatter brained at times and the marine, I couldn’t picture him well in my head. An average book. Don’t know if I will continue the series. Moving on for now.
September 22, 2015
I'm going to be upfront and totally honest. This read was a bit disappointing. I have heard nothing but good reviews on this and apparently my expectations went above and beyond what the author was capable of delivering. It's not the crappiest read I have ever had the displeasure of reading, but it's pretty close up there.
Here is what I didn't like:
All Three Main Characters. You have Ethan who is a Memphis cop. Next you have his his bff for the past 7 years. She is a woman who lived next door to him. Her name is Cade and she spent 7 years as a soldier and marksman in the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces), and last but not least a gung ho Marine named Brandt who ran from Atlanta where the virus originally started. Neither one of these clowns have the brains that God gave a billy goat. On top of that their personalities are inconsistent with their careers. It's weird and makes no sense. Here are a few examples.
Ethan - Memphis cop who loves his wife, Cade's niece, and helping people. A week or so after the fall he turns into a big dick. That is pretty much the only way I can describe him. He had no intention of letting Theo and Gray join the group. In fact he stomped around like a three year old having a temper tantrum and kept saying he wanted them out of the hideout. Really?? I have a hard time believing that someone's attitude can dramatically change that quickly.
Cade - Her personality is like Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde. One minutes she's joking and making jokes and the next minute she's pissed and punching people. Make a decision on what personality you want this woman to pursue and stick with it. If you want her to be bi-polar than write it into the storyline so I can stop getting whiplash from the erratic mood swings that make no sense. This type of behavior would not sit well in the IDF.
Brandt - This dude is seriously a Marine? His behavior is not very consistent with a Marine. Is he supposed to be one of those that like to stray from the pack..march to the beat of a different drummer..go his own way?? If he acted this way while actually stationed somewhere he would have gotten his whole team killed within the first week. His behavior is unstable, erratic, and not very well thought out. Was it his first day in the marines when the virus went down. If so then maybe I can understand why he acts the way he does.
The three of them together seems like a lost cause. If their ever was a Zombie outbreak I wouldn't go with people like that even if they had really big guns. Neither one of them seem to have any common sense. Cade is always asking Brandt what the plan is and Brandt keeps asking Cade. I came pretty damn close to hurling my kindle across the lawn after about the 15th time of listening to those two ask, "What's the plan?" "Don't you have a plan?" Good thing they didn't ask me what the plan was because I would have pushed them both in front of her of infected and taken my chances.
Halfway into the book we get two more characters, Theo and his brother Gary. Theo is a paramedic and his brother Gary is a mechanic. Now Gary has asthma. Why is it that Theo is carrying Gary's inhaler in the medics bag. What is he three and can't be trusted? That's weird. My son who is 15 and is capable of self carrying and keeping track of his inhaler, so is his 11 year old sister. Weird. The guy who is not capable of carrying his own inhaler and is a car mechanic, and also claims that he's not good at the information thing seems to know more about the infected in the way that they react than the cop, marine, and the IDF soldier. Really?? Hello Inconsistent!! Not a one of these characters are believable in any way shape or form.
Now let's talk about the plot. It didn't flow from chapter to chapter. Some chapters seemed hurried and written poorly with no action what so ever and then some went on and one and never seemed to end even though nothing much was going on. Very few of the chapters seemed like they should follow the other. It was ok in the first 1/4 of the book, but the rest hurt my brain. The zombies were a bit lackluster as well.
Will I read Book 2? Yes, I do believe I will. There's a story in there somewhere, an excellent one at that. It needs some serious fine tuining for that potential to shine. I know this was the authors first book and I was a bit disappointed, but I am hoping that suggestions from others readers were taken and applied to the rest of the series.
Here is what I didn't like:
All Three Main Characters. You have Ethan who is a Memphis cop. Next you have his his bff for the past 7 years. She is a woman who lived next door to him. Her name is Cade and she spent 7 years as a soldier and marksman in the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces), and last but not least a gung ho Marine named Brandt who ran from Atlanta where the virus originally started. Neither one of these clowns have the brains that God gave a billy goat. On top of that their personalities are inconsistent with their careers. It's weird and makes no sense. Here are a few examples.
Ethan - Memphis cop who loves his wife, Cade's niece, and helping people. A week or so after the fall he turns into a big dick. That is pretty much the only way I can describe him. He had no intention of letting Theo and Gray join the group. In fact he stomped around like a three year old having a temper tantrum and kept saying he wanted them out of the hideout. Really?? I have a hard time believing that someone's attitude can dramatically change that quickly.
Cade - Her personality is like Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde. One minutes she's joking and making jokes and the next minute she's pissed and punching people. Make a decision on what personality you want this woman to pursue and stick with it. If you want her to be bi-polar than write it into the storyline so I can stop getting whiplash from the erratic mood swings that make no sense. This type of behavior would not sit well in the IDF.
Brandt - This dude is seriously a Marine? His behavior is not very consistent with a Marine. Is he supposed to be one of those that like to stray from the pack..march to the beat of a different drummer..go his own way?? If he acted this way while actually stationed somewhere he would have gotten his whole team killed within the first week. His behavior is unstable, erratic, and not very well thought out. Was it his first day in the marines when the virus went down. If so then maybe I can understand why he acts the way he does.
The three of them together seems like a lost cause. If their ever was a Zombie outbreak I wouldn't go with people like that even if they had really big guns. Neither one of them seem to have any common sense. Cade is always asking Brandt what the plan is and Brandt keeps asking Cade. I came pretty damn close to hurling my kindle across the lawn after about the 15th time of listening to those two ask, "What's the plan?" "Don't you have a plan?" Good thing they didn't ask me what the plan was because I would have pushed them both in front of her of infected and taken my chances.
Halfway into the book we get two more characters, Theo and his brother Gary. Theo is a paramedic and his brother Gary is a mechanic. Now Gary has asthma. Why is it that Theo is carrying Gary's inhaler in the medics bag. What is he three and can't be trusted? That's weird. My son who is 15 and is capable of self carrying and keeping track of his inhaler, so is his 11 year old sister. Weird. The guy who is not capable of carrying his own inhaler and is a car mechanic, and also claims that he's not good at the information thing seems to know more about the infected in the way that they react than the cop, marine, and the IDF soldier. Really?? Hello Inconsistent!! Not a one of these characters are believable in any way shape or form.
Now let's talk about the plot. It didn't flow from chapter to chapter. Some chapters seemed hurried and written poorly with no action what so ever and then some went on and one and never seemed to end even though nothing much was going on. Very few of the chapters seemed like they should follow the other. It was ok in the first 1/4 of the book, but the rest hurt my brain. The zombies were a bit lackluster as well.
Will I read Book 2? Yes, I do believe I will. There's a story in there somewhere, an excellent one at that. It needs some serious fine tuining for that potential to shine. I know this was the authors first book and I was a bit disappointed, but I am hoping that suggestions from others readers were taken and applied to the rest of the series.
January 13, 2012
The Becoming tells the tale of three people in the early days of the zombie apocalypse. Brandt is a military man who flees Atlanta not long after the start of the Michaluk virus. He was at the epicenter, having volunteered to be one of the guards at the CDC when the plague first broke free from one of the labs. As the city crumbles and the dead begin to rise, he heads west to Alabama while the virus spreads further out from the city at the same time. Ethan and Cade, two friends living in Memphis, are swept up in the story not long after as the virus plows through the entire southeastern United States. Ethan is a Memphis police officer who just got promoted while Cade is his next door neighbor and a former member of the Israeli Defense Force, or IDF, who has immigrated to the United States. Things hit the fan pretty fast in this tale, with the bulk of the early story dealing with Ethan and Cade coping with their first horrific exposure to the virus and then hitting the road, trying to figure out how to survive as everyone around them turns into flesh eating monsters. They hook up with Brandt while trying to see if Ethan's mother is still alive in her small Alabama town, and together the three decide to head back west, toward Mississippi and with the hope of outrunning the fast moving virus. Naturally, there are interpersonal conflicts between the three, and they also end up meeting a few other survivors that add to the intense interpersonal relationships. This tale is the first of what I believe is a trilogy, and focuses quite well on the key things that tend to work well in zombie apocalypse novels: strong characters, lots of action, and a healthy dose of gore. It doesn’t break new ground in the zombie genre, but while stories like that are always welcome, it isn’t necessary when a story is filled with compelling characters and a solid plot.
This story has both of those, and its focus on the three main characters serves it well. They are well drawn and fit well into the survivor roles with their skills and training in the military and police force. But despite those talents, they are just as human as anyone else and coping with such incredible tragedy is quite difficult for them. The good, the bad, and the ugly of their personalities rear their heads when they are dealing with one another, the undead, and the other survivors that appear in this story. While the characters each ticked me off in turn and made me want to slap each one of them for acting the way they do, they were all also trying to do their best to remain human and doing what they can to help each other out, giving me reason to like them at the same time. Their reactions to the tragedies that unfold around them were real for the most part, though a couple of instances bothered me: Cade’s overall reaction to what happens to her niece and Ethan’s lack of urgency in getting to his wife-when they are first separated and later on in the story, when he wants to return to Memphis. Even with those minor complaints, the characters have a realness to them that helped me feel comfortable rooting for them to survive.
Overall, the writing in The Becoming is solid and the editing is excellent. The author tended to use eye color a bit much to reference particular characters and also used the word ‘smirk’ a lot, but even with those quibbles, it was clear that she is a talented writer who should continue to get better the more she puts pen to paper. I look forward to seeing what Ms. Meigs comes up with next for the compelling characters she’s created in this story.
This story has both of those, and its focus on the three main characters serves it well. They are well drawn and fit well into the survivor roles with their skills and training in the military and police force. But despite those talents, they are just as human as anyone else and coping with such incredible tragedy is quite difficult for them. The good, the bad, and the ugly of their personalities rear their heads when they are dealing with one another, the undead, and the other survivors that appear in this story. While the characters each ticked me off in turn and made me want to slap each one of them for acting the way they do, they were all also trying to do their best to remain human and doing what they can to help each other out, giving me reason to like them at the same time. Their reactions to the tragedies that unfold around them were real for the most part, though a couple of instances bothered me: Cade’s overall reaction to what happens to her niece and Ethan’s lack of urgency in getting to his wife-when they are first separated and later on in the story, when he wants to return to Memphis. Even with those minor complaints, the characters have a realness to them that helped me feel comfortable rooting for them to survive.
Overall, the writing in The Becoming is solid and the editing is excellent. The author tended to use eye color a bit much to reference particular characters and also used the word ‘smirk’ a lot, but even with those quibbles, it was clear that she is a talented writer who should continue to get better the more she puts pen to paper. I look forward to seeing what Ms. Meigs comes up with next for the compelling characters she’s created in this story.
February 8, 2013
This is a tricky review to write because the author is a friend of mine and she's been super supportive of my own literary work. But I'll give it my best shot.
Overall, this is a good story. I think that it's a promising start for a writer who clearly has a lot of potential as a storyteller. But it also demonstrates some of the issues that we all go through as budding writers.
From a technical standpoint, the overuse of adverbs slows down the narrative. Adverbs are one of those things that we have to employ sparingly (oops), so it's problematic that the adverbs are as plentiful as they are. Also, some of the adverbs are, well, unnecessary. As my editor once told me, "If someone is slamming the door, it goes without saying that they're slamming it angrily, so no need to say that they're slamming it angrily." I found a lot of instances of that here.
From a narrative standpoint, I had a few issues with the story. One is the plague itself. It's great that the author dedicates so much time to her characters, but the plague almost becomes an afterthought. Survival seems almost...easy despite the fact that, by all accounts, these zombies are NOT your average "walking slow as hell and dangerous only in large numbers" variety. These zombies hunt! They have the ability to think, which is scary. And yet...our heroes seem to evade them quite easily.
I also had a few issues with some of the characters. The male lead seems rather quick to abandon his wife to her fate (at least initially), and the female lead, while a total kickass, also behaves somewhat bratty from time to time. I suppose this just makes them much more human, and that's a good thing. But their emotions do seem a bit on the implausible side. After the immediate horrors they've experienced (and WOW, the horrors come quick and shockingly), I would expect them to act a bit more broken down. They seem to have their stuff together a bit too neatly given their circumstances.
So, having said all this, I did enjoy the book. And it's an amazingly promising start for the author. Put it this way: she is light years ahead of where I was when I wrote my first novel, and I've no doubt that she will be an amazing writer once she's honed her craft a little more. And given her prodigious rate of production, that's going to happen sooner than later.
Overall, this is a good story. I think that it's a promising start for a writer who clearly has a lot of potential as a storyteller. But it also demonstrates some of the issues that we all go through as budding writers.
From a technical standpoint, the overuse of adverbs slows down the narrative. Adverbs are one of those things that we have to employ sparingly (oops), so it's problematic that the adverbs are as plentiful as they are. Also, some of the adverbs are, well, unnecessary. As my editor once told me, "If someone is slamming the door, it goes without saying that they're slamming it angrily, so no need to say that they're slamming it angrily." I found a lot of instances of that here.
From a narrative standpoint, I had a few issues with the story. One is the plague itself. It's great that the author dedicates so much time to her characters, but the plague almost becomes an afterthought. Survival seems almost...easy despite the fact that, by all accounts, these zombies are NOT your average "walking slow as hell and dangerous only in large numbers" variety. These zombies hunt! They have the ability to think, which is scary. And yet...our heroes seem to evade them quite easily.
I also had a few issues with some of the characters. The male lead seems rather quick to abandon his wife to her fate (at least initially), and the female lead, while a total kickass, also behaves somewhat bratty from time to time. I suppose this just makes them much more human, and that's a good thing. But their emotions do seem a bit on the implausible side. After the immediate horrors they've experienced (and WOW, the horrors come quick and shockingly), I would expect them to act a bit more broken down. They seem to have their stuff together a bit too neatly given their circumstances.
So, having said all this, I did enjoy the book. And it's an amazingly promising start for the author. Put it this way: she is light years ahead of where I was when I wrote my first novel, and I've no doubt that she will be an amazing writer once she's honed her craft a little more. And given her prodigious rate of production, that's going to happen sooner than later.
February 1, 2012
It’s a great privilege to be able to review this book again. My initial review was apparently an earlier draft and most of what I mentioned had either been edited out, changed or rewritten. Now that The Becoming is available on Amazon and Audible, I just have to say that it is truly an honor to be asked to review her revised work.
For a first time author in this genre, Ms. Meigs has compiled and created a serious novel that far surpasses others within the zombie/apocalyptic/horror genre. With the revisions, it is an incredible read and well worth adding to any fan’s library.
The premise of the storyline is one that we’ve seen, read or heard before; an unknown virus is accidently or purposely released. In this case, it’s referred to as the Michaluk Virus, a synthetic virus most likely weaponized due to the rate of infection.
In the first chapter, we’re introduced to one of the primary characters, Brandt. With the revisions, the reader now has some insight into who this character is and a little about his motivations beyond surviving contact with the infected.
A beautifully written sequence, rich in detail and character development.
As the story progresses, we meet Cade and Ethan, next door neighbors, one being a city police officer and the other a former IDF soldier. Not to give anything away but pay attention to the interaction between these two and you might catch something that most readers would miss. Ethan, what some would call an off-duty alcoholic is nicely detailed to a point where the reader can picture just what kind of person he is. Cade, the neighbor and former IDF soldier, comes across as someone who just wants to have a normal life in a quiet neighborhood and enjoy backyard barbeques with her friends.
When the infection breaks out, Ethan’s wife, Anna, is called into work to help out at the hospital while Ethan’s office tells him to stay put for the time being. Events transpire and the outbreak reaches their respective homes and as one could imagine, bad things happen. Cade’s calm, relaxed world is shattered as she must face something that no one could ever prepare for, a loved one who is infected and now in her home.
I’m not giving anything away, so suffice it to say that she does what has to be done, has a Chicken Little moment running around and freaking out then heads over to Ethan’s to calm down and reassess. While this might seem out of character for her, don’t worry, she relaxes as much as one could given that situation then slowly morphs into the IDF trained badass babe with a rifle through the rest of the book and presumably, the rest of the trilogy.
There were a couple of issues that I discussed with Ms. Meigs in regards to Cade’s actions and those of some of the others, but that was just me being anal about certain aspects of the plot line and how those characters reacted to those events. What is nice to see is that Cade’s Dragonuv has been discarded for a Galil SAR, but only those readers who are interested in or have a background in weapons would actually care about that difference. The Galil fits Cade’s background more and let’s leave it at that.
Overall, the first version of The Becoming read like it was a teaser trailer and this version is the Full Monty.
I’m eagerly awaiting the rest of the trilogy.
March 13, 2012
I don't include book summaries in my reviews since Goodreads already provides the consumer with a full overview.
LIKED: I always enjoy a good dystopic novel, especially when it involves zombies. I thought Meigs did a nice job of capturing how surreal it would be to see a zombie-type infection discussed on the news and its subsequent spread across the country. Meigs has a lot of cool background knowledge on the military, weapons, tactics, etc.
DISLIKED: I didn't ever feel that I knew the characters very well. I would've liked more intimate backgrounds and development of the characters so that I would care more about their outcomes. Also, it became clear at one point that the characters knew about zombies yet, after this one mention, the word never came up again. This was surprising to me. You'd think that they'd compare the "infected" to what they've seen in books and movies about zombies. That would've felt natural. One of the characters took ample notes about what he'd heard on the radio, etc. I would've liked to hear more of his observations of the infected and their patterns.
OVERALL: Not a bad book. It was enjoyable enough that it kept me engaged throughout. It could've been better but it also could've been worse.
LIKED: I always enjoy a good dystopic novel, especially when it involves zombies. I thought Meigs did a nice job of capturing how surreal it would be to see a zombie-type infection discussed on the news and its subsequent spread across the country. Meigs has a lot of cool background knowledge on the military, weapons, tactics, etc.
DISLIKED: I didn't ever feel that I knew the characters very well. I would've liked more intimate backgrounds and development of the characters so that I would care more about their outcomes. Also, it became clear at one point that the characters knew about zombies yet, after this one mention, the word never came up again. This was surprising to me. You'd think that they'd compare the "infected" to what they've seen in books and movies about zombies. That would've felt natural. One of the characters took ample notes about what he'd heard on the radio, etc. I would've liked to hear more of his observations of the infected and their patterns.
OVERALL: Not a bad book. It was enjoyable enough that it kept me engaged throughout. It could've been better but it also could've been worse.
January 14, 2013
WOW...OK first I have to agree with Giselle on this...starting a new zombie series is ALWAYS hard. People think zombie stories are all about blood and gore when in reality its about the fight, survival, and triumphs that the characters overcome. Each character tugs at your heart and you pull for them to fight and survive. This book is exactly like that. I immediately liked Brandt and knew he would be one of my favorites. I liked the military background he has so I knew he would be awesome. When Ethan and Cade are introduced..I will have to admit..I felt more for Cade than Ethan but as the story progresses and "Events" occur you begin to feel for him too. Another one of my favorite characters has a small part in this book but I just have a feeling that she will be more of a fighter in the 2nd book. (I hope!! lol) Her name is Nikki..She is a young 14 year old girl who has managed to survive on her own since the outbreak against all odds. I am really looking forward to delving into here character!!
I read this book in 3 days. I loved it. It had action, suspense, loss, grief, and survival. It had all the characteristics that make a story amazing. I cannot wait to read the 2nd in the series and see what happens next for these characters.
I read this book in 3 days. I loved it. It had action, suspense, loss, grief, and survival. It had all the characteristics that make a story amazing. I cannot wait to read the 2nd in the series and see what happens next for these characters.
December 13, 2021
Pretty average zombie book. It could’ve been MUCH better if there had been ANY sort of deep characterisation… instead, the characters were kinda dumb and unrealistic.
You’re telling me that someone who was in the IDF for SEVEN years wouldn’t be able to come up with any plans, deferring to an impulsive and childish dude who didn’t seem to have that much experience in the Marines? Or that she would rather follow said immature dude, playing jokes and flirting with him, after her long-term bf has been killed, instead of sticking with her best friend in the world? And don’t get me started on these two ganging up against Ethan, who was mostly right about blindly trusting strangers (they got lucky, that’s all).
Honestly. I could’ve done without the Marines dude. He’s just annoying as hell. And Cade reads like a silly girl, not a vet soldier. Disappointing, but, as I said, average for a zombie book. I’ll read the next one, hopefully it’ll be better.
EDIT: forgot to mention that I did like the side characters (except for the RV girl, I have no idea what she’s like). The brothers and Nikola seemed very real.
You’re telling me that someone who was in the IDF for SEVEN years wouldn’t be able to come up with any plans, deferring to an impulsive and childish dude who didn’t seem to have that much experience in the Marines? Or that she would rather follow said immature dude, playing jokes and flirting with him, after her long-term bf has been killed, instead of sticking with her best friend in the world? And don’t get me started on these two ganging up against Ethan, who was mostly right about blindly trusting strangers (they got lucky, that’s all).
Honestly. I could’ve done without the Marines dude. He’s just annoying as hell. And Cade reads like a silly girl, not a vet soldier. Disappointing, but, as I said, average for a zombie book. I’ll read the next one, hopefully it’ll be better.
EDIT: forgot to mention that I did like the side characters (except for the RV girl, I have no idea what she’s like). The brothers and Nikola seemed very real.
February 3, 2012
I was glad to find out this book was the first in a trilogy because it left me hanging!
The story starts off in the first days after a virus has swept Atlanta and is spreading through the Southeast. It's fast paced and doesn't waste much time jumping in. I wish the author would have spent more time explaining the virus but hey, it's from the point of view of the people dealing with the aftermath, not the scientists.
I liked the characters overall but found it a little tough to believe they would somehow find each other in this triad of usefulness (cop, Israeli trained marksman, and military man... Later finding a paramedic and mechanic, just seems too good to be true.). With that said I was pleasantly surprised when we met Nikola in Memphis: no prior training, no amazing skills, just good old human survival through luck and determination.
All in all it was an entertaining read, and I will likely read the next installment.
The story starts off in the first days after a virus has swept Atlanta and is spreading through the Southeast. It's fast paced and doesn't waste much time jumping in. I wish the author would have spent more time explaining the virus but hey, it's from the point of view of the people dealing with the aftermath, not the scientists.
I liked the characters overall but found it a little tough to believe they would somehow find each other in this triad of usefulness (cop, Israeli trained marksman, and military man... Later finding a paramedic and mechanic, just seems too good to be true.). With that said I was pleasantly surprised when we met Nikola in Memphis: no prior training, no amazing skills, just good old human survival through luck and determination.
All in all it was an entertaining read, and I will likely read the next installment.
November 11, 2015
Read this first book.
Unlikeable characters that have no real character, or if they do, it changes too much.
Unrealistic events, and unbelievable scenes.
I guess reading post-apoc written by soldiers and cops has ruined me for books written by people who don't understand combat and procedures.
Cade is allegedly an IDF marksman, yet she is useless in combat situations.
Ethan started out great but quickly turned into a nasty idiot.
The soldier is so generic that he's laughable.
Too many adverbs, no real threat level, bad pacing...
On and on it goes.
Unlikeable characters that have no real character, or if they do, it changes too much.
Unrealistic events, and unbelievable scenes.
I guess reading post-apoc written by soldiers and cops has ruined me for books written by people who don't understand combat and procedures.
Cade is allegedly an IDF marksman, yet she is useless in combat situations.
Ethan started out great but quickly turned into a nasty idiot.
The soldier is so generic that he's laughable.
Too many adverbs, no real threat level, bad pacing...
On and on it goes.
June 14, 2012
The zombie craze exploded in the last few years and unfortunately you will come across those that are not worth the read, but The Becoming is NOT one of them. From the beginning it hooks you right into the action and it's non-stop. Jessica Meigs pens her characters very believable in the very interesting story line. Just be warned that when you reach the end, you won't be able to wait for the sequel!
October 19, 2016
This was sort of the book equivalent of potato chips. It's not really good for me, but I ended up eating the whole bag and I'll probably eat another one. This book isn't really bad, but it's not good either. It's biggest sin is that it's overwritten -- seriously, count how many times a superfluous detail is mentioned. The author is obsessed with describing precisely how every single physical action takes place. She'll mention a character's eye color twice in the space of a single page.
The thing is, you don't go to a zombie book looking for originality, and in that regard, it doesn't disappoint.
The thing is, you don't go to a zombie book looking for originality, and in that regard, it doesn't disappoint.
August 25, 2017
I liked the look of the cover and the blurb sounded interesting. I had really high hopes for this one but it just didn't live up to my expectations.
Our MCs are Cade, a former Israeli army officer, who lives with husband Andrew and visiting niece Josie. She has a large and somewhat illegal gun collection. Next door is her cop best friend Ethan and wife Anna, a doctor. The outbreak begins with a riot downtown and Andrew kills Josie, leaving Cade and Ethan to deal with that and the fact that Anna is missing in the burning hospital.
The Mcs annoyed me on quite a few levels. Cade did not act like she had military training, and you would've thought that she would have been more take charge. Getting herself and Ethan trapped in the house when they only had two zombies to deal with and a ton of weapons between them was pretty frustrating. So of course the hospital was on fire by the time they got there to find Anna. Ethan takes Lisa's word for it that Anna must be dead, making no attempt to check. He's a COP! He would've wanted evidence that his wife was dead before fleeing the area! As for taking Lisa with them, well people are dumb in zombie books. Despite witnessing Josie rise after being bitten/eaten by Andrew, they can't seem to put that together with Lisa having the bite and what was going on at the hospital. I get fed up with dumb characters I really do! Watching Lisa die and turn STILL doesn't register with the idiots. Grrr.
The author seems obsessed with Ethan's eyes. Every time he is mentioned, talked about or looked at, we get reminded of his wonderful green eyes. Even when we are being told about Lisa's festering wound, his green eyes are mentioned just in case we had forgotten! What this was meant to add to the plot I really don't know but it was very quickly getting on my nerves. What also drove me mad is that when Lisa attacks in the car, Cade decides to keep driving despite someone trying to eat her. Stop the car FFS and DEAL with it instead of trying to drive on! Ethan didn't really seem to be doing anything much to help either. Then they stand at the roadside and ponder phoning the police to report the crime. What is WRONG with these people??? What a pair of clowns!
The final straw for me was the meeting with Brandt, who shared my opinion of how dumb the pair are, especially when they wonder if the dead might be connected to the virus and the riots. I wanted to shoot the pair of them. Ethan decides to go all Alpha Asshat and start staking out his territory like a complete muppet. He starts accusing Brandt of killing his mother, acting like the big I Am, refusing to help two other survivors in need...I HATED him. And then he goes in a mood and decides to go back and look for his wife??? A bit late in the day to realise you didn't look very hard for her matey!
I'm sorry but these morons can't possibly be military with the distinct lack of common sense and no tactical awareness. Journeys to and from their transport should be nice and simple but they turn it into a shambles. Nursery kids could have completed their escapes better than these idiots. I got sick of this and stopped halfway through the book. Enough was enough!
Our MCs are Cade, a former Israeli army officer, who lives with husband Andrew and visiting niece Josie. She has a large and somewhat illegal gun collection. Next door is her cop best friend Ethan and wife Anna, a doctor. The outbreak begins with a riot downtown and Andrew kills Josie, leaving Cade and Ethan to deal with that and the fact that Anna is missing in the burning hospital.
The Mcs annoyed me on quite a few levels. Cade did not act like she had military training, and you would've thought that she would have been more take charge. Getting herself and Ethan trapped in the house when they only had two zombies to deal with and a ton of weapons between them was pretty frustrating. So of course the hospital was on fire by the time they got there to find Anna. Ethan takes Lisa's word for it that Anna must be dead, making no attempt to check. He's a COP! He would've wanted evidence that his wife was dead before fleeing the area! As for taking Lisa with them, well people are dumb in zombie books. Despite witnessing Josie rise after being bitten/eaten by Andrew, they can't seem to put that together with Lisa having the bite and what was going on at the hospital. I get fed up with dumb characters I really do! Watching Lisa die and turn STILL doesn't register with the idiots. Grrr.
The author seems obsessed with Ethan's eyes. Every time he is mentioned, talked about or looked at, we get reminded of his wonderful green eyes. Even when we are being told about Lisa's festering wound, his green eyes are mentioned just in case we had forgotten! What this was meant to add to the plot I really don't know but it was very quickly getting on my nerves. What also drove me mad is that when Lisa attacks in the car, Cade decides to keep driving despite someone trying to eat her. Stop the car FFS and DEAL with it instead of trying to drive on! Ethan didn't really seem to be doing anything much to help either. Then they stand at the roadside and ponder phoning the police to report the crime. What is WRONG with these people??? What a pair of clowns!
The final straw for me was the meeting with Brandt, who shared my opinion of how dumb the pair are, especially when they wonder if the dead might be connected to the virus and the riots. I wanted to shoot the pair of them. Ethan decides to go all Alpha Asshat and start staking out his territory like a complete muppet. He starts accusing Brandt of killing his mother, acting like the big I Am, refusing to help two other survivors in need...I HATED him. And then he goes in a mood and decides to go back and look for his wife??? A bit late in the day to realise you didn't look very hard for her matey!
I'm sorry but these morons can't possibly be military with the distinct lack of common sense and no tactical awareness. Journeys to and from their transport should be nice and simple but they turn it into a shambles. Nursery kids could have completed their escapes better than these idiots. I got sick of this and stopped halfway through the book. Enough was enough!
September 6, 2023
As someone who reads zombie books all the time, it's gotten hard to find one that really blows me away. (Pun...unintentional, but I'm leaving it in.) There's only just so many ways to do the end of the world and the rise of the dead, right? But this series opener comes out swinging and shakes things up.
First, unlike many zombie books, this one is actually set in a world that knows about zombies, that has watched Romero and seen The Walking Dead. Most other works seem to be set in a world where no one has seen any undead-rising movies, and they have to spend the first part of the book/movie/series figuring out what's going on. This can be done well, but after a while it just gets repetitive. "My family member is just sick, I will keep them in a basement and feed them and they'll get better!"
So when this book changes the setting to a world where everyone's aware of some version of zombies, we get a different perspective--just because people know what "zombies" look like on TV doesn't mean they automatically believe in them. The first two characters to correctly identify the threat are dismissed out of hand as having watched too many Romero movies. (And, I mean, is there such a thing?) That shifted the narrative focus from "What is happening? Will the government save us?" to "o shit, zombies, the world is ending, stock up now!" That put a new twist on the initial chapters that made the character's struggles completely different, and I loved it.
There were some other breaks with zombie-genre tradition that made this such a different, fantastic work. Possibly my favorite is the fact that one of the characters has asthma, which affects everything about him and what choices he makes. For instance, he can't run very far or very fast, and he has to keep on the constant lookout for inhalers or oxygen, or anything else he can use. Not all of our heroes are immediate badasses with near-superhuman strength and stamina. Yes, we start with some frontline warriors--a cop, a former IDF sharpshooter, a soldier. But not everyone is like that, and they are still given their times to shine; they are not dead weight, but actively contribute to the group's survival, just not in the same way as the gun-toters. For a group to survive long-term, there needs to be a balance of abilities and personalities, something that is recognized and discussed early on.
Some self-referential moments had me cracking up, like a rescue at the end that one character directly calls a "deus ex machina," and says it's crazy but he's not complaining. I loved it!
And I would be remiss if I didn't mention some of the little touches that reveal some true effort was put into the characters, instead of some of the rather slap-dash horror that's running around out there. For instance, Cade always has elastic hair ties around her wrist to pull her hair back out of her eyes. Every woman, everywhere, can appreciate that.
I can't wait to read the rest of the series. To tell you how much I enjoyed it, I got this ebook for free on a sale on Bookbub, but I am planning to order the paperback set. Yes, this is one of those times I'll be putting my money where my mouth is, and I encourage everyone else who finds this series to do the same.
First, unlike many zombie books, this one is actually set in a world that knows about zombies, that has watched Romero and seen The Walking Dead. Most other works seem to be set in a world where no one has seen any undead-rising movies, and they have to spend the first part of the book/movie/series figuring out what's going on. This can be done well, but after a while it just gets repetitive. "My family member is just sick, I will keep them in a basement and feed them and they'll get better!"
So when this book changes the setting to a world where everyone's aware of some version of zombies, we get a different perspective--just because people know what "zombies" look like on TV doesn't mean they automatically believe in them. The first two characters to correctly identify the threat are dismissed out of hand as having watched too many Romero movies. (And, I mean, is there such a thing?) That shifted the narrative focus from "What is happening? Will the government save us?" to "o shit, zombies, the world is ending, stock up now!" That put a new twist on the initial chapters that made the character's struggles completely different, and I loved it.
There were some other breaks with zombie-genre tradition that made this such a different, fantastic work. Possibly my favorite is the fact that one of the characters has asthma, which affects everything about him and what choices he makes. For instance, he can't run very far or very fast, and he has to keep on the constant lookout for inhalers or oxygen, or anything else he can use. Not all of our heroes are immediate badasses with near-superhuman strength and stamina. Yes, we start with some frontline warriors--a cop, a former IDF sharpshooter, a soldier. But not everyone is like that, and they are still given their times to shine; they are not dead weight, but actively contribute to the group's survival, just not in the same way as the gun-toters. For a group to survive long-term, there needs to be a balance of abilities and personalities, something that is recognized and discussed early on.
Some self-referential moments had me cracking up, like a rescue at the end that one character directly calls a "deus ex machina," and says it's crazy but he's not complaining. I loved it!
And I would be remiss if I didn't mention some of the little touches that reveal some true effort was put into the characters, instead of some of the rather slap-dash horror that's running around out there. For instance, Cade always has elastic hair ties around her wrist to pull her hair back out of her eyes. Every woman, everywhere, can appreciate that.
I can't wait to read the rest of the series. To tell you how much I enjoyed it, I got this ebook for free on a sale on Bookbub, but I am planning to order the paperback set. Yes, this is one of those times I'll be putting my money where my mouth is, and I encourage everyone else who finds this series to do the same.
July 6, 2012
The Becoming by Jessica Meigs is one of the best debut horror novels I've ever read.
The zombie apocalypse novel is smart, fast-paced and full of intriguing characters.
I also like that Meigs set her story in the Southeast U.S. - Memphis and Biloxi to be exact.
This is an astute plot device. Rather than base it in New York, L.A. or some other major metropolitan city, Meigs chose smaller cities. Having Doomsday arrive in Elvis' backyard is brilliant. Adds some diversity to the mix.
The story opens like similar stories in the genre.
Brandt Evans, a U.S. Marine,runs through the streets of Atlanta, terrified as he's pursued by a horde of raging maniacs. We learn that some kind of outbreak has infected the city and he is desperately trying to escape unharmed.
Memphis cop Ethan Bennett is recovering from a serious hangover after celebrating his promotion to detective. We meet his beautiful wife Anna - a nurse - and his best friend Cade and her little niece Josie.
Cade is a piece of work. She's a former soldier in the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) who keeps a small arsenal in her gun safe.
Cade's boyfriend Andrew is ill after being in Atlanta and he has spent most of his time sleeping on the couch.
It isn't long before all Hell breaks loose.
Cade receives a phone call from Ethan warning her to stay inside after he's told there is rioting in the city. TV pictures show people apparently attacking other people and eating them. And Andrew is acting very weird.
Anna has answered an emergency callout while Ethan's been ordered to stay home.
Back at Cade's Andrew has killed Josie and with burning rage turns on her.
Then the action really picks up.
We follow Cade and Ethan as they drive through the southeast U.S. and meet up with other survivors including Brandt, Theo a paramedic, his brother Gray and Remy.
Meigs writes believable dialogue among her characters - such as the witty repartee between Cade and Brandt. And I really like her portrayal of Ethan's growing surliness.
I'm a huge fan of zombie apocalypse stories and The Becoming - the first of a trilogy - is a welcome addition to my collection.
The zombie apocalypse novel is smart, fast-paced and full of intriguing characters.
I also like that Meigs set her story in the Southeast U.S. - Memphis and Biloxi to be exact.
This is an astute plot device. Rather than base it in New York, L.A. or some other major metropolitan city, Meigs chose smaller cities. Having Doomsday arrive in Elvis' backyard is brilliant. Adds some diversity to the mix.
The story opens like similar stories in the genre.
Brandt Evans, a U.S. Marine,runs through the streets of Atlanta, terrified as he's pursued by a horde of raging maniacs. We learn that some kind of outbreak has infected the city and he is desperately trying to escape unharmed.
Memphis cop Ethan Bennett is recovering from a serious hangover after celebrating his promotion to detective. We meet his beautiful wife Anna - a nurse - and his best friend Cade and her little niece Josie.
Cade is a piece of work. She's a former soldier in the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) who keeps a small arsenal in her gun safe.
Cade's boyfriend Andrew is ill after being in Atlanta and he has spent most of his time sleeping on the couch.
It isn't long before all Hell breaks loose.
Cade receives a phone call from Ethan warning her to stay inside after he's told there is rioting in the city. TV pictures show people apparently attacking other people and eating them. And Andrew is acting very weird.
Anna has answered an emergency callout while Ethan's been ordered to stay home.
Back at Cade's Andrew has killed Josie and with burning rage turns on her.
Then the action really picks up.
We follow Cade and Ethan as they drive through the southeast U.S. and meet up with other survivors including Brandt, Theo a paramedic, his brother Gray and Remy.
Meigs writes believable dialogue among her characters - such as the witty repartee between Cade and Brandt. And I really like her portrayal of Ethan's growing surliness.
I'm a huge fan of zombie apocalypse stories and The Becoming - the first of a trilogy - is a welcome addition to my collection.
June 9, 2012
Ahh Zombies.
Who doesn't love a good zombie story?
the blood,
the brains,
the horror!
I love it, and I really enjoyed reading this zombie novel too.
What first drew me to the novel when I got the invitation to join the blog tour for the book was the cover. It really intrigued me and I like how it really seemed to fit with the theme of the novel and now after reading the book I really think it suits it perfectly.
I really enjoyed the way that Meigs created her post-zombie apocalyptic world and the way that she created her three main characters Cade, Brandt and Ethan and I think that she did a pretty bang up job in the writing department.
The Becoming has everything you would expect from a zombie thriller, gore, adventure, thrills etc. but for me the way the author approached it and wrote it was superb. I mean I haven't read many zombie novels but this one for me stands apart from the rest. I really enjoyed the authors "voice" and all throughout the book I felt as if I were in it with her characters. To me that means the author is a good one because not every book is able to make me feel as though I am actually right there in the midst of the blood, gore and adventure.
I was so surprised by how much I enjoyed the book I'm already itching to read the author's other books! I highly recommend this read to anyone who likes horror, zombie, dystopian, post-apocalyptic novels this one is sure to thrill you and quench your thirst for brains!
Who doesn't love a good zombie story?
the blood,
the brains,
the horror!
I love it, and I really enjoyed reading this zombie novel too.
What first drew me to the novel when I got the invitation to join the blog tour for the book was the cover. It really intrigued me and I like how it really seemed to fit with the theme of the novel and now after reading the book I really think it suits it perfectly.
I really enjoyed the way that Meigs created her post-zombie apocalyptic world and the way that she created her three main characters Cade, Brandt and Ethan and I think that she did a pretty bang up job in the writing department.
The Becoming has everything you would expect from a zombie thriller, gore, adventure, thrills etc. but for me the way the author approached it and wrote it was superb. I mean I haven't read many zombie novels but this one for me stands apart from the rest. I really enjoyed the authors "voice" and all throughout the book I felt as if I were in it with her characters. To me that means the author is a good one because not every book is able to make me feel as though I am actually right there in the midst of the blood, gore and adventure.
I was so surprised by how much I enjoyed the book I'm already itching to read the author's other books! I highly recommend this read to anyone who likes horror, zombie, dystopian, post-apocalyptic novels this one is sure to thrill you and quench your thirst for brains!
April 14, 2015
I really enjoyed The Becoming, while it lasted. I'm rating it so low, because I felt like it wasn't a complete novel. This is one of those times where, in a bid to force a series, the author figured she'd get around to nearly everything later, so she skimped on most of the meat.
As is typical of the zombie genre, shit happened, people died/turned, there were attractive survivors, the survivors met up and had some minor conflict but were ultimately good people, who are now ready for the next book.
I read the book really quickly, but once I finished and began to reflect on what had happened, I realized that, despite the world completely falling apart, not much had actually been accomplished in the storytelling. Yes, we met these people, but we didn't get to know them or grow attached and their relationships/circumstances didn't develop overmuch. However, none of this is to say that The Becoming was not interesting or that its characters were not likeable; it was and they were. It is simply frustrating that every author, prior to even starting their first novel, is determined that they will write a series. I love a good series, but not every project merits a series.
As is typical of the zombie genre, shit happened, people died/turned, there were attractive survivors, the survivors met up and had some minor conflict but were ultimately good people, who are now ready for the next book.
I read the book really quickly, but once I finished and began to reflect on what had happened, I realized that, despite the world completely falling apart, not much had actually been accomplished in the storytelling. Yes, we met these people, but we didn't get to know them or grow attached and their relationships/circumstances didn't develop overmuch. However, none of this is to say that The Becoming was not interesting or that its characters were not likeable; it was and they were. It is simply frustrating that every author, prior to even starting their first novel, is determined that they will write a series. I love a good series, but not every project merits a series.
September 29, 2012
A powerful story about some really broken people, The Becoming is a fun and fast paced read. The apocalypse comes about in this book via the Infected, victims of a virus who act in a zombie-like manner. The characters are well crafted, and I spent more than half the book actively disliking one of the leads, which I credit as Very Well Done to the author. The plot is substantial, and it winds it's way through the book easily, never getting lost in divergent sub plots or too much detail. The characters read as real, and I would like to see where this goes. The end of the book left me wanting more. The author, Jessica Meigs, has several more books planned and written, and the story that starts here continues in Ground Zero. Highly recommended.
April 27, 2018
Terrible weapons-handling by professional cops/marines/ex-IDF.
Pointing uncharged weapons at people, yelling at them, then chambering a round?
Grabbing allies' guns in tense situations?
And the usual nonsense: safties on Glocks, etc.
Nope.
May 8, 2012
(audiobook) This felt like most zombie movies where the characters make the standard survival mistakes. Makes you want to scream.luckily in this book it all works out.It made this book stand out.
April 22, 2014
3.5
I wanted to give this 4 stars, but some of the characters actions were annoying. Also, it took them way way too long to figure out the people getting infected were zombies. Other than that it was a solid story.
I wanted to give this 4 stars, but some of the characters actions were annoying. Also, it took them way way too long to figure out the people getting infected were zombies. Other than that it was a solid story.
April 15, 2014
This was a good read. I want to read the sequels as well.
August 24, 2017
After carrying out my mandatory search for any instances of the F-word i was pleased to find many.
I was happy to have the audiobook, narrated by the superb Christian Rummel.
As always he performed brilliantly, in what i was pleased to find was an absolutely outstanding book.
Superb characters, with believable dialogue and response.
With the Zombie genre continually being flooded with extremely weak, fluffy, and dire rubbish, it was terrific to find an author who understands people.
Exciting, extremely brutal Zombie adventure which places Jessica Meigs as one of the finest authors i have read.
I was happy to have the audiobook, narrated by the superb Christian Rummel.
As always he performed brilliantly, in what i was pleased to find was an absolutely outstanding book.
Superb characters, with believable dialogue and response.
With the Zombie genre continually being flooded with extremely weak, fluffy, and dire rubbish, it was terrific to find an author who understands people.
Exciting, extremely brutal Zombie adventure which places Jessica Meigs as one of the finest authors i have read.
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