I had the pleasure of reading strays! It's a post apocalypse world with zombies that have different mutations the extreme being like a tank from left for dead. I really enjoyed the story, it had a good progression speed and the drama and betrayal did not disappoint, but for me one of the biggest compliments I have is the attention to detail on the surroundings, I love good visuals while reading and I was able to picture everything she described *chefs kiss* Frankie is relatable (to me) in the sense of wanting to believe in humanity but also is paranoid about the consequences of what could happen. Poor thing couldn't catch a break between boys and enemies.
Strays by Audrey Mancini is a post-apocalyptic zombie story that gave me strong The Walking Dead vibes, though it does add its own twist with the zombies evolving through different mutation stages.
When I first started reading, I honestly thought this was going to be YA because of the writing style and tone. It definitely reads younger at first, but then I learned the actual age of the main character, which shifted my expectations a bit.
At only 305 pages, this is a fairly quick read, but I do think the story would have benefited from being longer. More time spent developing the world and characters could have made the emotional moments hit harder. I had some trouble fully connecting with the characters and becoming invested in them, and I think the writing just needed a little more depth in those areas.
That said, the overall story was still enjoyable while I was reading it. The ending especially caught me off guard, and now I am curious to see where the next book in the series goes.
At first I wasn't sure I was gonna be able to get into this book but by chapter 5 I was hooked I needed to keep reading and see how it ended. The end is definitely not a happy one and almost had me in tears I need the next book like now. I need Frankie to have a happy ending she's been through so much and I'm definitely sad about the characters we lost along the way I can only hope that it was a fever dream and it didn't really end that way because that's my favorite character. There are lots of twist and turns And you learn you really can't trust anyone.
I thoroughly enjoyable this book from start to finish. The story is engaging, with well-paced plot development that keeps you turning the pages. I would definitely recommend anyone to read it.