A make-believe story filled with some of the most real fictional characters I have spent page time with in a long time. I thoroughly enjoyed my journey with them, and I'm saying that as someone who is not a post-apocalyptic fiction reader. How could I resist riding along with this motley crew, most of whom were misfits at the best of times - which these are not. The Detroit area is besieged by a virus that turns its victims into unhuman, murderous zombies. People are terrified, and the government is taking over; it's up to the reader to decide if this government control hurts or helps. All the people in this story know is that they have to stay safe and they have to get away. Can they do both at the same time?
The pacing of the storytelling here is amazing, especially given that this is the author's first published work. The story moves slowly enough for us to get to know the characters in a natural way and to build suspense, and fast enough through high-action scenes to make those feel real too. And each time i started to feel like Iunderstood what was going on - in other words, when it started to feel predictable - the plot took a twist and the action sped up. I will add more to this review at a later date, but suffice to say this is a brilliant offering from a brilliant new writer.
I Most loved about this book is that the characters were human. The found family is not all sunshine and rainbows, but everyone, despite mistakes and bad choices at times, works together for the betterment of the group. intersectional representation and every character make this story so much more realistic. I look forward to the next book in the series.
This book gave me so many visceral and emotional reactions. At some point I had to put it down because I needed a break from the intensity. At other points I kept reading on and on because I had to see what was going to happen. Thanks Amelie and WSC for finally, finally giving us a story with real blindness representation. Finally I get to see myself in a fictional character, at least in terms of living with blindness.
This book is filled with so much passion. As it switches between the 2 characters perspectives, you never lose focus of the moment. The disability representation in this book is wonderfully done. The found family is beautiful. Even when they struggle with the difficult choices and sometimes disagree on how to handle this new world they've found themselves in, they stick together. I look forward to the next books in this trilogy.
I don’t normally read post-apocalyptic books but I’m so glad this was the first one I’ve read. As a disabled and chronically ill person I loved the fact that it centres around a blind woman.
I was even more impressed when I got to the end and realised the author herself is blind.
There are so many interesting moral themes in this book, and it’s extremely well-written, it would be perfect for a book club!