This was a thrilling introduction to the Feast of Weeds series. It begins, normally and slowly enough, with Mary’s blog on How to THRIVE as a Runaway, in which she gives advice – based on her experience of four years living as a teenager on the streets. Mary is fortunate to be part of a very close-knit group of street kids, who look out for each other, travel around together (sometimes in a van) and revel in their freedom. As Mary puts it, she ran TO her family.
This is a very well written book that draws you in. The street kid characters are skilfully portrayed. Each is a distinct and believable individual. The contempt sometimes shown to the kids hits you viscerally – even though previously, in another life, you may have looked down on their ilk yourself. But, these kids are different, you know them. You immediately empathise with them, and will them to escape authority and thrive as runaways.
The actual action starts with Mary and Gabbi begging on a street corner, and getting into a heated discussion with a potential donor. He leaves without giving them any money. Nothing unusual there. But then, they spot a filthy, limping, bloodstained man heading towards them – and suddenly, nothing is normal anymore, and the pace is anything but slow.
They flag down Officer Hanley, who tells them to run and to avoid any contact with the blood. The CDC start to show far too much interest in them, and all too quickly Mary and Gabbi are fleeing for their lives – pursued by the officials, and yet more blood-soaked horrors. Meeting up with the rest of the team, they decide to leave town. But, blood from the first man had splashed on Mary, and she starts to act extremely out of character, and endangers everyone.
Mary narrates the story, so everything is seen from her point of view. As she starts to change, her confusion becomes your confusion. What is happening to her? What exactly has she done? And to whom? Why? Can anyone survive this chaos? Before she loses all sense of herself, she needs to make an important decision – one that may either condemn or save all her friends.
The pace of this book increases exponentially as you progress through. I could not put it down, and practically read it in one sitting. I am now very much looking forward to the rest of this series.
I received this copy from the author in exchange for an honest review