The Boy on the Bridge: Extended Free Preview

by M.R. Carey

Once upon a time, in a land blighted by terror, there was a very clever boy.

The people thought the boy could save them, so they opened their gates and sent him out into the world.

To where the monsters lived.

400 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2017

About the author

Mike Carey is the acclaimed writer of Lucifer and Hellblazer (now filmed as Constantine). He has recently completed a comics adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere, and is the current writer on Marvel's X-Men and Ultimate Fantastic Four. He has also written the screenplay for a movie, Frost Flowers, which is soon to be produced by Hadaly Films and Bluestar Pictures.

Also writes as Mike Carey

Reviews

[Obsidian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I had no idea how much I was missing "The Girl With All the Gifts" until I read this free extended preview of "The Boy on the Bridge." This is not a sequel they say, but it takes place in the same post apocalyptic world that Carey wrote about in "The Girl With All The Gifts."

We seem to be following another team that is out to figure out how to combat the hungries in a changed world. We start off following the POV of a character named Dr. Khan who I imagine is going to be just as important to the boy on the bridge as was Miss Justineau was to Melanie in "The Girl With All the Gifts." I won't reveal what I read so far since I don't want to have spoilers out there for everyone, but I read enough to be demanding even more. I need this book so badly right now. I am worried about Khan and a boy named Stephen Greaves who seems to not be a typical boy who is along with this science team.

The writing was lyrical and sad at times. Carey definitely gets you in the right headspace of a world that is slowly dying and or dead. That humanity is about to be wiped out and there's nothing that anyone can do to turn the tide. I wonder after the events of "The Girl With All the Gifts" what this new crew of men and women are going to do when they eventually find out about what happened.

I can't really speak much about flow. I thought this was a bit disjointed, but I am not going to ding this preview for that. It will probably get better when the full version is up for reading. I think I liked being in Khan's POV much more than Stephen's. Yes I love the character of Melanie and don't see how anyone else is going to surpass her.

[Sunday Stilwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would have been 5 stars if it hadn't taken 30 chapters for this book to warm up and really grab the reader. If I hadn't read TGWATG and loved it I would have given up on the book long before it finally hooked me. The last 30 chapters were very good and the ending was superb especially if you read the first book.

[Joi Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I think I liked it more than The Girl With All the Gifts. A very satisfying read, even into the late nights. Many surprises in the twists of the plot.

[Saul Flores · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The boy on the bridge.” By M.R. Carey tells a story about a post apocalyptic world where food is scarce, medicine is rare, and resources are hard to come upon. Most of the worlds population was wiped out by an unknown disease. These scientists and military people are exploring the ruins of the once known civilization for medicine and antibiotics to make a possible cure. From the start the book cuts the boring intro parts and jumps right into the action. But as they are searching they stumble upon a group of creatures called the “hungries” which are lifeless, once human beings roaming the face of the earth searching for food. But as then find their selves upon them once of the key scientists discovers something very important about them. Leading them closer to the cure. At the middle of the group of survival lies the keys to the cure, Dr. Khan and a 15 year old boy Stephan Greaves who is a genius in medicine is what Dr.Khan believes lies humanity’s last hope for survival. All taking place in the Scottish highlands. But little does she know is that Stephan is on a little special mission and observation of his own. Even tho this book is a tragedy, it is a thrilling story teller. With the author telling a deeper meaning of political/military corruption. If you are into zombies I would highly recommend this book because of its uniqueness, creativity, and ability to keep you hooked throughout the whole book.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved The Girl With All The Gifts. I loved reading it, and I stayed in their world for ages after I finished reading the book. When reading the reviews on this book I was a little concerned that it would be a drag as many reviews said it was uneventful until 2/3 of the way in. But decided to give it a bash anyway.

It was amazing and I loved it from the beginning to the end. Just as good as The Girl With All The Gifts.

[JRW · Rating 1 out of 5]

While M R Carey is very inventive and creative, reinventing many well-worn genres and tropes, one trope that he blatantly and unsophisticatedly wields is the Rain Man, super-autistic.
While the sequel to this book, The Girl With All the Gifts, was amazing in its structure and flow, this book had the rug pulled out from under it by this tired, ableist cliché. It is too widely used, unrealistic and at worst, downright offensive and dangerous.
I reluctantly put it on the Ableist Shelf.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read liked this book; do you suppose Melanie is the protagonist in the first book? Highly recommended

[Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was simply an "okay" book.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really starts picking up action in the second half. Very satisfying ending! MUST read The Girl on the Bridge first!

[Mardi Gorham · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

I did not read the full novel, as I on!y downloaded the preview. From the preview I can tell it will be a good novel.