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The Drop
How many hearts can a song touch? How many ears can it reach? How many people can it kill? When popular boy band Whoa-Town releases their latest album, no one thinks anything of it. They certainly don’t think that the world will be changed forever. After an apocalyptic disease sweeps the world, it becomes clear that the music of this seemingly innocuous boy band had something to do with it, but how? Katherine Maddox, her life irrevocably changed by a disease dubbed The Drop, sets out to find out how and why, to prevent something like The Drop from ever happening again.
527 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 30, 2020
118 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
September 18, 2020
Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
THE DROP by Jacy Morris is a new unique post-apocalyptic horror/suspense book. This new to me author grabbed my twisted-sense-of-humor interest with the premise of a boy band triggering a worldwide pandemic with drop of their new album and surprised me with a thought provoking, intense page turner that I found difficult to put down.
Katherine is a young journalist who is chasing the story of the origin of the Drop so that it can never happen again. Her investigation is laid out in a series of news reports, chatroom conversations, pod casts and in-person interviews.
The three time periods laid out in the book are post-Drop, pre-Drop and during the Drop. With the story investigated out of order to the events. While I normally find the out of order timeline difficult to follow, the author has laid each nugget of information to carry you through the different sections and build the tension and suspense in an easy to comprehend style.
This is a book that is difficult to give you any more information from it without giving away surprise twists that are learned throughout Katherine’s investigation. The ending left an impression and I believe everyone who reads this book will be sharing.
I highly recommend this story and I am looking forward to other readers opinions!
THE DROP by Jacy Morris is a new unique post-apocalyptic horror/suspense book. This new to me author grabbed my twisted-sense-of-humor interest with the premise of a boy band triggering a worldwide pandemic with drop of their new album and surprised me with a thought provoking, intense page turner that I found difficult to put down.
Katherine is a young journalist who is chasing the story of the origin of the Drop so that it can never happen again. Her investigation is laid out in a series of news reports, chatroom conversations, pod casts and in-person interviews.
The three time periods laid out in the book are post-Drop, pre-Drop and during the Drop. With the story investigated out of order to the events. While I normally find the out of order timeline difficult to follow, the author has laid each nugget of information to carry you through the different sections and build the tension and suspense in an easy to comprehend style.
This is a book that is difficult to give you any more information from it without giving away surprise twists that are learned throughout Katherine’s investigation. The ending left an impression and I believe everyone who reads this book will be sharing.
I highly recommend this story and I am looking forward to other readers opinions!
September 2, 2020
I still can't get over how much that I enjoyed this book.
The Drop is a pandemic story. A pandemic that was triggered by a boy band and their song called The Drop. The book is laid out in the form of articles and journal entries and these span different time periods. The reader is transported into three distinct periods: pre-Drop, during Drop and post-Drop. The story mainly follows around a young journalist by the name of Katherine, who is trying to investigate the Drop's origins. We learn not only about her life before and after the Drop but we also see the worldwide repercussions that this music has caused.
Sometimes a bouncing timeline can be tricky and hard to follow but this book had a masterful layout. Everything was easy to follow and separated by chapters and sections. I loved how it started post-Drop and then worked it's way backwards before ending back in the present. It kept me guessing as to what exactly had transpired and I was not disappointed by the conclusion.
I was given an e-copy in exchange for an honest review. I can honestly say that this was a unique story about musicians in the horror genre. I could hardly put it down the whole time. I highly recommend it.
The Drop is a pandemic story. A pandemic that was triggered by a boy band and their song called The Drop. The book is laid out in the form of articles and journal entries and these span different time periods. The reader is transported into three distinct periods: pre-Drop, during Drop and post-Drop. The story mainly follows around a young journalist by the name of Katherine, who is trying to investigate the Drop's origins. We learn not only about her life before and after the Drop but we also see the worldwide repercussions that this music has caused.
Sometimes a bouncing timeline can be tricky and hard to follow but this book had a masterful layout. Everything was easy to follow and separated by chapters and sections. I loved how it started post-Drop and then worked it's way backwards before ending back in the present. It kept me guessing as to what exactly had transpired and I was not disappointed by the conclusion.
I was given an e-copy in exchange for an honest review. I can honestly say that this was a unique story about musicians in the horror genre. I could hardly put it down the whole time. I highly recommend it.
June 23, 2020
EXCELLENT.
September 21, 2020
The Drop is a difficult and uncomfortable read. Each page brings some fresh horror and I was scared and fascinated at the same time. I thought the idea of music causing people to turn emotionally unresponsive is unique. How that happens is revealed only at the very end, so I won’t talk about it here.
The story is told through various viewpoints–online chats, interviews, video clips, and Katherine Maddox’s journal entries. It may be a bit difficult to grasp what’s happening in the beginning, but if you persevere, a whole new world of betrayal, sadism, hacking, and perversity opens up.
There are many parallels to the current pandemic situation and references to issues around religious extremism, racism, and politics. We’re given a glimpse of a world that has dissolved into anarchy and I found the hopelessness of it all very scary.
What stood out in the book was that despite all the death and destruction, the author has taken the time to describe in the most beautiful, sensitive terms the relationship between a daughter and her ailing father. I found myself heartbroken for the daughter who has to bid a painful goodbye to her father.
A tense, gripping story that puts the reader right in the middle of the action where a hard-nosed reporter risks her life to find out what caused The Drop!
(Thank you to Blackthorn Book Tours for my review copy!)
The story is told through various viewpoints–online chats, interviews, video clips, and Katherine Maddox’s journal entries. It may be a bit difficult to grasp what’s happening in the beginning, but if you persevere, a whole new world of betrayal, sadism, hacking, and perversity opens up.
There are many parallels to the current pandemic situation and references to issues around religious extremism, racism, and politics. We’re given a glimpse of a world that has dissolved into anarchy and I found the hopelessness of it all very scary.
What stood out in the book was that despite all the death and destruction, the author has taken the time to describe in the most beautiful, sensitive terms the relationship between a daughter and her ailing father. I found myself heartbroken for the daughter who has to bid a painful goodbye to her father.
A tense, gripping story that puts the reader right in the middle of the action where a hard-nosed reporter risks her life to find out what caused The Drop!
(Thank you to Blackthorn Book Tours for my review copy!)
September 22, 2020
This book was amazing ... there is so many predictable pandemic / end of the world books out there and I am happy to say this is one of them ..
The idea of music being responsible of the end of the role was very surprising. The author builds us the suspense and I was gripping to each page wanting to know how the boy band did it .
There are three time line - before, during , after and this allows to build the suspense and wanting me to read as fast as I can to know what’s next..
The books is written as a series of articles, interviews, journal entires, chat rooms conversations ..
As an additional it shows the psychological struggle of main character.. is shows the development of human psyche when faced with traumatic experience..
Fully recommend this book
September 21, 2020
This story really sucks you in. At a little over 500pgs it took me 2 days to devour. I absolutely love the premise of this book, and the hilarity of the fact that a boy band causes the apocalypse. At first, the mixed up timelines worried me BUT it was actually very engaging and easy to follow. I haven't read anything by this author before but this is a clear indication for me of why I need to check out his other books. Go out and snag this gem. It's a perfect addition for any Spooktober TBR!
I appreciate Blackthorn Book Tours for gifting me this E-Book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone. I also appreciate the opportunity to participate in The Drop Book Tour. This was a lot of fun to read and be involved in.
I appreciate Blackthorn Book Tours for gifting me this E-Book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone. I also appreciate the opportunity to participate in The Drop Book Tour. This was a lot of fun to read and be involved in.
June 13, 2020
From the start to the end I found it hard to put this book down considering we are in an actual pandemic. I was hooked on every word. In my head it played out as a great movie that I didn't want to end . Jacy's story telling ,discriptions and details put you in the story .The main character Kathrine could be any of us and to see how she deals which each stage of the drop is amazing from her own words to her personal journal. How would we react would we do anything different.
The news reports, chat room conversations, interviews and pod cast are so good you'll think your there. The terrifying thing is he makes it so real that your left with the feeling this could happen and wondering if what I am listening to each day or on a loop is it doing anything to me🥺😃.
I wasn't sure of the ending at first but the fact I'm still thinking about it and raved about the story to any family that would listen to me shows me how good it is. I can't go into to much detail about this story without ruining it but never under estimate a boy band.
The news reports, chat room conversations, interviews and pod cast are so good you'll think your there. The terrifying thing is he makes it so real that your left with the feeling this could happen and wondering if what I am listening to each day or on a loop is it doing anything to me🥺😃.
I wasn't sure of the ending at first but the fact I'm still thinking about it and raved about the story to any family that would listen to me shows me how good it is. I can't go into to much detail about this story without ruining it but never under estimate a boy band.
September 20, 2020
For me, this is a year of apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction. The Drop is one of the few books that stand out purely because of the fascinating concept. If you look closely enough, it may even be considered zombie fiction, despite the complete reinvention of what a 'zombie' may actually be.
The Drop takes place in the aftermath of the apocalypse, and is set in the very near future. Katherine Maddox, our main character, is a reporter determined to investigate the events directly preceding the apocalypse--known as 'the Drop'--and prevent it from ever happening again. This isn't your usual apocalypse, however. This apocalypse is the direct result of a boyband called Whoa-Town.
The novel jumps between Katherine's present day investigations, going deep into the history of each of the members of Whoa-Town, and her diary entries during the apocalypse, with the addition of interviews and archived information. It's almost a slow burn; the reader knows the aftermath and that this band has something to do with it, but the actual events of the apocalypse are kept under wraps for most of the book. It's a technique that works perfectly. I was hooked. Pre- and post-apocalypse Katherine comes across as two different people, slowly coming together over the course of a few diary entries. Her character development is fascinating, and by the end of the novel she's a completely different person again.
What I really liked about The Drop is how realistic the post-apocalyptic world felt. All the people affected by the Drop are gone by the time the story starts, and all that's left are the survivors. Everyone copes in their own way: there are, of course, the people who immediately take up guns and carve out their own territory, and the people who go out looking for trouble, but there are also those who retreat into themselves. Parts of society still function in some way, such as the police, leaving an almost wasteland across America. What I also particularly enjoyed about The Drop was that the apocalypse didn't just affect the US, it affected almost everywhere, and other countries are actually represented. Too often, apocalyptic fiction focuses solely on the US with no regard to the outside world, and this was a refreshing change.
The one thing that held this book back from being a five-star read for me is something I've been thinking about for a while. One of the reasons why the apocalypse happened the way it did in The Drop (and I'm trying to avoid spoilers here) is because although Whoa-Town was a boyband, they included a girl in their ranks. This is how it was first presented in the book; that Ashton was secretly a girl in disguise, and I thought, "Hey, that's pretty cool." Once Katherine starts digging deeper into Ashton's past, however, it becomes clear that Ashton is supposed to be a transman. Despite this distinction, multiple characters refer to him as either a girl, or by using "she." One character even wonders what trauma he went through to suddenly start referring to himself as a man. The whole attitude towards Ashton read as dismissive, and it left a little bit of a bad taste in my mouth. I wonder what the author had in mind when writing the character.
With that in mind, this book was still an excellent example of a unique take on post-apocalyptic fiction and I couldn't put it down.
I was offered a copy of The Drop in exchange for an honest review.
The Drop takes place in the aftermath of the apocalypse, and is set in the very near future. Katherine Maddox, our main character, is a reporter determined to investigate the events directly preceding the apocalypse--known as 'the Drop'--and prevent it from ever happening again. This isn't your usual apocalypse, however. This apocalypse is the direct result of a boyband called Whoa-Town.
The novel jumps between Katherine's present day investigations, going deep into the history of each of the members of Whoa-Town, and her diary entries during the apocalypse, with the addition of interviews and archived information. It's almost a slow burn; the reader knows the aftermath and that this band has something to do with it, but the actual events of the apocalypse are kept under wraps for most of the book. It's a technique that works perfectly. I was hooked. Pre- and post-apocalypse Katherine comes across as two different people, slowly coming together over the course of a few diary entries. Her character development is fascinating, and by the end of the novel she's a completely different person again.
What I really liked about The Drop is how realistic the post-apocalyptic world felt. All the people affected by the Drop are gone by the time the story starts, and all that's left are the survivors. Everyone copes in their own way: there are, of course, the people who immediately take up guns and carve out their own territory, and the people who go out looking for trouble, but there are also those who retreat into themselves. Parts of society still function in some way, such as the police, leaving an almost wasteland across America. What I also particularly enjoyed about The Drop was that the apocalypse didn't just affect the US, it affected almost everywhere, and other countries are actually represented. Too often, apocalyptic fiction focuses solely on the US with no regard to the outside world, and this was a refreshing change.
The one thing that held this book back from being a five-star read for me is something I've been thinking about for a while. One of the reasons why the apocalypse happened the way it did in The Drop (and I'm trying to avoid spoilers here) is because although Whoa-Town was a boyband, they included a girl in their ranks. This is how it was first presented in the book; that Ashton was secretly a girl in disguise, and I thought, "Hey, that's pretty cool." Once Katherine starts digging deeper into Ashton's past, however, it becomes clear that Ashton is supposed to be a transman. Despite this distinction, multiple characters refer to him as either a girl, or by using "she." One character even wonders what trauma he went through to suddenly start referring to himself as a man. The whole attitude towards Ashton read as dismissive, and it left a little bit of a bad taste in my mouth. I wonder what the author had in mind when writing the character.
With that in mind, this book was still an excellent example of a unique take on post-apocalyptic fiction and I couldn't put it down.
I was offered a copy of The Drop in exchange for an honest review.
September 22, 2020
I was asked to review this book as part of the book tour arranged by blackthornbooktours , and I am so thankful for the opportunity.
I am a huge dystopia fan, adore tales of the apocalypse, and this book did not disappoint at all! A perfect read for fans of The Passage and The Stand, this book takes us on a road trip through an anarchic post apocalyptic America, after most of the global population has been wiped out by a mysterious disease known as The Drop. The tone is almost noire style, as we follow Katherine Maddox, a young and feisty investigative journalist who will stop at nothing to get her story, while under pursuit by a sinister force which will do anything in its power to stop the truth from getting out.
I would give The Drop 4.5 stars (rounded up to 5 on Good Reads). It was an incredibly original, engaging and engrossing read peppered with plenty of source materials (podcasts, journal entries, chat room snippets etc.) and pop culture references to boot. The characters were very relatable, and the thing that I loved most about this book was the world building! Morris literally has every base covered, and the breakdown of society he describes is probably the closest I’ve read to how I feel things would actually go down. That been said, the book still manages to keep a sense of humour, and moves at such a pace that it becomes impossible to put it down.
I cannot recommend this book enough, and I loved his writing style so much that I will definitely be checking out Jacy Morris’ other works.
I am a huge dystopia fan, adore tales of the apocalypse, and this book did not disappoint at all! A perfect read for fans of The Passage and The Stand, this book takes us on a road trip through an anarchic post apocalyptic America, after most of the global population has been wiped out by a mysterious disease known as The Drop. The tone is almost noire style, as we follow Katherine Maddox, a young and feisty investigative journalist who will stop at nothing to get her story, while under pursuit by a sinister force which will do anything in its power to stop the truth from getting out.
I would give The Drop 4.5 stars (rounded up to 5 on Good Reads). It was an incredibly original, engaging and engrossing read peppered with plenty of source materials (podcasts, journal entries, chat room snippets etc.) and pop culture references to boot. The characters were very relatable, and the thing that I loved most about this book was the world building! Morris literally has every base covered, and the breakdown of society he describes is probably the closest I’ve read to how I feel things would actually go down. That been said, the book still manages to keep a sense of humour, and moves at such a pace that it becomes impossible to put it down.
I cannot recommend this book enough, and I loved his writing style so much that I will definitely be checking out Jacy Morris’ other works.
September 22, 2020
I have to admit when I picked up the Kindle copy of The Drop, I was a bit skeptical. Five hundred plus pages about a boy band and an apocalypse? Does that even work? Well, let me tell you right now that it does. And it works amazingly well. From the beginning on I was sucked right into the story. It is told in many different formats, and never once bored me.
We have Katherine telling her side of the story from the present time, but also from her diary entries written in the past. Then there are interviews, newspaper articles, websites, forums and more. The author really built an entire world here. Jacy Morris blew me away with his talent and ability to tell a story. Very well done.
The only reason I’m giving it 4.5 stars, is because I found typos and errors, which isn’t that bad, but it jumps out at me. I just can’t overlook them sometimes.
Thanks to Blackthorn Book Tours for the free review copy and letting me be part of this book tour!
We have Katherine telling her side of the story from the present time, but also from her diary entries written in the past. Then there are interviews, newspaper articles, websites, forums and more. The author really built an entire world here. Jacy Morris blew me away with his talent and ability to tell a story. Very well done.
The only reason I’m giving it 4.5 stars, is because I found typos and errors, which isn’t that bad, but it jumps out at me. I just can’t overlook them sometimes.
Thanks to Blackthorn Book Tours for the free review copy and letting me be part of this book tour!
September 20, 2020
Magnificent Read!
Morris pens a unique story in Drop. I haven't read anything from this author before, and I really enjoyed this story. The characters were realistic and very entertaining. This author brings the story to life. An amazing story about the apocalypse, and yet, it was caused by something unexpected, a boy band. It's an intense and creative story that grabs the reader from the beginnings. Morris writes well with multidimensional characters. The story brings in the believable, even if almost impossible. This book deserves a second read! (and maybe more). A very well-written story, and I enjoyed it. Magnificent story, kept this reader turning the pages. A definite attention grabber. The thrills and intrigue is written clearly and the characterizations are engrossing. It's a great story to follow and try to figure out what will happen next. I look forward to reading many more stories by this author. This book is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews.
Morris pens a unique story in Drop. I haven't read anything from this author before, and I really enjoyed this story. The characters were realistic and very entertaining. This author brings the story to life. An amazing story about the apocalypse, and yet, it was caused by something unexpected, a boy band. It's an intense and creative story that grabs the reader from the beginnings. Morris writes well with multidimensional characters. The story brings in the believable, even if almost impossible. This book deserves a second read! (and maybe more). A very well-written story, and I enjoyed it. Magnificent story, kept this reader turning the pages. A definite attention grabber. The thrills and intrigue is written clearly and the characterizations are engrossing. It's a great story to follow and try to figure out what will happen next. I look forward to reading many more stories by this author. This book is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews.
September 21, 2020
This book took me by suprise right from the start (in a good way)! Don't be fooled by the 500+ pages as they go by very fast.
The first half of the book was by far on par with all the great horrors around, but towards the end it lacked something. I was searching for more.
I did, however, love how the book was split into 3 time lines (Pre drop, during the drop and post drop). It really captures the evidence of events.
I would definitely recommend to a friend who is wanting a horror/suspense/ apocalyptic read!!
The first half of the book was by far on par with all the great horrors around, but towards the end it lacked something. I was searching for more.
I did, however, love how the book was split into 3 time lines (Pre drop, during the drop and post drop). It really captures the evidence of events.
I would definitely recommend to a friend who is wanting a horror/suspense/ apocalyptic read!!
September 26, 2020
I was very nervous when I read the synopsis of the book. I was thinking it involved zombies and im just not a fan, not sure why, but I've been trying to read books that are outside my comfort zone and why not try something that falls under thriller/horror. The draw was that this whole 'disease' was caused by a boyband, Whoa-Town (I feel the name could have been a little more original 🤣). This concept was definitely new to me. The book was a bit longer than I would have expected but the amount of detail was breathtaking! I was never left wanting for more on anything specific.
The characters were wonderfully written. Motives for their actions were relatively the same but that was to be expected. The science behind the 'how' was neat and totally makes sense. The loss of a star was the reasoning for WHY the boyband caused this. 'Just because they could'. No other reason. Just because. I felt that was rather boring and a bit of a let down.
Despite that though, I REALLY enjoyed this book. There is so much in this book that is realistic in how society would handle something like this, definitely watching how people are acting with the current pandemic. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good thriller.
The characters were wonderfully written. Motives for their actions were relatively the same but that was to be expected. The science behind the 'how' was neat and totally makes sense. The loss of a star was the reasoning for WHY the boyband caused this. 'Just because they could'. No other reason. Just because. I felt that was rather boring and a bit of a let down.
Despite that though, I REALLY enjoyed this book. There is so much in this book that is realistic in how society would handle something like this, definitely watching how people are acting with the current pandemic. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good thriller.
September 24, 2020
When I was asked if I’d be interested in reviewing this book I jumped at the chance! I loved the plot of the story - music that essentially kills people 👀 Something about this book kept me hooked all the way!
This was a new type of book for me to read really. I usually stick to thriller/crime, romance or true stories in general with a few fantasy books thrown in there but this was so different to anything I’ve ever read before! It’s a great post-apocalyptic novel.
I loved 3 of the characters so much. Katherine, the main character that the book focuses around - she’s a bad ass if there ever was one. She is so headstrong and focused. She has so much thrown at her and she overcomes them all like a boss! Freddie - he‘a so lovely and his story is heartbreaking. The relationship between Katherine and Freddie is a strange one - I felt like it could’ve been played out better, but overall, I liked these two as a team. And Merv - there’s always a strange person in books, and he’s the strange one here. But this strangeness also helps out the other characters a lot, proving being weird isn’t a bad thing!!!
One thing that really pulled on my heart strings was the relationship between Katherine and her dad. You need to read this book to understand, but when you do, you’ll totally get it!
I also like how Jacy addresses different backgrounds of the members of Woah Town in quite a lot of detail (please note - this is a very dark themed book so these details may not be for everyone).
The only downfall of this book for me was the ending - I feel like it ended without ending if that makes sense? It wasn’t as dramatic as I thought it would be and was a bit rushed. It left me feeling a bit unfulfilled. That being said, it’s a great book and I would urge anyone 16+ to buy this book! I really enjoyed it.
Finally, as mentioned above, this book was very dark at times so please bare this in mind if you decide to read it. ❤️
This was a new type of book for me to read really. I usually stick to thriller/crime, romance or true stories in general with a few fantasy books thrown in there but this was so different to anything I’ve ever read before! It’s a great post-apocalyptic novel.
I loved 3 of the characters so much. Katherine, the main character that the book focuses around - she’s a bad ass if there ever was one. She is so headstrong and focused. She has so much thrown at her and she overcomes them all like a boss! Freddie - he‘a so lovely and his story is heartbreaking. The relationship between Katherine and Freddie is a strange one - I felt like it could’ve been played out better, but overall, I liked these two as a team. And Merv - there’s always a strange person in books, and he’s the strange one here. But this strangeness also helps out the other characters a lot, proving being weird isn’t a bad thing!!!
One thing that really pulled on my heart strings was the relationship between Katherine and her dad. You need to read this book to understand, but when you do, you’ll totally get it!
I also like how Jacy addresses different backgrounds of the members of Woah Town in quite a lot of detail (please note - this is a very dark themed book so these details may not be for everyone).
The only downfall of this book for me was the ending - I feel like it ended without ending if that makes sense? It wasn’t as dramatic as I thought it would be and was a bit rushed. It left me feeling a bit unfulfilled. That being said, it’s a great book and I would urge anyone 16+ to buy this book! I really enjoyed it.
Finally, as mentioned above, this book was very dark at times so please bare this in mind if you decide to read it. ❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2020
Here we have a literary creation definitely deserving of the term “novel”. Sent to me by my fellow book fanatics at Blackthorn Book Tours, I found this novel to be particularly unique. I have yet to read a similar story but it was the format in which this novel was written I found to be quite interesting.
Blurb:
How many hearts can a song touch? How many ears can it reach? How many people can it kill? When popular boy band Whoa-Town releases their latest album, no one thinks anything of it. They certainly don’t think that the world will be changed forever. After an apocalyptic disease sweeps the world, it becomes clear that the music of this seemingly innocuous boy band had something to do with it, but how? Katherine Maddox, her life irrevocably changed by a disease dubbed The Drop, sets out to find out how and why, to prevent something like The Drop from ever happening again.
The basic line of the story is about a new boyband (which I personally can’t stand boybands, No I didn’t have New Kids on the Block gear and No, I didn’t care about N’Sync or the Backstreet Boys, in fact, I had to look up that last one on Google because I couldn’t remember their name). But it’s not just about the band and the goofy kids that teenyboppers drool over. It’s about their music and what kind of impact a particular album of theirs has on the world.
As this new boyband, named “Whoa-Town” (their manager should be shot for that name, the abbreviation is WT, ya know, like white trash, bad marketing move in my opinion, but moving on…) hits legendary status as it sweeps across first the nation, then the planet, a number of weird things that cannot be explained begin to happen.
Teens everywhere are starting to become obsessed with listening to this music. Not just normal “oh my god, it’s Elvis” kind of obsessed and these kids passed Beatlemania in a matter of days. What they progress to is a kind of zombie-like addiction to the Whoa-Town music. One in which if their music or music apparatus is taken from them, loses battery or power, these teens go absolutely freaking postal. They spaz out, screaming, yelling, throwing things (even themselves) onto the floor, into walls, out windows. It’s an odd reaction to loving a band. I mean, I love Pink Floyd with an unmeasurable passion but I wouldn’t chuck something at someone for wanting to stop the music to talk to me or heave myself off of a cliff because someone took my mp3 player. Talk about needing therapy…or a straight-jacket.
As things get stranger and more dangerous, the members of Whoa-Town disappear, nobody knows where they are and there is no way to get in contact with them. Their manager, a greasy sleazeball named Rick Reaves, is sometimes available for comment, others not so much. N He is especially interested in this story. And honestly, nothing but this story. He’s a real piece of work. He knowingly sends one of his journalists out on assignment to get the skinny on what is really going on. There is something about this Whoa-Town epidemic that is making people sick, even killing them…or cause them to kill someone else.
This leads to Katherine Maddoxx. She’s on one dangerous and volatile assignment. There are threats being made, attacks on her, burglaries, witness intimidation. Katherine knows she’s onto something major. She also knows she needs protection and demands her manager get her a bodyguard of some sort. That is when we meet Freddie.
Together they travel the nation, questioning person after person, collecting information, trying to put the puzzle together and trying not to get killed in the process. With Rick invested in the fortune and glory of the story, Katherine and Freddie have more personal reasons to uncover the truth.
THE END
The unique format in which this story was written was a little confusing and took a little getting used to, but it did add a different type of frame for the pictures being painted by the author. Though the back and forth between the style of a standard novel and the style of what I would call press releases and articles can be somewhat unclear at first, it becomes an entertaining and interesting way of delivering necessary information to the reader about the facts of the story.
The timeline of the novel is also a little crazy, as it goes back and forth as well. At times this can be very vexing because there are so many flashbacks and flashforwards, but this tale would be virtually impossible to tell without them. It all adds a certain realism to a story that, in today’s technological world, doesn’t seem so far out of the realm of true reality. Another irritating thing about the text was the number of typos and grammatical errors all throughout the novel. This is particularly upsetting because it disrupts the flow for the reader and it’s something that can easily be remedied by using spell and grammar check. It’s something like this that not only takes away from the excellent material itself but also sends a message that the author was in a hurry, didn’t care or unfortunately too lazy to use a simple click of a mouse.
The great thing about this book is that there really aren’t any dull spots. Plus, you learn what the characters learn as they learn it. Just as you would if you were an investigator on a case in real life. Again, bolstering the feel of realism and truth. Also, this is the kind of horror that can really get to me because, to me, this is something that someone could actually pull off to a certain degree. The horror that could happen in real life, that’s the stuff that really creeps me out.
There are little portals into the world of politics, political views and controversies, but it seems that the author was just trying to paint an accurate picture of life and society today, which I think was actually done successfully. The author has spliced in a precise and meticulous representation of society today with the struggles of civil and political unrest.
There are certainly some parts of this book that are NOT for the faint of heart. Intricate details and imaginative vocabulary bring to light astounding images in the mind of the reader that one is usually only used to seeing on television.
Another very interesting addition to the writing format is the inclusion of Maddoxx’s journal entries. These give the reader a real emotional insight into the plague and horror that these people are currently living in and with. Although incredibly open and honest, even vulnerable at times, the entries seem a little long at certain points and more a bit like the ramblings of a stressed-out woman, which I get is the point, but still, for inclusion in a novel some are a bit lengthy in my opinion.
Overall, this book had a great story, fantastic detail and imagery and incredible suspense that takes the reader through a wild emotional rollercoaster as they flip through the pages, following Katherine and Freddie on their long and dangerous journey to the truth.
Blurb:
How many hearts can a song touch? How many ears can it reach? How many people can it kill? When popular boy band Whoa-Town releases their latest album, no one thinks anything of it. They certainly don’t think that the world will be changed forever. After an apocalyptic disease sweeps the world, it becomes clear that the music of this seemingly innocuous boy band had something to do with it, but how? Katherine Maddox, her life irrevocably changed by a disease dubbed The Drop, sets out to find out how and why, to prevent something like The Drop from ever happening again.
The basic line of the story is about a new boyband (which I personally can’t stand boybands, No I didn’t have New Kids on the Block gear and No, I didn’t care about N’Sync or the Backstreet Boys, in fact, I had to look up that last one on Google because I couldn’t remember their name). But it’s not just about the band and the goofy kids that teenyboppers drool over. It’s about their music and what kind of impact a particular album of theirs has on the world.
As this new boyband, named “Whoa-Town” (their manager should be shot for that name, the abbreviation is WT, ya know, like white trash, bad marketing move in my opinion, but moving on…) hits legendary status as it sweeps across first the nation, then the planet, a number of weird things that cannot be explained begin to happen.
Teens everywhere are starting to become obsessed with listening to this music. Not just normal “oh my god, it’s Elvis” kind of obsessed and these kids passed Beatlemania in a matter of days. What they progress to is a kind of zombie-like addiction to the Whoa-Town music. One in which if their music or music apparatus is taken from them, loses battery or power, these teens go absolutely freaking postal. They spaz out, screaming, yelling, throwing things (even themselves) onto the floor, into walls, out windows. It’s an odd reaction to loving a band. I mean, I love Pink Floyd with an unmeasurable passion but I wouldn’t chuck something at someone for wanting to stop the music to talk to me or heave myself off of a cliff because someone took my mp3 player. Talk about needing therapy…or a straight-jacket.
As things get stranger and more dangerous, the members of Whoa-Town disappear, nobody knows where they are and there is no way to get in contact with them. Their manager, a greasy sleazeball named Rick Reaves, is sometimes available for comment, others not so much. N He is especially interested in this story. And honestly, nothing but this story. He’s a real piece of work. He knowingly sends one of his journalists out on assignment to get the skinny on what is really going on. There is something about this Whoa-Town epidemic that is making people sick, even killing them…or cause them to kill someone else.
This leads to Katherine Maddoxx. She’s on one dangerous and volatile assignment. There are threats being made, attacks on her, burglaries, witness intimidation. Katherine knows she’s onto something major. She also knows she needs protection and demands her manager get her a bodyguard of some sort. That is when we meet Freddie.
Together they travel the nation, questioning person after person, collecting information, trying to put the puzzle together and trying not to get killed in the process. With Rick invested in the fortune and glory of the story, Katherine and Freddie have more personal reasons to uncover the truth.
THE END
The unique format in which this story was written was a little confusing and took a little getting used to, but it did add a different type of frame for the pictures being painted by the author. Though the back and forth between the style of a standard novel and the style of what I would call press releases and articles can be somewhat unclear at first, it becomes an entertaining and interesting way of delivering necessary information to the reader about the facts of the story.
The timeline of the novel is also a little crazy, as it goes back and forth as well. At times this can be very vexing because there are so many flashbacks and flashforwards, but this tale would be virtually impossible to tell without them. It all adds a certain realism to a story that, in today’s technological world, doesn’t seem so far out of the realm of true reality. Another irritating thing about the text was the number of typos and grammatical errors all throughout the novel. This is particularly upsetting because it disrupts the flow for the reader and it’s something that can easily be remedied by using spell and grammar check. It’s something like this that not only takes away from the excellent material itself but also sends a message that the author was in a hurry, didn’t care or unfortunately too lazy to use a simple click of a mouse.
The great thing about this book is that there really aren’t any dull spots. Plus, you learn what the characters learn as they learn it. Just as you would if you were an investigator on a case in real life. Again, bolstering the feel of realism and truth. Also, this is the kind of horror that can really get to me because, to me, this is something that someone could actually pull off to a certain degree. The horror that could happen in real life, that’s the stuff that really creeps me out.
There are little portals into the world of politics, political views and controversies, but it seems that the author was just trying to paint an accurate picture of life and society today, which I think was actually done successfully. The author has spliced in a precise and meticulous representation of society today with the struggles of civil and political unrest.
There are certainly some parts of this book that are NOT for the faint of heart. Intricate details and imaginative vocabulary bring to light astounding images in the mind of the reader that one is usually only used to seeing on television.
Another very interesting addition to the writing format is the inclusion of Maddoxx’s journal entries. These give the reader a real emotional insight into the plague and horror that these people are currently living in and with. Although incredibly open and honest, even vulnerable at times, the entries seem a little long at certain points and more a bit like the ramblings of a stressed-out woman, which I get is the point, but still, for inclusion in a novel some are a bit lengthy in my opinion.
Overall, this book had a great story, fantastic detail and imagery and incredible suspense that takes the reader through a wild emotional rollercoaster as they flip through the pages, following Katherine and Freddie on their long and dangerous journey to the truth.
September 21, 2020
This was a real breath of fresh air.
Part mystery, part horror, this is the story of a mysterious event - The Drop - that changed the world in a drastic manner. Told through articles, interviews and reports, what The Drop actually was is slowly revealed.
I loved the way the story was laid out. The writing appealed to my dark sense of humor. I found the underlying commentary on society intellectually satisfying.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Part mystery, part horror, this is the story of a mysterious event - The Drop - that changed the world in a drastic manner. Told through articles, interviews and reports, what The Drop actually was is slowly revealed.
I loved the way the story was laid out. The writing appealed to my dark sense of humor. I found the underlying commentary on society intellectually satisfying.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 27, 2021
This was a fascinating thriller with an intriguing premise, several well-drawn characters (especially the lead character, Katherine Maddox), a wry sense of humor amidst the heartache and great pacing. The basic premise is that a global psychological pandemic erupts following the release (drop) of an album by a popular boy band. The pandemic produces lethargy, followed by a trance-like state called sublimity and a final stage of suicidal behavior over a two-month period. The main character is a young journalist who is investigating the pandemic a couple of years later, seeking to figure out how and why it was triggered in order to prevent a future recurrence. The book is structured around her narrative and various television, internet, and print media accounts of events related to the pandemic, and is organized around three time-periods: pre-drop, post-drop, and during the drop although the main narrative weaves in and out of these periods.
I found this book very hard to put down--the pacing was really strong, and the emotional impact of the events kept me riveted. My only complaint (and the reason for 4 stars, which I would have made 4.5 stars if given the option) was that the book seemed slightly padded toward the last third. For example, I could easily have done without the "Scratch and Sniff" podcast piece which did nothing for me but take up space.Apart from that, this is a great book!
I found this book very hard to put down--the pacing was really strong, and the emotional impact of the events kept me riveted. My only complaint (and the reason for 4 stars, which I would have made 4.5 stars if given the option) was that the book seemed slightly padded toward the last third. For example, I could easily have done without the "Scratch and Sniff" podcast piece which did nothing for me but take up space.Apart from that, this is a great book!
September 25, 2020
This book is certainly different. A new premise I hadn't experienced in a book before. If you're old enough to remember Beatlemania or maybe a little younger when Take That and New Kids On The Block took over the world, then I think you'll enjoy this book.
I never thought I would ever read a book about a boy band apocalypse without zombies as we know and understand them, yet here I am.
When popular boy band Whoa-Town release their latest album, The Drop, the world wasn't quite ready for the effect its songs would have on the population. Their music was everywhere and you were only safe from it's effects if you'd never listened to it.
The story follows a reporter trying to get to the bottom of why 'The Drop' happened, in order to prevent it from ever happening again. It's told in the first person with segments taken from chat rooms and forums to help bring everything together along the way.
I know what you're thinking! It sounds absolutely bonkers. Yes..... It is! But in a really good way. Its incredibly engaging and cohesive, easy to follow and the characters are written in such a way that they are memorable and believable. I'd highly recommend giving this one a try.
I never thought I would ever read a book about a boy band apocalypse without zombies as we know and understand them, yet here I am.
When popular boy band Whoa-Town release their latest album, The Drop, the world wasn't quite ready for the effect its songs would have on the population. Their music was everywhere and you were only safe from it's effects if you'd never listened to it.
The story follows a reporter trying to get to the bottom of why 'The Drop' happened, in order to prevent it from ever happening again. It's told in the first person with segments taken from chat rooms and forums to help bring everything together along the way.
I know what you're thinking! It sounds absolutely bonkers. Yes..... It is! But in a really good way. Its incredibly engaging and cohesive, easy to follow and the characters are written in such a way that they are memorable and believable. I'd highly recommend giving this one a try.
June 5, 2023
Another knock out of the park for Mr. Jacy Morris
This book had me turning pages like nobody’s business. I found Mr. Morris’ work through the Rotten World Series and I enjoyed this book just as much as those. My only criticism would be that there is Katherine has a tendency to repeat herself, which was especially noticeable after the first flashback. Overall, very glad I read it!
This book had me turning pages like nobody’s business. I found Mr. Morris’ work through the Rotten World Series and I enjoyed this book just as much as those. My only criticism would be that there is Katherine has a tendency to repeat herself, which was especially noticeable after the first flashback. Overall, very glad I read it!
May 2, 2025
interesting concept of a boy band destroys the world, but i wasn’t 100% happy with the ending. kind of left confused re: the epilogue.
also, did anyone else read this via kindle unlimited and had tons of errors in the book?? for example, sebastian’s email was at the daily spectator, but the company was actually called the daily solicitor? i also saw it showed an obituary dated for 2021, but the funeral services were in 2019… it just made it for a confusing read.
also, did anyone else read this via kindle unlimited and had tons of errors in the book?? for example, sebastian’s email was at the daily spectator, but the company was actually called the daily solicitor? i also saw it showed an obituary dated for 2021, but the funeral services were in 2019… it just made it for a confusing read.
April 11, 2021
This book popped up as an ad on Facebook. I read a sample and was grabbed. The format is a bit like what Max Brooks has done. Not dirivitive. Just multiple sources jumping around, piecing the story together. I like that style of story telling. This was an engaging, heartfelt, terrifying and well constructed tale. Very well done. I would read other works by this author.
March 14, 2021
I really had a hard time getting through this book. If he had stuck with the main characters and not drifted off into for example the preacher I think I would have liked it better. Just not really up my alley.
May 17, 2021
Very good!
Excellent story, fantastic plot. Really though, enough with the politics. That really dragged the book down and interjected something into the plot that wasn't necessary. Other than that I highly recommend this book.
Excellent story, fantastic plot. Really though, enough with the politics. That really dragged the book down and interjected something into the plot that wasn't necessary. Other than that I highly recommend this book.
July 5, 2021
Absolutely brilliant book!
I decided to try another of this author’s books after reading his fantastic Rotten World series. This book does not disappoint, it has me hooked from the moment I started reading until the very last word. I thoroughly recommend you read this!
I decided to try another of this author’s books after reading his fantastic Rotten World series. This book does not disappoint, it has me hooked from the moment I started reading until the very last word. I thoroughly recommend you read this!
July 9, 2020
Could not get into it.. it was boring. Stopped in chaper 7, I just couldn't any more
Read
November 19, 2020Please see blog for [K]'s review:
https://thepturnersbookblog.wordpress...
https://thepturnersbookblog.wordpress...
July 22, 2022
Great
Very unusual take on the end of the world, well written. Looking forward to more from this author, having also read This Rotten World.
Very unusual take on the end of the world, well written. Looking forward to more from this author, having also read This Rotten World.
December 10, 2022
Took it down a star because I'm still bothered by how a trans character was written - like they are never explicitly called trans but they did transition and live life as another gender and I feel like more respect could have been put on the writing for that.
September 25, 2020
BOOK REVIEW* What happens when a boy band DESTROYS the world? If you don't think it could ever happen... read on.
🎤
HERE'S THE SUMMARY: Whoa-Town is the most popular boy band to ever exist. Their music is inescapable, and that's a problem because there's something about their last album that just sticks in your mind... and drives you crazy.
🎤
HERE'S THE REVIEW: LOL, you guys, I know this premise sounds insane but THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD. Imagine if a pandemic was caused by music, and it killed 2/3 of the population - that's this book.
🎤
The main character is a journalist that has survived The Drop and is trying to find out how it was done so it never happens again. It is reminiscent of World War Z, in that it is told in interviews, journals and other documents as the journalist gathers information.
🎤
There are actually two timelines for our heroine - before The Drop and after. Switching between the two works beautifully to hold us in suspense as Katherine experiences the end of the world and works to uncover the mechanism of our destruction.
🎤
#thedrop by #jacymorris is brutal and sad and interesting and imaginative and intriguing and fun. I tore through this story, and I think you will, too.
🎤
HERE'S THE SUMMARY: Whoa-Town is the most popular boy band to ever exist. Their music is inescapable, and that's a problem because there's something about their last album that just sticks in your mind... and drives you crazy.
🎤
HERE'S THE REVIEW: LOL, you guys, I know this premise sounds insane but THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD. Imagine if a pandemic was caused by music, and it killed 2/3 of the population - that's this book.
🎤
The main character is a journalist that has survived The Drop and is trying to find out how it was done so it never happens again. It is reminiscent of World War Z, in that it is told in interviews, journals and other documents as the journalist gathers information.
🎤
There are actually two timelines for our heroine - before The Drop and after. Switching between the two works beautifully to hold us in suspense as Katherine experiences the end of the world and works to uncover the mechanism of our destruction.
🎤
#thedrop by #jacymorris is brutal and sad and interesting and imaginative and intriguing and fun. I tore through this story, and I think you will, too.
November 9, 2020
Trigger warnings: mentions of incest, suicide, hatred of self due to sexuality, abuse of authority, use of the word N****r.
This was a really interesting story following a pandemic where people become affected by music and become very Zombie like.
This is a very descriptive story that really suckdd me in. From the beginning I had no idea what the heck was going on until quite a bit into the story.
Throughout this story I found some word choices very jarring and took me out of the story such as “pink like as Albino’s nipple” and some mentions of things that I found problematic for example a police officer which a moustache was seen as a pervert although nothing he did was perverted in any way, use of the word N****r and some other things. Although I do kind of understand where the author was coming from with some of these scenes and descriptions etc I do feel like they could have been edited out because. I do believe these comments could be harmful to people who read this story. So please be aware.
Although there is some problems with this novel I did have a fun time reading this and really got sucked in.
Our main character is very pessimistic but also on a mission to figure out why The Drop happened and what she can do to make sure this never happens again. She has been through a lot throughout this story and I did enjoy following her this whole time from reading her diary entries to following her investigation.
This was a really interesting story following a pandemic where people become affected by music and become very Zombie like.
This is a very descriptive story that really suckdd me in. From the beginning I had no idea what the heck was going on until quite a bit into the story.
Throughout this story I found some word choices very jarring and took me out of the story such as “pink like as Albino’s nipple” and some mentions of things that I found problematic for example a police officer which a moustache was seen as a pervert although nothing he did was perverted in any way, use of the word N****r and some other things. Although I do kind of understand where the author was coming from with some of these scenes and descriptions etc I do feel like they could have been edited out because. I do believe these comments could be harmful to people who read this story. So please be aware.
Although there is some problems with this novel I did have a fun time reading this and really got sucked in.
Our main character is very pessimistic but also on a mission to figure out why The Drop happened and what she can do to make sure this never happens again. She has been through a lot throughout this story and I did enjoy following her this whole time from reading her diary entries to following her investigation.
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