A Frenzied Fight for the Future in a Dying World (4/5 Stars)
Okay, Orphans die-hards. If you've made it to Flight (The Orphans #7), you're not just reading a zombie series anymore—you're fully invested in the survival saga of Shaun, Ellie, and what's left of their fractured family. This installment earns its title: it's a breathless, desperate scramble across a hostile landscape where every sanctuary is temporary and every alliance is fragile. Picking up after the devastating schisms of Divided, this book trades the introspection of internal conflict for the raw adrenaline of external threats closing in from all sides. It's a gripping, action-packed ride that proves Mike Evans still has plenty of terrifying twists left in the tank for this bleak world.
Key Themes
The Exhaustion of Hope: After six books of relentless loss, "hope" isn't a motivator; it's a liability that gets people killed. Flight explores the sheer mental and physical fatigue of surviving in a world that actively wants you dead. The characters aren't fighting for a better tomorrow; they're fighting to see sunset, making their perseverance feel more desperate and grounded than ever.
Mobility as the New Survival: Static bases have failed. Safety is now found in movement. The theme of constant flight—from the Turned, from hostile human factions, and from their own past mistakes—creates a relentless pace and a palpable sense of being hunted. It forces the group to make snap judgments with permanent consequences.
The Weight of Leadership in a Splintered Group: Shaun's leadership is tested not by unanimous support, but by managing a group of traumatized, strong-willed individuals who may disagree on every decision. The book delves into the near-impossible task of maintaining unity and morale when the only consensus is that stopping means dying.
Character Analysis
By Book 7, evolution is measured in scars, both physical and mental.
Shaun has hardened into a strategic, if weary, commander. The optimistic teen is long gone, replaced by a pragmatist who calculates risks in terms of ammunition and lives. His relationship with Ellie remains the emotional core, but it's strained by the constant pressure, with debates over tactics often masking deeper fears for each other's safety.
The supporting cast gets crucial moments to shine, especially those who chose a side in the "civil war." Old faces resurface, forcing confrontations that are less about right vs. wrong and more about the brutal realities of conflicting survival instincts. New threats, both human and Turned, are smarter and more organized, raising the stakes exponentially.
Writing Style & Pacing
Evans's prose remains lean, gritty, and propulsive. He doesn't waste words on lavish descriptions of the ruined world; the focus is on immediate sensory details—the smell of decay, the sound of a horde, the taste of fear. The tone is unflinchingly tense, with brief moments of dark humor or tenderness serving as vital relief before the next crisis hits.
The pacing is, appropriately, a frantic sprint. The narrative structure mirrors the title: a cycle of finding temporary shelter, encountering a catastrophic threat, and executing a desperate escape. Some readers might find this "rinse-and-repeat" rhythm formulaic, but Evans excels at varying the threats and ensuring each flight has brutal, lasting consequences for the characters, preventing it from feeling like filler.
What I Liked/Disliked
Liked:
Relentless Momentum: The non-stop action captures the exhausting reality of their situation perfectly. It's a genuinely stressful, page-turning read.
Consequences That Matter: Decisions from several books ago continue to ripple outward, giving the series a satisfying sense of continuity and weight.
Elevated Antagonists: The threats feel smarter and more adaptive, ensuring the conflict stays fresh and dangerous.
Disliked:
Formulaic Structure: The cycle of run-fight-hide can feel repetitive, with fewer of the deep, group-centric character scenes that defined earlier books.
Emotional Fatigue: The constant high-stakes peril can, at times, make it hard to fully process individual character moments before the next disaster strikes.
A Niche Entry: This book does almost nothing to welcome new readers; it's deep-series territory.
Conclusion & Recommendation
Final Verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. Flight is a strong, action-focused entry that successfully raises the stakes and propels the overarching narrative forward. It's a white-knuckle read that delivers exactly what committed fans want at this point in the saga.
You must read this book if: You are fully caught up on The Orphans series. This is a vital, non-negotiable chapter that advances the plot significantly. It's perfect for fans who want to see the consequences of past choices play out in a high-octane survival thriller.
Do not start the series here. You will be utterly lost. Begin with Book 1, Origins.
Content Note: As expected, contains graphic zombie violence, intense survival situations, strong language, and psychological stress.
For the devoted Orphans fan, Flight is a compelling, pulse-pounding installment that feels like the calm before an even bigger storm. It reaffirms that in Mike Evans's apocalypse, there's no such thing as a safe place—only places you haven't died yet. Clear your TBR for this one, because you'll read it in a single, anxious sitting.