Review: Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

Title: Rot & Ruin

Author: Jonathan Maberry site

Format: Hardcover, 458

Published: 10/05/2010

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Source: Library

“In the zombie-infested world Benny has grown up in, teenagers must work once they turn fifteen- or they’ll lose their food rations. Benny isn’t interested in taking on the family business, but he reluctantly agrees to train as a zombie killer with his boring big brother, Tom. He expects a dull job, whacking zombies for cash. What he discovers is a vocation that will teach him what it really means to be human.

As his world view is challenged again and again by the lessons he learns from Tom, Benny is forced to confront another horrifying reality: Sometimes the most terrifying monsters are human.”

-Synopsis from cover

In Rot & Ruin, zombies are very slow rotting dead that eat flesh and are easily avoidable. Bringing a pitying view to them as opposed to viewing them as flesh hungry monsters, something I’ve never seen before.

At first, I found Benny (protagonist) to be whinny, lazy, rude, and self-centered. Thankfully though as the book goes on, little Benny grows up some and eventually becomes likeable. I think my favorite character was Tom. He’s compassionate, loving, and completely badass. Obviously he’s the best bounty hunter (zombie killer) around. And Charlie Pink-eye and The Hammer were perfectly cast villains. There are plenty of people you love to hate in this book.

Above all else, Rot & Ruin is the first book in a very long time that moved me to tears. There are moments in this book that really tug on your heart strings. Even the driest of eyes will tear up at the end.

The only “hole” I found was the EMP that wiped out the electronics. I don’t remember an explanation for why there was an EMP after “First Night”. If I missed it, please let me know.

I was blown away by how much I loved this book.  I knew that Rot & Ruin was about zombies, and that most book blogs had reviewed it. I figured I’d at least like it (my somewhat anti-romance point of view is very hard to please these days), but never dreamed I’d fall in love with it. The sequel, Dust & Decay, is definitely on my “to read” list. Five stars.

As always. I'd love to hear what you thought of the book. Please comment.

Review: Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

Title: Ashes
Author: Ilsa J. Bick site
Release Date: 9/06/2011
Format: ARC
Publisher: Egmont USA
Source: Won in raffle


"It could happen tomorrow...

A cataclysmic event. An army of "The Changed."

Can one teen really survive on her own?

An electromagnetic pulse sweeps through the sky, destroying every electronic device and killing billions. For those spared, it's a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human...

Desperate to find out what happened and to avoid the Changed, Alex meets up with Tom---a young army veteran---and Ellie, a young girl whose grandfather was killed by the electromagnetic pulse.

This improvised family will have to use every ounce of courage they have just to survive."

Synopsis by goodreads.com

Ashes had me hook, line, and sinker after the first chapter. This book is completely action packed. It’s a fast paced, page turner that will have you up until 2 in the morning. There’s never a dull moment. Not to mention this book is scary as all hell; as the back cover entails, it really could happen tomorrow. You’ve got a girl, secluded in the woods, and out of nowhere birds start falling from the sky, people dropping dead, and if that weren’t enough you have to worry about fast, smart, flesh hungry, zombies. The descriptions in this book are great, completely sucked me into Alex’s world. Ashes as ambiguous a read as the main characters name, perfect for action seeking male audiences as well. And the cliff hanger ending will leave you begging for more.

**SPOILER ALERT** The only problem I had with this book is the darn love triangle. I mean come on; do we really need another one of those in YA fiction today? But mostly that’s just me. I’m a bit of a hater of the ever cliché, love triangle. I’m sick and tired of them!

But that point aside, I think that Ashes may be the YA book to read this year. “The Hunger Games” may finally have a rival.  Yep, it’s that good. 

Recommendations

If you liked Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick, you might also enjoy…

• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• Gone by Michael Grant
• Life as We Knew it by Susan Beth Pfeffer
• Blood Red Road by Moira Young
• Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan