erinarkin20's review
2.0
I didn't love this one - it had an interesting premise but didn't really follow through for me for a few reasons.
First, the characters. No one really grabbed me - Chris/Chase was all over the place. Strong one minute, caving under a painkiller addiction the next. It just didn't come together for me. Peyton was a bit annoying. Again, I wasn't fully invested in her.
Second, the flow of the story. I wish the chapters hadn't flipped back and forth. Although I wanted to know the background information from 4 years prior, it could have been done where I wasn't pulled back into that part of the story every other chapter. I found myself skimming those sections to find the important stuff and trying to get back to what was going on today.
Again, I thought the combination of the dystopian and zombies would be a winner but I didn't love it. I also thought the mix of technology and upgrades done on the characters would make it more interesting but that didn't really go anywhere. Yes, Peyton could kick some ass but she only really had 2 major fights and they were pretty brief.
Overall - just ok for me and with the volume of other dystopian and zombie books out there, not sure it would hold up in comparison.
First, the characters. No one really grabbed me - Chris/Chase was all over the place. Strong one minute, caving under a painkiller addiction the next. It just didn't come together for me. Peyton was a bit annoying. Again, I wasn't fully invested in her.
Second, the flow of the story. I wish the chapters hadn't flipped back and forth. Although I wanted to know the background information from 4 years prior, it could have been done where I wasn't pulled back into that part of the story every other chapter. I found myself skimming those sections to find the important stuff and trying to get back to what was going on today.
Again, I thought the combination of the dystopian and zombies would be a winner but I didn't love it. I also thought the mix of technology and upgrades done on the characters would make it more interesting but that didn't really go anywhere. Yes, Peyton could kick some ass but she only really had 2 major fights and they were pretty brief.
Overall - just ok for me and with the volume of other dystopian and zombie books out there, not sure it would hold up in comparison.
danicapage's review
3.0
This is a condensed version of my review. The extended version can be found here.
Disclaimers: I received an e-galley of this book from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I'd like to thank both the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to read this book.
My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I went into this novel with no expectations. The cover looked intriguing and so I figured I'd might as well read it. But really that was as much as I knew about this one.
I loved the idea of the story and the parallels to 1984. I haven't read 1984 yet, but I feel like those who have would really enjoy the parallels to that book. I've always loved the whole "Persuasion" plot line and this one fit the bill. That was what really cinched my decision to read this one.
I loved the characters Chase and Peyton and thought they were well-developed. I actually liked that the story switched back and forth between the present and the past. However, it resulted in some minor confusion at first. I also loved that we got both perspectives.
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. So why three stars?
I felt like the plot was slightly rushed in certain parts where I would have wanted a lot more detail and then I felt like the ending was way too rushed. I wanted the author to slow down and explain what happened and instead I felt like I just got a quick recap. I feel like it would have worth taking a good forty to fifty more pages to flesh that part of the plot out.
However, I really enjoyed this novel and it kept me interested and entertained.
Disclaimers: I received an e-galley of this book from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I'd like to thank both the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to read this book.
My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: I went into this novel with no expectations. The cover looked intriguing and so I figured I'd might as well read it. But really that was as much as I knew about this one.
I loved the idea of the story and the parallels to 1984. I haven't read 1984 yet, but I feel like those who have would really enjoy the parallels to that book. I've always loved the whole "Persuasion" plot line and this one fit the bill. That was what really cinched my decision to read this one.
I loved the characters Chase and Peyton and thought they were well-developed. I actually liked that the story switched back and forth between the present and the past. However, it resulted in some minor confusion at first. I also loved that we got both perspectives.
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. So why three stars?
I felt like the plot was slightly rushed in certain parts where I would have wanted a lot more detail and then I felt like the ending was way too rushed. I wanted the author to slow down and explain what happened and instead I felt like I just got a quick recap. I feel like it would have worth taking a good forty to fifty more pages to flesh that part of the plot out.
However, I really enjoyed this novel and it kept me interested and entertained.
lisaluvsliterature's review
4.0
First I want to thank Netgalley for letting me read the egalley of this book. This is the first book I've read by this author, although I know of her from seeing her books at the bookstore where I work. So the premise sounded good, and I'm glad I requested it, and now I will be looking to read more of the author's books.
First I want to say there are some spoilers in this review, so read on at your own risk. First I have to say the cover of this is something that might turn me away. The story sounds good, and knowing the story now that I've read it the picture works, but before it was a little too sci-fi for me. And I do like science fiction. But this is a dystopian, apocalyptic, zombie book all in one. With even a touch of the X-men. The book starts out in the past, but you don't necessarily know that. We meet Peyton, and learn about the nerdy guy who has a crush on her, Chris. But Peyton is friends with one of the most popular girls, and is dating a popular guy, so isn't interested in Chris. Her friend, while popular, does seem to be a nice person though, not a mean girl. Her boyfriend, is pretty much a jerk though. In this dystopia, due to AIDS becoming a huge problem, they have created a vaccine, and you must get a certificate saying you've had your vaccine before you're allowed to have sex. Peyton's father is something of a pariah/freak in the town. He is basically a conspiracy theorist, even went to jail for something like that. Now he's preparing for the end of the world that he says is coming soon. A good start to the book, got me hooked.
Then, the next chapter, all of a sudden we're 4 years in the future, the apocalypse has occurred and Peyton is getting ready to come out of the safe shelter her father created for her and her mother. And as I read that, I was like, WHOA!!! I want to know what happened that led up to that point! But I was not to be disappointed, it turned out that the author changed back and forth between each chapter so that we got the whole story up to the time when Peyton came out into the new world as we learned what Peyton had to go through to get to her father. Her father implanted her with razor claws, kind of Wolverine like. And she got eye implants that helped her to see things, had GPS, could see the heat signatures, which helped her to find zombies. She also had nanobots in her bloodstream that made her stronger. So basically she became a fighting machine. She is so happy to find Chris still alive, or as he now is called, Chase. Chase is happy, but still a little upset with her. See, Peyton never showed up on the day he and his brother, and a band of other students from school, decided to go to the mountains to try to live it out.
Peyton has to get to Disneyworld. The one thing her father told her before she went down in the shelter was that he and some other scientists were meeting there to start a new society. That it was a safe place they could have everything they needed there. Plus, Peyton's implants will begin to go downhill after 4 years, and she'll need her dad to fix them.
I loved the back and forth by chapter. It worked really well for this story. YOu only learned what you needed to answer questions in the chapter before. I liked that, spoiler alert, this is a stand alone story, there is a solution to the problem, and it can be fixed. I won't tell you how, I'll let you read that yourself.
My only complaint, I'm not sure I like the way Peyton and Chase kept having to hide their feelings from each other for the good of the other one. Then they'd share and get past that, but then something else would come up and they'd vow not to get close again. It happened several times in the book, and it just seems to me that two people would agree to not keep doing that. I know they're still kind of young, like 19, but still. When they read their destination there is a surpise I didn't see coming, and I like that I was able to be surprised and not figure it all out. One other tiny thing that bothered me. Chase/Chris name change. There were times Peyton called him both names. I think either stick with the old or the new.
Great characters, I liked the kids, reminded me a bit of [b:Monument 14|12753231|Monument 14|Emmy Laybourne|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1332165061s/12753231.jpg|17894351] in that way. I liked the living in Walmart too. I think if zombies come, I'm going to go live in a nearby Target. :-)
First I want to say there are some spoilers in this review, so read on at your own risk. First I have to say the cover of this is something that might turn me away. The story sounds good, and knowing the story now that I've read it the picture works, but before it was a little too sci-fi for me. And I do like science fiction. But this is a dystopian, apocalyptic, zombie book all in one. With even a touch of the X-men. The book starts out in the past, but you don't necessarily know that. We meet Peyton, and learn about the nerdy guy who has a crush on her, Chris. But Peyton is friends with one of the most popular girls, and is dating a popular guy, so isn't interested in Chris. Her friend, while popular, does seem to be a nice person though, not a mean girl. Her boyfriend, is pretty much a jerk though. In this dystopia, due to AIDS becoming a huge problem, they have created a vaccine, and you must get a certificate saying you've had your vaccine before you're allowed to have sex. Peyton's father is something of a pariah/freak in the town. He is basically a conspiracy theorist, even went to jail for something like that. Now he's preparing for the end of the world that he says is coming soon. A good start to the book, got me hooked.
Then, the next chapter, all of a sudden we're 4 years in the future, the apocalypse has occurred and Peyton is getting ready to come out of the safe shelter her father created for her and her mother. And as I read that, I was like, WHOA!!! I want to know what happened that led up to that point! But I was not to be disappointed, it turned out that the author changed back and forth between each chapter so that we got the whole story up to the time when Peyton came out into the new world as we learned what Peyton had to go through to get to her father. Her father implanted her with razor claws, kind of Wolverine like. And she got eye implants that helped her to see things, had GPS, could see the heat signatures, which helped her to find zombies. She also had nanobots in her bloodstream that made her stronger. So basically she became a fighting machine. She is so happy to find Chris still alive, or as he now is called, Chase. Chase is happy, but still a little upset with her. See, Peyton never showed up on the day he and his brother, and a band of other students from school, decided to go to the mountains to try to live it out.
Peyton has to get to Disneyworld. The one thing her father told her before she went down in the shelter was that he and some other scientists were meeting there to start a new society. That it was a safe place they could have everything they needed there. Plus, Peyton's implants will begin to go downhill after 4 years, and she'll need her dad to fix them.
I loved the back and forth by chapter. It worked really well for this story. YOu only learned what you needed to answer questions in the chapter before. I liked that, spoiler alert, this is a stand alone story, there is a solution to the problem, and it can be fixed. I won't tell you how, I'll let you read that yourself.
My only complaint, I'm not sure I like the way Peyton and Chase kept having to hide their feelings from each other for the good of the other one. Then they'd share and get past that, but then something else would come up and they'd vow not to get close again. It happened several times in the book, and it just seems to me that two people would agree to not keep doing that. I know they're still kind of young, like 19, but still. When they read their destination there is a surpise I didn't see coming, and I like that I was able to be surprised and not figure it all out. One other tiny thing that bothered me. Chase/Chris name change. There were times Peyton called him both names. I think either stick with the old or the new.
Great characters, I liked the kids, reminded me a bit of [b:Monument 14|12753231|Monument 14|Emmy Laybourne|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1332165061s/12753231.jpg|17894351] in that way. I liked the living in Walmart too. I think if zombies come, I'm going to go live in a nearby Target. :-)
lovelylunahime's review
5.0
I Saw a lot of reviews on this , a lot negative. I on the other hand liked it. Its not my usual read. but I really enjoyed this book. I also think it would make a good movie. instead of Hollywood remaking remakes they need to take books like this and make them into movies. I couldn't put the book down. I did end up reading it in one day. I would recommend this book to friends or anyone that likes to read zombie like books with romance in it.
kriff08's review
5.0
So I've always enjoyed Mari Mancusi's books and I was thrilled to find this one after not seeing anything from her in a while. The wait was sooooo worth it!
This story is set in the future of 2030 and 2043, covering the beginnings of the zombie outbreak and the world after from the point of view of Chase and Payton. Its zombie outbreak with robots meets all the amazing ya books you've ever read! That being said it is not World War Z or the Walking Dead so don't go into it hoping for that. It was less about zombie attacks and more about finding love lost and making the best of it.
I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a ya with monsters and a little romance. It was reminiscent of her Girls that Growl and Rachel Caine's Glass Houses. Great book can't wait for the next! Also extremely pleased it's a stand alone in a series it worked perfectly for this! Soooo good!
This story is set in the future of 2030 and 2043, covering the beginnings of the zombie outbreak and the world after from the point of view of Chase and Payton. Its zombie outbreak with robots meets all the amazing ya books you've ever read! That being said it is not World War Z or the Walking Dead so don't go into it hoping for that. It was less about zombie attacks and more about finding love lost and making the best of it.
I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a ya with monsters and a little romance. It was reminiscent of her Girls that Growl and Rachel Caine's Glass Houses. Great book can't wait for the next! Also extremely pleased it's a stand alone in a series it worked perfectly for this! Soooo good!
maxines_obsessions's review
3.0
I liked it, I was entertained, but it wasn't a great book.
There were quite a few typos. Chris's name became Chase, but the names were mixed up from paragraph to paragraph.
It felt rushed and all a little to convenient.
There were quite a few typos. Chris's name became Chase, but the names were mixed up from paragraph to paragraph.
It felt rushed and all a little to convenient.
ladygeekface's review
4.0
Though this book is supposed to begin a series, I feel like it's complete by its self. I read the second one some time ago and I don't remember it being similar to this. The love story read a little false to me, but they are young, so I'll forgive it. The book was very good overall.
yche09's review
3.0
This could've been a really good zombie/dystopian novel.. if only everything didn't happen so annoyingly fast.
I guess it's safe to say that I liked Tomorrow Land for the first maybe 3-4 chapters. I really really wanted to like it.. But then, it all happened so fast that lots of scenes and lines fell flat.
Spoiler
The plot was really good. Zombies and robotics (nanos), I was so interested in this. At first, the interaction between the two main characters is so cute that i was set to liking this. But then, things started happening so fast. One minute, there are zombies and then they're gone and then oh, Chase is addicted! And then he's not addicted anymore but he goes off and gets bitten and so began the i'll-ignore-you-for-your-own-good-because-i-think-i'm-gonna-be-a-zombie-too tactic. Then they find the hive (yes, like in Resident Evil), but they still have to go to Disney World!! ugh. Anywayyy.. it all went downhill for me from thereon. The moment Peyton met her dad, ugh! i just felt very disappointed because it was so very anticlimactic! The ending may have had a good closure, but i still felt like the novel just passed me by..I guess it's safe to say that I liked Tomorrow Land for the first maybe 3-4 chapters. I really really wanted to like it.. But then, it all happened so fast that lots of scenes and lines fell flat.
stinkerbellen's review
3.0
It was ok. A bit rushed toward the end. The biggest issue I had though, was the word fleck..................... I CRINGE at the thought of the word. I seriously wanted to take a pen and cross the word out. It's a book, swearing won't kill you---- no need to be so prudish. Meh.