thenorabird11's review against another edition
4.0
Good! Gross! Scary! I would describe it as a post apocalyptic horror survival novel with interesting characters. If you are afraid of zombies don't read this book.
mimosaeyes's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty good. The characters were well-developed and suited the plot well. Carey's writing is snappy and easy to read, while enriched by his allusions to mythology and philosophical concepts. Rather like reading a comic book, honestly, especially with the scenes involving gore or body horror.
I can't believe it took Caldwell the whole book to figure out why kids like Melanie are affected differently by the Cordyceps. I guessed the reason, correctly, within the first couple of chapters. Which made the climactic revelation not so climactic, and the ending quite predictable.
Still, decent.
I can't believe it took Caldwell the whole book to figure out why kids like Melanie are affected differently by the Cordyceps. I guessed the reason, correctly, within the first couple of chapters. Which made the climactic revelation not so climactic, and the ending quite predictable.
Still, decent.
brendanford's review against another edition
4.0
"The air is heavy with scents. Melanie knows that some of them are the scents of the flowers, but even the air seems to have a smell—earthy and rich and complicated, made out of things living and things dying and things long dead. The smell of a world where nothing stops moving, nothing stays the same. Suddenly she's an ant all scrunched up on the floor of that world. A static atom in a sea of change. The immensity of earth envelops her, and enters into her. She sips it, with each gulp of heady, supercharged atmosphere. And even in this dazed, strung-out state, even with those memories of meat and monstrous violence lying thwart across her mind, she really, really likes it."
First of all, MR Carey is an excellent writer, and a master of voice. The imagery he paints and emotion he invokes throughout the story is nothing short of breathtaking. He maintains the authenticity and uniqueness of each character's voice flawlessly as he switches perspectives. You feel compassion and connection with some characters, and are equally appalled by others.
I didn't know what I was getting into with this one. I really had almost no idea what it was about going in, which is rare; usually I have some semblance. And so I was pleasantly surprised—when I realized what genre I was actually reading—that it was a totally fresh and even literary take on a genre that has been beaten dead in recent years.
Harrowing and heartbreaking. 28 Days Later meets Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. Part post-apocalyptic road trip, part flat-out horror, part dystopian fiction, part coming of age tale. Most of all though it's a love story. And I couldn't put it down.
My only issue is with the ending. It just sort of ends, rather lazily—a haphazard attempt at tidying things up. Didn't work for me.
4/5 stars.
First of all, MR Carey is an excellent writer, and a master of voice. The imagery he paints and emotion he invokes throughout the story is nothing short of breathtaking. He maintains the authenticity and uniqueness of each character's voice flawlessly as he switches perspectives. You feel compassion and connection with some characters, and are equally appalled by others.
I didn't know what I was getting into with this one. I really had almost no idea what it was about going in, which is rare; usually I have some semblance. And so I was pleasantly surprised—when I realized what genre I was actually reading—that it was a totally fresh and even literary take on a genre that has been beaten dead in recent years.
Harrowing and heartbreaking. 28 Days Later meets Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. Part post-apocalyptic road trip, part flat-out horror, part dystopian fiction, part coming of age tale. Most of all though it's a love story. And I couldn't put it down.
My only issue is with the ending. It just sort of ends, rather lazily—a haphazard attempt at tidying things up. Didn't work for me.
4/5 stars.
lisalark's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this one, good pacing, good characters. The second person narration got distracting at times. It would translate well to a movie, I think. I wasn't surprised to see the author also writes for traditional comic franchises - he writes action very well. Emotion less well, but since this a post-apocalyptic sort of action book, that's fine. I didn't find the plot particularly surprising or clever, predictable maybe, but it reads fast enough that was ok with me.
Good read if you like zombies and apocalypses.
Good read if you like zombies and apocalypses.
phantasmaboo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Girl With All the Gifts tells the story of Melanie, a young girl who is kept in a military prison base. She's not told why she is there, but every day, she and other children go to "school" where they learn about the outside world. This story is about humanity, what remains of it when society falls, and the hope that comes after.
I really, really liked this book. My breakdown for the book is:
The Characters
Each character was amazing, even the ones that you weren't particularly meant to like. It was easy to see where each person was coming from, even if you ultimately disagree with the character's actions. As I read, I kept thinking, "what would I do in this situation", and to be honest, it was never clear. Are the children who are infected fully human? Do humans have a right to defend themselves from them? Should the world return to what it was before? These are some of the questions I grappled with as the characters themselves grappled with them.
Another bright point in the character development was how well each of the characters were flushed out. As mentioned, it was easy to see their motivations, but these characters also felt very "lived in". The different perspectives from the women, men, and one child were distinct and reflected their life experiences, or lack thereof. The child-like way that Melanie views the world contrasts very well with the adults and each change allows you to experience a different facet of the world.
The Plot
I was a bit worried that this book would be a little too close to The Last of Us for my liking. The fungus is the same and some of the mechanics of the infection seem to function similarly. That being said, the plot was fantastic still, even with its shared elements. While I did find it to be a bit slow toward the middle, the character development that happens there kept me hooked and coming back for more.
The Setting
There are multiple settings throughout the book, but all of them take place in a dystopian, militaristic society that has broken into factions. Again, the setting described feels rugged and lived-in, much like the characters. I felt like each one was described enough for me to get a good picture of what this world was like.
Overall
The only thing that kept me from giving this book a five was that I wish there was more consistency and development in the enemies that they faced. Both groups were overall faceless, and I feel like the book could have been improved by focusing on one of these factions and building up their lore. Without this, the book feels a bit more empty.
I really, really liked this book. My breakdown for the book is:
The Characters
Each character was amazing, even the ones that you weren't particularly meant to like. It was easy to see where each person was coming from, even if you ultimately disagree with the character's actions. As I read, I kept thinking, "what would I do in this situation", and to be honest, it was never clear. Are the children who are infected fully human? Do humans have a right to defend themselves from them? Should the world return to what it was before? These are some of the questions I grappled with as the characters themselves grappled with them.
Another bright point in the character development was how well each of the characters were flushed out. As mentioned, it was easy to see their motivations, but these characters also felt very "lived in". The different perspectives from the women, men, and one child were distinct and reflected their life experiences, or lack thereof. The child-like way that Melanie views the world contrasts very well with the adults and each change allows you to experience a different facet of the world.
The Plot
I was a bit worried that this book would be a little too close to The Last of Us for my liking. The fungus is the same and some of the mechanics of the infection seem to function similarly. That being said, the plot was fantastic still, even with its shared elements. While I did find it to be a bit slow toward the middle, the character development that happens there kept me hooked and coming back for more.
The Setting
There are multiple settings throughout the book, but all of them take place in a dystopian, militaristic society that has broken into factions. Again, the setting described feels rugged and lived-in, much like the characters. I felt like each one was described enough for me to get a good picture of what this world was like.
Overall
The only thing that kept me from giving this book a five was that I wish there was more consistency and development in the enemies that they faced. Both groups were overall faceless, and I feel like the book could have been improved by focusing on one of these factions and building up their lore. Without this, the book feels a bit more empty.
bozicina's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
lindacbugg's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this but reading down the reviews I wish people hadn't given away the twist. Kinda ruined it for everyone. It's not really clear right from the start and it's fun to be able to figure things out on your own. For shame people!!
ewise's review against another edition
4.0
Very good book! I was told not to read the back and just trust that it was good and I was not lead astray. It's definitely not typical of the genre especially with the ending