justiceofkalr's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, so before I start complaining I'll start out by saying that this was a good book and a decent ending to the trilogy. But...
It just didn't have the same emotional involvement for me that the previous two books did. In the first book I totally fell in love with the main characters and was crushed when died. Especially since the whole book had been up to that point. In the second book I felt Shaun's pain and bitterness at his loss and his discoveries along the way, especially when he found out that . In this book though I didn't have that same involvement. The most I really managed was some minor annoyance at the CDC being such slimy bastards.
Also, maybe it's just been a while since I read the first book or maybe it's just because she's a, but Georgia seemed like a way different person, not the supposed 97% match. And her narration and Shaun's narration sounded extremely similar. Especially after they joined up I found I had to pay close attention to who was actually narrating. I remember them being a bit more distinct, but possibly that's because they both essentially narrated only in separate books and not so side by side before.
And then there's Becks, who I felt kind of got shafted in this book. I liked her in the second book, where she took over as more of a main character. In this book she pretty much get sidelined again, and once George comes back she mostly came off as bitchy and sullen. Not that she didn't have a right to be, but by the time she I was no longer so attached to her and it lost its potential emotional impact on me.
But, nit-picking aside this was a good end to a fantastic trilogy. (Even if it was a bit full of sunshine and rainbows for the end of the world.) I was fairly satisfied with the resolution to the whole plot revolving around the virus and the CDC, and all the characters got a decent resolution. Which is rare for me, I'm a bit of a curmudgeon when it comes to endings. This trilogy ties with Max Brooks' World War Z for my favorite zombie story.
It just didn't have the same emotional involvement for me that the previous two books did. In the first book I totally fell in love with the main characters and was crushed when
Spoiler
GeorgiaSpoiler
narrated by her in first personSpoiler
Georgia would have gotten betterAlso, maybe it's just been a while since I read the first book or maybe it's just because she's a
Spoiler
cloneAnd then there's Becks, who I felt kind of got shafted in this book. I liked her in the second book, where she took over as more of a main character. In this book she pretty much get sidelined again, and once George comes back she mostly came off as bitchy and sullen. Not that she didn't have a right to be, but by the time she
Spoiler
blew herself up to save everyone else and upload the dataBut, nit-picking aside this was a good end to a fantastic trilogy. (Even if it was a bit full of sunshine and rainbows for the end of the world.) I was fairly satisfied with the resolution to the whole plot revolving around the virus and the CDC, and all the characters got a decent resolution. Which is rare for me, I'm a bit of a curmudgeon when it comes to endings. This trilogy ties with Max Brooks' World War Z for my favorite zombie story.
kindlereads's review against another edition
4.0
Black out was a very action packet book with political twists that for the most part I did not see coming. There was a lot of interesting elements and plot. Some was over used some was icky. Honestly I just couldn't get over the incest plotline, I don't know why I couldn't separate my distaste for it, but I couldn't. Over all plot was very strong and entertainment value rather high. But I wouldn't recommend it without a disclaimer, I wish I would have had one, I might have been able to get over the ick factor.
hilse's review against another edition
2.0
Spoiler
The cloning felt cheap. Really, really cheap. I feel like the author really missed out on an opportunity to explore how grief works and pulled out cloning as a desperate last attempt.Which is a shame, because I really enjoyed Feed and (to a lesser extent) Deadline.
I really wish more books were one-offs.
paradoxically's review against another edition
5.0
I love this series. This crazy, crazy series that just threw things at you and kept throwing them at you and then made you want to cry. This was griping the edge of your seat while still wanting to scream in frustration. This was not knowing how the hell everything was going to end up, but enjoying the ride anyway. This was the search for that elusive truth, only to get knocked on your butt a few dozen times.
It was wonderful. And it's so hard to do a review when saying just about anything will flat out spoil the previous two books in a large way. Let's just say this. It's kind of one giant chase from one part of the United States to another. There's also a deeper look into the CDC and what they do there that's more static, but the tension is off the walls. There's also alternating POVs, but it fits and it flows smoothly. I usually get irritated by shifting POVs, but I was just fine with how the book unfolded.
It really is a roller coaster ride though. You have this wonderful cast of characters who get strapped onto the rocket to crazy town, and they do their best to see it through. Reluctantly, maybe, or just crazy, like Shaun, but each one was their own character. You meet a bunch of new characters (a good portion of them pretty nuts) and a bunch of old characters, but I never found myself getting lost between any of them, which is important when you keep introducing people.
The plot was twisty. It turned around and stuck its tongue out in my face a couple of times, and I could never quite pin down exactly how everything would end up. It was great. Basically a rush from start to finish. However, the first half of the book is like this giant ball of frustrating due to SPOILER reasons. It's exciting and so many things happen, but at the same time you want it to speed up and get to that one point you knew for a fact was going to happen.
I wouldn't say the trilogy is perfect, even if I gave every book 5 stars, but anything that bothered me was mostly little things that I just did not care enough about to let it ruin the books for me--if that makes sense.
But I loved these books. They were so engaging and even when it broke my heart it somehow kept me moving forward anyway. 5 stars.
It was wonderful. And it's so hard to do a review when saying just about anything will flat out spoil the previous two books in a large way. Let's just say this. It's kind of one giant chase from one part of the United States to another. There's also a deeper look into the CDC and what they do there that's more static, but the tension is off the walls. There's also alternating POVs, but it fits and it flows smoothly. I usually get irritated by shifting POVs, but I was just fine with how the book unfolded.
It really is a roller coaster ride though. You have this wonderful cast of characters who get strapped onto the rocket to crazy town, and they do their best to see it through. Reluctantly, maybe, or just crazy, like Shaun, but each one was their own character. You meet a bunch of new characters (a good portion of them pretty nuts) and a bunch of old characters, but I never found myself getting lost between any of them, which is important when you keep introducing people.
The plot was twisty. It turned around and stuck its tongue out in my face a couple of times, and I could never quite pin down exactly how everything would end up. It was great. Basically a rush from start to finish. However, the first half of the book is like this giant ball of frustrating due to SPOILER reasons. It's exciting and so many things happen, but at the same time you want it to speed up and get to that one point you knew for a fact was going to happen.
I wouldn't say the trilogy is perfect, even if I gave every book 5 stars, but anything that bothered me was mostly little things that I just did not care enough about to let it ruin the books for me--if that makes sense.
Spoiler
For example the entire thing with Monkey and Cat and Fox. Ignoring the fact that the names are hilarious (even for names chosen for them/by them), the way Cat sort of slinks off in the distance was a bit eyebrow raising. She was a very convenient plot device, is basically all I have to say about her.But I loved these books. They were so engaging and even when it broke my heart it somehow kept me moving forward anyway. 5 stars.
bean1104's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
theatomicpirategirl's review against another edition
5.0
If you could…would your rise?
Oh Mira Grant: Thank you so much for making me wait with baited breath for Blackout. And it was so worth the wait. This book is pitched as a post zombie apocalypse tale, but for me, it’s a tale of freedom of the press and free speech and political conspiracies that just so happen to be in the world of zombies. It is in fact, not the end of the world. We have rebuilt society with zombies in mind: protocol and safety measures. The people who say we are safe and secure are really the ones who are lying to us.
Grant does great in creating a complex world filled with conspiracies and moments filled with emotion and action. Not wanting to give too much away, just know that this story is filled with twist and turns and “what the hell?!”type moments and moments that made me want to cry. We lose a beloved badass chick and learn that with sacrifices, small and big, are to be respected and cherished.
I cannot get over how much I love this series. And can I say how happy it’s a trilogy and it doesn’t drag out? This series was the perfect in length. There are not wasted words or space and every character is important and moves the story along to the climax point where they bring down the Man.
This zombie series was not one of shot guns and bullet wounds, it was of whispered conspiracies and the power of the written word. A nice change of pace in the world of zombie tales.
Oh Mira Grant: Thank you so much for making me wait with baited breath for Blackout. And it was so worth the wait. This book is pitched as a post zombie apocalypse tale, but for me, it’s a tale of freedom of the press and free speech and political conspiracies that just so happen to be in the world of zombies. It is in fact, not the end of the world. We have rebuilt society with zombies in mind: protocol and safety measures. The people who say we are safe and secure are really the ones who are lying to us.
Grant does great in creating a complex world filled with conspiracies and moments filled with emotion and action. Not wanting to give too much away, just know that this story is filled with twist and turns and “what the hell?!”type moments and moments that made me want to cry. We lose a beloved badass chick and learn that with sacrifices, small and big, are to be respected and cherished.
I cannot get over how much I love this series. And can I say how happy it’s a trilogy and it doesn’t drag out? This series was the perfect in length. There are not wasted words or space and every character is important and moves the story along to the climax point where they bring down the Man.
This zombie series was not one of shot guns and bullet wounds, it was of whispered conspiracies and the power of the written word. A nice change of pace in the world of zombie tales.
michelles_teaandreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
ysi06's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
while blackout (2012) may be the book that is the most dated in its language out of the newsflesh trilogy, you get to see the masons reunite. habitual reread. excellent
thomasgammon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75