laramariereads's review
4.0
I recognize that this is a good book and I would have loved it when I was younger. Especially when The Walking Dead first came out and Zombies were a huge thing. Im just a little too old now to really love it.
There was only one character I didn’t find annoying and bratty, and that was the main characters older brother. I want to read his story, all the emotions I felt in this book were related to him. Yes, I did cry at one point. I think an entire series could be written about Tom (the older brother) and it would have a larger emotional impact and appeal to the older readers.
If I hear the term "Zom" one more time...
I’m not going to continue the series as I don’t think Tom will be in the rest of it the way I want to continue to explore his character. The other characters I just don’t care enough.
There was only one character I didn’t find annoying and bratty, and that was the main characters older brother. I want to read his story, all the emotions I felt in this book were related to him. Yes, I did cry at one point. I think an entire series could be written about Tom (the older brother) and it would have a larger emotional impact and appeal to the older readers.
If I hear the term "Zom" one more time...
I’m not going to continue the series as I don’t think Tom will be in the rest of it the way I want to continue to explore his character. The other characters I just don’t care enough.
everthereader's review
4.0
Once again, one of my older sister's favorite series. She read when I was young, and I was once again intrigued by it. I found this book far different than any other zombie book I have ever read. In the beginning, I wasn't fond of Benny. He was a jerk and treated his brother Tom terribly. Tom, on the other hand, he was my favorite character. I was kind of surprised that he was that old. I did expect him to be younger, but I was happy at the end. He isn't like other male characters. He isn't a teenager and he acts like a man. Seriously, he needs his own spinoff series from Tom's point of view. I would say he reminds me of Hamato Yoshi from Teenage mutant Ninja Turtles. I liked how Benny's thoughts on Tom changed from the beginning and the end. It really showed the character development. The ending nearly made me cry and desperate for the sequel.
Also, I'd lie to mention: I must say Jonathan Maberry is quite a clever zombie, he knows much about humans and Tom Imura. According to his picture, he is a zombie right?
Also, I'd lie to mention: I must say Jonathan Maberry is quite a clever zombie, he knows much about humans and Tom Imura. According to his picture, he is a zombie right?
haylisreading's review
4.0
This book was a lot better than I was expecting. The summary sounded really boring but I was pleasantly surprised.
emay_26's review
dark
funny
tense
medium-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
5.0
emilyusuallyreading's review
1.0
I say I read this, when in reality, I read the first ten or so chapters and then skimmed the rest, flipping page by page and staring in dull bemusement.
This is a didactic storybook pretending to be a zombie novel. I miss the originality of the end-of-world young adult novel. I couldn't find it in here.
This is a didactic storybook pretending to be a zombie novel. I miss the originality of the end-of-world young adult novel. I couldn't find it in here.
thegeekyblogger's review
4.0
Read for Fun!
Challenges: Zombies, Read for Fun
Overall Rating: 4.25
Story Rating: 4.25
Character Rating: 4.50
First Thought when Finished: I am slightly in love with a fictional character named Tom Imura!
What I Loved: Rot & Ruin was set long after the First Night and gives us a glimpse at society trying to rebuild itself. I loved that Jonathan wasn't afraid to show us that some people chose to hide, some people chose to fight, some people were nasty creatures, and other people chose to make their own kind of stand. I imagine that the world he created is a lot like what would happen if something catastrophic changed our world. Rot & Ruin really makes you think about what your coping mechanism would be in a crisis. I also really loved that even though this is YA (there are some very smack the teenager up the head moments), you never feel as if that is the whole story. There are adult figures, family, teenagers learning lessons (and not knowing it all), and mostly truth shared through experience and teaching. This is the kind of YA that I enjoy reading.
What I Liked: The characters in Rot & Ruin run the spectrum in personalities. Jonathan Maberry pretty much put one of each into the mix and let you find someone you could identify with. I think that above all it was the people (good and bad) that makes this story tick! Plus, I really liked Tom Imura's POV towards Zombies and how he is teaching Benny to think as well as act!
Final Thought When Finished: I am glad I have the 2nd one on hand to start!
Challenges: Zombies, Read for Fun
Overall Rating: 4.25
Story Rating: 4.25
Character Rating: 4.50
First Thought when Finished: I am slightly in love with a fictional character named Tom Imura!
What I Loved: Rot & Ruin was set long after the First Night and gives us a glimpse at society trying to rebuild itself. I loved that Jonathan wasn't afraid to show us that some people chose to hide, some people chose to fight, some people were nasty creatures, and other people chose to make their own kind of stand. I imagine that the world he created is a lot like what would happen if something catastrophic changed our world. Rot & Ruin really makes you think about what your coping mechanism would be in a crisis. I also really loved that even though this is YA (there are some very smack the teenager up the head moments), you never feel as if that is the whole story. There are adult figures, family, teenagers learning lessons (and not knowing it all), and mostly truth shared through experience and teaching. This is the kind of YA that I enjoy reading.
What I Liked: The characters in Rot & Ruin run the spectrum in personalities. Jonathan Maberry pretty much put one of each into the mix and let you find someone you could identify with. I think that above all it was the people (good and bad) that makes this story tick! Plus, I really liked Tom Imura's POV towards Zombies and how he is teaching Benny to think as well as act!
Final Thought When Finished: I am glad I have the 2nd one on hand to start!
ecandrews0's review
5.0
Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
Alright, so first off, I am by no means an expert on zombie apocalypse books. I haven't read very many, just because they really aren't my cup of tea. But for some reason, Rot & Ruin piqued my interest, and I just have to say that it was INCREDIBLE.
I think it's very difficult to make the zombie-apocalypse genre appeal to a large variety of people, partly due to the fact that just the phrase "zombie apocalypse" kind of has a juvenile sound to it. But Rot & Ruin did an amazing job of not quite fitting the typical mold for this type of book. There's more to the book than just the storyline about Benny, Tom, and Nix. It's a book that can really get you thinking about things like fear, evil, what life really is, compassion... lots of things that aren't normally a part of zombie books. One quote/phrase that really spoke to me was towards the end of the book where Benny says, "I would have done the same thing...(I TOOK OUT THIS SECTION DUE TO SPOILERS)...because I don't ever want to live in a world where something like mercy, or maybe it's compassion, is the wrong choice." I don't know, I just feel like that's something that can be very applicable to our world today.
I have sooooooo much more I want to say about this book, but my right arm is in a sling and I'm getting tired of typing with one hand, so I'll just leave it at that.
Alright, so first off, I am by no means an expert on zombie apocalypse books. I haven't read very many, just because they really aren't my cup of tea. But for some reason, Rot & Ruin piqued my interest, and I just have to say that it was INCREDIBLE.
I think it's very difficult to make the zombie-apocalypse genre appeal to a large variety of people, partly due to the fact that just the phrase "zombie apocalypse" kind of has a juvenile sound to it. But Rot & Ruin did an amazing job of not quite fitting the typical mold for this type of book. There's more to the book than just the storyline about Benny, Tom, and Nix. It's a book that can really get you thinking about things like fear, evil, what life really is, compassion... lots of things that aren't normally a part of zombie books. One quote/phrase that really spoke to me was towards the end of the book where Benny says, "I would have done the same thing...(I TOOK OUT THIS SECTION DUE TO SPOILERS)...because I don't ever want to live in a world where something like mercy, or maybe it's compassion, is the wrong choice." I don't know, I just feel like that's something that can be very applicable to our world today.
I have sooooooo much more I want to say about this book, but my right arm is in a sling and I'm getting tired of typing with one hand, so I'll just leave it at that.
onewinternight's review against another edition
5.0
Coming of age with zombies, why hasn't anyone done this before? -is designing "Team Tom Imura" shirts in her head . . .
lorathelibrarian's review
5.0
I had never really thought about the ethics behind killing zombies before I read this book.
The story takes place 15 years after the zombie apocalypse and society has started to rebuild, behind fences. Once you turn 15 in this new world you are forced into a job if you want to keep getting food rations. Benny, after much struggle, joins the family business of bounty hunting zombies. What he discovers is that killing a zombie isn't as simple as it seems, there is a lot more thought and closure behind each kill.
This book isn't just about zombies. It's about morals and the difference between right and wrong. And the real twist comes when Benny figures out that the true evil in his life isn't a zombie, but humans who have been corrupted by this new life.
There is gore in this book, but nothing too horrible. The adventure and twists and turns can be predictable because the story is filled with foreshadowing, but it makes reading it that much more fun. I literally couldn't put this book down and was constantly thinking about reading it and when I could pick it up again. I loved how different it was from the normal zombie book because it takes place after so many zombie stories stop.
Excellent.
The story takes place 15 years after the zombie apocalypse and society has started to rebuild, behind fences. Once you turn 15 in this new world you are forced into a job if you want to keep getting food rations. Benny, after much struggle, joins the family business of bounty hunting zombies. What he discovers is that killing a zombie isn't as simple as it seems, there is a lot more thought and closure behind each kill.
This book isn't just about zombies. It's about morals and the difference between right and wrong. And the real twist comes when Benny figures out that the true evil in his life isn't a zombie, but humans who have been corrupted by this new life.
There is gore in this book, but nothing too horrible. The adventure and twists and turns can be predictable because the story is filled with foreshadowing, but it makes reading it that much more fun. I literally couldn't put this book down and was constantly thinking about reading it and when I could pick it up again. I loved how different it was from the normal zombie book because it takes place after so many zombie stories stop.
Excellent.
maryalex622's review against another edition
I just don’t really care. I kinda wanna know what happens, but not enough to waste the time listening to it.