pixeltune's review against another edition
4.0
I hate the “pregnant woman apocalypse” trope but love post apo stories that focus on human kindness and resilience so this gets 4 stars from me! Tremblay is a wordsmith.
subpolka's review against another edition
3.0
I struggle when it comes to rating books for which I am not the target audience, e.g. this bleak and gory bit of horror when I’m not a fan of the genre, myself.
As in: Was this a “bad” book? Not at all - I’d easily recommend this to any of my friends who dig Stephen King. Did I - Rachel, decidedly not a King fan, super squeamish, avoidant of any/all media in which an animal dies - enjoy this one? God, no.
But still: Compelling enough, not poorly written (though a bit heavy-handed when - deservedly! - taking conspiracy theorists and poorly executed Federal responses to task), ultimately…not a “bad” book, she grudgingly conceded?
Three stars it is.
As in: Was this a “bad” book? Not at all - I’d easily recommend this to any of my friends who dig Stephen King. Did I - Rachel, decidedly not a King fan, super squeamish, avoidant of any/all media in which an animal dies - enjoy this one? God, no.
But still: Compelling enough, not poorly written (though a bit heavy-handed when - deservedly! - taking conspiracy theorists and poorly executed Federal responses to task), ultimately…not a “bad” book, she grudgingly conceded?
Three stars it is.
lucasgarner's review against another edition
5.0
This is probably my favorite zombie/apocalypse book I’ve ever read, and I hate to use the word zombie since it’s so much more than that. A really great read for those who like their horror stories with more heart and realism than a gore fest.
hartla's review against another edition
2.0
The only reason this isn't a one star is due to the asexual representation.
Spoiler
the choice to make the ace character basically be forced into raising Natalie's baby even though she talked about how she never wanted kids was a gut punch to me. I was so happy we were getting a character like me, (single, asexual and child free by choice) only to find out that nope she has to raise a baby. Even though she was extraordinarily uncomfortable about it. I wish I took the exceedingly corney line "it's not a survivor story, it's a song" to just stop while I was a head. </spoilers>nova_lumen's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
bibliomaniac33's review against another edition
1.0
I wanted everyone to be eaten by rabid people, including Paul Tremblay for subjecting me to this book.
These have to be two of the most obnoxious protagonists ever written, along with the most stereotypical villains ever. Have some imagination, my dude.
These have to be two of the most obnoxious protagonists ever written, along with the most stereotypical villains ever. Have some imagination, my dude.
ohmariagilbert's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
readbyashleyd's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Thank GOD I didn’t read this when it was first published right at the height of the pandemic because it was terrifying enough reading it now, let alone when it would have been eerily similar to what was happening in real life. This book made me feel SO many emotions, from sadness to anger to fear to absolute horror and everything else in between. If that’s not a sign of an excellent horror story then I don’t know what is! Highly recommend this one!
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
this was basically a parody of the covid-19 pandemic. very good commentary on how people act when they are exposed to a situation like this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gun violence, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Child death, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Death, Pandemic/Epidemic, Murder, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, and Medical trauma
kellyofcali's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Hooked into this after reading the beginning excerpt in A Cabin at the End of the World. It was a fun take on the zombie tale, trying to lean more into the realism version while still holding onto the horror, which was well balanced.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Violence, Murder, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Medical content
Moderate: Car accident, Mental illness, and Gun violence