A review by ampersandread22
Ex-Heroes by Peter Clines
3.0
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Zombies and superheroes. Is there a more awesome combo?!
This book only has a couple of slow spots (tactical meetings, backstory for some but not all of our undead-fighting pals), and the rest is action, action, action. In a way, it reads like an action packed TV show. It's very "baddie of the week" (although in this case, it turns out to be the same couple of baddies).
I liked the variety of powers, and the fact that it felt like not all of the superheroes were invincible. In fact, only the Mighty Dragon/St. George (took me a little bit to realize both names were in reference to the same hero) can wade into a horde of zombies and not be bitten because they physically cannot bite through his flesh. Their emotional wounds are also present, as you might expect in a world where loved ones have turned dead and ravenous for your own flesh.
There are a couple of points where you feel as if all hope is lost (as all good action-based stories go - there have to be stakes that feel real in order for the whole thing to pay off), and our heroes pull ahead (spoiler alert?). So it definitely keeps things spicy and keeps you turning the pages.
I'm looking forward to the next installments fleshing (ha! Pun unintended...) out the rest of the hero characters. In this first book, everyone's tragedies are just briefly touched upon. You get the most out of St. George, but you get a taste of some pretty tragic stuff from a couple of the others.
Overall, it's well-paced and the characters interesting...so far. There are a lot of them, and I'm nervous for how that will be handled in the next book or two. Could be hard to juggle all of that backstory and still give readers characters to root for and feel empathetic for.
Zombies and superheroes. Is there a more awesome combo?!
This book only has a couple of slow spots (tactical meetings, backstory for some but not all of our undead-fighting pals), and the rest is action, action, action. In a way, it reads like an action packed TV show. It's very "baddie of the week" (although in this case, it turns out to be the same couple of baddies).
I liked the variety of powers, and the fact that it felt like not all of the superheroes were invincible. In fact, only the Mighty Dragon/St. George (took me a little bit to realize both names were in reference to the same hero) can wade into a horde of zombies and not be bitten because they physically cannot bite through his flesh. Their emotional wounds are also present, as you might expect in a world where loved ones have turned dead and ravenous for your own flesh.
There are a couple of points where you feel as if all hope is lost (as all good action-based stories go - there have to be stakes that feel real in order for the whole thing to pay off), and our heroes pull ahead (spoiler alert?). So it definitely keeps things spicy and keeps you turning the pages.
I'm looking forward to the next installments fleshing (ha! Pun unintended...) out the rest of the hero characters. In this first book, everyone's tragedies are just briefly touched upon. You get the most out of St. George, but you get a taste of some pretty tragic stuff from a couple of the others.
Overall, it's well-paced and the characters interesting...so far. There are a lot of them, and I'm nervous for how that will be handled in the next book or two. Could be hard to juggle all of that backstory and still give readers characters to root for and feel empathetic for.