A review by leahmonroe
Search and Destroy by Jay Bonansinga, Robert Kirkman
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Yes, I'm rating it higher that Invasion! Though, a fun fact, in the middle of this very book I was sure I would give it 2 stars? So... what happened?
Well, the story happened. Even though Search and Destroy was uneven, which I'll get to later, I have WAY more to say about it than about Invasion, which means that it caused more emotions in me, which means that in the end I'm rating it higher, cause it made me more invested, both in a praising manner and a not so jolly one.
Let's start, shall we? Since the very first pages of this book I had fun nitpicking the smallest contradictions, confusions and inconsistencies. I enjoyed myself so much, questioning the plot, the narrative, the various tricks and ploys that Bonansinga tried to pull, and though most of the time it was me just putting every little thing into question, it made me super into the story. Wondering about all the possibilities, the off-screen development, how probable it was.
Firstly, I was really happy to see some actual focus on how the apocalypse shaped the world. This really interests me, actually - the changes in the ecosystem, how people are adapting to the sinking supplies of fuel etc. Because, it's been four years (?!somehow, according to my calculations it should be 3 years, but eh) and, surprise surprise, it's not like there's anyone manufacturing stuff or working in factories and shit, right? Though at first sudden and a bit ridiculous, these changes were applied nicely enough by Bonansinga, some ideas (like the carriages) were funny to me, and how Woodbury acquired a full-on stable of fine horses dazzled me, but hey, we did skip a year in narrative. Throughout this time, five other communities emerged out of the blue, which was also quite... convenient? Immediate? Both. You'd think we'd stumble upon them before.
The introduction of secondary characters was not as smoothly done, I'd say. Some of them (cough cough Jinx cough cough) were hyperbolised cardboard cutouts of people, who we didn't even get to care about before their role in the story was finished, which made me think: why? What for? Either way, they weren't annoying, so, I'll let them pass.
Oh, the characters. The poor character. Jay, you madman. I counted, what, six character deaths?? And I mean characters who were actually important to the story?? Jesus H. Christ, you'd think that he was going through an episode or something. Some of them had affected me, I'll admit. Just like one particular death in Invasion, which even made my eyes well-up.
The major fault to this book is the 80 pages between very specific scenes that I remember vividly. The problem was... they weren't engaging. I was going through those with a low interest, and I remember how one particular line spiked my heart rate and I gasped, and then, from about page 167, I was hooked, and, well, if a book can make you read continuously until finish at 4.30 AM, then it's something, isn't it?
That's mainly why I think I prefer it to Invasion in the end. Cause apart from those weak 80 pages, I felt things and I have a shit ton to say, and most of it I said already in my notes. Invasion I liked, but we encountered so many new and fun things here, like other communities, horses, a big city, a v-word that I won't say cause no spoilers!, and so many others.. And the relationship between Tommy and Lilly has developed so beautifully, I actually got emotional.
Because of that I can forgive some plot inconsistencies and logical fallacies. Overall, it's a zombie book. It's entertaining. It's an adventure. I felt cool reading it and smoking. What more do you want?
Well, the story happened. Even though Search and Destroy was uneven, which I'll get to later, I have WAY more to say about it than about Invasion, which means that it caused more emotions in me, which means that in the end I'm rating it higher, cause it made me more invested, both in a praising manner and a not so jolly one.
Let's start, shall we? Since the very first pages of this book I had fun nitpicking the smallest contradictions, confusions and inconsistencies. I enjoyed myself so much, questioning the plot, the narrative, the various tricks and ploys that Bonansinga tried to pull, and though most of the time it was me just putting every little thing into question, it made me super into the story. Wondering about all the possibilities, the off-screen development, how probable it was.
Firstly, I was really happy to see some actual focus on how the apocalypse shaped the world. This really interests me, actually - the changes in the ecosystem, how people are adapting to the sinking supplies of fuel etc. Because, it's been four years (?!somehow, according to my calculations it should be 3 years, but eh) and, surprise surprise, it's not like there's anyone manufacturing stuff or working in factories and shit, right? Though at first sudden and a bit ridiculous, these changes were applied nicely enough by Bonansinga, some ideas (like the carriages) were funny to me, and how Woodbury acquired a full-on stable of fine horses dazzled me, but hey, we did skip a year in narrative. Throughout this time, five other communities emerged out of the blue, which was also quite... convenient? Immediate? Both. You'd think we'd stumble upon them before.
The introduction of secondary characters was not as smoothly done, I'd say. Some of them (cough cough Jinx cough cough) were hyperbolised cardboard cutouts of people, who we didn't even get to care about before their role in the story was finished, which made me think: why? What for? Either way, they weren't annoying, so, I'll let them pass.
Oh, the characters. The poor character. Jay, you madman. I counted, what, six character deaths?? And I mean characters who were actually important to the story?? Jesus H. Christ, you'd think that he was going through an episode or something. Some of them had affected me, I'll admit. Just like one particular death in Invasion, which even made my eyes well-up.
The major fault to this book is the 80 pages between very specific scenes that I remember vividly. The problem was... they weren't engaging. I was going through those with a low interest, and I remember how one particular line spiked my heart rate and I gasped, and then, from about page 167, I was hooked, and, well, if a book can make you read continuously until finish at 4.30 AM, then it's something, isn't it?
That's mainly why I think I prefer it to Invasion in the end. Cause apart from those weak 80 pages, I felt things and I have a shit ton to say, and most of it I said already in my notes. Invasion I liked, but we encountered so many new and fun things here, like other communities, horses, a big city, a v-word that I won't say cause no spoilers!, and so many others.. And the relationship between Tommy and Lilly has developed so beautifully, I actually got emotional.
Because of that I can forgive some plot inconsistencies and logical fallacies. Overall, it's a zombie book. It's entertaining. It's an adventure. I felt cool reading it and smoking. What more do you want?