The Outside.

Title/Author: The Outside (The Hallowed Ones #2) by Laura Bickle.

Genre: YA, Horror.

Publisher:  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Source: Purchased.

Synopsis:  After a plague of vampires is unleashed in the world, Katie is kicked out of her Amish community for her refusal to adhere to the new rules of survival.  Now in exile, she enters an outside world of unspeakable violence with only her two "English" friends and a horse by her side.  Together they seek answers and other survivors - but each sunset brings the thread of vampire attack, and each sunrise the threat of starvation.

And yet through this darkness come the shining ones: luminescent men and women with the power to deflect vampires and survive the night.  But can these new people be trusted, and are they even people at all?

In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, it's up to one Amish girl to save her family, her community, and the boy she loves...but what will she asked to leave behind in return?  ~Goodreads.com.

Midnyte Musings:
The hard part about the end of the world is surviving it.  This is the first sentence in The Outside, the second book of The Hallowed Ones, about Katie, an Amish teen surviving a vampire apocalypse.  The story picks up only a few weeks after the end of the first book and continues with action, heartache, tough choices and a tad of romance.

Now that she is outside of her community, Katie still struggles with religious issues that plagued her when she lived in her own world.  She hasn't been baptized so she's afraid if she dies before she is, she won't go to heaven.  She also questions whether God has forgotten them because of the events that have happened.  However, her experiences in the outside world and her relationship with Alex propels her to re-evaluate her world view and she realizes that her "definition of evil is shrinking."

Turning toward Darkness is a gradual process, in all things. ~Katie.

I found the discussion and theory of human consciousness affecting the physical world very interesting as a concept and a plot device.  Could this be why religious symbols are so powerful against the vampires?  Why churches and religious communities are sacred?

The discovery of a vaccine against vampirism is interesting as well.  This was explained to my satisfaction so it didn't seem too outlandish and it was described very well so I could experience what it was like to be innoculated and what it looked like.  Again, Katie struggles with this vaccine (luminescence) and how much it will change her.  However, how can you turn down protection from vampires?  Her and Alex realize they have to help as many people as they can.  Alex is travelling north to find his parents and Katie is compelled to go back and help her own community.   She goes home to find some things have changed greatly and she again proves her worth and it seems by the end of the book she may be taking on another important role to give her home protection.

I love the romance in The Outside.  Alex is thoughtful and gives her choices when no one else in her life had done so.  Can you imagine if your whole life you were told what to do and when to do it and then another person has enough trust in you to make your own decisions?  He comes off very appealing and their date in the store was sweet.

The Outside also included nice, scary imagery.  The vampires are no less terrifying in this installment and I thought the nun vampires were a great touch.  I won't go into what made them so creepy, because I don't want to spoil too much of the story. 

A few things make this book from being perfect.  Some of their conversations sound like a text, not dialogue.  And, when Alex tells the myths to Katie, it's a bit too deliberate and seems like he is leading a witness.  When I was getting toward the end of The Outside, I felt as if it was an unnecessary sequel, but I liked how the story came full circle with a few changes.   However, I started The Outside as soon as I finished The Hallowed Ones, so that is a testament to how much I liked the characters and how interesting the story is to me.  I don't know if a third book will come out, but I would definitely read it.  

Starstruck Over:  The flow of the story and the journey and development of the characters.

Karen from For What It's Worth Reviews recommended these books.  Read her review of The Outside.  

The Fear Factor - Guest Post by Alex Woolfe

The Fear Factor

My first encounter with horror came, like most people, from fairy tales. My brother and I had some twelve-inch LP records (showing my age here!) of readings of Red Riding Hood and Snow White, complete with spooky sound effects. The lack of pictures made it scarier for me. I was left to imagine exactly what the wolf in granny’s clothing looked like. My older sister loved the ancient Greek myths, and I loved reading stories from her bookshelf of Medusa and the Minotaur. When I was a teenager, I read everything I could by Stephen King, James Herbert and Clive Barker. I loved horror films, too, especially Halloween, Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street. I was never as into Dracula or Frankenstein. In those films, the monster was too ‘centre-stage’. It was always the unseen or unknowable monster that intrigued and scared me. I remember going with a friend to see Nightmare on Elm Street in this old, rundown cinema in North London, and I swear we were the only two in there that evening, apart from this creepy old usherette. It was terrifying.

What is it I love so much about horror?  People often say it’s about finding a way of exploring your own fears in safety.  I’m sure that’s a big part of it.  When I’m reading or a scary scene, I often feel like I’m on a precipice or a very narrow path, surrounded by darkness.  I feel I’m somehow at the very edge of normal life, at the point where it fades into something quite wild and mad and out of control, and if I step off, I might never get back again, or if I do I won’t be the same.  It’s that feeling of being on the brink of madness that I find so addictive, and which brings me back for more each time.  I remember reading Where the Wild Things Are as a kid, and the illustration that got me each time was the one where the bedroom starts turning into a forest – the bedposts become trees.  Similarly, there’s a scene in Halloween when the main character is walking along a suburban street and the guy in the mask appears, for just a second, in the distance behind her. It’s the point where normality fades into something strange and inexplicable.  That’s what I find most freaky, and what I’m always searching for in horror fiction.

For me, the reason why the best modern horror stories and films work in the way that old-fashioned gothic horror doesn’t is because they’re set in worlds that we can relate to.  In my book, Soul Shadows, I deliberately chose a dull, rural setting, because, for me, the more ordinary the starting point, the closer it seems to real life, and therefore the scarier it feels when things start to become strange.  That’s not to say I don’t love a good old-fashioned horror tale by the likes of H P Lovecraft or Bram Stoker.  They’re full of drama and thrills, but they rarely take me to that nightmarish precipice, that proximity with madness, I was talking about earlier.  This may have a lot to do with the characters, which often appear a little one-dimensional: incredibly virtuous and brave, or else demonically evil. In the best modern horror, the main characters are ordinary people, with good and bad qualities, just like us.  We identify with them, we root for them, and when the bad stuff starts happening, we feel, in some way, it’s happening to us. 

Luckily, of course, it isn't.  And the best part for me is that, in the end, we can close the book, turn off the television, switch on the light, and breathe a huge sigh of relief. We survived!

Thank you Alex for your insightful observations and your experiences regarding fear.  It was always the unknowable monster that scared me the most too and I can appreciate the difference between prominent monsters and hidden ones.  

Please check out Alex's new novel Soul Shadows for more scares!

Estelle thinks that a stay in a remote cottage will give her the peace and quiet that she needs, but the nearby wood holds a terrible secret. Can she and her friend Sandor discover what’s going on in the mysterious military lab before it’s too late? 

Soul Shadows by Alex Woolf

Gripping, vivid, creepy – just some of the words used in early reviews to describe SOUL SHADOWS, the new novel by Alex Woolf publishing with CURIOUS FOX this April.

Tying in with a recent trend for YA ‘fright-write’, Soul Shadows can be compared to Charlie Higson’s The Enemy or Darren Shan’s series, in its ability to grip and scare in equal measure. Exploring themes like mental health, childhood psychological abuse and the morality of science, SOUL SHADOWS offers much more than a one-dimensional scare story. Through his central character, Estelle, Alex Woolf places the reader right in the centre of the action – Estelle is an immediately gripping, though clearly damaged and vulnerable, personality, and it’s the reader’s connection with her from the first page that makes the unfolding horror feel so true, so raw.

In the world of SOUL SHADOWS, Woolf explores what would happen if your shadow could come to life, and, ultimately, try to take your life. It’s a sinister concept which leaves readers jumpy and, literally, scared of their own shadow. Set in an unspecified rural English landscape there is a feeling of extreme claustrophobia as Estelle, and her friend, Sandor, try to escape the world of shadows.

Woolf admits he has been scared of shadows or the ideas of shadows for some time “I’ve always felt your shadow is a scary idea, sometimes the light or dark warps your shape and you catch a flicker of movement from the corner of your eye, rationally you know it’s just your shadow, but what if...what if...I began to think – and then Soul Shadows was born.”

“Wow! Soul Shadows had me gripped from the beginning to end. The writing style is very vivid and descriptive which is perfect for this creepy story.” Comacalm’s Corner blog

“I thought this book was brilliant; it was extremely gripping and had just the right amount of horror to scare you!” Hannah, 15 years old

Known for his successful sci-fi Chronosphere trilogy, Woolf has been a full- time writer for over a decade after leaving his job as a non-fiction editor in 2001.

He lives in North London with his Italian wife and two children. In his spare time, he likes to play tennis, draw sharks, watch horror movies and teach himself the piano

Breathe.

Title/Author: Breathe by Sarah Crossan.

Genre: YA.  Dystopian.  Post-Apocalyptic.

Publisher:  Greenwillow.

Source: Received at BEA

Favorite character: Bea.

Favorite quote: It has nothing to do with what I've been taught. It has to do with how I feel. ~Bea.

All in all:  Very enjoyable!

Synopsis: Inhale. Exhale. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe . . . The world is dead. The survivors live under the protection of Breathe, the corporation that found a way to manufacture oxygen-rich air.


Alina has been stealing for a long time. She's a little jittery, but not terrified. All she knows is that she's never been caught before. If she's careful, it'll be easy. If she's careful.

Quinn should be worried about Alina and a bit afraid for himself, too, but even though this is dangerous, it's also the most interesting thing to happen to him in ages. It isn't every day that the girl of your dreams asks you to rescue her.

Bea wants to tell him that none of this is fair; they'd planned a trip together, the two of them, and she'd hoped he'd discover her out here, not another girl.

And as they walk into the Outlands with two days' worth of oxygen in their tanks, everything they believe will be shattered. Will they be able to make it back? Will they want to? ~Goodreads.com

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed Breathe.  Told in three first person viewpoints, I sometimes had to check who was speaking, but ultimately, all the narratives worked well. 

Alina who works for The Resistance, starts out hard and cold and I love how she progressed to having sympathy, empathy because of the example set for her by Bea.  Quinn is a "Premium."  An upper class citizen who resents that everything is handed to him and he can't achieve anything on his own.  However, he is still sheltered and a bit selfish until he has to face real danger and real problems.  I like how he emerges stronger and more defiant.  Bea seems to be the glue between the characters of Alina and Quinn.  She is a lowerclass citizen who has a more difficult life and therefore seems to have more integrity.  Her kindness and sense of right and wrong are an example to Alina and an inspiration to Quinn.

The romance in this book was darling.  It starts out as a love triangle or rather a J. Geils Band song (You love her but she loves him.  And he loves somebody else).  The heartache is very touching and through the course of the book it grows in a realistic way which I don't want to give away. 

The story may be familiar but I still couldn't predict what would happen.  The writing is clear, simple and strong and the plot flows.  There is not a lot of other threads to bog down the story, yet other events that are presented are done with purpose.  The world that Crossan created is easy to envision yet not overly worked.  The pod that everyone lives in is laid out and I love recognizing landmarks outside the pod. 

It is open ended and clearly has a sequel.  This usually bothers me but for some reason it did not with Breathe.  Maybe because as I was getting to the end of the book, I knew that it couldn't be wrapped up quickly or maybe because I just enjoyed it so much. 

I thought this was a very thoughtful book.  I think if you liked Hunger Games and Under the Never Sky you will enjoy Breathe. 

Other editions:

Bad Taste in Boys.

Title/Author: Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris.

Genre: YA/Horror.

Publisher: Delacort Press for Young Readers.

Source: Borrowed from a friend.

Favorite character:  Kate and Jonas.

All in all:  Adorable!  

Synopsis: Someone's been a very bad zombie.

Kate Grable is horrified to find out that the football coach has given the team steroids. Worse yet, the steriods are having an unexpected effect, turning hot gridiron hunks into mindless flesh-eating zombies. No one is safe--not her cute crush Aaron, not her dorky brother, Jonah . . . not even Kate! She's got to find an antidote--before her entire high school ends up eating each other. So Kate, her best girlfriend, Rocky, and Aaron stage a frantic battle to save their town . . . and stay hormonally human.~Goodreads.

My Thoughts: When I saw this cover before it came out and found out what it was about I wanted to read it.  It was lieing around my guest room (where my books live) for a long time and I kept passing it over.  But I needed something light and easy to read, plus it's not a tome (only 201 pages).  I am happy to say this book surpassed my expectations.

I was caught up in the story right away and in Kate's awkward, self proclaimed dorky voice.  She is funny and self depracating, but does not come off as whiny or a constant "poor me" type.  In fact, she is anything but a victim as she navigates the mystery of the zombie outbreak and what's more proving it so the powers that be believe her. All the while she is also dealing with High School and her crush on one of the Football players, Aaron. 

I also liked that some of the more popular kids were also her friends.  Kiki is a cheerleader and gorgeous, but also nice and befriended Kate without any agenda.  I thought this was refreshing and original.  She does have some trouble at school and with certain people, but does not lament or dwell too much on it, but uses humor and practicality and seems to accept and at times thrive in her place as a geek. 

Although her mom is overseas teaching and her dad is a bit preoccupied, I still like the fact that she seems close to them.  And, I love the relationship between her and her younger brother Jonas.  They are so cute and very enjoyable to read about.  Jonas is hysterical and heroic and everyone should have a brother like him. 

The romance is present, but not the main concern.  Aason is on her mind, at some times more heavily than on others, but Kate's main concern is the "zombie virus" and what or who is behind it.  She's got her priorities straight. 

Although Kate's humor made the scary parts a little less so, I still thought they had some real "bite" to them.  (Sorry.)  There was gore and zombie run-ins and close calls. 

The story and plot move and make this a fast, fun, thrilling read.

Challenges:

BEA Week - Young Adult Fiction Panel and Contest!

After the BEA Bloggers Convention me and my pal Maria from The Serpentine Library went to the YA Fiction Panel at the McNally Jackson bookstore.  Authors Ally Condie, Marie Lu, Andrea Cremer, Michelle Hodkin, Tonya Hurley, Adele Griffin were featured.  Although we arrived a little late, there was still plenty of room and time left to enjoy. 

On being artistic: Ally admits she personally has no artistic talent, but she was exposed to art.  Her mom was a studio artist and her sister is artistic.  Andrea was in the choir, Maria was an artist before becoming a writer and Michelle states she is a "...karaoke bad ass." Adele doodles quite frequently and Tonya was formerly in the music industry and used to write for bands.  She was also a director for indy films. 

 

On Fans: Andrea is blown away by her fans.  She loves the constant interaction.  Ally told a story of one teen who re-created Cassia's dress for a school sewing project.  Marie once met a girl who was  learning English by using her book.  Michelle feels that fan art reflects how invested people are in the books and characters. Adele told a story about how she received a very simple yet touching letter from a young child that said, "...every word you write means so much."  Tonya felt she made it when Ghostgirl was featured on an episode of Ace of Cakes. 

On what they like better, first drafts or re-writes:  Andrea likes first drafts because she loses herself, but also gets very distracted.  Ally says a first draft is a rush.  Marie hates first drafts because nothing makes sense and she can fix it with the re-writes and Michelle agrees with this.  Adele stated that the idea is so perfect when it's in your head and then it slowly diminishes as you set it down on paper.  She advised that you need to find the pieces of what was there. Tonya likes the period when she feels she can breathe which is after she has handed in her first draft and before the editor gets back to her.

On if they have always wanted to write YA:  Tonya stated "Mentally I'm a teenager."  She wrote a few tv series for teens and as soon as she entered into that world she loved it. Adele said she was working in a publishing house when she realized writing was a process that she could do.  Michelle was a lawyer and once met a woman who wanted her to help her daughter.  Michelle knew there was more to her story that she wasn't telling and the idea "took her hostage."  "YA chose me." She finished.  Marie said her agent told her she was writing YA and realized her characters were 16-18.  Andrea knew she wanted to write coming of age stories because those are the kind of stories that shaped her, such as Lord of the Rings and Star Wars.  Also Mists of Avalon was about a female coming of age story.  Ally explained that there are age groups that we are more natural with and YA is where she falls.

Check out a few more photos and contest below.

CONTEST

Prize #1: Ghostgirl Trio by Tonya Hurley.

Prize #2: Latest Ghostgirl (Lovesick) by Tonya Hurley. 

Prize #3: Signed Hardcover of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer.

Prize #4: Slightly worn softcover ARC of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. 

Contest:

~Four winners will be chosen.  The first winner will get their first choice and so on from there. 

~This contest is open internationally!

To Enter:

~Fill out the required entries on the Rafflecopter form.  

~Extra entries are optional.

~If you are choosing to do extra entries, please read the questions/instructions CAREFULLY! If you do not follow the instructions, I reserve the right to disqualify that entry. (For example, if I ask you to leave a comment and you do not, or you don't answer the question, that entry will be removed.)

Rules:

~Please see my contest policy HERE.

~Contest ends Friday, June 29, 2012 at 12:01 am, EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck and thanks for entering!

The Sweet Far Thing.

Title/Author: The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray.

Read by: Josephine Bailey.

Genre: YA/Supernatural.

Publisher: Listening Library.

Source: Borrowed from library.

Favorite character: Gemma and Felicity.

Favorite quote:  "If we do not deem ourselves worthy first, how shall we ever ask for more?" ~Gemma.

All in all: A bit long, but a nice wrap up to the trilogy.  

Synopsis: 
It has been a year of change since Gemma Doyle arrived at the foreboding Spence Academy. Her mother murdered, her father a laudanum addict, Gemma has relied on an unsuspected strength and has discovered an ability to travel to an enchanted world called the realms, where dark magic runs wild. Despite certain peril, Gemma has bound the magic to herself and forged unlikely new alliances. Now, as Gemma approaches her London debut, the time has come to test these bonds.

The Order - the mysterious group her mother was once part of - is grappling for control of the realms, as is the Rakshana. Spence's burned East Wing is being rebuilt, but why now? Gemma and her friends see Pippa, but she is not the same. And their friendship faces its gravest trial as Gemma must decide once and for all what role she is meant for.

My Thoughts:  (Please note: If you haven't read the first two books in this trilogy, this post may have spoilers.) 

Once again, the writing of Libba Bray's world in Victorian England and its magical counterpart is filled with beautiful imagery and descriptive details.

The main character, Gemma, is still relatable in that she often makes impulsive and poor choices that either alienate others or make them distrust her.  She is accused of reveling in her "aloneness" and indeed she does often feel that way, especially with the death of her mother and also because she has such a huge responsibility.  She is not sure how to right the wrongs that have been caused within The Realms by outside forces.  She is a restless soul and is not sure how to unbind herself of feelings of dissatisfaction.

The plot is intriguing and the twists, turns and clues are clever.  The story includes many mystery elements which I always enjoy, but I feel that the standout parts of this book are Gemma's interactions with others. 

One of Gemma's most complicated relationships is with her older brother Tom.  This is a typical, often at odds and sometimes antagonistic sibling dynamic.  Their frustration with each other is clear, in that they each have different world views and roles.  Gemma has a desire to be free and not constrained by the society that Tom clearly represents.  Another bittersweet relationship is between Gemma and her father.  He is grief stricken over his wife's death and Gemma feels that she is not enough to make him happy and keep him on a safe and healthy path.  This was very heartbreaking to read.

The romance part of Gemma's story heats up as well in this installment.  Kartik and her finally admit their feelings to each other and I like how Kartik opens up once he made this decision.  I like him much better in this book.  He is more sure of himself, sweeter and funnier.

The writing is so lovely and not only did I as a reader see the details of the era, but also felt the oppressive role of women and the downtrodden in society.  Gemma regards the tea parties and balls she must attend as torture and describes these social events and the way people are expected to behave as narrow.  "The word should is like a corset, meant to bend you to a proper shape."  She thinks at one point and I feel that this is true even for today.  But back then, women in a certain class were expected to behave in a certain way even more so or else they could suffer being ostracized.  I think that Gemma finding her power within The Realms is also indicative of finding it outside The Realms and she chooses to make her own destiny.

Narrator Josephine Bailey, had the opportunity to utilize her performance talents further in this book as there were several more characters and she portrayed them all with a different style, intonation and accent that amazed me. Sweet voices of little children, gravelly-voiced villains, elderly ladies and male leads were all believable. I will be seeking out Ms. Bailey to see what other books she has performed on audio.

There were a few things that didn't work for me.  The recap of events in the past two books is more telling than showing.  I understand that sometimes a re-cap may be necessary and the quickest way is to just sum it up, but maybe it could have been shown via dialogue.  I also feel that the culmination could have been wrapped up in the second installment of this trilogy.  They seemed to be going in and out of The Realms so often with only a tad being accomplished each time.  There were also a few other subjects that were included, like worker's rights that were interesting and fit in with the book and some of the characters, but felt a little bit forced to me.  Don't think I didn't enjoy this though.  I did enjoy it very much and I would recommend the series to anyone who enjoys supernatural, fantasy, historical fiction and YA. 

Other editions:
    

Daughter of Smoke and Bone.

Title/Author: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. 

Genre: YA.

Publisher: Little, Brown and Co.

Source: ARC from BEA.

Favorite character: Karou and Brimstone.

Favorite quote:  "He was copper and shadow, honey and menace..."

"The air in the grove was rich enough to sip, full enough to dance with."

"Hope is the real magic..." Brimstone

All in all: Breathtaking and beautiful.

Synopsis:
Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself? ~Goodreads.com

Thoughts: I waited so long to read this book. I just kept hesitating every time I saw it on my book pile. When Karen from What It's Worth said she was going to read it, I decided to join her and read it as well. You can read her awesome review HERE.  One thing that surprised me is that it didn't start out with a flash like so many books do today to grab your attention.  (Well that's what all the writing teachers say right?  Start with a punch!)  However, this is how most books I've read all my life have started, with an introduction to the main character in order to get to know him/her.  I loved it.  I was drawn to 17 year old college student, Karou, her artistic flair and her blue hair.  The action is like a boulder going downhill and picks up speed as it moves.  It also picks up details, emotions, backstory and characters.

The mythology that Taylor creates is breathtaking in it's imagination and scope.  The entire tale is one big puzzle that gets unravelled a bit at a time.  I have never read a story crafted quite like this one.  Even if you don't like Angel and Demon mythology, this story could relate to any two different warring factions. 

The author's writing is exquisite and creates a canvas of soul wrenching emotions.  Her details are concise,  the way she clearly shows Prague and Morroco in so much depth that now I want to visit.  The landscapes, the characters, even the war are so well fleshed out that I felt as if I was reading a storybook with pictures as opposed to a novel with only prose.  I also want to point out the clever chapter titles. 

I like the creepiness of it, the otherworldy-ness as well.  How shadows didn't match their owners and the details of some of the demons add to the richness of this world.  It feels clandestine and mysterious.

Karou is a wonderful protagonist. Spirited, innocent, kind and impish.  She is someone you would definitely want as a friend, someone I would want to be...or would want others to see me like her.  "There was almost always something to take delight in, if you were trying."  Karou thinks at one point, and this sums up her optimistic character.  However, she is lonely at heart and this adds to a wistful presence.  Her discovery and growth throughout the story bring even more to her character.

The romance in it is half expected, and some aspects of that didn't work at first, but it all felt right to me eventually. Akiva, the male lead character is fierce and frightening and has a lot to learn, but also has a lot to teach.  He has been changed by a past event and will have to re-evalute his perceptions. 

This is a sophisticated story with surprises and twists.  It brought something different to the table and in a creative style. If you have been waiting to read this book, don't wait any longer! 

Other Editions:

Dust & Decay

Title/Author:  Dust & Decay by Jonathan Maberry.

Genre: YA/Horror.

Publisher: Simon and Schuster for Young Readers.

Source: Library.

Favorite character: Tommy Imura. 

All in all: Fast, fun, action packed.

Cover: Unique and powerful.

Synopsis: In post-apocalyptic America, 15-year-old Benny Imura and his friends set out into the great Rot & Ruin hoping to find a better future but are soon pitted against zombies, wild animals, insane murderers, and the horrors of Gameland. ~Goodreads.com.

My Thoughts:
Twisty, turny Dust & Decay.  Oh how you entertained me and surprised me again and again.  You may not think a book can keep your attention for a little over 500 pages, but this one kept mine.  Just when I thought that nothing was around the next corner, Maberry would throw a grenade in the story.

Dust & Decay is fast paced and easy to read.  The writing is lovely yet brutal when the circumstances call for it.  The world itself is still pretty.  Trees, flowers, bees...and Mayberry does not forget to show us that.  But events have made humans and humanity ugly and that is shown as well.  The contrast is interesting.

A great plot device is Nix's journal entries.  She asks questions that the reader may ask and also gives important workings of the world in Dust & Decay, including zombies.  I would bet that a lot of the scientific details in Nix's journals is accurate since I know that Maberry is very conscious about research.  I also really appreciate how the events of the first book Rot & Ruin are peppered throughout the book, not recapped all in one place and only important pertinent information is given.  And the humor!  Let's not forget the humor throughout.  It gives a refreshing break from the stressful plot.

The zombie mythology and the slang that comes out of this world is pretty cool.  "If you look into a zombie's eyes you will see how you look as a zombie."  Chilling isn't it?  How some people feel that the zoms are the meek that are inheriting the earth.  The questions and theories are laid out for the reader by the characters.  The slang is also a lot of fun that the Bounty Hunters use.  The world building is subtle, yet thorough and organic. 

I also really like how the romance is played out between Benny and Nix.  They truly love each other, but both question the reality of being "in" love.  Is it only because they've known each other for so long?  Or because of what they went through together?  Either way they have a bond which grows stronger as events unfold.

Many of the characters go through transformations.  Harsh words, contemplation and regret lead to change between many, but I feel most dramatically with Lilah. She realizes that people she has been avoiding all her life, may actually care for her.  It was interesting to watch her deal with the implications of that.

Two of my other favorite characters are Dr. Skillz and J-Dog.  I love their surfer slang and attitude.  Surfers can be so zen and they show it with humor and class in the midst of defending themselves and their friends.  Sally Two Knives is also a great character, a tough woman who always does the right thing and I loved the Greenman, with his gentle ways and contemplative words.  I think he is the Yoda of the land. 

Someone stated to me that they felt the dialogue is a bit preachy at times.  I can understand this opinion, but it didn't bother me.  Sometimes people need things spelled out for them to roll around in their mind.  Benny and Nix's adventures are always going to be lessons and Tom has to try to be the teacher so that they can survive.  However, for the most part, the story lets the characters learn without someone having to point out the right and wrong of it. 

At first I didn't like the alternate point of views, but it was used sparingly until the end when it was needed most.  I liked how I saw the different "scenes" of the book simultaneously and got to know different characters a bit better.

This is a first rate book that everyone should read.  Adults, kids, reading groups, zombie lovers.  I definitely see it becoming an important piece of fiction and it has very teachable moments. 

***Spoiler Alert: (Highlight to read): I usually would make a much more subtle reference to this part, but I HAD to talk about it!  I really never thought that Tom would die.  In fact there was a time in the book when it seemed close but I even wrote a post-it note on my book notes, I was nervous but I knew Maberry would never kill my Tommy.  But he did!  Another twist!  I was upset, shocked, and so very, very sad.  However, it also felt kind of "right" somehow and I felt Maberry made a good choice.  Sometimes it drives me crazy when everyone lives.  (Although I'm still upset it was Tom.)  To kill off someone who is a legend and seems unstoppable is a bold move.  Tommy was almost too perfect to live and his death will make him martyr like, at least in my eyes.  End Spoiler Alert***

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