Review – Feed (Newsflesh Trilogy, Book 1) by Mira Grant (5/5 stars)
Reading level: Adult
Genre: Horror
Size: 608 pages
Publisher: Orbit
Release Date: May 1, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0316081054
Stand Alone or Series: 1st in Newsflesh Trilogy
Source: Borrowed from Library
Rating: 5/5 stars
When I first saw Feed I was interested in reading it. When I found out the Mira Grant is a pen name for Seanan McGuire who writes the October Daye series
George and her brother Shaun are part of the vast community of bloggers who provide news and entertainment to the public. When the Outbreak first happened the media tried to cover it up, the people who ended up providing the public with life-saving and accurate information were the bloggers. Now in a society where the Infected and humans live together (if not really in harmony) it is the bloggers who provide a nation contained to their houses in seclusion with information and entertainment. George (a Newsie), Shaun (an Irwin – thrill-seeker), and Buffy (a Fictional and techno geek) are good bloggers and have a good following. When they win a job to follow a presedential candidate on his campaign trail they hit big time. When random outbreaks (or maybe not so random) of infection start happening near the potential president to be George smells trouble. Little do the trio know how deep the trouble goes and how much it will cost them to reveal.
This was just an absolutely awesome book. I like the October Daye series by Seanan Mcguire; but I loved this book even more. This book has a lot more substance and is more of a horror/mystery/political thriller. You are faced with many social and psychological issues in this book. The plot is complex, surprising, and non-stop. This was an extremely hard book to put down. I read the whole 600 pages in under two days.
You can tell a lot of research went into this book (this is backed up by the long list of people at the back of the book who helped Grant with info). Grant presents us with a complex politcal system and society; as well as detailed info on technology, viruses, and weapons. I was impressed with the detail, accuracy, and complexity of it all. In addition to this the characters are easy to relate to, likable, admirable, and real. There is humor woven throughout, mystery, excellent action scenes, and wonderful characterization. Basically this book has it all. For those of you who aren’t into being scared to death, no worries, this book isn’t that scary…but it is graphic and gory during some of the fight scenes.
This is one of those books that is intense. It will make you laugh and then have you grabbing the edge of your seat in anxiety; it will make you angry and it will make you cry. It is absolutely engrossing and it takes a good author to make all of these elements come together to evoke that sort of emotion.
I am not usually into political motivated books, but this one was just so well done and combined elements of zombies, action, etc into serious issues so well that I loved it. The writing is very well done and easy to read. The plot is presented in such a way that it is complex, but easy enough to keep track of the plot elements.
The ending broke my heart, but everything was tied up nicely and left us at a good point for the next book. Just a warning; do not read the extras at the end of the book unless you want some major spoilers exposed to you. Seriously read the extras after the book.
Overall, just an absolutely excellent zombie book with elements of mystery, action, and political thriller. This book should appeal to a large audience; everyone should give this book a read it is absolutely engaging and you won’t be disappointed. The violence does get extremely graphic so I would recommend for older young adults and adult readers only.
This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
– Horror and Urban Fantasy Challenge
– 100+ Reading Challenge
– Zombies! Reading Challenge
