Title/Author: Feed, Deadline, and Blackout by Mira Grant
Publication Date/Publisher: –
Series: Yes, Newsflesh Trilogy
Source and Format: Own
Rating: 5 stars
From Goodreads (Feed Only):
The year was 2014. We had cured cancer. We had beaten the common cold. But in doing so we created something new, something terrible that no one could stop.
The infection spread, virus blocks taking over bodies and minds with one, unstoppable command: FEED. Now, twenty years after the Rising, bloggers Georgia and Shaun Mason are on the trail of the biggest story of their lives – the dark conspiracy behind the infected.
The truth will get out, even if it kills them
It’s not often you come across a series that is so consistently great. There are series that are great, with maybe a clunker book (or two), but the Newsflesh Series is completely 5 stars all the way through.
This is surprising to me based on the fact that, at first glance, this is a series about living in a world plagued by zombies. On top of that, they’re zombies created by scientists, so the science jargon and smarty pants terms are plentiful. What saves it is that the information is presented in a way that makes sense, even to those of us that don’t have a Ph.D. But still, zombies.
I’m not a horror person, so I definitely gave the zombie thing the side-eye. Luckily, these are not horror books. It’s a scary situation, true, but our heroes are smart and brave enough that we don’t worry about them until it’s too late.
I was extremely surprised at how emotional I became while reading. In the zombie apocalypse death is a given. Rising from the dead is almost a given, but can still surprise you. Underneath the zombie exterior, the Newsflesh Trilogy is very much about humanity, all different kinds of love and family, bravery, and sacrifice. I thought (several times) while reading yet another character giving up their lives to save their friends that I could never do that. I mean, maybe in a zombie infested life where I have to plan on dying every day.
The Newsflesh Trilogy is very Joss Whedon-y: supernatural/horror with humor. The most popular name is George, for George Romero, and it’s SO popular that even girls are named after him. In this series, we start with Shaun, Georgia (George), and Georgette (Buffy) at the center, with their merry band of misfits just on the outside. Every character feels very real and important and amazing and I just love them all so much.
I recommend binge reading. You won’t be able to NOT do it, so you might as well go into it knowing not to start unless you have all three books at your disposal.
(I read this series in February 2014…approximately 5 months before The Rising. That was pretty crazy, honestly. And I think Kellis Amberlee is a really pretty name.)
Paperback Heart 