Series Review: Newsflesh

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.)

Coffee Talk: Authors With Multiple Names

(Disclaimer: I wrote this several weeks ago, so while my thoughts still apply, my main point may seem a little behind the times.)

 

If you haven’t already heard, Katie Finn is Morgan Matson and she is the reason for today’s Coffee Talk.

I, for one, am not crazy about all these authors using different names. If I like your books, I want to be able to find more of your books. This is quite a departure from Second Chance Summer, Since You’ve Been Gone, and Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour, so I can’t help but think authors are trying to keep their fans from their work, especially if some of it might be deemed inferior.

When I don’t like it: It makes a little bit of sense to me when the author goes the NA route, like Diana Peterfreund or Veronica Rossi (for example) have done. I appreciate that they made big announcements saying they were publishing books under other names so the information was accessible. Not like with Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things To Mend where it was like a big guessing game until you went to Katie Finn’s goodreads page or website and it was obviously a picture of Morgan Matson. She has written several books under that name that I’ve never heard of, and now I have no inclination to read them because of my feelings towards Broken Hearts.

Another, and perhaps most recognizable, example is Jennifer Armentrout, or J. Lynn, Jennifer L. Armentrout, or whatever other combination of names she writes under. She puts her full name WITH the alias, so I’m extremely perplexed as to WHAT IS EVEN THE POINT of that. I’ve read one of her books and I didn’t much care for it so I would not be interested in reading her other books under her other names – even the much fawned over Lux series.

The Seanan McGuire/Mira Grant Conundrum: Because I’m only familiar with the Mira Grant titles, I have no desire to read Seanan McGuire’s work under that name because there’s got to be a reason to keep the work separate right? Even if it’s well known that they’re the same person, I feel like it’s taking too big a chance. If they all the work was similar in scope and style and terrificness (I LOOOOVED Newsflesh series and tore through last years Parasite), they would all be under the same name.

I mean, if Neil Gaiman started producing works under an alias, I would still read the crap out of them. As it is, he writes adult books, graphic novels, middle grade, AND children’s books all under one name. It’s name that carries more weight in the publishing world than others mentioned, but it’s easy to find – if not easy to sort through such a collection.

I’m interested in what other people think about this. What do you like or dislike about authors using multiple names? Would an alias stop you from reading your favorite author?

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I’ve Read This So Far This Year

This week, The Broke and the Bookish is asking for the Top Ten Books I’ve read this year – so far. I’ve read a lot of really great books so far, and I hope that continues!

1. Newsflesh Trilogy – I just found a series review I wrote and never posted – oops!
2. CRESSSSS
3. The Falconer
4. The Girl of Fire and Thorns Trilogy
5. Ask the Passengers
6. Open Road Summer
7. Pointe
8. Far From You
9. Noggin
10. Dreams of Gods and Monsters