Dead New World by Ryan Hill #YA #paranormal #zombies

Title: Dead New World
Author: Ryan Hill
Genre: YA paranormal (zombies)
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Available: Amazon $4.99 (Kindle)
Rating: 4 stars
Rater: Pippa 





Blurb:
Zombies aren’t mindless anymore. 

Before the world fell into chaos, zombies existed only in the imagination. Now, there’re more dead walking the earth than living. Zombies move about freely, while humans are forced behind concrete barricades to stay alive. 

A man known only as the Reverend has become a threat to the rebuilding United States. The leader of a powerful cult, the Reverend somehow controls the zombies, bending them to his will. He believes zombies are God’s latest creation, making humanity obsolete, and he wants to give every man, woman, and child the chance to become one. With the Horsemen of the Apocalypse, his army composed of both humans and zombies, he may well get his wish. 

Best friends Holt and Ambrose went up against the Reverend once. Holt lost a foot and a zombie bit Ambrose… though he didn’t completely turn. He survived the virus, only to become a human-zombie hybrid, reviled by the living and unwelcome among the dead. When the Reverend kidnaps the woman Holt loves, the race is on to save her from a fate worse than death. 

Holt and Ambrose must sacrifice everything to take down the Reverend and survive in this dead new world. But will they lose their souls in the process?

What I liked.
I have to start by saying I have limited experience with zombies of any kind. I'm not a fan of the traditional Hollywood-type zombie apocalypses, so a twist on that had more appeal for me and certainly worked in giving the story that extra edge. Ambrose fascinated me - the whole idea of a human-zombie hybrid. I loved the idea of the Reverend and the quasi-religious fanaticism. It's also rare to have a handicapped hero, and I felt this was done well (though not always entirely believable. However, in this scenario not even military can afford to turn down someone who can handle a gun despite the artificial limb proving the occasional setback, so it allowed the possibility). While part of the world building was fairly standard post apocalyptic, the idea of the zombie colony (like a leper colony) was interesting, and the idea of tying in the apocalypse with zombies in a more SF type end of the world than a paranormal rising of the dead kind. I did feel the author had the voice right for YA.

What I didn't like.
I didn't much like or empathize with Holt, and emotionally speaking the story fell a little flat...until near the end. Then *spoilers* wham! Prepare to have your heart ripped out and stomped on! In my mind, Ambrose was more of the hero than Holt, and I would rather have seen it told at least partially from his POV (but maybe I'm biased toward a zombie hero after Warm Bodies). The story did drag a bit between action scenes - a little more trimming down on wordage or being more visceral would have picked up the pace somewhat.

In conclusion.
If you like the traditional zombie shoot-em-up but want extra and/or a different twist on it, this will satisfy you on both levels, and hopefully appeal to traditional zombie fans and those who might not normally pick up a zombie book. Those who like more emotional impact might find this a bit lacking. Although the story was complete, it left an opening for a sequel (which I would love to read). 

Partials by Dan Wells

Title: Partials (Partials Sequence #1) 
Author: Dan Wells
Genre: YA Scifi/Dystopia
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Available: $8.99 (paperback) at Amazon
Rating: 4.5 stars
Rater: Pippa



 
From the publisher:

The human race is all but extinct after a war with Partials—engineered organic beings identical to humans—has decimated the population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by RM, a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island while the Partials have mysteriously retreated. The threat of the Partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to RM in more than a decade. Our time is running out.

Kira, a sixteen-year-old medic-in-training, is on the front lines of this battle, seeing RM ravage the community while mandatory pregnancy laws have pushed what's left of humanity to the brink of civil war, and she's not content to stand by and watch. But as she makes a desperate decision to save the last of her race, she will find that the survival of humans and Partials alike rests in her attempts to uncover the connections between them—connections that humanity has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew were there.

What I liked:

Although I didn’t connect that well with the main character, I admired her determination and drive, and a surprising maturity considering her youth. Her somewhat naive faith in her ability to cure a disease that no adult had managed turned out to be correct, and my inner teenage self cheered her success. After a slow start, the action didn’t stop and provided an interesting conflict, intriguing characters and a couple of twists – one not that surprising, the other very much so. I didn’t find this anywhere near as whiny and full of teenage angst as a lot of YA I’ve read – I felt the teens all had damn good reason to protest life was unfair!

What I didn't like:


The beginning was slow and dragged, to the point I almost wanted to quit. There was too much repetition -- I felt the whole Partials war, plague, and the details of the RM virus had been engraved into my memory the number of times they were mentioned, something that an editor should have picked up on. It all seemed to go round in circles, and even though it spelled the end of humanity, I didn’t really feel the impact emotionally. I was close to not caring if they all died out.

In conclusion:

So why, despite being things I didn't like, did this still rate 4.5 stars? Because I really enjoyed the story. I'll forgive certain flaws in a book if the overall story is compelling enough, and from the fact that I'm keen to read the sequel. The twists at the end definitely hooked me to read the next. YA without a lot of the irritating angst, and dystopian without being 'we're all going to die'. Recommended.

Wherewolves by John Vamvas and Olga Montes

Title: Wherewolves
Author: John Vamvas and Olga Montes
Genre: YA/Horror/Social Commentary
Publisher: Self/Amazon (February 17, 2013)
Available: $2.99 at Amazon
Rating: 4 stars
Rater: Dihanna


From the publisher:

The underdogs, Jeffrey and Doris, do not want to go as they fear for their safety among the disdain and cruelty of the popular students. Sergeant Tim O’Sullivan, their teacher, as well as their dysfunctional parents pressure them into going, but it is an unforgivable act by their peers that propels the pair to go. Likewise, Elie, a student resented because of his Arab roots, is even more determined to prove himself this weekend. In the background, a news report cautions of a wanted couple with alleged super-human strength supposedly brought on by a new drug on the streets.

In the woods, the students hike, hunt, camp, and soon act in unity as the forest brings them closer together. But does it? O’Sullivan leaves them alone for the night. The students bond, chant, tell campfire tales, and quickly lose their fears and inhibitions. HOO-AH! Though sexual tensions are high, it soon turns to violence and everything quickly turns sour.

When the kids start disappearing one after the other, the remaining begin to unwittingly “act like the natives” carving spears, ready to face whatever is out there. What has gotten into them?

Amid the blood-curdling growls and the gruesome deaths, the story’s underlying layers are revealed. We see how misconceptions, prejudice, greed, fear, and hatred bring out the worst and best in us.

What is out there? Can it really be werewolves?


What I liked: This is a well written story, with crisp characters and a detailed, satisfying plot. The story moves, and keeps you entertained. It’s both horror and social commentary, and suggests a lot of bigger ideas that are worth contemplating.

What I didn’t like: Way, way too gory for me, and I would never let my teen read it.

In sum: If you like horror and YA, this will satisfy, but don't give it to your kids.

Paranormal Properties by Tracy Lane

Title: Paranormal Properties
Author: Tracy Lane
Genre: YA
Publisher: Pants on Fire Press (February 27, 2013)
Available: $2.99 at Amazon
Rating: 4 stars
Raters: Dihanna and Lauri


From the publisher:

The Weir family has just arrived in Dusk, North Carolina, one of the most haunted cities in America, to scope out some of the town’s 127 reported “paranormal properties,” which just happens to be the name of their own ghost hunting show: Paranormal Properties. What Jake Weir doesn’t know, and what his parents could never imagine, is that Jake can see ghosts! And hear them. And talk back to them! This talent comes in handy when he runs into Dusk’s oldest, most famous ghost: Frank Barrone, a one-time lounge singer made famous by his booze-soaked ballad, “Barroom Eyes.”

Frank was gunned down by a local mobster in 1951 and has been searching for his killer ever since. When he learns that Jake can see and hear him, Frank makes young Jake a deal: if Jake will help Frank find his killer, Frank will help his parents find a ghost to film for their upcoming Halloween Special on Public Access TV. Jake enlists the only friend he’s made in Dusk, an overweight tomboy nicknamed “Tank,” to help him track down Frank’s killer. As clues emerge and old leads heat up, Frank and Jake learn they make quite a team. But will Jake find Frank’s killer? And will Frank find a real haunted house in time for the Halloween special?


What I liked: I thought the book was so wonderfully cute, and that I just loved all the characters in it. Frank, the ghost, is looking for his body and finds a friend in the only person who can see him - Jake. I love the compassion Frank shows for Jake, and how he helps his ghosthunter parents. Gotta say I dearly love Tank (though see my caveat below) and was glad Jake and his family took her in. Lots of good messages here. With the one exception noted below, I found the book well written and a joy to read.

What I didn’t like: I don’t like the “overweight” word, and I am especially unhappy at its employment in literature to stigmatize a person, especially – especially! – in children’s books. I strongly recommend that the author read up on how damaging stigmatizing fat people, especially children, is and how that stance damages, sometimes permanently, the self esteem of children, which causes problems ranging from eating-disordered behavior to suicide. (Besides, we should not be equating "fat" with "unhealth," and teaching that critical thinking begins in childhood.) I recommend the wealth of information at NAAFA and HAES to the author, and anyone who wonders at this topic.

In sum: A fun book for kids, but watch for the pitfalls listed above -- and talk to your kids about these issues in this and every book.

The Rescue Team by Billi Tiner

Title: The Rescue Team
Author: Billi Tiner
Genre: YA/Animal Fiction
Publisher: Self (July 26, 2012)
Available: $2.99 at Amazon
Rating: 5+ stars
Rater: Lauri

From the publisher:

Ellie is shocked and confused when her owners leave her at the animal shelter. Feeling abandoned and unloved, Ellie spends her days staring vacantly through the gate of her pen. Ellie’s life changes when she is finally adopted by a compassionate woman named Anne. Ellie and Anne form an unbreakable bond of love and friendship. A thunderstorm drives Toby, a young frightened kitten, to Anne’s porch. Anne and Ellie immediately welcome him into their family. One night, they hear an emergency broadcast announcement that a little girl is missing in the woods near their home. Anne, Ellie, and Toby join in the search to find her, and an incredible rescue team is formed. The team will be called upon again when a tornado tears through their town. Will they find any survivors?

What I liked: This is a book that should be on every child’s bookshelf. In it, a child can explore some tough and scary situations inside the safe medium of a story, and her parents can be certain the story tells her the right things. In these pages, a couple of abandoned animals find their way to Anne, whose heart is as big as the world. Sometimes things are hard, but this adoptive family learns to stick together, and their love truly saves the day. (And best of all, my son loves this story.)

What I didn’t like:  Not one thing.

In sum: Buy this for your kids - today. It’s a must-have. And if you read my reviews, you know I almost never say that.

The Last King of Shambhala by Daniel Grant Newton

Title: The Last King of Shambhala
Author: Daniel Grant Newton
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Self (March 6, 2012)
Available: $5.15 at Barnes and Noble
Rating: 5 stars
Rater: Dihanna

From the publisher:

Asgard Kingdom, 10,000 years ago...

Odin is in search of a thief – Idun's apples are missing, and without them the gods are, well, no longer 'godly'.

Europe, 1942...

A gorgeous Russian spy, a British psychic spy wannabe, and an other-worldly mystery man must work together to find and destroy the Nazis' secret 'mind weapon' before it's too late.

Australia, Present Day...

A school kid with an attitude problem and a questionable attendance record, finds himself between two worlds. One moment he's getting into fights at school, the next he is in a strange world with a talking monkey, a Beserker with a much-too-healthy ego, and a strange girl that channels a Moon Demon – sorry, a Moon Djinn.

... Confused? So is Matt Damon, an amnesic man (named after the movie star), found close to death in the Himalaya Mountains by a Nepalese family. Yearning to remember his past, he is given a book that interweaves these three stories, with the promise they will all piece together to reveal his identity.

Embark on a new kind of journey of myth, fantasy, love and... well, peculiarity.

What I liked: Wow! This was so much like The Never Ending Story, and it, too, never ends. And so what else can I say except that I loved it. The characters are loveable, and real, and I just kept turning the pages, long after I should have gone to bed. The story rolls along, pulling you with it. And far too soon it’s over.

What I didn’t like: It was, at times, a little hard to follow, and that did detract from the story.

In sum: An absolute must-read. Must.

Heart of a Hero by Billi Tiner

Title: Heart of a Hero
Author: Billi Tiner
Genre: YA/Animal
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (February 28, 2012)
Available: $2.99 at Amazon
Rating: 5 stars
Rater: Lauri

From the author:

Lady, an Irish Setter puppy, is leading a simple life on a farm in Ohio during the 1940’s. Lady’s biggest desire is to become an expert hunting dog like her mother. She has no idea that her life is going to take her down a path where she will find herself in the middle of incredibly dangerous situations, including a world war. On several occasions, Lady will have to find the courage to risk her life in order to save someone she loves. The loyalty and bravery that Lady shows throughout her lifetime illustrate what it truly means to have the heart of a hero.

What I liked: Ms. Tiner’s second adventure story is just too cute. And the story really moves. This dog truly is the hero – she goes from situation to situation, and sometimes things are very sad. She carries on, keeps loving, and does her very best. It’s a story about some of the most important things that help makes us – dogs and people – good.

What I didn’t like: Neither my son nor I liked the dog’s name. It’s just too trite. Maybe Jenny, or Oya?

In sum: One for all animal-loving kids, and grown-ups who like this genre.