Tuesday, November 06, 2012

Review: Deadline by Mira Grant

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Deadline
Mira Grant
Series: Newsflesh Trilogy, #2
Publication date: June 1st 2011
by Orbit

 

Shaun Mason is a man without a mission. Not even running the news organization he built with his sister has the same urgency as it used to. Playing with dead things just doesn’t seem as fun when you’ve lost as much as he has.

But when a CDC researcher fakes her own death and appears on his doorstep with a ravenous pack of zombies in tow, Shaun has a newfound interest in life. Because she brings news-he may have put down the monster who attacked them, but the conspiracy is far from dead.

Now, Shaun hits the road to find what truth can be found at the end of a shotgun.

This review contains no spoilers of either Deadline or Feed

One fine if not perfect installment in the Newsflesh Trilogy, Mira Grant brings us yet again into the lives of some of the most amazingly compelling character, in a terrifyingly real zombie apocalypse setting, with some dire happenings on the horizon.

This time, it’s Shaun that we get the pleasure to know even better, as he is the narrator of this sequel. After the events in Feed, Shaun is undergoing some very severe PTSD and mental instabilities. Let me tell you, this makes for some fascinating character development. I was absolutely taken by his situation. The prison he makes himself in his mind shows us how humans cope with certain traumas and I though it was especially well done and very… sad; however, underneath it all, somehow, it’s also beautiful.

The many characters walking alongside Shaun are not thrown under the bus as far as character building. Every single one has a place in my heart. Their personalities are solid, distinct. Their emotional states are palpable. They are not characters anymore, these are people that took me with them and made me a part of their journey.

I was consumed by terror from the many intense events that occur in this novel. But, like the first, don’t think this novel is about the zombies. Its setting is decades after the zombies came. Now they live, they survive, and they have been surviving for so long that the zombies are a way of life for them. Thus, the book involves zombies, sure, but don’t expect The Walking Dead. The terror is not from zombies, the terror is from a messed up, crooked, twisted government that has it out for this particular team of bloggers. It’s from finding out more and more disturbing secrets and manipulations from these “leaders”. The zombies, they simply give off a constant worrying tone; you know they’re lurking, and could be waiting for you at every turn. Isn’t the unknown the biggest fear of all?

From non stop action to immense characterization, Deadline was even better than its predecessor–which very rarely happens in my experience. The details are raw, vivid, inside a world that is extremely well built. Mira obviously has done her research to all the minute details, turning this book into the most realistic zombie fiction I have come across, yet. And yes, there is a cliffhanger, and it will change your life! (Not really, but close!)

5 Smokin’ Hot Espressos
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Giselle

Canadian blogger, wife, mother, coffee lover, and sarcastic at heart! She has had a love for all things bookish since before Amazon and eReaders existed *le gasp*. You can also find her organizing tours and other fun things at Xpresso Book Tours.

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27 Responses to “Review: Deadline by Mira Grant”

  2. Amy

    This sounds so good. I still need to read the first one. ( I have it, I just suck.) I may get it from the library actually because they have the audio and I can fit an audiobook in easier.

  3. Jenni @ Alluring Reads

    I totally need to get to reading this series. I love how the characters are so developed and that it’s not just about zombie gore. You make them sound absolutely amazing. I have Feed so I think I will be giving it a go soon. Great review hot stuff!

  5. Christina

    Yay! You loved it. I was afraid that I wouldn’t like this one as much, but I ended up liking this one better than Feed too. Mira Grant is my favorite ever. This series is definitely among my very favorite books. I think I could get kind of mean to people who don’t like them.

    So I’m glad you love them too! Or I would have to hate you. And that would be sad.

  7. Jennifer Messerschmidt

    I’ve been really wanting to read the first book in this series. I love zombie books but don’t end up reading enough of them. Great to hear is is full of great action and characters. I do find it rare to like the second book better than the first.

  8. Nick

    I really need to check out this series considering you’re not the only reviewer raving on and on about Grant’s fascinating series!
    World-building is really important for me and this sounds like it has a solid world building!
    Plus, you mentioned how it could change my life, so I better read it!
    Great review, Giselle! 🙂

  9. Jenn Renee

    I need to check this series out. I love all the zombie books that are coming out. I love the covers.
    Lately the zombie books I have read seemed to have veered from the horror and supsense. So these may be just what I need. Awesome review.

  13. kimbacaffeinate

    hehehe..it is so good to read reviews for this series, especially since I’ve read them..love your excitement and totally agree! Mira Grant rocks! I remember reading the ending and thinking I would die for book three..and i had to wait a year for it…ahhhhhhhhhh! At least you can read it right away..and oh yeah book three is good! O.o and so is the novella..eep a must read..you I know will love it 🙂

  14. Megan K.

    I really MUST read Mira Grant’s FEED soon! The whole series definitely sounds creative and intriguing – sort of like THIS IS NOT A TEST, in the sense that it’s a zombie book, but it isn’t about zombies.

    So glad to hear that you enjoyed the sequel just as well as the first book, though! That rarely happens, TBH. 😛 Brilliant review, Giselle!

  18. Melliane

    I know I know, I really need to start this series, we even have it in French, I’m so ashamed. I’m curious to read the first book mainly when I know I love all the books by this author!

  21. Shooting Stars Mag

    Woo…sounds like one amazing novel. I’m so glad it was even better than the first! That really does rarely happen, so always good to know. Been meaning to read these for a long time now. Guess I need to get on it!

    -Lauren

  22. Jesse Burgoyne

    Feed was a little slow for me, but I’m so in love with Shaun! I definitely plan on finishing this series soon. I really enjoyed how Grant set this eerie, suspensful atmosphere with the zombies and I hope there’s more of that and less politicking in Deadline. Great review 🙂

    Jesse @ Pretty In Fiction

  24. Book Sp(l)ot

    I’m really happy to see a review for a book in this series. I kind of noticed when these first came out, but not really. Since then I’ve been wondering about them but haven’t been sure – I think I’m going to have to find some time to read them, though.

    Thanks for the review.

  26. Lizzy

    I haven’t checked out this series yet, but I’m happy to hear that the books keep getting better and better. I’m definitely going to add this to my to-be-read list. Thanks for the review!