Review: Tower in the Woods
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 19, 2013
This book was provided from the author for an honest review.I will begin my review by stating that zombie books aren't my usual fare. I am a paranormal romance girl to the core and zombies fall into the realm of science fiction for me. However, Ms. Quan crafted a story that feels more like an urban fantasy. The story is a nod to the Brothers Grimm fairytale, Rapunzel.Nel Zapur is a WITCH sniper who is stationed in an isolated tower with no way in or out. Nel vigilantly watches WITCH's borders and eliminates any zombie threat. Her life is simple -- kill zombies, read, and exercise. The only breaks in her extended isolation occur when WITCH's leader brings her supplies but that contact is at a distance and brief and fleeting. On one snowy evening, Dane Prince stumbles in the woods where the tower is located. Injured and pursued by zombies, Nel's tower is Dane's only salvation. Nel has never seen a man in her twenty-six years of existence. WITCH indoctrinates its soldiers to believe that all men are evil and that they are the cause of the zombie outbreak. Not sure what to do, Nel reluctantly helps Dane by allowing him to climb into her tower, using a most interesting kind of rope. Although Nel does not trust Dane, she is as attracted to him as he is to her. Their week together allows a simmering attraction to blaze brightly and the two find something that they never expected to find in the tower.............love.I enjoyed this story because of its difference from any other story that I've read. It was a fairytale with zombies and love. I didn't think anything like that could be done but Ms. Quan did a great job melding those elements together. Now, for the readers like me who just don't do zombies, never fear. Zombies were only a superficial element in this story. Neither character was a zombie and there was no weird inter-species bow-chicka-bow-wow going on. Both Nel and Dane are human and most of the story focuses on their budding relationship and Nel's introduction into womanhood. The story was both sweet and steamy and very enjoyable and unique.