Review: Good book. Recommended for zombie fans and others.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 5, 2012
Book Review: The Reanimates (The Complex) by J RudolphReviewed by J Bryden LloydWriting Style - 3.5/5.0 (Good)I think you have to consider that this is a debut novel by an inexperienced author, as well as the fact that it is written in first person, but even so, the narrative is nicely constructed and it does serve to pull the reader along at a reasonable pace.There were a handful of places within the book, where the style felt much more considered and this was usually where a lot of things were happening together, but alongside the general structure, the dialogue was very nicely built and used to convey a lot about the characters.If anything, I felt the weakest part was the prologue, which, although it served to set the scenes for the start of the story, felt awkward and hurried, as if it were more an afterthought than part of the story.Character Development - 4.5/5.0 (Excellent)This was a very likable set of characters with an array of varied character flaws and issues which made a lot of things far more realistic in the story. Almost all of the key characters develop throughout the story, though a few seem to be passed by.Those who do get the benefit of development work well into the plot and contribute massively to the directions of the twists and turns as the story progresses.Descriptive -4.0/5.0 (Very Good)In general, the descriptive is vivid and often very detailed. I did feel nicely drawn into the story, easily visualising the locations and the interactions of the characters. Yes, there was the odd occasion where I struggled to think my way through what I was being expected to see, only to have more information provided later which assisted in the completion of the picture the author was trying to create. This was not an issue for the enjoyment of the story, but on those few occasions, it did slow the process a little more than I expected.Language & Grammar - 4.0/5.0 (Very Good)This book could easily be read by younger readers, though the graphic scenes involving the zombies and their attacks are possibly a little too much for some. The use of language and some of the word selection has a tendency to fluctuate across age-groups and reading levels, though to be honest, these are not common issues and, generally, I would be surprised if anyone really struggled to read this.Plot - 4.5/5.0 (Excellent) - MINOR SPOILERSI mentioned the prologue earlier, but I have to say that it really doesn't do the story the justice it deserves. Once you get into the story proper, the book shows a far more comfortable side to the author and as the plot settles, the reader is pulled into a world of fear and worry, made more real by the way the characters are drawn and utilised.The story takes a slightly different twist on how a group of people survive a zombie apocalypse. Along the way they have to learn to adapt to a variety of challenges that serve only to make their lives more complicated, and just as you think things are turning in their favour, a new twist develops to create bigger and more complicated problems for them.General - 4.0/5.0 (Very Good)I am aware I have read a first edition, and that the author has already released an update with many corrections. This being the case, I have not been over-critical on some of the errors I found which included some missing and misplaced words.I still feel this would benefit greatly from a clean-up edit and possibly an additional proof-read, but I did find this to be a very accomplished and nicely balanced story. The characters are all seen from one perspective, as the author keeps everything in first person and makes the story work well within those limits.As there is to be a sequel, I can assure you I will be waiting to read it, despite this not really falling into my preferred genre. This book offered far more than just zombies eating people and people fighting back. There is a very human element to the whole story and the reader feels compelled to want the good guys to get through the story and for the inevitable rescue to come... I'll leave you to find out how that pans out, but if you take a chance on this book, I'm sure you will enjoy the ride.A nicely deserved 4 stars.