Review: The weakest of the three books so far
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 04 13, 2014
I didn't expect to like these books - but after reading the free sample of "Shiv Crew" I got sucked into finishing the first book.Wasn't sure if I would continue - but again, after reading the free sample for the second book, I cared enough to want to finish 'Bite and Blood'.I was a bit disappointed with "Strange Trouble" - but non of the problems are bad enough that they couldn't be redeemed in the next book.*Spoilers*I have very mixed feelings about all the Zombie attacks.I liked that they lead Rune to have to reevaluate her 'I can't let any of my crew die' attitude.  My respect for Rune grew over her accepting Z's will over her own. -  that decision was tough and painful - but necessary to keep us caring about any of the team being in danger - since Rune won't just miraculously resurrect them no matter what.But then a lot of that character growth was lost when Rune convinces herself that she could have just released Z from slavishly having to follow her will and he would have been alright  - when that was only part of the problem he had with being brought back to life - and not even the biggest part, as Strad points out to her.the only reason I didn't throw up my hands in disgust a that point at her wallowing in self-pity over Z's final death, is the fact that the author made very sure to emphasize that Rune has so far refused to actually deal and come to terms with that whole mess (understandable - given everything else that was being thrown at her) and my hope that when she does, she will come to realize that Stard had a valid point.For those people arguing that the same should then apply to her saving of Lexi and Levi: neither of them actually died - just got very close to it.The further Zombie attacks on River county seemed almost pointless and gratuitous violence though - since they don't appear to have had any influence on the peoples' attitude towards Shiv Crew - in spite of them being the only thing that saves the county from mass-annihilation by the military in an effort to contain the spread of the Zombie infection.I found it hard to believe that all the people that cheered Rune as their protector even after she was revealed to be an 'Other' in book 2 suddenly turned into brainless fanatics. I'm hoping that, since we see story through Rune's eyes, we simply didn't get to see those people that don't actually let fear and prejudice overrule their common sense.In fact, the whole public and official reactions seem very confused and confusing.  Rice gets arrested and deposed as Chief of Police - yet stays  Head of RISC.The military goes scorched earth on the neighboring county because of the Zombies - but not only has no presence in River county - but they don't hang around in Rock county either to make sure they got all of them - enabling the SCoS to repair the Camp there enough to hold a well-attended Otherfight there within days of a major Zombie outbreak.I'm reserving judgement on the whole Strad/Rune/Owen thing.  I am not a fan of love triangles and have high hopes that this will not turn into one.After all, the story went to great lengths to show that Rune and Strad can be the ideal solution to each others problems with intimate relationships; and Rune (remembering what it did to her to walk in on Tina and Strad in book 2) refuses to give in to the temptation to fall into bed with Owen in that last scene in her hotel room.I was happy to see Amy being taken away as a tool for Rune to beat herself up with. Rune's habit of blaming herself for everything that goes wrong, was becoming a bit much. Having the 'rug of self-blame' pulled out from under her will hopefully help her to continue on the road to recovery she so bravely and admirably started by keeping her promise to Ellis when she sought professional help at the end of book one.I cheered when one of her Crew points out - that not going after the Church, because they are threatening to hurt the people they are holding, is stupid - because they will hurt them either way.  About time some learned the lesson they were taught by the whole Llodra disaster.Jeremy's half-brother's talk with Rune at the end was extremely creepy - and while I can see the point of showing how great of a temptation her old addiction to self-abuse is - I don't think I will be able to respect Rune if she actually breaks her word to Ellis and ends up back-sliding in spite of all the support she now has from her crew.In spite of the problems I had with this book I still care enough about Shiv Crew and Co to at least keep an eye out for the next book - which will hopefully be back up to the standard of the first two books