Review: Dark and Dramatic - A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 2, 2013
This is precisely what a post-apocalyptic novel should be like, and having read Verhoff's other work, I was intrigued to see some more back story in this prequel. I wasn't disappointed. Red is rough around the edges, and it is difficult to initially like him. In some ways, he is an anti-hero, forced into a role that he doesn't want to play as he deals with the staggering loss of everything he loves and values. However, as the book wears on, he becomes more comfortable with the idea of surviving, and there are sparks of hope in his character. I think the character development of Red is spectacular, and although a post-apocalyptic world is still "fiction" at the moment, readers can still relate to the pain of loss and the need to move forward in difficult circumstances.As much as this is an action-based book, it is still very much a philosophical musing that starts to ask big questions and tackle tough topics about sustainability, human nature, and the destructive power of industry and progress. I think watching a normal man move through a ravaged world with a head full of questions is a fascinating study on individuality and perseverance. I was enthralled by the book, and read it in a matter of days. My one complaint is that the plot was somewhat jerky, in the sense that Verhoff spent tons of time on detail in one moment, and then skipped over large, potentially gripping parts of the story in others, summarizing what could have been a few pages or even a chapter in little more than a sentence or two.Overall, I think this is an awesome book for people who enjoy futuristic, disaster novels, even zombie apocalypse fans will be pleased. I would also recommend reading Verhoff's other books as well, which will help to flesh out the world and make some of the content in this book easier to understand or relate to. I am looking forward to reading more of Verhoff's books as they become available, since the mastery of prose, character development, and situational tension is impressive and present on every page.