Review: slow to warm up, but rocking once it unfolds
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 31, 2014
It has been nine days since the outbreak began, and back at St. Mary's Hospital, without technology, patients are dying. Instead of being filled with harrowing battle scenes, Pestilence and Promise provides a different perspective on the zompoc. The zombies are just always there, waiting for survivors to slip up. There is no respite from the continuous threat. Also unlike many zombie tales, there are many survivors, some in more imminent danger than others. Unfortunately for Snake and his do-good biker clan, the survivors they encounter are of the shoot first and ask questions later variety.Eric wasn't reintroduced until a good chunk into the book. Since he provided an abundance of comic relief in the first book, this new release in the series has a more serious tone. While I mourn the loss of Erik's bumbling humor, a new bit of comedy is born between George and Dan...but mostly George. His sheltered personality shines through when pulled from his comfort zone and facing the great outdoors.In addition to following those maintaining the hospital stronghold, Pestilence and Promise provides a parallel account of the doctor and ex-soldier while they flee from the powers-that-be. These two are in possession of damning evidence of the plague's origin, and those responsible will stop at nothing to dispose of it.While I enjoyed the book, there is a large amount of story building, and the action isn't as fast-paced as I would have liked in the first half. A larger conspiracy is revealed; the origins of the plague, which adds a bit of intrigue to the plot. The story (and action) really begins to take hold in the second half of the book. With a book this long, it's difficult to maintain a forward momentum all the way through. In the case of Pestilence and Promise, I had to step away at times from the book and pick it up again later. But when I got over the hump, it was full speed ahead to the finish line.One of the things that makes this series so compelling is the juxtaposition between the normal world and a post-apocalyptic society. The story manages to blend both together. And through everything, survivors run the gambit of circumstances. Some may be trapped in a classroom, while others enjoy the sprawling landscape of the family farm. Additionally, I'm intrigued by the brother/sister author duo. I think it's a great hook. Both books in the series are worth picking up.