Publisher: Harper Teen, 388 pages
Publication Date: July 24, 2012
From Goodreads:
The year is 1876, and there’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…
Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—
The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.
And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.
Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.
Review:
I really liked this book. Zombies controlled by a Necromancer, Spirit-Hunters, people getting their heads chopped off. And then you have Eleanor, who is independent (or at least wants to be), speaks her mind when she shouldn't (she's pretty feisty), and is sick of wearing corsets and listening to her mother talk about parties, dresses, and marrying someone. So when her brother is taken, she enters the world of the Spirit-Hunters, and realizes that there is a whole world out there where reputation isn't everything.
I liked Daniel, but I didn't feel as if I got to know him as much as I wanted to. There was some good bantering between he and Eleanor, but still...just wasn't feeling it too much. By the end, I was really starting to feel more of a connection with his character, so I think I will enjoy the next book even more.
Eleanor's mother really annoyed me. Her priorities were so mixed up; it was nice to see Eleanor finally standing up to her. Loved Jie and Joseph.
Clarence...oh, I was really starting to like him and then...(cannot say anymore).
The story was fast-paced and interesting. The big reveal isn't really a surprise, you could see that from way back, but it didn't really keep me from enjoying the book.
The end surprised me in two different ways. One, what happens to Eleanor physically (I can't remember another book where something like that happens). Two, what Daniel says (or doesn't say). I'm just not sure about how I feel about that yet.
I will be reading the next one, which comes out soon (so not too much waiting--yay!)
Posted by: Pam
I'm glad you liked it better than I did! I never fully connected with any of the characters, so I struggled with it. Aside from the last chapter, the last chapter was AWESOME! And I loved Jie :)
ReplyDeleteAnd lol, I also saw the big reveal coming from miles away, but knowing it does add an extra creep factor!
I can see what you mean about not connecting with the characters. I didn't feel like I got to know Daniel until the very end, and I was just beginning to like Clarence. ~Pam
DeleteGreat review! I always love a good zombie book, so I'll have to check this one out:)
ReplyDeleteThanks! Yeah, the whole necromancer thing is pretty creepy. ~Pam
DeleteI've heard really great things about this one (its author), and the fact that Susan Dennard and SJ Maas are very close crit partners, and that I enjoy Maas' novels makes me think I should try this one out.
ReplyDelete"And then you have Eleanor, who is independent (or at least wants to be), speaks her mind when she shouldn't (she's pretty feisty), and is sick of wearing corsets and listening to her mother talk about parties, dresses, and marrying someone."
Eleanor sounds like my kind of gal. Sorry that you weren't feeling the romance between Daniel and Eleanor until possibly the end, but maybe the sequel will improve on that for you.
"One, what happens to Eleanor physically (I can't remember another book where something like that happens). Two, what Daniel says (or doesn't say). I'm just not sure about how I feel about that yet."
This makes me very apprehensive. o.O
Hopefully the romance will be better in the second book. And it's so hard to write these reviews without spoiling things for people! So I have to keep it cryptic. If you end up reading it, let me know what you think. And I didn't know that about Dennard and Maas, but I absolutely loved Throne of Glass. ~Pam
DeleteGreat review. I am so glad you enjoyed this. I've heard good things about it. I'm not too crazy about zombie stories, although I do read them occasionally.
ReplyDeleteI'm not really a big zombie reader, either, but I did like it. I'll probably read the next one when it comes out on Tuesday since this one is still fresh (otherwise, I'll probably forget everything!) ~Pam
DeleteI thought the ending was so perfect (in a rip out your heart kind of way). I can't think of a book where something like that happens to the MC, either. At least not the first book of a series. Love this book and can't wait for the sequel. :)
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely a rip your heart out ending and that part of it really surprised me. I'll be reading the sequel tomorrow! ~Pam
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