The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I know what you’re thinking: yay, another zombie book. Yes and no.

The Girl with All the Gifts takes an interesting look into the world of the walking/shambling/running/sprinting dead by making one of “them” (quotes because again yes and no, but I won’t spoil it) a main character (I use “a” because this is a multi-POV work, which is a whole ‘nother post). It also avoids the oh-so-common reanimating virus angle, but barely, basing the contagion on a fungus that gained popularity a few years ago for the crazy crap it does to ants (Google it). It does suffer from a few tropes, though, including ‘We’re safe in our base oh no the base has been overrun!’, ‘Scientists are jerks!’, and ‘This idea will probably get us eaten but I’m going to do it anyway because she’s not a monster dammit!’ (see flair gun). Still, I enjoyed the book. It has good pacing and writing (though a little tell-y), the concept is original enough to not make me roll my eyes, and the details of the ending were a cool surprise.

Thing I liked most – Melanie (and the other children). I wish the book was told from her POV only.

Thing I hated – I’m kind of over head hopping, especially when it involves characters I’m not supposed to like (and don’t).

View all my reviews