
Set 25 years after a zombie uprising, 'The Reapers are the Angels' follows Temple, a 15-year-old girl who navigates a post-apocalyptic world filled with zombies and dangers. Born into a world overrun by the dead, Temple is portrayed as tough and dangerous yet still harboring a sense of wonder. The plot revolves around Temple's journey through the deep South as she tries to survive, help others, and stay ahead of a man seeking vengeance. The writing style is described as literary, intelligent, contemplative, and characterized by old-fashioned zombie ass-kicking.
The book is praised for its well-rendered main character, Temple, who is depicted as a strong, pragmatic, and ultimately hopeful young woman in a dark and desperate world. The narrative is lauded for its character-driven approach, intriguing premise, and intricate plots that keep readers engaged. The novel is commended for its ability to blend elements of a zombie apocalypse story with literary fiction, offering a fresh take on the genre.
Genres:
Tropes/Plot Devices:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include graphic violence, themes of rape, and general horror elements that may be disturbing to some readers.
From The Publisher:
Zombies have infested a fallen America. A young girl named Temple is on the run. Haunted by her past and pursued by a killer, Temple is surrounded by death and danger, hoping to be set free.
For twenty-five years, civilization has survived in meager enclaves, guarded against a plague of the dead. Temple wanders this blighted landscape, keeping to herself and keeping her demons inside her heart. She can't remember a time before the zombies, but she does remember an old man who took her in and the younger brother she cared for until the tragedy that set her on a personal journey toward redemption.
Moving back and forth between the insulated remnants of society and the brutal frontier beyond, Temple must decide where ultimately to make a home and find the salvation she seeks.
"Alden Bell provides an astonishing twist on the southern gothic: like Flannery O'Connor with zombies." -Michael Gruber, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Air and Shadows
Ratings (4)
Loved It (2) | |
It Was OK (1) | |
Did Not Like (1) |
Reader Stats (28):
Read It (4) | |
Want To Read (18) | |
Not Interested (6) |
2 comment(s)
Everything I originally wanted to say about this book is covered in the blurbs. Southern gothic, Cormac McCarthy, William Faulkner (I'm glad someone else said that one first, because it feels like a bit of a stretch), drenched in gore. All of these things are awesome. To that, I would add that protagonist Temple has a dash of Lisbeth Salander, a pinch of River Tam, and a splash of Buffy Summers.
Which is not to say that
Reapers is derivative. On the contrary, I think it draws on this wide array of traditions while simultaneously creating its own world. Alden Bell creates a thick atmosphere - I say thick because the experience of reading it is so immersive, and the voice is so consistent. Really enjoyable, scary, bittersweet.
Unable to rate. That ending ...
sucked balls.
.
About the Author:
Alden Bell is a pseudonym for Joshua Gaylord, whose first novel, Hummingbirds, was released in Fall '09. He teaches at a New York City prep school and is an adjunct professor at The New School. He lives in New York City with his wife, the Edgar Award-winning mystery writer, Megan Abbott.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.