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The Reapers are the Angels

Book 1 in the series:Reapers

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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.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, especially Temple, who embodies strength and vulnerability while navigating a devastating world.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is lyrical and poetic, with vivid imagery, though it may come across as overly elaborate at times and lacks traditional dialogue punctuation.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around Temple's survival in a post-apocalyptic world filled with zombies and hostile humans, exploring themes of identity, survival, and moral ambiguity.

Setting:

The setting is a decaying Southern landscape post-zombie apocalypse, providing a vivid backdrop for themes of survival and despair.

Pacing:

The pacing varies, with moments of introspection interspersed with intense encounters, creating a rhythm that's both contemplative and suspenseful.
Like those fish all disco-lit in the shallows. That was something, a marvel with no compare that she’s been witness to. It was deep night when she saw it, but the moon was so bright it cast hard shado...

Notes:

The Reapers Are the Angels is a post-apocalyptic story set in a world overrun by zombies, referred to as "slugs" or "meatskins."
The protagonist, Temple, is a teenage girl who was born after the zombie apocalypse began.
Temple is tough and carries a Gurkha knife, contrasting with the expectations of being a typical teenage girl.
The narrative style is reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy's works, with a poetic and lyrical approach to the writing.
The story explores deep philosophical themes, including morality, the nature of humanity, and survival in a harsh world.
Temple's character development reflects her struggles with guilt, self-identity, and the harsh realities of her world.
There is a subplot involving Temple's interactions with a mentally impaired man named Maury, whom she tries to protect.
While zombies are a constant threat, the novel focuses more on human relationships and moral dilemmas.
Despite the bleak setting, the novel contains moments of beauty and hope, as seen through Temple's eyes.
The lack of quotation marks in dialogue is a distinctive stylistic choice by the author, making conversations sometimes harder to follow.

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)

Loved It
2 months

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.

 
It Was OK
3 months

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.

 
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