Who Would Like This Book:
If you think the zombie apocalypse genre is dry, get ready for a surprise! This book takes the familiar trappings (undead hordes, ruined America) and weaves them into a raw, poetic, and character-driven journey. Temple, the teenage protagonist, is unlike any survivor you've met - tough as nails, wise beyond her years, and still able to see beauty in a devastated world. Readers who love literary horror, Southern Gothic vibes, or just crave something deeper than jump scares will find a lot to love here. If you admired The Road, True Grit, or anything that explores the human spirit in grim circumstances, you'll absolutely be absorbed by this one.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Not everyone’s going to be hooked. The lack of quotation marks in dialogue drives some readers up the wall, and the narrative style is more about mood and philosophy than pulse-pounding zombie action. If you look for rigorous world-building and airtight logic in your post-apocalypse tales, the unexplained plentiful gas and snacks 25 years in may stretch your suspension of disbelief. Some also found the violence, religious undertones, or the slow, sometimes meandering plot to be off-putting.
About:
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.
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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 (11)
Loved It (2) | |
Liked It (4) | |
It Was OK (3) | |
Did Not Like (2) |
Reader Stats (56):
Read It (11) | |
Want To Read (29) | |
Not Interested (16) |
3 comment(s)
A grim and confusing at times read.
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.
.
What can you read after
The Reapers are the Angels?
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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