Dynamic characters and a consistently brisk plot energize this ongoing series.
O’Connell’s postapocalyptic horror sequel centers on survivors of a zombie apocalypse who band together as battles with the undead rage on.
In a world full of virally infected flesh-eaters, Charlie Billingsworth finds temporary refuge at sea. He and fellow survivors Kalila Trout and kids Trey and Ellie sail south along the East Coast or the United States. They can’t stay offshore forever, though, and they ultimately settle in Fort Morgan, where hundreds of people live in presumed safety. The culture there is akin to the military, with people bunking in tents, a colonel at the helm, and recruits for scavenging groups undergoing serious training. However, Fort Morgan isn’t as secure as many believe, which is especially evident after someone inexplicably goes missing. Regardless, Kalila wants it to be a new, stable home for herself, Trey, and Ellie; she’d like Charlie to stay, too, but he’d rather keep moving. A scientist’s all-channels radio message, claiming that she has a cure for the virus, may be Charlie’s excuse to leave—but will he ever return to his new family? O’Connell sets an impressive pace in this sophomore series installment, with scenes that zero in on developing his distinctive characters; Charlie drinks heavily after losing someone close, for instance, and Ellie smartly uses her “mindpowers” (which include telepathy) as little as possible. Quieter scenes are mixed with frenzied attacks of the “Infected,” who could easily cause major trouble if they assembled in force outside the fort walls. Exhilarating zombie fights ensue, with Charlie and Kalila showcasing skills they’ve honed; meanwhile, Trey itches to prove himself, and some members of the vibrant cast sadly fall. The story connects seamlessly to the events of the preceding book, including further signs of frighteningly intelligent zombies. Although there’s some resolution at the end, it’s clear that more sequels are in the works.
Dynamic characters and a consistently brisk plot energize this ongoing series.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Oct. 9, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
Have tissues ready as you read this. A small package will do.
A love story about a life of second chances.
In Nassau, in the Bahamas, casino detective Vincent LaPorta grills Alfie Logan, who’d come up a winner three times in a row at the roulette table and walked away with $2 million. “How did you do it?” asks the detective. Alfie calmly denies cheating. You wired all the money to a Gianna Rule, LaPorta says. Why? To explain, Alfie produces a composition book with the words “For the Boss, to Be Read Upon My Death” written on the cover. Read this for answers, Alfie suggests, calling it a love story. His mother had passed along to him a strange trait: He can say “Twice!” and go back to a specific time and place to have a do-over. But it only works once for any particular moment, and then he must live with the new consequences. He can only do this for himself and can’t prevent anyone from dying. Alfie regularly uses his power—failing to impress a girl the first time, he finds out more about her, goes back in time, and presto! She likes him. The premise is of course not credible—LaPorta doesn’t buy it either—but it’s intriguing. Most people would probably love to go back and unsay something. The story’s focus is on Alfie’s love for Gianna and whether it’s requited, unrequited, or both. In any case, he’s obsessed with her. He’s a good man, though, an intelligent person with ordinary human failings and a solid moral compass. Albom writes in a warm, easy style that transports the reader to a world of second chances and what-ifs, where spirituality lies close to the surface but never intrudes on the story. Though a cynic will call it sappy, anyone who is sick to their core from the daily news will enjoy this escape from reality.
Have tissues ready as you read this. A small package will do.Pub Date: Oct. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9780062406682
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: July 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2025
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
A grim yet gleefully gratifying tale of lost innocence and found family.
A woman fears she made a fatal mistake by taking in a blood-soaked tween during a storm.
High winds and torrential rain are forecast for “The Middle of Nowhere, New Hampshire,” making Casey question the structural integrity of her ramshackle rental cabin. Still, she’s loath to seek shelter with her lecherous landlord or her paternalistic neighbor, so instead she just crosses her fingers, gathers some candles, and hopes for the best. Casey is cooking dinner when she notices a light in her shed. She grabs her gun and investigates, only to find a rail-thin girl hiding in the corner under a blanket. She’s clutching a knife with “Eleanor” written on the handle in black marker, and though her clothes are bloody, she appears uninjured. The weather is rapidly worsening, so before she can second-guess herself, former Boston-area teacher Casey invites the girl—whom she judges to be 12 or 13—inside to eat and get warm. A wary but starving Eleanor accepts in exchange for Casey promising not to call the police—a deal Casey comes to regret after the phones go down, the power goes out, and her hostile, sullen guest drops something that’s a big surprise. Meanwhile, in interspersed chapters labeled “Before,” middle-schooler Ella befriends fellow outcast Anton, who helps her endure life in Medford, Massachusetts, with her abusive, neglectful hoarder of a mother. As per her usual, McFadden lulls readers using a seemingly straightforward thriller setup before launching headlong into a series of progressively seismic (and increasingly bonkers) plot twists. The visceral first-person, present-tense narrative alternates perspectives, fostering tension and immediacy while establishing character and engendering empathy. Ella and Anton’s relationship particularly shines, its heartrending authenticity counterbalancing some of the story’s soapier turns.
A grim yet gleefully gratifying tale of lost innocence and found family.Pub Date: Oct. 7, 2025
ISBN: 9781464260919
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Poisoned Pen
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2025
SEEN & HEARD
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