Author: T. Michael Martin
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Pages: 369, Hardcover
Source: Library
Source: Library
It happened on Halloween.
The world ended.
And a dangerous Game brought it back to life.
Seventeen-year-old Michael and his five-year-old brother, Patrick, have been battling monsters in The Game for weeks.
In the rural mountains of West Virginia, armed with only their rifle and their love for each other, the brothers follow Instructions from the mysterious Game Master. They spend their days searching for survivors, their nights fighting endless hordes of “Bellows”—creatures that roam the dark, roaring for flesh. And at this Game, Michael and Patrick are very good.
But The Game is changing.
The Bellows are evolving.
The Game Master is leading Michael and Patrick to other survivors—survivors who don’t play by the rules.
And the brothers will never be the same.
The world ended.
And a dangerous Game brought it back to life.
Seventeen-year-old Michael and his five-year-old brother, Patrick, have been battling monsters in The Game for weeks.
In the rural mountains of West Virginia, armed with only their rifle and their love for each other, the brothers follow Instructions from the mysterious Game Master. They spend their days searching for survivors, their nights fighting endless hordes of “Bellows”—creatures that roam the dark, roaring for flesh. And at this Game, Michael and Patrick are very good.
But The Game is changing.
The Bellows are evolving.
The Game Master is leading Michael and Patrick to other survivors—survivors who don’t play by the rules.
And the brothers will never be the same.
I tried guys, I really did. I just... I can't. I can't. And here's why:
1. I had no idea what the hell was going on. Nope, not a clue. Are they playing a game or not? At first I was convinced they were. Then I got to page 61, and I was convinced they weren't. By page 110, I don't have the damnedest idea. And...
2. What the hell? Ok, so they are running from zombies. {Got it.}They are trying to get to the Safe Zone. {Ok I am still with you.} They come across Zombie worshiping religious folk. {Umm...what?} A scary looking man arrives in a hot air balloon to save the day. {Did you just say hot air balloon? Yeah, you lost me.}This is all just bizarre and I have better things to do with my time then mentally prepare myself for whatever ridiculous and unbelievable thing the author had planned next.
3. I hated the writing. It was choppy and immature and confusing. And it wasn't just when he was talking to his 5 year old brother, his internal dialogue was the same. It was hard to follow, and extremely difficult to enjoy and it only enhanced my overall feeling of 'WTF'.
"Dang, she's so cool.
Dang, don't think that.
Dang, why?
Because of on account of this being the most horrible time to get a crush on a girl.
Oh. Right. Daaaang."
4. I just. don't. care. I literally had zero desire to keep reading. Let me guess - they find the safe zone after a few battles with some Bellows or Zeds or whatever. Maybe some secondary character that I don't have any connection with dies. And I'm going to guess that they find their mom because everyone loves happy endings and shit. But if this happens or not - makes no difference to me.
I feel like I was reading a different book, because I am usually not super critical and quite a few people enjoyed this... like 4 stars enjoyed this. I can appreciate that Michael would do anything to keep his brother safe. That's commendable. But I can read a book that doesn't drive me bonkers to feel a touching relationship between brothers.
Maybe it's me. I don't know. But yeah.. that's why I opted to not finish and pick up a book I actually give a crap about.
