Ruby's books: Blog Tour Book Review: Mad World: Sanctuary by Samaire Provost

Friday, February 1, 2013

Blog Tour Book Review: Mad World: Sanctuary by Samaire Provost

Author: Samaire Provost

Series: Mad World #2
Publisher: Creatspace
Release Date: August 30th 2012
My Rating: 5 cups
Source: copy received in exchange for my honest review
Blurb (from Goodreads):

The year is 2017, and the Black Plague infection has swept across most of the United States, leaving death and chaos in its wake. Martial law is the rule rather than the exception, with outbreaks cropping up when they're least expected. Alyssa and her friends must not only battle outbreaks of the disease, but also find themselves pursued by government agents – men and women determined to track them down at any cost.

Fleeing north to the fabled Sanctuary, Alyssa, Jacob, DeAndre, Caitlyn, Risa and Luke face disturbing ordeals and terrible tragedy as they encounter unbelievable situations in their struggle to reach safety. Using their skills and wits in their fight to survive against ever worsening odds, they weather hardship, betrayal, and the ever-present specter of death as they flee north, all the while vowing to protect one another – and most of all their precious 5-year-old Luke, from a world gone mad.

Sanctuary, the second installment in the Mad World series, is a heart-rending adventure of astonishing revelations, tragic discoveries, agonizing separations and devastating losses that test these friends to their limits. With heart-pounding, edge-of-your-seat suspense at every turn, this is a story you will not be able to put down.

Find out what happens next.

You know, I never thought I'd get excited about a book with zombies. I really didn't. Then I read Epidemic and I was like "zombies! wheee!". I know, it was a little weird :P

Sanctuary picks up five years after the events in Epidemic, with the old gang hiding and running and trying to stay alive. I like that it didn't pick up immediately after that and that we get to see how they grew up and how the plague actually affected the country on a longer period of time.

Like with Epidemic, I loved the pacing and Alyssa's voice. It's so easy being in her head and, another thing I never thought I'd say, I couldn't imagine reading the events from multiple, 3rd person POVs. I know, I shocked you :P

I loved the fact that there's always a sense of danger and that zombies can appear anywhere and at any time. Yes, sometimes someone you don't expect dies or gets turned, but it gives the book an air of realism. It's not all rainbows and pink, fluffy clouds. It's sad, bad and tragic, which is a very nice change from what I'm used to in dystopian.

All in all, it is a very good continuation of the story and I want to know what happens next with everyone, especially after...well, when you read the book, you'll see :D

Author Bio:

Born naked. Clothed and fed shortly thereafter by adoring parents who looked on in bemusement as their daughter became a reading, writing, free-spirited, feral, animal loving, bleeding-heart chocolate lover who laughs easily. Samaire Provost is a California writer of Young Adult novels. Her love of paranormal stories, odd plots, and unique tales as well as C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, E.A.Poe, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, and Stephen King has deeply influenced her writing.