This is a very short book, I read it in 15 min. It's meant for teens who read at a low level.

I definitely got Goosebumps vibes. I liked it! For a short read, it was good. I would have liked more substance, add more meat to it, but it was still enjoyable.

This author really has something going and I would love to see more! Goosebumps were a favorite growing up, so having something similar for this newer generation is fantastic.

I really did not know what I was going to get into with “The Ooze” by Tash McAdam. I liked the premise, however, and am always willing to give a new writer (new to me, at least) a try. It was a short story as well so what did I really have to lose.



Bran needed to get back and finish his homework but instead finds himself stuck in an elevator after taking out the garbage. His phone is not working. Then there is screaming. Bran does not know what is going on but it could not be good. Then it gets weird. He arrives home to find that his mother cannot remember his name and has black slime coming out of her ears. Next, she kills the cat. Bran finds himself on the run trying to figure out what is happening. The world seems to have gone crazy and only Bran and a couple teenagers are unaffected. With no clues and no idea what could be the cause behind the strange behavior, and only the black ooze as a common factor, Bran must figure out what has happened while there is still a world to save.



“The Ooze” looked interesting with its creepy cover and Invasion of the Body Snatchers premise but it largely failed to deliver. While it was quick and entertaining to a point, the story just was never able to grab my attention and draw me in. The story is written for young adults so I am not the target audience although I do enjoy young adult stories. “The Ooze” did pass the time and has some entertainment value but just seemed like a rehash of stories that have come before it with nothing new to add. To someone who is not as familiar with apocalyptic fiction as me, it may have more appeal. But while I enjoyed reading the story, it is not one that I would come back to in the future. For those looking for something simple to pass a bus ride or break time, “The Ooze” is easy to read and pass that time. Its lack of originality, however, causes it to fall short of anything other than a brief amusement.



I would like to thank Orca Book Publishers and NetGalley for this review copy. “The Ooze” is scheduled to be released on February 15, 2022.

requested it off netgalley bc im a sucker for apocalyptic survival books and this one is by orca publishing and by an author ive read from before. this book is about bran who tries to survive a night of chaos when suddenly people start becoming violent and zombie like creatures that ooze black liquid and attack other people to change/infect them into being one of them. he meets another kid and his 2 sisters and togheter they try to run and hide from the creatures and find a way to stop it when they start followin a horde of them.. i liked the characters. bran was pretty smart and brave and the creatures were creepy.. this book is perfect for readers who are lookin for somethin easy and short/ fast to read since this is of high interest level. i also liked the ending too for obvious reasons..

I wanted to love this book so bad, was sadly just a little too gruesome for me to finish, especially with the cat within the first 10 pages. It happens, but if you’re into more gruesome tales this will be good for you :)