(5.0 Stars)

This was such a well told story. I can't say it was a "good" story, because it was very disturbing, on so many levels. It is maybe like a weird cross between The Walking Dead, mixed with Chuck Wendig's Wanderers... And the satirical, sing-song nature of Palahniuk.

I absolutely loved this book. This author is one to watch for sure. Not for the faint of heart, or the easily offended. the "world" is described in an easy to relate to way and the characters are both real and revealed.

The narration had a good pace and enunciation.

If you like psychological horror, dystopian speculative fiction, and don't need a happy ending... this book could be right up your alley.

Word of warning, this book is not gentle. There is graphic violence, sexual assault, animal cruelty, and is irreligious-ish.

2.5 This book felt like the longest book of my life, and i didn't enjoy it. The writing is phenomenal dont get me wrong. But jesus, did it have to be almost 400 pages long. I was gifted an advanced audio copy from the publisher, which im grateful for because this was one book i had most anticipated this year, and sadly, it fell flat for me. Sexual zombies and religious beliefs turned me off. It took a while to get to that point, but i wouldn't even put this in the horror category. This one wasn't for me.

This was a journey.

Given the sexual nature of the epidemic the horrors and fears in this book are especially unsettling. There is the constant fear of being attacked by someone in a lust frenzy. We get the picture of what could happen and anything shown on the page was not there just for shock factor. In a book with some horrific imagery it was done in a way that was not gratuitous. More than anything though, It's a coming of age story with Sophie reflecting on her values and having to examine the beliefs she’s been taught. That’s a fear in and of itself.

The pacing was well done. The building of foreboding with every chapter and new meetup had a dread to it. I kept telling myself not to get attached to anyone. When the book ended I was finally able to unclench. What I find even more amazing is that amongst the violence of this tale there is still room for tenderness, sweetness, and hope. It's a beautiful mix.

I listened to this on audiobook and Moniqua Plante did an excellent job with her narration. It’s around 14 hours and 36 minutes. Stick around for the author's note at the end and please check the content warnings.

Special Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sharing this book with me in exchange for my honest review.