2.5 Stars ( )

The story starts out with a subplot of a damaged family separated because of infidelity. The two kids Grace, 12, and Leon, 15, are basically leaning toward Mother's side of the story and have been told they were abandoned by their American father who works in a big US city. The kids and mother have moved to London area, and are there as a strange virus emerges in sub Saharan Africa, wiping out towns from the horn all the way to Nigeria. Many Africans fill up boats to try and cross into Europe because they are terrified of the virus that can turn a human body into damp mush and a pile of bones in an hour or less. The story is told mainly through the view of the two youngsters who along with mother try to get out to the British countryside where the grandparents have a home (Norwich?) as their previously shunned father has called from America to insist they get to safety. This is a sad story in some ways, but again, Scarrow has presented a very alarming view of how unprepared for emergencies common people can be. This is the second Scarrow book for me, and I can honestly say, his snappy short chapters read themselves. Take notes as you go as many characters come and go. I consider this to be a four star book with an admirable trio of vignettes where the story is told from the point of the view of the conquering virus. The ending annoyed me so much, that I had to deduct one star. I still will try the second book, Plague Land Reborn. I may well do a review of that one too. ( )

A good thriller about an alien virus that touches upon the intelligence/necessity of survival of life and the breakdown of society that can occur when almost everyone but the weak or infirm are dead (it was a great twist that only those who were regularly taking medication survived).

I loved the different "evolutionary" steps the virus took - from spores to scuttling crabs to amazing facsimiles of familiar life. The idea that the Snarks could cut into you was terrifying, as was the description of the horse disemboweling itself.

I'm not quite sure why Grace was special in that the virus chose her to... incubate(?) itself, but the conclusion that the spa group took was reasonable (if horrible). ( )

Very topical with the coronavirus outbreak in the news at the moment. First in a series of three. Leon , his sister Grace and his Mum are caught up in scores of people fleeing London after a terrible plague starts killing everyone. The plague basically attacks instantly on contact and melts the people so there are only their clothes and bones left behind. While the three are on a train trying to get out to their grandparents farm on the coast, the engine stops in the middle of nowhere. This is because the driver has the plague and it moves from his compartment from carriage to carriage....
I would class this book as pure horror as some awful things happen in it. It has the Steven King vibe of "don't get too close to a character because they might get killed off!"...don't say you weren't warned. A very different book from the TimeRiders author. ( )

I was given the opportunity to read this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Seeing how this was a interesting sounding post-apocalyptic story I knew I had to give it a shot. I'm really glad that I did.
The story starts out in England with the siblings of a recently divorced mother starting over in England after growing up in the United States. Leon is not having an easy time fitting in to his new school but he was always somewhat of an outsider. His younger sister Grace, on the other hand has no problems quickly becoming the new popular girl in school.
Leon sees a story about a virus starting in Africa and quickly becomes obsessed with following the story. Quite quickly they find out that this virus is quickly spiraling out of control as it liquefies it's victims in less than an hour. Leon's father calls from New York to tell them that the virus is airborne and they have to get out of the city as quickly as possible. While they flee the city via train they find out that the virus has already gotten onto the train and is quickly killing everyone.
We also find out that the virus is intelligent and is gathering the DNA to try to reproduce the lifeforms it has been killing. You can tell the virus is quickly developing into something that actually functions like regular life forms on Earth.
Without giving away any spoilers I found that the story line was unique and engaging. The way the survivors have survived the plague is quiet surprising and the ending leaves with a huge cliffhanger. I am very much looking forward to the next book. ( )