Feed

Starred review from March 8, 2010
Urban fantasist Seanan McGuire (Rosemary and Rue
) picks up a new pen name for this gripping, thrilling, and brutal depiction of a postapocalyptic 2039. Twin bloggers Georgia and Shaun Mason and their colleague Buffy are thrilled when Sen. Peter Ryman, the first presidential candidate to come of age since social media saved the world from a virus that reanimates the dead, invites them to cover his campaign. Then an event is attacked by zombies, and Ryman's daughter is killed. As the bloggers wield the newfound power of new media, they tangle with the CDC, a scheming vice presidential candidate, and mysterious conspirators who want more than the Oval Office. Shunning misogynistic horror tropes in favor of genuine drama and pure creepiness, McGuire has crafted a masterpiece of suspense with engaging, appealing characters who conduct a soul-shredding examination of what's true and what's reported.

Grant's novel of a zombie apocalypse is further enhanced by lively dual narrators. In 2040, the world has been slowly returning to normality since the events of 2014. Up-and-coming bloggers Georgia and Shaun Mason have been selected as press for presidential candidate Peter Ryman. But nefarious forces want to prevent their reporting--even if they have to infect the entire human race again. Paula Christensen is the dominant voice since the story is told mostly through Georgia's eyes. Christensen is the stronger narrator, particularly when voicing the full range of characters. While Jessie Bernstein performs Shaun's blog entries well, he doesn't project the emotional energy that Christensen maintains. L.E. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

August 29, 2016
In this tense thriller, Grant returns to the zombie-infested setting of the Newsflesh series. In Feed, the first book, the superstar Mason siblings blogged about politicians competing for the presidency in a near-future U.S. that had more or less come to terms with the ongoing zombie apocalypse. This adventure takes place concurrently and follows an all-new blogger team, this one accompanying Democratic candidate Susan Kilburn. Irish thrill-seeker Aislinn “Ash” North; her husband (for green card purposes only), Benjamin Ross; her girlfriend, Audrey; and gender-fluid makeup blogger Mat leap at the chance to hit the big time by joining the political circuit. After numerous zombie attacks, they uncover an organized conspiracy to manipulate the electoral process through fear and assassination. When Ash digs a little too deep, her team is targeted for elimination. Grant fleshes out the setting and adds depth to the events of the original series, but this is still familiar territory, even when seen from a different angle; the characters’ voices read much like those of the Masons, and the conspiracy angle comes as no surprise to longtime fans. The strength of this tale lies in the diverse cast, their deep ties to one another, and Grant’s ability to surprise the reader with emotional gut punches. Agent: Diana Fox, Fox Literary.