"Rot & Ruin" by Jonathan Maberry

Series: Benny Imura #1
Genre: YA Dystopia
Format: Paperback; 458 pages
Publication: September 14, 2010 by Simon and Schuster
Cover Rating: 5/5 Stars

From Goodreads: In the zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic America where Benny Imura lives, every teenager must find a job by the time they turn fifteen or get their rations cut in half. Benny doesn't want to apprentice as a zombie hunter with his boring older brother Tom, but he has no choice. He expects a tedious job whacking zoms for cash, but what he gets is a vocation that will teach him what it means to be human.

My Thoughts: I LOVE, I mean LOVE, zombies! Well, not zombies in particularly, but anything to do with them. So, I'll admit, I'm probably slightly biased when it comes to this book. BUT I will say that this is one of the most unique zombie reads out there that I've read so far. I went into it thinking I knew what I was getting into, and let me tell you, I was wrong. It was so original! I can honestly say that I've never read anything like it. I love how Maberry takes this zombie apocalyptic world and turns into something other than just survival- it's about humanity. It was just fantastic.

I don't want to give too much away here, but the characters in this book held so much depth and I found myself falling in love with each of them. The really wonderful thing is, this book is not just about Benny. I mean, yes, he is the main character and we do get his side of things. But we can also see the other characters evolving and maturing as the story goes on. We learn more about each one of them, and they quickly become ingrained in our hearts.

This book truly has something for everyone. The plot is full of twists and turns that keep you turning the pages well past midnight. I highly recommend it!

My Rating: