Leah's Bookshelf
Likes: Horror, macabre, fairy tales, ghosts, hauntings, serial killers, zombies, werewolves, shapeshifters, vampires, time travel, orphans, clones, thrillers, classics, gothic
I like to read anything that tells a good story, duh ;) Genre doesn't really matter much but I tend to read dark fiction and fantasy the most. I skip chick lit and romance novels with a few exceptions for the extraordinary.
My ratings system:
5 stars - ADORED; plan to read over and over and over.
4 stars - ENJOYED; will likely read once or twice more.
3 stars - LIKED; may or may not read again ... someday.
2 stars - MEH; no plans to read again.
1 stars - I didn't enjoy the story and was lucky to finish.
0 stars - I couldn't or wouldn't finish for reasons that may or may not be listed in the review box.
Rot and Ruin (Benny Imura #1) by Jonathan Maberry
Rating: 3 of 5
I read Rot and Ruin in one sitting. So obviously the story held my attention - mainly because Maberry kept hinting at deeper meanings and then I wanted the full story - but overall it didn't blow my mind or get me super excited to read the sequels.
Thankfully, the aforementioned hinting lead to full explanations. That meant there were several scenes of Tom explaining something to Benny or telling him about past events. All the telling usually happened in the middle of action or potential action, so it did not feel like the dreaded info dump.
Benny, the main character, wasn't all that likable and he often vacillated between morose/irrational and friendly/sensible. (Was that intentional? Because teenagers act like that sometimes?) There were inconsistencies in worldbuilding and plot, but nothing that couldn't be overlooked by the casual reader. I dunno; I just never fully lost myself in the world or characters, which is why I won't move on to the sequel.
This one's probably a good fit for readers who enjoy zombie stories with adequate characterization, moderate action, and high sentimentality.
Note to self: Am I in a reading funk? Or am I picking the "wrong" books for me? The last few books I've read have been well-written but just okay. Hopefully I'll read one soon that'll knock my socks off.
 - Jonathan Maberry)