Review -- Feed by Mira Grant

Title: Feed
Author: Mira Grant
Series: Newsflesh Trilogy (1)
Publisher: Orbit
Release Date: 01 May 2010
Date Read: Nov 2012
Rating:★★★★★

This is a zombie post-apocalyptic novel. This is not just a zombie post-apocalyptic novel.

The Rising occurred in 2014. The cures for the common cold and cancer had mutated and created a virus: The Kellis-Amberlee virus. Those infected have no control over their own bodies. The virus kills the mind and thought, making them the living undead. The virus drives the body to feed on flesh and spread the virus. Twenty years later, the government has taken back some of the land the zombies took from us. Society now lives with having to take several blood tests a day and decontamination baths to monitor the spread of the virus. Hardly anybody leaves their homes, choosing instead to live behind the safety of computerized walls. Those who do choose to go outside would never go without several firearms within their reach. Society lives drenched with fear and paranoia. But society lives nonetheless.


One of the greater strengths in Feed is its world-building. It is evident Grant did her research on every aspect of her world- virology, security, politics, media, everything- and it paid off. The Rising, and what came after, was an entirely plausible threat and a real scare. I admit, there were long info-dumps. Long passages talked of nothing but new laws, history or societal norms. I mean they were informative and necessary to the world-building but they were info-dumps all the same.

Bloggers and journalists Georgia, Shaun and Buffy has a coveted spot as part of the Presidential campaign's press crew. They traveled with the Presidential campaign crew, delivering the news and the truth as they saw it. This trio is one of the most well-rounded and interesting characters I have read. Georgia is the main narrator and I absolutely loved her. I loved the dry humour, the quick-witted dialogue. I loved her passion for her job, for journalism and her search for the truth. I loved how much she cared for her friends and for her adoptive brother the most. Shaun is the idiot who pokes at zombies with a stick, the camera rolling at all times to feed the entertainment of their viewers. He's fun, silly and protective fiercely protective of those he loves, especially Georgia. Buffy is the technical director of their site. She wears silly clothes and has a love for pre-Rising shows that can be attributed to her creative side. She's not as close to the others as Georgia and Shaun are, but then again, no one really is. I was surprised with the lack of romance. Georgia and Shaun don't go out but no one can deny the caring relationship and undying love they have for each other. They're adoptive siblings which is why maybe why didn't want to explore anything but Grant had some scenes that teased what could be and definitely had me wishing there was more. It was a nice variation.

Grant had post excerpts from George, Shaun and Buffy's blog at the end of the chapters. It added another layer to their personalities and brought in the blogging world nicely to the story. The posts were so truthful, open and personal it hurt. Their posts contained most of my favourite passages.

 unknowingly stumble upon a dangerous conspiracy behind the infected. It reached a point where shit got crazy real. The stakes doubled tripled and they're running, not just from the undead, but from the living as well. It was action-packed, thrilling and suspenseful. The second half of the book was one of the most exhilarating thing ever. I never saw any of the plot twists coming and that ending! Kudos to Grant for being ballsy enough to do that. It was emotional, heart-wrenching and had me crying a river. Unbelievable.

Feed is not just a zombie-apocalyptic novel. It is an amazing story about the search for truth, courage and standing by the ones you love until the very end.