"Dead!" a woman screamed. "It's the Dead!
...I'd heard of corpses awakening --- hungry and dangerous though still quite dead.
The purpose of bells in coffins was, after all, to warn us; but if the word on the
street was true, then in the last week more than a few bodies had escaped their graves.
Susan Dennard has crafted a wonderfully detailed and original novel that adds a new twist to the YA zombie cannon. Readers will relate well to both the lead female and male characters. Eleanor is a strong heroine who is not afraid to fight for her convictions, while Daniel is a multifaceted blend reformed criminal and absentminded inventor. Several of the secondary characters are integral to the story and add an interesting multi-cultural element to the story. Historically accurate details add to the story - Eleanor's internal monologue includes pondering the constriction of her corset and how it inhibits movement.
Dennard handles the "zombie" element in a way that blends traditional walking dead elements with modern twists. In Dennard's world burial doesn't always mean a body's final rest - periodically the dead become the Dead, rising from their grave, driven by a supernatural craving for human flesh. The Dead can only be controlled by a Necromancer who can use them for his or her own nefarious purposes.
Readers looking for an original novel filled with action and suspense will enjoy Dennard's 'Something Strange and Deadly' and will look forward to the next novel in the series.
Book Source: Local Library
Reviewed by: Rebecca
Recommended Ages: 12+ Zombie violence, paranormal elements
Recommended for Readers of:
 |  |  |  |
