Monday 8 May 2017

Review: Skitter by Ezekiel Boone

Skitter (The Hatching #2) by Ezekiel Boone
Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books
Publication date: May 2nd 2017
My rating: 4 stars 
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | TBD | Kobo

 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25644437-find-her
Tens of millions of people around the world are dead. Half of China is a nuclear wasteland. Mysterious flesh-eating spiders are marching through Los Angeles, Oslo, Delhi, Rio de Janeiro, and countless other cities. According to scientist Melanie Gruyer, however, the spider situation seems to be looking up. Yet in Japan, a giant, truck-sized, glowing egg sack gives a shocking preview of what is to come, even as survivors in Los Angeles panic and break the quarantine zone. Out in the desert, survivalists Gordo and Shotgun are trying to invent a spider super weapon, but it’s not clear if it’s too late, because President Stephanie Pilgrim has been forced to enact the plan of last resort: The Spanish Protocol. America, you are on your own.


My Thoughts:
Skitter picks up pretty much right where The Hatching left off.  Spiders have come, overwhelmed and taken out large portions of the population on the globe.  Did I mention that spiders scare the HELL out of me? Oh, my goodness, yes!! And let me tell you, the last book was terrifying for anyone with a spider phobia, but the events and plight of some in this installment made my skin crawl in horror!  The world is up in arms wondering if the worst is over, but with new egg sacks, hot and pulsing to the touch, that scenario would be too good to be true.  Now the world has to wait and see what is coming next, and let me tell you, it is BAD!

While on one hand I thought the story would’ve benefited from eliminating some of the many POV’s, I get it was a way to give a window, a vivid picture into what was happening in different locations around the world.  Still, IMO I think if the story was more focused on just the POV’s I’ve come to know and care about, it would’ve had more impact.  I’d rather have more page count spent on them.  I wasn’t thrilled with the addition of POV’s that were just few short scenes and then killed off.  I want to be invested in my characters, worried about their survival, because I’ve already been acquainted with them. I was disappointed Melanie and Mike Rich’s connection from the last book wasn’t built upon, because there’s certainly enough room for a little bit of romance if you edit out all the POV’s that came to an abrupt end, ones I wasn’t invested in at all.  I still have hope for them in the next book.  There are a couple of other relationships I’d like expounded on, furthered, as well: Manny and the US President, Stephanie Pilgrim, and Julie and Pierre.  I guess we’ll see how it all shakes out.

Even with all of that, I found the story completely engrossing. At times I was filled with dread and wanted to yell: RUN!!  End of the world scenarios, be it from earthquakes, tsunamis, aliens, zombies, or in this case spiders, have always fascinated me.  I put myself in the situation, wonder what I would do; would I be smart enough, lucky enough to survive while so many perish around me? 

Everything is coming to a head, more desperate and frightening.  The choices made by the President where extreme, necessary, and terrifying! I hope all my favorite characters survive. I hope Gordo and Shotgun come up with an effective “Spinal Tap”, that Melanie figures out these spiders, I hope Mike and his group are able to wait it out in safety.  I wouldn’t say this ended in a cliffhanger, but everything is left up in the air.  I need the next book ASAP!


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12 comments:

Blodeuedd said...

I know I should not but the cover is just so dull

Grace @ RebelMommyBookBlog said...

I need to start this series. Everyone loves these books. I am scared of Sspiders too so it should be interesting!! Great review!

Nick said...

I know Christy really loves these books too but omg I don't think I can do it. Just reading your review made my skin crawl, so can you imagine what I'd go through actually reading this. I always feel like multiple POVs can take away from a book, and it definitely feels like it happened here. But I'm glad you enjoyed the book overall! Great review, Rachel!

Kindlemom said...

I am absolutely loving this series. It has been such creepy fun.

Shooting Stars Mag said...

I hear good things about this but I'm TERRIFIED of spiders. I just can't. haha

Joy said...

I so want to read this but I'm dreading it as well. I remember everything about the first book but at same time, I don't know if I have the guts to find out what happened next. Gah!

Greg said...

Oh this would freak me out. This is about the worst apocalypse I can imagine! And yeah I don't think I'd like the multiple POV's, especially if a bunch of them just get killed off. I agree, spend more time with the characters that people have already gotten to know. Still, this does sound fun although if I even saw a tiny spider while reading it I'd be like nope, I'm done. :)

Heidi@Rainy Day Ramblings said...

I am so on the fence on this one. I liked the first one well enough, but I was not a fan of the mutiple POVs which sounds like it is still a problem in this one.

Keertana said...

I couldn't read this. It sounds so terrifying and even the title has me shivering. But, I'm so glad you enjoyed this, despite the one-too-many PoVs. Wonderful review, Rachel--I'm so impressed you can read this genre! I wish I was brave enough!

Carina Olsen said...

Awesome review Rachel :D Yay for enjoying this one a lot. <3 Interesting cover :D You have made me curious about these books. And eeeee. Spiders? Shudders. Yet sounds so so interesting and creepy :D

Bonnie said...

You're so brave. lol I read a ton of horror but I drew the line with this one. hahaha Glad to see you're loving this series so much though!

Rachel said...

It does sound like the worst apocalypse ever, but I'm rooting for the good guys to prevail! Spiders scare the heck out of me! :)

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