"A U.S. presidential campaign set in a zombie-infested future bears an eerie resemblance to the way we live now. Simply jump in and enjoy ... a whip-smart thriller overflowing with sharp ideas and social commentary."—Kirkus (starred review) on Feedback
"The strength of this tale lies in the diverse cast, their deep ties to one another, and Grant's ability to surprise the reader with emotional gut punches."—Publishers Weekly on Feedback
"Astonishing ... a fascinating exploration of the future."—New York Times on Newsflesh series
"While there's plenty of zombie mayhem, political snark, and pointedly funny observations here, the heart of this book is about human relationships, which are still the most important thing in the world...even in a world where you might have to shoot the person you love most in the head, just to stop them from biting off your face."—Locus on Feed
"Feed is a proper thriller with zombies. Grant doesn't get carried away with describing her world or the virus. She's clearly thought both out brilliantly, but she doesn't let it get in the way of a taut, well written story."—SFX on Feed
"The story starts with a bang as corruption, mystery, danger and excitement abound."—RT Book Reviews (4.5 stars) on Feed
"Gripping, thrilling, and brutal... Shunning misogynistic horror tropes in favor of genuine drama and pure creepiness, McGuire has crafted a masterpiece of suspense with engaging, appealing characters who conduct a soul-shredding examination of what's true and what's reported."—Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) on Feed
"Intelligent and intense, a thinking-person's post-apocalyptic zombie thriller set in a fully-realized future that is both fascinating and horrifying to behold."—John Joseph Adams on Feed
"I can't wait for the next book."—N.K. Jemisin on Feed
"It's a novel with as much brains as heart, and both are filling and delicious."—The A. V. Club on Feed
"OK, all of you readers who want something weighty and yet light, campy and yet smart, horror with heart, a summer beach read that will stay in your head and whisper to you "what if," Deadline is just what you are looking for."—RT Book Reviews on Deadline
"Deft cultural touches, intriguing science, and amped-up action will delight Grant's numerous fans."—Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) on Deadline
"Intelligent and exciting...raises the bar for the genre."—Telegraph on Deadline
"Wry and entertaining."—NPR Books on Blackout
★ 09/15/2016
Twenty years after the Rising, the world struggles to maintain a "normal" life despite the flesh-eating zombies and those newly infected in its midst. Online reporting has become the journalistic standard, and young Newsies, Irwins, and Fictionals band together to be the first to bring the headlines to the masses. The Masons, a famous brother and sister blogging team, are already covering one of the Republican presidential nominees, and Aislinn, her husband, Ben, and their techie Mat surprise themselves by being selected to follow Democratic nominee Gov. Susan Kilburn. On the campaign trail the team navigates politics, personal relationships, and the rising dead, always striving to report the truth. Such knowledge, however, is more dangerous than ever, and it's not only the infected the trio has to be worried about, but the living, too. VERDICT The events in this sf thriller overlap with the first book in the series, Feed, offering a fresh take on the Newsflesh world, with diverse characters, exciting plot twists and pacing. A definite win for fans of the Masons and an excellent entry point for new readers. [See Prepub Alert, 5/15/16.]—KC
★ 2016-08-01
A U.S. presidential campaign set in a zombie-infested future bears an eerie resemblance to the way we live now.Aislinn “Ash” North and her housemates hope to hit the big time with their blogging skills when they apply to manage media for a Republican presidential candidate. Not surprisingly, “an Irish expatriate, a black man, a lesbian, and a techie who didn’t want to be nailed down to a gender” prove to be a bad fit for the GOP, but the friends are shocked when the Democratic nominee, a woman in possession of a blue pantsuit, reaches out. Things get complicated when zombies start disrupting campaign stops. It’s clear they’ve been planted—literally in one case, in Portland’s famous rose gardens—by someone out to affect the election. Author Grant juggles multiple themes in this addition to the Newsflesh series. The virus that spread to create zombies was designed to cure cancer and succeeded; flesh-eating monsters are no fun at a picnic, but they help with population control. The story is steeped in paranoia, be it between rival news factions or individuals versus the invasive and unending security procedures in place to preserve the uninfected. And the fear is warranted; secrets are revealed, people are betrayed, and terrible losses result. The diversity of Ash’s chosen family, not just in terms of race and gender but in their varied blogger castes, makes their discussion of the issues that arise substantive and deep. Readers new to the series may worry that they’re missing things, but the action comes so hard and fast it’s best to simply jump in and enjoy. Set in 2040, this story feels very current. This mashup of medical and media ethics, politics and the living undead, is a whip-smart thriller overflowing with sharp ideas and social commentary.
