Reviews tagging 'Murder'

Die Berufene by M.R. Carey

29 reviews

gladiolus17's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

There were so many good things about the book. I loved the mystery in the beginning, about who and what Melanie was, and her relationship with Miss Justineaux. The characterization throughout the book was rock-solid. I also loved the new spin on zombies:
a fungus!
Who would’ve thought. I loved hearing the science behind it.

In regards to things that didn’t work for me,
I felt everything after the junker attack lost some tension. I felt wanting for more mystery to solve.


As well, I wanted to know why the junkers attacked in the first place. I felt like it was assumed they were attacking for resources, but that just seems random and didn’t have any purpose but to move the plot forward.


I was disappointed in the ending. It was foreshadowed in the beginning with Pandora’s box, but it seemed like a stretch for Melanie’s character. She’s a smart kid, and loves Justineaux, so I feel she should’ve hesitated at, uh, killing the entire human race. If anyone can explain her motivation better, please tell me.

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reddeddy's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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marthadude's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75


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wendinogo's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0


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tiemzahra's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

Melanie’s routine was fixed every day. Every day, she would wait to be picked from her cell to the classroom, at gunpoint and strapped in a chair. She thought they didn’t like her. 
 
This is a story of zombie apocalypse and I thought I could never be interested with this genre. I bought this book with the prospective of extraordinary kid, never thought she would be a zombie/hungry. But I stand corrected.
This book has given the perspective I always look for in a book - moral ambiguity. 
 
Introducing Sergeant Parks, the military guy who was rigid, had no exceptions in his rules; hungries are hungries, no matter if they look human or a literal child. He would treat them with contempt, because for him, they were threats. Dr. Caldwell, a purely logical-thinking scientist, treating the kid hungries as test subjects. They were important for the sake of humanity progression. Feeling sorry for them only hinder their progress with the dying civilisation. And Miss Justineau, despite the nature of the kids, treated them with compassion. She believed they were just innocent sensitive kids and didn’t deserve any of the mistreatments in the centre. 
 
Miss Justineau might be the most morally right, but with the current situation they were in, you would understand both Parks and Caldwell’s POV, and will be stuck in moral dilemmas.
I personally agree with the three of them at different situations, and even Miss Justineau at times was being dramatic that she almost jeopardised the whole crew. Parks’ instinct ensured their survival, while Caldwell’s study led to the new world they had to prepare for. While Justineau, with her compassionate personality, would be educating the future leaders of the new world.
I just concluded that these three distinctions were necessary to keep them going. 

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sorcha's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0


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madelnguttorms1's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5


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aconfundityofcrows's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

 I don't know if I'm in the right mindset to figure out how I would rate this right now because of school brain stress. That said this is really good and I highly recommend if it sounds interesting to you. 

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hmatt's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

[star rating from 2016, comments from 2024 re-read]

I've been meaning to do a re-read of this book so that I can finally read the sequel (and then donate it from off my bookshelf). I had vague expectations that, in a post[?]-pandemic world where the zombie literature and media has run its course, this wouldn't feel as original or thrilling as it did on my first read, but I'm very pleased it holds up.
I forgot the major plot twist at the end between my original read and this one,
and I do think that's what elevates this to a 5-star book. Without it, by my 2024 reading standards, it would probably be a 4.5 or 4.75.

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