Book Review: Queen of Zombie Hearts

Book Rating: 3/5  ‘s ok
Series Rating: 3/5 Pretty standard fare

There are too many characters and names to keep track of. Did we introduce new people? Who the hell is RIVER? Yes, we definitely got new characters in this book that just added to my befuddlement since, I can’t remember RIVER. I mean this person looked like a Greek God, no? Camilla, the big baddie of Anima (forgot her name already), random girls who dated Cole – who are all these people? Normally, a rehash of things would annoy me but I believe in this book and series, it would have helped.

The plot moves along nicely as we’re trying to wrap things up with Anima. More about Ali’s past has been revealed, all with neat powers and tricks attached. Everything in this book is working toward the goal of wrapping this trilogy up. It’s action packed pace doesn’t leave a lot of room for anything else. It just moves us right along.

The problem I have with this series is the lack of character and personality. The amusing banter and friendship between Ali and Kat (alley cat, heh) was great. But everything else felt the same to me. Ali was the generic heroine; beauty with baggage, heart with a spine of steel, lands the alpha male of the group. Cole was the generic bad boy hottie, possessive, authoritative yet fully malleable to all of Ali’s charms. They just felt like, been there done that characters of Showalter’s past.

Overall, the series is ok.  It’s much like the paranormal romance that Gena Showalter is known for, just without the smut. The characters a younger version of her regular heroes. There’s a lack of naiveté in Ali but that’s a problem we see a lot with YA heroines, always heading straight first into the fight.

Reflections on the Zombie Glass

Review: Through the Zombie Glass by Gena Showalter
Rating: 4/5

So where do I start. It is what it is. It’s young adult paranormal romance. I really liked reading it. Could it have been better? Sure. Was it repetitive at times? Yes. Was that third wheel in the love triangle random and thrown in for angst? YES! But I definitely appreciated that. What? I love me some teenage angst, random heartbreak and meaningful talks no one ever has in real life. Or is that just me? 

The overall plot has progressed, somewhat eerily similar to a few other books I’ve read. It’s always the scrappy team against the man, the corporation that’s in on the paranormal crazy game but crazier themselves.  (Sidenote, will no one tackle a character from within? Hmm, does Bloodlines by Richelle Mead count? Even Gameboard of the Gods – Oh snap, maybe RM’s characters work on the side of the man, breaking out eventually?).  Sorry, tangent.  So I wished I understood more about what was going on with the Zombie situation. It’s coming along but I feel it could be fleshed out more. We learn a few new things, we have internal struggle within the protagonist but it was almost too easily overcome.  The biggest struggle in this book was Cole. Ugh. Cole. I was ok with him in the first book, some reviewers didn’t agree. But this… eeehhh, I don’t know.  Wrong that I always like the he-slut? Go team Gavin?

I must admit, this review sounds terribly random and incohesive. Maybe it’s the aftereffect of the characters working their way into my subconscious. After all, Kat’s one of my favorite characters. It’s basically a good series, especially if you’re familiar with Gena Showalter’s work.  Her men are always the manly men, possessive, aggressive but of course a heart of gold.  I’m not going to mention the women. The main female characters are… not the main selling point here. 

If you want an entertaining, page-turning read, then this is it! I really liked it!