Book Review: Blackout by Mira Grant

• Review: Blackout
• Series: Newsflesh Trilogy
• Author: Mira Grant
• No of Pages: 560
• Release Date: May 1st, 2010

Rise up while you can. -Georgia Mason

The year was 2014. The year we cured cancer. The year we cured the common cold. And the year the dead started to walk. The year of the Rising.

The year was 2039. The world didn’t end when the zombies came, it just got worse. Georgia and Shaun Mason set out on the biggest story of their generation. They uncovered the biggest conspiracy since the Rising and realized that to tell the truth, sacrifices have to be made.

Now, the year is 2041, and the investigation that began with the election of President Ryman is much bigger than anyone had assumed. With too much left to do and not much time left to do it in, the surviving staff of After the End Times must face mad scientists, zombie bears, rogue government agencies-and if there’s one thing they know is true in post-zombie America, it’s this:

Things can always get worse.

Blackout is the conclusion to the epic trilogy that began in the Hugo-nominated Feed and the sequel, Deadline. — Goodreads

My Thoughts:

As zombie books go Mira Grant’s Trilogy, Feed, Deadline and Blackout are amazing! I loved the first two and was excited to find out that book 3, Blackout was out this year! These are not your normal zombie books, Mira Grant is a Virologist and has explained exactly why the zombies are here and in the conclusion to the trilogy, Blackout, what, if anything we can do about them. The scariest thing about this trilogy, it’s plausible! Not only plausible, completely and utterly believable.The plot is so riveting multiple times I had to remind myself that it’s just a story, relax, drink some Pepsi, and move on… But I feel so invested in these characters. I want them to succeed and to live happy, LONG lives!

If you have yet to read this book check out my reviews on the first, Feed before you read this! **Review for Deadline, the second in the trilogy is coming soon**

**Has spoilers!**

We quickly realize at the end of Deadline that Georgia has come back to life, not as a zombie this time but as a clone. And a jailed clone at that, stuck in the CDC, with nothing that is personal and more importantly no one she can truly trust. But the CDC only brought her 97% of the way back to Georgia, so she’s having an identity crisis. She’s not the “Georgia” but she has most of her memories. She knows the Doctors she sees on a daily basis are keeping things from her and even when a few of them do start to give her some information, she is left wondering who the best ally really is.

In Blackout, we continue with Shaun Mason, who carried on in Deadline after his sister’s death. Shaun has decided that revenge is the greatest pleasure, although he doesn’t get any kind of satisfaction in being an Irwin, he looks forward to the day when he can just sit down and all the conspiracy theories are over, if he’s dead at that point, oh well. He’s gone full fledged over the edge and is talking to an imaginary Georgia, but his team will still completely back him, at least until he gets them all killed.  Just when you think everyone is getting comfortable, all hell breaks loose, there is no time for sitting still.  Dr. Abbey wants to put Shaun into more danger since he is immune to Kellis-Amberlee. So, off the team goes, yet again to discover more conspiracy theories, run for their lives and try to save the world.

Blackout again is in first person and Mira Grant does an amazing job of switching between Georgia and Shawn so we can see through their eyes.This never got confusing, was masterfully done. The plot was fast and sadly I think the only downside to it all is that the trilogy is over. I know I will reread this! The plot never slowed down but it definitely picked up about halfway and I suggest you get ready for a roller coaster ride! We already know that Mira Grant will pull out all the stops since she’s already killed two beloved characters, Buffy and Georgia. Getting to the end of Blackout though, is just half of the fun. Getting to be with all of the characters again was amazing and definitely worth the time it takes to read this.

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Tags: Blackout, Deadline, End time, Feed, Georgia, Mira Grant, Zombie