Book Review: The Harvesting by Melanie Karsak

Title: The Harvesting
Author: Melanie Karsak
Release date: September 18, 2012
Age Group: New Adult/Adult
Genre: Horror and Fantasy, Zombie
Tour organized by: AToMR Tours

Links to find/buy the book:

Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/The-Harvesting-ebook/dp/B009GI3YBY/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1

Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/252992

Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16045246-the-harvesting

From the author: I was interviewed on a local TV show, a Halloween special, about zombies. I am first up in the special and I talk about zombies in general and the novel in particular–and I have horrible posture and they made me wear my t-shirt–but this might be something nice for people to watch if they are interested in the paranormal.

Book Description:

“To label this a zombie book would be a false pretense . . . this is so much more than that. What you start out with and what you end up with are very different, and those twists and turns in the middle will make your heart beat faster over and over again.”– Colossal Pop

It’s all fun and games until someone ends up undead.

Though Layla reluctantly returns home to rural Hamletville after a desperate call from her psychic grandmother, she could never have anticipated the horror of what Grandma Petrovich has foreseen. The residents of Hamletville will need Layla’s help if they are to survive the zombie apocalypse that’s upon them. But that is not the only problem. With mankind silenced, it soon becomes apparent that we were never alone. As the beings living on the fringe seek to reclaim power, Layla must find a way to protect the ones she loves or all humanity may be lost.

Tour Giveaway: (This sounds so cool!!)

(1) eBook of THE HARVESTING (International) and (1) eBook or Print copy of THE HARVESTING and theme t-shirt (US/Canada)

My thoughts:

So, this was interesting for me. I wasn’t sure about the beginning. Honestly, I started thinking that it was a bit of a cheat to also have a hugely paranormal aspect when Layla’s grandmother is able to see the upcoming zombiepocalypse and get Layla to safety. Not only that, her grandmother also stocks the cupboards, adds in a new fence, and has help boarding up the barn and the house. AND stocks the house with guns. So… yeah, at first I was a little disturbed. And then I allowed the read to just happen. I let go of my preconceptions because anything really can happen, and for goodness sake this IS a book!!

Once I got into a better frame of mind this really got interesting. Plus it helps that the paranormal aspect was not just at the beginning. Layla also has the sight although she doesn’t quite know how to use it at first. She begins to commune with spirits and they lead her around, she also starts trusting her instincts, which I think is good for ANY character.

So, there was a bit of a twist about 50% through to nearly the end. This seemed a bit weird to me. You have zombies, and a touch of the paranormal, and then this twist… it just seemed a little weird. But I went with it again and it was a very exciting second half. And I really do wish I could say more but that would be ultra spoiler alert so… we’ll just skip that portion and say that it did make the pace pick up quite a bit!

The characters were really great. They made this book! Layla was absolutely fabulous and although she can kick ass, she was also scared when facing all of these unknowns, as anyone in their right minds would be!

Ian frustrated me though. Man was he annoying. All the crap that he gives Layla, I just wanted him to turn undead so Layla could stab him in the eyeball or something!! Give a girl a break already!

So, the ending was also interesting. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m super curious about book two and I will definitely review that as soon as I can, but the way things happen was really different. It makes you go hmm though and I’m sure I’ll be thinking about this until I get book two in my hands!

About the author:

Melanie Karsak, steampunk connoisseur, white elephant collector, and caffeine junkie, resides in Florida with her husband and two children. Melanie is the author of “The Harvesting” series. Visit the author at her blog, melaniekarsak.blogspot.com, to learn more about upcoming projects, book signings, and other neato things.

Social Media links:

http://melaniekarsak.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/AuthorMelanieKarsak

https://twitter.com/MelanieKarsak