Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Stalker\s
AUTHOR: L.J. Hasbrouck
PUBLISHER: Ninestar Press
LENGTH: 382 pages
RELEASE DATE: January 14, 2018
BLURB:
Brian Jameson doesn’t even get a chance to pick a college before a worldwide pandemic breaks out—and his home is Ground Zero. After losing his parents and sister in a whirlwind of devastation, Brian’s war-veteran grandfather takes him under his wing. But when desperate looters attack Brian’s new home, he and his grandfather must flee into a wintery Midwestern wasteland now populated by intelligent infected known as “Stalkers.”
These ghoulish creatures don’t shamble in hordes—they hide in the darkness waiting to strike, teeth bared in ghastly grins. And they laugh while they’re ripping you to shreds.
But with his grandfather’s training, Brian makes it to the home of his estranged childhood friends, twins Louis and Eva. And Brian gets a chance to experience something else he nearly missed: falling in love. Drawn to the determined—and ruthless—Louis, Brian escapes with him in search of an island paradise away from the relentless snow and infected.
But even if they make it there, it may not be the haven they’re hoping for.
REVIEW:
I am seriously torn right now. I am so pissed off at this book right now. I will explain. I really didn’t know how to rate it at first, but I had to realize that I had to get over it for a moment at least, and give credit where credit is due. And that is to this author. They did their job. They pulled you in from the first page and gripped you until the end. The writing, the characters, the plot, all of it was meant to enthrall you into this story and it did. It was meant to shock and awe, leave you in doubt, but hope, and just about any other emotion you could throw in there. And that is why I rated it what I did. Anything lower would be a disservice and would be just me being over here all pissed off. My hat is off to you L.J. Hasbrouck. One hell of a book.
Now, I am. Pissed. The. Hell. Off. Oh. My. Gah. What I just said before about it drawing you in. Oh yeah. So much so. Until you get to the end. Then all bets are off. That was the most fucked up ending I think I have ever read, and I am at a loss of wanting to scream, pull my hair out or seriously punch something. What the actual f? And I have NO clue if there is going to actually be another to this book, so I have to assume this is how this book is being left. ARGHHHHH! I have no way to describe it. It’s like a cliffhanger. Hell it pretty much is.
Ok I don’t want to detract from the book anymore, because despite the ending, it really is a great book. Brian is up in his room playing on his tablet when he hears a noise. But when he takes of he earbuds, he hears silence, or does he? All he knows is there’s gunshots now going off and everyone is piling in his room. His mom shot the intruder but not without injuries to herself. They take her to the hospital. She’s there for a few days but the send her home. And she’s not acting right. She’s been infected. On the days they go to take her to the hospital again, she takes Brian’s sister hostage and I’m assuming eats her. It never clearly says. But you can assume from the screams. Brian’s dad goes to save her but it’s too late. He has to kill them both. But one got him and he makes it as far as dropping Brian off to his grandparents before he has to leave, before infecting them.
Over the next few weeks, his grandfather teaches Brian how to take care of himself with weapons, first aid and killing. About storing things and survival. But bad times are now visiting them and they have to run for cover. His grandmother doesn’t make it and he and his grandfather set out to see an old buddy to help each other survive. When the get there, Brian meets his childhood friends again, but Louis shoots his grandfather’s dog and they find out the grandfather is gone too. Brian’s grandpa’s friend. They are overcome eventually in this house too and have to run. Louis wants to go to new Orleans so he can get his family’s boat and go to an island. They go through hell on Earth at every turn, make some new friends, lose more family, but finally get to where they want to be. But discoveries and confessions are made, and what was now between Louis and Brian over this time, may now be permanently over.
You basically have a zombie apocalypse going on here. People are being infected quickly and other are struggling to survive. Brian doesn’t know how he will make it but does ok as long as he had his grandpa first, then later Louis. And they went through some stuff. Almost dying several times, being kidnapped, zombies at every turn. Towns are raized, destroyed. Bodies piling up everywhere. It’s tough. But the find some friends to help and make their destination. But that destination is what revealed too much and…….I can’t finish that. Argh!!!! This is….yeah. just seriously don’t know what to say after that.
It’s a good book. Exceptional. I really encourage you to read it. Recommend it.
RATING: 
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