The first book in a trilogy, it certainly owes much of its inspiration to a stylistic blend of Matheson and Ballard. There is a certain underlying confusion, as if at first the author had thought of a re-telling of 'The Mask of the Red Death', then changed his mind, turning to 'I Am Legend' and then concluded his narrative wanderings with 'The Day of the Triffids'. Apart from that, the defensive and power dynamics of closed communities are described quite well - by the book, in short - and in general the writing is good. In other words, despite the many misgivings it raises (perhaps because I am not a teenager and have a scientific, as well as a literary, background), it is a good read.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. I have attempted it on a number of occasions but unfortunately I haven’t been able to get into it.

Definitely should not have read this in the middle of a pandemic...

I thought it was mega creepy! At first I wasn't sure what was going on, but the take on the virus is new and different and I loved that.

“Plague Land” is an interesting and enjoyable read but left me feeling like something was missing.
A historical mystery set in Kent in the 1300s covering murder, politics, and the unknown.
While the story itself was fine and it was an easy read, the characters fell flat to me most of the time. There was not enough dimension to them to get me invested in their strife.

A copy of the book was provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.

This is my all-time favorite type of story and it definitely does not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and I can’t wait for the sequel!

I thought this book was going to be great, but sadly I was left disappointed. I really enjoyed the idea of it, I love books about plagues! But it just left a lot to be desired. I also think there was some really bad rep for those with disabilities and quite a bit of sexism.

Mutating virus on the rampage!
Thanks to Edelweiss, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the opportunity to read and review Plague Land by Alex Scarrow.
A fast-moving, fast-killing virus is spreading across the globe while some governments are hiding the fact and scientists are scurrying to understand and overcome the virus. Leon, his sister and mother are traveling by train to his grandparents house when the virus hits. Several people on the train are infected and die, so when daylight comes, they travel outdoors and watch for the telltale flakes of the virus. Two of their group get touched by the virus and by the time they reach a barn for shelter, they show signs of the virus and die in front of their eyes. The virus continues to evolve and grow into larger organisms that fight even harder for survival. The author creates intense imagery and a frightening sense of loneliness and destruction. Creepy dystopian, 4 stars!

I love a good YA horror, and this doesn't fail to deliver a gripping tale that is also a relatively quick read. Pulp horror would be a good descriptor.

An interesting book! I greatly enjoyed this one from beginning to end. Full review coming soon on my blog.

Wow, a gruesome disease spreads across the world and wipes out much of society. The disease deemed a Super-Ebola turns its victims into a bloody liquid and has made its victim humanity. This book was really captivating. The gore, the drama, the survivalist, the ill, the desperate, and the collapse of civilization due to an outbreak of a plague. It is a horrifying thought that it so possible IRL that is one of the main things that makes Plague Lands so scary. Because of its potential in the real world. Alex’s intentions to do some masterful world building lends itself to making this book even better. I think that it is a thriller that would get the attention of YAs and Thriller/Dystopian fans alike. I could see it dramatized for MTV or The CW! ☺️

I would watch....w/friend for comfort. 👀

When I started with this book, I did not know what to expect, but I loved it! I had a really hard time putting it down. I really enjoyed the multiple POVs and getting into the head of the characters trying to survive an extremely contagious disease. What stars as a random incident, it quickly spreads in the whole world. Although initially I found it off a POV from the virus's perspective, it seemed to make sense with the whole concept, so well played!

I really liked our main character, he was funny and strong, trying to be there for his mum and his sister since his parents divorced and had to move back to England and being bullied at school. His sister is is sharp-witted little girl who was tons of fun to be around and helped ease the tension more often than not. The characters really did add to the story for me.

What I found most intriguing though, was the nature of the virus and how uniquely it developed and the violence with which it attacked its hosts. I really enjoyed the concept and I thought it was well written and towards the end I was wondering how he was going to wrap-it all up, and although the ending did leave me wanting some more, it made perfect sense. I really enjoyed the last scene.

I totally recommend it if you are a fan of the genre!

The story is clumsy, too long and almost ridiculousness at points.
I was bored the writing style needs some work and the story is set up for a sequel which I will not be reading

I was scared, so scared I would skip passages until I could figure out what happened and then go back and read, like skipping forward on a movie! My mind was spinning as I tried to rationalize the reality of this happening to my world!

My biggest problem with this book is scope. Within the first few chapters I couldn't see how it could possibly end with anything other than the complete annihilation of all life on earth. The virus kills to quickly, spreads too easily. And while we're given an explanation for survivors, it's not a particularly good or in depth one. I found the quick spread and, in particular, the quick evolution of the illness particularly hard to believe. I could accept that stretch if the subtext had been more coherent. But the underlying messages were all over the place. The subtext introduces a number of important messages but doesn't bring any of them to any sort of conclusion. I'd almost have liked this book better if it had been more bleak, more along the lines of The Road. Show us humans determined to keep going even when we know they are ultimately doomed. Scarrow toys with this idea but tempers it with real hope of survival, leaving us with a graphic but ultimately toothless tale.

Review

Re-Made the new title from Alex Scarrow, I for one have been looking forward to the next new book from this author. Not that i have not thoroughly enjoyed his fabulous TimeRiders series. But I’m a huge fan of his adult thrillers, so when I learned that this latest book would be the start of a new Young Adult series i didn’t know if i was disappointed or pleased. Alex Scarrow clearly has an affinity for writing Young Adult fiction so its not like its not going to be an excellent series, but would it work for both Adult and YA markets?

I was very intrigued with the concept of Re-Made, an extraterrestrial virus, one so aggressive it turns people to soup in hours. But the virus is so much more than that. Told around the attempted survival of one family trying to travel to a safety zone, to survive. We follow Leon and Grace and their mother as they encounter various stages of the virus, avoiding its attempts to take over the planet. The inevitable touch points with other survivors is where Alex can introduce his observations on society and its inevitable melt down in the face of adversity. This element of the book is very reminiscent of his Last Light series.

As ever Alex excels at his characters, these alone will keep the reader hooked, i do feel that the younger kids may have a few disturbed nights with this plot, but that’s the idea isn’t it?

For a first book in a series i think he does an excellent job of building the plot and dialing up the tension of the viruses planet wide assimilation and knowing Alex’s books some of the seemingly innocuous elements will come back later and turn out to be highly important, the end of the book is as ever where it gets really interesting, left on the edge of a cliff ready for book 2, as to be expected from this author.

I’m not sold on the book being an adult thriller, i felt that too many elements are toned down to meet the YA market, if he were to really write a grown up version of this then he could cause some very sleepless nights. But i know many teens (and some pre teens) who will love this, it very much has the appeal for the gamers who love the apocalyptic plot lines and the drive for survival.

Knowing the huge hit Timeriders was with the kids i have no doubt that this book will go down a storm as well, spreading among the YA population like a Re-made virus….

I’m looking forward to what happens next.

(Parm)

The most horrific thing about Plague Land is that the atrocities it discusses could easily actually happen. Super-viruses, The plague, Black Death, Ebola, all these things have at one time or another caused thousands of deaths and it’s more then fair share of panic.

The Plague of this book deemed Super-Ebola is a monster (pretty much literally). The many instances of grotesque imagery attest to its destructive power. Plague Land is filled with death. A sickness knows no boundaries no matter age, country, species, or any other societal border this thing will kill you. Alex Scarrow does an excellent job of painting that dark and hopeless picture.

As horrific as it is I really enjoyed this book. It made me think about the world and my place in it and how leaving things to the wayside is a great way for things to never happen at all. Honestly, the hopelessness and futility that Plague land made me think about helped me shape my motto for 2018 (along with one other ya novel that I read at the end of the year) to stop saying I’m going to do things and just do them (and so far 1 day in counting it’s been good).

For anyone who loves horror, current day dystopians, conspiracies, or books that shock you at every turn, Plague Land will make you think and wonder some of the most sorrowful “What if’s?” Of all. Fast paced and non-stop fun Plague Land will be there to terrify you during your worst waking nightmares.

Grace and Leon thought moving to London was the worst thing that could happen to them. It got better for Grace but Leon was having a tough time adjusting. Little did Leon know that things were going to get worse. A virus was spreading across the world that killed its prey within minutes. A tiny bit slow in the beginning this book has twists and turns that keeps the reader from putting the book down.. Would recommend this to middle school age and up.

Holy cow! How wonderful was this book! I cannot wait for the sequel to be released! The author literally left you on the edge of your seat with the ending. I appreciated the different POV's, especially the viruses; that was a great addition to the story! I loved that the main character was a teenager, and that he seemed to have his wits about him. He was smart and thought on his feet. It's a refreshing change from some of the other titles I have read recently. I can't wait until next year!!!

i devoured this book almost as quickly as The Plague devours one of its victims.

the writing was very fast-paced and taut with tension, and i literally don't think i put my kindle down at all except to put on some music. although the concept of an apocalyptic plague isn't original, the way this infection was created was rather original - a pathogen that can think for itself and can communicate with other members of its species to create some sort of super-organism.

there's a sequel to this, and i think i'm intrigued enough to continue the series. the reason why i gave it 4 and not 5 stars is because of a few little irritating things that combined to create a full minus star - freya's "i'm-not-like-other-girls"-ness that i'm sick of in books, the hint of romance for no apparent reason except that apparently when a male and female are thrown together in close quarters The Romance must begin to emerge, and the fact that although i enjoyed this a lot i don't think i'd call it exceptional.

still, this is definitely worth reading, and i'd recommend it if you like thrillers and horror.

Leon and his younger sister Grace have just moved to London from New York when news of an unidentified plague begins to fill the news.

Within a week the virus hits London. People in the streets turn to liquid before their eyes, and what follows is a frantic hunt for a safety which may no longer exist.

For the Alex Scarrow fans amongst you, a quick internet search reveals that Plague Land was previously published under the title ReMade. Just thought you should know before you decide if you want to read any further.

Leon and Grace are in a difficult place in their lives. They’ve moved from one side of the planet to the other after their parents’divorce. A new country and a new beginning is going to be hard whatever age you are, but especially so if you are still a teen. Everything is just so different from what both of them are used to. Britain isn’t America, and Leon is finding it particularly hard to adjust. Any chance of starting again disappears with a frantic transatlantic phone call from their father.

Leon and Grace are at either end of the teenage spectrum. Leon is nearly, but not quite, an adult and is driven to introspection and worry. Grace meanwhile, is still young enough to be relatively care-free. When they find themselves in a situation where you either react immediately or die, you start to get a real measure of both characters and what they mean to one another. Grace becomes the reason for Leon to keep going even in their darkest moments. He becomes Grace’s de-facto guardian.

There is something horribly icky about Plague Land. I’m sure your hardened horror fans will scoff but I think the quota of body horror is just right. One of my favourite horror novels is Bloody Crazy by Simon Clark, and Plague Land captures a similar tone. Seeing the world fall apart through the eyes of children seems to make every action and reaction that much more horrific. The virus swiftly breaks victims down to their components parts. As a good percentage of the human body is made of water, this unsurprisingly turns out to be quite the gloopy experience. There are two scenes in particular that left a very distinct impression. I’ll provide no further detail. You’ll know when you get there. Nasty, doesn’t even begin to cover it.

I think the thing that I found most engrossing about this story is the swiftness of humanity’s collapse. Within a matter of days, the virus has traversed the globe. Interspersed throughout the main narrative there are short chapters that follow the plagues journey, and they are perfectly executed. People are literally coming apart at the seams minutes after exposure. As the sickness jumps from victim to victim, there is no option but try to run. Based on my physical fitness, spatial awareness and total lack of spotting the obvious, I reckon I would be a small puddle of brownish red liquid within the first twenty minutes [optimistic! – Ed.]. I’d probably run the wrong way and that would be it done. There are some tantalising details about the plague’s origin but not everything is revealed. There is a sequel set to follow which is good news as there are plenty of questions still left unanswered. I look forward to reading it when it arrives.

I thoroughly enjoyed Plague Land. I was so engrossed (and grossed out) that I rattled through the entire novel in a couple of sittings. If you enjoy viewing your apocalypses from ground level, and can appreciate any story that places ordinary people in extra-ordinary situations, then this is the novel for you.

Plague Land is published by Sourcebooks and is available from 5th December.