... does Paul Tremblay know something we don’t? The first few chapters regarding a biological threat of animal origin, overburdened institutions, lack of PPE, and quarantining were eerily prescient and frankly a little triggering, but in the best way. I was hooked from the first chapter. The premise was exciting and relevant. There was the perfect amount of detail and tension to make the events feel real. 

The relationship between Rams and Natalie felt so real, it was as if I was hearing the banter between me and my friends. I so wanted a happy ending for them and for a while, I was convinced I wasn’t going to get it. The last chapter was cathartic and realistic. Despite her reservations it made sense to me that Rams would take Natalies daughter back to England. I wish there had been a little more of Lily in the book, since she really did seem like Natalies daughter. 

Unexpectedly, my favorite chapter was the one with Josh and Luis. I found their friendship so charming and was devastated when Josh was bit. Their pilgrimage into the woods was heartbreaking and beautiful. 

I loved this book. I don’t know that it’s the right book for everyone right now, but those looking for some realism with their horror will find it to be the perfect choice. 

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to preview this book.

Starts with a bang, but begins to drag in the middle, where scenes are repeated from alternate views. Good story with great characters, but it was a bit too close to reality and wrapped up way too soon. I would have liked to read about the time between the birth and the final chapter.

4.5/5 stars!

SURVIVOR SONG consists of the fastest 320 pages I've ever read!

Nats, (Natalie), is waiting at home for her husband to return from the store. This is no ordinary trip, however. In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, there is a virus loose...a fast acting rabies virus that turns its victims, (animal and human alike) into rabid, (see what I did there?), strong, uber-violent attackers. Those infected will attack cars, humans, pretty much anything at all, and Natalie's husband is late. With Natalie being very pregnant, this is quite a scary turn of events. Will Nats' husband ever return? If so, will he be infected or not? What happens to Natalie's unborn baby? You'll have to read this to find out.

I started this book in earnest early yesterday afternoon, (with only part of a previous lunch hour dedicated to it previously), and I had a hard time putting it down. The main characters, the previously mentioned Natalie and her friend Ramola, were so human, so REAL, that I never doubted the actions of either one of them.

Unfortunately, I never doubted the bad guys in this story either. I have to admit though, that some I thought were bad guys, weren't spoiled through and through and I ended up shedding some tears for a couple of them, to be honest. Most of the others, though? I had no problem believing in them either, because all I have to do is turn on the television any time, night or day, to see them in real life.

As in any zombie story, (I can hear Ramola now, in her British accent "They're NOT zombies!"), the real story is with the survivors. The things they have to do, or are forced to do, to save lives or to take them. This tale is brutal in that regard-the loss of humanity, or perhaps the salvation of humanity...we never know which is which at the time, do we?

I got a bit of a kick that the story takes place in my home state and that I was familiar with some of the places mentioned. For me, the locations made this tale even more real.

The only issues I had were that I wished it was a bit longer and, though I enjoyed the denouement and the end, I would have preferred a bit more explanation. For the latter reason I deducted half a star. I don't need everything wrapped up with a bow, but some elaboration would have pleased me more.

SURVIVOR SONG is destined to be up there on top tens lists this year and it deserves to be.

My highest recommendation!

*I received the e-ARC of this book from William Morrow, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*

Paul Tremblay does not fail to deliver a chilling yet heartbreaking story. A rabies-like pandemic  takes over Massachusetts that spreads like wildfire through saliva. We follow our two protagonists Natalie and Dr. Ramola Sherman. Natalie who gets bitten and 8 months pregnant reaches out to her friend Ramola for help to fight against time in getting to a hospital to receive the rabies vaccine for a chance of survival for both her and her unborn child. 

This is my third book by this author and I am confident to admit that he is one of my favorite author in the horror genre. He truly knows how to put his own spin on classic horror subgenres. What makes Paul Tremblay's books so fascinating and stand out are the well-developed characters. As much as the plot is thrilling and terrifying, the readers are able to experience a deep emotional connection with the characters. The plot is also very insightful. The author questions the meaning of humanity. He also challenges the readers on how one would act in an emergency situation. The writing is amazing as always. There were so many underlying themes and questions that lingered long after finishing the novel. The timing of our current pandemic situation seem to enhance the unsettling feeling. In some twisted way, the timing of this novel was perfect and hit very close to home due to our current state. All in all, this book truly broke my heart and horrified me. 

Thank you to Net Galley and William Morrow for this amazing ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. I love this book. I read it in one day. I really wasn’t expecting to but I was caught up and it was a readathon. 
Reading it during a quarantine was surreal. It is not about zombies. It is about a virus. A different one from the one we are experiencing but it still made me wonder, with more knowledge than I ever dreamt of, what choices would I make, would I be forced to make. My heart hurt for Ramola and Natalie. I kept questioning myself on how far I would go for a friend, even those I love as much as family. How strong would I be? I want to say so much more. Explore the places my mind went. To do so, though, would spoil things for you. My advice is to read this book. Many of you will have experience to compare, to use as a basis for, what if? 
It does get messy. There is violence. There are hard decisions. There is heartbreak. Once again, there are no zombies. This, to me, was way more realistic. You have been warned.
I received an electronic, uncorrected, copy of this book from the Facebook group, Scene of the Crime and Netgalley.  Thank you to William Morrow for making this title available. My review is voluntary and based on my experience with this book.

I feel like when selecting this book I declared my status as glutton for punishment. This is my first book by Paul Tremblay and I was not disappointed. I picked this book up after an overall bad day and was shocked at how immersive the story was. I literally devoured this one. 

Be warned, this book is very on trend with our current state of affairs: strain of rabies causing a nationwide pandemic. I am not going to lie, I asked myself how in the world Tremblay predicted a pandemic. Marketing ploy?? 🤔 No, no but kind of crazy anyway?! I know that the outbreak plot in horrors is not brand-new but this one just felt different to me. 

I was very impressed with Tremblay's ability to provide funny and meaningful conversations and moments within a horror story. The pacing of this one was so well done, most of the book takes place within 3-4 hours so the tension is high, yet he still kept the book short, less than 300 pages. After Natalie's husband Paul is killed, Natalie must race to a hospital to get help before rabies takes her life and that of her unborn child. She has to rely on her friend Ramola for help. 

I also really liked the friendship aspect between Natalie and Ramola, it felt natural and Ramola's calm, well planned actions and nurturing spirit were a compliment to Natalie's wild and reckless side.

I was not satisfied with the epilogue it seemed unnecessary....but it didn't take anything away from the overall story. In the end, this book was all about who you could count on when the world falls to pieces. What are you willing to do for a friend?  Who has your back? Maybe those friendships are the ones we should spend more time nurturing, instead of casual acquaintances we seek out for status.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5 stars I will definitely pick up more books by this author. 

Thank you @netgalley and @williammorrowbooks for an advanced copy of this book for my honest review.

This was a fast paced read, with a pretty simple story line - get the pregnant lady to the hospital to give birth before the rabies virus sets in.  Ultimately, this is a story with a strong sense of the true meaning of friendship woven throughout.  I was hooked on the writing by this author as he details an attack on a couple by an unknown man, leaving one dead and one desperate to get to her friend who is a doctor in order to get her baby delivered safely.  There is just a short timeline before she discovers if she too will succumb to the new rabies virus controlling the local town and population.  Having to go just a few miles through town to get from one hospital to another, the author paints a terrifying picture of survival and how much a person is willing to risk for the love of their friends.

This is not a traditionally scary horror novel. It does take a stark look at the failings of human beings and the way fear and misinformation can make us into monsters. In Survivor Song, we follow a gutsy pregnant woman named Natalie, and her best friend Ramola, as they navigate a nightmare landscape of a community ravaged by an unforgiving virus. Ramola is a pediatrician and is totally dedicated to helping Natalie and her unborn child. Along the way they cross paths with the best and worst of humanity. This book was not scary or creepy to me, but it was definitely still filled with tension. I read the pretty fast, I just NEEDED to know what happened! I actually appreciated the ending of Survivor Song, which has not always been the case when reading other Tremblay books. 

I was provided a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to William Morrow and Netgalley

Pandemic reading during a pandemic... perfect horror read to keep our minds off being quarantined for months. This book was a quick and entertaining read, would definite make a great movie!!

Well, this is certainly a prescient novel, and I could not help but inhale all 300+ pages in one sitting.

This latest release from Paul Tremblay features a rabies-like virus that moves with lightning-speed, government quarantines, lack of PPE, and individuals who believe they know best and certainly better than the medical professionals. We see each of these aspects through the lens of a pediatrician assisting her 38-week pregnant friend who has been exposed to this novel virus and must be treated at a hospital. Getting this treatment becomes more complicated as the length of time after exposure continues to grow.

The format of this novel and its separation of chapters is quite striking, and provides different perspectives than you might expect (I was pleasantly surprised to see a few familiar faces). The plot takes place within a number of hours, which will drive the reader to continue turning pages to find out how Tremblay brings the story to an end. I enjoy the questions the author presents within his writing, and enjoy his unique style, so I was pleased this book followed suit.

I received this as an early review copy from NetGalley and William Morrow. All opinions are my own.

When I started reading it, I thought it showed a lot of promise. However, as I continued reading I started losing interest. I felt like the book was more of a prologue than a full book. Too little happens for the number of pages in the book, despite it being relatively short. 
On top of that, some parts were too hard to believe or offered no explanation for whatever happened. Other parts seemed built out of stereotypes.

I am officially now a late to the gate Paul Tremblay fan. I have only recently started reading his works but so far they have all impressed me greatly. Reading this novel during the COVID19 quarantine gave me a very surreal  feeling. The author writes eerily accurate portrayal of self isolation, quarantine, fighting at the stores, miscommunication between hospitals and government entities, misinformation about the virus itself, lack of PPE gear and appropriate training for medical personnel, etc.  I was very impressed, Tremblay absolutely nailed it! The book gets you invested in the characters and  you become completely immersed  in their journey to safety. My only dislike was the ending, felt like we were building towards a climax and then just petered out at the end. Other than that this was a thrilling, fast paced read and I highly recommend it.

***Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

A little too real during this pandemic, but overall a hit with me.

Survivor Song
A Novel
by Paul Tremblay
 Listen to an Audio Excerpt
HarperCollins Publishers
 You Like Them You Are Auto-Approved
William Morrow
Horror | Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 07 Jul 2020   |   Archive Date 01 Sep 2020

Thanks to Net Galley and HarperCollins Publishers for the ARC of this book.  I did not like the writing style of this book and could not get into the book. at all.  Could just be the wrong book at the wrong time.

I've been reading horror since I was in junior high, and it's by far my favorite genre. So I can't explain why I have only read 1 other book by Paul Tremblay, The Cabin at the End of the World. That was good, but this was .... unbelievably good. I can't remember reading a book that not just started out with a bang, but with an explosion of epic proportion - and still kept getting better! I was hooked from the brutal beginning and didn't put it down until the very end. 

The book takes place in Massachusetts, which has been overcome with a rabies-like virus that affects people and animals. Once you are bitten, you have very little time to get a vaccine. People are starting to panic, hospitals are overrun, there aren't enough vaccines to go around and they are just starting to realize how short the incubation period is - symptoms come on very quickly, and after that there's no hope. Sound familiar? It might sound like this would be  book to set aside considering what we're all going through right now, but it was actually the perfect book for right now. 

Natalie and Paul are making plans for their first child to be born in about 2 months when an infected stranger breaks into their house, killing Paul and biting Natalie. In her desperation to get help for herself and for her unborn child, she calls on her good friend, Ramola, a pediatrician. They embark on a terrifying journey with many twists and roadblocks along the way. 

When I read the summary, I assumed this book was about zombies - it's not; it is about a virus. Intended or not, that makes the book even better, even more frightening.  But what it's really about is friendship. And the kind of love that knows no end, no boundary.

         "Never leave me and I will never leave you. Neither now nor ever."

They easy choice throughout this would have been for Ramola to give up trying to help Natalie. Maybe not easy, but infinitely more logical, especially if she wanted to at least try to save herself and the version of her life she had fiercely protected for years. These women don't take the easy choice. I wasn't ready for a book about courage and friendship and sacrifice, but this is the book I needed. It's dark and horrifying and violent, and the author doesn't shy away from showing how fear and panic can bring out the most ugly side of people. But again, that's not the heart of this book. How far would you go for someone you love?

I couldn’t stand the writing. I found it written more like a script than a novel. The development of story felt forced. The whole thing is “Natalie opened the door and xxxxx. Paul stepped inside and xxxx.” No fluidity in the scenes. 

I didn’t find the story itself interesting either. 

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this title.

Mr. Tremblay is ahead of the game with this new book that  deals with a virus gone rampant and a world in chaos.  How will people react to a doctor’s effort to get her pregnant best friend to a place that can help her? Will they take pity and help at the expense of their own lives or will people turn inward? This book shows the lengths, good and evil, that people will resort to when their lives are at stake.

THIS IS NOT A FAIRY TALE

How much more do you need to make you wonder through the whole book if it's going to have a happy ending or not?
Most fairy tales though, aren't set in post apocalyptic virus spreading worlds.  They also don't have hoards of strange virus infected people running amok along side animals.
Survivor Song has your typical end of the world feelings. You join along for the ride trying to get a pregnant infected ( maybe she isn't...but this isn't a fairy tale now is it?) woman to a health care facility to have her maybe infected baby. 
Totally recommended for those that love a good zombie story.
I will include that during this time of reading,  I was wondering how Trembley published a book so fast about a virus pandemic while we are in one. Then questioning if some of the passages could be true.
Thanks NetGalley!

A super strain of fast acting rabies virus takes over Massachusets area, leaving Natalie fighting for her life and the life of her unborn child with help from her college friend and pediatrician Ramola. 
Thanks to Netgallery for this digital ARC.

This was the first book I have read by Paul Tremblay.   

Humans infected by a deadly rabies virus.  How do you protect yourself?  Keep your doors shut and locked at all times and only go out when absolutely necessary.  Unfortunately, Natalie's husband leaves the door open while he is bringing in the groceries and an infected man comes in and kills him and bites Natalie who is pregnant.  Natalie knows there isn't anything she can do for her husband so she calls Rams, her doctor friend.  They make their way to the hospital in the hopes they can get Natalie the vaccine that she needs to help her and her unborn baby survive.  It is a harrowing journey where they meet good and bad people along the way.  

This was a good read especially during the times we are living in right now.