Series: The Fury
Published by Farrar Straus Giroux, Macmillan on July 23, 2013
Genres: Horror, Paranormal, Young Adult
Pages: 688
Format: Paperback
Source: Publisher
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From the creator of the Escape from Furnace series, a ferocious epic of supernatural terror, perfect for Stephen King fansÂ
Imagine if one day, without warning, the entire human race turns against you, if every person you know, every person you meet becomes a bloodthirsty, mindless savage . . . That’s the horrifying reality for Cal, Brick, and Daisy. Friends, family, even moms and dads, are out to get them. Their world has the Fury. It will not rest until they are dead.
In Alexander Gordon Smith’s adrenaline-fueled saga, Cal and the others must uncover the truth about what is happening before it destroys them all. But survival comes at a cost. In their search for answers, what they discover will launch them into battle with an enemy of unimaginable power.
My Thoughts:
What if everyone in the world turned against you? Not just suddenly hated you, but wanted to tear you limb from limb if they came within so many feet of you. Life is suddenly like that for Daisy, Cal, and Brick. One day, their lives are normal: Nearly thirteen-year-old Daisy is rehearsing for the school play with her friends and living with her loving parents, seventeen-year-old Cal is playing ball and living at home with his mother with a forever traveling for work father, and eighteen-year-old Brick splits his time between trying to keep his girlfriend happy and stave off the boredom at an abandoned amusement park. But suddenly, strangers and everyone physically close to the children turn on them. First they ignore them, then they are mean to them, then they full-on try to savagely murder the poor kids. Once the afflicted are out of range, they go about their business like nothing happened.
Brick is the first one to reach out on the internet, hoping to find others like himself that have been attacked. And he sets in motion the events of Cal finding Daisy while he’s heading towards the amusement park, and more of the different people that are targeted by The Fury to join together–to find what is making them different from everyone else, what’s making them so special.
While a small group of these afflicted kids are huddling together in the amusement park, trying to figure out what the hell is going on, an undead corpse is unleashing hell on London, sucking everything into a giant black hole. The body count is large in this book, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit giddy to see so many go. One thing that I really loved about this horror novel was the uncensored bloodiness, the brutal reality of who and how many would die. It’s essentially war, people–the end of the world.
Told in third person point of view, mainly rotating from Cal to Daisy to Brick and cycling through again, you get a decent look at what’s going on with each character. Several more characters are focused on further into the book, but they just add to the story instead of detracting from the text. I was on the edge of my seat during most of the book because you just never knew who would die next. It was that unpredictable and I loved it.
The Fury was seriously one of the best books I’ve read in a few years. Dark, compelling, fantastic storytelling that I didn’t want to put down. A solid five out of five from my horror loving heart. Alexander Gordon Smith’s prose is fluid, not overly descriptive or wordy. I’m definitely going to check out his Furnace series now. He’s won me over.
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Wow! This does sound creepy and scary, it reminds me a bit of a book that I reviewed earlier in the week, Dark Inside. I just read an author guest post of this book on another blog and this definitely sounds like a book I would like to check out. Love to see that five star rating!
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The Fury is a great, super creepy book. You can just feel everything closing in on you like the characters do. Check it out when it comes out next week!
Heather recently posted..The Fury by Alexander Gordon Smith
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This story has such a terrifying concept – what a nightmare.
Glad you enjoyed this one (and glad to hear that it has some unpredictable moments)! Fabulous review 🙂
YA Book Queen recently posted..Highlights / Lowlights: Review of LET THE SKY FALL by Shannon Messenger
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This book deals with a lot of peoples worst nightmares, and it’s an enthralling read too.
Heather recently posted..The Fury by Alexander Gordon Smith
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YES! I loved The Fury too and I’m with you on totally checking out his Furnace series. I’m sold, hook line and sinker! I loved how this horror novel and so much freaking heart!
Glad I’m not the only one who is in love with this author now! 😀
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I’m glad that you loved this book too, April! I have to find time to read the Furnace series now. I’m hooked! He writes so great!
Heather recently posted..The Fury by Alexander Gordon Smith
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I agree, I’m really shocked I haven’t run into his Furnace series before now! I’m excited that he has a series already in print for us to eat up until his next book 😀
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*shudder* Can you imagine if everyone you knew and loved suddenly turned on you and you had no idea why? OMG. That’s definitely horrifying!
Mary @ BookSwarm recently posted..Top Off Tuesday and Mini-Reviews: Raphael/Parish by Alexandra Ivy and Laura Wright
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And this book definitely makes the attacks and isolation super creepy. Plus, even the people who are just like you don’t turn out to be that great–so double whammy!
Heather recently posted..The Fury by Alexander Gordon Smith
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I’ve got the chills just thinking about this…that cover and “uncensored bloodiness” sounds like a great read…just not one for me! lol
Melissa’s Eclectic Bookshelf recently posted..Book Review: Close My Eyes by Sophie McKenzie
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Hahaha, Melissa! If you’re even a little bit squeamish, this might not be the book for you. The kids go through hell and are beaten up big time, barely escaping with their lives. But the author’s writing is so fluid that it’s not so jarring and in your face.
Heather recently posted..The Fury by Alexander Gordon Smith
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I knew that wasn’t Danny writing that review! So not a horror fan! I have a feeling that this one would keep me up at night and jumping at the slightest sounds.
Great review!
Heather @ Buried in Books recently posted..Playing Tyler by TL Costa Review
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You knew right away that it wouldn’t be Danny or Pushy if it was horror! LOL, Heather! If I know you like I think I do, this one might make you paranoid. But then again, the people only attack when they get close, so you could keep your distance. Maybe try a kindle sample if they have one when it comes out next week, see if it works for you?
Heather recently posted..The Fury by Alexander Gordon Smith
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That’s a great idea! I have read great things about Alexander Gordon Smith!
I will try a sample if I can. Wonder how good it would be on audio. Probably too scary for me!
Heather @ Buried in Books recently posted..Playing Tyler by TL Costa Review
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His writing is amazing! I didn’t find this book really scary, it was more “You’re forgetting that those people are going to turn on you…don’t get close. Oh, now you’re gonna get it.” Yeah, that was my internal monologue for quite a bit of the first part of the book, LOL. And I found myself wishing the characters would just kill some of the other characters…it would have made their lives easier, but it would have made the book boring 😉
Heather recently posted..The Fury by Alexander Gordon Smith
It’s hard to do the alternating perspectives well. I will definitely read this one someday but probably his Lockdown one first. Plus – people already probably want to tear me limb from limb LOL
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I’m getting this in the mail soon and I can’t wait because 5 stars!!! It has made me all the more excited. Thanks for the great review, Heather!
Dianne recently posted..2013 YA and MG Time Travel Reading Challenge: July Wrap-Up Post + Review Linky + Giveaway: So Close to You by Rachel Carter
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