Review and Give-Away:The Fall by Robert Duperre

Posted 8 March, 2011 by Danny in / 24 Comments

by Robert J. Duperre
Illustrated by Jesse David Young
Published: August 25, 2010
Links: Amazon (available as Kindle edition)
eBook provided by author for fair review
Synopsis from Goodreads

An ancient evil, trapped in the ruins of a lost Mayan temple for centuries, has been unleashed. It takes the form of a deadly virus, one that causes violent insanity in the living and the recently departed to rise and walk. It spreads around the globe, throwing the world into chaos and war. As it progresses, those in the States who find themselves far away from the epicenter watch it unfold with unbelieving eyes. From Washington D.C. to Dover, New Hampshire, regular people are hurled into an existence outside their control, left to deal with catastrophic situations that they find themselves unprepared to handle. Life becomes a nightmare, and that nightmare is spreading. First time author Robert J. Duperre presents this scenario with The Fall: The Rift Book I, the first of a four-part series. In this book, he throws his characters into a gambit; when the alternatives are life or death, self-preservation or the protection of others, what path will they choose? Is there a darkness that resides in everyone, from every walk of life, that is screaming for release? When society falls apart and we are left to our own devices, will we make the right decisions, or let the tide take us where it may? There is horror, there is death, there are the walking dead, and all around are choices. The novel is fully illustrated by Jesse David Young, whose drawings capture the intense feel of the events happening within. There are twenty illustrations in all, as well as the cover art he provided. These add to the reading experience and help to throw you, the reader, head-first into the world they have created.

Review

When we were first approached to review this book, I read the first few lines of the synopsis, saw that it was about a virus unleashed from hibernation in a Mayan temple and got a mental image of what The Fall would be about.

Boy was I wrong! Instead of getting a medical thriller along the lines of Robin Cook I was immersed, unwittingly, into a zombie apocalypse novel. And what a novel! With a cast of characters that shows humanity at it’s best and worst, I was immediately drawn in by how real these people felt to me, because that’s how they’re portrayed, warts and all. I love how even the hero, who we learn may have some greater, supernatural significance (stress on the “may” since this is only book one out of four), is filled with doubts about himself and others. There’s no, “Oh, I’m the chosen one and I will save the world” moments in this book. Just a bunch of real people stuck in an INSANE world trying to figure out what comes next.

And then there’s the world they live in: which is horrifying to say the least! There’s definitely a creepy aspect, somewhat to be expected given that it is a book about zombies (among other beasties). And Robert Duperre doesn’t flinch away from describing the nastier things that happens to his characters in vivid detail. But it’s not done with the heavy hand of a slash/shock story so much as with the slow layering of one horror upon the next, giving the reader real visceral images of the world his characters inhabit.

While I’m on the topic of the images, I would be remiss if I didn’t say how absolutely gorgeous both the cover and the illustrations in this book are! Jesse David Young really helps bring the characters to life as well as ratchet up the tension in the book as the illustrations usually precede their narration in the book. And while I was reading on my Kindle, the illustrations were still quite compelling (and scary!).

Bottom Line

This is an amazing first book in a series. I was drawn in and I am definitely looking forward to reading the second book (which I purchased for myself about 10% into this book, it’s just that good!). My only complaint is that I know I’m going to finish the next book far before the third and forth books come out. *sigh* I guess Robert Duperre and Jesse David Young will just have to make an appearance in an upcoming “Waiting on” Wednesday. *wink*

I give it 5 out of 5 books!

Final Notes

So….because Mr. Duperre is so super-duper awesome, he sent me the paperback copies of both The Fall and it’s sequel, Dead of Winter. Which means I can be absolutely shameless in pushing these books for someone else to read because I really think more people need to enjoy both the prose and illustrations found within. Which means….of course…..that it’s….

Yup! Enter below for a chance to get your very own copy
of both The Fall and Dead of Winter!

Give-away is for the US and Canada only!
Enter from now until 9pm CST, March 14th
Winner will be announced on March 15th.

Don’t forget to leave a comment to let us know why you’ve entered.
Are you a total zombie fanatic?
Did my review make you need to read this book?
Just love a give-away (totally valid reason!)?

Let us know in the comments!

Good luck!!!

Now go and get lost…in a book!

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Danny

Obsessive Reader by Night - Scientist at Day! You can also find me on goodreads. I'd love to get to know you so, don't be shy and say Hello!

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24 Responses to “Review and Give-Away:The Fall by Robert Duperre”

  1. .Ambur.

    I entered this giveaway because I'm a total zombie fanatic 😀
    If a book is about zombies it is pretty much immediately added to my to-read list haha

    Thanks for the chance to win some awesome zombie books and for sharing your review 😀

    Reply »

    Reply
  4. gravesok

    I entered because the book sounds interesting. I am currently reading the Pride and Prejudice and Zombies series. Also a friend of mine is a total Zombie freak so thought I should try a couple.

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  18. Melanie Lynch

    I don't know if I'd say I'm a zombie fanatic yet, but I have been reading a lot of books about them lately (The Forest of Hands and Teeth, World War Z, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies) so maybe I am! 🙂 These books sound awesome. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  19. hrose2931

    Great Review Pushy! Whew, Zombies? I have yet to read a zombie book. It and steampunk are the last on my list. I'm wondering if my library carries this. I might risk the first book. Zombies, really?

    Heather

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    Reply
  20. ruby95660

    I entered this giveaway because I'm a total zombie fanatic 😀
    Actualy I'm just a total book fanatic so I love just about everything!
    This one sounded interesting and now i realy Realy want to read it 🙂

    Reply »

    Reply
  21. winnie

    Thanks for the giveaway! I entered because since I don't read a lot of zombie books, your review made me want to give this a try 🙂

    chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com

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