Review: Suckers

Suckers by Z. Rider

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Book description:


“What we have here is a very high-quality junkie novel that happens to be about a unique case of vampirism.” —Evan Clark, author of Movers

WHEN WORN-OUT MUSICIAN DAN FERRY decides to take a shortcut back to the band's hotel, he picks the wrong dark alley to go down. Within days of being attacked by a bat-like creature, he becomes consumed with the need to drink human blood. Terrified of what will happen if he doesn't get his fix--and terrified of what he'll do to get it--he turns to his best friend and bandmate, Ray Ford, for help. But what the two don't know as they try to keep Dan's situation quiet is that the parasite driving Dan's addiction has the potential to wipe out humankind.

Poignant and terrifying, heartfelt and ingenious, Suckers is a story of sacrifice and friendship in the face of an alien contagion that threatens to destroy humanity.

"Mixing recent apocalyptic and zombie stories with classic vampire legends, Rider has come up with a daring and eminently readable new take on both." — Publisher’s Weekly

“Rider brings us convincingly into the life of a band on the road, and Dan and Ray’s bond helps ground this effective horror novel.” — Library Journal

“Touching and occasionally terrifying” — Booklist


Review:

In the first chapters I thought "yeah right, who wouldn't just go to the doctor already. Why make it so complicated." It seemed like a lot of work and secrecy over something that could be fixed by modern science, medicine, or a good doctor. Plus, you wouldn't want to spread it to the community right?!

I actually enjoyed the book more, and it seemed more believable when there was an actual reason not to seek help in public, from the hospital etc. Panic and human nature ran amuck and at that point hiding did seem the best option. The loyalty of friendship was a great bonus and likely the only thing that kept me reading at the beginning. Dan seemed completely taken in an unhealthy way with his friend / band mate Ray. At times his relationship with Ray was as addictive as his craving for blood. It is kind of ironic that Dan goes on & on about a fellow band mate's drug addiction, but has a blood addiction of his own.

I was provided this book free of charge for review purposes. I really didn't like the beginning of the book much, but became more interested in the situation after more people became infected with the bite. The descriptions of the parasites is deserving of a pukeish award. Very gory, gross, and down right disgusting. Blaaaa.

Fair read if you like gross, alien, undead, type things. Gets off to a somewhat slow start and gets even grosser once it gets interesting. Not the worse thing I have read this year.




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