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A review by bebocarrick
Hearts Still Beating by Brooke Archer
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
As far as zombie stories go, the hunt for a cure is usually the focal point of the story, and that is a tired approach, in my opinion. Hearts Still Beating took an entirely different approach, which I loved! In this novel, a select few zombies (called Ticks or the Affected) have been given an experimental treatment in which they have an injection everyday that suppresses the virus so they remain in control of themselves. A select few Ticks in treatment are deemed worthy to be reintroduced to society, and obviously, the non-infected folks have big opinions about that.
The story alternates between two girls: Mara, a Tick in treatment reintroduced to society, and Rory, a non-infected girl very unhappy about the Ticks reintroduction to society. The catch is that these two had a history before the apocalypse started, so they're trying to deal with lingering feelings while navigating the complexities of the fallen world.
Both characters are very well developed, and I adored the way their story unfolded. While the reveal of the big bad villain was not a surprise, this story still kept me entertained and rooting for Mara and Rory the whole time, even when things got super iffy. I also thought the world-building was well done and explained well. From the way the virus functioned, to how the RPA and alliance between communities worked. Such an enjoyable read, and one that should be considered a fantastic and unique addition to the post-apocalyptic zombie genre.
Publication date: April 2, 2024.
As far as zombie stories go, the hunt for a cure is usually the focal point of the story, and that is a tired approach, in my opinion. Hearts Still Beating took an entirely different approach, which I loved! In this novel, a select few zombies (called Ticks or the Affected) have been given an experimental treatment in which they have an injection everyday that suppresses the virus so they remain in control of themselves. A select few Ticks in treatment are deemed worthy to be reintroduced to society, and obviously, the non-infected folks have big opinions about that.
The story alternates between two girls: Mara, a Tick in treatment reintroduced to society, and Rory, a non-infected girl very unhappy about the Ticks reintroduction to society. The catch is that these two had a history before the apocalypse started, so they're trying to deal with lingering feelings while navigating the complexities of the fallen world.
Both characters are very well developed, and I adored the way their story unfolded. While the reveal of the big bad villain was not a surprise, this story still kept me entertained and rooting for Mara and Rory the whole time, even when things got super iffy. I also thought the world-building was well done and explained well. From the way the virus functioned, to how the RPA and alliance between communities worked. Such an enjoyable read, and one that should be considered a fantastic and unique addition to the post-apocalyptic zombie genre.
Publication date: April 2, 2024.