Alice in Zombieland

Alice in Zombieland (White Rabbit Chronicles #1) by Gena Showalter

Rating: 3.5 stars

I've never really been a big fan of zombies. I don't know why, but scary undead that eats other people's brains just didn't appeal to me. However, I was intrigued enough by Alice in Zombieland to pick it up and read it. I'm glad I did. Gena Showalter changed the idea of zombies slightly to make them less disgusting and more of a formidable opponent.

I liked how it practically got right to the point from the start. It was quite a different kind of narration. Alice was both talking about the past and living in the present. The way the author wrote created an intimate and bone-chilling atomsphere of creepiness. I felt like I was holding something moldy and scary yet inconceivably delicate and good. The creepy (yes, I know I'm using that word quite a lot, and I'll be repeating it in this review, but that's just the one main feeling I got from reading this book) environment was etched in my mind. I could imagine all the gruesome figures of the zombies, as well as the epic fights that took place and the haunting images of the darkness. This whole writing style suited with the creepy theme, and that, I liked!

I didn't root for Ali and Cole's romance at all at the start. Their relationship ticked me off big time. It was all so sudden and too fast, AND it didn't seem real. To me, it felt like that certain factors had "forced" (not really forced, hence the quotation marks) them together. Ali and Cole just didn't seem to click for me. Cole was a classic jerk to me. I didn't like him at all. He seemed violent and menacing. However, my opinion of him and their relationship changes a little during the course of the book and as the story progresses, I do want them to be together as everyone wishes a workable (if barely) romance to have its happy ending. Ali did mature quite a bit at the end.

Another thing I didn't like was the whole "I can't think when I'm around him" crap from Ali in reaction to Cole. Not the angry I-can't-think, but the "Oh, he's so hot he's short-circuited my brain" I-can't-think. To me, this was utterly pathetic. Sure, you can have one or two of those moments, especially when he's not bullying you in your face (well, not the completely hurtful kind of bullying, more like taking advantage?). But girl, when you need your wits and smarts, I expect you to have it! (<<<Directed at Ali) I didn't like how Ali always seemed to follow Cole's commands too quickly. (And yea, I didn't like the whole "You and your commands" bit in the book much either. To me, the guy you date need to have at least the basic courtesy of politeness)

Also, I couldn't stand how Ali's later friends looked down on her at the start. It just didn't seem right to be in-your-face with a new comer just because you didn't know who they are/capable of. The way they underestimated Ali just ticked me off. Have some faith!

Aside from all that, there's one thing that I loved about the book: Kat. I loved Kat, absolutely loved Kat (don't get me wrong, just the super awesome friend kinda love). She was such an awesome character. Seriously, you've just gotta give it to that girl. She is the best friend someone could possibly have. She was funny, way-way-way supportive and trusting. She would have taken a blade for Ali in a heartbeat. Having her there really lightened the mood and made things a lot more manageable. Oh and Kat's ego, just thinking about it makes me laugh. She's definitely my favourite character, and for her alone I would read this book.

Wow, alright, I didn't plan on a long review, but here it is. I did like this book, though didn't love it. Despite all its faults, I did enjoy it. So, I would recommened it for a not-too-serious read. Nice creepy read though :P

Synopsis

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real….

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….


I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently.
I'd tell my sister no.
I'd never beg my mother to talk to my dad.
I'd zip my lips and swallow those hateful words.
Or, barring all of that, I'd hug my sister, my mom and my dad one last time.
I'd tell them I love them.
I wish... Yeah, I wish.