Marching Jo

The sequel to Gone, Hunger, is as terrifying as it is thrilling. Sam, now mayor of Perdido Beach, is struggling with his role. Food has grown scarce and constantly lurking the background is the threat of Caine and Drake. If they can't find a way out of the FAYZ soon, they'll starve. And deep within the mines is something else. Something evil... and hungry.

Wow! If you had enjoyed Gone (or even if you didn't, like me) then Hunger delivers everything you've wanted and then some. Following all of the different characters through various threats was fascinating. After all, how do you rebuild society as kids? The prose was marvellously tight and I found myself holding my breath as I zipped through the last fifty pages. Despite the large cast, Grant handles the characters really well, and each has a distinct voice, making them easier to identify with. The only thing I would have liked to see more of was what the FAYZ actually was. If you've read Gone, then you'll know about the origin, but what next? I can only assume that more will be explained in the next book, Lies .

A note of warning for anyone uncomfortable or sensitive to violence, as well as to readers in general: there is a lot of it. What really struck me was the cruelty, particularly towards certain characters such as Hunter. It became very Lord of the Flies-esque and while it certainly upped the stakes, I also wondered how far Grant would push it. As a reader of the A Song of Fire and Ice series, as well as Battle Royale and other violent novels, I was surprised to feel so uneasy about the level of cruelty and violence.

However, it is an excellent read, and probably a more accurate portrayal, than a 'fluffier' version of the novel. A big five out of five for Grant and I can't wait to read the next book!