Book review: The Enemy by Charlie Higson

Title: The Enemy

Author: Charlie Higson

Length: 384 pages

Published: 1st September 2009

Publisher: Pengiun UK

Warnings: Violence and strong language

Summary from goodreads: They'll chase you. They'll rip you open. They'll feed on you...When the sickness came, every parent, policeman, politician - every adult - fell ill. The lucky ones died. The others are crazed, confused and hungry. Only children under fourteen remain, and they're fighting to survive. Now there are rumours of a safe place to hide. And so a gang of children begin their quest across London, where all through t

he city - down alleyways, in deserted houses, underground - the grown-ups lie in wait. But can they make it there - alive?

Review: I found this book rather dull for a horror book. I don’t really know why… There was everything on my horror checklist:

Horror Checklist

· Lots of gore

· Action

· Unpredictable deaths

· Unpredictable appearances of attacker(s)

· Vivid description

· Insight of people feeling panic

· Insight of attacker(s)

LIST NOT IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE

And lots of other people loved it… Oh well! I think that it mainly is because that “The Enemy” is not a zombie apocalypse story. Zombies are supposed to be undead, raised by someone with magic and then tied to that person to do their bidding. I do however think that the disease type zombies are acceptable in most zombie stories as many of them are set in the 21^st century where magic no longer exists. But in “The Enemy” the “zombies” haven’t actually died which is sort of is a bit… *Tries to think of suitable word for it that isn’t classed under profanity*… *Fails and sighs*… The narrative style of this book was probably the best to describe a “zombie” apocalypse. The multiple narrators are useful, especially when they may die. I loved the fact that we could get the view point of one of the “zombies”, as it gave you a better understanding of what the Holloway crew were up against – people with limited thinking skills suffering from schizophrenia. The best part about this book is that lots of people die. It doesn't usually happen in YA horror; the characters miraculously pull through, now armed with a new magical power.

Rating: 2 Green tea in hot water

*TRANSLATION: not quite right*