Another Review at MyShelf.Com

Cannibal Reign
Thomas Koloniar

HarperCollins Publishers
June 26, 2012 /978-0062025821
Fantasy
Amazon

Reviewed by Jan Fields

As Cannibal Reign opens, an asteroid is hurtling toward earth, but the government wants to keep it quiet and only a very few people know. A small group of retired Special Forces heroes are filling an abandoned missile silo with food -- and a few hopeful people. An astronomer is struggling to get the word out. And the end of the world hits.

Things go bad even before the asteroid hits, and they only get worse. Starvation and guns bring out the worst as society crumbles. But ultimately, Cannibal Reigns isn't a book about how rotten people are -- but how good they can be. It's fast paced,
sometimes horrific, always chilling, but also surprisingly hopeful. No matter how dark the world becomes, the book reminds us that there are some who will fight against the darkness instead of against themselves.

I'm a huge fan of apocalyptic fiction, and the book offers all the thrill ride you expect from this type of story. But even though it doesn't pull any punches about what humans are capable of, it also reminds us that not everything we're capable of is shameful. The book isn't perfect. The character of Jack Forrest is classic James Bond wish fullfilment -- the guy every woman wants who just can't be defeated. And the characterization for some of the women actually made me laugh in a "you can tell this was written by a man" kind of way. Still, in a genre I love -- Cannibal Reign has been my favorite this year.

Reviewer's Note:
Reviewed 2012
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