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Fetch #1
Inhuman
In a world ravaged by mutation, a teenage girl must travel into the forbidden Savage Zone to recover lost artifacts or her father’s life is forfeit.
America has been ravaged by a war that has left the eastern half of the country riddled with mutation. Many of the people there exhibit varying degrees of animal traits. Even the plantlife has gone feral.
Crossing from west to east is supposed to be forbidden, but sometimes it’s necessary. Some enter the Savage Zone to provide humanitarian relief. Sixteen-year-old Lane’s father goes there to retrieve lost artifacts—he is a Fetch. It’s a dangerous life, but rewarding—until he’s caught.
Desperate to save her father, Lane agrees to complete his latest job. That means leaving behind her life of comfort and risking life and limb—and her very DNA—in the Savage Zone. But she’s not alone. In order to complete her objective, Lane strikes a deal with handsome, roguish Rafe. In exchange for his help as a guide, Lane is supposed to sneak him back west. But though Rafe doesn’t exhibit any signs of “manimal� mutation, he’s hardly civilized . . . and he may not be trustworthy.
America has been ravaged by a war that has left the eastern half of the country riddled with mutation. Many of the people there exhibit varying degrees of animal traits. Even the plantlife has gone feral.
Crossing from west to east is supposed to be forbidden, but sometimes it’s necessary. Some enter the Savage Zone to provide humanitarian relief. Sixteen-year-old Lane’s father goes there to retrieve lost artifacts—he is a Fetch. It’s a dangerous life, but rewarding—until he’s caught.
Desperate to save her father, Lane agrees to complete his latest job. That means leaving behind her life of comfort and risking life and limb—and her very DNA—in the Savage Zone. But she’s not alone. In order to complete her objective, Lane strikes a deal with handsome, roguish Rafe. In exchange for his help as a guide, Lane is supposed to sneak him back west. But though Rafe doesn’t exhibit any signs of “manimal� mutation, he’s hardly civilized . . . and he may not be trustworthy.
378 pages, Hardcover
First published September 24, 2013
192 people are currently reading
13526 people want to read
About the author
Kat Falls
6books681followersKat Falls lives in Evanston, IL with her husband, theater director Robert Falls, their three children, and a whole slew of pets. She grew up in Silver Spring, MD, attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute as an undergrad, and went on to receive an MFA from Northwestern University, where she now teaches.
Kat is the author of the middle-grade science fiction novels, Dark Life and Rip Tide, which she describes as “underwater westerns.�
She came up with the idea for Dark Life (Scholastic, 2010) during a writing exercise. Knowing that her 11-year-old son loved reading about the ocean, Wild West pioneers, and the X-Men, she combined his interests and created a story premise that kept her up nights plotting and world-building. Since then, Dark Life has been nominated for children’s book awards in ten states and translated into 17 languages around the world. Kat appeared on the Today Show when Dark Life was featured on Al Roker's Book Club. Currently, Dark Life is in development for film at Disney with The Gotham Group producing.
When the sequel, Rip Tide (Scholastic, 2011) came out, Publishers Weekly wrote, “As with its predecessor, there’s no shortage of action, intrigue, or daring exploits in this aquatic thriller. Atmospheric and tense, built around an expertly used post apocalyptic–meets–Wild West setting, this story’s a whole lot of fun.�
Kat’s YA novel, Inhuman (Scholastic, 2013), is the first book of a science fiction trilogy set in the near future after a plague has turned millions of people into feral beast-men.
Inhuman received glowing reviews from Publishers Weekly, SLJ, VOYA, and a starred review from Kirkus. Inhuman is also a nominee on the 2014-2015 Tome Society It List for “clean� teen reads.
Kat is the author of the middle-grade science fiction novels, Dark Life and Rip Tide, which she describes as “underwater westerns.�
She came up with the idea for Dark Life (Scholastic, 2010) during a writing exercise. Knowing that her 11-year-old son loved reading about the ocean, Wild West pioneers, and the X-Men, she combined his interests and created a story premise that kept her up nights plotting and world-building. Since then, Dark Life has been nominated for children’s book awards in ten states and translated into 17 languages around the world. Kat appeared on the Today Show when Dark Life was featured on Al Roker's Book Club. Currently, Dark Life is in development for film at Disney with The Gotham Group producing.
When the sequel, Rip Tide (Scholastic, 2011) came out, Publishers Weekly wrote, “As with its predecessor, there’s no shortage of action, intrigue, or daring exploits in this aquatic thriller. Atmospheric and tense, built around an expertly used post apocalyptic–meets–Wild West setting, this story’s a whole lot of fun.�
Kat’s YA novel, Inhuman (Scholastic, 2013), is the first book of a science fiction trilogy set in the near future after a plague has turned millions of people into feral beast-men.
Inhuman received glowing reviews from Publishers Weekly, SLJ, VOYA, and a starred review from Kirkus. Inhuman is also a nominee on the 2014-2015 Tome Society It List for “clean� teen reads.
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dnf
April 16, 2015UPDATE: Listen up, I'm fucking sick of dealing with trolls on this review. You do not need to inform me that I made the judgment on very little of the book. I'm aware of this, and I'm up front about that. I'm not going to change the review, no matter how often people troll me on it (often). Trolling comments will be summarily deleted. You want attention? Well, you're not getting it here. All trolls may kindly fuck off.
Pages Read: 18, the first chapter
Reason I quit:
All of the characters are idiots thus far, but the real reason I stopped was this (on page three):
But wait! There's more!
"'I know what's over there.' She plucked a bottle of hand sanitizer from the back pocket of my jeans. 'Rubble and disease.'
'And mutants,' Camden added without taking his eyes from the little hovercopter zooming toward the wall."
Oh good, so, in case we weren't clear, we're comparing Africans to mutants or "chimpacabras." Fantastic.
Other issues:
1) Everyone's stupid.
2) A guy forces a kiss on Lane, the heroine, and insinuates that because she talked to him online all week she wanted it.
3) The heroine gets arrested for potentially having the feral virus and worries that she's "ruined the senior year of high school." Priorities, bitch. On the plus side, this does make Mr. Doucheface regret his mouth rape.
4. This phrase: "That's what really carbonated my blood."
I am not impressed and I'd rather read something good. We're done, book.
Pages Read: 18, the first chapter
Reason I quit:
All of the characters are idiots thus far, but the real reason I stopped was this (on page three):
When the wall went up eighteen years ago, that part of the country became as mysterious to us as Africa was to the rest of the world in the nineteenth century. The Feral Zone was our Dark Continent.
But wait! There's more!
"'I know what's over there.' She plucked a bottle of hand sanitizer from the back pocket of my jeans. 'Rubble and disease.'
'And mutants,' Camden added without taking his eyes from the little hovercopter zooming toward the wall."
Oh good, so, in case we weren't clear, we're comparing Africans to mutants or "chimpacabras." Fantastic.
Other issues:
1) Everyone's stupid.
2) A guy forces a kiss on Lane, the heroine, and insinuates that because she talked to him online all week she wanted it.
3) The heroine gets arrested for potentially having the feral virus and worries that she's "ruined the senior year of high school." Priorities, bitch. On the plus side, this does make Mr. Doucheface regret his mouth rape.
4. This phrase: "That's what really carbonated my blood."
I am not impressed and I'd rather read something good. We're done, book.
September 13, 2013
This book starts out by comparing a land full of virus-infected, bestial people to Africa. And then it manages to go downhill from there.
There were so many problems with this book, they drowned out the good parts. The premise for this story was fairly good, if you can accept comic-book-science, and the plot line was exciting and engaging. It’ll keep readers interested, even readers like me who are busy rolling their eyes the whole time, so that’s actually impressive. The amount of romance-to-plot was handled nicely. Yes, there’s a love triangle, but it doesn’t take over the story until the end and the romance/lusty bits always get slipped in at appropriately calm moments, so there’s no sense that the plot was put on hold for it. A lot of the creatures encountered in this book were creative and horrifying, and I did have fun with the mash-ups. I even liked most of the characters. So there are people who will enjoy this book, because it does have a lot to offer in terms of entertainment.
But in a way, that makes all the bad stuff just so much worse. Clearly there’s potential here, but some ill advised or just plain poorly executed decisions ruined the book for me.
First of all, while the premise of having half the country quarantined and a big wall keeping everything apart was a good starting point, it was sloppily applied. The more details we got about how that whole process happened, the less sense it made. For instance, there’s a deadly virus over there, but only one guy is bothering to even try to find the cure. And also, he’s not allowed to break the quarantine in order to get tests subjects.
What?
That is so utterly ridiculous I don’t even know where to begin. That’s like building a hospital and only letting in healthy people. I understand that this is a super-deadly virus that most people are afraid of, but the doctors dealing with it directly should have a more rational view on it than the average citizen, and also everyone else should want it cured, too, so saying the doctor is hamstringed like this is utterly ridiculous.
And then there’s the idea of ‘Fetch,� people who cross the wall into the virus zone in order to retrieve lost works of art or personal possessions for a high cost. Awesome! What? They’re illegal? …book, do you realize that ? We send people into dangerous situations for the sake for the sake of stupid shit all the time. I don’t care how many people died in that virus, I would bet everything I own that ‘fetching� would be sanctioned. Hell, the government has helicopters and the virus can only be spread by biting, so it’s not like you can accidentally bring it home. We’d be sending in Seal Teams to clear out museums on a regular basis!
Oh, right, the ‘official� military is a joke in this world and only private company militias are still around. Why? Because so many people in the military died during the initial virus outbreak and quarantine. Um…armies recruit, book.
But hey, let’s talk about these private armies. They’re evil. Or at least, the one that we see is. Why? Beats the fuck out of me. They’re tasked with guarding the wall and making sure no one crosses it, because if an infected anything crosses the wall, you get massive break-out and death again. So these guards are very strict and deadly when it comes to making sure no one crosses the river to even get an attempt at the wall. And this makes them…bad? How? One of them even ends up infected in the line of duty. These guys are putting their lives on the line to make sure that the virus stays contained, and the book has the utter gall to call them evil for it, and I have no idea why! Every tepid excuse it tries to give me makes me cry out “but that’s a good thing, you moron!�
This book has a lot of weird morals to it, frankly. It seems like it wants the ‘feral� people to stand in for either racial minorities or AIDS victims, and it switches between the two frequently. There’s a common attitude throughout the book that anyone who is ‘anti-feral� is akin to a racist, and they’re bad people, and how dare they be so mean? There’s just one problem.
THESE MUTATED ANIMAL-PEOPLE WILL TURN INTO MINDLESS KILLING MONSTERS AT THE DROP OF A HAT. Yeah. That’s how the virus works. You turn partially animal, but act human. For a while. Then the virus finishes eating your brain, and suddenly you want to eat your kid’s face. There’s no warning, just BOOM daddy’s deadly.
So what are you saying, book? That black people are all ticking time bombs that could turn around and shoot you with no notice? Or that AIDS people are actually a threat that could wipe out 40% of the population? Because you can’t take the prejudices experienced by them and apply it to a group of people who are actually, legit deadly.
Because this book takes a “wah, why you mean to the poor virus-infected timebombs?� approach, the main character ends up looking like a cartoon of the worst PETA stereotype. She’s all about protecting the things that have a 100% chance of killing her, and if you try and do anything about that, you’re a bad person.
That last point alone was enough to make this frustrating enough to hate, but sloppy science and the way it so clearly wanted to a fantasy (complete with a castle in the middle of Chicago. Not something just called a castle, an actual castle) made it even more so. There’s more (the lust standing in for love, the utter failure of the heroine to live up to her ‘I’ve been training for years� statement, the fact that most of the ‘bad� human-creatures have distinctly ‘nonwhite� names...) but this review has gone on long enough, and you get the picture.
This was a galley copy received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
September 17, 2013
This was such a great story! Full of adventure, mystery, and surprises, Inhuman is a definite must read.
Lane grew up in the West and, like most people under the age of 19, has never seen what is on the other side of the wall that separates them from the East. Having lived a relatively sheltered life in the West, she and her friends have only heard stories of the feral territory of the East where the Ferae virus, which turns humans into feral human-animal hybrids, is still very much active after wiping out 40% of the world's population 19 years before. Lane's life is pretty simplistic, friends, school, survival classes her father insists on, until the day when the guards comes for her, insisting she has had contact with someone who may have been infected with the virus. In a few short seconds Lane's life is turned inside out and she has no choice but to enter the savage zone of the east to find out the truth. What she finds there makes her question everything she ever thought she knew and realize she really did not know much at all.
While there is somewhat of a love triangle in this book (warning for you haters out there), it is integrated into the story really well and is not the main part of the story � rather a fun aside as we followed the story along � and the romance itself is very light. One of them is sweet, one is sour, but both have redeeming qualities � even if you have to look deep to find them.
The world building for this story was fantastic, the characters were delightful, and the writing was vivid and imaginative. I am very much looking forward to more from this author and from this series.
I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Lane grew up in the West and, like most people under the age of 19, has never seen what is on the other side of the wall that separates them from the East. Having lived a relatively sheltered life in the West, she and her friends have only heard stories of the feral territory of the East where the Ferae virus, which turns humans into feral human-animal hybrids, is still very much active after wiping out 40% of the world's population 19 years before. Lane's life is pretty simplistic, friends, school, survival classes her father insists on, until the day when the guards comes for her, insisting she has had contact with someone who may have been infected with the virus. In a few short seconds Lane's life is turned inside out and she has no choice but to enter the savage zone of the east to find out the truth. What she finds there makes her question everything she ever thought she knew and realize she really did not know much at all.
While there is somewhat of a love triangle in this book (warning for you haters out there), it is integrated into the story really well and is not the main part of the story � rather a fun aside as we followed the story along � and the romance itself is very light. One of them is sweet, one is sour, but both have redeeming qualities � even if you have to look deep to find them.
The world building for this story was fantastic, the characters were delightful, and the writing was vivid and imaginative. I am very much looking forward to more from this author and from this series.
I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 9, 2016
I DNFed this book at 50% and could not bring myself to read on. I was extremely confused by the world building, I really wanted to me immersed by the danger of a dystopian world plagued by mutant creatures, but how this world was presented in the book did not capture my attention. I felt that there was an excessive amount of time wasting right after Lane left the wall, and I was extremely bored by what follows afterward to the time she finally escaped from the soldiers.
I truly found the idea of the mutant human/animals confounding. They are an improbable concept in science, given the slow manifestation of mutation in nature, even if helped along by disease or radiation. This concept might have been explained more further along, but by the time the were-lion appeared in the book, I found myself bursting into laughter. The book did not improve subsequently, and I am forced to admit defeat and call it quits.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book from NetGalley.
I truly found the idea of the mutant human/animals confounding. They are an improbable concept in science, given the slow manifestation of mutation in nature, even if helped along by disease or radiation. This concept might have been explained more further along, but by the time the were-lion appeared in the book, I found myself bursting into laughter. The book did not improve subsequently, and I am forced to admit defeat and call it quits.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book from NetGalley.
September 18, 2013
Kindle Edition, 384 pages
Expected publication: September 24th 2013 by Scholastic Inc.
original title: Inhuman
ASIN B00B9FX5ES
edition language: English
series: Fetch #1
Source:Netgalley EARC
I was intrigued by the premise of Inhuman, and I knew I had to give it a try. I was completely blown away! It is an action packed adventure, full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing. You will not want it to end. I know I didn't.
Sixteen year old Lane has lived a pretty sheltered life. Like everyone else in the West, Lane has learned about the East, the Savage Zone, where the Ferae virus is still running rampant. The Ferae virus, which turns people and animals feral, has decimated the world, and is why the wall was built to separate the East from the West. Lane has always been intrigued by the wall, and what is really on the other side. Are the stories true? Lane will get the chance to find out for herself when she has to enter the Savage Zone to save her father. She will have to use the survival skills, that her father made her learn and depend on some unlikely allies along the way. Will she be able to save her father and make it out alive?
The author has done a great job developing an interesting cast of characters. At the beginning of the story, Lane is worried more about her hand sanitizer and coming in contact with potential germs than anything else. She quickly transforms into a machete carrying Lara Croft character, who is willing to do anything to save her father. This is my first Kat Falls' book but it will not be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be eagerly awaiting the next installment to this series.
Expected publication: September 24th 2013 by Scholastic Inc.
original title: Inhuman
ASIN B00B9FX5ES
edition language: English
series: Fetch #1
Source:Netgalley EARC
I was intrigued by the premise of Inhuman, and I knew I had to give it a try. I was completely blown away! It is an action packed adventure, full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing. You will not want it to end. I know I didn't.
Sixteen year old Lane has lived a pretty sheltered life. Like everyone else in the West, Lane has learned about the East, the Savage Zone, where the Ferae virus is still running rampant. The Ferae virus, which turns people and animals feral, has decimated the world, and is why the wall was built to separate the East from the West. Lane has always been intrigued by the wall, and what is really on the other side. Are the stories true? Lane will get the chance to find out for herself when she has to enter the Savage Zone to save her father. She will have to use the survival skills, that her father made her learn and depend on some unlikely allies along the way. Will she be able to save her father and make it out alive?
The author has done a great job developing an interesting cast of characters. At the beginning of the story, Lane is worried more about her hand sanitizer and coming in contact with potential germs than anything else. She quickly transforms into a machete carrying Lara Croft character, who is willing to do anything to save her father. This is my first Kat Falls' book but it will not be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be eagerly awaiting the next installment to this series.
September 4, 2013
Attention YA dystopian fans! Ready for a slightly different teen heroine in a slightly different dystopian society? Inhuman by Kat Falls was a VERY pleasant surprise for me! Sure, we have a teen girl, raised in a sheltered environment who has a germ fetish and an almost endless supply of hand sanitizer, but that’s all explained! We also have two handsome guys, one the definitely the damaged good guy, one the definitely damaged bad boy, both strong, brave and interested in Lane. The best part of that triangle? It is NOT the main theme, it is alluded to occasionally, hinted at, and holds promise for future books in the series, but we are not inundated with angst!
Imagine mutations, called manimals in the early stages, because they are humans who have animal DNA. Some go feral, become wild, contagious and deadly. Many are raised for their “entertainment� value in some twisted pockets where humans survive. But, there is a group trying to find a cure of the virus and they are facing an uphill battle all the way. Uninfected humans live behind walls, isolated from harm, but someone has to go out into the wilds, they are called “fetches� and it is totally illegal, but some do it to help the infected, to try to save humanity, and Lane’s father is one of them. Of course she knows nothing about this until she is hauled in to a government facility and her father’s life is threatened if she does not get a message to him to do one last fetch. Finally, all of the survival course her father made her take will mean something to Lane as she braves the unknown beyond the walls to find her father. What she sees, experiences and learns will change her life forever as her search takes her to places out of nightmares and the bedtime stories her father used to tell her finally make sense.
Kat Falls has “The Gift� for writing and creating a world that wraps around you and challenges your imagination to picture each and every scene with perfect clarity! Each feral creature or Manimal are vividly described, and completely believable! Lane comes of age, and her inner strength is realized as the book progresses. Rafe is the bad boy you just know has so much to give, once you look beyond his snarky façade. Everson is the good boy with a damaged past that haunts him, drives him to “do what’s right,� no matter the cost. Together, these three are a force to be reckoned with, whether they realize it or not!
NOTE: Bonus excerpts of The Darkest Path by Jeff Hirsch and The Bar Code Prophecy by Suzanne Weyn were also provided and BOTH proved to be more great YA reading!
An ARC edition was provided by NetGalley and Scholastic in exchange for my honest review!
Publication Date: September 24, 2013
Publisher: Scholastic
Series: Fetch, #1
ISBN: 9780545520348
Number of Pages: 384
Genre: YA Fantasy
My Rating: 5 Stars
Available from: /
For more reviews check out or find us on .
Imagine mutations, called manimals in the early stages, because they are humans who have animal DNA. Some go feral, become wild, contagious and deadly. Many are raised for their “entertainment� value in some twisted pockets where humans survive. But, there is a group trying to find a cure of the virus and they are facing an uphill battle all the way. Uninfected humans live behind walls, isolated from harm, but someone has to go out into the wilds, they are called “fetches� and it is totally illegal, but some do it to help the infected, to try to save humanity, and Lane’s father is one of them. Of course she knows nothing about this until she is hauled in to a government facility and her father’s life is threatened if she does not get a message to him to do one last fetch. Finally, all of the survival course her father made her take will mean something to Lane as she braves the unknown beyond the walls to find her father. What she sees, experiences and learns will change her life forever as her search takes her to places out of nightmares and the bedtime stories her father used to tell her finally make sense.
Kat Falls has “The Gift� for writing and creating a world that wraps around you and challenges your imagination to picture each and every scene with perfect clarity! Each feral creature or Manimal are vividly described, and completely believable! Lane comes of age, and her inner strength is realized as the book progresses. Rafe is the bad boy you just know has so much to give, once you look beyond his snarky façade. Everson is the good boy with a damaged past that haunts him, drives him to “do what’s right,� no matter the cost. Together, these three are a force to be reckoned with, whether they realize it or not!
NOTE: Bonus excerpts of The Darkest Path by Jeff Hirsch and The Bar Code Prophecy by Suzanne Weyn were also provided and BOTH proved to be more great YA reading!
An ARC edition was provided by NetGalley and Scholastic in exchange for my honest review!
Publication Date: September 24, 2013
Publisher: Scholastic
Series: Fetch, #1
ISBN: 9780545520348
Number of Pages: 384
Genre: YA Fantasy
My Rating: 5 Stars
Available from: /
For more reviews check out or find us on .
September 20, 2013
This review can also be found on
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
Inhuman by Kat Falls is a fast paced, action packed novel that will thrill many readers to come. I went into this book without any expectations at all however I was pleasantly surprised in the end.
One of novel’s strongest points is its premise. From the very beginning, it immediately grabbed my attention and it certainly did not disappoint as the story progressed. The effects of mutation from the fictional, man-made virus were both chilling and fascinating to read about. In a way, the infected victims remind me of zombies as they can become psychotic and extremely aggressive under the virus’s influence. Certain individual aspects of the story may seem quite derivative and similar to other works in the post-apocalyptic/science fiction genre however in this case, the whole book was definitely worth more than the sum of its parts. Fall’s world-building was impeccable and credible as I could not find any loopholes or faults in its set up. Everything basically made sense, with all the intricate details falling nicely into their place. If a catastrophic plague hits the world one day with the victims exhibiting animal-like symptoms, it would not be too far from this story.
The highlight of this book would be its numerous plot twists which I was unable to predict most of them. There were so many intense and gripping scenes throughout the story that I was continually glued to the edge of my seat in anticipation. Close calls become almost of a common occurrence here however they did not feel overused to have their effect detracted from them. Funnily enough, there was also a lot of foreshadowing in the form of story tales from Lane’s father throughout her childhood, which were really just subliminal messages about the real horrors in the Feral Zone (not a spoiler since the main character figures this out almost immediately in the book).
The setting and atmosphere of Inhuman were also intriguing. There was a strong clinical/medical feel to the story through the constant mentions of infections, diseases, biohazards, protective equipment and quarantines which gave me goose-bumps. In particular, there was a scene in the first part of the novel where the main character was walking alone in a dark, eerie tunnel and she suddenly sees a gas mask lying on the ground. Perhaps it was just me however I found that to be extremely creepy, especially when it was quickly followed by images of dried up, infected corpses which were downright terrifying. Speaking of which, expect to find a lot of corpses in this book as well... Needless to say, I felt extremely jumpy and paranoid during that scene which is an impressive feat for a book.
The writing was quite enjoyable to read. Although it felt mostly standard, it does its job well in working seamlessly with the fast paced nature of plot. I also liked her gritty and dark descriptions of the Feral Zone which heightened the story’s post-apocalyptic atmosphere.
This book was not without its faults however. I thought that some events felt too convenient to be realistic, with some of the loose ends tied up in a deus ex machine manner at the end. Furthermore, there seems to be a growing trend in YA dystopian/post-apocalyptic novels where there is always an excuse for the female main character to dress up in a pretty gown when the situation calls for it (, ,and are the first books that come to mind). I find that they often serve a superficial role in the plot at best (of course they HAVE to go to this specific night club/ball due to... reasons, like there is no other better time and place). Honestly, there is really no meaningful reason for this to happen other than to show off the heroine’s feminine qualities in an otherwise gritty, dangerous and wild setting. Unfortunately, Inhuman is no different.
Rafe is quite a character to read about. He’s wild, unpredictable, insensitive, rude and feral. He has an interesting background yet I can’t help but to think that his personality isn’t very original. It’s like we’ve seen bits and pieces of him before in many other stories all put together. Unsurprisingly, he acts like a douche in cutting the main character with a knife in their first meeting (!) and abandoning the said person to save his own skin not long afterwards. Why Lane trusts an obviously unreliable and downright dangerous person from the beginning to take her to her destination is still beyond me. Lane on the other hand was a bit more tolerable to read about. I enjoyed her inner narration and I liked that she was not always a damsel in distress. There were numerous of times where she had to pull herself out of tight situations which was refreshing to read.
Perhaps one of the things that would potentially bother many readers would be the love triangle in this book between Lane, Rafe as well as a guard called Everson. Of course it seems awfully convenient for the main character to be stuck with two good lucking males in her journey, with the tension and attraction between the characters be almost inevitable. Personally I did not mind this as much due to the action packed plot which was not bogged down by the romance. I ignored the love triangle on most part (possibly due to having such low expectations) and there was thankfully no insta-love/sappiness. I felt that the romance was kept mostly to a minimum aside from a few cliché moments (ok, well perhaps there were more than just a few) however they were mostly forgivable due to the awesome plot. Mostly�
Overall, Inhuman is an entertaining, action packed novel that is one of the better YA books to come out this year. Despite what the promotion/marketing says, comparing this to would be setting up for guaranteed disappointment. It's best to judge this book on its own merits without any extra comparisons to [insert any popular YA book]. I would recommend it if you are a fan of post-apocalyptic/science fiction. Otherwise, it’s still definitely worth checking it out.
e-ARC received from the publisher via Netgalley
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
Inhuman by Kat Falls is a fast paced, action packed novel that will thrill many readers to come. I went into this book without any expectations at all however I was pleasantly surprised in the end.
One of novel’s strongest points is its premise. From the very beginning, it immediately grabbed my attention and it certainly did not disappoint as the story progressed. The effects of mutation from the fictional, man-made virus were both chilling and fascinating to read about. In a way, the infected victims remind me of zombies as they can become psychotic and extremely aggressive under the virus’s influence. Certain individual aspects of the story may seem quite derivative and similar to other works in the post-apocalyptic/science fiction genre however in this case, the whole book was definitely worth more than the sum of its parts. Fall’s world-building was impeccable and credible as I could not find any loopholes or faults in its set up. Everything basically made sense, with all the intricate details falling nicely into their place. If a catastrophic plague hits the world one day with the victims exhibiting animal-like symptoms, it would not be too far from this story.
The highlight of this book would be its numerous plot twists which I was unable to predict most of them. There were so many intense and gripping scenes throughout the story that I was continually glued to the edge of my seat in anticipation. Close calls become almost of a common occurrence here however they did not feel overused to have their effect detracted from them. Funnily enough, there was also a lot of foreshadowing in the form of story tales from Lane’s father throughout her childhood, which were really just subliminal messages about the real horrors in the Feral Zone (not a spoiler since the main character figures this out almost immediately in the book).
The setting and atmosphere of Inhuman were also intriguing. There was a strong clinical/medical feel to the story through the constant mentions of infections, diseases, biohazards, protective equipment and quarantines which gave me goose-bumps. In particular, there was a scene in the first part of the novel where the main character was walking alone in a dark, eerie tunnel and she suddenly sees a gas mask lying on the ground. Perhaps it was just me however I found that to be extremely creepy, especially when it was quickly followed by images of dried up, infected corpses which were downright terrifying. Speaking of which, expect to find a lot of corpses in this book as well... Needless to say, I felt extremely jumpy and paranoid during that scene which is an impressive feat for a book.
The writing was quite enjoyable to read. Although it felt mostly standard, it does its job well in working seamlessly with the fast paced nature of plot. I also liked her gritty and dark descriptions of the Feral Zone which heightened the story’s post-apocalyptic atmosphere.
This book was not without its faults however. I thought that some events felt too convenient to be realistic, with some of the loose ends tied up in a deus ex machine manner at the end. Furthermore, there seems to be a growing trend in YA dystopian/post-apocalyptic novels where there is always an excuse for the female main character to dress up in a pretty gown when the situation calls for it (, ,and are the first books that come to mind). I find that they often serve a superficial role in the plot at best (of course they HAVE to go to this specific night club/ball due to... reasons, like there is no other better time and place). Honestly, there is really no meaningful reason for this to happen other than to show off the heroine’s feminine qualities in an otherwise gritty, dangerous and wild setting. Unfortunately, Inhuman is no different.
Rafe is quite a character to read about. He’s wild, unpredictable, insensitive, rude and feral. He has an interesting background yet I can’t help but to think that his personality isn’t very original. It’s like we’ve seen bits and pieces of him before in many other stories all put together. Unsurprisingly, he acts like a douche in cutting the main character with a knife in their first meeting (!) and abandoning the said person to save his own skin not long afterwards. Why Lane trusts an obviously unreliable and downright dangerous person from the beginning to take her to her destination is still beyond me. Lane on the other hand was a bit more tolerable to read about. I enjoyed her inner narration and I liked that she was not always a damsel in distress. There were numerous of times where she had to pull herself out of tight situations which was refreshing to read.
Perhaps one of the things that would potentially bother many readers would be the love triangle in this book between Lane, Rafe as well as a guard called Everson. Of course it seems awfully convenient for the main character to be stuck with two good lucking males in her journey, with the tension and attraction between the characters be almost inevitable. Personally I did not mind this as much due to the action packed plot which was not bogged down by the romance. I ignored the love triangle on most part (possibly due to having such low expectations) and there was thankfully no insta-love/sappiness. I felt that the romance was kept mostly to a minimum aside from a few cliché moments (ok, well perhaps there were more than just a few) however they were mostly forgivable due to the awesome plot. Mostly�
Overall, Inhuman is an entertaining, action packed novel that is one of the better YA books to come out this year. Despite what the promotion/marketing says, comparing this to would be setting up for guaranteed disappointment. It's best to judge this book on its own merits without any extra comparisons to [insert any popular YA book]. I would recommend it if you are a fan of post-apocalyptic/science fiction. Otherwise, it’s still definitely worth checking it out.
e-ARC received from the publisher via Netgalley
December 24, 2013
I loved this book, which I got from my librarian as an ARC.
The only thing I disliked was the ending, and the fact that she did not end up with the guy I wanted her to end up with. WHY... I don't know.
But it is only the first book, right? Things can change...
This is also the first book I've read by Kat Falls, and I am impressed with her storytelling. Her sentences are okay and all, but the whole story formed together really well.
Things I liked:
-There was a plot that actually moved and surprised me, or at least made me go "Aha... I knew that!" or something.
-Amazing main characters. The girl was not stupid or silly, nor were they boys idealistic or whatever. (Well, at least not Rafe).
-It was actually funny and sometimes cute, which is not easy to do in Sci-fi. Or at least, it was a good kind of humor.
The only thing I disliked was the ending, and the fact that she did not end up with the guy I wanted her to end up with. WHY... I don't know.
But it is only the first book, right? Things can change...
This is also the first book I've read by Kat Falls, and I am impressed with her storytelling. Her sentences are okay and all, but the whole story formed together really well.
Things I liked:
-There was a plot that actually moved and surprised me, or at least made me go "Aha... I knew that!" or something.
-Amazing main characters. The girl was not stupid or silly, nor were they boys idealistic or whatever. (Well, at least not Rafe).
-It was actually funny and sometimes cute, which is not easy to do in Sci-fi. Or at least, it was a good kind of humor.
June 21, 2014
I give 3.75 stars
If you don't read past 50% of this book then you really have not read this book at all because that's when the REAL action starts.
OMGGGGG this book would've totally been 4 stars if it didn't take so long for the plot to really begin, though I can see the desire in wanting to have a thorough foundation for the story. So let me get to the main point...
CAN THERE BE TWO MORE PERFECT GUYS IN ONE STORY!? ANSWER: UHH-NOOOOO
I can't even blame Lane for not making a conscious decision between these guys, because COM'N, if you finished the book you'd know what I mean. *SWOOOON* *SIGHH* -UNCONTROLLABLE GIGGLING-
BTW Rafe was so witty he made me laugh out loud with almost everything he said LOL
Now about the plot; it definitely keeps you second guessing and is no way considered predictable.
At 85% of the book when I WAS LIKE...
And then at 97% when
AGAIN...
If you don't read past 50% of this book then you really have not read this book at all because that's when the REAL action starts.
OMGGGGG this book would've totally been 4 stars if it didn't take so long for the plot to really begin, though I can see the desire in wanting to have a thorough foundation for the story. So let me get to the main point...
CAN THERE BE TWO MORE PERFECT GUYS IN ONE STORY!? ANSWER: UHH-NOOOOO
I can't even blame Lane for not making a conscious decision between these guys, because COM'N, if you finished the book you'd know what I mean. *SWOOOON* *SIGHH* -UNCONTROLLABLE GIGGLING-
BTW Rafe was so witty he made me laugh out loud with almost everything he said LOL
Now about the plot; it definitely keeps you second guessing and is no way considered predictable.
At 85% of the book when I WAS LIKE...
And then at 97% when
AGAIN...
August 28, 2013
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Scholastic and Netgalley.)
16-year-old Lane lives in a dystopian society, where beyond the boundary wall live people who are known as ‘feral� � part-human, part-animal hybrids.
When Lane is picked up for possibly being infected (having the disease that turns people feral), she soon learns that the reason is that her father has been going across the boundary to the old city of Chicago to bring back priceless art works. One woman has evidence of him crossing the boundary, and offers Lane a deal � get her father to retrieve something for her from Chicago, and she’ll make the evidence go away.
Given only 5 days to find her father, get the item, and get back behind the boundary wall, Lane is on a tight schedule.
Can she find the scientist who supposedly knows where her father is? Can she find the item the woman has asked for? And can she do it without becoming infected herself?
This was an okay dystopian novel, but it felt like a bit like a fairy-tale-mash-up.
Lane was an okay character, although I did think she was maybe a little dumb at times. I didn’t quite get how she could figure out that the stories her father had told her, were really about what was on the other side of the wall, but then not figure out that the strange creatures he’d talked about where also real and on the other side of the wall. Logic missing.
The storyline in this book was a bit of a strange one. At times it felt like we really were in some kind of a dystopian future, and then at other times it felt like some kind of fairy-tale world. At times I got hints of ‘The Wizard of Oz� � a tiger-man who is going around searching for a heart (the tin-man), and a girl who is looking for a scientist who will tell her what she needs to get home (Dorothy), never mind that they were traveling along a road (admittedly it wasn’t made of yellow bricks but we can’t be too literal). Not forgetting the feral and very vicious monkey type things, which reminded me of the Wicked Witch’s flying monkeys.
Then there were hints of ‘Alice in Wonderland� � Lane having to crawl through small spaces, and then a very self-important, and nasty-piece-of-work Queen, who kept ordering people killed (I was waiting for the ‘Off with their heads!� line!), who reminded me of the Queen of Hearts.
There was even a ‘Beauty and the Beast� angle worked in there � ‘the beast has to win her heart�, which was unexpected and quite clever.
I did feel that this book lost its way a little in the middle, and I did find some of the middle bits a little boring, but thankfully it picked up a bit at the end. The ending was then alright, but again, I thought that Lane had been exceptionally stupid as it turned out. There was quite a lot not wrapped up at the end, leaving more to be explored in further books, but I wouldn’t want to read these back-to-back. That boring part in the middle stopped this from being anything more than an okay read for me.
Overall; and okay dystopian fairy-tale-esque story.
6.5 out of 10.
16-year-old Lane lives in a dystopian society, where beyond the boundary wall live people who are known as ‘feral� � part-human, part-animal hybrids.
When Lane is picked up for possibly being infected (having the disease that turns people feral), she soon learns that the reason is that her father has been going across the boundary to the old city of Chicago to bring back priceless art works. One woman has evidence of him crossing the boundary, and offers Lane a deal � get her father to retrieve something for her from Chicago, and she’ll make the evidence go away.
Given only 5 days to find her father, get the item, and get back behind the boundary wall, Lane is on a tight schedule.
Can she find the scientist who supposedly knows where her father is? Can she find the item the woman has asked for? And can she do it without becoming infected herself?
This was an okay dystopian novel, but it felt like a bit like a fairy-tale-mash-up.
Lane was an okay character, although I did think she was maybe a little dumb at times. I didn’t quite get how she could figure out that the stories her father had told her, were really about what was on the other side of the wall, but then not figure out that the strange creatures he’d talked about where also real and on the other side of the wall. Logic missing.
The storyline in this book was a bit of a strange one. At times it felt like we really were in some kind of a dystopian future, and then at other times it felt like some kind of fairy-tale world. At times I got hints of ‘The Wizard of Oz� � a tiger-man who is going around searching for a heart (the tin-man), and a girl who is looking for a scientist who will tell her what she needs to get home (Dorothy), never mind that they were traveling along a road (admittedly it wasn’t made of yellow bricks but we can’t be too literal). Not forgetting the feral and very vicious monkey type things, which reminded me of the Wicked Witch’s flying monkeys.
Then there were hints of ‘Alice in Wonderland� � Lane having to crawl through small spaces, and then a very self-important, and nasty-piece-of-work Queen, who kept ordering people killed (I was waiting for the ‘Off with their heads!� line!), who reminded me of the Queen of Hearts.
There was even a ‘Beauty and the Beast� angle worked in there � ‘the beast has to win her heart�, which was unexpected and quite clever.
I did feel that this book lost its way a little in the middle, and I did find some of the middle bits a little boring, but thankfully it picked up a bit at the end. The ending was then alright, but again, I thought that Lane had been exceptionally stupid as it turned out. There was quite a lot not wrapped up at the end, leaving more to be explored in further books, but I wouldn’t want to read these back-to-back. That boring part in the middle stopped this from being anything more than an okay read for me.
Overall; and okay dystopian fairy-tale-esque story.
6.5 out of 10.
September 12, 2016
DNF
it went from this....
Whatever the tiger-man was planning, I couldn’t tear my eyes from him. He was a fairy-tale creature come to life. Rings glinted on his fingers and diamonds sparkled in his ears. He was heavily muscled, with pale orange skin and luxuriant fur covering his chest and arms. The pictures I’d seen in Dr. Solis’s office had made it seem like the Ferae virus deformed its victims, but this man’s appearance was more alluring than horrifying.
“Your kindness astounds me.�
He could talk! My stomach flipped over in excitement, but then the truth hit me.
to that.....
Rafe dropped the wood on the floor. “What did she expect? You’re an ape-boy. Why would you have white fur?�
I glared at him as he tossed a chair leg onto the fire and sent up a shower of sparks.
“My mom isn’t an ape,� Cosmo said, looking cross. “She’s part arctic fox.�
“Oh, that’s why your hair is so light,� I said, stroking his silvery head. And now that I was looking for it, I could see a smidge of fox in his features.
I have tried, but it just didn't work for me.
Want to read
August 20, 2013Well, NetGalley is giving away ARCs of this one for free, so ... sure, why not? Sounds pretty crazy.
Also ... is it just me, or does the cover look an awful lot like the covers?
Also ... is it just me, or does the cover look an awful lot like the covers?
May 16, 2015
This was a strange book, yet surprisingly, I kinda really liked it.
August 14, 2014
Wow.
Can we just talk about the characters for a minute? Because their relationships with each other and their dialogue had me laughing hysterically! Rafe is so snarky and hilarious that I was practically rolling. He’s been so hardened by his life in the Feral Zone that he has a sarcastic sense of humor and has toughened himself to survive at all costs, yet as the story progresses you learn more about his background and about how caring he can actually be.
Then there’s Everson, the stoic line guard who looks every bit the obedient soldier on the outside but is really gentle and protective and kind. He’s willing to venture into the Feral Zone in an attempt to help gather information for a vaccine for the virus that’s devastated the population.
*takes deep breath*
I know, this is where those of you who simply can’t stand love triangles roll your eyes. I can hear your collective groans! BUT I’m not so much bothered by love triangles if they’re done right by me, and this was. Some love triangles I find a waste of time and I don’t understanding why there’s even a question of which guy to pick, but in this book the love triangle doesn’t bother me because I understand both options and I’m a little unsure of my personal pick. But if you’re one who really hates the whole love triangle bit (and that’s totally cool if you are!), this might not be your cup of tea.
*big exhale*
Moving on!
Let’s not forget our heroine, Delaney Park aka Lane. She begins the story as just a girl fearful of germs and anything beyond the wall that separates the healthy in the west from the feral in the east. When she’s forced to venture outside of the protection of the wall in order to save someone she loves, she’s also forced to toughen up and grow into the brave person that she ultimately is. Sometimes the decisions she makes are stupid, yes, but still brave. I can respect that, and I do. Because let’s be realistic, we never make the right choices all the time and we end up having to deal with the consequences.
As for the story? I read the little blurb on Amazon and that’s what caught my attention–from there it sounded like it would be another zombie-esque novel (I am a sucker for zombies, truly). But this isn’t even close to what I imagined, and it was really refreshing to read about a world where humans end up infected with animal traits that eventually lead to becoming feral and a mindless killing machine. (The mindless killing machine aspect does sound similar to that of a zombie, now that I think of it . . .)
AND Kat Falls does in no way disappoint with her portrayal of the setting in Inhuman. Seriously, it was one of those books that I read as if it’s a real-life movie happening in my head. The descriptions were so vivid that I could see the ruggedness of the terrain in the Feral Zone, I could see the bloodied bodies and injuries; I could feel the danger and fear.
If you want a thrilling adventure of a read, I am compelled to recommend this book. Inhuman had me busting up laughing one minute and barely breathing for fear of being heard by the characters the next, and then it had me almost crying because I didn’t want it to end like that. I can’t even get over how completely enthralled I am with this story, and I cannot wait for the next one! 5/5 stars;)
Can we just talk about the characters for a minute? Because their relationships with each other and their dialogue had me laughing hysterically! Rafe is so snarky and hilarious that I was practically rolling. He’s been so hardened by his life in the Feral Zone that he has a sarcastic sense of humor and has toughened himself to survive at all costs, yet as the story progresses you learn more about his background and about how caring he can actually be.
Then there’s Everson, the stoic line guard who looks every bit the obedient soldier on the outside but is really gentle and protective and kind. He’s willing to venture into the Feral Zone in an attempt to help gather information for a vaccine for the virus that’s devastated the population.
*takes deep breath*
I know, this is where those of you who simply can’t stand love triangles roll your eyes. I can hear your collective groans! BUT I’m not so much bothered by love triangles if they’re done right by me, and this was. Some love triangles I find a waste of time and I don’t understanding why there’s even a question of which guy to pick, but in this book the love triangle doesn’t bother me because I understand both options and I’m a little unsure of my personal pick. But if you’re one who really hates the whole love triangle bit (and that’s totally cool if you are!), this might not be your cup of tea.
*big exhale*
Moving on!
Let’s not forget our heroine, Delaney Park aka Lane. She begins the story as just a girl fearful of germs and anything beyond the wall that separates the healthy in the west from the feral in the east. When she’s forced to venture outside of the protection of the wall in order to save someone she loves, she’s also forced to toughen up and grow into the brave person that she ultimately is. Sometimes the decisions she makes are stupid, yes, but still brave. I can respect that, and I do. Because let’s be realistic, we never make the right choices all the time and we end up having to deal with the consequences.
As for the story? I read the little blurb on Amazon and that’s what caught my attention–from there it sounded like it would be another zombie-esque novel (I am a sucker for zombies, truly). But this isn’t even close to what I imagined, and it was really refreshing to read about a world where humans end up infected with animal traits that eventually lead to becoming feral and a mindless killing machine. (The mindless killing machine aspect does sound similar to that of a zombie, now that I think of it . . .)
AND Kat Falls does in no way disappoint with her portrayal of the setting in Inhuman. Seriously, it was one of those books that I read as if it’s a real-life movie happening in my head. The descriptions were so vivid that I could see the ruggedness of the terrain in the Feral Zone, I could see the bloodied bodies and injuries; I could feel the danger and fear.
If you want a thrilling adventure of a read, I am compelled to recommend this book. Inhuman had me busting up laughing one minute and barely breathing for fear of being heard by the characters the next, and then it had me almost crying because I didn’t want it to end like that. I can’t even get over how completely enthralled I am with this story, and I cannot wait for the next one! 5/5 stars;)
August 17, 2013
I laughed out loud quite a few times in this book, but not in any way the author would have intended. The plot was right on the border between okay and ridiculous. A talented author could have salvaged it with a good story, but Kat Falls does not deliver. Her characters are flat and uninteresting. I can't be the only person out there who is sick of gorgeous characters running into countless other gorgeous people (even though it's the end of the world)... especially when the supermodel-like girl meets two hunky boys and falls in love with them both because how can she POSSIBLY choose when they're both super hot? Anyway, there's no depth here. The author seems to try to add tragedy, but without making us care about these characters I really don't care when one of them is bludgeoned to death. *yawns, turns page* I think some of my students will enjoy it, but this is definitely not the hit I heard it would be.
September 30, 2013
OMG!!! This is one of the best books I've ever read!!! Once I got into it (and that was almost immediately), I couldn't put it down. At times I yol (yelled out loud), col (cried out loud) and lmh (lost my heart) to the story. The book was exciting, heartwarming, full of surprises and wonderful characters. Thank you for the ARC through ŷ' First Read Giveaway Kat Falls!
February 9, 2014
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Action-packed dystopian novel filled with great characters, sweet romance, and suspenseful moments. This is a must read for all YA Dystopian fans, it will not disappoint!
Opening Sentence: Now that I was actually on the roof of the skyscraper, I was having second thoughts.
The Review:
It is the year 2026 in America and life as we know it no longer exists. 18 years ago there was a virus unleashed that killed millions and left many more mutated with animal parts. Now there is a huge wall that separates east from the west and it’s forbidden to cross the wall for any reason, in fear that you will bring the contamination back. The punishment for breaking the law is very harsh and most people wouldn’t dream of breaking it. But rules are always meant to be broken and walls are meant to be climbed.
Sixteen-year-old Delaney McEvoy grew up on the right side of the wall, but she has always wondered what was on the other side. She has always thought her father was a respected art collector, but it turns out he is a Fetch (someone that retrieves lost items from the Savage Zone for a price.) This is a very dangerous occupation, but the payout is well worth it until he gets caught. Now in order to save her father’s life, Lane agrees to complete his last job. She will have to go deep into the Savage Zone, and risk not only her life but her perfect human DNA as well.
Lane was not your average pretty girl from the other side of the wall. Growing up her father made her take all sorts of survival and self defense classes. Once Lane finds herself in the Savage Zone she doesn’t freak out or freeze up like most people would. Sure, she is scared, but her instincts kick in and she is able to take care of herself. I loved that Lane wasn’t a damsel in distress and had to wait around for someone to rescue her. She’s not opposed to getting all the help she can, but she can also fend for herself. Lane is also a very determined young woman, and she doesn’t let distractions (like two totally hot boys) get in the way of helping her father in any way she can. She also has a very tender heart and instead of treating all the mutated humans like animals, she treats them with respect and kindness. Lane was very easy to like and I loved her story. I can’t wait to see what is in store for her in the next book.
Now for the two very hot boys! First, I want to say that yes there is a love triangle, but honestly the romance is not a big part of this story. It is very subtle and all it does is add just another small layer of tension to make the story even better. So for people that get annoyed by love triangles this should not be a problem at all because it is such a small part of the plot and I don’t think it will bother you.
First up you have Emerson, who is a guard at the wall. He is only a few years older than Lane and is instantly kind to her. He has a heart of gold and his life goal is to help find a cure for the virus that has affected so many people’s lives. He was raised inside the wall just like Lane so they both know what it is like to be sheltered. I just thought Emerson was adorable and very sweet. He is a stable person and he doesn’t waver when it comes to the important things. I admired his strength and determination to his cause. His relationship with Lane is friendly because they have a common goal, but there is also a small attraction there.
Next there is the undeniably gorgeous Rafe. He grew up in the savage zone and he hunts the mutated humans that have gone feral. His life has been full of heartache and loss, but that is just the way it is on the other side of the wall. He has this sense of confidence that is both endearing and irritating at the same time. He is a relentless tease and loves to put everyone on edge. But he is also a great guy that tries to do the right thing. I love the way he interacted with Lane. They are obviously attracted to each other, but they both know that feelings are a big distraction they can’t afford to have right now. I love Rafe and I am totally rooting for him to end up with Lane.
Inhuman was just a fantastic read that I couldn’t put down. From the first page, I was totally engrossed into the world and I fell completely in love with the cast of characters. It is hard to put into words how much I truly enjoyed this book. I had seen a few good reviews floating around about it lately, and when I realized I had a copy that needed to be reviewed, I picked it up. I am so glad that I did because this book is full of action, romance, and suspense, all set in a savage futuristic world. I found that every time I had to put this book down to take care of my everyday life things, I was constantly thinking about it and wanting to see what happened next. The pages came to life while I was reading them with Fall’s descriptive and engaging writing style. The plot had a few twists that helped keep me intrigued the whole way through the book. The ending was done perfectly where I felt satisfied, yet wanting so much more. The second book in this series comes out later this year and it is one of my most anticipated 2014 releases now. I would highly recommend this book to fans of YA Dystopian novels, it’s a must read.
Notable Scene:
I had to see the fugitive’s face. What if that was my dad down there? I spotted him crouching behind a rock outcropping halfway up the slope. Below him, the two guards swept the riverbank with flashlights. The bushes off to my left rustled. The third guard was closing in fast.
I tucked the badge into the front of my vest and scurried along the ridgeline until I was directly above the fugitive. I waited for him to do something � to make a run up the hill. But the seconds ticked by and he remained as still as an animal caught in a blinding glare. The guards below gave up on the riverbank and turned their high-powered flashlights onto the hill, inching their way up. I couldn’t wait any longer. Scooting a little ways down the slope, I whispered, “Hey.�
The fugitive didn’t move.
“Hey,� I said a little louder.
He whipped around at the noise and rose, but I couldn’t see his face. He didn’t come any closer. As I considered creeping down farther, he tipped back his head as if sniffing the wind. When he turned his attention to me again, I caught a flash of his eyes in the moonlight � yellow and bestial � and knew then, beyond all doubt, the man was not my father.
I wasn’t even sure he was human.
FTC Advisory: Scholastic provided me with a copy of Inhuman. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,� or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Action-packed dystopian novel filled with great characters, sweet romance, and suspenseful moments. This is a must read for all YA Dystopian fans, it will not disappoint!
Opening Sentence: Now that I was actually on the roof of the skyscraper, I was having second thoughts.
The Review:
It is the year 2026 in America and life as we know it no longer exists. 18 years ago there was a virus unleashed that killed millions and left many more mutated with animal parts. Now there is a huge wall that separates east from the west and it’s forbidden to cross the wall for any reason, in fear that you will bring the contamination back. The punishment for breaking the law is very harsh and most people wouldn’t dream of breaking it. But rules are always meant to be broken and walls are meant to be climbed.
Sixteen-year-old Delaney McEvoy grew up on the right side of the wall, but she has always wondered what was on the other side. She has always thought her father was a respected art collector, but it turns out he is a Fetch (someone that retrieves lost items from the Savage Zone for a price.) This is a very dangerous occupation, but the payout is well worth it until he gets caught. Now in order to save her father’s life, Lane agrees to complete his last job. She will have to go deep into the Savage Zone, and risk not only her life but her perfect human DNA as well.
Lane was not your average pretty girl from the other side of the wall. Growing up her father made her take all sorts of survival and self defense classes. Once Lane finds herself in the Savage Zone she doesn’t freak out or freeze up like most people would. Sure, she is scared, but her instincts kick in and she is able to take care of herself. I loved that Lane wasn’t a damsel in distress and had to wait around for someone to rescue her. She’s not opposed to getting all the help she can, but she can also fend for herself. Lane is also a very determined young woman, and she doesn’t let distractions (like two totally hot boys) get in the way of helping her father in any way she can. She also has a very tender heart and instead of treating all the mutated humans like animals, she treats them with respect and kindness. Lane was very easy to like and I loved her story. I can’t wait to see what is in store for her in the next book.
Now for the two very hot boys! First, I want to say that yes there is a love triangle, but honestly the romance is not a big part of this story. It is very subtle and all it does is add just another small layer of tension to make the story even better. So for people that get annoyed by love triangles this should not be a problem at all because it is such a small part of the plot and I don’t think it will bother you.
First up you have Emerson, who is a guard at the wall. He is only a few years older than Lane and is instantly kind to her. He has a heart of gold and his life goal is to help find a cure for the virus that has affected so many people’s lives. He was raised inside the wall just like Lane so they both know what it is like to be sheltered. I just thought Emerson was adorable and very sweet. He is a stable person and he doesn’t waver when it comes to the important things. I admired his strength and determination to his cause. His relationship with Lane is friendly because they have a common goal, but there is also a small attraction there.
Next there is the undeniably gorgeous Rafe. He grew up in the savage zone and he hunts the mutated humans that have gone feral. His life has been full of heartache and loss, but that is just the way it is on the other side of the wall. He has this sense of confidence that is both endearing and irritating at the same time. He is a relentless tease and loves to put everyone on edge. But he is also a great guy that tries to do the right thing. I love the way he interacted with Lane. They are obviously attracted to each other, but they both know that feelings are a big distraction they can’t afford to have right now. I love Rafe and I am totally rooting for him to end up with Lane.
Inhuman was just a fantastic read that I couldn’t put down. From the first page, I was totally engrossed into the world and I fell completely in love with the cast of characters. It is hard to put into words how much I truly enjoyed this book. I had seen a few good reviews floating around about it lately, and when I realized I had a copy that needed to be reviewed, I picked it up. I am so glad that I did because this book is full of action, romance, and suspense, all set in a savage futuristic world. I found that every time I had to put this book down to take care of my everyday life things, I was constantly thinking about it and wanting to see what happened next. The pages came to life while I was reading them with Fall’s descriptive and engaging writing style. The plot had a few twists that helped keep me intrigued the whole way through the book. The ending was done perfectly where I felt satisfied, yet wanting so much more. The second book in this series comes out later this year and it is one of my most anticipated 2014 releases now. I would highly recommend this book to fans of YA Dystopian novels, it’s a must read.
Notable Scene:
I had to see the fugitive’s face. What if that was my dad down there? I spotted him crouching behind a rock outcropping halfway up the slope. Below him, the two guards swept the riverbank with flashlights. The bushes off to my left rustled. The third guard was closing in fast.
I tucked the badge into the front of my vest and scurried along the ridgeline until I was directly above the fugitive. I waited for him to do something � to make a run up the hill. But the seconds ticked by and he remained as still as an animal caught in a blinding glare. The guards below gave up on the riverbank and turned their high-powered flashlights onto the hill, inching their way up. I couldn’t wait any longer. Scooting a little ways down the slope, I whispered, “Hey.�
The fugitive didn’t move.
“Hey,� I said a little louder.
He whipped around at the noise and rose, but I couldn’t see his face. He didn’t come any closer. As I considered creeping down farther, he tipped back his head as if sniffing the wind. When he turned his attention to me again, I caught a flash of his eyes in the moonlight � yellow and bestial � and knew then, beyond all doubt, the man was not my father.
I wasn’t even sure he was human.
FTC Advisory: Scholastic provided me with a copy of Inhuman. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,� or bribes were exchanged for my review.
October 30, 2022
This BOOK. GO READ IT RIGHT NOW. I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE A QUEEN, KING, GHOST, GHOSTESS, YOU NEED TO READ THIS
November 7, 2013
4.5 stars
Inhuman by Kat Falls is one of the craziest books for content I’ve read in a long time. But in a good way. For me, it held flavours of Under the Never Sky blended with a twisted Wizard of Oz vibe blended with Alice in Wonderland � yet still managed to remain itself, and that somehow gave it a uniqueness, allowing it to stand out in its own right, and making it a very enjoyable read.
The MC, Lane, is a strong character for leading this whacky tale. Her development shows her strengths coming alive as she grows and adapts and learns to survive, despite the naivety she shows in the beginning. On top that, having a naïve character who isn’t made to appear stupid in the hopes of helping to reflect that is a refreshing change—because Lane is intelligent and quick to learn, all whilst being extremely easy to connect with, ensuring the reader is happy to travel alongside her on this rather bizarre journey into a land she’d only ‘heard� of existing.
Alongside Lane we had Everson and Rafe. Both so different, yet both so adorable. I was sad about the outcome for the one of them (sorry, I’m avoiding spoilers), however, it almost seems to kind of suit him, and I predict a lot more adventure and heartbreak where that one’s concerned—hopefully adventure Lane will lead us on again. But don’t fear for a love triangle in here, because what occurs between these three is a lot more subtle than that—has been given a lot more respect than that. Though, in future books, I believe Lane will have some very difficult choices to make where these two fellas are concerned.
Actually, Ms Falls did a great job not with just these three, but with bringing every single character to life within these pages. Even the ones we don’t get to meet for a very long time, we still have a really great handle on the type of ‘person� they are via how they’re perceived by others. One of my favourites in here was Chorda. A character that *should* have the reader running for the hills, yet just as Lane was, I couldn’t help but feel his allure.
On top of all of this is that whackiness/craziness/bizarreness I mentioned. The book starts off relatively sane as a believable dystopian and just gets more and more insane the further we go—especially some of the twists and turns I seriously didn’t see coming. Yet, I found that I didn’t care that it was no longer believable. Because I was simply enjoying myself too much. Not to mention the fact that I didn’t stumble across any plot holes, and the writing was on a pretty high level of decency, which can often mar my enjoyment if otherwise.
Anyway, in order to ensure there are no spoilers in here, I’m going to wrap up. If you fancy a dystopian with a (HUGE & whacky) difference, then Inhuman is definitely for you. Because it deserves to be read, and then you’ll thank me that you got to discover all the details I kept schtum over for yourself. In advance: You’re welcome.
Now � why can’t I find any info for book two? I need book two. Because I want to go back into the feral land already!
Inhuman by Kat Falls is one of the craziest books for content I’ve read in a long time. But in a good way. For me, it held flavours of Under the Never Sky blended with a twisted Wizard of Oz vibe blended with Alice in Wonderland � yet still managed to remain itself, and that somehow gave it a uniqueness, allowing it to stand out in its own right, and making it a very enjoyable read.
The MC, Lane, is a strong character for leading this whacky tale. Her development shows her strengths coming alive as she grows and adapts and learns to survive, despite the naivety she shows in the beginning. On top that, having a naïve character who isn’t made to appear stupid in the hopes of helping to reflect that is a refreshing change—because Lane is intelligent and quick to learn, all whilst being extremely easy to connect with, ensuring the reader is happy to travel alongside her on this rather bizarre journey into a land she’d only ‘heard� of existing.
Alongside Lane we had Everson and Rafe. Both so different, yet both so adorable. I was sad about the outcome for the one of them (sorry, I’m avoiding spoilers), however, it almost seems to kind of suit him, and I predict a lot more adventure and heartbreak where that one’s concerned—hopefully adventure Lane will lead us on again. But don’t fear for a love triangle in here, because what occurs between these three is a lot more subtle than that—has been given a lot more respect than that. Though, in future books, I believe Lane will have some very difficult choices to make where these two fellas are concerned.
Actually, Ms Falls did a great job not with just these three, but with bringing every single character to life within these pages. Even the ones we don’t get to meet for a very long time, we still have a really great handle on the type of ‘person� they are via how they’re perceived by others. One of my favourites in here was Chorda. A character that *should* have the reader running for the hills, yet just as Lane was, I couldn’t help but feel his allure.
On top of all of this is that whackiness/craziness/bizarreness I mentioned. The book starts off relatively sane as a believable dystopian and just gets more and more insane the further we go—especially some of the twists and turns I seriously didn’t see coming. Yet, I found that I didn’t care that it was no longer believable. Because I was simply enjoying myself too much. Not to mention the fact that I didn’t stumble across any plot holes, and the writing was on a pretty high level of decency, which can often mar my enjoyment if otherwise.
Anyway, in order to ensure there are no spoilers in here, I’m going to wrap up. If you fancy a dystopian with a (HUGE & whacky) difference, then Inhuman is definitely for you. Because it deserves to be read, and then you’ll thank me that you got to discover all the details I kept schtum over for yourself. In advance: You’re welcome.
Now � why can’t I find any info for book two? I need book two. Because I want to go back into the feral land already!
August 28, 2013
(I received a copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review)
The premise to Inhuman was quite an interesting and original idea.
I really liked how the author made a dystopia / apocalyptic with human/animal hybrids instead of zombies.
Unfortunately though, the story didn't live up to my expectations.
The pacing was slow through the majority of the book, and i found my self bored quite often.
At times, i found Lane quite stupid. After an encounter with a feral hybrid, where she was left unconscious, Lane didn't understand why her companions wanted to check her blood for the virus.
Lane was adamant that she never got scratched by the hybrid, so she didn't see why they should waste time by testing her.
I really wished she'd work out how easy it is for the hybrid to infect her through his saliva.
Overall, It was a good idea for a dystopia, but it wasn't very exciting.
The premise to Inhuman was quite an interesting and original idea.
I really liked how the author made a dystopia / apocalyptic with human/animal hybrids instead of zombies.
Unfortunately though, the story didn't live up to my expectations.
The pacing was slow through the majority of the book, and i found my self bored quite often.
At times, i found Lane quite stupid. After an encounter with a feral hybrid, where she was left unconscious, Lane didn't understand why her companions wanted to check her blood for the virus.
Lane was adamant that she never got scratched by the hybrid, so she didn't see why they should waste time by testing her.
I really wished she'd work out how easy it is for the hybrid to infect her through his saliva.
Overall, It was a good idea for a dystopia, but it wasn't very exciting.
June 8, 2020
It had been a while since I'd read this, so it felt like a new book . . . and the viral situation was oddly surreal considering the current situation we're facing worldwide. However, my previous love for this story dramatically decreased when I realized . . . it wasn't that great. Lots of cliches, including a love triangle, and while the events near the end got brutally twisty and unexpected in a plot arc way, it still wasn't enough to make this a GOOD book, just a fun read to pass a few hours with.
November 15, 2013
I'm not even going to try with this one. After barely finishing the first chapter, I can tell that I will hate all the characters, it's a racist piece of crap that should burn and well...I'm too lazy to get into another uncreative dystopian.
dnf
October 29, 2020DNF at 17%. I know. I should’ve given it more time but I was not into it at all and was very boring. Had a cool plot but it all felt VERY rushed and I just was so bored and don’t like where it was going.
September 27, 2013
This is my third round of "Fun With Limericks," a (hopefully) fun way of dealing with books I didn't finish, or I finished, but for whatever reason, I felt I could not write a proper review.
Today, I bring you a limerick for Inhuman by Kat Falls. I actually did finish this book, even though the experience was quite unpleasant. It was easy to forget that this is a novel with a post-apocalyptic setting, because the protagonist seemed less concerned with survival than she was with looking pretty for the two meatheads who kept fighting for her attention. They were like animals fighting for the right to breed with the pack female, and there was nothing appealing about any of it.
There's dialogue like the following. (Note that dialogue is from an uncorrected proof and may change at final publication.):
"You know I'm not really in love with you, right?"
"Of course," I said quickly.
"Good. 'Cause I'm not."
"I know."
"Glad we got that straight."
The post-apocalyptic setting, populated by zombie-ish, mutated humans, was silly, not scary, and the unappealing main characters made this book painful to read.
And now, the limerick:
I wonder how my hair looks today
What else should concern me when the world's gone astray?
Mutant zombies want to kill
But I would rather have the thrill
Of two douchebags in a love triangle that's all a cliche
May 14, 2016
I will love this forever and ever because it takes place in my hometown: even though not all the details are totally perfect, it's still cool to have your hometown name-checked as a partially civilized fortification in a post-apocalyptic horrorscape overrun by human/animal hybrids. I mean, come on! So cool. But don't be confused by my unabashed love for it - it really, really sucks. That Divergent-y cover is not an accident: this is clearly a cash grab by a publisher (and author) that know "any shitty dystopia" is a surefire way to sell books. It's got a shitty love triangle, a shitty predictable plot, a shitty dickhead love interest (to contrast with the shitty no-personality love interest), and a shitty Too Stupid To Live heroine. Hard pass on this one unless you're from the Quad Cities.
And if you are from the QC, please enjoy:
Main character walks from the Arsenal Bridge in Rock Island to Moline; at one point, fleeing something scary, she wants to run into the river to escape, but she can't because the river is over "the edge of a bluff - too high for diving and too sheer to climb down." hahahahahahaha as if there's any interesting scenery on that part of the river
Part of fortified downtown Moline includes a train station. I guess we got that direct-to-Chicago amtrak line after all!
And if you are from the QC, please enjoy:
Main character walks from the Arsenal Bridge in Rock Island to Moline; at one point, fleeing something scary, she wants to run into the river to escape, but she can't because the river is over "the edge of a bluff - too high for diving and too sheer to climb down." hahahahahahaha as if there's any interesting scenery on that part of the river
Part of fortified downtown Moline includes a train station. I guess we got that direct-to-Chicago amtrak line after all!
September 22, 2014
Dropped it after finishing chapter five.
I don't know if I'm being too picky or what, but I couldn't bring myself to continue reading this book.
Reasons:
- "When the wall went up eighteen years ago, that part of the country became as mysterious to us as Africa was to the rest of the world in the nineteenth century. The Feral Zone was our Dark Continent."
Didn't that sound a little racist? Specially when it later compares Africans with mutants...
-The MC keeps complaining about how she feels "squeezed into Anna’s vest", if are uncomfortable wearing something why do you even put it on!? And if you do put it on, shut you mouth and deal with it without complaining!
-No matter how gently I pushed him off or squirmed away, it would end up awkward and awful. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings; I just didn’t want him exhaling on my cheek or �
Ok, so you just let some random guy you just met kiss you? And you don't push him away because you "don't want to hurt his feelings"? And they talking online for a week is his reason for kissing her...
C'mon! I like strong female characters, not this kind of stupid kid!
I don't know if I'm being too picky or what, but I couldn't bring myself to continue reading this book.
Reasons:
- "When the wall went up eighteen years ago, that part of the country became as mysterious to us as Africa was to the rest of the world in the nineteenth century. The Feral Zone was our Dark Continent."
Didn't that sound a little racist? Specially when it later compares Africans with mutants...
-The MC keeps complaining about how she feels "squeezed into Anna’s vest", if are uncomfortable wearing something why do you even put it on!? And if you do put it on, shut you mouth and deal with it without complaining!
-No matter how gently I pushed him off or squirmed away, it would end up awkward and awful. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings; I just didn’t want him exhaling on my cheek or �
Ok, so you just let some random guy you just met kiss you? And you don't push him away because you "don't want to hurt his feelings"? And they talking online for a week is his reason for kissing her...
C'mon! I like strong female characters, not this kind of stupid kid!
April 27, 2014
Despite a clunky beginning, this story held true to my expectations; it gave me a rollicking adventure with a new outlook for a dystopian novel. I'd enjoyed Kat Falls storytelling with Dark Life and Rip Tide, and Inhuman was terrific storytelling, too. I didn't like the obvious background knowledge that was just plopped in the reader's lap in the beginning as I wanted to be teased into the storyline. However, once I was there, I couldn't let go.
Delaney Park, so named for a now off-limits city, is a teen with a comfortable life. Upon hearing unsettling information about her father, she is thrust into a savage world beyond the Wall where animals and men are blended into a fierce environment rife with danger and death. I loved how Lane managed to maintain her humanity and to see those same qualities in supposedly animal forms. I also enjoyed her relationships that she managed to develop with both humans and animals. Most of all, I loved the suspenseful plot that kept me on the edge of my seat, wanting to read more. Enjoy!
Delaney Park, so named for a now off-limits city, is a teen with a comfortable life. Upon hearing unsettling information about her father, she is thrust into a savage world beyond the Wall where animals and men are blended into a fierce environment rife with danger and death. I loved how Lane managed to maintain her humanity and to see those same qualities in supposedly animal forms. I also enjoyed her relationships that she managed to develop with both humans and animals. Most of all, I loved the suspenseful plot that kept me on the edge of my seat, wanting to read more. Enjoy!
April 16, 2019
just as good the second time around. if you read YA dystopia... this is a MUST read!
June 13, 2015
Ma chronique :
September 9, 2013
Book Info
Kindle Edition, 384 pages
Expected publication: September 24th 2013 by Scholastic Inc.
original title Inhuman
ASIN B00B9FX5ES
edition language English
series Fetch #1
Source:Netgalley EARC
Book Buy Links
BOOK SYNOPSIS
In a world ravaged by mutation, a teenage girl must travel into the forbidden Savage Zone to recover lost artifacts or her father’s life is forfeit.
America has been ravaged by a war that has left the eastern half of the country riddled with mutation. Many of the people there exhibit varying degrees of animal traits. Even the plant life has gone feral.
Crossing from west to east is supposed to be forbidden, but sometimes it’s necessary. Some enter the Savage Zone to provide humanitarian relief. Sixteen-year-old Lane’s father goes there to retrieve lost artifacts—he is a Fetch. It’s a dangerous life, but rewarding—until he’s caught.
Desperate to save her father, Lane agrees to complete his latest job. That means leaving behind her life of comfort and risking life and limb—and her very DNA—in the Savage Zone. But she’s not alone. In order to complete her objective, Lane strikes a deal with handsome, roguish Rafe. In exchange for his help as a guide, Lane is supposed to sneak him back west. But though Rafe doesn’t exhibit any signs of “manimal� mutation, he’s hardly civilized . . . and he may not be trustworthy.
Description from Netgalley
Beauty versus beasts.
In the wake of a devastating biological disaster, the United States east of the Mississippi River has been abandoned. Now called the Feral Zone, a reference to the virus that turned millions of people into bloodthirsty savages, the entire area is off-limits. The punishment for violating the border is death.
Lane McEvoy can't imagine why anyone would risk it. She's grown up in the shadow of the great wall separating east from west, and she's naturally curious about what's on the other side - but she's not that curious. Life in the west is safe, comfortable . . . sterile. Which is just how she likes it.
But Lane gets the shock of her life when she learns that someone close to her has crossed into the Feral Zone. And she has little choice but to follow. Lane travels east, risking life and limb and her very DNA, completely unprepared for what she finds in the ruins of civilization . . . and afraid to learn whether her humanity will prove her greatest strength or a fatal weakness.
My Thoughts
Life in 2026 is very different for the humans who inhabit a world that has been devastated, it's population decimated by manmade viral infection and has a clearly defined area that is considered to be not only contamination free but is specifically designed to keep it's fully human citizens protected as well as isolated from their mutant neighbors.
Having known nothing else for her entire 16 years of existence but a sheltered life within the confines of the Titan wall Lane McEvoy is not prepared when she first encounters manlike creatures with animal characteristics and features while she is searching for her father. However in the tradition of those who have come before her in conquering their fear of the unknown Lane soon realizes that, unlike what she has been taught to expect, there are some manimals who have retained their humanity and in fact they are safer for her to interact with than some of the actual full blooded humans that she comes in contact with.
This is a story that encompasses a world that has been truly torn asunder, mother nature is taking over where mankind has fallen prey to the viral infection and no longer strives to tame her advance. The creatures that inhabit the new world that has arisen from the devastation of the old one are both fascinating and repellant, the trials that Lane must undertake are perilous and require her not only to be physically alert but keep her mentally aware at all times as well.
There are some lighter moments within the tale that include specific moments where Lane allows herself to succumb to the beauty surrounding her as she journeys through the Savage Zone and even a few moments where she connects with her new companions Rafe and Everson. The two young men are as different as night and day, one a dedicated soldier whose one driving ambition is to help the doctor searching for a cure to the virus that has caused so much damage and the other a scoundrel whose only real ambition seems to be to keep his own skin intact while also profiting by dispatching problem rogue mutants for anyone who can meet his price.
As events unfold the reader is learning about what is happening right along with Lane, intensifying the experiences and putting you in the heart of the action making the sights; smells; sounds come alive allowing us to experience it all through Lane's eyes.
For me this was a nice blend of action and moments of pondering what course should be followed to allow for the best outcome for Lane and her father, these actions and reactions made the story not only more realistically believable but gave readers so much more insight into Lane herself.
To the most humane human, may she restore humanity to those who had it ripped from them. Lane you are my new heroine in a dystopian world that makes Dr Moreau's island look like a tame paradise in comparison.
I truly look forward to continuing this series at some point in the future as it has every element that I hoped for in a book plus a few surprises along the way that made it even better than what was expecting upon reading it's descriptions.
[EArc from Netgalley in exchange for honest review]
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