Year One by Nora Roberts
Reviewed by: Dawn Dickey, Library Volunteer
Genre: Thriller, Fantasy
Suggested Age: Adults, Teens
What is the book about?: In Dumfries, Scotland, at the end of a year-end holiday with his family, Ross MacLeod goes hunting with his brother. He shoots a pheasant, and in cleaning the bird in preparation for the meal, “nicks his thumb” on the bird’s bone. Ross becomes Patient Zero, unleashing both an epidemic and a Pandora’s Box of evil into the world. He infects his family with the disease and all, in turn, infect everyone with whom they come in contact as the family members travel home. Thus begins the pandemic. By the end of the second week of January, more than 10 million people have died worldwide. Schools and businesses close. The President of the U.S. and other heads of state succumb to the infection. Governments around the world are in chaos. “Urban areas become war zones,” populated by frightened citizens and vigilantes who are looting, stealing, raping and killing at random. Especially at risk are the immune (who are sought by governments seeking antidotes and answers to the pandemic) and the “Uncanny,” groups of supernatural beings and humans with supernatural powers. Year One follows the adventures and misadventures of these humans and supernatural beings as the world becomes embroiled in a fight of good versus evil.
My Review: Year One entwines fantasy with a concern that is periodically voiced by world political and health leaders: the threat of a global, unstoppable pandemic. This possibility that from time-to-time make news headlines is what makes Year One such a riveting read. You never forget, when reading this book, that a pandemic could actually happen. The elements of fantasy – characters that are supernatural or have supernatural powers – add to the pull of this book. You will find yourself cheering for the good guys, sympathizing with their misfortunes, and hoping that they will prevail against the human and supernatural evil that has the world in its grip. A chilling tale! I’m really anxious to read the next installment in the series!!
Three Words That Describe This Book: Threatening, Pandemic, Dystopian
Give This a Try if You Like… World War Z by Max Brooks; I Am Legend by Richard Matheson; The Strain by Guillermo del Toro
Rating: 5/5
About FDL Reads
Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library. Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available. If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently. We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!