Review: The Girl in Red

The Girl in Red by Christina Henry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

UM??

Sequel please??!

I have so many questions. I get it, but I still have questions.

Plot: Red is travelling through the forest, trying to get to grandma's house. Unfortunately, there are wolves in the wood that intend her harm. Yes, even in a post-apocalyptic world where people are dying from a mysterious Cough with gruesome consequences, there are still wolfish men looking to prey on weak, defenceless girls.

'Red didn't like to think of herself as a killer, but she wasn't about to let herself get eaten up just because she was a woman alone in the woods.'

Well, well, well. Perhaps not so defenceless.

This was pretty familiar as far as post-apocalyptic stories go - the long, tedious journey through scrub (roads are dangerous) avoiding the military (they have dumb ideas that are just going to get everyone killed) and not trusting strangers (everyone for themselves). The scavenging for food and supplies, living off canned everything and sleeping rough with rare yet timely reprieves, the permeating fear of catching what everyone else has.

But here's what makes all the difference: Red. She's smart and savvy and has seen enough movies and read enough books to know all the things you should never do in a zombie apocalypse. So she has everything planned and will be doing everything she can to stay alive so that she can get to grandma's place, where it's safe.

The story flicks back and forth between 'Before' and 'After', and there's plenty of action in each storyline. There are a lot of questions that need answering but this book seems determined to ignore that in favour of the trials and tribulations of Red's quest.

Like many, I picked this book up after enjoying Alice, and while it wasn't quite as riveting, I still thoroughly enjoyed it. Her gory descriptions are a particular joy, and the distinct lack of zombies was a blessing because they are my absolute least favourite kind of monster.

However the ending is a little rushed and leads to more questions than answers, so don't expect any long scientific explanations or satisfying conclusions.

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