Official Review: Hybrid by Justin Anderson

kismoody · Post by **kismoody** » 07 Apr 2014, 21:14

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Hybrid" by Justin Anderson.]

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Zombie-like animal/human hybrids, danger at every turn, no parents, and danger within himself are just a few of the problems that the main character faces in this book.

Set in an unknown, distant future, the world is a shadow of what it used to be. Humans are half-human and half-animal. The sane ones are holed up behind fortresses called “Stretches” to protect themselves from Shells, the ones who have gone insane.

Meet Josh, an impulsive, aggressive, short-tempered 18-year-old who will do anything to protect himself and his sister. When a hunting trip for the Stretch goes bad, Josh finds himself fighting back his animal instincts as he and the his other friends try to keep the Shells away from the compound. Not very good at anything except picking fights, Josh tries to find his place in a world where lack of purpose can turn deadly.

One day, while performing guard duty on the wall, 3 Shells get in and almost destroy the camp’s entire meat supply, but are thankfully stopped and killed. When Josh gets picked to join a team of fighters leaving the Stretch, they discover that there is something more dangerous than the Shells and he and the other members of his team have been selected to find the source. Will Josh be able to control his urges, save his sister and the town, and become a hero or will he end up dead, or worse, insane?

This book is fast-paced, well-developed, and engaging to read. From page one, the reader is drawn into the narrative hook, line and sinker. The author masterfully paints a vivid picture of Josh’s post-apocalyptic world. The transitions between action and inner dialogue are easy to follow and well-done.

The characters are likable, entertaining, and easy to sympathize with. I liked how the character dynamic was fleshed out and each complemented the other characters magnificently.

I saw a few typos, but they were minor. Mostly, I had a problem trying to figure out what was going on in the story and got lost at first, but I think that was part of the author’s plot devices to keep the reader wanting to keep going.
I would rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. The book was hard to put down and I devoured it in a few hours despite the length. Readers who enjoy zombies, post-apocalypse settings, and action/adventure will enjoy reading this book.

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anderson_justin · Post by **anderson_justin** » 05 May 2014, 11:21

Thank you so much for reading my book and giving such a great review!

kismoody · Post by **kismoody** » 05 May 2014, 13:58

No problem. Thanks for the chance to read it.

Nathrad Sheare · Post by **Nathrad Sheare** » 06 May 2014, 07:32

Wow... This novel definitely has some points in its favor. Your review was detailed enough to give me a nice picture of the plot, the aspects of which seem fascinating. Maybe I'll try it one of these days. Nicely done.

PashaRu · Post by **PashaRu** » 06 May 2014, 08:50

Thanks for the review. I usually don't read this genre, but it sounds interesting enough to hold the reader's interest.

Nathrad Sheare · Post by **Nathrad Sheare** » 06 May 2014, 21:24

I don't usually read the genres of the books I've been reviewing, either, but it's always nice to try something new... Every book deserves a chance, after all, doesn't it?

kismoody · Post by **kismoody** » 14 May 2014, 10:08

I agree. I've found that its when I give books outside my usual genre comfort zone a chance that I find some of my favorites. Thanks, Nathrad for the compliment about the review