I also liked the different outposts in the Ruins and learning how people adapted. Maberry did give us a close look at the town, its operations and details about zombies themselves. While we learned a lot about “First Night”, the town Benny lives in and the Ruins, we didn’t really learn how the zombies came to be. The world-building was unique and the tale was refreshingly original. Of course, there were some totally badass villains for me to loathe and plenty of zombies out looking for a late night snack. Lilah was fascinating, brave and totally kick-ass. Nix has a crush on Benny and he feels the same, but cannot reciprocate because of “guy code”. Benny’s friends Chong, Morgie and Nix were cute, funny and added to the tale. He showed Benny how to be a man, and so often people tell instead of showing and I found this refreshing. I loved how he allowed Benny to figure things out while carefully parenting. He is like a ninja, calm, even-tempered and a lethal weapon.

His older brother Tom is a zombie hunter and in a word- HOT. He finds himself and gains an understanding of human nature and zombies.

The growth of Benny was delightful to watch. Benny is inquisitive, stubborn and brave. I loved the characters Maberry has created. The tale was action-packed, at times hilarious and I found myself completely spellbound. After attempting a series of jobs he finds himself as an apprentice to his brother! The tale that unfolds takes Benny on a journey of self-discovery. His brother has offered to take him into the family business, but Benny has some unresolved issues regarding his brother. Benny is about to turn fifteen and must find a job or his rations will be cut in half. We meet Benny Imura who lost both of his parents that night and lives with his brother Tom, a zombie hunter. The tale takes place about fifteen years after “First Night” (the night most of the world turned into zombies).

It left me anxious to read the next book in this series. In his first book Rot & Ruin, Maberry led me on an epic tale in a post-apocalyptic America, filled with zombies and lovable characters.

I am pleased to tell you that we are still friends. I grabbed the Tales of Rot & Ruin Collection after reading some awesome reviews from Love of Books and after a little arm twisting from her. He expects a tedious job whacking zoms for cash-but what he gets is a vocation that will teach him what it means to be human Benny doesn’t want to apprentice as a zombie hunter with his boring older brother Tom, but he has no choice. In the zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic America where Benny Imura lives, every teenager must find a job by the time they turn fifteen or get their rations cut in half.

Rot & ruin