Life was different in the Before: before vampires began devouring humans in a swarm across America; before the surviving young people were rounded up and quarantined. These days, we know what those quarantines are—holding pens where human blood is turned into more food for the undead monsters, known as Ticks. Surrounded by electrical fences, most kids try to survive the Farms by turning on each other…
And when trust is a thing of the past, escape is nearly impossible.
Lily and her twin sister Mel have a plan. Though Mel can barely communicate, her autism helps her notice things no one else notices—like the portion of electrical fence that gets turned off every night. Getting across won’t be easy, but as Lily gathers what they need to escape, a familiar face appears out of nowhere, offering to help…
Carter was a schoolmate of Lily’s in the Before. Managing to evade capture until now, he has valuable knowledge of the outside world. But like everyone on the Farm, Carter has his own agenda, and he knows that behind the Ticks is an even more dangerous threat to the human race...
The Farm was one of the most interesting take on vampire mythology and lore, that I've read in the last few years. McKay has definitely wowed and amazed me with her amazing skills at world building, spinning the mythos, and creating such a powerfully creepy and yet wonderfully suspenseful novel. To say that it's incredibly captivating, would be an understatement. The Farm was definitely gripping, fantastically compelling, and filled with originality and sense of unique style. If you're getting a little tired of vampires or thinking they're a bit played out, then this is definitely the book to bring them back to life for you - in a sense.
This story is simply unlike any other paranormal young adult novel featuring vampires that I've read. The character development and the attention to detail in the location, and character traits will definitely do wonders in capturing your attention. You just really won't want to put this book down until the last page has been turned. Vampires, "Ticks" as they're referred to in this novel, aren't the only scary element about this book. It's dark, gritty, and terrifying in so many unimaginable ways that it's not hard to get caught up in the story.
For any fan of the paranormal romance, dystopic, post-apocalyptic variety, this is the perfect book to curl up with by the window on a dark spooky night and become incredibly engrossed in. It's such an edgey, dark, and chill-inducing nightmarish world that is filled with so much unique originality that you'll be craving more. Written as a stand-alone, it's definitely a book worthy of being on your radar. I would definitely take the plunge and risk buying this one.
Reading updates
-
Started reading
-
24 October, 2012:
Finished reading
-
24 October, 2012:
Reviewed