- Raid.
- K.S. Merbeth.
- 384 pages.
- Fiction / Post-Apocalyptic.
- My rating: Hell Yeah Book Review.
Book Blurb:
Clementine is a bounty hunter in a world gone mad.
Bound and gagged in her passenger seat is the most revered and reviled raider king in the eastern wastes. She can’t cash him in and she can’t let him go, so together they cross the wasteworld, following a dying road and dodging bloodthirsty raiders who either want to free Jedediah or claim him as their own.
And in a world where lawlessness reigns, a tyrant worse than they could have ever imagined emerges to take the throne.
Book Review:
I received a free copy of this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I think that the blurb does a good job of outlining the principal story being told in Raid. Clementine is a revered bounty hunter in the Eastern wastes, spending her time hunting down raiders and miscreants and she’s damn good at the job. Jedediah Johnson is the dictator in the East. Whereas the Western wastes we frequented in Bite are entirely lawless and anything goes. In the East, Jedediah took control, charging protection from the settlements and towns, running the show, maintaining trade routes and trying to keep a level of humanity. But he’s a tyrant with a name to be feared.
Clementine gets a tip from an informant about an easy way to gain access to Jedediah and claim the bounty on him. After capturing him she soon finds that things are not going to be that simple, no-one will give her the bounty for fear of reprisals and repercussions from Jedediah’s men. Hearing whispers of a broadcast from the Western wastes, of a man who holds trials for raiders. Clementine with Jedediah as her prisoner sets off to find the source of the mysterious broadcast and hopefully claim the bounty on her prisoner.
Suffice to say that this is when things really start going to shit. Jedediah’s men are on their trail and in the West there’s a raider army the size of which has never been seen before running rampant. It really is hell in a handbasket for the pair as Clementine has to figure out what to do with Jedediah while trying to keep them both alive.
The wastelands are home to a variety of smaller and larger towns and communities strewn across them. The towns themselves are inhabited by townies, the more civilised residents of the wastes compared to the other unsavoury denizens and fruit loops including bounty hunters, poachers, raiders and sharks (cannibals) that roam freely around causing a constant threat of danger, mayhem, pillaging and raiding – hence the book’s title, Raid! π
Merbeth brings the wastes to life, they are a barren and desolate landscape with food (unless you’re prepared to chow down on a human) and water in short supply and constant danger from the raiders.
I really like Merbeth’s style of writing, it’s fast-paced and action-packed with the addition of sardonic humour and some emotion also thrown into the mix, making for an exhilarating read.
Raid can easily be read as a standalone, but for those of us who have already read Bite, there are moments that add a little bit extra to the story. When Clementine and Jedediah Johnson mention Saint in the Western Wastes we already know what happened to him. Likewise, with The Queen’s mansion and when Clementine and Jedediah meet up with a ragtag crew of degenerates or as Merbeth calls them, raiders, led by the dreadlocked foul mouth Wolf, the big boy Tank, stoic Dolly and Kid. Kid and the rest of the unruly crew of reprobates are the main characters from Bite and it was a pleasant surprise to see them make an appearance in Raid. I’m fairly sure no-one would ever call Wolf and his rabble pleasant but I think they are a fucking awesome group! The revisits to areas from Bite are nice additions, adding that extra layer to the story for fans of the previous book. And, while it’s only a small glimpse of their crazy antics, if you haven’t met Wolf and Kid before you’re in for a treat.
Clementine is a badass bounty hunter with a penchant for guns. She loves her guns far more than people and she knows how to use them. Not surprising really as in the wastes people will fuck with you, while guns protect and keep you alive. As the main character and alongside Jedediah the focal point of the story in Raid, I found Clementine to be fully rounded and fleshed out with her backstory adding depth to her character. Clem’s companion/prisoner for a large part of the book, Jedediah Johnson is also another quality character. As they travel together, the dynamic and relationship between the two constantly changes throughout the course of their journey as secrets and twists are revealed, giving you a variety of interesting, engaging, awkward and funny moments.
Raid as a book is very much in a similar vein to Bite (that’s no bad thing, Bite is awesome and is in my top ten books of the year list for 2016). I’d say that Merbeth seems more secure and self-assured in her writing, storytelling and characterisation in Raid. She knows her style and it works extremely well for her. Bite was her debut and to me, overall Raid feels like a more accomplished book than its predecessor.
I don’t know what will happen next, will we stay with Clementine? Go back to Wolf, Kid, Tank and Dolly? Or, venture to either the Northern or Southern wastes? Only time and the next book by Merbeth will tell. Rest assured, I’ll happily follow wherever she takes her story and characters, be they old or new as it’s sure to be one wild ride!
Revved up, Raid never takes the foot off the gas, moving forward at full throttle. Incorporating the perfect mix of Fallout, Borderlands, Rage and Mad Max it’s a pedal to the metal mayhem filled frenetic read.
Pre-order Raid (July 25th US & 27th UK).
Amazon UK Β / Β Amazon US Β / Β Book Depository
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Oh this looks bloody good! How did I miss Bite?! π² Awesome review!
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Thanks.π I think most people missed Bite, it’s unloved with only 4 Amazon UK reviews, awesome fun book as is this, just really enjoyable.
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I didn’t know this was a sequel. I am eager to read this as I am a Borderlands/Fallout 4 addict… I played Rage but that was quite random, it never felt like a fully finished game… I have gone off topic slightly. Great review man, I need to get myself a copy of this soon!
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I enjoyed Rage (from what I remember, it wasn’t entirely what I expected but was fairly fun). I never really got into Fallout 4! Decent game but Fallout 3 will always be my favourite.
Yeah, it’s a sequel but can be read as a standalone, though I’d highly suggest picking up Bite first, it’s similar to The Hatching (completely different genre obviously) but, in that the books are just really good fun.
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I did enjoy Fallout 3 too but at the time I was severely addicted to the Elder Scrolls Oblivion. I don’t want to know how many full days of my life I spent on that game… I will definitely give the series a go!
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Eurgh, Oblivion! Awesome game until I found a game breaking glitch! And of course I didn’t have a back up save!π
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I had that with Skyrim. It wasn’t game breaking but I couldn’t touch any water without the game freezing. Meant I couldn’t finish all the quests π which sucks because I am a completionist π
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You really seem to be hitting off with the series so far! I mean if you sing it praises, it just has to be good! π I’ll check ’em out on Goodreads and more than likely add to the TBR pile π damn it! Thanks though! π
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Yeah, I love these books. Similar to The Hatching and books like that, that are just fun to read. Makes a nice break from complex fantasy to read something, sit back, have fun, etc.
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Great review drew!
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Thanks.
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It sounds good, but overdrive doesn’t have that author sadly.
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Fantastic review Drew, I had to go have a look again on the Bite review of yours , If i had more time I’d definitely be buying this right now π¦
Btw I noticed you have managed to master the art of smaller reviews , well done !
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Ha, yeah, thanks Rash. I’m not sure I’ve mastered the art just that they’ve got shorter!
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Either way , it was concise and yet detailed , nicely done
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Thank you.
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I have to say I love the blurb! I don’t actually read books like these often (or at all), but I sure want to now XD Clementine sounds absolutely badass and the tension surrounding her so thick one could almost cut it with a knife… I did feel a Mad Max vibe, both from the plot and the cover, which can only mean it’ll be awesome.
I’m glad this was better than Bite, which you also seemed to love. Amazing review, Drew π
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Thank you.
Definitely a mad max vibe which is a great thing! I loved Bite and part of me prefers Kid, Wolf, etc but Raid is the better book with better characterisation for the main character in Clementine.
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This sounds like a fun read! I may have to look up Bite later. Fab review Drew π
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Thank you and yes, Bite is really fun. Similar to The Hatching, well, obviously completely different story wise, etc but similar in that they are just fun and entertaining reads which I love about them as it’s nice to take a break from the deep and complex fantasy tome at times.
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Wow great review!!! Please check out my blog too.
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