The Michaluk Virus is loose.
In the heart of Atlanta, Georgia, the Michaluk Virus has escaped the CDC, and its effects are widespread and devastating. Most of the population of the southeastern United States have become homicidal cannibals. As society rapidly crumbles under the hordes of infected, three people—Ethan Bennett, a Memphis police officer; Cade Alton, his best friend and former IDF sharpshooter; and Brandt Evans, a lieutenant in the US Marines—band together against the oncoming crush of death and terror sweeping across the world.
As Cade, Brandt, and Ethan hole up in a safe house in Tupelo, others begin to join them in their bid for survival. When the infected attack and they’re forced to flee, one departs to Memphis in search of answers while the others escape south to Biloxi, where they encounter more danger than they bargained for. And in Memphis, the answers that one man finds are the last answers he wanted, answers that herald a horrific possibility that there may be more to this virus than first suspected.
I’ve always been a fan of supernatural/horror, and zombies in particular. So when my wife snagged me a copy of a novella called “The Becoming – Brothers in Arms” by new author Jessica Meigs, I was definitely interested, and dived right in. I was glad I did!
“Brothers in Arms” tells the story of the Carter brothers (Theo and Gray) as they deal with an outbreak of The Michaluk Virus, which basically turns people into the walking dead. The virus escaped from the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta Georgia, and quickly spreads across the south to the small town of Plantersville, Mississipi, where the brothers are from. As things slowly go from bad to worse, the brothers learn a lot about themselves, and their relationship with each other. They quickly realize that they have to depend on each other in order to survive. After some adventures (and pretty tense action), the brothers decide to travel to the larger city of Tupelo, Ms in hopes of finding sanctuary and supplies.
“Brothers” ends with the duo’s arrival in Tupelo, where they meet up with Ethan Bennett, a Memphis police officer; Cade Alton, his best friend and former IDF sharpshooter; and Brandt Evans, a lieutenant in the US Marines. This is where “The Becoming – Book 1” begins. In this book, neighbors (and best friends) Ethan and Cade band together to survive the outbreak as it reaches Memphis, TN. Many of the “scenes” in this book are so vivid and real that they could induce nightmares in the faint of heart. I won’t throw any spoilers out there, but the scenes where the virus reaches Cade’s home, and how it affects her boyfriend Andrew and neice Josie are haunting, to say the least.
Cade and Ethan eventually decide to leave Memphis in order to check on Ethan’s mother in Gadsden, Alabama, where they find more evidence of exactly how widespread the virus has become, and begin to realize that life has changed forever. The pair eventually journeys to Tupelo, MS, meeting Ethan, Theo and Gray along the way.
Tons of close-calls, quick escapes, gory confrontations, and tragic events ensue as the team begins to realize how much they all need to rely on and trust each other is they’re ever going to survive.
The best thing about these books is how fast-paced they are. The author does a great job of providing enough detail and insight into the characters to ensure that you actually CARE about what happens to them. The amazing this is that this is all done while maintaining the quick pace of the stories.
Jessica Meigs is a huge talent, and she tells a very detailed story. The Becoming books are action-packed, emotionally charged, and detailed. You basically feel transported into the southern towns and cities that she describes. I love it when authors are able to bring me into the story in this way. She is definitely a talent, and I can’t wait to read the next installment, “The Becoming, Ground Zero” when it comes out in July 2012! For more info, check out the author’s site: http://becomingzombies.com/where-to-buy-the-series/the-becoming-book-two/
Visit Jessica Meigs on Twitter: @JessicaMeigs
I give The Becoming 4.5 stars!
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Can’t wait to read this! Got it for myself, then for Curt….he read it before me & says its really good (he’s picky, so that’s saying something). Hopefully I’ll get to it soon!