The fireman is coming. Stay cool.Writing
No one knows exactly when it began or where it originated. A terrifying new plague is spreading like wildfire across the country, striking cities one by one: Boston, Detroit, Seattle. The doctors call it Draco Incendia Trychophyton. To everyone else it’s Dragonscale, a highly contagious, deadly spore that marks its hosts with beautiful black and gold marks across their bodies—before causing them to burst into flames. Millions are infected; blazes erupt everywhere. There is no antidote. No one is safe.
This is my first book by Joe Hill and I'm quite pleased with the quality of his writing here. I have a few quibbles, but overall I found the book to be well done. I loved the characters, particularly Harper, who has a Mary Poppins obsession. I also thought the world building was very well done. The worldwide reaction to the pandemic is believable and fascinating and everything I wanted it to be. My biggest problem with the writing is that I felt like the story built to something major and then ended quickly without quite living up to the level of tension created in the rest of the book.
Entertainment Value
I couldn't get enough of this one. It was another car trip audiobook and kept me fully entertained while driving. It's quite long, so listeners should be prepared for a bit of a commitment but know that the story won't let you down. Again, the ending had me a bit disappointed, but not enough that I regretted any part of the experience.
Narration
I thought this part was just ok. It wasn't my favorite narrator and I definitely didn't love the accents she used. It could have been worse, but I've heard better.
Overall
The book itself is a must read for fans of dystopias or pandemic novels, although I think whether your read it in print or listen is just a matter of preference. The narration isn't great enough to make it specifically preferable on audio.
I listened to this one via Hoopla, provided by my local public library!
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