FantasyNibbles Rating: 
Published by: Angry Robot
Due for release: 3 May 2012
Miriam Black knows when you will die. She’s foreseen hundreds of car crashes, heart attacks, strokes, and suicides.
But when Miriam hitches a ride with Louis Darling and shakes his hand, she sees that in thirty days Louis will be murdered while he calls her name. Louis will die because he met her, and she will be the next victim.
No matter what she does she can’t save Louis. But if she wants to stay alive, she’ll have to try.
I finished this one on my lunchbreak at work today, sat at my desk, Kindle in hand, feeling as if I was splattered from head to toe in blood, shaking, and wondering why no one in the office had noticed. This is one of the most intense books I’ve read in a very long time. And definitely the most violent. Not for the faint of heart this one!
Blackbirds is a mix of Prophecy, Fantasy and Horror, with a truly unforgettable heroine driving the action. The writing is razor sharp throughout, and I’m genuinely concerned that I might be a little bit messed up for enjoying this one so much.
I didn’t expect to get on with Blackbirds at all. If you were to ask me, I’d say that Urban Fantasy isn’t really my thing, but this…just like Low Town, is something a bit special. I thought I’d have a quick look at the start of it, and BAM!..I was sucked in and dragged along and up most of the night glued to it. And completely taken aback by this.
The writing is absolutely outstanding, it’s 100% my kind of narrative, there’s just not a single ounce of fat, it’s all muscle, that’s the best way I can describe it. Not a single word is wasted, every one of them packs a punch. It’s full of some truly awful “Language” – you wouldn’t want your Mum reading this – or your kids! but it just works so well with the characters. Miriam is such a strong lead, and she’s completely compelling right from the start.
Why did it lose half a star if I loved it so much? I think it’s the violence…or the guilt that I feel from not being totally freaked out by it and putting the book down. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been reading horror for years but this…pushes it! It’s relentless and graphic. It’s not mindless, everything that happens Wendig, if not justifies, at least explains. I don’t want to include any spoilers, but I will just say as an example you can bear in mind when you read it…garbage disposal….carpet noodle. What terrifies me is that I can totally identify. I know that makes no sense now but trust me, come back to this when you’ve read it.
For the first half of the book I was thinking this would make an amazing film, it’s really cinematic, but for the second half…I was thinking…it would never get classified! In fact, is there any regulation for books in that regard? I guess it’s just down to individual publishers’ choice.
I’d not heard of Wendig before this, but I now have Double Dead and Irregular Creatures on my ever growing list. I love the way he writes, and I’ve got to get me some more.
You can check out the first chapter free here
I’m reading this one now, and you’re right, I’ve started to wonder if I’m a bit wonky for loving it. If you loved this, you’ll love Double Dead too. It’s very violent, very funny,and very good!
Thanks for the review!
Am just adding Double Dead to basket right now
hehe. Let me know what you think when you finish this one! …I need some reassurance that I’m not certifiably dangerous over the carpet noodle thing…..!
I will! You’ll zip through Double Dead. I think it might have one of the grossest scenes in it that I’ve personally read, and I had the same question you did: “Should I be liking this as much as I am?” But I’ve noticed something… The author manages to inject humanity and even compassion into some of the most violent stuff, and I think that’s pretty awesome, and hard to do!
Chuck Wendig is definitely on my autobuy now…
Getting a bit worried about you Nibbles! Go read summat with dragons in it!
ha this does sound pretty awesome though…you have my interest piqued!
Dragon-fest coming up next as it goes – a chance for me to calm down a bit and wash the blood off the inside of my brain
“The Dragon and The Crow” and then a wave of James Maxey goodness
Excellent review! Double Dead is a favorite of mine, and I truly loved Shotgun Gravy. You really can’t go wrong with Wendig. .
thank you kindly
and cheers for the tip, have just downloaded Shotgun Gravy!
Wonderful review! Not my type of book, but I’m going to share you’re review with my Dad, who would LOVE it.
it’s not really my type either, I don’t know what happened!
Hope your Dad enjoys it
Wanted to hop in and say, thanks for the very kind review.
Wow, I’m honoured!
You’re very welcome, I hope it does every bit as well as it deserves
I really liked Shotgun Gravy, and his characters are great! I’m not sure if I could take all the violence that you described, though I find all the “language” quite entertaining.
What a great review, it makes me want to read it.
Excellent, then my work here is done!!
[...] I pretty much agree with all of it. In fact, BLACKBIRDS (which gets its first official review right here!) features a potentially unsympathetic character (though I love her dearly) and is written entirely [...]
fab, cant wait for this one to come out!
Mate you’ll love it I reckon!
CarpetNoodle! trust me
[...] gets its first official review (from Fantasy Nibbles, tee hee) — and it’s glowing! (“…a truly [...]