Book Review: Devolution

DEVOLUTION | Max Brooks
06.16.2020 | Del Rey Books
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

As the ash and chaos from Mount Rainier’s eruption swirled and finally settled, the story of the Greenloop massacre has passed unnoticed, unexamined…until now. But the journals of resident Kate Holland, recovered from the town’s bloody wreckage, capture a tale too harrowing – and too earth-shattering in its implications – to be forgotten. Kate’s is a tale of unexpected strength and resilience, of humanity’s defiance in the face of a terrible predator’s gaze, and inevitably, of savagery and death. If what Kate Holland saw in those days is real, then we must accept the impossible. We must accept that the creature known as Bigfoot walks among us – and that it is a beast of terrible strength and ferocity. 

I instantly pre-ordered DEVOLUTION the minute I heard about it publishing, but then I proceeded to put off reading it for the last year and a half. Why? Because I adore WORLD WAR Z and I was worried that a story about Bigfoot might not have the same appeal. Wrong. I think Max Brooks could write about anything at this point and I would be happy to pick it up. 

DEVOLUTION is told through a series of excerpts straight from the recovered journal’s of Kate Holland, as well as interviews. I really love this writing style, as it makes the story feel incredibly personal. From the start I felt like I knew Kate and could sympathize with all of her reactions about what was happening in Greenloop. The cast of secondary characters that Kate introduces the reader to helped to make a fully-formed and immersive reading experience. The tension and emotions throughout the story felt incredibly real and I found myself constantly thinking about the book whenever I put it down. I loved the pacing and I thought the story had a natural flow in the progression of a horrific situation.

🎧: If you’re hesitant to pick this one up, please give the audio a try. It’s a full-cast production with Judy Greer and Nathan Fillion leading the helm. I simply adore Greer and to me she’s the perfect Kate!

This book is available to buy from: Amazon | Book Depository

Disclosure: What Jess Reads is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This in no way influences my opinion of the above book.