Charlie Higson

Set in London in an era when all the population over fourteen years of age, contracted an illness that either killed them or left them crazed and dangerous - A group of children hear of a safe place to hide, but in order to reach it they must cross London where all the deserted alleys and houses hold horrific perils for them as the grown-ups lie in wait.

The Enemy

They'll chase you.When the sickness came, every parent, policeman, politician - every adult - fell ill. The lucky ones died. The others are crazed, confused and hungry. They'll rip you open. They'll feed on you . . . Only children under fourteen remain, and they're fighting to survive. Now there are rumours of a safe place to hide. And so a gang of children begin their quest across London, where all through the city - down alleyways, in deserted houses, underground - the grown-ups lie in wait. But can they make it there - alive? Visitthe-enemy.co.ukfor more gore . . .

Jamieson

“If a wolf attacks his sheep, the shepard kills the wolf, but he eats the sheep when he's hungry.”


The Enemy is one of those books I really, really liked when 14/15. I read all the series that was out at the time, and then I had ..... 
  THE READING SLUMP™
. So I lost track of the series and now four or so years on I was like, hmmm, maybe I should check those books out again

Two things strike me about thse books: 
1:THEY ARE SCARY AS FUCK !!! JFC !! 

2: They're not /as good/ as I remember. But still pretty good. 

Basically, it's about a group of kids living in a supermarket at the end of the world. All the adults have become diseased and ... started ... eating the kids !! and it's hectic. 

THINGS I LIKE ABOUT THIS:
 → fucking terrifying. These books are so, so gory and awful. You got kids getting eatin all over the place, you got kids fighting eachother. You got cannibalism, you got psycho monkeys, you got disease and death and blergh just about everything other thing you can think of. I mean these books are brutal, you think your fave is safe because they're a ""main character"" but oooohh no. Charlie Higson definitely understands the concept of "kill your darlings" 

&& Aside from the fact it's gory, the actual ""zombies"" themselves are INSANE These are not just lumbering critters who you might run into, ooh no. 
These bad boys are INTELLIGENT. 
 THEY !! LITERALLY !! MAKE !! PLANS !! AND !! AMBUSH !! KIDS !! AND !! THEY !! ARE !! SO !! SCARY !!.  Not to mention some of it is told in the POV of a zombie, shudders
 They make the Walking Dead zombies look like fluffy little bunnies. Like, these books are scary as all hell I am worried about Past Me

 → Worldbuilding. Because, I know what you're thinking. Another zombie book? Another kids alone without adults book!? yeah, yeah I get you fam but listen these bring something new to the table. 

First of all, they're set in London. And along with the setting comes the general annoying propriety that is associated with Brits. You got kids from posh boarding schools, Kings and Queens, and it's full of British slang. It was a new twist to the tired, typical American setting and I liked it. (plus, the "hideouts" of the kids are something else, since this is London, hub of ridiculous and over the top architecture - the hideouts are  real neat I mean, they're hiding out in Buckingham Palace its amazing. ( So on a side note, how come Rick & Co from the walking dead haven't tried to shelter from zombies in the white house !?!) 

But aside from that, the development of the kids, the different groups and cultures that have sprung up in these groups is good worldbuilding. Each different group of kids has it's own customs, traditions, languages and while they're not /too different/ they all still have their quirks and its just interesting. The expansion of the world just in one book was great. 

 → ACTION. So much action, on every page. These are quick books because they're so fast paced and the pace never lets up. Something is going down on every single page and it's great. 

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE AS MUCH:

 → Yeah, the characters. Just a bit of a letdown. They're not awful, not by any means. These characters pass, but they're nothing special. I don't feel any of them are particularly complex or well developed. They exist to propel the story but I just wanted MORE. I wanted more from them, I wanted more about how the apocalypse if effecting them, how they feel, what they stand for. Don't get me wrong because we do get it, I just wanted much MORE to really develop them. 

And on another note with characters, I wanted to mention diversity because I felt, for a book written in 2010 when diversity wasn't so much of a big deal it's pretty good. I would have liked to see more anD I COMPLETELY FORGOT FROM THE FIRST TIME I READ IT THAT AKKIE KISSES JOHN AND I THINK IT WAS A /JOKE/ AND HE WAS JUST ESTABLISHING HIMSELF AND I DON'T REMEMBER IT BEING A THING LATER ON BUT I WISH IT WAS BECAUSE WHEN HE DID THAT I WAS LIKE ?!?! #GiveAchilleusABoyfriend

 → Representation of women. I just, eh eh eh. I don't wanna say too much about it but it was a bit disappointing that there are very very female characters in this and the ones that are there are often given the "mothering" role and while Maxie is the leader of the Waitrose kids by the end, no one really respects her and I just eh eh eh. It was okay, but it was kinda off too. 


♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦

Anyway, overrall I'd give this a 3.5 I think these books are genuinely terrifying, and a great addition to a genre thats overcrowded, especially in recent years with the rise in popularity of The Walking Dead. Regardless, I'm glad I reread this and while it wasn't as great as I remembered, it was still pretty good.

In the wake of a devastating disease, everyone sixteen and older is either dead or a decomposing, brainless creature with a ravenous appetite for flesh. Teens have barricaded themselves in buildings throughout London and venture outside only when they need to scavenge for food. The group of kids living a Waitrose supermarket is beginning to run out of options. When a mysterious traveler arrives and offers them safe haven at Buckingham Palace, they begin a harrowing journey across London. But their fight is far from over—the threat from within the palace is as real as the one outside it. Full of unexpected twists and quick-thinking heroes, The Enemy is a fast-paced, white-knuckle tale of survival in the face of unimaginable horror.

The Enemy (An Enemy Novel)

Kirsten Simkiss

I feel I'd give this one 3.5 stars, but since I don't have half star options, I rounded up.

First of all, this book is a zombie virus story. As such, it is violent. There are character deaths. To those that are squeamish, I wouldn't recommend it to you. However, as that doesn't bother me, I enjoyed it well enough.

A lot of other reviewers seem to like to compare it to Lord of the Flies. In my opinion, as I didn't like Lord of the Flies much at all, the only thing that the two books truly have in common is that the main characters are all children stumbling through a shitty situation with weapons. Otherwise, it's just another zombie story. If you like the various odd ways groups survived in the Walking Dead, this is probably a good series for you. Basically this is The Walking Dead but with only kids 16 and under.

The pacing of the story is actually quite good. I found it to be a very enjoyable read and it seemed to go by fairly quick. They switch between perspectives fairly often, giving you different viewpoints of the world as necessary and offering you different nuggets of information about what might have happened. (You don't really get substantial answers about the virus yet, but I assume you'll learn more in later books.)

I definitely feel comfortable putting the next book on my list to read when I'm in the mood for a new zombie story.

Sian Wadey

The Enemy by Charlie Higson

I like Charlie Higson and had seen trailer for this book. It was very popular among young adults, so I thought I'd check it out myself. I loved the characters, they were sweet, charming and funny, but it was very violent. Normally I don't have a problem with this, but it's supposed to be read by children. Also, it wasn't wrapped up, Higson left it completely open. Don't get me wrong, it was a good book, but not as good as the other YA books out there. I'll buy the sequel just to see where the journey the characters go on.

ghost girl in satin

It was awesome and gruesome. I loved every kid in this book. Some did not make it far, though. x) (I've got a soft spot for Ollie, Achilleus, Maxie and Blue. Also, I hope we'll see Sophie again. Arran is a very good character too. And Freak and Deke. And I loved the dynamic with The Kid and Small Sam + LOTR references aha)(and Troy's war with Achilles and Patroclus)
Gory details everywhere (cannibalism you guys, my stomach was not fond of that) and a Lord-of-the-flies vibe. It's really really really good. I can't believe I never heard of it before! (I even cried at the end) 
Please read this book. It is so so so so good. ♥
(view spoiler)[BUT THE ENDING, THOUGH. I was SO PROUD of Achilleus and Ollie. Because I was SO disappointed when I thought they were staying with David. And when Maxie hugged Akkie <3 MY HEART. And the tag on the walls for Arran and Freak <3 But I'm so frightned for Ollie, now. I hope he won't get sick but I've learnt that Charlie Higson does not hesitate to kill his characters (Poor Deke, poor Arran, poor Joel, poor Freak and Rihannon... :'O ) and I'm so excited to read the next book. I wanna know everything about The Kid. Also, I want to see Sam and Ella reunited (but... I don't trust Higson anymore lol) and I want to see the life at the museum... AND CAN WE TALK ABOUT CALLUM'S NARRATIVE ARC??? He is my soulmate. But his story is so sad. It proves us thar we can not survive alone in a world where danger is everywhere. We have to stick with people we trust enough because solidarity is a tool if we want to survive. 
Also, Whitney is awesome. <3 (hide spoiler)]
Where is this book series' fandom? WHERE ARE YOU, MY DEAREST PEOPLE?

Louis Norton

honour

Nicholas Barnard

Erika 

Petaco

abbie j

Megan Rhodes 

Blessed McDonald 

Katherine Poe

Ceaira

Lianna

Rhiannon Jerrom

Francis Buggey

The first unputdownable adventure story in this phenomenal series, from the author of the bestselling Young Bond series and award-winning comedy writer and performer (The Fast Show, Down the Line), Charlie Higson. They'll chase you. They'll rip you open. They'll feed on you . . . When the sickness came, every parent, policeman, politician - every adult - fell ill. The lucky ones died. The others are crazed, confused and hungry. Only children under fourteen remain, and they're fighting to survive. Now there are rumours of a safe place to hide. And so a gang of children begin their quest across London, where all through the city - down alleyways, in deserted houses, underground - the grown-ups lie in wait. But can they make it there - alive?

The Enemy

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