Name: celeste's review of Suffer the Children by Craig DiLouie
Item: Suffer the Children
Rating: 4
Author: celeste

Craig DiLouie

On a grand canvas reminiscent of Guillermo del Torro and Justin Cronin, acclaimed author Craig DiLouie presents "a terrifying novel filled with impossible decisions [and] a stark, brutal, and chilling vision of the end of days" (David Moody, author of Hater). SO MANY MOUTHS TO FEED It begins on an ordinary day: children around the world are dying. All children, everywhere—a global crisis beyond any parent’s worst nightmare. Then, a miracle beyond imagining: three days later, they return. Shattered mothers and fathers see their sons and daughters happy and whole once more, playing and laughing as before—but only when they feed. They hunger for blood…and they can’t get enough upon which to feast. Without it, they die again. How far would you go to keep someone you love alive?

Suffer the Children

celeste

gruesome, but I couldn’t stop reading. I feel like it would have hit me harder if I were a parent.

Petaco

There was little focus on the actual kids, if that makes sense. I would have like to see them featured more, rather than seeing everything from the adults point of view. I did not find ANY of the adults likeable or relatable. Everything just seemed so over the top. I think the first part started off strong but once they came back...? Nope. No one was in disbelief. None of the parents were in denial that it was their kid. Since the characters weren't likeable and there was little focus on the kids, I couldn't connect and didn't care about them. I thought that people severely overreacted and should have let those little zombies stay asleep. 

Probably would have been good to include a few (intentionally) childless couples or even see the perspective of some kids who just hit puberty. What about the families with kids of a broader age range? Did they go berserk as well? 

 Also, 4o days spent with rotting human flesh cannot be good for the senses. The smell must have been awful. Maybe I just need to relax and not think too much. Why did the world shut down? I don't get that. Lastly, they are kids. Even though they lose their humanity, they are still kids in kids bodies. They should not be overpowering any adult. As long as you have the power to kick a soccer ball, you should be winning. lol

Sade A

this wasn't a large book but it was hands down one of the creepiest, most disturbing books i've read so far. The book basically asks how far would you go to keep your child "alive". Apparently for a lot of the characters' here pretty far.The things the parents' were willing to do and the justification they gave to ease their conscience would blow your mind. 


This is really one of those books you don't forget in a hurry. so if you're looking for pretty much fu%*%d up characters, with a dash of crazy look no further, cos this book has got your back.
Would definitely read more of this author's books.

Marisa S. Pan 

I really enjoyed this book. Even tho I'm not a parent I could relate to some things because I have a younger sibling I care about a lot. So seeing what some parents are capable of doing for their children was so amazing in a way. 

Other things is that, as someone in the health care world, this book is an amazing discussion about quality of life and what is living a quality life (since we as human beings have 14 basic necessities that need to be functional) and this could also relate to a talk about euthanasia and about how we are selfish being that would rather make someone suffer just to have them stay with us for a little longer (aka the accepted of grief and death) 

The only if is kinda the questions I got at the end... That centers on the basic questions of is any child or future child immune to this? Other than that this book is just *french kiss*

Jordan Robinson

Jessica Nottingham

I had to write a review of this while it was fresh in my mind. I just finished listening to Craig DiLouie's Suffer the Children, and I think the best word to describe how I feel right now is horrified. I'm certain that was the intent of this dark story. Every parent out there knows that they'd do anything for their children. That protecting them is all that matters. But, what happens when the concept of "doing anything" for your children drastically changes? When the world turns upside down and suddenly your moral compass no longer points East? That, my friends, is what this book is about. This isn't a feel good story. It's dark. It's violent. It's disturbing on so very many levels.
 
Starting with what I liked, let's start with the concept of Herod's in the first place. I was impressed at how well Craig DiLouie laid out the deadly plague and explained why it was so sinister. The children, if that's what you want to call them, became real in my eyes. As their parents fought for their survival, for their own survival, I was actually invested in these characters. All I could keep doing while listening to this was wondering what I would do. What lengths I would go to. I felt so many emotions during this book. It took every little piece of empathy I had inside me, and wrung me out. Don't read this if you have an issue with the death of children, or with graphic violence. Trust me on this one.
 
For the most part, I also liked the pacing of Suffer the Children. I thought I knew what was coming around the bend, as the synopsis isn't exactly hiding anything, and still I managed to be surprised over and over again. Little things were revealed in perfect places. The general downfall of society, and the depravity that was taking its place, expertly laid out for the reader. Our main characters, the people who I started out feeling awful for, suddenly became something I was afraid of. It was sudden, and impressive. The one thing I had an issue with was that the ending felt oddly rushed. After the slow build up, the ending felt a little jarring. Expected, maybe. But jarring nonetheless.
 
So why the three star rating? There were points that dragged a bit, some awkward dialogue, and points where things didnt' quite match up. For me though, personally, this read was so tough. If you've followed me for any length of time, you'll know that I have a hard time reading about children in peril. This book ate at me. I found myself thinking about it even while I wasn't listening. I can't even really say I enjoyed the listen, so much as it was well done. Would I ever read this again? I think not. That being said, I still highly recommend others give this a shot. Just take into account what I mentioned above.

celeste &
Suffer the Children by Craig DiLouie

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