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The Walkin' Trilogy #1
Your Brother's Blood
This imaginative and unconventional debut novel is set centuries in the future. An unnamed event has wiped out most of humanity, scattering its remnants across vast and now barren lands reminiscent of the 19th century western frontier of America. Small clusters of humans still cling to existence in a post-apocalyptic world that is increasingly overrun by those who have risen from the dead--or, as the living call them, the Walkin'.
Thomas, a thirty-two year old conscripted soldier, homeward bound to the small frontier town of Barkley after fighting in a devastating civil war, is filled with hope at the thought of being reunited with his wife, Sarah, and daughter, Mary, both named after characters in the Good Book. As it turns out, he also happens to be among the Walkin'.
Devoid of a pulse or sense of pain, but with his memories and hopes intact, Thomas soon realizes that the living, who are increasingly drawn to the followers of the Good Book, are not kindly disposed to the likes of him. And when he learns what the good people of Barkley intend to do to him, and to his family, he realizes he may just have to kidnap his daughter to save her from a fate worse than becoming a member of the undead.
When the people of Barkley send out a posse in pursuit of father and daughter, the race for survival truly begins...
Thomas, a thirty-two year old conscripted soldier, homeward bound to the small frontier town of Barkley after fighting in a devastating civil war, is filled with hope at the thought of being reunited with his wife, Sarah, and daughter, Mary, both named after characters in the Good Book. As it turns out, he also happens to be among the Walkin'.
Devoid of a pulse or sense of pain, but with his memories and hopes intact, Thomas soon realizes that the living, who are increasingly drawn to the followers of the Good Book, are not kindly disposed to the likes of him. And when he learns what the good people of Barkley intend to do to him, and to his family, he realizes he may just have to kidnap his daughter to save her from a fate worse than becoming a member of the undead.
When the people of Barkley send out a posse in pursuit of father and daughter, the race for survival truly begins...
336 pages, Hardcover
First published August 29, 2013
About the author
David Towsey
8 books35 followersDavid Towsey is a graduate of the Bath Spa and Aberystwyth University Creative Writing programmes. Born in Dorset, he moved to Wales and managed to lose himself there for ten years. He’s now determined to see what the rest of the world has to offer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
October 2, 2013
4 stars at The BiblioSanctum: http://bibliosanctum.blogspot.com/201...
I usually start off my reviews with an explanation of what initially drew me to the book, and in this case it was the words "Zombies" and "Western" used to describe it that had me tripping over my feet for the opportunity to check it out. To date, I've only read a few titles from relatively new speculative fiction imprint Jo Fletcher, but they've already set themselves apart in my mind as a very special publisher, thanks to books like Your Brother's Blood which mix elements of sci-fi and fantasy with many other genres. Here, the result is something completely new and different, but I was also surprised to find this "Zombie-Western" to be quite literary and elegant at the same time.
The book is actually set hundreds of years into the future after an oft referred to but unknown apocalyptic event, and pockets of humanity now live ruggedly in small communities spread out across a vast and arid land in a style reminiscent of the Old West. A war is currently being waged between two armies, and caught in between them is the complicated matter of the dead who come back to life, those referred to as "the Walkin'".
Thomas grew up in Barkley, and at thirty-two years old he'd left to fight a war only to die and wake up again. He knows going home will put his wife and child in danger, but the pull towards love and family is too great; in the end his arrival in town sends him on the run again, with his daughter Mary in tow. It becomes a race against time as they try to evade their pursuers, because Barkley's zealots do not suffer the wicked or their spawn to live.
Other than a very few exceptions, I don't think I've come across many zombie stories that are told from the perspective of the undead, so this immediately makes Your Brother's Blood stand out for me. As a Walkin', Thomas' heart does not beat, nor does he bleed or feel a thing, but he does possess emotions, intelligence, and awareness of everything around him. He remembers Mary even though he hasn't seen her in a long time, and his love and devotion to her leads to many sad and touching scenes between father and daughter.
In this and many other ways, Your Brother's Blood is not a typical zombie novel; in fact, it shares very few similarities with other books in this horror sub-genre. Towsey's zombies aren't the mindless, shambling and brains-craving kind to be feared, and much of my enjoyment was actually the result of how much I sympathized with Thomas and related to his concerns for Mary. It's definitely a story that tugs at your heartstrings, but on the flip side there's also a sense of danger and urgency, for at the heart of this plot is the desperate-chase-across-the-wasteland factor that's so characteristic of classic Westerns.
There's just such a strange but unique mix of elements here, making this a special book unlike anything I've read before. There's just enough detail in this book to make you wonder things like, what happened to result in this post-apocalyptic world, and what's "in the blood" that makes a person more liable to rise as a Walkin' when they die? I'm hoping future installments will explore these questions, but I'd be okay too if some things are left as mysteries.
It's always interesting to me when I see authors take what's familiar and shake things up, creating imaginative characters and new worlds that lead to speculation. This was an enjoyable debut from David Towsey that not only surprised me with its originality, but also had a lot more feeling than I expected. I recommend it to anyone looking for something that's different, resonant and not "just another zombie book".
A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I usually start off my reviews with an explanation of what initially drew me to the book, and in this case it was the words "Zombies" and "Western" used to describe it that had me tripping over my feet for the opportunity to check it out. To date, I've only read a few titles from relatively new speculative fiction imprint Jo Fletcher, but they've already set themselves apart in my mind as a very special publisher, thanks to books like Your Brother's Blood which mix elements of sci-fi and fantasy with many other genres. Here, the result is something completely new and different, but I was also surprised to find this "Zombie-Western" to be quite literary and elegant at the same time.
The book is actually set hundreds of years into the future after an oft referred to but unknown apocalyptic event, and pockets of humanity now live ruggedly in small communities spread out across a vast and arid land in a style reminiscent of the Old West. A war is currently being waged between two armies, and caught in between them is the complicated matter of the dead who come back to life, those referred to as "the Walkin'".
Thomas grew up in Barkley, and at thirty-two years old he'd left to fight a war only to die and wake up again. He knows going home will put his wife and child in danger, but the pull towards love and family is too great; in the end his arrival in town sends him on the run again, with his daughter Mary in tow. It becomes a race against time as they try to evade their pursuers, because Barkley's zealots do not suffer the wicked or their spawn to live.
Other than a very few exceptions, I don't think I've come across many zombie stories that are told from the perspective of the undead, so this immediately makes Your Brother's Blood stand out for me. As a Walkin', Thomas' heart does not beat, nor does he bleed or feel a thing, but he does possess emotions, intelligence, and awareness of everything around him. He remembers Mary even though he hasn't seen her in a long time, and his love and devotion to her leads to many sad and touching scenes between father and daughter.
In this and many other ways, Your Brother's Blood is not a typical zombie novel; in fact, it shares very few similarities with other books in this horror sub-genre. Towsey's zombies aren't the mindless, shambling and brains-craving kind to be feared, and much of my enjoyment was actually the result of how much I sympathized with Thomas and related to his concerns for Mary. It's definitely a story that tugs at your heartstrings, but on the flip side there's also a sense of danger and urgency, for at the heart of this plot is the desperate-chase-across-the-wasteland factor that's so characteristic of classic Westerns.
There's just such a strange but unique mix of elements here, making this a special book unlike anything I've read before. There's just enough detail in this book to make you wonder things like, what happened to result in this post-apocalyptic world, and what's "in the blood" that makes a person more liable to rise as a Walkin' when they die? I'm hoping future installments will explore these questions, but I'd be okay too if some things are left as mysteries.
It's always interesting to me when I see authors take what's familiar and shake things up, creating imaginative characters and new worlds that lead to speculation. This was an enjoyable debut from David Towsey that not only surprised me with its originality, but also had a lot more feeling than I expected. I recommend it to anyone looking for something that's different, resonant and not "just another zombie book".
A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 12, 2014
Really enjoyed this one – a fresh take on a “zombie” story as we meet the inhabitants of Barkley – in a world where not all the dead stay dead. These “zombies” are not shuffling human eating beings however, they are simply people who do not lie still when they die. Enter Thomas, newly awakened “Walkin” who would very much like to be reunited with his family. However Barkley is not a place where he will still be welcome – their belief system views the undead as wicked and they “show mercy” by ensuring a destruction that you do not come back from.
Part road trip and part family drama, this was beautifully written, with a deep seated moral dilemma at the core of it, using an intriguing plot twist to explore themes of isolation and bigotry, where a section of society is viewed as less than worthy by some and treated accordingly. Thomas himself questions his existence and back in Barkley the belief system they have does not allow for a being such as Thomas and the author takes this idea and runs with it..
For all the violent parts that there are in this story, it is kind of a gentle rolling tale. If you want flesh eating undead cutting a swathe through hapless humans this one is not for you – in this case the lines are blurred between good and evil, it is a character driven piece entirely but it is endlessly fascinating and completely addictive.
Intelligent plotting and terrific storytelling throughout, I found this utterly gripping and am very much looking forward to getting onto the next book in the trilogy – Your Servants and Your People – watch this space!
Happy Reading Folks!
Part road trip and part family drama, this was beautifully written, with a deep seated moral dilemma at the core of it, using an intriguing plot twist to explore themes of isolation and bigotry, where a section of society is viewed as less than worthy by some and treated accordingly. Thomas himself questions his existence and back in Barkley the belief system they have does not allow for a being such as Thomas and the author takes this idea and runs with it..
For all the violent parts that there are in this story, it is kind of a gentle rolling tale. If you want flesh eating undead cutting a swathe through hapless humans this one is not for you – in this case the lines are blurred between good and evil, it is a character driven piece entirely but it is endlessly fascinating and completely addictive.
Intelligent plotting and terrific storytelling throughout, I found this utterly gripping and am very much looking forward to getting onto the next book in the trilogy – Your Servants and Your People – watch this space!
Happy Reading Folks!
February 2, 2021
Наистина исках да харесам тази книга, при това заради напълно комерсиални причини:
Бях си я набелязала щото е шайни, с твърди корици, дебела хартия и букви видни от самолет. В една доста известна хранителна верига се кипреше на 50% намаление. Разбира се, като достойна Леля Скрудж, в конкретна съботна сутрин станах с единствената идея, как ще ида до магазина и ще си я купя…
Тотала на книгата за мен е:
Счупване на външен (латерален) малеолус — закрито (ей това е буквално да си счупиш краката от зор да си вземеш нещо на промоция) — последвала хирургична намеса и поставяне някакви си там пирончета, 5 дупки нещо-си и 1/3 фибуларна плака (не съм умна, сложните думи ги преписах от епикризата). Блаженството всяка сутрин да си дупча корема с турски еквивалент на Клексан, който поръчах от на м… си, щото антикоагулантите са скрити през три склада в десети… кибичене с вирнат крак и постоянно катерене на прага у кенефу.
Та, наистина исках да харесам книгата, четох я с такова нетърпение да дойде интересното — все пак вместо 10 лв. тя ми струва над хиляда (не ща да смятам), плюс другите там незначително морални и физически травми.
Е… ами не ста‘а, брат!
Главният герой е израснал в град, в който — подразбира се — злодеят е пресметлив и може би недотам вярващ поп (ще го развият в следващите книги, сто про). Хората в това близко-далечно бъдеще — след някаква атомна, ядрена, водородна или натриева експлозия — кат‘ навирят петалата и стават на зомбита (не стил Ромеро: „Мозъъъък! Агрххрггхтр!“, а просто си вървят… и са Вървящи, щото вър‘ят)… Не всички, някои си умират форевър енд евър, ама тия дето покажат нос от босилека биват изгорени и най-малко половината им домочадие бива дамгосано като преносител на проклятието адово…
Апропо, само едно не ми стана мно'о ясно? Що искаха да ги унищожават тези зом… Вървящи. Така де, те просто си вървят и при това са евтина работна ръка: не ядът, не дишат, не искат допълнителни здравни осигуровки (нал' са мъртви), не се…т. Ах, да — трябва да се покаже, че хората сме зли и мразим всичко различно. Хайл Хитлер!
Атмосферата на книгата се опитва да имитира някакъв дарк-готик-философски (къде, кога?) стайл, а се е получил скучен стайл. Хич ми не дреме за прекалено натъртващите клиширани герои, хич ми не дреме дал‘ зом… Вървящия ще запази сите си крайници (аз не успях), хич ми не дреме дал‘ ще му колнат отрочето… Общо взето — хич ми не дреме за продължението, вселената и всичко останало.
Бях си я набелязала щото е шайни, с твърди корици, дебела хартия и букви видни от самолет. В една доста известна хранителна верига се кипреше на 50% намаление. Разбира се, като достойна Леля Скрудж, в конкретна съботна сутрин станах с единствената идея, как ще ида до магазина и ще си я купя…
Тотала на книгата за мен е:
Счупване на външен (латерален) малеолус — закрито (ей това е буквално да си счупиш краката от зор да си вземеш нещо на промоция) — последвала хирургична намеса и поставяне някакви си там пирончета, 5 дупки нещо-си и 1/3 фибуларна плака (не съм умна, сложните думи ги преписах от епикризата). Блаженството всяка сутрин да си дупча корема с турски еквивалент на Клексан, който поръчах от на м… си, щото антикоагулантите са скрити през три склада в десети… кибичене с вирнат крак и постоянно катерене на прага у кенефу.
Та, наистина исках да харесам книгата, четох я с такова нетърпение да дойде интересното — все пак вместо 10 лв. тя ми струва над хиляда (не ща да смятам), плюс другите там незначително морални и физически травми.
Е… ами не ста‘а, брат!
Главният герой е израснал в град, в който — подразбира се — злодеят е пресметлив и може би недотам вярващ поп (ще го развият в следващите книги, сто про). Хората в това близко-далечно бъдеще — след някаква атомна, ядрена, водородна или натриева експлозия — кат‘ навирят петалата и стават на зомбита (не стил Ромеро: „Мозъъъък! Агрххрггхтр!“, а просто си вървят… и са Вървящи, щото вър‘ят)… Не всички, някои си умират форевър енд евър, ама тия дето покажат нос от босилека биват изгорени и най-малко половината им домочадие бива дамгосано като преносител на проклятието адово…
Апропо, само едно не ми стана мно'о ясно? Що искаха да ги унищожават тези зом… Вървящи. Така де, те просто си вървят и при това са евтина работна ръка: не ядът, не дишат, не искат допълнителни здравни осигуровки (нал' са мъртви), не се…т. Ах, да — трябва да се покаже, че хората сме зли и мразим всичко различно. Хайл Хитлер!
Атмосферата на книгата се опитва да имитира някакъв дарк-готик-философски (къде, кога?) стайл, а се е получил скучен стайл. Хич ми не дреме за прекалено натъртващите клиширани герои, хич ми не дреме дал‘ зом… Вървящия ще запази сите си крайници (аз не успях), хич ми не дреме дал‘ ще му колнат отрочето… Общо взето — хич ми не дреме за продължението, вселената и всичко останало.
February 3, 2021
Слабичко. Има моменти, които грабват интереса, но те обикновено са последвани от моменти, които приспиват. На края на книгата, пък, а-ха да стане интересно и авторът взе, че приключи нещата. Имало още две книги след тая. Не, мерси.
August 27, 2013
I often hear the cry “Oh no, not another zombie novel”. Now I’ll be the first to admit that there has been a glut of books over the last couple of years featuring everyone’s favourite un-dead shufflers, but if you've read any of my other reviews you’ll notice a lot of them are actually pretty damn good. I’ve read everything from historical zombie fiction (The Viking Dead), to novels that are something more akin to a ghost story (Handling The Undead). All the zombie fiction that I’ve read has one thing in common, each new story attempts to add its own fresh perspective. Your Brother’s Blood, the debut novel from David Towsey, attempts to do exactly that and manages to pull it off with aplomb. Turning the zombie mythology we’re all familiar with and standing it squarely on its head.
Set hundreds of years after some unknown near-apocalyptic event, society has regressed technologically to something comparable with the American Old West. Small communities, like Barkley, eke out a meagre existence and are barely getting by. Elsewhere, large armies are caught in a never-ending conflict that bares a startling similarity to the US Civil war.
Newly deceased Thomas awakes on the battlefield. He’s torn between his desire to reconnect with his family, to protect them, and the urge to just disappear. He knows however that if he returns to Barkley, his wife and daughter will suffer. At its core Your Brother’s Blood is really a story about family and the lengths that people will go to in order to protect that.
A lot of the horror comes from that revelatory moment when you realise that it is the living that are the real monsters not the dead. Humanities reaction to the dead is driven by hundreds of years of religious indoctrination. Communities like Barkley are gripped by a crazed fervour and deal with the situation in suitably knee jerk manner. Towsey establishes this quickly, within thirty pages you’re left in no doubt how the Walkin’ are treated.
The local religious leader in Barkley, Pastor Gray, is all fire and brimstone. He uses his position of authority to preach the gospel and control the local populace in every way. To him, the Walkin’ are proof of man’s failures. They are damned souls forced to walk the Earth as punishment for their sins. Gray preaches the only way to avoid the same fate is to follow his pronouncements to the letter. Fear of the Walkin’ is the perfect excuse for Gray to control the masses. It’s no real surprise that atrocities occur in the name of the Good Book.
The Walkin themselves are more to be pitied than feared. These aren’t your classic brain hungry George Romero-esque ghouls. These are beings that were once human, they remember themselves and the lives they had before. They have had to forego their previous existence and try and find some sort of peace.
I’d imagine there are some, your zombie purists, who this book won’t appeal to. This novel isn’t all blood, guts and gore, there is actually very little of that. Your Brother’s Blood is a far more cerebral affair. This is a character driven piece that explores the nature of the (in)human condition.
Like the recent TV show, The Returned, the reasons for the existence of the Walkin’ is a bit of mystery. There are a few subtle suggestions about how and why they are the way they are, but for the most part this question is left unanswered. I enjoy this kind of ambiguity in a horror novel. It leaves plenty of potential to discover more about the Walkin’ in any future sequel.
Within the first couple of chapters of this book I was enthralled by the writing, this debut is utterly engrossing. It’s a truly fascinating reinterpretation of the zombie mythos. Excuse the pun, but this novel breathes new life into the genre. Towsey has created a hauntingly evocative tale that takes an introspective look at the zombie menace. I want to read a sequel to this book tomorrow. No, let me rephrase that, I NEED to read a sequel to this book tomorrow. I suspect I’ll just have to attempt to be patient (sadly, never a strong point of mine).
Set hundreds of years after some unknown near-apocalyptic event, society has regressed technologically to something comparable with the American Old West. Small communities, like Barkley, eke out a meagre existence and are barely getting by. Elsewhere, large armies are caught in a never-ending conflict that bares a startling similarity to the US Civil war.
Newly deceased Thomas awakes on the battlefield. He’s torn between his desire to reconnect with his family, to protect them, and the urge to just disappear. He knows however that if he returns to Barkley, his wife and daughter will suffer. At its core Your Brother’s Blood is really a story about family and the lengths that people will go to in order to protect that.
A lot of the horror comes from that revelatory moment when you realise that it is the living that are the real monsters not the dead. Humanities reaction to the dead is driven by hundreds of years of religious indoctrination. Communities like Barkley are gripped by a crazed fervour and deal with the situation in suitably knee jerk manner. Towsey establishes this quickly, within thirty pages you’re left in no doubt how the Walkin’ are treated.
The local religious leader in Barkley, Pastor Gray, is all fire and brimstone. He uses his position of authority to preach the gospel and control the local populace in every way. To him, the Walkin’ are proof of man’s failures. They are damned souls forced to walk the Earth as punishment for their sins. Gray preaches the only way to avoid the same fate is to follow his pronouncements to the letter. Fear of the Walkin’ is the perfect excuse for Gray to control the masses. It’s no real surprise that atrocities occur in the name of the Good Book.
The Walkin themselves are more to be pitied than feared. These aren’t your classic brain hungry George Romero-esque ghouls. These are beings that were once human, they remember themselves and the lives they had before. They have had to forego their previous existence and try and find some sort of peace.
I’d imagine there are some, your zombie purists, who this book won’t appeal to. This novel isn’t all blood, guts and gore, there is actually very little of that. Your Brother’s Blood is a far more cerebral affair. This is a character driven piece that explores the nature of the (in)human condition.
Like the recent TV show, The Returned, the reasons for the existence of the Walkin’ is a bit of mystery. There are a few subtle suggestions about how and why they are the way they are, but for the most part this question is left unanswered. I enjoy this kind of ambiguity in a horror novel. It leaves plenty of potential to discover more about the Walkin’ in any future sequel.
Within the first couple of chapters of this book I was enthralled by the writing, this debut is utterly engrossing. It’s a truly fascinating reinterpretation of the zombie mythos. Excuse the pun, but this novel breathes new life into the genre. Towsey has created a hauntingly evocative tale that takes an introspective look at the zombie menace. I want to read a sequel to this book tomorrow. No, let me rephrase that, I NEED to read a sequel to this book tomorrow. I suspect I’ll just have to attempt to be patient (sadly, never a strong point of mine).
August 20, 2015
I received a copy of this book through the Goodreads First Reads program.
Sadly, I didn't enjoy this as much as I thought I would. Granted, I still think it's an intriguing premise and the entire attempt of following the storyline is somehow impressive and a fresh take on the genre, but it simply.. didn't do it for me.
My main problem was the writing. There were several moments throughout the book where I felt that the author's style failed to keep me engrossed in what I was reading and unfortunately, that kept happening until the last few pages. The potential was definitely there, I just wish the writing was more daring, more gripping.
Because of that, I was slightly let down by the characters as well. Lots of room for character exploration (Sarah was certainly the one person whose lack of analysis I regretted the most, there was just so much there that could have been done.) Considering it's mostly a character-driven plot, I expected the book to dive a lot more into it.
And yet, like I said, I liked the idea and where it was trying to go. Religious aspects and social injustice I enjoyed seeing covered. It simply wasn't, on the whole, at the level I feel it could have been.
Sadly, I didn't enjoy this as much as I thought I would. Granted, I still think it's an intriguing premise and the entire attempt of following the storyline is somehow impressive and a fresh take on the genre, but it simply.. didn't do it for me.
My main problem was the writing. There were several moments throughout the book where I felt that the author's style failed to keep me engrossed in what I was reading and unfortunately, that kept happening until the last few pages. The potential was definitely there, I just wish the writing was more daring, more gripping.
Because of that, I was slightly let down by the characters as well. Lots of room for character exploration (Sarah was certainly the one person whose lack of analysis I regretted the most, there was just so much there that could have been done.) Considering it's mostly a character-driven plot, I expected the book to dive a lot more into it.
And yet, like I said, I liked the idea and where it was trying to go. Religious aspects and social injustice I enjoyed seeing covered. It simply wasn't, on the whole, at the level I feel it could have been.
December 31, 2013
Your Brother's Blood is set in the far future, about 900 years from now, but at the same time it feels a little like weird west fantasy, such as Lee Collins' books. As such I found it hard to classify the book ending up at dystopian fantasy. Apparently this is a far more common thing than I thought – really, who knew? Why doesn't anyone tell me these things? – but to me this was my first encounter with it in this way and an interesting one it was too. Towsey mixes religion and zombies and a Western feel into an interesting amalgam that asks some pretty elemental questions of the reader.
Religion is always a tricky thing to tackle, but done well can shed some interesting light on the human condition. Towsey manages to do so, creating an almost fundamentalist Christian sect in the township of Barkley, which has adapted to the collapse of technology and the rise of the Walkin' by having some pretty rigid limitations set on both life and death. Towsey seems to be seeing how far people will go along in a restrictive system of belief, before turning rebellious. It turns out that line is different for everyone, but the narrative also reveals that the outside doesn't always show what is inside and there are acts of disobedience, large and small, all over Barkley. In Barkley any writing, other than the Good Book, and drawing are considered sinful and forbidden. One of the ways Mary, our teenage protagonist, rebels is by drawing in the mud, even if it ends up getting her hands caned. But it turns out that she isn't the only one hiding art, there are several hidden art collections.
One of the main tenets of Leyist beliefs, named after J.S. Barkley the town founder and creator of their Church, is that the Walkin' are spawn of the devil and that anyone who dies should be burned before burial. For the rise of the Walkin' is one of the effects of the collapse of society. It's not clear what exactly caused the advent of the Walkin', but it is a genetic mutation that seems to have been caused by a medical innovation gone wrong. A Walkin' will rise after death and be in essence a zombie, however they retain their personality and all their memories and they don't need to eat, so no ravening brain-eaters here. However being a hereditary condition, it also means that anyone with a Walkin' parent is considered tainted and should thus be saved through the pyre. It's this last belief put into practice that creates the greatest discontent with Barkley's religious laws, as people have a hard time reconciling themselves to this last fact. It's also this last tenet that sets part of the plot in motion since it's the reason Thomas takes Mary away with him.
Though thoroughly agnostic, I found the people of Barkley's adherence to their rigid and restrictive religious beliefs understandable. If the dead started rising today, it's a good bet that a lot of people would quickly turn their faith to such fundamental and conservative sects. While completely uncomfortable with their beliefs, I could see how they got there. But where they completely lost me, was when they condoned child murder because of the fact their parent was a Walkin'. This is also the point in the narrative that not just the outliers in the community, but the general population as well, seem to start perhaps not openly agitating against the church, but certainly performing acts of civil disobedience.
Putting all the religious angles aside, Your Brother's Blood also shows what happens when the dead may Walk and that final farewell may not always be final. We see it in Gravekeeper Nathaniel Courie, one of the point-of-view characters in the book, whose first wife became a Walkin' because he couldn't bear burning her. He's never managed to put his grief for her behind him, because he knows she's still out there somewhere. Similarly, despite knowing better, Thomas makes his way home to see Sarah and Mary one last time and say goodbye. For those whose loved ones die away from home, such as Thomas and some of the other soldiers, there is always the uncertainty of not knowing whether they have risen or whether they've gone to meet their Maker in Heaven. Death is the one certainty in life and when that certainty is taken away, people do strange things.
One element I found problematic is the lack of exposition regarding the war that is going on in de background. It all remains rather vague and nebulous; we know it's redcoats versus blue-coats, but as to the origins and reasons for the fight we get no explanation. Also it felt rather reminiscent of the US Civil War, which was a bit disorienting in a temporal sense, as the book is set in the future but feels as if it's set in the past. Also there is the start of something in Barkley, a feeling that Pastor Gray should be watching his tail feathers as his flock might soon not follow him docilely any longer. However, we don't get a resolution to this in the book. Then again, this leaves plenty of grist on the mill for a sequel and it looks like Your Brother's Blood is the first in a trilogy – a fact I wasn't aware of while reading the book – so there will be plenty of time to resolve that particular situation. Hopefully, we'll also learn more about the war and the Walkin' in any future books.
Not normally a zombie fan, I loved the Walkin' in Your Brother's Blood. They are an interesting re-imagining of what zombies could look like. The book is a thoughtful, intelligent debut from a talented author. And a book that made me think deeply about its themes and its characters. In addition, Your Brother's Blood is well-written and a smooth read. I'm looking forward to returning to Barkley and discovering more of Towsey's writing.
This book was provided for review by the publisher.
Religion is always a tricky thing to tackle, but done well can shed some interesting light on the human condition. Towsey manages to do so, creating an almost fundamentalist Christian sect in the township of Barkley, which has adapted to the collapse of technology and the rise of the Walkin' by having some pretty rigid limitations set on both life and death. Towsey seems to be seeing how far people will go along in a restrictive system of belief, before turning rebellious. It turns out that line is different for everyone, but the narrative also reveals that the outside doesn't always show what is inside and there are acts of disobedience, large and small, all over Barkley. In Barkley any writing, other than the Good Book, and drawing are considered sinful and forbidden. One of the ways Mary, our teenage protagonist, rebels is by drawing in the mud, even if it ends up getting her hands caned. But it turns out that she isn't the only one hiding art, there are several hidden art collections.
One of the main tenets of Leyist beliefs, named after J.S. Barkley the town founder and creator of their Church, is that the Walkin' are spawn of the devil and that anyone who dies should be burned before burial. For the rise of the Walkin' is one of the effects of the collapse of society. It's not clear what exactly caused the advent of the Walkin', but it is a genetic mutation that seems to have been caused by a medical innovation gone wrong. A Walkin' will rise after death and be in essence a zombie, however they retain their personality and all their memories and they don't need to eat, so no ravening brain-eaters here. However being a hereditary condition, it also means that anyone with a Walkin' parent is considered tainted and should thus be saved through the pyre. It's this last belief put into practice that creates the greatest discontent with Barkley's religious laws, as people have a hard time reconciling themselves to this last fact. It's also this last tenet that sets part of the plot in motion since it's the reason Thomas takes Mary away with him.
Though thoroughly agnostic, I found the people of Barkley's adherence to their rigid and restrictive religious beliefs understandable. If the dead started rising today, it's a good bet that a lot of people would quickly turn their faith to such fundamental and conservative sects. While completely uncomfortable with their beliefs, I could see how they got there. But where they completely lost me, was when they condoned child murder because of the fact their parent was a Walkin'. This is also the point in the narrative that not just the outliers in the community, but the general population as well, seem to start perhaps not openly agitating against the church, but certainly performing acts of civil disobedience.
Putting all the religious angles aside, Your Brother's Blood also shows what happens when the dead may Walk and that final farewell may not always be final. We see it in Gravekeeper Nathaniel Courie, one of the point-of-view characters in the book, whose first wife became a Walkin' because he couldn't bear burning her. He's never managed to put his grief for her behind him, because he knows she's still out there somewhere. Similarly, despite knowing better, Thomas makes his way home to see Sarah and Mary one last time and say goodbye. For those whose loved ones die away from home, such as Thomas and some of the other soldiers, there is always the uncertainty of not knowing whether they have risen or whether they've gone to meet their Maker in Heaven. Death is the one certainty in life and when that certainty is taken away, people do strange things.
One element I found problematic is the lack of exposition regarding the war that is going on in de background. It all remains rather vague and nebulous; we know it's redcoats versus blue-coats, but as to the origins and reasons for the fight we get no explanation. Also it felt rather reminiscent of the US Civil War, which was a bit disorienting in a temporal sense, as the book is set in the future but feels as if it's set in the past. Also there is the start of something in Barkley, a feeling that Pastor Gray should be watching his tail feathers as his flock might soon not follow him docilely any longer. However, we don't get a resolution to this in the book. Then again, this leaves plenty of grist on the mill for a sequel and it looks like Your Brother's Blood is the first in a trilogy – a fact I wasn't aware of while reading the book – so there will be plenty of time to resolve that particular situation. Hopefully, we'll also learn more about the war and the Walkin' in any future books.
Not normally a zombie fan, I loved the Walkin' in Your Brother's Blood. They are an interesting re-imagining of what zombies could look like. The book is a thoughtful, intelligent debut from a talented author. And a book that made me think deeply about its themes and its characters. In addition, Your Brother's Blood is well-written and a smooth read. I'm looking forward to returning to Barkley and discovering more of Towsey's writing.
This book was provided for review by the publisher.
March 2, 2018
This book took me through a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. I really identified with Thomas as a father and his point of view was interesting to me. This book had me feeling all sort of emotions. The state of the world made me sad. Some events made me angry. I felt like it challenged me to think about the afterlife and look at things from a new perspective. These are not at all things I was expecting to say about this book when I picked it up. I wasn’t expecting this book to cause me to be so introspective. While it made me think a lot about my real life, the plot was very simple and straightforward which might have been why I felt like I had so much time for introspection. However there were some happenings that didn’t seem to change the plot or add to it at all. I think maybe they play a part in the sequel. I am still in the fence about whether or not I will continue the series but overall I enjoyed reading this book.
September 2, 2013
Originally posted at: http://thebookplank.blogspot.com/2013/09/your-brothers-blood.html
Your Brother's Blood is the debut book of David Towsey which was released last month by Jo Fletcher Books. David Towsey is an MA graduate of the Bath Spa Creative Writing course and continuing his studies as a Ph.D student at Aberystwyth University. The synopsis of Your Brother’s Blood really got me curious. With solely the mentioning of the Walkin' you can pretty much guess the direction this story will go into, however it seemed to me that with a main protagonist as a Walkin' it could be interesting. And Your Brother's Blood proved that it was indeed so, at many fronts. I have to confess that I was expecting a quite gruesome and horrifying story, because that is where zombies lend a helping hand in. If you think the same, you will be in for a huge surprise when you read Your Brother's Blood. David Towsey has ventured where no author (to my knowledge) has gone be for and produced this one of a kind beautiful yet haunting story.
In Your Brother's Blood you follow Thomas, who wakes up as quite something else. I can't seem to recall to have read or seen any fiction that focuses the story on a main protagonist who is Walkin' (the undead, a zombie). Like I mentioned above don't expect the drooling, brain dead kind of zombies. Instead they are able to commune and walk and even work the field, the only exception is that they live forever and yes their dead. Upon finding his new life, Thomas now has to choose between going to spend his life with the other Walkin' or go back to his village. Thomas is stricken with guilt and wants to see his wife and daughter one last time to say goodbye. But this visit doesn't start and end well. Because the village of Barkely, Thomas' hometown does not suffer the wicked to live. It's heavily religious and sees the Walkin' people as a scourge to mankind, messengers of the devil and the only thing that does them right is either on the pyre or with one it's head less... Barkley's strong conviction to the Good Book translates into the eternal hatred eradicate each Walkin' and Thomas' return to Barkley only puts more fuel on the flame and it's just the beginning of Your Brother's Blood as he now finds himself fleeing and fearing for his life and that of someone who is quite dear to him.
There are a lot of things to like about Your Brother's Blood. For starters Thomas, I really liked how he was shown, now that he is one of the Walkin', it somehow feels that through his eyes several essences of the storyline and ideas behind the book only become that much clearer. He says that he might not be the best follower of the Good Book but that he abides the rules and tries to live his life as close to the rules of it. And at first and still along the way questions how he could have become one in the first place. But with keeping the memories intact of the Walkin', David Towsey does allow a unique point of view for their perspective to be shown. Thomas just want to visit his family and makes his character even though he is dead, relatable and human. The "humaness" of the Walkin' only becomes that much more stronger as you see the clergyman of Barkley and their utter devotion to the Good Book. Via them and how you see Thomas and two of the other Walkin' earlier on I really had the feeling that the tables are turned in Your Brothers Blood and that the Walkin' aren't the scourge of mankind, but that it is mostly the believers of the Good Book. Turning the perspectives around from bad guy, good guy really made the story for me. The witch hunt that follows is action packed, engaging and compelling. Overall the storyline and idea behind the book are just super. Because first off, I hadn't expected this kind of zombie fiction and secondly David Towsey, crafts this fascinating story around it.
The setting of Your Brother's Blood also leaves a lot to your imagination. The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world and actually in the storyline of Thomas you don't really get to learn that much more of the world. But there are some articles in the starting of each part of the book that briefly recapture some of the setting of the day and age in which Your Brother's Blood takes place. This makes the whole setting of the story that much better, since you are free to interpret the level of destruction for yourself. The dates mentioned in the article steer towards the late 2900, so it's set almost a thousand years of where we are right now. But it also mentions the automata, the Automated Age and the Automated Man's fall from scientific grace. And this left the world in a western sort of setting. I for one imagined large civilizations returning to the outposts in the desert just trying to fend for themselves and bartering for useful items with your neighbours and just trying to get by. Just brilliant.
I can go on for quite some time how super Your Brother's Blood is. David Towsey has created something new and quite amazing in his debut. Re-interpreting the well represented zombie genre, flipping it upside down and front to back. Shifting the perspective of experiencing what a Walkin' is, to be into the main protagonist of the story wasn't the first flip. If you take this together with the switching of the good guy - bad guy interpretation you are left with Your Brother's Blood. It might seem weird to write this down for a book that is set in a post apocalyptic world and has zombies but, Your Brother's Blood is utterly captivating and defines and inspires a whole new set of rules in it's genre. Definitely recommended!
Your Brother's Blood is the debut book of David Towsey which was released last month by Jo Fletcher Books. David Towsey is an MA graduate of the Bath Spa Creative Writing course and continuing his studies as a Ph.D student at Aberystwyth University. The synopsis of Your Brother’s Blood really got me curious. With solely the mentioning of the Walkin' you can pretty much guess the direction this story will go into, however it seemed to me that with a main protagonist as a Walkin' it could be interesting. And Your Brother's Blood proved that it was indeed so, at many fronts. I have to confess that I was expecting a quite gruesome and horrifying story, because that is where zombies lend a helping hand in. If you think the same, you will be in for a huge surprise when you read Your Brother's Blood. David Towsey has ventured where no author (to my knowledge) has gone be for and produced this one of a kind beautiful yet haunting story.
In Your Brother's Blood you follow Thomas, who wakes up as quite something else. I can't seem to recall to have read or seen any fiction that focuses the story on a main protagonist who is Walkin' (the undead, a zombie). Like I mentioned above don't expect the drooling, brain dead kind of zombies. Instead they are able to commune and walk and even work the field, the only exception is that they live forever and yes their dead. Upon finding his new life, Thomas now has to choose between going to spend his life with the other Walkin' or go back to his village. Thomas is stricken with guilt and wants to see his wife and daughter one last time to say goodbye. But this visit doesn't start and end well. Because the village of Barkely, Thomas' hometown does not suffer the wicked to live. It's heavily religious and sees the Walkin' people as a scourge to mankind, messengers of the devil and the only thing that does them right is either on the pyre or with one it's head less... Barkley's strong conviction to the Good Book translates into the eternal hatred eradicate each Walkin' and Thomas' return to Barkley only puts more fuel on the flame and it's just the beginning of Your Brother's Blood as he now finds himself fleeing and fearing for his life and that of someone who is quite dear to him.
There are a lot of things to like about Your Brother's Blood. For starters Thomas, I really liked how he was shown, now that he is one of the Walkin', it somehow feels that through his eyes several essences of the storyline and ideas behind the book only become that much clearer. He says that he might not be the best follower of the Good Book but that he abides the rules and tries to live his life as close to the rules of it. And at first and still along the way questions how he could have become one in the first place. But with keeping the memories intact of the Walkin', David Towsey does allow a unique point of view for their perspective to be shown. Thomas just want to visit his family and makes his character even though he is dead, relatable and human. The "humaness" of the Walkin' only becomes that much more stronger as you see the clergyman of Barkley and their utter devotion to the Good Book. Via them and how you see Thomas and two of the other Walkin' earlier on I really had the feeling that the tables are turned in Your Brothers Blood and that the Walkin' aren't the scourge of mankind, but that it is mostly the believers of the Good Book. Turning the perspectives around from bad guy, good guy really made the story for me. The witch hunt that follows is action packed, engaging and compelling. Overall the storyline and idea behind the book are just super. Because first off, I hadn't expected this kind of zombie fiction and secondly David Towsey, crafts this fascinating story around it.
The setting of Your Brother's Blood also leaves a lot to your imagination. The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world and actually in the storyline of Thomas you don't really get to learn that much more of the world. But there are some articles in the starting of each part of the book that briefly recapture some of the setting of the day and age in which Your Brother's Blood takes place. This makes the whole setting of the story that much better, since you are free to interpret the level of destruction for yourself. The dates mentioned in the article steer towards the late 2900, so it's set almost a thousand years of where we are right now. But it also mentions the automata, the Automated Age and the Automated Man's fall from scientific grace. And this left the world in a western sort of setting. I for one imagined large civilizations returning to the outposts in the desert just trying to fend for themselves and bartering for useful items with your neighbours and just trying to get by. Just brilliant.
I can go on for quite some time how super Your Brother's Blood is. David Towsey has created something new and quite amazing in his debut. Re-interpreting the well represented zombie genre, flipping it upside down and front to back. Shifting the perspective of experiencing what a Walkin' is, to be into the main protagonist of the story wasn't the first flip. If you take this together with the switching of the good guy - bad guy interpretation you are left with Your Brother's Blood. It might seem weird to write this down for a book that is set in a post apocalyptic world and has zombies but, Your Brother's Blood is utterly captivating and defines and inspires a whole new set of rules in it's genre. Definitely recommended!
November 13, 2015
If you're wondering whether to read this book or put it back on the shelves in the bookstore, I'd advise you to go to the cash register and bring it home with you. It is a great book. I am really so glad to have read it. And I guess this is going to be a series (maybe?), so I am looking forward to seeing how this story will evolve. Personally, I don't know much about the sub-genre, but I enjoyed thoroughly this post-apocalyptic novel. It was so well crafted and entertaining, I'd recommend it to anyone.
Actually, I was really leaning towards the five stars, yet I gave it four. If the rating system was better and had halfstars, I'd probably give it four and a half without thinking.
What is most spectacular here is the world-building. Such an amazing, breath-taking and picturesque way to create a whole new world. Rarely could you see an author who could really use words to his advantage. For that I believe David Towsey has a long and successful career ahead of himself. Obviously, the Good Lord favours him. So, here is the Earth some 900 or so years in the future. No spaceships, no aliens, just good ol' humans. And Walkin'.
At first glance I thought, "Zombies", then I was like "No, something more mysterious, something supernatural" and finally, "Some virus maybe, or gene mutation; no magic, just science". And yet I am still unsure of what exactly is the nature of this phenomenon. That is why I am really eager to get to know more about this world. How it came to be the way it is? How old is the oldest Walkin'? Are Walkin' scientists, while the rest of the population is filled with mindless religious fanatics? There is so much I want to know, so much I need to know!
So, in this world when you die and you have (based on my speculation) a certain gene, you come back from the dead as a Walkin'. Walkin'is basically a zombie but one with intact consciousness - they think and feel for themselves just like normal humans, only that they are dead. And Thomas is a Walkin'. He has no idea what is means to be one and until the end of the book is nowhere close to understanding that. But I believe the next one would give the answers to the many questions I have.
I am not going to retell the story. It is better to read it for yourselves. But there are some things I'd like to mention, a kind of another speculation of mine. So, something happens and the human race is divided into living and undead. No one knows how long ago that was, or at least no one appears to know (for now). The fact is that the living, as all living do, starts forgetting what really happened. No one wants to talk about it, because it brings bad memories (possibly?) and soon some religious fanatic adds it to the Bible, the so-called Good Book. With every generation the Good Book preaches more and more and the past is completely forgotten. The cities are left to rot and people begin their lives anew. No electricity, no pavement, no stone,no asphalt, nothing to remind them of what was like before that something. I think it's really sad to see how the Dark Ages develops all over again. The church is above all, the oppression is clear in every word the pastor says. The minds of the people are controlled by the Good Book, by something someone wrote in order to brainwash the nation. And it is working. People are so easily influenced, after all.
Enough of that. A few words to appreciate the characters and how realistic they all seem. Take for example Thomas, his inner battle with his desire to return home even as an "abomination", his wish to keep his daughter safe, his devastation when she almost dies, when he found out she was the one taking care of him by making sure not to worry him...
This book is really good. I wonder if I would decide to give it full stars in the end...
Actually, I was really leaning towards the five stars, yet I gave it four. If the rating system was better and had halfstars, I'd probably give it four and a half without thinking.
What is most spectacular here is the world-building. Such an amazing, breath-taking and picturesque way to create a whole new world. Rarely could you see an author who could really use words to his advantage. For that I believe David Towsey has a long and successful career ahead of himself. Obviously, the Good Lord favours him. So, here is the Earth some 900 or so years in the future. No spaceships, no aliens, just good ol' humans. And Walkin'.
At first glance I thought, "Zombies", then I was like "No, something more mysterious, something supernatural" and finally, "Some virus maybe, or gene mutation; no magic, just science". And yet I am still unsure of what exactly is the nature of this phenomenon. That is why I am really eager to get to know more about this world. How it came to be the way it is? How old is the oldest Walkin'? Are Walkin' scientists, while the rest of the population is filled with mindless religious fanatics? There is so much I want to know, so much I need to know!
So, in this world when you die and you have (based on my speculation) a certain gene, you come back from the dead as a Walkin'. Walkin'is basically a zombie but one with intact consciousness - they think and feel for themselves just like normal humans, only that they are dead. And Thomas is a Walkin'. He has no idea what is means to be one and until the end of the book is nowhere close to understanding that. But I believe the next one would give the answers to the many questions I have.
I am not going to retell the story. It is better to read it for yourselves. But there are some things I'd like to mention, a kind of another speculation of mine. So, something happens and the human race is divided into living and undead. No one knows how long ago that was, or at least no one appears to know (for now). The fact is that the living, as all living do, starts forgetting what really happened. No one wants to talk about it, because it brings bad memories (possibly?) and soon some religious fanatic adds it to the Bible, the so-called Good Book. With every generation the Good Book preaches more and more and the past is completely forgotten. The cities are left to rot and people begin their lives anew. No electricity, no pavement, no stone,no asphalt, nothing to remind them of what was like before that something. I think it's really sad to see how the Dark Ages develops all over again. The church is above all, the oppression is clear in every word the pastor says. The minds of the people are controlled by the Good Book, by something someone wrote in order to brainwash the nation. And it is working. People are so easily influenced, after all.
Enough of that. A few words to appreciate the characters and how realistic they all seem. Take for example Thomas, his inner battle with his desire to return home even as an "abomination", his wish to keep his daughter safe, his devastation when she almost dies, when he found out she was the one taking care of him by making sure not to worry him...
This book is really good. I wonder if I would decide to give it full stars in the end...
April 22, 2016
Set hundreds of years in the future, Thomas is a soldier in a type of Civil war against the Walkin’ and all he yearns for is to go home to his wife and daughter. When he wakes up in a pyrepit, a pit the army digs to pile the dead and burn them, he realizes that he’ll no longer be welcomed home with open arms. He decides to take his chances though and heads towards the town of Barkley. Sarah McDermott and her daughter Mary are in mourning for Thomas, husband and father, but more than Sarah fears that he will still return just not as he once was. Their rigidly religious town are very much anti-Walkin’ and won’t hesitate in cutting down any that cross their borders, even if they were once a resident when they last knew them.
I love me a good zombie novel. That said, there isn’t a whole lot of originality these days that hasn’t already been done before, but that doesn’t necessarily make the book bad per se. Kirkus says Your Brother’s Blood possesses an “unconventional premise” due to it being told from the point of view of the undead and the summary calls it reminiscent of the 19th century western frontier. Unfortunately, I’ve encountered both of those already in zombie tales. Western style + Zombies? The Reapers are the Angels. From the POV of the undead? Warm Bodies, Raising Stony Mayhall, and My Life As a White Trash Zombie… just to name a few. I wouldn’t be so apt to throw out comparisons if words like “unconventional” and “imaginative” weren’t used so effortlessly.
Fortunately, there were various other aspects that set this one apart giving it its own sort of appeal. For starters there’s the future time period, the Civil War against Walkin’, and the matter of these seemingly sensible Walkin’ don’t seem to have a taste for brains. What I enjoyed the most that I’d love to see explored further was the idea that Walkin’ is something of a genetic trait versus something that is passed on via bite or something everyone experiences following death. The author was also fastidious in his world-building and not only created a different time but something of a different language where animals/bugs had names such as crumbers, woollies, shaggies, under-mutton, red-winks, and gambirs. It was fun to try to figure out what their normal names would be based on their descriptions.
There were hints of magic existing in this desolate world and even of a wholly Walkin’ civilization. The bulk of the book may have been spent in a slow trudge through the desert, but there was enough revealed in the first installment of this trilogy to leave you curious and anxious for the next book.
I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I love me a good zombie novel. That said, there isn’t a whole lot of originality these days that hasn’t already been done before, but that doesn’t necessarily make the book bad per se. Kirkus says Your Brother’s Blood possesses an “unconventional premise” due to it being told from the point of view of the undead and the summary calls it reminiscent of the 19th century western frontier. Unfortunately, I’ve encountered both of those already in zombie tales. Western style + Zombies? The Reapers are the Angels. From the POV of the undead? Warm Bodies, Raising Stony Mayhall, and My Life As a White Trash Zombie… just to name a few. I wouldn’t be so apt to throw out comparisons if words like “unconventional” and “imaginative” weren’t used so effortlessly.
Fortunately, there were various other aspects that set this one apart giving it its own sort of appeal. For starters there’s the future time period, the Civil War against Walkin’, and the matter of these seemingly sensible Walkin’ don’t seem to have a taste for brains. What I enjoyed the most that I’d love to see explored further was the idea that Walkin’ is something of a genetic trait versus something that is passed on via bite or something everyone experiences following death. The author was also fastidious in his world-building and not only created a different time but something of a different language where animals/bugs had names such as crumbers, woollies, shaggies, under-mutton, red-winks, and gambirs. It was fun to try to figure out what their normal names would be based on their descriptions.
There were hints of magic existing in this desolate world and even of a wholly Walkin’ civilization. The bulk of the book may have been spent in a slow trudge through the desert, but there was enough revealed in the first installment of this trilogy to leave you curious and anxious for the next book.
I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
April 9, 2016
"Кръвта на твоя брат" е фантастична книга с много оригинален поглед за развитието на човечеството в следствие на разтящото ни технологично развитие.
Самото действие се развива след около 900 години, през които учените са успели да постигнат едно от най-бленуваните на човечеството неща, а именно постигането на живот след смъртта. Живите, които се връщат след като са умрели се наричат Вървящи и макар да приличат на добре познатите ни зомбита, те не ядат мозъци, реално нищо не ядат, не спят и сърцата им не туптят, но въпреки това не са забравили какво означава любовта. Доказателство за това е главния герой Тома, който е вървящ и се опитва да спаси дъщеря си Мария от преследващите ги съграждани, които са убедени, че той като вървящ е извращение/слуга на Дявола и дъщеря му като умре ще последва неговата съдба, затова и двамата трябва да бъдат "пречистени чрез свещения огън".
Самото действие се развива след около 900 години, през които учените са успели да постигнат едно от най-бленуваните на човечеството неща, а именно постигането на живот след смъртта. Живите, които се връщат след като са умрели се наричат Вървящи и макар да приличат на добре познатите ни зомбита, те не ядат мозъци, реално нищо не ядат, не спят и сърцата им не туптят, но въпреки това не са забравили какво означава любовта. Доказателство за това е главния герой Тома, който е вървящ и се опитва да спаси дъщеря си Мария от преследващите ги съграждани, които са убедени, че той като вървящ е извращение/слуга на Дявола и дъщеря му като умре ще последва неговата съдба, затова и двамата трябва да бъдат "пречистени чрез свещения огън".
June 9, 2017
Хареса ми. Определено ми хареса. Връзката с Walkin' dead - няма такава. Написана е достъпно и се чете много бързо. Реално историята на Тома не е много повече разгърната, отколкото на всички други жители на Баркли - градчето където е правилно да изгориш Вървящ. Било то дори най-близкия ти роднина. Но за тези 360 страници се случиха доста малко неща. През голяма част от книгата се показват религиозните гледни точки на героите, поне тези, които са от "спрялото" градче Баркли. Все пак не ми достигна дълбочина в разказа. Бих прочела втора и трета част, но да видим дали ще ��е появят на българския пазар.
Shelved as 'dnf'
June 3, 2016Chapters read: 1
It became immediately obvious this one's not for me. Too much talk about the good book and no connection with the writing or characters.
It became immediately obvious this one's not for me. Too much talk about the good book and no connection with the writing or characters.
April 22, 2018
This book had a lot of action but also a lot of quiet subtleness to it as well. The book is a western but written in a dystopian future. There is no sci to tech, everyone has gone back to simpler times after an unknown event from the past. Sometimes when people did they come back as Walkin. They are seen as unholy abominations and must be destroyed.
But these are not mindless zombies. These are simply people trying to come to terms with what has happened to the . Thomas is a character that gets a lot of sympathy from the reader but the other characters are well written too. There are a lot of quiet and profound moments one would not see in a zombie genre book. I liked this a great deal, I would actually recommend this to people that like westerns sand suspence. This book feels very historical despite it being set in the future.
Highly recommend
But these are not mindless zombies. These are simply people trying to come to terms with what has happened to the . Thomas is a character that gets a lot of sympathy from the reader but the other characters are well written too. There are a lot of quiet and profound moments one would not see in a zombie genre book. I liked this a great deal, I would actually recommend this to people that like westerns sand suspence. This book feels very historical despite it being set in the future.
Highly recommend
July 6, 2017
I really enjoyed this story of a small corner of society called Barkley after the fall of technology, which subtly explores the themes of fear, prejudice, dishonesty, zealotry, tyranny and what it means to be truly free. There are so many keenly observed moments in this book, some of them so poignant and poetic, that they linger on long after the last page has been read and the book has been placed on the bookshelf. The author has a voice that is hard to resist, and the layers within the book resonate deeply, some of them unsettling, but all of them steering the reader to ponder on the overarching question, delivered quietly, a whisper in the furthest corners of the mind: What does it mean to be human in a world of wrong? A thoughtful, beautiful book.
February 12, 2017
Unfortunately, this just didn't do it for me. The family dynamics, the love and courage throughout this book was what kept me reading. But the lack of precision writing and character flaws kept me sighing aloud. I am glad I finished it for two reasons. 1. The ending was the best part of the book 2. i can finally read something else. Conclusion: I will not be reading the next book.
March 16, 2021
Nothing earth shattering, but I enjoyed it. Short, easy read. It read like a Louis L'Amour western opposed to Sci-fi. I'd consider reading the rest of the trilogy, but likely to get from local library opposed to buy.
July 23, 2017
An enjoyable, quick little read. Nothing profoundly original, but quite well written, with an unique take on several classic genre tropes. I'll probably read the rest of the trilogy too.
December 5, 2018
3.5 stars
Want to read
April 11, 2023to-read
March 10, 2015
3,5 stars
If you’re picking up ‘Your Brother’s Blood’ and expect it’s just another zombie novel, then let me tell you: it’s not. Though the Walkin’, as they are called in this book, are basically zombies, this is not a usual zombie story. So don’t wonder if the zombie context has been used too many times or if this book will lack originality, because ‘Your Brother’s Blood’ will show you the theme from a completely different perspective.
Different from many zombie novels, this one is more psychological than action-packed. If you want a break from all the swordfights and space battles, this is the book you should pick up.
‘Your Brother’s Blood’ tells the story of Thomas, a soldier who is killed in battle and wakes up a Walkin’. His family lives in a small town called Barkley. Everyone in Barkley is extremely religious and quite obviously the Walkin’ aren’t tolerated there. Thomas has to decide between returning to hostile Barkley, but see his family again, or go to Black Mountain, a sanctuary for Walkin’. Thomas decides that he can’t leave his family just like that and sets out for Barkley. When the Pastor’s acolyte Luke spots him in Barkley, he is forced to flee with this estranged daughter, Mary.
The father-daughter dynamic between Thomas and Mary was very touching and realistic. Personally I thought this was one of the major plus points of this book. Their interaction always touched a chord. Thomas�� fierce protectiveness and Mary’s complete acceptance of her father, even with parts of him missing, made this relationship really stand out.
As Thomas and Mary are fleeing away from Barkley, the Pastor insists on pursuing and burning them. Four people set out to catch them: Nathaniel, the Gravekeeper; Bellis, the Law-Man; Samuel, Thomas’ younger and very devote brother and Luke, the Pastor’s acolyte. All of these men have their own opinions and personalities to contribute to the group, some of them having a big impact on the end of the story. Nathaniel is a gentle soul who has been struggling with his feelings and the secrets he’s keeping for a long time now. Bellis objects to the task they’re given from the very beginning, but he leaves with the group anyway. Samuel has to represent his family in the search party, but as a reader you can’t help but wonder how he will react when he sees his brother again. Luke, the acolyte, is slightly deranged and a very interesting character to read about.
Luke drove me absolutely insane throughout the entire book and this is testimony to Towsey’s great writing skills. Writing a villain that can drive you nuts, but still make him seem human is a difficult task. Though Luke makes you want to punch him in the face every time he opens his mouth or thinks about what he’d do for the Good Lord, you can’t help but feel sorry for him. The guy is so brainwashed by the Pastor that Luke would do anything if the Pastor told him it would benefit the Good Lord. This makes Luke an easy target and gives the Pastor someone to do his twisted dirty work. So though Luke’s character is a frustrating one to read about, he’s just awfully misguided and I really pitied him in the end.
As an atheist it was sometimes really frustrating to read the lengths people would go to to please their Lord. But yet again this is just great writing. Towsey shows us how people with twisted minds can use religion to rope people in to doing unthinkable things. Their vision of what their religion dictates them to do depends fully on what one man says and what they have been brought up to believe. I thought it was really interesting to see how some people began to question all of this.
The only thing I can remark here is that it felt like a rather short story. Most of the action happened in the last few pages and though the book is far from dull, there is quite a lot of build-up. The book gets its value from the emotional context, not from the action, which is something we’re not really used to in zombie novels.
I’m very glad there is a sequel because this book left me with the feeling that there should have been more. I want to know more about the Walkin’, about Black Mountain and about the future of Barley and Thomas’ family. I’m definitely looking forward to reading ‘Your Servants and Your People’!
If you’re picking up ‘Your Brother’s Blood’ and expect it’s just another zombie novel, then let me tell you: it’s not. Though the Walkin’, as they are called in this book, are basically zombies, this is not a usual zombie story. So don’t wonder if the zombie context has been used too many times or if this book will lack originality, because ‘Your Brother’s Blood’ will show you the theme from a completely different perspective.
Different from many zombie novels, this one is more psychological than action-packed. If you want a break from all the swordfights and space battles, this is the book you should pick up.
‘Your Brother’s Blood’ tells the story of Thomas, a soldier who is killed in battle and wakes up a Walkin’. His family lives in a small town called Barkley. Everyone in Barkley is extremely religious and quite obviously the Walkin’ aren’t tolerated there. Thomas has to decide between returning to hostile Barkley, but see his family again, or go to Black Mountain, a sanctuary for Walkin’. Thomas decides that he can’t leave his family just like that and sets out for Barkley. When the Pastor’s acolyte Luke spots him in Barkley, he is forced to flee with this estranged daughter, Mary.
The father-daughter dynamic between Thomas and Mary was very touching and realistic. Personally I thought this was one of the major plus points of this book. Their interaction always touched a chord. Thomas�� fierce protectiveness and Mary’s complete acceptance of her father, even with parts of him missing, made this relationship really stand out.
As Thomas and Mary are fleeing away from Barkley, the Pastor insists on pursuing and burning them. Four people set out to catch them: Nathaniel, the Gravekeeper; Bellis, the Law-Man; Samuel, Thomas’ younger and very devote brother and Luke, the Pastor’s acolyte. All of these men have their own opinions and personalities to contribute to the group, some of them having a big impact on the end of the story. Nathaniel is a gentle soul who has been struggling with his feelings and the secrets he’s keeping for a long time now. Bellis objects to the task they’re given from the very beginning, but he leaves with the group anyway. Samuel has to represent his family in the search party, but as a reader you can’t help but wonder how he will react when he sees his brother again. Luke, the acolyte, is slightly deranged and a very interesting character to read about.
Luke drove me absolutely insane throughout the entire book and this is testimony to Towsey’s great writing skills. Writing a villain that can drive you nuts, but still make him seem human is a difficult task. Though Luke makes you want to punch him in the face every time he opens his mouth or thinks about what he’d do for the Good Lord, you can’t help but feel sorry for him. The guy is so brainwashed by the Pastor that Luke would do anything if the Pastor told him it would benefit the Good Lord. This makes Luke an easy target and gives the Pastor someone to do his twisted dirty work. So though Luke’s character is a frustrating one to read about, he’s just awfully misguided and I really pitied him in the end.
As an atheist it was sometimes really frustrating to read the lengths people would go to to please their Lord. But yet again this is just great writing. Towsey shows us how people with twisted minds can use religion to rope people in to doing unthinkable things. Their vision of what their religion dictates them to do depends fully on what one man says and what they have been brought up to believe. I thought it was really interesting to see how some people began to question all of this.
The only thing I can remark here is that it felt like a rather short story. Most of the action happened in the last few pages and though the book is far from dull, there is quite a lot of build-up. The book gets its value from the emotional context, not from the action, which is something we’re not really used to in zombie novels.
I’m very glad there is a sequel because this book left me with the feeling that there should have been more. I want to know more about the Walkin’, about Black Mountain and about the future of Barley and Thomas’ family. I’m definitely looking forward to reading ‘Your Servants and Your People’!
May 29, 2017
[This book was sent to me as part of Goodreads' First Reads giveaways]
Summary: After falling in a battle he was forced into, Thomas rises from his burning grave as a walkin' and is faced with the desire to come back to his family in Barkley - a town which does not take kindly to those who come back from the dead.
Personal comment: On the outside, this book has everything to attract all sorts of readers - a captivating title, a beautiful westernesque cover and a delicious premise. Unfortunately, in this case, a strong premise proves to be the downfall of the entire book. During the first few chapters, the reader is treated to a vivid western-like setting with visually appealing settings and characters that further hype the narrative. From the moment our characters arrive the expected "trial", the narrative loses most of its glowing promise and drags on and on into a series of unmemorable scenes that culminate in an ending which most likely will not make you feel any different from what you felt 20 pages earlier. I can't help but think it a shame that such a great start lead to a tale of such bleak impact, far from reaching the potential glimpsed during its first few chapters.
Overall, this book provides a pleasant enough read to occupy a few hours but should you feel yourself become greatly engrossed by the initial premise, beware the increasingly slow pace of the narrative and ultimately disappointing conclusion to this tale.
A moment: The Pastor comes to visit Sarah with a reminder which echoes more threatening than friendly;
A character: Nathaniel, the gravekeeper;
You will like this book if: you are looking for something different to occupy an afternoon and don't mind a less impactful plot;
You will hate this book if: you let yourself be immersed by all the initial promise only to be left with a bitter taste in your mouth from all the wasted potential;
A quote: "(Are you) so eager to set new fires? To cut new throats?"
Summary: After falling in a battle he was forced into, Thomas rises from his burning grave as a walkin' and is faced with the desire to come back to his family in Barkley - a town which does not take kindly to those who come back from the dead.
Personal comment: On the outside, this book has everything to attract all sorts of readers - a captivating title, a beautiful westernesque cover and a delicious premise. Unfortunately, in this case, a strong premise proves to be the downfall of the entire book. During the first few chapters, the reader is treated to a vivid western-like setting with visually appealing settings and characters that further hype the narrative. From the moment our characters arrive the expected "trial", the narrative loses most of its glowing promise and drags on and on into a series of unmemorable scenes that culminate in an ending which most likely will not make you feel any different from what you felt 20 pages earlier. I can't help but think it a shame that such a great start lead to a tale of such bleak impact, far from reaching the potential glimpsed during its first few chapters.
Overall, this book provides a pleasant enough read to occupy a few hours but should you feel yourself become greatly engrossed by the initial premise, beware the increasingly slow pace of the narrative and ultimately disappointing conclusion to this tale.
A moment: The Pastor comes to visit Sarah with a reminder which echoes more threatening than friendly;
A character: Nathaniel, the gravekeeper;
You will like this book if: you are looking for something different to occupy an afternoon and don't mind a less impactful plot;
You will hate this book if: you let yourself be immersed by all the initial promise only to be left with a bitter taste in your mouth from all the wasted potential;
A quote: "(Are you) so eager to set new fires? To cut new throats?"
September 17, 2013
3.5 Stars
Your Brother's Blood might feature zombies (called the Walkin') but it's not a zombie novel in the traditional sense. It's an ambitious debut, mashing up Western elements with a literary background into a readable adventure novel.
Thomas should be dead. Yet he can walk, think, talk... He has become one of the Walkin', the abominations against God his pastor has always warned him about. Meanwhile in the village of Barkley, the wife and daughter he left behind are in constant danger because of his existence.
I think what Mr Towsey is trying to accomplish in his debut is admirable. He truly has created an innovative and new world, which he furnished with believable and loveable characters. I liked the way he handled the Walkin', the way he incorporated a dysfunctional town crippled by a fanatic religion that doesn't even allow any written word except the Good Book. The story is engaging, and I felt for plenty of his characters.
That being said, I do think Mr Towsey might have tried to put too much in his book. The main plot is sometimes drowned out by side plots and the main action loses speed because of it. Moments that are supposed to be branded in our brain lose their urgency because of the at places staccato writing. Your Brother's Blood is clearly well thought-out, but not everything the author has intended with his book will reach the reader because of what I think is simply lack of experience.
Your Brother's Blood is highly original and has a lot of heart, but does suffer from being this author's first book. It does make me very curious for his next writing though, David Towsey is an author I will make sure to watch the upcoming years.
Your Brother's Blood might feature zombies (called the Walkin') but it's not a zombie novel in the traditional sense. It's an ambitious debut, mashing up Western elements with a literary background into a readable adventure novel.
Thomas should be dead. Yet he can walk, think, talk... He has become one of the Walkin', the abominations against God his pastor has always warned him about. Meanwhile in the village of Barkley, the wife and daughter he left behind are in constant danger because of his existence.
I think what Mr Towsey is trying to accomplish in his debut is admirable. He truly has created an innovative and new world, which he furnished with believable and loveable characters. I liked the way he handled the Walkin', the way he incorporated a dysfunctional town crippled by a fanatic religion that doesn't even allow any written word except the Good Book. The story is engaging, and I felt for plenty of his characters.
That being said, I do think Mr Towsey might have tried to put too much in his book. The main plot is sometimes drowned out by side plots and the main action loses speed because of it. Moments that are supposed to be branded in our brain lose their urgency because of the at places staccato writing. Your Brother's Blood is clearly well thought-out, but not everything the author has intended with his book will reach the reader because of what I think is simply lack of experience.
Your Brother's Blood is highly original and has a lot of heart, but does suffer from being this author's first book. It does make me very curious for his next writing though, David Towsey is an author I will make sure to watch the upcoming years.
May 6, 2015
I wanted to like this book so much. A futuristic zombie novel with an old-timey Western feel? I'm in! ...And I'm disappointed. Womp, womp.
I struggled to finish it and even though I did, I'm not sure I can tell you what it's about. Strange, cult-like religious leaders basically rule the town with an iron fist. Any Walkin' are quickly set aflame on the pyre, along with any offspring. These zombies are different: no blood-thirsty desires, no mindless wandering around moaning. They are dead, flesh pretty much rotting, while maintaining their human ability for thought, love, speech, etc.
Thomas, who I'll call the Main Walkin', returns to town from military service (half charred after a failed attempt in the aforementioned pyre) and ends up running away with his daughter, trying to save her the same fate.
Too many characters with too many insignificant side plots made it hard for me to enjoy the good story that I feel is really there.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review
I struggled to finish it and even though I did, I'm not sure I can tell you what it's about. Strange, cult-like religious leaders basically rule the town with an iron fist. Any Walkin' are quickly set aflame on the pyre, along with any offspring. These zombies are different: no blood-thirsty desires, no mindless wandering around moaning. They are dead, flesh pretty much rotting, while maintaining their human ability for thought, love, speech, etc.
Thomas, who I'll call the Main Walkin', returns to town from military service (half charred after a failed attempt in the aforementioned pyre) and ends up running away with his daughter, trying to save her the same fate.
Too many characters with too many insignificant side plots made it hard for me to enjoy the good story that I feel is really there.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review
September 3, 2013
Your Brother’s Blood is something special – patient, unsettling and literary.
The main strand of the novel follows Thomas McDermott, recently deceased and now an undead Walkin’. While that might sound familiar enough territory, Thomas is far from a typical zombie. In fact, the z-word might be useful for marketing copy, but seems redundant once you’re immersed in the story. Thomas is the same man he always was, with fears, ambitions and love for his family.
The town of Barkley is well drawn, providing a religious context for fears of the Walkin’. Even supporting characters feel three-dimensional. Towsey teases only vague details about the formation of the new society, and I’m looking forward to learning more in the two planned sequels.
The ambiguity over the future of mankind following an unspecified near-apocalypse reminded me of the moral arguments in I Am Legend. Your Brother’s Blood is similarly bleak, but humanity and hope shine through.
Thoroughly recommended!
The main strand of the novel follows Thomas McDermott, recently deceased and now an undead Walkin’. While that might sound familiar enough territory, Thomas is far from a typical zombie. In fact, the z-word might be useful for marketing copy, but seems redundant once you’re immersed in the story. Thomas is the same man he always was, with fears, ambitions and love for his family.
The town of Barkley is well drawn, providing a religious context for fears of the Walkin’. Even supporting characters feel three-dimensional. Towsey teases only vague details about the formation of the new society, and I’m looking forward to learning more in the two planned sequels.
The ambiguity over the future of mankind following an unspecified near-apocalypse reminded me of the moral arguments in I Am Legend. Your Brother’s Blood is similarly bleak, but humanity and hope shine through.
Thoroughly recommended!
September 19, 2013
This is David Towsey's 1st novel.....& it's pretty good.
America in the 29th century. An unexplained catastrophe has sent humanity back to a pre-industrial age: also, there is the threat of the Walkin'. What happens in a small town like Barkly when one of it's own becomes a walkin'...?
Several good points about this book: firstly, the characterisation of all the characters is excellent: people come across as rounded, flawed, and believable (Even the Pastor & his acolyte Like, both of whom firmly belong in the "religious nutters" file). Secondly, there is a very good use of space: The Redlands (the desert surrounding Barkly) and the rest of the landscape is used well, & makes the chase element of the plot work.Thirdly, the author does get into his character's heads, which really gives you a chance to understand them.
Zombie Western? Don't mind if I do....
Definitely worth a look
America in the 29th century. An unexplained catastrophe has sent humanity back to a pre-industrial age: also, there is the threat of the Walkin'. What happens in a small town like Barkly when one of it's own becomes a walkin'...?
Several good points about this book: firstly, the characterisation of all the characters is excellent: people come across as rounded, flawed, and believable (Even the Pastor & his acolyte Like, both of whom firmly belong in the "religious nutters" file). Secondly, there is a very good use of space: The Redlands (the desert surrounding Barkly) and the rest of the landscape is used well, & makes the chase element of the plot work.Thirdly, the author does get into his character's heads, which really gives you a chance to understand them.
Zombie Western? Don't mind if I do....
Definitely worth a look
May 20, 2015
I really liked this one. The story takes place in the distant future, in a world which seems a lot like the Wild West. Now and then when describing buildings “from years past”, you get references to our present day. I also liked the idea of the Walkin’. They are the living dead with a twist: they are not brainless zombies but they are fully self-aware human beings who happen to be dead. I found this an interesting and mysterious concept. This concept, together with the cowboy-setting make a fun mix. Don’t let the “zombies” throw you off and give it a try. I know I’ll read the next book in this series!
December 18, 2015
I was loving this book!!!!! ... ... Until I got to the end.... The storyline, I thought, was an original take on a popular topic, and was really into it until I got to the end. It felt like they cut the book was halfway over when it abruptly ends. Did the author just get tired of writing and decided it needed a rather hokey, wishy washy ending??? So many questions left unanswered, the journey was really just getting started for our main character Thomas McDermott. WHERE'S THE REST OF THE BOOK?????
February 15, 2016
This book takes place in a world enduring a new dark age hundreds of years into the future. There isn't any technology and the only book allowed is the Bible. People have started rising from the dead as walkin' and the living have labeled them the spawn of Satan. The people of Barkley kill the living children of the walkin', so a walkin' named Thomas has to run away with his daughter to try and protect her. I liked the surprise ending, so this was worth reading. 4/5.
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