BOOK REVIEW: THE SILENCE / AUTHOR: TIM LEBBON / PUBLISHER: TITAN BOOKS / RELEASE DATE: APRIL 17TH
Tim Lebbon has managed to build a name for himself in the apocalyptic horror genre. The Silence is the latest novel by Lebbon to focus on an apocalyptic world. The novel follows a family as they set out on a journey to find safety from creatures that are fast approaching the French coast and could possibly cross the channel into England. These creatures are blind, but track their prey through noise. The storyline of the novel revolves around a young girl called Ally, who is deaf. This sets up the novel in which Ally understands silence more than anyone, which just could be the family’s chance of survival.
The apocalyptic horror genre is becoming increasingly dominated by clique storylines which are taking over the genre. This is causing many storylines to appear similar in nature. However, Tim Lebbon is increasingly finding new ways to show readers that the genre still holds the potential for some originality in the storytelling. This novel allows the creatures to play a role in the background as their journey is tracked across Europe, allowing for suspense to be built over time and lets the reader see the development of the characters as the threat increasingly comes closer. The reader is also not bombarded with a constant narration of the devastation being caused. Instead, Lebbon cleverly places news reports and accounts from social media to show the reader the extent of the destruction being caused. This allows for the characters to be focused on, rather than the narration constantly deviating and the characters being pushed into the background.
Tim Lebbon is an outstanding author who is bringing originality to the genre. The story is well told, with a mix of suspense, compelling characters and a hint of sadistic horror. At first, the novel can seem slow, but it is a requirement in this genre as its important to understand the characters before any physical threat is clearly placed in front of them. These types of novels unfortunately aren’t for everyone, with a slow pace and a lack of a clear threat until further into the novel. However, if you’re a fan of novels that focus on the end of the world, look no further than Tim Lebbon. A truly great novel with a fresh and original story.
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