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The Farm A Farm Novel Emily McKay Books

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The Farm A Farm Novel Emily McKay Books

A great addition to the young adult post apocalyptic genre, The Farm was a chilling and fast paced read.

Right now there are a lot of books with the crazed masses of mindless monsters, say that three times fast why don’t you? So why are they being used again and again as major villain in so many post apocalyptic books? Simple fact is, it works. It’s something that we fear and has now pretty much become one of the standard go-tos in apocalyptic fiction. I for one love zombie type monsters and it is always interesting to see a writer put a new spin on them. Here Emily McKay gives you a sort of zombie/vampire hybrid. I don’t believe they are dead, so you wouldn’t call them zombies, and I don’t really think of them as vampires either because they aren’t dead. Instead they are just a combination of the two. It is however eluded to that they came about because of some genetic tampering with vampire DNA. I thought calling them Ticks was a good choice in monster names. You immediately connect the word ticks with blood and of course everyone thinks those suckers are disgusting, so voila – instant ick factor before they even make an appearance.

The Farm is told from an alternating POV of twins Lily, Mel and another key character Carter; with the start of each chapter designating whose POV it is. The majority of the book is told from Lily’s perspective, then the other larger portion from Carter’s. I am sad to say we get very few chapters from Mel’s perspective. That was my main gripe was that I wanted more of Mel. I liked the sparks between Lily and Carter and they felt believable. So kudos there because I am very picky with my romance elements in YA fiction.

Now, the premise is that after the outbreak of Ticks all teenagers have been rounded up and placed on “farms” for their own protection but also collection of their blood. Life on the farms is hard for these teens who have to donate blood much more frequently than is healthy, with only pregnant girls and enforcers known as “Collabs” being exempt from donation. It is essentially prison life with death threats looming in the form of your 18th birthday. Not to mention you could possible be staked outside the fence and left for the Ticks for even the smallest transgression.

Lily has spent her whole life protecting her autistic sister, so now after 6 months on the farm, she is determined to get the two of them out by any means necessary. This is a story of love, sacrifice, acceptance and a whole helluva lot of naivete. I’m actually being nice by just calling her naive – because Lily had some supreme moments of stupidity that I just wanted to face punch her for. I found myself wondering all too frequently just how far that girl could get her head up her arse. But hey we needed room for character growth right? And she does grow a lot.

I seriously enjoyed The Farm. The supporting cast was great and the action definitely kept such a pace that I didn’t want to put it down for long. I really like where I think this series is headed and am already diving into the next book. Lovers of YA post apocalyptic fiction can’t go wrong here.


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The Farm A Farm Novel Emily McKay Books Reviews

The other day, while I was surrounded by hordes of rabid book fans, I was asked a question. A question that was rather elementary when it came right down to it, but still incredibly intriguing. One that (if I'm being honest) I'm surprised is being asked now; 3 years into my reviewing journey. It was

"What are you tired of?"

My first thought (naturally) was laundry. I have no idea how my children manage to wear everything they own in a single week, but alas...they do, therefore I'm up to my elbows in dirty boy socks on a daily basis.

Of course this is not what she meant. So I dug down deep. (Ok...not that deep. I'm way too superficial for that.) And pondered the question.

My answer Vampires.

Don't get me wrong. There was a day (not so very long ago) where vampires in literature were my pathetic stay-at-home mommy version of crack. But the more I read, the more I wanted to punch them (and their always perfect abs and flowing glossy hair) in the face. (Which of course would then get me killed. So...I'm going to go ahead and retract that statement.)

It's not that I'm entirely "tired" of vampires. They have their perks. What I'm tired of are "nice" vampires! Give me blood and guts. Give me vampires that are drunk on bloodlust and have absolutely no moral judgment.

"A squirrel? You want me to eat a squirrel? Hell no! I want that blonde over there trying desperately to order the world's most complicated cup of coffee! She looks like a tasty caffeinated treat!"

In short, I want my fanged foes to be exactly that...FOES.

So to you, Ms. Emily McKay, I thank you for being slightly demented and wildly unforgiving in regards to your vampires (that read a lot like zombies...which, I'll never get tired of.)

"Life was different in the Before before vampires began devouring humans in a swarm across America; before the surviving young people were rounded up and quarantined. These days, we know what those quarantines are--holding pens where human blood is turned into more food for the undead monsters, known as Ticks. Surrounded by electrical fences, most kids try to survive the Farms by turning on each other...

And when trust is a thing of the past, escape is nearly impossible.

Lily and her twin sister Mel have a plan. Though Mel can barely communicate, her autism helps her notice things no one else notices--like the portion of electrical fence that gets turned off every night. Getting across won't be easy, but as Lily gathers what they need to escape, a familiar face appears out of nowhere, offering to help...

Carter was a schoolmate of Lily's in the Before. Managing to evade capture until now, he has valuable knowledge of the outside world. But like everyone on the Farm, Carter has his own agenda, and he knows that behind the Ticks is an even more dangerous threat to the human race..."

The most intriguing aspect of "The Farm" is that the reader has absolutely zero idea who to trust. Not in a traditional "mystery novel" way were several people could be the killer, but something much more dramatic. Without giving too much away (because I hate spoilers) There is a specific "trait" to one of McKay's characters that makes him/her difficult to read. (How's that for vague.) This trait is not sad, or inappropriate or even (in layman's terms) bad. Instead it is incredibly influential. And because of its influence it makes every aspect of the book (intentions, emotions...etc.) questionable. You'll find yourself agreeing with sentiments, only to find out they weren't at all what you believed them to be. You will fall in love with characters only to second guess them pages later. NOT KNOWING is the driving force of this book. It weaves its way into every plot turn, every self actualization and heart-felt monologue found inside.

That said, without expertly written characters...there would be no story.

Lily and her twin sister are about to turn 18. For most people this would be exciting. But for a prisoner of the Farm, turning 18 is paramount to getting the death penalty You are considered no longer useful and put out to pasture. Literally. Outside the walls of the farm live Ticks. Genetically modified vampires that drink blood and ravage cities (much like a zombie plague ) Lily and Mel's only hope of survival is to make a run for it. The only problem is that Mel is autistic. In the "Before" her autism was manageable In the "After" it becomes a bit of a burden. This "burden" is where McKay's writing ability really shines.

Showcasing any illness can be difficult. The balance must be exact. Too far to the left you appear insensitive. To far to the right you are drowning your reader in a pity pool. Both can be detrimental to a body of work. But in the case of Mel? She was not her sickness, or a barrier between her sister and the freedom they both so desperately sought. Mel was quite, but attentive. Nervous, but brave. She saw what was beneath EVERY surface, not just the ones directly in her line of sight. She was, without pretense...beautiful.

"So, Misty...what about these vampires you claim to loath so much?"

Well, like I said before (with the exception of one) they were less like vampires, more like zombies. Which made this book play out more like an Apocalypsie than a stroll down Vamp Lane. Much to my "end of the world" loving pleasure.

Overall?

There was a heavy dose of action. Plenty of heart, and enough shock and awe to keep any reader on the edge of their seats. And... it being the 18th of December, I can safely say this will make my "top 10 of 2012." I cannot wait to dive into the next chapter of this incredibly engaging story, and see what renowned "ROMANCE" (yes, I said romance) writer McKay has up her "evil side" sleeve in the future.

Happy reading my fellow -ites and remember never give up on the predictable, sometimes it will surprise you.
In the very beginning pages, The Farm has the ability to grip ahold and suck the reader into the storyline so deeply that it's practically irresistible to set this book down. Fast paced and full of constant action, it holds the readers attention at all times.

We meet Lily who has taken it upon herself to take charge and protect her sister, Mel who has autism. Since coming to the Farm and having so many crucial and life altering changes, Mel has become even more enclosed and more difficult to communicate with. Lily doesn't let this stop her. Having lost both parents, she clearly shows how brave she is and will do anything to protect her sister.

The Farm is supposed to keep people safe. Not necessarily from vampires but from the gruesome things mysteriously created, called Ticks. Having a twisted human like form and a nearly everlasting and uncontrollable hunger, they attack brutally. Being on the Farm does protect from these beasts but getting constant threats to be thrown out to them, and having strict rules and regulations isn't and easy life.

Lily plans for an escape but her plans become altered when a past friend shows up. Carter claims that he is there to help. Dressed as a Collab, it's hard for Lily to put her guard down and put her trust into him. Mel is her first and only priority. Carter has his own objectives and claims he's been searching for Lily for a long time. His reasoning is far fetched and hard to believe. Lily can't be that special, but in some odd way, what he says makes sense.

When the escape goes down, and reality comes to surface, it's even harder to believe. And Mel shows her true colors like never before. I enjoyed every page of this book, can't wait to see what else is in store, and highly recommend!
A great addition to the young adult post apocalyptic genre, The Farm was a chilling and fast paced read.

Right now there are a lot of books with the crazed masses of mindless monsters, say that three times fast why don’t you? So why are they being used again and again as major villain in so many post apocalyptic books? Simple fact is, it works. It’s something that we fear and has now pretty much become one of the standard go-tos in apocalyptic fiction. I for one love zombie type monsters and it is always interesting to see a writer put a new spin on them. Here Emily McKay gives you a sort of zombie/vampire hybrid. I don’t believe they are dead, so you wouldn’t call them zombies, and I don’t really think of them as vampires either because they aren’t dead. Instead they are just a combination of the two. It is however eluded to that they came about because of some genetic tampering with vampire DNA. I thought calling them Ticks was a good choice in monster names. You immediately connect the word ticks with blood and of course everyone thinks those suckers are disgusting, so voila – instant ick factor before they even make an appearance.

The Farm is told from an alternating POV of twins Lily, Mel and another key character Carter; with the start of each chapter designating whose POV it is. The majority of the book is told from Lily’s perspective, then the other larger portion from Carter’s. I am sad to say we get very few chapters from Mel’s perspective. That was my main gripe was that I wanted more of Mel. I liked the sparks between Lily and Carter and they felt believable. So kudos there because I am very picky with my romance elements in YA fiction.

Now, the premise is that after the outbreak of Ticks all teenagers have been rounded up and placed on “farms” for their own protection but also collection of their blood. Life on the farms is hard for these teens who have to donate blood much more frequently than is healthy, with only pregnant girls and enforcers known as “Collabs” being exempt from donation. It is essentially prison life with death threats looming in the form of your 18th birthday. Not to mention you could possible be staked outside the fence and left for the Ticks for even the smallest transgression.

Lily has spent her whole life protecting her autistic sister, so now after 6 months on the farm, she is determined to get the two of them out by any means necessary. This is a story of love, sacrifice, acceptance and a whole helluva lot of naivete. I’m actually being nice by just calling her naive – because Lily had some supreme moments of stupidity that I just wanted to face punch her for. I found myself wondering all too frequently just how far that girl could get her head up her arse. But hey we needed room for character growth right? And she does grow a lot.

I seriously enjoyed The Farm. The supporting cast was great and the action definitely kept such a pace that I didn’t want to put it down for long. I really like where I think this series is headed and am already diving into the next book. Lovers of YA post apocalyptic fiction can’t go wrong here.