Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway: Wisteria by Bisi Leyton

Title: Wisteria
Author: Bisi Leyton

Publication: August 14, 2012

Source: Author/Publisher

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal

Audience: 12 and up
Rating: 3.5 of 5

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Synopsis:

Sixteen year old Wisteria Kuti has two options—track the infected around the Isle of Smythe or leave the only known safe haven and face a world infested with flesh eating biters. But even with well-armed trackers, things go wrong and Wisteria ends up alone facing certain death, until she is rescued by the mysterious Bach. Uninfected, Bach is able to survive among the hordes of living dead.

Eighteen year old Bach, from a race known as The Family, has no interest in human affairs. He was sent here to complete his Great Walk and return home as a man—as a Sen Son. The Family regard humans as Dirt People, but Bach is drawn to this Terran girl, whom he has never seen before, but somehow knows.

Hunted by flesh eaters, cannibals, and the mysterious blood thirsty group called Red Phoenix, Wisteria and Bach make their way back to the Isle of Smythe, a community built on secrets and lies.

My Thoughts: Wisteria and her family are struggling to survive after the world has been devastated by the nero virus. Those infected by the virus are mindless and feed on those who are not infected with the virus. In an effort to face her fears Wisteria becomes a tracker and when faced with the decision she will “cure” any infected that crosses her path. Wisteria and Bach’s paths cross and an instant connection is developed between them.

I haven’t read many zombie themed books and was pleasantly surprised with Bisi Leyton’s take on the subject. The twists and turns keep me turning the pages. I never saw many of the revelations coming. The characters are well developed and translate well on the page. I have never put much thought into how I would react in an apocalyptic situation but I hope I would be a lot like Wisteria. She is a very strong and selfless.  I am looking forward the next installment in this series. 

Excerpt:

Thirteen months after the first official case of Nero Disease

“Wisteria, run.” Rebecca O’Leary screamed over the radio.

Wisteria Kuti whipped around and came face-to-face with the blood-red eyes of a hungry flesh-eater. The biter was a man, infected by Nero Disease, who had long lost his mind. He looked more animal than human and he wanted one thing, the same thing all creatures like him did—to feed on the flesh of the uninfected. The biter growled and staggered toward Wisteria.

She fled down the deserted road to the nearest house, and found the front door locked. She kicked at it, but the oak panel refused to open. Taking out her handgun, she smashed through the large, ornate window.

 The distinct shuffle of feet against the hard-packed dirt of the driveway alerted Wisteria to the growing number of biters behind her. Spinning around, she fired blind into the small crowd and hit one in the head. She reached inside the house and turned the lock, opening the door.

Crash—a biter smashed through another window.

Wisteria’s heart jumped and she darted up the stairs.

“Get out of the house, Wisteria!” Rebecca radioed.

I’m trying, she thought.

A biter grabbed her ankle, tripping Wisteria on the steps. She inhaled sharply, pain lancing up from the spot where her shin connected with the wooden tread of the stair. “Ah.” No time to cry, Wisteria. She fired at the flesh-eater holding her. One bullet left.

Three more biters appeared below and started up the stairs. Leaping to her feet, Wisteria sprinted to the top floor and dashed through the first open doorway into what appeared to be the master bedroom. Turning the lock, she headed straight for the window.

The infected clawed their way through, tearing the wood panel apart and snarling as they shuffled their way toward her.

Trying to open the window, Wisteria found it stuck and the panes too small to fit through. She pulled harder—nothing. Then she heard the biters’ cries. They were now in the room with her.

“Just hold on,” Rebecca shouted over the handheld radio. Wisteria strained to hear her over the cacophony of noise from the flesh-eaters.

Wisteria fired. The bullet went through one creature and hit another—both fell, their glazed eyes staring back at her as they dropped to the hardwood and stayed there.

She fired again. Click. No bullets. “Wonderful.” She stoned the biter with her useless weapon tono effect. It kept coming, inching her toward the useless window at her back.

The red handle of a samurai sword in the corner of the room caught her eye and Wisteria dove for it. Another infected entered the room. She took the sword from its sheath and pointed it at the approaching hoarde. The blade trembled in her grip, nearly slipping from her hands as a gunshot rang out from behind the crowd of flesh eaters. Two more biters fell, their gray matter splattered on the floor in front of her.

Lara Kuti filled the doorway, slowly lowering the two handguns she held trained on Wisteria, and the infected standing between them. “Wisteria, what the hell are you doing here?” the older woman seethed.

“I was cleared to work,” she explained to her mother.

“You’re prepared to die out here?” Her mother glared, stepping over a corpse and closer. “You think we’re playing here? And how the hell did you leave Smythe?”

“Major Coles cleared me,” Wisteria muttered.

“Coles knew?” Her mother’s eyes narrowed at the mention of Coles.

Something moved in the corridor, prompting her mother to whip out her handguns and aim them at the door.

A few seconds later, red-headed Rebecca O’Leary entered. “You’re alright.” She panted, face flushed scarlet with exertion from the half mile run to the house from her look-out spot. “I told you that you would.”

“You sent her out here alone?” Lara didn’t lower her weapons.

“Mum, it’s Rebecca,” Wisteria huffed. “I don’t think she’s infected.”

“You almost got her killed.” Wisteria’s mother ignored her defense of the other woman.

“Lara, the girl’s fine.” Rebecca scoffed as she  as she stood waiting for Wisteria’s mother to lower her weapons. “We almost get killed every day.” 

Praise for Wisteria:

“I love the buildup of this story, getting to know the characters and watching their connection grow. I had no idea which way the story was headed and I was kept in suspense right up to the very end! It has plenty of action and a fascinating plot and I can’t wait to see what Bisi Leyton has for us next!!” 

~ Naomi Hop 

“There are a lot of great things in this book, so much more than zombies and a struggle for survival. At it’s base core it is about star-crossed lovers, literally and the supporting characters roles… Ms. Leyton brings to Wisteria a mixture of science fiction, fantasy, dystopic world with a twist to the paranormal romance angle!”

~ Cabin Goddess

“The book was full of nonstop action from the beginning until the end, and I did not put it down until I had finished it. I loved the book.” 

~Author Monique Morgan

Book Trailer:




Audiobook Excerpt: 

Author Bio:
Bisi Leyton was born in East London in 1978. She grew up in London, Nigeria and the States, listening to the stories life and love from aunts, cousins and big sisters.

She lives in London, but has worked around Europe including France, Germany, Ireland, Belgium and the Czech Republic. She has a fondness for reading graphic novels.

Links

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