A propulsive and chillingly prescient novel of suspense and terror from the Bram Stoker award–winning author of The Cabin at the End of the World and A Head Full of Ghosts.
“Absolutely riveting.” — Stephen King
In a matter of weeks, Massachusetts has been overrun by an insidious rabies-like virus that is spread by saliva. But unlike rabies, the disease has a terrifyingly short incubation period … unlike rabies, the disease has a terrifyingly short incubation period of an hour or less. Those infected quickly lose their minds and are driven to bite and infect as many others as they can before they inevitably succumb. Hospitals are inundated with the sick and dying, and hysteria has taken hold. To try to limit its spread, the commonwealth is under quarantine and curfew. But society is breaking down and the government’s emergency protocols are faltering.
Dr. Ramola “Rams” Sherman, a soft-spoken pediatrician in her mid-thirties, receives a frantic phone call from Natalie, a friend who is eight months pregnant. Natalie’s husband has been killed—viciously attacked by an infected neighbor—and in a failed attempt to save him, Natalie, too, was bitten. Natalie’s only chance of survival is to get to a hospital as quickly as possible to receive a rabies vaccine. The clock is ticking for her and for her unborn child.
Natalie’s fight for life becomes a desperate odyssey as she and Rams make their way through a hostile landscape filled with dangers beyond their worst nightmares—terrifying, strange, and sometimes deadly challenges that push them to the brink.
Paul Tremblay once again demonstrates his mastery in this chilling and all-too-plausible novel that will leave readers racing through the pages . . . and shake them to their core.
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So, I have to wonder about all these authors that have come out with novels about pandemics right in the middle of a pandemic…I’m not a conspiracy theorist or anything but I am wondering if there’s a conspiracy at work here…DUN DUN DUNNNNN!!! Any-who…
What makes Paul Tremblay’s books so freakin horror-licious and freaky-tastic is how realistic they are! I mean A Head Full of Ghosts is one of my all time favs and I still half wonder if that was a true story (when I’m not wondering if her head was full of ghosts or if her house was…). It was just that real! Now, this one involves a super amped up rabies virus that turns bitten people into foaming, mad, zombie-like, monsters in a matter of hours (or less, depending on how close the wound was to the heart), whose only goal is to bite everything they can reach.
The story revolves around besties, Rams and Nats, and takes place over a very short period of time. We follow them as they try to get the seriously pregnant Nats help after one of the local, not-zombies rudely invites himself into her home. I can’t say much more about the plot without major spoilers so, I’ll just say: s*it gets real!
I loved this book!! It’s got all the good Tremblay-isms. Eerie setting, great characters to root for, crazy people, lots of action and something huge and horrible happening. It’s creepy and even though the plot is reminiscent of a zombie apocalypse, it’s so much more realistic than most in that category. This plot you could actually imagine happening. And I will say, one good thing about reading novels that involve a pandemic/plague during a real one is that the fictional ones typically make me say: ‘well, at least I know it could be worse. At least (most) people aren’t running around the streets bashing & biting each other (yet)!’ You always have to find that silver lining. I’ll admit, the ending was predictable, but in my opinion, that didn’t detract from the story at all. As with all Paul Tremblay’s books, I highly recommend this one and I’m so glad I won it in a giveaway, because I don’t think I could’ve waited another month to read it!
Thanks to the Paul Tremblay, William Morrow & Harper Collins for doing the giveaway for this novel.
“This is not a fairytale. Certainly it is not one that has been sanitized, homogenized, or Disneyfied, bloodless in every possible sense of the word, beasts and human monsters defanged and claws clipped, the children safe and the children saved, the hard truths harvested from hard lives if not lost then obscured, and purposefully so.”
The opening paragraph immediately pulled me in, so much that I read it, then read it again. The perfect opening to foreshadow and call out to readers, telling them exactly what to expect from this timely apocalyptic read.
An outbreak in Massachusetts of rabies has people on lockdown. Frazzled nerves are shot or ready to expire, people are terrified of their own pets, most are hurrying to the stores to panic shop and stock up on supplies. Tensions are already high. Cue one of the main characters: Natalie. She’s pregnant and due in several days. A series of unfortunate events sends her fleeing, bitten, terrified of infection, to her once-best friend Rams, a pediatrician.
The entirety of the book takes place at a breakneck, slow-motion pace (yes, its both) that spans perhaps four hours total. During this time, Rams is trying her hardest, despite the seemingly insurmountable obstacles in the way, to get Natalie to the hospital, knowing all too well the risks and likelihood of her friend’s prognosis, while Natalie records messages on her phone to her unborn child.
The tension, the reality and dire quality of their situation is not only palpable, but claustrophobic, and Tremblay once again delivers a masterful work of horror fiction, during a time when it seems to hit home the hardest.
Survivor Song is a breathlessly compelling read, powerfully frightening and very moving u2060— a nightmare that rings all too terribly true.
If anyone can write an apocalyptic epidemiological novel these days without seeming opportunistic or tactless it is Paul Tremblay. The horror and suspense writer will publish Survivor Song in July 2020, right on the heels of his critically acclaimed collection of short stories Growing Things. Tremblay excels at creating a creeping sense of unease and mounting panic, culminating in cinematic scenes of violence and terror. His style is perfect, therefore, for portraying a fictional epidemic that not only decimates people’s bodies, but perverts their minds as well. He begins this work with the warning: “This is not a fairy tale,” and with this caveat the reader knows that all will not end prettily in the pages to follow. The book opens as a very-pregnant Natalie awaits the return of her husband who is breaking curfew to get them supplies. U.S. citizens have been warned that they should quarantine themselves to curtail a communicable illness that is a new, mutant form of rabies. Those infected are quickly reduced to an animal-like state, insane with a desire to bite and thereby spread the disease. There is no cure and increasing panic has erupted due to an incompetent government response. Paul makes it back home in time, but the couple is immediately besieged by an infected man who fatally attacks Paul and exposes Natalie to the illness. This is only the beginning of the story, and the remainder of the book is dedicated to Natalie’s desperate quest for treatment with the help of her best friend (and pediatrician), Ramola. Time is of the essence, and the two women are faced with challenges of callous bureaucracy, rampant disorganization, vigilantism and bigotry as they race through the Boston Area seeking help. They also encounter helpers who aid in their quest—whose heroism counters the prevailing sense of pessimism and misanthropy. Survivor Song is a slow-burning thriller containing a thinly veiled political statement and pointed jab at the handling of the current COVID pandemic. Tremblay shows the various behaviors and attitudes people may manifest when faced with life-threatening situations. He certainly does not shy away from depicting the uglier side of human nature in its most feral state. Tremblay’s novel is not completely despairing, however, as he also illuminates the choice of self-sacrifice over self-preservation. This is a book that is timely and germane to the current state of our world, inviting an unflinching examination of ourselves and our own potential responses to the challenges we face.
Thanks to the author, William Morrow and Edelweiss for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
From the start to the finish, this story set in a time of pandemic (not related to our current situation) moves at a fast pace right up until the end. You live the tension with the characters and you feel what they feel, especially Rams and Nats. Many similarities with what is really happening for a book written well before the current virus. Recommended !
4.5/5 stars!
SURVIVOR SONG consists of the fastest 320 pages I’ve ever read!
Nats, (Natalie), is waiting at home for her husband to return from the store. This is no ordinary trip, however. In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, there is a virus loose…a fast acting rabies virus that turns its victims, (animal and human alike) into rabid, (see what I did there?), strong, uber-violent attackers. Those infected will attack cars, humans, pretty much anything at all, and Natalie’s husband is late. With Natalie being very pregnant, this is quite a scary turn of events. Will Nats’ husband ever return? If so, will he be infected or not? What happens to Natalie’s unborn baby? You’ll have to read this to find out.
I started this book in earnest early yesterday afternoon, (with only part of a previous lunch hour dedicated to it previously), and I had a hard time putting it down. The main characters, the previously mentioned Natalie and her friend Ramola, were so human, so REAL, that I never doubted the actions of either one of them.
Unfortunately, I never doubted the bad guys in this story either. I have to admit though, that some I thought were bad guys, weren’t spoiled through and through and I ended up shedding some tears for a couple of them, to be honest. Most of the others, though? I had no problem believing in them either, because all I have to do is turn on the television any time, night or day, to see them in real life.
As in any zombie story, (I can hear Ramola now, in her British accent “They’re NOT zombies!”), the real story is with the survivors. The things they have to do, or are forced to do, to save lives or to take them. This tale is brutal in that regard-the loss of humanity, or perhaps the salvation of humanity…we never know which is which at the time, do we?
I got a bit of a kick that the story takes place in my home state and that I was familiar with some of the places mentioned. For me, the locations made this tale even more real.
The only issues I had were that I wished it was a bit longer and, though I enjoyed the denouement and the end, I would have preferred a bit more explanation. For the latter reason I deducted half a star. I don’t need everything wrapped up with a bow, but some elaboration would have pleased me more.
SURVIVOR SONG is destined to be up there on top tens lists this year and it deserves to be.
My highest recommendation!
Available July 7, 2020 but you can pre-order here: https://amzn.to/3eBzB6l
*I received the e-ARC of this book from William Morrow, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*
My second favorite Tremblay book, so far.
Ramola and Natalie were fantastic. It’s really amazing how close the super rabies presented within, both in how it is perceived and how it is handled, follow what we’ve gone through with Covid-19. That’s easily the scariest part of the book for me. I can only imagine how the author feels.
The book was super fast and kept me turning its pages. The suspense was good, the action just fine, and the heart kept it in track throughout. Always a plus in my book.
I give Survivor’s Song 4.5 stars, rounded up because i couldn’t put the book down for two days.
Survivor Song is a timely story given the current pandemic. The novel is a quick read and held my attention from the beginning to the very end. Mr. Tremblay knows how to build and heighten suspense to an emotional conclusion. Survivor Song felt highly probable with the current pandemic environment, a virus that mimics rabies, rendering people with zombie-like symptoms. The story’s main character Natalie, pregnant and infected with the virus, races to save her unborn child with the help of her devoted friend, Roms. Along the way, on a long stretch of road, they encounter strangers who risk their lives to help Natalie to her destination. But it’s a never-ending race fraught with many obstacles and heartbreak.
I thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Tremblay’s Survivor Song.
For the past few years, Paul Tremblay has been setting the standard for modern horror. His genius is that he never forgets the core of a great horror novel resides first in its characters. In Survivor Song, he revitalizes the zombie novel by keeping the focus narrow and intimate: two women, in the space of a few hours, just trying to get across town. The result is heartfelt and terrifying, in a narrative that moves like a bullet train.
In Survivor Song, Paul Tremblay offers an unsettling journey across New England as two women, one a doctor, the other her pregnant best friend, try to outrun a rabies-like virus. It’s both an achingly lovely exploration of female friendship and a terrifying race against time. I was fighting tears and gasping out loud and couldn’t put it down.
I read this during my voluntary self-isolation while in the midst of the horrible pandemic of 2020! For me this came out at the perfect time as I was able to grasp the severity of the rabies-like virus that is spread by saliva with a terrifying short incubation period of an hour or less. Since we are living this nightmare in real life(SSDV)* I found the friendship between Rams and Natalie the most poignant, real facet of the book. Natalie’s fight for life becomes a desperate journey that takes her and her best friend into a hostile world filled with dangers and deadly challenges that push them to the brink. This is a good one folks!
*same shit, different virus
It’s bad enough having to live during a deadly virus outbreak, but it’s even worse when you are pregnant and the birth of your child is imminent. This is where we find ourselves as we navigate the horrors of a society in collapse in Paul Tremblay’s latest page-turner. It goes without saying, but being in the midst of a real-life pandemic makes this book all the more harrowing and relatable. So enjoy!
What would YOU do for your very best friend?
I have been anxiously awaiting this book ever since I first saw it advertised. I love post-apocalyptic books and similar disaster books and this one definitely fell into that niche.
Natalie and Ramola have been best friends for years, always there if the other one needed them.
Natalie “Nats” is married, is 8 1/2 months pregnant and lives in Stoughton, Massachusetts.
Ramona “Rams” came to the U.S. from England. Her mother was originally from Bombay although her father isn’t Indian. She is now a doctor, a pediatrician actually in Massachusetts.
A terrible virus epidemic has hit Massachusetts. It is a mutated rabies virus, very virulent, and, unlike original rabies, the symptoms can start appearing in as little as an hour.
This is the story of what Nats and Rams do when pregnant Nats is bitten by a person with the virus.
I truly enjoyed this story of the terrible trials this pair went through in a landscape filled with terrified survivors and deadly infected people and animals.
I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy post-apocalyptic books and books about epidemics and or disasters. I loved both the main characters and the story roars along at a blistering pace.
I received this book from William Morrow Books through Edelweiss in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review. I appreciate the chance to read this book before it was available to the public.
Given the current state of the COVID pandemic, I was unsure if I wanted to tackle a story about a rabies pandemic.
After the first few pages I was glad I did.
We get to know a bit about Natalie, an expectant mom due any day and her husband Paul as they deal with their “new normal” during a rabies pandemic. The pandemic rhetoric eerily echoes that of our present day crisis-we only know what we know at the moment, subject to change.
Natalie is bitten by an infected man and Paul is killed. Natalie reaches out to an old friend who is a doctor. Together Natalie and Dr. Ramola race against time to save Natalie and her unborn child.
This is a horror story of a deadly disease, the treatment and cure are unknown, a failed government response, citizens taking their own vigilante stand and a medical community struggling to cope. But it is also a tale of human resilience, friendship and the amazing love of a mother for her unborn child.
I recommend this well written tale that will keep you captivated till the end.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley.
This was a fast paced read, with a pretty simple story line – get the pregnant lady to the hospital to give birth before the rabies virus sets in. Ultimately, this is a story with a strong sense of the true meaning of friendship woven throughout. I was hooked on the writing by this author as he details an attack on a couple by an unknown man, leaving one dead and one desperate to get to her friend who is a doctor in order to get her baby delivered safely. There is just a short timeline before she discovers if she too will succumb to the new rabies virus controlling the local town and population. Having to go just a few miles through town to get from one hospital to another, the author paints a terrifying picture of survival and how much a person is willing to risk for the love of their friends.
I enjoyed this book it kept me turning the pages by continually ramping up the tension. There are two strong female characters that are easy to cheer for. The story is an odyssey where the two women have to get from point A to point B during a viral pandemic. Because what’s happening out in the world I was hesitant to read this one. It’s not a true zombie movie it’s a mutated rabies virus that makes people crazy and highly contagious. I hesitate to say more without spoiling the plot. This is a short quick read with a lot of tension. For those readers who like this sort of conflict, I highly recommend the writing craft is above average.
Wow. I love this book. I read it in one day. I really wasn’t expecting to but I was caught up and it was a readathon.
Reading it during a quarantine was surreal. It is not about zombies. It is about a virus. A different one from the one we are experiencing but it still made me wonder, with more knowledge than I ever dreamt of, what choices would I make, would I be forced to make. My heart hurt for Ramola and Natalie. I kept questioning myself on how far I would go for a friend, even those I love as much as family. How strong would I be? I want to say so much more. Explore with the places my mind went. To do so, though, would spoil things for you. My advice is to read this book. Many of you will have experience to compare, to use as a basis for, what if?
It does get messy. There is violence. There are hard decisions. There is heartbreak. Once again, there are no zombies. This, to me, was way more realistic. You have been warned.
I received an electronic, uncorrected, copy of this book from the Facebook group, Scene of the Crime. Thank you to the publisher for making it available. My review is voluntary and based on my feelings and thoughts.
Survivor Song wields the story of an all too real rabies epidemic virus, leaving not only animals but the human race in a delusional violent state of fear. Tremblay writes in a way where the reader won’t help but grow and sympathize with his characters, while visually illustrating an apocalyptic threat pushed to a new level that storytellers have not yet entered. A pandemic drama that hits a little too close to home, this is one that will not soon be forgotten.
This took a while for me to get into but I stuck with it. I am really glad I did. This was a unique story to read. I loved the relationship between the main characters. I also liked how the ending did not leave you hanging.
I’d like to say right off the bat that I wasn’t really a fan of Paul Tremblay’s book, The Cabin at the End of the World, but Survivor Song is a completely different story. This book is incredibly disturbing and gory, but the relationship between Ramola and her friend Natalie made it so much more than just your average horror novel. Things start happening immediately and this is one intense and crazy ride. It was basically nonstop action and I could barely put it down I was so into it. I didn’t even feel that invested at first, but even so I found myself needing to know how it would end.
I listened to the audio and thought Erin Bennett did such an amazing job narrating it. However, if you have seen the book in person you are going to want a copy. I don’t know whose idea it was (the author or the publisher) to print it the way they did, but it is pretty genius. I find myself wanting to keep it just for that alone, so I highly recommend checking out the physical copy along with the audio. Survivor Song is also a pretty surreal book to be reading during the current pandemic, and I think readers will see some similarities between the book and real life. Granted no one is going around biting people and giving them rabies, but some of it rang a bell.
If you are a fan of horror, Tremblay’s writing, and/or apocalyptic type novels then I would suggest giving Survivor Song a shot. It is not for the faint of heart though so if you are squeamish in any way you should probably take a pass, but if you can handle it then it is an awesome book!
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book, all opinions and thoughts are my own.