The Fireman by
Joe Hill
My rating:
5 of 5 stars
The Fireman by Joe Hill is a great read. A virulent infection, known as Dragonscale, from an unknown source causes people to develop black and gold markings on their bodies and to spontaneously combust. This pandemic sweeps the world, leaving death, destruction, and ashes in its wake. As governments fail to find ways to contain the spread of the disease or find a cure, civilization collapses, leaving those infected without hope or protection from roaming "Cremation Squads" who have decided the only way to deal with those infected is to eliminate them.
In the middle of this mess is Harper Grayson, a nurse who does her best to help the infected, until she becomes infected herself and her life begins to fall apart. Pregnant and abandoned by her husband, she's on her own until help arrives in the form of a mysterious stranger who leads her to the safety of a secluded camp that is home to a large number of other infected people. There she learns of a way to control the infection, but the cost may be too high.
The Fireman is a riveting story. Hill delivers fascinating, tragic and, in many cases, fanatic characters, each with their own secrets and approaches to dealing with a world falling apart, and manages to continue increasing the suspense with every chapter.
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