The Last Days

Reader reviewed by abscae

The second installment of the Peeps, I have to admit I was somewhat disappointed in this novel. While the first one offered so much, so many realistic thoughts, and suck eloquent language, this one left me slightly disappointed. I think one thing that I regretted were the characters they revolved around, they seemed shallow to some extent which turned me off slightly.

However, do not get me wrong. Scott Westerfeld has once again crafted a wonderful book. While this one has a more teenage point of view of the world in his novel, it is still good. The novel brings many conflicts up to hand, and the reactions really show how the world can turn out.

Reader reviewed by BEth

Sequel to Peeps-the main characters from Peeps are only minor characters in THe Last DAys. THe vampire epidemic is sweeping through the country. Moz and Pearl notice the differences, but don't get too involoved until a guitar is thrown out the window. The two form a band, with a Peep (Min) as the lead singer. This decision leads to a consequence that none of them are ready for- a battle with the beast below.
THis book had enough action to keep me turning the pages, but it had a lot more about the vampire thing than the previous one-which I didn't really like. It also didn't have the tidbits about viruses that the last one did. Each chapter was written by a different character, so it was interesting to hear different voices and their opinions throughout the book. Overall, it was pretty good, but I didn't like it as much as the first.

Reader reviewed by Stephanie

Scott Westerfeld is arguably the master of modern-day sci-fi. His books, whether they are set in this present world, or in a future place, are always easy to relate to and understand. Even readers who have not read PEEPS (and you should) will enjoy this one.

THE LAST DAYS is essentially a story about five wannabe musicians getting together to form a band. Theres Pearl: musically talented, smart, rich, an entrepreneur, and a little bossy on the keyboard. Theres Moz, the talented but untrained guitarist who along with Pearl saves a rare Stratocaster guitar that a crazy woman was chucking out of her apartment window. Zahler is Mozs best friend, guitarist turned bassist, who constantly feels as if hes the bands weak link and has a penchant for making up new words (fawesome!).

The threesome hire Alana Ray, a talented but neurotically challenged drummer who drums on paint buckets and can see what music looks like. And finally theres Minerva, Pearls friend who was bitten by something and now exhibits vampirish and vaguely cannibalistic tendenciesbut whose singing talent somehow connects the whole band together into something paranormal.

When the band rehearses, strange things happen. The ground beneath them rumbles, as if something is struggling to reach them from underground. Meanwhile, the infected Minerva develops a relationship with Moz, as the parasite inside of her tries to spread itself by making her horny and irresistible.

In their journey to find an agent and get signed up to a label, the still nameless band learn that there is something very powerful about their music, as it has a way of summoning up the human races greatest enemy from deep within the earth where they reside. Now, the five young men and women must use their musical and supernatural talents to help the peeps, infected humans who can control their vampirish tendencies and who were created to help save humanity. Together, they will summon and fight the enemies until nearly all are extinct. Until next time.

The world that Scott Westerfeld has created is creepily realistic. I got chills from reading this novel, and anything that moves me to such a reaction is extraordinary.