Frantic (Book Two: The Frenzy Series) by Casey L. Bond Review

Hey Readers! Ethan here with another awesome review for you guys! I'm going a bit out of order to give you guys this review ASAP since it just released this past Friday. I absolutely devoured this read in one sitting and I cannot wait to share my thoughts on this one. Up on the chopping block? Frantic, book two in the Frenzy series by the incredible Casey L. Bond! Before we get to my thoughts, here's a bit about the novel and our author:

Porschia Grant is in Frenzy. The hunger is constant. It’s all-consuming, as is the pain and sickness. Something went wrong when she turned. Perhaps it was the fact that an infected bit her moments before, or maybe it’s something else entirely.

One thing is certain, if Porschia can’t learn to feed, she will die. If she can’t learn to control her extreme emotional swings, she will kill someone. And that would destroy her.

How long can the night-walkers keep her turning a secret from the Colony? Will Saul stand beside her now that she’s changed? And what will happen when she re-enters the forest?

     

Casey L. Bond

Casey L. Bond resides in Milton, West Virginia with her husband and their two beautiful daughters.
When she’s not busy being a domestic goddess and chasing her baby girls, she loves to write young adult and new adult fiction.

In 2003, Bond graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marshall University in the field of Criminal Justice. 

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*****

My Thoughts:

"There would always be reminders of my former life, like wounds that were torn open again and again. They would never heal, but I had eternity to bleed."

As anyone who follows this blog will well know, I am a huge Casey L. Bond fan. Admittedly, I haven't read her entire backlog and just recently jumped on board the Bond Bandwagon, but even based on the few works I have devoured, I can say with confidence that she's one of the most talented writers I've worked with as of late. Her stories are full of gripping emotion and such vivid plots and settings that really leave a lasting impression on the mind of her readers. 

Anyone who knows me also knows that I am absolutely obsessed with anything paranormal. And vampires? My favorite. Bring it on. But what happens when you miss the living dead with the undead? Can a novel with both vampires and zombies work in a post-apocalyptic setting? Hell yes. And so much more. 

Anyone who read my recent review of book one in this series, Frenzy, will well-remember that I absolutely adored each and every word. I absolutely fell in love with Bond's ability to craft a story beyond convention that didn't stick between the lines of what one would expect from a traditional novel of this genre. That's one of my favorite characteristics I look for in an author: pushing the limits, and does Bond ever! 

Frantic picks up right as we left our characters in Frenzy: confused, scared, and in one heck of a mess. With Portia's life on the line, she makes the only decision she has: drink from the blood of her poisoned ring and become the creature she's been raised to hate. A Nightcrawler. A Vampire. Being newly turned can only mean one thing: a new fledgling is in Frenzy. Can Blackwater handle the effects of another newly turned? 

Bond really ups the ante with Frantic. With the same high-octane thrills and crippling feels as we saw in book one, Bond builds upon those emotions to craft an incredible sophomore outing in the series. I have to say there were several plot twists that I absolutely did not see coming and more than a few moments that left my heart heavy with emotions. This groundbreaking series is not to be missed. With a plot so fast paced, it was no surprise to me that I absolutely devoured this one. 

Retaining the same post-apocalyptic setting as book one, Bond delves more into the tone and psyche of the setting in book two. It's not so much about where you are, it's about what you make of it. Human? Infected? Vampire? Each setting means a different outcome for each race. Can three races with absolute different motives co-exist? Or are their motives really all that different?

As I mentioned before, Bond really challenges the conventions of the genre with this installment. It's so much more than what you see on the surface and that in itself will leave you with so many questions at the end of the novel. Questions that will leave you pondering everything you thought you knew about the genre and leave you begging for more!

As you can clearly see, book two spoke to me just as clearly as its' predecessor. It's full of emotion, grit, and appeal that only an author as talented as Casey L. Bond can delivery. A true nail biter from page one, Frantic is everything I needed in a sequel and more! It should come as absolutely no surprise that I am granting this second installment to The Frenzy Series a well-earned 5-star review. Take note book world, we've got a new rising series on our hands. It's to die for. Don't let this one slip away, add it to your TBR today! 

*****

Alright readers, that's all I have for you on the topic of Frantic by Casey L. Bond. It was a fun, fast-paced read that I couldn't put down. I have yet to read something from Bond that I didn't love from the very first sentence. I know this guy will be anxiously awaiting the release of Frequency next month. Be on the look out for my thoughts on it soon! Until next time, Happy Reading!

-Ethan