Chuck Wendig’s Blackbirds is a quite horrible book; that said I loved it.

Not for the faint hearted this novel is a graphically detailed tale of gore, carved out with a scalpel-like precision and acerbic wit. The protagonist Miriam Black is reminiscent of Stieg Larsson’s Lisbeth Salander, damaged but definitely able to take care of herself. Although lacking Salander’s surprising refinement, Miriam Black is a startlingly likeable, self-proclaimed ‘vulture’.

As noted on the blurb Miriam Black ‘knows when you will die’; she knows but is unable to prevent it. Reminiscent of E4’s Misfits, Miriam is thrust unwillingly into adventure. Rather than trying to avert the deaths she foresees she makes her living out of them and though not a villain is far from a heroine. This acceptance of what she believes to be the unavoidable will of fate perseveres until she gets a lift from a trucker, Louis Darling. She sees that he will be horribly murdered in thirty days as he calls her name. She cannot see a way to save him, but knowing what she does, how can she not try…

By Jess, currently doing work experience at A&B