by Ezekiel Boone
Series: The Hatching #3
Genres: Horror
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
In the finale of Ezekiel Boone’s Hatching series, the United States goes to war against the queen spiders that threaten to overtake the human race forever.
The world is on the brink of apocalypse. Zero Day has come.
The only thing more terrifying than millions of spiders is the realization that those spiders work as one. But among the government, there is dissent: do we try to kill all of the spiders, or do we gamble on Professor Guyer’s theory that we need to kill only the queens?
For President Stephanie Pilgrim, it’s an easy answer. She’s gone as far as she can—more than two dozen American cities hit with tactical nukes, the country torn asunder—and the only answer is to believe in Professor Guyer. Unfortunately, Ben Broussard and the military men who follow him don’t agree, and Pilgrim, Guyer, and the loyal members of the government have to flee, leaving the question: what’s more dangerous, the spiders or ourselves?
Zero Day by Ezekiel Boone is the final book in the Hatching series. The series has taken us through an apocalyptic disaster involving spiders. Told from multiple perspectives from around the world, we get the third-person POV accounts of man’s reactions and attempts to survive. While we didn’t get as much time with the eight-legged monsters, Boone delivered an intense climax despite the lack of wow-factor for me.
In this final book, we witness denial, survival, and plots to overrule the President. Boone continues to update us on specific groups around the world by switching POVs with each chapter. The results deliver a movie feel as events unfold and we witness man’s attempts at survival. Throughout the series, Boone highlights the good, the bad and the fears of the people.
For me, the strongest storylines were those surrounding the President of the United States and the revolts in her own cabinet on how to handle the dilemma at hand. Boone made it all feel very surreal from protocol to prejudices. They are running against the clock as the head of the military attempts to overpower the president and nuke three-fourths of the United States.
This leads us to my second favorite narratives, those of the scientists and geeks who try to understand the spider’s next move and work to save us all.
All of the narratives work to give us a clear picture of events, human conditions and both our collective and individual responses to catastrophe. Sometimes though the changing povs stimy the suspense and nail-biting I enjoyed in the previous books. Don’t get me wrong we still get creepy crawlies but for a final book, I wanted more.
Boone even treats us to the perspective of a few spiders which only added to the well-developed worldbuilding surrounding them. He created the perfect blend of scientific jargon and suspense to make the Hatching series feel gorydamn plausible.
I was a little surprised that the spiders weren’t as present. Oh, sure we get some pretty horrific and terrifying scenes, especially towards the end. The reason for this is that the timeline occurs between the second and impending third wave of spiders. I loved the breakdown of these waves of spiders. It was terrifying.
For fans of horror, human survival and post-apocalyptic settings the books in this series deliver a fast-paced, creeptastic thrill. While not the nail-biting ending I was hoping for, Zero Day wraps up well and man will live to battle another day.
Zero Day by Ezekiel Boone delivers a thrilling conclusion to the Hatching series. Share on X
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
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Tiffany @ I Was Angelized_1st
I have the first book in this series and keep meaning to read it. Great review!
Darlene
I’m not going to read your review yet because I like going in blind 🙂
I wanted to see your rating. I requested the book from the library. I really enjoy this series!
Suzanne
Oh yikes, I’m terrified of spiders so I don’t know if I could read this series. I may never sleep again, lol. Sorry to hear the finale wasn’t all that you hoped it would be, but I’m glad you still enjoyed it overall.
JoLee @ Wickedly Delicious Book Blog
Glad you still enjoyed but was not the ending you were hoping for. Cool the spider crossing your screen.
Kimberly
I think I psyched myself up too much.
Nadene
Sorry, this not wow like the previous books. I need to check this series out. Not a fan of spiders, but I love how the premise sounds.
Kimberly
The trilogy was a fun one and the spiders gave me nightmares..lol
Sophia Rose
Neat how the author captured the humanity part with their motives and actions during crisis. I love seeing that brought out when a survival- end of the world type of book is written. And getting a few scenes with the spiders telling the story must have really chilled you.
Kimberly
It was interesting seeing how people reacted Sophia. It made you wonder how you would handle it.
Stefanie
OMGoodness! Queen spiders? How’d you keep from getting the heebie-jeebies? I don’t mind spiders outside but never in the house.
I enjoyed The Selection but am in no rush to read more of the series. And I agree with you, being able to knit while listening to an audibook is the best. That’s how I nailed so many books last year b/c of the multi-tasking.
Kimberly
Oh, I had the hebbie-jeebies aplenty!
Angela Adams
Creepy, but intriguing, premise! Thanks for the post.
Kimberly
Yes, I do hope spiders never attack!
sherry fundin
Oh man, I want this one. I didn’t go after it for review because I am having cataract surgery and doing some traveling in the next couple months, so I am trying to back off review books, other than some authors I just can’t say no to. Hope the library will have it later in the year and I’ll go after it. Glad it had a good ending.
And that spider LOVE/HATE it. LOL
Kimberly
Good luck with the surgery. It’s audiobooks for you while you recover!
sherry fundin
I have been accumulating some and plan on getting a cd player to make things easier. Any recommendations?
Kimberly
I use my smartphone and download or sideload them.
Heidi
I Read the first one but I was put off by the mutiple view points. Still it was an interesting and creepy read, I am considering finishing the series…..
Kimberly
I actually ended up liking that aspect Heidi, particularly in book 2.
Mary Kirkland
I’ve been hearing great things about this one.
Kimberly
I had fun with this trilogy…and nightmares
Ann Marie
I may never sleep again just knowing this book exists.
Kimberly
OMG Ann, the things I cannot unthink! I am terrified of spiders so this was creeptastic.
Sophie
I’m so not a fan of horror but I have to congratulate you on your spider! So real and repulsive LOL
Kimberly
Bwahaha. I will miss the little guy. It’s funny because he freaks me out!
Lorna
I think I said this before, but I just can’t. I would have the heebee jeebies the whole time. And that spider walking across the page was an inspired idea for this review! Sorry this wasn’t as good as it could have been for you.
Kimberly
Haha..I did too, it was awful and creeptastic all at the same time.
Blodeuedd
UGH the spider in your post
Kimberly
LOL, I am going to miss that little guy 🙂
Vanessa
When I saw the moving spider picture, I creep out. I really hate spiders, haha, I think the only spider I don’t hate is Spiderman hihi. Haven’t tried this series and anything from the author yet but I am loving the idea of this one. It’s different than my usual apocalypse stories.
Kimberly
Yes, totally different and that is one of the things that appealed to me. I am afraid of them too Vanessa.
Debbie Haupt
Oh. My. God. NO! Not spiders, anything but spiders. I have nightmares about regular ones LOL
Kimberly
Hahaha..right. I hate the little creepy crawlers and some of these spiders could eat you whole!
Daniela Ark
This is a series I wanted ot start but each book seem to get lower and lower rating 🙁
omg I LOVE that spider Kim SO COOL!
Kimberly
I still totally recommend it. My expectations were huge, and I just wanted more fear factor for the finale. Having said that I don’t regret reading the trilogy at all.
kindlemom1
Sorry this didn’t wow you. I actually really liked it and thought it was pretty good all things considered but I can see how you would want more from it.
Kimberly
It was a fun series Ali and I am glad to have read it.
Mary
Now this is a series I can sink my fangs into. Love horror and an impending apocalypse YES, please! =) I really enjoy a great horror book. Sorry the ending wasn’t as good as you hoped.
Kimberly
The series was creepy and I had a good time with it.
ShootingStarsMag
Oh god, not a spider gif. I literally got goosepumps. LOL Sorry you didn’t love this one as much as the others. I could not handle these. Spiders TERRIFY me.
-Lauren
Kimberly
I am the same Lauren, which made the series extra creepy.
Angie @ Ba_BAMB
I’m sorry this finale didn’t wow you as much as you’d hoped, but I’m glad it wrapped things up. This whole premise freaks me right out.
Great review.
Kimberly
It was a good series, just not as scary for the finale.
Ailyn Koay
Argh the only series that will never be in my TBR… I am living in Australia, where spiders can eat bird for lunch. Naturally i’m not going to spook myself out. But if Zero day happens, i think i’d be looking for a place to say in the sea T_T
Kimberly
Oh yes, I’ve seen the spiders you have..no thank you!
cindy
This series sounds amazing! I always find new and great books here! Thanks for sharing your great review!
Kimberly
Yeah, this was a fun series. Face your fears and all that!
Melliane
I’m always anxious with endings because it’s always so complicated… I haven’t tried this series though
Kimberly
It was a fun, creepy series especially since I am afraid of spiders!