Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear by Robin Wasley

Book Description

Sid Spencer has always been the most normal girl in her abnormal hometown, a tourist trap built over one of the fault lines that seal magic away from the world. Meanwhile, Sid deals with hair-ruining humidity, painful awkwardness, being one of four Asians in town, and her friends dumping her when they start dating each other—just days after one of the most humiliating romantic rejections faced by anyone, ever, in all of history.

Then someone kills one guardian who protects the seal. The earth rips open and unleashes the magic trapped inside. Monsters crawl from the ground, no one can enter or leave, and the man behind it all is roaming the streets with a gang of violent vigilantes. Between magic, murderers, and burgeoning crushes, Sid must survive being a perfectly normal girl caught in a perfectly abnormal apocalypse. 

Review

There was much to love about Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear, but here are my top three reasons this novel spoke to me.

First, I completely identified with Sid, the protagonist. She’s Asian, awkward, and doesn’t really feel like she belongs.

Second, the notion that vibrant communities continue to thrive after an apocalypse.

And third, Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear includes the accidental introduction of magic to previously “normal” people. No one knows how to use their new powers at first, nor even what kind of ability they’ll get. The range of the magical abilities and how they manifested made me squeal. For example, one character finds they have art-based magic!

For those of you who like grim, scary post-apocalyptic fantasy, don’t fret. Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear includes zombies, monsters and an uber-evil bad guy. It has a Stranger Things meets The Mist or From vibe.

The audiobook is narrated by Eunice Wong, who did an excellent job. If you’re looking for a fantasy adventure featuring courageous teenagers, unique magic, and all the vibes, check out Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Content Warning

Death, Death of Parent, Forced Captivity, Gun Violence, Murder, Violence

The header photo is a composite image. Base image by Simon Wijers on Unsplash