Representation: N/A
Trigger warnings: Suicide, death, hospitalisation of a child and coma mentioned, near-death experience, pandemic, physical injury and assault, blood depiction, gun violence, forced child marriage, explosions, starvation
Score: Seven points out of ten.
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I wanted to read Stung for a while but never got around till now. I picked Stung up from the library, hoping that I would enjoy it. I headed in with high expectations, considering the equally high ratings and reviews. When I finished Stung, it was flawed, but I enjoyed it nevertheless. I'll pick up Cured when I have time.

It starts with the first person I see, Fiona, whose last name I forgot, waking up to a horrifying new world, thrown into a post-apocalyptic setting in the aftermath of a pandemic (wait, that sounds familiar) caused by genetically modified bees. Points for originality right there. The beginning is slow since it showed Fiona working out the place she lives in and its surroundings again, meeting new characters in the process. Stung shines in its immersive pacing and engaging writing style, but my most frustrating gripe with it is that it falters in its characters. Though I could root for Fiona, I could never connect to her. Also, the worldbuilding is a stretch. We have GM plants and animals, but not bees yet. I don't get how one would do that, and how did the scientists make the bees resist pesticides (DNA? Special genes? Who knows?) Conveniently, there's a cure at the end. Really? The concluding 100 pages were dramatic, finishing Stung on a cliffhanger. ( )

It was a quick little read. Probably closer to a 3 1/2 for me. I liked the world and actually found myself wishing the author had spent a lot more time in it. ( )

Fast, fun summer read for teens. lots of loose ends and things that never make sense...I enjoyed this book for what it was. ( )

3.5 Stars

CW: Death of loved ones, gore, environmental disaster, violence, women kept as sex slaves, women needed for breeding, offensive nicknames (Fotard and Botard), rape, starvation,

Well what a ripper of a ride that was!

What a marvellous concept and a frightening world Bethany has created. Yes, there are issues. I found the nicknames offensive, I wish Fiona was a bit smarter and in less need of rescuing, it's the typical dystopic world where women are needed for breeding, and of course the dreaded 'special snowflake' trope that underpins this story. If you can get past that then it really is a fun, action packed story where a bee flu has decimated the world's population and terrifying zombies are being used in cage fighting type situations! It is a harsh 'dog eat dog' world on the wrong side of the wall so characters never know who to trust. I look forward to reading the next in the series! ( )

Vaccines against a deadly Bee Sting result in children turning into zombies! ( )