Let’s just start this off by saying the follow – if you have yet to read a book by author Craig DiLouie you are truly missing out. Fellow readers, author DiLouie has conjured up a whale of a story that will grip you from the beginning, and ultimately shock you to your core. One of Us is a dark, twisted post-apocalypse coming-of-age novel. Set in the early 1980s, One of Us is going to leave an impression.
One of Us draws the eye with a cover and a scene that conveys the ending of a day. You get soft subtle colors that draw the eye to the top of the cover, while the lower down you go, the sharper the image becomes. From the top down you get a peachy-orange with tree branches that appear blurry and out of focus before snapping into focus. The background colors transition to white, and the background fills with a forest and a group of five individuals standing near a pond or lake.
The cover pokes at the mind and pushes readers to ask – “Who are the characters standing around the lake?” “Are they friends?” “Are they the “plague-children?” Will these questions be answered in One of Us? Well, you’ll have to pick this book up to find out. But know this – this book? It will grip you to the end, and most definitely leave an impact.
One of Us is a standalone post-apocalyptic horror novel that will blow your mind. Author DiLouie details a story about children on both sides of one generation. On one side you have the “normals” and on the other, you have the “plague generation.” The “plague generation” is a collective of children all over the world who are shockingly different.
The “plague generation” is a generation of children affected by a virus that showed up years ago. In one One of Us these are the children who came to survive the virus and that mutations that it manifested in them. Despite surviving, their families cast them aside – wanting nothing to do with them. Now, they are “wards” of the state. Author DiLouie details the various differences that can be found in each of these children throughout this book.
One of Us is set in the time of the early 1980s. It’s easy to forget as you read this book though that the story is set in such recent times. The behavior of the town, the characters, and the overall behavior all around would make you think it was the early 1900s – 1920s or even the ‘30s. Prejudice still abounds, but it’s doubled down on. It’s racism in more than just one form. Author DiLouie details racism against people of color still being abundant and the racism and abuse that the “monster” children are forced to endure.
When One of Us begins author DiLouie introduces readers to Dog aka Enoch Bryant. Why is he called “Dog?” Well, once you understand his overall appearance you’ll get a better understanding. He’s just one of many unique characters that you’ll cross paths with in One of Us.
Dog though carries an innocence throughout this book. He dreams of his life being something more. Being able to get out of the Home and find his place in the world. Being respected one day. However, you get the sense that this will be a dream that will never happen for Dog.
As One of Us unfolds the story shifts between Dog, a variety of his friends, and other children who are “normal.” Except there is one who hides a dangerous secret among the “normal” children. This child’s mother knows the truth, but in her quest to have her child lead a “normal” life, she’s kept it hidden.
Throughout One of Us, readers will get glimpses of some of the abuse that the other children are forced to endure. They are put in orphanages and given the barest of necessities. You get the sense that if their “caretakers” could get away with giving them less…they would. Slavery is no more, yet they are treated as such by some.
One interesting aspect of One of Us is how different the children treat each other. Some of the “normal” children view the “plague” children with sympathy and empathy. They wish to treat them like equals…or at least like they have feelings and are just different.
The majority of the adults on the other hand treat the “plague” children like monsters. Those who don’t work at the Home want the “plague” children out of sight. There are some who care, but those…like the kindhearted children…are few and far between.
What’s interesting is the one child who is like the “plague” children…holds deep resentment and hate towards them. This is the child who appears normal. Is it simply because they are like these other children? It’s not like any of them chose to be born this way. If we’re going to be honest…the blame lies more with the parents. Curious as to what we mean by that? Well, the answers lie within One of Us.
One of Us moves at a moderate pace, but this book is a gripping novel that rarely lets up on you. As you read, your quest for answers will drive you to dig deeper. Your curiosity will be piqued from one page to the next to find out what happens next. You’ll find yourself hoping for a breakout moment of hope and light, only to find the door slamming you back into darkness along with Dog, Brain, and Goof (all characters you’ll meet in this book).
One of Us highlights the twisted nature of humanity. What humanity doesn’t like or isn’t pleasing to look at it seeks to destroy, to subjugate, and to exercise extreme cruelty against. Author DiLouie writes the children born with mutations as a mixed bag themselves. Some are seeking to bring about change, by force if they must. Then there are others who hold out a hope for a brighter future, simply by showing that they mean no harm.
One of Us is a fascinating story by author DiLouie as he shapes a narrative of two sides of the same coin. Both are seeking change and to create a difference. But then something happens and it creates a spark that starts a deadly shift. A body turns up. Author DiLouie will detail the lead-up to this grisly discovery. Readers should be forewarned that there are some sexual scenes in this book, and one of them is non-consensual. However, we will note that the scenes are not graphic.
Author DiLouie does a fantastic job of capturing the essence of the Deep South in One of Us. You absolutely get the feel of being in the south, and the prejudices that lingered there for years. The characters help to immerse readers in the sense of a small town. You will frequently forget that this book is set in 1984. You will constantly feel like it’s much further back in time.
One of Us is a gripping novel that gives readers a post-apocalyptic feel without the immense death and destruction that typically follows a post-apocalyptic event. Though…that’s just at the beginning of the book. The horrors that unfold later on…no one is innocent, and in some cases…you will feel that “justice” in some twisted form…is doled out.
When you start One of Us, you won’t know what to expect. By the time you turn the final page of One of Us…you’ll be surprised by how deeply this book will have an impact on you. Author DiLouie has written a novel that will absolutely floor you. The twisted nature and darkness found within these pages will absolutely appeal to many readers.
Readers who eagerly devour post-apocalyptic style novels will not want to miss out on this creation from author DiLouie. It is packed with twisted situations, moments that will shock you, and a healthy dose of horror that will keep you glued to the pages. If you’re not reading author DiLouie’s books before this one, you’ll be eagerly looking for more after reading One of Us.
Pros:
- Gripping
- Page-turner
- Full of twists and surprises
- Captures the sense of post-apocalypse and horror.
- Shockingly realistic
Cons:
- None of merit
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