Wow I hate the exam period. I just want to hide away somewhere with these books and not be disturbed by anyone until I make it to the end, as breathless as if I'd been running a marathon. That's how I feel now, at the end of Shadows and I can just imagine what Monsters will be like, as it stares up at me from the top of my TBR pile next to my bed. 
 A warning, though, if you're thinking of reading these books: They are not for the faint of heart. There are a lot of bloody, gory descriptions and characters that you don't expect to die, will probably die. Out of nowhere. And really you know you should expect it, but you don't. Shadows is very graphic, even more so than Ashes, its predecessor. Personally, as horrible as it may be (lucky I don't nightmare easy), I think it really adds to the drama and the realness of the book. It's like a movie, watching it all unfold in my mind. And it may be horrible, but I guess that's just life in an apocalypse. 
 The only problem I had with this book, is that unlike Ashes, which was all from Alex's point of view, we now have multiple POVs. And while I am so glad that Tom is back in the story again (!!), it's hard to follow Chris and Peter's individual POVs and keep a handle on everything that's going on. Believe me, there's a lot going on here! I am enjoying the increasing complexities of the story (and I have so many questions keeping me reading!) but I just wish that the various character storylines were handled better. I will be really getting into one and then all of a sudden it changes, then I get sucked into the next one and forget what the others are doing. However, the insight into the other characters and the other events going on is good. It doesn't make you feel as blinded as to what else is happening out there, outside of where Alex is, and I think that's the point. 
 (view spoiler)[I can't believe they were so close to one another! I could feel my heart breaking a bit as she's shouting at him to run and he didn't want to, but they're tearing him away and just OH MY GOD. You have no idea how much I hope they find each other. (hide spoiler)]Monsters, the next book, is a big read by the look of it and I can't wait to get it into it and have some (all!) of my questions answered (hopefully!)