LatinosUSA

Amazon Description

These are not traditional zombies. These people have been zombified by parasitoid wasps. These are bugbies.

They don’t roam in search of brains to eat. They serve as hosts for wasp eggs and larvae, which aim to grow into adult wasps and find new hosts for the next generation.

Bugbies is about several people who are impacted by this fantastical shift of one wasp species to jump hosts from another insect to humans. Charlotte, who was nearly turned into a host. Isha, the neurosurgeon who treats her. Lucia, an entomologist who is brought in as an advisor. Brock, who wishes to buy a bugbie and show it off to his friends. His wife Daniella, and their gardener Lewis, who deal with that decision and take action in response.

Roberta Eaten’s Review

I really enjoyed this unique and interesting story. I’m not sure what genre it falls under, but to me, it’s a blend of sci-fi, dystopian fiction, and family drama, with just the right amount of non-fiction information to make it work. The novel is told from the points of view of several characters from different backgrounds and social standings, and I really liked that. It gave insight into the themes and main storyline from a variety of different perspectives and was a clever way to share specific fact patterns and information. The author also made use of other innovative ideas, such as sharing the content (in writing) of homemade YouTube videos and blog posts. Another unique way of sharing events and information outside of the main characters’ lives and scope of knowledge.

The story starts with Charlotte, who is feeling unwell. Within a short period, Charlotte slips into a coma, and her husband races her to the hospital. Charlotte undergoes a series of tests and astonishes the neurologist and the world when the tumours in her brain turn out to be something different from everyone’s experience and expectations. Charlotte is the first, but she is far from the last. The country is soon in the grip of anxiety and paranoia equal to what we experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lucia Ramirez is a young professor at a university. She is an expert in her field, and she introduces different thoughts relating to the unusual situation. She also lectures young students, which facilitates the introduction of ideas and thoughts about the situation from the younger generation. Clever! Lucia is a great role model for women as she has worked towards a goal and achieved her aims in a world that men have historically dominated.

Danielle Hawkins is the spoiled and wealthy older woman in this story. Her husband is a wealthy man who is desperate to keep up with the Joneses or, even better, to be ahead of them. Their son is a spoiled rich kid, but he has some redeeming characteristics, as does Danielle. Mr. Hawkins is a selfish and egotistical man who will stop at nothing to impress his friends and family. I didn’t like him, and he didn’t develop any redeeming qualities. He was, however, typical of a specific type of rich man, and his actions and behaviours were very believable.

Lewis was my favourite character. He is a young father who has taken a job below his abilities due to need and circumstances. He works hard and tries to improve himself, taking good care of his family. He is certainly not perfect and makes some silly decisions, but he is a good guy, and he was easy to give wholehearted support to.

This unusual story was well written and nicely paced. I read it quickly, and was a bit sad when I reached the end. The ending was satisfying, but I particularly enjoyed some of the characters and would have liked to spend more time with them.

©Roberta Eaten

Kindle (Paperback is also available)

About Dave Williams

Surely many people are named «Dave Williams» and this particular Dave is a redheaded one who enjoys writing speculative fiction, drawing, and reading. He lives in Maryland with his wonderful wife, two inspirational daughters, and two cats (a lazy one and a playful one).

Dave Williams’ blog: https://davewilliamswriter.wordpress.com/

Dave Williams’ Amazon US author page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Dave-Williams/author/B08662D961

Reviewer’s Biography

Roberta Eaton Cheadle, is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.

Roberta has two published novels and a collection of short stories and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories included in several anthologies. She is also a contributor to the Ask the Authors 2022 (WordCrafter Writing Reference series).

Roberta is also the author and illustrator of sixteen children’s books, illustrator to a further three children’s books, and the author and illustrator of three poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle, and has poems and short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.