Meet Anastasia, a rabbit who does the unthinkable. She fights back against a world of killers, launches a war between the prey animals and predators, and leads a group of outcasts in a desperate bid for freedom. It's a fast-paced story about survival, friendship, and coming of age.She's the most hunted creature on earth, and this rabbit is going to change the world or die trying.
Plot
I picked up this book as I’ve been a fan of Watership Down since I was a child and I was curious to read a book recommended for Watership Down lovers. The book starts out a bit slow, as there is a large cast of characters to introduce, but the pacing quickly picks up and is full of excitement. The plot is engaging and I found myself reading through the book quickly.
Characters
As I mentioned, the cast of characters is large. And the point of view does shift between different characters. However, the author utilizes multiple points of view well, showing how the world is responding to the main character, Anatasia. I was confused by the character’s dialogue though, as the vocabulary ranges from modern-day slang terms to more formal, old English.
Setting
A big concern I had when picking up this book was that the author would copy the rules, religion, and details exactly from Watership Down. But I was pleasantly surprised by a world that was completely unique in this genre. I appreciated the twist of these animals living in a post-apocalyptic world and the interesting religion these animals have created.
My Recommendation
War Bunny is the first book in the War Bunny Chronicles and Christopher St. John’s debut novel. The book is an engaging and fun read for fans of Watership Down. I was surprised by the unique world in this novel and found it to be a quick, enjoyable read. My main complaint is that the bunnies’ language ranges in dialect too much for the small area they live in without explanation.
