Why I bought it: I was in the mood for a zombie apocalypse book sometime last year, and my library didn't have this one, so I bought it. (And then ended up not reading it until now.)
First line: Sarah missed the end of the world because of the flu.
The plot in brief: A bunch of strangers band together in order to survive the swarms of the undead: college student, Sarah, brothers Ryan and Mick, Becca, and six-year-old Elizabeth.
My thoughts: This is a pretty decent zombie read. It's a little predictable. And there are a few flaws here and there, but overall I thought it was entertaining and fun. Some of the flaws? The dialogue felt a little stilted in a few places, but just at the beginning. And Ryan, Becca and Sarah all overreacted at times in ways that didn't feel authentic (which a little more initial character development would have easily solved). And towards the end of the book the band of survivors just happen to find an undisturbed food distribution center with boxes and boxes of food...which felt a little too convenient, if you know what I mean. Oh, and there are too many f-bombs in the first chapter. But there are good things, too. The prose reads well. The characters grow and get more likable over the course of the book. It's fast-paced and never bogs down. I liked Mick right from the start. I also liked the way the characters worked together to survive, and how each one had their own strengths and weaknesses. Plus, there are zombies. All in all, I ended up liking this one enough to want to buy the sequel, Home With the Dead, sometime in the near future. Although my library MIGHT open up for curbside checkouts next week, so I might not need to keep buying new books. (Fingers crossed!)
My rating: 3.5/5 stars.
Happy Reading!
I like a decent zombie read! :)
ReplyDeleteMe, too. :) And this one was pretty decent.
DeleteIt must seem good if you want to check out the sequel. :) I think our library will most likely reopen on 1st June, if the situation seems more stable, that is.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed mine will start curbside checkouts next week. If they can figure out a system to make it work. (I have no faith in my library right now, can you tell?)
DeleteI'm always in the mood for a zombie apocalypse book. :)
ReplyDeleteWell, this is a pretty good one. I think you'd like it. :)
DeleteOooh, I hope your library opens up for curbside pickup! It's been such a great thing for me :)
ReplyDeleteZombie apocalypse books are always fun. I might have to look this one up. It sounds entertaining, even if it has some flaws.
This is a fun read if you don't get hung up on the few minor flaws. :)
DeleteI actually think it is okay for a zombie story to be a bit more silly than my normal reads.
ReplyDeleteI like 'em fast-paced and entertaining. :) Although if the main characters are stupid and make too many reckless or dumb decisions, that drives me crazy.
DeleteThat first line is wonderful! One of these days I must read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. :-D
ReplyDeleteI've never read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, but I LOVE the movie. It's so much fun. :D
DeleteHi Lark, glad you liked it enough to give the sequel a try. I was a fan of Walking Dead up till around season 4 or 5 and then it got to be too much. I'm a little afraid to read about zombies in novels.
ReplyDeleteSome zombie novels can get pretty graphic and gory, but this one doesn't. I mean, there are plenty of zombie deaths, but the focus is more on the survivors.
DeleteI love that first line. :) And what is it about a band of strangers allying together to fight off zombs? This sounds fun!
ReplyDeleteYou gotta have allies if you're going to survive zombies. ;D
DeleteI haven't read a good zombie book in quite awhile. I'm not sure why! This sounds like a good one to get back into zombie reads.
ReplyDeleteIt would be...it reads fast and isn't super long or complicated. :)
DeleteEven zombie-novels need fully-fleshed characters (pun intended).
ReplyDeleteHa. Totally made me laugh. :D
DeleteI've never been into zombies but I have read a couple of books with them that were good. This doesn't sound bad.
ReplyDeleteIt ended up being pretty good. :)
DeleteI don't think I've read a book with zombies. I think the only undead I can deal with are vampires. haha... Fingers crossed that your library opens. Do you know what kind of precautions they will take? I'm anxiously waiting for our B&N to open but I wonder what changes they will make.
ReplyDeleteMy library is supposed to start curbside checkouts next week. So, you have to call and make an appointment, and park in a designated spot, and they bring your bag of books out to you in a supposedly contactless delivery. Also, they're 'quarantining' the returned books for 3 days before checking them in. We'll see if it all works. :)
DeleteOMG, I think curbside checkouts is such a great idea. I need to see if my libraries are going to imperilment this.
ReplyDeleteI say a book that carries you to the end despite awkward beginnings AND leaves you interested in the equal is a winner. :D
IMPERILIMENT? Uh, I meant IMPLEMENT. Oopsie.
DeleteI like the word imperiliment. Seems appropriate to the times. ;D
DeleteI completely LOVE zombie books but most that I read now are spoiled by dumb romances. Love is the last thing I'd care about in a zombie apocalypse! Nobody mentions heavy romance so I'll add it to my wishlist...
ReplyDeleteThis one does not focus on love and romance...although at the very end Sarah and Mick do kind of like each other.
DeleteI haven't read too many zombie books, but I do enjoy them! I will have to give this one a try. I hope you enjoy the sequel when you read it.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I hope the sequel is even better. :)
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