Halloween Reading: Highway to Hell Week | ROADS LESS TRAVELED | AstraDaemon

ROADS LESS TRAVELED is a five-book series by C. Dulaney. A young woman named Kasey actually has a "Z-plan" in place before the zombie outbreak in the story. While traveling, Kasey and her friends make some startling discoveries about the undead. The story arc is amazing and unlike any other end-of-the-world scenario I've ever read, but the evolution of the characters is what really stands out. Dulaney digs into her creations, tears them into pieces and scatters their remains across each novel.

This week, the last giveaway prize will be autographed copies of all five paperbacks. In order to enter, just leave a comment on any of the Highway to Hell posts. A winner will be chosen on Halloween night.

As always,

AstraDaemon

P.S. Due to a family emergency, there has been a delay with the first three posts, but if you check back, everything should be posted before Wednesday (Oct 28th) night.

The Final Phase

END OF THE ROAD by C. Dulaney is supposed to be the final book in the Roads Less Traveled series, and I'm sincerely hoping I can convince the author to write one more full-length novel. (There is also the possibility fans may be able to read some short stories set in the RLT world.) There is a form of conclusion in this novel, which amounts to the main characters learning to accept the new world order. However, readers are never offered a POV from Isabel or Sam, both supporting characters with extremely significant roles in the series, who could possibly offer a true completion to this apocalyptic saga.

Compared to the previous four books, many more lives are lost in some of the most devastating battle scenes ever written, while the few survivors left have formed a new family of sorts. The characters have learned to put quality of life over quantity of life span, but Kasey's group are making a living doing some truly dark deeds in exchange for supplies, becoming anti-heroes in the process. Essentially, they get their hands very dirty, so everyone else can pretend they're still "good" people.

Brad's group can barely keep their heads above the blood pooling around them. Wherever they go, people are slaughtered, and they feel responsible for the body count. After suffering an agonizing humiliation at the hands of deviant bandits, the tiny group of PSIs decide to seek out Kasey's group to join forces, but it's too little, far too late.

The story arc is amazing and unlike any other end-of-the-world scenario I've ever read, but the evolution of the characters is what really stands out. So often, I read apocalypse series where the survivors remain basically the same, no matter what they go through, which is BS, even in the horror genre. Dulaney digs into her creations, tears them into pieces and scatters their remains across each novel, much like her "terminators," resulting in an absolute genocide of epic proportions.

I encourage fans of the series to show their support for Roads Less Traveled by leaving reviews. As for those who haven't yet begun this series, I highly recommend you join the rest of us in Dulaney's apocalypse.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Changing Lanes In Roads Less Traveled

In PHOENIX, the Roads Less Traveled universe is expanded in unexpected ways, the events of which take place parallel to the events of Books One, Two, and Three. We will follow a new cast of characters, led by Brad Lincoln... though you may receive a visit from some old, familiar faces. Those of you who have followed the series will recognize our protagonist, Brad, from the ending of SHADES OF GRAY. It is his story we will see, and how his team fought to the very end to save us all.

PHOENIX by C. Dulaney is the fourth book in the series, but is more or less a new storyline set in the Roads Less Traveled apocalypse. When I first began reading this one, I thought, "Oh for crying out loud! Psychics?! Really?! Way to ruin a great zombie series..." I am not normally a fan of the supernatural being mixed with the undead. I felt certain I would be put off Dulaney's writing forever. WRONG!

First of all, and this is very important, do NOT read Phoenix until AFTER you read the other three books in the series. It will make a huge difference in what you get out of this novel. As a fan, I became really excited when I recognized characters from Kasey's story making cameos.

There is not as much character development as the first three novels, but Book 4 adds an incredible depth to the series as a whole. It is quite heart-wrenching, and I am eagerly awaiting the final book in the series, with this new insight into Dulaney's zombie apocalypse.

I will warn readers the setup is a bit slow, and the zombie action doesn't really get under way until much later in the book. However, I feel this is a must-read for fans of the series.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Kasey Continues Down Roads Less Traveled

SHADES OF GRAY (Roads Less Traveled Book 3) by C. Dulaney combines zombies and science, creating a mind-blowing addition to the ongoing story. The author introduces scientists who have created antibodies to fight the undead, in a shocking way...certain to entertain zombiephiles. I don't dare say anything more, to avoid spoilers.

The characters and their relationships are much more complicated, as they should be by this point in their apocalyptic journey. I find myself reacting to the people as much as the action in this installment. For example, I'm disgusted with Mia's attitude towards Kasey...as a matter of fact, I'm real fed up with the way the survivors are taking Kasey for granted (ex: treating her like she is part of the problem), while Kasey remains the main reason most of these folks are still alive. This book also features the greatest test of Kasey's will to survive. As far as Jake goes, I wonder if he will still be the jester of the group, considering everything which happens to them at Winchester.

Fans of this series absolutely need to continue on to PHOENIX, but only AFTER reading the first three books. The insight the fourth book provides to the series is quite compelling, to say the least.

When I first began this series, I never read anything by Dulaney before, but she has made quite a name for herself in the zombie genre, and I can't wait for the final book in the series!

As always,
AstraDaemon

Action-Packed Sequel to The Plan

MURPHY'S LAW (Roads Less Traveled Book 2) by C. Dulaney is a great follow-up to Roads Less Traveled: The Plan. Just as the first book is divided into parts, so is the sequel. The best part is far more zombie action, including a brutal carnage scene, which had me wondering if there will be any characters left to write another book in this series.

Kasey, the young woman with the "Z-plan," has grown up quite a bit since the first story. She faced tremendous losses, mainly due to the problems caused by Kyra (who I am sure is hated by fans of Book 1), and Kasey has finally exceeded her crap tolerance level.

The POV is mainly Kasey's throughout the second installment, with brief perspectives from members of her group, as well as Kyra - now a prisoner of some escaped convicts. The group decides to pursue the convicts, although the survivors have different reasons for hunting the cons down. While en route, Kasey and her friends make some startling discoveries about the undead, which kept me screaming, "Game over, man!"

A few more characters are introduced into the series (from a third group), but it isn't difficult keeping track of who is who, and a few well-placed flashbacks help to recall what happened in THE PLAN. Even though Dulaney continues to place emphasis on the relationships of the survivors (which is often heart-breaking), there is no lack of gore in this sequel.

Thankfully, there is no cliff-hanger, but the ending hints at what is sure to be a thrilling third installment.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Gear Up For Dulaney's Zombie Series

ROADS LESS TRAVELED: THE PLAN by C. Dulaney is the first installment of a five book series (all available). Part One, Down The Road, begins on October 1st. A young woman named Kasey actually has a "Z-plan" in place before the zombie outbreak in the story. She and her friends are apparently huge zombiephiles.

"Sure it might sound crazy, but who's alive right now and who's not?"~Kasey

Ben and Jake are Kasey's two friends who agree to the Z-plan, but the three of them are joined by Jake's grandmother, Nancy, and some fellow college students who are caught up with the main trio, during their escape to the Appalachian Mountains. The POV switches between Ben and Kasey throughout Part One, until their storylines merge on October 6th.

Part Two, The Road Home, begins on October 7th, and the POV switches to a friend of Kasey's named Mia, who is briefly included in a phone call with Kasey in Part One. Mia runs out of supplies in her home, and tries to escape to Kasey's safe haven. Along the way, she meets a little boy named Ashton at a rest area, which further complicates Mia's dire situation. The POV switches temporarily to Kyra, who is abrasive towards Kasey, and causes one problem after another for her group. Instead of eliciting sympathy, Kyra's thoughts and actions only justify the hatred readers are sure to feel towards her character. When the storylines of Mia and Kyra finally merge, the cast of characters find themselves in a downward spiral, despite their carefully laid out survival plan.

Part Three, Road To Nowhere, which begins on October 20th, was emotionally devastating. The horrors that Kasey and her group face had me in tears. In Part Two, another survivor group is momentarily mentioned in passing, and they predictably clash towards the end of Part Three, but, even so, the fates of the main characters are surprising. (I like the fact there are only a handful of characters to keep track of, eliciting more empathy.)

The Plan is a great start to a series, but the beginning of the book requires a little patience. The zombie action doesn't happen right away, and there is more focus on the relationships between characters than killing the undead. However, the depth of the characters makes up for the lack of gore. I think it's safe to assume we will see more conflicts with the undead in the sequel, and I can't wait to read what else Dulaney has in store for Kasey's group.

As always,
AstraDaemon