Halloween Reading | Toxic AF | AstraDaemon

THE UNDEAD RUINS by Eloise J Knapp is the final book in the Undead Situation trilogy. As I write this, the Kindle edition suddenly went missing from Amazon, so the link will connect readers to the paperback. I'm still recommending this series in any form.

There is a huge time jump of about five years, with a few Cyrus flashbacks to key moments. Cyrus seems to have reverted back to the same personality he had in the first book. Other characters don't seem to have changed at all, which is kind of ridiculous when you think of what they've endured and how much time has passed.

In any case, this installment has more action than the first two books combined, with battles against both undead and crazies. People are trying to rebuild and completely ignoring how quickly everything fell apart in the first place. History is about to repeat itself. Some people carry scars, others carry grudge, but the really insane ones carry both.

I'm going to miss Cyrus...

As always,
AstraDaemon

Halloween Reading: Undead Week | Kevin | AstraDaemon

 

THE UNDEAD HAZE by Eloise J Knapp is the second book in her zombie trilogy. The irony is I like Cyrus this time around (I despised him in the first book), but this sequel aggravated me, even more than the first installment. Cyrus would escape one mess, only to find himself in another, and, after a while, the same survive the "crazies" over and over.

There are plenty of plot twists to keep me hooked into this series, so I am still looking forward to the next book. However, I hope there are major changes with the characters because I don't know if I can take anymore of their negative attitudes. I'd like to see them stop blaming each other for everything that goes wrong, and take some personal responsibility.

To her credit, Knapp has some excellent zombie action...as much as I'm complaining, this story is definitely NOT boring -- just exhausting at times. I also like the way Knapp ended the book; the epilogue is much better than a cliff-hanger.

I'm looking forward to the confrontation between three of the main characters in the next book, and hoping to see some of the supporting characters again.

As always,

AstraDaemon

P.S. Don't forget to leave a comment to enter the giveaway for this week's autographed book series. The end of the contest will be delayed to Oct 27th, due to a family emergency.

Halloween Reading: Undead Week | V Stands For Vicious | AstraDaemon

THE UNDEAD SITUATION by Eloise J Knapp is a permutation of various elements of the human psyche: irrationality, detachment, and a degree of apathy I haven't read since David Moody's Hater. I don't have a problem with self-preservation in an apocalypse (makes perfect sense, really), but the character of Cyrus V. Sinclair is self-centered to the point of being sadistic. However, he undergoes a mild transformation, and he has a pet ferret.

The other few characters (Frank - mentor of Cyrus, Gabe - teen survivor & Blaze - former military) also have a peculiar nature to them. Some embodying the typical survivor clichés, others simply inscrutable which amplified the lack of emotion that pervades throughout the book...none of them too developed. The sudden and brief flip to Blaze's POV just to show readers something she did without the knowledge of the other three characters did nothing to give any real depth to her personality. Gabe is just there (taking up space), and Frank is more setup for the story than anything else.

The novel does have some gruesome scenes, although Knapp doesn't dwell on the visceral details much. Instead, she focuses on psychological horror, with frustrating people and exasperating circumstances to rub salt in the undead wound.

Overall, the deal breaker for readers will probably depend on whether they're accepting of Cyrus or not, but this is a story which centers more on the breakdown of society rather than characterization, so it's a pretty good zombie apocalypse.

As always,

AstraDaemon

P.S. Don't forget to leave a comment to enter the giveaway for this week's autographed book series.

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

Undead Texas Slaughter

THE FALL OF AUSTIN by Bowie Ibarra is set in the zombie apocalypse of DOWN THE ROAD, but this novel is a stand-alone story. However, I do recommend reading the other two books which provide different perspectives to the horror unfolding across Texas. All three novels have a variety of characters, plenty of conflict among the survivors, and some of the most brutal action scenes I've ever read.

Of the three DTR books, this one is the most emotional. The contrast of heroes and villains is gut-wrenching, as Ibarra's undead onslaught brings out the best and worst in his characters. After following the bloody battles between the various survivor groups, the ending left me in tears.

I know years have passed since Ibarra wrote these books, but I would LOVE to have a novel centered on the two leaders of the southern exodus. PLEEEASE!!

As always,
AstraDaemon

Return to A Zombie Favorite

DOWN THE ROAD: ON THE LAST DAY by Bowie Ibarra takes place in the same zombie apocalypse as the first book, but it's not exactly a sequel. While I recommend reading the original story before this one, it's not necessary. Readers of both will discover what happened to two of the characters who drive off from the original storyline.

My favorite part of the story is the moment the town's survivors hang their banner on the building to expose the media lies. I love how the townsfolk pull together to secure their town. Of course, the military nutjob has to go and wreck things. The UN forces learn the hard way what happens when you mess with Texans.

The characters are very believable, and Ibarra describes the area quite well. I'm being vague because I hate giving away too much when it comes to zombie novels.

The ending is mind-blowing. Still the best revenge scene since The Count of Monte Cristo (even after all these years).

As always,
AstraDaemon

Memory Lane Is Filled With Zombies

DOWN THE ROAD by Bowie Ibarra is one of the first zombie novels I read, as AstraDaemon, while writing for The Zombiephiles several years ago. Since then, I've read HUNDREDS of undead stories (still do), and the author has gone on to make quite a name for himself in the horror community. To this day, this series remains one of my favorites, so I felt the need to revisit George Zaragosa and his apocalyptic journey.

I strongly recommend reading the introduction by Travis Adkins (now Travis Maatta, and also another favorite author of mine), as he explains the difficulties Ibarra faced during the original release of this book, especially the harsh criticism dished out in some reviews.

As for the story, I think many readers are going to empathize with George's POV. He just wants to make it home alive. The government has ordered survivors to turn themselves into the FEMA camps. Anyone trying to shelter in their homes will be arrested. Anyone in possession of firearms or using firearms to defend themselves against the infected will be arrested. Rather than fighting the dead, the soldiers victimize the civilians in the camps. the zombies are not much of a threat compared to what the living are doing to each other.

Ibarra uses his unique style to twist this into a personal crime drama, taking this outbreak to another level. As George witnesses the best and worst of humanity, he finally discovers the true fate of his murdered fiancée. I highly recommend this series to all zombiephiles.

However, if zombies are not your flavor of horror, you should read Bowie Ibarra's BIG CAT.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Virus Outbreak

OMEGA VIRUS by D Mendonca quickly hooks readers with a timeline of the virus outbreak (so much better than long setups in short stories). The POV is told through a survivor named David. He provides a brief run-down of his fellow survivors, as well as the type of zombies they are dealing with.

The virus is one of the most destructive forces I have read about since Dead Sea (Brian Keene). Not only is the human race teetering on the edge of extinction, but every aspect of daily life has been severely impacted, ravaging all living things, with the sole exception of plants.

While I enjoyed this story immensely, there is an insane amount of typos, which I think could be easily cleared up with a healthy dose of spellcheck. Too bad the author never developed this story into a full-length novel.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Ray Bradbury, Cormac McCarthy & George Romero walk into a bar...

THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY INFECTIVE PEOPLE by William Todd Rose swings back and forth between a present-day contagion and the future atrocities which follow. Ironically, I was reluctant to read this book because I'm not a fan of time-travel fiction. However, the idea of zombies and time travel mixed together intrigued me enough to give this book a chance. I'm so glad I didn't pass up this story -- it is amazing! Although, the zombies, known as rotters, are just mere mentions, so don't expect an undead survival tale.

There are two POVs, which switch every time a new chapter starts. The first POV is Bosely, a guy who has obviously killed someone in an attempt to prevent an apocalyptic event he has seen during his time-travel experiences. Bosely claims his consciousness is able to project forward through something called the Eye of Aeons. When he does, he takes up residence in the mind of young teen girl named Ocean.

Ocean provides the second POV, describing horrific living conditions and personalizing the hopelessness of the future. While Bosely's story recaps the events leading up to the murder, Ocean's story focuses on the new group of survivors she's joined.

What really impresses me with Rose's writing style is how the author keeps raising the level of suspense from one chapter to the next by cutting back and forth between the POVs at the most climatic moments...kind of like every chapter ending on a cliffhanger with either Bosely or Ocean, and suddenly switching to the other. This thrilling blend of sci-fi and post-apocalyptic horror will leave your mind in a twist!

As always,
AstraDaemon

Kill Or Be Killed ...Or Be Eaten

DEAD MEAT by Patrick Williams and Chris Williams is not about friendship or working together, but instead focuses on the combination of hate & fear that arises when random strangers form a loose-knit group, and they are unable to agree on much of anything. Conflict dominates their decision-making, rather than the motivation to live. They way they see it, they're all going to die, but it's a battle to see who dies last. Not only does it explore the various shades of gray when it comes to the kill or be killed theme, but it's a gripping account of endurance with incredibly raw characters.

I like the way various groups are labeled; the zombies are called "bees" because of the way they swarm around the survivors. The soldiers are called the "Exterminators" as they quickly become more of a threat than the undead, using live bait to draw in the bees. These labels used by the characters create the illusion of compassion among the group, when in reality, the survivors often give in to their own savage impulses, striking out at their traveling companions at the worst of times, leaving readers to wonder which group is doing the most damage.

This novel is a visceral account of a hopeless attempt to reclaim something worth living for, with the narrator coming to a brutal realization about his first impressions. The ending will gnaw at your insides long after you finish the story.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Alaskan Undead Apocalypse: Book 5

UNWILLING by Sean Schubert is the fifth book in the Alaskan Undead Apocalypse series. INFECTION, the first book, begins with three children discovering a "caveman" partially thawed in a glacier. One of the kids is infected, and rushed to the hospital. The child dies, reanimates, and begins to attack those around him. As the outbreak spreads into the rest of Anchorage, Alaska, the authorities incorrectly assume they are under attack from terrorists.

CONTAINMENT, book two, is a convergence of the survivors' storylines. The third installment, MITIGATION, takes place a few months after the initial outbreak with little Martin and returns to the very source of the infection, while tying up loose ends from the first two books. RESOLUTION, the best of the series, offers up multiple background stories and deeper connections between the survivors. (You can learn more about this series in my Schubert interview.)

UNWILLING picks up several weeks after the battle between Neil's group and the Colonel in Whittier. The survivor group has increased in number and finally found a place they can call home, but they are contacted by a government official requesting a rescue effort to extract a scientific group from Anchorage. This begs the question, why hasn't anyone attempted to rescue Neil's group yet?

Not only do readers find out what has happened in the lower 48 states, but they are given an additional storyline to follow. The pace is, while action-packed with many horde conflicts, very slow, and I had to read past the halfway mark before I had any genuine interest in the new group. I suppose I am feeling bitter over Neil's decision to rescue the scientists, and putting themselves in the middle of an undead hell, after how much they went through to escape to someplace relatively safe.

As a fan of the series, I am not happy with the way the fifth book ends. Sorry, Schubert, but I think most fans are going to need a sixth book, especially with the change in dynamics within Neil's group.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Deadlands: Book One

PLAGUE OF THE UNDEAD by Joe McKinney describes a post-apocalyptic world 30 years after a man-made plague with zombies. The town of Arbella can barely contain the population of ten-thousand people, offspring of the First Generation to survive the initial outbreak. A group has set out to see if it is possible to safely expand their borders; however, their decades of isolation has left them unprepared for First Contact.

The people of Arbella live by a strict Code, which has helped them survive and thrive, but a betrayal of trust will jeopardize the expedition. There is also the mystery of the exotic airships, which appear to be able to herd the undead hordes.

McKinney basically brought together science fiction and horror to create what I believe is one of his best stories. He ties in the cause of the plague to the reason there are still zombies three decades later, and provides one hell of an explanation for the movement of the hordes.

Last, but not least, McKinney includes four short stories that are extremely entertaining. They include a type of survivor called a Faker, which is devastatingly haunting.

You don't have to be a zombie fan to appreciate the sci-fi horror between these pages.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Savage Suspense

THE SAVAGE DEAD by Joe McKinney is more of a crime thriller than a zombie horror novel. The infected are just a small detail in a story about an assassination plot to take out a Senator who has been fighting against Mexican cartels. One cartel in particular attempts to use a biological weapon on a cruise ship to take out their target.

I really enjoyed all of the characters, as well as the mix of action and moments of introspection. Details about their personal issues adds extra suspense to every scene, wondering how their pasts will affect their decision-making and not knowing what each is willing to do to survive.

I'm satisfied with the ending, if this is a stand-alone, but I wouldn't mind a sequel with Ramon being hunted down.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Lame Ending to Great Series

MUTATED by Joe McKinney is the fourth book in his Dead World series, and the weakest one, in my opinion. I can't even believe McKinney wrote this. The writing style is nowhere near the same level of storytelling found in the first three books, and the characters leave a LOT to be desired.

In particular, Niki is a joke. Not only is she unrealistic, she is more suited to a campy comic book than a dramatic survival novel. Even the bad guy, the Red Man, is not as bad as the cheerleader turned terminator. There were so many quality characters (not to mention the variety) in the previous installments, I can't begin to imagine what McKinney was thinking when he decided to make Niki's mission the main storyline.

Not only is Niki a poor excuse for a character, just having someone like her in the story took away from the potential of the rest of the characters. The Red Man could have been more sinister, Ben could have been a bigger source of strength for the group, Nate and Avery could have had more of a relationship, and Sylvia should have been THE main character. Even Fisher and Stoler could have been more involved.

After having to put up with Niki and her over-the-top action scenes throughout the story, the ending is a disappointment as well...too simplified and rushed. If you love the series, do yourself a favor, and skip this one. Whatever you think happened to the group who escaped from Jasper will be better than what McKinney did to his survivors.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Dead World: Flesh Eaters

Battered by three devastating hurricanes in a row, the Texas coast is flattened. But for the people of Houston--and soon all of America--the most terrifying events are just beginning...

FLESH EATERS appears to be a prequel to Dead City and Apocalypse of the Dead, revealing how the outbreak began in Houston, and how it was spread into the other major Texas cities. The characters slowly realize that the multiple hurricane damage that has altered the coastline permanently is the least of their worries. The zombie virus is explained in great detail, and this form of the undead really sets McKinney apart from other authors in the zombie genre.

McKinney has gone to great lengths to make the entire series as realistic as possible, and if you haven’t read all three books yet, I strongly recommend that you put it on your Halloween must-read list. I can't wait to read the fourth book in the series!

As always,
AstraDaemon

Dead World: Apocalypse of the Dead

Two hellish years. That's how long it's been since the hurricanes flooded the Gulf Coast, and the dead rose up from the ruins. The cities were quarantined; the infected, contained. Any unlucky survivors were left to fend for themselves.

APOCALYPSE OF THE DEAD, McKinney’s second book in his Dead World series, takes place two years after the outbreak in Dead City, and includes more details about the source of the zombie virus and its nature. The military has sealed off the Gulf Coast, trapping thousands of uninfected survivors with the remaining zombies. The newly formed Quarantine Authority cannot hold back the zombies or the people desperate to escape the Q-zone.

AOTD changes things up with multiple POVs from characters that slowly converge upon the same time and place in North Dakota, as the rest of the US falls to utter destruction. Worse yet, there is a new strain of the virus making it difficult to identify the infected. The characters are the most striking mix I’ve ever read: convicts, the elderly, porn stars, religious fanatics, and even a blind woman.

When the world goes to hell, McKinney throws everyone into the fire.

As always,
AstraDaemon