Blackout by Mira Grant

Title: Blackout (Newsflesh #3)

Author: Mira Grant

Publisher: Orbit 2012

Genre: Zombie

Pages: 660

Rating:  5  / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Zombie; Mount TBR; Color Coded – Black; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: I own it!

The year was 2014. The year we cured cancer. The year we cured the common cold. And the year the dead started to walk. The year of the Rising.

The year was 2039. The world didn’t end when the zombies came, it just got worse. Georgia and Shaun Mason set out on the biggest story of their generation. The uncovered the biggest conspiracy since the Rising and realized that to tell the truth, sacrifices have to be made.

Now, the year is 2041, and the investigation that began with the election of President Ryman is much bigger than anyone had assumed. With too much left to do and not much time left to do it in, the surviving staff of After the End Times must face mad scientists, zombie bears, rogue government agencies-and if there’s one thing they know is true in post-zombie America, it’s this: Things can always get worse.

What a conclusion to the trilogy!  I am blown away.  I couldn’t have imagined that the conspiracy went so deep and was so insidious.  I love that this series, while keeping the zombie scares, involves a huge political thriller.  This was definitely a departure, especially a departure from my last series (As the World Dies from Rhiannon Frater), but I loved it.  I loved seeing more of my favorite characters, loved Maggie so much!  I loved seeing more action sequences, love the shooting!  I loved hearing more witty quips, hello Alaric!  I must caution readers that this series is super addictive and super dense.  While I flew through the pages, I sometimes needed to take a moment to let certain events and revelations sink in.  A very well-written complicated zombie thriller.

Newsflesh Trilogy

1. Feed
2. Deadline
3. Blackout
4. Countdown — ebook novella

  

 

Deadline by Mira Grant

Title: Deadline (Newsflesh #2)

Author: Mira Grant

Publisher: Orbit 2011

Genre: Zombie

Pages: 624

Rating:   5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Zombie; Mount TBR; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: I own it!

Shaun Mason is a man without a mission. Not even running the news organization he built with his sister has the same urgency as it used to. Playing with dead things just doesn’t seem as fun when you’ve lost as much as he has.But when a CDC researcher fakes her own death and appears on his doorstep with a ravenous pack of zombies in tow, Shaun has a newfound interest in life. Because she brings news-he may have put down the monster who attacked them, but the conspiracy is far from dead.Now, Shaun hits the road to find what truth can be found at the end of a shotgun.

The second part of this series continues the saga.  I love this series.  We get away from the political intrigue, or do we?  As much as I missed Georgia, I really grew to love Shaun in this book.  Even his crazy conversations with Georgia added a great character flaw.  And we get to meet some of the beta bloggers who become alpha bloggers.      I especially loved Maggie and all her crazy teacup bulldogs.  Of course, the conspiracy keeps getting deeper and deeper.  I loved the science involved in this series.  The zombies are scary, but I’m more scared of the humans involved.  I stayed up last night way too late trying to finish this book.  I got to the end and sat in my chair stunned.  I knew there would be a cliffhanger, but good graciousness that was big cliffhanger.  Now I must start Blackout.

Newsflesh Trilogy

1. Feed
2. Deadline
3. Blackout
4. Countdown — ebook novella

  

 

Feed by Mira Grant

Title: Feed (Newsflesh #1)

Author: Mira Grant

Publisher: Orbit 2010

Genre: Zombie

Pages: 600

Rating:  5  / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Zombie; Mount TBR; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: I own it!

The year was 2014. We had cured cancer. We had beat the common cold. But in doing so we created something new, something terrible that no one could stop. The infection spread, virus blocks taking over bodies and minds with one, unstoppable command: FEED.  NOW, twenty years after the Rising, Georgia and Shaun Mason are on the trail of the biggest story of their lives-the dark conspiracy behind the infected. The truth will out, even if it kills them.

A different type of zombie novel, less concerned about the horrors of the zombies and more concerned about the horrors of uninfected humans.  The novel focuses on politics and the news media.  We see how the world post Rising has resorted to fear and false security.  We see groups and individuals fall into the extremes in thinking.  We see a group of bloggers attempting to give people the truth no matter the cause.  I loved every minute of this book.  It shocked me, but deep down didn’t surprise me how low some the characters could go in their effort to “save America.”  In no way was this book predictive.  I was stunned at every twist and turn.

Except for the comment about zombies, this is a very appropriate comment on the news media and the truth.  I see this everyday.  Scary that things in a post-zombie apocalypse world have so much in common with the state of the world today.  Something to ponder.  And go read this book!

The trouble with news is simple: People, especially ones on the ends of the power spectrum, like it when you’re afraid.  The people who have the power want you scared.  They want you walking around paralyzed by the notion that you could die at any moment.  There’s always something to be afraid of.  It used to be terrorists.  Now it’s zombies.

What does this have to do with the news?  This: The truth isn’t scary.  Not when you understand it, not when you understand the repercussions of it, and not when you aren’t worried that something’s being kept form you.  The truth is only scary when you think part of it might be missing.  And those people?  They like it when you’re scared.  So they do their best to sit on the truth, to sensationalize the truth, to filter the truth in ways that make it something you can be afraid of.

If we didn’t have to fear the truths we didn’t hear, we’d lost the need to fear the ones we did.  People should consider that. (pg. 346)

Newsflesh Trilogy

1. Feed
2. Deadline
3. Blackout
4. Countdown — ebook novella

  

 

Siege by Rhiannon Frater

Title: Siege (As the World Dies #3)

Author: Rhiannon Frater

Publisher: Tor Books 2011

Genre: Zombie

Pages: 364

Rating:    5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Zombie; Mount TBR; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: I won it

The zombie illness has shattered civilization. The survivors who have found tenuous safety in Texas defend their fort against the walking dead and living bandits.  Katie has made peace with the death of her wife and is pregnant and married to Travis, who has been elected Mayor. Jenni, her stepson, Jason; and Juan—Travis’s righthand man—are a happy family, though Jenni suffers from PTSD. Both women are deadly zombie killers.  In Siege, the people of Ashley Oaks are stunned to discover that the vice president of the United States is alive and commanding the remnants of the US military. What’s left of the US government has plans for this group of determined survivors.

What a conclusion!  When I go into a zombie novel, I kinda root for a happy ending, but realize that isn’t not necessary for a good book.  Without giving away details, this series has a relatively happy ending.  I am satisfied.  Throughout the series, I grieved over the loses.  And yet I rejoiced at the triumphant moments.  Overall I think the series is a story of hope.  Even in the zombie apocalypse, we must have hope.  While the religious areas got a bit cliched, the overall message of hope was nice to hear from the survivors.  The characters are real people to me now.  I see each of them in my mind.  I want to be friends with Katie and Jenni.  I want to play with Jack.  I want to help Jason build his contraptions.  I want to train with Nerit.  I want to gather in the dining all with all the residents.  I want to sit in Juan’s memorial garden and reminisce about those we lost.  For me to get so deeply into the world of the series, I know it’s a great one.  Check it out!

As the World Dies

1. The First Days
2. Fighting to Survive
3. Siege
4. Untold Tales Volume 1 – extra ebook
5. Untold Tales Volume 2 – extra ebook

  

 

Fighting to Survive by Rhiannon Frater

Title: Fighting to Survive (As the World Dies #2)

Author: Rhiannon Frater

Publisher: Tor Books 2011

Genre: Zombie

Pages: 368

Rating:   5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Zombie; Mount TBR; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: I won it

Picking up where The First Days ends, Fighting to Survive features the further zombie-killing, civilization-saving adventures of a pair of sexy, kick butt heroines and the men who love them. A hundred or so survivors of the zombie plague have found tenuous safety in the walled off center of a small Texas town. Now the hard work of survival begins—finding enough food; creating safe, weather-resistant shelter; establishing laws; and fighting off both the undead who want to eat them and the living bandits who want to rob and kill them.

And the saga continues.  Oh my this one was a roller coaster.  I still absolutely love the characters in this series.  Katie is amazing and full of heart.  Jenni is growing on me.  She isn’t as annoying as in the first book.  Nerit is just awesome and stoic and a sniper!  Travis is a great addition for the women heavy cast list.  Juan also grew on me throughout the book.  The plot is full of twists and turns.  Every time things seemed to calm down in the fort, another threat popped up.  I loved the crazy action scenes.  But I also got very connected to the quiet moments.  The deaths of the likable characters really hit me.  Overall this volume was amazing.  Can’t wait to dive into the conclusion.

As the World Dies

1. The First Days
2. Fighting to Survive
3. Siege
4. Untold Tales Volume 1
5. Untold Tales Volume 2

  

 

The First Days by Rhiannon Frater

Title: The First Days (As the World Dies #1)

Author: Rhiannon Frater

Publisher: Tor Books 2011

Genre: Zombie

Pages: 335

Rating:   5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Zombie; Mount TBR; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: I won it

The morning that the world ends, Katie is getting ready for court and housewife Jenni is taking care of her family. Less than two hours later, they are fleeing for their lives from a zombie horde.Thrown together by circumstance, Jenni and Katie become a powerful zombie-killing partnership, mowing down zombies as they rescue Jenni’s stepson, Jason, from an infected campground.They find sanctuary in a tiny, roughly fortified Texas town.  There Jenni and Katie find they are both attracted to Travis, leader of the survivors; and the refugees must slaughter people they know, who have returned in zombie form.

Oh My!  What a zombie novel!  We are immediately thrown into the action.  The first scene is utterly horrifying.  I was terrified at what would come next.  The book starts in action and just never stops.  Right away I latched onto Katie as my identifiable character.  She is strong and yet has a vulnerable spot.  I loved the chapters told from her perspective.  Jenni was a bit crazy or as Juan would say loca.  I just never completely came around to her.  But I understand that her background as a battered woman defines her current relationships with others in the fort.  The other inhabitants are just as interesting and engaging.  The novel has just the right amount of gore and suspense and then quiet moments between survivors.  I am so glad that Rhiannon Frater was encouraged to publish the book.  I can’t wait to dive right into the next installment…

As the World Dies

1. The First Days
2. Fighting to Survive
3. Siege
4. Untold Tales Volume 1
5. Untold Tales Volume 2

  

 

Sadie Walker is Stranded by Madeleine Roux

Title: Sadie Walker is Stranded

Author: Madeleine Roux

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin 2012

Genre: Zombie

Pages: 335

Rating:   5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Zombie; Mount TBR; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: I own it!

Sadie Walker is one of the survivors in this new world. Living in north Seattle behind barrier that keep the living in and the dead out, she trying to get back to a normal life, while raising her eight-year-old nephew, if anyone even knows what “normal” is anymore.  Then everything goes sideways when Shane is kidnapped by a group of black market thieves and they bring down a crucial barrier in the city while trying to escape, and flood the city with the walking dead. After rescuing her nephew, Sadie and Shane escape Seattle on the last remaining boat, along with other survivors. However, now they must face the complete chaos of a world filled with flesh eating zombies and humans who are playing with a whole new rule book when it comes to survival in their journey to find a new place that they can call home.

Oh!  Such ambiance.  Such suspense.  Such horror.  I was concerned that a continuation of Allison Hewitt’s story would disappoint.  That book had such vibrant characters that I worried.  Thankfully I was wrong in my concerns.  This story jumps right into the action and never stops.  We follow Sadie and a ragtag band of misfits as they try to survive after The Outbreak.  I loved the setting of the Pacific Northwest.  I could almost hear the seagulls and smell the brisk salt air wind.  This zombie novel doesn’t have much gore, but it sure has enough terror and gotcha moments.  I loved this book so much that I plowed right through it in one sitting.  Great novel!

  

 

Them or Us by David Moody

Title: Them or Us (Hater #3)

Author: David Moody

Publisher: Thomas Dunne 2011

Genre: Zombie

Pages: 368

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Zombie

How I Got It: Library Loan

The war that has torn the human race apart is finally nearing its end. With most towns and cities now uninhabitable, and with the country in the grip of a savage nuclear winter, both Hater and Unchanged alike struggle to survive.

Hundreds of Hater fighters have settled on the East Coast in the abandoned remains of a relatively undamaged town under the command of Hinchcliffe—who’ll stop at nothing to eradicate the last few Unchanged and consolidate his position at the top of this new world order. This fledgling society is harsh and unforgiving—your place in the ranks is decided by how long and how hard you’re prepared to fight.

Danny McCoyne is the exception to the rule. His ability to hold the Hate and to use it to hunt out the remaining Unchanged has given him a unique position in Hinchcliffe’s army of fighters. As the enemy’s numbers reduce, so the pressure on McCoyne increases, until he finds himself at the very center of a pivotal confrontation, the outcome of which will have repercussions on the future of everyone who is left alive.

Great ending, but to be honest, I was pretty bored in the middle.  How many times can I say that this series just isn’t as good as Autumn?  It just isn’t.  I was so confused for most of the book.  Should I connect with Danny or with the scattered unchanged or with no one.  I was horrified with most of the actions of the people in the book.      It’s definitely a scary possible future.  One I really don’t want to live at all.

Hater trilogy
1. Hater
2. Dog Blood 
3. Them or Us 

 

Dog Blood by David Moody

Title: Dog Blood (Hater #2)

Author: David Moody

Publisher: Thomas Dunne 2010

Genre: Zombie

Pages: 336

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Zombie

How I Got It: Library Loan

The Earth has been torn into two parts by an irreversible division. Whether due to nature, or the unknown depths of the mind itself, everyone is now either Human or Hater. Victim or killer. Governments have fallen, command structures have collapsed, and relationships have crumbled. Major cities have become refugee camps where human survivors cower together in fear. Amidst this indiscriminate carnage, Danny McCoyne is on a mission to find his daughter Ellis, convinced that her shared Hater condition means her allegiance is to people like him. Free of inhibitions, unrestricted by memories of peace, and driven by instinct, children are pure Haters, and may well define the future of the Hater race. But, as McCoyne makes his way into the heart of human territory, an incident on the battlefield sets in place an unexpected chain of events, forcing him to question everything he believes he knows about the new order that has arisen, and the dynamic of the Hate itself.

The second book in the Hater trilogy leaves us on a horrid cliffhanger.  To be honest, I started to lose interest about halfway through, but kept at it.  And thank good I did.  It really got moving with twists and turns and huge actions.  Moody definitely knows how to write horror.  I was terrified throughout most of the book.  But I must say that I still don’t like this series as much as the Autumn series.  This is more disjointed.  I found myself connecting with the Haters, but then I had to take a step back and reevaluate.  Should I empathize with the Haters or the Unchanged?  I felt conflicted through most of the book.  I still don’t know.  And maybe that’s the genius of this series.  I grabbed Them or Us from the library so I can finish this series.

Hater trilogy
1. Hater
2. Dog Blood 
3. Them or Us 

 

Hater by David Moody

Title: Hater (Hater #1)

Author: David Moody

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press 2006

Genre: Zombie

Pages: 281

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Zombie

How I Got It: Library Loan

REMAIN CALM DO NOT PANIC TAKE SHELTER WAIT FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS THE SITUATION IS UNDER CONTROL Society is rocked by a sudden increase in the number of violent assaults on individuals. Christened ‘Haters’ by the media, the attackers strike without warning, killing all who cross their path. The assaults are brutal, remorseless and extreme: within seconds, normally rational, self-controlled people become frenzied, vicious killers. There are no apparent links as a hundred random attacks become a thousand, then hundreds of thousands. Everyone, irrespective of gender, age, race or any other difference, has the potential to become a victim – or a Hater. People are afraid to go to work, afraid to leave their homes and, increasingly, afraid that at any moment their friends, even their closest family, could turn on them with ultra violent intent.  Waking up each morning, no matter how well defended, everyone must now consider the fact that by the end of the day, they might be dead.  Or perhaps worse, become a killer themselves.  As the status quo shifts, ATTACK FIRST, ASK QUESTIONS LATER becomes the order of the day…  only, the answers might be much different than what you expect….

I previously read Moody’s Autumn series and adored it.  I had wanted to check out the Hater trilogy for awhile.  Thankfully, I grabbed the first two books up from the library.  While this one doesn’t live up to Autumn, I did enjoy this unconventional zombie novel.  I was unsure of where this was going at first, but I definitely loved the turn of events.  I loved the interspersed vignettes of other “Haters.”  It added to the story beyond Danny’s own journey.  And what a cliffhanger…  My goodness I am on the edge of my seat wanting to know.  Thank goodness I have the second book, Dog Blood.

Hater trilogy
1. Hater
2. Dog Blood 
3. Them or Us