The story of the two brothers Benny and Tom through the first two books found many of the main plot lines clos 4. This book picks up right after the end of the last. Without any series spoilers I will review the rest. I loved the action and the relationships that have been built up through books one and two, but in this one, we gain very little additional insight into our young heroes. A major plot point from book two paints much of the understory of this one, to the point where many other things are overshadowed. This was the worst thing for me to deal with as I really felt that it lessened the overall feel of the series.
That being said, Benny, Nix, Lilah, and Chong all continue to grow up as young adults as the horrors around them mold them into the heroes that they are. Flesh and Bone has a few additional interesting characters added to the cast too. The foreword by Maberry is both poignant and pertinent to our story and I often thought back to his words that started this book.
Loss, pain, and the way one deals with it are the major themes of this book, and each of our heroes has their own way. So many of the people she loved were waiting for her there. Lilah kept walking along the muddy bank of the stream, but she slowed and then stopped completely. The path ahead of her was invisible now. It was not hidden by shadows, and it had not petered out as loose soil gave way to hard rock.
Was this what you felt when you carried me out of Sunset Hollow on First Night? If you were really the coward I used to think you were, you would have run off and left me. You would have saved yourself. Alone, without having to carry me, it would have been easier for you to slip away. You carried me all the way. Was it a memory? A zom fell into the ravine directly in front of them, and the little girl screamed even louder.
But Benny leaped over the awkward form before the zom could struggle to its feet. I lived to save you, said Tom. There is less action and a smaller scope in this one, but that is ok too. Many of the Benny and Nix scenes are standouts, as well as the scenes involving the new character Joe and his kick ass dog Grimm. Chong however stole the show for me. The least warrior like of the bunch makes many incredibly difficult and brave decisions that show just what it means to be heroic.
His interactions with Riot were fabulous. I have really enjoyed the adventures in this series so far, even though I was taken aback at the end of book two. Hopefully when the final book comes out I will not be feeling that things should have gone differently. This is a fantastic heartfelt young adult series that takes place in a post-apocalyptic land of the undead. It will be loved and enjoyed by readers of all ages. Jonathan Maberry is one of my very favorite authors of today, and one that should not be missed…My highest recommendations!!!
Apr 06, Brooke added it. Sep 20, Jen rated it it was amazing. Hooray for another Maberry book! They really can't come fast enough. Maberry delivers on the thrills as well, with his typical "impossible to escape" scenarios as well as introducing evolutions i. My main critisism of the book is that I felt like the book ended before the story did.
Just as the overarching narrative begins to move forward.. This of course could just be my eagerness to find out what happens next, but this book did not seem quite as complete as the previous two. Ah well, it just means I'll be awaiting the fate of our heroes even more enthusiastically. Also, fans of other Maberry works will be delighted to meet Captain Joe Ledger in this book. It was a pleasant surprise to see one of my favorite characters cross over. Sep 13, Caru rated it liked it. There is some majo Actual Rating: There is some major character development on Chong's part.
I feel like we actually get to know him in this book and watch him grow. Don't get me wrong, in the first two books he was an awesome hilarious character, but in this one, he gets even more amazing. We actually get to know the real him. I think he's now my favorite character in this books.
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Loved his intelligence, humor, and seeing the things he would do for people he cares for. Ah, I've loved her from the start, but now we actually get to know the real her as well. She's badass, and independent. One of the best female characters in the YA genre. I love the writing! Its full of rich descriptions and I love the multiple POVs, that way we get into the main characters' heads.
This one had a lottt going on with the plot once you got past the slow beginning , and usually books with a lot going on are hard to understand, but Jonathan Maberry pulled it off well! Once I got past the slow beginning, this book was like BAM!! I was totally hooked! So excited for the next book!! And damn, that epilogue brought back memories from the first two books! He's just bland, I suppose. She's so freaking annoying!! She thinks that no one has been through want she has, and she whines all the time.
Like, seriously, shut up, Nix! I never liked Benny and Nix as a couple, but it wasn't so bad that I couldn't deal with it And they're both annoying.
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So its just like, gosh, stop! I cannot deal with them together. Despite the fact that I had some big problems with the main character and his girlfriend, I still overall liked this book and do recommend it if you're a fan of the first two books. It'll completely change your view on zombies in a good way. It's definitely an emotional, funny, and exciting book with twists you'll never see coming! Tom gave an elaborate shrug. You're the hero with the magic sword.
I'm just a ghost - who is considerably better-looking than you. Feb 23, Dana rated it really liked it Shelves: So many of the people she loved were waiting for her there" - Flesh and Bone I liked this book BUT Kind of annoyed at how many times Benny says sorry to the zombies he kills. I'm Canadian and even I think this is getting to be too much. He is becoming way too deferential to these zombies and my eyes are getting exhausted from all the rolling. And another thing, while I'm on a tangent and all, what the hell is up with Chong? He is the Lorrie of this book "It was why Lilah did not fear death.
He is the Lorrie of this book if you watch the walking dead you will understand , all he does is endanger people, the world is dangerous enough without him adding to it! I understand that not everybody is cut out for the rot and ruin but he is just plain reckless and that is not so easily forgivable. I think in a town setting he would be great and useful and make a big difference but out in the wild I just hate him. Then I feel bad for hating him because I certainly wouldn't last a day in the rot and ruin, but still why does he have to be so annoying?
Also, Nix has turned into a massive bitch, buuuut I feel like I can't really blame anyone for being a bitch in the zombie apocalypse. Her harshness towards Benny is pretty cringe worthy though. Now after all that griping you might think I hate this book. I was quite impressed with how the author winds in new characters in a natural yet interesting way.
Another great book in this awesome series!! A felt it was a little action less then the previous ones but still good none the less. On ward to book 4. Aug 31, Heather Faville rated it it was amazing. Benny and Nix are having relationship troubles as a result of everything that has happened in the last year and the lack of communication between the two.
Lilah and Chong are still working out the details of their relationship with her being The Lost Girl and him a mere Town Boy. As always, there are zoms to contend with as they travel and the unfortunate discovery that some of the zoms are faster and a bit smarter than what they have been used to. However, there is, also, a new evil afoot who call themselves Reapers.
They are a form of religious cult who bring the darkness to those who were not 'blessed' with the zombie virus. Benny and Nix have an interesting encounter with Saint John of the Knife and come across an interesting find. Our "town boy" Chong, having been separated from the group while fleeing the Reapers finds himself caring for a child, Eve, whose family has been lost to the Reapers and being cared for himself, by Riot, the daughter of Mother Rose, the leader of the cult from which they are running.
New friends are met, battles are fought and lives are lost. The action is practically nonstop and the attention to detail is spot on, as is the norm for Mr Maberry. If you haven't read books 1 and 2 yet, well Mar 31, Alondra rated it it was amazing Shelves: After the death of one of their own; they are forced to fend for themselves in the great Rot and Ruin.
With the continuation of their journey from their hometown, Mountainside; we meet a new set of foes These are a collection of religious zealots following a known serial killer Not only are they trying to survive zombies, but people who lust for the kill, too.?? And if that doesn't get you angry, 5 Stars This was another twist on the fates of Benny Imura and his friends.
And if that doesn't get you angry, then faster zombies with a tendency to "think" will Hold on to your seats, ladies and gents; the ride is just beginning Just an ending that says Aug 15, Regina rated it really liked it Shelves: This was so good. I am glad I waited for the audio version to be produced. I was not sure he could do it given the characters that were killed off in the previous book.
But wow, he did. This is a great book and I can't way to read 4. View all 11 comments. When I get my thoughts a little better together, I'll come back for a more coherent review. Feb 06, Shelley rated it really liked it Shelves: They have left California behind, and are now in Nevada where Nix and Benny are having issues with their relationship and Lilah is coming to terms with her feelings for Chong. Things in the Ruin are also quickly changing. It appears that the zombies are getting faster and have a general understanding of what is happening around them while animals are now appearing as infected and causing problems for the group.
Maberry introduces readers to Riot, Eve and her family, as well an organization called the Night Church and its psychotic leader Saint John of the knives who is just plain evil in every way imaginable. Mother Rose also has a few choice secrets of her own that slowly unravel as the story reaches its pinnacle. Not everything is dark and dreary or foreboding this time out. We have the arrival of Captain Joe Ledger of the Rangers and his zombie killing dog Grimm to the story.
There is a definite past between Joe and Saint John that I would love to see played out in this series. This series is one of my most favorites, and one of the few I read as soon as the books are released. The book is action packed right from the start. Their skills are put to the test, not only physically, but intellectually, as well. Of course, Maberry has to make me cry at least once in these books, so get your tissue ready.
Benny, Nix, Lilah, and Chong were great as always. Nix and Lilah are fierce, and anyone should think twice when crossing them. I love those girls so much, especially Lilah. And I love how everyone is so confident in her abilities. Sometimes I felt a little sorry for Benny and Chong, because I know it can be tough with not only one, but two dominant females. Mostly, though, it made me laugh. Chong especially made me laugh, with all of his smart-ass remarks.
Riot has ties to the Night Church, but wants nothing to do with them. It gets very ugly when it all come to a head in Nevada, with Benny and the gang right in the mix. Wrong, there is a lot of him! I was beyond giddy. The way he was incorporated into the story was brilliant! There were a few other references that I found humorous, too. Jan 12, Sue Smith rated it really liked it Shelves: This book is not an easy book to review.
Well, I'll tell you I want to give the story justice! Firstly, let me assure you that it's a great book. I do love how Jonathan Maberry makes the existence of zombies a frighteningly realistic thing, with a human element that just adds to the horror of it. And this particular chapter into the 'adventure' of a group of young friends really brings that to light even more so This book is not an easy book to review.
And this particular chapter into the 'adventure' of a group of young friends really brings that to light even more so. I don't think I'd like to see this happen to the world. It truly would be a scary place to be, especially because the craziness and extremisms would be such an easy thing to visualize happening. Peace and keeping it are always on a fine balancing wire together. And this new heaviness that the previous two books had in short supply, nearly dropped my rating to three stars. I missed the levity to offshoot the tragedy I suppose. Oh — did I mention that there are zombies in this book?
Sheesh … do I really have to?! Of course there are zombies in this book!! Where Jonathan Maberry gets his ideas is beyond me. View all 4 comments. I just finished rereading this remarkable book but this time on audio, which I highly recommend! Just as good the second time around! Here is my original review: For the first time ever, I actually tried to slow down my reading because I knew that once I finished, the book would be over.
I never want this series to end. The new evil doers were ever I just finished rereading this remarkable book but this time on audio, which I highly recommend! The new evil doers were everything I hate and more. There were many times where I was cringing and absolutely stunned by what Benny, Nix, Chong and Lilah were dealing with this time around. And why oh why do I continue to read this series while out at the local coffee shops? Again, I had to hide my face behind my Nook while the tears were rolling down my cheeks.
I should know better by now. I feel so vested in these characters and their world. And congratulations on the movie rights!! Jun 08, Joey rated it did not like it Shelves: Loved the first one, the second was Ok, but this one is unbearable. If I had to read the phrase "Warrior Smart" one more time Chapter after chapter is dedicated to reminding us how short our memories are by telling us again and again what had happened in the first two books.
Not just a sentence or two but page after page after page. The book has very little to do with zombies but everything to do with awkward teenage love. But being I hate not finishing a book, I will TRY to read a chapter a day and update this review in the far future The only series that has been able to fill The Walking Dead void in my life between seasons.
Dropping everything else to binge and finish off this series. Actual rating - 3. Looking forward to the next one. Jul 07, Shannon Kitchens rated it it was amazing Shelves: And when I read a book, I often notice little writery tricks. I can see where the story is going, and I can appreicate it on a technical level.
Zombies: Grim Reaper (The New World, Book 3)
Make me forget it's following certain paths that stories take. Make me hope and wish for something that the logical part of my brain knows can't happen. Make me forget I'm reading a story but instead glimpsing a slice of some other place. I hung on the edge of each page, devouring the story. While not a perfect piece of literature, there is something raw and powerful in this book. And crazy cults help too.
Characters struggle with depression, zombies, and crazy death cults, all with a hint that maybe, just maybe their quest isn't worthless. The fact that the events in this book took place over a day didn't bother me. This is primarily due to the POV shifts throughout the book. I do have one complaint: I really didn't care for the POV of our villains and various cult members.
I sort of wonder if it was padding to expand the story. It's the time frame that makes it a complete book, though, there's clearly still story to tell. We've finally expanded beyond the borders of the Nine Towns and a small part of California. We learn that there is much moving in the world, and the world is struggling to continue. These details are so well constructed that it makes me excited just to know more.
More of this world Benny, Nix, Chong, and Lilah inhabit. But what really brings Book 3 into the spotlight is how it excellently handles the themes of grief. Everyone around them is dying, and they are struggling to keep a float. There are many who keep strong, and many who succumb to darker desires. It's so beautifully portrayed and it gets to some of the core of being human. The will to live. And isn't that what zombie books are about? And I knew from chapter 1, that it was going to be Chong. Chong's death and Sanctuary are so beautiful, so moving, it's hard for me to describe.
I get misty-eyed just thinking about it. Please tell me soon. Sep 10, Elizabeth rated it really liked it. They still traverse the Rot and Ruin towards the unknown, but their hope stays strong. The world is a wild place now. Exotic animals hunt them. Zombies attack them in swarms and not just slow, normal zombies, but faster, evolving zombies. A death cult grows large and picks off towns and villages one by one, leaving a wake of blood and death. A small band of survivors try to fight back, but the odds don't look good.
Benny and his friends must remain constantly vigilant that everything in the Rot and Ruin willy try to kill them in order to survive. Flesh and Bone is the third in the series and it's going very strong. Benny and his friends are in emotional shambles at this point because of Tom's death. Benny is acting recklessly to prove to a disembodied Tom in his head that he can be the samurai he was taught to be. Nix is distant and lost in her own thoughts much of the time, making her relationship with Benny strained even further.
Nix's journal is interspersed in between the chapters, giving insight to her emotions and thoughts that she keeps from the others. Her journey to find the airplane means more to her than the others know.
Lilah and Chong are both suffering from the loss, but maintain more of who they were before. Through most of the novel, these characters are separated and each go through their own struggles. I enjoyed seeing the story from each character's point of view and I especially liked the insight into Lilah who has a weakness for classic romantic literature underneath her steely exterior.
A new Big Bad is introduced in this novel: They are a fanatical death cult that see survivors as an affront to God's will because the zombies were created to destroy the human race. The cult feels it's their duty to "open red doors" in people and release them into the bliss of death. These people are incredibly frightening because of their stalwart faith that what they are doing is right. Saint John of the Knife is the most zealous and frightening of the bunch, thinking of bigger and more effective ways to accomplish their goal.
The leader of the cult is Mother Rose, who doesn't believe in the dogma at all and uses the cult to gain power and eliminate the opposition. These two main villains are incredibly dangerous in their own way and are the best of the series so far. Their dynamic together is interesting and you wonder who is really fooling who in the situation and when they will find out the truth about each other.
Flesh and Bone has character development, super creepy villains, and, of course, zombies. Interesting things happen with these zombies that I never saw coming. The zombies still have a huge presence in the novel and become even more frightening than before. Paired with the human villains, the odds against our heroes are astronomically high. I can't wait to read the final book in the series, Fire and Ash. Nov 20, Christina Ensconced in Lit rated it really liked it. I'm a big fan of the previous two books in this quartet. The first, Rot and Ruin, was probably my favorite read of the year.
The second, was almost as strong, and ended with heartbreak that I had to deal with for a few weeks before picking up the third. This installment is my least favorite of the three for a few reasons, but definitely worth reading, and thoughtful in its own way. Flesh and Bone is the third out of four books by Jonathan Maberry about the zombie apocalypse that has fallen on the I'm a big fan of the previous two books in this quartet.
Flesh and Bone is the third out of four books by Jonathan Maberry about the zombie apocalypse that has fallen on the world. Benny, Chong, the Lost Girl, and Nix are struggling to survive in the Rot and Ruin after still reeling from deaths of loved ones. They encounter more evil than they thought possible-- a group of Reapers whose sole purpose is to have everyone join the Gray Walkers that abound the earth.
New characters are introduced including a terrifying Big Bad , and the mystery of the plane is solved. The development of Chong was probably my favorite part of the book. He's come so far and his relationship with the Lost Girl is very sweet. This makes the ending that much more poignant. Also, we get the introduction of a new cult, which is terrifying in its sway in this awful world. I can imagine people giving up and joining a cult to end the human race. We see this kind of depression in medicine all the time-- and I can't imagine if the world was actually as bad as people saw it, what that would do to the human psyche.
Maberry is terrific at coming up with new ethical dilemmas, and he is very thoughtful in his dealings with them. What I wasn't as thrilled about: I know my reaction to this book is a little bit like my reaction to Harry Potter book 5. It was a must read, but because of how annoying adolescent Harry was, it was my least favorite. I had the same reaction to Nix-- so many times in the book, I just wanted to shake her.
She exhibited all the worst characteristics of female communication i. That said, there is no doubt that I'm following this to the end and cannot wait to pick up the fourth and final installment of this series, which is probably the best set of books I've read this year. I recommend Flesh and Bone. I would've finished this sooner if I didn't lose my Kindle last December.
Sure there's still gore, fanaticism, and heartbreak. But the characters are aggravating, and add to that, that their situation seemed to be stuck at perpetual bad luck, I was crestfallen. Well, I did I recommend Flesh and Bone. Well, I did like Benny 's bizarre conversations with his brother, Tom. I felt some areas jumped around a bit too much and that some sub-plots went unfinished or not properly explained.
Over all, I enjoyed the read and am looking forward to more full-length zombie goodness from this author. View all 3 comments. Empire takes place a century from now, long after the rise of the plague that caused the dead to rise. These zombies are a bit different than what we have seen in other works though: These zombies are tougher--some are faster, stronger, and continue to regain near living physical capabilities as they feed on the living. You can't just shoot 'em in the head and walk away, you need to sever the head and burn them The story takes place in Jefferson Harbor, Louisiana near one of the sources of supernatural undead energy and likely the origin point of the plague.
The military has pulled out, giving up on yet another coastal community as the remnants of the US government continues to consolidate its shrinking power to the north inside walled in cities. A few citizen's choose to remain behind, ignoring the goverment's pleas to go with them as the city is abandoned. Those that choose to stay include a cop who wants to protect those who have decided to stay, a rock group that has traveled the country trying to offer a bit of a distraction from the plague for the troops and citizens who struggle onward, a man who believes he understands the true power behind the source and wants to tap into it for his own evil purposes, and a dark visitor, the grim reaper, who wants to put a stop to the undead who have defied his scythe for far too long.
David Dunwoody has created a vibrant and creative tale of the undead, fresh with new ideas and yet still unleashing the vast flow of gruesome goodness a fan of zombie fiction craves. The grim reaper is by far one of the most traditional symbols of death but tying him into this story was definitely interesting and unique amongst the zombie tales I have read over the past few years. That this story takes place over a century beyond the inception of the plague also provides us with a different viewpoint than the traditional outbreak tale, with the entire cast of characters having lived with the undead their entire lives--death is all around them, waiting for them everywhere they look.
They have a resigned nature to them, an acceptance that they are living quite possibly at the end of days. Most of the characters just want to hold on to what little life they have left, even if they know their end is coming soon. While I liked the creativity of this plot, I guess my one issue would have to be with what I would call the grand delusions of Baron Tetch. A mad genius communing with old world powers that ooze out of the swamp close to where he lives, he cuts a disturbing figure of man who wishes to control the dead and create his own empire where he stands supreme above them.
His desire for power should have been more sweeping, more awe inspiring. Somehow I felt he was more of just a puny madman than a wicked sorcerer communing with the old gods in a way that would bring down the wrath of Death himself. But this is a minor issue and does not take away from this gritty tale of life, death, and afterdeath. We have characters that feel real and complicated--they understand what they face and that more than likely they won't make it out alive but they keep on fighting, clinging to every bit of living they have remaining in them while the world around them crumbles.
I particularly liked the character Vorhees, who seemed tenacious and determined, willing to sacrifice himself to salvage the unsalvageable, to save anyone he could regardless of the massive odds stacked against him. A good read and a new and creative slant on the traditional zombie tale. Aug 13, Daniel rated it it was amazing. Finally, there comes a novel that deals with the one victim of a zombie apocalypse that few ever consider: Death, the Grim Reaper, the dude with the big scythe.
Just imagine, you're doing your job well for untold years - with nary a vacation day, I might add - and then suddenly all those dead souls you're supposed to collect just start falling off the radar. Over a century after the outbreak began, Death finally takes it upon himself to get up close and personal with the undead. While he may not Finally, there comes a novel that deals with the one victim of a zombie apocalypse that few ever consider: While he may not be the central character in David Dunwoody's post-apocalyptic vision, Death does make for the most interesting one.
Most of the action, however, centers around a small population of living survivors in and around Jefferson Harbor, Louisiana. The year is , and America has changed drastically in the years since the zombie outbreak began. In the nation's increasingly shrinking borders, a state of proverbial martial law exists, with power centralized in a permanent body of Senators who are basically implementing a retreat and fortify campaign against the undead. Louisiana is among the territories now being abandoned by federal troops. Of course, some people refuse to leave or cannot leave for reasons beyond their control.
Among these are a cop who sees it as his duty to try and protect those who remain, members of a rock group on a USO-like tour for the troops, a photojournalist, and several denizens of a homeless shelter. Then there is Baron Tetch and his "brothers and sisters" residing in a fortified manor house in the swamps outside Jefferson City. The swampland has special properties that make those reborn into death there somewhat intelligent, and Tetch has worked to train and control these special zombies to do his bidding. He dreams of a new empire built upon the ashes of the old civilization, to be ruled by himself and Lily, a teenaged girl he has raised and protected since she was a child.
Of course, Lily is just blossoming into a woman and begins to have ideas of her own, and it is she who will forge the link between Death and these disparate other characters as the story plays out. Dunwoody tends to jump around between different character groups, which was a bit disconcerting early on, and the fact that some minor characters tend to come and go rather quickly made it even harder to keep some of them straight in my mind.
Also, particularly toward the end, transitions between different sections of chapters were not always identified, which became a little annoying. On the positive side, these pages are filled with violence and blood. A regular old mindless zombie is bad enough, but zombies who can use weapons and coordinate their attacks to some degree guarantee that many a character you meet along the way will not survive until the end.
All in all, Empire is a great read and quite an impressive entry in the zombie genre. It's great to see someone besides Terry Pratchett include Death as a character, and I really liked that angle and the unusual viewpoint it provided. Zombie fans should eat this one up. I was hooked from the very beginning.
See a Problem?
I am a big fan of David Dunwoody's works via the two short story collections I recently read by him. I have also enjoyed his short stories included in anthologies, but had yet to read the novel he is praised for. I own both editions of Empire. So as you ca 4. So as you can imagine, I had high hopes for this novel. This is a strange mix of a story. It isn't just a zombie story. It has plenty of suspense, action, gore, and mystery. There is even a dash of romance. It is not just a zombie tale and these are not Romero's zombies. I can see how it could put off zombie purists, but they really should give it a chance.
I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, adventure, horror, and zombie gore in the story. The only thing in the novel that I felt was lacking probably because I have read Dunwoody's most recent works that are rich with characterization was that most of the characters didn't make a big impact on me. A few times I had them confused and some characters were no more than the sum of their name. But, that being said, I did genuinely enjoy some of the more vivid characters in the story.
I found the character of Death to be intriguing, but he hardly enters the narrative until the end of the story. This surprised me a bit considering he prominently features on the covers of both versions. I wish he had been involved just a bit more in events. Also, I felt he was overly handicapped with his abilities, probably in an attempt to keep him from being a superhero, but I always cheered when he showed up.
Overall, this is truly a kick ass book rich with originality and imagination. I'm definitely on board for Empire 2. So much potential in this book and most of it wasted. The author seemed unable to decide whether he wanted the story to be: It feels like he just threw all of these ideas against a wall and hoped that a coherent story came out of it. I'm sure you could guess how that UGH. I'm sure you could guess how that went. Also, violence against women: It just felt gratuitous and completely unnecessary. The character that experienced said violence was already in a terrible situation without that added to it.
In the same vein, why was there not one, but TWO, pedophiles in this book? I could understand the writer's need to have the villain lean that way, but for the other character? Not relevant and added nothing to the story. Finally, some pointless death is acceptable after all, it's a story about zombies but there were several characters who were introduced only to die in the next, or sometimes even the same, chapter.
Why am I supposed to care who lives or dies if they're all theoretically going to go for no good reason except to raise the body count? The tragedy of this book is that there is a good story in the text dying no pun intended to get out. The Death plotline by itself was excellent. I found myself greedily reading through the chapters he appeared in and hoping he'd show up more. Most of the human characters were completely unlikable. I don't necessarily need someone to root for in the books I read, but when the only two decent human characters are a child who is the epitome of naive and serves no real purpose but to move the plot along and a reverend who has mostly lost her faith So much chaff, not enough wheat.
I'll probably read the sequel, but only because I want more Death. Oct 19, Julia rated it did not like it Shelves: The year is and for over a century a hideous virus has plagued mankind, transforming almost every man, woman, and child into the living dead. Instead, Dunwoody focuses on a rag-tag band of survivors in Jefferson Harbor, Louisiana, a—dare I say it? Focusing on humans is fine and dandy, but not at the expense of the best character! Now that would have been a zombie novel worth reading. Something was a little off with this novel.
I think it had to do with the manner in which it was written. There were numerous times when the author would suddenly change the subject on what was happening to a character or to characters. One paragraph would be about so-and-so, then it would suddenly change to what was happening with someone else not directly involved with the previous incident. There were a number of time when I would have to re-read something to understand what just happened. I d Something was a little off with this novel.
I did find the story itself interesting in that Death was taking an active role in the apocalypse. I also found the idea of zombies reanimating and being able to perform close to what an undead person would be. I just found the execution poor and would have loved more background detail, less talk and action and more description, and coherent structure.
Mar 30, Joe rated it did not like it. During the profusion of low-budget horror films that was the late 70's came a film called "Death Bed: The Bed That Eats. Some clips of this film exist on YouTube. It is pretty bad. Empire is the "Death Bed" of zombie novels. Set one hundred years after an apocalyptic zombie outbreak, survivors still live off of old bags of chips and hundred-year old stale food. Death himself shows up as a hapless character, kills some zombies a During the profusion of low-budget horror films that was the late 70's came a film called "Death Bed: Death himself shows up as a hapless character, kills some zombies and gets pimp-slapped by others.
With each character more hate-able than the next, I'm amazed I was able to get to the end. Perhaps there is something positive about reading a really bad book every once in a while if only to appreciate the rest more. View all 4 comments. Apr 18, Tony Faville rated it really liked it. Having finally gotten around to finishing this book, I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will admit, when I first started reading the book I couldn't get into it. I have since gotten to know the author and felt compelled to give it another try.
I did, I finished it and I truly enjoyed it. It gives an interesting twist on the zombie genre, with the darkness from the swamps and so forth. The having to completely destroy them with fire is a different twist, but it worked with the source. All in Having finally gotten around to finishing this book, I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. All in all, it is very well written and I truly look forward to reading more of David's work. Thanks for the book David! This supposedly takes place about years after the zombie apocalypse but it certainly doesn't feel that way.
It doesn't feel like the first few days of an outbreak but it doesn't feel more than months after the start, maybe a few years at most. If you want to see life after people got used to zombies done right, read Mira Grant 's Feed. I just couldn't really get into it. There was too much skipping around and the characters didn't really click for me. Sep 16, Lauren rated it it was ok Shelves: I picked this book up for obvious reasons: And as I read the first chapter, I was impressed by the writing and was excited to see where this story was going. Unfortunately, it wasn't going much of anywhere.
The author is definitely good at what he does. Each chapter was detailed and written well. The problem was, the plot was way confusing and too spaced out. Each chapter read like its own short story, which I hated. I have read other reviews saying the author was in fact I picked this book up for obvious reasons: I have read other reviews saying the author was in fact a short story writer before giving a shot at a novel. I think the story has a lot of potential, it just wasn't executed correctly. I got annoyed half way through and gave up.
This book may start off slow and it may tell a zombie tell in a way your not used to, but trust me. This tells it in a way that has a BIG impact on the story. First the book starts off by telling bits and pieces of other stories but in the end they all cross over. It is a book that will surprise you. Now I'm wanting the sequel, Empire's End.
Just to see how the story turns out. I won't say this book is a must have but if you enjoy a good story, this book is worth it. I like it and I'm This book may start off slow and it may tell a zombie tell in a way your not used to, but trust me. I like it and I'm adding it to my collection. Apr 05, Trevor rated it really liked it Recommends it for: Recommended to Trevor by: Plenty of action, horror, and suspense and good writing to boot. From the description, I figured the spectre of "Death" would play more of a role against the undead, but he plays more of a minor role.
This ended up working very well. Recommended to fans of the genre! So far, one of the best zombie books I have come across. Was not the usual Zombie book I was expecting but enjoyed reading it. Sep 26, Ghoul Von Horror rated it really liked it Shelves: Really enjoyed this book.
Liked everything about it. Mar 19, Dan Morris rated it really liked it. Sep 18, Nerdvana Webcast rated it really liked it. This book was a fun read. Nothing like Death and Zombies in the same novel! You can read the full review here: Jan 11, Batmanjohnson rated it really liked it. A new take on the zombie Genre. Jan 30, Lynne Akers rated it really liked it. Really good zombie novel with a bit of supernatural twist with the Reaper.
This was new to me. When I read the blurb I thought "This is new and interesting. Let us buy" I usually don't speak as Gollum, but it's the mood.