Undead (Undead, #1) by Kirsty McKay

Undead by Kirsty McKay

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Told from the point of view of a young woman named Bobby, a native of the UK who has spent enough time in the USA to mess up her accent and therefore be made fun of by co-students, who is now returning from a school ski trip (a school Bobby has not yet joined, but will shortly since they have just moved back to the UK (they being Bobby and her mother, 'mum', but not dad since dad's dead - though glimpses of him are seen in flashes - ETA: flashes = flashbacks. ETA added because remembered this be a zombie book, dad not zombie).

The book opens with Bobby resting her face against a bus window watching as her classmates head to a café through the snowy-blizzard like conditions to eat some food. She's tired of being near people who make fun of her, had prepared a sandwich for herself before the bus trip started (the bus trip, by the way, to take the kids from the ski location to . . . well, never actually stated). Eventually she's left on the bus with only the bus driver, one of the teachers, and Smitty, a young rebellious man - co-student. Smitty is being forced to remain on the bus due to . . . um, reasons (stuff he did or didn’t do or whatever). He, Smitty, convinces the teacher to go get him a sandwich. Leaving the bus down to the bus driver, Smitty, and Bobby.

Somewhere along the line, either before or after the bus experiences a few bumps, a car slams into the back of the bus. The bus driver exits to investigate. Leaving Bobby and Smitty alone. But not for long, for suddenly one of the more popular girls on the trip, Alice, ends up on the bus, collapsed on the stairs in her skirt (like on the cover of the book – re: cover, Alice is not the main character, who is wearing pants, and neither Alice nor Bobby ever weld an axe (though Smitty does at some point). She’d been yelling at them. Something about all of them being dead and to close the bus doors.

And so, things proceed. The people on the bus gaze at the café through binoculars, see everyone slumped over (everyone they can see). Then Smitty remembers the bus driver is out there somewhere and goes and gets him – only to find him slumped over injured. Alice locks Smitty, the driver, and Bobby out, but the driver revives enough to indicate how to open the door from the outside.

Meanwhile, many attempts are made to make phones and/or radios work. None of the attempts work. Eventually it is decided to attempt to go the gas station. Which is where Gareth and … um, Pete, I think his name is Pete, are added to the small group of people wondering just what is up, what’s going on. Mind I’ve already overlooked the fact that the teacher had returned to the bus at some point, pounded on the door, and wanted in. Many indications, though, were there that the teacher was no longer human. As happens more times than I’d like to see, one of the characters is reluctant to use the Z word, you know, Zombie. But he’d been zombified.

Right, so – everyone but a few school students, and a gas station attendant had been turned into zombies. In their set of resources the kids have everyone’s luggage, and a bus. And no way to contact anyone. And so they wander around attempting to figure out how to save themselves, exploding things, picking up other live humans, getting trapped, escaping, etc. etc. All against the backdrop of some snowy location in Scotland.

Interesting enough zombie book. I suppose the one negative I can immediately note is the part where the author was good at creating teenage characters (as opposed to a bunch of adults in teenage bodies). A negative because . . . well, it’s exhausting reading a bunch of whiny, posing, vicious people interacting and attempting to live. (But then I remember the few scenes I’ve caught here or there from that Walking Dead show and . . . well, heh. Actually, I’m thinking more of the 14 or 15 graphic novels I’d read in that series before the show ever aired, but I have seen a few episodes from that series).

There is a sequel. I’ve no idea what the sequel is about and/or if the same characters are in it. I do not know if I’ll read that sequel.

Rating: 4.15

January 5 2018



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Feedback (Newsflesh, #4) by Mira Grant

Feedback by Mira Grant

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


My status updates seem to indicate I’m all excited and stuff about reading a zombie book starring, as main character (a non-zombie), a lesbian. And how I felt sad about avoiding this book because I thought it was a repeat of a book I’d already read. So how’d we end up here? At a rating of 3.somethingthatputsitonthe3.5shelf?

The book started off strong – the book opens, if I recall correctly, with the lead character perched on top of a statue like a bird – for a really long time. She was waiting for her friend/fellow co-worker/husband to exit from his mother’s funeral. The police kept driving by while Ash, that woman on the statue, was sitting on the statue. Eventually the police stop to question her, and she uses her press badge to make them continue on their way – for, you see, the press have certain privileges not seen by the common man (it is otherwise illegal to loiter, and while that type of thing is on many law statutes today, it tends to only be used in certain circumstances –it really gets used here, though, because this is a world filled with zombies. It is just too dangerous to loiter).

Eventually the funeral guests leave, get in their cars, and rush out. And, even more eventually, that husband fella, Ben, comes out. He stops to banter with Ash, then make a call. All the while I’m kind of alternating screaming at him to stop being an ass and actually get in a car, and confusion (alternating screaming and confusion). As might be expected in this type of situation, Ben and Ash get swarmed by mobs of zombies because Ben is too stupid to get into cars and pay attention to the world around him. Luckily for him, Ash is there to save him. See, beginning starts off strong.

Husband? Lesbian main character? Something doesn’t seem to compute, eh? Ireland, apparently, has rocketed back from any progressive stances it has taken in our world to one of ultra-conservativism, ultra-religious, ultra-women-are-for-making-babies. And Ash wants nothing to do with that world. But, see, she’s Irish. Long story short (and really, there is a long story here I’m cutting short), Ash and Ben hook up in an arrangement so that Ash could get to the USA and become a citizen. 1) Ash is still a lesbian despite being married to a man; 2) technically it’d be somewhat easier for Ash and Ben to get an annulment than others since they’ve never consummated their marriage; 3) and Ash & Ben happen to live with a woman named Audrey who is Ash’s long-time girlfriend (meet in USA). So Ash is more than just a ‘lesbian in name only’.

Right, so, strong beginning, interesting characters, interesting enough plot – so how’d I end up giving a rating of only 3.5? Simple enough: somewhere along the line the book took an odd turn, well two actually – one involved the group going down the same path the Masons went down (the Masons being the main characters in the main Newsflesh series); and two – the odd turn I specifically was going to mention was the part where some really stupid, cliché, and ‘Walking Dead’ type stuff started to happen to the Ash team ((view spoiler)[including getting captured by an evil warlord type (hide spoiler)]). Before that, though, right before the team – like the Masons – went on the run, there’s this extra special moment wherein the group, who up to that point had learned nothing super bad or overly suspicious, get loaded down with lots of stuff they shouldn’t know, and therefore have to run for their lives because they know it (seriously, one second the team knows basically nothing that’d get anyone into trouble, the next some dick doctor is there to tell them all the super-secret stuff going on in the world for . . . no known reason; after which their life is worth less than a paper bag and they have to go on the run.

From that moment on – being told stuff – to everything that came after that point – everything just became too absurd to be acceptable or readable. I literally had to start skimming there near the end, and when I had hit the wrong button and accidentally thought the next-to-last chapter was the last chapter I didn’t even really blink. That would have been a crap ending, but by that point I was ready for things to be over. Then, of course, I realized I’d clicked a link by accident on my book reader and gone to the afterward part, backed up to read the actual ending and realized – this book really does just kind of die. Just . . . pfft, fuck it – book over now ‘the end’.

Rating: 3.5

December 18 2017



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All the Pretty Little Horses by Mira Grant

All the Pretty Little Horses by Mira Grant

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The series main character's adoptive parents take center stage in this series prequel. The year is 2018, while the main series starts off in the year 2039. The 'uprising' or 'zombification' occurred in 2016, so this is two years after the start of the zombie uprising.

This is an interesting enough story but not as riveting as prior short story additions to the series. Part of my problem is the part wherein the story is from Michael Mason's point of view and his constant thinking to himself about 'my god, my wife is so beautiful' over and over and overfuckingoverandfucking over again was fucking driving me up the fucking blood coated wall. WE FUCKING GET IT!!!!!

The story follows Stacey and Michael Mason weeks after Stacey was cleared for the killing, by Stacey, of Phillip Mason - their child. That, which was seen as murder in Stacey's eyes, event took place right at the start of the zombification, but Stacey held things together with Michael and the two had held a portion of Berkeley together during the uprising, and helped many outside their reach by way of the radio program Michael conducted that included survival snippets from his wife (it was never clear if Michael just faked Stacey's input or actually asked her to add some stuff).

The government has returned, though, and so Stacey is allowed to think about what had happened - no longer has to hold herself together. Naturally she falls to pieces and hardly ever moves from the bed. Michael, meanwhile, alternates thinking thoughts like 'my wife is so beautiful' with thoughts about how he has to, somehow, shake Stacey 'free' of her PTSD.

Somewhere along the way Michael gets Stacey barely moving. Which leads to an encounter with another surviver - who gushes about Stacey's tips. Which leads to Stacey actually perking up a little and acting alive. Which leads to Michael noticing and realizing that there might be some way to jump-start some kind of recovery. So he starts a blog, or joins a blog that part is confusing, and he and Stacey wander around taking pictures and writing stories about various locations, like a zoo, and a nearby city, and two different adoption centers.

Then, while Stacey is still deep deep into PTSD land and barely functioning, the two adopt two children.

The end.

That's the entirety of the story.

Rating: 3.89

December 13 2017



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The One With The End by interabang

Title: The One With The End
Author: interabang

Fanfiction: Friends (TV)
Link: Archive of Our Own

Review:
I've never really understood why, but I rather do like reading books that involve zombies. And I, for the most part, liked the television series Friends. Never thought I'd read a fanfiction story about the show, though. But then, I never thought I'd see one that featured a zombie outbreak occurring around them and them attempting to survive.

This story is set at some point after the end of the series. With flashbacks bouncing around from 'present', 2002, 2004, and 2006. Interesting story. Weird zombies. Odd mix of humor and horror.

Readable story.

Rating: 3.43

October 2 2017

The Day the Dead Came to Show and Tell by Mira Grant

The Day the Dead Came to Show and Tell by Mira Grant

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I read this novella for the first time in October of 2014. Almost but not quite three years ago. Immediately after finishing the story I wanted to read it again. It is a very compelling story. Very interesting.

It tells a tale that doesn't really need the rest of the series to tell, though a few modifications would need to be done to allow readers to have just slightly more information. Or less. Just a few words here or there to indicate: 1) a zombie outbreak had occurred prior to the story here; 2) zombies still roam the earth but society didn't fall, just morphed; 3) zombies still roam because even if all the dead currently stumbling around as a zombie were killed . . . there still would be zombies - because everyone, every man, woman, child, everyone is already infected. And there's no cure. Spontaneous 'amphication', or a word like that, can occur - spontaneous zombification, but mostly people become zombies when they come into contact with an active version of the virus. Blood, bite, what have you. Or having a heart attack and falling over. Dead. Only to then rise again as a zombie. The dead don't stay dead in this world. Which is why there still are zombies.

All of the above is already known by someone who has read the series up to here. And considering the way the story is structured, there wouldn't have to be too much effort to add some of that. It's 'not needed' now because, I assume, there was an assumption that only those who read and enjoyed the series would read the little side stories that the author released over time.

So, with all that above, what's this story here about? Well, as noted, zombies are real and they are everywhere. And everyone is already infected. You, the reader, can read the story in two different ways, either might be more enjoyable. Read it straight through, every little bit, or ignore the odd little before and after sections in different formatting. The 'different formatting' stuff is what links this to the rest of the series. Because side characters from that series are investigating and reporting on an event that had occurred something like 7 years before their own time. And they drop things, they mention things in those sections that hadn't, yet, occurred in the story.

So - on one level you have a reporter examining and writing up a report on an incident that had happened at a school something like seven years before the reporter started working on the story. On the other level you have the story itself.

And what is that story? A young woman works as a school teacher. Trained to be a teacher, and trained to deal with dealing with the zombie issue. She's a first grade teacher. The students in her class are on the edge of being able to be zombies themselves - there is a certain weight that needs to be reached; while at the same time are not 'aware enough' to know the dangers that await them.

The day begins for this teacher. She sets up her class for the day. Gets her students. Conducts class. Then leads them out for a 10 minute recess. Which is where the trouble starts, though it isn't known nor obvious until much later. I don't wish to give everything away, of course, so let us just say that one of the students injuries themselves, blood flows, and they hide the blood from their teacher. They are too small to amphify, so they don't set off any alarms when they go back inside (there's a lot of blood testing that occurs). By hiding the event, though, they don't protect others. And someone who is large enough to amphify (I should note that the word is used to indicate that the individual moves from being a carrier of the zombie virus, to being a zombie) touches that blood.

And then all hell breaks loose. Zombies float through the school. And the story follows that young teacher as she tries to shepherd her students, to try to save them.

Rating: Only those stories that I've read more than once can rise to the top level, rise to six star level. I am very much inclined to add this story to that shelf. But it is the top tier. And I must guard against overrating things. Crowding the best of the best shelf. So I'll rate this story 5+ stars and think about whether I 'induct' it to 'best of the best' status. The 'internal communications' that occur years after the events unfolded are the 'thing' that might hold back this story from rising to that level.

June 22 2017



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Pathogens by James Schannep

PATHOGENS: An Interactive Zombie Survival Gamebook by James Schannep

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I didn't realize this going in, but I learned of it immediately after starting - this isn't like the normal 'you' choose your own adventure book. Instead of entering and darting around an adventure book starring yourself, here you enter and choose one of six characters to become.

And then still see 'you' being used. Thus negating some of the advantages that might have been inherent in having named characters to 'play' rather than 'just be yourself'.

As mentioned, six characters. 4 men, 2 women because . . . inequality is fun. I hadn't really planned to do it this way, but I ended up playing one of the women first then playing the last woman as my last character to play.

There are:
Men:
Sims - an older man who is a Sergeant in the Air Force national guard, though before the reader gets the idea that they'll be a rambo type - Sims has spent his career being a 'desk jockey'. When the zombification occurs, Sims is on a plane over the ocean. And before 'you' the reader get any choices, you land in a foreign land for some adventure there before, possibly, returning to the States.

Hefty - a very thin convict who has spent the last few years learning how to survive in prison. When the outbreak occurs, Hefty is in prison and must attempt to escape.

Ty - is a man working two jobs to try to get ahead in life and support his mother. Ty is the black man in this book. When the outbreak occurs, Ty is attempting to make his way to his bank teller job - though he'd overslept because of being tired from his call center job.

Lucas - is the trained martial arts expert, though one who also one who has never seen real combat. When the outbreak occurs, Lucas is in the middle of teaching his morning class - filled will youngsters, the oldest of which is 17. He, and the sister you see briefly, were born in Japan.

Women:
Cooper - is an auto mechanic who is tired of people being distracted by how beautiful she is, and rather wished she could have had better success in the motorcycle racing world that she is still somewhat trying to continue in. When the outbreak occurs she is at her job in the garage working on cars.

Rosie - the 17 year old daughter of a gun range owner. Her father has constantly tried to prepare her for something like the outbreak occurring. She has a brother and father to contend with.

---
Personally - Lucas has the must interesting 'story up to outbreak', though his is a frustrating story to play once the outbreak does occur. Because you know he could do well out there, but he is reluctant to believe and . . . other stuff. Sims was the easiest to play, though that might be because I had played Cooper first and Sims second - and had meet Sims during my time with Cooper and 'knew' what to do with Sims to get him to his best outcome. That pre-knowledge eventually occurred again when I played Ty after playing Hefty, but very late in Ty's 'game'.

I mention because one of my status updates indicated the idea that maybe one of the problems of naming characters is that I'd run into them and see how they operate through someone else's eyes and what the 'best' things to do with that character might be. Though I came to realize that that only really worked with Sims.

In general I had two major problems with the book - even though you play a named character, it is still 'you' doing stuff. You as the character, but still using 'you' as the pronouns. That has always been my major problem with these kinds of books, the you part, because 'you' always does crazy stupid shit I'd never do and it's frustrating that I can't 'control' that, since I'm apparently 'you'. Going to all the trouble of creating six characters - it might have been better if their sections used their names instead of you. So I'd be controlling the characters.

I forgot what that other major problem was that I was going to mention, though I will note that I was frustrated by how 'everyone' (not really) seemed damned determined to 'get to town'. I don't bloody care what the emergency is - hurricane, flood, earthquake, volcanic eruption, space alien invasion, human alien invasion, giant frog invasion, zombie outbreak, vampire outbreak . . . ., which emergency occurs that triggers a 'must get to center of massive numbers of humans' response? Now there is protection that comes with being 'together', the 'circling the wagons' type of protection - but the equilivent of that in this book would have been to bunker down with others in a protected spot and aim your guns outward - not to travel long distances elsewhere.

Right. What else do I wish to note. Rosie is a horrible weak little girl sexist cliche. No matter which choices you choose. *shrugs* Unfortunate. Ty was a mama's boy, but strong determined efficient capable, good. In a way I'm surprised one of the paths for Rosie didn't consist of her tripping over her untied shoes and shooting herself while crying and blinded. I mean . . . shesh.

Rating: 3.44

June 1 2017



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Bitten by Eden Darry

Bitten by Eden Darry

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is both the first work I've read by this author, and the first work I've read put out by NineStar Press (which I've known about for a year or more but hadn't tried until just now).

Gray Davis (sorry, Doctor Gray Davis) is a medical doctor who has spent her life working hard to get where she is now - a practicing doctor in line (she hopes) to be made a partner. She's, except for two relationships way back when, has mostly stayed away from relationships and the like, instead focusing all of her energy on work. A friend, whose name doesn't really matter, badgers Gray to finally take a break, to take a vacation. Reluctantly she agrees - and heads off to a LGBT themed retreat at an island in the Carribean.

Beau Pickford is a player, always has been, always plans to be - ever since . . . well, I didn't pick up exactly, but there was mention of a love lust towards a neighbor when she, Beau, was 10. She routinely goes on these lesbian retreats to have some fun. She has her eyes set on one specific woman who she pomptly sits next to on the plane heading towards the islands.

Brody Douglas is a player, the male kind, but he is also married and his much younger wife (of around 28) and he (who is around 53 or something like that) are also on this same plane that Gray and Beau are on - heading off on an aniversary vacation. He's feeling quite poorly, though, but he needs to go on this trip.

Gray meets and and interacts with Beau when Beau slumps into her on the plane, somewhat literally. Hitting her with her arm and leg while trying to sit in the tiny plane seat. Gray is both instantly attracted to and repulsed by Beau - attracted to the woman, repulsed by the 'obvious' player vibes coming off of her. They talk on the ride to the island.

Gray meet and interacts with Brody when he stumps hurriedly down the plane aisle, and darts into a bathroom. She hurried after him, she is a doctor after all. The plane, and this part is important to note, is still on the ground - they can still boot Brody from the plane. And the flight attendent did ask the doctor's oppinion . . . probably against her better judgement, she allows the man to continue on the flight.

And so - the plane arrives, 'everyone' heads off to a hotel (except for Brody and Celia - the wife - who head to a hospital). Gray and Brody mingle, visit one or two locations, mingle more; Brody continues to get worse. Gray visits him. Later, much later, screams erupt.

Did I mention yet that this is a zombie story? No? Well, this is a zombie story. Quite interesting mix of lesbian romance/horror/zombie story. I liked it well enough.

Of note: I mentioned the three, Brody, Gray, and Beau, because all three have their own point of views expressed in this story.

Rating: 3.70

January 16 2017




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The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant by Drew Hayes

The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant by Drew Hayes

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I was reluctant to read this one, and now I forget why I did. But I had read and enjoyed books by Hayes before - all but the most recent book in that NPC series were read and enjoyed.

This book was a series of short connected stories.

Really really boring man, who works as an accountant, was 'turned' into a vampire at some point prior to the start of this book. He is as boring now as he was before, and he didn't suddenly gain 'super-cool' . . . coolness. He's slimmer and doesn't need glasses any longer (though still wears them), but he has the same personality he had before he was turned.

First story involves Bob going to his high school reunion. Being bored. Being boring. Then watching as werewolves attack.

Second story involves . . . well, it's been too long to make sure I get these all correct. Let's just say that at some point there was a story where his new hot girlfriend drags him to a 'live role-play' thingie while on the way to the movies. A real life wizard like guy, and a zombie were meet.

Another story involved Bob and the gang (every story seems to increase the number of people in 'Bob's gang', from 'Bob', to 'Bob + girlfriend (highly qualified superagent type)', to 'Bob + girlfriend + zombie', to 'Bob etc + gay weresteed', to etc.). Right sorry. Another story involved Bob and the gang heading off to Las Vegas for . . I think Thanksgiving was mentioned. Though they are really there because the girlfriend's friend is in deep deep trouble and she's going to try to help.

Then the vampire who turned Bob returns to 'unleash' Bob. Whereupon it turns out that some of the 'humans' in the group might not actually be humans.

Was not a horrible book. Just . . . kinda boring.

December 18 2016



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Fiber by Seanan McGuire

Fiber by Seanan McGuire

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Weird short story. 5 cheerleaders returning after cheering something or other. Packed into one car. One of them, Laurie, is eating Jaime Lee Curtis poop yogurt and suddenly ‘has to go’. Despite not wishing to pull over, the woman pull over (Laurie has some kind of ‘whammy’ power that gets people to do things if she words things ‘just right’ (which apparently involves her opening her mouth and saying things). The others apparently/supposedly also have some kind of other ‘stuff’ going on with them, though the one that’s important to the story would be the lead narrator – Heather. Who used to be a zombie.

So, as I was saying, they pull over. Stopping at a ‘convenience store with gas’ so Laurie can poo. The place looks like it’s the set for a horror movie. Complete with jars of, apparently, human meat.

As I said – weird story. Then the convenience store attendant turns into a werewolf or something (a wendigo).

And then some cheerleader moves were performed, wendigos were flying all over the place and . . . stuff happened.

Rating: 3.5

November 10 2016




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Less Than Dead by Samantha M. Derr

Less Than Dead
by Samantha M. Derr (editor)
Pages: 256
Date: October 26 2016
Publisher: Less than Three
Series: None

Review
Rating: See overall section at end of review
Read: October 7 to 10 2016

*I received this book from NetGalley and Less than Three in return for a fair review.*

Eight LGBT short stories perfect for Halloween (I assume) - as the teaser puts it "There's nothing quite so terrifying as a corpse that moves, a creature that even death can't stop. It's all the worse when the living dead is someone you love..."

Dove in the Window by Kara Race-Moore
1930s, Kentucky. FF. Inability to sleep.

This first story almost threw me off-track there, but it was the first story, and I was excited to read this book, so I continued. And I’m glad I did, for – despite starting off slowly and kind of annoyingly, I kind of fell into a nice content like hypnotic trance there once the story really got going. Well, to a certain extent, once the northerner appeared.

Okay then – Pearl and the main character, “I’ (Cissy McGurk – it’s not always easy to remember the names of characters if most of the story has them be ‘I’) loved each other. Unfortunately for them they are both women, this is the 1930s, and Kentucky. That kind of thing isn’t exactly welcome in those parts.

Well Pearl up and died on day, you see, but there’s another problem beyond the dying part – she keeps sleep walking (so to speak, though the word used is ‘nightwalking’). No, I mean after she’s died. She keeps pulling herself out of her grave, wandering over to Cissy, and noting that she can’t sleep.

Cissy, naturally, doesn’t particularly like this turn of events, more because it’d be awkward for anyone to find Pearl in her bed. Less because she’s walking after death. Because, apparently, things like that happen in Cissy’s neck of the woods.

Well, Cissy attempts to figure out how to stop this – visits Pearl, asks some questions, learns that a lot of people are walking at night, calls upon Death - - - etc. etc. Somewhere along the line a quite attractive northerner named Marie enters the picture, and the two of them work together on the problem.

Okay then. Hmm. A rating. 3.65.

October 7 2016

Only Human by Meredith Katz
MM (bisexual), dead receptionist

A man, Saul, feels ill, and goes through a series of slightly more disturbing specialists. First place visited was a university clinic, then a hospital, then a magical illness specialist, then a necromancer.

The referral to the magical illness specialist upset the man, but not because of oddness of the referral, but because he was referred to a magic specialist. Since magic is harder to deal with. So second story in this book and second time people are okay with the concept of fantasy land stuff.

Hehe – ‘most of his time was spent . . . browsing cat blogs, and sleeping.’

Hehe – ‘He tried to look up more about magical curses online – but as usual, the internet wasn’t a huge help, and mostly just its best to convince him he was about to die.’

Beyond a guy, Saul, having this ‘issue’ he has to deal with – health related, the story is mostly about him dating the last health specialist’s receptionist. Who happens to be a zombie. A Frankenstein’s monster kind of zombie (made up of parts from various bodies).

I was kind of leery of trying this specific story, based on the short snippet, but there’s humor, and the budding relationship described in the story was actually fun to watch. Then lots of sex, which was less fun to watch. But still, good story.

Rating: 4.421

October 7 2016

Lavish are the Undead by B.A. Huntley
FF, Doll-monsters

A self-described gym rat is on a treadmill listening to her girlfriend, a DJ, on the radio until she starts to play an hour long David Bowie album. Switches to a book. Switches back to the radio. Runs. Lights flicker. Mick, the gym rat, powers down the treadmill - worried she'd end up planted in a wall if she didn't and the power cut out suddenly. Screams erupt (okay, I don't recall if there are screams, let's try that again). People start fleeing from the area near the windows. Mick looks over. Sees . . . things. She in turn flees.

Gets outside. Sees . . . doll people? Well, human shaped creatures bouncing around looking like porcelain versions of humans. They are breaking everything reflective - windows, glass, mirrors. They charge towards Mick. Mick leaps into her car and flees.

Somewhere along the way she spots a woman being attacked, and older woman. She saves her. Takes her back to the older woman's place. As they clean themselves up, they listen to the radio. Apparently some kind of 'bone-disease' is sweeping the area. People are told to stay indoors and board up their windows. Mick gets Sally (the older woman) to change the station so she can check on her girlfriend. Girlfriend still alive but . . . sits inside a giant tower of glass - 100 floors up. In a wheelchair. Mick must save her.

Quite thrilling short story. Fun, exciting. I'd rate it . . . hmms . . . 4.85.

The Eighth Tree by Alex Stitt
MM, German minefield and yellow mist

Two soldiers meet on the way to the Western Front during, I assume unless I'm very mistaken, WWI. They become friendly with each other. Somewhere along the line one 'accidentally' shoots the other in the leg. Their boss (heh), the sergeant major sees this as them being cowards and strips them of their dog tags and shoves them into no mans land. It's been three days. One has a bullet wound in their leg.

Germans start launching mortar at the trenches their old unit is in - the one they were kicked out of. Gas erupts. People die. Time passes. The two men out in no mans land look back and . . . what's this? The dead are rising again somehow. And they appear to be charging either the two men, or the German lines. Even as they run, their bodies are dissolving from within.

Gross story. Told non-linearly (which was annoying - that). I do not really want to rate it but . . . um . . 2?

October 7 2016

Orion Shone Right Through by Dmitri Dene
Zombies, MM?

For better or worse the 'zombies are monsters' version of zombie stories are not working for me. That would be the WWI story, and this one here. I'd no real clue what was going on - scenes were disjointed and the 'stuff' happening in each individual scene seemed designed for me to be utterly confused.

So - story opens with a guy in, I think, a convenience store (maybe?). He's depressed. And contemplating what he'd have to do to get himself dead - all the way dead. Then he notices that there might be others and starts tossing cat food around and stuff. Turns out there were six (or was it 7?) others in a fridge. And they are human not zombies. One is named Daisy. The rest aren't even there beyond the basic idea that Daisy wasn't there by herself.

Then, apparently, they all live to get to someone going to fly them somewhere. Next thing I know Daisy and Marcus (I think lead guy is Marcus) are climbing stairs. Where? Strong vibe they aren't in the convenience store now but no idea where they are. Also - it's just the two of them now because the others . . . um . . . for all I know spontaneously combusted or peed themselves to death. No explanation is given.

They get to the roof - where they were going to get picked up by a helicopter, then hear live humans below them. Screaming for help. So . . . they go help. And Marcus ends up with his hated ex. *shrugs* And I really don't give a fuck. It's not even that we keep bouncing from one thing to another, it's that there are no actual scenes. Like the first one - Marcus is . . somewhere? Contemplating moldy hot dogs? Starring at bullet hole filled cans. Realizes someone else is there. Tosses a can of cat food. Meets Daisy. Reader told that there are others there and that Marcus meet them as well but . . . the info on them is about what I just said here in this sentence.

I rate this one no stars.

October 8 2016

A Witch in Arkham by Cora Walker
FF, witches, zombies, bisexuals, lesbians, Old Ones

Strange one - this. Alternate earth. One with Innsmouth and other such places. Well, action takes place in Arkham. Witch girl is in cemetery on a job - she's going to raise a really dead person to ask them a question about a century long inheritance dispute. Gets distracted when a ghost wandered into her line of sight. Her ex-boyfriend Marcus - dead three years now (and no, not the same Marcus as prior Marcus, and one of the reasons I'm not certain both were actually named Marcus). He has warnings. Involving a 'Michael', 'Phoebe' and 'Templars'.

Then witch girl spots a Templar and bolts (the magic users and the Templars/Vatican are not exactly best friends).

Quite an interesting entertaining story - once I got deeper into it. I'd rate this one something around 4.66.

October 8 2016

Zoey Loves Zombies by Adele Gardner
FF, Fatal argument

Gross, quite gross. A woman gets into an argument with her lover. Agrees to leave their safe place and head to NY during this zombie thingie. Lover gets scratched by an owl. Begins to decompose - see my mention of 'gross' earlier.

Right, so, not necessarily a bad story anything. Just . . . gross. I'll rate this one something like 2.8 stars.

October 9 2016

Noble Pursuit by Helena Maeve
MM? Historical Fiction, England.

Not sure when this specific story takes place. Has the 'feel' of 17th-18th or even 19th century (depending on circumstances) England. Whatever the date, zombies have 'come ashore' and are moving northward in England. Guy by the name of Delaney (Lord Delaney I believe), is defending his estate while hundreds of thousands of zombies march around. He fights them with saber, musket, flintlock revolver (released around 1814), and machete while he has his servant play various classical recordings (ah, so it's at least late enough for phonographs to be around - which popped onto the scene in 1877 - so actually this might even be the 21st century, just seems somewhat more primitive with the use of muskets and the like - but you use the weapons at hand).

Of note: very rarely, like once or twice before, I've read something with music in the background - mostly when specific music is mentioned. Well, Lord Delaney is hopping around killing zombies while listening to Tchaikovsky, so I decided to play 'The Best of Tchaikovsky'). Listening to classical music while reading about a guy thrusting his sword into rotting corpses and the like. hmms. Though I only lasted 9 minutes listening to music and reading before turning the music off.

Charging forward, Delaney is set to dispatch the one commanding the undead - apparently some boy. The boy acts afraid and passes out so Delaney stays his hand - temporarily.

Whereupon the awakening Ephram West takes over POV control of the story. Then it switched back again, I think, and then . . .. Right.

Slight twist when a brother named Arthur appeared. Should I mention the twist? Not mention? Bah, I'll not mention - keep it hidden. Though will mention that Ephram, it would appear, worked as a pornographer before the rising (that is unrelated to the 'slight twist', no the 'slight twist' relates to Lord Delaney's first name).

Shesh. The two main characters sure do take offense easily. mmphs.

--
Quite good story, this one. I enjoyed it. I'd rate it something around 4.65.

October 10 2016

Overall
Dove in the Window by Kara Race-Moore - 3.65
Only Human by Meredith Katz - 4.421
Lavish are the Undead by B.A. Huntley - 4.85
The Eighth Tree by Alex Stitt - 2
Orion Shone Right Through by Dmitri Dene - 0
A Witch in Arkham by Cora Walker - 4.66
Zoey Loves Zombies by Adele Gardner - 2.8
Noble Pursuit by Helena Maeve - 4.65

Overall rating: 3.378875

October 10 2016

The Misadventures of Two Reluctant Zombie Hunters: Hospitals are Hell (The Misadventures of Two Reluctant Zombie Hunters #2) by Rhavensfye

The Misadventures of Two Reluctant Zombie Hunters: Hospitals are Hell
by Rhavensfyre
Pages: 155
Date: September 1 2016
Publisher: Ravens Heart Books
Series: The Misadventures of Two Reluctant Zombie Hunters (#2)

Review
Rating: 3.75
Read: September 28 2016

Not as 'fun' as the first in the series, though was still interesting and entertaining.

The first book found two women at a comic convention when a zombie apocalypse starts. Second finds them heading to a hospital to tend to their wounded - same day.

Possibly moronic in a way - what don't you do in a zombie outbreak? Go to a hospital (or a mall, or a large meeting place, or . . etc.). And - the didn't really need to go to a hospital. It seems slightly forced. They have a guy with a broken arm. They are deeply into 'being prepared'; it's one of the reasons they survived at the comic con - none of them know how to set up a splint? Immobilize the arm, etc. Sure, won't fix the broken arm but it'll hold it until they find medical help.

Instead of going to the hospital, which is basically guaranteed to be crowded with zombies, they should have gone to . . . well, basically anywhere they might find a doctor or nurse (it's a zombie apocalypse, you don't want to get to complicated about this); one of those 24 hour emergency places - or a animal hospital or something. Whatever is nearest. Scope it out first, of course, for 'infestation'. But a hospital? Yeah, you want to steer clear of that.

September 28 2016

Infected by James Schannep

Infected
by James Schannep
Pages: 352
Date: December 11 2013
Publisher: Author

Review
Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0
Read: January 19 2014

An interesting concept.  An adult choose your own adventure story. With Zombies.  Unfortunately it was both a little bland an a little annoying.  It's annoying reading paragraphs wherein I am told what I am doing. Or at least you the reader. 'Distracted by her naked breasts, a zombie eats you.' (Not something that actually occurred;  no it was 'overcome by how good strawberries taste you eat a ton. Red juice slides down your face looking like blood. You start moaning.  A sound. You turn. Mouth drops open.  You are shot.')  Mmphs.

It was not outright stated but there is strong indication that the 'you' character is male.

ETA: Oh, and I did survive.  I also died about three or four times.

Hurricane Dan by Bret Williams

Hurricane Dan
by Bret Williams
Pages 199 pages
Date: September 15 2013
Publisher: Author

Review
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.0
Read: January 17 2014

While reading I was thinking of what I'd say in a review.  I was thinking of noting that it was a solid little book, roughly 4 star work that didn't reach 5 star territory because I didn't really like the main character.   That was up to about 60% of the book read. Where upon the book almost fell apart.    Ah well.  Despite certain issues, mostly due to the action that started after they made it to the safe zone, including the sudden unexpected sex (and certain issues involving swords), it was still able to pull me along.  

If we could give 1/2 stars, I would quickly and with easy conscious give the book a rating of 3 1/2. Since I can't,  and because I was able to like despite main character,  I give it a rating of 4 stars. (2016 eta - hmms. I have it as 3.0 on GoodReads. The weirdness you see years after the fact.)

RIZEN by Kirk Anderson

RIZEN
by Kirk Anderson
Pages: 44
Date: November 27 2012
Publisher: Galleon Publishing

Review
Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0
Read: January 11 2014

My heart is still racing.  Shesh.

Ok, to start with, this is a short story collection, 4 stories by the same author in the same story universe.  None of the characters reoccur.  Also, it is in reverse chronological order. Which I noticed in an introduction before the stories.  Which I am glad I noticed, because I decided to read them in chronological order.  I have to say, if I had read them in the order the author had presented them, I probably would have rated the book roughly the book average rating on GoodReads of 3 something stars. Instead, by reading it in chronological order, the tension mounted from today's world, into the zombie apocalypse world.  I've no idea why the author thought the book should be read the other way around.

I recommend two things: 1) read in chronological order (the free ebook I got has a link to each of the four stories in the front of the book); 2) read the first chronological story (which is placed at the end of the book). The book is free.  It won't take too long to read that short story, and if you aren't captured, then you didn't really lose much. Except a few moments of your time.

Zoe, Undead by J.R. Knoll

Zoe, Undead
by J.R. Knoll
Pages: 228
Published Date: August 19 2012
Publisher: Author

Review
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Read: November 18 2013

This may be one of the most interesting zombie books I've read.  Well written. Pulled me along from start to finish.

I only noticed one error and one cringe moment.   There's a scene when the Colonel is talking to Zoe and the Sergeant.   During the conversation, one of the paragraphs begins with something like 'the Sergeant continued'.  I looked it over a couple of times, and no, it was the Colonel who continued talking.

The cringe moment was when the Doctor said Zoe, with Asperger syndrome,  'had the mind of a child and will always have the mind of a child'.   I don't believe the doctor who said it was stated as being an expert in autism,  and Asperger itself had it's status change in 2013, so I gave/give a pass to the comment.