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It begins with the end...
When Megan Pritchard clocks in for her late night shift in a Nevada brothel, she has no way of knowing it will be her last. Around the world, the dead are rising, and mankind is on the express train to extinction. As her coworkers turn into cannibalistic zombies, Megan is forced to flee into the desert with nothing but the clothes on her back and a vague plan to reach her sister in southern Arizona.
Facing impossible odds, Megan embarks on a journey of self discovery, only to learn she may be the last, best hope for humanity.
When Megan Pritchard clocks in for her late night shift in a Nevada brothel, she has no way of knowing it will be her last. Around the world, the dead are rising, and mankind is on the express train to extinction. As her coworkers turn into cannibalistic zombies, Megan is forced to flee into the desert with nothing but the clothes on her back and a vague plan to reach her sister in southern Arizona.
Facing impossible odds, Megan embarks on a journey of self discovery, only to learn she may be the last, best hope for humanity.
157 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2011
109 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
July 7, 2012
Fire was a quick read for me. Set in the Southern US on the eve of the zombie apocalypse, Fire follows a large cast of characters through the initial stages of a zombie causing contagion to the aftermath.
I'm always amused by the amount of ammunition available to survivors of zombie apocalypses. There always seems to be a never ending supply of ammo.
I liked that the author had a diverse cast of characters, from all walks of life. No one was safe from becoming zombie fodder, either. It amazes me which type of character rises to the top of the heap in these types of novels, too.
I enjoyed the story, although I had a little difficulty understanding the origin of the zombie contagion. All of a sudden, people were getting ill and then becoming violent. They then bit another person who reanimated as a zombie. But - where did it come from? Why?
Also - using nuclear weapons to get rid of zombies? That's a new one. So now I need to add a few other things to my zombie survival kit - an old car without any electronics, able to outlast an electro-magnetic pulse.
All in all, a fun, if not gory, read. Recommended for zombie apocalypse lovers.
Review posted on Badass Book Reviews.
I won a copy of this book from the author through LibraryThing.
I'm always amused by the amount of ammunition available to survivors of zombie apocalypses. There always seems to be a never ending supply of ammo.
I liked that the author had a diverse cast of characters, from all walks of life. No one was safe from becoming zombie fodder, either. It amazes me which type of character rises to the top of the heap in these types of novels, too.
I enjoyed the story, although I had a little difficulty understanding the origin of the zombie contagion. All of a sudden, people were getting ill and then becoming violent. They then bit another person who reanimated as a zombie. But - where did it come from? Why?
Also - using nuclear weapons to get rid of zombies? That's a new one. So now I need to add a few other things to my zombie survival kit - an old car without any electronics, able to outlast an electro-magnetic pulse.
All in all, a fun, if not gory, read. Recommended for zombie apocalypse lovers.
Review posted on Badass Book Reviews.
I won a copy of this book from the author through LibraryThing.
August 25, 2017
I LOVE zombie books. Can't get enough of zombie books and I'll try every new author out there, looking for those hidden gems. But if there is one thing I hate, it is when the cast of characters in zombie novels are the worst versions of what society has to offer. I have to be rooting for good characters! It's no use to me if I hate or don't care about the MCs! And it sadly seems as if horror authors are obsessed with giving us crap characters!
In this one we include:
-Megan the drug taking prostitute who manages to fit in sex with a client seconds before the zombies attack the brothel. Well, it's all about timing after all...
-The pot smoking supermarket girls on their break at work.
-the religious cult who believe the zombies only eat unbelievers
-Betty who is in charge of the submarine is a murderer who killed her ex for dumping her for her best friend.
And what makes it worse is that every time the POV switches, we get a new obnoxious character and their full life story. A quarter of the way into the book we are STILL getting told about new characters instead of finding out what is happening to the ones we've already met. It was clear that this entire first book was basically being used as an introduction to everything we need to know ready for the real action later in the series. The only character I actually liked was the illegal immigrant who sneaked over the border from Mexico so with the ever growing cast, my hopes for a novel I would like diminished.
We have the obligatory sub plot of one character having a parent dying of cancer. This seems to be the new in thing and I hate it because I have recently lived it and read zombie books to NOT think about it. We also get the usual massive info dumps about military weapons, tactics and submarine systems and protocols which made my head spin.
The irony is that if we had a little less info dumping and a cast we like, there is a decent story trying to escape here! There was potential with the plot but the characters prevented me from going far enough to find out.
In this one we include:
-Megan the drug taking prostitute who manages to fit in sex with a client seconds before the zombies attack the brothel. Well, it's all about timing after all...
-The pot smoking supermarket girls on their break at work.
-the religious cult who believe the zombies only eat unbelievers
-Betty who is in charge of the submarine is a murderer who killed her ex for dumping her for her best friend.
And what makes it worse is that every time the POV switches, we get a new obnoxious character and their full life story. A quarter of the way into the book we are STILL getting told about new characters instead of finding out what is happening to the ones we've already met. It was clear that this entire first book was basically being used as an introduction to everything we need to know ready for the real action later in the series. The only character I actually liked was the illegal immigrant who sneaked over the border from Mexico so with the ever growing cast, my hopes for a novel I would like diminished.
We have the obligatory sub plot of one character having a parent dying of cancer. This seems to be the new in thing and I hate it because I have recently lived it and read zombie books to NOT think about it. We also get the usual massive info dumps about military weapons, tactics and submarine systems and protocols which made my head spin.
The irony is that if we had a little less info dumping and a cast we like, there is a decent story trying to escape here! There was potential with the plot but the characters prevented me from going far enough to find out.
October 20, 2011
Zombies! Love them can't get enough of them, I use to be terrified of them or anything like that ever happening as all very well may have known from a previous review I wrote for the Great Minds Literary Community. So when it comes to finding a good page turning not going to bore me out of my mind or make me fall asleep to easy zombie book, I'm pretty picky. From the start of this book it pulled me in, I got to see the normality of life of the characters before things started to go horribly and completely wrong in their lives. There were no perfect people and I love how the writer was not scared to take a character he created and one you thought might stick around for a good long time and throw that monkey wrench in there and take them out from something so simple to something completely complicated.
Each character was well established and each story tore a little at your heart as you got to experience the love and loss of each one, The triumph and their defeat. The pages couldn't turn fast enough for me as I ripped through this with a hunger for more. So much so that when I was finished and saw that I had the Air: Elements of the Undead short novelette to read I instantly and voraciously tore into it wanting more.
Which leads me to say MORE PLEASE MORE. To William Esmont you have created a wonderful horrorverse that I look forward to and can't wait to see expand as well I'm sure my cat as well seeing as how she gets more cuddles now at night than she ever has when I have read a good horror book. To those out there that haven't read this or picked it up do so I feel you will not regret it.
Each character was well established and each story tore a little at your heart as you got to experience the love and loss of each one, The triumph and their defeat. The pages couldn't turn fast enough for me as I ripped through this with a hunger for more. So much so that when I was finished and saw that I had the Air: Elements of the Undead short novelette to read I instantly and voraciously tore into it wanting more.
Which leads me to say MORE PLEASE MORE. To William Esmont you have created a wonderful horrorverse that I look forward to and can't wait to see expand as well I'm sure my cat as well seeing as how she gets more cuddles now at night than she ever has when I have read a good horror book. To those out there that haven't read this or picked it up do so I feel you will not regret it.
July 28, 2016
I love a good Zombie story. I can get lost in the drama, the danger and the imagination of authors who have not only found a way to devise the end of the world - almost - and then put it back together again. I want to read about good characters, ones that are worth rooting for. I want to read about how they would rebuild and rekindle the world for the remainder of human kind. It doesn't really matter that the heros of books like "World War Z" are fighting Zombies or terrorists. It matters that their creators have inspired us to care enough to engage from page one to page last. A good Zombie story entertains, scares, challenges my imagination, and is also thought provoking.
"Fire", brought nothing new to the zombie table. It read more like a movie-of-the-week script than the zombie thrillers that are available now.
This was my first "First Read" book and review. I am looking forward to more challenging and entertaining offerings.
"Fire", brought nothing new to the zombie table. It read more like a movie-of-the-week script than the zombie thrillers that are available now.
This was my first "First Read" book and review. I am looking forward to more challenging and entertaining offerings.
June 14, 2012
I received a copy of this through a giveaway on Librarything. Technically, the author writes very well. Unfortunately, the story he chose to tell was, in my opinion, a bit iffy. It jumps around a lot - each chapter is a new character/story/setting and those characters/stories/settings don't always pay off. Some of the characters have a ton of build up and then are killed off quickly or are forgotten.
The main problem with this book is that it was used to lay the background for future books and wasn't a complete story unto itself. There was little to no point in the book being released on its own.
It's sad to see something that was well-written that just isn't worth reading.
The main problem with this book is that it was used to lay the background for future books and wasn't a complete story unto itself. There was little to no point in the book being released on its own.
It's sad to see something that was well-written that just isn't worth reading.
September 4, 2012
This book was a quick read... I finished it in a little over a day (while on vacation). It's well written, with the author having a flowing and easy to read writing style.
The set up... With characters being introduced in their own sections and the book jumping btwn them at first is effective but then becomes sort of annoying as I was not tied into the character yet... So when the story jumps away and then back I didn't recall the characters details immediately. There also seems to be a lot of set up without a lot of insight into the characters... You dont get attatched to them.
There seemed to be too much time devoted to background characters who play a small role in where the story is going... I assume this was done to make a point as story lines develop an elicit emotion from the reader.... But it's ineffective... There isn't much of a connection with characters so when the story progresses your just a bystander watching vs a concerned participant.
The story also was short... Really short...and seemed to be written to set up a sequel or series vs to tell a story. I have a hard time with a series that's first volume is 150 pages. My suggestion would be to add more content to this volume so that readers are more engaged and therefore likely to buy the second book. As it stands now I'm curios about what happens next... But not dying to know. Maybe as the story progresses in the next book that will change.
Another issue is that I think i see where the storyline is going... Setting up a struggle btwn 2 sets of survivors... One good, one evil or dark... All the while both sides struggling to survive the zombie outbreak... Reminding me of dies the fire and other books where someone was focused on building an empire after society collapses.
Finally-IMO the storyline was cheapened to b movie status when a dismembered arm "ran" and grabbed someone and scrambled up their leg... Arms+hands have no eyes... How would they "know" which way to scramble to move up someone's leg? A minor passage in the book but one that stuck with me ... Leaving a bad taste and detracting from a story that up to that point was moving along well.
Overall the writing is good, but the execution of the character development could be improved to better engage the reader in the story and build momentum for the second book.
The set up... With characters being introduced in their own sections and the book jumping btwn them at first is effective but then becomes sort of annoying as I was not tied into the character yet... So when the story jumps away and then back I didn't recall the characters details immediately. There also seems to be a lot of set up without a lot of insight into the characters... You dont get attatched to them.
There seemed to be too much time devoted to background characters who play a small role in where the story is going... I assume this was done to make a point as story lines develop an elicit emotion from the reader.... But it's ineffective... There isn't much of a connection with characters so when the story progresses your just a bystander watching vs a concerned participant.
The story also was short... Really short...and seemed to be written to set up a sequel or series vs to tell a story. I have a hard time with a series that's first volume is 150 pages. My suggestion would be to add more content to this volume so that readers are more engaged and therefore likely to buy the second book. As it stands now I'm curios about what happens next... But not dying to know. Maybe as the story progresses in the next book that will change.
Another issue is that I think i see where the storyline is going... Setting up a struggle btwn 2 sets of survivors... One good, one evil or dark... All the while both sides struggling to survive the zombie outbreak... Reminding me of dies the fire and other books where someone was focused on building an empire after society collapses.
Finally-IMO the storyline was cheapened to b movie status when a dismembered arm "ran" and grabbed someone and scrambled up their leg... Arms+hands have no eyes... How would they "know" which way to scramble to move up someone's leg? A minor passage in the book but one that stuck with me ... Leaving a bad taste and detracting from a story that up to that point was moving along well.
Overall the writing is good, but the execution of the character development could be improved to better engage the reader in the story and build momentum for the second book.
December 10, 2015
I have had Fire for quite a few years now. Recently, I've been extremely sick, which has given me some extra time to read a lot of my older books in my tbr pile. After reading Fire, I am kicking myself for not reading it sooner. I loved it. In fact, I'm writing this review right after finishing Fire so I can read the second book in the series, Air, immediately.
If you follow me on any social media site, you know I am slightly obsessed with zombies. I've read a lot of zombie books, and watched quite a few zombie themed tv shows and movies. I think that Fire is one of the better zombie books that I have read. In my opinion, it is an accurate description o what would actually happen in a zombie apocalypse. The one thing I loved that William Esmont did is that not only can a zombie infect a person by biting them, but zombie blood is also infectious. That's something that doesn't happen in a lot of zombie stories, but I feel like it would happen in real life.
Esmont also creates some very complex characters that you just want to root for (or love to hate in one particular character's case). Even though there are several different points of view, all of the characters come together in a way that is brilliant. Also, one of the characters has a particularly nasty past, but once the zombie apocalypse happens, that doesn't matter anymore. I believe that's how it should be. My favorite character is Megan. She's been through hell and back, but she doesn't let it get to her. I can't wait to see what she does in the future.
I loved Fire by William Esmont. It's one of my favorite zombie books that I've read this year. I think that Esmont has a great future ahead of him writing zombie/survival novels. I can't wait to see where he takes the story next. I recommend this series for fans who like The Walking Dead, with more realism. I also recommend it for people who like survival stories.
If you follow me on any social media site, you know I am slightly obsessed with zombies. I've read a lot of zombie books, and watched quite a few zombie themed tv shows and movies. I think that Fire is one of the better zombie books that I have read. In my opinion, it is an accurate description o what would actually happen in a zombie apocalypse. The one thing I loved that William Esmont did is that not only can a zombie infect a person by biting them, but zombie blood is also infectious. That's something that doesn't happen in a lot of zombie stories, but I feel like it would happen in real life.
Esmont also creates some very complex characters that you just want to root for (or love to hate in one particular character's case). Even though there are several different points of view, all of the characters come together in a way that is brilliant. Also, one of the characters has a particularly nasty past, but once the zombie apocalypse happens, that doesn't matter anymore. I believe that's how it should be. My favorite character is Megan. She's been through hell and back, but she doesn't let it get to her. I can't wait to see what she does in the future.
I loved Fire by William Esmont. It's one of my favorite zombie books that I've read this year. I think that Esmont has a great future ahead of him writing zombie/survival novels. I can't wait to see where he takes the story next. I recommend this series for fans who like The Walking Dead, with more realism. I also recommend it for people who like survival stories.
July 18, 2012
I admit I thought that this would be the typical zombie apocalypse story; where a group of people fight zombies,themselves, and by the end of the book most of them are dead. I hate to say that my assumptions were wrong, but that pretty much sums up the book. However, Esmont weaves together such a colorful and un-cliche bunch of people that I was thoroughly entertained for the entire novel.
Despite having a huge cast of characters, there was plenty of screen time for each group. Although Megan was the main character, a hooker turned survivor leader, Jack was my favorite to read. I must say that Jack's episodes were so poignant and I wonder if I could of done the same necessary actions if I was in his predicament. Besides the zombies, this book claims an unusual villain - a military woman who makes a lot of bad decisions for her own survival.
What starts out as many different plot-lines and settings dwindles to one major one as the story is told. Necessary actions drive these characters from one chapter to the next. For anyone who knows zombie books and movies - necessary actions means shooting people in the head. That's the only way to kill these things and there is quite a bit of gore accompanying these necessary actions.
It's nothing unique to the genre, but for any fans of zombies, this story is told well. Its a good, quick read for anyone that enjoys their meat and books extra rare.
**I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Despite having a huge cast of characters, there was plenty of screen time for each group. Although Megan was the main character, a hooker turned survivor leader, Jack was my favorite to read. I must say that Jack's episodes were so poignant and I wonder if I could of done the same necessary actions if I was in his predicament. Besides the zombies, this book claims an unusual villain - a military woman who makes a lot of bad decisions for her own survival.
What starts out as many different plot-lines and settings dwindles to one major one as the story is told. Necessary actions drive these characters from one chapter to the next. For anyone who knows zombie books and movies - necessary actions means shooting people in the head. That's the only way to kill these things and there is quite a bit of gore accompanying these necessary actions.
It's nothing unique to the genre, but for any fans of zombies, this story is told well. Its a good, quick read for anyone that enjoys their meat and books extra rare.
**I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
November 25, 2011
Fire (Elements of the Undead) by William Esmont
high school & up
A fast-moving plague has broken out across the world. The plague leaves behind dead bodies that soon get up again looking for something to eat. Soon the world is overrun by zombies and the few who survive try to cope with the new world.
Word of warning: do not read this book while eating meat of any kind with red sauce. I was eating a hamburger with BBQ sauce. Luckily, I have a strong stomach and great skill at compartmentalizing. The gore is fairly vivid; so this might be a good one to hook some of those hard to interest boys. Very action packed. I was a little bothered by some of the characterizations of women. We start out with whores (literally) and then there is the first female sub commander. The sub commander starts out okay; then we find out she's really just a sociopath. Swell. So basically, there are three types of women in this book: whore, mom and psycho. I'm going to be looking for the next book in the series and I hope the women are a bit less stereotypical.
However, this would be great to go together with Hollowland (The Hollows, #1) by Amanda Hocking. That book has a good, strong female lead so there is potential for some great comparison discussions. You could also (if you're in a liberal school) discuss the transition from hooker to zombie survivor.
high school & up
A fast-moving plague has broken out across the world. The plague leaves behind dead bodies that soon get up again looking for something to eat. Soon the world is overrun by zombies and the few who survive try to cope with the new world.
Word of warning: do not read this book while eating meat of any kind with red sauce. I was eating a hamburger with BBQ sauce. Luckily, I have a strong stomach and great skill at compartmentalizing. The gore is fairly vivid; so this might be a good one to hook some of those hard to interest boys. Very action packed. I was a little bothered by some of the characterizations of women. We start out with whores (literally) and then there is the first female sub commander. The sub commander starts out okay; then we find out she's really just a sociopath. Swell. So basically, there are three types of women in this book: whore, mom and psycho. I'm going to be looking for the next book in the series and I hope the women are a bit less stereotypical.
However, this would be great to go together with Hollowland (The Hollows, #1) by Amanda Hocking. That book has a good, strong female lead so there is potential for some great comparison discussions. You could also (if you're in a liberal school) discuss the transition from hooker to zombie survivor.
November 15, 2011
I was fortunate that the author, thanx to LibraryThing, gave me and sent me this great 'read'.
This is my OWN review; what I MYSELF think of this book.
Fast read. Immediately had my attention when it arrived by USPS. I AM. NOT. INTO. Zombies. however the intro had me intrigued, the cover was interesting, silly I know, but it counted. Read till half the night, then with an early morning coming, closed with less than 1/4th of the book left.
Characters are well-developed and interesting. The PlotLine and pacing keep the books' reading just moving and moving. Interesting how different individual characters and groups of characters reacted to this unforseen world-wide new menace from who-knows-where, but out-of-the blue, that is certain. Great world building in that way. I see that "Air" is the next to follow, and I am avid to read it.
I "DO" honestly HIGHLY recommend this book. I see that this author also has : "Self-Arrest" and "The Patriot Paradox" published. I . AM. INTERESTED...
This is my OWN review; what I MYSELF think of this book.
Fast read. Immediately had my attention when it arrived by USPS. I AM. NOT. INTO. Zombies. however the intro had me intrigued, the cover was interesting, silly I know, but it counted. Read till half the night, then with an early morning coming, closed with less than 1/4th of the book left.
Characters are well-developed and interesting. The PlotLine and pacing keep the books' reading just moving and moving. Interesting how different individual characters and groups of characters reacted to this unforseen world-wide new menace from who-knows-where, but out-of-the blue, that is certain. Great world building in that way. I see that "Air" is the next to follow, and I am avid to read it.
I "DO" honestly HIGHLY recommend this book. I see that this author also has : "Self-Arrest" and "The Patriot Paradox" published. I . AM. INTERESTED...
November 5, 2015
I haven’t read a zombie novel in quite some time, so I decided to give this book a go seeing as I’ve had it on my Kindle for over a year, and it looked to be a quick read.
The best thing I can say about this book is that, for a self-pub book, it’s impressively well written. The story has a good flow and the dialogue is good. Other than that, don’t expect too much. It is clear the storyline has been inspired by popular tv shows and movies about the zombie apocalypse, and as such doesn’t offer anything new.
If you’re a zombie fanatic who would read any ole’ zombie book, you won’t regret adding this one to your bookshelf. I also have the sequel to this story on my Kindle for over a year now, and will read it soon, but will most likely not continue with any other books in this series. I will, however, read more of this author’s books (if it’s not about zombies, vampires or werewolves) as he clearly is a talented storyteller who knows how to engage the reader.
The best thing I can say about this book is that, for a self-pub book, it’s impressively well written. The story has a good flow and the dialogue is good. Other than that, don’t expect too much. It is clear the storyline has been inspired by popular tv shows and movies about the zombie apocalypse, and as such doesn’t offer anything new.
If you’re a zombie fanatic who would read any ole’ zombie book, you won’t regret adding this one to your bookshelf. I also have the sequel to this story on my Kindle for over a year now, and will read it soon, but will most likely not continue with any other books in this series. I will, however, read more of this author’s books (if it’s not about zombies, vampires or werewolves) as he clearly is a talented storyteller who knows how to engage the reader.
January 12, 2014
At first I was hesitant to read this book. I had definitely fallen prey to judging a book by its cover. Part of me started reading expecting not to like Elements of the Undead, which is unfortunate because it was actually really enjoyable. I was looking for a post-apocalyptic zombie story that delivered all the things you would hope to find. Chaos, mass destruction, compromising morality and integrity, and all in the name of survival. As soon as I read the first page, the introduction to one of the lead characters, a prostitute names Megan, I was hooked. If you are looking for a sophisticated, original twist, with deep character development, I am not sure if this is what you want. However if you need just a taste of depravity and horror two thumbs up for Elements of the Undead,
August 5, 2012
The very idea of zombies is the stuff of nightmares. Is it possible for the entire world to be blanketed within days by a virus that not only kills its victims but reanimates them and turns them into voracious killers, craving human flesh? It is the gritty reality of William Esmont's world. Not only do the characters in this story have to avoid the undead in order to survive, but lines are being drawn among the living that are actually scarier than the possibility of being bitten by a zombie. This book is most unsettling. It positively undulates with tension and sets the stage for what I believe will be one hell of a battle. Eat or be eaten, both literally and figuratively...
October 18, 2012
This zombie apocolypse was great! The best one yet and I am just a couple of books into this genre.
The WORLD is suddenly overrun with zombies. One moment everything is fine, the next, you wife is trying to see what your eyeball tastes like. The military doesn't know what to do so, of course, they bomb the most populated cities in hopes of slowing down or killing the infestation.
Not all humans are dead, not all zombies are dead. How would you survive in this New World?
January 31, 2013
This was well done. Very gory and graphic. The sex scenes seemed gratuitous and the drug elements strange and unnecessary but I'm guessing he's setting up a world as this is the first of 3 in a series. I will read the others.
May 29, 2018
Hard to find zombie books like this anymore
I love zombie books. Which is hilarious because I'm a 64 year old retired teacher. But lately this genre has become horribly written drivel with too much emphasis on guns as the only weapons of choice. This book however, was a pleasure to read. It was grammatically correct with few misspelled distractions. The characters were full fledged, mostly decent and practical people. I can't wait to read the next book and hope the author keeps up the interesting writing.
I love zombie books. Which is hilarious because I'm a 64 year old retired teacher. But lately this genre has become horribly written drivel with too much emphasis on guns as the only weapons of choice. This book however, was a pleasure to read. It was grammatically correct with few misspelled distractions. The characters were full fledged, mostly decent and practical people. I can't wait to read the next book and hope the author keeps up the interesting writing.
August 28, 2018
Great
This book was fantastic. I would recommend it to all who love post apocalyptic . You feel the terror and really get to know the people.
This book was fantastic. I would recommend it to all who love post apocalyptic . You feel the terror and really get to know the people.
September 5, 2018
Quick, easy read. Another book about the end of civilization as we know it.
March 8, 2019
Not bad, but Megan does not seem believable. A prostitute would not be surprised by how humans treat other humans.
April 21, 2019
Two silly mistakes
A satisfying story with the usual zombie action. But, a misspelled word and an incorrect reference to "her eyes" drops this book a notch for me.
A satisfying story with the usual zombie action. But, a misspelled word and an incorrect reference to "her eyes" drops this book a notch for me.
September 9, 2013
I received the omnibus edition of the first three books (or two books and a short story, which is more accurate) in this series via the FirstReads program with the understanding that I would review it. I'll post a composite review for the omnibus as well, but here's the first of my three individual reviews.
I went into this book with low expectations. I have a weakness for zombie films (and now literature), but even I can recognize that it is a sub-genre mired in mediocrity. Sure, there are a few shining examples of revolutionary ideas well-executed (World War Z, for example) but the vast array of entrants into the field are cookie-cutter tales that offer at best mindless entertainment. That's all well and good, so far as it goes, but the reputation of such fiction is that the quality of the writing is pretty poor across the board. I was trying to keep an open mind, but feared I would have to unleash my mean-reviewer side on this one.
After the first dozen chapters or so (they're short), I was pleasantly surprised. The first part of the story was decently well written, and Esmont did a good job of creating and introducing a host of interesting characters. Were they all complex? No. Did I like all of them? No, and that may have been intentional, especially with regards to the villains. But I was interested in them. Is it a sign of good or poor writing that I could tell which of the characters were going to turn out villainous? I'm frankly not sure, so I decided against weighing that fact in my star rating. At the halfway point I was planning to give this four stars--maybe a bit overly generous, but I like to be more generous with up-and-coming writers than I would be with, say, Stephen King.
Unfortunately, I was much less impressed with the second half. We leave our cast of characters to fend for themselves for a few weeks, then catch back up with them. This is fine in most cases, with POV characters who can recap how they got from point A to point B, but a couple POV characters from the first part only appear from others' points of view in the second half. This leaves a number of questions, especially for one character in particular. What happened to young Peter's girlfriend? Did he ever get to her house? How did he escape his zombified mother? We are left without these details on the plot, let alone what is going on inside his head. I for one would very much like to know how he's handling the new world, and at what point the young idiot figured out that the Zombie Apocalypse was not, in fact, the Rapture. Throw in a plotting problem I'll discuss in a moment, and my impression is sadly that Mr. Esmont wrote the first draft, hit his desired length sooner than expected and so left a building conflict unvisited, noticed that he had improved as a writer since he started, went back and rewrote the first half, then published it. By the time I finished this first book, my star rating had fallen back down to a three, which I feel is probably still a bit generous.
Plotting: the whole second half of the book a conflict is brewing between the small band of survivors made up of most of our characters and the sociopathic military commander determined to carve out an empire who is heading right towards them. Unfortunately for us readers (though fortunately for our survivors, I suppose),
Zombie literature/films have a number of conventions that you don't mess with--most sacrosanct that you have to go for the head. These are largely intact here, although there is an inexplicable scene with a severed hand continuing to attack a character ala The Evil Dead. That's not how it's supposed to work, and it doesn't work that way outside of this particular scene, so it was mostly a random moment that jarred me out of the story.
Would I recommend this as some mindless entertainment? Sure. Just know what you're in for, and don't invest too much expectation in the ending. I fully expect the quality of this series to improve....we'll see if that's just wishful thinking or not. EDIT: It was not. While far from perfect, the rest of the series was free of the major flaws described here.
Reviews for Book 2: Air and Book 3: Earth
Obviously this isn't for kids, so the language and violence shouldn't be a surprise. There's also a high level of explicit sexual content, though, so be forewarned.
I went into this book with low expectations. I have a weakness for zombie films (and now literature), but even I can recognize that it is a sub-genre mired in mediocrity. Sure, there are a few shining examples of revolutionary ideas well-executed (World War Z, for example) but the vast array of entrants into the field are cookie-cutter tales that offer at best mindless entertainment. That's all well and good, so far as it goes, but the reputation of such fiction is that the quality of the writing is pretty poor across the board. I was trying to keep an open mind, but feared I would have to unleash my mean-reviewer side on this one.
After the first dozen chapters or so (they're short), I was pleasantly surprised. The first part of the story was decently well written, and Esmont did a good job of creating and introducing a host of interesting characters. Were they all complex? No. Did I like all of them? No, and that may have been intentional, especially with regards to the villains. But I was interested in them. Is it a sign of good or poor writing that I could tell which of the characters were going to turn out villainous? I'm frankly not sure, so I decided against weighing that fact in my star rating. At the halfway point I was planning to give this four stars--maybe a bit overly generous, but I like to be more generous with up-and-coming writers than I would be with, say, Stephen King.
Unfortunately, I was much less impressed with the second half. We leave our cast of characters to fend for themselves for a few weeks, then catch back up with them. This is fine in most cases, with POV characters who can recap how they got from point A to point B, but a couple POV characters from the first part only appear from others' points of view in the second half. This leaves a number of questions, especially for one character in particular. What happened to young Peter's girlfriend? Did he ever get to her house? How did he escape his zombified mother? We are left without these details on the plot, let alone what is going on inside his head. I for one would very much like to know how he's handling the new world, and at what point the young idiot figured out that the Zombie Apocalypse was not, in fact, the Rapture. Throw in a plotting problem I'll discuss in a moment, and my impression is sadly that Mr. Esmont wrote the first draft, hit his desired length sooner than expected and so left a building conflict unvisited, noticed that he had improved as a writer since he started, went back and rewrote the first half, then published it. By the time I finished this first book, my star rating had fallen back down to a three, which I feel is probably still a bit generous.
Plotting: the whole second half of the book a conflict is brewing between the small band of survivors made up of most of our characters and the sociopathic military commander determined to carve out an empire who is heading right towards them. Unfortunately for us readers (though fortunately for our survivors, I suppose),
Zombie literature/films have a number of conventions that you don't mess with--most sacrosanct that you have to go for the head. These are largely intact here, although there is an inexplicable scene with a severed hand continuing to attack a character ala The Evil Dead. That's not how it's supposed to work, and it doesn't work that way outside of this particular scene, so it was mostly a random moment that jarred me out of the story.
Would I recommend this as some mindless entertainment? Sure. Just know what you're in for, and don't invest too much expectation in the ending. I fully expect the quality of this series to improve....we'll see if that's just wishful thinking or not. EDIT: It was not. While far from perfect, the rest of the series was free of the major flaws described here.
Reviews for Book 2: Air and Book 3: Earth
Obviously this isn't for kids, so the language and violence shouldn't be a surprise. There's also a high level of explicit sexual content, though, so be forewarned.
January 17, 2013
I admit it, I was skeptical. Then again, I thought that Twilight was fun, despite being badly written. Lots of things are entertaining without actually being good. So, I thought I’d give Esmont’s Elements of the Undead a shot. At least, it would be a diversion from daily life.
I underestimated it.
In all really satisfying science fiction or fantasy stories, paranormal archetypes (in this case, zombies) are symbols for bits or themes of culture or humanity about which we do not know how to discuss. The outlandishness of the apparent subject gives the audience permission to safely talk about troubling social issues. If the conversation gets too hot, someone can crack a joke about vampires or zombies or changelings or Big Brother. Everyone can save face and retreat into the social order they distrust. It is always about today, always about now, when the genre is correctly executed. If it is done badly, it is never more than an idle pastime and an object of ridicule. Done well, however, it can subvert existing power structures. It can become a cultural touchstone.
The popularity of superheros, paranormal heroes and villains, and artificial intelligence named “Hal” (or cars which park themselves and talk back to the drivers when they ask for a certain radio station) is not a fluke. It is a lightening rod for social psycho-analysis.
At the end of Fire, the narrator uses Megan’s point of view to say, “The undead were only a symptom, she had finally realized, a symptom of a broken society that would rather battle each other to the death than compromise for the greater good.” (Page 184.) Elements of the Undead is a commentary about what we have become, with our social media, hyper-violent entertainment, and bloated governments. We turn on ourselves, and devour senselessly, without meaning and without stopping.
If your taste doesn’t run towards the metaphoric, the series more than satisfies with quick pacing, lots of action, and just the right amount of detail. Esmont skillfully develops characters (even those who don’t live long) who mean something to us, and about whom we care. He weaves us around various geographical locations, introducing us to groups of survivors, and different manners of survival, some of which are as bad as the zombies themselves. Esmont does not sacrifice story for pacing, however, and while it is a violent novel, it is not unnecessarily gruesome. The real violence happens between people – and leads us to the book’s self-description: “tales of survival.”
By the end of Earth, book three, we still do not have a clear notion of what survival is or what death is, since very few things stay dead for long in this world. Elements of the Undead presents possibilities for what it might mean to be dead, or what it might mean to be alive, and thus offers a searing perspective on our treatment of each other in this, our zombie-free world.
It is a relevant tale in this age of online relationships and decreasing face time.
Lastly, the formatting and artwork of the book are beautiful. They add to the grittiness of the story, giving it the appearance of an old telegram with blood smears and crinkles. The e-version is good, but the paperback is lovely.
Also by William Esmont:
The Patriot Paradox (The Reluctant Hero, Book One)
Pressed (The Reluctant Hero, Book Two)
Self-Arrest
http://www.williamesmont.com
Red Adept Editing: http://www.redadeptpublishing.com/edi... offers editing services to elf-published authors, in addition to being a small press.
Streetlight Graphics is ww.streetlightgraphics.com, another small business offering graphics arts services to idenpendent authors.
This review first appeared on irevuo.com, Friday Reads.
I underestimated it.
In all really satisfying science fiction or fantasy stories, paranormal archetypes (in this case, zombies) are symbols for bits or themes of culture or humanity about which we do not know how to discuss. The outlandishness of the apparent subject gives the audience permission to safely talk about troubling social issues. If the conversation gets too hot, someone can crack a joke about vampires or zombies or changelings or Big Brother. Everyone can save face and retreat into the social order they distrust. It is always about today, always about now, when the genre is correctly executed. If it is done badly, it is never more than an idle pastime and an object of ridicule. Done well, however, it can subvert existing power structures. It can become a cultural touchstone.
The popularity of superheros, paranormal heroes and villains, and artificial intelligence named “Hal” (or cars which park themselves and talk back to the drivers when they ask for a certain radio station) is not a fluke. It is a lightening rod for social psycho-analysis.
At the end of Fire, the narrator uses Megan’s point of view to say, “The undead were only a symptom, she had finally realized, a symptom of a broken society that would rather battle each other to the death than compromise for the greater good.” (Page 184.) Elements of the Undead is a commentary about what we have become, with our social media, hyper-violent entertainment, and bloated governments. We turn on ourselves, and devour senselessly, without meaning and without stopping.
If your taste doesn’t run towards the metaphoric, the series more than satisfies with quick pacing, lots of action, and just the right amount of detail. Esmont skillfully develops characters (even those who don’t live long) who mean something to us, and about whom we care. He weaves us around various geographical locations, introducing us to groups of survivors, and different manners of survival, some of which are as bad as the zombies themselves. Esmont does not sacrifice story for pacing, however, and while it is a violent novel, it is not unnecessarily gruesome. The real violence happens between people – and leads us to the book’s self-description: “tales of survival.”
By the end of Earth, book three, we still do not have a clear notion of what survival is or what death is, since very few things stay dead for long in this world. Elements of the Undead presents possibilities for what it might mean to be dead, or what it might mean to be alive, and thus offers a searing perspective on our treatment of each other in this, our zombie-free world.
It is a relevant tale in this age of online relationships and decreasing face time.
Lastly, the formatting and artwork of the book are beautiful. They add to the grittiness of the story, giving it the appearance of an old telegram with blood smears and crinkles. The e-version is good, but the paperback is lovely.
Also by William Esmont:
The Patriot Paradox (The Reluctant Hero, Book One)
Pressed (The Reluctant Hero, Book Two)
Self-Arrest
http://www.williamesmont.com
Red Adept Editing: http://www.redadeptpublishing.com/edi... offers editing services to elf-published authors, in addition to being a small press.
Streetlight Graphics is ww.streetlightgraphics.com, another small business offering graphics arts services to idenpendent authors.
This review first appeared on irevuo.com, Friday Reads.
May 28, 2012
*Full disclosure: I acquired a copy of this book from the author in return for a review. All opinions expressed are my own.*
I have to be honest and admit that zombies aren't my usual horror creature of choice, though I do love a good dystopian/apocalyptic tale, and this book had that in spades. This, the first in a trilogy, takes place following an outbreak of infection that quickly sweeps the globe and leaves its victims the walking dead. As we see the consequences of the zombie uprising alongside the survivors of the disaster, we come to understand that though fighting zombies is bad enough, human in-fighting can be just as devastating...
I first thought this book was going to be confusing as there seemed to be so many characters, but it soon became clear that their stories would eventually interlink and they all had their different flaws and traits that set them apart. Some of them, I really liked- Jack particularly, who went through the unimaginable and still came out fighting. Megan, similarly, I thought was well written. I didn't like Hollister, though I think that was the point- and she made a great villain! Though not all of the characters were developed particularly extensively and you only get to know some of them on a superficial level, I am hoping this may change as the series progresses.
The writing flows well and I didn't pick up on any grammatical mistakes, which is something I can be picky about, particularly in a Kindle book. I also thought the author was able to craft a situation that has been done many times before, yet give it a new spin from many different survivors perspectives. If this hadn't already been done before (Walking Dead, 28 Days Later etc...) then I could also see this working well on screen. The author certainly doesn't hold back in his descriptions, so some of this might not be for the feint hearted either!
If you are looking for a bit of a gory, no holds barred horror book then give this a go. It's a quick, easy read and its fast pace (though abrupt ending!) has definitely whetted my appetite for the sequel- and I am definitely intrigued to know what is going to play out between some of the characters next time round.
I have to be honest and admit that zombies aren't my usual horror creature of choice, though I do love a good dystopian/apocalyptic tale, and this book had that in spades. This, the first in a trilogy, takes place following an outbreak of infection that quickly sweeps the globe and leaves its victims the walking dead. As we see the consequences of the zombie uprising alongside the survivors of the disaster, we come to understand that though fighting zombies is bad enough, human in-fighting can be just as devastating...
I first thought this book was going to be confusing as there seemed to be so many characters, but it soon became clear that their stories would eventually interlink and they all had their different flaws and traits that set them apart. Some of them, I really liked- Jack particularly, who went through the unimaginable and still came out fighting. Megan, similarly, I thought was well written. I didn't like Hollister, though I think that was the point- and she made a great villain! Though not all of the characters were developed particularly extensively and you only get to know some of them on a superficial level, I am hoping this may change as the series progresses.
The writing flows well and I didn't pick up on any grammatical mistakes, which is something I can be picky about, particularly in a Kindle book. I also thought the author was able to craft a situation that has been done many times before, yet give it a new spin from many different survivors perspectives. If this hadn't already been done before (Walking Dead, 28 Days Later etc...) then I could also see this working well on screen. The author certainly doesn't hold back in his descriptions, so some of this might not be for the feint hearted either!
If you are looking for a bit of a gory, no holds barred horror book then give this a go. It's a quick, easy read and its fast pace (though abrupt ending!) has definitely whetted my appetite for the sequel- and I am definitely intrigued to know what is going to play out between some of the characters next time round.
September 16, 2012
There are a few key words and phrases that usually act to keep me away from picking up a new book. "Poetry". "Romance". "Zombies". "Erotic". ... WAIT - go back one: "Zombies".
I don't remember why I agreed to read and review "Fire", by William Esmont, but I am glad that I did. Apparently, something has triggered what has been referred to in other novels as "The Zombie Apocalypse" - there is no explanation as to what triggered it, or how it spread so quickly. Only its results, and the fact that it is highly contagious.
Some surviving humans have gathered in the neighborhood of Tucson, Arizona. So have some of the walking dead. The humans need to organize and assist each other in order to survive, but how best to do that is a subject of debate. The zombies aren't allowing them a time-out in order to work it out, either.
The novel is about personal interactions and society, which is the aspect that caught my interest. How DO you organize a new group of people when ALL of the rules have changed literally overnight? I also appreicated the fact that there is at least some semblence of recogizing that the Walking Dead used to be humans like the survivors, and like you and me. " ... based on the tattered clothing she still wore, this one appears to have been a soccer mom ..." to paraphrase one sentence.
I cannot speak for folks who live and breathe for this kind of novel, as to whether or not you would like it. I can tell you that this reviewer, not normally a fan of zombie novels, did enjoy it. (I would give it 3 1/2 stars, but Goodreads does not allow 1/2 stars, so I rounded up.)
DISCLOSURE: This novel was presented free to the author via the Goodreads FirstRead program.
I don't remember why I agreed to read and review "Fire", by William Esmont, but I am glad that I did. Apparently, something has triggered what has been referred to in other novels as "The Zombie Apocalypse" - there is no explanation as to what triggered it, or how it spread so quickly. Only its results, and the fact that it is highly contagious.
Some surviving humans have gathered in the neighborhood of Tucson, Arizona. So have some of the walking dead. The humans need to organize and assist each other in order to survive, but how best to do that is a subject of debate. The zombies aren't allowing them a time-out in order to work it out, either.
The novel is about personal interactions and society, which is the aspect that caught my interest. How DO you organize a new group of people when ALL of the rules have changed literally overnight? I also appreicated the fact that there is at least some semblence of recogizing that the Walking Dead used to be humans like the survivors, and like you and me. " ... based on the tattered clothing she still wore, this one appears to have been a soccer mom ..." to paraphrase one sentence.
I cannot speak for folks who live and breathe for this kind of novel, as to whether or not you would like it. I can tell you that this reviewer, not normally a fan of zombie novels, did enjoy it. (I would give it 3 1/2 stars, but Goodreads does not allow 1/2 stars, so I rounded up.)
DISCLOSURE: This novel was presented free to the author via the Goodreads FirstRead program.
April 17, 2012
I FINALLY finished this book, and I loved it! I had wanted to read it all in one sitting, but what with Christmas planning and travelling to see family and friends, I had very little time to just sit down and read. But this book had my attention from the very start, and I was reluctant to put it down every time real life beckoned.
Firsty, I must say that I received this book from the author for the purpose of posting a review. I'm honest, and don't ever sugar-coat what I think of a book. With that said, I found Fire to be a great read. The story was strong and kept my attention throughout, and the characters were all wonderfully (and rather uniquely) crafted. I'm a big fan of this particular genre too, so perhaps I was destined to enjoy it. I love Zombies. Weird, but true. I've read tonnes of Zombie themed books, both bad and good, and this was certainly one of the better ones. Also, gore really doesn't bother me, but you may want to think twice about this book if that's not your thing ;)
The writing too was of a very good quality and style. I sometimes struggle with certain authors if I find that I don't like the particular writing style or if I find the writing to be stilted or slow, but I had no problems at all with this one. The story flowed easily and was at just the right pace.
I've rated this at 4 stars. I would certainly recommend the book to others, and there just has to be more to come!
Firsty, I must say that I received this book from the author for the purpose of posting a review. I'm honest, and don't ever sugar-coat what I think of a book. With that said, I found Fire to be a great read. The story was strong and kept my attention throughout, and the characters were all wonderfully (and rather uniquely) crafted. I'm a big fan of this particular genre too, so perhaps I was destined to enjoy it. I love Zombies. Weird, but true. I've read tonnes of Zombie themed books, both bad and good, and this was certainly one of the better ones. Also, gore really doesn't bother me, but you may want to think twice about this book if that's not your thing ;)
The writing too was of a very good quality and style. I sometimes struggle with certain authors if I find that I don't like the particular writing style or if I find the writing to be stilted or slow, but I had no problems at all with this one. The story flowed easily and was at just the right pace.
I've rated this at 4 stars. I would certainly recommend the book to others, and there just has to be more to come!
July 4, 2015
Review -
I received this book in return for a honest review from the author. The book focus's around Megan and those she comes in contact with. In this book we have no way of knowing where the zombies come from, they were just suddenly everywhere. We get different perspectives each character has there own unique story but one common goal to survive. The start to the zombies happened within hours, they were in all parts of earth, New York, LA, Russia, London to name a few. which leads me to believe that it wasn't a attack unless it's aliens. The military tries
I think Megan is my fave but there are a few I would to see the zombies eat too. It's a short book, but so much is packed in, you start to connect with the characters, I was sad when people you were starting to know would die. I like that you care about the characters, it's not just a zombie eat zombie kill book. There is a real story going on. I found the characters interesting, some you like right away while some you want to see get eaten.
I'm not a huge fan of zombie books, in part because they are one of the few things that still scare me, but that doesn't mean I don't want to read them. This book was no exception, it gave me nightmares last night, but I really enjoyed the story. It is well written and keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time. I look forward to learning more about Megan and her battles with zombies and other humans.
I received this book in return for a honest review from the author. The book focus's around Megan and those she comes in contact with. In this book we have no way of knowing where the zombies come from, they were just suddenly everywhere. We get different perspectives each character has there own unique story but one common goal to survive. The start to the zombies happened within hours, they were in all parts of earth, New York, LA, Russia, London to name a few. which leads me to believe that it wasn't a attack unless it's aliens. The military tries
I think Megan is my fave but there are a few I would to see the zombies eat too. It's a short book, but so much is packed in, you start to connect with the characters, I was sad when people you were starting to know would die. I like that you care about the characters, it's not just a zombie eat zombie kill book. There is a real story going on. I found the characters interesting, some you like right away while some you want to see get eaten.
I'm not a huge fan of zombie books, in part because they are one of the few things that still scare me, but that doesn't mean I don't want to read them. This book was no exception, it gave me nightmares last night, but I really enjoyed the story. It is well written and keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole time. I look forward to learning more about Megan and her battles with zombies and other humans.
June 2, 2012
An infection, a virus has broken out all over the world and turning people into zombies. People are attacking each other and then eating them. A navy commander has been given orders to nuke parts of the United States. Everyone is in shock not knowing what is going on. What is happening to all the people? Why are they attacking each other?
Everyone or anyone that is still alive is running trying to stay alive and survive. There are two groups of people. Megan's group are very good people they want to do what ever they can to help people to survive until they can get the world back on its feet again. The other group, ran by the navy commander Hollister wants to take over the world. Hollister will kill any one that goes against what she wants.
Fire is written from different character's point of view given us an inside to their story. We get the back ground on their lives as to who and what they did before the infection broke out. I really liked seeing things from each character's view being inside their head and not getting the info from someone else. I can't wait to read the next book Air to find out more about Megan and how she leads the people. Will she be a good leader? Will the people like they way she leads? Will Megan and Jack become an item? Will Hollister take over the world?
Everyone or anyone that is still alive is running trying to stay alive and survive. There are two groups of people. Megan's group are very good people they want to do what ever they can to help people to survive until they can get the world back on its feet again. The other group, ran by the navy commander Hollister wants to take over the world. Hollister will kill any one that goes against what she wants.
Fire is written from different character's point of view given us an inside to their story. We get the back ground on their lives as to who and what they did before the infection broke out. I really liked seeing things from each character's view being inside their head and not getting the info from someone else. I can't wait to read the next book Air to find out more about Megan and how she leads the people. Will she be a good leader? Will the people like they way she leads? Will Megan and Jack become an item? Will Hollister take over the world?
July 26, 2012
I don't know if I enjoyed this novella or not. I guess part of my undecidedness comes from the fact that while the story was pretty good, the characters were awful. The only character with any discernible personality is the cliche navy officer who goes power hungry. The rest might as well not have even been given a name.
As for the plot, its a relatively standard zombie plot. Unknown cause for the zombie infection and people struggling to survive as scavengers or refugees in the wake of the unstoppable zombie onslaught. Esmont manages to keep the action at a decent pace throught, and that may be the reason I rated it as high as I did. Even when there wasn't a zombie to decapitate there was leadership struggles between the survivors to add some action.
The one aspect of the series that made me chuckle a little were the sex scenes. I'm not a prude, and I enjoy a well placed, well written sex scene as well as anyone else, but I don't see how this benefit the overall story at all. Just because one of the characters worked in a brothel before the zombie outbreak doesn't necessarily mean I need to read 5% the book about her having sex with a trucker..
I'm not really sure if I will continue on with the series. Maybe I will squeeze them in between some of the longer books just as a break.
As for the plot, its a relatively standard zombie plot. Unknown cause for the zombie infection and people struggling to survive as scavengers or refugees in the wake of the unstoppable zombie onslaught. Esmont manages to keep the action at a decent pace throught, and that may be the reason I rated it as high as I did. Even when there wasn't a zombie to decapitate there was leadership struggles between the survivors to add some action.
The one aspect of the series that made me chuckle a little were the sex scenes. I'm not a prude, and I enjoy a well placed, well written sex scene as well as anyone else, but I don't see how this benefit the overall story at all. Just because one of the characters worked in a brothel before the zombie outbreak doesn't necessarily mean I need to read 5% the book about her having sex with a trucker..
I'm not really sure if I will continue on with the series. Maybe I will squeeze them in between some of the longer books just as a break.
May 1, 2016
"Fire" is the first in a series of zombie apocalypse books by new-to-me author William Esmont. The writing is free from grammatical errors (yay!) and the characters that are introduced in this first book, as the ZA breaks out in the southeastern US, are interesting, atypical, and complex. There's the prostitute in Nevada, the sociopathic female nuclear submarine commander, the pot-smoking retail clerks, and seemingly a score of others. Some of their stories intersect together in this first book, but not all, leaving lots of room for development of the story. At times it seemed that there was too much going on, but all in all, this is a very interesting read.
The zombies are neat - they are not your slow-moving, physically retarded types, but the fast runners of 28 Days Later, the scary as shit type. The ones that will sniff you out and hunt you down. And although I don't feel that author Esmont is very graphic in his descriptions of zompoc mayhem, he doesn't hesitate to kill off main characters, including innocents and young children. And of course, the most of the major cities in the US (and possibly abroad) are nuked to contain the threat. Hence, I believe, the fire title reference.
A decent zombie book. I'm off to the next.
The zombies are neat - they are not your slow-moving, physically retarded types, but the fast runners of 28 Days Later, the scary as shit type. The ones that will sniff you out and hunt you down. And although I don't feel that author Esmont is very graphic in his descriptions of zompoc mayhem, he doesn't hesitate to kill off main characters, including innocents and young children. And of course, the most of the major cities in the US (and possibly abroad) are nuked to contain the threat. Hence, I believe, the fire title reference.
A decent zombie book. I'm off to the next.
December 6, 2012
3.5 Stars
My full review: http://coffeecookiesandchilipeppers.b...
Disclaimer: I was sent a copy of this book free from the author via a Librarything Member Giveaway, in return for an honest review.
When I saw the synopsis for this title, which seemed to be centered on Megan Pritchard, a prostitute, I was hopeful that her profession was more of an interesting character back-story than a way to force some gratuitous sex into the plot. I am pleased to say that this proved to be the case, although we begin the book with a rather distasteful description of her encounter with her last ‘John’. Megan proves to be a surprisingly engaging heroine, although one would expect that anyone who engages in prostitution would need a lot of mental toughness. She is resourceful and surprisingly lacking in the usual ‘too stupid to live’ gene that is so prevalent in heroines. Supplying me with a female lead that is not a damsel in distress will always get extra credit from me!
My full review: http://coffeecookiesandchilipeppers.b...
Disclaimer: I was sent a copy of this book free from the author via a Librarything Member Giveaway, in return for an honest review.
When I saw the synopsis for this title, which seemed to be centered on Megan Pritchard, a prostitute, I was hopeful that her profession was more of an interesting character back-story than a way to force some gratuitous sex into the plot. I am pleased to say that this proved to be the case, although we begin the book with a rather distasteful description of her encounter with her last ‘John’. Megan proves to be a surprisingly engaging heroine, although one would expect that anyone who engages in prostitution would need a lot of mental toughness. She is resourceful and surprisingly lacking in the usual ‘too stupid to live’ gene that is so prevalent in heroines. Supplying me with a female lead that is not a damsel in distress will always get extra credit from me!
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