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Flu #2
Fever
A deadly strain of flu has mysteriously mutated, causing the deaths of millions throughout Ireland and beyond. But the infected don't stay dead for long, rising up to become flesh-eating monsters.
In a quarantined lab just outside Belfast, lab worker Ellis and security guard Abe fight their way through corridors of the living dead, determined to expose a gruesome truth.
Ageing conspiracy theorist Tom wracks his brain to figure out what went wrong.
Meanwhile, a young child and her two unlikely wards find themselves in the middle of a cat and mouse game involving the remains of the military, a covert government department and the ever increasing throng of dead.
The fate of humanity lies in their hands.
FEVER is the sequel to 2010's bestselling zombie horror book, FLU.
In a quarantined lab just outside Belfast, lab worker Ellis and security guard Abe fight their way through corridors of the living dead, determined to expose a gruesome truth.
Ageing conspiracy theorist Tom wracks his brain to figure out what went wrong.
Meanwhile, a young child and her two unlikely wards find themselves in the middle of a cat and mouse game involving the remains of the military, a covert government department and the ever increasing throng of dead.
The fate of humanity lies in their hands.
FEVER is the sequel to 2010's bestselling zombie horror book, FLU.
365 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2012
11 people are currently reading
668 people want to read
About the author
Wayne Simmons
36 books178 followersWayne Simmons is a writer and journalist with several genre novels published in the UK, Germany, Spain, Turkey and North America.
His zombie novel, Flu, was serialised by Sirius XM's Book Radio.
His cyberpunk novel, Plastic Jesus, was described by the Guardian as 'a stunning read, but not for the faint hearted.'
Wayne is a regular contributor to Skin Deep Tattoo Magazine.
His zombie novel, Flu, was serialised by Sirius XM's Book Radio.
His cyberpunk novel, Plastic Jesus, was described by the Guardian as 'a stunning read, but not for the faint hearted.'
Wayne is a regular contributor to Skin Deep Tattoo Magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
September 4, 2020
What better a time to read a book about a global pandemic than... during a global pandemic. Fortunately the patients of Covid-19 have yet to start eating each, but there's always time (these things mutate you know...). This is the sequel to Flu, which I read some time ago and is a proper 'horror' book. It tracks the outbreak of the disease and the lives of various characters and their attempts to live with or escape from the virus.
There are some really gory bits but I found the parts that described the attempts to contain the disease really interesting, and disturbingly similar to the lockdown that we have all just lived through. This was published around 10 years ago but the parallels are uncanny - though fortunately we didn't quite get to the looting stage (though toilet rolls were on the verge of sparking this reaction at one point...).
None of the characters were particularly likable or painted in any depth but I don't think that was the point of the book. There is one particularly frightening part of the book where the origins of the virus are explained as being designed by the government in order for them to then 'cure' it, thus winning back popularity and also losing a few of the more vulnerable members of society as collateral damage. I can imagine a few conspiracy theorists loving that bit...! All in all though, a classic zombie novel set in the present day. Horrible but an exciting and scary read.
There are some really gory bits but I found the parts that described the attempts to contain the disease really interesting, and disturbingly similar to the lockdown that we have all just lived through. This was published around 10 years ago but the parallels are uncanny - though fortunately we didn't quite get to the looting stage (though toilet rolls were on the verge of sparking this reaction at one point...).
None of the characters were particularly likable or painted in any depth but I don't think that was the point of the book. There is one particularly frightening part of the book where the origins of the virus are explained as being designed by the government in order for them to then 'cure' it, thus winning back popularity and also losing a few of the more vulnerable members of society as collateral damage. I can imagine a few conspiracy theorists loving that bit...! All in all though, a classic zombie novel set in the present day. Horrible but an exciting and scary read.
February 27, 2019
I do not remember ever rooting so hard for the undead or even a stray bullet. Anything to get these charters off the pages. If this is all that is left at the end, humanity is lost!
Fever is not so much of a sequel to Flu as a parallel story, with sections intersecting and overlapping between the two novels.
You could read Fever without reading Flu and never know you were missing anything.
Fever is not so much of a sequel to Flu as a parallel story, with sections intersecting and overlapping between the two novels.
You could read Fever without reading Flu and never know you were missing anything.
January 5, 2014
Fever is not so much of a sequel to Flu as a parallel story, with sections intersecting and overlapping between the two novels. Unfortunately, as I read Flu a while ago, I couldn't make all the connection the author obviously wanted me to make, so much of this plot was lost on me. If you want to read these books, do so at the same time.
As regards the book itself, I struggled with it as I have with all of Simmons books. In the end, I just didn't care enough about any of the characters to make the book that readable. I think the main problem with all of his works are that the zombies aren't the monsters - they are just zombies, doing what all zombies do. The real monsters are the living people we meet in these stories.
Perhaps I wanted someone in these books to be a hero, or at least try to be a hero, even if they fail in the end. However, if anyone here does anything heroic, it's either by accident, or they were intending to do something ugly and mean spirited that happened to look heroic to an outsider.
Perhaps what I was looking for in these books was a British/Irish version of the Walking Dead (comics or TV series). Their heroes may be flawed, but at least they try to be heroic. Wayne Simmons is no Robert Kirkman though, and that's a pity.
As regards the book itself, I struggled with it as I have with all of Simmons books. In the end, I just didn't care enough about any of the characters to make the book that readable. I think the main problem with all of his works are that the zombies aren't the monsters - they are just zombies, doing what all zombies do. The real monsters are the living people we meet in these stories.
Perhaps I wanted someone in these books to be a hero, or at least try to be a hero, even if they fail in the end. However, if anyone here does anything heroic, it's either by accident, or they were intending to do something ugly and mean spirited that happened to look heroic to an outsider.
Perhaps what I was looking for in these books was a British/Irish version of the Walking Dead (comics or TV series). Their heroes may be flawed, but at least they try to be heroic. Wayne Simmons is no Robert Kirkman though, and that's a pity.
May 21, 2012
Thought this was better than Flu. Good read and an interesting plot intro for the next instalment. I so think tho that this should be combined with Flu and re edited in to one novel.
September 15, 2013
I'm a sucker for post-apocalyptica. No matter how terrible it is, much like armageddon, I'll see it through until the end... unless it's Uwe Boll's House of the Dead; I walked out of that particular flick.
Thankfully, I encountered no such problems with Fever, the latest undead offering from Wayne Simmons.
Although this novel can be categorised as a sequel to Flu, I would suggest that description is not entirely accurate. The events of Fever not only encompass the chronology of Flu but add a little preamble and also reveals the fate of those left standing at the end of Flu. Simmons skilfully weaves the events of Flu into Fever without them becoming intrusive, obvious or simply an exercise in repetition. Fever is very much an expansion and development of the nightmarish vision of Northern Ireland that Simmons created in Flu.
For me, the greatest surprise came when Simmons employed a plot device that I have encountered only in Justin Cronin's The Passage and again, the revelation that came with it was quite the shock to the system and made Fever all the more memorable.
Critically, I suspect that some may not appreciate the set-up of Fever, with very small chapters, darting between the different threads that Simmons develops here. However, I would suggest that such criticism is ill-founded since this particular style compelled me to read on and at all times the plight of the characters involved was fresh in my mind.
On that note, yet again Simmons conjures up characters that are certainly not your stereotypical Hollywood zombie fodder. Although you may feel that you have seen some of these characters within the genre before, the author makes them incredibly believable by infusing them with all the faults, failings and experiences that come with living life, rather than the two-dimensional creations found in some books and films within the genre. As equally impressive as his characters is Simmons willingness to despatch those same said characters when, if you're used to more traditional films, you may expect certain individuals to make it a little longer...
Whereas Flu offered commentary on prejudice, politics and sectarianism, Fever is a straight-up action horror set in the environment created by the Troubles in Northern Ireland and narrated amply by Flu; and really jacks up the pace set by its predecessor and delivers plenty of gore while still developing the Flu universe further and leaving the door wide open for a third instalment...
Thankfully, I encountered no such problems with Fever, the latest undead offering from Wayne Simmons.
Although this novel can be categorised as a sequel to Flu, I would suggest that description is not entirely accurate. The events of Fever not only encompass the chronology of Flu but add a little preamble and also reveals the fate of those left standing at the end of Flu. Simmons skilfully weaves the events of Flu into Fever without them becoming intrusive, obvious or simply an exercise in repetition. Fever is very much an expansion and development of the nightmarish vision of Northern Ireland that Simmons created in Flu.
For me, the greatest surprise came when Simmons employed a plot device that I have encountered only in Justin Cronin's The Passage and again, the revelation that came with it was quite the shock to the system and made Fever all the more memorable.
Critically, I suspect that some may not appreciate the set-up of Fever, with very small chapters, darting between the different threads that Simmons develops here. However, I would suggest that such criticism is ill-founded since this particular style compelled me to read on and at all times the plight of the characters involved was fresh in my mind.
On that note, yet again Simmons conjures up characters that are certainly not your stereotypical Hollywood zombie fodder. Although you may feel that you have seen some of these characters within the genre before, the author makes them incredibly believable by infusing them with all the faults, failings and experiences that come with living life, rather than the two-dimensional creations found in some books and films within the genre. As equally impressive as his characters is Simmons willingness to despatch those same said characters when, if you're used to more traditional films, you may expect certain individuals to make it a little longer...
Whereas Flu offered commentary on prejudice, politics and sectarianism, Fever is a straight-up action horror set in the environment created by the Troubles in Northern Ireland and narrated amply by Flu; and really jacks up the pace set by its predecessor and delivers plenty of gore while still developing the Flu universe further and leaving the door wide open for a third instalment...
February 26, 2013
Fever is the second book in the Flu series. However it's not quite the sequel. In fact a large portion of the book is the prequel. The rest of the events take part around the same time line as the first book Flu, which I also reviewed. So I have to say, as with the first novel, Simmons' writing is as brutal, bloody, and unforgiving. And so I would suggest not to get used to any of the characters, because no one is safe when it comes to this particular Zombie read.
The story begins with literally first hours of the infection. We learn how everything got out of hand in one of the laboratories and spread beyond. Later the novel moves on to short time in the future where Simmons introduces us to some new characters. And through their eyes we pick up on how the infection was slowly spreading throughout Belfast and the rest of the country. We follow their journey as they are trying to escape the infested city and trying their best to survive. Here we also catch up with some of the characters from the first novel.
My main gripe with the first novel was the lack of background story. It was very unclear where the infection started. I wasn't even sure if it started in Ireland. Simmons clears everything up for me, which I really appreciate. One issue however, is that I've started reading the second novel few weeks after the first. And so it wasn't as exciting for me anymore, as it would have been if I read about it in the first book. However, no biggie, my memory was quickly refreshed. And also was glad that he continued the story of the few remaining characters.
Simmons' writing is very mature and in a way beautiful. So although this is just a zombie flick like many others, the writing is much better than most. The character development although short and to the point, is very beautifully done. The example would be a somewhat minor character, a pilot called Willis. Simmons wrote about Willis' outlook on the war. And although I don't want to go into details, but trust me it was quite captivating.
All in all this sequel/prequel was as exciting as the first one. I've read it as quickly, and enjoyed probably even more. For all zombie genre loving readers like me out there, I highly recommend this book.
The story begins with literally first hours of the infection. We learn how everything got out of hand in one of the laboratories and spread beyond. Later the novel moves on to short time in the future where Simmons introduces us to some new characters. And through their eyes we pick up on how the infection was slowly spreading throughout Belfast and the rest of the country. We follow their journey as they are trying to escape the infested city and trying their best to survive. Here we also catch up with some of the characters from the first novel.
My main gripe with the first novel was the lack of background story. It was very unclear where the infection started. I wasn't even sure if it started in Ireland. Simmons clears everything up for me, which I really appreciate. One issue however, is that I've started reading the second novel few weeks after the first. And so it wasn't as exciting for me anymore, as it would have been if I read about it in the first book. However, no biggie, my memory was quickly refreshed. And also was glad that he continued the story of the few remaining characters.
Simmons' writing is very mature and in a way beautiful. So although this is just a zombie flick like many others, the writing is much better than most. The character development although short and to the point, is very beautifully done. The example would be a somewhat minor character, a pilot called Willis. Simmons wrote about Willis' outlook on the war. And although I don't want to go into details, but trust me it was quite captivating.
All in all this sequel/prequel was as exciting as the first one. I've read it as quickly, and enjoyed probably even more. For all zombie genre loving readers like me out there, I highly recommend this book.
March 19, 2012
Wayne Simmons has outdone himself with this fantastic sequel (prequel) to his brilliant novel Flu.
The story starts of fast and continues at a break-neck speed right until the very end giving the reader, all out action and a plot that will leave you begging for more.
The horror in this book is gory and violent. The zombies are those of the traditional Romero style, shambling through the book and ripping the throats of the characters you grow to love.... but the real class and story telling comes from the intricate plot Wayne Simmons has created. Conspiracy and Government cover ups drip from the pages of this book and the thrill and suspense created by the author will keep you gripped until the very end.
The little nods to Flu - dashed throughout Fever's chapters, helps the reader to connect the plot to the orignal and also reminds us that there are survivors from the first instalment, just waiting to be rescued. The subtle hints the author gives us provide a nostalgic excitement and keeps the reader emotionally involved with the characters.
I highly recommend this book to fans of the genre. It is possibly one of the best plot driven zombie novels available today and Wayne Simmons has once again proved he is one of the leading new voices in the horror genre. All praise must go the authors ability to create such a great story, with such a twisting plot that remains exciting throughout the entire book.
I want more....
The story starts of fast and continues at a break-neck speed right until the very end giving the reader, all out action and a plot that will leave you begging for more.
The horror in this book is gory and violent. The zombies are those of the traditional Romero style, shambling through the book and ripping the throats of the characters you grow to love.... but the real class and story telling comes from the intricate plot Wayne Simmons has created. Conspiracy and Government cover ups drip from the pages of this book and the thrill and suspense created by the author will keep you gripped until the very end.
The little nods to Flu - dashed throughout Fever's chapters, helps the reader to connect the plot to the orignal and also reminds us that there are survivors from the first instalment, just waiting to be rescued. The subtle hints the author gives us provide a nostalgic excitement and keeps the reader emotionally involved with the characters.
I highly recommend this book to fans of the genre. It is possibly one of the best plot driven zombie novels available today and Wayne Simmons has once again proved he is one of the leading new voices in the horror genre. All praise must go the authors ability to create such a great story, with such a twisting plot that remains exciting throughout the entire book.
I want more....
May 9, 2020
My actual score is 2.5... I thought it was a fast paced story but not at all how I expected the sequel to go. I can't even call it a sequel, more of a Pre-Sequel... but moreso a Prequel. I didn't like the ending especially with Shaun, that was so unexpected and no explanation really given. I hated we only get about 70 pages worth with the survivors of Flu. I will say I dug the first part, i could of read an entire novel based on what happened in that lab. But the story ends abruptly and it's been nine years and no follow up. I guess this story will forever be incomplete. Sadness!
February 29, 2024
This is the second book in the Flu series and sadly I believe it ends here. In this book, we follow a new cast of characters and how they link up with the ones in the first book. Their lives and how they are trying to survive the zombie outbreak. It was a fun zombie book and definitely recommend it.
June 20, 2017
Not really very good. The attempts at characterisation fell flat. There was not enough action. The dialogue clunked. Too many characters were introduced only to be forgotten. I was never convinced by the setting. There were no thrills.
Don't bother
Don't bother
August 22, 2023
The author forgot to write a conclusion. I don't mean the conclusion was vague or open to interpretation, it just didn't happen.
If you don't mind the story just abruptly ending with nothing resolved, the rest of the store was mid.
If you don't mind the story just abruptly ending with nothing resolved, the rest of the store was mid.
November 4, 2018
Set in Ireland and i would still like to feel like i was in Ireland Other than that i like where they are taking this version of the zombie virus
November 27, 2019
Better than book 1. Interesting way in which the stories connect.
May 15, 2020
Couldn’t do it... the first one was okay.... this one was just not for me
January 6, 2021
Loved it as much as I loved his other book, Flu.
November 7, 2024
Although this book is actually a sequel, I did not feel at all hindered by the fact that I hadn't read the first one. It pretty much jumps straight into fast-paced action, which I really liked, as well as flowing smoothly.
I did feel as though
The use of multiple characters and short chapters was used effectively - lots of points of view, and a lot of cliffhangers at the end of each chapter to keep you reading so you can find out what happened. I personally felt Colin was the most developed character, although there wasn't even much of a background story to him. That was the issue with many of the characters, a lack of depth, .
I do feel that Wayne Simmons created a very haunting image of how people would act if this really happened - completely and utterly selfish, just out for themselves - and it's really quite scary.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, and it was just the right level of gore for me ;) I felt I would have enjoyed it more if I could have connected with some of the characters, but it was a fun read that has left me questioning how people would react to such a situation. I would hope it would be nothing like Simmons' image, but I really think he has got it spot on there.
Originally posted on my former blog, Rinn Reads.
I did feel as though
The use of multiple characters and short chapters was used effectively - lots of points of view, and a lot of cliffhangers at the end of each chapter to keep you reading so you can find out what happened. I personally felt Colin was the most developed character, although there wasn't even much of a background story to him. That was the issue with many of the characters, a lack of depth, .
I do feel that Wayne Simmons created a very haunting image of how people would act if this really happened - completely and utterly selfish, just out for themselves - and it's really quite scary.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, and it was just the right level of gore for me ;) I felt I would have enjoyed it more if I could have connected with some of the characters, but it was a fun read that has left me questioning how people would react to such a situation. I would hope it would be nothing like Simmons' image, but I really think he has got it spot on there.
Originally posted on my former blog, Rinn Reads.
August 1, 2015
This continues the exploration into the mysterious flu that turns its victims into the Undead that we were so superbly introduced to in the first book (Flu), but this time we follow a few different stories at different times across the five sections that make up this book. We start in a secret underground lab at the start of the outbreak discovering the origins of the virus that were kept a mystery in the first book. From there we follow soldiers, conspiracy theorists and civilians as they try and understand then survive events as the virus spreads and society crumbles. Add into this the usual distrust of authorities that dominates life in Northern Ireland, this makes for some dramatic and tense moments that shows that the virus isn't the only deadly thing on the streets. Some of the niggling contradictions are still there about the nature of the zombies/undead but the characters and the story itself more than make up for this. Pleasingly (and somewhat annoyingly) this has also been left open ended ready for another in the series (for which I'm going to have to wait it seems) so there will be more to this rather addictive series.
December 8, 2012
There's a reason I don't like book series. Even if I didn't like the first book (in this case I have liked the books) I feel obligated to read the sequels, because I'm a big fan of closure. And now I have to wait for who knows how long for the next book which I'm quite positive will be published someday, 'cause this was left hanging. In a way I liked this book more than Flu, although I think a lot of this book could've been corporated in the first book, then it could've been a two-parter. A lot of stuff was just dragged out. I thought Flu was more character-concentrated than this. But I liked how it all was in parts and it made sense from moving one thing to another.
March 1, 2014
If i could have given this more than 5 stars i would have. This was a brilliantly breathtaking, and brutal story, by the incredibly talented Wayne Simmons. It takes massive ability and a creatively ingenious mind to create what Wayne has here. So many different tales, all gradually edging towards a crashing point. The characters, and there are an abundance, are brilliantly written, and consistent in their beliefs and actions all the way through. Fever is considerably more sombre and emotional than Flu, and some of it is heartbreaking. In this vast genre a story really has to be special to stand out, and Wayne just nails every aspect, most realism, to perfection. He is brutally graphic in his descriptions, and that really adds the horror aspect to what would clearly be a horrific situation.
I read a lot of books, and if i read a better one this year i'll be surprised.
I read a lot of books, and if i read a better one this year i'll be surprised.
June 18, 2012
What can I say about FEVER, this book does not disappoint, it introduces us to the virus that was the basis for the book FLU although being released after FLU FEVER is a prequel telling the story of the in initial outbreak of a virus that goes on to ravish the world.
Unlike his other books DDGDrop Dead Gorgeous and DOLL PARTSDoll Partsthe zombies in FEVER are the throat ripping intestine munching undead we have come to know over the years. Like all his book the characters are well rounded and well developed.
This is a great read and I recommend it highly
Unlike his other books DDGDrop Dead Gorgeous and DOLL PARTSDoll Partsthe zombies in FEVER are the throat ripping intestine munching undead we have come to know over the years. Like all his book the characters are well rounded and well developed.
This is a great read and I recommend it highly
March 27, 2012
This is a very well planned sequel to FLU. Wayne Simmons does a fantastic job of incorporating the two books into one seamless story. His pace and realism are excellent. The individual beats within the story are reminiscent of violent horror flicks such as 28 Days and Evil Dead. To go along with pacing, the chapters are shorter and keep the pages turning with momentum. The characterizations are actually better in this book than FLU, and Simmons managed to make me hate his antagonist Dr. Gallagher even more in this one, something I did not believe possible. I greatly enjoyed FEVER and hope that Mr. Simmons is working on a third.
March 4, 2013
Oh wow. Just Amazing! Creepy, bloody and dramatic! SOOOOO GOOD! Bring on the zombies Wayne! Please write a third if there is one! Such a cliff hanger at the end! :__(
I still liked the first book better but i did liked that Wayne went back showing a little how the flu started, he wrote about more characters experinces and Lark and Geri were finilly just opening there feelings to each other a little bit!
A must read! If you like Zombies, then all you zombie lovers read 'Flu'! <3
I still liked the first book better but i did liked that Wayne went back showing a little how the flu started, he wrote about more characters experinces and Lark and Geri were finilly just opening there feelings to each other a little bit!
A must read! If you like Zombies, then all you zombie lovers read 'Flu'! <3
January 12, 2013
was going to originally give it 4 stars, for the very reason only because I liked his first book "Flu" so much more than "Fever"
But then thought over that and realized that Im not being fair.. Fever was a very good book, written very well, along with each character.
So changed it to 5 stars :-)
~~r
But then thought over that and realized that Im not being fair.. Fever was a very good book, written very well, along with each character.
So changed it to 5 stars :-)
~~r
March 29, 2015
I really enjoyed reading the sequel to Fever it wasn't as fast paced as it, but was more character and plot driven. It did act as kind of a prequel/sequel with chapters that started with how the virus was released in the first place leading up to the end of this book which I felt was slightly rushed.
March 14, 2012
Excellent sequel to Flu. Couldn't put it down; devoured it while travelling.
Will be ordering Drop Dead Gorgeous when I get back from travels!
Will be ordering Drop Dead Gorgeous when I get back from travels!
January 12, 2013
I thought this book was okay, it started well slowed through the middle then picked up at the end. It was okay.
February 19, 2013
Great book, can't wait till the next installment!
April 17, 2013
I won this in a Goodreads Giveaway.
It was easy to follow, even if it is a sequel. Maybe I'll read the first?
It was easy to follow, even if it is a sequel. Maybe I'll read the first?
June 16, 2013
Really excellent story which parallels Flu wonderfully.
August 2, 2013
This is part 2 to the 1st book FLU
This one is set in an animal testing lab the story explains how the pandemic was released in the 1st place. it was ok
This one is set in an animal testing lab the story explains how the pandemic was released in the 1st place. it was ok
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews