What do you think?
Rate this book
Apocalypse Babes #1
The Z Word
The Z Word follows Seffy Carter and her longtime friends Gareth, Addison and Lani. The four besties share a past dysfunctional and dark enough to keep them bound together under do-over identities. But rends develop in their relationships from the flesh-eating pressures of ending up in 1980, in a Montana desert, surrounded by zombies wearing dated disco duds.
334 pages, Paperback
First published June 3, 2011
12 people are currently reading
642 people want to read
About the author
Bella Street
21 books466 followersBella Street lives in Nashville so of course she writes time travel romance, southern gothic romance, science fiction romance, and faerie romance.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
January 22, 2012
Full review posted at Reader's Edyn. For excerpts and dialogue highlights, please visit:
http://bit.ly/ACGDMt
Review:
***SPOILERS*** So I downloaded this book while it was free on Amazon because Z stand for Zombie. I have many friends into zombies and the apocalypse and so forth. Initially I wasn’t really into the whole zombie/end of the world thing. I never really got it. I probably still don’t really get most of it. But then I got into shows like The Walking Dead and started reading zombie and/or apocalypse stories and I was hooked. I mean who wouldn’t want to read about the nasty undead with necrosis and slime and bleck-type stuff all over them that eat people and walk around as if in a trance? Right? And that is just the beginning! But I do not know how to classify this book in genre. It’s like YA certainly tame enough for it), sci-fi (yeah – the zombies), romance (sort of but not really), fantasy ( kind of because the girls live in their own fantasy of what life is all about prior to the – err, end of the world), contemporary (despite the 70s/80s references) – basically it is a clusterpluck of a whole lotta genres with nothing specific.
So ……. I read The Z Word to try and experience more of life after the end. At first I was completely lost. Seffy wants Gareth and Gareth has Verity and Verity and Seffy hate each other but fake like they’re friends on the outside and then BOOM! The world is like, gone, I guess. Seffy remains, Gareth remains, Verity is no where to be found, and a couple others end up joining up with them that they know. They spend the night in an old abandoned car and wake up to a zombie intent on killing them. But things are not adding up. First, they have no idea where they ended up after the end of the world. They don’t even know it is the end of the world. Then there is the obvious – there are zombies, HELLO! And these are not your normal Zombies. They are all dressed from the seventies; paisley shirts, bell bottoms, platform shoes, etc. And somewhere along the way they discover that these flesh eaters love to dance to music that matches their era of dress. And in fact, it is the only way to side track the undead.
Eventually they meet up with this other group of kids who, in some odd way, kind of resemble their group. Seffy ends up getting it on with this guy from the group who reminds her of Gareth. Turns out he’s been infected by the zombies and through his contact with Seffy, he infects her too. Then everyone wants to kill Seffy, afraid she will turn into a zombie and infect them all. But Seffy apparently has some sort of awesomesauce immunity to the zombie virus because she doesn’t turn. And during this time, some whackado named Malone has given them shelter, food, and information about the surrounding area – kind of. It’s information, but it’s not information. You know? So dude dies, Seffy doesn’t, and both groups travel with Malone to another supposed safe house. But it is not what is seems and they all end up with another guy named Popov. He takes them to a compound which is also not as it seems.
And in the midst of all of this is the Gareth/Seffy romance/non-romance thing going on. I really have no idea what the heck the dealis with them. Seffy wants him, but knows he is with Verity – or was. Gareth says he cares for Verity and that he cares about Seffy, but not the same way. Then he goes all jealous-mode when she hooks up with the infected guy. It is just a jumble of craziness. Oh! And despite Gareth’s “guy you’d love to be seen with” exterior, dud is one heck of a sci-fi buff.
I am still not entirely sure the purpose of some of the characters in the story. Though the series is called Apocalypse Babes, so perhaps they will play a role later on down the road. They are all pretty much self-centered, shallow brats that think the outerwear and lifestyle (or façade) make the person. And at odd times each demonstrates a moment of intelligence. Mind you I said moment. And that could well be stretching it. The craziest of it all was when the book ended, which is a craptastic cliffhanger, I wanted to read the next book. I have no idea why. I just need to know what happens next. What does that even mean? Am I losing my mind? Or is Ms. Street more brilliant than I originally gave her credit? I really don’t know at this point. My only next option is to read book 2 and see what I think after that one. Everything must have been set up the way it was for a reason – perhaps the answers I seek will be addressed in the next installment. So I am on the fence. I think I might be hooked in a sadistic kind of way, but I kind of hated the lack of information provided and the city girl trendy attitudes. UGH! I am going with a rating of 2 for now because my feelings are as much of a jumble of craziness as this book was.
(Digital book purchased for personal library)
http://bit.ly/ACGDMt
Review:
***SPOILERS*** So I downloaded this book while it was free on Amazon because Z stand for Zombie. I have many friends into zombies and the apocalypse and so forth. Initially I wasn’t really into the whole zombie/end of the world thing. I never really got it. I probably still don’t really get most of it. But then I got into shows like The Walking Dead and started reading zombie and/or apocalypse stories and I was hooked. I mean who wouldn’t want to read about the nasty undead with necrosis and slime and bleck-type stuff all over them that eat people and walk around as if in a trance? Right? And that is just the beginning! But I do not know how to classify this book in genre. It’s like YA certainly tame enough for it), sci-fi (yeah – the zombies), romance (sort of but not really), fantasy ( kind of because the girls live in their own fantasy of what life is all about prior to the – err, end of the world), contemporary (despite the 70s/80s references) – basically it is a clusterpluck of a whole lotta genres with nothing specific.
So ……. I read The Z Word to try and experience more of life after the end. At first I was completely lost. Seffy wants Gareth and Gareth has Verity and Verity and Seffy hate each other but fake like they’re friends on the outside and then BOOM! The world is like, gone, I guess. Seffy remains, Gareth remains, Verity is no where to be found, and a couple others end up joining up with them that they know. They spend the night in an old abandoned car and wake up to a zombie intent on killing them. But things are not adding up. First, they have no idea where they ended up after the end of the world. They don’t even know it is the end of the world. Then there is the obvious – there are zombies, HELLO! And these are not your normal Zombies. They are all dressed from the seventies; paisley shirts, bell bottoms, platform shoes, etc. And somewhere along the way they discover that these flesh eaters love to dance to music that matches their era of dress. And in fact, it is the only way to side track the undead.
Eventually they meet up with this other group of kids who, in some odd way, kind of resemble their group. Seffy ends up getting it on with this guy from the group who reminds her of Gareth. Turns out he’s been infected by the zombies and through his contact with Seffy, he infects her too. Then everyone wants to kill Seffy, afraid she will turn into a zombie and infect them all. But Seffy apparently has some sort of awesomesauce immunity to the zombie virus because she doesn’t turn. And during this time, some whackado named Malone has given them shelter, food, and information about the surrounding area – kind of. It’s information, but it’s not information. You know? So dude dies, Seffy doesn’t, and both groups travel with Malone to another supposed safe house. But it is not what is seems and they all end up with another guy named Popov. He takes them to a compound which is also not as it seems.
And in the midst of all of this is the Gareth/Seffy romance/non-romance thing going on. I really have no idea what the heck the dealis with them. Seffy wants him, but knows he is with Verity – or was. Gareth says he cares for Verity and that he cares about Seffy, but not the same way. Then he goes all jealous-mode when she hooks up with the infected guy. It is just a jumble of craziness. Oh! And despite Gareth’s “guy you’d love to be seen with” exterior, dud is one heck of a sci-fi buff.
I am still not entirely sure the purpose of some of the characters in the story. Though the series is called Apocalypse Babes, so perhaps they will play a role later on down the road. They are all pretty much self-centered, shallow brats that think the outerwear and lifestyle (or façade) make the person. And at odd times each demonstrates a moment of intelligence. Mind you I said moment. And that could well be stretching it. The craziest of it all was when the book ended, which is a craptastic cliffhanger, I wanted to read the next book. I have no idea why. I just need to know what happens next. What does that even mean? Am I losing my mind? Or is Ms. Street more brilliant than I originally gave her credit? I really don’t know at this point. My only next option is to read book 2 and see what I think after that one. Everything must have been set up the way it was for a reason – perhaps the answers I seek will be addressed in the next installment. So I am on the fence. I think I might be hooked in a sadistic kind of way, but I kind of hated the lack of information provided and the city girl trendy attitudes. UGH! I am going with a rating of 2 for now because my feelings are as much of a jumble of craziness as this book was.
(Digital book purchased for personal library)
March 17, 2014
It's 2006 in West Hollywood. Seffy and several of her friends are out on the town doing different things in different places. There is a blinding light and they find themselves somewhere other than West Hollywood. They spend the night in an abandoned car and wake up to a Zombie attack. A man named Malone finds them and takes them from safe house to safe house, but he is so weird they don't feel safe. Another group - 2 guys and 2 girls end up joining their group. None of the young people believe Malone when he says it is 1980 and they are in Montana. Drunk, Seffy makes out with one of the new guys. He turns Zombie and they keep expecting her to turn next. They end up at a former prison/psych hospital where they are safe from the Zombie's and they have a medical facility. Good thing. Seffy has a high fever. Even after she is better they keep her in a separate room at night while the others have to share. They want to leave, but the Zombies are a threat outside the compound. But the workers fear the new comers, convinced they bring the Z virus with them and will contaminate everyone. Seffy likes Gareth from their West Hollywood group and he seems to run hot and cold. Trent from the 2nd group at first hates her, does he blame her for his friend turning Zombie and having to be killed? Or is there another reason. Addison, one of Seffy's friends is not very friendly to her since their time travel adventure. When mutinies occur Seffy is the one they want dead. Trent takes her one night to a basement facility where people are being injected. She's told it's to turn more into Zombie's. It ends with Seffy being captured after being injected. Her friends and people who were trying to stop the experiments in the basement are all locked up. The end.
Seffy was not a particularly likable character. She was a wannabe actress. She was very self absorbed. She didn't like something she expected everyone else to dislike it too. The more I learned about her the less I liked her and the more appropriate it seemed for her to be in a room alone with an observation window. As a main character she just didn't appeal to me, so that made the story less interesting to me as well. This is part of a Series called Apocalypse Babes. I don't care enough to read the next book. Seffy either turns Zombie or somehow she is immune. Don't care.
Seffy was not a particularly likable character. She was a wannabe actress. She was very self absorbed. She didn't like something she expected everyone else to dislike it too. The more I learned about her the less I liked her and the more appropriate it seemed for her to be in a room alone with an observation window. As a main character she just didn't appeal to me, so that made the story less interesting to me as well. This is part of a Series called Apocalypse Babes. I don't care enough to read the next book. Seffy either turns Zombie or somehow she is immune. Don't care.
October 8, 2011
Want a good example of the importance of a good book title or a series title? This is it. Bella Street created one of the best series titles I've seen in a while when she dubbed her 6 book series Apocalypse Babes.
I bought the first book, The Z Word, simply because of the series title. I figured any author witty enough to label a series with that moniker had to be an equally clever writer. I'm happy to say I was correct.
My Take On The Book
Take 3 valley girls and their longtime guy friend that 2 of the 3 are crushing on, toss them into a worm hole and send them back to a world without cell phones, the Internet, Starbucks, and satellite TV, and you have the clever premise of The Z Word. Yes, Z for zombies, but how the zombies were created is one of the many twists offered in this mixed genre novel.
Part science fiction, part romance, part mystery, part fantasy, The Z Word is all entertainment. From the out-of-the-box zombies to the creepy mind control, heroine Seffy Carter grows from vacuous airhead with a serious case of denial to savvy survivor unwilling to drink the KoolAid.
If you were alive in the 1980's--whether you rocked the decade or you were a baby being rocked in a cradle--you'll love the song references and cultural allusions. Though one might think this book is for young adults since they are the protagonists, that's not the case. This will keep you turning the pages late into the night. Warning: if you finish at 2 AM, you might find yourself visiting the Kindle Store for Book 2: The X Factor.
The best thing about this series is that the heroine Seffy grows--in all ways. In the beginning, you feel like slapping her and telling her to grow up and quit whining. By the end of the book, you're rooting for her because she's changed. When you get to the second book, you're totally in her corner, and you're wishing she'd see that Trent is not just a babe, but a babe who loves her--just as she is. And that's priceless.
If you like books that are different--books that can't be easily pigeon-holed--this book, and this series, is for you.
I bought the first book, The Z Word, simply because of the series title. I figured any author witty enough to label a series with that moniker had to be an equally clever writer. I'm happy to say I was correct.
My Take On The Book
Take 3 valley girls and their longtime guy friend that 2 of the 3 are crushing on, toss them into a worm hole and send them back to a world without cell phones, the Internet, Starbucks, and satellite TV, and you have the clever premise of The Z Word. Yes, Z for zombies, but how the zombies were created is one of the many twists offered in this mixed genre novel.
Part science fiction, part romance, part mystery, part fantasy, The Z Word is all entertainment. From the out-of-the-box zombies to the creepy mind control, heroine Seffy Carter grows from vacuous airhead with a serious case of denial to savvy survivor unwilling to drink the KoolAid.
If you were alive in the 1980's--whether you rocked the decade or you were a baby being rocked in a cradle--you'll love the song references and cultural allusions. Though one might think this book is for young adults since they are the protagonists, that's not the case. This will keep you turning the pages late into the night. Warning: if you finish at 2 AM, you might find yourself visiting the Kindle Store for Book 2: The X Factor.
The best thing about this series is that the heroine Seffy grows--in all ways. In the beginning, you feel like slapping her and telling her to grow up and quit whining. By the end of the book, you're rooting for her because she's changed. When you get to the second book, you're totally in her corner, and you're wishing she'd see that Trent is not just a babe, but a babe who loves her--just as she is. And that's priceless.
If you like books that are different--books that can't be easily pigeon-holed--this book, and this series, is for you.
October 25, 2011
While not the worst thing I've ever read, this is one that I'm really glad was a freebie so I didn't feel ripped off. I hated the main character from page one, couldn't help it, she was just annoying. I actually decided to try this first because it was free, and second because not having read any zombie apocalypse type books before, I figured the extra sci-fi time travel twist would help grab my interest and ease me into the genre of zombie fiction. I love zombie movies so figured the books could only be better, well it sure wasn't in this instance. The zombies don't play all that big a role in the story despite being continually mentioned, even then they seem to be glossed over and just a bit of background trivia. The book is mostly a testament to the main character's ability to feel sorry for herself no matter what life throws her way. I had to force myself to keep reading for the first few chapters, though after that there were enough questions I wanted to see if ever got answered that it wasn't hard to finish reading. Overall not a great experience.
September 10, 2015
I must admit that I never read the description for this book. However, I figured the title was more than enough because I do appreciate a good novel about zombies. Although, I do have to say that there could have been more details delivered to the readers considering, it left me asking questions all which have not been answered. I presume that is the why this is also a series. Still, I did not envision continuing with the series as I was trying desperately to make it through the first few chapters. Nevertheless, the book eventually picked up the pace and the ending left we wondering about is going to occur next. I intend to complete this series as soon as I can acquire the next ones.
January 9, 2012
This is the first zombie book I have ever read. I wasn't sure exactly what I was getting into but was thoroughly impressed at what I discovered.
Sef is in LA until a blast sends her to a strange desert with weird sand and a pink sky. If that wasn't weird enough, she and her friends discover strange disco looking zombies hungry for a taste of their flesh.
I personally can't wait to read the next book and find out how things play out. Will her lifelong crush finally return her feelings? Will they escape the refuge? Will they walk away without getting the freaky zombie virus?
~Tich~
Sef is in LA until a blast sends her to a strange desert with weird sand and a pink sky. If that wasn't weird enough, she and her friends discover strange disco looking zombies hungry for a taste of their flesh.
I personally can't wait to read the next book and find out how things play out. Will her lifelong crush finally return her feelings? Will they escape the refuge? Will they walk away without getting the freaky zombie virus?
~Tich~
June 16, 2013
The feeling this book left me with? Frustration. On one hand, it had unique zombies, total airhead characters, and good writing, but after reading 400 pages of mysterious allusions to the main characters' pasts, nothing was revealed. I cared enough about the book to want to know... but am left with this feeling that it's just an insidiously clever plot device to justify buying the next one. For me the characters were all rather unlovable but the author is sooooo good at drawing the reader into her weird web! Argh! I may have to break down and get the next one!
October 12, 2011
I won a copy of this through GoodRead's first reads. I liked this story so much more that I originally thought I would. It's like Sex and the City meets The Walking Dead. There are so many books coming out about zombies lately and this one was a fun and interesting take on the genre. I had a bit of an ongoing love/hate relationship with the mian character, Seffy, but by the end I was firmly invested in her story. I am looking forward to reading future books in this series.
September 10, 2012
Normally I would see a cover like the one on this book and judge it by that cover...and say no thanks. It looks like a book full of angst and kissing. There is plenty of that but there is also Zombies and a pretty good mystery that kept me interested. When part one ended and I wanted to know what was going to happen next I knew I was onboard for the next installment. If you're a guy and can be patient through the "he loves me/he loves me not" stuff then you'll find a pretty good story.
August 26, 2011
I'm usually not that into zombie books but this was right on the top. I loved every minute. Not only did the author give a zombie environment but also included along with it a few bumps in friendships and relationships. It also was pretty funny with the disco zombies. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book.
d-n-f
March 20, 2019This is me attempting to read this book:
April 4, 2012
My reviews can also be found at: http://escapingwithfiction.blogspot.com/
First I would like to thank the author, Bella Street, for giving me the opportunity to read and review her book. I truly enjoyed it!
This book is seriously wicked awesome! I'm a huge zombie fan, so when I read the description for The Z Word I knew I had to read it. I mean, it's about a group of friends from the year 2006 being transported to the year 1980 and encountering zombies--how can you not want to read this?! How can you not like zombies, or the 80s?! Just saying! I will admit that I was a bit stunned when I started this book because nothing was as I thought it would be, but that just made the experience all the more enjoyable. The story always kept me guessing and continued to pick up and intensify throughout. The plot confused, entertained and intrigued me all at once! Bella Street has truly won me over with her magnificent imagination and story-telling abilities.
Seffy Carter and her friends are just going about their business one day in California when all of a sudden something strange happens and they are transported to Montana, and the year is 1980. If that wasn't confusing enough, they are attacked by zombies wearing disco clothes. Now, I know this information may sound silly, but trust me when I say that it's just plain fantastic! These zombies are a combination of frightening, deadly, grotesque, silly and surprising. There was a particular part in the book when I was completely caught off guard by the alarming and hilarious bit of information that was collected about the zombies involving disco music. One minute I was on the edge of my seat, fearing for the well-being of the characters during their fight sequence, and the next minute I was laughing hysterically!
Zombies aside, the characters are pretty interesting all on their own. At first I wasn't sure how to take Seffy because she initially comes off as a little artificial. She's an aspiring actress and she's changed several things about herself to fit the molds of what she thinks others want her to be. But throughout the story her layers are slightly peeled back to reveal a girl who doesn't even know what she wants, and it seems that she was just trying to be a "better" version of herself, instead of just being genuine. I think her insecurities made her more likable and relatable. Although her friends and her group as a whole go through some stressful times, Seffy experiences the worst of it. Her flaws and all that she goes through just make me like her more. Plus, there's obviously more to her background and childhood than the reader is let in on, so I'm very curious to find out more.
Seffy's longtime friends, as well as some other strangers, are there with her in this perplexing situation, and they are quite an eclectic group. Gareth is pretty awesome, and the connection between him and Seffy is a bit confusing but also entertaining and sweet. Lani won me over instantly with her free-spirited/hippie and somewhat ditzy personality; whereas I have a love/hate relationship with Addison--the bitchy redhead. The other group of twenty-somethings they meet up with in the desert are a little iffy, and I'm still trying to make sense of Trent, who acts like a jerk one second and then a decent guy in the next. But overall there's something I like about him, so I'm excited to see what happens between him and Seffy. Also, as a side note, I totally dig Malone! He started off assuming the role of protector and he sort of reminded me of an apocalyptic tour guide at times. He's kind of a creeper and a hardass that may or may not be trustworthy, but he's amusing. I want to see more of him!
The end of this book had me gasping out loud, and I'm eager to start the second book in this series. There's obviously more to learn about the Compound that Seffy and her friends have been brought to; and this goes for the scientists and other characters within the Compound as well. Plus, I'm dying to know how the heck time-travel fits into all of this! All I know is that I'm sure the rest of this series will continue to blow me away.
First I would like to thank the author, Bella Street, for giving me the opportunity to read and review her book. I truly enjoyed it!
This book is seriously wicked awesome! I'm a huge zombie fan, so when I read the description for The Z Word I knew I had to read it. I mean, it's about a group of friends from the year 2006 being transported to the year 1980 and encountering zombies--how can you not want to read this?! How can you not like zombies, or the 80s?! Just saying! I will admit that I was a bit stunned when I started this book because nothing was as I thought it would be, but that just made the experience all the more enjoyable. The story always kept me guessing and continued to pick up and intensify throughout. The plot confused, entertained and intrigued me all at once! Bella Street has truly won me over with her magnificent imagination and story-telling abilities.
Seffy Carter and her friends are just going about their business one day in California when all of a sudden something strange happens and they are transported to Montana, and the year is 1980. If that wasn't confusing enough, they are attacked by zombies wearing disco clothes. Now, I know this information may sound silly, but trust me when I say that it's just plain fantastic! These zombies are a combination of frightening, deadly, grotesque, silly and surprising. There was a particular part in the book when I was completely caught off guard by the alarming and hilarious bit of information that was collected about the zombies involving disco music. One minute I was on the edge of my seat, fearing for the well-being of the characters during their fight sequence, and the next minute I was laughing hysterically!
Zombies aside, the characters are pretty interesting all on their own. At first I wasn't sure how to take Seffy because she initially comes off as a little artificial. She's an aspiring actress and she's changed several things about herself to fit the molds of what she thinks others want her to be. But throughout the story her layers are slightly peeled back to reveal a girl who doesn't even know what she wants, and it seems that she was just trying to be a "better" version of herself, instead of just being genuine. I think her insecurities made her more likable and relatable. Although her friends and her group as a whole go through some stressful times, Seffy experiences the worst of it. Her flaws and all that she goes through just make me like her more. Plus, there's obviously more to her background and childhood than the reader is let in on, so I'm very curious to find out more.
Seffy's longtime friends, as well as some other strangers, are there with her in this perplexing situation, and they are quite an eclectic group. Gareth is pretty awesome, and the connection between him and Seffy is a bit confusing but also entertaining and sweet. Lani won me over instantly with her free-spirited/hippie and somewhat ditzy personality; whereas I have a love/hate relationship with Addison--the bitchy redhead. The other group of twenty-somethings they meet up with in the desert are a little iffy, and I'm still trying to make sense of Trent, who acts like a jerk one second and then a decent guy in the next. But overall there's something I like about him, so I'm excited to see what happens between him and Seffy. Also, as a side note, I totally dig Malone! He started off assuming the role of protector and he sort of reminded me of an apocalyptic tour guide at times. He's kind of a creeper and a hardass that may or may not be trustworthy, but he's amusing. I want to see more of him!
The end of this book had me gasping out loud, and I'm eager to start the second book in this series. There's obviously more to learn about the Compound that Seffy and her friends have been brought to; and this goes for the scientists and other characters within the Compound as well. Plus, I'm dying to know how the heck time-travel fits into all of this! All I know is that I'm sure the rest of this series will continue to blow me away.
October 27, 2011
If the blurb doesn't clue you in as to how odd this book is then take it from me...it's odd. I didn't like it enough to find myself raving over it and I don't hate it enough to completely dismiss it. So 3 stars it is. The concept is kind of new to me. I'm use to zombies but I'm not use to having them dressed up as disco fever enthusiasts, nor I'm I use to time travel playing a part. I have to admit I was skeptical, and I think I still kind of skeptical even though I'm finished with it.
I can honestly say I hate Seffy, the main character. She's on her whining, complaining, self-pitying A-game for the entire book. If there were ever a person I'd want to slap or trip during a zombie apocalypse...it would be her. That being said, she's kind of entertaining at times and I almost care what happens to her. I'm also not on the fan list for Addison or Trent. I can't stand characters who are jerks and creeps just for the sake of being one. It just felt pointlessly antagonistic, which is probably due to the fact that there is a lot of drama going on and you have no idea why it started to begin with. Lani is fun, and I kind of picture her as an older Luna Lovegood. I really think the characters could use to some fleshing out, and maybe include some of their background so you can understand why they are constantly whining at each other. The writing is pretty good though, and despite some of the holes or other lacking areas it's actually pretty easy to get caught up in.
The zombies don't really seem to be the main focus in the plot really. They are there and they are important enough that you keep it in your mind, but the time travel lunacy takes the forefront. I was more concerned with why the crap they time traveled and why it seems like a conspiracy was happening then I was with the poorly dressed zombies. Also tons of pop culture references that nearly made me scream at one point. A few at a time can be humorous, a lot can be irritating. There are also times when I raised my eyebrows and just kind of stared at the book, I mean some of it is just kind of...stupid. I will admit though that I am interested and the ending definitely has me wanting to read the second book, The X Factor.
I suppose I would recommend this to women who enjoy zombie stories with some humor involved, I can't see very many guys enjoying it. Just be aware of the pop culture references, some songs, and some fashion talk.
I can honestly say I hate Seffy, the main character. She's on her whining, complaining, self-pitying A-game for the entire book. If there were ever a person I'd want to slap or trip during a zombie apocalypse...it would be her. That being said, she's kind of entertaining at times and I almost care what happens to her. I'm also not on the fan list for Addison or Trent. I can't stand characters who are jerks and creeps just for the sake of being one. It just felt pointlessly antagonistic, which is probably due to the fact that there is a lot of drama going on and you have no idea why it started to begin with. Lani is fun, and I kind of picture her as an older Luna Lovegood. I really think the characters could use to some fleshing out, and maybe include some of their background so you can understand why they are constantly whining at each other. The writing is pretty good though, and despite some of the holes or other lacking areas it's actually pretty easy to get caught up in.
The zombies don't really seem to be the main focus in the plot really. They are there and they are important enough that you keep it in your mind, but the time travel lunacy takes the forefront. I was more concerned with why the crap they time traveled and why it seems like a conspiracy was happening then I was with the poorly dressed zombies. Also tons of pop culture references that nearly made me scream at one point. A few at a time can be humorous, a lot can be irritating. There are also times when I raised my eyebrows and just kind of stared at the book, I mean some of it is just kind of...stupid. I will admit though that I am interested and the ending definitely has me wanting to read the second book, The X Factor.
I suppose I would recommend this to women who enjoy zombie stories with some humor involved, I can't see very many guys enjoying it. Just be aware of the pop culture references, some songs, and some fashion talk.
March 28, 2012
I really wish I had picked up this novel before I went on winter break so I could have read more in this ingenious six book series. As it is, I am committed to reading at least five novels before I can get back to it. I would pout, but that would silly; nearly as silly has throwing four West Hollywood twenty-somethings into the Montana desert with zombies and oh yes, sparkly sand. Except, the novel isn’t foolish, it is well crafted and brilliant. With plot twists that whisk you along faster than a roller coaster, just when you think it is settled, off it goes again.
Admittedly, at first I thought it was the undead love child of 90210 & a Twilight Zone spin off in book form; thankful I was wrong. It is realistic, humorous and original. It doesn’t fall into any plot and character cliches. Street is skilled at creating her characters. She slowly unveils them, never rushing their description or revealing too much too soon. The perfect strategy for a serial author.
Our heroine, or at least the main character, Persephone aka Seffy is a women on the run from her mundane Montanan past who has managed to convince herself that the only way to achieve her goals is to ignore where she came from. Three of her friends came with her to Hollywood and remade themselves according to her wishes.
Seffy’s strong personality is obvious and while she is entirely vain and shallow, her friends love her. They stand by her, even after she makes out with slightly dead man. Even when her friend, Gareth’s nerdy knowledge saves her and their friends was certain death she criticizes him at the same time pinning away for him. Like many shallow people seeking fame, she doesn’t see the need to actually work at the craft that she wants to famous for. Her ignorance would have been her undoing if it wasn’t for her friends.
The explosion sends them into a wasteland filled with disco loving zombies, survivalist, worn out hippies and communists. It sends readers on wild adventure and will leaving them craving for more. Maybe in the next installment, Seffy will live up to her potential that only her friends seem to see. Maybe she will become a heroine like her namesake. It is worth my money to find out.
Admittedly, at first I thought it was the undead love child of 90210 & a Twilight Zone spin off in book form; thankful I was wrong. It is realistic, humorous and original. It doesn’t fall into any plot and character cliches. Street is skilled at creating her characters. She slowly unveils them, never rushing their description or revealing too much too soon. The perfect strategy for a serial author.
Our heroine, or at least the main character, Persephone aka Seffy is a women on the run from her mundane Montanan past who has managed to convince herself that the only way to achieve her goals is to ignore where she came from. Three of her friends came with her to Hollywood and remade themselves according to her wishes.
Seffy’s strong personality is obvious and while she is entirely vain and shallow, her friends love her. They stand by her, even after she makes out with slightly dead man. Even when her friend, Gareth’s nerdy knowledge saves her and their friends was certain death she criticizes him at the same time pinning away for him. Like many shallow people seeking fame, she doesn’t see the need to actually work at the craft that she wants to famous for. Her ignorance would have been her undoing if it wasn’t for her friends.
The explosion sends them into a wasteland filled with disco loving zombies, survivalist, worn out hippies and communists. It sends readers on wild adventure and will leaving them craving for more. Maybe in the next installment, Seffy will live up to her potential that only her friends seem to see. Maybe she will become a heroine like her namesake. It is worth my money to find out.
January 6, 2012
Seffy and her friends find themselves thirty years in the past, surrounded by zombies, and totally screwed. As if her unstable friendships weren’t enough drama. Now not only do they have to try and salvage what remains of their friendship but they need to dodge one wave of retro zombie mobs after another and figure out how they wound up thirty years in the past smack dab in the middle of nowhere Montana in the first place.
Let me start by saying that this book is my first official zombie book read! Eep!
When I started this book it was hard for me to relate with the characters. They are all from LA…totally into vanity and not really grounded at all. Seffy in particular just couldn’t seem to gain my sympathy. She is a bit self-absorbed and well…useless in the beginning of the novel. But this is clearly the whole point.
Based on the smooth and seamless character development you don’t really realize as the reader when you stopped finding the characters a bit annoying and when you started rooting for them. Each character is so different and true to themselves yet they all still manage to grow and adapt to their unfortunate situation. Relationships grow and change and every character, Seffy specifically well…grows up.
Bella Street has a clear and unmistakable talent for storytelling. She somehow made me care about characters who at first I might have enjoyed being eaten by zombies! I got to that pivotal point when reading the book where I just didn’t want to put it down and couldn’t wait to see what happened next!
There is so much going on in this story, so many mysteries, secrets, and events that you can’t possibly get bored or say that it was slow moving for even a second. Yet at the same time it never felt overwhelmingly complex. I still have questions of course but that’s to be expected from any great series. Not to mention the crazy cliff hanger! Can’t wait to read the next installment!
Let me start by saying that this book is my first official zombie book read! Eep!
When I started this book it was hard for me to relate with the characters. They are all from LA…totally into vanity and not really grounded at all. Seffy in particular just couldn’t seem to gain my sympathy. She is a bit self-absorbed and well…useless in the beginning of the novel. But this is clearly the whole point.
Based on the smooth and seamless character development you don’t really realize as the reader when you stopped finding the characters a bit annoying and when you started rooting for them. Each character is so different and true to themselves yet they all still manage to grow and adapt to their unfortunate situation. Relationships grow and change and every character, Seffy specifically well…grows up.
Bella Street has a clear and unmistakable talent for storytelling. She somehow made me care about characters who at first I might have enjoyed being eaten by zombies! I got to that pivotal point when reading the book where I just didn’t want to put it down and couldn’t wait to see what happened next!
There is so much going on in this story, so many mysteries, secrets, and events that you can’t possibly get bored or say that it was slow moving for even a second. Yet at the same time it never felt overwhelmingly complex. I still have questions of course but that’s to be expected from any great series. Not to mention the crazy cliff hanger! Can’t wait to read the next installment!
December 10, 2011
I had a hard time classifying this book. It's a horror book kind of but it's not really graphic. There's an unrequited love thing going on, but it's not really a romance. There's a group of young people, but it's not really a young adult book. And it's kind of contemporary, but there is the element of time travel in the book. And not really futuristic, because the contemporary time period is 2006. It's just hard to define to define this book but it is a good book.
The book starts Seffy being told how fake she is by the rival for the affections of Gareth, whom she has loved for a long time but it seems as if he puts up this wall everytime she tries anything, so she just stares at him dreamy eyed, tries and fails to be what he wants and when she reaches out to him, he pats her on the head and pulls away. This all happens while her "friends" tell her she's leading him on. I don't think anything she does is leading him on. If he won't be with her no matter what she does, how is that leading him on? But I digress. Somehow, although they are in different places, Seffy and 3 of her friends are sent back in time to their old home state of Montana that is full of disco zombies. Most of the book I loved, but the dancing zombies not so much. Also, why back to Montana? Why not back to LA where they were actually physically at? And with a group of other unknown Montanaites? I just don't understand that part.
But again, fiction dummy. So, I'm just going to enjoy the ride and quit complaining. The book was really good and I'm planning on reading the rest of the series.
The book starts Seffy being told how fake she is by the rival for the affections of Gareth, whom she has loved for a long time but it seems as if he puts up this wall everytime she tries anything, so she just stares at him dreamy eyed, tries and fails to be what he wants and when she reaches out to him, he pats her on the head and pulls away. This all happens while her "friends" tell her she's leading him on. I don't think anything she does is leading him on. If he won't be with her no matter what she does, how is that leading him on? But I digress. Somehow, although they are in different places, Seffy and 3 of her friends are sent back in time to their old home state of Montana that is full of disco zombies. Most of the book I loved, but the dancing zombies not so much. Also, why back to Montana? Why not back to LA where they were actually physically at? And with a group of other unknown Montanaites? I just don't understand that part.
But again, fiction dummy. So, I'm just going to enjoy the ride and quit complaining. The book was really good and I'm planning on reading the rest of the series.
July 29, 2011
The Z Word starts out in a fashionable shopping mall in Hollywood and then whoosh, the main character Seffy is transported to another place with pink skies, glittery dirt and zombies. Normally, she'd be a meat snack (and deservedly so), but her loyal friends manage to rescue her even from herself.
Seffy is an interesting character for an apocalyptic novel. Vain, self-centered, and shallow, she brings avoidance of issues to the level of an Olympic sport. She's also a contradiction-- for someone so set on being an actress, she's not very interested in watching movies or television. She clings to her designer tracksuit, first as a status symbol then as a security blanket. And finally, as the trappings of her WeHo life begin to crumble, a Seffy equal to the challenges ahead begins to emerge.
Ms. Street is to be highly commended for her original cast of characters and the brilliant world she creates. Layered with cultural references from the eighties and today, The Z Word is an exciting and fast-paced mix of adventure and dysfunction. The first book in a six book series, The Z Word raises far more questions then it answers and does a wonderful job of providing plot twists one after the other such that some might suffer from whiplash.
So if you're looking for a fun way to spend an afternoon, I'd recommend adding The Z Word to your reading list. Its cast of Scooby-Doo characters, snappy dialogue and Shaun of the Dead/Zombieland surrealism is quite entertaining.
Seffy is an interesting character for an apocalyptic novel. Vain, self-centered, and shallow, she brings avoidance of issues to the level of an Olympic sport. She's also a contradiction-- for someone so set on being an actress, she's not very interested in watching movies or television. She clings to her designer tracksuit, first as a status symbol then as a security blanket. And finally, as the trappings of her WeHo life begin to crumble, a Seffy equal to the challenges ahead begins to emerge.
Ms. Street is to be highly commended for her original cast of characters and the brilliant world she creates. Layered with cultural references from the eighties and today, The Z Word is an exciting and fast-paced mix of adventure and dysfunction. The first book in a six book series, The Z Word raises far more questions then it answers and does a wonderful job of providing plot twists one after the other such that some might suffer from whiplash.
So if you're looking for a fun way to spend an afternoon, I'd recommend adding The Z Word to your reading list. Its cast of Scooby-Doo characters, snappy dialogue and Shaun of the Dead/Zombieland surrealism is quite entertaining.
February 20, 2013
This is a story about four friends, Seffy, Addy, Lani and Gareth, who are in some kind of explosion that sends them back in time from 2006 to 1980 and from California to Montana. They wake up in a strange place with a pink sky and zombies. After finding each other in the debris they try to survive this strange experience.
Ok, this was a quirky concept that just couldn’t be pulled off. The main character, Seffy, got on my last nerve until I was really hoping she’d be a zombie entrée. Seffie’s ‘friend’ Addy was such a bitch to her I couldn’t understand why she called her a friend instead of kicking her to the curb. Lani was a flake and I just couldn’t get a bead on Gareth. The most interesting character in the book for me was Trent.
There were mysteries and secrets galore and by the time of the abrupt cliffhanger ending we had learned nothing about any of the secrets or mysteries. In fact, more mystery was piled on top of the existing ones. Many references were made as to the fact they had left Montana for some reason to move to California and they were to never talk about it again, but no explanation is given as to WHY. Not one single itty bitty nugget of info is revealed. I was forcefully reminded of Scrooge McDuck during this story as Ms Street hung onto her secrets like he hung onto money. I can understand the need for suspense and stringing us readers along, but I was so frustrated by not learning ANYTHING that I’m not interested in continuing the series.
Ok, this was a quirky concept that just couldn’t be pulled off. The main character, Seffy, got on my last nerve until I was really hoping she’d be a zombie entrée. Seffie’s ‘friend’ Addy was such a bitch to her I couldn’t understand why she called her a friend instead of kicking her to the curb. Lani was a flake and I just couldn’t get a bead on Gareth. The most interesting character in the book for me was Trent.
There were mysteries and secrets galore and by the time of the abrupt cliffhanger ending we had learned nothing about any of the secrets or mysteries. In fact, more mystery was piled on top of the existing ones. Many references were made as to the fact they had left Montana for some reason to move to California and they were to never talk about it again, but no explanation is given as to WHY. Not one single itty bitty nugget of info is revealed. I was forcefully reminded of Scrooge McDuck during this story as Ms Street hung onto her secrets like he hung onto money. I can understand the need for suspense and stringing us readers along, but I was so frustrated by not learning ANYTHING that I’m not interested in continuing the series.
May 3, 2012
Este libro fue algo como un subibaja... primero aburrido.. luego mejora.. y regresa a aburrido.. pero con las partes no aburridas es mas que suficiente para engancharme en la lectura.. imaginando que sera lo siguiente que pasara... lo malo... estaba tan emocionada con el libro que fue una gran descepcion que no tuviera un final concreto y se quedaran muchos misterios sin resolver.. asi que no me quedara alternativa que leer el siguiente libro..
Los personajes.. todos tienen su manera unica de comportarse aunque por momentos cambian completamente su patron por experiencias que vivieron en el pasado y que muchas veces no se explican..
La chica principal Seffy.. tiene una manera de pensar.. que se basa muchas veces en la completa negacion de las situaciones que estan viviendo en ese momento.. sus amigos (dos chicas y un chico) por el contrario aceptan hasta cierto punto las cosas que estan pasando.. y aunque son sus amigos tienen una idea bastante extraña acerca de Seffy.. que tiene que ver con el pasado que no cuentan..
Uno de los otros personajes que encuentran despues es Trent.. y por dios.. aunque se comporta muchas veces como un patan con Seffy.. pienso que harian una buena pareja.. porque al parecer comprende mejor lo que ella piensa..
La historia parece un manicomio.. donde todos los personajes tienen su agenda.. aunque siempre es mejor ver a siertos personajes traicionar a otros con tal de obtener lo que quieren..
Los personajes.. todos tienen su manera unica de comportarse aunque por momentos cambian completamente su patron por experiencias que vivieron en el pasado y que muchas veces no se explican..
La chica principal Seffy.. tiene una manera de pensar.. que se basa muchas veces en la completa negacion de las situaciones que estan viviendo en ese momento.. sus amigos (dos chicas y un chico) por el contrario aceptan hasta cierto punto las cosas que estan pasando.. y aunque son sus amigos tienen una idea bastante extraña acerca de Seffy.. que tiene que ver con el pasado que no cuentan..
Uno de los otros personajes que encuentran despues es Trent.. y por dios.. aunque se comporta muchas veces como un patan con Seffy.. pienso que harian una buena pareja.. porque al parecer comprende mejor lo que ella piensa..
La historia parece un manicomio.. donde todos los personajes tienen su agenda.. aunque siempre es mejor ver a siertos personajes traicionar a otros con tal de obtener lo que quieren..
October 5, 2011
I didn't really know what the story was about other than that there would be zombies, so it was a complete surprise as it started and unfolded.
The story telling was easy to read and flowed well. I could not predict where the story was going and what would happen next and most importantly the story made me want to find out.
I did have issues with the characters. I felt a chapter setting up the four main principles and their relationship would have helped the reader understand the dynamic better and why they responded to the situation as poorly as they did (Why was Addison so angry? Is Lani mentally deficient or did she burn her brains out on drugs?). I was surprised the female characters were so weak and valley girlish, in sci-fi books the main female characters tend to rise to the occasion and become kick ass heroines. Upon reflection, maybe this is a bit more realistic, but come on, Seffy still didn't believe in zombies (or admit it to herself)by page 200?!?
I was also stunned when the book ended with NO ANSWERS, NOT ONE! Come on, a little pay back, please. I was happy to see that there was a sequel which will hopefully address this and give some answers to what's going on.
The story telling was easy to read and flowed well. I could not predict where the story was going and what would happen next and most importantly the story made me want to find out.
I did have issues with the characters. I felt a chapter setting up the four main principles and their relationship would have helped the reader understand the dynamic better and why they responded to the situation as poorly as they did (Why was Addison so angry? Is Lani mentally deficient or did she burn her brains out on drugs?). I was surprised the female characters were so weak and valley girlish, in sci-fi books the main female characters tend to rise to the occasion and become kick ass heroines. Upon reflection, maybe this is a bit more realistic, but come on, Seffy still didn't believe in zombies (or admit it to herself)by page 200?!?
I was also stunned when the book ended with NO ANSWERS, NOT ONE! Come on, a little pay back, please. I was happy to see that there was a sequel which will hopefully address this and give some answers to what's going on.
September 24, 2011
Enter contest here: http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/reviews....
You only have to take a look at my profile to know I’m a zombie lover. I’m also a horror movie connoisseur (yes those exist). So I was excited about the prospect of reading The Z Word. From the first page I felt like I was in a vintage horror movie. Normally coming from me, that's a compliment. But in this case, I couldn’t connect with this plot. The characters weren’t fully developed, and there was too much back story left out for me to truly be invested. Suffice to say at some points in this story I was rooting for the zombies.
There was a strange disjointed feeling about The Z Word that made want to finish. I will say Bella Street is quite inventive. Zombies that respond to disco music and time travel in correlation to the apocalypse aren’t plots I’ve come across before. Her description has a way of sticking with you, and she wields pop culture like a sword.
I just wish she had spent more time in developing the characters and defining the story line.
You only have to take a look at my profile to know I’m a zombie lover. I’m also a horror movie connoisseur (yes those exist). So I was excited about the prospect of reading The Z Word. From the first page I felt like I was in a vintage horror movie. Normally coming from me, that's a compliment. But in this case, I couldn’t connect with this plot. The characters weren’t fully developed, and there was too much back story left out for me to truly be invested. Suffice to say at some points in this story I was rooting for the zombies.
There was a strange disjointed feeling about The Z Word that made want to finish. I will say Bella Street is quite inventive. Zombies that respond to disco music and time travel in correlation to the apocalypse aren’t plots I’ve come across before. Her description has a way of sticking with you, and she wields pop culture like a sword.
I just wish she had spent more time in developing the characters and defining the story line.
January 17, 2013
This series is one I definitely would not have read if it hadn't been a an editing gig. I'm just not into zombies, werewolves, biological & chemical warfare, et al. This entire series took me out of my comfort zone, and I really have to admit I learned a lot. The series is about the loss of innocence . . . and the horrible damage that can do to human beings.
These books have content that I wouldn't recommend for youth . . . and many adults I know. The writing is good--you really get swept up into the story, and what happens. But there are shocking, scary, and gory things that happen. (As well as some love scenes that I skipped--she knew I wasn't editing that. ;o) So, if you're not into nightmarish and crazy stuff, I'd say stay away from this set.
The uber-adult content is why it gets three stars. The writing itself, the quality of the prose and the story construction, definitely gets 4.5 stars. Bella does a bang-up job of taking you inside the minds of her characters, and of sewing up loose ends so when you're done, it's all worth it.
These books have content that I wouldn't recommend for youth . . . and many adults I know. The writing is good--you really get swept up into the story, and what happens. But there are shocking, scary, and gory things that happen. (As well as some love scenes that I skipped--she knew I wasn't editing that. ;o) So, if you're not into nightmarish and crazy stuff, I'd say stay away from this set.
The uber-adult content is why it gets three stars. The writing itself, the quality of the prose and the story construction, definitely gets 4.5 stars. Bella does a bang-up job of taking you inside the minds of her characters, and of sewing up loose ends so when you're done, it's all worth it.
August 6, 2011
So many questions! I love it!, July 31, 2011
This review is from: The Z Word (Apocalypse Babes) (Kindle Edition)
I will say that Seffy annoyed me, and endeared herself to me. The rest of the cast isn't fleshed out enough for me to form much of an attachment to them.( I hope we get to know them better in the sequels.) The story kept me interested and really wanting to know what happened. I STILL want to know what happened. What the heck happened??? How did ONLY these people land 26 years ago in their home state? Why have they reinvented themselves and tried so hard to forget their origins? How did this 'blast' come about? Who, what, why, where????? And what's up with the zombies? Are they everywhere or just in the immediate vicinity of our heroes???
I will positively read the next installment in this series.
September 30, 2011
My thanks to the Author, the Publishing Company, and of course, Goodreads for the opportunity to first-read this free novel.
I admit there's been a wee bit of procrastination on my part in writing a review as I finished the novel a few days ago.
I did like it, though there are too many books coming out using either Vampires or Zombies as a basis and the over saturation is truly a bit much (this includes a recent tacky novel about the Beatles that turned them into Zombies).
Nevertheless, 'The Z Word' is unique. Time Travel, Altered History, Evil Military Survivalists and Flesh-Eating Zombies in Disco Attire? Good humor and great story-line. Written for both old and young readers alike who tend to lean towards this sort of genre.
I wholeheartedly look forward to reading the second volume when it becomes available.
I admit there's been a wee bit of procrastination on my part in writing a review as I finished the novel a few days ago.
I did like it, though there are too many books coming out using either Vampires or Zombies as a basis and the over saturation is truly a bit much (this includes a recent tacky novel about the Beatles that turned them into Zombies).
Nevertheless, 'The Z Word' is unique. Time Travel, Altered History, Evil Military Survivalists and Flesh-Eating Zombies in Disco Attire? Good humor and great story-line. Written for both old and young readers alike who tend to lean towards this sort of genre.
I wholeheartedly look forward to reading the second volume when it becomes available.
November 20, 2011
At first, I wasn't sure I'd like this story. The main character reminded me of Alicia Silverstone's character in Clueless and yes, she annoyed me a little. But, as in that movie, Seffy grew and changed a bit. Some of the other characters did too.
The plot, twists, and characters grew enough to make me want to get the next book and see what happens.
I found parts of this story really funny.
Why not 5 stars? This could have used a better proofreader. Now, it's not full of typos and missing words, but there were enough that the longtime reader in me noticed and was popped right out of the story each time.
Altogether I found the story a very entertaining escape from daily stress. And I will buy the next book soon.
The plot, twists, and characters grew enough to make me want to get the next book and see what happens.
I found parts of this story really funny.
Why not 5 stars? This could have used a better proofreader. Now, it's not full of typos and missing words, but there were enough that the longtime reader in me noticed and was popped right out of the story each time.
Altogether I found the story a very entertaining escape from daily stress. And I will buy the next book soon.
October 30, 2011
I got this book for free on Kindle, and fell in love pretty quickly with the quirky, direct style. A bunch of spoiled brats in the middle of a *spoiler alert* zombie infected podunk town? I mean, the premise was funny with just enough "campy", the characters were fairly fun, and the schoolgirl crushes managed to add interest without being overly repetitive or becoming annoying.
It was a light, engaging read, well worth the .99 cents it is listed for on many online retailers. I'm not sure hard core science fiction lovers would like the author's treatment of the science behind time-travel (especially as they head into books 2 and 3), but with just a little suspension of belief, the novel really works.
It was a light, engaging read, well worth the .99 cents it is listed for on many online retailers. I'm not sure hard core science fiction lovers would like the author's treatment of the science behind time-travel (especially as they head into books 2 and 3), but with just a little suspension of belief, the novel really works.
September 1, 2011
I enjoyed reading this a lot more than I would have expected.
True, it sounds terribly contrived at first, and I found the "Sex and the city" humour hard to take at times (not to mention that I had my problems to identify most of the brands these characters obsess about) - but I loved the descriptions of the 70's clothing, reminded me vividly how glad I am that Disco is over.
I did hope for more of an eighties feel, instead the novel is firmly rooted in and written for the 2000's, not the author's fault that I expected otherwise, however it keeps its titular promise of B-movie cheesiness.
Easy entertainment.
True, it sounds terribly contrived at first, and I found the "Sex and the city" humour hard to take at times (not to mention that I had my problems to identify most of the brands these characters obsess about) - but I loved the descriptions of the 70's clothing, reminded me vividly how glad I am that Disco is over.
I did hope for more of an eighties feel, instead the novel is firmly rooted in and written for the 2000's, not the author's fault that I expected otherwise, however it keeps its titular promise of B-movie cheesiness.
Easy entertainment.
February 23, 2013
I can't believe this book ended the way it did. UGH. I was not even noticing that I was that close to the end when all of the sudden it was over. I really enjoyed it, but I am still unsure what the deal is why Seffy and the gang left their home for West Hollywood anyway and why Seffy would never let anyone talk about it. It would have been nice to have that explained in this book. That is the only reason I am giving it 4 instead of 5 stars.
December 7, 2011
I loved this book, and the subsequent books that have followed. It's easy to get into, and the characters are well thought out and easy to engage with. You feel for Seffy from the beginning. There is a huge mystery surrounding what's happened and trying to figure it out is half the fun. A fantastic book!
June 8, 2012
The Z Word has literally kept me clicking the next page to see what happens next.
So many things are happening within such a sort period of time, and you find yourself
transported to a different time with zombie cornering you at any given time (alongside with the characters). Bella Street has a way of keeping her readers drawn to the story until the very end.
So many things are happening within such a sort period of time, and you find yourself
transported to a different time with zombie cornering you at any given time (alongside with the characters). Bella Street has a way of keeping her readers drawn to the story until the very end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews