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Arisen #2
Mogadishu of the Dead
When the Zombie Apocalypse came, one country had shut down its borders in response to a major terrorist attack. Now Fortress Britain is the last bastion of the living.
And one international team of supremely elite special operators are humanity's last best hope for survival. Supremely trained and armed, always the most skilled, resolved, and unstoppable amongst us, now the commandos of Alpha team are tasked with one last desperate operation.
They must cross the Atlantic aboard the world’s only remaining supercarrier and insert by air into the very middle of a dead continent, all in search of a rumored vaccine that might bring humanity back from the brink. But their op goes dangerously wrong from the start, with their team scattered to hell and back, and their target site a dry hole. Now they must fight their way on foot through a city of 3 million ravening dead guys, in search of an underground bunker that might hold the Last Man on Earth. But these undead will not be like any Zulus they have ever fought before – and they surround their new target in a writhing ring of death 30 feet high on all sides…
And one international team of supremely elite special operators are humanity's last best hope for survival. Supremely trained and armed, always the most skilled, resolved, and unstoppable amongst us, now the commandos of Alpha team are tasked with one last desperate operation.
They must cross the Atlantic aboard the world’s only remaining supercarrier and insert by air into the very middle of a dead continent, all in search of a rumored vaccine that might bring humanity back from the brink. But their op goes dangerously wrong from the start, with their team scattered to hell and back, and their target site a dry hole. Now they must fight their way on foot through a city of 3 million ravening dead guys, in search of an underground bunker that might hold the Last Man on Earth. But these undead will not be like any Zulus they have ever fought before – and they surround their new target in a writhing ring of death 30 feet high on all sides…
183 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 18, 2013
450 people are currently reading
530 people want to read
About the author
Glynn James
92 books478 followersGLYNN JAMES is an author of science fiction, post-apocalyptic, dark fantasy, horror, and dystopian fiction. His love of science fiction began when he was eight years old after discovering HP Lovecraft and Richard Matheson, and then later on Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, James Herbert, Clive Barker, and Stephen King.
In addition to being author of the “ALTERLIGHT” supernatural mystery thriller series, he is author of the dark sci-fi series "DIARY OF THE DISPLACED", the post-apocalyptic "THROWN AWAY" series, and co-author of the "ARISEN" series and the “DUSTFALL” series.
More info on his writing and projects can be found at -
Website - www.glynnjames.co.uk
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/glynnjamesfi...
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/GlynnJames
In addition to being author of the “ALTERLIGHT” supernatural mystery thriller series, he is author of the dark sci-fi series "DIARY OF THE DISPLACED", the post-apocalyptic "THROWN AWAY" series, and co-author of the "ARISEN" series and the “DUSTFALL” series.
More info on his writing and projects can be found at -
Website - www.glynnjames.co.uk
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/glynnjamesfi...
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/GlynnJames
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
August 7, 2019
3.5 stars
My qualms with this book is that it was way too short and felt like an excerpt of a few chapters instead of a full novel.
Alright. So I tried delving into this series to avoid my longest streak of books that made me cry. I thought to myself, Jen, you're so disillusioned when it comes to zombie world deaths, this won't matter. The first book was just a fun, action-packed and fresh take on zombies.
I was so, so wrong. This made me bawl when some of the main characters died.
My qualms with this book is that it was way too short and felt like an excerpt of a few chapters instead of a full novel.
Alright. So I tried delving into this series to avoid my longest streak of books that made me cry. I thought to myself, Jen, you're so disillusioned when it comes to zombie world deaths, this won't matter. The first book was just a fun, action-packed and fresh take on zombies.
I was so, so wrong. This made me bawl when some of the main characters died.
April 10, 2015
I did not like the first book in this series but looking at the high ratings I decided to give the second one a try and it was just as bad.
It would seem that the whole series is predicated on lumbering from one disaster to another, nothing seems to go right. The story is fast paced but that seems to be primarily because of the same formula used over and over, event happens, shoot their way out, lose two people and onto the next catastrophe. Character development is non existent.
Overall these books seem to consist of a constant litany of the same formula in which these "super soldiers" seem to resemble Hogans Heroes.
I gave up.
It would seem that the whole series is predicated on lumbering from one disaster to another, nothing seems to go right. The story is fast paced but that seems to be primarily because of the same formula used over and over, event happens, shoot their way out, lose two people and onto the next catastrophe. Character development is non existent.
Overall these books seem to consist of a constant litany of the same formula in which these "super soldiers" seem to resemble Hogans Heroes.
I gave up.
December 5, 2015
I read Nemesis (prequel) and then Fortress Britain (first book of series), I like both these books. They were smart and action packed. Then i started this book, not smart beyond stupid. People 2 yrs into ZA doing the stupidest stuff possible to get killed and then killing their friends. Also the story stopped being about the missions to stop the Zs and started being about numerous stupid side stories. The female SOP sleeps with another and worries about dooming the mission because of it. A guy secretly stored a zombie below deck in the carrier starts a cult of zombie (with command mostly aware of it) that thinks Zombie are God's plan to cleanse the earth and they release it mid voyage. A wounded in isolation turns, infects a nurse and they miraculously get out of isolation to infect the entire hospital that takes an air strike to stop. 2 guys walking sentry on the suspected main weakness to zombie infiltration via chunnel to france get sloppy turned and the supervisor has a one shot shotgun and a radio that doesn't work. Stupid unbelievable stuff over and over with barely any more of the main story of SOP missions to try to stop the plague. Did i mention this is 2 yrs after ZA take out most of the world, which makes all the stupid stuff utterly unbelievable. Needless to say i did not finish and will not attempt any more.
September 1, 2022
Loved it. Short book, who cares
July 24, 2022
Today was the first day I actually felt pretty good. I was still running a fever and had a head ache but I was able to do some work around the house. Hopefully the road to recovery will be swift
The characters are starting to make an impression. I have a feeling that in book three some of the characters I really like will die. I still don’t feel like there has been much of a connection made with the reader and the characters.
I do like the battleships and the ingenuity of the crew. Looking forward to more.
The characters are starting to make an impression. I have a feeling that in book three some of the characters I really like will die. I still don’t feel like there has been much of a connection made with the reader and the characters.
I do like the battleships and the ingenuity of the crew. Looking forward to more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2021
Could I have finished this book? Yes. Probably. It's not a long one. But after slogging (yes, slogging) my way through the first half of the book, I couldn't continue. Does the author expect me to care about the characters? Because it seems to me that there are enough that plot armor doesn't matter. All that matters is more characters! That'll stop the zombies! That'll save the day! More people to throw into the grinder! For me, all the characters really began to merge until I couldn't tell who was who. And it doesn't seem to matter anyways. Because nothing was fleshed out. The situation in Britain, the carrier, and Chicago all had no development.
And just like many of the other reviews here. Was there character development? Yes. Some. Many of the characters were more fleshed out. Which is great. But did it matter? No, because as I said before, there were so many characters, that pinning one insecurity to one character in a chapter just lead to confusion.
Was the story developing though? Yes. I guess? Many plot points progressed smoothly. However, the author's method of splitting up groups of characters so that there are like 10 different backgrounds really kills the story. By splitting up many of the characters, and giving them their own individual chapter, the focus of the story changes from characters to just one overarching blur of people trying to survive.
Instead of developing a relationship between the reader and several characters, I, the reader, was subjected to a plethora of dilemas so that the uniqueness of each character was entirely lost on me. So I dropped the novel.
And just like many of the other reviews here. Was there character development? Yes. Some. Many of the characters were more fleshed out. Which is great. But did it matter? No, because as I said before, there were so many characters, that pinning one insecurity to one character in a chapter just lead to confusion.
Was the story developing though? Yes. I guess? Many plot points progressed smoothly. However, the author's method of splitting up groups of characters so that there are like 10 different backgrounds really kills the story. By splitting up many of the characters, and giving them their own individual chapter, the focus of the story changes from characters to just one overarching blur of people trying to survive.
Instead of developing a relationship between the reader and several characters, I, the reader, was subjected to a plethora of dilemas so that the uniqueness of each character was entirely lost on me. So I dropped the novel.
September 26, 2025
This book is well written and fast paced. If you enjoy military action stories, then this book is for you.
March 20, 2023
Although RC Bray is a powerful narrator this book almost lost me. The second book in a series by Michael Steven Fuchs picks up where Fortress Britain left off with the American Air Force carrier John F Kennedy taking a Seal Spec Ops team to Chicago where a lone scientist has been working alone in a bunker beneath the commodity exchange and had come up with a vaccine. Even though he has believed himself to be the only non-zombie alive and this lab is not a lab but a bunker he has kept working. Even so, there’s no guarantee that his vaccine will work.
This happens just as a horrible new variant of the virus is turning zombies into superhuman beings who can leap from tall buildings and run fast and don’t even feed on humans, just infect them and one of these guys is loose in the previously impervious island fortress.
It’s not that the story didn’t move along or that new elements failed to arise but I got such an overwhelming sense of hopelessness from these characters that I had a hard time hanging in with them.
On the JFK moral had gotten so bad that a faction rose up that was preaching “the zombie apocalypse is God’s way of cleansing the world and destroying the zombies was, in fact, preventing the rapture!” How leadership could allow this kind of behavior to proliferate is a question that presumably would be answered in the next book? Because this book left everything unanswered and unresolved. I’m not sure if I’ll be joining them, but maybe if there was more than one female character in the entire series (not counting the woman in .5 who just screams and is rescued by a man who tells them to shoot the infected in the head. The woman has no lines) the men might be less hopeless?
This happens just as a horrible new variant of the virus is turning zombies into superhuman beings who can leap from tall buildings and run fast and don’t even feed on humans, just infect them and one of these guys is loose in the previously impervious island fortress.
It’s not that the story didn’t move along or that new elements failed to arise but I got such an overwhelming sense of hopelessness from these characters that I had a hard time hanging in with them.
On the JFK moral had gotten so bad that a faction rose up that was preaching “the zombie apocalypse is God’s way of cleansing the world and destroying the zombies was, in fact, preventing the rapture!” How leadership could allow this kind of behavior to proliferate is a question that presumably would be answered in the next book? Because this book left everything unanswered and unresolved. I’m not sure if I’ll be joining them, but maybe if there was more than one female character in the entire series (not counting the woman in .5 who just screams and is rescued by a man who tells them to shoot the infected in the head. The woman has no lines) the men might be less hopeless?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2023
This really should be part of book one. It's just way too short. That's very annoying. Other than that, I'm very much enjoying the story. After reading the amazing Mountain Man series and being blown away by Callie I really wanted to spend more time with operators and experience the zombie apocalypse through them, and there just isn't anything out there that I had been exposed to that really does that. Enter this series; There are flaws, the writing has issues, the jumping around of characters is a bit jarring, but the terror and realism is there, and the way that I would imagine the apocalypse to really be is dialed in well. Granted, the explanation of why Britain is the last vestige of human survival and civilization doesn't make much sense to me, rather than Hawaii or other American Pacific territories, for example. And why the mainland United States falls and we Americans don't salvage portions of our own nation rather than abandoning our nation to move to the British isles. I think there is a major hole there and that bothers me, but, this is not my story, and I appreciate that the authors are telling a story I'm interested in being told to. I'm definitely moving forward with this series, which is another reason why I gave the book a full five stars. I typically would knock a star off when books are too short, pulling a cash grab, but I'm going to forgive it at this point in the series.
January 7, 2025
Action Packed & Full of Drama ** NO SPOILERS **
Boom! What a story. This is full on no holds barred action all the way. We’ve been through the Covid 19 pandemic in recent times so we’re all familiar with the widespread sense of fear and the horror of a brutal death toll that goes hand in hand with this kind of tragedy. Thankfully zombies are fictional, I’m sure we all want it to stay that way.
The book traces the steps of a multinational Spec Ops team plus a handful of others who’ve had the dubious honour of surviving an incursion involving a new type of zombie, into what’s believed to be the last bastion of humanity. Britain.
Under normal circumstances a major terrorist attack would be a tragic crime. Fortunately it was standard protocols (travel embargo) used after exactly that type of disaster that led to Britain surviving the onset of the virus. Standing against the whole scale implosion of humanity. The team routinely forays into the medical labs of Europe looking for a cure or leads to more obscure medical labs. Unfortunately the most recent lead is pointing the team to a lab in Chicago.
The story is put together well and comes across as not just horrific but also as something disturbingly realistic. The military jargon isn’t overbearing, if you’re keen on this genre then I’d say that this one is at the top of its game. Well worth reading.
Boom! What a story. This is full on no holds barred action all the way. We’ve been through the Covid 19 pandemic in recent times so we’re all familiar with the widespread sense of fear and the horror of a brutal death toll that goes hand in hand with this kind of tragedy. Thankfully zombies are fictional, I’m sure we all want it to stay that way.
The book traces the steps of a multinational Spec Ops team plus a handful of others who’ve had the dubious honour of surviving an incursion involving a new type of zombie, into what’s believed to be the last bastion of humanity. Britain.
Under normal circumstances a major terrorist attack would be a tragic crime. Fortunately it was standard protocols (travel embargo) used after exactly that type of disaster that led to Britain surviving the onset of the virus. Standing against the whole scale implosion of humanity. The team routinely forays into the medical labs of Europe looking for a cure or leads to more obscure medical labs. Unfortunately the most recent lead is pointing the team to a lab in Chicago.
The story is put together well and comes across as not just horrific but also as something disturbingly realistic. The military jargon isn’t overbearing, if you’re keen on this genre then I’d say that this one is at the top of its game. Well worth reading.
August 31, 2017
I've now read the first two books in this series, due to a recommendation from a friend. I have to say first that I'm not a big fan of zombie books, movies, TV shows, etc. I feel they're very limited & this series proves that for me.
First off, there is no character development at all. There is not one stand out character & you can swap the characters around & it wouldn't make a difference. Two books of generic military guys spouting military quotes & killing zombies.
I find the books are just scene after scene of generic zombie action. Throw in some movie quotes & references & we get something that we've read & seen before. I found myself not knowing if I was reading the same parts over & over, or whether I was actually reading ahead, through the book.
This all being said, I find the books are well written, especially with it's military knowledge. The settings are well described & you can really see in your mind's eye what is going on.
I have the third book, but do not know if I'm going to bother with it. I'm sure it's going to be the same stuff as these first two. I get it.
First off, there is no character development at all. There is not one stand out character & you can swap the characters around & it wouldn't make a difference. Two books of generic military guys spouting military quotes & killing zombies.
I find the books are just scene after scene of generic zombie action. Throw in some movie quotes & references & we get something that we've read & seen before. I found myself not knowing if I was reading the same parts over & over, or whether I was actually reading ahead, through the book.
This all being said, I find the books are well written, especially with it's military knowledge. The settings are well described & you can really see in your mind's eye what is going on.
I have the third book, but do not know if I'm going to bother with it. I'm sure it's going to be the same stuff as these first two. I get it.
July 2, 2021
The publisher's description is reasonable. The writing was good for a zombie apocalypse. There is a lot of action, but not much science. In fact, the explanations made me think that this book was more fantasy than science fiction... but if you can suspend your criticism of the science, it is a good read.
I bought this book originally, because I had finished John Ringo's Dark Tide Rising series, beginning with Under a Graveyard Sky. I was happy with the purchase, but I think Ringo's series is better because Ringo manages to introduce some humor as well as action.
I might read this book again.
I bought this book originally, because I had finished John Ringo's Dark Tide Rising series, beginning with Under a Graveyard Sky. I was happy with the purchase, but I think Ringo's series is better because Ringo manages to introduce some humor as well as action.
I might read this book again.
December 9, 2025
“Right, so I guess it’s just disobey fucking orders day, then, isn’t it…” 😂🤣
“Escape and evade, big guy. If it all goes south, we presume you’ll hijack a monster car-crushing truck and drive us all to the coast.”
Predator look mollified. “Okay. That could work.”
My love for this series is a bit obsessive. Do I care? No. I could be doing drugs, but instead I’ve decided to go back on the wildest ride ever. So much better the second time around!!! When you think shit can’t get any worse…think again.
“Dude. What the fuck? Over.” P.S I love Predator and Juice! I would read a million and a half book of just their adventures.
“Escape and evade, big guy. If it all goes south, we presume you’ll hijack a monster car-crushing truck and drive us all to the coast.”
Predator look mollified. “Okay. That could work.”
My love for this series is a bit obsessive. Do I care? No. I could be doing drugs, but instead I’ve decided to go back on the wildest ride ever. So much better the second time around!!! When you think shit can’t get any worse…think again.
“Dude. What the fuck? Over.” P.S I love Predator and Juice! I would read a million and a half book of just their adventures.
September 7, 2018
I read zombie books, I've read alot of them, they are a guilty pleasure, I don't expect a high quality novel but I have been pleasantly surprised in the past. This is not one of those times. It's just bad storytelling with ridiculous plot points to urge the mess of a story along. Honestly, I've read better fan fiction, no idea who in the right mind has been giving this high reviews.
November 30, 2022
This zombie apocalypse series is non-stop action. Every time the protagonists get to the point of pulling themselves out of a crisis, another crisis presents itself. It's tremendously suspenseful.
Why this isn't a television show on Amazon Prime is beyond me. Maybe it will be. It's certainly good enough.
Why this isn't a television show on Amazon Prime is beyond me. Maybe it will be. It's certainly good enough.
February 24, 2017
I had a hard time with book #1 and book #2 wasn't much better. More set up for the story and not a lot going on. There is a little more action in this book toward the end. A friend of mine who has read the first 10 books says the action picks up...
January 6, 2018
That books was WAY too short. It started on a cliffhanger and ended on a cliffhanger. I finished it in 2 days of light reading. It should have been part of either book 1 or book 3, or it just could have been expanded. I'm glad I got it as part of the Omnibus
January 11, 2019
A great read
I am enjoying this series. I'm reading too fast just to see what happens next week, I think I need to slow down to stretch It out because I'm going to be sad when this ride is over.
I am enjoying this series. I'm reading too fast just to see what happens next week, I think I need to slow down to stretch It out because I'm going to be sad when this ride is over.
May 14, 2022
Excellent continuation
This story is awesome! You feel like you are right there in the action watching it all go down. The characters are great and the non-stop zombie and human action is fantastic!
This story is awesome! You feel like you are right there in the action watching it all go down. The characters are great and the non-stop zombie and human action is fantastic!
September 7, 2025
3.5 stars. An improvement over book 1 in pretty much every way, and it managed to keep my attention far more consistently. I suspect each book in this series will be better than the last as the characters develop and the world gets fleshed out.
January 12, 2017
A solid zombie apocalypse novel. Good pacing, good action, engaging plot and characters, and most important, lots of zombie fighting.
June 26, 2017
As a zombie story goes this is solid and weaves in the military themes well into the story. Definitely worth picking up if you are a fan of either.
August 22, 2017
A fabulous continuation of the story. So glad I picked up this series!
April 15, 2018
Solid, quick read. Nothing particularly special...yet. Little character development is a weakness and the main leads are too interchangeable.
April 23, 2018
Better than the first one. Still not a great story arc. This book and the first one should have been combined into one.
October 10, 2019
3.5*. Non-stop shoot-em-up zombie action but I think I've had enough now after 2 books in hte series.
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never-read
January 19, 2020Read the novella Genesis in the "Arisen" series. 1 Star and did not enjoy, therefore will not be continuing with the series.
April 8, 2020
Enjoying this, well written and a good pace.
April 14, 2020
Good one
I hate it when you get hooked, and of course there's not just one or two left in the series! now I have to read them all!!! Recommended
I hate it when you get hooked, and of course there's not just one or two left in the series! now I have to read them all!!! Recommended
August 23, 2020
almost constant adrenaline
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews