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Zombie Games #1
Origins
Seventeen year old Cassandra Wild thought living in the chaos of her mother s home daycare and dealing with her developing feelings for Bryce, her new Martial Arts instructor, was a struggle, until the night her world turned upside down. When an untested vaccine kills more than just a rampant flu virus, Cassie learns how to survive in a world where the dead walk and the living...run! Cover photo by Kiselev Andrey Valerevich/Shutterstock.com This is a young adult title with some language, violence, and mild sexual situations recommended for ages sixteen and up.
238 pages, Paperback
First published May 28, 2012
335 people are currently reading
2248 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Middleton
119 books753 followersNY Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, Kristen Middleton, is from the Midwest and not only enjoys writing, but connecting with her readers. Kristen also writes gritty biker books under the name Cassie Alexandra. She is also involved with raising money to help locate missing and exploited children, helping other authors succeed by sharing what she's learned in the self-publishing industry, and volunteering resources or her time whenever she can. "Besides having a passion for writing, I adore children, suspenseful movies, watching Shameless and The Walking Dead, traveling, Moscato wine, Chianti Grill, Savoy Pizza, and meeting new friends."
Kristen Middleton lives in Minnesota
Favorite Quote (Henry Ford)
"Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews
October 17, 2013
As many others have stated, I am a huge fan of dystopian and zombie novels. This book falls under neither of those. SOOOO much of it was just unbelievable. First of all, if zombies were to appear, I can guarantee you it wouldn't be because a vaccine took away people's souls. That is almost the worst scenario I have ever heard of regarding a zombie outbreak. If the author had said they multiply when you get them wet, I probably would have believed that more.
Second, when you are fighting for your life, your parents and sister are missing, and people you know are trying to EAT you, the last thing you are going to worry about is your manicure, joking around with your friends, and a hot guy. If your husband was killed right in front of you and you supposedly LOVED him, you are not going to be flippant or crack jokes about him being dead. The characters in this book must not be human.
Third, in a zombie apocalypse, people you know and love are going to DIE. It doesn't end with your father suddenly showing up after (for some reason) not being able to call you in almost two days and he is perfectly fine. It was a 'miracle' how none of the characters we got to know in this first 'book' were not killed at all and still had energy at the end of the day to argue over a girl, be jealous of another girl, hang all over men, act like sluts, and more!
In a nutshell, this book could have been better written by my daughter – who is in the 4th grade.
Second, when you are fighting for your life, your parents and sister are missing, and people you know are trying to EAT you, the last thing you are going to worry about is your manicure, joking around with your friends, and a hot guy. If your husband was killed right in front of you and you supposedly LOVED him, you are not going to be flippant or crack jokes about him being dead. The characters in this book must not be human.
Third, in a zombie apocalypse, people you know and love are going to DIE. It doesn't end with your father suddenly showing up after (for some reason) not being able to call you in almost two days and he is perfectly fine. It was a 'miracle' how none of the characters we got to know in this first 'book' were not killed at all and still had energy at the end of the day to argue over a girl, be jealous of another girl, hang all over men, act like sluts, and more!
In a nutshell, this book could have been better written by my daughter – who is in the 4th grade.
February 10, 2018
My rating 3.9
The book “Origins (Zombie Games # 1)” by Kristen Middleton is a solid book about zombies and I read relatively fast. The book is well written and the characters are well elaborated. The story begins with the flu that is sweeping the world and by a vaccine they get sick. Unfortunately, the effect of the vaccine is disastrous because people who get it become zombies. The story is about Cassie, her family and friends. She is a regular seventeen-year-old, has a younger sister, her father is a lover of firearms and an obsessive zombie game player, and the mother keeps the whole family together. Although Cassie is not aware that the whole world is about to fall apart, the school closes because of the flu, people are not in the streets, only her karate school work and there she meets Bryce De Deluca. The world soon begins to fall apart and the two of them will find themselves in the whirlwind of the life-saving struggle. The book would be recommended to fans of the apocalyptic genre with zombies.
The book “Origins (Zombie Games # 1)” by Kristen Middleton is a solid book about zombies and I read relatively fast. The book is well written and the characters are well elaborated. The story begins with the flu that is sweeping the world and by a vaccine they get sick. Unfortunately, the effect of the vaccine is disastrous because people who get it become zombies. The story is about Cassie, her family and friends. She is a regular seventeen-year-old, has a younger sister, her father is a lover of firearms and an obsessive zombie game player, and the mother keeps the whole family together. Although Cassie is not aware that the whole world is about to fall apart, the school closes because of the flu, people are not in the streets, only her karate school work and there she meets Bryce De Deluca. The world soon begins to fall apart and the two of them will find themselves in the whirlwind of the life-saving struggle. The book would be recommended to fans of the apocalyptic genre with zombies.
January 28, 2015
I would rate the spoilers (if you can call them that) in this review like a light sauce at a restaurant.
I just want to state that I almost gave this one a 2 star rating but I looked at the other books that I rated 2 stars and I just couldn't do it. Those books at least made a little bit of sense. This book on the other hand didn't to me. I have a bunch of topics for this review so let's get started.
First off, I will say that I enjoyed that the book didn't just start off with zombies. I mean it did but it didn't (you'll see what I mean if you read it or have read it). Anyways, it gave some time to get to know the characters and the relationships between them. It also left this suspenseful feel that made me curious as to when the zombies would arrive. So for the beginning of the book, I was pretty entertained.
But then I kept reading.
And we meet Bryce.
I could describe Bryce in one word and it would be douche. Especially when he first meets the main character Cassie. He offends her and pisses her off but I guess it was his "incredible blue eyes" or some crap that makes her pretend like he didn't when he half-ass apologizes for it. And this is where, you guessed it, the insta love takes place. But don't worry, Cassie denies it to everyone the entire book even though we get to read her inner monologue the entire time also (lucky us).
Even after this part I was pushing through, hoping the zombies would come in and shuffle things up a bit.
But then I kept reading.
And the opposite happened.
I just want to point out that everyone in this book is too calm and/or incapable of intelligent thoughts. But that's apparently okay because everything that happens is super duper convenient for them, even the problems.
Now, while the zombie apocalypse (or the attack or whatever the current zombie status is), a few things take place that I would just like to take a minute to talk about.
1. Cassie and Sara (I believe) decide to go outside to see who is screaming. Which I guess I can understand. But they leave two children inside unprotected sleeping. In two different areas of the house. Maybe it's just me but if you don't know what's going on outside, you probably shouldn't be leaving two defenseless kids alone in the house asleep.
2. Speaking of not knowing what's going on outside, how the hell did no one in this book know what was going on? Now I can understand one or two characters being clueless but every single person they ran into (except like two) had no idea of the zombies but yet there is loads of them. Yeah because that made sense.
3. Added to the 2nd point I made, it's okay if no one knows what's going on. Because apparently as soon as they see the zombies, the all become pro-zombie slayers. It's a miracle.
4. The characters either become too bland and mix together (which the fact that they repeat each others phrases a lot helps with that) or they become inconsistent with their personality traits. Which just means their is a bunch of characters piled together being confusing and irritating.
5. During this zombie situation there is no real sense of time at all. There is Cassie mentioning days passing but even that didn't feel real because there was no definite set of time frames or anything of that aspect.
6. Along with the 4th point, the characters still find a lot of time to flirt and giggle during the whole book somehow. I guess the hundreds of zombies weren't satisfying enough to take up their time.
7. I wasn't going to mention this one but I just decided to throw it in here. When the humans first start getting sick and at one point start eating on each other (which the characters didn't mind enough to worry), the first thing people thought was terrorists must be attacking. Just let that sink in.
Once I got to the end of the book, I was pretty much done with even thinking about it but there are a few questions I just can't figure out.
1. Now, I may be wrong but from my memory, they said that the people seem to make the change from human to zombie, the time it takes to do so is dependent on the body mass of the person. If that's so, how do some characters have time to go elsewhere to find help? Do they weigh a billion pounds? It just doesn't make sense.
2. The whole government thing. I didn't understand why they would do that and then just cut the electricity off or whatever. I just don't get it. Maybe it's explained later on in the series but I won't be continuing so best of luck to those who are.
Bottom line, I feel like I read a different book then all these people raving about it but that's just because everyone has different opinions. This book was free on my nook and I have a few others also by this author that I might still check out. But for right now, I'm taking a break from free ebooks.
I just want to state that I almost gave this one a 2 star rating but I looked at the other books that I rated 2 stars and I just couldn't do it. Those books at least made a little bit of sense. This book on the other hand didn't to me. I have a bunch of topics for this review so let's get started.
First off, I will say that I enjoyed that the book didn't just start off with zombies. I mean it did but it didn't (you'll see what I mean if you read it or have read it). Anyways, it gave some time to get to know the characters and the relationships between them. It also left this suspenseful feel that made me curious as to when the zombies would arrive. So for the beginning of the book, I was pretty entertained.
But then I kept reading.
And we meet Bryce.
I could describe Bryce in one word and it would be douche. Especially when he first meets the main character Cassie. He offends her and pisses her off but I guess it was his "incredible blue eyes" or some crap that makes her pretend like he didn't when he half-ass apologizes for it. And this is where, you guessed it, the insta love takes place. But don't worry, Cassie denies it to everyone the entire book even though we get to read her inner monologue the entire time also (lucky us).
Even after this part I was pushing through, hoping the zombies would come in and shuffle things up a bit.
But then I kept reading.
And the opposite happened.
I just want to point out that everyone in this book is too calm and/or incapable of intelligent thoughts. But that's apparently okay because everything that happens is super duper convenient for them, even the problems.
Now, while the zombie apocalypse (or the attack or whatever the current zombie status is), a few things take place that I would just like to take a minute to talk about.
1. Cassie and Sara (I believe) decide to go outside to see who is screaming. Which I guess I can understand. But they leave two children inside unprotected sleeping. In two different areas of the house. Maybe it's just me but if you don't know what's going on outside, you probably shouldn't be leaving two defenseless kids alone in the house asleep.
2. Speaking of not knowing what's going on outside, how the hell did no one in this book know what was going on? Now I can understand one or two characters being clueless but every single person they ran into (except like two) had no idea of the zombies but yet there is loads of them. Yeah because that made sense.
3. Added to the 2nd point I made, it's okay if no one knows what's going on. Because apparently as soon as they see the zombies, the all become pro-zombie slayers. It's a miracle.
4. The characters either become too bland and mix together (which the fact that they repeat each others phrases a lot helps with that) or they become inconsistent with their personality traits. Which just means their is a bunch of characters piled together being confusing and irritating.
5. During this zombie situation there is no real sense of time at all. There is Cassie mentioning days passing but even that didn't feel real because there was no definite set of time frames or anything of that aspect.
6. Along with the 4th point, the characters still find a lot of time to flirt and giggle during the whole book somehow. I guess the hundreds of zombies weren't satisfying enough to take up their time.
7. I wasn't going to mention this one but I just decided to throw it in here. When the humans first start getting sick and at one point start eating on each other (which the characters didn't mind enough to worry), the first thing people thought was terrorists must be attacking. Just let that sink in.
Once I got to the end of the book, I was pretty much done with even thinking about it but there are a few questions I just can't figure out.
1. Now, I may be wrong but from my memory, they said that the people seem to make the change from human to zombie, the time it takes to do so is dependent on the body mass of the person. If that's so, how do some characters have time to go elsewhere to find help? Do they weigh a billion pounds? It just doesn't make sense.
2. The whole government thing. I didn't understand why they would do that and then just cut the electricity off or whatever. I just don't get it. Maybe it's explained later on in the series but I won't be continuing so best of luck to those who are.
Bottom line, I feel like I read a different book then all these people raving about it but that's just because everyone has different opinions. This book was free on my nook and I have a few others also by this author that I might still check out. But for right now, I'm taking a break from free ebooks.
October 23, 2020
1.5 stars
A couple of deadlines made me pick this short book up (among others) that were available on Audible Escape. It promised zombies, action and a bit of romance and I was here for it. Unfortunately, I ended up not caring about anyone in this book so you know, it didn't really do anything for me ^^ It was like watching a TV show I don't like but it lasted longer. Now it's over and I'm probably not going to pick up book two. I don't think the writing was very good in this book and the dialogues with the love interest were a bit stiff and weird so the "romance" which was barely there didn't make up for the rest.
Now, let's move on to the next audiobook! :)
A couple of deadlines made me pick this short book up (among others) that were available on Audible Escape. It promised zombies, action and a bit of romance and I was here for it. Unfortunately, I ended up not caring about anyone in this book so you know, it didn't really do anything for me ^^ It was like watching a TV show I don't like but it lasted longer. Now it's over and I'm probably not going to pick up book two. I don't think the writing was very good in this book and the dialogues with the love interest were a bit stiff and weird so the "romance" which was barely there didn't make up for the rest.
Now, let's move on to the next audiobook! :)
November 27, 2014
While very simplistic literary, grammar, character, and plot wise, books one and two of this series were a fair read if you like zombie action with a lot of dry humor. However, it turns to utter crap by book 3-4.
Books one and two had a very weak, thin flu vaccine/ zombie outbreak plot. It didn't unfold very logically, and, yes, I do get that it's zombies... But I do expect some degree of logic as to how it comes about, how people react, and all the shit that follows.
The characters, and my God there were A LOT of characters, were just confusing and all seemed to have a similar childish, naive, snarky voice. Way, way too many characters to keep up with and way too many long, useless, fluff convos that didn't progress the story, plot, or characters.
Despite multiple cross country trips throughout the series, somehow these characters all seem to be able to keep up with each other or wind up by happenstance at the same place. Ah, again no logic here!
Some of the plot points in these books are so nonsensical that I'm almost ashamed of myself for trudging onward. Druggie thugs that take time during a zombie outbreak to commandeer a hotel and start porno zombie gladiator games for drug cartels via Skype ~ Ah, really, seriously? Other plot points, like a character's amnesia, just happen out of nowhere and then just as quickly resolve magically with no reasoning.
Romances came out of nowhere & progressed at ridiculous speeds. Book 4 took the cake... My God at the gawd awful proposal & sex scene.. Wtf! Nothing swoon worthy about any of it. Reminds me of when people call a wine cooler wine.
The only thing the series has going for it is the dry humor that is funny because it's so outta place that one can't help but lol.
I write this review talking about the series as a whole because It should be noted that this series starts out as a zombie outbreak &, by book 4, turns into something COMPLETELY different with a hard left to a religious, apocalyptic, demonic plot line.
Again, I liked the humor, but it certainly wasn't worth the horrid story, plot, and multitude of pointless characters that I had to endure for it.
Books one and two had a very weak, thin flu vaccine/ zombie outbreak plot. It didn't unfold very logically, and, yes, I do get that it's zombies... But I do expect some degree of logic as to how it comes about, how people react, and all the shit that follows.
The characters, and my God there were A LOT of characters, were just confusing and all seemed to have a similar childish, naive, snarky voice. Way, way too many characters to keep up with and way too many long, useless, fluff convos that didn't progress the story, plot, or characters.
Despite multiple cross country trips throughout the series, somehow these characters all seem to be able to keep up with each other or wind up by happenstance at the same place. Ah, again no logic here!
Some of the plot points in these books are so nonsensical that I'm almost ashamed of myself for trudging onward. Druggie thugs that take time during a zombie outbreak to commandeer a hotel and start porno zombie gladiator games for drug cartels via Skype ~ Ah, really, seriously? Other plot points, like a character's amnesia, just happen out of nowhere and then just as quickly resolve magically with no reasoning.
Romances came out of nowhere & progressed at ridiculous speeds. Book 4 took the cake... My God at the gawd awful proposal & sex scene.. Wtf! Nothing swoon worthy about any of it. Reminds me of when people call a wine cooler wine.
The only thing the series has going for it is the dry humor that is funny because it's so outta place that one can't help but lol.
I write this review talking about the series as a whole because It should be noted that this series starts out as a zombie outbreak &, by book 4, turns into something COMPLETELY different with a hard left to a religious, apocalyptic, demonic plot line.
Again, I liked the humor, but it certainly wasn't worth the horrid story, plot, and multitude of pointless characters that I had to endure for it.
April 27, 2013
-Por fin un “young adults” sobre el apocalipsis zombi, ya era hora, la espera se nos hacía eterna, las masas clamaban por ello...-
Género. Novela corta.
Lo que nos cuenta. Cassandra , de 17 años, estudia, ayuda en casa, es cinturón negro de artes marciales y siente algo por ese bribón tan atractivo que acaba de incorporarse a la clase de kárate, pero una molesta epidemia zombi va a trastocarle un poco la vida. Primer libro de la serie Zombie Games.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Novela corta.
Lo que nos cuenta. Cassandra , de 17 años, estudia, ayuda en casa, es cinturón negro de artes marciales y siente algo por ese bribón tan atractivo que acaba de incorporarse a la clase de kárate, pero una molesta epidemia zombi va a trastocarle un poco la vida. Primer libro de la serie Zombie Games.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
November 10, 2015
I chose this book to read for my A-Z challenge and I was pleasantly surprised by the story since this was a free download for Kindle on Amazon. I expected this to be some cheesy Zombie story but it really wasn't, I liked the story a lot and it flowed very well.
Synopsis
Seventeen year old Cassandra Wild thought living in the chaos of her mother’s home daycare and dealing with her developing feelings for Bryce, her new Martial Arts’ instructor, was a struggle, until the night her world turned upside down. When an untested vaccine kills more than just a rampant flu virus, Cassie learns how to survive in a world where the dead walk, and the living…run!
I really liked the plot of this story and I liked how well it flowed. I was thoroughly engaged with the story. It read very realistically and it quite believable considering it is about a Zombie apocalypse. I found lots of actions and I enjoyed this author's style of writing. I also think this story will develop well throughout the rest of the series and will be quite interesting.
I really liked our main character Cassie. She is one tough cookie and handles herself well in a crisis, however there is a bad case of 'insta-love' but I can overlook that as long as the plot of the story is. There are some great characters in this story, both to love and hate. I look forward to their development throughout the rest of the series.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes a solid zombie story. This is not over the top on blood and gore, as it is a YA so if you like less intense stories then this could work for you too. I look forward to more from his author and the rest of this series.
Synopsis
Seventeen year old Cassandra Wild thought living in the chaos of her mother’s home daycare and dealing with her developing feelings for Bryce, her new Martial Arts’ instructor, was a struggle, until the night her world turned upside down. When an untested vaccine kills more than just a rampant flu virus, Cassie learns how to survive in a world where the dead walk, and the living…run!
I really liked the plot of this story and I liked how well it flowed. I was thoroughly engaged with the story. It read very realistically and it quite believable considering it is about a Zombie apocalypse. I found lots of actions and I enjoyed this author's style of writing. I also think this story will develop well throughout the rest of the series and will be quite interesting.
I really liked our main character Cassie. She is one tough cookie and handles herself well in a crisis, however there is a bad case of 'insta-love' but I can overlook that as long as the plot of the story is. There are some great characters in this story, both to love and hate. I look forward to their development throughout the rest of the series.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes a solid zombie story. This is not over the top on blood and gore, as it is a YA so if you like less intense stories then this could work for you too. I look forward to more from his author and the rest of this series.
March 27, 2013
This book was terrible! It sounds like it was written by a third grader, or an adult who was trying WAY too hard to sound like a teenager!! I mean who the hell tells a ZOMBIE to "scat"? One minute the characters a trying to sound "tough" or "risque" with no swearing then the next they're dropping the "F" bomb? Make up your freaking mind!!! Either use them or don't, but don't try to be tough and basically being like "golly gee, your naughty!" Suffice it to say I hated this book! Oh yeah, and another thing that was incredibly ridiculous when news of the spreading virus is being reported as a flu-like bug and people in a hospital begin attacking and eating one another the teens turn off the t.v. and go on planning their slumber party as though patients eating each other is totally normal!! Also the author tried WAYYYYYYY too hard to be funny, but it was groan worthy stupid one liners, and way too heavy handed on the "he's so totally hot" stuff! The karate parts were a snooze too. As was the obvious, that the author is against vaccinations, and basically preaching that they're evil, thus the Zombie virus coming from it!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2015
From what I can tell from the positive reviews this books received, those readers are only interested in individual factors like zombies or attractive guys and lust. Things like how all the factors of the story work together, the quality of the writing and editing, or the believability of the story aren't a priority to them. Good for them. The profanity in the beginning was annoying and unnecessary and I almost stopped after the first two chapters. Later I decided to power through it. There is no depth to the plot or the characters, so you could even skim if you wanted to without missing anything. And oh look! A love triangle formed right there at the end. Awesome. I will not be reading on. Unfortunately, once you've read enough truly incredible storytelling, everything else just has that much more work to do to measure up.
January 5, 2015
I'm kind of embarrassed that I read this. I got it for free from Book Bub and was between books so I took a chance on it and and I can't say I was let down because I really wasn't expecting much.
First of all if you are going to e-publish, make sure you get a competent editor.
Second, the writing of this story is very juvenile.
And third, the whole premise of this book made me kind of mad. I love zombie stories and though most of the origins of zombies are wholly unbelievable, I think this one takes the cake. I can't help but think that the author of this book is an anti-vaxxer, since the way people become zombies is because they got an, untested, flu vaccine that gave them neurological damage and effectively "stole their souls" and turned them into the undead. I'm sorry but I'll take a radioactive comet over that one. All the people who refused to take the vaccine, because they wanted to live a more "natural life" with vitamins and herbal remedies, were rewarded by not turning into zombies. And somehow this vaccine got out administered to the public without being tested or approved by the FDA. Drugs that are known to work and have finished human trials are still held back before public release so that they can be tested for years to come "just to be safe", at least in America. There is no way that an untested, non-approved flu vaccine is getting anywhere near the public, even in the case of an extreme outbreak.
So other than that the only other problem I have with the story are the characters themselves. While sometimes it's fun to have characters who totally kick ass and are unrealistically awesome at killing zombies and saving the day. It is not enjoyable when that person is a 17 year old blank personality who gets upset about breaking her nails and is more concerned about a guy she is crushing on than the fact that her world just fell apart and there are creatures trying to eat her.
The one thing I will give this book is the idea that the zombies don't just want to eat humans but that they have an neverending need for protein so that they try to eat each other too if they are still fresh enough. And that they get more aggressive the more far along they get as zombies.
First of all if you are going to e-publish, make sure you get a competent editor.
Second, the writing of this story is very juvenile.
And third, the whole premise of this book made me kind of mad. I love zombie stories and though most of the origins of zombies are wholly unbelievable, I think this one takes the cake. I can't help but think that the author of this book is an anti-vaxxer, since the way people become zombies is because they got an, untested, flu vaccine that gave them neurological damage and effectively "stole their souls" and turned them into the undead. I'm sorry but I'll take a radioactive comet over that one. All the people who refused to take the vaccine, because they wanted to live a more "natural life" with vitamins and herbal remedies, were rewarded by not turning into zombies. And somehow this vaccine got out administered to the public without being tested or approved by the FDA. Drugs that are known to work and have finished human trials are still held back before public release so that they can be tested for years to come "just to be safe", at least in America. There is no way that an untested, non-approved flu vaccine is getting anywhere near the public, even in the case of an extreme outbreak.
So other than that the only other problem I have with the story are the characters themselves. While sometimes it's fun to have characters who totally kick ass and are unrealistically awesome at killing zombies and saving the day. It is not enjoyable when that person is a 17 year old blank personality who gets upset about breaking her nails and is more concerned about a guy she is crushing on than the fact that her world just fell apart and there are creatures trying to eat her.
The one thing I will give this book is the idea that the zombies don't just want to eat humans but that they have an neverending need for protein so that they try to eat each other too if they are still fresh enough. And that they get more aggressive the more far along they get as zombies.
January 7, 2015
I cant even start this review with anything more than, I am very relieved to not have spent money on this book. I bought it as a big bundle for about 40p(something like that) and so far the other books are fab.
This one however, I am unsure about what chapter I stopped reading, but it was after some hot boy (I gather from the amount of description devoted to him) saved her friend(s)? and mother? Question marks are needed because I got a little confused from boredom.
Now I gave this book a chance because Zombies are not my thing, vampires, angels, devils even fairies fine. Zombies are just a bad read when done wrong. Which she does. To me her writing is good, the storyline is just wimpy. I mean who gives a hoot about her nails, and how has she not developed symptoms even though she was bit? So stupid, its not even unrealistic because the plot is unrealistic considering it is about zombies and all. But her mum disappears which some man thats hurt, and isn't heard from. Her dad just shows up at the end (I skipped to see if anything happened) and her sister ran off.
So basically we have an unlikeable heroine (Cassie?) who is one dimentional dramatic teenager that cares about boys and her nails but is a karate expert at what 17? Suuure, because a 17 year old girl that is appartently very girly would want to do a karate class. And then theres the boy who annoys everyone readimg at first because hes a jerk.
I am just so disappointed in this book, and I've taken so long to write this review to show it. I urge you to not buy this book. GET IT FREEE. Really wish I could vote this lower. What a shame it seemed OK in the description.
Also it reeks of walking dead, which I don't love either. If you read the bio of the author from the book it says she loves that series. Wonder where the book idea sprang from...
This one however, I am unsure about what chapter I stopped reading, but it was after some hot boy (I gather from the amount of description devoted to him) saved her friend(s)? and mother? Question marks are needed because I got a little confused from boredom.
Now I gave this book a chance because Zombies are not my thing, vampires, angels, devils even fairies fine. Zombies are just a bad read when done wrong. Which she does. To me her writing is good, the storyline is just wimpy. I mean who gives a hoot about her nails, and how has she not developed symptoms even though she was bit? So stupid, its not even unrealistic because the plot is unrealistic considering it is about zombies and all. But her mum disappears which some man thats hurt, and isn't heard from. Her dad just shows up at the end (I skipped to see if anything happened) and her sister ran off.
So basically we have an unlikeable heroine (Cassie?) who is one dimentional dramatic teenager that cares about boys and her nails but is a karate expert at what 17? Suuure, because a 17 year old girl that is appartently very girly would want to do a karate class. And then theres the boy who annoys everyone readimg at first because hes a jerk.
I am just so disappointed in this book, and I've taken so long to write this review to show it. I urge you to not buy this book. GET IT FREEE. Really wish I could vote this lower. What a shame it seemed OK in the description.
Also it reeks of walking dead, which I don't love either. If you read the bio of the author from the book it says she loves that series. Wonder where the book idea sprang from...
March 5, 2014
Okay, there was a lot of talk about how bad this book was and i got to say every one if full of bulls***!!!! This book was so cool and totally full of dead zombies, hot guys, and butt kicking main characters. I am so glad it was free on the kindle. Plus i am a major zombie fanatic!!!!! I love everything and anything about zombies, but i don't believe all the stuff about the apocalypse. But seriously yesterday i was outside after school waiting to be picked up and lots of people were sniffling, plus, some were absent. It was a freaking scary coincidence and my lil sister is sick. My mom told me i looked paranoid on my way to her car. She even asked if i had been smoking something the bathroom with my friends. Like seriously, mom!!!!! Like i would ever do something like that or any of my friends. Anyways, then later on at home i was reading and i finally reach the part where the zombies are coming and my brother decides to freak me out by putting on a police siren and i nearly jumped out of my skin. What the Hell???? That was evil. >:l And so not cool. I finished it last night and thought i would never go to bed. But TOTALLY loved the book!!!!!!! So would read it agian. :) =) ;P
November 10, 2018
This was a quick, intense, fun read...but there were moments it was a little too “fun”. One of the characters was nearly killed by her husband, and she made jokes about it constantly and barely batted an eye that he was now dead in their garage. The dead is coming back to life? Ah, just make a witty one liner as you bash the brains out of your newly dead neighbor. It was just hard to feel anything for some of the characters.
Aside from the immaturity of some of the characters, the story was actually intense and addictive. I loved how it all started and how the virus spread. It really makes you think twice about flu shots for sure. But I am still on the fence if I want to continue on with the series. I guess we will just have to see.
4 Stars.
Aside from the immaturity of some of the characters, the story was actually intense and addictive. I loved how it all started and how the virus spread. It really makes you think twice about flu shots for sure. But I am still on the fence if I want to continue on with the series. I guess we will just have to see.
4 Stars.
July 7, 2016
DNF, CNF, WNF
I gave it four chapters bit I'm pretty sure it died in the arse around 3 sentences in. The word zombies is in the title of the series, yet it starts with a dream beginning with an argument about taking out the trash and the leads in to a mysterious virus that is wiping out Europe. Cue interesting plot here? No! Run like heck from the convoluted cliche that is chasing you!
I gave it four chapters bit I'm pretty sure it died in the arse around 3 sentences in. The word zombies is in the title of the series, yet it starts with a dream beginning with an argument about taking out the trash and the leads in to a mysterious virus that is wiping out Europe. Cue interesting plot here? No! Run like heck from the convoluted cliche that is chasing you!
October 9, 2017
So this is a typical zombie book. Only, I did enjoy this one. I think I like it more because it's not a "zombies just appeared out of nowhere and no one knows how it started" kind of book. It tells how it started and what caused it along with the usual fight for survival story while trying to find all of your loved ones. I would recommend this to zombie lovers and paranormal romance fans.
May 30, 2015
3.5 Don't get the flu shot
This was a good read for being free and read very quickly. The action was non-stop but I did find myself cringing a few times with some editing issues.
This was a good read for being free and read very quickly. The action was non-stop but I did find myself cringing a few times with some editing issues.
March 24, 2020
Too close to home right now
January 12, 2013
lucky me i got this book for free on my kindle!! lets see if its any good.
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just finished this book and i actually really enjoyed it, one of the best zombies books i'v read yet.
some of the main characters where a bit silly and immature but thats to be expected with their age so i didnt mind, the family seem'd a bit exaggerated but than i'v never had such a happy and well put to gether family like that so maybe its just me? lol.
love'd the adult's, they where all very kind and caring, looking out for the younger ones, though the lack on care for the very younger ones seem'd very odd to me, but who the hell knows how you would react in this kind of situation? plus they also had other things on their mind.
Cassie and her Bestie Paige were pretty awesome and cute, have to say im a big fan of paige and her stomping abilities :D
cassie is an idiot for liking Bryce, the dude its a tool, hopefully she'll get past his looks sooner or later. Austin on the other hand seem's like a great guy and asset.
im really hoping the sensi will pop up in the next book, he's awesome and will put Bryce in his place.
im dieing to get my hands on the next book!! *hehe* ;)
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just finished this book and i actually really enjoyed it, one of the best zombies books i'v read yet.
some of the main characters where a bit silly and immature but thats to be expected with their age so i didnt mind, the family seem'd a bit exaggerated but than i'v never had such a happy and well put to gether family like that so maybe its just me? lol.
love'd the adult's, they where all very kind and caring, looking out for the younger ones, though the lack on care for the very younger ones seem'd very odd to me, but who the hell knows how you would react in this kind of situation? plus they also had other things on their mind.
Cassie and her Bestie Paige were pretty awesome and cute, have to say im a big fan of paige and her stomping abilities :D
cassie is an idiot for liking Bryce, the dude its a tool, hopefully she'll get past his looks sooner or later. Austin on the other hand seem's like a great guy and asset.
im really hoping the sensi will pop up in the next book, he's awesome and will put Bryce in his place.
im dieing to get my hands on the next book!! *hehe* ;)
August 16, 2013
I picked this up because it was free on the NOOK and I am glad I did. I read this in a couple of days at work between phone calls and working on computers. It is well written and the characters are easily defined, and I mean that in a good way. You felt like you knew the characters almost from the start.
I was a little worried about this book because it looked to be one of those teenie books like Twilight or in that ilk. While I love Jonathan Maberry's teen zombie series I am not quite ready to dive into that genre completely. However I really enjoyed this.
I didn't give it 5 stars because the start of the book seemed to be slightly drawn out. The zombies don't appear until about half way through, excellent character development but drawn out a bit in my opinion and then other parts seem rushed like parts of Sara's story (trying to avoid spoilers).
For 2.99 I am going to pick up the second book for sure!
I was a little worried about this book because it looked to be one of those teenie books like Twilight or in that ilk. While I love Jonathan Maberry's teen zombie series I am not quite ready to dive into that genre completely. However I really enjoyed this.
I didn't give it 5 stars because the start of the book seemed to be slightly drawn out. The zombies don't appear until about half way through, excellent character development but drawn out a bit in my opinion and then other parts seem rushed like parts of Sara's story (trying to avoid spoilers).
For 2.99 I am going to pick up the second book for sure!
March 31, 2014
The characters spent way too much time flirting, especially considering they just lost their loved ones and the world has gone to hell. The characters also lacked definition. I finished it ten minutes ago, and can't remember most of their names. However, it was free and it was just engaging enough that I didn't quit reading until the sudden ending. I would give it two stars for that if not for the completely ridiculous anti-vaccine message the author was pushing. The cause of the disease being a vaccine was utter crap. Every time a character said they didn't believe in vaccines, I imagined Neil DeGrasse Tyson saying, " The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.”
January 28, 2014
The book is about this seventeen year old girl. Going throughtout a war of zombies. Her family and her get split apart and tring to find her family will be hard. On the way she finds some friends to help her find her family. Read the book so find out what happens.
This book really got my attention could to stop reading at all. My brothers tried reading it but couldn't, they don't like horror as I do. The aurther who is Kristen Middleton wrote the book well it's good and all I think it just needed a little more horror. But he did a great job on writing it.
This book really got my attention could to stop reading at all. My brothers tried reading it but couldn't, they don't like horror as I do. The aurther who is Kristen Middleton wrote the book well it's good and all I think it just needed a little more horror. But he did a great job on writing it.
August 20, 2012
This was a GoodReads First Reads book giveaway. I actually enjoyed this book. It is fast paced and full of action. The charactcers are believable despite the Zoombie population. This is why we have fiction. Readers will love the theme of this book and they will want to read a sequel to find out how this story ends. In my opinon this book is well written and entertaining. I would like to know how Bryce and Cassie end up when this is all over.
March 2, 2013
I suppose I was expecting something for more older audiences. Origins felt like it was written by a pre-teen for pre-teens. The action sequences lacked detail and were extremely short-lived, leaving me feeling as though the author added them only to remind you that there are zombies invading the town...but it's not all that scary because they can be dispatched within a moment's time.
September 6, 2020
Pembacaan yang sangat cepat.. Bermula dengan mereka yang diserang virus selsema, kemudiannya diberijan vaksin yang tak diuji sepenuhnya dan akhirnya menjadi zombie.. Cassie tak sangka dalam 1 malam semuanya berubah.. Nice..
April 5, 2017
Free book! Good zombie apocalypse story!
July 10, 2018
3.75 stars
This was a fun audio book. Loved the zombies, but the anti-vax message was annoying. Be warned that this ends on a complete cliffhanger
This was a fun audio book. Loved the zombies, but the anti-vax message was annoying. Be warned that this ends on a complete cliffhanger
February 19, 2018
I'll start the review by noting I'm a middle-aged dude and thus clearly not the target audience for a book like this. My opinions are probably not as important as the teenage female ones Kristen Middleton is targeting, so feel free to take my remarks with as many grains of salt as you feel necessary.
There's a formula for teen fiction these days in that no matter what else is going on, the female lead is going to get caught up in a love triangle between two equally hot guys: one the hot-headed, rambunctious bad boy, and the other the more even-keel but no less intense nice guy. It's the single most cliche trope you can roll with. It's a cheap, convenient way to inject tension into a narrative, and it's nothing romance novels haven't been using for years, but at this point the 'two guys, one girl' thing is more played out than a week-long game of Monopoly.
That's not to say you can't make it work, but you have to know going in that Stephanie Meyer and Suzanne Collins are the heavies who beat you to the punch, and unless you want your book to be thought of as "Twilight, only with ______", or "Hunger Games, but instead they fight _______", then you need to offer more. Or you could just be Origins, book 1 of the "Zombie Games" series, and revel in the path most traveled.
This is actually my biggest complaint with the book, because without this lodestone around its neck, I could score this one probably in the 3.5-star range. Middleton's dialogue is great barring a few groaners (the last line of the book comes readily to mind here), and while I can see some other reviewers' point about the seeming anti-vax mentality of the narrative, I don't know the author well enough to know whether she's injecting a personal anti-science bias into the narrative, or just picked that as a vector for transmission because it was less common than 'came down on a meteor or something'. We are talking about a fictional narrative here, and I'm always willing to give props to an author for taking a different direction.
I liked Cassie as a character when first introduced, and while other people have knocked points off for her behaving and thinking like a teenage girl even in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, I will point out that a teenager's mind is nearly always focused on themselves first and everything else second. They're at a stage of development where that's just the way things are, zombie apocalypse or not. The less-believable scenario here, believe it or not, is her not complaining about a broken nail after her very first professional manicure. It's all of two lines in the story--you really can just let that one go.
What I didn't care for was her budding and entirely too quick 'romance' with Bryce. It wouldn't be so bad if he was seventeen himself, but he's twenty and she's seventeen, yet the dude is joking about sleeping in her bed to keep her company during the night, and the adult male in me is going, "Statutory rape is a thing, even if there's a zombie uprising happening." I get that she's young and attractive, but Bryce is the hot-headed bad boy of the story, and as such I only see him as an asshole. Might be hot, might be good at killing zombies, but he's going to play the field and Cassie for all her abilities isn't going to be able to reign him in. Leave Bryce for Eva--they're perfect for one another. :)
Honestly, I was 3 stars all the way with this one right up until the surprise ending reveal and that groaner of a last line. The re-emergence of someone Cassie's been unable to contact throughout the whole story, and that character's extremely flippant and nonchalant take on what's happening, to say nothing of what they're about to attempt, is simply awful and there's no excuse. From a writer's perspective, I can see the appeal of having another badass suddenly show up who's so prepared for the end of the world he's ready to swallow sawdust and shit out a cabinet, but as a reader this could not have fallen flatter and really deadened my desire to pick up and start book two.
Not saying I never will, because I've got the five-book set on my eReader, but I just hope the ending for Book 2 is better. Middleton could pull this one off yet, and I'm not prepared to write her off over a single story.
There's a formula for teen fiction these days in that no matter what else is going on, the female lead is going to get caught up in a love triangle between two equally hot guys: one the hot-headed, rambunctious bad boy, and the other the more even-keel but no less intense nice guy. It's the single most cliche trope you can roll with. It's a cheap, convenient way to inject tension into a narrative, and it's nothing romance novels haven't been using for years, but at this point the 'two guys, one girl' thing is more played out than a week-long game of Monopoly.
That's not to say you can't make it work, but you have to know going in that Stephanie Meyer and Suzanne Collins are the heavies who beat you to the punch, and unless you want your book to be thought of as "Twilight, only with ______", or "Hunger Games, but instead they fight _______", then you need to offer more. Or you could just be Origins, book 1 of the "Zombie Games" series, and revel in the path most traveled.
This is actually my biggest complaint with the book, because without this lodestone around its neck, I could score this one probably in the 3.5-star range. Middleton's dialogue is great barring a few groaners (the last line of the book comes readily to mind here), and while I can see some other reviewers' point about the seeming anti-vax mentality of the narrative, I don't know the author well enough to know whether she's injecting a personal anti-science bias into the narrative, or just picked that as a vector for transmission because it was less common than 'came down on a meteor or something'. We are talking about a fictional narrative here, and I'm always willing to give props to an author for taking a different direction.
I liked Cassie as a character when first introduced, and while other people have knocked points off for her behaving and thinking like a teenage girl even in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, I will point out that a teenager's mind is nearly always focused on themselves first and everything else second. They're at a stage of development where that's just the way things are, zombie apocalypse or not. The less-believable scenario here, believe it or not, is her not complaining about a broken nail after her very first professional manicure. It's all of two lines in the story--you really can just let that one go.
What I didn't care for was her budding and entirely too quick 'romance' with Bryce. It wouldn't be so bad if he was seventeen himself, but he's twenty and she's seventeen, yet the dude is joking about sleeping in her bed to keep her company during the night, and the adult male in me is going, "Statutory rape is a thing, even if there's a zombie uprising happening." I get that she's young and attractive, but Bryce is the hot-headed bad boy of the story, and as such I only see him as an asshole. Might be hot, might be good at killing zombies, but he's going to play the field and Cassie for all her abilities isn't going to be able to reign him in. Leave Bryce for Eva--they're perfect for one another. :)
Honestly, I was 3 stars all the way with this one right up until the surprise ending reveal and that groaner of a last line. The re-emergence of someone Cassie's been unable to contact throughout the whole story, and that character's extremely flippant and nonchalant take on what's happening, to say nothing of what they're about to attempt, is simply awful and there's no excuse. From a writer's perspective, I can see the appeal of having another badass suddenly show up who's so prepared for the end of the world he's ready to swallow sawdust and shit out a cabinet, but as a reader this could not have fallen flatter and really deadened my desire to pick up and start book two.
Not saying I never will, because I've got the five-book set on my eReader, but I just hope the ending for Book 2 is better. Middleton could pull this one off yet, and I'm not prepared to write her off over a single story.
November 26, 2019
I usually don't like zombie books where the main character uses mostly martial arts. I much prefer guns and bladed or blunt weapons. But this book really stood head and shoulders above the other kindle books that you find in the zombie genre First of all, it is SO refreshing to see a woman as a main character who is strong, driven, independent, and doesn't need to be constantly rescued by a big strong man, but instead can save herself from danger.
***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS***
Okay so the story goes that practically everyone in the world has a bad strain of the flu and the government is responding by rushing a vaccine into the public and having everyone take it. This is supposed to cure everyone of the flu, but instead it turns them all into flesh eating zombies. Cassie (our main character) and her family are all health nuts so they don't take the flu vaccine and it ends up saving their lives!
Cassie is a black belt in karate and she has a guest instructor named Bryce. Bryce is someone who Cassie thinks is really hot and she ends up fighting him in sparring practice. He tried to take it easy on her but she insists that he give her all he has so she can get a decent work out and also show him that she isn't just a weak little girl to be handled delicately.
So then the zombies rise and Cassie's family is scattered all around the city and she wants to find them and bring them home safely. Thankfully her father is a gun guy who has a big collection of guns in his gun safe that is in his "Man Cave," that she has the keys to. She goes out looking for her father, mother and her little sister. While out looking, she finds out that the people who her little sister was staying with were attacked. Cassie manages to rescue the girl and her mother, but her own sister is missing. Later she finds the queen bee of her own school and her little Chihuahua and takes them to safety and she rescues another little dog too.
Her crush Bryce shows up around this time and upon arriving back home to Cassie's house they find out that Cassie's dad made it home safely. Her dad goes to the basement to his "Man Cave," and comes back with two assault rifles. Funny how Cassie didn't see those when she was in the gun safe earlier. Then again I guess he could have scrounged them up from the dead soldiers that were in the city when he was on his way home. I guess I can't really nitpick on that too much. Another thing that doesn't make sense to me is that in chapter three Cassie goes to a burger joint to get some lunch and the employee there sneezes on the wrapper as they're handing the burger to Cassie. Sure it wasn't the burger itself, but the wrapper that was surrounding the burger, but still if that happened to me I'd ask for another burger to replace the one the employee sneezed on.
***END SPOILERS*** ***END SPOILERS*** ***END SPOILERS***
But other than those two things there's really nothing wrong with this book and it's really great! The characters are realistic and interesting. The story is great and the plot keeps your interest so you want to know what happens next. I eagerly look forward to the next book in the series!
***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS***
Okay so the story goes that practically everyone in the world has a bad strain of the flu and the government is responding by rushing a vaccine into the public and having everyone take it. This is supposed to cure everyone of the flu, but instead it turns them all into flesh eating zombies. Cassie (our main character) and her family are all health nuts so they don't take the flu vaccine and it ends up saving their lives!
Cassie is a black belt in karate and she has a guest instructor named Bryce. Bryce is someone who Cassie thinks is really hot and she ends up fighting him in sparring practice. He tried to take it easy on her but she insists that he give her all he has so she can get a decent work out and also show him that she isn't just a weak little girl to be handled delicately.
So then the zombies rise and Cassie's family is scattered all around the city and she wants to find them and bring them home safely. Thankfully her father is a gun guy who has a big collection of guns in his gun safe that is in his "Man Cave," that she has the keys to. She goes out looking for her father, mother and her little sister. While out looking, she finds out that the people who her little sister was staying with were attacked. Cassie manages to rescue the girl and her mother, but her own sister is missing. Later she finds the queen bee of her own school and her little Chihuahua and takes them to safety and she rescues another little dog too.
Her crush Bryce shows up around this time and upon arriving back home to Cassie's house they find out that Cassie's dad made it home safely. Her dad goes to the basement to his "Man Cave," and comes back with two assault rifles. Funny how Cassie didn't see those when she was in the gun safe earlier. Then again I guess he could have scrounged them up from the dead soldiers that were in the city when he was on his way home. I guess I can't really nitpick on that too much. Another thing that doesn't make sense to me is that in chapter three Cassie goes to a burger joint to get some lunch and the employee there sneezes on the wrapper as they're handing the burger to Cassie. Sure it wasn't the burger itself, but the wrapper that was surrounding the burger, but still if that happened to me I'd ask for another burger to replace the one the employee sneezed on.
***END SPOILERS*** ***END SPOILERS*** ***END SPOILERS***
But other than those two things there's really nothing wrong with this book and it's really great! The characters are realistic and interesting. The story is great and the plot keeps your interest so you want to know what happens next. I eagerly look forward to the next book in the series!
April 8, 2020
Well I started this ... and finished it in a day. It's not that it was wonderful by any means, I just had time to listen and this was really short. Didn't feel like a book, but more of a prelude. I guess it does say "origins" in the title. It didn't wrap up like a book either, it just ended. I like a book, even one that is a series, to feel like a BOOK, with a conclusion and story, not just introduction of the characters and situation.
This was sure setting up our MC to be a heroine. She is taking karate, she knows how to handle a gun ... that's going to come in handy during a Zombie apocalypse. There are a LOT of people against vaccines in this book (like ALL the main characters), which turns out to be a good thing, since the vaccine is apparently the problem, turning people into zombies.
This WAS interesting from the point of view of the pandemic. Even though it was worldwide, they never used the word pandemic, but used epidemic... which is for ONE location. We are currently in a pandemic as I read (listened ... included in Audible Escape) this. It was interesting to note how the sickness started, yet it hadn't gotten to where we are today (March/April2020). Schools were still in, just starting to shutdown. No mention of panic purchases at stores, just a little bit of comment about people staying in, not going out (although perhaps not a "stay home stay safe" declaration from the governor like now)... Cassie was still going to school, got her nails done, went to karate (although there weren't a lot of people there).
I guess I'm glad this Covid-19 isn't turning people into Zombies at least.
Quite the premonition dream our MC has at the start ... in the kindle copy it's in italics, letting the reader know there is something different about the text. Harder to come across in audio. The narrator was just okay. Fairly bland. A few of the voices (the younger kids especially) had some life and characterization, but everyone else, and the basic narration in-between was really bland.
These kids miraculously make it through, reunited (somewhat) and ... let's go (onto the sequel). Just unsatisfying. I realize the author wants to force us to continue, leaving a cliffhanger, but I just don't really care to continue, even if the sequels were included in AudibleEscape (they aren't ... I'm definitely not spending credits. The text is included in Kindle Unlimited).
This was sure setting up our MC to be a heroine. She is taking karate, she knows how to handle a gun ... that's going to come in handy during a Zombie apocalypse. There are a LOT of people against vaccines in this book (like ALL the main characters), which turns out to be a good thing, since the vaccine is apparently the problem, turning people into zombies.
This WAS interesting from the point of view of the pandemic. Even though it was worldwide, they never used the word pandemic, but used epidemic... which is for ONE location. We are currently in a pandemic as I read (listened ... included in Audible Escape) this. It was interesting to note how the sickness started, yet it hadn't gotten to where we are today (March/April2020). Schools were still in, just starting to shutdown. No mention of panic purchases at stores, just a little bit of comment about people staying in, not going out (although perhaps not a "stay home stay safe" declaration from the governor like now)... Cassie was still going to school, got her nails done, went to karate (although there weren't a lot of people there).
I guess I'm glad this Covid-19 isn't turning people into Zombies at least.
Quite the premonition dream our MC has at the start ... in the kindle copy it's in italics, letting the reader know there is something different about the text. Harder to come across in audio. The narrator was just okay. Fairly bland. A few of the voices (the younger kids especially) had some life and characterization, but everyone else, and the basic narration in-between was really bland.
These kids miraculously make it through, reunited (somewhat) and ... let's go (onto the sequel). Just unsatisfying. I realize the author wants to force us to continue, leaving a cliffhanger, but I just don't really care to continue, even if the sequels were included in AudibleEscape (they aren't ... I'm definitely not spending credits. The text is included in Kindle Unlimited).
August 17, 2013
Let me just say I don't read a ton of 'zombie' novels, and I don't naturally gravitate towards them. I don't shy away from them but I don't actively seek them out.
But I really, REALLY enjoyed this book. A LOT.
Unlike most zombie stories, this starts out before the invasion actually occurs, so you actually read about the first days before and during the invasion. You begin with a flu epidemic, and lots of people getting sick.
I laughed at the fact that the reason for humanity turning undead is because of a flu-shot gone bad that lots of people get and are getting to ward off this flu. It was like the author was channeling me because I've ranted about the flu shot being a scam for years. But that's neither here nor there, I just thought it was funny.
I thought the characters were well developed and the plot was strong. The good thing about starting the story before the invasion happens is you get to meet the characters and learn about them before survival mode kicks in.
OF course the main character, Cassie just HAPPENS to be an avid martial artist and her dad just HAPPENS to own an arsenal of guns....of course. Convenient. But it's probable and common enough, I'm sure. But the character is strong and there's a bit of humor thrown in. I laughed out loud during many scenes.
Lots of twists and turns, lots of great characters....I really enjoyed it. I'm just about done with Zombie Games 2 (Running Wild) and am enjoying that one too.
My only beef? As is Ms. Middleton's "Blur" series these books are quite short. TOO short. The first one is maybe 120 pages. But it's free so....definitely work checking out, whether you enjoy zombie novels or not. :)
But I really, REALLY enjoyed this book. A LOT.
Unlike most zombie stories, this starts out before the invasion actually occurs, so you actually read about the first days before and during the invasion. You begin with a flu epidemic, and lots of people getting sick.
I laughed at the fact that the reason for humanity turning undead is because of a flu-shot gone bad that lots of people get and are getting to ward off this flu. It was like the author was channeling me because I've ranted about the flu shot being a scam for years. But that's neither here nor there, I just thought it was funny.
I thought the characters were well developed and the plot was strong. The good thing about starting the story before the invasion happens is you get to meet the characters and learn about them before survival mode kicks in.
OF course the main character, Cassie just HAPPENS to be an avid martial artist and her dad just HAPPENS to own an arsenal of guns....of course. Convenient. But it's probable and common enough, I'm sure. But the character is strong and there's a bit of humor thrown in. I laughed out loud during many scenes.
Lots of twists and turns, lots of great characters....I really enjoyed it. I'm just about done with Zombie Games 2 (Running Wild) and am enjoying that one too.
My only beef? As is Ms. Middleton's "Blur" series these books are quite short. TOO short. The first one is maybe 120 pages. But it's free so....definitely work checking out, whether you enjoy zombie novels or not. :)
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