Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

The Gathering Dead #3

The Rising Horde: Volume Two

Rate this book
The War Between the Dead and the Living Has Begun. Now in command of Joint Task Force SPARTA, Lt. Colonel Cord McDaniels and his desperate special forces team struggle to defend the fortified Texas laboratory as it's besieged by an army of stenches that will not stop. Now numbering in the millions, the spookily intelligent zombie horde moves with terrifying purpose, intent upon destroying production of the anti-necromorph vaccine that could save humanity -- and consuming everyone who's still living! The dead shall inherit the earth!

298 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 12, 2012

25 people are currently reading
203 people want to read

About the author

Stephen Knight

37 books75 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
223 (40%)
4 stars
202 (37%)
3 stars
103 (18%)
2 stars
14 (2%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Profile Image for Saturnfx.
4 reviews
October 21, 2012
Seriously one of the best z-apoc book series (Military V Zombies) I have read.
I am nervous that there won't be more. I have read a number of zombie and infected book series out there, and unfortunately I started my zombie venture with this set first..since then, every other one has been compared (unintentionally) in my mind and simply wasn't measuring up.

The characters were very well developed. Not a military lover personally, but this set made me fascinated with how things were quite plausably being worked out by the military.



Profile Image for Tony.
97 reviews
June 14, 2012
The Gathering Dead, Left With the Dead, The Rising Horde Volumes 1 & 2. I love these books. Tons of action, great military perspective. I hope there will be more from Lt.Col.McDaniels and Sarmajor Gartrell.
128 reviews9 followers
March 26, 2022
I really enjoyed this book, and I actually just finished reading. I finished it in a day because I really was interested in the outcome. My problem was 'suspension of disbelief." Yes, there are zombies. That alone requires a bit of 'suspension,' but accepting the existence of zombies is a given. The lab work and vaccine branch of the story was problematic for me. I just can't see any reason for using SPARTA. The researchers needed equipment and supplies from that company, not to mention the staff. I completely understand that. However, I do not believe the US military/government would make such a stupid decision.

There are several underground research facilities across the country. Even if they didn't go underground, they could have relocated to a sparsely populated area or moved to the west coast to buy time before the Zeds caught up. Everything at the SPARTA location, including staff and their families, could have been moved to a safe place. The people responsible for a desperately needed vaccine would not be left in such an exposed position. It doesn't make any sense. I had some difficulty with the ability to produce hundreds of thousands of vaccines so quickly too, but I could get past that. .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
13 reviews
September 22, 2024
slightly stale, but still interesting

Well, it’s the same old story, the army killing hundreds of thousands of zombies and fleeing from them when they run out of the means to resist them. The author is a good writer, but the story is predictable and not terribly exciting. Another hand, it’s good to occupy a rainy day afternoon.
68 reviews1 follower
December 16, 2014
Most of my thoughts were in the review for the prior book since I read that and this back-to--back before writing this review. I was generally happy I read these books. They were entertaining and I liked seeing what Mr. Knight came up with next. He has a good ability to write horribly complicated action scenes clearly, or at least more easily followed than I expected to read.

I have one major language criticism. To Mr. Knight and his editors, the word decimate, "You Keep Using That Word, I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means." It was used SO many times as an incorrect word. I know popular use goes beyond the dictionary definition but there are so many other good words for total destruction that are more correct.

And a minor language beef. "Tipping point" was an overused phrase. There may be others but I noticed that one. This is the sort of thing that should be caught in editing.

Don't think I'm down on this series. I'm going to read his other works because I did enjoy reading these. And I'm a sucker for zombies, shooting, and coffee.
Profile Image for Jessica Kong.
Author 4 books120 followers
April 13, 2014
Another solid story

The Rising Horde, vol. 2 is a sequel that met its promise to deliver action, drama, and excitement. In fact, the entire series lives up to zombie lovers’ expectations. So why the four stars? Stephen Knight does a great job of making me care for the characters then he kills them. THAT made me extremely angry.  If my characters had lived, I would have given this book 5+++. A definite must read!
Profile Image for Mercelenid Odiott-oquendo.
6 reviews
December 2, 2012
This series was amazing. I could not put it down. It pulls you in from the beginning and does not let you go. Armed Forces and Zombies....yes please!! I really hope they make the books into a movie or maybe a series like The Walking Dead. The ending......well I don't want to spoil it, but I don't know whether to cry or be mad. I really hope this is not the last one. Highly recommend it!!!!
Profile Image for Rachael Ashak-Benson.
358 reviews20 followers
October 21, 2016
FAN-TAS-TIC!!!

One of the great reads in the genre. Head and shoulders above 99% of the other writers out there. A series I wish was longer. The military action is superb!! The character development is fantastic and rich. Just a great overall read. The ending killed me though! Urgh!!
Profile Image for Kathy.
29 reviews11 followers
June 22, 2012
This book was really great, until the end. I was NOT a happy camper with the very end of the book. 'nuff said
Profile Image for Wade Newman.
79 reviews1 follower
November 6, 2012


Excellent book series! A good, fast paced, action pack zombie story. Great use of military assets an organizations.
Profile Image for Jason Nelson.
7 reviews23 followers
December 27, 2013
Better than it's predecessor. It read like single act and was impossible to put down. This book and its predecessor would make excellent movie material. Great military/undead action read.
Profile Image for Rosann.
302 reviews
May 30, 2013
such a really good book,, kept up the pace from part one to this series. Such a sad ending though.. I really felt so sad for him and wished it had not happened at all.
Profile Image for Colin Playford.
57 reviews
August 27, 2015
Much better than the New York based one. A very good build up & once the action hot's up it's fast paced.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.