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Arcadium #1
Arcadium
What is Arcadium? Florence knows but she’s not telling anyone, and it could just be the key to the survival of the human race.
Sixteen-year-old Florence West must journey across a disease ravaged Melbourne with her nine-year-old sister Liss, and she’ll do anything to survive. Mostly that means staying clear of all people, the healthy ones on the run and the infected ones hungry for human flesh. But when she meets a man that speaks no English and a defiant set of brothers, Florence will be forced to question her ways. Because there’s only so far you can go alone, right?
Arcadium is a heart-stopping journey of hope across a ravaged urban land where survival always comes at a heavy price.
Sixteen-year-old Florence West must journey across a disease ravaged Melbourne with her nine-year-old sister Liss, and she’ll do anything to survive. Mostly that means staying clear of all people, the healthy ones on the run and the infected ones hungry for human flesh. But when she meets a man that speaks no English and a defiant set of brothers, Florence will be forced to question her ways. Because there’s only so far you can go alone, right?
Arcadium is a heart-stopping journey of hope across a ravaged urban land where survival always comes at a heavy price.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2012
43 people are currently reading
874 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Gray
3 books50 followersBorn and raised in New Zealand, Sarah Gray spent her teenage years in Australia, where she raced go-karts, studied graphic design and then sports management, before deciding that all along she’d just wanted to be a novelist. After studying professional writing and editing in Melbourne, Sarah ended up in England where she now resides in the ever rainy Lake District working as an outdoor activity instructor and writing in her spare moments.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
April 22, 2015
First of all, let me begin by saying I never thought I would read a book about "zombies." I mean, I guess I have, through some fantasy books. But this is different, somehow, maybe because it leans more toward sci-fi. Anyway, because it was in the apocalyptic genre (that being one of my favourites at present), I took a trepidatious dive into it.
This book... wow, what can I say? Gray has done an amazing job of sucking you into the world from page one. The characters are lovable and deep, and most importantly, very relatable. There are many scary, happy and funny moments, not to mention action packed scenes. And there is enough mystery to keep you guessing.
On a pretty personal note, what I also loved, is that it was set in my hometown. Places I grew up in around and knew like the back of my hand. Made it kind of more exciting, to me.
My only tiny complaint... well, no, it's not even that... just a hopeful plea. I'd love a sequel. It is great as a stand alone novel, but I have enough unanswered questions that I think a sequel could tackle and also then I'd get to see these characters again. *squee*
I cannot sing Gray's praises enough and I will be recommending this to everyone. Starting with whoever reads this. Please go buy it on Amazon! It's only $2.99.
This book... wow, what can I say? Gray has done an amazing job of sucking you into the world from page one. The characters are lovable and deep, and most importantly, very relatable. There are many scary, happy and funny moments, not to mention action packed scenes. And there is enough mystery to keep you guessing.
On a pretty personal note, what I also loved, is that it was set in my hometown. Places I grew up in around and knew like the back of my hand. Made it kind of more exciting, to me.
My only tiny complaint... well, no, it's not even that... just a hopeful plea. I'd love a sequel. It is great as a stand alone novel, but I have enough unanswered questions that I think a sequel could tackle and also then I'd get to see these characters again. *squee*
I cannot sing Gray's praises enough and I will be recommending this to everyone. Starting with whoever reads this. Please go buy it on Amazon! It's only $2.99.
July 8, 2013
Review originally posted at My Book Addiction
Who would’ve guessed that a book with such a pretty cover would contain horror and zombies? I first learned about this author from a guest post she did over at The Bookish Brunette called Choose Your Own Adventure Zombie Apocalypse! I loved the style of the interactive post and decided to buy the book immediately. Obviously I was very anxious to read it because that was only about two weeks ago and I made darn sure I left an opening in my schedule to read it. Sarah Gray did not disappoint. I didn’t just read it, I devoured it in less than a day.
Florence and her younger sister, Liss — smack-dab in the middle of the zombie apocalypse — head out in search of a safe haven, each armed with a backpack filled only with essential items. They carry no weapons other than a lighter and aerosol can, but even that is a last resort option. They are smarter than the average post-apocalyptic pair, calculating and stealthy, remaining hidden whenever possible. Florence and Liss never used to get along. In fact, when their parents split up, they each chose a side and lived apart — Florence with their mom, Liss with their dad. Regardless of their differences, Florence takes it upon herself to be everything for her younger sister. They have no idea where their parents are, and have to assume they are out wandering around with the rest of the flesh-eating zombies looking for their next feed. The sisters journey out alone as they leave their dad’s home. Florence is not one to trust easily and doesn’t want a group of people to slow them down or get them killed. That is until they meet Trouble. It’s a nickname they give the super smiley Chinese fella they encounter along the way because it’s the only word of English he knows. It’s a good word to know during the zombie apocalypse. Florence decides to let him head in the same direction, not willing to acknowledge that he’s becoming part of their group at first. As he grows on Liss, though, Florence decides that yeah… she kind of likes him, too. Not long after, they meet a pair of teenage brothers, Kean and Henry, who are about the same ages as Florence and Liss, and they too end up joining forces at the insistence of Liss. Henry is in a wheelchair, which makes things especially difficult. How did the boys survive for so long with such a handicap – literally?!? No one knows where Florence is taking them, but they trust her to get them to safety, as she consistently proves herself to be a leader. They have some heart-stopping misadventures along the way, but finally make it to their destination – but is it really the sanctuary Florence had hoped for?
We all know that it’s difficult to find a really good zombie novel that isn’t the same as every other one we’ve read. It all comes down to the characters. If an author can make us fall for the characters, the story is usually a success, and Sarah Gray does just that. Florence is a strong heroine, especially for being sixteen. She is smart, always able to think on her feet, and tough, both physically and emotionally, when she needs to be. Liss, though only nine-years-old, quickly follows her sisters lead, learning the ways of this new type of survival. Now, Trouble.. he is one of my favorite characters, which says a lot about the phenomenal writing ability of Sarah Gray. Trouble hardly says a word, because he doesn’t know any English, but his personality is so bright that you can’t help but love him to pieces. Kean and Henry are your typical brothers, always poking at each other, but you can tell they have mad love for one another. Of course, there are villains in this story, too, and I don’t just mean the zombies!
Although this is a character-driven book, there are some seriously intense scenes to make this awesome tale into the complete zombie package it needs to be. Florence and her group get into some sticky situations, so intense that I actually bit one of my nails down so far that I can’t type with it right now, it hurts like a mother! The great thing about this book is that it’s not filled with a bunch of useless gore, just to make it into the horror/zombie genre. The plot is reasonably paced, and the world-building is gradual and realistic. I was able to easily imagine being in their situation and visualize their surroundings. Even though I have never been to Australia, it all became very familiar — further evidence of Sarah Gray’s superb writing talent.
I am so happy I took a chance buying this book from an author I hadn’t heard of before. It was one of the best purchases I’ve made this year. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series! Arcadium is one that I highly recommend to fans of the zombie genre.
Who would’ve guessed that a book with such a pretty cover would contain horror and zombies? I first learned about this author from a guest post she did over at The Bookish Brunette called Choose Your Own Adventure Zombie Apocalypse! I loved the style of the interactive post and decided to buy the book immediately. Obviously I was very anxious to read it because that was only about two weeks ago and I made darn sure I left an opening in my schedule to read it. Sarah Gray did not disappoint. I didn’t just read it, I devoured it in less than a day.
Florence and her younger sister, Liss — smack-dab in the middle of the zombie apocalypse — head out in search of a safe haven, each armed with a backpack filled only with essential items. They carry no weapons other than a lighter and aerosol can, but even that is a last resort option. They are smarter than the average post-apocalyptic pair, calculating and stealthy, remaining hidden whenever possible. Florence and Liss never used to get along. In fact, when their parents split up, they each chose a side and lived apart — Florence with their mom, Liss with their dad. Regardless of their differences, Florence takes it upon herself to be everything for her younger sister. They have no idea where their parents are, and have to assume they are out wandering around with the rest of the flesh-eating zombies looking for their next feed. The sisters journey out alone as they leave their dad’s home. Florence is not one to trust easily and doesn’t want a group of people to slow them down or get them killed. That is until they meet Trouble. It’s a nickname they give the super smiley Chinese fella they encounter along the way because it’s the only word of English he knows. It’s a good word to know during the zombie apocalypse. Florence decides to let him head in the same direction, not willing to acknowledge that he’s becoming part of their group at first. As he grows on Liss, though, Florence decides that yeah… she kind of likes him, too. Not long after, they meet a pair of teenage brothers, Kean and Henry, who are about the same ages as Florence and Liss, and they too end up joining forces at the insistence of Liss. Henry is in a wheelchair, which makes things especially difficult. How did the boys survive for so long with such a handicap – literally?!? No one knows where Florence is taking them, but they trust her to get them to safety, as she consistently proves herself to be a leader. They have some heart-stopping misadventures along the way, but finally make it to their destination – but is it really the sanctuary Florence had hoped for?
We all know that it’s difficult to find a really good zombie novel that isn’t the same as every other one we’ve read. It all comes down to the characters. If an author can make us fall for the characters, the story is usually a success, and Sarah Gray does just that. Florence is a strong heroine, especially for being sixteen. She is smart, always able to think on her feet, and tough, both physically and emotionally, when she needs to be. Liss, though only nine-years-old, quickly follows her sisters lead, learning the ways of this new type of survival. Now, Trouble.. he is one of my favorite characters, which says a lot about the phenomenal writing ability of Sarah Gray. Trouble hardly says a word, because he doesn’t know any English, but his personality is so bright that you can’t help but love him to pieces. Kean and Henry are your typical brothers, always poking at each other, but you can tell they have mad love for one another. Of course, there are villains in this story, too, and I don’t just mean the zombies!
Although this is a character-driven book, there are some seriously intense scenes to make this awesome tale into the complete zombie package it needs to be. Florence and her group get into some sticky situations, so intense that I actually bit one of my nails down so far that I can’t type with it right now, it hurts like a mother! The great thing about this book is that it’s not filled with a bunch of useless gore, just to make it into the horror/zombie genre. The plot is reasonably paced, and the world-building is gradual and realistic. I was able to easily imagine being in their situation and visualize their surroundings. Even though I have never been to Australia, it all became very familiar — further evidence of Sarah Gray’s superb writing talent.
I am so happy I took a chance buying this book from an author I hadn’t heard of before. It was one of the best purchases I’ve made this year. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series! Arcadium is one that I highly recommend to fans of the zombie genre.
August 18, 2019
3.5 Stars. This lost a bit of momentum for me in the second half, still, it’s an entertaining, fast-paced read.
With a zombie apocalypse taking their parents, Florence has made it her mission to protect her nine year old sister, Liss. Along the way, Florence has developed rules for survival, all of which she’s passing on to Liss, chief among her rules is avoid interacting with other people, however, that rule is about to be tested big time.
I loved the relationship between the sisters, it draws you into the story immediately, you see how much they care about each other so it’s easy as the reader to become invested in them, too.
I liked Kean well enough (though it surprised me that his behavior at the mall didn’t leave Florence angry and require an apology, it just seemed a bit out of character for her to end up cool with it, laughing even), but the more standout supporting characters for me were Trouble and Henry. I liked the fairly unique complication each brought to the plot, with Trouble not speaking english, and Henry in a wheelchair, they added some interesting challenges to the standard survival tale.
The first half of this book I probably would have given five stars, it’s more simplistic, the basics of finding food, shelter, and other supplies, not knowing if you can trust other people you cross paths with, that’s the kind of survival story I most enjoy, sort of reality based I guess where you can envision yourself in the characters’ shoes. I don’t want to spoil anything by saying where these characters end up, just that along the way circumstances change, and for me, it kind of felt like the shift from the more basic survival stories of the first season of Lost or the first couple of seasons of The Walking Dead compared to the later years when they turned into something somewhat more convoluted that I just don’t find quite as engaging.
That said, it’s not like the book went super far off the rails, it’s still interesting, I wasn’t tempted to quit reading at any point, it’s just a personal preference thing where the simpler story of the first half connected with me more, the character decisions and the action just felt more organic.
Lastly, I just want to note that there’s a fun choose your own adventure style bonus chapter at the end of the book where the reader as Florence, must make the right decisions in order to reach her sister at their father’s house.
With a zombie apocalypse taking their parents, Florence has made it her mission to protect her nine year old sister, Liss. Along the way, Florence has developed rules for survival, all of which she’s passing on to Liss, chief among her rules is avoid interacting with other people, however, that rule is about to be tested big time.
I loved the relationship between the sisters, it draws you into the story immediately, you see how much they care about each other so it’s easy as the reader to become invested in them, too.
I liked Kean well enough (though it surprised me that his behavior at the mall didn’t leave Florence angry and require an apology, it just seemed a bit out of character for her to end up cool with it, laughing even), but the more standout supporting characters for me were Trouble and Henry. I liked the fairly unique complication each brought to the plot, with Trouble not speaking english, and Henry in a wheelchair, they added some interesting challenges to the standard survival tale.
The first half of this book I probably would have given five stars, it’s more simplistic, the basics of finding food, shelter, and other supplies, not knowing if you can trust other people you cross paths with, that’s the kind of survival story I most enjoy, sort of reality based I guess where you can envision yourself in the characters’ shoes. I don’t want to spoil anything by saying where these characters end up, just that along the way circumstances change, and for me, it kind of felt like the shift from the more basic survival stories of the first season of Lost or the first couple of seasons of The Walking Dead compared to the later years when they turned into something somewhat more convoluted that I just don’t find quite as engaging.
That said, it’s not like the book went super far off the rails, it’s still interesting, I wasn’t tempted to quit reading at any point, it’s just a personal preference thing where the simpler story of the first half connected with me more, the character decisions and the action just felt more organic.
Lastly, I just want to note that there’s a fun choose your own adventure style bonus chapter at the end of the book where the reader as Florence, must make the right decisions in order to reach her sister at their father’s house.
September 11, 2013
The first thought I had when I finished this book was that it was like a zombie book for kids. Then I laughed cause no zombie book is ever really for kids, and had to rethink it to that is was a zombie book for young adults.
I have to say that I Love zombie books, pretty much zombie anything. I know its not normal and I blame it on my best friend and my husband for being this way. So I was pretty excited about this book, it had been a while since I read anything zombie, but I found it predicable and there really isn't much of what you would expect from a zombie book, none of the gore or even heart thumping moments. There are a few times where you want to bite your finger nails, but at certain point in the book I knew that everyone was going to make it out no matter what. I can't say what made me know this, but I just knew that no one was going to get eaten or really seriously hurt.
I think the only thing I really truly loved about this book was Trouble, there is something about him that was just refreshing, he is the reason I liked the book and really wanted to read it to the end. Though I did also like the way Florence held herself together.
There is a lot of light hearted banter in the book, which could be a good thing but made it feel more like a bunch of kids getting together to hang out instead of trying not get killed.
But for the most part this is just your run of the mill zombie book, where the survivors heading for somewhere they think is going to be safe to only find out that there is stuff going on that they don't like and escape with a bang.
I didn't really like the romance element to the book, but because I really think this book was aimed for YA I can see why it was added. Though I did like that Flo wasn't all goo goo eyes all the time over it.
For the most part I never really felt any fear for the survivors, and like I said earlier I just knew that things would work out for them. I like to wonder when I'm reading zombie books on if the people I've grown to love are going to make it in the end. It was just a little to predicable for me.
Would I recommend this book? Eh, for a zombie book it wasn't really my cup of tea, but it was still pretty good so I guess I would.
http://zephyrbookreviews.blogspot.com/
I have to say that I Love zombie books, pretty much zombie anything. I know its not normal and I blame it on my best friend and my husband for being this way. So I was pretty excited about this book, it had been a while since I read anything zombie, but I found it predicable and there really isn't much of what you would expect from a zombie book, none of the gore or even heart thumping moments. There are a few times where you want to bite your finger nails, but at certain point in the book I knew that everyone was going to make it out no matter what. I can't say what made me know this, but I just knew that no one was going to get eaten or really seriously hurt.
I think the only thing I really truly loved about this book was Trouble, there is something about him that was just refreshing, he is the reason I liked the book and really wanted to read it to the end. Though I did also like the way Florence held herself together.
There is a lot of light hearted banter in the book, which could be a good thing but made it feel more like a bunch of kids getting together to hang out instead of trying not get killed.
But for the most part this is just your run of the mill zombie book, where the survivors heading for somewhere they think is going to be safe to only find out that there is stuff going on that they don't like and escape with a bang.
I didn't really like the romance element to the book, but because I really think this book was aimed for YA I can see why it was added. Though I did like that Flo wasn't all goo goo eyes all the time over it.
For the most part I never really felt any fear for the survivors, and like I said earlier I just knew that things would work out for them. I like to wonder when I'm reading zombie books on if the people I've grown to love are going to make it in the end. It was just a little to predicable for me.
Would I recommend this book? Eh, for a zombie book it wasn't really my cup of tea, but it was still pretty good so I guess I would.
http://zephyrbookreviews.blogspot.com/
April 24, 2016
A typical, run of the mill, young adult dystopia "let's take down the corrupt government" novel about a zombie epidemic, but enjoyable nonetheless. As always with these things, the romance was very "coincidental" and crawling with cliches, but I found other characters such as Trouble and Henry to be endearing. Florence seemed to be a promisingly different character at the beginning, but that soon waned, and the pace troubled me; it was almost as if there was very little planning involved, and was just written as it went along, because there was little to no foreshadowing of the upcoming plot. However, by the end, I did want to know what happened, and I did want to keep reading, which marks a successful story in my opinion.
July 24, 2013
review coming soon ... but it is safe to say this has been one of my favorite reads so far of 2013!
June 27, 2023
I found a lot of enjoyment in reading this book. Zombie is not my usual genre but I found that despite that the book was still engaging and I found myself wanting to keep reading and to know more.
The most integral part of the story is the characters. Main character Florence is the storyteller and a fierce protector of little sister Liss. They are both survivors and whilst Florence will do anything for Liss, she can hold her own too! Along the way they meet a man who doesn’t know any English, apart from one word, hence his nickname Trouble. They later meet Kean and Henry and become a group on a mission, then ultimately a family of survivors who will risk it all for each other.
The found family trope is well done in this case and there’s added dimensions with Trouble unable to speak English and Henry in a wheelchair. Also the young teen love story with Florence and Kean.
The team think they have found salvation only to realise the horrors of the place they thought Was the epitome of safety may be worse than the horrors they are escaping.
The book is well written and creates the suspense at the right times. I was hooked and found it easy to read and the story flowed nicely.
Highly recommend to anyone, even if you don’t like zombies or dystopia!!
The most integral part of the story is the characters. Main character Florence is the storyteller and a fierce protector of little sister Liss. They are both survivors and whilst Florence will do anything for Liss, she can hold her own too! Along the way they meet a man who doesn’t know any English, apart from one word, hence his nickname Trouble. They later meet Kean and Henry and become a group on a mission, then ultimately a family of survivors who will risk it all for each other.
The found family trope is well done in this case and there’s added dimensions with Trouble unable to speak English and Henry in a wheelchair. Also the young teen love story with Florence and Kean.
The team think they have found salvation only to realise the horrors of the place they thought Was the epitome of safety may be worse than the horrors they are escaping.
The book is well written and creates the suspense at the right times. I was hooked and found it easy to read and the story flowed nicely.
Highly recommend to anyone, even if you don’t like zombies or dystopia!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2025
Siblings in zombie-filled Melbourne try to make it to safety.
I loved this. Florence is a quick-thinking 17-year-old trying to lead her 9-year-old sister Liss to a safe haven she’d heard about in the initial days of the zombpocalypse. She’s smart and brave, and is determined that they are better on their own and that larger groups only attract zombies. But she still ends up accepting some others into their group, another sibling pair and Trouble, so named because it’s the only word the Chinese man can say in English.
I am a sucker for the found family trope and this one hit all my buttons. The group quickly becomes a formidable team. Sure, there’s a few convenient plot points to help our gang along, but I enjoyed each of the characters so much that I didn’t mind at all. Add to that some hair-raising zombie encounters and daring escapes, and this one was a big winner.
There are two sequels, too!
I loved this. Florence is a quick-thinking 17-year-old trying to lead her 9-year-old sister Liss to a safe haven she’d heard about in the initial days of the zombpocalypse. She’s smart and brave, and is determined that they are better on their own and that larger groups only attract zombies. But she still ends up accepting some others into their group, another sibling pair and Trouble, so named because it’s the only word the Chinese man can say in English.
I am a sucker for the found family trope and this one hit all my buttons. The group quickly becomes a formidable team. Sure, there’s a few convenient plot points to help our gang along, but I enjoyed each of the characters so much that I didn’t mind at all. Add to that some hair-raising zombie encounters and daring escapes, and this one was a big winner.
There are two sequels, too!
August 14, 2019
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I'm an Australian so it was nice to read a story that used language that I'm familiar with. Zombie movies have been a favourite of mine for a long time and even though there wasn't much that was original about this take on zombies it was still a fun read. There were a few typos but since it was a free book I didn't really care too much about it.
If I do have one complaint it's about Trouble's character, his inability to communicate would have been a bigger problem and there should have been a reason for it. Sure the language barrier is an issue but their survival depends on being able to share information. Why does Trouble just go along with the rest of the group so easily? He's almost more like a loyal dog than a person at times.
Maybe reasons will be given in the next book.
If I do have one complaint it's about Trouble's character, his inability to communicate would have been a bigger problem and there should have been a reason for it. Sure the language barrier is an issue but their survival depends on being able to share information. Why does Trouble just go along with the rest of the group so easily? He's almost more like a loyal dog than a person at times.
Maybe reasons will be given in the next book.
July 31, 2019
Ok... it is another survive-the-apocalypse- zombie attack kinda book... but for a day where I could do whatever I wanted, it was a great page turning (kindle scrolling) story.
The characters are well put together and I liked Florence's voice through her narrative... The author has done a great job with this; I enjoyed the descriptions and the tension building. I just couldn't put it down.
The only reason it didn't get a 5 star rating from me is because I'm quite difficult to please anyway in this genre. It was another zombie retelling: Duck, survive, trust issues, people coming together, get to a safe place, realise it's not safe - escape ... are we safe now?
The characters are well put together and I liked Florence's voice through her narrative... The author has done a great job with this; I enjoyed the descriptions and the tension building. I just couldn't put it down.
The only reason it didn't get a 5 star rating from me is because I'm quite difficult to please anyway in this genre. It was another zombie retelling: Duck, survive, trust issues, people coming together, get to a safe place, realise it's not safe - escape ... are we safe now?
November 28, 2023
This book had everything I was looking for when I went searching for a new read to get me out of my slump: an interesting setting, a premise I enjoy, a compelling protagonist and loveable side characters. I loved how the author paced the story, raising questions along the way and intertwining action-packed scenes with wholesome moments. It was a really good read, and I will definitely be checking out the continuation.
December 2, 2019
Loved it!
This book was great. I noticed a lot of spelling mistakes that would normally drive me crazy but the story was so good that I didn't mind at all. I loved how ragtag the group was, I don't think that I've read a book with that odd of a group assembled together before and I enjoyed every second of it.
This book was great. I noticed a lot of spelling mistakes that would normally drive me crazy but the story was so good that I didn't mind at all. I loved how ragtag the group was, I don't think that I've read a book with that odd of a group assembled together before and I enjoyed every second of it.
December 30, 2018
A little bit different from what I normally read but liked it.
August 21, 2020
Zombie stories are ten a penny and this one lacked originality. I wouldn't recommend.
October 23, 2023
Reading this, I felt like I can be Florence in apocalpyse situation. I enjoyed the way they fight for their survival. Just like what I imagined if I will be on their shoes. ☺️
July 29, 2016
This was a great story. This author did a great job. It was well written and you couldn't help but fall in love with every character. And like many other readers, I found "Trouble" to be very endearing. There was plenty of action and suspense, and even a bit of romance (completely PG Rated).
This book takes place in Australia so there are a few differences. Like the temperature is measured in Celsius instead of Fahrenheit, distance is measured in meters instead of feet, and the word bitumen is used for their version of pavement or asphalt (it’s used often enough that you’ll need to know that). I almost stopped reading after the first page figuring that with the story taking place in another country, it would be too foreign to me and I would have to keep stopping to look things up so that I could understand what’s going on. Well I assure you, that isn’t the case. There are a few differences of course, but it’s really not that different from us and I was easily able to follow along without getting confused (once I looked up bitumen). So if you’re someone who worries about reading stories that take place on foreign land, no worries on this one.
Editing is a big issue for me, so I rate each book on a 1-10 scale (1 being the least amount of errors, 10 being, "wtf are they talking about?") I give this one a 1. I don’t recall seeing any misspelled words and all of the grammar flowed smoothly. The author even did a great job with the paragraph separations (she actually used them). My other big issue of overly proper speech was not a problem for this author. She wrote the dialogue perfectly. If I hadn’t read at the end that this was a first time, self-published author I wouldn’t have known this was her first novel.
This is the first book in a series, but there is no cliffhanger. It has a happily-ever-after (for now) ending. And I say “for now” because the second book in the series will continue with the same characters and seems to pick up where this one left off (according the author’s note at the end of the story) . However, this one did have a conclusive ending so that if you didn’t read on to the next book, you could be content with how this one concluded. I really enjoyed that and I think it’s the first book of its kind that actually had some kind of HEA.
High recommendation as a must read for the zombie lovers. Though this book is geared toward young adult, I think it’s perfect for all ages. It’s really not childish so everyone can enjoy it. I will definitely be getting the next book in this series. I would have started it after I finished this one (at 1:30 a.m.) had it been released yet. But I’ll just have to wait impatiently for the next one.
This book takes place in Australia so there are a few differences. Like the temperature is measured in Celsius instead of Fahrenheit, distance is measured in meters instead of feet, and the word bitumen is used for their version of pavement or asphalt (it’s used often enough that you’ll need to know that). I almost stopped reading after the first page figuring that with the story taking place in another country, it would be too foreign to me and I would have to keep stopping to look things up so that I could understand what’s going on. Well I assure you, that isn’t the case. There are a few differences of course, but it’s really not that different from us and I was easily able to follow along without getting confused (once I looked up bitumen). So if you’re someone who worries about reading stories that take place on foreign land, no worries on this one.
Editing is a big issue for me, so I rate each book on a 1-10 scale (1 being the least amount of errors, 10 being, "wtf are they talking about?") I give this one a 1. I don’t recall seeing any misspelled words and all of the grammar flowed smoothly. The author even did a great job with the paragraph separations (she actually used them). My other big issue of overly proper speech was not a problem for this author. She wrote the dialogue perfectly. If I hadn’t read at the end that this was a first time, self-published author I wouldn’t have known this was her first novel.
This is the first book in a series, but there is no cliffhanger. It has a happily-ever-after (for now) ending. And I say “for now” because the second book in the series will continue with the same characters and seems to pick up where this one left off (according the author’s note at the end of the story) . However, this one did have a conclusive ending so that if you didn’t read on to the next book, you could be content with how this one concluded. I really enjoyed that and I think it’s the first book of its kind that actually had some kind of HEA.
High recommendation as a must read for the zombie lovers. Though this book is geared toward young adult, I think it’s perfect for all ages. It’s really not childish so everyone can enjoy it. I will definitely be getting the next book in this series. I would have started it after I finished this one (at 1:30 a.m.) had it been released yet. But I’ll just have to wait impatiently for the next one.
September 9, 2016
Overall, this is your typical zombie story. Rag tag group fighting to stay alive, and to get to some sort of place they've been told is a survivor's camp. Once they make it there, they figure out things are not as 'safe' as they thought they were. So then they find a way to stop the bad things happening, and Complete with the epilogue in the some time after.
Not that that's a bad thing, though!
I have read that same story line I couldn't even tell you how many times. Others have been bloodier and gorier, and I wanted more of that in this book. But it WAS refreshing to see a different group dynamic. 16 year old Florence "Flo", was an ok heroine, nothing overly special and nothing overly boring. She was great with her younger sister Liss. For two young girls, they did well for themselves.
Running into Trouble was where the story started to really pick up and it finally fully caught my interest. Until then, I was pretty indifferent to the story so far. Trouble was great, and probably my favorite character. :) A Chinese guy who only knows one word of English; Trouble. And as everyone points out, it's the best word to know in the apocalypse.
Brothers Kean and Henry were great as a duo. I loved the banter between the two. And Henry is in a wheelchair! Can't say I've seen that anywhere before in a zombie book.
Didn't know when I started this that it was in fact a series. You're left with like, one hanging question; ; or at least I was. But this easily could have been read as a stand alone. Actually, according to Goodreads, it's going to be a trilogy. Hm. Wonder how that's going to play out? Regardless, will continue on with it.
Not that that's a bad thing, though!
I have read that same story line I couldn't even tell you how many times. Others have been bloodier and gorier, and I wanted more of that in this book. But it WAS refreshing to see a different group dynamic. 16 year old Florence "Flo", was an ok heroine, nothing overly special and nothing overly boring. She was great with her younger sister Liss. For two young girls, they did well for themselves.
Running into Trouble was where the story started to really pick up and it finally fully caught my interest. Until then, I was pretty indifferent to the story so far. Trouble was great, and probably my favorite character. :) A Chinese guy who only knows one word of English; Trouble. And as everyone points out, it's the best word to know in the apocalypse.
Brothers Kean and Henry were great as a duo. I loved the banter between the two. And Henry is in a wheelchair! Can't say I've seen that anywhere before in a zombie book.
Didn't know when I started this that it was in fact a series. You're left with like, one hanging question; ; or at least I was. But this easily could have been read as a stand alone. Actually, according to Goodreads, it's going to be a trilogy. Hm. Wonder how that's going to play out? Regardless, will continue on with it.
August 26, 2012
Now I love zombie books like Amanda Hocking's Hollowland and I was just dying to have a new one to read, thankfully Sarah released Arcadium just in the nick of time to satisfy my needs. And satisfy it does, Arcadium had me hooked from the beginning with kick-ass Florence leading a rag tag group of outcasts to the mysterious Arcadium. I have to say that Trouble was by far my favourite character; Gray wrote him very believable and funny.
The action scenes were what any good zombie novel, or movie for that matter, should have. Heaps of zombies and heaps of trouble. The momentum of the action scenes had me reading as fast as I could in order to find out what would happen next in this apocalyptic world. You feel for the characters and the bond they slowly form for one another.
I also love that the novel is set in Melbourne, Australia too (where I live, y'all). No one has done that before as most zombie novels are mostly set in America where they are guns a plenty, but to have it set in a place where the weather can change at any moment and there are hardly any guns, makes the survival so much harder when you have to rely on making your own weapons. This really gives you a new perspective on what the zombie apocalypse would be like for people outside of America. It shows how different and same it can be.
There were a few spelling mistakes throughout, but she did edit the novel herself, so they can be excused.
Arcadium is definitely a novel worth reading if you're into zombies and a dystopian world that for once isn't set in America.
The action scenes were what any good zombie novel, or movie for that matter, should have. Heaps of zombies and heaps of trouble. The momentum of the action scenes had me reading as fast as I could in order to find out what would happen next in this apocalyptic world. You feel for the characters and the bond they slowly form for one another.
I also love that the novel is set in Melbourne, Australia too (where I live, y'all). No one has done that before as most zombie novels are mostly set in America where they are guns a plenty, but to have it set in a place where the weather can change at any moment and there are hardly any guns, makes the survival so much harder when you have to rely on making your own weapons. This really gives you a new perspective on what the zombie apocalypse would be like for people outside of America. It shows how different and same it can be.
There were a few spelling mistakes throughout, but she did edit the novel herself, so they can be excused.
Arcadium is definitely a novel worth reading if you're into zombies and a dystopian world that for once isn't set in America.
March 1, 2016
I read this book with total abandon. The fact that it has 321 pages really surprised me because I read it over the course of a few days.
Spoilers, mildly, probably.
You know, I really liked it. At first I wasn't sure what I thought, and then within the first few dozen pages I was in deep. It was more thoughtful and interesting than what I imagined it to be. (Your typical YA book with a love triangle and whatever.) It also contained a strong, independent female character not a damsel in distress, which makes me happy.
The other characters are also very endearing, real, and lovable in their own way. I was rooting for Trouble from the moment he opened the garbage can lid. The romance was too coincidental, and really unneeded in such a novel, but I get it, it's a YA book.
The survival parts were interesting, but some of the action/danger infected interaction scenes got a little to complex and bogged down and I found myself skimming them a little.
The Arcadium portion of the book was very interesting to me. I wish they had explored that idea just a little longer, because it was interesting both in the development of characters in an isolated emotionless place, and just the technology in a survival sitting. At first I thought here would be the development of the dreaded young adult love triangle, but I was happily satisfied.
Ending seemed mildly abrupt, but I get that it's meant to be a book among the series so it's understandable.
Spoilers, mildly, probably.
You know, I really liked it. At first I wasn't sure what I thought, and then within the first few dozen pages I was in deep. It was more thoughtful and interesting than what I imagined it to be. (Your typical YA book with a love triangle and whatever.) It also contained a strong, independent female character not a damsel in distress, which makes me happy.
The other characters are also very endearing, real, and lovable in their own way. I was rooting for Trouble from the moment he opened the garbage can lid. The romance was too coincidental, and really unneeded in such a novel, but I get it, it's a YA book.
The survival parts were interesting, but some of the action/danger infected interaction scenes got a little to complex and bogged down and I found myself skimming them a little.
The Arcadium portion of the book was very interesting to me. I wish they had explored that idea just a little longer, because it was interesting both in the development of characters in an isolated emotionless place, and just the technology in a survival sitting. At first I thought here would be the development of the dreaded young adult love triangle, but I was happily satisfied.
Ending seemed mildly abrupt, but I get that it's meant to be a book among the series so it's understandable.
January 5, 2015
This book doesn't venture too far into originality with it's dystopian-zombie theme.
Why did I give it 4 stars then? Because I really liked the characters. From a non-English speaking Chinese man, who only knows one word "trouble" and two brothers (one wheelchair bound) and a set of sisters.
After they risk life and limb to make it too the safety of "Arcadium" they find that those secure walls, hides a more sinister and purposeful danger.
In the end, I did care about the characters, wondering how the slow blossoming affections between Flo and Keen might develop, and finding out more of Trouble's story.
I haven't read many books that have a character in a wheelchair, but I thought it was handled well, the author didn't dwell on it incessantly, or write the challenges of staying on stop of a zombie invasion into a forever wheelchair bound plot device.
Also, this book was free on Barnes and Noble Nook Books, and it just still might be : )
Why did I give it 4 stars then? Because I really liked the characters. From a non-English speaking Chinese man, who only knows one word "trouble" and two brothers (one wheelchair bound) and a set of sisters.
After they risk life and limb to make it too the safety of "Arcadium" they find that those secure walls, hides a more sinister and purposeful danger.
In the end, I did care about the characters, wondering how the slow blossoming affections between Flo and Keen might develop, and finding out more of Trouble's story.
I haven't read many books that have a character in a wheelchair, but I thought it was handled well, the author didn't dwell on it incessantly, or write the challenges of staying on stop of a zombie invasion into a forever wheelchair bound plot device.
Also, this book was free on Barnes and Noble Nook Books, and it just still might be : )
August 15, 2014
loved this book. The main character is young only 16 and her sister is barely 9 but she refuses to let her sister die in this new world. Florence the elder sister is very unhappy with the way the world is being destroyed and must find safety for her and her sister. Their parents recently divorced and no where to be found are presumed dead. As the sisters travel through Melbourne to get to safety they meet some interesting characters. Their first encounter of their their soon to be group is Trouble,or at least that is what they call him because he is a foreigner and speaks no English. He has only been in Melbourne a little over a month when the disaster happened and now lives each day with what Flo calls an annoying but sunshine smile. Though he cannot speak their language he is truly a benefit to their group. The next set to show up is two brothers, one the age of Flo and one is wheelchair bound. The eldest brother like Flo refuses to allow his sibling to die in these uncertain times. Will the group be strong enough to survive and if they do where will they go? this read was intriguing and the turn of events are great. Would recommend this read to anyone over age 10 really good read!!
November 27, 2013
It takes a lot for me to want to read a book twice. I have to really love it! So with that being said I read this twice! I had my daughter read it too and she finished it in one sitting! I don't know why some books just grab a hold of you and stick. It's a mystery to me. I do know that I have shared this book with a ton of people! Even with you guys!
If you enjoy apocalypse books I sincerely think you will enjoy this. We are dealing with teenagers, but don't let that deter you. There was some great depth to this story. A young girl trying to survive in a world with the infected and just trying keep her younger sister safe. In a world where it's all for yourself and there are dangers at every turn
How are two young girls to survive? Every day they have to feed themselves they have to find a safe place to sleep so that they can eventually arrive to a place that may very well not exist. Along the way a family forms. Bonds are made with strangers all with a common goal to just survive. To just be. With all the new dangers can they all survive? Read it to find out! I give this book my thumbs up!
"It takes a special kind of courage to climb out into the unknown"
If you enjoy apocalypse books I sincerely think you will enjoy this. We are dealing with teenagers, but don't let that deter you. There was some great depth to this story. A young girl trying to survive in a world with the infected and just trying keep her younger sister safe. In a world where it's all for yourself and there are dangers at every turn
How are two young girls to survive? Every day they have to feed themselves they have to find a safe place to sleep so that they can eventually arrive to a place that may very well not exist. Along the way a family forms. Bonds are made with strangers all with a common goal to just survive. To just be. With all the new dangers can they all survive? Read it to find out! I give this book my thumbs up!
"It takes a special kind of courage to climb out into the unknown"
October 29, 2014
I picked this book up on a whim, I think it was on sale and I was all "Oooh a new zombie book that actually sounds pretty good." I loved the simplistic cover, it doesn't look overly done and clustered like many horror books seem to end up like. It also no offence gives off a comforting vibe. Serenity and peace came to mind. But its anything but those happy words! I loved everything in this story. The only reason I gave it four stars I wanted just a touch more but nothing to dramatic. This had a very straight plot and great action and a sense for our characters and just the right touch of blossoming romance so it wasn't overly pushy. And I'll applaud myself for reading my second ever Aussie inspired characters and not feeling like a total toolbox for not knowing what certain words meant. I'm going to dive right into the next installment since I'm already desperately missing all of the lovely characters that Sarah Grey has created.
December 12, 2012
PA zombie novel taking place in Australia where a 17 yr old and her 9 yr old sister hook up with a Chinese guy who speaks no english and 2 other teen boys, one of who is a paraplegic. This was like the YA novel version of zombieland without the hipster vibe. It was a fun, lazy read, very typical of the genre, with a sharp turn when they make it to the eponymous Arcadium which, of course, has some very dark secrets that they eventually discover.
Ending on this one was a little too pat - 'some time later, they lived happily ever after'. The author's writing style was facile and fun to read but there wasn't enough that separated this one from the rest of the genre to make it really stand out or be overly memorable. I think there will be a sequel to this coming out next year, which I don't really see the point. It's like the extra dot on the end of the ellipses - kind of overkill.
Ending on this one was a little too pat - 'some time later, they lived happily ever after'. The author's writing style was facile and fun to read but there wasn't enough that separated this one from the rest of the genre to make it really stand out or be overly memorable. I think there will be a sequel to this coming out next year, which I don't really see the point. It's like the extra dot on the end of the ellipses - kind of overkill.
September 24, 2013
I liked this book just fine. Nothing really unexpected happened but it was a quick read and the characters as well as the setting were fun and engaging enough.
I assume this book has been self-published because an editor (or spell-check) should have really caught all the spelling mistakes. For instance there appears to be the author's genuine confusion on how to distinguish between 'loose' and 'to lose'.
As far as the content is concerned, some things could have been less vague - for example when did this all start, how long did it take until Florence and Liss ran into their travel companions...
Regarding the author's explanation of Australianisms: To my knowledge, unlike her sister Dannii, Kylie Minogue has never been on 'Home and Away' but used to have a role on 'Neighbours' in the late 1980s.
I assume this book has been self-published because an editor (or spell-check) should have really caught all the spelling mistakes. For instance there appears to be the author's genuine confusion on how to distinguish between 'loose' and 'to lose'.
As far as the content is concerned, some things could have been less vague - for example when did this all start, how long did it take until Florence and Liss ran into their travel companions...
Regarding the author's explanation of Australianisms: To my knowledge, unlike her sister Dannii, Kylie Minogue has never been on 'Home and Away' but used to have a role on 'Neighbours' in the late 1980s.
January 23, 2014
This is my first YA Zombie book and my first Sarah Gray read. Let me say, this was not disappointing! It was fast paced and action packed. Yet, there was a very emotional and human element to all of the action. There were some nail biting scenes and others that made you root for the characters. Flo, the main character, is a strong young woman who is determined to get to Arcadium, a safe haven after the outbreak, so she can protect her younger sister, Liss. Along the way they meet, Trouble, a Chinese man who doesn't know English, and two brothers, Kean and Henry. Flo is reluctant to open up to the others as she believes they will be distractions from keeping Liss safe. I loved all of the characters and the story and I can't wait for book two!!!
March 12, 2013
This was a spectacular zombie read, from finding "sanctuary" to having to leave it and make their own. The relationships among the characters was heartwarming, especially Flo & Liss seeing as one would think she didn't like her before the outbreak...AND how she originally wanted them to keep to themselves. Sticking with a guy who didn't speak english was also a nice take as far as the relationships went, he proved to be VERY useful lol. Reading different takes on zombie apocalypses is always is a pleasure and Gray did an excellent job!
July 31, 2013
2.75/5
trouble was such a stereotype of a chinese character. i mean, come on all he could say was "trouble"? puh-lease! the book was an okay read, i liked the 1st quarter a lot, but then it kind of sank a bit lower and stagnated somewhere between 2-3 stars. the relationship between flo and her sister reminded me of that between the hunger games's katniss and prim or like that between the female lead and her sister in the near witch. the romance angle was pretty meh, including the 1-dimensional villains.
trouble was such a stereotype of a chinese character. i mean, come on all he could say was "trouble"? puh-lease! the book was an okay read, i liked the 1st quarter a lot, but then it kind of sank a bit lower and stagnated somewhere between 2-3 stars. the relationship between flo and her sister reminded me of that between the hunger games's katniss and prim or like that between the female lead and her sister in the near witch. the romance angle was pretty meh, including the 1-dimensional villains.
April 12, 2015
What a revelation! I thoroughly enjoyed this from start to end.
Well paced and a nice easy read.
I loved the characters and the relationships. They were all described so well. I love how the writer wrote situations and responses to situations in a down to earth manner. Finally someone who understands how people should act in an outbreak!
The only reason is has 4 stars instead of 5... Spelling and grammatical errors. Very basic ones that at times detract from the story.
That being said, I can not wait to read book 2!
Well paced and a nice easy read.
I loved the characters and the relationships. They were all described so well. I love how the writer wrote situations and responses to situations in a down to earth manner. Finally someone who understands how people should act in an outbreak!
The only reason is has 4 stars instead of 5... Spelling and grammatical errors. Very basic ones that at times detract from the story.
That being said, I can not wait to read book 2!
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