Mortality

The Hitchhiker Strain #1

by Kellie Sheridan

After surviving a deadly plague outbreak, sixteen-year-old Savannah thought she had lived through the very worst of human history. There was no way to know that the miracle vaccine would put everyone at risk for a fate worse than un-death.

Now, two very different kinds of infected walk the Earth, intent on nothing but feeding and destroying what little remains of civilization. When the inoculated are bitten, infection means watching on in silent horror as self-control disappears and the idea of feasting on loved ones becomes increasingly hard to ignore.

Starving and forced to live inside of the abandoned high school, all Savannah wants is the chance to fight back. When a strange boy arrives with a plan to set everything right, she gets her chance. Meeting Cole changes everything. Mere survival will never be enough.

Genres: Zombies, Young Adult, Horror, Fantasy, Romance, Post Apocalyptic, Science Fiction

271 pages, Paperback

First published March 19, 2013

About the author

Kellie has been in love with stories in all of their forms for as long as she can remember. Admittedly, sometimes that means falling into places like Stars Hollow and Sunnydale, but books have always been her true love.

Kellie spent part of her twenties living in Galway, Ireland and swooning after various lilting accents but is now back home in Ontario, Canada.

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Zombies. Gotta love 'em. Or I do, anyway.
Now if zombies are your thing too, then Mortality isn't a bad choice for a rainy afternoon of reading.
Is is groundbreaking? No. There's nothing super-duper different about the walking dead in this one, but it's fast paced and well written enough to keep you flipping the pages. Besides, can you really say no to that cover? Yeah, I didn't think so.

It's told from the POV's of two different girls, Savannah and Zarah. Savannah is the main character, but the reason for Zarah's story doesn't become clear till the end of the book.
I will not give spoilers, I will not give spoilers...
Anyway. We get introduced to Savannah and her friends, who are living in an abandoned high school with the rest of their small community. Both of Savannah's parents were killed in the Zombie Apocalypse (it's coming, people!), and now her days consist of training to fight the two types of infected. The first are the zombies who were infected when the virus initially hit. These guys are what you've seen in every horror flick. A slow-moving, groaning, mindless corpse that wants to eat you up. Yum.
The second type are a bit different. The scientists came up with a 'cure' for the virus, but didn't get a chance to properly test it. You know that can't possibly end well, right? Surprise, surprise, the people who were inoculated after the first wave, and then bitten by an original zombie...turned into Super-Zombies. This second kind of zombie is much faster, stronger, and smarter than the first generation.
So, yeah. The vaccine didn't work.
Since Savannah is part of the under 18 crowd, the adults have decided to sideline her (and the other kids) for their own protection. Unfortunately, Savannah isn't content to let others do all of the fighting, and while she and her friends are out on a relatively safe medicine run, she talks the boys into attempting something a bit more daring. And it works! Well, sort of.
Ok, not at all.Turns out, they're pretty much responsible for the destruction of the community's safety.
Kids these days. Tsk. They never listen!
I blame the internet.
Alrighty. Due to their lack of foresight, zombies overrun the community's compound, and the group is forced to make a run for it. Unfortunately, Savannah and her friends get left behind, and have to try to make it to the designated safe house on their own.
*cue ominous music*
What about Zarah? Well, her journey is sprinkled throughout the book in a way that keeps you interested, but doesn't really compare to Savannah's. Her story somewhat parallels Savannah's in a What If kind of way, but it soon becomes obvious that she's a secondary character.
.
Things also get more interesting once Cole is introduced. At first, he seems like a bumbling idiot, but he turns out to have quite a few useful tricks up his sleeve. To top it off, he's got some pretty interesting secrets. I'm not really sure I was feeling the chemistry between him and Savannah, though. It wasn't insta-love, but it kind of felt like they ended up together because there weren't many other choices left.

In the end, I'd say this was a decent zombie book...with an awesome cover. If you're new to the genre, I wouldn't start here, there's better stuff out there to cut your teeth on. However, if you're already addicted to rabid flesh-eaters, then this will probably satisfy your craving for braaaaains!

[Tana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mortality by Kellie Sheridan

I’ve never read a zombie book and since watch Walking Dead I thought I might try one. I have nothing to compare this to but I will say that Kellie Sheridan has written a really good book. Her writing flows extremely well, character development is written well and you get to learn a bit of the background on each of the main characters. Mortality is like reading two books in one, it quite interesting.

You first get swept into Savannah’s story, right from the start I really enjoyed reading about Savannah and her friends. Then we meet Zarah, who is more or less alone now and saved by a young man named Liam.

Savannah is with a group of people who are living in a school and so far they are safe from the zombie. And before I forget these zombies’s are not like the ones on tv, some of them are stronger, faster and appear to be a bit smarter. There is a reason for this but you need to read and find out more. So one day Savannah and a few of her friends are asked to run into town to get some medical supplies from the local drug store, they are just thrilled to finally asked to go and do something. So they head off to the drug store and Savannah comes up with the idea they should stop by and check out the medical centre first she really figures that the zombie’s who were they might be gone. Well you know what they say about good intentions things from here just get bad. It’s heartbreaking at times I felt so sorry for Savannah as she feels so guilty for what happens next.

Then there is Zarah who is sitting in class checking out the new boy Liam when they find out about the Zombie’s. Liam gets Zarah out of their school safely and she heads home. When things get really bad for Zarah, she calls Liam to come and get her. On the run trying to stay alive Zarah and Liam run into many obstacles.

So if you like zombie’s this is the book for you. I have rated it a 4 star rating and recommend Mortality by Kellie Sheridan as a must read. Kellie Sheridan has written a fantastic novel and I cannot wait to read more in this series.

[Kitzya · Rating 4 out of 5]

No tenia muy buenas expectativas con el y la verdad estaba muy equivocada. No es de los mejores de Zombies pero se hace querer de verdad. Me ha gustado todos sus personajes aunque Alex me hubiese gustado darle dos bofetadas bien dadas.

Es un libro sencillo de leer, lo empecé ayer y sin darme cuenta ya estaba en la ultima página.

[Ahri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zombies are probably the only creatures which sort of freak me out. Yet I can't help but feel drawn to them. But that's not what first called my attention to this book. It was the cover. I loved it and I think it's very representative of the stories in the book.

The story is told from two point of views, teenagers Savannah and Zarah. I have to say really I liked the way this was done. You could say one point of view was told from the perspective of a Zombie slayer/hunter and the other... Well, from someone who is the complete opposite. Both of these girls tell their stories starting from different points in the timeline. While one starts telling her story from when the infection first started appearing, the other starts six months afterwards. And even though one of the starts after everything has happened, we are still told, or rather she tells us, the events which led her to where she was. I also liked the way you could tell the difference of the "voice" when PoV's switched from one to the other. Both were talking about the same thing, the same events, but you could tell it was two different people telling the story.

I liked the way the story flowed. When Savannah was talking, it was fast. Sort of like her personality. I didn't like her, but liked the way the story was told. While when Zarah was talking there was this sense of calm under all the sense of urgency. I REALLY liked Zarah. Actually, I loved her, and her chapters. Especially after the motel scene happened and she talks of her feelings. I would have gone crazy if I was her. But the end... *raises eyebrow* It would have been so great if the story had taken another route instead of the one it took. I sort of knew it would be that way after everything clicked together, but I was really hoping I was wrong. I wasn't and I was disappointed. Also, the ending to that story felt rushed. Actually, they both felt that way. But there's a book two, so I can ignore it.

Besides Savannah, another character I didn't like was Cole. Really... what was he thinking? No, really. I actually yelled "Are you crazy?" (in Spanish) a few times. I really want to understand him, but I just can't. And at the end, I feel like he is hiding something from Savannah again. I really wanted to smack him since he first appeared. Liam was a bit better. I'd say he passed the test. Poor thing...

Besides Zarah and Liam's story, another good point the book has was there no real dreaded love triangle nor a love square of doom! I was so happy about that. Yeah, Savannah had a crush, but I could tell it was very superficial. There was a bit of insta-love, but it was the apocalypse. *shrugs* Also, I liked that the story had two different types of zombies. The usual mindless ones and the uber Zs (the intelligent ones), so that's another brownie point right there.

I enjoyed Mortality. Really, I did. Although the book is about terrifying zombies, it wasn't "scary". At all. But it does have the "ew" factor rampaging through its pages. Just reading about the way they looked, moved, ate, and smelled definitely had my skin crawling. Plus, it was a quick read. I read it in just a few hours. So yeah, I liked it. I will definitely check out the other books in the series.

Thanks to the author for providing me a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Laura Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The zombie apocalypse has already happened. People are now living in small groups, struggling to survive. They have not one, but two kinds of zombies to fear.

You have your typical, shambling, mindless, rotting dead and then you have the living ones. Victims of a supposed vaccine, the Hitchhiker Strain.

If you’ve been given the vaccine, it’s supposed to protect you if bitten. Instead, once bitten you don’t die, but you do develop an uncontrollable urge to munch on anyone near you.

One town has gathered its survivors and taken refuge in the highschool. The adults do the supply runs and clear out any zombies that get too close, while the children and teens are restricted to the school.

Savannah chafes to do something, anything besides sitting and waiting, feeling useless. When given a chance to take some friends and go for more medical supplies, she’s all for it.

What should have been an easy task causes consequences and when they get back, the school has been overrun and those still living have fled.

Now Savannah wishes for those days of boredom.

Mortality is actually about two young women and two separate stories.

Savannah and her friends are now without a safe shelter and on their own, trying to find the rest of their people.

Zarah has seen her parents killed right before her eyes. She’s finally found her aunt, but loses her when she’s attacked and bitten.

Savvy and Zarah’s personalities are as different as night and day, but as you read their stories, you’ll see them become more and more alike as they both try to stay alive and protect the ones they love.

When their stories finally do come together, it won’t be the way you expect.

With each zombie story I read, I wonder how the author will hold my interest, will make me want to keep on reading a plot that has been written so many times.

The main characters may be younger people, but the author wizens them up fast, taking you with them as they are forced to make intelligent decisions. No more brash moves.

They stumble now and then, doing the wrong things, unsure of themselves and scared.

That’s what kept me reading, kept me wanting to know more. I became attached to these characters and feared what was going to happen to them.

And the ending! What an ending. I was so deep into it that I really didn’t see it coming.

Do yourself a favor and try Mortality. I’d love to see your face at the end. The author doesn’t disappoint.

[Summer Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

***I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair an honest review***

This book is a good old fashioned zombie adventure novel with a kick of romance. The synopsis is posted above, so let me sum it up for you: zombies take over the world. Girl is trying to survive in said world. Girl meets boy. People get killed. Things are epically messed up, as evidenced by the fact that zombies are roaming around everywhere.

I absolutely LOVED the fact that this book had so much action! It's YA, so the romance is a lot less steamy than what you're going to see in Upper YA or New Adult books - which I liked very much. I like reading about the everyday teenage crush - especially if it's set in a post-apocalyptic environment. I also really loved the fact that we follow the stories of two characters during different timelines: Savannah and Zarah. I think Zarah was my favorite lead - I just felt for her situation more deeply than I did for Savannah's, probably because I got to get in her head before and after the zombie apocalypse hit. Her losses and emotions seemed more profound because I knew a little more about her upfront. I felt like Alex was kind of a jerk (okay...a big jerk!), but I can see where he's coming from. I mean, you try surviving the zombie apocalypse without getting stressed out over it. In all, I found this to be a very satisfying read and I think it reaches a broad age group, despite the fact that it's YA. Now excuse me while I go lock my windows and doors...you never know when zombies might take over.

[Nicole M. Hewitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review and many others can be found on my blog - Feed Your Fiction Addiction

Mortality follows two teenage girls through the zombie apocalypse. Savannah and Zarah have both found themselves orphaned after the virus takes over, but their circumstances and attitudes about what’s happening around them are quite different. Savannah teams up with a group of survivors and trains to kill the zombies, while Zarah bonds with a guy who ends up helping her through the worst of times.

What I LOVED:

Zombie action.
There are plenty of zombies in this book, and they’re not the type that just shuffle around and groan. No, the second generation zombies are way smarter and way more dangerous than that. There was just enough zombie gore without being gruesome and there were some fun horror elements (though I wouldn’t say the book was scary). If you enjoy a good zombie novel, this should satisfy!

The emotional story.
While this book is definitely about a zombie invasion, the real story is about how it affects the people left to deal with the nightmare that’s sprouted up around them. Savannah has had to live with the guilt of not acting when her parents were being attacked, and because of this she has vowed never to be useless again. This has pushed her to act when others want to simply survive. Then there’s Zarah. She feels lost and confused in the new world that she faces, and she relies on Liam to take care of her. The two girls respond to the crisis completely differently, but both responses are believable based on the girls’ personalities and experiences. Zarah’s story changes a bit as the book goes on, and it gets a lot more intense and emotional (and really sort of creepy). Loved it!

Not your stereotypical ending.
This book didn’t end the way I expected it to (at least not completely – there was one aspect to it that I guessed at, but not the major twist). The last 25% of the book was definitely exciting, and Sheridan ended the book explosively in a way that was very fitting considering the intensity of the story. For a little while, I was pretty sure that I knew how it was all going to play out, but I was very wrong. The ending could be considered a cliffhanger, but it’s by no means an ending that leaves you hanging – it was a satisfying ending that leaves you wanting more!

Diversity.
Yay for a character of middle-eastern descent! Zarah’s heritage isn’t a huge focus of the book, but it’s definitely mentioned more than once. I appreciated Sheridan’s use of diversity.

The negatives:

Two separate stories.
The only aspect of the book that I wasn’t crazy about was the fact that it felt like two separate stories and the two storylines really aren’t intertwined until the very end (and then, just barely). Both Savannah’s and Zarah’s stories were interesting, but switching back and forth was a little frustrating – I was waiting for their stories to converge! Since I felt a bit more invested in Savannah’s story than Zarah’s until somewhere around 60%, I wasn’t always a fan of the changing POVs. Sometimes I was also a little confused about the timing – it didn’t seem like the two storylines were happening on the same timeline (even after finishing the book, I’m still not exactly clear on this). Still Sheridan did eventually weave the stories together, and I was much more invested in Zarah’s story once something major happened in her storyline, so this didn’t stop me from enjoying the book overall!

The romances.
I wasn’t completely sold on either of the romances in this book, but I didn’t dislike them either. Really, the romance felt secondary in this book (which I appreciated), so I didn’t have to be completely invested.

Mortality was an intense read, full of zombie action and emotional turmoil. I’m looking forward to reading the next installment! I give the book 4/5 stars.

***Disclosure: I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Ms. Sheridan for providing me a copy in exchange for a review.

I love zombie books and after a couple of days to digest what I've just read, I can finally start this review. Very unique indeed even though majority of it follows a bit of the clichéd view on zombies. Yes, to become a zombie you need to be bitten (not sure about scratched). But, the creative twist here is that there are two types of zombies. There are your typical undead ones and then there are the people being eaten alive by the virus while still being aware of your surroundings. That's cool and a little more depressing. I would not want to be aware that I was eating someone else, I rather be a mindless zombie.

Savannah is one of our main characters, although I think she really is the main main character. She's a fighter, this girl, with a personality to match. Savannah has spent majority of her life hidden in buildings training to kill zombies. Awesome, but being trapped in a school for a good chunk of your life can get you stir-crazy. So, when an opportunity comes up - she can't refuse.

I liked her character and I loved her development over the story. At first, I thought she just wanted to show off and be a badass, but what she proclaims to do is what she really wants to do and that's to fight zombies/find a cure to help others. She may appear as a tough person, but once you really get to know her she becomes caring and humble.

Cole was an awesome guy and not really typical. He doesn't fall into any of the clichéd categories for teen characters. He's not the brightest, but he has good points and reasoning. He's not cocky, but has some snarky remarks here and there. He may be closed off most of the time, but there was one scene that had me thinking he's a truly deep character. Aw! When he was trying to convince that guy that Savannah had to come with them, swoon. Now that is perfect because according to Cole, Savannah is all that he has left!

There was sort of a side story going on in here that did slam into the main story with Savannah and Cole. I didn't really like the side story because I didn't like the main character. Zarah kind of pissed me off. I know she was new to the whole zombie thing, but she constantly felt like a newborn to me even after experiencing the worse. You're not the only one who's new to the whole zombie thing. Get over it. And she always relied on Liam to lead the way, or she was always thinking of him and that got her into some trouble. I can't believe that when they were at the motel that she didn't check to see if their room had a zombie in it. I would try to find the room the farthest away from the front and close to another exit. Or, I found it stupid that she knocked before entering the suite to check for a zombie but didn't think to knock again for the bathroom. Although, it could be understood that knocking once without a response should mean that the entire room is safe. But I would have found a room farther away from the front entrance in case zombies strayed in from the front. Just saying.

But I do like Liam and I think it's kind of evil that I like the fact that Zarah is dead and that he killed her. She was definitely holding him back, and now that I'm happy Liam can be with people like him AKA Savannah and Cole trying to fight this zombie apocalypse.

A great approach to zombies. I really can't stand vampire books and there aren't enough werewolf ones. But zombies is a great way to approach the paranormal because I certainly can't tolerate the magical aspects. This book really got me hooked because it's strange to say that I had a zombie nightmare a couple of nights ago! Ms. Sheridan, you're doing something right but please try not to incorporate another whiny character. Just my opinion.

[Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating between 3.5 and 4 stars.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am not one for zombie novels, but that cover! I couldn't take my eyes off Zarah (the girl on the right). I know that's not the way to go about this whole "selecting books" business, but eh. So I started reading the first few chapters, which are told from Savannah's POV, and immediately, there's this boy she likes but he already has a girlfriend and this girl doesn't get along with Savannah at all, and I essentially started cursing myself because it was that damn cover that did it again.

And then. If there's such a genre as fun badassery, this book would be in on it. In the prequel to Mortality, End Dayz, Sheridan has a character chilling with chickens on Christmas, and she's actually kind of okay with it, because what else can you do when the human race is slowly being turned into brain-cravers? Exactly. I like how she doesn't try to make everything super serious and angsty because we are dealing with an apocalyptic situation here. It's believable that not everyone is going to try and be a big hero.

Savannah and Zarah are the narrators in Mortality. Both have lost their families and are trying to survive with what they have, but they are still very different characters. Zarah had to flee her school with a guy she barely knew and Savannah is getting military training to fend off the zombies. Of course you expect them to meet up at some point, but that doesn't happen 'till the very end. Their story lines are fairly independent from one another.

I like that Kellie Sheridan decided to go this route. So many times dual perspectives are used to show the soon-to-be couple mooning over each other's eyes and the spectacular colour-changing abilities of those eyes. Here, they are actually utilised to tell a story. Granted, there are still guys the main characters swoon over, but they are very nice guys.

Liam and Zarah get together rather quickly, but their relationship really grows over the course of the novel. Savannah and Cole are more of a slow burn. They are friends first and then become something more, and it's all so sweet that I just couldn't stop smiling. Sheridan showing the different stages of multiple relationships is something else that pleasantly surprised me.

All in all, reading this novel was fun. There is some sketchy science involving a cure for "the bitten" that goes haywire and actually turns them into Superzombies, a.k.a. "Z"s, but I didn't pay too much attention to the credibility of that concept. Mortality is so action-packed that I just wanted to keep reading without overthinking it. I do think it would have helped if Savannah's chapters had been written in present simple as well. She and Zarah are essentially distinct enough that the narrative doesn't need different tenses to help separate one voice from the other.

This book is extremely fast-paced. Yes, I struggled with the beginning, but I still read it in one sitting and, more importantly, in only a few hours, which is a personal victory for me because I am the slowest reader of them all. *adjusts crown*. I like how Sheridan has fun with her concept. It works. The characters are likeable and the story is engaging. I approve.


This review originally appeared on The Random Transliterator

[Marta Fernández · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sinceramente, nunca me han llamado los zombies, cuando vi esta novedad pensé que con ella podría romper con mi obcecación y disfrutar de una lectura que estuviera plagado de muertos vivientes en descomposición. Últimamente, sobre todo gracias a la serie que está en boca de todos: The walking dead, la mayoría de mis amigos, tanto de donde vivo como del Facebook me tientan con este tipo de literatura.

Generación Z ha pasado la prueba y con nota muy alta. Solo he leído dos libros de zombies, uno pasó sin pena ni gloria (Generación Dead) y otro casi lo tiro por la ventana, no conseguí terminarlo (R&Julie). Si nos pasamos al cine tampoco he tenido mucha suerte, ya que la última que he visto (Guerra mundial Z) me ha parecido un bodrio.

Esta novela creo que fue escrita para mí, en serio, me encanta cómo escribe la autora. Pensaba que se iba a recrear con las escenas donde los zombies se alimentaban, relatándonos cuántos litros de sangre perdía la víctima y cómo la iba devorando poco a poco, menos mal que Kellie Sheridan no apuesta por las descripciones morbosas porque es algo que odio, y siempre he criticado a la triologia de Los juegos del hambre.

Tampoco detalla en exceso el estado de putrefacción de los muertos vivientes, algo que agradezco profundamente, mejor dejarlo a la imaginación del lector. En este mundo post-apocalíptico solo hay unos pocos humanos que han resistido a la enfermedad, mientras que los zombies cada vez se multiplican más rápido, algunos son fáciles de vencer pero otros, los de segunda generación (astutos, listos y sin descomponerse) y los Zs (zombies muy grandes).

El libro mezcla dos historias diferentes, con dos protagonistas distintas, que luego se cruzan al final. Ambas enganchan sin remedio, pero una de las muchachas tendrá un final desgarrador, creo que esto es lo único que puedo resaltar del libro, me ha dado muschísima pena lo que le ha sucedido. La verdad es que la autora hace sufrir a sus retoños de una manera muy… Georgiana (me refiero a George Martin).

Respecto al amor, sí que hay, en especial en una historia, en la otra aparece casi al final. Digamos que no tiene mucho protagonismo pero tampoco se le echa en falta, con la cantidad de acción que tiene el libro apenas te das cuenta. Pero ambas parejas son muy tiernas, estoy deseando ver cómo evolucionan Savannah y Cole.

Creo que es una de las pocas historias en la que puedo afirmar con rotundidad que TODOS los personajes me han encantado, tanto principales como secundarios, le he cogido un cariño especial a Zach, Liam, Savannah y a Zarah.

Su lectura es extremadamente ágil, en cada capítulo (más o menos) va contándolo o Savannah o Zarah, las dos protagonistas de las dos historias paralelas, que son totalmente diferentes entre sí, cada una nos cuenta cómo está viviendo esta guerra. Savvy lucha contra los zombies mientras que Zarah intenta esconderse y protegerse, dos formas de ver el caos, dos guerreras a su manera.

Una novela que engancha sin remedio y que aconsejo a todo el mundo, tanto a los fans de los zombies como a los que no lo sean. Un libro maravilloso, con un final demoledor.

Excelente.

TEJIENDO CRÍTICAS EN LA SOMBRA.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The zombies are killing of the world! Their disease is wiping out the world, one person at a time and survival is paramount. The sought after vaccine brings on a second wave of mutated zombies! Is survival even possible? Okay, before you say, ‘been there, read that,’ hang on and take a chance on this YA take on a post-apocalyptic world! The action is well-paced, the angst is minimal, the teen love triangle is non-existent! Mortality by Kellie Sheridan is refreshing, told from two POVs, that do not necessarily run concurrent with each other, timeline – wise. Savannah is a survivor, a teen who has seen the worst and continues to fight on, sometimes taking risks that may prove to be too big, but never being afraid to jump into the fray! Zarah is quieter, more feminine, less physically heroic, but a survivor, just the same. For ‘Team Savannah, we have Cole, who becomes Savannah’s key to being able to fight back for those who have been lost and those who need to survive. He knows things/people who may be able to help humanity and is determined to make a journey that is both dangerous and heroic, taking Savannah along with him. Together, they will fight their way to their destination. For ‘Team Zarah,’ we have Liam, a fighter, of the same ilk as Savannah and Cole. Without him, could Zarah even survive? And then their worlds collide…
Kellie Sheridan proves she can write good “zombie stuff!” She does NOT overdo the gore, the fighting is well-paced and not overly drawn out! Her creation of Zarah shows us that not all MCs are created equal, and some have a quiet, hidden strength that could prove extremely useful in the future. Ms. Sheridan colors her scenes well, and emotionally ties the reader to the stake as the story unfolds, one layer at a time!
A copy of Mortality was provided by NetGalley and Patchwork Press in exchange for my honest review.

Publication Date: March 19, 2013
Publisher: Patchwork Press
ISBN: 9780991789719
Number of Pages: 282
Age Recommendation: Young Adult
Genre: Post-apocalyptic, YA
My Rating: 4 stars
Available at: Amazon / Barnes & Noble

For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.

[Cheyenne Teska · Rating 5 out of 5]

With beautiful writing and a plot that pulls you in, I have to say that Mortality is one of the best zombie books I've ever read. The world has seemingly come to an end, and those who have survived have no choice but to live in fear. Savannah is just a normal teenager, or at least she was before the infection took over. Now she lives with nearly two hundred other people in the local high school, but when the zombies force them out, they must find a new safe haven...except no where is safe. Throughout the story, they encounter many new people and even have some difficulties, but the one good thing about all of this is finding Cole along the way.

I loved the plot, and the fact that there are two types of viruses. We've seen all types of zombies in the horror genre, but the fact that the author combines traditional slow moving zombies and terrifying super-fast zombies was what kept me interested. Not knowing what type the group would stumble upon next was the most thrilling part of reading. As for the characters, they grew on me very quickly. I enjoyed how badass Savannah was, and the fact that she never waited for someone else to take out a zombie, she just did it herself. Full of courage, sass, and enough knowledge to survive, I found her to be the perfect protagonist.

This was exactly the type of book I needed to help me get out of my reading slump! Mortality was full of action scenes, but I found it to be so much more than that. It was about survival, but even more, it was about hope and the fact that these people were willing to do anything to survive and live as they once did with the help of a possible cure. Another thing I really loved was that this book wasn't only about Savannah, but it was also about a girl named Zarah too, which tells a completely different but familiar story. I can't imagine Mortality without these different perspectives, and it's one of the many things that made it unique.

Overall, I believe that fans of the television show, The Walking Dead, and Courtney Summer's This Is Not a Test will fall in love with Mortality. It's a book that both the male and female audience will easily be able to become involved in. Though it is a self published debut, it's definitely a new favorite of mine. Jam-packed full of action, tough-but-lovable characters and so much excitement, this is one zombie novel you won't want to miss!

[Marjolein (UrlPhantomhive) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com

If there's one thing I've learned from zombie books, is the following: Never-ever use a vaccine that's not properly been tested. If you do not believe me, why not read Mortality (Kellie Sheridan), The Passage (Justin Cronin) or ARV-3 (Cameo Renae) although that last one has the most ridiculous vaccine ever: against RADIATION!

First rule of not properly tested vaccines: It will go horribly wrong and people will turn into zombies.

After a first relatively minor zombie attack (unless you're living near Cleveland) the government hurries this new vaccination scheme, which goes - following the strict first rule of not properly tested vaccines - horribly wrong creating a new race of zombies that are a bit less dead and are harder to defeat as they have some other thoughts than BRAINS, apparently.

In this apocalyptic world Savannah and some other survivors have been camping at her old school, trying to stay away from the zombies as much as possible. But when disaster strikes and they have to flee, they learn about a terrible, gruesome plot of the government when trying to save the ones they love.

On the other end of the dual POV is Zarah. In the beginning it's not completely clear what her story adds to the book, but this will become clear eventually. I thought it was an interesting story, also because it describes the craze in the city during the first outbreak better.

The love stories in both story lines were a bit too much for me, but not so eye-rolling annoying that it gave me headaches. They do make stupid decisions, but then again they are new to the whole survival thing.

It's not the best zombie/apocalypse story out there, but I thought it was interesting and nice to read.

Mortality is the first book in the Hitchhiker's Strain duology. The second book is called Duality. A short prequel consisting of four short stories is called End Dayz.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Erin (Historical Fiction Reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

One could argue that zombie lit has been around longer, it didn't officially emerge as its own subgenre until the 1990s. That's kind of hard for me to wrap my head around, mainly because it coincides with my first independent adventures into Barnes and Noble, but that's neither here nor there. Point is the genre has been around nearly as long as I have and though I am familiar enough with the idea on film, I can honestly say Kellie Sheridan's Mortality marks my first encounter with the undead in printed lit.

Overall, I liked what Sheridan did with this piece. I think the generational forms of the virus offer a nice twist and I absolutely adore her treatment of Zarah. There are a lot of limitations to what you can do with a post apocalyptic zombie world and I was pleased with the originality this author brought to the table even if the execution left me feeling a little cheated. I don't mean to be overly critical, I'm merely stating I think this young author has room to grow particularly in terms of structure.

For example, I think Savannah and Zarah's stories were kept apart far too long, a style choice that lent itself to the predictability of the ending. I was roughly halfway through the book, explaining the concept to my husband when it hit me. I literally told him there was only one way to close this story and called it. Had Sheridan played these stories closer together, equalized Savannah and Zarah's face time with the reader, heightened the emotional tension, teasing her audience not with the obvious question of what, but the tantalizing proposition of when, the climax would have packed much more of a punch.

Despite this, I honestly feel The Hitchhiker Strain series has loads of potential and am eager to see where Sheridan takes it in the future.

[E. C. Ecchor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Also posted on my YA Book Blog.

Okay, so, I really wanted to give thus five stars, but there were a lot of little mistakes throughout that really just needed another set of eyes to fix. All the same, I can't completely ignore it, so this is actually a 4.5 star review!

So, this was an engrossing tale of the zombie apocalypse that has torn apart society. In the wreckage, people have tried to rebuild, but it's like the wild west, lawless and dangerous and not always for the reasons you expect.

At first, I kinda didn't like Savannah. I thought she was a little too eager, a little too cocky, but by the end of the book I wanted her to ride off into the sunset with the guy of her choosing and Apocalypse Boy BFF Zack who is one of my favorite characters. He's the strong, loyal, realist guy in all of this and it makes him very likeable. Alex is a jerk, Cole I'm undecided on (still) and Marybeth can shove it where the sun don't shine.

Plot. It was well thought out and decently original, though it follows most of the same tropes of zombie apocalypse stories, but they were well done, coupled with a fast paced style and flow that makes them engaging and worth reading. I at first didn't understand why Zarahs story was so important (beyond the obvious) but by the end I appreciated their paralleled tales.

All in all, I would recommend this to any zombie fan, especially if you like YA, strong (but not over the top) female characters and a good look at what it might be like to make it through the end - one way or another.

[Olivia (Bookcomet) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, really liked this book. It was so action packed and an awesome new take on zombies.

I thought it was really great how we got the point of view of two very different characters. One was Savannah, whose side of the story took place after the outbreak and the other was Zarah, whose side of the story took place during the outbreak. I really liked this because the author had done this very well, I never got confused about the switching. Although I did tend to favour Zarah's point of view because I feel as if her point of view had more action and I felt more sympathy towards her.

The setting was great. It was vivid and easy to picture. Yes, it had some very typical zombie novel ideas, but then there were new ideas as well. I loved the way Savannah talked about zombies in her head, all the nicknames she gave them. The characters were very easy to grow attached to, so there were some very sad and happy moments in there for me as a reader.

I really love the cover, it is so clever and pretty. The major twists in the story were really unexpected. You knew it was going to happen but you didn't know it was going to happen then.

I would recommend this to people who love zombie novels and dystopian worlds. The only thing I would change is to have more of Zarah's point of view. This is an epic fast paced novel that will make you really want a sequel.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review on the blog!
www.carolineandrus.com/blog


I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This poor innocent book was received from NetGalley a little over a year ago. Due to it’s past release date it kept getting set aside in order to read and review books that were not yet released. I’m sorry to the author AND to myself, because this book was great!

Short review: If you’re into zombies and teen fiction, read this book. It’s a fast paced enjoyable read.

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d like to imagine that I’m above being influenced by a pretty, pretty, oh-so-pretty cover, but the truth is, I’m not. I’m susceptible to awesome, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of. Truthfully, upon spying this cover in my inbox for a cover reveal this past December, I just knew I had to read it based on the cover alone. (Because that always ends well, right? But…) What does the cover mean? Are these two separate girls? The same girl? Is it a literal representation of a character(s) or is figuratively showing the duality of an individual? Is it more complicated than that? I had to know.


FYI, I’m not giving you any answers in regard to those questions, but justsoyaknow, in relation to the story, the cover is pretty brilliant, and even better, the story between the covers lives up to the pretty. Er. Kinda. I mean zombie stories aren’t pretty… but I think you get my drift.


Soooo… my interest in undead brain munchers has been more of a recent thing, but my zombie-phase has lasted long enough to observe that most Z-stories are set up pretty much the same way. Infection spreads, people die, people reanimate with a craving for man (and woman)-burgers, insatiable hunger for human flesh propagates more infection, lots of death and reanimation until the country’s infrastructure completely collapses. Lots of canned food, sawed off shot guns, rotting flesh, and living people trying to avoid being bitten by their zombified friends and relations. That’s not to say zombie stories are all cut from the same cloth. Indeed, if a zombie-like virus ever did get unleashed into the general population, I could totally see it playing out as described above. But while this novel does have some of that, it makes a girl thankful when she runs across a story like Mortality that deviates a bit from the norm.


Spreading quickly from ground zero in Cleveland, Ohio, the zombie epidemic moves like wildfire throughout the United States. The public is panicked and fearful as the U.S. government works tirelessly to get a handle on the rising masses of undead. When it’s announced that a vaccine has been created that stops the zombie virus, people flock to get to get this miracle cure. However, as the saying goes… if a thing is too good to be true, it probably is, and it soon becomes clear that the vaccine has some rather… [ahem] unintended and interesting consequences. And in the midst of this terrifying, harsh and uncertain world she’s created, Sheridan simultaneously tells the separate stories of two girls – Savannah Cooper and Zarah Bhandari.


Characters.

Savannah. Her parents killed in a zombie attack, Savannah is taken in a cared for by the surviving citizens of her hometown, New Ravencrest. Savannah, feeling guilt over not being able to save her parents, has become fierce, itching to kill the creatures who took her parents from her. Eager to prove her capability and desperate to make a difference, She’s thrown her energy into training to fight and survive against the Z’s so that one day she’ll be able to help protect her small community. Savvy is driven, determined, able to think on her feet, sarcastic, a little prickly, and has a tendency to be a tad dangerously impulsive; but she demonstrates just enough insecurity and vulnerability through her first person narrative to likable and sympathetic. But perhaps her most admirable quality is her willingness to put others first and her determination not to merely survive, but to live… and Cole, the intriguing stranger who’s wandered into New Ravencrest, gives her an opportunity to fulfill her need to make a difference.



Zarah. As much as I like Savannah, I love Zarah. Living in Cleveland, Zarah has a terrifyingly horrific front row seat to the first outbreak, and together with her classmate (and crush) Liam, her only goal becomes survival as they try to flee the zombie-infested city.

Quiet, a bit nerdy and completely unprepared for zombies, I connected instantly with Zarah. Savannah is totally cool and kickbutt, but Zarah is more of a relatable every-girl character, and her arc throughout this novel, is undoubtedly my favorite part of Mortality. Her transformation from nerd girl to where Sheridan takes her at the end of the novel is some fantastic character development. Plus, Liam? Um… excuse me while I swoon.

I just wish Zarah had been given slightly more page time. Savannah’s narrative compromises about 2/3 of the book, while Zarah’s story is told in the other third. But that’s just me wanting more of my favorite character. In reality, the pacing and frequency of Zarah’s story is pretty close to perfect. Like I said, I just want more.



Cole. Optimistic, charming, earnest, driven by purpose and conviction, Cole has a mission to complete, and he’s convinced Savannah is the girl to help him do it. In a world so overrun by tragedy, despair and hopelessness, Cole is a breath of fresh air. Not that he’s been untouched by tragedy, but his hopefulness is infectious and help circumstances seem just a little less… bad.



World. The world is pretty thoroughly laid out, and though it is developed pretty much according to the typical Z-description I gave above in the introduction, it’s not stale. The dissolution of the US government and infrastructure is pretty much a certainty. Different groups of the living rising up in place of a centralized government? Definitely plausible. And these little self-governed pockets of humanity are fascinating, as each have their own goals, rules, and levels of… friendliness. When you’re fighting for survival, peoples’ true natures tend to reveal themselves – the good, the bad, and the ugly. It’s just a great representation of how things could realistically play out in the event of a real life epidemic… zombie or otherwise.



Story. The dual perspective narration, the unique little twists Sheridan uses to create her zombie lore, and the overall vibe of danger and unease she builds steadily throughout the novel makes Mortality pretty page-turning. Strong characters kept me invested, a strong world kept me intrigued, the characters’ journeys as they set out to complete their various goals kept me entertained, and the ending left me grabby-handing for the next book. And that’s all I’m going to say about that.


Overall. Mortality is sure to satisfy any zombie lover’s craving for a good Z-book. [nom nom nom]

[P.M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

A mysterious virus is changing people into undead zombies. The scientists develop a vaccine quickly. Unfortunately this vaccine makes one a living zombie - a faster, more intelligent zombie who won't decay. I found this somewhat interesting (especially the concern over the quickly-developed vaccine) but the characters did not compel my sympathy. Savannah was too impulsive and Zarah was too needy. I also got sidetracked by the spelling errors, questionable word choice, and poor proofreading.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a man made virus created an epidemic of undead, flesh eating monsters the whole world was thrown into chaos. Things just got even worse when a vaccine supposed to stop the spread of the infection created a new breed of zombies, ones who are faster, stronger and much more intelligent but still just as desperate for a taste of human flesh. Survivors have banded together but supplies are hard to come by and the risk of attack is constant. The new world isn't an easy one and only the smartest will survive.

Mortality is told from the perspective of two teenage girls Savannah and Zarah. Savannah's story begins six months after the vaccine created the new kind of zombies. The survivors from her town are all living together inside the old school building with the adults trying to clear the surrounding area of monsters while they keep the teenagers and children safely inside. Savannah and her friends have spent the last 6 months training and are desperate for a chance to prove themselves but when they are finally given the opportunity things go horribly wrong. Separated from the rest of their group the four friends must try to make it to the safe house to see if they can find the others. Zarah's story actually starts on the night of the second epidemic and we follow her and her boyfriend Liam as they try to find somewhere safe where they can be together.

Out of the two girls I have to admit I liked Savannah more, she was stronger than Zarah and more willing to stand up for herself and her friends. Savannah is the kind of girl who doesn't sit back and wait for others to rescue her, she'd rather be in the thick of the action trying to keep her friends safe. She does make some questionable decisions but you can tell that everything she does she does because she thinks it is the best option for those she cares about. Although I felt Zarah was a weaker character I still enjoyed her story, it was interesting to see things from such a different perspective and I liked the way the two girl's stories gradually start to merge together. I have to admit that I didn't predict the way things ended!

When Savannah and the others are trying to catch up with the rest of their group they come across another survivor Cole. Cole is searching for his uncle who he believes he may be with the survivors from Savannah's town and it is desperately important that Cole finds him. I have to confess I had mixed feelings about Cole, at times I thought he was really sweet but I never really felt like I connected to him. Since I knew he was keeping secrets I found it really difficult to decide if he was trustworthy or not and I found myself really annoyed with the way he put Savannah at risk. There was one point where I couldn't believe that Savannah was stupid enough to go along with his plans and I almost felt that if she was dumb enough to do as he said then she deserved whatever the consequences might be. I did find it interesting to see how different people coped in the situation though. You had very different groups all fighting for the same resources and I think that is only going to get more complex as the series continues. What confused me was the large militia group - they were so organised in many ways but then in others they took stupid risks. They came across as more of a mob at times but they were supposed to be what remained of the government & army which was kind of worrying. It's hard for me to say much more than that without giving spoilers so I'll leave it at that.

Mortality is an interesting start to Kellie Sheridan's Hitchhiker Strain series, there were a few problems that stopped me loving the book as much as I could have but it was still an enjoyable read and she has created an interesting world. I liked the fact she has created 2 different types of zombies and the way both came to exist was well thought out and felt realistic (as much as any zombie story can be believable that is!). I will be keeping an eye out for future books in the series because I'd like to know how Savannah and Cole's story plays out.

[Alicia Batista (Addicted Readers) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been a long time coming for me! I have been eagerly awaiting this book and trust me it was well worth the wait!!! The author has done something very interesting and original here in "Mortality"!

We have two stories in one in this book. It's about two different girls living through the zombie apocalypse and how survival is the number one goal they have in common. But towards the end we get to see the purpose of the separate stories and how their worlds collide. I have never read a book like this and I really enjoyed getting two stories in one, then watching how they come together! Brilliant addition to this book and smart thinking for the author!

Okay, So here's the plot:


Savannah's Story!

First story starts of where the prequel left off after a bunch of people from this community called "Ravencrest" and some outsiders from other states come together to clear out and secure this high school from zombies. Their's well over two hundred people in this school and things are tight, but still livable. But one thing they lack is one of the most important things humans could need. Medical supplies! So Savannah and a group of her friends (all boys) agree to head to the pharmacy to search for medical supplies. While their out in search for the supplies the school gets ambushed by hundreds of Z's (Zombies) and Savannah and her group gets separated from the survivors that had to leave the school. So they have to endure many struggles and hardship through the journeys but one thing they never realized is that the dead may not be the only threat out their, and that the living might very well be the ones to fear!

When all seems lost in the world Savannah meets one boy that might offer a new life! Hope to all people! Hope to save the world from it's demise! But he needs one thing from Savannah, Her!

Savannah goes through so much in her journey and is such a strong and likeable character. All the characters were hard not to like. The author has created a Zombie book like nothing I have ever read. I look up to her for creativity and originality with this book, She truly has done a remarkable job with this book!

So will Savannah agree to help this boy save the world??? And if she does will she be able to do it before all hell breaks lose??? But most importantly will she be able to fight this undenying attraction she is having with him??? Well if you want those answers and more your going to have to read it to find out, you won't be sorry!


Zarah's Story!

Zarah is doing what any other normal teenage girl would be doing when the Zombie Apocalypse hits. Sitting in class gawking over the new boy Liam! When the first wave of the Zombies come across the United States they are watching the devastating attacks on the news trying to figure out what's real and what's a cruel joke! But they get their answers when kids at school start trying to eat each other! That's when the new boy Liam finally steps up to introduced himself in a, "Hi Zarah, we have classes together. Oh yeah, We have to go before we get eaten kinda way"...lol! I guess when people start eating each other all shyness goes out the door! They travel through so many states searching for any since of hope left in world. Zarah and Liam go through the most struggles in the book. My heart really went out to them, for what they had to go through!

This is a must read for ANY Zombie fans! I think you'll enjoy this new twist that Kellie has done with this book! It truly had me on the edge of my seat on the verge of screaming at times! It ended on a serious cliffhanger but it was a pretty amazing twist!

Overall I definitely enjoyed the entire book and give it an EASY 5 stars! I can't wait for the second installment of the "The Hitchhiker Strain Series"!

[Sandra "Jeanz" · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY REVIEW
I received an e-copy of this book directly from the Author, Kellie Sheridan in exchange for my honest review.
I was definitely attracted to the cover of this one, I think the two females on it represent Savannah and Zara. Which are the two points of view that the book is told from. I love the font style and placement of the book title, book series and author name, they do enhance the cover image rather than detract from it. The cover is quite dark, which also suits the book as the characters are going through a seriously dark time too.
Would I pick up this book on the strength of just the cover? Yes the cover would draw me in and the the blurb would totally hook me!
So the book is told from two points of view and also features the characters we met in the prequel End Dayz. Savannah, lost her parents when they were attacked by the infected, infected themselves and put out of their "living death" by a neighbour. Savannah has since learnt how to fight and look after herself becoming a valued member of the New Ravencrest community. Savannah is quited gung-ho and want to go out and fight the zombies, both old and new strains. Her relaxed slightly over confident attitude leads to trouble not just for herself and her group on the mission for supplies but for their community back in the Ravencrest School. Lots of things happen and Savannah ends up leaving her friends and community behind her, joining forces with a guy she's literally just met called Cole. Cole's father is a scientist who may have found the cure . . . Savannah manages to infiltrate another organisation in the hopes of rescuing her friend Zack and cole's brother Ethan.
The other point of view is from Zarah's, being alone with her aunt. Then her Aunt whom she has been staying with, is bitten and knows she must leave Zarah to keep her safe. Zarah's boyfriend Liam turns up just in time to prevent Zarah from truly giving up. Zarah's point of view tell's us all about their escapades. They have to split up shortly after an incident that see's Zarah's life in the balance. Liam promises to come back....Will he come back? Will Zarah survive until then?
I could literally go on and on and on about this book, so much happens, I've tried to leave most of it for you to discover yourselves by reading the book. I'd say read End Dayz first as it gives you some relevant background on certain characters in the book. You would still enjoy Mortality without first reading End Dayz. But I think reading End Dayz first really enhances the reading experience. I love the pace. the writing style, everything about the book!
So did I enjoy the book? Yes I totally loved it! every sentence, every word! Brilliant Book! Would I recommend the book? Definitely yes to all my bookish friends, and already nagging Rachel to add it to her MUST read list! Would I want to read more in this series? Oh yes please as soon, as it's available please! Definitely looking forward to more in this fantastic series.Would I read other books by this Author? I intend to as I have a couple of her other titles already on my kindle to be read. I'm really looking forward to reading them now even more than I was before having read anything by Kellie Sheridan.

[Antara · Rating 4 out of 5]

TL;DR - If you like zombies+survival drama, I would recommend getting your hands on it NOW.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 3.75/5
First Lines: Alex had me beat and I knew it, but I couldn't bring myself to care.
Review:
I'll confess. I. Love. Zombies. Gory braineating mangled half-corpses and a bunch of people trying to survive them?

I liked the story. The setting, with the Militia taking over in place of the government and scientists working in secret to discover a cure- it all came together very well. The alternating POVs were a great way to introduce two different views of the same world. Savannah is a (kickass) teenager living in a community whose main goal is survival against the zombies. She's tired of being kept away from all the action, so she tries taking matters into her own hands. Zarah, however, is mostly removed from the world until her school gets attacked.

I liked Savannah- she was smart and could kick zombie ass.

She kept running her hand through his shiny, black hair and I wanted nothing more than to feed that girl to the undead. Or at least send her on some sort of supply mission to the west coast. The term 'never to be heard from again' didn't have to be a bad thing.

Oh and did I mention funny?
Though she did spend most of the book feeling guilty. But it was *mostly* justified.

Zarah, on the other hand, UGHH. She was just so... I don't know, useless? TSTL? Literally. She basically clung on to Liam THE WHOLE TIME. Boring. And she was always extremely compassionate towards the second generation Zs too. Which, I suppose, was the whole point, but still! She annoyed me.
So obviously it's no surprise that she gets bitten. Because she doesn't check the bathroom that she's never been in before and just blindly steps in even though she lives in a freaking zombie apocalypse!! I mean, there's movies about this shit.

The book was more about Savannah than Zarah though, so don't be too put off!
Cole seems .. seedy, at least in the beginning. Although now they have a burgeoning romance. I wouldn't be so quick to trust him. I don't particularly like him, he's just... shady.

I did like that the whole romance factor was played down; the story focused more on the political aspects: the collapse of the government and the militia taking over.
However, the ending kinda fell flat. It was just too easy - it felt very deus ex machina-like.

I'm curious about how this works out in the next book.

[Unabridged Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mortality starts with the basic zombie storyline, deadly outbreak reanimating corpses trying eat everything in sight, but very quickly, I realized that this was not going to be a typical zombie story. As time went on, the story continued to surprise me, and with every new development I felt more connected to the characters. Mortality has a uniqueness that cannot be replicated, not without feeling like a black and white copy of a beautiful painting.

In Mortality, there is the first deadly viral outbreak that sweeps the world in a matter of days causing people to reanimate and try to eat their friends and neighbors. Everyone just tries to survive, while the power goes out, and the world begins to look like it is over. Then the governments fight back, the CDC develops a vaccination against the deadly virus. The world goes back to functioning, for a little while. While not a whole lot of people are inoculated against the virus compared to world population, enough are to cause the second outbreak. With the need to get the vaccine out there, the proper testing was not completed. Those who are vaccinated still succumb to the virus, it just takes longer, and it does not kill them. They are living breathing zombies, who have the strength and smarts to start wiping the human population off the face of the earth.

Savannah is not the typical zombie survival character; she is not just trying to survive and being happy to be alive for one more day. She wants to fight back, and take back the world from the infected that have stolen everything from her. So much so, that she is willing to leave everyone she knows to have the chance to make a difference. While this is mostly Savannah’s story, we are introduced to a second viewpoint from Zarah. While Savannah’s story picks up six months after the second outbreak, Zarah’s starts the day of the first outbreak. Zarah story is not related to Savannah’s but offers a viewpoint of the whole zombie apocalypse that Savannah’s does not, and it really makes the story the unique story that will forever be one of my favorites.

As this is only the first book in The Hitchhiker Strain, I love the fact that I will get to experience the characters again. I have hopes that things may start looking up for them, but I am wary because it is the zombie apocalypse. Mortality is a book that any fan of zombies needs to read, I think it is a game changer in that genre. I do not know where Kellie Sheridan is going to take this story next, but I cannot wait to find out.
**Unabridged Bookshelf recieved this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review**

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover drew me in, and the synopsis had be enticed. There was no way I was passing up the chance to read this. No matter how many zombie books I read, I find myself always wanting more! Mortality keeps up with the best of them. Savannah finds herself struggling not just with zombies, but also with the troubles of a collapsed society; starvation, lack of medical care, outlaws, and a shortage of relationship choices. Luckily, she meets Cole. It's hard to trust anyone in the Zombie Apocalypse world, and even after finishing this book, I'm not sure Cole can be trusted. I love the ambiguity of it all! It keeps me on my toes.

Savannah can kick some serious ass. She may not be the best shot with a gun, but when it comes to close combat, she knows how to handle herself. Cole isn't a great fighter, but he knows how to run under the radar. The two of them make a great team, teaching each other what it means to survive. I love the chemistry between them, but I also love their banter. The dialogue is well written throughout, flowing naturally.

There are so many zombie books on the market, it's nearly impossible to put a new spin on things. In this case, though, Kellie Sheridan certainly puts forward a good effort! What the synopsis doesn't tell you is that the story, while mostly told by Savannah, has chapters of another girl's POV running through it. Zarah's perspective is what made this story for me. It's what sets this apart from any other zombie tale, and is the reason I am already looking forward to the sequel.

I am giving this book four stars, for the pure enjoyment factor. It kept me up until the wee hours of the morning. But I can't rightly give it a full five star review for a couple small reasons. If you plan on reading this, make sure to put reality on hold for a few minutes. Yeah, I know it's about zombies, totally fictional, but that's not what I mean. I was bothered by how quickly the apocalypse happened, it's unrealistic. They go from never having heard of the virus, to running for their lives within mere hours! You would think that with the incubation period, the hospitals would have noticed the huge influx of patients? Just sayin'. It irked me. I am SO glad that I got over that, though, because the rest of the book was pretty great!

I can easily recommend this book for zombie fans. Just enough gore to keep you squirming, throw in a little clean sexual tension and a mysterious quest for redemption and you have the makings of a great read.

A copy of this book was provided by Netgalley.

[Teresa Mary Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Reviews Here: Readers Live A Thousand Lives

From the moment I heard about this book, I knew I wanted to read it simply for the zombie aspect. While you may think zombies have been done before, this book manages to put its own spin on those lovable flesh eating buggers. I absolutely loved this book and it is a must read for all zombie fans.

Our heroine Savannah is truly awesome. She is a very kickass and ask questions later kind of character and I love that about her. She has adapted well to the end of the world. She is not one to sit by and watch the world crumble, she wants to help in any way possible. I really admire that about her. Despite everything going to hell, she still strives for better and cannot understand why others don’t. Also, she is a great shot with a crossbow.

Then we have Cole… who I loved. There really isn’t any one thing about him that makes him great, he is just a good character. He has survived using his brains and laying low. So when he and our kickass heroine team up, they make for a great duo. One was the brains and the other the brawn.

Along with reading the story from Savannah’s POV, we also see some of the story from another girl named Zarah. Her journey was particularly interesting. I liked that through her eyes we were able to see how the world fell apart and what happened when the world ended.

Mortality has a very The Walking Dead feel to it and I loved that. They story has all the zombie fighting you want, but there is more to the story. The story is not just about killing zombies, it is also about how these people are dealing living in this post-apocalyptic world. You easily become invested in the story and root for the characters from page one.

The end to Mortality was so awesome. I was on the edge of my seat dying to see the outcome. It was a bit shocking honestly and not where I thought the author was going with it. So naturally that was awesome. The end is bittersweet and it made my heart hurt. Some events had me smiling while others ripped my heart out of my chest.

All in all, Mortality is a must read for zombie fans! It has everything you want in a post-apocalyptic zombie infested world but it also delivers its own aspect. This is the kind of book I could easily visit again and again.

*I received a copy of this book from the author as a part of the blog tour in exchange for a fair and honest review

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't read very many books about zombies, I just don't. For whatever reason they usually don't appeal to me (with few exceptions of course) but this one drew me in. I admit, the cover whore in me came out and I had to pick it up after seeing it. So I guess all in all, the cover did its job well. It caught my interest and drew me in.

Thankfully this was more than just a pretty cover.

I really loved how this was broken down, we didn't just get Savannah's story but also a girl named Zarah.

Both are alive during the first outbreak but both are in different parts of the country and both have very different circumstances they are dealing with and living in by the time the second outbreak hits. It was nice to get the different points of view of what was going on in the country at the time and it helped break up all the info about the virus, the vaccine and the consequent second outbreak of zombies. I never felt like I was getting information overload by only one person telling the story at once. Instead the author told the history of the outbreak and where the world currently stood slowly over the course of both girl's tale. It was a smart move and helped ease me into the story. I never had any unanswered questions or left feeling confused about what was going on.

Although I liked both girls, I really liked Savannah. She was strong and impulsive but determined to do what needed to be done to survive. She didn't play the damsel in distress, not that Zarah did but for whatever reason I just connected better with Savvy.

There are also two boys (of course!) in each POV, well more than one really in Savannah's but for the most part we get Cole and Liam in their tale along with a few others along the way. Again both boys were pretty great and very different from one another although both are working towards the same goal, to help save those they love and to help end the virus and find a cure.

I have to say, even though this story involves zombies, I could picture it happening. Truly, while reading this there were points in the story where my stomach dropped and I kept thinking about how awful it would be to wake up one morning and having your whole world changed like theirs did. How plausible it would be for an experiment to have gone wrong and the whole world to suffer for it.

How Zarah and Savannah's two world collide was brilliant and so well done. I am looking forward to reading the next book.

[Michele at A Belle's Tales · Rating 5 out of 5]

“So close. Too close. Turn! Turn, dammit. I want to see who it will be that ends me.”

I’ve been in the throes of major Walking Dead withdrawal, so I was ecstatic to receive Mortality for review. This book was exactly what I needed! The story is exciting, the plot is riveting, and the characters are amazing. While I initially was enjoying the story because it felt reminiscent to one of my favorite reads, Kellie Sheridan took her story to a new and unique level, making me quickly drop any comparisons I had in the beginning. She writes a POV from a particular character that blew me away! Ever since my Buffy the Vampire Slayer days, I’ve been enthralled with female lead characters who are worthy of the label ‘badass.’ I don’t hand out that title generously, so believe me when I say that Savannah easily earns it. She had me at ‘picking up my crossbow.’ She’s not only tough, but she asserts herself as a leader; and, while some results weren’t always favorable, I admired her tenacity and her willingness to right any wrongs she felt she may have made. Savannah’s story is fascinating, but there is a parallel story being told from Zarah’s POV that is nothing short of brilliant. I love both of these strong female characters.

It is a rare treat when a zombie novel can not only thrill me but also get me emotionally invested. I was moved to tears twice in this incredible story. The ending kicked me hard – right in the feels – and even though I was sobbing “Undo it! Undo it!” I really respect an author who makes such courageous decisions in their story. Ms. Sheridan breathes new life into a theme that is currently all the rage.

Whether you prefer zombie books that showcase the gory side of zoms or lean more toward reading about the living as they fight the undead and deal with the apocalypse, you get it all in Mortality. A great story that will appeal to many readers! I can hardly wait for the next installment in the Hitchhiker Strain series.

A huge thank-you to Patchwork Press and Netgalley for the copy of Mortality in exchange for my honest review.

This review was originally posted on my blog, A Belle's Tales.

[Nica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Posted in my blog:http://gongjumonica.wordpress.com/201...

It seems zombie is the next big thing. After reading and watching Warm Bodies starring handsome Nicholas Hoult and learning that World War Z will make it to the big screen, I found myself introduced to many zombie-themed novels sprouting in bookstores like mushroom. It is challenging to pick which are edible and good for the palate.
Mortality by Kellie Sheridan offers nothing much different than post-apocalyptic Z novels. Many zombies are lurking in the neighborhood, people were forced to evacuate to a safer place, some courageous teenagers wanting to play heroes, etc. I can read all of these in other Z novels. So what makes reading this book bearable?

First, the author has an excellent way of writing. The words flow effortlessly like being narrated by someone. No big words or deep idioms to impress. I like the simplicity of it – to express. The scene transitions are also good – not abruptly cut or overly described. The POVs shifting is something that I looked forward to instead of being annoyed at. She wrote few “chapters” or scene shifts before changing POV which made me less confused in reading.

Second, the characters are teenagers and I like that the author personified them appropriately. They acted in their age. Maturity can be achieved in a younger age, I know, but I feel uncomfortable when I read younger characters acting all grown up. It makes the story unrealistic. In Mortality, the author created the characters with flaws. And when I used the plural form, I meant it. Sheridan created a lot of faults in personalities and errors in decisions and I like it. Teenagers are susceptible having and doing just that, right?

Finally, what I like best in this book is the fresh idea the author introduced. It is not new that being a zombie could be caused by a virus, but what about having two kinds of zombies? The first one infected with the virus, and the second one vaccinated with the miracle drug. The latter will also be infected, but will still preserve the person’s instincts and strengths. Imagine smart and running zombies!

*I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Free copy provided on Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
I'm not usually one for Zombie books and there are only a couple I have read and even at that if they are in a series I don't usually bother with the next book as they just don't interest me enough BUT when I seen this book on Netgalley I thought it looked good plus I liked the cover (yes I know I shouldn't judge by the cover but we all do it).
This is by far the best Zombie book I have ever read.
It starts off 6 months after the second wave of Z's (Zombies) started. The main Character Savannah has been living in her school along with the other survivors in her town and she had been training to fight the Z's. when she and her friends are sent on a run to get some medical supplies from a pharmacy in an area of the town that has mostly been cleared of Z's she decides to change paths and try to get better supplies from the over run medical center and when her plan to distract the Z's goes wrong her town has to evacuate. we then meet Cole (who I don't really like or trust for some reason) son of a scientist who helped create the Vaccine which lead to the second wave. Cole wants Savannah's help getting back to his family with things he collected to make another cure and Savannah with a chance to save one of her friends and glad to be able to do something gladly helps and is soon falling for Cole.
Throughout the Story we also get to read a little in another POV. Starting on the first day of the first wave we meet Zarah who is just going through a normal day of school when the news is put on and everything goes to hell. She is saved from school by the new guy Liam who she has had a Crush on. They grow close while waiting for rescue. When the second wave hits they run together looking for somewhere safe where they can be together. I loved reading the later scenes with Zarah after she is bitten (don't think this is much of a spoiler due to the cover) being inside the mind of a Zombie was interesting and it's the first time I have read anything from the POV of a Zombie.
I hated how the book ended and was in tears. Really can't wait to read the next book.

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