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Deadland #1
100 Days in Deadland
A Journey Through Dante's Inferno with a Shambling Twist...
The world ended on a Thursday.
In one day, the world succumbed to a pestilence that decimated the living. In its place rose a new species: vicious, gruesome, wandering monsters with an insatiable hunger for the living. There is no government, no shelter.
Still in her twenties, Cash has watched her friends die, only to walk again. An office worker with few survival skills, she joins up with Clutch, a grizzled Army veteran with PTSD. Together, they flee the city and struggle through the nine circles of hell, with nothing but Clutch’s military experience and Cash’s determination to live. As they fight to survive in the zombie inferno, they quickly discover that nowhere is safe from the undead… or the living.
This is the beginning after the end.
(100 Days in Deadland is a modern remake of Dante's Inferno, the classic tale on the horrors of hell... zombie apocalypse style!)
The world ended on a Thursday.
In one day, the world succumbed to a pestilence that decimated the living. In its place rose a new species: vicious, gruesome, wandering monsters with an insatiable hunger for the living. There is no government, no shelter.
Still in her twenties, Cash has watched her friends die, only to walk again. An office worker with few survival skills, she joins up with Clutch, a grizzled Army veteran with PTSD. Together, they flee the city and struggle through the nine circles of hell, with nothing but Clutch’s military experience and Cash’s determination to live. As they fight to survive in the zombie inferno, they quickly discover that nowhere is safe from the undead… or the living.
This is the beginning after the end.
(100 Days in Deadland is a modern remake of Dante's Inferno, the classic tale on the horrors of hell... zombie apocalypse style!)
450 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 23, 2013
200 people are currently reading
2513 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Aukes
66 books409 followersRachel Aukes is the bestselling author of over forty books, including 100 Days in Deadland, which made Suspense Magazine’s Best of the Year list. She writes in a number of genres, including science fiction, fantasy, horror, thriller, and more. Her series includes Waymaker Wars, Space Troopers, Flight of the Javelin, Fringe, Deadland Saga, Colliding Worlds, and Guardians of the Seven Seals. Her novels have repeatedly been Amazon Top 100 bestsellers and #1 bestsellers in Horror, Post-Apocalyptic, Space Fleet, Space Marine, Galactic Empire, Colonization, Alien Invasion, and Cyberpunk. When not writing, Rachel can be found flying old airplanes with an incredibly spoiled dog over the Iowa countryside.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 243 reviews
July 14, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Get ‘em where I want ‘‘em.’
‘100 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃' Is the first full length zombie series by new to me author Rachel Aukes.
The cover itself didn't scream read to me, but after doing multiple searches for zombie books to read this one popped up a few times, so with nothing to lose off to amazon I went and grabbed it, and from that very first page I became hooked.
This definitely did what I was hoping it would and that was to pull me out of the slump I'd found myself in..This had everything I wanted and craved..Hardcore action, good vs bad guys, nail biting sit on the edge of your seat angst filled goodness...There's so much to unpack in this book because the action just kept on coming.
One scene that gave me the hebe jebes was the two siblings holding hands, I really wished we could've dived into those two more, like wtf were they!?!
Before the end of the world Cash (a nickname) was an office girl stuck within a bubble of a cubicle so when the crap hit the fan I didn't have much hope for her, racing out of the office with a coworker their first destination was her house, but when they hit a roadblock of other like minded people trying to get home to their loved ones she pleaded with a trucker to give them a ride away from the ensuing chaos, which he does under duress. That was the first time Clutch saved her and believe me it won't be the last.
Don't be fooled by this office girl Cash though, because she is one of the toughest heroines I have come across in this genre and will go to any lengths to save her small family even if it means putting herself in danger to do it..
Clutch was a hardcore armed forces man, gruff and closed off, and it took some time for him to warm up to Cash, teaching her survival skills needed for this changed world, they take in a teenage boy who lost his parents and the bond these three share can not be beat, I prayed and worried over these three survivors as though they were my own family.
It's not just the zombies that make me jump into this genre time and time again, it's the surviving within a changed world that gets me hooked, how will you defend yourself? Weapon of choice? the bonds formed, the scavenging, that adrenaline rush when they are in danger, for me it's like a drug which I seek out to get my blood pumping leaving me on a high which this genre gives me.
‘100 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃' Is the first full length zombie series by new to me author Rachel Aukes.
The cover itself didn't scream read to me, but after doing multiple searches for zombie books to read this one popped up a few times, so with nothing to lose off to amazon I went and grabbed it, and from that very first page I became hooked.
This definitely did what I was hoping it would and that was to pull me out of the slump I'd found myself in..This had everything I wanted and craved..Hardcore action, good vs bad guys, nail biting sit on the edge of your seat angst filled goodness...There's so much to unpack in this book because the action just kept on coming.
One scene that gave me the hebe jebes was the two siblings holding hands, I really wished we could've dived into those two more, like wtf were they!?!
Before the end of the world Cash (a nickname) was an office girl stuck within a bubble of a cubicle so when the crap hit the fan I didn't have much hope for her, racing out of the office with a coworker their first destination was her house, but when they hit a roadblock of other like minded people trying to get home to their loved ones she pleaded with a trucker to give them a ride away from the ensuing chaos, which he does under duress. That was the first time Clutch saved her and believe me it won't be the last.
Don't be fooled by this office girl Cash though, because she is one of the toughest heroines I have come across in this genre and will go to any lengths to save her small family even if it means putting herself in danger to do it..
Clutch was a hardcore armed forces man, gruff and closed off, and it took some time for him to warm up to Cash, teaching her survival skills needed for this changed world, they take in a teenage boy who lost his parents and the bond these three share can not be beat, I prayed and worried over these three survivors as though they were my own family.
It's not just the zombies that make me jump into this genre time and time again, it's the surviving within a changed world that gets me hooked, how will you defend yourself? Weapon of choice? the bonds formed, the scavenging, that adrenaline rush when they are in danger, for me it's like a drug which I seek out to get my blood pumping leaving me on a high which this genre gives me.
April 9, 2022
Well the plot might seem clique but honestly this is one of the best zombie series I have ever read. Reading this series has been a beautiful journey and I am kind of sad that it ended as I got heavily invested in the characters and their stories and I look forward to revisiting this series some time in the future.
REREAD: Rereading this brought back a lot of memories.
REREAD: Rereading this brought back a lot of memories.
March 26, 2023
Book one in a trilogy and this is the best zombie book I’ve read so far, I found it really realistic and interesting how the survivors acted when they formed into camps.
I can’t wait to read the next one to see how the saga continues.
At time of posting this trilogy is available on Kindle Unlimited.
Five stars.
I can’t wait to read the next one to see how the saga continues.
At time of posting this trilogy is available on Kindle Unlimited.
Five stars.
June 3, 2024
Reread: May 2024
Still just as brilliant as the first time, but I don't remember it being quite as brutal and depressing as it is.
1st read: 28th September 2020
This is a 4.5 star read.
Still just as brilliant as the first time, but I don't remember it being quite as brutal and depressing as it is.
1st read: 28th September 2020
This is a 4.5 star read.
August 26, 2013
We have all heard the phrase, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” I would like to amend that to “Don’t judge a book by its genre.” When I was asked to read “100 Days in Deadland” and heard it was a zombie novel, I had my doubts, which were quickly squelched. The author has characterized her work as paralleling Dante’s “Inferno” with zombies. All I could think of was George Orwell’s “Animal Farm.” The analysis may not be spot on, but any book that reminds you of a literary masterpiece yet has its own voice and platform must be pretty good, right? Wrong...it must be great!
“100 Days in Deadland” begins with an ‘epidemic’ that turns people into zombies (zeds). The zeds have a one track mind...to eat. If a person is bitten, they will turn. We meet a twenty-something girl, Cash, and a more mature Special Forces vet, Clutch, who will try to navigate what Dante called the nine circles of Hell. In the days to come, they find the world has changed, but man’s vices have not. Greed, corruption, and betrayal are still alive and well.
I was hooked from page one because I cared about the characters. Rachel Aukes has written tenderness and compassion into a world of chaos and struggle. She has shown us a post-apocalyptic world where the core to life is still moral judgment. The players may have changed, but the game has not. It’s still good vs evil. I will not hint at the end of “100 Days in Deadland.” I will only say it was as shocking as the book was good.
“100 Days in Deadland” is a stunning exploration of the human spirit: survival and greed, good and evil...a microcosm of today’s society wrapped up in a dystopian novel.
Don’t judge this book by its genre. Rachel Aukes has written a modern take on a classic.
I for one, cannot wait for her next book.
Reviewed by J.M. LeDuc, author of “Cornerstone,” published by Suspense Publishing, a division of Suspense Magazine ■
“100 Days in Deadland” begins with an ‘epidemic’ that turns people into zombies (zeds). The zeds have a one track mind...to eat. If a person is bitten, they will turn. We meet a twenty-something girl, Cash, and a more mature Special Forces vet, Clutch, who will try to navigate what Dante called the nine circles of Hell. In the days to come, they find the world has changed, but man’s vices have not. Greed, corruption, and betrayal are still alive and well.
I was hooked from page one because I cared about the characters. Rachel Aukes has written tenderness and compassion into a world of chaos and struggle. She has shown us a post-apocalyptic world where the core to life is still moral judgment. The players may have changed, but the game has not. It’s still good vs evil. I will not hint at the end of “100 Days in Deadland.” I will only say it was as shocking as the book was good.
“100 Days in Deadland” is a stunning exploration of the human spirit: survival and greed, good and evil...a microcosm of today’s society wrapped up in a dystopian novel.
Don’t judge this book by its genre. Rachel Aukes has written a modern take on a classic.
I for one, cannot wait for her next book.
Reviewed by J.M. LeDuc, author of “Cornerstone,” published by Suspense Publishing, a division of Suspense Magazine ■
October 27, 2014
5 shiny stars.
Ooookay. I recently told someone that I don't much like zombie books. That's absolutely true, then and now. The zombies in this book did nothing for me. They could have been invading aliens instead, and the book would have worked just as well for me still.
So, zombies aside, what I enjoyed was the storytelling: it was fresh, compelling, linear with few, but choice detours, completely and entirely unaffected (I've started loathing authors affecting the litfic feely-touchy thingie lately with a real passion! Keep the bloody metaphors, similes and purple prose where they can rot, please), and the story was interesting (even though a very basic plot known from quite a few dystopian settings). And above all, there was a strong heroine who didn't look like Angelina Jolie and had no problems to defer to men when that was the logical thing to do.
Quite the fresh breeze, after a few less than optimal experiences in Romancelandia with ever-samey prose.
Ooookay. I recently told someone that I don't much like zombie books. That's absolutely true, then and now. The zombies in this book did nothing for me. They could have been invading aliens instead, and the book would have worked just as well for me still.
So, zombies aside, what I enjoyed was the storytelling: it was fresh, compelling, linear with few, but choice detours, completely and entirely unaffected (I've started loathing authors affecting the litfic feely-touchy thingie lately with a real passion! Keep the bloody metaphors, similes and purple prose where they can rot, please), and the story was interesting (even though a very basic plot known from quite a few dystopian settings). And above all, there was a strong heroine who didn't look like Angelina Jolie and had no problems to defer to men when that was the logical thing to do.
Quite the fresh breeze, after a few less than optimal experiences in Romancelandia with ever-samey prose.
December 25, 2015
The zombie apocalypse occurs, and the biggest problem is, Cash has few skills that are useful. She can't shoot a gun, can't fight, and has nowhere to go. Luckily she bumps into Clutch; veteran, doomsday prepper, and about as prepared for the apocalypse as one can get. Now the biggest challenge isn't surviving the zombies, it's surviving the other humans.
If you like zombie books with action and survival elements you might like it. If you like zombie books with philosophy and interesting in depth characters... yeah, no.
As a sidenote: The connection to Dante's Inferno is tenuous at best. Aukes included a few vague allusions to it that have been blown out of proportion by her marketing
A fairly quick and easy read. The action is pretty good, and there's some interesting elements she's incorporated into it, although there are several points where the main character only survives because of pure blind luck. There's more of a focus on building up fortifications for the long haul than we usually see with zombies, which is interesting, and it's not detailed enough to slow the plot to crawl.
There is a slight romance, but they don't have much chemistry, and it doesn't help that neither character is all that interesting.
I wanted to find the main villain interesting. There are hints and clues to a complicated character who just went too far. But mostly he's just pure evil. I kept waiting for more depths to be revealed and it just didn't happen.
Ultimately I think the biggest problem is, there's just not much emotion. The characters are very stoic in the face of things that would cause the average person to have breakdowns. It makes for a fast pace, but a story that doesn't effect the reader much.
Ultimately, a fun if forgettable read
If you like zombie books with action and survival elements you might like it. If you like zombie books with philosophy and interesting in depth characters... yeah, no.
As a sidenote: The connection to Dante's Inferno is tenuous at best. Aukes included a few vague allusions to it that have been blown out of proportion by her marketing
A fairly quick and easy read. The action is pretty good, and there's some interesting elements she's incorporated into it, although there are several points where the main character only survives because of pure blind luck. There's more of a focus on building up fortifications for the long haul than we usually see with zombies, which is interesting, and it's not detailed enough to slow the plot to crawl.
There is a slight romance, but they don't have much chemistry, and it doesn't help that neither character is all that interesting.
I wanted to find the main villain interesting. There are hints and clues to a complicated character who just went too far. But mostly he's just pure evil. I kept waiting for more depths to be revealed and it just didn't happen.
Ultimately I think the biggest problem is, there's just not much emotion. The characters are very stoic in the face of things that would cause the average person to have breakdowns. It makes for a fast pace, but a story that doesn't effect the reader much.
Ultimately, a fun if forgettable read
February 14, 2018
This was better than I thought. Surprisingly good.
Mini review
I'm not a huge fan of horror books. I usually prefer to read something easier and more peaceful, so this book was something different.
100 Days in Deadland is a retelling of Dante's Inferno with zombies. The book is full of unexpected turns and twists. At the beginning, I was slightly afraid of reading this horror story, but soon after starting, I found it really easy to read and to follow what is happening.
The book tells the story of Cash, a young female whose life changes dramatically after epidemy of a particular virus. People affected by aforementioned virus turns savage, brutal and mindless; they are a living dead. Cash decides to fly away from her office. In her journey to the safety, she meets several different nice or dangerous people.
I like the writing style in this book which at times turns comic. This book made me laugh not just once. At other times it made me sad. Or even confused.
Overall, the idea of this book sounds pretty cool. I like how the author portrayed each of her characters and at the same time still be loyal to concepts from Aligieri's Inferno. I really look forward to reading remaining 2 books of the trilogy.
Mini review
I'm not a huge fan of horror books. I usually prefer to read something easier and more peaceful, so this book was something different.
100 Days in Deadland is a retelling of Dante's Inferno with zombies. The book is full of unexpected turns and twists. At the beginning, I was slightly afraid of reading this horror story, but soon after starting, I found it really easy to read and to follow what is happening.
The book tells the story of Cash, a young female whose life changes dramatically after epidemy of a particular virus. People affected by aforementioned virus turns savage, brutal and mindless; they are a living dead. Cash decides to fly away from her office. In her journey to the safety, she meets several different nice or dangerous people.
I like the writing style in this book which at times turns comic. This book made me laugh not just once. At other times it made me sad. Or even confused.
Overall, the idea of this book sounds pretty cool. I like how the author portrayed each of her characters and at the same time still be loyal to concepts from Aligieri's Inferno. I really look forward to reading remaining 2 books of the trilogy.
September 13, 2019
I have a problem with this book and I think a lot of zombie apocalypse books skirt this edge.
The heroes, the people you're supposed to love are often kind of rotten.
Throwing around words like treason and traitor and summarily executing folks for telling lies or backing the wrong horse, those things left a bad taste in my mouth.
For what it is, it's not too bad...and those things are only a small part of the book. There is enough good in there that I'm moving on to Book 2 & 3.
The heroes, the people you're supposed to love are often kind of rotten.
Throwing around words like treason and traitor and summarily executing folks for telling lies or backing the wrong horse, those things left a bad taste in my mouth.
For what it is, it's not too bad...and those things are only a small part of the book. There is enough good in there that I'm moving on to Book 2 & 3.
August 27, 2013
100 Days in Deadland introduces the reader to a young woman living in Des Moines, Iowa who is thrust into the start of the zombie apocalypse within the very first paragraph. The story starts out with a bang, with Cash (a nickname she is given early on in the story) getting attacked by a woman who has gotten infected in her office. She narrowly escapes the assault and flees with another co-worker as everyone around them goes mad-either with infection or panic. While the duo race from the office they realize that the entire world is rapidly being consumed by the living dead and there is little hope that they will find anyplace safe. Narrowly escaping from another harrowing assault on the highway, Cash manages to hook up with an over-the-road truck driver nicknamed Clutch, who reluctantly takes her out of the city to the farm in the Iowa countryside where he lives.
Despite her efforts to appeal to his sympathetic side, Clutch isn’t too interested in lending long term shelter to Cash, who he believes, like many city dwellers, has very few real survival skills. She is just another mouth he will have to feed and protect when his main focus should be doing his best to survive on his own. But Cash is determined to prove to Clutch that she can stand on her own two feet and deal with both the undead and every other hardship that comes her way.
100 Days in Deadland tells the story of Cash’s journey through the nine circles of hell and her efforts to keep her mind and her body intact, no matter how many nightmares this new world throws at her. The author makes it clear that this tale is her translation of the first poem in Dante’s Divine comedy, as seen through the eyes of a zombie apocalypse survivor. Though she details the story’s comparable elements in the forward and afterward, and entitles each section of the book with a new circle of hell, the story requires no experience of having read any of Dante’s works to appreciate what is happening to Cash on the book’s pages.
This is not the first zompoc tale that has referenced Dante’s Inferno. Kim Paffenroth wrote an even more closely aligned tale with the main character being Dante himself in “Valley of the Dead.” That story tells the tale of how Dante survived a zombie apocalypse in a remote area of Europe which in turn influenced his writing of his master work. Rachel Aukes takes very different approach, giving the reader a modern bent on her main character’s journey through hell.
This is a fast paced, fly by the seat of your pants type story, with plenty of action to go around for the avid zombie fan. Cash is a solid main character, and since this story is told in first person, we get to see the world through her eyes as it transforms around her and how it transforms her as well-from someone who has lived a sheltered life to someone bound and determined to build the much needed callouses on her body and soul that will allow her to survive while at the same time doing her best not forgetting what it means to be human.
The zombies here are fairly traditional, with the increasingly popular slant of having them faster the more recent their infection and dependent on the level of damage they’ve absorbed. The older undead are the more well-known slow and slouching variety. Despite the tie-in to Dante, the story here is fairly traditional zombie apocalypse centered stuff, with the human menace being more fearsome and terrifying than the undead. There were some intriguing and devious combat techniques used by the villains that I will not spoil by sharing, but thought was quite creative.
Cash is an underdog character who is admittedly weak and timid at first but comes to accept that the only way she won’t be a burden and will be able to survive and thrive in this new world is to adapt and grow tougher and wiser at the same time. She learns how to fight and defend herself from Clutch, who is ex-military, and improvises given the fact that she isn’t a burly warrior with a great deal of combat experience. She also teaches Clutch to have a reason to care for someone else after having resigned himself to a solitary existence filled with nothing more than staving off the living dead.
Overall, this is a solid and entertaining zombie apocalypse book. Though the author has written this as a variation of Dante’s Inferno, it is not dramatically different than many other zombie apocalypse tales in its delivery or overall storyline. Still, the characters are accessible and appealing, the action smooth, and the journey of Cash is worth taking with her, even if the ending is a bit abrupt. I am not one to complain about cliff hanger endings, or endings that sew everything else up nicely, but this ending left me a bit frustrated, puzzled over whether the author has plans on writing her versions of Dante’s Purgatory and Paradise next or if Cash’s story is finished. Regardless of this minor criticism, this is an entertaining zombie apocalypse read worth checking out.
Despite her efforts to appeal to his sympathetic side, Clutch isn’t too interested in lending long term shelter to Cash, who he believes, like many city dwellers, has very few real survival skills. She is just another mouth he will have to feed and protect when his main focus should be doing his best to survive on his own. But Cash is determined to prove to Clutch that she can stand on her own two feet and deal with both the undead and every other hardship that comes her way.
100 Days in Deadland tells the story of Cash’s journey through the nine circles of hell and her efforts to keep her mind and her body intact, no matter how many nightmares this new world throws at her. The author makes it clear that this tale is her translation of the first poem in Dante’s Divine comedy, as seen through the eyes of a zombie apocalypse survivor. Though she details the story’s comparable elements in the forward and afterward, and entitles each section of the book with a new circle of hell, the story requires no experience of having read any of Dante’s works to appreciate what is happening to Cash on the book’s pages.
This is not the first zompoc tale that has referenced Dante’s Inferno. Kim Paffenroth wrote an even more closely aligned tale with the main character being Dante himself in “Valley of the Dead.” That story tells the tale of how Dante survived a zombie apocalypse in a remote area of Europe which in turn influenced his writing of his master work. Rachel Aukes takes very different approach, giving the reader a modern bent on her main character’s journey through hell.
This is a fast paced, fly by the seat of your pants type story, with plenty of action to go around for the avid zombie fan. Cash is a solid main character, and since this story is told in first person, we get to see the world through her eyes as it transforms around her and how it transforms her as well-from someone who has lived a sheltered life to someone bound and determined to build the much needed callouses on her body and soul that will allow her to survive while at the same time doing her best not forgetting what it means to be human.
The zombies here are fairly traditional, with the increasingly popular slant of having them faster the more recent their infection and dependent on the level of damage they’ve absorbed. The older undead are the more well-known slow and slouching variety. Despite the tie-in to Dante, the story here is fairly traditional zombie apocalypse centered stuff, with the human menace being more fearsome and terrifying than the undead. There were some intriguing and devious combat techniques used by the villains that I will not spoil by sharing, but thought was quite creative.
Cash is an underdog character who is admittedly weak and timid at first but comes to accept that the only way she won’t be a burden and will be able to survive and thrive in this new world is to adapt and grow tougher and wiser at the same time. She learns how to fight and defend herself from Clutch, who is ex-military, and improvises given the fact that she isn’t a burly warrior with a great deal of combat experience. She also teaches Clutch to have a reason to care for someone else after having resigned himself to a solitary existence filled with nothing more than staving off the living dead.
Overall, this is a solid and entertaining zombie apocalypse book. Though the author has written this as a variation of Dante’s Inferno, it is not dramatically different than many other zombie apocalypse tales in its delivery or overall storyline. Still, the characters are accessible and appealing, the action smooth, and the journey of Cash is worth taking with her, even if the ending is a bit abrupt. I am not one to complain about cliff hanger endings, or endings that sew everything else up nicely, but this ending left me a bit frustrated, puzzled over whether the author has plans on writing her versions of Dante’s Purgatory and Paradise next or if Cash’s story is finished. Regardless of this minor criticism, this is an entertaining zombie apocalypse read worth checking out.
March 25, 2015
If you are a zombie-Walking-Dead freak then this book is definitely for you.
Maybe the zombie concept isn't enough to reel you in. Let me enlighten you some more. This gem has the whole package.
There are actions! Tons and tons of actions.
Even the gore descriptions are well-written. I cringed reading it and I'm not easily spooked by the image of blood and brain bits - BUT this one got me. This one really did its job.
There is tension. I'll guarantee you'll be biting down on your nails throughout the story.
NO romance. But there is a warm fuzzy relationship between the two protagonists: Cash and Clutch. It builds up as the book progresses, which is really fun to read.
Overall, Rachel Aukes is a damn good writer who knows how to scare her readers and build up the tension. This is the best zombie-apocalypse book I've come across so far.
Maybe the zombie concept isn't enough to reel you in. Let me enlighten you some more. This gem has the whole package.
There are actions! Tons and tons of actions.
Even the gore descriptions are well-written. I cringed reading it and I'm not easily spooked by the image of blood and brain bits - BUT this one got me. This one really did its job.
There is tension. I'll guarantee you'll be biting down on your nails throughout the story.
NO romance. But there is a warm fuzzy relationship between the two protagonists: Cash and Clutch. It builds up as the book progresses, which is really fun to read.
Overall, Rachel Aukes is a damn good writer who knows how to scare her readers and build up the tension. This is the best zombie-apocalypse book I've come across so far.
March 15, 2017
Really enjoyable book - well as enjoyable as a zombie book can be. I usually don't like it when a book is full of inner dialogue but I felt this book was in need of a little of that. And I wish the military wouldn't have been so naive, especially when they'd been hearing about the militia doing stuff they shouldn't for a while. I don't think the military would have let things stand for as long as they had. Those are my only complaint. Cliffhanger ending. Can't wait to read the next book :)
January 29, 2021
I love zombie retellings of classics, so this modern zombie remake of Dante's Inferno was right up my alley.
And it's so good!
There's lots of cool zombie action, an intense story and characters you can really love.
Even though this book is filled with (subtle) references to Dante's Inferno I will confess that I didn't really take note of them, because the story is so good I was totally engrossed in it. Cash and Clutch are both awesome characters and I rooted for them to survive the ruthless zombie attacks and the even more vile attempts of other people to take away what little they have.
The story follows the descend into hell and with each new circle a new emotion gets introduced to the story. It makes for really intense reading as the sins and emotions that get thrown into the mix are getting gradually worse. There are some really gruesome scenes in this book and they fit the intensity of the story in my opinion. I kept cheering Cash and Clutch on, even as things seemed to go from bad to worse. At times Aukes gave Cash and Clutch some much needed reprieve from their trials and I rejoiced with them whenever things went well for them.
I can't give away too much about the ending without being too spoilery, but I can tell you I'm already looking forward to the next book in this series, because I need more!!
All in all this is a totally awesome post apocalyptic read that I can advice to anyone who loves a good zombie story. That it's a remake of Dante's Inferno is a bonus, but believe me: you don't need to have read it to enjoy and love this book.
And it's so good!
There's lots of cool zombie action, an intense story and characters you can really love.
Even though this book is filled with (subtle) references to Dante's Inferno I will confess that I didn't really take note of them, because the story is so good I was totally engrossed in it. Cash and Clutch are both awesome characters and I rooted for them to survive the ruthless zombie attacks and the even more vile attempts of other people to take away what little they have.
The story follows the descend into hell and with each new circle a new emotion gets introduced to the story. It makes for really intense reading as the sins and emotions that get thrown into the mix are getting gradually worse. There are some really gruesome scenes in this book and they fit the intensity of the story in my opinion. I kept cheering Cash and Clutch on, even as things seemed to go from bad to worse. At times Aukes gave Cash and Clutch some much needed reprieve from their trials and I rejoiced with them whenever things went well for them.
I can't give away too much about the ending without being too spoilery, but I can tell you I'm already looking forward to the next book in this series, because I need more!!
All in all this is a totally awesome post apocalyptic read that I can advice to anyone who loves a good zombie story. That it's a remake of Dante's Inferno is a bonus, but believe me: you don't need to have read it to enjoy and love this book.
November 22, 2013
Absolute gem of a book in a gravel pit if crappy indie published zombie books! I searched long and hard, and finally have succeeded in stumbling into a great book, period. Zombies made it better, of course, and the references to the classic The Inferno were the icing on the cake. I mean, who would even have thought of this???? Apparently, Ms. Aukes, and thank goodness she did, because I'm sure a less talented writer would have MANGLED such an undertaking. Not this author, though! If you are looking for something like 'Alice in Zombieland,' or 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,' look elsewhere. This ISN'T a book that has whole passages pirated from the original with zeds slapped on top. Nope, this is completely original, and although based on Dante's classic, it was not pretentious in the least (which was my biggest concern going in). To quote Aukes herself, "The story you just read in not and never was meant to be a replacement for Dante's 'Inferno.' It is not designed to help you get an "A" in English if you read this novel instead of Dante Alighieri's epic poem. This story was meant to be an enjoyable read, which I hope is exactly how you found it." Yes, that is EXACTLY how I found it!!!
***NOT TO BE MISSED!!! ALL ZED-HEADS OUT THERE NEED TO SNAG THIS LIKE NOW!!! JUST BE CAREFUL YOU DON'T GET A PAPERCUT FLIPPING THROUGH THE BOOK, AS IT FLIES BY AT A BREAKNECK PACE- YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN! THAT'S A PROMISE!!! ;-) ***
***NOT TO BE MISSED!!! ALL ZED-HEADS OUT THERE NEED TO SNAG THIS LIKE NOW!!! JUST BE CAREFUL YOU DON'T GET A PAPERCUT FLIPPING THROUGH THE BOOK, AS IT FLIES BY AT A BREAKNECK PACE- YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN! THAT'S A PROMISE!!! ;-) ***
July 20, 2020
There is really nothing wrong with ‘100 Days in Deadland’, especially if you are interested in blood and action. It has zombies, moves long at pace, and is fairly well-written. Being more into the philosophical and emotional side of the genre, I was not all that enthusiastic about it, and I got less so with the arrival of the military. Don't let me put you off. Eat your brains out!
September 13, 2020
Summary
Cash has no idea that the fast spreading epidemic from South America has reached the Midwest. That is until she is attacked by a coworker then forced to flee the building without her keys or cell phone. She does manage to get lucky when an army veteran truck driver stops to pick her up and gets her out of the zombie filled city.
They soon discover that they make a great zombie fighting team, but their journey is far from easy, being in danger from not only the zombies, but the other survivors as well.
Personal Opinion
I was a bit late finding this book / series as it came out back in 2013. But I love a good zombie story so I figured better late than never.
I'm not familiar with Dante Alighieri's Inferno, which this book is somewhat based on. I really did like the traveling through the circles of hell concept though to give this book a unique twist.
Cash had me rooting for her from the beginning with her strong and motivated attitude.
Overall, it's a great zombie read and I will definitely be reading the next two books in the trilogy.
Cash has no idea that the fast spreading epidemic from South America has reached the Midwest. That is until she is attacked by a coworker then forced to flee the building without her keys or cell phone. She does manage to get lucky when an army veteran truck driver stops to pick her up and gets her out of the zombie filled city.
They soon discover that they make a great zombie fighting team, but their journey is far from easy, being in danger from not only the zombies, but the other survivors as well.
Personal Opinion
I was a bit late finding this book / series as it came out back in 2013. But I love a good zombie story so I figured better late than never.
I'm not familiar with Dante Alighieri's Inferno, which this book is somewhat based on. I really did like the traveling through the circles of hell concept though to give this book a unique twist.
Cash had me rooting for her from the beginning with her strong and motivated attitude.
Overall, it's a great zombie read and I will definitely be reading the next two books in the trilogy.
March 5, 2014
Honestly, I walked away with a "Meh" feeling.
There are some "OK" parts to this story like the combat action scenes.
There are a lot of weak parts to this story like the incredibly stereotypical, flat characters and a highly predictable plot.
Yet, I kept reading with the understanding that this was still a zombie book and might end up being a story of merit.
However, the hype about this story is far greater than my enjoyment of it.
As I said before there is nothing 'special' or 'original' about this zombie story, it is the same old, worn-out zombie story, with bland characters and a plot that can be predicted after a couple chapters. *yawn*
It was not "horrible" but it also wasn't a five star book.
There are some "OK" parts to this story like the combat action scenes.
There are a lot of weak parts to this story like the incredibly stereotypical, flat characters and a highly predictable plot.
Yet, I kept reading with the understanding that this was still a zombie book and might end up being a story of merit.
However, the hype about this story is far greater than my enjoyment of it.
As I said before there is nothing 'special' or 'original' about this zombie story, it is the same old, worn-out zombie story, with bland characters and a plot that can be predicted after a couple chapters. *yawn*
It was not "horrible" but it also wasn't a five star book.
September 30, 2014
Hmmmm, I am not sure about this one. I am really picky when it comes to zombie novels and this one didn't hit the spot for me. I wanted more emotion and character development. I saw the person Cash turned into but I never really got a grasp of who she was. And I didn't like the military stuff.
September 1, 2021
A non-stop zombie, survivalist, post-apocalypse story with a fabulous female character! I actually think I lost a few pounds due to the copious amount of sweating I did reading this. That scene in the elementary school? Holy hell, nope.
Cash is a wonderful character. It’s hard to find a female lead that isn’t wimpy, annoying, or needing a man to save her every time. Cash is incredibly relatable because she’s spent her life working in an office. She realizes she needs to work on herself if she is going to survive, she learns hand-to-hand combat, how to use a gun and properly throw a knife. It made me wonder how I would handle all that, because I know my glowing excel skills won’t do much damage against a zombie.
Clutch is a truck-driving-ex-Ranger-grouch, with a heart of gold. He helps Cash learn the skills she needs to help fortify their ranch and protect herself.
I liked the twist on Dante's Divine Comedy, the horrors of hell. A zombie apocalypse seems a fitting place for it.
I have a few issues with the villain, he’s a bit of a Thanos. His ideas might be harsh, but he’s willing to sacrifice everything for them.
I was also a little disappointed in the hint of a romance. I’m not looking for a lusty hook-up during an apocalypse, but this one left me wanting. There was no build up, no real talk of feelings or emotions. Why do these characters like each other? Is it only survival and an animalistic need to procreate that drives them together?
Not sure if I’ll read the next one. I have to get my heart rate back to a normal before I attempt it. Huge thanks to my friend Tanya who recommended it to me! (I would link her but my ancient Mac is argumentative)
Cash is a wonderful character. It’s hard to find a female lead that isn’t wimpy, annoying, or needing a man to save her every time. Cash is incredibly relatable because she’s spent her life working in an office. She realizes she needs to work on herself if she is going to survive, she learns hand-to-hand combat, how to use a gun and properly throw a knife. It made me wonder how I would handle all that, because I know my glowing excel skills won’t do much damage against a zombie.
Clutch is a truck-driving-ex-Ranger-grouch, with a heart of gold. He helps Cash learn the skills she needs to help fortify their ranch and protect herself.
I liked the twist on Dante's Divine Comedy, the horrors of hell. A zombie apocalypse seems a fitting place for it.
I have a few issues with the villain, he’s a bit of a Thanos. His ideas might be harsh, but he’s willing to sacrifice everything for them.
I was also a little disappointed in the hint of a romance. I’m not looking for a lusty hook-up during an apocalypse, but this one left me wanting. There was no build up, no real talk of feelings or emotions. Why do these characters like each other? Is it only survival and an animalistic need to procreate that drives them together?
Not sure if I’ll read the next one. I have to get my heart rate back to a normal before I attempt it. Huge thanks to my friend Tanya who recommended it to me! (I would link her but my ancient Mac is argumentative)
July 5, 2014
When the Zombie Apocalypse happens, Mia Ryan is your average office worker. She manages to escape Des Moines with help of a trucker named Clutch. He gives her the nickname Cash and she keeps it. Life as Mia knows it is over and her old identity must die for her survive.
The novel spends little time explaining the whys and hows of Zombies other than it's an extremely contagious infection. Instead it takes you inside Cash's head as she struggles to adapt in a kill or be killed world, where Clutch, Cash and a teenage boy named Jase, must learn to work together to survive.
The story telling is excellent and intense. This is a story that will keep you up at night, reading. With the lights on. And a baseball bat handy, you know, just in case.
I am not normally a huge fan of horror but I will be watching for the rest of this series, definitely.
The novel spends little time explaining the whys and hows of Zombies other than it's an extremely contagious infection. Instead it takes you inside Cash's head as she struggles to adapt in a kill or be killed world, where Clutch, Cash and a teenage boy named Jase, must learn to work together to survive.
The story telling is excellent and intense. This is a story that will keep you up at night, reading. With the lights on. And a baseball bat handy, you know, just in case.
I am not normally a huge fan of horror but I will be watching for the rest of this series, definitely.
November 22, 2013
4 1/2 stars rounded up to 5 because that how rounding works and there's no 1/2 point system on Goodreads!
This is a great zombie book that I thoroughly enjoyed, and I must say that before I started it, I was very skeptical about any book of this nature that would model itself after Dante's "Inferno", and I was fully expecting the worst. And very pleasantly surprised, I found this book to be well written, well thought out, very engaging, very entertaining, very action-packed, very, just very.
Congratulations on a job well done, Ms. Aukes. I loved your book.
This is a great zombie book that I thoroughly enjoyed, and I must say that before I started it, I was very skeptical about any book of this nature that would model itself after Dante's "Inferno", and I was fully expecting the worst. And very pleasantly surprised, I found this book to be well written, well thought out, very engaging, very entertaining, very action-packed, very, just very.
Congratulations on a job well done, Ms. Aukes. I loved your book.
December 4, 2013
Probably closer to a 3.5 stars, but it didn't do much to move itself out of your typical zombpacolypse story. Not sure if I will revisit this series or not. The doomsday ex-military survivor cliche doesn't interest me much and this book features a guy right out of central casting.
February 7, 2020
I’ve read so many apocalypse novels this year, I wish more of them were lesfic ‘cause the writers could totally write something awesome!!
I was hesitant to read this book but I’m glad I got it ‘cause I really liked it. The growth Cash goes through both physically and mentally was pretty darn cool. I love that this books focuses on the self-righteous arsehole our good guys have to deal with... ‘cause damn all of them fighting is so bloody good. Well, not really good, perse... but bloody good ‘cause it’s entertaining, exciting and I just want the arseholes to get what’s coming to them.
Anyway, I got the second book so peace out.
I was hesitant to read this book but I’m glad I got it ‘cause I really liked it. The growth Cash goes through both physically and mentally was pretty darn cool. I love that this books focuses on the self-righteous arsehole our good guys have to deal with... ‘cause damn all of them fighting is so bloody good. Well, not really good, perse... but bloody good ‘cause it’s entertaining, exciting and I just want the arseholes to get what’s coming to them.
Anyway, I got the second book so peace out.
February 26, 2021
I was expecting more. From the blurb and synopsis I felt like there would be a little more depth, more real world resonance. That did not happen. I like my zombie apocalypse potboilers as much as anyone and would probably have gone for a 3 star but I dropped a star because of the disappointment with the letdown and because it just kind of fizzled out towards the end. As if the plot just ran out of steam and the writer decided to to take a break till some ideas floated in from somewhere. There is a kind of, sort of, cliffhanger, I guess. In a tell don't show, hey look over there, kind of way. But I don't think I will be following up. Disappointing, nothing we've not seen before.
April 7, 2022
So good but also I'm upset about the cliffhanger at the end. I just want Cash and Clutch to be happy.
February 28, 2015
100 Days in Deadland is a first person account of survival after a zombie plague spreads rapidly through the population.
The book parallels Inferno, the epic poem written by Dante Alighieri. Ms. Aukes divides her book into nine parts representing the nine circles of Hell. Cash is the poet, and Clutch takes on the role of Virgil, her guide.
The book starts with a bang as Cash, our main character who receives this nickname later in the book, finds herself under attack by crazed fellow office workers. She has to fight for her life to escape the building. Shortly after her escape she flags down a trucker by the name of Clutch. He helps her get away but only agrees to allow her to stay at his farm for one or two days at most before she must leave. He has to consider his own survival, and he sees Cash as a liability who would just use up his supplies.
Cash is panicked that she could soon find herself alone amidst this chaos, and she becomes determined to prove her worthiness to stay. Clutch eventually relents and the two begin a journey of survival through the Hell that their world has turned into.
Clutch acts as her guide, teaching her survival training and hand to hand combat and how to shoot. She begins hardening her body and soul to the horrors she will inevitably face. I really liked the development of her character from a terrified office worker to an eventual badass who can more than take care of herself. It's not an over night change, and we see the hard work she goes through, and her struggles to retain her humanity.
Clutch is a complex character. A truck driver who lives on a farm, he is also a former Army Ranger who suffers from PTSD. He at first seems very hardened to Cash's plight, but slowly, very slowly softens and allows her into his world.
Not too far into the book, a teenage boy from a nearby farm joins the two and they become a sort of makeshift family.
Danger comes at them in many forms, the main one being from the zombies or zeds as they are referred to. They also have to contend with food and water shortages and the threat from other survivors who are willing to do whatever it takes to survive in this kill or be killed world.
The world building is well done in conveying this sudden event that has occurred. Cars have been abandoned in the middle of streets, stores have been looted, and everywhere are the dead or the walking dead. The book has some really intense action scenes, but what I really liked was the character development. I really cared about these people. I felt invested in their plight. I found it difficult to put the book down and wanted to just keep reading to see what happened next. The zeds were interesting in that the newly "turned" were faster and stronger than those that had started to deteriorate more.
We are introduced to more characters as the story progresses, including a protagonist more evil than the mindless zeds. He uses some unique, and horrific, methods of combat against his enemies. Sometimes it's the living that are to be feared the most. Some of the atrocities that they commit reflect the sins within the nine circles of Dante's Hell, and I liked how the author worked that into the story.
The ending is a bit abrupt, though similar to the conclusion of Inferno. A sequel is currently listed on Goodreads, at the time I'm posting this review, entitled Deadland's Harvest. Perhaps Ms. Aukes plans on completing her own Divine comedy with a version of Purgatorio and Paradiso to follow. If so, I will definitely be picking up copies!
The book parallels Inferno, the epic poem written by Dante Alighieri. Ms. Aukes divides her book into nine parts representing the nine circles of Hell. Cash is the poet, and Clutch takes on the role of Virgil, her guide.
The book starts with a bang as Cash, our main character who receives this nickname later in the book, finds herself under attack by crazed fellow office workers. She has to fight for her life to escape the building. Shortly after her escape she flags down a trucker by the name of Clutch. He helps her get away but only agrees to allow her to stay at his farm for one or two days at most before she must leave. He has to consider his own survival, and he sees Cash as a liability who would just use up his supplies.
Cash is panicked that she could soon find herself alone amidst this chaos, and she becomes determined to prove her worthiness to stay. Clutch eventually relents and the two begin a journey of survival through the Hell that their world has turned into.
Clutch acts as her guide, teaching her survival training and hand to hand combat and how to shoot. She begins hardening her body and soul to the horrors she will inevitably face. I really liked the development of her character from a terrified office worker to an eventual badass who can more than take care of herself. It's not an over night change, and we see the hard work she goes through, and her struggles to retain her humanity.
Clutch is a complex character. A truck driver who lives on a farm, he is also a former Army Ranger who suffers from PTSD. He at first seems very hardened to Cash's plight, but slowly, very slowly softens and allows her into his world.
Not too far into the book, a teenage boy from a nearby farm joins the two and they become a sort of makeshift family.
Danger comes at them in many forms, the main one being from the zombies or zeds as they are referred to. They also have to contend with food and water shortages and the threat from other survivors who are willing to do whatever it takes to survive in this kill or be killed world.
The world building is well done in conveying this sudden event that has occurred. Cars have been abandoned in the middle of streets, stores have been looted, and everywhere are the dead or the walking dead. The book has some really intense action scenes, but what I really liked was the character development. I really cared about these people. I felt invested in their plight. I found it difficult to put the book down and wanted to just keep reading to see what happened next. The zeds were interesting in that the newly "turned" were faster and stronger than those that had started to deteriorate more.
We are introduced to more characters as the story progresses, including a protagonist more evil than the mindless zeds. He uses some unique, and horrific, methods of combat against his enemies. Sometimes it's the living that are to be feared the most. Some of the atrocities that they commit reflect the sins within the nine circles of Dante's Hell, and I liked how the author worked that into the story.
The ending is a bit abrupt, though similar to the conclusion of Inferno. A sequel is currently listed on Goodreads, at the time I'm posting this review, entitled Deadland's Harvest. Perhaps Ms. Aukes plans on completing her own Divine comedy with a version of Purgatorio and Paradiso to follow. If so, I will definitely be picking up copies!
November 15, 2013
What can I say? We all know I love the works of Rachel Aukes/Berinn Rae and 100 Days In Deadland is no exception. While reading, I was in a love/hate relationship with Aukes. I loved the book, but hated that I was substituting it for sleep.
You are immediately thrown into the action on the first page and not allowed to catch your breath, unless you close the book. This was not an option. Trust me, if I could have handled reading and daily life simultaneously, I would have!
I absolutely loved the way she twisted Dante’s Inferno, it made me want to dig out my old copy for a reread. Kudos to the research placed into PTSD, the military, preppers and weaponry. The work paid off, making the tale believable. The characters and setting felt so real, I found myself jumping at the smallest sounds and double checking any movement, whether it be real or imagined.
Forgive me for being cryptic, but the last thing I want is to spoil the story for anyone. There were two things that absolutely ripped my heart out, Betsy and Mutt. There were two things I figured out before they were revealed, one more obvious than the other. The ‘other’ is exactly what I would have done when attempting to take out my enemy. The ‘obvious’ is one of those plot points that makes you giggle, because you know—or think you know—something the characters don’t.
The ending left me sighing, almost with relief. I could take a breath, I could get some much needed sleep and there will be another installment in the adventures of the Woman in Black!
This is not a gratuitous blood and guts horror novel, everything that happens either advances the story or builds character. On that note, if you’re squeamish, this may not be the book for you. If you are a fan of The Walking Dead, heart-pounding-hanging-off-the-edge-of-a-cliff books, or just love a character driven novel, give 100 Days In Deadland a whirl. I think you’ll be joining me in wait for book two.
You are immediately thrown into the action on the first page and not allowed to catch your breath, unless you close the book. This was not an option. Trust me, if I could have handled reading and daily life simultaneously, I would have!
I absolutely loved the way she twisted Dante’s Inferno, it made me want to dig out my old copy for a reread. Kudos to the research placed into PTSD, the military, preppers and weaponry. The work paid off, making the tale believable. The characters and setting felt so real, I found myself jumping at the smallest sounds and double checking any movement, whether it be real or imagined.
Forgive me for being cryptic, but the last thing I want is to spoil the story for anyone. There were two things that absolutely ripped my heart out, Betsy and Mutt. There were two things I figured out before they were revealed, one more obvious than the other. The ‘other’ is exactly what I would have done when attempting to take out my enemy. The ‘obvious’ is one of those plot points that makes you giggle, because you know—or think you know—something the characters don’t.
The ending left me sighing, almost with relief. I could take a breath, I could get some much needed sleep and there will be another installment in the adventures of the Woman in Black!
This is not a gratuitous blood and guts horror novel, everything that happens either advances the story or builds character. On that note, if you’re squeamish, this may not be the book for you. If you are a fan of The Walking Dead, heart-pounding-hanging-off-the-edge-of-a-cliff books, or just love a character driven novel, give 100 Days In Deadland a whirl. I think you’ll be joining me in wait for book two.
July 26, 2013
What a great way to introduce zombies! My favorite part of this book is the main character. She goes through hell (literally and figuratively) but chooses to be a different person, even going so far as to change her name to a nickname that Clutch gives her. Cash is a new person and she decides that this new persona is a survivor, not a victim.
My initial reaction was one of great love! There is some serious horror in this! And I DO love horror! And blood and guts!! YAY! Now, I know that some people are getting sick of the whole zombie thing, and maybe it is being over written a little, BUT I think it depends on the author. In this case I think Rachel Aukes did a fantastic job. Straight out of the gate you're thrown into the opening of hell and Mia (Cash) has to think on her feet to survive. It's one of the few zombie books that I've read where they don't have a plan or something set up, or some way out at the beginning of the mess. She had to go through killing people that were attacking her and not having a clue that she wasn't actually killing people, that they were zombies!
The emotional trauma and in return, strength that builds is amazing, and I would want to say that I would be like Cash. I don't know, maybe I'm too girly to survive, but I do know that I could see myself in her and that's a win in my book (ha pun intended!).
The one downside that I had is that I think there could have been more to match the chapters to Dante's Inferno. Some hit dead on but early on in the book I was at the chapter for Lust and I was yeah, heck yeah horror and sex! Not so much... to my chagrin. But it was still pretty good and I did really enjoy the writing. I just love when an author can come out with some real horror. The kind that makes me wish my hubby was home to protect me! And Rachel did just that :D
My initial reaction was one of great love! There is some serious horror in this! And I DO love horror! And blood and guts!! YAY! Now, I know that some people are getting sick of the whole zombie thing, and maybe it is being over written a little, BUT I think it depends on the author. In this case I think Rachel Aukes did a fantastic job. Straight out of the gate you're thrown into the opening of hell and Mia (Cash) has to think on her feet to survive. It's one of the few zombie books that I've read where they don't have a plan or something set up, or some way out at the beginning of the mess. She had to go through killing people that were attacking her and not having a clue that she wasn't actually killing people, that they were zombies!
The emotional trauma and in return, strength that builds is amazing, and I would want to say that I would be like Cash. I don't know, maybe I'm too girly to survive, but I do know that I could see myself in her and that's a win in my book (ha pun intended!).
The one downside that I had is that I think there could have been more to match the chapters to Dante's Inferno. Some hit dead on but early on in the book I was at the chapter for Lust and I was yeah, heck yeah horror and sex! Not so much... to my chagrin. But it was still pretty good and I did really enjoy the writing. I just love when an author can come out with some real horror. The kind that makes me wish my hubby was home to protect me! And Rachel did just that :D
September 13, 2014
Because it was another zombie novel, to be completely honest, my expectations for 100 Days in Deadland was fairly low. I was expecting gore, gore and more gore, but I was secretly hoping for a storyline that would suck me in like "The Walking Dead" television series.
The novel opens up in the bathroom where our protagonist, Mia, is being attacked by Melanie from Accounting. Rachel Aukes' breathes life into her characters. They weren't all likable, but they were all realistic in their own way. We see the zombie apocalypse through Mia's eyes as she travels through Des Moines, IA (the setting for Dante's Inferno and the nine circles of hell).
Mia and the rest of the characters begin to evolve into who the zombie apocalypse has made them into (except for Clutch. Clutch is Clutch. Hard. Uncompromising. Troubled with his own code of honor. Perfect for a zombie apocalypse). Mia soon becomes Cash. It was refreshing to see a female lead in an PA novel, where she didn't rely on others for survival, but also wasn't some Wonder Woman archetype. The travel through Dante's nine circles of hell which was Des Moines was very creative, and is a great example of Ms. Aukes' wit.
I immediately purchased the next novel in the series, Deadland's Harvest, because 100 Days in Deadland was just that good. I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes "The Walking Dead" television series. I believe it's even better than my last favorite zombie novel, World War Z. For me, finding a great read is like finding a box full of treasure. The box is the writer and the treasure is her novels. I will be reading anything that Rachel Aukes has written. Bravo, Ms. Aukes. Bravo!!
Quote from 100 Days in Deadland: "Whatever you didn't plan for, that's what's going to happen."
The novel opens up in the bathroom where our protagonist, Mia, is being attacked by Melanie from Accounting. Rachel Aukes' breathes life into her characters. They weren't all likable, but they were all realistic in their own way. We see the zombie apocalypse through Mia's eyes as she travels through Des Moines, IA (the setting for Dante's Inferno and the nine circles of hell).
Mia and the rest of the characters begin to evolve into who the zombie apocalypse has made them into (except for Clutch. Clutch is Clutch. Hard. Uncompromising. Troubled with his own code of honor. Perfect for a zombie apocalypse). Mia soon becomes Cash. It was refreshing to see a female lead in an PA novel, where she didn't rely on others for survival, but also wasn't some Wonder Woman archetype. The travel through Dante's nine circles of hell which was Des Moines was very creative, and is a great example of Ms. Aukes' wit.
I immediately purchased the next novel in the series, Deadland's Harvest, because 100 Days in Deadland was just that good. I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes "The Walking Dead" television series. I believe it's even better than my last favorite zombie novel, World War Z. For me, finding a great read is like finding a box full of treasure. The box is the writer and the treasure is her novels. I will be reading anything that Rachel Aukes has written. Bravo, Ms. Aukes. Bravo!!
Quote from 100 Days in Deadland: "Whatever you didn't plan for, that's what's going to happen."
August 3, 2013
I picked up 100 Days in Deadland initially because of the cover. The vintage poster feel appealed to me. What's inside the cover is even better. Aukes has built a world that is all too real and makes me wonder what I would do if the end truly was knocking on my front door. I connected with the main character quite a bit. Cash is your everyday gal who lives her days within the walls of a cubicle. All that changes in the blink of an eye. If I were being attacked would I defend myself? Could I kill to do so? Cash didn't think she could, but her survival instinct kicked in and she kicked ass. This story is chalk full of action, emotion, horror, mystery, and above all else...hope.
In addition to Cash, there are several other characters that make an impact and will resonate with me for some time. Clutch is the first that comes to mind. For this reason and many more, I do hope this is the first in a series. I look forward to Aukes's next batch of horror!
In addition to Cash, there are several other characters that make an impact and will resonate with me for some time. Clutch is the first that comes to mind. For this reason and many more, I do hope this is the first in a series. I look forward to Aukes's next batch of horror!
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