The Final Stand

The Shores of the Dead #3

by Josh Hilden

The end has come as the various groups and factions race to the apocalyptic climax. As the people of White harbor struggle to shore up their defenses the Rangers and Wolverines make a stand at the Mighty Mackinac Bridge in an effort to thwart the crossing of the Army of the Dead. Some will live and some will die but in the end it will all be decided with the courage of the living on the Shores of the Dead.

Genres: Zombies, Horror, Post Apocalyptic, Action

198 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2012

About the author

Josh is a native of the Metro Detroit region of Michigan and currently calls Dayton, Ohio home. He cut his writing teeth in the role-playing game (RPG) industry working for companies such as Palladium Books and Third Eye Games. Josh married his wife Karen in 1996. They have six children and two grandchildren. Josh writes in a variety of genres, but the majority of his books are in the realms of science fiction and horror.

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again finished the third novel in this series in one sitting. The Shores of the Dead Book 3: The Final Stand made me shed a few tears again and also cheer. My favorite character was one of the survivors and the one I really detested received his just reward. I loved the connection to ancient times and the supernatural forces that are in play. Once more noted grammatical errors but they take nothing away from the story. All in all this is one series of books that goes on my Read Again list! Well done, Josh Hilden.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

very satisfying ending to a great story. he left it open for more but not so much that you're frustrated. I'm excited to read about what happens next for the characters. Hildon is one to watch.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

SotD B3

This part is mainly battle between good versus evil and the survivors last stand. The story moves quickly to its conclusion with lots of action.

This book is the ending to the the actual book comprised of the first three installments. The supernatural elements come out strong in this part. Overall, this tale is enjoyable and the ending foreshadows more to come.

[Carl Timms · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent end to a pulp series that didn't always win me over (some of the writing is horrible, the phrase 'red sauce' having me laughing at an otherwise tense exciting section for example), but rollicked along at a good old pace. The third book is almost wall to wall action which I think helps, so we get less of the painful love stories and lesbian trysts and more of the brutally realised hand to hand combat Hilden writes very well.

Still not sure about the dark god supernatural stuff and was very disappointed with the outcome if the Razors and the dodgy Mayor which went nowhere after a decent build up . But ultimately the story was concluded in a satisfying way and setting up a possible future sequel which will focus on the rebuild post-apocalypse, something I'm almost as interested in as the Dead themselves (also props for the thinly veiled Sarah Palin character, nicely done)

A fun, quick read for the most part, it won't stick with me that long but good for a quick blast.

[Colin Buckland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a good series with an interesting twist where the zombie outbreak's not man made for a change, it's all down to an ancient demon intent on taking over the world. The build up in all the books is good, especially in the first book where you are first introduced to all the main characters, right up to the final battle between the armies of good and evil. Yes there is an army of evil made up of both the living and the dead, lead by a man who believes he's been called on by God himself to protect the earth, when he is in fact a pawn of the demon.

This is one author who's not afraid to kill of main characters, and I'm hoping given the ending that there will be more books to follow.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the way this story wrapped up although it did leave me wanting more. Josh left an opening that, should he desire to do a second trilogy in this world, it is open to him.

[Marcus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third installment in what has become, to me, a very very interesting read. The author brings to a climax all of the different threads that he presented in his first two books. There were also several plot changes that you, as a reader, will be pleasantly surprised to discover that the author threw in. There were also lead ins to a possible future book. There was plenty of action, death and dying, and resolution of some issues. Still a good book to read.