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The Beautiful Dead #1
The Beautiful Dead
She’s dead.
In fact, the whole world’s dead. Every single person, apparently. Unburied and reimagined into a beautiful living-dead woman called Winter, she is doomed to spend the rest of eternity in a quaint, peaceful city with no hunger, no sickness and no bills to pay. Her Second Life is perfect in every way possible.
So why is she so bent on destroying it all?
After angering the mayor, befriending rebel headless teenagers and igniting romance with a dark and brooding neighbor, she finds herself wrestling madly with a First Life she cannot remember and this Second Life she cannot accept. Not to mention the maniacal army of rotting corpses who want her dead. Again.
But none of that matters in comparison to an even worse problem. There’s a guest in her house. A rude, good-looking man on the run ... a man with a heartbeat.
In fact, the whole world’s dead. Every single person, apparently. Unburied and reimagined into a beautiful living-dead woman called Winter, she is doomed to spend the rest of eternity in a quaint, peaceful city with no hunger, no sickness and no bills to pay. Her Second Life is perfect in every way possible.
So why is she so bent on destroying it all?
After angering the mayor, befriending rebel headless teenagers and igniting romance with a dark and brooding neighbor, she finds herself wrestling madly with a First Life she cannot remember and this Second Life she cannot accept. Not to mention the maniacal army of rotting corpses who want her dead. Again.
But none of that matters in comparison to an even worse problem. There’s a guest in her house. A rude, good-looking man on the run ... a man with a heartbeat.
316 pages, Paperback
First published July 29, 2013
49 people are currently reading
564 people want to read
About the author
Daryl Banner
96 books1,991 followersDaryl Banner is a USA Today Bestselling author, composer, and performer. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Houston Honors College with a degree in Theatre and Psychology. He is happily married to his piano. Theory suggests this is why he writes romance.
During Daryl Banner's time in college, he wrote, composed, and produced a musical under Tony Award-winning musical and Theatre producer Stuart Ostrow, as well as two original plays produced under the mentorship of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lanford Wilson, who also mentored Daryl through the writing of his very first novel. In addition to new adult and M/M romance, Daryl also writes post-apocalyptic fantasy as well as dystopian.
Join his mailing list here to be the first to hear about his new releases! He awards an Amazon gift card every newsletter:
https://www.darylbanner.com/subscribe...
Follow him on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/author/darylba...
Like him on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/DarylBannerW...
Connect with fellow readers in Daryl's Doorway:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Daryl...
Fun facts about Daryl Banner:
- He is an obsessive self-taught pianist.
- He is a huge video game enthusiast.
- He left his day job of 10 years to tour with a 2-woman-1-man original musical.
- He's been remixing video game music for over 20 years. One of his remixes is featured in the major motion picture "The Spy Who Dumped Me". Check out his work here: http://www.youtube.com/DarylBanner
- He composes original soundtracks that accompany his books and series, including The Beautiful Dead and OUTLIER. He is also the award-winning composer of the audio drama Janus Descending, as well as several films, games, podcasts, and other media. You can enjoy his music here: http://darylbanner.bandcamp.com
During Daryl Banner's time in college, he wrote, composed, and produced a musical under Tony Award-winning musical and Theatre producer Stuart Ostrow, as well as two original plays produced under the mentorship of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lanford Wilson, who also mentored Daryl through the writing of his very first novel. In addition to new adult and M/M romance, Daryl also writes post-apocalyptic fantasy as well as dystopian.
Join his mailing list here to be the first to hear about his new releases! He awards an Amazon gift card every newsletter:
https://www.darylbanner.com/subscribe...
Follow him on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/author/darylba...
Like him on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/DarylBannerW...
Connect with fellow readers in Daryl's Doorway:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Daryl...
Fun facts about Daryl Banner:
- He is an obsessive self-taught pianist.
- He is a huge video game enthusiast.
- He left his day job of 10 years to tour with a 2-woman-1-man original musical.
- He's been remixing video game music for over 20 years. One of his remixes is featured in the major motion picture "The Spy Who Dumped Me". Check out his work here: http://www.youtube.com/DarylBanner
- He composes original soundtracks that accompany his books and series, including The Beautiful Dead and OUTLIER. He is also the award-winning composer of the audio drama Janus Descending, as well as several films, games, podcasts, and other media. You can enjoy his music here: http://darylbanner.bandcamp.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
May 24, 2014
Book – The Beautiful Dead
Author – Daryl Banner
Publication Date – July 29, 2013
Type – Stand Alone (Maybe a 2nd book?)
Genre – Zombies (Undead)
Rating – 5 out of 5 Stars
Complimentary Copy provided by Author (Blog Tour) in exchange for an honest review.
Review
Dahhhaaammm!!! I so loved this book! Mr. Banner was able to put a new spin on the zombie revolution with this little gem of a story. Not only are we dealing with Humans and Zombies (Deathless) but add to that mix a group of the Undead. The Undead are raised from the dead but they don’t eat brains – they are refined, they are beautiful and they have feelings.
Like I said earlier…one word to describe this book is ACTION….it was action packed and kept me turning the page over and over again to find out what was going to happen next. I loved how Mr. Banner portrayed the main characters and added humor into what is labeled as “Horror”. The characters jumped out at me and drug me right into the center of their adventure.
I found my heart racing so many times during this story and was able to guess some of the twists and turns that Mr. Banner snuck in there…but overall I was fascinated with this story. If you read and you start to read between the lines….(smack me if I’m wrong) but I think Mr. Banner just jumped into the “satire/irony” ring to stir up the pot a bit. Hmmmm??? Why don’t you give it a shot and see if you can pick up the message I got out of this little gem! Oh…OK….you twisted my arm for a hint ---- society and their hypocrites. Am I so off my fucking rocker, Mr. Banner? You can tell me that I lost my mind and read too deep or maybe it was the acid I dropped before reading?
Recap
You know…I’m not even going to recap this story because I wouldn’t be able to do it justice. Just know if you strip away the “Undead” and the “Deathless” – you have a great story of self-discovery, loyalty, love and friendship. Oh and did I mention action and breathlessness?
Wrap-Up
This will be added to my list of ‘top reads’ for 2014 – and Mr. Banner….you better give us a continuation of this one!!
For more reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
Author – Daryl Banner
Publication Date – July 29, 2013
Type – Stand Alone (Maybe a 2nd book?)
Genre – Zombies (Undead)
Rating – 5 out of 5 Stars
Complimentary Copy provided by Author (Blog Tour) in exchange for an honest review.
Review
Dahhhaaammm!!! I so loved this book! Mr. Banner was able to put a new spin on the zombie revolution with this little gem of a story. Not only are we dealing with Humans and Zombies (Deathless) but add to that mix a group of the Undead. The Undead are raised from the dead but they don’t eat brains – they are refined, they are beautiful and they have feelings.
Like I said earlier…one word to describe this book is ACTION….it was action packed and kept me turning the page over and over again to find out what was going to happen next. I loved how Mr. Banner portrayed the main characters and added humor into what is labeled as “Horror”. The characters jumped out at me and drug me right into the center of their adventure.
I found my heart racing so many times during this story and was able to guess some of the twists and turns that Mr. Banner snuck in there…but overall I was fascinated with this story. If you read and you start to read between the lines….(smack me if I’m wrong) but I think Mr. Banner just jumped into the “satire/irony” ring to stir up the pot a bit. Hmmmm??? Why don’t you give it a shot and see if you can pick up the message I got out of this little gem! Oh…OK….you twisted my arm for a hint ---- society and their hypocrites. Am I so off my fucking rocker, Mr. Banner? You can tell me that I lost my mind and read too deep or maybe it was the acid I dropped before reading?
Recap
You know…I’m not even going to recap this story because I wouldn’t be able to do it justice. Just know if you strip away the “Undead” and the “Deathless” – you have a great story of self-discovery, loyalty, love and friendship. Oh and did I mention action and breathlessness?
Wrap-Up
This will be added to my list of ‘top reads’ for 2014 – and Mr. Banner….you better give us a continuation of this one!!
For more reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
February 7, 2014
Five big fat, zombie shaped awesome, toe curling, mouth gaping stars!
**review to follow**
I was recommended this book by an author. They warned me it was a great book and a great twist on zombies, but I'll be honest, I let it sit on my kindle a good couple of weeks before I dived in because I hate new takes on zombies! I'm an old school zombie writer, slow and shambling, brainless and violent.
This is NOT like that and yet it actually IS on so many levels. It's a new twist with a twist of the old finely threaded through.
It was both beautifully poetic and skillfully written, yet dark and full of the most gruesome horror imaginable.
The main character, I couldn't help but get irritated by and yet loved also. It was bizarre.
Daryl Banner took my emotions and squeezed them through a meat grinder, until I came out of the other side all messed up not knowing who to hate and who to love.
This has to be one of my FAVOURITE reads so far this year, and definitely in my top ten for last year too.
Read this. You won't be disappointed, and if you are then you must have picked upa different book to me, because was a fabulous, heartstoppping, crazy, intelligent, well written book.
**review to follow**
I was recommended this book by an author. They warned me it was a great book and a great twist on zombies, but I'll be honest, I let it sit on my kindle a good couple of weeks before I dived in because I hate new takes on zombies! I'm an old school zombie writer, slow and shambling, brainless and violent.
This is NOT like that and yet it actually IS on so many levels. It's a new twist with a twist of the old finely threaded through.
It was both beautifully poetic and skillfully written, yet dark and full of the most gruesome horror imaginable.
The main character, I couldn't help but get irritated by and yet loved also. It was bizarre.
Daryl Banner took my emotions and squeezed them through a meat grinder, until I came out of the other side all messed up not knowing who to hate and who to love.
This has to be one of my FAVOURITE reads so far this year, and definitely in my top ten for last year too.
Read this. You won't be disappointed, and if you are then you must have picked upa different book to me, because was a fabulous, heartstoppping, crazy, intelligent, well written book.
January 1, 2015
I was given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
To start off, I was iffy about reading this book and joining the book tour. I know the author lives near me, and we will be going to the same events in the Houston area and didn't want to make things awkward.
Starting the book, I was wary. But I had been bossed by a good friend and fellow blogger (I feel the need, the need to read), so I had to give into her whims. I have one thing to say to you, Angela Pratt, THANK YOU!
Holy fluff balls! This book - just wow. It has been a while since I put off reading the end of a book because I wasn't ready for it to end. I absolutely loved the world Daryl created, including the characters involved.
Although it does end with no need for a second book, I still really want one. This is one of the most original books I've read, and it was like a breath of fresh air getting to experience it.
If there was a way for me to somehow experience reading this book again for the first time, I would take it. That is something I almost never say. I have reread very few books, but this is one I will want to read over and over.
I am pretty sure I laughed for the entire first 20% of the book, non stop. (Which is apparently frowned upon if it is way past bed time and your husband has to wake up early the next morning)
I will be bossing lots of people to at least give it a look see.
5/5 Platypires
http://www.platypire.com/j-hooligan/t...
To start off, I was iffy about reading this book and joining the book tour. I know the author lives near me, and we will be going to the same events in the Houston area and didn't want to make things awkward.
Starting the book, I was wary. But I had been bossed by a good friend and fellow blogger (I feel the need, the need to read), so I had to give into her whims. I have one thing to say to you, Angela Pratt, THANK YOU!
Holy fluff balls! This book - just wow. It has been a while since I put off reading the end of a book because I wasn't ready for it to end. I absolutely loved the world Daryl created, including the characters involved.
Although it does end with no need for a second book, I still really want one. This is one of the most original books I've read, and it was like a breath of fresh air getting to experience it.
If there was a way for me to somehow experience reading this book again for the first time, I would take it. That is something I almost never say. I have reread very few books, but this is one I will want to read over and over.
I am pretty sure I laughed for the entire first 20% of the book, non stop. (Which is apparently frowned upon if it is way past bed time and your husband has to wake up early the next morning)
I will be bossing lots of people to at least give it a look see.
5/5 Platypires
http://www.platypire.com/j-hooligan/t...
February 12, 2016
I liked this book. I like dystopian zombie books so I'm glad a friend encouraged me to read this. I liked Banner's take on it. In simplest terms, he's written from the pov of the zombie. But not in the love-conquers-all Warm Bodies kind of way.
Winter is undead. She was razed from the ground, given a name, clothes, a home, her body has been spruced up and now she's living in a community with other undead that pretends they're not. They are civilized. They function the way a human community would. And they especially don't eat brains. They don't eat anything. Unless they're pretending. But Winter wants more...or less. Unfortunately, she can't cease to be. But she'd like more than anything to be alive again. And it turns out Winter just may be the catalyst for change.
I thought Banner did a great job with the world-building. And the storyline had enough originality to keep me hooked. I'll be diving in to book two. Great job.
Winter is undead. She was razed from the ground, given a name, clothes, a home, her body has been spruced up and now she's living in a community with other undead that pretends they're not. They are civilized. They function the way a human community would. And they especially don't eat brains. They don't eat anything. Unless they're pretending. But Winter wants more...or less. Unfortunately, she can't cease to be. But she'd like more than anything to be alive again. And it turns out Winter just may be the catalyst for change.
I thought Banner did a great job with the world-building. And the storyline had enough originality to keep me hooked. I'll be diving in to book two. Great job.
April 26, 2014
The Beautiful Dead is a wonderfully written book about zombies with a creative twist. I'm not a zombie connoisseur, but I've read my share of post apocalyptic zombie stories. This book takes our notion of zombies and turns them on their head. This addition to zombie lore is an important one, and a story that you don't want to miss.
Winter is a newly raised undead. She was not bitten by another zombie. She did not contract some horrible disease that makes her eat other people. She was raised from the earth, previously dead. Winter has no recollection of her first human life. She is fixed up to appear human and given a home in the undead city of Trenton, which is governed by the Mayor. Winter quickly meets and engages in a relationship with the handsome Grimsky who seems to answer her questions in half truths. She makes friends from the forever teenaged Anne to the helpful neighbor Jasmine. Read carefully - every character has an impact on this story.
Knowledge is not power. It is a prison. And with it now, I envy every ignorant soul in this city.
The world building in The Beautiful Dead is intricate and full of imagery. The author's descriptions paint a picture of the contrasts between life and decay. Trenton is a city of pretenders. The undead of Trenton must survive under an extreme list of rules. Breaking the rules are grounds for expulsion from the city. The Mayor and the Judge enforce these rules. The superficial surface of Trenton is marked by the undead pretending to be alive: eating food they don't need, can't taste and cannot digest; acting their physical age; getting "fixed up" if they lose a limb or have an accident; going home to a warm bed every night even though they don't require sleep.
What you must see, no matter what you actually see, is not who you were but who you are. It's who you aren't.
There are other forces at play in this novel. There are humans still alive and trying to eek out a meager existence. The undead are told that humans no longer exist, although Winter never believes it. She is proven correct when the dashing John enters her life. There is also another zombie camp - the Deathless. The Deathless are lead by their King who is anti-pretending. He embraces death and none of the Deathless are allowed to fix themselves up. They are required to appear as the rotting corpses that they are. The Deathless also have a secret - a vile practice that allows them to feel alive for short periods of time. To see clearly, taste, smell, etc. They are barbaric zombies, rounding up humans and punishing other undead by wicked means. They employ a Warlock that gives the Deathless control over their detractors. The Deathless King has a great interest in Winter and develops a plan to capture her.
That underneath all this prettiness, there lie corpses. Underneath our flawless complexions, fettering flesh that belongs in the earth.
The writing in this book is wonderful. From the intelligent characters to the landscape, it is well written and will keep your interest. My favorite part, though, is the intricate interaction between the three camps: The Undead, the Deathless and the Humans. I enjoyed how prejudices were overcome and trust was forged. There were also a few surprises that kept me flipping the pages at warp speed. This book is full of betrayals and dealing with the ugliness of past lives.
The themes included in this book are powerful. The idea of your real self vs. your pretend self is front and center throughout the entire novel. Also, the idea that a person should be judged for who they are now and not for who they were in the past is explored in depth. We also see a glimpse of what regret can do to a person. One character realizes that they failed in their human life due to pretense and how that regret shaped them in their undead second life.
The Living Dead world, you come to learn, is just a bunch of actors, and a regretfully bad show of acting. Maybe life was like that, too. Actors, playing the role of themselves. Life's greatest contradiction is also death's.
The ending of this story was epic, filled with fighting, action and self-realization. Most of the character's story lines were wrapped up nicely. Here's my problem: Is this meant to be a stand alone book or is a sequel to follow? We are left with a bit of vagueness regarding two major characters. I didn't quite understand how things ended with Winter and why. There are still several questions I have regarding the novel that were left unanswered and I'd really like another book to clear things up.
What place can a living - anything claim that won't by time's devices soon expire anyway? It is everything's final destination, no matter which paths are taken.
If you are a fan of urban fantasy, zombies or post apocalyptic worlds, then I urge you to give this book a try. The writing is beautiful and intense. Author Daryl Banner weaves together a buys plot line seamlessly. The characters are genuine, fresh and intelligent. I am looking forward to more from Banner.
Winter is a newly raised undead. She was not bitten by another zombie. She did not contract some horrible disease that makes her eat other people. She was raised from the earth, previously dead. Winter has no recollection of her first human life. She is fixed up to appear human and given a home in the undead city of Trenton, which is governed by the Mayor. Winter quickly meets and engages in a relationship with the handsome Grimsky who seems to answer her questions in half truths. She makes friends from the forever teenaged Anne to the helpful neighbor Jasmine. Read carefully - every character has an impact on this story.
Knowledge is not power. It is a prison. And with it now, I envy every ignorant soul in this city.
The world building in The Beautiful Dead is intricate and full of imagery. The author's descriptions paint a picture of the contrasts between life and decay. Trenton is a city of pretenders. The undead of Trenton must survive under an extreme list of rules. Breaking the rules are grounds for expulsion from the city. The Mayor and the Judge enforce these rules. The superficial surface of Trenton is marked by the undead pretending to be alive: eating food they don't need, can't taste and cannot digest; acting their physical age; getting "fixed up" if they lose a limb or have an accident; going home to a warm bed every night even though they don't require sleep.
What you must see, no matter what you actually see, is not who you were but who you are. It's who you aren't.
There are other forces at play in this novel. There are humans still alive and trying to eek out a meager existence. The undead are told that humans no longer exist, although Winter never believes it. She is proven correct when the dashing John enters her life. There is also another zombie camp - the Deathless. The Deathless are lead by their King who is anti-pretending. He embraces death and none of the Deathless are allowed to fix themselves up. They are required to appear as the rotting corpses that they are. The Deathless also have a secret - a vile practice that allows them to feel alive for short periods of time. To see clearly, taste, smell, etc. They are barbaric zombies, rounding up humans and punishing other undead by wicked means. They employ a Warlock that gives the Deathless control over their detractors. The Deathless King has a great interest in Winter and develops a plan to capture her.
That underneath all this prettiness, there lie corpses. Underneath our flawless complexions, fettering flesh that belongs in the earth.
The writing in this book is wonderful. From the intelligent characters to the landscape, it is well written and will keep your interest. My favorite part, though, is the intricate interaction between the three camps: The Undead, the Deathless and the Humans. I enjoyed how prejudices were overcome and trust was forged. There were also a few surprises that kept me flipping the pages at warp speed. This book is full of betrayals and dealing with the ugliness of past lives.
The themes included in this book are powerful. The idea of your real self vs. your pretend self is front and center throughout the entire novel. Also, the idea that a person should be judged for who they are now and not for who they were in the past is explored in depth. We also see a glimpse of what regret can do to a person. One character realizes that they failed in their human life due to pretense and how that regret shaped them in their undead second life.
The Living Dead world, you come to learn, is just a bunch of actors, and a regretfully bad show of acting. Maybe life was like that, too. Actors, playing the role of themselves. Life's greatest contradiction is also death's.
The ending of this story was epic, filled with fighting, action and self-realization. Most of the character's story lines were wrapped up nicely. Here's my problem: Is this meant to be a stand alone book or is a sequel to follow? We are left with a bit of vagueness regarding two major characters. I didn't quite understand how things ended with Winter and why. There are still several questions I have regarding the novel that were left unanswered and I'd really like another book to clear things up.
What place can a living - anything claim that won't by time's devices soon expire anyway? It is everything's final destination, no matter which paths are taken.
If you are a fan of urban fantasy, zombies or post apocalyptic worlds, then I urge you to give this book a try. The writing is beautiful and intense. Author Daryl Banner weaves together a buys plot line seamlessly. The characters are genuine, fresh and intelligent. I am looking forward to more from Banner.
March 13, 2015
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
The Beautiful Dead is the first book in The Beautiful Dead trilogy.
When I was asked to read this book, I told my husband “Hmmm sounds interesting, but odd. I’m not so sure about this.” He rolled his eyes at me and went on playing his Risk-type app on his phone. I ignored him. Curiosity won out and I accepted the book for review.
WHAT A FIND! This book has many things going for it. First I want to get out my only small dislike. The first 10-15% was a little confusing and slow. Just push through it. I didn’t understand when I was reading that it was important and really sets up a good portion of the story.
Now to all the other stuff that is excellent.
THE CHARACTERS! The characters of this story are incredibly rich with emotions and feelings. All characters have a purpose and are used with the precision of a well played chess game. They are woven together beautifully.
BUTT KICKING HEROINE! I have a thing for strong women in books. Winter is all kinds of awesome with her undead self. She is a fighter. You cheer for her. Additional bonus: the book is filled with butt kicking ladies. Jasmine, Megan, Eana, Ann, and Marigold were strong women who fought for what they wanted.
THE WORLD! It was a genuine treat to be immersed in this world. It was so well thought out and imaginative.
THE OVERALL MESSAGE! Yes, it’s about the dead, or undead, but it’s more about living life. It matters how we live our lives. It matters how we treat people. It matters if we pretend to live or if we truly live.
I will definitely be reading the second book, Dead Of Winterand third book Almost Alivein the series.
Follow Daryl Banner on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DarylBannerW...
The Beautiful Dead is the first book in The Beautiful Dead trilogy.
When I was asked to read this book, I told my husband “Hmmm sounds interesting, but odd. I’m not so sure about this.” He rolled his eyes at me and went on playing his Risk-type app on his phone. I ignored him. Curiosity won out and I accepted the book for review.
WHAT A FIND! This book has many things going for it. First I want to get out my only small dislike. The first 10-15% was a little confusing and slow. Just push through it. I didn’t understand when I was reading that it was important and really sets up a good portion of the story.
Now to all the other stuff that is excellent.
THE CHARACTERS! The characters of this story are incredibly rich with emotions and feelings. All characters have a purpose and are used with the precision of a well played chess game. They are woven together beautifully.
BUTT KICKING HEROINE! I have a thing for strong women in books. Winter is all kinds of awesome with her undead self. She is a fighter. You cheer for her. Additional bonus: the book is filled with butt kicking ladies. Jasmine, Megan, Eana, Ann, and Marigold were strong women who fought for what they wanted.
THE WORLD! It was a genuine treat to be immersed in this world. It was so well thought out and imaginative.
THE OVERALL MESSAGE! Yes, it’s about the dead, or undead, but it’s more about living life. It matters how we live our lives. It matters how we treat people. It matters if we pretend to live or if we truly live.
I will definitely be reading the second book, Dead Of Winterand third book Almost Alivein the series.
Follow Daryl Banner on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DarylBannerW...
May 24, 2015
Zombies have been done and done. I know. But this tale is a bit different. There are humans, the undead, and the deathless and they are all exist in this terrible post post apocalyptic reality.
Not all zombies in The Beautiful Dead are evil. The undead are actually kind in their strange way. They want to recreate their lives from before. Kind of reminds me of The Uglies.
Winter is an undead, pulled from the earth by her reaper. She goes about her second life with nothing but a few glimpses of her former life. YOU DID THIS TO YOURSELF. A nice undead named Grimsky tries to help her assimilate and she meets other friends and foes along the way. Many are interchangeable and part of the intrigue is figuring out who is who.
The Deathless are like the Boneys in Warm Bodies. They want to eat humans to regain their humanity.
I won't give any spoilers, but finding out the identity of the Deathless King and Winter's Waking Dream (her memory of her former life) is key to the story.I actually like her undead self better than the kind of person she was before.
If you'd like to read a different kind of zombie story with great writing and plot twists I suggest this one. If you don't take my suggestion....There.Is.No.One.Left.To.Blame.But.You.
Not all zombies in The Beautiful Dead are evil. The undead are actually kind in their strange way. They want to recreate their lives from before. Kind of reminds me of The Uglies.
Winter is an undead, pulled from the earth by her reaper. She goes about her second life with nothing but a few glimpses of her former life. YOU DID THIS TO YOURSELF. A nice undead named Grimsky tries to help her assimilate and she meets other friends and foes along the way. Many are interchangeable and part of the intrigue is figuring out who is who.
The Deathless are like the Boneys in Warm Bodies. They want to eat humans to regain their humanity.
I won't give any spoilers, but finding out the identity of the Deathless King and Winter's Waking Dream (her memory of her former life) is key to the story.I actually like her undead self better than the kind of person she was before.
If you'd like to read a different kind of zombie story with great writing and plot twists I suggest this one. If you don't take my suggestion....There.Is.No.One.Left.To.Blame.But.You.
May 20, 2014
5 stars!!!
Wow! This was an incredible book. The story was so unique and unlike anything I have read before… A completely different take on the whole Zombie/undead/post apocalyptic concept which was really a cool idea! It was definitely very different from what I was expecting, but in this case, that is an EXTREMELY good thing. It was so refreshing to have such a unique story to read, and I really do not have one single negative thing to say about it. The first thing I did when I finished reading was message the author, Daryl, begging him to tell me there is going to be a book 2 (which, good news…there IS going to be more!), and also begged him for any insight on what was going to happen next. Sadly, he would not give away anything (MEANIE! lol) so I am stuck here trying to figure things out on my own until book 2 comes out. This is going to be a super long wait for me too!
This is the story of a woman named Winter. She is not alive, or dead, but rather undead. Before you picture a world of brainless foaming at the mouth zombies, let me just tell you this world Winter is in is not like that at all. Each and every one of the undead thinks before acting. They don't aimlessly wander around waiting for their next taste of fresh blood. They live in a community. No pain, no sickness, no death. If they get injured, they get repaired…. actually, that is a requirement. No undead person is allowed to roam around looking like death has chewed them up and spit them out. They look like living, breathing human beings (minus the actual need to breathe). Oh, and they don't eat humans. Winter is led to believe humans are extinct, and she believes what she is taught… until one ends up pushing his way into her world, and home, and despite his obnoxious attitude towards her it's almost as if he gives her one thing she lacked…Hope.
Winter struggles with the fact that she cannot remember her former life… who she was, what she did… what her real name was. Day to day (or at least what she believes to be a day since she cannot see the sun) she struggles internally with living a "life" of lies while trying to fit into this new world she is in. She does manage to make a few friends however, and has gotten herself a boyfriend who quite literarily saved her undead life. Just when things begin to settle down a little bit for her, her world is turned completely upside down. Not only did she learn humans do still live in this world, but also that life isn't as safe and pleasant outside the walls of her town. There are a large group of undead who are after her, and they are not kindhearted like the ones she lives with. They are out for blood… human blood… and will stop at nothing to get what they want… and one of those things is Winter.
This story is brilliant. And no amount of words could describe or do this book justice unless you yourself have read it. There is so much I could say regarding the story itself and the events which unfold, but then I would be giving away too much and you will miss out on the shock value of it all. Things happen which you completely do NOT expect and the whole concept takes a turn in a different direction from how it starts off. And do NOT be fooled by the whole mellow undead idea. This is not your calm, and gore free book. Oh no, there is still plenty of that, just with a different twist to it which may just knock your socks off in the end. Even if you are not a fan of the whole Zombie or paranormal craze, you are certain to love the uniqueness of this amazing story. It stands out from all the other books in this genre and the story will surely stay with you for a long time.
I love love LOVED every second of this book, and I am sure that all you other readers will as well. Definitely one to add to your MUST READ NOW list!
Wow! This was an incredible book. The story was so unique and unlike anything I have read before… A completely different take on the whole Zombie/undead/post apocalyptic concept which was really a cool idea! It was definitely very different from what I was expecting, but in this case, that is an EXTREMELY good thing. It was so refreshing to have such a unique story to read, and I really do not have one single negative thing to say about it. The first thing I did when I finished reading was message the author, Daryl, begging him to tell me there is going to be a book 2 (which, good news…there IS going to be more!), and also begged him for any insight on what was going to happen next. Sadly, he would not give away anything (MEANIE! lol) so I am stuck here trying to figure things out on my own until book 2 comes out. This is going to be a super long wait for me too!
This is the story of a woman named Winter. She is not alive, or dead, but rather undead. Before you picture a world of brainless foaming at the mouth zombies, let me just tell you this world Winter is in is not like that at all. Each and every one of the undead thinks before acting. They don't aimlessly wander around waiting for their next taste of fresh blood. They live in a community. No pain, no sickness, no death. If they get injured, they get repaired…. actually, that is a requirement. No undead person is allowed to roam around looking like death has chewed them up and spit them out. They look like living, breathing human beings (minus the actual need to breathe). Oh, and they don't eat humans. Winter is led to believe humans are extinct, and she believes what she is taught… until one ends up pushing his way into her world, and home, and despite his obnoxious attitude towards her it's almost as if he gives her one thing she lacked…Hope.
Winter struggles with the fact that she cannot remember her former life… who she was, what she did… what her real name was. Day to day (or at least what she believes to be a day since she cannot see the sun) she struggles internally with living a "life" of lies while trying to fit into this new world she is in. She does manage to make a few friends however, and has gotten herself a boyfriend who quite literarily saved her undead life. Just when things begin to settle down a little bit for her, her world is turned completely upside down. Not only did she learn humans do still live in this world, but also that life isn't as safe and pleasant outside the walls of her town. There are a large group of undead who are after her, and they are not kindhearted like the ones she lives with. They are out for blood… human blood… and will stop at nothing to get what they want… and one of those things is Winter.
This story is brilliant. And no amount of words could describe or do this book justice unless you yourself have read it. There is so much I could say regarding the story itself and the events which unfold, but then I would be giving away too much and you will miss out on the shock value of it all. Things happen which you completely do NOT expect and the whole concept takes a turn in a different direction from how it starts off. And do NOT be fooled by the whole mellow undead idea. This is not your calm, and gore free book. Oh no, there is still plenty of that, just with a different twist to it which may just knock your socks off in the end. Even if you are not a fan of the whole Zombie or paranormal craze, you are certain to love the uniqueness of this amazing story. It stands out from all the other books in this genre and the story will surely stay with you for a long time.
I love love LOVED every second of this book, and I am sure that all you other readers will as well. Definitely one to add to your MUST READ NOW list!
November 2, 2013
7/10
This book first came to my attention when one of my favorite authors posted a link and said it looked good. I read the synopsis and thought, wow, that sounds really unique! And coming up on Halloween, I decided a zombie book was just the thing I needed!
I really, really enjoyed this book!! Daryl Banner has a terrific, dark, sarcastic sense of humor, that kept me laughing out loud, even when I was terrified and disgusted...even when I was shocked and saddened...the humor totally carried me through the book! And the writing is very strong! There are so many quotable lines in this book, but I am terrible about pausing to highlight, so I can't actually quote many (I know, I know...my reviews would be so much better if I could remember to do this!! I am working on it!!), but there was one that really got me - really spoke to me where I have been living for the past year. The heroine is about to go face the villains, greatly outnumbered and seemingly at an insurmountable disadvantage, and she says "I am weak, afraid, and ready to die for good." Love it.
I really liked Winter. She wakes up in this "undead" existence, with no clue who she is, where she came from, how she came to be, or even what she is, and she's clearly not thrilled, but she's not a whiner either. I totally understood her reactions, and her thoughts, and I felt her emotions with her! I also kept reminding myself that a man wrote this...I don't read many books written by men, because I often don't relate to them well, but Daryl's female voice is right on! :-) The male characters were just a tad underdeveloped for me, but that's really because I want some serious romance in any book, and while there is a little here, it is certainly not the focus of the story. So there you have one reason this gets 4 stars rather than 5 - it's hard for a book (no I'd say it's impossible) to break into 5 star territory for me without a STRONG romance component...this is totally a personal preference issue.
The only other issue I had was a nit-picky inner editor who wanted to get out a red pen occasionally. Daryl's writing is strong, imagery is great, story is excellent, and characters are relate-able, but (as with many independently published books)the final product could have used one more go-over by an OCD beta-reader. I know these small issues don't bother many readers, but they pull me out of the story and are a pet peeve, so I have to mention them.
I'm not really a super-fan of zombie books, but I've read a few, and this one was very unpredictable for me! Every time I thought I had a handle on what was going on there was a new twist that left me spinning right along with Winter (the heroine)and I really enjoyed that off-kilter feeling! The tone of the book changes a couple of times, which is hard to explain without spoilers, but I'll try. In the first few chapters I was reading along happily thinking "oh, this is pretty tame, not too scary, I can handle this..." and then suddenly there is a shift and I was huddled under my blankets eyes squinted almost closed, nose wrinkled in disgust, jumping at every sound thinking "Why the HELL am I reading this??? It's WAY to gross and scary!!!"...and then a while later I was excitedly reading as fast a possible, because I just HAD to know what happened next and thinking "YES, go, do that...WAIT, NOOOOOO...Omigosh get them..." - you get the point! LOL!! It never let me get too comfortable, and that was fun!
Overall, I was VERY pleasantly surprised by this smart, funny, unpredictable novel, and I am looking forward to reading Daryl's other books!
This book first came to my attention when one of my favorite authors posted a link and said it looked good. I read the synopsis and thought, wow, that sounds really unique! And coming up on Halloween, I decided a zombie book was just the thing I needed!
I really, really enjoyed this book!! Daryl Banner has a terrific, dark, sarcastic sense of humor, that kept me laughing out loud, even when I was terrified and disgusted...even when I was shocked and saddened...the humor totally carried me through the book! And the writing is very strong! There are so many quotable lines in this book, but I am terrible about pausing to highlight, so I can't actually quote many (I know, I know...my reviews would be so much better if I could remember to do this!! I am working on it!!), but there was one that really got me - really spoke to me where I have been living for the past year. The heroine is about to go face the villains, greatly outnumbered and seemingly at an insurmountable disadvantage, and she says "I am weak, afraid, and ready to die for good." Love it.
I really liked Winter. She wakes up in this "undead" existence, with no clue who she is, where she came from, how she came to be, or even what she is, and she's clearly not thrilled, but she's not a whiner either. I totally understood her reactions, and her thoughts, and I felt her emotions with her! I also kept reminding myself that a man wrote this...I don't read many books written by men, because I often don't relate to them well, but Daryl's female voice is right on! :-) The male characters were just a tad underdeveloped for me, but that's really because I want some serious romance in any book, and while there is a little here, it is certainly not the focus of the story. So there you have one reason this gets 4 stars rather than 5 - it's hard for a book (no I'd say it's impossible) to break into 5 star territory for me without a STRONG romance component...this is totally a personal preference issue.
The only other issue I had was a nit-picky inner editor who wanted to get out a red pen occasionally. Daryl's writing is strong, imagery is great, story is excellent, and characters are relate-able, but (as with many independently published books)the final product could have used one more go-over by an OCD beta-reader. I know these small issues don't bother many readers, but they pull me out of the story and are a pet peeve, so I have to mention them.
I'm not really a super-fan of zombie books, but I've read a few, and this one was very unpredictable for me! Every time I thought I had a handle on what was going on there was a new twist that left me spinning right along with Winter (the heroine)and I really enjoyed that off-kilter feeling! The tone of the book changes a couple of times, which is hard to explain without spoilers, but I'll try. In the first few chapters I was reading along happily thinking "oh, this is pretty tame, not too scary, I can handle this..." and then suddenly there is a shift and I was huddled under my blankets eyes squinted almost closed, nose wrinkled in disgust, jumping at every sound thinking "Why the HELL am I reading this??? It's WAY to gross and scary!!!"...and then a while later I was excitedly reading as fast a possible, because I just HAD to know what happened next and thinking "YES, go, do that...WAIT, NOOOOOO...Omigosh get them..." - you get the point! LOL!! It never let me get too comfortable, and that was fun!
Overall, I was VERY pleasantly surprised by this smart, funny, unpredictable novel, and I am looking forward to reading Daryl's other books!
May 20, 2014
Title: The Beautiful Dead
Author: Daryl Banner
Publisher: Createspace
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 4.5
Review:
"The Beautiful Dead" by Darryl Banner...
"She’s dead.
In fact, the whole world’s dead. Every single person, apparently. Unburied and reimagined into a beautiful living-dead woman called Winter, she is doomed to spend the rest of eternity in a quaint, peaceful city with no hunger, no sickness and no bills to pay. Her Second Life is perfect in every way possible.
So why is she so bent on destroying it all?
After angering the mayor, befriending rebel headless teenagers and igniting romance with a dark and brooding neighbor, she finds herself wrestling madly with a First Life she cannot remember and this Second Life she cannot accept. Not to mention the maniacal army of rotting corpses who want her dead. Again.
But none of that matters in comparison to an even worse problem. There’s a guest in her house. A rude, good-looking man on the run ... a man with a heartbeat."
What I Understood From "The Beautiful Dead"
It's a gruesome horror with zombies! Now, that scared me...because this is not my kind of genre that I favor however, since I do read them ALL, I thought to myself why not! Well, I must say this author really knows how to write something that is a very crazy fantasy zombies and still make it into a good read. You will be able to tell that this author has a dark, sarcastic sense of humor that will cause you to laugh at its humor in it that goes throughout the read. I did like the fact that this wasn't too predictable of a book because when I thought maybe I had it all figured out there would be another twist so, I decided to go with the flow of the read to see what was going to happen next with Winter in this scary read. The characters I will say had some unique qualities...wow ...going from ones maybe I liked, hated, some being strong, while others were fake, and disgusting...then their were some that did show a little more compassion while their were others who were downright horrible. In the end of all of this characterization I will say you will have to read it for yourself and see what all this author has delivered to the reader. That part I will say will be most intriguing about this read. The quotes in the read were very interesting which did add to my attention of the read. By the time I had made it to the end of the read I thought that was a well written unique novel that will leave you with a thought provoking read. So, now I am left thinking not all horror reads are bad?
If you like urban fantasy, horror and zombies then "The Beautiful Dead" would definitely be a recommended read for you. You will find this author did write a beautiful and intense read with some genuine characters where it all comes together giving you a read with humor along with darkness and beauty.
Author: Daryl Banner
Publisher: Createspace
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 4.5
Review:
"The Beautiful Dead" by Darryl Banner...
"She’s dead.
In fact, the whole world’s dead. Every single person, apparently. Unburied and reimagined into a beautiful living-dead woman called Winter, she is doomed to spend the rest of eternity in a quaint, peaceful city with no hunger, no sickness and no bills to pay. Her Second Life is perfect in every way possible.
So why is she so bent on destroying it all?
After angering the mayor, befriending rebel headless teenagers and igniting romance with a dark and brooding neighbor, she finds herself wrestling madly with a First Life she cannot remember and this Second Life she cannot accept. Not to mention the maniacal army of rotting corpses who want her dead. Again.
But none of that matters in comparison to an even worse problem. There’s a guest in her house. A rude, good-looking man on the run ... a man with a heartbeat."
What I Understood From "The Beautiful Dead"
It's a gruesome horror with zombies! Now, that scared me...because this is not my kind of genre that I favor however, since I do read them ALL, I thought to myself why not! Well, I must say this author really knows how to write something that is a very crazy fantasy zombies and still make it into a good read. You will be able to tell that this author has a dark, sarcastic sense of humor that will cause you to laugh at its humor in it that goes throughout the read. I did like the fact that this wasn't too predictable of a book because when I thought maybe I had it all figured out there would be another twist so, I decided to go with the flow of the read to see what was going to happen next with Winter in this scary read. The characters I will say had some unique qualities...wow ...going from ones maybe I liked, hated, some being strong, while others were fake, and disgusting...then their were some that did show a little more compassion while their were others who were downright horrible. In the end of all of this characterization I will say you will have to read it for yourself and see what all this author has delivered to the reader. That part I will say will be most intriguing about this read. The quotes in the read were very interesting which did add to my attention of the read. By the time I had made it to the end of the read I thought that was a well written unique novel that will leave you with a thought provoking read. So, now I am left thinking not all horror reads are bad?
If you like urban fantasy, horror and zombies then "The Beautiful Dead" would definitely be a recommended read for you. You will find this author did write a beautiful and intense read with some genuine characters where it all comes together giving you a read with humor along with darkness and beauty.
May 14, 2014
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In The Beautiful Dead, the main character, Winter, is dead but has been brought back from the dead so to speak. She isn't alive, but she is walking, talking, and thinking. She doesn't breathe, doesn't eat or sleep. She also doesn't remember anything of her old life. Apparently this is a normal thing. There are people that raise the dead back to the semi-dead. Nobody knows why and nobody knows how. Winter isn't like the others because she still wants to be alive and sometimes pines for it. But there are other things happening that she is a part of and she doesn't know it yet.
This is the first time I have read anything by Daryl Banner. I am so glad that I was introduced to this author. Daryl has written a really unique, powerful, vivid, thought provoking story. The premise of this book is new to me and I can't recall anyone else having written something similar to this story. I really was taken aback and surprised by this story. I couldn't quite figure out what was going on and I really liked that. I enjoyed the character Winter and felt like she was really well written. The dynamics of her and her relationships with the other characters were also believable. I really hope that Daryl is planning on writing more about Winter and this new "life" that exists after death. I give The Beautiful Dead 5 books.
In The Beautiful Dead, the main character, Winter, is dead but has been brought back from the dead so to speak. She isn't alive, but she is walking, talking, and thinking. She doesn't breathe, doesn't eat or sleep. She also doesn't remember anything of her old life. Apparently this is a normal thing. There are people that raise the dead back to the semi-dead. Nobody knows why and nobody knows how. Winter isn't like the others because she still wants to be alive and sometimes pines for it. But there are other things happening that she is a part of and she doesn't know it yet.
This is the first time I have read anything by Daryl Banner. I am so glad that I was introduced to this author. Daryl has written a really unique, powerful, vivid, thought provoking story. The premise of this book is new to me and I can't recall anyone else having written something similar to this story. I really was taken aback and surprised by this story. I couldn't quite figure out what was going on and I really liked that. I enjoyed the character Winter and felt like she was really well written. The dynamics of her and her relationships with the other characters were also believable. I really hope that Daryl is planning on writing more about Winter and this new "life" that exists after death. I give The Beautiful Dead 5 books.
February 14, 2014
This is one of the best books I have read so far this year. I was looking for a change from my normal genre of romance and boy did I get a wonderful change. The writing blew me away. Such an imaginative story that draws you into this world of the undead. I highly recommend picking this book up and giving it a go!
April 11, 2014
I've always wanted to write a post apocalyptic book. This story line was great! And as others have said, unique. Kudos to you, Daryl. It's hard to come up with an original line these days. They've mostly all been done in one form or another.
February 25, 2014
***Review to come****
If you haven't picked up this book I highly recommend that you do so NOW. It's fantastic and bloody brilliant!
If you haven't picked up this book I highly recommend that you do so NOW. It's fantastic and bloody brilliant!
April 8, 2016
First I must say, this is one of the best books I have
"Welcome to the End of Time."
This is the story of Winter. She is recently risen from the dead in a world she does not understand. It appears everything on Earth is dead. Also the state of the natural world (trees, animals, etc) is pretty barren and going extinct. She has no memory of her personal life before, but she does have knowledge of the basic ways of human life. She's quickly all patched up to look as if in a pre-death state-of-being and shown to her own little rundown house for a life of overcast nothingness for all eternity.
I can't tell time here. Silvery grey-o'clock, that's what time it is. Bleak, that's the day of the week.
A cockroach scuttles across the floor, disappears into a crack in the wall. That must be my roommate, a fellow survivor of the end of the world.
The way things go from there, you just have to peruse and examine for yourself. This story is infused with the perfect mix of dry humor, action and moral lesson. Along the way, we find the world is now home to the Undead, the Deathless, humans, and possibly other fantasy-based life-forms, none of which are on peaceful terms. This is book, that I cannot do any justice by writing a long review. It's something that just must be read. Really, people, I know of nothing similar, definitely not a traditional living dead book. I recommend it for men and women from teen up. I may be slightly obsessed now. And you know what, Daryl Banner,
The. Only. One. Left. To. Blame. Is. You.
***Copy given in exchange for an honest review***
FULL REVIEW CAN BE FOUND AT http://fangirlmomentsandmytwocents.bl...
April 14, 2016
PSA: This review is long overdue. EXTREMELY overdue. To the point where I am almost embarrassed that I hadn’t gotten to it yet.
But I loved this book?!!! Oh my god I loved this book so much!!! Wow!!! Top 10!!! Incredible!!! Can you feel my enthusiasm? I’ve been letting this book soak forreal.
Now write a second…please.
I was lucky enough to have been given a copy of this book before it was released, and I have to say that I have absolutely nothing bad to say about it. No critiques, no misunderstandings, nothing at all, except maybe the cover. ((and that’s HUGE for me?? I have problems with pretty much every book that I read…unfortunately.)) The Beautiful Dead was one of, if not the best, zombie adaptation I have read in a very long time. There is little to no gore, and unlike most books there’s more to these characters than meets the eye. This story gives a new look on what the undead REALLY is and how I believe they should truly be viewed.
This awesome rift, we never know for sure how wide it is. But on the other side, as sure as we are that there is another side, that’s where my story begins. Not when the world ended, but long after. After the trees have all but expired. After oceans burn and mountains fall. After the sky.
First of all, I have to comment on how incredible the prologue is. Prologues are usually a deal breaker for me however, Daryl Banner completely sold me on this one. I am such a sucker for a good prologue. If you can throw together good description and an indirect story-line-within-a-story, you've got a perfect prologue. Daryl Banner introduces you to the story like no other.
I came into this world like most people do: screaming.
Winter, is absolutely, 100%, one of my FAVORITE female protagonists ever. Winter was not only smart, but she was sensible, she made her own decisions and didn't let anybody sway her opinions. Although she thought very humorously and her encounters were as well, she almost always used her head and that's one thing that I always admire about any character. There have been too many times when I’m reading a book and the character was just completely dumb and unaware of ANYTHING around them. Although Winter didn’t agree with the way of living when she was first Raised, I’m happy to say that she accustomed to it quickly and soon found out exactly what she wanted and how to get it.
“You’re saying my soul is poisoned?”
“No. The world is.”
I am personally a nut for anything metaphorical, or anything where I can look further into what lays on the outside. Funnily enough, this type of metaphor literally…lays…on the out…side. ((Ok. Not funny. Moving on.)) But I really do believe that these characters have SO much potential for extra back stories & side development.
I really hope The Beautiful Dead gets the recognition it deserves, which is a lot. With the perfect amount of everything, Daryl Banner truly pleases the reader. If you’re having doubts, don’t.
“Don’t worry,” a kind voice tells me.
“You’re just dying.”
December 6, 2014
I was given this amazing book by my #popcornsoulmate Daryl Banner...
First off, my Lovelies... You are the first to know that I do not read Zombie books... I tend to stick with Billionaires, bikers, and tattooed alphas. But after chatting with Daryl.. well i thought.. why the heck not??
Let me just say.. that although this is a non-zombie type of zombie book... (if that makes any sense) I was completely awestruck at the extremely crazy original and fun world (or end of world) that Daryl created. I went in reading it expecting it to be a bloody, messy, icky book full of flesh eating creatures... instead.. I got a Hell of a story!
It starts with a girl name Winter, who died and un-died, with a rising.. sort of a "birth" to death...technically..lol
So she is brought back from death to be a dead, but is a living, talking animated former human.
She is thrust in this new "dead world" and expected to be accepting and function as if it is all perfectly normal. Not an easy task...
There are some amazing and quirky characters along the way that are along for her evolution of sorts. There is even a "love" interest in another dead-un-dead former human named Grimsky... and there is even a Human named John.
Incredibly, this band of unlikely and original characters with lots of other dead-undead and humans, (oh and we can't forget a warlock too!) They take you through an unbelievable journey, to face the "deathless" and zombies, and more humans and...and...and... Omg! there is so much in this book that i have literally dreamt about it for 2 nights... its insane, has twists and treachery, and revelations you never see coming! It sucks you in and you can't do anything but keep reading and cheer for the undead...lol
It also has an amazing moral compass thrown in near the end.. that shocked me to the point that i was surprisingly taking a long hard look at my life and friendships and family relationships... WTH??? from a non-zombie book???!!!
Daryl... WOW...just WOW... you socked me in the gut, head and heart with this very unexpected and unpredictable story!! luved it!!
My Lovelies.. if you want to take a slightly insane but very fun journey with the dead who are undead, and learn a little bit about life along the way... READ THIS!!
First off, my Lovelies... You are the first to know that I do not read Zombie books... I tend to stick with Billionaires, bikers, and tattooed alphas. But after chatting with Daryl.. well i thought.. why the heck not??
Let me just say.. that although this is a non-zombie type of zombie book... (if that makes any sense) I was completely awestruck at the extremely crazy original and fun world (or end of world) that Daryl created. I went in reading it expecting it to be a bloody, messy, icky book full of flesh eating creatures... instead.. I got a Hell of a story!
It starts with a girl name Winter, who died and un-died, with a rising.. sort of a "birth" to death...technically..lol
So she is brought back from death to be a dead, but is a living, talking animated former human.
She is thrust in this new "dead world" and expected to be accepting and function as if it is all perfectly normal. Not an easy task...
There are some amazing and quirky characters along the way that are along for her evolution of sorts. There is even a "love" interest in another dead-un-dead former human named Grimsky... and there is even a Human named John.
Incredibly, this band of unlikely and original characters with lots of other dead-undead and humans, (oh and we can't forget a warlock too!) They take you through an unbelievable journey, to face the "deathless" and zombies, and more humans and...and...and... Omg! there is so much in this book that i have literally dreamt about it for 2 nights... its insane, has twists and treachery, and revelations you never see coming! It sucks you in and you can't do anything but keep reading and cheer for the undead...lol
It also has an amazing moral compass thrown in near the end.. that shocked me to the point that i was surprisingly taking a long hard look at my life and friendships and family relationships... WTH??? from a non-zombie book???!!!
Daryl... WOW...just WOW... you socked me in the gut, head and heart with this very unexpected and unpredictable story!! luved it!!
My Lovelies.. if you want to take a slightly insane but very fun journey with the dead who are undead, and learn a little bit about life along the way... READ THIS!!
January 31, 2014
Dark and thought-provoking, yet witty and humorous at the same time. Equal parts serious and absurd, and man, it works!
The Beautiful Dead definitely gets the 'page turner' badge of honor, because once I got about halfway through the book, I could not put it down. Lots of plot twists--some I saw coming, others I didn't--and an amusing, fascinating, and unforgettable cast of characters makes this a really fun read. And beneath the 'fun' part...there are some deep issues. What it means to fit in--or not fit in. What it means to be free of our pasts, and the complex emotions that go along with letting go.
Another awesome point: complex, likable characters who you feel for, and strong gender equality. While that last part may not be blatantly obvious, when I read a story, I always do quite a bit of thinking about gender roles (both how we define them in our society and how they are defined in the society within a work of fiction). The Beautiful Dead has several female characters in roles that, in just about any other book, would be stereotypically male. It is a breath of fresh air to read of female characters wielding swords--even the elderly ladies! Bonus points for that, as it reminds me of my own stories!
Vivid imagery, lots of questions and riddles to be solved, and each chapter ended on a bit of a hook--I wouldn't call it quite a cliffhanger, but more of a bang, like in LOST where some bombshell would drop just before the curtain fell--something like that. There are parties banding together to go off on quests; moments that made me smirk; moments that made my heart sink from the emotion of what was going on. The Beautiful Dead deftly mixes a very serious, sobering story, with some dark humor that I would almost call light dark humor...it hits on the same mix of good storytelling as the Monkey Island adventure games, for me. Enthralling and unforgettable. This book is one I will be reading several times!
The Beautiful Dead definitely gets the 'page turner' badge of honor, because once I got about halfway through the book, I could not put it down. Lots of plot twists--some I saw coming, others I didn't--and an amusing, fascinating, and unforgettable cast of characters makes this a really fun read. And beneath the 'fun' part...there are some deep issues. What it means to fit in--or not fit in. What it means to be free of our pasts, and the complex emotions that go along with letting go.
Another awesome point: complex, likable characters who you feel for, and strong gender equality. While that last part may not be blatantly obvious, when I read a story, I always do quite a bit of thinking about gender roles (both how we define them in our society and how they are defined in the society within a work of fiction). The Beautiful Dead has several female characters in roles that, in just about any other book, would be stereotypically male. It is a breath of fresh air to read of female characters wielding swords--even the elderly ladies! Bonus points for that, as it reminds me of my own stories!
Vivid imagery, lots of questions and riddles to be solved, and each chapter ended on a bit of a hook--I wouldn't call it quite a cliffhanger, but more of a bang, like in LOST where some bombshell would drop just before the curtain fell--something like that. There are parties banding together to go off on quests; moments that made me smirk; moments that made my heart sink from the emotion of what was going on. The Beautiful Dead deftly mixes a very serious, sobering story, with some dark humor that I would almost call light dark humor...it hits on the same mix of good storytelling as the Monkey Island adventure games, for me. Enthralling and unforgettable. This book is one I will be reading several times!
April 28, 2014
I was given this book by the author for an honest review.
To start off i have to say i hate zombies!
i honestly to god hate them...i am a vampire/werevolf/shifter/fairy/dragon/angel and anything and everything you can imagine kind of girl but not a zombie girl!
So when Daryl gave this book i was like...gosh i hope people are right and its more than zombie eating flesh crawling and all that jazz and i kept it for sometime in my book collection....then i started reading it and when i reached 50 pages i left it sit again cause i felt i was prejudiced against zombies and was not reading the book in a fair mind set.
So i picked it up during my easter holidays and man....ohhhh man......
Well its not the typical zombie book...and it is....but the point is that Daryl Banner has wrote an amazing storyline filled with twists and turns and darkness and awesomeness that promises to make you not want to leave the book!
Truth is you will find this book funny and frustrating yet dark and beautiful!
you will hate the main character and love her and want to send her back to where she came from and at the same time hold her tight.
It is a MUST MUST MUST READ with a fat 5 yes freaking stars book for me...(and i hate zombies!!!)
Daryl Banner managed to write a beautiful ,strong,dark ,amazing book that will blow your head away!
(and trust me you if didn't like it...you can't blame it that you don't like zombies cause he makes you love them!)
To start off i have to say i hate zombies!
i honestly to god hate them...i am a vampire/werevolf/shifter/fairy/dragon/angel and anything and everything you can imagine kind of girl but not a zombie girl!
So when Daryl gave this book i was like...gosh i hope people are right and its more than zombie eating flesh crawling and all that jazz and i kept it for sometime in my book collection....then i started reading it and when i reached 50 pages i left it sit again cause i felt i was prejudiced against zombies and was not reading the book in a fair mind set.
So i picked it up during my easter holidays and man....ohhhh man......
Well its not the typical zombie book...and it is....but the point is that Daryl Banner has wrote an amazing storyline filled with twists and turns and darkness and awesomeness that promises to make you not want to leave the book!
Truth is you will find this book funny and frustrating yet dark and beautiful!
you will hate the main character and love her and want to send her back to where she came from and at the same time hold her tight.
It is a MUST MUST MUST READ with a fat 5 yes freaking stars book for me...(and i hate zombies!!!)
Daryl Banner managed to write a beautiful ,strong,dark ,amazing book that will blow your head away!
(and trust me you if didn't like it...you can't blame it that you don't like zombies cause he makes you love them!)
July 23, 2016
Review: I was given a complimentary copy of The Beautiful dead by Pretty lil’ page turners for an honest review.
Zombies aren’t usually my cup of tea but I enjoyed this book. This book was really interesting. I think that Daryl Banner did a great job on this book. He is a really talented writer.
So Winter is a newly made undead woman. She is doomed to spend her second life in a perfect way. But she is hell bent on destroying it.
Winter angers the mayor and befriends a rebel headless teenager and ignites a romance with her neighbor. She finds herself wresting with her first and second life. She doesn’t want to accept her second life. Now a maniacal army of rotting corpses want her dead again. But that stuff doesn’t matter because she has a guest in her house, a man on the run with a heartbeat. Winter quickly meets and engages in a relationship with the handsome Grimsky who seems to answer her questions in half truths. She makes friends from the forever teenaged Anne to the helpful neighbor Jasmine.
“Knowledge is not power. It is a prison. And with it now, I envy every ignorant soul in this city.”
The imagery in this book was awesome. I felt like I was there.
“The Living Dead world, you come to learn, is just a bunch of actors, and a regretfully bad show of acting. Maybe life was like that, too. Actors, playing the role of themselves. Life's greatest contradiction is also deaths.”
I really liked this book and I give it 4 out of 5 stars!
Zombies aren’t usually my cup of tea but I enjoyed this book. This book was really interesting. I think that Daryl Banner did a great job on this book. He is a really talented writer.
So Winter is a newly made undead woman. She is doomed to spend her second life in a perfect way. But she is hell bent on destroying it.
Winter angers the mayor and befriends a rebel headless teenager and ignites a romance with her neighbor. She finds herself wresting with her first and second life. She doesn’t want to accept her second life. Now a maniacal army of rotting corpses want her dead again. But that stuff doesn’t matter because she has a guest in her house, a man on the run with a heartbeat. Winter quickly meets and engages in a relationship with the handsome Grimsky who seems to answer her questions in half truths. She makes friends from the forever teenaged Anne to the helpful neighbor Jasmine.
“Knowledge is not power. It is a prison. And with it now, I envy every ignorant soul in this city.”
The imagery in this book was awesome. I felt like I was there.
“The Living Dead world, you come to learn, is just a bunch of actors, and a regretfully bad show of acting. Maybe life was like that, too. Actors, playing the role of themselves. Life's greatest contradiction is also deaths.”
I really liked this book and I give it 4 out of 5 stars!
August 12, 2017
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Ok first off, I have to say that the blurb doesn’t do this book ANY kind of justice. It’s soooo much more than what is written. Think negative space, look between the lines. I think thats why it took me so long to start it honestly, it didn’t sound that interesting to me.
This book was wonderfully different than what I was expecting. I have read his Brazen Boys series and was expecting a bit more in the romance department because of that. I’m glad it wasn’t like the other series. To have more romance would have definitely taken away from the story.
The concept of undead having more than one type was kinda cool. We don’t only have one type of human so it makes sense that the undead wouldn’t have just one type either. This book had a great ebb and flow to it. I would get sucked in to one part then out of nowhere, something else would pop up all shiny and attractive.
I honestly didn’t know where the story was going until I got closer to the end. Then everything kind of just fell together. The author did a great job of keeping my attention.
Bottom line, you should probably read this book, ya know, if you like good books.
Ok first off, I have to say that the blurb doesn’t do this book ANY kind of justice. It’s soooo much more than what is written. Think negative space, look between the lines. I think thats why it took me so long to start it honestly, it didn’t sound that interesting to me.
This book was wonderfully different than what I was expecting. I have read his Brazen Boys series and was expecting a bit more in the romance department because of that. I’m glad it wasn’t like the other series. To have more romance would have definitely taken away from the story.
The concept of undead having more than one type was kinda cool. We don’t only have one type of human so it makes sense that the undead wouldn’t have just one type either. This book had a great ebb and flow to it. I would get sucked in to one part then out of nowhere, something else would pop up all shiny and attractive.
I honestly didn’t know where the story was going until I got closer to the end. Then everything kind of just fell together. The author did a great job of keeping my attention.
Bottom line, you should probably read this book, ya know, if you like good books.
September 1, 2014
The Beautiful Dead by Daryl Banner
I received this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review through the “Lovers of Paranormal” Group on Goodreads.com
I have to begin by saying that this book is possibly the best Zombie book I have ever read. It was fantastic and I could not put this book down. This book is a refreshing take on the good old Zombie story. It is humorous and action packed. It has so many twists and turns that I found myself reading until the early hours of the morning just to see what happens. It is very well written, and the characters are relatable. All in all an enjoyable and exciting read. I am waiting with baited breath for the next book in this series to come out. Daryl Banner, you rock !!! I will definitely be looking for more of this talented Author’s work in the future.
I received this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review through the “Lovers of Paranormal” Group on Goodreads.com
I have to begin by saying that this book is possibly the best Zombie book I have ever read. It was fantastic and I could not put this book down. This book is a refreshing take on the good old Zombie story. It is humorous and action packed. It has so many twists and turns that I found myself reading until the early hours of the morning just to see what happens. It is very well written, and the characters are relatable. All in all an enjoyable and exciting read. I am waiting with baited breath for the next book in this series to come out. Daryl Banner, you rock !!! I will definitely be looking for more of this talented Author’s work in the future.
September 12, 2014
Genre: Zombie
Author: Daryl Banner
Book: The Beautiful Dead
My star rating: 4 out of 5
I received this book to read and give my honest opinion. I have read the whole book and this is my honest opinion.
This book was a great shock to me. Usually zombie books bore me but this caught my attention right from the start. Got to say that I love how the author put in some sarcasm and it flowed great.
I did know who the King was but it was well played out. I liked the many twist and turns of this book and would love to read more. I do hope that there will be more to this story.
All of the characters came to life (haha). You found yourself liking many of the different types in this book. From the unalive to the deathless (well only liked one of those!) to the humans. Some at first I didnt like to end up liking at the end.
Author: Daryl Banner
Book: The Beautiful Dead
My star rating: 4 out of 5
I received this book to read and give my honest opinion. I have read the whole book and this is my honest opinion.
This book was a great shock to me. Usually zombie books bore me but this caught my attention right from the start. Got to say that I love how the author put in some sarcasm and it flowed great.
I did know who the King was but it was well played out. I liked the many twist and turns of this book and would love to read more. I do hope that there will be more to this story.
All of the characters came to life (haha). You found yourself liking many of the different types in this book. From the unalive to the deathless (well only liked one of those!) to the humans. Some at first I didnt like to end up liking at the end.
January 17, 2015
This is another excellent read by Daryl Banner.
I laughed... a lot. The humor is dry and sarcastic, which is right up my alley! I was totally grossed out sometimes (in the good way). I cheered, and I worried, and I fell in love (and hate, and a little love/hate) with another set of great complex characters!
I loved how it was written is such a way that you couldn’t really figure anything out until you were supposed to, which was usually just before or right along with Winter. I absolutely adore the ending because while there is triumph I can’t help but feel like there is going to be some major prices to pay for it. So many questions were answered, but now there are so many new ones. And that epilogue!!! I’m so glad book two is already out because waiting for it would have sucked!!!!!
I laughed... a lot. The humor is dry and sarcastic, which is right up my alley! I was totally grossed out sometimes (in the good way). I cheered, and I worried, and I fell in love (and hate, and a little love/hate) with another set of great complex characters!
I loved how it was written is such a way that you couldn’t really figure anything out until you were supposed to, which was usually just before or right along with Winter. I absolutely adore the ending because while there is triumph I can’t help but feel like there is going to be some major prices to pay for it. So many questions were answered, but now there are so many new ones. And that epilogue!!! I’m so glad book two is already out because waiting for it would have sucked!!!!!
July 20, 2014
Huge fan of the Walking Dead here...it's gory and sexy and funny and despite the nasty zombies, a really awesome family drama.
I pretty much feel the same way about this zombie-non-zombie-multiple kind of zombie book. Confusing? Well it won't be when you read it!
I was sucked in immediately at the prologue...Winter is a girl who is "raised" up from the earth and gets to live another life in a new form. Not complicated, but her feelings about herself and her new world are very complicated and the adventures she goes on to find out more about her former life are nothing short of thrilling and very emotionally gut wrenching. A very original and fresh take on the world of the un-dead.
***** 5 ***** "second chances are not always better" stars
I pretty much feel the same way about this zombie-non-zombie-multiple kind of zombie book. Confusing? Well it won't be when you read it!
I was sucked in immediately at the prologue...Winter is a girl who is "raised" up from the earth and gets to live another life in a new form. Not complicated, but her feelings about herself and her new world are very complicated and the adventures she goes on to find out more about her former life are nothing short of thrilling and very emotionally gut wrenching. A very original and fresh take on the world of the un-dead.
***** 5 ***** "second chances are not always better" stars
May 12, 2014
This book has the feel of Warm Bodies the movie. It is a very fun read and kinda crazy all in one. Not sure I would want to wake up in a strange place and be told I am undead, although a make over is kinda nice. This author brings this little town and all the characters to life. Winter has so much spunk and is always curious and questioning everything. Grim is very secretive and different. John is also a mystery and very moody but who can blame him when he is the only heartbeat in a town of undead. I am looking forward to more of this story in the future.
I received this book by the author for an honest review.
I received this book by the author for an honest review.
April 22, 2016
A beautiful story - 5 beautiful dead shaped stars !
A beautiful story, awesome characters, imaginative lines, very very well written, I coudn't put it down!
I was looking for a new author when I was recommended this book by Madeline Sheehan. I don't know if it's because I love The Walking Dead series and Karina halle's books and all of this post-apocalyptic stuff but I laughed all the way through even through the most horrific events!
God this book was so so good, I loooooooooved it, much much better than a movie.
So I highly recommend this book, one of the best crazy books I've read!
A beautiful story, awesome characters, imaginative lines, very very well written, I coudn't put it down!
I was looking for a new author when I was recommended this book by Madeline Sheehan. I don't know if it's because I love The Walking Dead series and Karina halle's books and all of this post-apocalyptic stuff but I laughed all the way through even through the most horrific events!
God this book was so so good, I loooooooooved it, much much better than a movie.
So I highly recommend this book, one of the best crazy books I've read!
May 12, 2014
As you all Know I'm the Zombie Lover of D&S... With that being said . This is NOT your conventional Zombie book ... I wanted to put this down and not read it , ( I was like hell no lol ) BUT by page 4 I COULD'NT AND I MEAN COULD'NT put this book down . Daryl Had me hook ,line and sinker with this !!!!!! The story is truly amazing , The world Daryl weaves is astonishing you are totally glued and mesmerized by the pages !!!!! I HOPE (cough cough )Daryl that there will be a second book to this . I would be honored to read /and review for you anytime !!!!!! WAY TO GO Daryl very Impressive !!!!!
May 12, 2014
So it starts with Winter being tended to after her being risen for her second life. Right away she hated everything. She wanted to know why she was here and what happened. But there are rules that make no sense and a feeling that everything isn't what it seems. When she meets a real living human her second life really starts changing.
So at first it was a little hard to figure out what was going on. The beginning is a little slow but then it picks up and things start moving. The story ends in a cliff hanger. I can not wait to read whats next!
So at first it was a little hard to figure out what was going on. The beginning is a little slow but then it picks up and things start moving. The story ends in a cliff hanger. I can not wait to read whats next!
February 14, 2014
I decided to read this book after I saw one of my favourite authors had and I am so glad I ventured out of my normal genre to give this a try. I really enjoyed this book and cant recommend enough. The story telling was so vivid and I absolutely adore Winter, the heroine. Her wit and her humour had me laughing all the way through even through the utterly horrific events!
Can't wait to read more from this author!!
Can't wait to read more from this author!!
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