Dead City

by Mani Haider

An unforgettable journey into a post-apocalyptic nightmare. Within these pages, adorned with stunningly detailed illustrations, an ordinary man defies the horrors of a terrifying plague that has ravaged a once-peaceful city.
As civilization crumbles and power-hungry rulers exploit the survivors, our hero dreams of more than mere survival. His audacious quest takes him through the heart of the city, confronting the shadowy beasts that lurk within.
Those who survive in this new world will have to clash with terrifying monsters and power-hungry men who now rule the world.

53 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 6, 2023

About the author

My published novella Dead City is the first in a trilogy of novellas about the horrors that haunt a dead city, long lost to darkness.

Currently writing & illustrating the novella "Inferno".

Reviews

[Daniel Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable read. The characters each felt unique and alive with personality despite only having such a short intro to them. Mani Haider shows he has a knack for writing some gripping scenarios. I loved the monster. That felt like a unique twist to the zombie trope and I really enjoyed the ape like aspect it had walking on the balls of it's feet and hands. I'm excited for the sequel.

[AndDown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: Mani Haider provided me with an eARC, which does not affect my opinion of this book.

Rating 3,5 out of 5 stars (rounded up to 4 stars)

Dead City is a short post-apocalyptic horror novella, but with a dense story and great illustrations, all done by Mani himself.

To me it feels like the beginning of an even bigger project. The first 20 pages are like a great setup, introducing you to the world and the characters we follow.

As much as I liked that setup and the way the story builds to the climax, the ending didn't quite land for me. It seemed a bit rushed, and if the story had been longer, the conclusion might have been more satisfying. You end up with more questions than answers, and for me it was like... Oh, that's it?

The world on the other hand is quite interesting and Mani hints at a bigger picture with things like "The Fall", a virus and different factions to be discovered in later installments and the illustrations really help to immerse you in this world. I got some Fallout and Wasteland (the video games) vibes, and that's a good thing.

All in all, I enjoyed this quick read, although the ending was not the most satisfying part of it. If Mani develops this world further and gives some parts some air to breathe and expand, this could be an interesting post-apocalyptic horror world to dive into deeper. It has a lot of potential and is worth checking out.

[Alaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would have given 5 stars, but there are a few editing errors. Still easy to know what's going on. Otherwise very well written. There is a lot of detail in only 60 pages. I love how it ends, it's not your typical zombie story. Highly recommend if you like dystopian and zombies or dark thrillers. Had a hard time putting it down. Will be looking for more from Mani Haider. This was a goodreads giveaway.

[B · Rating 2 out of 5]

Goodreads Giveaway win!

There just should’ve been… more. Of everything.
The author’s included illustrations lead me to believe that he has/had more in mind for this universe. And yet we’re left with just hints of “the fall”, the base and the Herat Society, so I have little context of our setting, our characters, and our villain… all kinda key ingredients.

Regardless, fun lil read on a slow day at work. I’m not mad about it.

[Bill Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won a copy of Dead City by Mami Haired in a Goodreads giveaway. This is a short story about a tank crew and a scientist trying to reach a warlord to develop a cure to the disease. It seems to be a build up for a more involved series. The characters are not really developed but it is a short story and the hints of the Fall and it's aftermath are interesting. I look forward to seeing more of the Dead City world.

[Amy D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick Read

This is a very quick read. It's a new take on the undead trope that's refreshing and unique. The story has a small issue with repetition, telling instead of showing, and a few errors. I almost gave it 4 stars despite these. What bothered me most was the pictures in place of descriptions. They pulled me from the story. In the end, this is an original and fun read.

[A.J. White · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good debut novella. The writing was a little stiff, but I feel like this could’ve been a full length novel with a little tweaking. A little slow at the beginning, but I liked the way it ended. I won this as a Goodreads giveaway.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Goodreads Giveaway!
A brilliant read, pictures helped to set the scene, but I am glad it was only a short story!