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Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse #5
Allegiance
Allegiance, Book 5 in the Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse series, picks up two days after “A Pound of Flesh: Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse” left off.
Outbreak – Day 1. Like a fragile house of cards in a hurricane, Presidents, Premiers, entire governments and their ruling bodies disappeared instantly. Some had ensconced themselves in deep underground bunkers or remained holed up in fortified strongholds, but history would tell that most had been swallowed up by the dead - never to be heard from again.
Infection rates skyrocketed in the United States’ largest cities the first days of the outbreak, as the rapacious dead delivered the Omega virus with emotionless efficiency. During the ensuing days, the rest of the country and the world shared the same fate as Omega spread exponentially from within the mega population centers, pulsing into the countryside, a rotten, shambling diaspora.
It had taken 3.7 billion years for man to evolve from a universal common ancestor – to stop dragging his collective knuckles - finally to emerge the dominant species, complete with shiny new iPads, Smartphones, worldwide non-stop air travel, and all manner of high tech war machines. Yet it had taken one microscopic man-made virus only three days to deliver mankind, on its collective knees, to the doorstep of extinction.
WARNING - SPOILERS AHEAD
Outbreak - Day 15. With an estimated ninety-nine percent of the United States’ population having already succumbed to the rapidly spreading Omega virus, and countries and cities worldwide teeming with the dead, the struggle to survive the zombie apocalypse continues unabated in the high desert of Colorado.
Having just returned from a hastily thrown together secret mission that saw Robert Christian—the self-proclaimed President of his “New America”—snatched from his mountain redoubt and delivered kicking and screaming to the justice awaiting him at Schriever Air Force Base, Cade Grayson, father, husband, and Delta Force operator is horrified to learn that during his absence the base had been compromised, putting his family in harm’s way.
Its inhabitants still reeling from Pug’s act of terror, and recently rocked by an undead outbreak inside the wire, Schriever no longer seems an island of safety surrounded by a sea of dead, but more like a shadowy prison, danger lurking within its walls.
So, with the Z-infested cities of Denver and Aurora to the north and a hundred thousand flesh eaters inhabiting Pueblo to the south, and all hope of a cure for Omega dwindling faster than the world’s population, Cade uses a mandated two-day stand down to fully weigh out his options.
With each passing day, he finds himself warming to Brook’s stance that they pull up stakes and put the acres of squat buildings and fenced-in concrete in their rearview mirror for good.
With his allegiance walking a tightrope between family and flag, will Cade appease Brook and move the family to Logan Winter’s compound outside of Eden, Utah? Or will he lobby her to allow the family to stay at on Schriever, so that his Delta Team—still recovering from the recent loss of soft-spoken Sergeant Darwin Maddox and the Unit’s longtime commander General Mike Desantos—will not find themselves undermanned and outgunned should another important mission crop up?
Or will the talented Mister Murphy—of Murphy’s Law fame—throw a monkey wrench into the equation and alter the best laid plans of mice and men?
Outbreak – Day 1. Like a fragile house of cards in a hurricane, Presidents, Premiers, entire governments and their ruling bodies disappeared instantly. Some had ensconced themselves in deep underground bunkers or remained holed up in fortified strongholds, but history would tell that most had been swallowed up by the dead - never to be heard from again.
Infection rates skyrocketed in the United States’ largest cities the first days of the outbreak, as the rapacious dead delivered the Omega virus with emotionless efficiency. During the ensuing days, the rest of the country and the world shared the same fate as Omega spread exponentially from within the mega population centers, pulsing into the countryside, a rotten, shambling diaspora.
It had taken 3.7 billion years for man to evolve from a universal common ancestor – to stop dragging his collective knuckles - finally to emerge the dominant species, complete with shiny new iPads, Smartphones, worldwide non-stop air travel, and all manner of high tech war machines. Yet it had taken one microscopic man-made virus only three days to deliver mankind, on its collective knees, to the doorstep of extinction.
WARNING - SPOILERS AHEAD
Outbreak - Day 15. With an estimated ninety-nine percent of the United States’ population having already succumbed to the rapidly spreading Omega virus, and countries and cities worldwide teeming with the dead, the struggle to survive the zombie apocalypse continues unabated in the high desert of Colorado.
Having just returned from a hastily thrown together secret mission that saw Robert Christian—the self-proclaimed President of his “New America”—snatched from his mountain redoubt and delivered kicking and screaming to the justice awaiting him at Schriever Air Force Base, Cade Grayson, father, husband, and Delta Force operator is horrified to learn that during his absence the base had been compromised, putting his family in harm’s way.
Its inhabitants still reeling from Pug’s act of terror, and recently rocked by an undead outbreak inside the wire, Schriever no longer seems an island of safety surrounded by a sea of dead, but more like a shadowy prison, danger lurking within its walls.
So, with the Z-infested cities of Denver and Aurora to the north and a hundred thousand flesh eaters inhabiting Pueblo to the south, and all hope of a cure for Omega dwindling faster than the world’s population, Cade uses a mandated two-day stand down to fully weigh out his options.
With each passing day, he finds himself warming to Brook’s stance that they pull up stakes and put the acres of squat buildings and fenced-in concrete in their rearview mirror for good.
With his allegiance walking a tightrope between family and flag, will Cade appease Brook and move the family to Logan Winter’s compound outside of Eden, Utah? Or will he lobby her to allow the family to stay at on Schriever, so that his Delta Team—still recovering from the recent loss of soft-spoken Sergeant Darwin Maddox and the Unit’s longtime commander General Mike Desantos—will not find themselves undermanned and outgunned should another important mission crop up?
Or will the talented Mister Murphy—of Murphy’s Law fame—throw a monkey wrench into the equation and alter the best laid plans of mice and men?
- GenresZombiesHorrorApocalyptic
426 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 21, 2013
117 people are currently reading
250 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
October 1, 2014
I have been enjoying this series since I read the first book Trudge and it just keeps getting deeper and deeper. The story keeps evolving and bringing in more and more bad guys who will have to be dealt with. The characters are growing with each book and becoming more complex and real.
The only thing that kind of bothers me is that it seems a bit over long, particularly since it is about two days in the lives of these people and we have 412 pages of those two days.
Brooke has convinced Cade that they should leave Schriever AFB and go to his friends compound in Utah before anything more happens that can threaten their family. But Cade is loyal and when another mission comes up that Brooke knows he will not be able to deny she convinces him to go. Because of a girl that Cade helped rescue there is a chance once again for a cure which had been destroyed by agents of Robert Christian.
But could this be the mission that Cade does not come back from?
The story jumps between multiple locations, which means that the groups of survivors all have their own stories to tell along the way. This enriches the story as a whole and allows you to get to know everyone as they slowly converge.
This is a good zombie tale, a study in survival, family loyalty, and the loyalty to country and friends. I would recommend this series to any zombie fan.
The only thing that kind of bothers me is that it seems a bit over long, particularly since it is about two days in the lives of these people and we have 412 pages of those two days.
Brooke has convinced Cade that they should leave Schriever AFB and go to his friends compound in Utah before anything more happens that can threaten their family. But Cade is loyal and when another mission comes up that Brooke knows he will not be able to deny she convinces him to go. Because of a girl that Cade helped rescue there is a chance once again for a cure which had been destroyed by agents of Robert Christian.
But could this be the mission that Cade does not come back from?
The story jumps between multiple locations, which means that the groups of survivors all have their own stories to tell along the way. This enriches the story as a whole and allows you to get to know everyone as they slowly converge.
This is a good zombie tale, a study in survival, family loyalty, and the loyalty to country and friends. I would recommend this series to any zombie fan.
March 19, 2020
A local story for me
Hard not to relate to this one. I lived in Bear River, Wyoming, just on the Utah border south of Jackson, until one year ago. All of the towns are well known to me an 89 went right past my house.
A veteran myself, I can appreciate the details (though why anyone has to charge an automatic or semi rather than hit the release on an empty mag ...).
Loving there I often thought about defensive options as an exercise in defense in the always fun zombie apocalypse scenario, and I think a lot of the reloading, elk hunting, distance shooting, good ‘is boys there would do just fine. Plenty of demo equipment and heavy earth movers. Crossing those peaks could be made impossible for something that can’t think. But just my opinion.
The series is great, I’ll FIDO for now.
Hard not to relate to this one. I lived in Bear River, Wyoming, just on the Utah border south of Jackson, until one year ago. All of the towns are well known to me an 89 went right past my house.
A veteran myself, I can appreciate the details (though why anyone has to charge an automatic or semi rather than hit the release on an empty mag ...).
Loving there I often thought about defensive options as an exercise in defense in the always fun zombie apocalypse scenario, and I think a lot of the reloading, elk hunting, distance shooting, good ‘is boys there would do just fine. Plenty of demo equipment and heavy earth movers. Crossing those peaks could be made impossible for something that can’t think. But just my opinion.
The series is great, I’ll FIDO for now.
March 26, 2017
#5 in the great STZA series from Shawn Chesser, day 15. Another day in the life of the apocalypse. Every way Cade Johnson turns he has decisions to make, family, country friends. Action packed and emotionally raw.
June 7, 2017
Yet another cliffhanger
I know I've said it before, but these just keep getting better and better! Pick these up and start reading!!! Awesome!!!!
I know I've said it before, but these just keep getting better and better! Pick these up and start reading!!! Awesome!!!!
September 11, 2017
Jus Holy Shit!
I wasn't going to get the next book in the series but after the ending I just read are really need to get the new book!
I wasn't going to get the next book in the series but after the ending I just read are really need to get the new book!
October 15, 2019
Shawn Chesser continues to weave the journey through the lens of the victims trying to survive s zombie apocalypse.
December 3, 2020
One word, AMAZING
September 21, 2021
Outstanding thrill ride
shock and awesome ending
shock and awesome ending
May 28, 2022
fantastic
The author does a fantastic job, the characters are great. Never ending action a must read book. You won’t be able to put it down.
The author does a fantastic job, the characters are great. Never ending action a must read book. You won’t be able to put it down.
August 24, 2014
This book moved a bit faster than the last two books but then it slowed down towards the middle to explain a bit more about Cade's military background, Cade's family background, and some side stories that were pretty neat but doesn't really add much to the storyline. What I didn't like about this particular book though, compared to his last 4 books in the series, is that almost every chapter from the middle half onward seem to jump back and forth, back and forth between four intertwining storylines that were slowly merging into the main storyline. At times, it felt jumpy and at other times, it felt like the thought wasn't fully completed but nevertheless, it ended where it did, which felt somewhat confusing. Other than those qualms, the storyline pushed forward just a tad bit more and you get to learn what actually happens to the leader of "New America". Pretty intense, if you ask me.
June 30, 2013
Not as good as previous books in the series
At first, I thought it was the long time span between reading the previous book & the release of this book that kept me from getting pulled back in to the saga. But as I continued to read, I realized it was the choppiness brought on by short chapters and switching rapidly to multiple story lines was the real issue for me. The book just didn't seem to develop the intensity in each story line as it jerked this reader from one to the next. I think the author was trying to track too much in one book and leaving each part somewhat lacking in depth.
And the ending, rather than be the cliffhanger it was surely intended to be, was just abrupt.
At first, I thought it was the long time span between reading the previous book & the release of this book that kept me from getting pulled back in to the saga. But as I continued to read, I realized it was the choppiness brought on by short chapters and switching rapidly to multiple story lines was the real issue for me. The book just didn't seem to develop the intensity in each story line as it jerked this reader from one to the next. I think the author was trying to track too much in one book and leaving each part somewhat lacking in depth.
And the ending, rather than be the cliffhanger it was surely intended to be, was just abrupt.
July 26, 2016
Well book 5 of the STZA series, and another corker from Shaun Chesser. Starts off quite slowly and concentrates more on the travels and troubles of characters from the previous books before giving it both barrels with the main character & his ongoing mission to discover the cure for the zombie plague, and sends him off on what could be his most dangerous mission yet, one that even Cade has doubts he will survive.
It dosen't lack for action and there's plenty of the red stuff flying around the place, and I sat open mouthed at the ending of the book so much so that I had to read it twice just to make sure what I was seeing.
Book 6 is due for a December release, can't wait.
It dosen't lack for action and there's plenty of the red stuff flying around the place, and I sat open mouthed at the ending of the book so much so that I had to read it twice just to make sure what I was seeing.
Book 6 is due for a December release, can't wait.
December 30, 2013
best money ever spent on this series.
you'll not be disappointed is this installment. I had to wait an extra 23 days bc of BN but was gladly worth the wait. Cade and his family and crew have all endeared so much to get where they are now. His team and rowdy group of friends have been through the ringer in the three weeks since it all began. In book 5 you begin to see the stress and strain break them down and how each of them handles there own demons while still carrying on. I'm only disappointed in the fact that I have to wait until December for my next fix!
you'll not be disappointed is this installment. I had to wait an extra 23 days bc of BN but was gladly worth the wait. Cade and his family and crew have all endeared so much to get where they are now. His team and rowdy group of friends have been through the ringer in the three weeks since it all began. In book 5 you begin to see the stress and strain break them down and how each of them handles there own demons while still carrying on. I'm only disappointed in the fact that I have to wait until December for my next fix!
October 16, 2015
One more down! NEXT!!!
The story moves forward at a good clip, so far it has kept me interested and coming for more! Author is doing a great job at keeping the action coming hot and heavy! The development of the characters is well done and often I worry that my favorite ones might get bitten etc. I am also waiting for some of the younger characters to further mature and become valuable assets when the S--t hit the fan and Z's heads need fixing LOL. Well the next installment is calling me!
The story moves forward at a good clip, so far it has kept me interested and coming for more! Author is doing a great job at keeping the action coming hot and heavy! The development of the characters is well done and often I worry that my favorite ones might get bitten etc. I am also waiting for some of the younger characters to further mature and become valuable assets when the S--t hit the fan and Z's heads need fixing LOL. Well the next installment is calling me!
January 5, 2017
Still a good series. Looks like he is killing off the main characters. If so, this will probably be the last of this series I read. Have some small problems with characters, and need to go back and find out if he made a mistake and resurrected a dead person, or if I understood it wrong. Have several problems with characters not being consistent, but it could be a poor memory on my part. Will see. Still a fun book and series to read.
November 9, 2013
Great read. Really love the military touch in this z-pocalypse. Can't wait to read the rest in the series.
The formatting of the print book (I have the paperback) is strange (left justified, rather than right and left justified), and there were a few editing issues, but the story really pulled me in.
The formatting of the print book (I have the paperback) is strange (left justified, rather than right and left justified), and there were a few editing issues, but the story really pulled me in.
August 11, 2015
Shawn Chesser is a master at what he does. And what he does is create a world where you feel a part of. Allegiance, book 5, continues with Cade doing his best to keep his family alive during the Zombie Apocalypse. I'm beginning to think a curse has been placed on Cade. His bad luck just keeps getting worse. I wonder how this series will end.
July 9, 2013
As you read Allegiance, you have to remind yourself that this is the beginning of 3 weeks in the ZA. This is the story of a patriot who keeps being called forward to put his country before his family. I just couldn't put it down.
July 24, 2013
I started reading and once again I found it hard to put down. Yes, it's that exciting. Shawn has grown with his writing, his characters and story and we all benefit. I longingly await the next installment.
February 1, 2016
Another awesome sequel in the Surviving The Zombie Apocalypse Series
I love Shawn Chesser's series. They are riveting and thought provoking. You cannot go wrong with his works. Don't hate me when you buy the 1st Trudge and have to get the entire series.
I love Shawn Chesser's series. They are riveting and thought provoking. You cannot go wrong with his works. Don't hate me when you buy the 1st Trudge and have to get the entire series.
June 17, 2016
Love it
Great emotional action packed gruesome roller coaster. I recommend this book and series to everyone. I can't wait for the next ride into the zombie ridden hell created in this series.
Great emotional action packed gruesome roller coaster. I recommend this book and series to everyone. I can't wait for the next ride into the zombie ridden hell created in this series.
August 22, 2013
The majority of the storylines in this book lacked the scale of the earlier entries, but it was still enjoyable... mostly. I'm being generous in only taking away one star for stupidity at the end.
September 9, 2013
The endings are killing me!!!
October 16, 2013
Anxiously awaiting the 6th book that is supposed to be out around the end of this year....
July 23, 2014
Loving this Zombie series, one of my favorites.
February 19, 2015
Trudge was a good book, but as the series progressed the characters became more or less the same. The men all act as if they've got no weaknesses and the women act like men.
Read
March 10, 2016Same as the first 6 books. They are great and I want to read them all.
November 27, 2016
Dang
Cade and friends are sent on a critical mission to rescue some important people in this episode. Life just keeps getting more interesting for our delta team.
Cade and friends are sent on a critical mission to rescue some important people in this episode. Life just keeps getting more interesting for our delta team.
January 2, 2014
fucking amazing as usual. Killer cliff hanger.
April 9, 2017
AN AWESOME RIDE
From one extreme to the next Shawn Chesser takes us on a ride that never slows down. This is another book in the series that doesn't disappoint. From the first page to the last page of this book, Cade with Rangers & Delta do what they do best and that is dealing with the worst humanity has to offer and that doesn't include the Walking Dead.
From one extreme to the next Shawn Chesser takes us on a ride that never slows down. This is another book in the series that doesn't disappoint. From the first page to the last page of this book, Cade with Rangers & Delta do what they do best and that is dealing with the worst humanity has to offer and that doesn't include the Walking Dead.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews