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Apex Trilogy #3

Metal and Ash

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What began in the wasteland of DEAD MECH, continued alongside in Europe and Asia in The Americans, now has its epic conclusion in Metal and Ash!

Commander James Capreze and his team of mech pilots no longer must battle just zombies, cannibals, religious cults and the ever dreaded dead mechs. Now they will be put to the test by the forces of the Three as the evil alliance bent on dominating every inch of the world attacks from two fronts, forcing Capreze to split his forces and make alliances with those he had been sworn to defeat. The wasteland becomes the setting for an epic fight for basic human survival like it hasn’t seen in hundreds of years.
Will fifty foot battle mechs be enough against hundreds of thousands of techno-zombies ready to wipe everything living off the scorched map that is the wasteland?

Join Capreze, his mech pilots, the refugee Americans, end every denizen of the wasteland as they make one final stand to keep the Three from bringing humanity’s downfall. Alliances are formed and broken, mech pilots are made and murdered, secrets are revealed and agendas destroyed, and thousands of bodies fall and rise again in the Apex Trilogy finale: Metal and Ash!

Jake Bible is the author the Apex Trilogy (DEAD MECH, The Americans, Metal and Ash), Bethany and the Zombie Jesus, Stark- An Illustrated Novella, and the forthcoming YA horror novels Little Dead Man and Intentional Haunting. Find him at jakebible.com.

436 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 23, 2012

24 people are currently reading
86 people want to read

About the author

Jake Bible

157 books366 followers
Jake Bible, Bram Stoker Award nominated-novelist, short story writer, independent screenwriter, podcaster, and inventor of the Drabble Novel, has entertained thousands with his horror, sci/fi, thriller, and adventure tales. He reaches audiences of all ages with his uncanny ability to write a wide range of characters and genres.

Jake is the author of the bestselling Z-Burbia series set in Asheville, NC, the bestselling Salvage Merc One, the Apex Trilogy (DEAD MECH, The Americans, Metal and Ash) and the Mega series for Severed Press, as well as the YA zombie novel, Little Dead Man, the Bram Stoker Award nominated Teen horror novel, Intentional Haunting, the ScareScapes series, and the Reign of Four series for Permuted Press.

Find Jake at jakebible.com. Join him on Twitter @jakebible and find him on Facebook.

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5 stars
122 (48%)
4 stars
84 (33%)
3 stars
32 (12%)
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10 (4%)
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for Wenzel Roessler.
815 reviews7 followers
August 7, 2021
A very exciting end to the series. One of the pros of this book is also a con, there are many plot lines going on at one time. Which means you are not stuck with one story arc but it also is hard to keep it all straight. But there is no lack of development and action in this story.
6 reviews
September 12, 2017
This is essentially a comment on the series as a whole.

The first book was rather interesting, and the author's writing is rather good, if not great. Zombies with a twist (strong, fast, thriving in the wasteland), and a band of 50-ton mechs taking them all on. Sounds good. Then add 50-ton mechs piloted by zombies ... that was a neat idea. Continue to add cannibals, religious zealots, and freaks of every other kind, and the wasteland is soon crowded, but the story remains interesting, and believable within the framework of the universe.

However, the series gets progressively more audacious, to the point where it eventually becomes too big for its britches.

The author has a nasty habit of painting the good guys into a really bad corner, describing in vivid detail just how outmatched they are, and how there's no way that they're going to win, only for them to overcome their foes, seemingly with ease.

So for the next fight he ups the ante. Mechs that magically defeated hordes of enemies one minute, go down like bowling pins the next. New enemies come out of the woodwork, only to be defeated by new allies. Every time a resolution seems to be on the horizon, some traitor, or freak accident renders the situation critical again.

Characters who seem to be fairly important to the plot, and survive truly ridiculous situations one minute, are wiped out the next, only to be replaced by NEW main characters. Rinse and repeat.

Halfway through the third book I'd pretty much had enough. I was exhausted, and jaded. Who's the latest "main good guy" or bad guy? Well, who the heck cares anymore? Good guys are dying left and right, new allies are coming up all over the place, only to die pathetically the next, and the mechs are essentially playing second fiddle to other types of technology which are essentially magic, yet don't play a decisive role in the final show down. Somehow each side always has an ace up their sleeve, ready to screw everyone else over with.

Each strategy for dealing with the situation sounds momentous and critical for the survival of the human race, but as a reader you already know it's all going to fall through, only to be replaced by another ridiculous idea.

And to top it all off, the dialog got really, really old after a while. Entire conversations revolve purely around people talking smack to each other like idiotic teenagers. It's like they're competing for who can cram the most uses of the words "fuck" or "shit" in a sentence. It becomes very tiring to try and gleam the important pieces of information out of their infantile, profanity laden conversations.

I honestly have no idea what the author was thinking when he came up with this mess of a story.
Profile Image for Ziggy Nixon.
1,147 reviews36 followers
June 4, 2019
4 stars for the actual book (spelling and grammar hiccups were again distracting) but 5 stars for this trilogy, including especially the overall inventiveness of this world and the outstanding and wide-range of character development! My gosh, if you had told me this is what I'd be feeling after I picked up what I thought was an 'iffy' book called 'Dead Mech' a week or so ago, I'd have thought you'd been out in the wasteland too long!

OK, kids, what happens when you combine "The Living Dead" with "Mad Max", "Pacific Rim", "Bladerunner", "Snowpiercer", some old "James Bond" films and goodness knows how many other kick-butt fun stories? Well, I think you could probably begin to APPROACH the extremely complex but even more entertaining world that Jake Bible creates in his 'Apex Trilogy'. I'm not kidding with my comments above: I really expected a run-of-the-mill, "just reading so I could clear the cobwebs" kind of zombie pulp-er when I picked up part 1 of this trilogy but by the end, MAN, what a great run! I can't even make a decent list of all the 'sub-plotted' bits of this one, let alone all the characters I truly gave a damn about by the last page. I mean, cyborgs, clones, drones, zombies (different kinds mind you), international intrique, CANADIANS!, mutated snakes and mongoose, too... the list goes on and on! Wowzers!

Anything else might be a spoiler so I'm just going to say: if you want to read 'fine, summer time deep thought' books in the coming weeks, then be my guest. Enjoy with a nice glass of mint julip and your SPF 4000 lotion and try not to blush when the protagonists smooch (or spank each other) in the hallway. On the other hand, if you want to feel the rush of attacking submarines without anything but a cool 'Iron Man' suit, riding super-bikes through the desert, fighting hand-to-hand in the ether of a giant computer or even just getting down during an old-fashioned bar brawl in ol' England town, then please read these. Vessels and ghosts and good dogs, oh my! That was fun!

But still wear sun-block, that's just common sense...
Profile Image for Ethan P..
46 reviews14 followers
September 8, 2023
This third book really made up for the second book. I absolutely loved the first book. Hated and dreaded the second book. And loved the third book. It redeemed everything I ever wanted it to redeem from the first book. No loose ends or anything from the story that goes unattended.
I would love to see this book or the trilogy as a Netflix series! Or maybe even a Hollywood movie saga. They would be amazing movies!
Jake Bible was born to be a writer.

I loved the mini mechs, the great maker, the mechs that pilot themselves including the mechs with their own cool names like: Stomper, One-Arm, Halo-Eyes, etc. so bad ass. Reminds me of Native American names like: Little Big Man, Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, etc.
Profile Image for Steven Wade.
152 reviews1 follower
March 10, 2024
Wraps up the story, though it misses the mark on many things. A dead cyborg, a living metal AI robot and the final battle has many holes. And how do you kill off one of the best characters by zombie bite and not build her character in any of the three books to explain how she became such a badass? I finished the trilogy and I'm glad I did, but there are some crazy twists in this series.
Profile Image for Jennifer Wheeler.
712 reviews87 followers
July 28, 2020
I loved returning to the characters from book one in this third book. I’m a bit disappointed that Harlow dies, but otherwise I’m fairly happy with the fates of the rest of the characters. Leave it to Jake Bible to come up with self-repairing, almost indestructible zombies.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
211 reviews2 followers
March 27, 2017
Not as good as book 1. Better than book 2.
Profile Image for Simon.
28 reviews
May 23, 2018
Zombies? Good. Zombie mechs? Good. Over the top action? Good.

Everyone talking to each other in a "see who can win at smack talk" competition? Very quickly annoying.
444 reviews3 followers
July 2, 2018
Yikes

Woww. Very good story with many surprises, I enjoyed reading this series very much. Well written with interesting characters, some of whom i cheered for others whom i did not.
Profile Image for Korena Mcarthur.
5 reviews
Read
April 30, 2020
Best series in the world!

I loved this series! I like how there was the wasteland and then Europe. And how they could do stuff with bc. Overall the best series of all time
Profile Image for Danielle Vandehaar.
797 reviews1 follower
August 29, 2022
Nice ending with a mostly clean wrap-up but there is a fair bit of world out there I would love to explore if another series was written in this world.
Profile Image for Veronica.
89 reviews15 followers
August 1, 2014
Book 3 of the Apex Trilogy brings the stories from Books 1 and 2 together, placing the characters on the same path, working towards a common goal.
But, I do feel that this book had quite a lot going on. There were quite a number of side stories , back stories, up / down and around stories. Normally I can keep up with a book that is busy but sometimes there were a number of chapters between the side stories and I would have to remember what was going on, where things had left off earlier in the book. Eventually all of disjointed paths came together, allowing for one hell of a battle and several people finally got what they deserved. I do enjoy reading a book that has a number of story lines as it keeps my mind occupied. It just doesn't really allow for reading a page here and there.
Book 1 took place in the Wasteland which used to be the United States before the zombie virus broke out and we nuked our own lands to be rid of the plague that was destroying our lands. Unfortunately, after setting a nuclear bomb off, you are pretty much left with scorched earth; hence, the Wasteland. Book 2 was Europe where the virus was not yet released.. and then it was. Book 3 brings us back over the pond and tosses in Canada as well.
There were several new characters introduced in Book 3 along with those who were lucky enough to live through books 1 & 2. We learned a lot more about the Rookie's past and was introduced to several members of his family. Bible did a great job of developing several new characters by slowly showing the reader bits and pieces, allowing you to draw your own conclusions on whether this person was good or bad and then throwing you a curveball. What appears to be so cut and dry is not as it appears at all. I truly enjoyed reading this series and I was very happy when he tied everything up in a nice bow at the end. While everyone may not live 'happily ever after', I didn't feel like he rushed the ending, just to get words down on paper and move onto his next project. I am looking forward to reading more by J. Bible.
490 reviews25 followers
January 9, 2017
Decent Writing, Ludicrous Zombie Story Conclusion

"Metal and Ash," is the final (?) book in the author's, Mr. Jake Bible, "Apex Trilogy." The writing is decent, but the story, that at best, strained common sense, becomes fully ludicrous.

Mr. Bible is infatuated with zombies, fully enmeshed in the whole fad, niche, and craze of the "undead." It's not my "thing," in the interest of full disclosure. The author does write reasonably well, so I stayed with the entire trilogy till its conclusion. The wheels did come off in Book 2 "The Americans," and the wreckage is complete in Book 3.

There are zombies of every type: regular, "trained," reanimating, nanotech infused, cerebral, and more. There's also living metal (biochrome), AI, sentient AI, human consciousness downloaded into AI, telepathic, telekinetic, cannibals (human), sadists, religious zombie cults, mech warriors (both human piloted and sentient, unpiloted), clones, world-conquering villains, sociopaths formed by biochrome, and much more, all thrown hodgepodge against the wall by the author, not caring if anything sticks. It's not SciFi, but more an inane, brutal, nonsensical horror/fantasy hybrid, that might appeal to Mr. Bible's niche audience: zombie aficionados and sadomasochists. Anyone else, who prefers some reasoned thinking, some modicum of logic, a grasp of reality, will be hard pressed finding any in "Metal and Ash."

If you welcome the coming zombie apocalypse, then you will probably enjoy this eBook and the "Apex Trilogy." If you are not into zombies, horror/fantasy, prefer SciFi, you are unlikely to like "Metal and Ash." Hence, a two (2) star rating and a "neutral" recommendation. The eBook was fully read via Kindle Unlimited.
Profile Image for Heather Faville.
Author 1 book23 followers
May 28, 2013
Metal and Ash is a nonstop, action packed, hold onto your seats cause it's gonna get bumpy, conclusion to the Dead Mech trilogy. The survivors from both book 1 (Dead Mech) and book 2 (The Americans) come together to fight for the survival of the human race. The finale takes the Americans to the Wasteland and well, heck I really don't want to get too into what happens because it is all over the place...in a good way. Suffice it to say the story progresses and wraps up nicely. There is much action and violence and lots of fun and entertaining dialogue, which is one of my favorite things about Jake Bible's writing. The conversations between his characters are fantastic and quite often full of hilarity.

I will warn of one thing, there are a lot of characters to keep track of, especially if it's been a while between reading Dead Mech and getting to Metal and Ash. I had to go back and refresh my memory on who a few of the characters were and how they connected. I will give the author props, however, because while there are a lot of characters, Bible does a very good job keeping them "organized".

Assessment, the Dead Mech Trilogy, as a whole, is a must read for all who enjoy zombie, mechs, survival, violence and all the other things that go along with that world. Metal and Ash is the fantastic conclusion of the trilogy and makes the journey definitely worth your time.
Profile Image for Lisa.
35 reviews16 followers
March 12, 2014
I enjoyed the finale more than the first two books. (Actual rating: 4.5.) I have a few small problems with it that prevented me from rating it a 5, but overall it was an exciting romp that I was very happy to read. The thing that bothered me most was OH, and that reminds me of an overall gripe I had with the series: they all seemed way too adaptable given that it was a freaking post-apocalyptic world. Some more hardship would've been nice (and more believable).
Profile Image for Pauline Ennis.
25 reviews17 followers
May 7, 2015
A fantastic take on the Zombie genre. I stupidly downloaded book 3 before book 2, because I needed to know what happened to my favorite characters, that being said, i don't feel it spoiled the enjoyment of the book. I want a Stomper!!

Really wish it wasn't a trilogy as i think the idea of the Mechs and the Mech pilots, including Eden could have run on. I will miss these characters, Dog, Jenny, and definitely Harlow and Mitch Mother fu@king Masters! two of my favorite characters in books this year, a real "oh please don't Mr Bible" moment on the rail train :)
Profile Image for Bex Ciantelli.
4 reviews
January 21, 2016
To start in, his was the best of the 3 books. Hands down, I felt that as a whole, this last book was the real prize. Yes we get to understand some extra points that had fallen down and seemed too open ended in previous books, but then you get slammed with the adjusted story. There were still some really open issues that I felt should be addressed, but for the most part, the writing was significantly better and the story was more cohesive. I can say that I'd read the series again if I got bored, but book 3 may well be read more than the others.
9 reviews1 follower
April 29, 2013
Loved it. Ties both the previous books together brilliantly. Thank you Mr Bible.
Profile Image for Matt McRoberts.
536 reviews32 followers
December 21, 2012
A great end to the Apex series. I loved seeing the Mech pilot characters from Dead Mech again and it mixed well with the story from The Americans. I enjoyed Metal and Ash from beginning to end.
Profile Image for Skoota Hamilton.
2 reviews
Read
January 14, 2013
Hard to believe but the best of the three and Dead ech and the Americans were awesome. You won't put it down and so get ready for more sleepless nights. From Amazon.com or Itunes etc.
Profile Image for robert campbell.
5 reviews
June 19, 2014
Best trilogy ever.

as title says it is great. last book brought tears, laughter anger and hopes I read it. it your average zombie book. buy it you will not be disappointed.
Profile Image for Amy Gregory.
76 reviews
March 5, 2016
Amazing ending to a fantastic trilogy

Wow wow wow!!!! I literally could not stop reading this book. Action packed all the way to the last page. I'm sad that it's over.
Profile Image for PJ Lea.
1,064 reviews
April 24, 2017
Mechs are awesome.

I've read the first two books and this one is the ideal finale. Mechs, dead mechs, pilots, and a ton of fighting to preserve what is left of the USA. Ugly surprises are sprung on the reader as the body count rises. I loved this book and want more mechs!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews

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