Legions of undead and the bitter Alaskan wilderness conspire against Neil, Jerry, Meghan, and Emma as they fight for survival. The horrors of Anchorage festering with prowling ghouls are behind them but new terrors threaten every step on their arduous trek along the Seward Highway. As hopes dim and nightmares become dark realities, the small group of survivors find strength in each other to live.
Sean Schubert has lived in Anchorage, Alaska since 1993. After earning his degree in English from Wabash college that year, Schubert immediately relocated to Alaska.
It's clear that he enjoys and appreciates his new home. Schubert makes Alaska itself an integral part of his unfolding series. The people of Alaska respond to hardship with equanimity.
Sean Schubert says: "Alaska poses its own set of challenges separate from the unfolding zombie plague. The cold, the wildlife, the environment, and the distance all challenge its residents; the addition of zombies to the mix just ups the ante. I try to introduce the elements without being too heavy handed about it. Alaskans typically take things as they come with regard to those environmental challenges, so the growing cold, the gathering darkness, and even zombies are, after certain adjustments, taken in stride. It’s just part of the survival mentality of the Last Frontier."
The carnage and devastating loss of life escalates in 'Mitigation' - the third book of the Alaskan Undead Apocalypse. In this episode, Neil, Jerry, Emma, and the rest of this emotionally and physically worn out group of survivors comes up against a group of human survivors to rival the evil they have faced in their nonstop encounters with the undead. Several of the survivors are caught by this group and succumbed to horrific conditions and treatment. One of the survivors suffers tortures only the most psychotic and deranged could dream up. The loss of life is numerous and devastating to the group. Some are holding on to their sanity by a thread, while others have completely stopped trying to hold on at all. Author Sean Schubert does not hold back with the graphic and very descriptive depictions of the suffering sustained as death is inflicted by both zombies and humans alike. As I mentioned in a previous review, just because a character is central to the plot it does mean they are going to live to see tomorrow. Mr. Schubert definitely keeps it real - or as real as it could be if a zombie apocalypse ever occurred.... On a brighter note, the group has added a few new members after a battle with both humans and zombies. These newcomers fought valiantly and selflessly amongst members of Neil's group - in the face of almost certain death - in their quest to save those their rival "humans"had imprisoned. Looking forward to book #4 and finding out how/if the group dynamics change and how they forge forward. Narrator Daniel May knocked - yet - another one out of the park.
3.5/5 I thoroughly enjoyed 70% of the book. The book stated to go down the less interesting TWD route towards the end which made it a bit of a struggle to get through. I’m hoping that book 4 will move away from that and bring back the struggle to survive aspects that I enjoyed so well.
This book starts out fantastic. It starts with a zombie-centered view which I totally dig. It also ties in the very beginning of the other books which is very cool. The book is doing an incredible job reintroducing characters. I appreciate this because I so often forget characters while waiting for the next book in series to come out! I feel like these books are hidden gems. They are such great zombie books especially for those of us that read a lot. I remember the characters and the book does a great job of reminding but I think that's what marks a good book. Great memorable characters.
This book is traveling. The people are still trying to find someplace with long term safety. The story is well constructed and the author does a good jobs of switching points of view without getting the reader lost. None of the people are super heroes but they are trying to do their best. I look forward to reading the next book.
Mitigation is another great installment of the Alaskan Undead Apocalypse Series. Here you find that not all the monsters are the undead. It's a gripping tale to keep you on the edge of your seat. And no one is safe.
I'm tempted to rate this negatively as the beginning was dragging. Thankfully it picked up towards the middle and finished with a bit of flair. We lost more of the original survivor group; one especially tugged at my virtual emotions while another was unpleasantly and grudgingly relieved of physical extremities during a Q&A session with one of the more severely disturbed renegade men. As it so happens, the trilogy expands to a quartet (quartet in books?). In book four the remaining survivors will search for Shangri-La and an end to the fatal cat & mouse game.
Overall, I like the book series and reading about Alaska. This book wasn't the greatest. I didn't like how he backtracks the story to the start of the epidemic and lives it through all the characters. It's too much. Jen could have shared her story as they escaped and were in the car. I get it. She wants to find her daughter. It's her main goal. Here's to hoping #4 is better!
Love this series mainly because it takes place in Alaska and I can picture where they are at. It follows the show The Walking Dead with a little variation, writer obviously watches the TV series and could have used more creativity. But all in all I still loved the books and look forward to the 3rd and 4th book, maybe Sean Schubert will write a few more after to continue the journey.