Gnash reads almost like an alternative history work. That might sound crazy, considering it's a zombie novel, but like most good zombie books, the story isn't really about the zombies.
The author did a pretty good job of bringing me into the story. I've never been to the middle east, but his descriptions felt authentic. Although it's clear this introductory character is one of the "bad guys," he was enough of a character to sympathize with, particularly in the beginning. In some ways, I wish this character would have had a bigger role in the story and had more time spent on him.
Overall, the story is entertaining. The writing is well-edited, but leans a little on the "seriously?" side. I know, I know. It's a zombie story; I'm supposed to suspend my disbelief... but because of the historical/political/realistic path the author chooses, the "convenient" set-ups (which, of course, might be explained better in subsequent books when we know the whole story) were more jarring.
The most troubling part of the story for me was the apparent stereotypes/discrimination that, even if not intended, were, at a minimum, affirming. The Muslim characters are the bad guys, the white Americans are the good guys, and there's not really anyone who breaks out of the expected role. The historic secret religious society that is allegedly responsible for TEOTWAWKI has a fat leader (let's contribute to our body shaming society), rapes young boys, and has virtually no good qualities or motives for his actions. He's not a good villain because he is so unrealistic. I'm not so uneducated to believe that there haven't been horrible atrocities committed in the name of religion... but this just wasn't done in a believable way. Uncomfortably so.
The story-lines that followed our two main characters and their love interests (as well as the sole survivor) were well-developed. For the most part, I was given enough to work with to identify with these four characters, and I was committed to their futures, at least in part (the women characters were a bit flat...). The story-lines accompanying the doctor, the president, and what I expect to be a future main character (the American in the middle east) were superficial at best. It seemed like these characters existed to move and explain the plot more than anything else. I guess there's really nothing wrong with that.
As a zombie novel, this book didn't have me biting my nails wondering who was going to live or die, despite being action-packed. There are characters that die off, but the readers aren't given enough time with them to connect and care about their futures... so when they die... well, okay, someone has to... There are definitely some unique aspects to the zombie story though -- it definitely wasn't a story I had read before. Having two main "ground zeroes," combined with a nuclear attack, as well as two types of zombies, really made the battle elements and strategy interesting.
This book was provided to me free for review from the author.