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The Becoming #4
Under Siege
It has been almost two years since the Michaluk Virus outbreak began, and Remy Angellette has helped her friends establish Woodside, a walled-in community of survivors in South Carolina. But underneath the veneer of simplicity of their day-to-day lives, not all is as it seems. Dr. Derek Rivers, a former CDC scientist who was involved in the virus’s testing, has come close to a cure for the virus, and he’s used it to cure Ethan Bennett—who promptly begins to show strange side-effects from the cure. Despite her pleas, Derek delays giving the cure to Remy, who has found herself beginning to dance a fine line between sanity and madness as the virus continues its relentless attack on her brain.
When Dominic Jackson smuggles Remy out of the community on a supply run and brings back a set of twins that they’ve rescued, hundreds upon hundreds of infected follow them back to Woodside. Within hours, the community is besieged by the infected, who attack the main gates and slowly begin to surround the community. Desperate to get the cure and all the information about it out of Woodside before the infected get in, two members of the community pack the doctor’s samples and notes and slip out of Woodside to search for a still-operational CDC facility—but not before Remy steals a dose of the cure and injects herself with it.
As the community’s gates collapse under the assault from the other side, one of the community’s members manages to get in touch with the military, begging them for assistance before they all end up dead. But will they be able to survive until the military shows up to help them—or will they end up dead at the hands of the infected after nearly two years of survival?
When Dominic Jackson smuggles Remy out of the community on a supply run and brings back a set of twins that they’ve rescued, hundreds upon hundreds of infected follow them back to Woodside. Within hours, the community is besieged by the infected, who attack the main gates and slowly begin to surround the community. Desperate to get the cure and all the information about it out of Woodside before the infected get in, two members of the community pack the doctor’s samples and notes and slip out of Woodside to search for a still-operational CDC facility—but not before Remy steals a dose of the cure and injects herself with it.
As the community’s gates collapse under the assault from the other side, one of the community’s members manages to get in touch with the military, begging them for assistance before they all end up dead. But will they be able to survive until the military shows up to help them—or will they end up dead at the hands of the infected after nearly two years of survival?
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 8, 2014
16 people are currently reading
182 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Meigs
30 books181 followersJessica Meigs is the author of The Becoming, a post-apocalyptic thriller series that follows a group of people trying to survive a massive viral outbreak in the southeastern United States. After gaining notoriety for having written the first two books in the series on a variety of BlackBerry smartphones, she self-published two novellas that now make up part of the first book in the series. In April 2011, she accepted a deal with Permuted Press to publish The Becoming as a series of novels. The first of the series, entitled The Becoming, was released in November 2011, and was named one of Barnes & Noble’s Best Zombie Fiction Releases of the Decade by reviewer Paul Goat Allen.
In 2019, Jessica began self-publishing again, this time exploring a new universe with The Unnaturals Series, in which a group of government-employed agents discover that the wheels of the Biblical apocalypse are in motion…and they’re the only ones who can stop it.
In late 2020, after obtaining the rights for the series back from the publisher, Jessica began reissuing The Becoming Series in revised and expanded editions. The new editions of the series are available now on all major ebook retailers.
Jessica lives in semi-obscurity in Demopolis, Alabama. When she’s not writing, she works full time as an editor, copyeditor, and proofreader. She can be found on a variety of social media platforms and on her website at www.jessicameigs.com.
If you are an author interested in exploring Jessica’s editorial services, you can check out her editing website at www.editsbyjessica.com.
For rights inquiries, please contact Jessica via the contact form on her website.
In 2019, Jessica began self-publishing again, this time exploring a new universe with The Unnaturals Series, in which a group of government-employed agents discover that the wheels of the Biblical apocalypse are in motion…and they’re the only ones who can stop it.
In late 2020, after obtaining the rights for the series back from the publisher, Jessica began reissuing The Becoming Series in revised and expanded editions. The new editions of the series are available now on all major ebook retailers.
Jessica lives in semi-obscurity in Demopolis, Alabama. When she’s not writing, she works full time as an editor, copyeditor, and proofreader. She can be found on a variety of social media platforms and on her website at www.jessicameigs.com.
If you are an author interested in exploring Jessica’s editorial services, you can check out her editing website at www.editsbyjessica.com.
For rights inquiries, please contact Jessica via the contact form on her website.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 1, 2020
I left this series after book 3, wanting to try others authors, a couple of years ago.
My return with book 4, confirmed that Jessica Meigs is one of the finest ZA writers in the world.
Book 4 Under Siege was incredible, and this author really knows how to create amazing characters, and an exciting story.
What always impressed me with this author was her use of realistic dialogue. There are still too many writers out there who feel bad language is not necessary. The result of this lack of realism is terrible, pompous, garbage.
Jessica Meigs gives it how it should be, and would be in the same situations.
Brilliant.
My return with book 4, confirmed that Jessica Meigs is one of the finest ZA writers in the world.
Book 4 Under Siege was incredible, and this author really knows how to create amazing characters, and an exciting story.
What always impressed me with this author was her use of realistic dialogue. There are still too many writers out there who feel bad language is not necessary. The result of this lack of realism is terrible, pompous, garbage.
Jessica Meigs gives it how it should be, and would be in the same situations.
Brilliant.
September 1, 2015
3.5 Stars
If you read the first three books, you'll definitely enjoy this one, too. Though I felt the story was fully told in the first three books, the final two (I read both in one week) take the story just a bit further and adds a very interesting ending to the whole series.
Under Siege doesn't add a lot to the series overall, but it perfectly sets up the events in the final book. It's a solid bridge between the first three books and the series finale. Don't miss it! And Enjoy!
If you read the first three books, you'll definitely enjoy this one, too. Though I felt the story was fully told in the first three books, the final two (I read both in one week) take the story just a bit further and adds a very interesting ending to the whole series.
Under Siege doesn't add a lot to the series overall, but it perfectly sets up the events in the final book. It's a solid bridge between the first three books and the series finale. Don't miss it! And Enjoy!
January 18, 2016
I'm a big fan of The Becoming series. It is a series about three survivors of a zombie outbreak: Ethan, Cade, and Brandt who are unusually badass. One is a cop, one is an Israeli Defense Force sniper, and the third is a Marine. The second book introduced the character of Remy who, if not as well trained, made up for it in sheer enthusiasm for killing zombies.
In Revelations, our heroes managed to escape from renegade government agent Alicia Day and discovered a community of survivors. More importantly, they successfully synthesized a cure for the Michaluk Virus. This seemed like an excellent stopping point for the series but Jessica Meigs manages to pick it up with new problems. The cure has side-effects and they're unwilling to test it at random on "living" zombies.
I like the divide the author makes between zombies who are physically alive and thus curable as well as those who are walking corpses. Not much progress is made toward curing the living zombies and the characters don't even discuss the prospect but it's something I haven't seen before. I hope we'll see more "cured" zombies in the future and how people react to these figures.
Ethan has been recovering from his condition for almost six months, which has destroyed his relationship with Remy. I like this development as too few authors are willing to risk breaking up a popular pairing. There's no chance for reconciliation and I like the prospective new love-interests for both. IMHO, Remy was always held down by her relationship with Ethan. I think her new found freedom will give Remy the opportunity to develop into a protagonist on par with the other three.
Cade is eight months pregnant with Brandt's baby and chomping at the bit to get back into action. While I hate to see any action girl in fiction sidelined, watching her struggle with Brandt going off into danger where she can't join him is great writing. Cade is overcompensating for this by becoming a controlling and aggressive leader, which is a nice extrapolation of where her character might go.
We don't get much time in their new home before the tiny town faces a threat from a herd of six hundred zombies. Honestly, I think this is a little on the low side. There's seven billion human beings on the planet with more appearing every day. Surely, there's a lot more than six hundred zombies shambling about in just your typical "herd."
Michaluk zombies are smarter than normal shamblers, however, being capable of reasoning and strategizing to some extent. So, a smaller number being more dangerous is probably realistic. It was good to get back to the zombies being a very dangerous enemy and not able to be slaughtered at will. The book also sets up a branch of the US government as an enemy, hinting at its continued existence. Why they're interested in Brandt is, as yet, unclear but I look forward to finding out the answer.
Newcomers Dominic and Kimberly are not yet as developed as the main three but I liked them well enough to not want them to become zombie chow. Jessica Meigs tends to develop characters slowly so I'm curious as to what they were like before the apocalypse.
Right now, they're not much more than prospective love-interests but I think that will change soon. The sources of tension in their relationships due to Remy once shooting Dominic and Kimberly's sister dying because of Ethan's bad calls are good sources of drama too.
Under Siege is probably The best of The Becoming books so far. The characters have a depth, interaction, and development which they haven't been able to display until now. I always thought of this series as one of my favorites but this is a more than solid entry. It is a great entry and I believe fans of the series are in for a real treat.
10/10
In Revelations, our heroes managed to escape from renegade government agent Alicia Day and discovered a community of survivors. More importantly, they successfully synthesized a cure for the Michaluk Virus. This seemed like an excellent stopping point for the series but Jessica Meigs manages to pick it up with new problems. The cure has side-effects and they're unwilling to test it at random on "living" zombies.
I like the divide the author makes between zombies who are physically alive and thus curable as well as those who are walking corpses. Not much progress is made toward curing the living zombies and the characters don't even discuss the prospect but it's something I haven't seen before. I hope we'll see more "cured" zombies in the future and how people react to these figures.
Ethan has been recovering from his condition for almost six months, which has destroyed his relationship with Remy. I like this development as too few authors are willing to risk breaking up a popular pairing. There's no chance for reconciliation and I like the prospective new love-interests for both. IMHO, Remy was always held down by her relationship with Ethan. I think her new found freedom will give Remy the opportunity to develop into a protagonist on par with the other three.
Cade is eight months pregnant with Brandt's baby and chomping at the bit to get back into action. While I hate to see any action girl in fiction sidelined, watching her struggle with Brandt going off into danger where she can't join him is great writing. Cade is overcompensating for this by becoming a controlling and aggressive leader, which is a nice extrapolation of where her character might go.
We don't get much time in their new home before the tiny town faces a threat from a herd of six hundred zombies. Honestly, I think this is a little on the low side. There's seven billion human beings on the planet with more appearing every day. Surely, there's a lot more than six hundred zombies shambling about in just your typical "herd."
Michaluk zombies are smarter than normal shamblers, however, being capable of reasoning and strategizing to some extent. So, a smaller number being more dangerous is probably realistic. It was good to get back to the zombies being a very dangerous enemy and not able to be slaughtered at will. The book also sets up a branch of the US government as an enemy, hinting at its continued existence. Why they're interested in Brandt is, as yet, unclear but I look forward to finding out the answer.
Newcomers Dominic and Kimberly are not yet as developed as the main three but I liked them well enough to not want them to become zombie chow. Jessica Meigs tends to develop characters slowly so I'm curious as to what they were like before the apocalypse.
Right now, they're not much more than prospective love-interests but I think that will change soon. The sources of tension in their relationships due to Remy once shooting Dominic and Kimberly's sister dying because of Ethan's bad calls are good sources of drama too.
Under Siege is probably The best of The Becoming books so far. The characters have a depth, interaction, and development which they haven't been able to display until now. I always thought of this series as one of my favorites but this is a more than solid entry. It is a great entry and I believe fans of the series are in for a real treat.
10/10
November 11, 2017
Cade is my favorite. Jason and Cade make the story. As is true with most of this genre it's not the zombies or infected that are the main problem for survivors it's the other survivors. Survivors that can't relate to or interact with society and take every advantage available to them to act like animals and take what is not theirs. We have the same problem today, to a lesser extent of course due to laws and enforcement of same. Imagine what our world would be like without that enforcement. Think of how quickly the animals come out when the opportunity presents itself. We don't need the zombies, only the opportunity.
Surprisingly this is not the last book. I was expecting an ending, but such is not the case. It felt like a good place for an ending, but I have no objections for continuation. I'll look forward to it.
Surprisingly this is not the last book. I was expecting an ending, but such is not the case. It felt like a good place for an ending, but I have no objections for continuation. I'll look forward to it.
June 20, 2014
So I've been on a tear recently reading Miltary Zombie books, don't know why - crushed the Remaining books by D.J. Molles, and now I've just finished Under Siege.
Man - Jess has done it again, one thing I love about this series is the characters. I have never come across such a diverse group in a zombie novel, my favorites of course are Brandt and Cade - both BAMF's.
Great book, the action flows in this one and that ending...man. If you've read book 1 and didn't pick up book 2 right after, I'm going to call Liam Neeson, and he will find you, and most likely kill you. But not before making you finish reading the rest of this epic series.
Can't wait for book 5...but now what the hell am I supposed to read?
Man - Jess has done it again, one thing I love about this series is the characters. I have never come across such a diverse group in a zombie novel, my favorites of course are Brandt and Cade - both BAMF's.
Great book, the action flows in this one and that ending...man. If you've read book 1 and didn't pick up book 2 right after, I'm going to call Liam Neeson, and he will find you, and most likely kill you. But not before making you finish reading the rest of this epic series.
Can't wait for book 5...but now what the hell am I supposed to read?
July 7, 2016
The book is OK don,t get me wrong but it feels like a preamble to the final book in the series. You just get the feeling that this is all a set up and whilst the story does move along a little it does not actually advance that far.
I am looking forward to the final book which hopefully brings the whole story to a conclusion.
I am looking forward to the final book which hopefully brings the whole story to a conclusion.
May 31, 2021
Zombies not the only threat
Wow! The level of adrenaline caused by this book was astronomical. Every time the community starts to feel safe, to make a home, it gets shoved out and away. Survival is a hope, not a surety. All of the characters are standout and memorable. Impossible to put down or walk away from if you like lots of action.
Wow! The level of adrenaline caused by this book was astronomical. Every time the community starts to feel safe, to make a home, it gets shoved out and away. Survival is a hope, not a surety. All of the characters are standout and memorable. Impossible to put down or walk away from if you like lots of action.
July 8, 2014
The Becoming series
The Becoming series is pretty good and something is always happening it's just a matter of what. I'm reading this series because I'm waiting for the next installments of Slow Burn and my favorite so, far Dead but Not for Long.
The Becoming series is pretty good and something is always happening it's just a matter of what. I'm reading this series because I'm waiting for the next installments of Slow Burn and my favorite so, far Dead but Not for Long.
April 7, 2015
book 5......give it to me now...
May 21, 2015
Great series!!
Loved this book! One of the best in the series! Can't wait for the next one... one of the best zombie apocalypse series!
Loved this book! One of the best in the series! Can't wait for the next one... one of the best zombie apocalypse series!
July 12, 2015
Can't wait for the next book
This is a great zombie series and I couldn't get to the end of each book quick enough! Definitely recommend reading the whole series!!
This is a great zombie series and I couldn't get to the end of each book quick enough! Definitely recommend reading the whole series!!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews