Dead New World

by Ryan Hill

Zombies aren’t mindless anymore.

Before the world fell into chaos, the undead existed only in the imagination. Now, more of them walk the earth than living. Zombies move about freely, while humans entomb themselves inside concrete barricades to stay alive.

All that, while the leader of a powerful cult - known only as Reverend - becomes the next threat to the rebuilding United States. Believing zombies to be God’s latest creation, making humanity obsolete, he wants to give every man, woman, and child the chance to become one. With his combined army of humans and zombies, he may well get his wish.

Best friends Holt and Ambrose went up against the Reverend once. Holt lost a foot and a zombie bit Ambrose…though he survived the virus, only to become a human-zombie hybrid, reviled by the living and unwelcome among the dead. When the Reverend kidnaps the woman Holt loves, the race is on to save her from a fate worse than death.

Genres: Horror, Zombies, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Young Adult, Military Fiction

242 pages, Paperback

First published October 13, 2014

About the author

Growing up, Ryan Hill used to spend his time reading and writing instead of doing homework. This resulted in an obsession with becoming a writer, but also a gross incompetence in the fields of science and mathematics. A graduate of North Carolina State University, Ryan has been a film critic for over five years. He lives in Raleigh, NC, with his dog/shadow Maggie. Ryan also feels strange about referring to himself in the third person.

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I really enjoyed Hill's novel The Book of Bart, but this one just didn't do it for me. It's not that is was badly written, it was just missing all of the humor and irreverence that was tossed around in the other book. And maybe it's only because I expected the same sort of tongue-in-cheek romp that I got from TBoB, that I was so disappointed?
I'm not sure.
This, to me, was just...depressing. And not in the 'I had a good cry after reading this' kind of way. More like the 'why did I bother reading this' way.
I felt blah afterwards.



The undead hoards overran the world, but everybody was so busy trying to not get eaten, that nobody bothered to find out what started it all.
Or so the story goes...
A cult leader called Reverend (who can control zombies) is out to destroy what's left of humanity.
Hot & his BFF Ambrose (who gets turned into a zombie hybrid in the 1st few pages) are the two heroes who aim to stop him!
They're both in the military, and end up going on a looooong road trip into enemy territory to rescue Holt's true love, Nancy.
Helicopters blow up, kids get dead, Ambrose gets superpowers, traitors are revealed, and Holt learns that people are fairly unscrupulous.
This makes him disappointed and sad...



The ending didn't feel a stand-alone, however, I'm unaware if this is a series. But it doesn't matter, because I won't be coming back for more. It's not bad, it's just not my cuppa. I'm still planning on keeping Hill on my Authors-To-Watch list, though. I know he has talent, because I would definitely read another book like his first one.
Dead New World may be more of a case of it's not you, it's me.
So, if you aren't burned out on zombies yet, perhaps this will be right up your alley.

[❤Ninja Bunneh❤ · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't even know where to begin with this one.

First off, cue in insta-love.



Dude gets his leg blown off fighting the undead and falls for his nurse. Dude and nurse get separated after dude dumps her ass in a martyr kind of way. Nurse gets kidnapped by evil dude and hero dude runs off to save her.



Dude is all of about 16 years old, an officer in the military, has a zombie/human hybrid as his bestie and blah blah blah. Nursie is the only one of a large group of people to not be killed by evil dude. How convenient.

Nursie had told dude not to contact her anymore and yet he goes off to save her ass. Stalker, much?

Dude and dude zombhuman friend traipse around killing zombehs, meeting random people, facing hybrid human/zombie discrimination and yadda yadda. All the while heading to kill off evil dude and save the nursie.

Zombeh bus rider says it best.



no bunnehs

[Yodamom · Rating 2 out of 5]

The world has changed zombies have eaten their way through much of it. Small military fractions try to fight. One young solider tells his story as he battles, watching friends dies, nearly loses his life and has a love moment. He goes back and forth over the land search for zombies to kill or this Reverend who is somehow leading the dead into different camps. His friend is half zombie who seem to have some special skills.
I really wanted to like this I was struggling to keep on track with what was going on. I thought story is week, with many moments of confusion. They would be fighting for their lives and stop to trash talk each other or blow out some testosterone babble that just didn’t fit the situation. There are so many useless conversations jumping into the story breaking the flow. This went from telling me everything, to telling us too much of everything. Example, there of them took turn watching at night, he explains the schedule then he goes off on how everyone uses his riffle because of the scope, he loves the scope, he got it off some dead guy…I didn’t need to know that, it doesn’t matter. The language used, it was so over the top military sometimes I was just shaking my head. Time switches happen without any notice, all the sudden it switches to another time and I’m left wondering what the heck is going on for a few paragraphs.
I didn’t like the book. I could see a military person relating to it more, and perhaps that was who it was written for.

[Declarations of a Fangirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5 Stars*
I was given a copy from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Zombies aren't mindless anymore.

Ryan Hill is a freaking zombie genius.



Another reviewer said that this story was pitched to them as The Walking Dead meets Black Hawk Down. I can totally see it! Dead New World had me hooked from the very beginning. The story follows two best friends, Holt and Ambrose. There is a war being waged between what is left of humanity and a religious madman known as The Reverend who can control the zombies. The humans are on the losing end of this war and as a result have started enlisting 16 year old boys for a nine-year term. The boys rarely make it through the end of their first year.



The story opens with Holt and Ambrose going out on their very first patrol, which ends in their entire group being killed. Holt loses his leg and while saving him, Ambrose suffers an even worse fate. He is bitten but doesn't full change. He's sort of a hybrid...half human, half zombie. He becomes an outcast and everyone treats him like a social pariah.



I don't want to give too much away for fear of spoiling the story line. Even posting that Ambrose becomes half zombie feels like a spoiler to me since I went into reading this book completely blinded. All I knew was that it was about zombies, and being that I am a zombie fanatic, I didn't need anymore coercion to read this book.



This is my first book read by Ryan Hill and I have to say, his writing style is great. He doesn't get over-wordy with his descriptions. I'm not sure why, but my guess is so that the reader can create their own visual in their mind. I still don't know what Holt looks like, but while reading I pictured this.



As for Ambrose, I pictured him like this, only with patchy grey skin.



And even though I didn't mention her in my story description, here is how I pictured Nancy (even though she is supposed to have blue eyes).



I seriously CAN NOT wait for book 2 to come out. I was a little over 1/3 of the way into the book and was already emailing Mr. Hill asking for book 2. If you love zombies, lots of action (we're talking almost non-stop), just a touch of romance, & military references, then this book is definitely for you.

[Krystal Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not usually a fan of zombie novels. I can count on one finger the amount of books I’ve enjoyed that involve zombies… Warm Bodies. So when I was offered a complimentary review copy of Dead New World, my first instinct was to run and pretend like I was ill so I wouldn’t have to read it. But, whatever, I gave it a shot.

So glad I did. Now I need two fingers to count the amount of zombie books I like.

Dead New World is an action-packed, intense novel that follows the life of two teens as they work their way through a zombie-ridden world. They are young and don’t have much of a future ahead of them, but they fight for it, and they fight hard. When we first meet them, they’re new to battle and almost instantly become casualties of war.

Ambrose, whom I love more than the main character, now carries around the mark of the zombies for the rest of his life. Holt, whose weakness was a hot nurse, is forced to traverse this world with a prosthetic leg, as his real limb was blown off in his first fight.

You would think that what these two have been through would earn them a couple Purple Hearts and a nice vacation, but nope. They get promoted! And on the heels of that, the leader of the undead, a man who thinks the world is going to be recreated in HIS image, compliments of God’s blessing of course, leads an attack on all the military bases, abducts Holt’s favorite nurse, and draws the badass duo away from their home and out on a wild goose chase.

Yep. Holt’s going to get his girl, even if he has to manipulate orders to make it seem legit. And Ambrose is going with him.

So, the nitty gritty. What I really enjoyed about Dead New World was its exploration of humanity. Yes, there are zombies, and they eat brains and kill people, but there are some who survive zombie bites. And if the world knew about those precious few, we all know what would happen. People constantly treat Ambrose like a thing rather than a person. They spit at him, threaten to kill him, even though he’s on their side, fights for them, and has never hurt anyone. They don’t accept him for who he is. Well, Holt does. And Holt, who wants to go guns blazing, balls to the wall (whatever that means) after his girl, people give him crap for that. They say he’s crazy, out of line, lost his mind, all because he wants to SAVE someone he loves. And then there are the zombies themselves. Ambrose can tell them what to do, and they listen, and yet here’s a military trying to murder them all.

If they can listen and respond and have some sort of thought process, who’s really the monster?

I love that question! Because it honestly has no answer, and that’s what makes the novel so gripping.

If you enjoy zombies, military, action, friendships, and just an all around good read… pick up Dead New World!

[Meigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I normally shy away from the young adult genre because, well, I find young adults annoying. The immaturity level is often sky high, the way they speak grates on my nerves and their ideas of problems, when compared to things of importance, really aren't problems at all. When I started reading Dead New World, I was immediately intrigued by these men, these soldiers fighting against an army of zombies. Imagine my surprise to learn that these "men" are actually 16/17 year old boys.

In Hill's Dead New World, an event called the Tribulation occurred out of seemingly nowhere, turning most of the world's population into zombies. No one knows why, it just kind of happened. In the fight against the "dead meat", the military lowered the age of recruitment to 16 and anyone who is recruited has to serve for a mandatory 10 years. It's no wonder these boys come across as men in their actions, they've been forced to grow up rather quickly in the aftermath of the zombie apocalypse. Despite their maturity level when it comes to anything militaristic, they still retained the banter I expect from a pack of teenage boys, and I really enjoyed that aspect. In fact, the only thing missing was a few "yo momma" jokes :)

Hill threw a few surprising twists into what could have otherwise been a been-there-done-that zombie book. His zombies are centered around a very frightening man called the Reverend, who is able to control zombies. His ultimate goal is to have the dead run this new world, under God's direction, His will. The Rev was fanaticism at its finest, and that was really one of my favorite parts. I love me a good fanatic. Religious zealots scare the pants off me and to be honest, if I had the choice of having a zombie versus a bible thumper knock on my door, I'd pick the zombie every time. Heck, I'd probably even invite the zombie in for coffee.

The only thing I wasn't particularly fond of was the small little bit of romance thrown in. While I do appreciate that that element added a bit of hope, a little brightness to an otherwise bleak and depressing environment, I just didn't much care for it. I do like that it added a bit of softness to Stanley Holt's character, and everyone knows I'm a sucker for a love story, but it just didn't do anything for me. Maybe it's because Nancy wasn't really that interesting. From all accounts, she seemed quite ordinary. Brown hair, blue-eyed Nancy, nothing special, nothing really stands out.

All in all, Ryan Hill managed to deliver something unique and different in the overpopulated zombie category with Dead New World. I recommend this for lovers of zombie fiction looking for something fresh and new (and did I mention the religious zealot?! Much scarier than any zombie.).

**Review copy provided by the publisher, Curiosity Quills Press, in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy from author/publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. The following review is my own and will not be affected by this.

When I was first approached to review Dead New World, I was immediately drawn to the cover. Isn’t it spooky? It had me wondering just what on earth is going on in this Dead New World. I have to say, I am not a zombie kind of person at all but I went ahead and decided to read a Dead New World just to see if maybe zombies will finally win me over.

The New World
Dead New World introduces us to a United States after The Tribulation. It doesn’t give much detail as to when or how the Tribulation began because the main characters Ambrose and Holt are young and do not remember a world before the Tribulation.At least that the theory I came up with, personally I would have liked to have seen some history of the Tribulation so that I could understand the history better. However, you know one thing zombies are everywhere and they are a threat to the human race. Humans are slowly dying out and zombies are taking over thanks to their leader The Reverend. Sixteen year olds are now drafted into the military to serve a tour of about seven years once their time is up (if they survive) they move on with their lives. It is truly a darker United States, one where you have to fight every single day to make sure you survive.

I thought the world building was decent. I got the feeling that the United States was in a dark gloomy place after the Tribulation had taken place. The only issues I had with it were there was no clear explanation of The Tribulation, there were instances where older members of the military would mention something and the character wouldn’t know what they were talking about because they were too young to remember. However, I think a little bit more background would’ve been nice to really push the story for me. I had some questions that I wish would have been answered such as who is in charge of the United States, there was no mention of the president but the military was still in place, so whose in charge? One thing I found a bit too much for someone who doesn't know much about weapons I would get lost when the mentioned of different weapons were mentioned several times. I thought it was bit much for someone who doesn't know anything about weapons but if you do know a lot about them then it is absolutely perfect for you.

Characters
Dead New World is told through Holt’s point of view, he is a young soldier stationed at Fort Braggs. The other main character is Ambrose, I would have loved to have seen his point of view of things, I think it would have made the story so much better for me. Anyway when we first meet Ambrose and Holt they are on a mission to search and destroy but the mission doesn’t go as planned resulting in something that changes both their lives forever. Holt has part of his leg blown off which results in him having to use a prosthetic leg in order to return to duty. When Holt wakes up he is in a hospital at Fort Simmons and has been out of it for about four days that’s when he learns about Ambrose.

Ambrose was bitten by a zombie which meant he should’ve had turned into a zombie a couple hours if not minutes after the bite. He however, doesn’t and four days later he still hasn’t completely turned. He is half zombie and half human. Is that possible? After further studies, the doctors come to a conclusion that since Ambrose hasn’t completely turned days after being bitten then he may not turn completely zombie. He is then cleared and sent back to Fort Braggs to return to duty.

At Fort Simmons, we meet another important character but we don’t get much of her towards the ends of the story her name is Nancy. She is the nurse that helped both Holt and Ambrose back to recovery. However, her and Holt began a relationship while he was recovering but broke it off soon after because he knew he would have to return to Fort Braggs. Nancy is always on Holt’s mind no matter what, he can never truly stop thinking about her or caring about her. And that just might get him killed.

Twists and Turns with a little bit of War

The Reverend and his horsemen have complete control over the zombies, the military has tried to capture him but he is always one step ahead of them. Then one night an attack on Fort Braggs occurs, zombies destroy and kill everyone in their path or try to. Leaving very few survivors, Holt, Ambrose and Private Bart go on a mission to make sure Fort Simmons wasn’t attacked. Only to find out that Fort Simmons was also attacked and there is hardly any survivors. Gabriel (the man who was involved with Nancy after Holt) is one of the only survivors in Fort Simmons where he informs Holt and Ambrose that Nancy was kidnap by the horsemen.

This event sets the tone of the story; Holt and Ambrose must rescue Nancy from the awful fate of turning into a zombie. On their mission to save her they discover the Reverend’s true plan along with other surprising details that play out in the story. There were many twists and turns I did not see coming. I really enjoyed how the author tied together every twist and turn in the story. I did not see many of them occurring and I loved that. I felt like the story got a lot stronger once we got to the rescue mission, the world building turning this part of the story was well executed and I was able to envision the story much better.

I thought the author also did an excellent job of including details of things that have occurred right now into a futuristic story. For instance, he includes comic books and relates Ambrose to Spider-man. He also drops other hints of things occurring now into the story which I found really helped me see just how much had change throughout this new world.

Overall
Dead New World in the beginning was not my cup of tea but the second part of the story really redeems itself for me. I enjoyed it a lot more then I expected, I did have some issues like I mentioned before the lack of information of the Tribulation and I would have liked better world building and not so much description when it came to the weapons being used. But other then that I thought the story was well written. If there is a sequel I may just pick it up. If you are into zombies and the idea of a zombie apocalypse then this book is perfect for you!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wouldn’t say I’m a fan of the zombie genre in particular, I would say I’m more a horror fan in general. When I saw the cover for Dead New World I was all over it. It’s different and a bit creepy. (To be honest, even though I had seen it small, when I accidently opened the book on my computer, and the cover popped up huge, I was a bit freaked out. Closed that sucker out fast. :) )

Then I read the blurb and thought this is going to be a different kind of zombie story. I must read.

So I did.

The book starts off with action, the guys (Holt, Ambrose, the rest of their platoon) are on patrol when they are attacked by the Reverend’s troops/people/zombies/etc. It was a very intense scene that kicked off the book and set the pace for the rest of the novel. Holt and Ambrose made it out of that round alive but in need of medical care, seeing as Holt lost his foot and Ambrose could lose his human state shortly.

And so the story goes.

Dead New World is full of so much action at one point I was saying will these boys ever get a break in their favor? I started this yesterday and was finished by last night, it flew by with everything that was happening throughout the book. While it wasn’t scary like I thought it would be, it was a crazy ride full of twists and turns, ups and downs, and zombie brains flying.

It definitely had a different twist on zombies, with the Reverend and his Horsemen working with the zombies to create a new world. It amazes me (and not in a good way) how one person can manage to bring a whole group of people under them, a cult to follow them, to listen to them, to do their bidding. We know this happens out of books. There’s something in some people that gives them this need to believe someone who feels like they have authority over them, to follow them, and to please them, when logic would dictate that what that person is preaching isn’t good. I assume that when something like the Tribulation (as it is called in Dead New World) happens, that kind of mass chaos, fear, and strife pushes even more people, who normally would behave within the constraints of society, to want to cling to some kind of belief, even if it is a dangerous man preaching his own agenda.

Absolutely amazing book full of heart stopping action that I am so glad I saw and read. This is definitely a stand alone, but one can hope that there might be a sequel? One that might revolve around Adam? *fingers crossed*

Thank you so much for my copy of Dead New World (I’ve had the song Mad World going through my head all morning because of this book), it gets 5 stars from me!

[Michelle Leah Olson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha - Chelle:
*Copy gifted in exchange for an honest review

--Actual rating 3.5 skulls

Dead New World was pitched to me as Black Hawk Down meets The Walking Dead so I was really excited to give it a try.

In a world overrun by the walking dead, humanity is trying to get back to a sense of normal, but normal isn't possible when not only are there are infinitely multiplying zombies afoot, but a religious zealot who can mysteriously control the dead doing what he believes is 'God's work', as well.

There were several engaging and unique things about Dead New World that I thoroughly enjoyed. The wounded warrior/hybrid angle was unique and satisfying. It upped the conflict of the tale and made Ambrose's character more endearing. The zealot angle was interesting, as well, and the Reverend is a thoroughly deplorable antagonist.

There was plenty of action, a hint of romance, and a dark edge that fostered the intrigue.

If you're a zombie literature fan looking for a New Adult story of discovery in a post apocalyptic world with military undertones I think you'll enjoy Dead New World. It's not a super deep story. Aside from the obvious issues of dealing with change, loss, and human bias, there isn't a whole lot of human psyche conflict like The Walking Dead and the action isn't quite on par with Blackhawk Down, but it was an enjoyable read nonetheless and I think most readers will really enjoy it.

**It should be noted that there were some editing issues with the manuscript but I was reading an early release eCopy.

[Pippa Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given an ARC for my honest and unbiased review.

What I liked.
I have to start by saying I have limited experience with zombies of any kind. I'm not a fan of the traditional Hollywood-type zombie apocalypses, so a twist on that had more appeal for me and certainly worked in giving the story that extra edge. Ambrose fascinated me - the whole idea of a human-zombie hybrid. I loved the idea of the Reverend and the quasi-religious fanaticism. It's also rare to have a handicapped hero, and I felt this was done well (though not always entirely believable. However, in this scenario not even military can afford to turn down someone who can handle a gun despite the artificial limb proving the occasional setback, so it allowed the possibility). While part of the world building was fairly standard post apocalyptic, the idea of the zombie colony (like a leper colony) was interesting, and the idea of tying in the apocalypse with zombies in a more SF type end of the world than a paranormal rising of the dead kind. I did feel the author had the voice right for YA.

What I didn't like.
I didn't much like or empathize with Holt, and emotionally speaking the story fell a little flat...until near the end. Then *spoilers* wham! Prepare to have your heart ripped out and stomped on! In my mind, Ambrose was more of the hero than Holt, and I would rather have seen it told at least partially from his POV (but maybe I'm biased toward a zombie hero after Warm Bodies). The story did drag a bit between action scenes - a little more trimming down on wordage or being more visceral would have picked up the pace somewhat.

In conclusion.
If you like the traditional zombie shoot-em-up but want extra and/or a different twist on it, this will satisfy you on both levels, and hopefully appeal to traditional zombie fans and those who might not normally pick up a zombie book. Those who like more emotional impact might find this a bit lacking. Although the story was complete, it left an opening for a sequel (which I would love to read).

[Sarah-Jayne Briggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).

(This review may contain spoilers).

I’ve noticed that zombies are becoming the ‘new’ thing… not over-used in the same way as vampires, demons and werewolves, but they’re certainly becoming more common than they used to be.

I did find this book a really well-written, easy read. I liked the fact that the book started after the whole zombie apocalypse, so I was able to see how humans were dealing with the infection. The issue with that, of course, was that I didn’t know how the whole infection had started.

I was glad to see just one person used as the first person perspective character. Holt was a really easy character to get behind. I really liked his friendship with Ambrose. I felt it made a lot of sense and it was probably one of the strongest things about this book.

I have to be honest… by the end of the book, I really didn’t like Nancy. She seemed nice at first, but when I reached the end, I was really disappointed in her, especially considering the fact that she was supposed to be a nurse.

I have to say, I did spend a lot of this book really disappointed in humanity in general. I wasn’t surprised by the fact that so many people viewed Ambrose as a monster… but in a way, I found myself rooting for the Reverend. I didn’t like him as a character… but I preferred him to the so-called ‘human’ soldiers who refused to look past what Ambrose looked like.

This book was really easy to read and I found Holt and Ambrose really engaging, interesting characters. I did find myself wanting to slap various characters at certain points, but apart from that, this was really well-written. I would definitely be interested in reading a sequel to this book if one existed.

[Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead New World is a cool mash-up of military action, zombie horror, and evolution. It's a fresh premise rooted in an easily visualized world where bio-engineered zombies have taken over and survivors must join military efforts to fight against them. I love the twist where the villain known as the Reverend has a connection with the walking dead that allows him to communicate and control them. And that's not all, there are certain survivors who are strong enough to fight the infection from a zombie bite and in turn become a human-zombie hybrid, survival of the fittest at its best. Overall I really enjoyed this read. The writing is tight and flows quickly. Hill keeps the story moving with exciting encounters, smart dialogue, and even a touch of romance! I'm really looking forward to the next installment of this series and highly recommend it to fans of the zombie genre!

Content: Some strong language and typical zombie-killing gore

[Shawna The Crazy Bookseller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a different take on the whole zombie genre and I enjoyed it. Ive only read a few books where there is someone who can control the zombie masses. That takes the book in a new direction then what you probably know. There is still all the zombie genre regulars that you have grown to love, with a slightly different twist.

But there were a couple times where I was getting mad at the characters. Like one time when they had to leave their cars behind and didn't bring the machete. Why would you leave that behind? Bullets run out, come on. But that happens in any zombie book or movie, little things that have you shaking your head.

For the first book in a new series I say it started off good and I can't wait for the next installment.

[Kami · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the Tribulation, the dead got up and walked the Earth. Stanley Holt is a 16-year-old new recruit fighting zombies. This is a good zombie book. It is scary, exciting and well-written. There is a madman who can control the zombies, which is different and interesting. And also a half-human, half-zombie hybrid which is also different than the usual zombie books that I've read. 4 stars.

[Escape Inside the Pages · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can read more reviews at:
http://escapeinsidethepages.wordpress...

Dead New World brought about components from old zombie occult information and mixed it with it’s own unique splash of ingenuity. The zombie outbreak has come and gone and is now a common part of everyone’s lives. People are so deranged by their circumstance that they are willing to follow a man who claims that it is “God’s will” that he lead the zombies and man alike into a new world. Not to mention, in Hill’s version of the zombie apocalypse, not everyone who is bit by a zombie completely turns, they remain half dead half human and are able to control the living dead. However, Soldier Stanley Holt’s world is about to get a little stranger and a whole lot deadlier.

Dead New World started immediately with teeth clenching nail biting action that had me so excited to dive in deep into the world of the undead. I’m usually not a big fan of army books, but Hill found a way to make the story all the more riveting by centering it around soldiers and the war scene. So that was new and different all around for me as a reader. Though the content moved fairly quickly throughout the book, I couldn’t help but notice the somewhat repetitive scenes. It seemed like no sooner Holt and Ambrose were out of one hostage situation they were thrown right back in again, but with a new enemy and new zombies.I just wanted a bit more of change at least in the beginning half of the book than the same sort of conflicts.

I loved that the book’s main goal was rescuing the girl Holt loved (even if I didn’t get to experience much of their romance). It was sweet to read how strongly he felt for her and how determined he was to get to her. His love for Nancy is what kept him grounded and I really like to see those sort of things in apocalyptic books. However, by the time their reunion came around, I barely got to enjoy it before something unbelievably horrifying happened that completely shocked me to the core. I had no idea the author would choose to take such risks with the course of events of this book. It truthfully dampened how I felt about the story overall, and I wish it had taken a different turn.

So despite the few disappointing plot developments in Dead New World, I was still kept thoroughly entertained and felt that it was an overall unique new addition to the zombie world.

[Lady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adventures Of A Zombie Super Soldier

The world has gone crazy. No one knows how or why the Tribulations started or what happened during the beginning really... But what is know now is that there is a disease that creates zombies and the Reverend seems to be able to control them somehow. He believes the zombies are God's new plan and the have been Chosen to rule the world. Now all young people must fight zombies for 9 years in the Army starting at 16. Not many make it to retirement... And few of those remain intact.

This is primarily the coming of age story of two new recruits as they begin their fight against the undead and the Rev and his Horsemen. They are each other's best friend and driving force. Neither one will surrender the other to the vagaries of fate or anything else for that matter! Will they survive the coming war? How will it change them? Is the world they live in even worth fighting for?

Packed with action and adventure this post apocalyptic tale of another impending apocalypse is a nail biting thrill ride from beginning to end. I truly enjoyed it and hope the author continues it into a series!

***This book is suitable for mature young adult through adult readers

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a dead new world, boys are trained and sent to the front line at the young age of 16. Most knowing they won't see the end of their first week out of training end. For two young privates Holt and Ambrose-their very first night on the front line nearly took their lives and left them as the only survivors of their squad. A night that changed them both forever. Holt losing a foot and Ambrose becoming diseased. But survive they did and quickly they found themselves moving up in rank as the war progressed. The tales of these two men and all they saw and sacrificed is quite an amazing story.

This night was far from their last night in the battle to save the world from the undead. The story follows these two boys in their front line experience all the way to the man running the undead who ultimately is keeping the war from ending and intending to start a whole new race.

DNW is a great story, be prepared for some blood and gore, but honestly it did not bother me at all and I loved this book!

[The Suburban Eclectic · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked this take on the zombie apocalypse. It’s very unique and I thought the element of zealotry interesting and the wounded warrior angle compelling. Unfortunately the execution left me a bit wanting. DNW has good bones, but needs to a bit of life support.

[Sandra "Jeanz" · Rating 3 out of 5]

INITIAL THOUGHTS
I'm a little apprehensive about this one, I mean I love post apocalyptic and dystopian books but zombies are still relatively new to me. I do have high expectations as I am wondering/hoping this book is as good as the Vaempires by Thomas Winship Series.

MY REVIEW
I received an e-copy of this book directly from the publishers Curiosity Quills Press in exchange for my honest review. The cover shows one of the main characters in the book, Amrose, who is kind of half human and half zombie. You can see the reddish eye and the grey skin. Then there's the desolate war torn savaged back ground. Would the cover alone make me pick this book up in a book store? Yes I'd definitely pick it up to read the blurb and learn more. The title of the book "Dead New World" is perfect, as it seem's the "Dead" are the one's ruling the world, or what left of it.
So the "Tribulation" has happened, the world is no longer what it used to be. Young men are enlisted into the army at the age of sixteen for a 9 year duty. If they survive they are "free" to leave when they become 25 yrs old. Sadly the way the world is now, it's a bleak prospect, to go into the army and know it's highly likely you will be killed or worse. What's worse than being killed? Being bitten by a zombie and turned into one of the hordes of shuffling moaning, living dead. Most people only have a few hours left when they are bitten until they are turned. Very few survive and then there's those that are "lucky" like Ambrose who survive but belong in neither the human world nor the zombie world.
The behind the zombies world take over is the Reverend, a man who can communicate and control the zombies. The Reverends ultimate target is Washington DC. He thinks if DC falls to him and the zombies the rest of the world will follow what he says. It is Holt and Ambrose who are trying to get in the way and stop him. Then there's the rumour of "The Colony" where those who are like Ambrose can live their lives, and even have families etc.
So there's lots of fighting, blowing up, prosthetic limbs, secret cures and a little romance thrown into the mix. On the whole I did enjoy reading the book, however I felt there was something missing. I felt like I didn't care enough about the characters. Sure I had sympathy for Ambrose and how he is treat like a living, moving bomb by everyone around him. The only one that treats him like a human is Stanley Holt. I thought Holt and Ambrose had an awkward friendship. Holt seems to still have a fear of Ambrose even though they work closely together. There's lots of mysteries, secrets and betrayals, awful things that are maybe being carried out by the government.
There's also the intricacies of the relationship between Holt and Nancy, a nurse who cared for him when he lost his leg. Holt breaks things off with her, thinking he is doing the right thing for her but then cannot get her out of his mind. So much so when the base where Nancy is living/working on is attacked, Holts immediate instinct is to rush to the base. When It is determined Nancy was taken alive, Holt decides he must rescue her. Then when everything seems to be sorting out, things go awry again. Truthfully the character of Nancy kind of irritated me towards the end of the book.
So did I enjoy the book? Mmm yes it was ok and worth reading.
Would I recommend the book? I think the book is quite YA male orientated with the army content. Which I guess it's about time the teen boys had some great books to encourage them to read more.
Would I read another book in this series? Truthfully I'm not sure. I'd have to read the blurb.
Would I read other books by Ryan Hill? I would definitely take a close look at anything written by this author.

[Amie's Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

DEAD NEW WORLD

Author: Ryan Hill

Type of Book: eBook

Genre: Zombie Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic Fiction, Young Adult Fiction

Length: 242 pages

Release Date: October 14, 2014

Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

* I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ambrose and Stanley are best friends. They also happen to be seventeen years old and have been drafted into the army. The army's goal is to rid the world of zombies. Teenagers are drafted into the army when they come of age and must spend nine years in the army before being released. The catch is that not many people actually survive for their entire nine year tour.

While on their first mission Stanley and Ambrose end up as the only survivors of a coordinated attack by The Reverend, his forces and his zombies. But, neither one of them escape unharmed. Stanley loses his leg and Ambrose was bitten by a zombie.

Taken to the only functioning hospital still in operation, Stanley recuperates and receives a prosthetic leg. Ambrose is put in quarantine to await his death once he turns into a zombie. But something unusual happens. Ambrose does not turn into a full zombie. He becomes a sort-of half man, half zombie hybrid.

As if a world full of zombies weren't enough, there is a man who calls himself "The Reverend" who plans to take over the country. The Reverend is pure evil. He plans to infect every living person with the zombie virus. Those who survive the bite are deemed worthy of survival and those who become zombies are said to be blessed to be free of suffering and pain. Basically, this guy is NUTS.

I absolutely loved this book. It is the first book in a trilogy by Ryan Hill. What I liked most about this book is that it is different.

Yes, there is the typical guy trying to save his girl storyline, but that is only part of the plot.

I loved the fact that Ryan Hill has decided to include characters who somehow survive being bitten by zombies. You have to think that if zombies ever actually existed, then at least some people would survive a bite. It stretches reality to think that any virus would have a 100% infection rate.

I loved Ambrose's character. He starts off as the perfect guy. He is young. He is brave. He is loyal and attractive. What more could anyone ask for in either a friend or a lover? I think I had a little bit of a "book boyfriend crush" on him right from the beginning of the book. When he is bitten by the zombie and becomes a hybrid, he is shunned by his fellow soldiers despite the fact that he is still the same guy they had all loved previously. Ambrose handles their rejection with poise and class. He does not allow himself to be drawn into their juvenile behavior which makes readers like and respect him even more.

Ryan Hill has perfected the art of character building and also does an incredible job of world building.

I have read A LOT of zombie books and for that reason it is rare that I rate any of them higher than 4 out of 5 stars. However, DEAD NEW WORLD deserves it's 5 star rating and I am now a fan of Ryan Hill.

I give this book as 5 out of 5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

** I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

[Christina Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

RATING: 3.5 stars

**This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for my honest review**

I'd classify this book at a YA paranormal, dystopian read. Dead New World is a story of a world of zombies versus human and lo and behold, the zombies are in the majority. Our main characters, Holt and Ambrose, are military soldiers that are pretty much indentured to the government (or drafted) due to low human populations and the high need for combat forces.

The book is action packed right from the start and I wasn't ever left unsatisfied for too long. This is the first book that I've ever read by Ryan Hill and I don't think it will be the last. I was intrigued enough that I read this book in three hours, and I am still curious enough to read another book by him.

Although this book is mainly about the "zombie apocalypse", there is a bit more to the story that Hill introduces. This is a book that is definitely driven by its plot and the world that it creates. The setting of a zombie ridden United States is a very prominant character in itself throughout the story and it holds its own. The characters, though very decent, are a bit lackluster in comparison to the world.

I don't think that Hill did a bad job with his characters at all. I just think that things got interesting, character-wise, a little too late in the game. Initially, when the book starts, I'm more interested in the zombie world and the situation at hand. My concerns did not rest with any of the specific characters or their issues. I was concerned with the bigger problem. My worry and developing like for the characters didn't happen until maybe 60% into the book which, as some whose love for books is depending upon connection to characters, is not the best approach. It's not a bad approach, it's just one that I wasn't compatible with.

The romance in this book is NOT necessary, in fact, I think it take away from the story a bit. Especially when it comes to Holt and his growth. I don't think he needed that aspect to aid his growth in the story. It was okay, but I think that aspect of the plot could have been used a little different. It felt like an instalove moment and their relationship wasn't 100% believeable until about 75% of the way through reading.

BUT with that being said, this is a GREAT story and if there is a sequel, there is definitely potential for even better plot and character development. The book starts off slowly for characters, but it's very nicely paced when it comes to action. I have high hopes for Hill with the potential continuation of this story, it'll only get better. The plot and the character growth will be equally paced and the characters will become more and more loveable. There are no characters that I disliked, except those that are obvious meant to be, so I don't think it will take much for Hill to make another great book.

I do recommend this read because it IS interesting and it IS good. And I think a lot of people will disagree with my assessment and really enjoy this book. Prerogative is really the driving force behind this review.

[Candice Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world is in ruin after the Tribulation (the infection outbreak). If you are in the young adult age bracket and still "alive" you serve in the military. Your daily routine is to go out and annihilate any "dead meat" in your path.

This is where we find our main characters and best friends Holt and Ambrose.

Part of the problem, besides the obvious, in this day and time is an egomaniac dubbed The Reverend who believes the infection is God's way of choosing the rightful heirs to ruling the World. With an army of both human and "dead meat" he aims to convert the unbelievers and/or destroy those in his path.

On one of the their daily missions Holt and Ambrose find themselves under attack by The Reverend's most loyal, The Horsemen. They are saved by allies at the last minute and taken to safety but Ambrose has been bitten. And just when you think that is the end of poor Ambrose, he doesn't turn, well, not completely anyways.

Although being labeled a bio-hazard, Ambrose is allowed to remain in the military, where he and Holt continue their tour of duty.

Months pass...

The threat of The Reverend intensifies as several military bases are all but completely destroyed in a multi fronted attack. Ambrose, Holt and a few other survivors must make their way to the next safe zone, beyond miles and miles of dead meat and continue to evade The Horsemen if they hope to remain alive...


Dead New World is a thrilling "new" take on the zombie apocalypse. The friendship of Holt and Ambrose, weathered by years of living hell, adds welcome comedic relief to what would be an almost hopeless situation. As a native of North Carolina, the East Coast setting and familiarity with terrain only pulled me farther in to the story. The loyalty and dedication of the main characters Holt and Ambrose, rounded out the story with heroics one would only hope to have in a similar situation. DNW was an exciting, quick read and, for me, a great introduction to the work of author Ryan Hill.


If you haven't already, I encourage you to pick your copy and experience Dead New World for yourself!

[BooksandBeyondFiftyShades · Rating 5 out of 5]

* * * * * 5 Star Review.

It’s happened the zombie apocalypse has hit the world only these zombies have a leader named the Reverend who thinks God has created a new world with the zombies and humans should get with the program. Somehow he’s able to control the zombies and uses them to attack humans to take over the world. He believes its divine intervention that the zombies are growing in numbers while the humans are quickly becoming out numbered.

Ambrose and Holt have been best friends since they can remember. When Holt loses his leg during their first time out on patrol and Ambrose is turned into a half-dead, half-living being no one knows how to handle it. Holt refuses to let them put his friend down, and together they fight side by side in the war against zombies. When Nancy the beautiful nurse that Holt fell in love with is in danger they both soon find themselves on a quest to take down the Reverend and end mankind’s suffering.

I couldn’t stop reading this book, the plot is amazing, the action was just right, and the new twist on zombies kept me wanting to read more. Ambrose and Holts friendship is one for the record books. They fight for each other and the human race while still keeping their sense of humor. The way the author showed the true evils that can occur in a situation like this made you really think about the evils of humankind.

Reading this book you forget sometimes that these characters are very young. Holt and Ambrose were sixteen when they were drafted into service and by the end of the book they are only eighteen. The things they are able to accomplish and the heartaches they go through make you feel connected to them.

I laughed, I cried, and I yelled at this book several times what more can you ask for when reading but to really get into the story.

[Erin (Historical Fiction Reader) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dead New World was an odd choice for me. I like zombie movies, but I've never been much for zombie lit and while I've enjoyed titles like Mortality and End Dayz in the past, I'm convinced my decision to pick up Ryan Hill's work had more to do with the void left by the mid-season finale of The Walking Dead than it did anything else. Still, a book is a book and books are what I do.

For the record, this piece had several elements I really enjoyed. The militaristic society Hill crafted from the remnants of the United States brought an interesting dynamic to the book as did the fanaticism seen in the Reverend and his horsemen and I love the proactive nature of the hybrid community, the prejudices they face and their unusual and unexpected abilities.

That said there were things I wasn't as impressed with. Holt's relationship with Nancy is the catalyst for the entire book, but their feelings never felt authentic in my eyes and the climatic final sequence seemed unnecessarily drawn out. Not to sounds nitpicky, but I wasn't a fan Holt's flashbacks either. The scenes weren't horrible, but the nonlinear timeline impaired the pacing and only served to reiterate information available elsewhere in the story.

Bottom line, Dead New World was a fun diversion. It isn't deep by any means, but Hill touches on some intriguing subject matter nonetheless.

[Lori Murray · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was asked if I would like to read and review this book by the writer and publisher. Even thou I am not a zombie fan I decided I would go ahead and try it, since it sound interesting. I really wish I could have enjoyed it but I just couldn't. I liked both Holt and Ambrose, and enjoyed their friendship and that's want really made me want to love the story. The reason I only gave it 2 stars instead the 3 I was thinking of giving it at first is because I didn't care for Nancy and I hated happened towards the end of the story. Nancy I actually liked at the beginning when we first meet her but later when she acted the way she did really upset me.
I loved that when Ambrose talked to the zombies, it seemed to understand what he was saying. I also like what Ambrose did at the end of the book. The book was really more towards a 2 1/2 stars. I gave 1 of those stars to Holt, 1 to Ambrose, and they other half to the Author for doing something different in a zombie book. While I wouldn't read another zombie book by this Author, I would maybe think about trying a different type of story by him. And I would recommend it to people that love zombie books and tv shows. Again I was very happy that I was asked to review this book, even if I couldn't really get into the story very much.

[L-D · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Not quite 4 stars.

I love all things zombie but it's so hard to find a good zombie book. I thought this book was a nice change from the typical zombie infestations you see or read about. When Ambrose is bitten and doesn't completely change, it creates a fresh new scenario for the zombie genre. It also introduces the social stigma and bigotry Ambrose experiences because, while he's not a fully turned zombie and is the same person inside as he was before, the fear that former comrades and other humans have for him can turn malicious.

I really liked the friendship between Holt and Ambrose and how it endured above all else. Holt's mission to find his love, Nancy the nurse, would not have been possible unless Ambrose was beside him every step of the way.

I'm not sure I loved the ending of the book as it left with a "To be continued..." type of cliffhanger. The storyline did come to a conclusion, but the duo embark on another adventure that you can only hope to read about in a possible sequel.

All in all this was a quick read and I found it to be entertaining.

[Jenni Crawford · Rating 3 out of 5]

***Review has been gifted in exchange for my honest opinion and on behalf of Kats Book Promotions/ Katsindiebookblog.*** This is not my typical read with it involving zombies, but I gave it a shot anyways. I’m so use to the same typical portrayal of zombies on TV so I was impressed when this wasn’t your usual. It brought upon a new unique outlook on the world. In the beginning you are sucked into major action going on, which keeps you with a relatively fast paced book the rest of the way. Holt and Ambrose are stuck in the fight to find Holt’s love, which was kidnapped by the Reverend, the newest threat to the world. You can definitely tell the love that Holt carries for his girl Nancy. There is a good mix between zombies, hybrids, and humans. Which side will you lean towards? The author had added some twist and turns with many plot twists. There does seem to be some repetitive scenes, but all in all it was a decent book to read. You have unsuspected heroes, best friends of different races, and a war trying to keep everyone safe. If you want out of the typical norm of zombies, come grab this book. It’s worth the change.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ryan Hill has officially become my new ZOMBIE author. He has taken an old story and made it new with a twist I never thought about. What if you took a person who could not become fully zombie? Unlike other authors there is no perfection to it just you either turn into a full zombie or you become a half breed and with the half breed you live in fear of both sides. This story also gives you a story of true friendship, what it can endure and what true friends are willing to go through for each other. This a great turn of events for two friends that just can’t seem to catch a break until they find the real truth but their separation will be harder than either could have imagined. Would recommend for ages 14 and up only because of some of the gore involved.

[Bob Platypire · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an HONEST review*

This was a well paced zombie book, something I don't always find to be true. The characters were well written, and I felt their pain, their sorrow. And there IS sorrow! One scene in particular brought me to tears! There were a few others that tugged at my heart strings, but that one, man. It was a killer. Not to make this book sound all mushy, or anything like that, because it's not! There was a lot of action, a lot of heart pounding imagery, and I really liked it! I recommend it for all Dystopian and sci-fi fans!

Bob says: 4 Platypires

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new world. But this world is what man kind has left behind and creates when he plays the hand of the gods. From being free to roam the country side to hiding behind wall hold danger from all sides. One man will do anything to control the world now while others fight to survive. Both worlds clash against each other, it's inevitable. Only one will be able to stay alive, but the who has yet to be determines as they all fight to survive. Non stop action, great characters, beautifully written story. High recommendation for a good read. I know some people who'd like to read this kind f book, so i'll be passing on the word.

**This was a free copy for a Review Request from Author Ryan Hill