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Mace of the Apocalypse #1
Mace of the Apocalypse
Alternate cover image for B00785KEKG
On a beautiful spring afternoon in San Francisco a deadly toxin is released. Within hours it spreads like wildfire, consuming the entire Bay Area. A small group of survivors, desperate to stay alive, must travel through a gauntlet of raging corpses, battling their inner demons and each other along the way.
Through a priest, they gain access to a partial antidote. Holing up in a hospital in an attempt to create a safe zone, everything they believe in will be questioned. The antidote, they soon discover, is almost as dangerous as the infection.
Things unravel within their walls as a teenage gang deliberately infects themselves after receiving the partial cure. They revel in the power it gives them. Believing in their invincibility, they declare war on all who get in their way.
Faith will be lost. Lives will be surrendered. Heroes will rise.
On a beautiful spring afternoon in San Francisco a deadly toxin is released. Within hours it spreads like wildfire, consuming the entire Bay Area. A small group of survivors, desperate to stay alive, must travel through a gauntlet of raging corpses, battling their inner demons and each other along the way.
Through a priest, they gain access to a partial antidote. Holing up in a hospital in an attempt to create a safe zone, everything they believe in will be questioned. The antidote, they soon discover, is almost as dangerous as the infection.
Things unravel within their walls as a teenage gang deliberately infects themselves after receiving the partial cure. They revel in the power it gives them. Believing in their invincibility, they declare war on all who get in their way.
Faith will be lost. Lives will be surrendered. Heroes will rise.
Kindle Edition
First published January 27, 2012
19 people are currently reading
486 people want to read
About the author
Daniel J. Williams
10 books34 followersDaniel J Williams grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and at a young age felt the insane pull to tell grand tales of heroism and drama. Filling binders with fantastical narratives he would someday put to paper, he instinctively knew as a child that writing would become part of his journey.
After years of denying this truth, he finally returned to his childhood fantasy of author and artist. He hopes you enjoy his imaginary sagas. They took him to dark and wondrous places.
After years of denying this truth, he finally returned to his childhood fantasy of author and artist. He hopes you enjoy his imaginary sagas. They took him to dark and wondrous places.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
May 13, 2015
OMG what a great read,fast past from begging to end, blooded all the way though ( so I don't know it would a good read for everyone ,but then again maybe .) a new way to look at zombes,and they came to be,as well as what happens to some who gets the meds that to stop you from become one .
April 8, 2014
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Mace of the Apocalypse starts out fast and furious when terrorists unleash a deadly virus across the country that turns the masses into zombies. As one of the deadly canisters goes off in a subway, bounty hunters/lovers Mace and Jade are caught in the crush of horror and guts. Chaos ensues...if a victim isn't turned into a flesh eating zombie, they die and turn to a gory pile of rotting mush. With well done scenes, you can feel the terror, the mad rush of people fleeing for their lives, not knowing where to go, what to do. I said to myself, good so far, but, this is just the start! Now what?...And this is where it goes beyond good to great-because this isn't another Zombie tale, it's a tale of survival! Mace and Jade run for their lives, picking up other survivors on the way. A priest/friend/mentor of Mace's may hold the cure. But will the cure hold dangerous drawbacks in itself?
Seeking a safe haven in a hospital, an ever-increasing number of survivors must learn to cope with the zombie threat while having to deal with the multitude of personalities among themselves. When a faction of young adults decide to become their own power hungry 'gang' their small society is shaken to the core. Was it the trauma of watching family and friends die that pushed these kids into becoming frenzied monsters in their own right? Was it the antidote? Was it the basic survival instinct gone feral and unchecked? What transpires is nothing short of terrifyingly plausible.
Daniel Williams has written more than another zombie book! He has built a frightening world where, if there is no self-restraint or sense of community, there will be no survival. From page one the story builds on itself, full of realistic possibilities, realistic characters that are flawed, yet most of them try to rise above their flaws to save their own humanity. Great reading!
July 31, 2013
When I started to read this book I got hooked right away and couldn’t put it down until I finished it. The storyline is fast paced, full of action and written so well that you will empathise with the characters and you get dragged right into the story.
What makes it different to any other Zombie book? …This book has all the usual traits of a great Zombie horror, the fear, the devastation, the blood & guts AND much more. It’s not just about some Zombies on walkabout causing death and destruction, it also has several great storylines which are so unpredictable, you will not be able to predict what’s going to happen next or how the book will end, that’s for sure!
What makes it different to any other Zombie book? …This book has all the usual traits of a great Zombie horror, the fear, the devastation, the blood & guts AND much more. It’s not just about some Zombies on walkabout causing death and destruction, it also has several great storylines which are so unpredictable, you will not be able to predict what’s going to happen next or how the book will end, that’s for sure!
June 30, 2013
2 Stars
3 stars only because of my love of the genre. I may need to take a break from zombie novels as they really cannot hold my attention at the moment. Maybe I will have to come back to this one as I blasted through the second half.
Not much original here. The characters are unexceptional, the zombies are standard fast movers, and the story itself is quite played.
Not really enough to recommend at the moment.
3 stars only because of my love of the genre. I may need to take a break from zombie novels as they really cannot hold my attention at the moment. Maybe I will have to come back to this one as I blasted through the second half.
Not much original here. The characters are unexceptional, the zombies are standard fast movers, and the story itself is quite played.
Not really enough to recommend at the moment.
August 2, 2013
I was gifted this book through a Goodreads group. I absolutely loved it. Daniel writes a gripping enthralling and engaging book. I would highly recommend it and I have now bought and am reading the second and third installments.
August 4, 2013
When the author approached the zombie novel group I'm a part of looking for 10 people to read and review his I jumped at the chance. Having done another read for review I enjoyed it and hoped I would have another similar experience. I hadn't heard of the first novel and that was the same for this one. Having read quite a few zompoc novels I was interested in seeing how the author would handle it.
Starting the novel I was a bit confused at the title, but that is explained quickly as the main male protagonist is named Mace. He and the female protagonist, Jade, are on a stake out prior to the zompoc, as well as introducing you to a couple of the other main characters with their story lines to establish a baseline for the characters' personalities and frame of mind. This was especially helpful, and important, in seeing how they are affected by and change because of what happens.
As the story progresses, quite rapidly I must say, all the characters stories are woven together very well and I was quickly drawn in. I found myself growing attached to them and was genuinely concerned for which one would survive the initial spread of the zompoc.
I keep referring to it as the zompoc because I do not want to give away how the author handles it happening. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised with how the events transpire. I found it to be very well thought out and quite easy to follow, even though I have little knowledge of the specifics for the method used. Mr. Williams was able to explain it in simple terms without making the reader feel like they are stupid. And then to have it not be a static occurrence but have variations during the course of the novel was also a refreshing change.
The character development throughout the novel was well done. How they grow and change because of what they go through makes sense, both on an emotional level, as if you are there with them and going through it as well, and on an intellectual level, staying outside the events and watching them as they happen. Some of the events that happen are a bit predictable but given the entire storyline of the book and knowing at the end how they changed, it's understandable and quite forgivable.
Now, as expected in a zompoc novel there's violence, gore and a few disturbing occurrences. This novel, however, doesn't just leave that to the zombies. The uninfected end up being splintered into two groups and for one that's the game of the day. There were a couple things that I was not expecting in the least and though shocked by what happened, in the context of the book they all make perfect sense. During one such scene I actually had to put the book down and walk away to take a break and digest what had just happened before I could keep reading. That very rarely happens and I love it when it does.
Long before the end of the book, more like the first quarter, I was on the edge of my seat and wanting to just keep reading and keep reading. I had to force myself to put it down and take care of normal daily things. I found it that engrossing and very intense. At one point, during the break I previously mentioned, my husband made the comment that he could tell it was an intense part just from the expression on my face while reading and that I had completely curled into myself during the scene. It was brilliant!
There is a religious aspect to this novel, which tends to be avoided in most zompoc books that I've read. Wether that's another authors way of trying to avoid a controversial subject or not I think it was handled well here. Not once was I given the feeling that I was being preached to. It was presented in, what I felt, to be an honest manner as it influenced the main character's life and though at one point it is the driving factor for the plot even there it isn't overwhelming. Overall, the religion in the story felt to me more like a beacon of hope rather than a lecture on morality.
There were a few typos, grammatically incorrect sentences but most of those I only vaguely noticed because I was so absorbed by the story. The ones that I did "see" ended up being more of a feeling that my brain had just smoothed over something so was unimportant and not very distracting.
All in all I was very surprised by the quality of the novel and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I can hardly wait to get the second, and then the third, novel to continue the story and find out where Mr. Williams takes this story. Once done with this series, I'm sure I'll keep an eye out for further novels by him.
Starting the novel I was a bit confused at the title, but that is explained quickly as the main male protagonist is named Mace. He and the female protagonist, Jade, are on a stake out prior to the zompoc, as well as introducing you to a couple of the other main characters with their story lines to establish a baseline for the characters' personalities and frame of mind. This was especially helpful, and important, in seeing how they are affected by and change because of what happens.
As the story progresses, quite rapidly I must say, all the characters stories are woven together very well and I was quickly drawn in. I found myself growing attached to them and was genuinely concerned for which one would survive the initial spread of the zompoc.
I keep referring to it as the zompoc because I do not want to give away how the author handles it happening. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised with how the events transpire. I found it to be very well thought out and quite easy to follow, even though I have little knowledge of the specifics for the method used. Mr. Williams was able to explain it in simple terms without making the reader feel like they are stupid. And then to have it not be a static occurrence but have variations during the course of the novel was also a refreshing change.
The character development throughout the novel was well done. How they grow and change because of what they go through makes sense, both on an emotional level, as if you are there with them and going through it as well, and on an intellectual level, staying outside the events and watching them as they happen. Some of the events that happen are a bit predictable but given the entire storyline of the book and knowing at the end how they changed, it's understandable and quite forgivable.
Now, as expected in a zompoc novel there's violence, gore and a few disturbing occurrences. This novel, however, doesn't just leave that to the zombies. The uninfected end up being splintered into two groups and for one that's the game of the day. There were a couple things that I was not expecting in the least and though shocked by what happened, in the context of the book they all make perfect sense. During one such scene I actually had to put the book down and walk away to take a break and digest what had just happened before I could keep reading. That very rarely happens and I love it when it does.
Long before the end of the book, more like the first quarter, I was on the edge of my seat and wanting to just keep reading and keep reading. I had to force myself to put it down and take care of normal daily things. I found it that engrossing and very intense. At one point, during the break I previously mentioned, my husband made the comment that he could tell it was an intense part just from the expression on my face while reading and that I had completely curled into myself during the scene. It was brilliant!
There is a religious aspect to this novel, which tends to be avoided in most zompoc books that I've read. Wether that's another authors way of trying to avoid a controversial subject or not I think it was handled well here. Not once was I given the feeling that I was being preached to. It was presented in, what I felt, to be an honest manner as it influenced the main character's life and though at one point it is the driving factor for the plot even there it isn't overwhelming. Overall, the religion in the story felt to me more like a beacon of hope rather than a lecture on morality.
There were a few typos, grammatically incorrect sentences but most of those I only vaguely noticed because I was so absorbed by the story. The ones that I did "see" ended up being more of a feeling that my brain had just smoothed over something so was unimportant and not very distracting.
All in all I was very surprised by the quality of the novel and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I can hardly wait to get the second, and then the third, novel to continue the story and find out where Mr. Williams takes this story. Once done with this series, I'm sure I'll keep an eye out for further novels by him.
October 2, 2013
The story takes place in San Fransisco and starts out with Mace and his partner Jade going after a bail jumper. They are both bounty hunters and also romantically involved. The apocalypse begins on a train when a terrorist releases a powdery substance that immediately turns a human into a crazed...killer! When the train stops at the station all those affected on the train are set loose on the unsuspecting public waiting to board and that is when all Hell breaks loose and the virus is spread throughout the city. Mace...Jade and a few of the other characters who are important to the story join together and seek a safe place to hole up until they can form a plan on what to do and where to go to ride out the outbreak...also hoping to be rescued. So much takes place from when the terrorist releases that fateful substance to the turning of the last page I couldn't read fast enough to find out what happened next. I have to say that this is a very exciting story...laid out so well and so full of action...not just with the characters being chased by the infected and trying to find safety but also with another group that is set on taking over and being the leaders in a world that has gone crazy. There are so many questions I had in my mind while reading this and they were all answered along the way at one point or another. Mr. Williams is indeed a top notch story teller who keeps the reader on the edge of their seat with hair raising scenes. I caught myself yelling out loud at the characters to "Watch out" or "Look out" so many times because the descriptions as to what was happening were so realistic. I am so looking forward to starting the second book in this series to find out where the people that survived in Mace of the Apocalypse will end up! If you are a fan of zombie stories then I definitely recommend this story to you. It is one of the best ones I have ever read. Thank you Daniel J. Williams for such an exciting and enjoyable story. You now have a new...faithful fan!
March 5, 2013
Please note that my review of this book is subjective to my likes and dislikes.
This was my first foray into all things zombies and I found it to be an interesting read. I like how the author provided science (fiction) behind the creation of his zombies. The story was fast paced with lulls in the action at appropriate places. As I was reading, I thought that the story would be predictable; however, the author threw in enough twist to surprise me.
Pockets of humanity survive the plague, and a cure is in the works. It is up to Mace and Jade to see the cure perfected and humanity saved.
I did find some things mentioned in the story that seemed to be important yet they weren’t pursued any further; hopefully these loose threads will be addressed in the sequels.
The book has high body count, violence, etc – everything one would expect when zombies are involved.
Characters (who live):
Mace – Bounty hunter and reluctant hero and when the zombie apocalypse starts he is thick in the middle of the action saving humanity.
Jade – His partner and girlfriend. She helps him hold it all together when it hits the fan.
Lisa – Struggling single mother who is fortunate enough to hook up with Mace and Jade the all hell breaks out. She comes to grips with who she is as she struggles to protect her daughter Chelsea.
This was my first foray into all things zombies and I found it to be an interesting read. I like how the author provided science (fiction) behind the creation of his zombies. The story was fast paced with lulls in the action at appropriate places. As I was reading, I thought that the story would be predictable; however, the author threw in enough twist to surprise me.
Pockets of humanity survive the plague, and a cure is in the works. It is up to Mace and Jade to see the cure perfected and humanity saved.
I did find some things mentioned in the story that seemed to be important yet they weren’t pursued any further; hopefully these loose threads will be addressed in the sequels.
The book has high body count, violence, etc – everything one would expect when zombies are involved.
Characters (who live):
Mace – Bounty hunter and reluctant hero and when the zombie apocalypse starts he is thick in the middle of the action saving humanity.
Jade – His partner and girlfriend. She helps him hold it all together when it hits the fan.
Lisa – Struggling single mother who is fortunate enough to hook up with Mace and Jade the all hell breaks out. She comes to grips with who she is as she struggles to protect her daughter Chelsea.
August 26, 2013
I received this e-book free in exchange for an honest review.
Mace of the Apocalypse had a good storyline, but poor editing, shallow characters and overuse of cliches kept me from giving this book a higher rating.
I have been reading post apocalyptic books for quite awhile, with the Zombie genre being my favorite. I loved Zombies well before "The Walking Dead" aired, so I am very familiar with Zombie tales, but I was disappointed with Mace of the Apocalypse. I won't go into a synopsis of the book, but will only point out what I feel could be improved.
I never felt attached to the main characters Mace and Jade. We were never given any insight into their personalities other than a tough guy in love with a tougher woman. Consequently, it didn't matter to me if either of them lived or died. Others may not have a problem with the character of Father Jack's use of curse words, and a prude I am not, but a Catholic Priest that curses like a sailor did not come across as a character that I felt compassion for. The overuse of cliches describing the character of Rob was very distracting to me.
I hope Mr. Williams gets a better editor and keeps trying. I did like his storyline and the twist he used as a side-effect of the anti-dote. Just make the characters people we want to root for and can identify with and you will have a more solid book next time.
Mace of the Apocalypse had a good storyline, but poor editing, shallow characters and overuse of cliches kept me from giving this book a higher rating.
I have been reading post apocalyptic books for quite awhile, with the Zombie genre being my favorite. I loved Zombies well before "The Walking Dead" aired, so I am very familiar with Zombie tales, but I was disappointed with Mace of the Apocalypse. I won't go into a synopsis of the book, but will only point out what I feel could be improved.
I never felt attached to the main characters Mace and Jade. We were never given any insight into their personalities other than a tough guy in love with a tougher woman. Consequently, it didn't matter to me if either of them lived or died. Others may not have a problem with the character of Father Jack's use of curse words, and a prude I am not, but a Catholic Priest that curses like a sailor did not come across as a character that I felt compassion for. The overuse of cliches describing the character of Rob was very distracting to me.
I hope Mr. Williams gets a better editor and keeps trying. I did like his storyline and the twist he used as a side-effect of the anti-dote. Just make the characters people we want to root for and can identify with and you will have a more solid book next time.
September 14, 2012
I have to say I was very surprised by this book. Even though I have read a small, and I do mean a very small amount of "ZOMBIE" books I cannot say I have never been able to SINK MY TEETH into them. But I am a huge fan of APOCALYPTIC style books. I of course putting in the magic words during a search for a book to read on my kindle "MACE OF THE APOCALYPSE" came up, (not seeing bk 1) I read the synopsis on what the book was about, and it did peek my fancy, just alone because it was not a "typical"zombie story. Well I am so very glad I did! I really would of been missing a real enjoyable story. In the beginning I found it a bit difficult to believe being in a major city, that some characters just happened to have people they knew, right behind them. Even when they had been very much apart, and not involved in a personal situation to know locations. But after all that it was a real eye opener, that had my eyes "red" with refusal to put the kindle down~ then I remembered TEXT TO SPEAK... Anyways, a must read,you really felt you knew each character in this book. I laughed many times, and even cursed a few times. I am just so thankful that it is Sept, and the following bk will be out next month. Thank you for an enjoyable read.
August 6, 2013
I will do this review in two parts: plot line and then technical.
Regarding the plot line, I found the storyline gripping. I was unable to put it down until I had finished the entire thing. I ended up needing to reread it from a technical viewpoint later. Without providing any spoilers, the trek through San Francisco as the undead are rampaging, how the virus started, character development, everything falls into place dragging you along for the ride through the hell Dan has written.
From the technical perspective, I read the Kindle edition. There were a few minor formatting issues where the font size would drop in point on the last paragraph of certain pages. Other than that, I only found one misspelled word in the entire book, but then I was not looking too hard for those overall. (Then was used instead of the proper word than)
I rated this book a total of five stars due to excellent authoring, my one complaint was there was not enough of character development for those characters outside of the immediate sphere of the main characters/storyline. If those characters are going to be as pivotal as I believe they will be in the next books, building them up some more here would have been nice. Right now there is no emotional attachment at all to them.
Regarding the plot line, I found the storyline gripping. I was unable to put it down until I had finished the entire thing. I ended up needing to reread it from a technical viewpoint later. Without providing any spoilers, the trek through San Francisco as the undead are rampaging, how the virus started, character development, everything falls into place dragging you along for the ride through the hell Dan has written.
From the technical perspective, I read the Kindle edition. There were a few minor formatting issues where the font size would drop in point on the last paragraph of certain pages. Other than that, I only found one misspelled word in the entire book, but then I was not looking too hard for those overall. (Then was used instead of the proper word than)
I rated this book a total of five stars due to excellent authoring, my one complaint was there was not enough of character development for those characters outside of the immediate sphere of the main characters/storyline. If those characters are going to be as pivotal as I believe they will be in the next books, building them up some more here would have been nice. Right now there is no emotional attachment at all to them.
February 28, 2014
There were parts of this that were really good and if you're a fan of Zombie Apocalypse novels then this is worth checking out because it's free if for no other reason. It's from a self published writer on Smashwords I believe, and I was really planning to give it 3 stars until about the last quarter of the novel.
See, it's one thing to have a priest character, and to have him preach and talk about faith and whatnot. That's what priests do. I get that. But it's an entirely different thing to have scenes of the afterlife, talking to dead people who say that they'll watch over you from heaven, etc. That was taking it a little far for me and that's where it lost a star. Granted, I'm not religious. But as I understand it, miracles don't generally happen.
The dialogue is a little weak sometimes, but it's much better than I've seen in some other indie novels. The character development was also a little weak. There was a lot of telling, and not a lot of showing in some parts to explain character motivations and background histories.
All in all, not bad and worth downloading because it's free to check it out. I would guess that the rest of the series will be paid and while I personally won't go there, who knows, this may be your thing.
See, it's one thing to have a priest character, and to have him preach and talk about faith and whatnot. That's what priests do. I get that. But it's an entirely different thing to have scenes of the afterlife, talking to dead people who say that they'll watch over you from heaven, etc. That was taking it a little far for me and that's where it lost a star. Granted, I'm not religious. But as I understand it, miracles don't generally happen.
The dialogue is a little weak sometimes, but it's much better than I've seen in some other indie novels. The character development was also a little weak. There was a lot of telling, and not a lot of showing in some parts to explain character motivations and background histories.
All in all, not bad and worth downloading because it's free to check it out. I would guess that the rest of the series will be paid and while I personally won't go there, who knows, this may be your thing.
April 30, 2013
*I was given this book free, in exchange for an honest review*
Terrorist have unleashed a chemical that first kills the victims and then brings them back to life as a Zombie. Now imagine this being released on public transportation system. Imagine the chaos that ensues, imagine the amount of people this will effect, imagine the mayhem.
Mace and his partner Jade are hot on the trail of a bail jumper, they spot him just as the infected rush the crowd of people. As they try to escape the Zombie they pick up stragglers along the way. They pick up Father McCann who was given the antidote, by an old friend from Cuba. Really? The finally hole up at a hospital that they barricade off and use to make the antidote. But is the antidote really enough? Is it enough to restore humanity? Is it enough to keep them all safe? Is it enough to keep everyone from turning? Or is humanity lost with one final bite?
I enjoyed how Father McCann was written. He was my favorite character. Because he wasn't a cookie cutter character. He was just jaded enough as a priest to be likable. Mr. Williams stepped out of the comfort zone with this character.
Terrorist have unleashed a chemical that first kills the victims and then brings them back to life as a Zombie. Now imagine this being released on public transportation system. Imagine the chaos that ensues, imagine the amount of people this will effect, imagine the mayhem.
Mace and his partner Jade are hot on the trail of a bail jumper, they spot him just as the infected rush the crowd of people. As they try to escape the Zombie they pick up stragglers along the way. They pick up Father McCann who was given the antidote, by an old friend from Cuba. Really? The finally hole up at a hospital that they barricade off and use to make the antidote. But is the antidote really enough? Is it enough to restore humanity? Is it enough to keep them all safe? Is it enough to keep everyone from turning? Or is humanity lost with one final bite?
I enjoyed how Father McCann was written. He was my favorite character. Because he wasn't a cookie cutter character. He was just jaded enough as a priest to be likable. Mr. Williams stepped out of the comfort zone with this character.
January 28, 2015
Let me just say that although I will not be finishing this book due to the characters and dialogue being too cliche, awkward, and/or uneven for my tastes, I do think with some work it could really become something I would enjoy. And at an earlier, less jaded time in my experience of reading self-published books, I probably would have persevered and finished reading this because it really does have some interesting parts to it.
And dear author, if you read your reviews, let me just say that ; well played, sir.
Okay, so I made myself come back and finish it. Because zombies. It got more interesting, I will give it that.
Um... I'd recommend this to someone who likes zombies and isn't as jaded as me and can take it as it is. Or maybe just someone who likes Dog the Bounty Hunter and zombies? Yeah.
August 31, 2012
I have seen just about every zombie movie and played every zombie game out there, but i have never, until this book, read a book about zombies. I am sure glad that I chose this as my first. It was well written and you really feel for the main character, Mace. I don't like to go into blow by blow descriptions of what was in the book, but I can say that it was a well thought out premise and executed extremely well. I cant believe I'm saying this but the book actually gave me a night mare on night which I haven't had happen in 25 years! I would definitely recommend this book if you are looking for a horror story that is face paced, exciting, gory and a great read.
February 3, 2013
This is a well writtten book, which I consider to be an absolutely fantastic read, with an action-packed plot. The characters are well-rounded and believable, and the worldbuilding is very well done. I was a little concerned that the author would do what many do these days and over-use curse words, but the author kept their use to a tolerable level, and though they appeared throughout the book, they were used sparingly enough that I didn't feel they were over-used. Be warned though that this is a very descriptive book, which anyone with a weak stomach should avoid reading - especially while eating!
December 1, 2012
I enjoyed reading this book. For those who enjoy "The Walking Dead", but can never seem to get enough, well, here is a place you can turn. SF/Bay Area, mad munching zombies, a bus ride into hell, an extended stay at the hospital, and fights with drug crazed youth. All with characters that felt real and not just cardboard zombie bait.
What else could you ask for?
Keep it up Mr. Williams.
What else could you ask for?
Keep it up Mr. Williams.
June 26, 2013
a surprisingly good read. when terrorists attack America with virus that quickly kills , it's up to a bounty hunter and his small group of friends to survive the plague. given the plague's antidote early on, they try to save those bitten and infected by the plague. when those people begun acting strangely, people begun to wonder: is the antidote worse than the zombie infection?
May 10, 2013
I'm just starting out to read zombie books and am really glad I read this one. I didn't expect to see religion in the book but it did give a twist I was not in for, so it made it even more interesting for me. I would like to read the second in the series.
August 9, 2013
Really enjoyed this. Edge of your seat, page turning kind of book. I will be purchasing the second in the series. Definitely worth a read if the undead is your thing, although the infected "undead" in this are not your normal slow, shambling zombies!
December 27, 2014
Great book !
On the edge of my seat a lot of the time. Every now & then laughing. Honestly most of the book I felt like I could have been right there with the characters. Because they seemed like so real ! A 4.9 in my book
On the edge of my seat a lot of the time. Every now & then laughing. Honestly most of the book I felt like I could have been right there with the characters. Because they seemed like so real ! A 4.9 in my book
January 15, 2013
If you like zombie novels, you'll like this book. I found it to be an entertaining read. I think you will too.
November 10, 2014
Excellent character introduction and plot line, I highly recommend this to any post apocalytic/zombie genre fan.
March 25, 2015
Definitely better than I expected the book to be.
January 23, 2016
Wow! Awesome book and I couldn't wait to see the next page! I love this book and I'm looking for number2 Daniel jay Williams- you totally rock!
September 24, 2023
Dropped it at 60%
It began as a fast paced zombie apocalypse with lots of battles. I’ve ignored some irritating stereotypes just to get on with it but it became harder and harder. At about the middle it started becoming unnecessarily gruesome and that was the final punch for me.
I wanted some fast paced action for my vacation. Ended up with probably the worst book I’ve ever read and one of the few I dropped halfway.
It began as a fast paced zombie apocalypse with lots of battles. I’ve ignored some irritating stereotypes just to get on with it but it became harder and harder. At about the middle it started becoming unnecessarily gruesome and that was the final punch for me.
I wanted some fast paced action for my vacation. Ended up with probably the worst book I’ve ever read and one of the few I dropped halfway.
July 27, 2017
Good book
Different from other Apocalypse books it keep you waiting to see what happen next many wonders in the next book
Different from other Apocalypse books it keep you waiting to see what happen next many wonders in the next book
Read
August 13, 2013Zombies are one of my favorite genres and Mace of the Apocalypse is different from almost every zombie apocalypse novel I have read in the past.
From the start, the title had me a little confused, but the meaning is explained very early on.
The story follows bounty hunter Mace and his partner/lover Jade. Mace’s interactions with one of their bounties reminded me of Dog the Bounty Hunter so that was who I kept picturing in my mind while reading the story. This was a small issue for me as I am not a fan.
All of the characters are described in detail and well thought out. The author does not disappoint in this area and I did find myself connecting with them and hoping for certain outcomes for certain characters. Early on, there is some skipping around from character to character, but later on you see how all of the characters intermingle with each other. It’s a good format.
There is a certain religious aspect to the book that I have not found in other zomapoc novels I have read. At certain points I found it a little over the top, but I am not a religious person so this stands out to me.
The author is descriptive, but not overly. It helps with character and location development. There were a few typos throughout the book, but nothing that took away from the story. You can still easily read through and understand the intent of the sentence.
From start to finish, the story is rapid and engaging. There is gore, violence, lust and even some love throughout the story and I am glad the sexual pieces were not over played. These scenes helped to move the story along.
Overall, this was a well thought out and very entertaining story. I am looking forward to reading the 2nd book in the series. I am happy to say that Daniel J. Williams has gained another fan.
From the start, the title had me a little confused, but the meaning is explained very early on.
The story follows bounty hunter Mace and his partner/lover Jade. Mace’s interactions with one of their bounties reminded me of Dog the Bounty Hunter so that was who I kept picturing in my mind while reading the story. This was a small issue for me as I am not a fan.
All of the characters are described in detail and well thought out. The author does not disappoint in this area and I did find myself connecting with them and hoping for certain outcomes for certain characters. Early on, there is some skipping around from character to character, but later on you see how all of the characters intermingle with each other. It’s a good format.
There is a certain religious aspect to the book that I have not found in other zomapoc novels I have read. At certain points I found it a little over the top, but I am not a religious person so this stands out to me.
The author is descriptive, but not overly. It helps with character and location development. There were a few typos throughout the book, but nothing that took away from the story. You can still easily read through and understand the intent of the sentence.
From start to finish, the story is rapid and engaging. There is gore, violence, lust and even some love throughout the story and I am glad the sexual pieces were not over played. These scenes helped to move the story along.
Overall, this was a well thought out and very entertaining story. I am looking forward to reading the 2nd book in the series. I am happy to say that Daniel J. Williams has gained another fan.
September 28, 2013
First up apologies to the author I received a copy a long while back for reviewing and completely forgot about it BUT the bonus is..I have now read this book because I wanted to not because I had to!
Truly original plotline,zombies in this apocalypse are infected with a terrorists disease,the bad news they are super aggressive and shrieky..ups the scare factor..the good news there is a possibility of developing a vaccine..the bad news again the vaccine may not be all you dreamt of!!!
Really thorough character developement,nice balance of likeable and unlikeable for various reasons.My only concern was the high religious theme that appeared to run in the first part of the book,Iam not religious and as soon as I start to feel preached at,I am likely to remove a book from my kindle,however others may feel differently...but Daniel Williams uses belief to introduce moral values to personalities and characters,he avoids stereotyping ie the non-religious must be bad people by including men like John and his journey..he also has a truly nasty wolf in sheep's clothing in the form of Gilbert,the headmaster...The ethics included in the book are applicable to all people and there are some very human observations and reactions that flesh out the characters like Mace and Jade and make them real..though I had a few doubts about the amount of injury Mace takes at one point and his strength to persevere..thoroughly loved this at the end of the day..As soon as I finish typing my comments I will be looking up the mention of a sequel and reading that at the first opportunity..there is plenty of horror story here for your money,great characters,great moments of pure gross out disgust and horror and some edge of seat reading..solid 4 to 5 star read!
Truly original plotline,zombies in this apocalypse are infected with a terrorists disease,the bad news they are super aggressive and shrieky..ups the scare factor..the good news there is a possibility of developing a vaccine..the bad news again the vaccine may not be all you dreamt of!!!
Really thorough character developement,nice balance of likeable and unlikeable for various reasons.My only concern was the high religious theme that appeared to run in the first part of the book,Iam not religious and as soon as I start to feel preached at,I am likely to remove a book from my kindle,however others may feel differently...but Daniel Williams uses belief to introduce moral values to personalities and characters,he avoids stereotyping ie the non-religious must be bad people by including men like John and his journey..he also has a truly nasty wolf in sheep's clothing in the form of Gilbert,the headmaster...The ethics included in the book are applicable to all people and there are some very human observations and reactions that flesh out the characters like Mace and Jade and make them real..though I had a few doubts about the amount of injury Mace takes at one point and his strength to persevere..thoroughly loved this at the end of the day..As soon as I finish typing my comments I will be looking up the mention of a sequel and reading that at the first opportunity..there is plenty of horror story here for your money,great characters,great moments of pure gross out disgust and horror and some edge of seat reading..solid 4 to 5 star read!
May 17, 2013
When terrorists release a deadly toxin all across The United States, the results are terrifying. People collapse in the streets, only to return violently insane minutes after and eager to devour the flesh of the living.
Bounty Hunter Mace and his partner, Jade, are at the scene of one of the attacks as it happens and barely escape with their lives. As they meet up with other survivors, they realise that they possess a possible antidote in a very small supply and begin to work out the best way to disperse it. But when they seek sanctuary at a nearby hospital to try and develop a solution, they quickly discover that the biggest threat to their survival is themselves....
This is a gripping read with some really well thought-out characters. It offers an alternative take to most other ZPoc stories and is merely the start of a three book series. Williams here, has tried to create something a little different from other Zombie/ end-of-world thrillers and, mostly, he succeeds. One thing is certain, it definitely leaves you wanting more....
Bounty Hunter Mace and his partner, Jade, are at the scene of one of the attacks as it happens and barely escape with their lives. As they meet up with other survivors, they realise that they possess a possible antidote in a very small supply and begin to work out the best way to disperse it. But when they seek sanctuary at a nearby hospital to try and develop a solution, they quickly discover that the biggest threat to their survival is themselves....
This is a gripping read with some really well thought-out characters. It offers an alternative take to most other ZPoc stories and is merely the start of a three book series. Williams here, has tried to create something a little different from other Zombie/ end-of-world thrillers and, mostly, he succeeds. One thing is certain, it definitely leaves you wanting more....
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