Midway

The Harvesting #1.5

by Melanie Karsak

Step right up, ladies and gentlemen, for the beginning of the end.

Carnie. Ride jockey. Roustabout. White trash. Tilt girl. Gypsy. Cricket has been called a lot of things, but she never thought survivor of the zombie apocalypse would be one of them. One day she’s barking on the midway, and the next day, the world is eating itself alive.

Cricket, along with Vella, a tarot reader, and Puck, Cricket’s mangy mutt, find themselves running for their lives, but where can you hide when mankind has fallen? Cricket will need help if she hopes to survive.

Luckily for her, we were never really alone, and apparently, magical forces want to keep this tilt girl alive.

Genres: Zombies, Horror, Paranormal, Dystopia, Post Apocalyptic, Novella, Fantasy

118 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

New York Times and USA Today best-selling historical fantasy author Melanie Karsak is the author of the Celtic Blood series, Steampunk Red Riding Hood, Steampunk Fairy Tales, the Road to Valhalla Series, and other works of fantasy and fiction. The author currently lives in Florida with her husband and two children.

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Reviews

[Louie the Mustache Matos · Rating 4 out of 5]

The initial reaction which you might have is “Am I reading the wrong book?”, because that was my reaction. Book One of the Harvesting series by Melanie Karsak ends on a cliffhanger. Reading this book right after the first one, confused me because this is a totally new set of characters in a completely different setting, but gradually I came to understand that these characters are going to meet the other characters somewhere along the line.

I am still enjoying the mashup idea of having a zombie apocalypse in the midst of an urban fantasy, but I get a sense that one of the characters might be a metamorph and that might be a bridge too far, although if the reader can accept that this is going to be a kitchen sink type of book (a book that incorporates all sorts of genres) then I guess I should be able to accept that. I have to admit that I am enjoying the originality flourishes that I have rarely found in other books. This is a really good series so far.

[Dev · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't remember much of book 1 so I'm assuming that these characters were in it towards the end [they certainly seem to be in the summary for book 2] but I don't really like or care about any of them so this almost entirely plotless novella holds little appeal for me. It didn't make me angry the way book 1 did, but I think that is only because it was so short and it leaves me with no desire to pick up the rest of the series. I honestly only read it because I needed a super quick read so my team could complete stage one in a challenge I'm doing right now. I'm sure this series is fine for many people but I've come to the conclusion that Karsak's writing is just not for me.

[Pauline Creeden · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars. What starts out as a contemporary apocalyptic novel takes a sharp turn toward dark fantasy with unexpected twists and turns that will make the reader's head spin. A fun read in an environment that I want to learn more about - but ugh! The cliffhangers...hurry up with Harvesting #2 already!

[Lorna · Rating 5 out of 5]

(RabidReads.com)4.5/5 Stars Recently I read and reviewed The Harvesting. It was the story of a woman who becomes a leader in her small town when the unthinkable happens. Zombies and the end of the world. Now with this novella, the author introduces another main character into this dystopian world.

Cricket is a Tilt-A-Whirl worker in an all but broken down carnival. She grew up in the carnival, and now owns her own Tilt, due to her father’s death. She’s alone in this world with the exception of her dog, Puck. Of course the carnies are kind of like a big family. When “flu” hits the carnival, she decides to pack up the ride and move on with her fellow carnies. Only when it’s time to go, only her friend, Vella, is still ready to leave. That’s not to say that her other friends have left, rather that they are now walking around trying to eat her. Of course, it’s not an ordinary flu, rather it’s one that causes zombies.

Cricket is such a real character. She’s extremely strong willed, honorable, has had little in the way of education, but has learned all she needed to know about life from her dad, and while traveling with the carnival. Where Layla in the previous installment, had some time(days)and a grandmother with the “sight” to prepare her, Cricket is totally caught off guard by the events that happen. Vella is Romanian and a fortune teller. She knows that things aren’t always what they seem, and has more than a bit of the “sight” as well.

As with The Harvesting, this story is an adventure from start to finish. I call it adventure, but it’s actually a race to escape the walking dead that are all around her and Vella. Along the way other characters are introduced, and some are lost. This is definitely not a story where everyone lives, and there are not necessarily happily ever afters. But what it is, is the story of good versus evil, in some ways. Not all people that survive in this world are good, but there are still good people to be found, ones that will be needed to start the world over-if it survives.

Suspense, life and death moments, and good characters abound in this fantastical world the author has created. It’s creepy at times, but it’s fast paced when it needs to be. Highly recommended to mature young adults to adults, due to violence.

[Shelby · Rating 2 out of 5]

Be warned: this is not book 2. The cover says book two, amazon says book two, but this is a novella not a full book. Really frustrating especially given the abrupt ending to book one and the fact that this has different characters than The Harvesting.

Ok, that being said I did continue to enjoy the premise and rather like this cast of characters. What I would have liked was the character development a novel affords and some resolution instead of an unfinished plot line. Hopefully all these little stories tie in with each other later.

[Coco.V]

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[Amber K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Midway by Melanie Karsak is the second story in the Havesting series.
I love the diversity of characters in this series and the twists will keep you on your toes! The audio is very enjoyable to listen to and I cant wait to see where this story is going next!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was expecting to find out where Layla and the good people of Hamletteville were headed. Instead the story whisks you away to L.A. and new people are introduced. Here new friends find themselves running for their lives. This was another great adventure. I enjoyed this book and I am ready to start book 3.

[BookLoversLife · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this first book in this series and was excited to read this one. And boy, did I adore this too!!

This focuses on Cricket, a carny who loves her life. She sees that attendance is down at the carnival due to this flu that is going around. Her fellow carnies decide to move on to the next town, but the morning of the move, those who were feeling sick are more than that now! Cricket, along with Vella and her dog Puck are the sole survivours of their carnival and are now on the run! Where is there to hide? Where is there a safe haven?

Cricket was awesome! Sweet, kind: especially to her dog, loyal, but she is also strong willed, confident and kick ass! She has no clue what is about to come but she does her best to keep herself, her dog and her friend alive. She was a character that was easy to like and I was rooting for her throughout.

This was a quick, intense and addicting read. Once I started, I couldn't stop, nor did I want to! The world the author has created is phenomenal. It has a bit of everything, with things unfolding slowly and surprisingly throughout the story. The characters were all well written and developed, the plot was imaginative and inventive and overall, the book was stupendous!!

Kristin James really knows how to tell and amazing story. Her voices and cadences were varied and unique and she really brought the story to life.

*I received a free copy of this but voluntarily reviewed it. This in no way influenced nor affected my thoughts.*

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so happy to get my hands on a copy of Midway! The Harvesting is such a fantastic book, one of my top favorites of the year it was released, that I had a really difficult time waiting for more to read in this series. I’m not embellishing, either. The Harvesting completely blew my mind. And I have to say that Midway was worth the wait.

Having read the first edition of The Harvesting, I was fortunate enough to get a glimpse into Cricket’s world before reading Midway. Cricket is a carnie (and a natural badass) who runs the Tilt-a-Whirl in a traveling carnival. She works along side some very interesting characters: some good and others that are pretty darn creepy. I found it very impressive how the author was able to breath life into so many characters in such a short amount of time. Since I’ve always had a soft spot for tarot card readers, I found Vella to be one of my favorite characters.

Once the flu begins to take hold, and Cricket and Vella realize that the situation is far more serious than everyone originally thought, they take off in whatever direction might guarantee their safety. Unfortunately, security is a hard thing to come by in this new world where the dead are eating the living, and some of the living are complete asses who are only out for themselves.

What happens at the end of this novella is just…. Gah! Please release The Shadow Aspect immediately!

Melanie Karsak’s writing style is so fluid, and her storylines are so smart and intense. Once you pick up one of her books, it’s next to impossible to put down. If you are a fan of horror, post-apocalypse, or just strange and intense stories, you must start this series as soon as possible.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original Review @ Naomi’s Reading Palace

After finishing The Harvesting, there was a glimpse of Midway in the back of the book, and I was left wanting to know more about the new character, Cricket, and her role in future books in this series. Midway was a quick read, and showed me what happened when the zombie plague swept through Cricket’s part of America, and what she had to go through to survive.

Cricket owned a tilt-o-whirl, which she inherited after her father passed away. Due to the illness sweeping through the country, the carnival she was working at was pretty dead and her friends around her were becoming sick. The next day she wakes up to madness, she was attacked and had to flee with her dog Puck and Vella, the tarot reader.

There was so much action in this short read, that I found myself eagerly flicking the pages to see what happened next! There were zombie attacks at every turn where Cricket and Vella would kill anything just so they could get out alive. They find refuge where needed and stumble upon a few other people who are willing to help them. It was an exciting, action packed read and I am eager to see what happens next for Cricket and the rest of her crew.

Complimentary copy provided by the Author in exchange for an honest review.

[Margo Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella is a perfect tie-in to The Harvesting, and Cricket is a fabulous narrator! She’s smart and sharp and set to survive the zombie apocalypse . . . with the best dog(?) ever!

[Abi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating - 3.25

I enjoyed this one a bit more than book one, but I think that was mainly down to this being a lot shorter. It didn't seem to drag as much because of it either.

[Pam Baddeley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Billed as book 2 in the series, it is more like 1.5 especially since it is a novella. However, I liked it a bit more than book 1. This introduces a new cast of characters headed up by Cricket, a woman raised in a carnival by her father who worked his way up to own a ride, called a Tilt-A-Whirl. Cricket inherited this after her father's untimely death, and is proud of her carnie roots and the real-world education received from her father as opposed to school-based education. She is quite down-to-earth and has had short-term relationships with men but nothing serious. She loves her dog, Puck (named after the mischievous fairy) more.

As the story opens, the carnival is almost empty. Only two young boys turn up to ride the tilt and after them, Cricket has no customers, but her fellow carnies are in the same boat. Some have left their stalls unattended, and she hears that people have come down with the flu that has been going around. Pretty soon, there's a report on the radio that the flu is a pandemic and that those who come down with it turn violent. Vella, a woman who is the carnival fortune teller specialising in the Tarot, receives a message of doom from the cards.

Cricket helps some co-workers wrap up rides and expects them to come back next morning and help her dismantle the tilt but no one comes. When she goes looking, it seems they too are flu-stricken except for Vella and Mamma, an older woman who has an act involving snakes. Mamma looks unwell but insists it is only an upset stomach from something she ate. When the other carnival workers attack, the women are forced to flee, Cricket in Vella's lorry and Mamma in her own. But Mamma's vehicle pulls up some distance from the carnival and when Cricket goes to investigate she realises that it wasn't food poisoning.

Cricket and Vella, plus Puck, have a series of narrow escapes as they meet survivors and manage to evade murderers on the rampage who kill other survivors. Eventually they take refuge, with some of the people they've met, at an abandoned fairground that Cricket knows about and which has an old nuclear refuge in the grounds. Unfortunately, even there they are not safe.

I found this a more involving story than the first book, partly because it kept to the main theme of the zombie apocalypse without involving other supernatural forces. There was an understated element, mainly in the fox that Cricket sees, which could be related to the fox-spirit encountered by Layla in volume 1. There is also a hint that the zombies are a lot smarter than they should be and the mystery of how they turn up in force at the refuge. One possible red herring is the presence at the start of a co-worker who Cricket has always found creepy but who disappears before the zombies attack.

I would like to avoid a spoiler but should mention that readers who don't like books where pets perish probably wouldn't enjoy this. Overall, I would rate it 3 stars.

[David Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a mild surprise. I expected a direct continuation from book 1, instead it's like a 'Walking Dead' / 'Z Nation' instalment where we are introduced to other survivors during the same time period. As with book one, the characters are pretty solid, standing out well and interacting with each other in a believable way.

This time around the focus shifts to a young woman who runs the tilt a whirl ride in an amusement park. As people start getting sick, they decide to start packing up to leave and head elsewhere. Things descend into chaos pretty quickly from there with thick fog, disembodied snarls and eerie sounds, straight out of a 'Silent Hill' videogame. Again, there are slight mystical elements in this book too. There is a fortune teller who reads the Tarot and is a sensitive, who adds a different element to the zombie apocalypse that is taking over. There are 'Romero' type zombies as well as the more aggressive types to be encountered, as well as some incredibly dangerous encounters with other predators. One character that is a particular bonus is 'Puck', a stray that was adopted and named after the character in Shakespeares 'A Midsummer Nights Dream' (This is hinted at but not actually said in the story). As the zombies become more prevalent this group also decides to move on and face battles on the road.

A short but engaging story that introduces new characters and sets things up for events to come. Well worth a read.

[Keith Beasley-Topliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice palate-cleanser for readers of The Harvesting

This is a short novel (about 2 hours to read) set in the world of The Harvesting and contains some Easter Eggs for readers of that novel (who will know what's going on before the characters do. The main characters are a young woman named Cricket who runs the Tilt-a-Whirl in a traveling carnival and the older Tarot reader/medium in the same. Not stock heroines. Yes, there still zombies, but not the gore fest of the first book. And Cricket gets a nice surprise at the end (though, again, readers of The Harvesting should see it coming).

[Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was engaging right from the start & I kept me wanting to continue to read. Quickly the story became a bit “choppy” but realized that it was a “bridging” story between book one & three in the story. I needed to read this book because it introduced characters we needed to get to know for the story to progress. The read was short but it kept giving little hints of a story line that may an be a possibility of things to come (very mysterious) but again…..bridging between the story. Now I want to get to the next book, The Shadow Aspect, & hope it continues to be as the start of this book engaging.

[Ramona Plant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Midway is in my eyes just an average zombie story written by Melanie Karsak. Don't take me wrong, it is well written and everything, but I really don't find anything particularly special about it. The plot is rather generic, with no special twists to write home about except maybe the fortune teller being a lot more real than you would think and maybe there being something more about her dog Puck.

The pace is a tad on the faster pace but that is to be somewhat expected in a shorter story. Cricket is a likable character and I did like Vella as well. There is not a whole lot of character development though.

All in all the story is entertaining but there really is not a whole lot to it, just another generic zombie story in my eyes. Maybe the next one, when we find out more about Puck and Vella comes into her glory, maybe then this series will take off?

[Vanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this book 3 stars because I am enjoying the series so far. However, this book really could have just been added into the first one, or made a part of the 3rd. It was such a quick read and felt rushed. The characters storylines could’ve used so much more so we get better sense of them going into book 3.
I understand it is a different point of view of survival at the same time as book 1, but definitely just felt like a filler. Not my fave and as a result of it being so short, there was no connection made with any of these characters.

[April Hyatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harvesting

An action and budding romance series about the zombie apocalypse. The books are really well written with a lot of details and scenery that doesn't detract from the overall story. There are a lot of clichés in the books but they all worked. I only gave 4 stars because there were a handful of errors in the books using the incorrect word that I could not ignore. Overall an interesting zombie book series with a fairy tale twist.

[Christine Bishop · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars!

Midway is the second book in The Harvesting Series. Midway is a short book told from a carnie’s POV that takes us back to the beginning. Cricket works for a traveling carnival and when everyone starts turning into zombies she escapes with her dog Puck and her friend Vella. This is a great addition to the story and I can’t wait to find out how Cricket and Layla’s story intersect.

[Kathleen Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zombies with a twist

I read the first book and didn't stop to review because I wanted to dive into book 2. But this series is so good that out of respect for a great writer I wanted to stop and and offer praise before rushing to book 3. Books very fast paced, great heroines, and surprising twists to distinguish this series from the other zombie tales. Bye, I'm onto book 3.

[Michele Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book two of the series, we follow the main character, Cricket, who was a Tilt Girl at a carnival when the virus struck. Her, her dog Puck, and Vella, the carnival's medium, set off to try to stay alive and find somewhere safe from the zombies. This book is non-stop zombie/supernatural action! I absolutely love this series!

[Elysian Fields · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story. This is a continuation of the first and it does end in a cliffhanger for tge next. I liked the new characters, the action and Puck! I would consider this a building story; as in it builds the plot line and gives a few more details but there isn't any major revelation. Great writing, off to the next.

[Audrey Stars in Her Eye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story despite the horrible tragedy at the end.
I loved the characters and the setting. The narrator provided a wonderful accent that made me feel at home. This is a great origin story about a character that becomes a huge part of book two.
I received an audio copy for review; all opinions are my own.

[Pat Raab · Rating 4 out of 5]

From carnival to catastrophe, as Cricket and Vella try to escape the zombies that have been created as a result of a flu-type epidemic throughout the USA. Cricket loses her dog, but finds something else ...

[Resa · Rating 5 out of 5]

So amazing

All I can say is "Seriously! *************" and the rest is beeped out because of spoilers. This was amazing. I love this group, they are so mismatched but awesome. And of course Puck is my favorite character! I can't wait to see Layla and Cricket team up!

[Sandy Cop-Christmas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

I read #1 and #2. I thought book 2 would follow the story in book 1, but no! A whole new group of people. Both books were very good, but now I need to get #3 so I can continue the story.

[Lisa Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

The dog is not supposed to die ever!!

Interesting second book a fast paced story from start to finish. Hopefully it will make sense when I read book 3. Very confused right now. Get the books and leave your reviews.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this one. The main character was very realistic and unapologetic. Can't wait to continue her story.