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The Decaying World Saga #0.5
The Last Infection
The Last Infection chronicles the fall of civilization and the rise of the dead and the evolution of the infected.
The infection swept across the country like a tidal wave. Survivors cling to life as the infected own the night and the dead walk the streets. Chris has endured on his own and bumping into Jake and Alicen weren't in his plans. The young brother and sister have plans of their own, but Chris has heard too many promises of sanctuary and infection free zones. Jenn's arrival turns his attention to the one thing he never thought he would face again, hope. They make a pact to reach the kids safe haven, but only time will tell if anyone can survive the last infection.
The infection swept across the country like a tidal wave. Survivors cling to life as the infected own the night and the dead walk the streets. Chris has endured on his own and bumping into Jake and Alicen weren't in his plans. The young brother and sister have plans of their own, but Chris has heard too many promises of sanctuary and infection free zones. Jenn's arrival turns his attention to the one thing he never thought he would face again, hope. They make a pact to reach the kids safe haven, but only time will tell if anyone can survive the last infection.
216 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 11, 2014
6 people are currently reading
523 people want to read
About the author
Michael W. Garza
40 books115 followersMichael W. Garza often finds himself wondering where his inspiration will come from next and in what form his imagination will bring it to life. The outcomes regularly surprise him and it’s always his ambition to amaze those curious enough to follow him and take in those results. He hopes everyone will find something that frightens, surprises, or simply astonishes them.
www.mwgarza.com
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 31, 2014
While struggling to survive a scourge of undead zombies, the infected ones (who haven't quite turned just yet) and other desperate, dangerous survivors, loner Chris West finds two young survivors--twelve-year-old Jake and his little sister Alicen. Shortly thereafter, they meet a woman named Jenn and the four individuals form a make-shift family. They decide to travel from Colorado to Las Vegas, where Jenn believes she can find her parents. From there, they plan to seek refuge from the madness on Catalina Island, an island off the coast of California.
No spoilers from me as to whether they survive their arduous trek. But I can tell you that there will be plenty of zombies, infected ones and dangerous others along the journey.
While I did enjoy this story, I think I found all of the action a bit overwhelming. I'm sure it's just me, though...everyone loves a good, action-packed novel. I think after reading Garza's The Hand That Feeds, I was expecting more of a developing story as opposed to just a story of survival. It's a good story, absolutely, and the ending still leaves me wondering. I just think I needed more of a break from the seemingly endless violence and struggles.
Garza is a very talented author and I hope that he will write a sequel as I am very curious to learn what happens to the remaining character(s).
July 22, 2014
*** I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ***
“The Last Infection” is not the typical zombie book.
The story starts off with Jake (twelve) and Alicen (eight) running for their lives. They watched their parents sacrifice themselves to give them a chance of escape and now they are trying desperately to get to Catalina where they hope their aunt and uncle have survived.
Having the children as the main protagonists really is a stroke of genius. It was so easy to fall in love with them as characters and root for their survival. Along the way they pick up some additional travelers who round out the motley crew quite nicely.
As if zombies were not scary enough the author delivers a twist and introduces us to the infected. The fascinating part is that the infected are still part of the living and have intelligence that makes them very dangerous foes.
Garza does an amazing job of keeping up the action and suspense jumping from one hair raising scene right into the next. It starts of with heart racing action and doesn’t let up for a second. At times it even questions the sanity of the survivors and then new world that is being created. Word of advice – don’t become too attached to anyone character because the author in true horror fashion has no problem with killing of characters leaving you to wonder who will survive.
If you like watching “The Walking Dead” or reading zombie books then this one is a must read! I can’t wait to read what happens next.
“The Last Infection” is not the typical zombie book.
The story starts off with Jake (twelve) and Alicen (eight) running for their lives. They watched their parents sacrifice themselves to give them a chance of escape and now they are trying desperately to get to Catalina where they hope their aunt and uncle have survived.
Having the children as the main protagonists really is a stroke of genius. It was so easy to fall in love with them as characters and root for their survival. Along the way they pick up some additional travelers who round out the motley crew quite nicely.
As if zombies were not scary enough the author delivers a twist and introduces us to the infected. The fascinating part is that the infected are still part of the living and have intelligence that makes them very dangerous foes.
Garza does an amazing job of keeping up the action and suspense jumping from one hair raising scene right into the next. It starts of with heart racing action and doesn’t let up for a second. At times it even questions the sanity of the survivors and then new world that is being created. Word of advice – don’t become too attached to anyone character because the author in true horror fashion has no problem with killing of characters leaving you to wonder who will survive.
If you like watching “The Walking Dead” or reading zombie books then this one is a must read! I can’t wait to read what happens next.
October 9, 2014
The opening scene is a perfect way to draw you into this world that Garza has created. That alone almost makes the book worth reading. However, overall, I will say that I enjoyed it. I think the idea of the author was to create "real" people in his story. Centering much of it around the two children made it exciting, but I think he could have gotten into their minds a bit more.
A good read with a few editing mishaps, but nothing that was distracting.
A good read with a few editing mishaps, but nothing that was distracting.
July 14, 2014
Originally published at Risingshadow.
Zombie and survival horror stories have become increasingly popular during the last decade. Many new novels and stories have been written and are currently being written by various authors. Because this genre is so popular and there are plenty of zombie novels out there on the market, it's nice to see such good and entertaining novels as Michael W. Garza's The Last Infection appear in bookshops.
Zombie fiction tends to divide the readers into two groups - to those who like it and to those who dislike it. I personally think that zombie fiction is at its best good and thrilling entertainment that offers nice escapism for horror readers. I don't reach it much, but I do like reading good and well written zombie novels and stories (in my opinion The Last Infection is a good novel and worth reading).
The Last Infection gives a nice and original twist to the zombie genre, because the infected are technically alive and they retain their physical attributes as long as they feed on humans and get blood (after death they become zombies). They're fast and deadly and they have a craving for blood. Nobody knows how or why the transformation began to happen.
In this novel the author writes about the total fall of civilization, the rise of the dead and the frightening evolution of the infected in a thrilling way. This novel is cool and well written zombie entertainment that will appeal to everybody who likes zombie fiction and enjoyes watching zombie films.
Here's information about the story:
The story begins in Denver that has turned into a postapocalyptical wasteland where the infected and the undead roam the streets and have invaded the buildings. At the beginning of the novel Alicen and Jake Bradley are in a parking garage and are surrounded by the infected. They're separated from their parents and try to escape the infected and hear how their parents are dying in the hands of the infected... Chris West is in the mall and awakes to find himself surrounded by the infected and has to escape from them. He soon runs into Alicen and Jake. He also meets Jenn and his life begins to change... (This is all I'll write about the story, because it wouldn't be fair to reveal all the happenings to the readers.)
Here's a bit of information about the characters:
- Jake's is Alicen's big brother. Alicen is 8 years old and Jake is 12 years old. They want to find their Aunt Debra and Uncle Mike who live in Catalina.
- Chris is an interesting character, because he has a bit shady past (he's had an addiction and he had to detox alone, but now he wants to stay alive). He hasn't cared for anybody else for a long time, so his life changes totally when he meets the children and Jenn.
- Jenn is from Kansas City and has travelled all the way to Denver. She wants to find her parents who live in Las Vegas.
Michael W. Garza writes believable about how Chris has stayed alive and hasn't cared about anybody but himself for a long time. Because he has heard about safe places and infection free zones, he doesn't care much about anything until he meets Jenn and the children. It was interesting to read how Chris had to learn to care about other people again.
The character interaction is good in this novel. It was interesting to read how Chris, Jenn, Jake and Alicen communicated with each other and how they got to know each other. It was also interesting to read about how they reacted to other survivors and what happened when they met other people.
The characters' journey through the postapocalyptical landscapes is exciting and offers thrilling moments to zombie fans, because the characters get into trouble while trying to reach a safe place. The author delivers interesting surprises and shocking moments for his readers by writing about what happens to the characters during their journey.
Survival in a world where civilization has collapsed isn't easy and Michael W. Garza shows it well in this novel. He writes fluently about what people do to survive. His descriptions of what happens to people and how the infected prey on the humans are brutal and shocking. He also shows how brutal and ruthless people can be to other people when there's nothing left of the normal society and its rules.
By focusing mostly on the four main persons - Chris, Jenn, Jake and Alicen - the author is able to write tight survival horror drama. Reading about what happens to the children makes the story dramatic, because it's normally much more shocking to read about children's anguish and fears than about adults' problems.
Michael W. Garza writes fluently and skillfully about postapocalyptical landscapes. His descriptions of the landscapes feel accurate and believable. He also manages to create a threatening atmosphere, because the world is full of the infected and the undead and the living don't have much hope unless they're tough and willing to do whatever is necessary to survive the harsh conditions.
The events that take place when the characters meet Mr. Walker are powerful scenes. In my opinion the author has succeeded well in creating a menacing atmosphere in these scenes. I won't write more about these scenes, because I want to avoid writing spoilers, but I'll mention that they're well written scenes.
The Last Infection is a nicely action-packed novel that's full of action and sticky situations. In my opinion the action scenes and the non-action scenes are in good balance. Although there's quite a lot of action in this novel the author also manages to add a bit of depth to the story by writing about the characters and their feelings.
According to the information found on the author's official website, the author has started the outlining phases of the follow up to The Last Infection, so everybody who enjoyes reading this novel will soon have a chance to read what happens next. I personally look forward to reading the sequel, because it'll be nice to read what happens next to the survivors.
The Last Infection can be recommended to both newcomers and experienced readers, because it's good and intriguing entertainment from start to finish. Newcomers will most likely enjoy the fast-paced story and the brutal happenings while experienced readers will enjoy how well the author writes about the characters and what happens to them.
If you enjoy reading zombie survival horror stories, you can't go wrong by reading The Last Infection, because it offers all the goods in a thrilling package full of action and survival drama. It's an entertaining and fast-paced novel for all zombie fans.
I give this novel strong four stars for its entertainment values and thrilling atmosphere. I liked it very much, because the author moved the story fast forward and knew how to keep the reader interested in the story.
My final words are:
This novel is good and well written survival horror entertainment!
Zombie and survival horror stories have become increasingly popular during the last decade. Many new novels and stories have been written and are currently being written by various authors. Because this genre is so popular and there are plenty of zombie novels out there on the market, it's nice to see such good and entertaining novels as Michael W. Garza's The Last Infection appear in bookshops.
Zombie fiction tends to divide the readers into two groups - to those who like it and to those who dislike it. I personally think that zombie fiction is at its best good and thrilling entertainment that offers nice escapism for horror readers. I don't reach it much, but I do like reading good and well written zombie novels and stories (in my opinion The Last Infection is a good novel and worth reading).
The Last Infection gives a nice and original twist to the zombie genre, because the infected are technically alive and they retain their physical attributes as long as they feed on humans and get blood (after death they become zombies). They're fast and deadly and they have a craving for blood. Nobody knows how or why the transformation began to happen.
In this novel the author writes about the total fall of civilization, the rise of the dead and the frightening evolution of the infected in a thrilling way. This novel is cool and well written zombie entertainment that will appeal to everybody who likes zombie fiction and enjoyes watching zombie films.
Here's information about the story:
The story begins in Denver that has turned into a postapocalyptical wasteland where the infected and the undead roam the streets and have invaded the buildings. At the beginning of the novel Alicen and Jake Bradley are in a parking garage and are surrounded by the infected. They're separated from their parents and try to escape the infected and hear how their parents are dying in the hands of the infected... Chris West is in the mall and awakes to find himself surrounded by the infected and has to escape from them. He soon runs into Alicen and Jake. He also meets Jenn and his life begins to change... (This is all I'll write about the story, because it wouldn't be fair to reveal all the happenings to the readers.)
Here's a bit of information about the characters:
- Jake's is Alicen's big brother. Alicen is 8 years old and Jake is 12 years old. They want to find their Aunt Debra and Uncle Mike who live in Catalina.
- Chris is an interesting character, because he has a bit shady past (he's had an addiction and he had to detox alone, but now he wants to stay alive). He hasn't cared for anybody else for a long time, so his life changes totally when he meets the children and Jenn.
- Jenn is from Kansas City and has travelled all the way to Denver. She wants to find her parents who live in Las Vegas.
Michael W. Garza writes believable about how Chris has stayed alive and hasn't cared about anybody but himself for a long time. Because he has heard about safe places and infection free zones, he doesn't care much about anything until he meets Jenn and the children. It was interesting to read how Chris had to learn to care about other people again.
The character interaction is good in this novel. It was interesting to read how Chris, Jenn, Jake and Alicen communicated with each other and how they got to know each other. It was also interesting to read about how they reacted to other survivors and what happened when they met other people.
The characters' journey through the postapocalyptical landscapes is exciting and offers thrilling moments to zombie fans, because the characters get into trouble while trying to reach a safe place. The author delivers interesting surprises and shocking moments for his readers by writing about what happens to the characters during their journey.
Survival in a world where civilization has collapsed isn't easy and Michael W. Garza shows it well in this novel. He writes fluently about what people do to survive. His descriptions of what happens to people and how the infected prey on the humans are brutal and shocking. He also shows how brutal and ruthless people can be to other people when there's nothing left of the normal society and its rules.
By focusing mostly on the four main persons - Chris, Jenn, Jake and Alicen - the author is able to write tight survival horror drama. Reading about what happens to the children makes the story dramatic, because it's normally much more shocking to read about children's anguish and fears than about adults' problems.
Michael W. Garza writes fluently and skillfully about postapocalyptical landscapes. His descriptions of the landscapes feel accurate and believable. He also manages to create a threatening atmosphere, because the world is full of the infected and the undead and the living don't have much hope unless they're tough and willing to do whatever is necessary to survive the harsh conditions.
The events that take place when the characters meet Mr. Walker are powerful scenes. In my opinion the author has succeeded well in creating a menacing atmosphere in these scenes. I won't write more about these scenes, because I want to avoid writing spoilers, but I'll mention that they're well written scenes.
The Last Infection is a nicely action-packed novel that's full of action and sticky situations. In my opinion the action scenes and the non-action scenes are in good balance. Although there's quite a lot of action in this novel the author also manages to add a bit of depth to the story by writing about the characters and their feelings.
According to the information found on the author's official website, the author has started the outlining phases of the follow up to The Last Infection, so everybody who enjoyes reading this novel will soon have a chance to read what happens next. I personally look forward to reading the sequel, because it'll be nice to read what happens next to the survivors.
The Last Infection can be recommended to both newcomers and experienced readers, because it's good and intriguing entertainment from start to finish. Newcomers will most likely enjoy the fast-paced story and the brutal happenings while experienced readers will enjoy how well the author writes about the characters and what happens to them.
If you enjoy reading zombie survival horror stories, you can't go wrong by reading The Last Infection, because it offers all the goods in a thrilling package full of action and survival drama. It's an entertaining and fast-paced novel for all zombie fans.
I give this novel strong four stars for its entertainment values and thrilling atmosphere. I liked it very much, because the author moved the story fast forward and knew how to keep the reader interested in the story.
My final words are:
This novel is good and well written survival horror entertainment!
August 15, 2014
Adventurous zombie book
I'm not really sure what to say about this book. it had many adventures, theirs the infected, and zombies. the infection Ted are faster and smarter, zoom lies are well just that , slow and stupid but they bit h want blood from the living. the whole world is believed to be both. some people survived but who knows how many. now Jake and his little sister alicien are alone when they meet Chris , the kids steal half his food after he sleeps and take off. He meets up with them again but with a woman this time who is helping them. Chris gets involved and saves them all. Now Chris, Jake, Alicien and Jennifer are on long journey to Catalina where they think there is a safe haven from the zombies and the infectioned. none of this Is for sure but they promised the kids so off they go. they run into other people who they team up.with. a lot of things go wrong on their trip and they keep.l poo sing people to the infected or just crazy people who have made safe places but are just mentally screwed up at this point.they stay away from them after learning how deranged their leader is. every one in the end basically but the kids and Chris are finally on the last part of their trip to the island. the book ends. you have no idea if they made it, if it was a safe haven after all. you no they ha e 28 Mike's to go and that their safe,cold and hungry. wtf! worst ending ever. I give it sour star for being well written, a few sentences were repeated a lot that annoyed but not badly enough to make me quit reading. a few mistakes, nothing Maor, the end just really made me mad and was disappointing. the author could have gave us something after all those pages of nothing but survival , running.g from the undead, the infected and going through none stop.escapes from them. we dont even no Chris's age or Jenns. just the children's. we no Chris was a junkie and jennn had 2kids. I'm assuming she was in her late 20s early 30s. Chris I was thinking late teens at 1st but mayne 20"s later. And that he was falling for jenn and vise versa. I thought the ending would be so much better. they all would at least survive. the kids were right all along that the island was safe. but no they didn't all survive and no we don't no if they made it for all we no they fly poo acted out at sea and died of starvation next Dr making it or they did make it to find it was infected or just deserted. I'm saying it's lucky I gave it a four star cause it had too many holes, just too much survival going on. they never stopped to create a story besides that. it could be been a lot better but it was good. I j u st think.it was missing something. Chris was the only character I might have connected with a little. you never knew anything but about the kids and their parents sacrificing themselves for the kids at the beginning. Chris was smart and saved everyone repeatedly. but their could have been a lot written to.connect to the characters, it was definitely lacking there but the description of the infected was very good and the zombies. the get always were pretty I tense but I tired of it be cause that's all that ever happened. I don't read any zombie books but if this is how they all are then I think I will stay clear cause it's just nothing but the same story over and over in a different circumstance. But hey if your a zombie lover you might like this book.that's only my opinion. I'm no zombie or the infected book expert. so read on if you like a lot of adventure.
I was given this book for a honest review.
I'm not really sure what to say about this book. it had many adventures, theirs the infected, and zombies. the infection Ted are faster and smarter, zoom lies are well just that , slow and stupid but they bit h want blood from the living. the whole world is believed to be both. some people survived but who knows how many. now Jake and his little sister alicien are alone when they meet Chris , the kids steal half his food after he sleeps and take off. He meets up with them again but with a woman this time who is helping them. Chris gets involved and saves them all. Now Chris, Jake, Alicien and Jennifer are on long journey to Catalina where they think there is a safe haven from the zombies and the infectioned. none of this Is for sure but they promised the kids so off they go. they run into other people who they team up.with. a lot of things go wrong on their trip and they keep.l poo sing people to the infected or just crazy people who have made safe places but are just mentally screwed up at this point.they stay away from them after learning how deranged their leader is. every one in the end basically but the kids and Chris are finally on the last part of their trip to the island. the book ends. you have no idea if they made it, if it was a safe haven after all. you no they ha e 28 Mike's to go and that their safe,cold and hungry. wtf! worst ending ever. I give it sour star for being well written, a few sentences were repeated a lot that annoyed but not badly enough to make me quit reading. a few mistakes, nothing Maor, the end just really made me mad and was disappointing. the author could have gave us something after all those pages of nothing but survival , running.g from the undead, the infected and going through none stop.escapes from them. we dont even no Chris's age or Jenns. just the children's. we no Chris was a junkie and jennn had 2kids. I'm assuming she was in her late 20s early 30s. Chris I was thinking late teens at 1st but mayne 20"s later. And that he was falling for jenn and vise versa. I thought the ending would be so much better. they all would at least survive. the kids were right all along that the island was safe. but no they didn't all survive and no we don't no if they made it for all we no they fly poo acted out at sea and died of starvation next Dr making it or they did make it to find it was infected or just deserted. I'm saying it's lucky I gave it a four star cause it had too many holes, just too much survival going on. they never stopped to create a story besides that. it could be been a lot better but it was good. I j u st think.it was missing something. Chris was the only character I might have connected with a little. you never knew anything but about the kids and their parents sacrificing themselves for the kids at the beginning. Chris was smart and saved everyone repeatedly. but their could have been a lot written to.connect to the characters, it was definitely lacking there but the description of the infected was very good and the zombies. the get always were pretty I tense but I tired of it be cause that's all that ever happened. I don't read any zombie books but if this is how they all are then I think I will stay clear cause it's just nothing but the same story over and over in a different circumstance. But hey if your a zombie lover you might like this book.that's only my opinion. I'm no zombie or the infected book expert. so read on if you like a lot of adventure.
I was given this book for a honest review.
July 31, 2014
I already stated that, I do love Zombies. Now I also love Michael for this fucktastic fabulmic book that’s The last infection. Seriously, where was this guy hidden until now? I consider myself utterly lucky for having the chance to read his book.
Two siblings,the girl Alicen, 8 years old, and Jake, 12 years old, are hiding from a group of the infected which all they want is a piece of their flesh. They lay hidden under a truck and their parents were trapped on the other side, not able to aid them. It takes one yelp from the scared girl for the horde to react and follow the source of the delicious sound of the living. They manage to get away but their parents were not so lucky.
Chris is an ex drug addict who somehow managed to stay alive 8 months after the outbreak. Detroit swarmed with the infected and zombies alike but he managed to steal food during the day to keep himself from starving. He encounters the two whilst searching for food and without him wanting to, they end up buddying up. Later we meed Jenn who becomes the heart and soul of their mismatched team, the one that glues them together despite Chris’s aversion to working with others.
I loved these characters. Each unique, with deep emotional connections and different backgrounds, united by the same goal: to stay alive and migrate to Catalina, a seemingly safe zone, an island where the children’s aunt and uncle live. But to get there they must survive the zombies and the infected. As flesh-eating-living-deads aka zombies are not enough, the author throws in the infected: smarted, quicker and much more dangerous.
I liked what he did with this story as it’s more than just a zombie novel, is an insight to what happens with humanity in the brink of chaos and the choices that different individuals take. It’s brilliantly brutal this book as some of the people they meet are worse than the walking dead themselves. I hated Mr Walker with a passion hard to put into words. I was either in love with his characters, hating them or utterly frustrated, but never indifferent. There’s a lot of character development and you get to know the characters in-depth. Instead of just focusing on the post-apocalyptic world, Michael wanted to show the people of this new world and I appreciate that as it adds so much flavour.
Even when they were moments when I rolled my eyes to how the characters manage to reunite, I was pleasantly surprised that he clarified that in the story so it made sense and not just getting the feeling of it just being a gigantic coincidence.
After reading his book I got the feeling of a writer that indeed writes with his heart, his passion, but thinks with his brain and so I could be a satisfied reader at the end of the book. I am impressed and I want to know what happens next as he didn’t left me satiated!
For me is a 5/5 stars book as I enjoyed it immensely!
Read my other reviews at: www.janekelsey.wordpress.com
Two siblings,the girl Alicen, 8 years old, and Jake, 12 years old, are hiding from a group of the infected which all they want is a piece of their flesh. They lay hidden under a truck and their parents were trapped on the other side, not able to aid them. It takes one yelp from the scared girl for the horde to react and follow the source of the delicious sound of the living. They manage to get away but their parents were not so lucky.
Chris is an ex drug addict who somehow managed to stay alive 8 months after the outbreak. Detroit swarmed with the infected and zombies alike but he managed to steal food during the day to keep himself from starving. He encounters the two whilst searching for food and without him wanting to, they end up buddying up. Later we meed Jenn who becomes the heart and soul of their mismatched team, the one that glues them together despite Chris’s aversion to working with others.
I loved these characters. Each unique, with deep emotional connections and different backgrounds, united by the same goal: to stay alive and migrate to Catalina, a seemingly safe zone, an island where the children’s aunt and uncle live. But to get there they must survive the zombies and the infected. As flesh-eating-living-deads aka zombies are not enough, the author throws in the infected: smarted, quicker and much more dangerous.
I liked what he did with this story as it’s more than just a zombie novel, is an insight to what happens with humanity in the brink of chaos and the choices that different individuals take. It’s brilliantly brutal this book as some of the people they meet are worse than the walking dead themselves. I hated Mr Walker with a passion hard to put into words. I was either in love with his characters, hating them or utterly frustrated, but never indifferent. There’s a lot of character development and you get to know the characters in-depth. Instead of just focusing on the post-apocalyptic world, Michael wanted to show the people of this new world and I appreciate that as it adds so much flavour.
Even when they were moments when I rolled my eyes to how the characters manage to reunite, I was pleasantly surprised that he clarified that in the story so it made sense and not just getting the feeling of it just being a gigantic coincidence.
After reading his book I got the feeling of a writer that indeed writes with his heart, his passion, but thinks with his brain and so I could be a satisfied reader at the end of the book. I am impressed and I want to know what happens next as he didn’t left me satiated!
For me is a 5/5 stars book as I enjoyed it immensely!
Read my other reviews at: www.janekelsey.wordpress.com
July 24, 2014
Michael W. Garza's latest novel is out. The Last Infection. This book was gifted to me to read and provide an honest review. I've read it. That was the first part. Here comes the second. The honest review. Are you ready?
Wow. That's if I just provided a one-word review. Wow. I could end it there, and feel my assessment was absolutely complete. Wow. The book opens with intense action. It ends with intense action. And the pages between the first and last chapters? Filled with intense action.
There is a zombie apocalypse in full swing. Right from the get go. There are two types of creatures. The walking dead, and the infected. They are fast. They are slow. They are smart. Getting smarter by the day. They coordinate and communicate. They are dangerous. Deadly. Our main character is named Chris. He has a checkered past. His future isn't looking much better, that is until he meets young Jake and his baby sister, Alicien. These kids are both under ten, and hell-bent on surviving. The only issue is they will most certainly slow Chris down. He has made it this far by keeping on the move. Never staying in one spot too long. And then they meet Jenn, an EMT. The four bond. Everyone loses someone in times like this. They are all each other has. There needs to be a reason to move forward, to keep going, to not throw ones hands up and surrender. Friendship. Love. Those are two good reasons.
When I say Love, I am not talking about mushy romance. I am talking about the way a father loves his kids. The way a mother loves her family. Surviving is worthless if you do it alone. It takes Chris a while to realize this. It is great to watch his character evolve. As great the evolution of Chris' character, it pales in comparison to that of the zombies and the infected. They are scary. Mean, hungry and relentless. Unfortunately, the creatures that fill the page are hardly the demons of the story. A worse antagonist exists. Man.
Getting from Point A to Point B with a stop over in Vegas is what this detrimental journey is all about. Chris, Jenn, Jake and Alicien have their work cut out for them. At every turn, around every corner, down every dark hallway, littering every dangerous and seemingly deserted alley is danger. Real danger. Palpable danger.
I do not want to give away too much. There are ruthless and reckless survivalists that threaten moral fiber, shank respect and live to decimate mortality. There are infected and zombies who hunger to the point of self-destruction. There are bus rides and foot chases. Friends made and friends lost and it all concludes with an unexpected climax that left me breathless, and deflated.
I have been a fan of Garza since The Hand That Feeds. If you have not read a book by this emerging author, do yourself a favor. Read one. Any. Want to start with a winner, start with The Last Infection. I can promise --it will haunt you. 5 Stars? 5 Stars is not nearly enough!
Phillip Tomasso
Author of The Vaccination Trilogy
www.philliptomasso.com
Wow. That's if I just provided a one-word review. Wow. I could end it there, and feel my assessment was absolutely complete. Wow. The book opens with intense action. It ends with intense action. And the pages between the first and last chapters? Filled with intense action.
There is a zombie apocalypse in full swing. Right from the get go. There are two types of creatures. The walking dead, and the infected. They are fast. They are slow. They are smart. Getting smarter by the day. They coordinate and communicate. They are dangerous. Deadly. Our main character is named Chris. He has a checkered past. His future isn't looking much better, that is until he meets young Jake and his baby sister, Alicien. These kids are both under ten, and hell-bent on surviving. The only issue is they will most certainly slow Chris down. He has made it this far by keeping on the move. Never staying in one spot too long. And then they meet Jenn, an EMT. The four bond. Everyone loses someone in times like this. They are all each other has. There needs to be a reason to move forward, to keep going, to not throw ones hands up and surrender. Friendship. Love. Those are two good reasons.
When I say Love, I am not talking about mushy romance. I am talking about the way a father loves his kids. The way a mother loves her family. Surviving is worthless if you do it alone. It takes Chris a while to realize this. It is great to watch his character evolve. As great the evolution of Chris' character, it pales in comparison to that of the zombies and the infected. They are scary. Mean, hungry and relentless. Unfortunately, the creatures that fill the page are hardly the demons of the story. A worse antagonist exists. Man.
Getting from Point A to Point B with a stop over in Vegas is what this detrimental journey is all about. Chris, Jenn, Jake and Alicien have their work cut out for them. At every turn, around every corner, down every dark hallway, littering every dangerous and seemingly deserted alley is danger. Real danger. Palpable danger.
I do not want to give away too much. There are ruthless and reckless survivalists that threaten moral fiber, shank respect and live to decimate mortality. There are infected and zombies who hunger to the point of self-destruction. There are bus rides and foot chases. Friends made and friends lost and it all concludes with an unexpected climax that left me breathless, and deflated.
I have been a fan of Garza since The Hand That Feeds. If you have not read a book by this emerging author, do yourself a favor. Read one. Any. Want to start with a winner, start with The Last Infection. I can promise --it will haunt you. 5 Stars? 5 Stars is not nearly enough!
Phillip Tomasso
Author of The Vaccination Trilogy
www.philliptomasso.com
July 27, 2014
I received this book to give an honest review.
Once again this author has an incredible ability to pull you into the story and keep you wondering what the heck is going to happen next. There was plenty of action through out the entire book that there was no breaks. You have two kids Jake and Alicen who are now on their own and are trying to survive, they have hopes of reaching an island that their grandparents live on.
Then they meet Chris who is on his own and cares only for himself, but he decides he will help the kids along on their mission to find this island. On the road they are fighting to survive no place is safe and it seems the zombies have evolved to their environment. Which to me is a new twist on the whole zombie story. I have never read about zombies evolving and this author did a great job with making you just get the shivers while reading about them.
The kids and Chris end up meeting Jenn and Jenn of course is on her own as well and they all make a great team together trying to survive. Jenn gives Chris hope and makes him realize he doesn't have to be on his own.
This is a great novel to read for all those who are new to the zombie books, and those who are looking for something fresh. The way this author writes what the children are experiencing and going through while encountering something so horrendous is amazing. We always read about the adults in these types of stories but never too many children.
The ending has me wondering if there is going to be a book two because I want to know after all they went through will they survive and find what they were looking for? To me the ending was written to where it leaves your mind open to the imagination as to what YOU think happened or will happen.
Will be keeping my eye on this author for future books as his writing style is one I love. Not only that his covers look amazing and they just draw you in. I do believe I will be buying this author's books in paperback just to have them for the covers lol.
Once again this author has an incredible ability to pull you into the story and keep you wondering what the heck is going to happen next. There was plenty of action through out the entire book that there was no breaks. You have two kids Jake and Alicen who are now on their own and are trying to survive, they have hopes of reaching an island that their grandparents live on.
Then they meet Chris who is on his own and cares only for himself, but he decides he will help the kids along on their mission to find this island. On the road they are fighting to survive no place is safe and it seems the zombies have evolved to their environment. Which to me is a new twist on the whole zombie story. I have never read about zombies evolving and this author did a great job with making you just get the shivers while reading about them.
The kids and Chris end up meeting Jenn and Jenn of course is on her own as well and they all make a great team together trying to survive. Jenn gives Chris hope and makes him realize he doesn't have to be on his own.
This is a great novel to read for all those who are new to the zombie books, and those who are looking for something fresh. The way this author writes what the children are experiencing and going through while encountering something so horrendous is amazing. We always read about the adults in these types of stories but never too many children.
The ending has me wondering if there is going to be a book two because I want to know after all they went through will they survive and find what they were looking for? To me the ending was written to where it leaves your mind open to the imagination as to what YOU think happened or will happen.
Will be keeping my eye on this author for future books as his writing style is one I love. Not only that his covers look amazing and they just draw you in. I do believe I will be buying this author's books in paperback just to have them for the covers lol.
August 14, 2014
A fab zombie read as we follow Two kids; Jake Bradly twelve and his kid sister Alicen whose eight who are trying and get to their Aunt and Uncle in Catalina island to avoid the outbreak.
But things never go to plan do they......
Chris an ex-drug addict who has never cared for anyone but himself has survived well during the outbreak by keeping to himself. Then he met the starving twosome as he broke into a sweet vending machine and he felt sorry for them and split the goodies. That night they ran out on him stealing some more of the food while he slept. He later bumped into them with a young woman called Jenn and from here they join forces and tough guy loner Chris decides to get the kids to Catalina safely. Jenn becomes the heart and soul of the little group and encourages Chris to help more despite his dislike of being with people.
They head to Vegas to look for Jenn's parents to see if they are still alive...does it go according to plan...of course not....!
Its fab fast paced read as we escape with them as they run from one horror to another. The different take in this book is that the zombies are learning and the foursome are faced with two types of horror. The infected who are fast and deadly; still having the strength of a healthy human as long as they feed; and of course the zombies which have discovered they can learn tactics and are evolving in their new world.
But its not just the dead they need to be afraid of...?
Michael writes with fluidity and his characters are believable and convincing, with brilliant character development. |We watch the group all start to evolve to fit their new circumstances and difficulties and the action scenes are excellently described as you are swept along until that last digital page.
This will really appeal to those zombie-holics out there as you get a slightly different perspective, a childhood one to the normal zombie reads.
But things never go to plan do they......
Chris an ex-drug addict who has never cared for anyone but himself has survived well during the outbreak by keeping to himself. Then he met the starving twosome as he broke into a sweet vending machine and he felt sorry for them and split the goodies. That night they ran out on him stealing some more of the food while he slept. He later bumped into them with a young woman called Jenn and from here they join forces and tough guy loner Chris decides to get the kids to Catalina safely. Jenn becomes the heart and soul of the little group and encourages Chris to help more despite his dislike of being with people.
They head to Vegas to look for Jenn's parents to see if they are still alive...does it go according to plan...of course not....!
Its fab fast paced read as we escape with them as they run from one horror to another. The different take in this book is that the zombies are learning and the foursome are faced with two types of horror. The infected who are fast and deadly; still having the strength of a healthy human as long as they feed; and of course the zombies which have discovered they can learn tactics and are evolving in their new world.
But its not just the dead they need to be afraid of...?
Michael writes with fluidity and his characters are believable and convincing, with brilliant character development. |We watch the group all start to evolve to fit their new circumstances and difficulties and the action scenes are excellently described as you are swept along until that last digital page.
This will really appeal to those zombie-holics out there as you get a slightly different perspective, a childhood one to the normal zombie reads.
July 18, 2014
I read The Last Infection in record time because I couldn’t stop turning pages. This book is a nonstop thrill ride through the zombie apocalypse. I’ve read countless zombie books, and many of them have plenty of action but lack interesting characters that are vital in keeping the readers’ attention. Fortunately, this book has intriguing characters that work their way into your heart from the very first page. Michael Garza is an expert at creating realistic, charming characters.
Chris, the main character, is a recovering drug addict who crosses paths with an unlikely group of survivors. Try as he might, Chris is unable to get rid of them and ends up teaming up with their group. This book has the perfect balance of action, character development, and occasional light humor (which I think is vital in zombie books).
What’s so unique about The Last Infection is that there are two types of zombies: the actual undead that shamble around during the day searching for human flesh, and the infected who are still technically alive but crave human blood. The latter variety is far scarier because they’re able to sprint after their prey, instead of slowly shuffling toward their victims. There’s a twist with the zombies partway through the book, but I won't say any more because I don’t want to ruin the surprise.
I know there are thousands of zombie books to choose from, but if you’re looking for the entire package I highly recommend that you read this one. I promise you won’t be disappointed. I give The Last Infection five stars all the way!
Chris, the main character, is a recovering drug addict who crosses paths with an unlikely group of survivors. Try as he might, Chris is unable to get rid of them and ends up teaming up with their group. This book has the perfect balance of action, character development, and occasional light humor (which I think is vital in zombie books).
What’s so unique about The Last Infection is that there are two types of zombies: the actual undead that shamble around during the day searching for human flesh, and the infected who are still technically alive but crave human blood. The latter variety is far scarier because they’re able to sprint after their prey, instead of slowly shuffling toward their victims. There’s a twist with the zombies partway through the book, but I won't say any more because I don’t want to ruin the surprise.
I know there are thousands of zombie books to choose from, but if you’re looking for the entire package I highly recommend that you read this one. I promise you won’t be disappointed. I give The Last Infection five stars all the way!
October 10, 2014
This is the story of Jake and Alicen. They are alone in the world after their parents sacrificed themselves to a zombie horde so they could get away. They are running from 'The Infected' a new strain of zombie that isn't quite dead but has a bloodlust all the same. They need to get to Catalina, where their Aunt and Uncle are, and where they believe they will be safe. On the way they bump into Chris, an ex-junkie, who has only ever cared for himself, and Jenn who has lost her family and is on the way to Vegas to try and find her parents. The four of them team up and make their way across country, meeting up with others at times, always trying to keep one step ahead of the relentless chase of The Infected.
I really enjoyed this. It was nice to see a different slant on the zombie genre. The idea that people are 'infected' and have an insatiable bloodlust and show intelligence, until they die and THEN become traditional zombies is new and refreshing. The pace was relentless and I read the whole book within a couple of sittings. I loved the characters and identified with them totally and was there every step of the way with them on their treacherous journey. Some scenes were quite scary, and I found myself looking behind me a couple of times... The ending was great and seemed to leave it open for a sequel, so I shall keep an eye for that. Now I have to read the prequel! This is the first of Michael's books that I have read, and will certainly be on the look out for more.
I really enjoyed this. It was nice to see a different slant on the zombie genre. The idea that people are 'infected' and have an insatiable bloodlust and show intelligence, until they die and THEN become traditional zombies is new and refreshing. The pace was relentless and I read the whole book within a couple of sittings. I loved the characters and identified with them totally and was there every step of the way with them on their treacherous journey. Some scenes were quite scary, and I found myself looking behind me a couple of times... The ending was great and seemed to leave it open for a sequel, so I shall keep an eye for that. Now I have to read the prequel! This is the first of Michael's books that I have read, and will certainly be on the look out for more.
October 22, 2014
Review is part of #zOctober2014
The Last Infection is a zombie lovers dream. It’s packed with heart-pounding intensity and characters that you can’t help but fall in love with and cheer on from the very beginning. I was hooked from page one!
Jake and Alicen are trying to survive with their parents, but before long the parents are forced to sacrifice themselves to give the kids a chance to keep on going. And that’s exactly what they do. Being as young as they are, twelve and eight-years-old, they seek out a safe haven. Along the way they meet others who are also struggling to survive and end up joining forces. But that doesn’t make survival any easier in the grand scheme of things.
The Last Infection, provides more than just the undead for zombie fans. The characters also have to contend with the infected, who are not mindless zombies. The infected are intelligent and fast — a fatal combination in a post-apocalyptic world. My worst nightmare, in fact.
Aside from the intense action, which kept me on the edge of my seat, and the perfect pacing of the story, the characters are what made this novel a five star read for me. They are so realistic and believable. It was so easy to put myself in their place and understand what they were going through.
I highly recommend The Last Infection to all fans of zombies and post-apocalyptic thrillers! I will definitely be adding the rest of this author’s books to my TBR.
The Last Infection is a zombie lovers dream. It’s packed with heart-pounding intensity and characters that you can’t help but fall in love with and cheer on from the very beginning. I was hooked from page one!
Jake and Alicen are trying to survive with their parents, but before long the parents are forced to sacrifice themselves to give the kids a chance to keep on going. And that’s exactly what they do. Being as young as they are, twelve and eight-years-old, they seek out a safe haven. Along the way they meet others who are also struggling to survive and end up joining forces. But that doesn’t make survival any easier in the grand scheme of things.
The Last Infection, provides more than just the undead for zombie fans. The characters also have to contend with the infected, who are not mindless zombies. The infected are intelligent and fast — a fatal combination in a post-apocalyptic world. My worst nightmare, in fact.
Aside from the intense action, which kept me on the edge of my seat, and the perfect pacing of the story, the characters are what made this novel a five star read for me. They are so realistic and believable. It was so easy to put myself in their place and understand what they were going through.
I highly recommend The Last Infection to all fans of zombies and post-apocalyptic thrillers! I will definitely be adding the rest of this author’s books to my TBR.
August 19, 2014
WOW… My heart is still pounding and I finished the book yesterday!
First off, I want to say… I love this cover! So well detailed, I could see this as an awesome poster on a horror fans wall.
Grab you’re running shoes, a weapon or three, and an extra pair of pants. Be prepared for one hell of a road trip!
This is a fast paced, zombie filled book that keeps you guessing around every corner. The thing that I liked most about The Last Infection was the difference in his book than most zombie stories or movies I’ve read… And believe me, I’ve seen and read A LOT. His take was so new and so creepy, I don’t think I will look at the old, slow, brainless zombies the same again. These zombies will scare you, tear you, and keep up with you as you’re running for your life with Chris, Jake, Alicen, and Jenn.
I’m a big fan of Michael Garza’s work. He captures my attention every time with his twisted, terrifying stories. He makes you feel like your right there… trying to find your next meal as you’re running for your life from town to town, meeting crazy and interesting people along the way.
This is the second book in The Hand That Feeds series. The first book shows how it started and The Last Infection shows you what life would be like if zombies took over.
This is a great read and I will be eagerly waiting to see what Michael Garza comes up with next!
First off, I want to say… I love this cover! So well detailed, I could see this as an awesome poster on a horror fans wall.
Grab you’re running shoes, a weapon or three, and an extra pair of pants. Be prepared for one hell of a road trip!
This is a fast paced, zombie filled book that keeps you guessing around every corner. The thing that I liked most about The Last Infection was the difference in his book than most zombie stories or movies I’ve read… And believe me, I’ve seen and read A LOT. His take was so new and so creepy, I don’t think I will look at the old, slow, brainless zombies the same again. These zombies will scare you, tear you, and keep up with you as you’re running for your life with Chris, Jake, Alicen, and Jenn.
I’m a big fan of Michael Garza’s work. He captures my attention every time with his twisted, terrifying stories. He makes you feel like your right there… trying to find your next meal as you’re running for your life from town to town, meeting crazy and interesting people along the way.
This is the second book in The Hand That Feeds series. The first book shows how it started and The Last Infection shows you what life would be like if zombies took over.
This is a great read and I will be eagerly waiting to see what Michael Garza comes up with next!
October 5, 2014
Zombies
I hate Zombies and Zombie stories in general.
Characters
I lover character based stories whose world is developed only to the extend in which it services the development and growth of the characters.
Tension
Tension in a story is always necessary to keep the reader wondering and turning pages.
The Last Infection does just that. I had my reservations when I accepted to review this novel, the first few chapters, well, not much to say for one who wanted to count this story among all the others that generalize and play on the gore of such stories. But after the first few chapters that established the main characters, I couldn’t stop turning the pages – just one more and then I’ll go to bed…that last page never seemed to come.
As I continued to read, I didn’t concentrate on the fact I was reading another Zombie story, I concentrated on the characters and the plight they were in, their emotions, tribulations, sacrifices and most of all the fight for survival—emotions.
A few twists to the Zombie’s existence made things a bit more interesting, making me fear for the characters I was rooting for.
I was glad the gore was kept to a minimum and the concentration of the book on character development.
The ending was left open, leaving me to use my imagination to determine the faith of the survivors.
If you love zombie stories this is a must read.
I hate Zombies and Zombie stories in general.
Characters
I lover character based stories whose world is developed only to the extend in which it services the development and growth of the characters.
Tension
Tension in a story is always necessary to keep the reader wondering and turning pages.
The Last Infection does just that. I had my reservations when I accepted to review this novel, the first few chapters, well, not much to say for one who wanted to count this story among all the others that generalize and play on the gore of such stories. But after the first few chapters that established the main characters, I couldn’t stop turning the pages – just one more and then I’ll go to bed…that last page never seemed to come.
As I continued to read, I didn’t concentrate on the fact I was reading another Zombie story, I concentrated on the characters and the plight they were in, their emotions, tribulations, sacrifices and most of all the fight for survival—emotions.
A few twists to the Zombie’s existence made things a bit more interesting, making me fear for the characters I was rooting for.
I was glad the gore was kept to a minimum and the concentration of the book on character development.
The ending was left open, leaving me to use my imagination to determine the faith of the survivors.
If you love zombie stories this is a must read.
September 6, 2014
Michael Garza writes a mean thriller. As in THE HAND THAT FEEDS, he's given us zombies just slightly different. Well the zombies are real. But first, they're The Infected. fast moving and adaptable, every bit as vicious and hungry as the zombies they will become when they die.
A makeshift family, Chris, on his own for months, Jenn, the young woman who wants to get to Vegas where her parents live, and siblings, Jake and Alicen, twelve and eight, who want to get to Catalina Island and safety.
Thrown together in their fight for survival and the need to find safety.
Had a fine tine reading this one.
A makeshift family, Chris, on his own for months, Jenn, the young woman who wants to get to Vegas where her parents live, and siblings, Jake and Alicen, twelve and eight, who want to get to Catalina Island and safety.
Thrown together in their fight for survival and the need to find safety.
Had a fine tine reading this one.
July 31, 2014
I wish there were 6 stars! What a great story! Zombie books are not my type of horror books. They tend to become so typical of other zombie books. This book however, caught your attention at page 1. The emotional bond you form for the characters will make it nearly impossible to put down. At one point I found myself saying a little prayer for their safety. I was that invested. I found this book so hard to put down and I couldn't read it fast enough. I can't wait to read more from this author.
August 13, 2014
Liked it
A book has to grab my attention for me to really enjoy it, and this one did just that, there are quite a few zombie books out there now and some of them really aren't that good, but then there are some like this one that are the gems that stand out...I definitely recommend this one.
A book has to grab my attention for me to really enjoy it, and this one did just that, there are quite a few zombie books out there now and some of them really aren't that good, but then there are some like this one that are the gems that stand out...I definitely recommend this one.
October 2, 2014
A thoroughly enjoyable read. Could have used a bit of polish on technical issues and little tightening on the action.
December 23, 2014
What a wild ride! Loved it!
Read
April 9, 2015Love this book!
September 5, 2015
Spellbinding thrills from start to finish. Amazing work by the author..
October 9, 2015
The storyline is terrific and as you read the novel you will be immersed in the story and you can feel that you are one of the characters, looking at the story as it unfolds itself from a distance. You can feel the horror, the sweat trickling down your face and the adrenalin rush with the sound of the blood pumping as the infected run after you. It’s just terrifying. I just loved the little girl “Alicen” and the beauty with which she holds her curiosity and her sweet words.
I am very thankful to Michael W. Garza for considering me to review his book. A must read book for the zombie lovers and I am looking forward for the sequel.
I am very thankful to Michael W. Garza for considering me to review his book. A must read book for the zombie lovers and I am looking forward for the sequel.
December 30, 2020
This book is better than spending 4 hours on a plane staring out a window....but just barely. The writing is extremely pedestrian and uninspired. The characters are poorly developed, such that you really never connect with or relate to any of them. Worse, the author uses several words incorrectly. ('nefarious' is my favorite)
There's other, nit picky little things, like the author's lack of understanding of the difference between fuel and gas -- he uses the term interchangeably for a diesel bus. But, overall, it's a barely mediocre, "bleh" book.
There's other, nit picky little things, like the author's lack of understanding of the difference between fuel and gas -- he uses the term interchangeably for a diesel bus. But, overall, it's a barely mediocre, "bleh" book.
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