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Blood Memory #1
Blood Memory: Season One, Episode One
Haven’s crew find Jordan Grant half-dead floating at sea. With a six-year hole in his memory, he remembers nothing of the Incident or the Lurchers who have claimed the land as their own. He joins the crew in their daily struggle to survive in a harsh new world where every meal is live or die.
But when a shipwreck forces them from the safety of the sea, the crew soon discover their pursuers aren’t the only monsters out to get them.
But when a shipwreck forces them from the safety of the sea, the crew soon discover their pursuers aren’t the only monsters out to get them.
110 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 4, 2014
107 people are currently reading
442 people want to read
About the author
Perrin Briar
118 books109 followersPerrin Briar is an English author best-known for his Blood Memory series, black comedy Keeping Mum, and revenge tale Square. He was born in Huntingdon, grew up in Norfolk, graduated from Bournemouth, worked in London, and then chucked it all in to live in South Korea.
He has written for BBC radio, and worked in the production and development departments of the BBC, ITV and Channel 4.
** Sign up to Perrin's newsletter at www.perrinbriar.com/mailing-list/ and get four free stories, news of forthcoming new novels, competitions, special prices, advanced novel previews and exclusive email-only serial story Skip! **
He has written for BBC radio, and worked in the production and development departments of the BBC, ITV and Channel 4.
** Sign up to Perrin's newsletter at www.perrinbriar.com/mailing-list/ and get four free stories, news of forthcoming new novels, competitions, special prices, advanced novel previews and exclusive email-only serial story Skip! **
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
January 7, 2016
I was recently asked to try out this book, not by the author but one of his friends/beta readers. They thought I would like it based on my prior reading history. Since it was published as a serial with this first episode being free, I thought I would give it a try. I don't think they really looked through my books because I've gone through a lot of zombie stories and this is probably the worst one I've read. It had nothing new to offer. It didn't even try to be anything other than generic. I know I only read a portion of the full story but if you're going to publish as a serial, you better damn well have a great hook in each one. This bored me to death but I was feeling generous so I gave it an extra star because it at least wasn't riddled with spelling errors.
February 26, 2016
About 18 years ago when the internet was a toddler and I was still amazed by everything you could find on it, I wrote a number of serial stories across a number of different sites. One of them was written from the POV of a man on the run from a nefarious organisation who would log in to various computers, update his latest encounters and how he came to be on the run, hiding his whereabouts through proxy servers (ahh, basic research!) and then dashing off again. It went down fairly well in terms of reader feedback, but the major constructive criticism I received was that the first part/post was far too short. I intended it as a teaser, and very quickly posted up the second part, but to some readers, the damage had already been done.
"Not enough content in this short piece to bring me back", "the hook wasn't deep enough" and "I had no real sense of any character" was some of feedback I received.
Blood Memory: Season One, Episode One struck me in exactly these ways.
Let's put aside that Perrin Briar's promotional team contacted me directly on some flimsy excuse to shove this book front and centre beneath my nose. At the time, I figured it would be fun to rip this a new one, so I picked it up. Except it wasn't that bad - certainly not as bad as some of the reviewers have been saying on Goodreads. Sure, his character descriptions are extremely lazy in that they read like one paragraph info-dumps; likewise, the action is not well-described, and the scenes in which characters are trying to escape a sinking boat are flat-out confusing. But the concept is decent (for an apocalyptic zombie read) and once the characters get to breathe a little, I found myself warming to a couple of them.
No, the main problem with Blood Memory: Season One, Episode One is that not enough occurs in it to warrant me returning to the series. We're told about the "lurchers" and how lethal they can be in numbers; just like we're told that the world has gone straight to hell and that's why the characters are hiding out on a boat off the coast. But we're not shown any of this. Instead we get a dead alternator, the need to raid a nearby ferry, glimpses of some lurchers and then the aforementioned escape from a sinking ship because everything ends on a massive cliffhanger.
In a word: Yawn.
110 pages should be enough to draw your reader in. When it isn't, you're doing something wrong.
Maybe the next episodes in this series are excellent? I genuinely hope they are. But Briar either needs to commit to releasing a longer book, or at least working on what he is throwing out there on the hook as a bait, because what is presented here just doesn't suffice.
2 Threats Never Experienced for Blood Memory: Season One, Episode One.
"Not enough content in this short piece to bring me back", "the hook wasn't deep enough" and "I had no real sense of any character" was some of feedback I received.
Blood Memory: Season One, Episode One struck me in exactly these ways.
Let's put aside that Perrin Briar's promotional team contacted me directly on some flimsy excuse to shove this book front and centre beneath my nose. At the time, I figured it would be fun to rip this a new one, so I picked it up. Except it wasn't that bad - certainly not as bad as some of the reviewers have been saying on Goodreads. Sure, his character descriptions are extremely lazy in that they read like one paragraph info-dumps; likewise, the action is not well-described, and the scenes in which characters are trying to escape a sinking boat are flat-out confusing. But the concept is decent (for an apocalyptic zombie read) and once the characters get to breathe a little, I found myself warming to a couple of them.
No, the main problem with Blood Memory: Season One, Episode One is that not enough occurs in it to warrant me returning to the series. We're told about the "lurchers" and how lethal they can be in numbers; just like we're told that the world has gone straight to hell and that's why the characters are hiding out on a boat off the coast. But we're not shown any of this. Instead we get a dead alternator, the need to raid a nearby ferry, glimpses of some lurchers and then the aforementioned escape from a sinking ship because everything ends on a massive cliffhanger.
In a word: Yawn.
110 pages should be enough to draw your reader in. When it isn't, you're doing something wrong.
Maybe the next episodes in this series are excellent? I genuinely hope they are. But Briar either needs to commit to releasing a longer book, or at least working on what he is throwing out there on the hook as a bait, because what is presented here just doesn't suffice.
2 Threats Never Experienced for Blood Memory: Season One, Episode One.
January 26, 2016
This is the first installment of a Zombie series and I was introduced to this book by someone doing a blog tour for the author. I saw it was about Zombies and figured what the heck, I would try it out since most Zombie stories I have read I have enjoyed for the most part.
Synopsis
Haven’s crew find Jordan Grant half-dead floating at sea. With a six-year hole in his memory, he remembers nothing of the Incident or the Lurchers who have claimed the land as their own. He joins the crew in their daily struggle to survive in a harsh new world where every meal is live or die.
But when a shipwreck forces them from the safety of the sea, the crew soon discover their pursuers aren’t the only monsters out to get them.
I was a little excited when I picked up this book since it seemed so different with the plot of story taking place in the middle of the sea, but I have to say that this story was just ok for me. I mean there was a lot going on and a lot happening with all the action, but some parts just felt very unrealistic to me. I found it hard to place myself within the story and experience what the characters were feeling. The story was very fluid and easy to follow but it really lacked depth and I am attributing that to the lack of some back story.
I really did not care all that much for the characters because I had a hard time connecting to the characters. I think that is probably because I did not feel like I got to know them at all. It was a a pretty short installment, so maybe they develop more throughout the series. I think a bit of back story to our characters would also be helpful.
I may read the other installments in this series, but I have not really decided yet. I am not sure who I could recommend this too besides those who like Zombie stories. I am giving this 2.5 stars for the action that was in the book even though it did not feel very realistic.
Synopsis
Haven’s crew find Jordan Grant half-dead floating at sea. With a six-year hole in his memory, he remembers nothing of the Incident or the Lurchers who have claimed the land as their own. He joins the crew in their daily struggle to survive in a harsh new world where every meal is live or die.
But when a shipwreck forces them from the safety of the sea, the crew soon discover their pursuers aren’t the only monsters out to get them.
I was a little excited when I picked up this book since it seemed so different with the plot of story taking place in the middle of the sea, but I have to say that this story was just ok for me. I mean there was a lot going on and a lot happening with all the action, but some parts just felt very unrealistic to me. I found it hard to place myself within the story and experience what the characters were feeling. The story was very fluid and easy to follow but it really lacked depth and I am attributing that to the lack of some back story.
I really did not care all that much for the characters because I had a hard time connecting to the characters. I think that is probably because I did not feel like I got to know them at all. It was a a pretty short installment, so maybe they develop more throughout the series. I think a bit of back story to our characters would also be helpful.
I may read the other installments in this series, but I have not really decided yet. I am not sure who I could recommend this too besides those who like Zombie stories. I am giving this 2.5 stars for the action that was in the book even though it did not feel very realistic.
December 24, 2015
I'll never read a book by Perrin Briar because his so-called 'launch team' constantly spams me. I'm sure it's terrible.
December 23, 2015
This was the second book that made be resolve to put down poor writing without finishing. The reasons for this one were.
1. Started with a series of characters appearing followed by their dating site descriptions "Thirty-two with a thin wiry body and dirty blonde hair" "thirty-year-old walnut-haired, broad-chested Australian" "pigeon-chested ____ would have been handsome.." Its an annoying and boring way to find out about characters, especially listing of ages like the narrator had some sort of fetish, and what does 'pigeon-chested' mean? It sounds scrawny, but pigeons kinda have puffy chests...
Anyway the story was briefly OK, the setting is a settlement in the midst of a zombie apocalypse and the characters investigate a boat-wreck, a dangerous, but potentially rewarding task depending on the ratio of zombies versus viable supplies present. What followed was some a sequence of writing that made me give up.
It went something this:
- Character looked shocked.
- Almost page of description of a wall of the inside of the boat
- that wasn't what shocked him though it the zombie (lurker in this book) trapped in front of them
- Another character decides they need to release the creature to teach another a lesson in dealing with them (probably a bad move given they are meant to be scavenging the boat and saying alive, not the best time to muck around playing zombie pinata)
- proceeds to break Mr zombie's leg, to free them, rip their lower jaw off and bash their teeth out. Aside from making me want to phone an undead abuse support line, I couldn't help but wonder just how harmless were these things if a lone human can basically pull them apart like toys without so much as a swipe.
while I realize the scene was meant to demonstrate some gross zombie action, and probably set whoever the character (Joel, I think, those intros didn't do a good job) as a bit of a nutcase, I realized it was time to put the book down (or in this case close Kindle) because the only character I cared about was the zombie.
1. Started with a series of characters appearing followed by their dating site descriptions "Thirty-two with a thin wiry body and dirty blonde hair" "thirty-year-old walnut-haired, broad-chested Australian" "pigeon-chested ____ would have been handsome.." Its an annoying and boring way to find out about characters, especially listing of ages like the narrator had some sort of fetish, and what does 'pigeon-chested' mean? It sounds scrawny, but pigeons kinda have puffy chests...
Anyway the story was briefly OK, the setting is a settlement in the midst of a zombie apocalypse and the characters investigate a boat-wreck, a dangerous, but potentially rewarding task depending on the ratio of zombies versus viable supplies present. What followed was some a sequence of writing that made me give up.
It went something this:
- Character looked shocked.
- Almost page of description of a wall of the inside of the boat
- that wasn't what shocked him though it the zombie (lurker in this book) trapped in front of them
- Another character decides they need to release the creature to teach another a lesson in dealing with them (probably a bad move given they are meant to be scavenging the boat and saying alive, not the best time to muck around playing zombie pinata)
- proceeds to break Mr zombie's leg, to free them, rip their lower jaw off and bash their teeth out. Aside from making me want to phone an undead abuse support line, I couldn't help but wonder just how harmless were these things if a lone human can basically pull them apart like toys without so much as a swipe.
while I realize the scene was meant to demonstrate some gross zombie action, and probably set whoever the character (Joel, I think, those intros didn't do a good job) as a bit of a nutcase, I realized it was time to put the book down (or in this case close Kindle) because the only character I cared about was the zombie.
January 30, 2016
Interesting premise but not enough characterisation, tension or backstory to make me want to read on.
The continual spamming of my inbox by this author's "team" of readers is getting pretty annoying considering I asked not to be messaged again. If you're going to cold message people about a book you should make sure they are actually worth reading.
The continual spamming of my inbox by this author's "team" of readers is getting pretty annoying considering I asked not to be messaged again. If you're going to cold message people about a book you should make sure they are actually worth reading.
March 20, 2022
Trying to read through my freebies on my kindle, especially my zombie books. This one was more of a snippet than a whole book, which I hadn't realized. For such a short story however, it didn't exactly leave a good taste; there simply wasn't enough of either the character development or story for me to follow up with the rest. Obviously at some point it was free on my daily emails, but I wouldn't have downloaded it had I realized it was just a sample. Two stars.
December 31, 2015
So, I downloaded this one last April. Today I get an email from 'Smith' encouraging me to download this book because I'd (loved) and reviewed Raising Stony Mayhall. supposedly many similarities. I tried to respond to the message, to find nothing in my Good Reads inbox. I tried to click on Smith's profile, to find it no longer exists. hmmmmmm.....
I'm happy that I received this unsolicited email, as it drew my attention to the book and dismal ratings. I'm not going to waste my time, and NO, I'm completely confident this book is nothing like Stony.
Nice try, 'Smith'...
I'm happy that I received this unsolicited email, as it drew my attention to the book and dismal ratings. I'm not going to waste my time, and NO, I'm completely confident this book is nothing like Stony.
Nice try, 'Smith'...
Read
March 25, 2017For the first time on Goodreads, I'm reviewing a book I've never read. Perrin Briar and your PR team of annoyingness, you get zero stars.
Back in 2015 I received messages from random "friends" of the author claiming that I would love this book. I actually created a shelf on Goodreads "recsbyunsolicitedmessfromstrangers" translating to "Recommended by unsolicited messages from strangers" because they were spamming me repeatedly.
Now they must be paying for some kind of product placement on Goodreads because I keep getting the message that I have this book on my "Read" shelf, but I didn't specify a date. Because I didn't read this terrible looking piece of rubbish amateur attempt at a novel!
To remove these annoying messages, I went ahead and marked this rubbish as "read."
I hope there is a special place in AUTHOR HELL where all book pages are dog-eared and spines are cracked, PR people keep interrupting you as you try to read or write, you're forced to watch the absolute worst book-to-screen adaptations that make you want to stab your eyes out, and you're bullied into lending out your dog-eared crap books to Lucifer who never returns them unscathed.
Back in 2015 I received messages from random "friends" of the author claiming that I would love this book. I actually created a shelf on Goodreads "recsbyunsolicitedmessfromstrangers" translating to "Recommended by unsolicited messages from strangers" because they were spamming me repeatedly.
Now they must be paying for some kind of product placement on Goodreads because I keep getting the message that I have this book on my "Read" shelf, but I didn't specify a date. Because I didn't read this terrible looking piece of rubbish amateur attempt at a novel!
To remove these annoying messages, I went ahead and marked this rubbish as "read."
I hope there is a special place in AUTHOR HELL where all book pages are dog-eared and spines are cracked, PR people keep interrupting you as you try to read or write, you're forced to watch the absolute worst book-to-screen adaptations that make you want to stab your eyes out, and you're bullied into lending out your dog-eared crap books to Lucifer who never returns them unscathed.
February 2, 2018
Blood Memory - a review by Rosemary Kenny
In this unusual introduction to the series, the aspirational and inspirational author, Perrin Briar, posits the idea of a post-apocalyptic world infected with Lurchers (zombies), who attack and kill anyone not already infected with the virus that started the plague.
Three weeks after the end of the world as they knew it, a group of survivors are afloat aboard the (ironically-named) Haven, in the English Channel. What happens next will amaze, terrify and warn the reader of the horrendous possibilities of life in the not-too-distant future if we Humans keep polluting our planet and experimenting in ways that Evolution never predicted!
From the discovery of the amnesiac Jordan Grant in the water, via their horrendous shipwreck to the discovery that they are not alone on what was formerly the United Kingdom and their fight for survival, there's never a moment's let-up in either terror or action - or both.
Grab your copy today!!
In this unusual introduction to the series, the aspirational and inspirational author, Perrin Briar, posits the idea of a post-apocalyptic world infected with Lurchers (zombies), who attack and kill anyone not already infected with the virus that started the plague.
Three weeks after the end of the world as they knew it, a group of survivors are afloat aboard the (ironically-named) Haven, in the English Channel. What happens next will amaze, terrify and warn the reader of the horrendous possibilities of life in the not-too-distant future if we Humans keep polluting our planet and experimenting in ways that Evolution never predicted!
From the discovery of the amnesiac Jordan Grant in the water, via their horrendous shipwreck to the discovery that they are not alone on what was formerly the United Kingdom and their fight for survival, there's never a moment's let-up in either terror or action - or both.
Grab your copy today!!
January 3, 2018
While I enjoyed Blood Memory I gave it only 4 stars because it doesn't really tell who each of the people are, where they came from, what happened to the world (besides the obvious Lurchers), or how they all ended up on the Haven. I also do not understand why he had them go through a very trying time only to then flash ahead a full year with nothing else happening.
I did appreciate the writing style and the way that Perrin still gave the characters a sense of humanity and though it is survival killing the Lurchers does not come easy for any of them. They also do not take their plight lightly and decide their actions based on fact and consider what each other say. Perrin also gives the characters a full range of emotion. They live, love, laugh, get angry, scared, learn, celebrate, empathize, and most of all care. He has not turned them into mindless survivors who never enjoy life and did not make the girls have to completely grow up overnight. He allows them some time to be kids while also making sure they know they have to be careful.
I also find it very difficult to believe that they have only been in one really bad storm before after being on the Haven for over a year. I look forward to the next book to see how the group does with their new challenges.
I did appreciate the writing style and the way that Perrin still gave the characters a sense of humanity and though it is survival killing the Lurchers does not come easy for any of them. They also do not take their plight lightly and decide their actions based on fact and consider what each other say. Perrin also gives the characters a full range of emotion. They live, love, laugh, get angry, scared, learn, celebrate, empathize, and most of all care. He has not turned them into mindless survivors who never enjoy life and did not make the girls have to completely grow up overnight. He allows them some time to be kids while also making sure they know they have to be careful.
I also find it very difficult to believe that they have only been in one really bad storm before after being on the Haven for over a year. I look forward to the next book to see how the group does with their new challenges.
December 29, 2016
Haven has been floating around the English Channel, it's few survivors as the only passengers for this boat. They have the system down to avoid the zombies on land: raid any ships that float across their path and check any corpses that float by for helpful things. On one such "corpse," they actually find Jordan. Jordan is somehow still alive and pretty soon healthy and ready to help the Haven crew.
About a year ago someone messaged me and asked to read and review this book.
So, the good:
(1) This ebook is free. I have a hard time buying books that I have never heard of and in genre I rarely read. Free, though, free I'll download anytime. Otherwise, I probably would have told the promoter, Sorry, nope.
(2) A zombie story in the United Kingdom. It could just be that I'm an American, so generally most zombie stories I come across are in America. It's just what is marketed and generally available to me. Being in a totally new setting really helped this zombie story.
(3) The survivors had an interesting solution for surviving the zombie apocalypse. I've always wondered why no one goes for the boats and finally someone did.
The probably not again:
(1) I didn't realize until about half way through that this is suppose to be a series. As in multiple books set to be episodes for TV. I can see how the story arc would work better for a TV show, not too much developed in the book.
(2) At the start of the zombie craze in media I had friend say the profound zombie decree, "To be a good zombie story it needs to have wonderful, developed, and usually conflicted characters, because the antagonist/monster has absolutely no character." It is true, shambling, mindless, brain-eating masses can be suspenseful...but they are never going to hold my attention. These human survivors, just didn't fulfill the role of wonderful, unforgettable characters. They were quite a few predictable "twists," and they all worked too nicely together. No one got mad at each other, and no one even got on another's nerves. These characters weren't horrible, but they aren't going to stick in my memory as someone beyond this reading.
(3) The zombies are called "lurkers." I'm tired of these different names that are trying to rename zombies. Just call it what it is: zombie. Unless there's a copyright on it or a good reason, which there wasn't, don't try to force something else into the vocabulary of the dystopian "future" world.
(4) No one got zombified, killed, eaten, or even close encounters. The most suspenseful part was right at the beginning as the main character was introduced, they realized that he wasn't a floating corpse but still alive. They mentioned he could somehow be a zombie that could float, but he wasn't. When I read a zombie story I want a zombie attack or ambush or something that makes me at least say, "Oh crap!"
Thus comes to my dilemma of three or four stars. It isn't something I could never recommend and almost wish it had never been printed, but it isn't something I'm going to give to someone when they want a good zombie story. Since a promoter reached out to me though, I'll leave it at four stars. Just to be nice.
About a year ago someone messaged me and asked to read and review this book.
So, the good:
(1) This ebook is free. I have a hard time buying books that I have never heard of and in genre I rarely read. Free, though, free I'll download anytime. Otherwise, I probably would have told the promoter, Sorry, nope.
(2) A zombie story in the United Kingdom. It could just be that I'm an American, so generally most zombie stories I come across are in America. It's just what is marketed and generally available to me. Being in a totally new setting really helped this zombie story.
(3) The survivors had an interesting solution for surviving the zombie apocalypse. I've always wondered why no one goes for the boats and finally someone did.
The probably not again:
(1) I didn't realize until about half way through that this is suppose to be a series. As in multiple books set to be episodes for TV. I can see how the story arc would work better for a TV show, not too much developed in the book.
(2) At the start of the zombie craze in media I had friend say the profound zombie decree, "To be a good zombie story it needs to have wonderful, developed, and usually conflicted characters, because the antagonist/monster has absolutely no character." It is true, shambling, mindless, brain-eating masses can be suspenseful...but they are never going to hold my attention. These human survivors, just didn't fulfill the role of wonderful, unforgettable characters. They were quite a few predictable "twists," and they all worked too nicely together. No one got mad at each other, and no one even got on another's nerves. These characters weren't horrible, but they aren't going to stick in my memory as someone beyond this reading.
(3) The zombies are called "lurkers." I'm tired of these different names that are trying to rename zombies. Just call it what it is: zombie. Unless there's a copyright on it or a good reason, which there wasn't, don't try to force something else into the vocabulary of the dystopian "future" world.
(4) No one got zombified, killed, eaten, or even close encounters. The most suspenseful part was right at the beginning as the main character was introduced, they realized that he wasn't a floating corpse but still alive. They mentioned he could somehow be a zombie that could float, but he wasn't. When I read a zombie story I want a zombie attack or ambush or something that makes me at least say, "Oh crap!"
Thus comes to my dilemma of three or four stars. It isn't something I could never recommend and almost wish it had never been printed, but it isn't something I'm going to give to someone when they want a good zombie story. Since a promoter reached out to me though, I'll leave it at four stars. Just to be nice.
January 10, 2020
Blood One, Season One, Episode One — Perrin Briar (33 chapters.)
I only know a few things about this story when it starts.
1) A few people are on a boat.
2)Something has happened to the world three weeks ago.
3)A man washes up shore, with no memory for the past six years.
4)There are zombie-like creatures on land. (Beware: this story does contain some gore.)
This whole episode revolves around trying to survive with dwindling foodstuffs and supplies. The rag-tag group, which includes two kids, tries to stay away from a evil pirate, and also try to figure the history of the man with the lost memories.
I’m sure there was a good reason why I bought this book, but after reading this, I have no clear idea as to why. It honestly did not do a lot for me. I felt like I was dumped into this world. And even though that’s fine most of the time, it was way too slice of life for me. Words seemed to be written without much of a purpose. I felt more blasé about the story as it was presented.
The real action started in chapter 10; and it got really sort of gory in chapter 18. Then in chapter 24, there is a three month jump (which I had to figure out on my own.) I think if the story started at chapter 10, I would have had a better overall impression of the book. I mean, the character that was washed up on the shore?-->I never do get any more info on his background. Tiny snippets here or there, but nothing that makes me think his washing up was a very important piece in the story. So, that sequence, while apart of the open, feels more filler than needed.
I think it would be best to wait until there are more episodes completed, and then read the whole season together as one; the author may know where this series is headed, but at the end of this episode, I’m clueless and I really don’t care what happens next. If this was to be written like a TV episode, I definitely would not be watching anymore. Your mileage may differ. There is definitely a cliffhanger ending, and we don't know what happened/happens to some of the characters. I had sense of heavy handed elements in the story.
At least it was a quick read, despite the high number of chapters. And if you are looking for a hook into the story which proceeds to quick action, start at chapter 10; you won't be disappointed and you really would not have missed a thing from the previous chapters. I read it in mostly thirds over breaks, and lunch. Unfortunately, since I did have to wade through the first nine blasé chapters, not as strong of a story as it could have been.
Two stars.
I only know a few things about this story when it starts.
1) A few people are on a boat.
2)Something has happened to the world three weeks ago.
3)A man washes up shore, with no memory for the past six years.
4)There are zombie-like creatures on land. (Beware: this story does contain some gore.)
This whole episode revolves around trying to survive with dwindling foodstuffs and supplies. The rag-tag group, which includes two kids, tries to stay away from a evil pirate, and also try to figure the history of the man with the lost memories.
I’m sure there was a good reason why I bought this book, but after reading this, I have no clear idea as to why. It honestly did not do a lot for me. I felt like I was dumped into this world. And even though that’s fine most of the time, it was way too slice of life for me. Words seemed to be written without much of a purpose. I felt more blasé about the story as it was presented.
The real action started in chapter 10; and it got really sort of gory in chapter 18. Then in chapter 24, there is a three month jump (which I had to figure out on my own.) I think if the story started at chapter 10, I would have had a better overall impression of the book. I mean, the character that was washed up on the shore?-->I never do get any more info on his background. Tiny snippets here or there, but nothing that makes me think his washing up was a very important piece in the story. So, that sequence, while apart of the open, feels more filler than needed.
I think it would be best to wait until there are more episodes completed, and then read the whole season together as one; the author may know where this series is headed, but at the end of this episode, I’m clueless and I really don’t care what happens next. If this was to be written like a TV episode, I definitely would not be watching anymore. Your mileage may differ. There is definitely a cliffhanger ending, and we don't know what happened/happens to some of the characters. I had sense of heavy handed elements in the story.
At least it was a quick read, despite the high number of chapters. And if you are looking for a hook into the story which proceeds to quick action, start at chapter 10; you won't be disappointed and you really would not have missed a thing from the previous chapters. I read it in mostly thirds over breaks, and lunch. Unfortunately, since I did have to wade through the first nine blasé chapters, not as strong of a story as it could have been.
Two stars.
December 27, 2015
I really, really wanted to like this book. I mean... boats and zombies, right? What's not to love? Problem is, I'm not entirely sure the author knows all that much about either one.
For example, there's a major plot point that hinges on our hearty band of survivors hopping from their sailboat to a ferry, to obtain "an alternator" so as to repair the one broken on their boat. To a mariner, this is somewhat akin to the thing in Independence Day where the hero uploads a virus seamlessly to an alien spaceship using a MacBook. There is literally no way this could work the way it's written, and that jarring note just ... ugh.
There's also the problem that, although our plucky heroes literally swim through rotting zombie deathsoup, none of them seem to contract zombie death. I have zero idea how that could be possible, with any of the ways in canon in which one becomes zombified.
I get that it's "season one, episode one" but it'd be cool if backstory was covered a bit more. How did these folks end up together? How come they're on a sailboat but no one thinks to sail it?
I really, really wanted to like it, and I'm really, really sad I couldn't. I'm hoping the author hits their stride somewhere in the series.
For example, there's a major plot point that hinges on our hearty band of survivors hopping from their sailboat to a ferry, to obtain "an alternator" so as to repair the one broken on their boat. To a mariner, this is somewhat akin to the thing in Independence Day where the hero uploads a virus seamlessly to an alien spaceship using a MacBook. There is literally no way this could work the way it's written, and that jarring note just ... ugh.
There's also the problem that, although our plucky heroes literally swim through rotting zombie deathsoup, none of them seem to contract zombie death. I have zero idea how that could be possible, with any of the ways in canon in which one becomes zombified.
I get that it's "season one, episode one" but it'd be cool if backstory was covered a bit more. How did these folks end up together? How come they're on a sailboat but no one thinks to sail it?
I really, really wanted to like it, and I'm really, really sad I couldn't. I'm hoping the author hits their stride somewhere in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2016
No, I did not read this. However, I am so sick of receiving spam from this authors "PR team" suggesting this authors books that I am now going to give a 1 star review to each book this author has his PR team suggesting I read. I really feel harassed. What's even more comical is thinking that the previous books I have read would make this a good match. They compared the City of Ember to this book. Last I checked, City of Ember is a kids book with zero zombies. In fact, I hate zombies and zombie books and zombie movies. Which makes the suggestion that I might like this book even more ridiculous. Now, if I have ever read a zombie book and liked it I could see this as a suggestion, but I've read zero...
August 9, 2015
I'm not a big fan of zombie fic, so to interest me requires an exceptional author telling an exceptional story. I can think of 3 immediately: among these is Perrin Briar, an author I never miss reading. BLOOD MEMORY is not your routine zombie tale..far from it. If this one doesn't make you both shiver and think...well, you're missing out.
January 14, 2016
A great thrill ride. If you like the walking dead or any post apocalyptic stories, you must check out blood memory. It instantly pulled me in and I am excited to read the next installment.
August 12, 2017
I just couldn't get into this. The writing was weird and sometimes didn't make sense (is a pot luck lucky? I'm still trying to figure this out...). The descriptions detracted from the story more than they enriched it, and I got tired of the bad similes and metaphors. It felt like a middle schooler's attempt to use as many similes and metaphors as possible sometimes.
The story wasn't that original either, so despite the mad cliffhanger, I really don't care to pick up the next book. It's the same old thing: insert zombies, special forces-type soldier, and poorly done romance. Voila. You have a story.
The story wasn't that original either, so despite the mad cliffhanger, I really don't care to pick up the next book. It's the same old thing: insert zombies, special forces-type soldier, and poorly done romance. Voila. You have a story.
August 18, 2019
This was overall a fast and entertaining read. Lots of adventure and lovable characters, who, however, could have been developed more. I couldn't give it more stars because it seems this is a serial, not a series - nothing resolved, ends on a cliffhanger - and because the only conflict in the whole book was between the good guys and the zombies and the good guys and the sea. There was no interpersonal or inner conflict, and overall, I really wanted to know more about the characters.
It was an interesting fast read, and I enjoyed the humor, too. Strange imagery and some errors, but overall an okay read... if you like zombie adventure books, you might like this one.
It was an interesting fast read, and I enjoyed the humor, too. Strange imagery and some errors, but overall an okay read... if you like zombie adventure books, you might like this one.
August 7, 2020
3.5 stars
So just as the story gets interesting it ends and whilst there were some good bits, there were also bits that felt like they were there to tick a zombie apocalypse box.
I know this was released as a serial and so I suspect there is more character development as it goes along.
I’m kind of intrigued in what might happen but not overly invested at this stage. Depending on the cost of each part will depend on whether I invest as my TBR is already huge.
So just as the story gets interesting it ends and whilst there were some good bits, there were also bits that felt like they were there to tick a zombie apocalypse box.
I know this was released as a serial and so I suspect there is more character development as it goes along.
I’m kind of intrigued in what might happen but not overly invested at this stage. Depending on the cost of each part will depend on whether I invest as my TBR is already huge.
July 25, 2017
Short, well written, devoured this in a couple hours if that long. Moves right along, characters are realistic and he builds in dimension as you go along. I didn't wait, just jumped in and read Blood Memory 2 at the same time. Gotta get 3 soon.
October 22, 2019
Oh my, such an exciting read. Terror and horror is an everyday happening and the shock of what was going on was a fright night. The writing was superb! Outstanding storytelling and the characters jumped right right out at you. A first date book!.
April 14, 2020
Nice taste
A nice taste of a larger body I work, but that's all it is. I felt cheated to end this in the middle of a storm at sea, with two characters overboard smacked a bit of the old weekly serials.
A nice taste of a larger body I work, but that's all it is. I felt cheated to end this in the middle of a storm at sea, with two characters overboard smacked a bit of the old weekly serials.
November 11, 2016
Decent first installment, not groundbreaking, but entertaining. Less about zombies and more about survival.
June 8, 2017
Sorry not sorry for liking it!
Why?
1) The characters
2) Fear
3) Tension building up
4) Fast to read
Why?
1) The characters
2) Fear
3) Tension building up
4) Fast to read
January 12, 2018
A great read
As with all the other books written by Perrin Briar this one is a page turner. I can not wait to read the next book in this series.
As with all the other books written by Perrin Briar this one is a page turner. I can not wait to read the next book in this series.
March 16, 2019
Not a zombie guy , but likeable characters. That on then a boat , with a good amount of gore .
Fun read
Fun read
March 22, 2017
The entire story is at sea. The characters are very real and are written in a way that makes you really care about them and what happens. I like the book so much I will be getting the rest of the series. One caveat though, It has a cliff hanger ending.
March 20, 2017
Details
This book could have had a few more details such as more history on how the apocalypse began and a more in depth about the main characters. Not a bad book just could use a little more fleshing out.
The story is interesting and I will move on to book 2 to see if this gets better.
This book could have had a few more details such as more history on how the apocalypse began and a more in depth about the main characters. Not a bad book just could use a little more fleshing out.
The story is interesting and I will move on to book 2 to see if this gets better.
September 10, 2018
I was expecting much more from this but as it is only Episode 1, I guess the something more will happen later on. I'll be missing it because I'm just not that interested! lol. I did like the location, the survivors are living on the water in a ship. I wanted to find out about the Lurchers as much as Jordan did! Nothing really happens in this book.
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