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The Risen #2
The Risen: Part II
It's not the dead that scare her. Nor is it the living. It's her reflection that she fears.
Born of beast, through blood and bile and spewing guts. A beast she must temper, while her humanity scrambles in the earthenware of the world of once-before. She did not know her parents, but they are there every day - in the mirror, in her burning eyes, in her twisted ways. And in those dead still roaming the Welsh hillsides and towns.
From the farm to the distant sea, mutates and those at the apex must learn to fear her while the rest must learn to accept her.
Or else...
Born of beast, through blood and bile and spewing guts. A beast she must temper, while her humanity scrambles in the earthenware of the world of once-before. She did not know her parents, but they are there every day - in the mirror, in her burning eyes, in her twisted ways. And in those dead still roaming the Welsh hillsides and towns.
From the farm to the distant sea, mutates and those at the apex must learn to fear her while the rest must learn to accept her.
Or else...
- GenresZombies
Audible Audio
Published February 12, 2021
2 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Adam J. Smith
13 books92 followersAdam J Smith lives in the UK, publishing art books and writing novels, short stories and poetry. He’s an avid reader and his favourite storytellers include Jeffrey Eugenides, Stephen King, Isaac Asimov, plus many others - an eclectic mix! He loves old sci-fi and pulp novels, but equally horror and literary novels that are particularly well written.
He enjoys writing science-fiction, horror, ghost stories, and short stories. He often posts flash fiction pieces on his blog: https://adamjsmithauthor.blogspot.com, and shares his and other work on Twitter.
Read an interview with Adam here:
http://bit.ly/28KOIwZ
He enjoys writing science-fiction, horror, ghost stories, and short stories. He often posts flash fiction pieces on his blog: https://adamjsmithauthor.blogspot.com, and shares his and other work on Twitter.
Read an interview with Adam here:
http://bit.ly/28KOIwZ
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 14, 2022
Not as great as the first book, but I was entertained all the same. It's a shame about Nate and Ruby from Part I, but Ffion… wow, she was definitely a complex and misunderstood character.
I’m looking forward to reading Part III for sure.
I’m looking forward to reading Part III for sure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2021
( Format :Audiobook )
"The moon and the mattress and the roof."
It is Wales in the late 2020s and the pandemic had swept through the country all but destroying humanity everywhere, despite the lockdown and the rainbows to thank the N.H.S. still painted on windows and walls. Mostly, only the mutants are left, hungry for meat, fast and terrifying, apart from small, scattered groups of people trying to survive. The story follows one girl, Ffion, brought up as their daughter by a couple who already had three older sons. She was different, strong and super agile, always hungry and, until puberty when she moulted, her body covered with downy hair. In time, in her teens, she leaves her parents, her home, her nest, with some travellers from the south of England intent on cleaning the country of the mutants.
Not a zombie story in the truest sense, no shambling hordes of undead here, but Risen nevertheless has all of the components of the best of such tales: the survivors versus terrifying super hungry monsters whose very bite means infection, the fear and search for food, for safety and a hope to one day restore the old world again. But it is seen through the eyes of one who is, herself, not human, but something new. And, despite some of her less than pleasant acts and thoughts, it would be very hard for the reader not to empathize with her, so we'll is this book written. It vividly brings to live not only all of the protagonists involved, but also the landscape, sights and even smells. Magnificent.
This is easily a five star book and the narrafion, by Aria Gray, is excellent, too. Except Ms.Gray has a gentle, attractive American accent whilst the book is set in Wales, the people encountered Welsh or English, both very distinctive accents in their own right and not American. It was disconcerting and jarred with the given text. Also, at times her swift delivery seemed to fluctuate almost out of hearing in quick pulses, though whether this was the narrator herself or a fault in the recording is uncertain, and for these reasons the rating has been reluctantly reduced to four stars.
I am fast becoming a fan of the writings of Adam Smith. The other works of his that I have so far encountered have, like Risen, been both well and vividly written, and unusual - even unique - within their genres. I was most fortunate in being freely gifted with complimentary copy of Risen II, after my requesting it, by the rights holder, via Story Teller. Thank you so much. I have not yet read book one, something I just remedy, but this book stands alone. And, though not for the faint of heart, is highly recommended.
"The moon and the mattress and the roof."
It is Wales in the late 2020s and the pandemic had swept through the country all but destroying humanity everywhere, despite the lockdown and the rainbows to thank the N.H.S. still painted on windows and walls. Mostly, only the mutants are left, hungry for meat, fast and terrifying, apart from small, scattered groups of people trying to survive. The story follows one girl, Ffion, brought up as their daughter by a couple who already had three older sons. She was different, strong and super agile, always hungry and, until puberty when she moulted, her body covered with downy hair. In time, in her teens, she leaves her parents, her home, her nest, with some travellers from the south of England intent on cleaning the country of the mutants.
Not a zombie story in the truest sense, no shambling hordes of undead here, but Risen nevertheless has all of the components of the best of such tales: the survivors versus terrifying super hungry monsters whose very bite means infection, the fear and search for food, for safety and a hope to one day restore the old world again. But it is seen through the eyes of one who is, herself, not human, but something new. And, despite some of her less than pleasant acts and thoughts, it would be very hard for the reader not to empathize with her, so we'll is this book written. It vividly brings to live not only all of the protagonists involved, but also the landscape, sights and even smells. Magnificent.
This is easily a five star book and the narrafion, by Aria Gray, is excellent, too. Except Ms.Gray has a gentle, attractive American accent whilst the book is set in Wales, the people encountered Welsh or English, both very distinctive accents in their own right and not American. It was disconcerting and jarred with the given text. Also, at times her swift delivery seemed to fluctuate almost out of hearing in quick pulses, though whether this was the narrator herself or a fault in the recording is uncertain, and for these reasons the rating has been reluctantly reduced to four stars.
I am fast becoming a fan of the writings of Adam Smith. The other works of his that I have so far encountered have, like Risen, been both well and vividly written, and unusual - even unique - within their genres. I was most fortunate in being freely gifted with complimentary copy of Risen II, after my requesting it, by the rights holder, via Story Teller. Thank you so much. I have not yet read book one, something I just remedy, but this book stands alone. And, though not for the faint of heart, is highly recommended.
March 8, 2021
Having read the Neon series by Adam J Smith and jumped on the opportunity to get an Advance Reader Copy of the audiobook for The Risen Part II from StoryOrigin. In the interest of full disclosure, I haven’t read to listened to The Risen part I, but that’s something I’ll rectify in short order. As far as Part II goes, listening to this book/story was one of those experiences that became a nonstop adventure. I was very reluctant to turn off the book and found excuses to keep listening every chance I got. I really enjoy the post-apocalyptic/zombie genre and have read/listened to enough to know this is a story I would pay to see in a theater or would love to see as a TV series. The action and characters were scripted so well, I, as I said, was sucked right into the story that the story flowed seamlessly until that final sentence. Aria Gray’s narration was very good in bringing the story to life, the only negative for me was in some instances where she lowered of her voice to almost a whisper making it necessary to increase the volume.
June 27, 2020
There are more and more original takes on the Apocalypse and this book is one of the most original. I missed book 1 and now I am sorry that I did as it would have made book 2 that much better. This is a roller coaster book and you have no idea where it is headed. All I can suggest is that you read book 1 and then book 2. The ending leaves a lot of directions the 3rd book can take off on. I enjoyed book 2 a lot.
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January 29, 2020Read the prologue:
https://adamjsmithauthor.blogspot.com...
https://adamjsmithauthor.blogspot.com...
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July 29, 2020A zombie book with a different slant
I have now read several books by Adam Smith and he comes up trumps every time. This book is the second one of a story about a young girl who is the daughter of two people who had evolved into strange creatures after being attacked by zombies and although bitten, they don't die. Ffion is brought up by strangers who indulge in the murder of
fugitives who are trying to escape from the hoard of zombies roaming the land. She finally gets away and joins a small group of people making their way to an unknown desfination. The reader follows Ffion as she tries to come to terms with the fact that she is not like other people and has unusual talents including immense strength. She is one of the first of a new race of humans but will she be accepted by other people. She is torn between keeping in isolation of helping the new group who allow her to tag along with them. It becomes a rite of passage for Ffion as her journey leads her through many dangers. Will she ever find somewhere where she can be herself and feel safe?
This was an enjoyable read with a good and unusual story line. I can thoroughly recommend it.
I have now read several books by Adam Smith and he comes up trumps every time. This book is the second one of a story about a young girl who is the daughter of two people who had evolved into strange creatures after being attacked by zombies and although bitten, they don't die. Ffion is brought up by strangers who indulge in the murder of
fugitives who are trying to escape from the hoard of zombies roaming the land. She finally gets away and joins a small group of people making their way to an unknown desfination. The reader follows Ffion as she tries to come to terms with the fact that she is not like other people and has unusual talents including immense strength. She is one of the first of a new race of humans but will she be accepted by other people. She is torn between keeping in isolation of helping the new group who allow her to tag along with them. It becomes a rite of passage for Ffion as her journey leads her through many dangers. Will she ever find somewhere where she can be herself and feel safe?
This was an enjoyable read with a good and unusual story line. I can thoroughly recommend it.
October 28, 2020
Not sure where we’re going
I read this one after being interested enough in the first to see what happened. I’m still frustrated we have no word on how the world got this way, but fine. This book follows the child of our previous protagonists. My issues were similar to other readers: the author can write descriptively quite well, but fails to give us any motivations or goals for the characters. I don’t feel any sort of real plot going on, though this could be helped if the characters themselves showed more direction. I’m not sure if I’ll continue to the third or not, it depends on if my interest is there. I don’t really care about any of the characters enough to keep going.
I read this one after being interested enough in the first to see what happened. I’m still frustrated we have no word on how the world got this way, but fine. This book follows the child of our previous protagonists. My issues were similar to other readers: the author can write descriptively quite well, but fails to give us any motivations or goals for the characters. I don’t feel any sort of real plot going on, though this could be helped if the characters themselves showed more direction. I’m not sure if I’ll continue to the third or not, it depends on if my interest is there. I don’t really care about any of the characters enough to keep going.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews