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The Alpha Plague #1
The Alpha Plague
¿Tienes un plan para el apocalipsis?
Rhys no lo tiene.
Pero mientras observa el caos desbordarse desde la torre Alpha, sabe una cosa con certeza...
Debe llegar hasta su hijo antes que el virus.
Si te gustan las historias con apuestas altas y acción al borde del asiento en un mundo postapocalíptico, entonces The Alpha Plague es para ti. Consíguelo ahora y acompaña a Rhys en el punto cero mientras intenta salvar a sus seres queridos y sobrevivir a un desastre que cambiará el mundo para siempre.
Rhys no lo tiene.
Pero mientras observa el caos desbordarse desde la torre Alpha, sabe una cosa con certeza...
Debe llegar hasta su hijo antes que el virus.
Si te gustan las historias con apuestas altas y acción al borde del asiento en un mundo postapocalíptico, entonces The Alpha Plague es para ti. Consíguelo ahora y acompaña a Rhys en el punto cero mientras intenta salvar a sus seres queridos y sobrevivir a un desastre que cambiará el mundo para siempre.
248 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 28, 2015
1320 people are currently reading
1773 people want to read
About the author
Michael Robertson
98 books206 followersMichael Robertson is an author and blogger. He has had several short stories published, including one with HarperCollins. He is the author of Crash - http://michaelrobertson.co.uk/crash--...
You can connect with Michael on Twitter at @MicRobertson, Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MichaelRober... and you can also contact him through his website at www.michaelrobertson.co.uk
You can connect with Michael on Twitter at @MicRobertson, Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MichaelRober... and you can also contact him through his website at www.michaelrobertson.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews
October 6, 2023
I quite enjoyed the idea of the book, and also enjoyed the two main characters, but there was just a little too much running around to get away from the characters who were chasing them.
Maybe if I read book 2 I will find it settles down a little, as I did rather enjoy the story.
And that's probably why i didn't round 3.5 up to 4 stars
Maybe if I read book 2 I will find it settles down a little, as I did rather enjoy the story.
And that's probably why i didn't round 3.5 up to 4 stars
September 28, 2022
This ain't your usual zombie rodeo ...... zombie baby peoples!
"He then leaned down, grabbed one of its chubby ankles, and lifted it from the ground. There may have only been a few teeth in its mouth, but from the way it snapped and bit at the air between them, the little shit knew exactly how to use them."
Although this first book in the series is necessarily focused on how the virus came about, how the main characters have survived so far and yes, the zombies, you can tell the series is going to be character driven. The novella length book is certainly action packed thrill wise and quite emotional with the theme of a separated Dad's fervent wish to see his son pre and post apocalypse. I'll definitely be adding the rest of the series to my TBR list.
"He then leaned down, grabbed one of its chubby ankles, and lifted it from the ground. There may have only been a few teeth in its mouth, but from the way it snapped and bit at the air between them, the little shit knew exactly how to use them."
Although this first book in the series is necessarily focused on how the virus came about, how the main characters have survived so far and yes, the zombies, you can tell the series is going to be character driven. The novella length book is certainly action packed thrill wise and quite emotional with the theme of a separated Dad's fervent wish to see his son pre and post apocalypse. I'll definitely be adding the rest of the series to my TBR list.
November 4, 2015
So far it's a decent story. I could see something like it really happening. They outlawed guns, so some Government scientist in the US developed a flu to use in the war going on in the Middle East (which I don't know how you fight in a war without guns) Maybe I missed that part. anyway, the wrong people caught wind of what the US were doing, and came here to the Alpha tower where the studies on the virus took place. Some crazy Bastards released the infected test subjects into the US and now it's survival time. The story takes place around this father who's trying to save his six year old son from the flu infested flesh eating zombies. They're strong, fast, and seems to have some type of intelligence.
I love end-of-the-world stories that are full of chaos, and I could see this really happening.
I love end-of-the-world stories that are full of chaos, and I could see this really happening.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2020
Didn’t Like the Ending!
Would have loved to give this book five stars, because that’s how much zombie action there was. But the ending was illogical.
Anyway...Rhys is at work when the zombie apocalypse gets started. I mean he sees it’s going down.
Naturally, he does what he can to escape the downtown location, where he works. Although his ex-wife works close-by, she is not on his list of people to help escape.
He wants to get up-town to his son, who is at school. And that is his focus...
Would have loved to give this book five stars, because that’s how much zombie action there was. But the ending was illogical.
Anyway...Rhys is at work when the zombie apocalypse gets started. I mean he sees it’s going down.
Naturally, he does what he can to escape the downtown location, where he works. Although his ex-wife works close-by, she is not on his list of people to help escape.
He wants to get up-town to his son, who is at school. And that is his focus...
March 26, 2020
This has been on my e-reader for a very long time and I've just now had the time to read it. A really gripping thriller is perfect for what's going on in the world today. The action and emotional turmoil combine to make this a must-read!
My Rating: 5 stars
My Rating: 5 stars
September 2, 2015
Having stumbled upon this book whilst trawling through Amazon, and despite already having a million books still to be read on my device, I'm sooooo glad that I found this amazing read.
My usual read of choice is of the romantic kind, but after reading one too many of those lately I needed something completely different. Something intense and the total opposite to a sweet love story. So I was a little (well, maybe a lot) excited to be drawn in not only by the cover, but by the blurb of this story, and was sucked right in from the get go.
I looooved the main character, Rhys in this story. He's just an average guy, getting on with his mundanely average life, and going through average day to day struggles. There's nothing exceptional about him, except for his love for his son whom he rarely gets to see. Yet despite his 'averageness' you can't help but love his spirit and his evolving strength throughout the hell which unfolds within his life.
This story is extremely well written, and flowed beautifully for me. I'm so glad I came across this little gem, and can't wait to read book 2 in the series, or anything else by this fabulous author for that matter.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️A Five Star Edge Of Your Seat Read
My usual read of choice is of the romantic kind, but after reading one too many of those lately I needed something completely different. Something intense and the total opposite to a sweet love story. So I was a little (well, maybe a lot) excited to be drawn in not only by the cover, but by the blurb of this story, and was sucked right in from the get go.
I looooved the main character, Rhys in this story. He's just an average guy, getting on with his mundanely average life, and going through average day to day struggles. There's nothing exceptional about him, except for his love for his son whom he rarely gets to see. Yet despite his 'averageness' you can't help but love his spirit and his evolving strength throughout the hell which unfolds within his life.
This story is extremely well written, and flowed beautifully for me. I'm so glad I came across this little gem, and can't wait to read book 2 in the series, or anything else by this fabulous author for that matter.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️A Five Star Edge Of Your Seat Read
March 4, 2017
4 stars ****
Thoroughly enjoyed this. Likable characters, fast story-line, well written, looking forward to number 2 ;)
Thoroughly enjoyed this. Likable characters, fast story-line, well written, looking forward to number 2 ;)
August 21, 2016
Expectations were high on this one. I loved the cover and really liked the premise -- post-apocalyptic survival thriller. Didn't know how the key disaster/event (a plague) would play out, only wished for no zombies (not a big fan of those, you know).
Anyway, I started reading. And got hooked right on the first scene. This story is raw in its portrait of the human nature and the instinct one has to survive. Shocking many times, but necessarily so in this kind of tale. Very well done. The tone was set straightaway and showed the punches wouldn't be pulled; nothing, no one, could be taken for granted, except that Rhys would live 'till the end of the book -- and that only because I already knew he would be in the next one.
I loved to be shown first hand how the plague was unleashed. How the actions of a few changed the fate of so many (as we all know it happens in real life). While I watched the crisis develop I couldn't but wish for the players to just do something to stop it. "No, don't do that; leave!" "Do not listen to him. DO. NOT." But of course, they did. And the predictability on those parts only enhanced the feeling of helplessness, so similar to the way the characters felt. It brought them to life. Though they'd been so well presented earlier they were fully human beings, and close to my heart (except for You Know Who when you read the book), when Hell broke loose.
This story is still playing in my mind now and I expect it will continue to do so for a while. Will I read it again? Well, were there not a sequel I would say, definitely. But since at least one exists already, I'll say maybe; it depends on how the whole picture will end. So far, all I can say is I didn't want to put it down, nor to have it end. And it left me craving for the next installment.
Never mind that it's full of zombies.
Note: I was lucky enough to be offered a copy of this book by the author.
Anyway, I started reading. And got hooked right on the first scene. This story is raw in its portrait of the human nature and the instinct one has to survive. Shocking many times, but necessarily so in this kind of tale. Very well done. The tone was set straightaway and showed the punches wouldn't be pulled; nothing, no one, could be taken for granted, except that Rhys would live 'till the end of the book -- and that only because I already knew he would be in the next one.
I loved to be shown first hand how the plague was unleashed. How the actions of a few changed the fate of so many (as we all know it happens in real life). While I watched the crisis develop I couldn't but wish for the players to just do something to stop it. "No, don't do that; leave!" "Do not listen to him. DO. NOT." But of course, they did. And the predictability on those parts only enhanced the feeling of helplessness, so similar to the way the characters felt. It brought them to life. Though they'd been so well presented earlier they were fully human beings, and close to my heart (except for You Know Who when you read the book), when Hell broke loose.
This story is still playing in my mind now and I expect it will continue to do so for a while. Will I read it again? Well, were there not a sequel I would say, definitely. But since at least one exists already, I'll say maybe; it depends on how the whole picture will end. So far, all I can say is I didn't want to put it down, nor to have it end. And it left me craving for the next installment.
Never mind that it's full of zombies.
Note: I was lucky enough to be offered a copy of this book by the author.
April 4, 2020
Good book, fast paced! Really enjoyed reading this. After I'd finished it, I questioned whether there would be a sequel pleased to see there is!
July 15, 2015
The Alpha Plague is an apocalyptic survival thriller done right. Working well as a stand-alone though in actuality the first of a series, this novel covers just the first few hours of a viral plague:
Falling within the broader category of zombie apocalypses, this take is toward the rage spectrum of 28 Days Later rather than the lumbering Walking Dead variety, which makes it all the worse for Rhys and his kick-ass partner-by-circumstance Vicky in his quest to escape Summit City and save his 6 y.o. son, Flynn, who's at school some miles away.
Rhys and Vicky are fallible protagonists with limited resources, but courage and determination worthy of rooting for in this non-stop action thriller.
The Blurb:
Rhys is an average guy who works as average job in Summit City--a purpose built government complex on the outskirts of London. The Alpha Tower stands in the center of the city. An enigma, nobody knows what happens behind its dark glass. Rhys is about to find out. At ground zero and with chaos spilling out into the street, Rhys has the slightest of head starts. If he can remain ahead of the pandemonium, then maybe he can get to his loved ones before the plague does.
Falling within the broader category of zombie apocalypses, this take is toward the rage spectrum of 28 Days Later rather than the lumbering Walking Dead variety, which makes it all the worse for Rhys and his kick-ass partner-by-circumstance Vicky in his quest to escape Summit City and save his 6 y.o. son, Flynn, who's at school some miles away.
Rhys and Vicky are fallible protagonists with limited resources, but courage and determination worthy of rooting for in this non-stop action thriller.
February 5, 2017
Read this for my fandom book club whose theme for February is Sci-Fi, I honestly could not put the book down.
I got a Hot Fuzz/Shaun of the Dead feeling within the first 5 chapters of the book which if you have seen freaking rocks! While the book may not be everyone's cup of tea, I suggest that if you like zombies and witty British humor this is a book for you.
Definitely plan to continue with this series.
I got a Hot Fuzz/Shaun of the Dead feeling within the first 5 chapters of the book which if you have seen freaking rocks! While the book may not be everyone's cup of tea, I suggest that if you like zombies and witty British humor this is a book for you.
Definitely plan to continue with this series.
May 8, 2018
My wife picked this one up, then decided she didn’t like the gore and passed it to me.
In the administrative island hub of the UK stands a building called “The Alpha Tower”. Due to a biological warfare experiment escaping, a plague of what can only be called instant-zombies is released from it. Scurrying ahead of the growing plague are Rhys and Vicky, trying to stay alive long enough to escape the island and reach Rhys’s son.
I read the 260 or so pages of this novel in a day, which demonstrates how fast paced it is. The chapters are short and all end on enough of a cliff-hanger to keep reading. The characters – essentially just two – are well enough developed and interesting enough to care about.
The plot is essentially 28 Days Later compressed to something more like 28 Seconds Later. The zombies are instantly produced and very fast moving, and the island is quickly overwhelmed. Complicating matters is an apparent lack of guns or weapons, which seems to include the police not having any tasers or riot control hardware.
The story is competently written and the action clear and concise. But there are oddities. Rhys seems to regard Vicky as a romantic opportunity rather than a partner in survival, even in tense scenes where they’re running for their lives. There’s a constant and monotonous use of one profanity (You know the one: Four letters, starts with an F). Sprinkled through the text would have been fine for effect, but its overuse becomes boring.
In the administrative island hub of the UK stands a building called “The Alpha Tower”. Due to a biological warfare experiment escaping, a plague of what can only be called instant-zombies is released from it. Scurrying ahead of the growing plague are Rhys and Vicky, trying to stay alive long enough to escape the island and reach Rhys’s son.
I read the 260 or so pages of this novel in a day, which demonstrates how fast paced it is. The chapters are short and all end on enough of a cliff-hanger to keep reading. The characters – essentially just two – are well enough developed and interesting enough to care about.
The plot is essentially 28 Days Later compressed to something more like 28 Seconds Later. The zombies are instantly produced and very fast moving, and the island is quickly overwhelmed. Complicating matters is an apparent lack of guns or weapons, which seems to include the police not having any tasers or riot control hardware.
The story is competently written and the action clear and concise. But there are oddities. Rhys seems to regard Vicky as a romantic opportunity rather than a partner in survival, even in tense scenes where they’re running for their lives. There’s a constant and monotonous use of one profanity (You know the one: Four letters, starts with an F). Sprinkled through the text would have been fine for effect, but its overuse becomes boring.
August 23, 2017
A very suspenseful read, scary because it could so happen in the crazy power hungry world we live in, where the west threatens the east and vice versa. A group of sociopathic scientists create a deadly virus which in turn creates zombies, it is a highly contagious virus which runs rampant once an infected person bites another human. The island where the government employees and the tower which houses the labs go ob shut down once the tables are turned and the virus is released, Rhys happens to be outside at time, he meets up with Vicky and together they run for their lives because Rhys has a six year old son who he is obsessed by and intends to save. The whole read is a mad dash, pursued by crazed zombies and lots of blood flow. There is also time for falling in love though and hope keeps the unlikely couple going to meet their goal! Book 1 ends with a twist which of course makes the reader want to read the following book.
January 5, 2018
I can't say that this isn't your typical zombie/ infection novel, but I can say that the writing was good, the narrative was believable, and the action was intense. Sometimes, we just need a little of what we know done well. The Alpha Plague was that for me.
Rhy's motivation throughout is to get to his son. I can understand that Vicky's participation in getting him off the island stems from guilt, but the way their relationship grows in a few hours felt a little forced. I did enjoy how they bounced off of each other, each with their own personality traits and opinions which aided in keeping them both alive.
The storyline behind the 'release' of the infection is well believable in this day and age. Biological warfare gone wrong is a scary thought, especially if the enemy know what you are doing and how to use it to their advantage. I hope to hear a little more about The East and what they gained from their actions in the sequel.
Rhy's motivation throughout is to get to his son. I can understand that Vicky's participation in getting him off the island stems from guilt, but the way their relationship grows in a few hours felt a little forced. I did enjoy how they bounced off of each other, each with their own personality traits and opinions which aided in keeping them both alive.
The storyline behind the 'release' of the infection is well believable in this day and age. Biological warfare gone wrong is a scary thought, especially if the enemy know what you are doing and how to use it to their advantage. I hope to hear a little more about The East and what they gained from their actions in the sequel.
October 28, 2020
"The dad stepped out and held his arm up in front of him… one last noble act as the protector of a wife and children."
I flew through this book way too easily!
What an absolute thrill ride and a fantastic start to a zombie series! WOW!
“And she ate the steak? It wasn’t too bloody?” “It was, but it had to be; we couldn’t cook the virus.”
When the world turns to biological warfare, who will pay the price?! Turns out its everyone.
I'm at work and I could not put this down 🤣 every time I put it away I was like nah one more chapter.
Non stop action throughout! Fantastic characters!
I'm very excited for the rest.
Honestly a bloody (literally) brilliant start.
I flew through this book way too easily!
What an absolute thrill ride and a fantastic start to a zombie series! WOW!
“And she ate the steak? It wasn’t too bloody?” “It was, but it had to be; we couldn’t cook the virus.”
When the world turns to biological warfare, who will pay the price?! Turns out its everyone.
I'm at work and I could not put this down 🤣 every time I put it away I was like nah one more chapter.
Non stop action throughout! Fantastic characters!
I'm very excited for the rest.
Honestly a bloody (literally) brilliant start.
March 10, 2024
This is a really good apocalyptic zombie story! An interesting, middle aged, unfit dad, trying to save his son in a fast paced, high energy adventure! I really enjoyed this, it had all the right elements to be a great series! I do recommend & I will read the next book!
Want to read
November 13, 2017FREE on Amazon today (11/13/2017)!
March 13, 2018
I loved this fast moving thriller.
Read
February 26, 2025Intriguing
I jumped into this book blind and kind of hoping it wasn't zombies, it was. BUT, I actually was able to read it (whether I sleep tonight is another story), and I found it to be quite interesting. The writing and characters kept my attention and had me rooting for them to survive. I'm will be starting book 2 in the light of a new day.
I jumped into this book blind and kind of hoping it wasn't zombies, it was. BUT, I actually was able to read it (whether I sleep tonight is another story), and I found it to be quite interesting. The writing and characters kept my attention and had me rooting for them to survive. I'm will be starting book 2 in the light of a new day.
September 5, 2019
I read this from the The Alpha Plague #1-8
I am not understanding how a man who loves his son so much could keep running back into trouble. He should be running away with his son to someplace safe. It's a lot ridiculous. 3 stars.
I am not understanding how a man who loves his son so much could keep running back into trouble. He should be running away with his son to someplace safe. It's a lot ridiculous. 3 stars.
July 25, 2020
Fantastic start to a new series. A thrilling read from the start to the end. Strong characters with plenty of action. You won't be disappointed.
July 2, 2015
I think this is the best book I have read by this author. I love all of his works but this one drew me in and didn't let go. The characters, the way he wrote them, feel like they could step off the pages and say hello. Rhys is a worker at Summit City, a complex of government buildings. Rhys works at one of the buildings. Standing tall and dark is the Alpha Tower. Where dark things are carried out. An accident?? ( you will need to read to see ) locks all buildings down and Rhys must get away to save the one thing in his life he loves. A biological virus is unleashed on Summit City. A virus of nightmares.
He will show a side of himself he didn't knew existed. Terror and help along the way to getting to the person that matters most.
I can't wait for the next in the series. Grab this book, get a drink and begin. It may take you some time to come back to this reality. But it is okay, Michaels reality is so much better and scarier.
He will show a side of himself he didn't knew existed. Terror and help along the way to getting to the person that matters most.
I can't wait for the next in the series. Grab this book, get a drink and begin. It may take you some time to come back to this reality. But it is okay, Michaels reality is so much better and scarier.
October 2, 2017
I enjoyed it enough to finish it but won't be reading the next book. The concept is good (if over done) and the beginning draws me into the story as I do love a good zombie apocalypse. But then there's swearing every odd page - I think swearing is just an excuse to create tension when the author lacks skill to convey the situation.
I quickly stopped seeing the sense in the story. The main character decides to run into a rapidly spreading zombie virus for mementos of his child, why? Sure, it emphasises his love but it's not like anyone in a zombie infested city is going to nick it. And besides, isn't it the future? Surely he has an electronic copy. It's little nonsensical aspects of the story that made me feel like it was a rush job to jump start a series.
I quickly stopped seeing the sense in the story. The main character decides to run into a rapidly spreading zombie virus for mementos of his child, why? Sure, it emphasises his love but it's not like anyone in a zombie infested city is going to nick it. And besides, isn't it the future? Surely he has an electronic copy. It's little nonsensical aspects of the story that made me feel like it was a rush job to jump start a series.
December 28, 2017
Zombies
I'm not a fan of zombie stories, never read them or watch films/tv programmes about them; had I realised from the 'blurb' that this was a zombie book, I would not have downloaded it. However, I did and although I cannot say I enjoyed it, the style of writing drew me into the story sufficiently enough to keep me reading until the end. I can imagine that it is a great read for lovers of zombie stories and if I were one, then the style would not make me hesitate in buying sequels.
I'm not a fan of zombie stories, never read them or watch films/tv programmes about them; had I realised from the 'blurb' that this was a zombie book, I would not have downloaded it. However, I did and although I cannot say I enjoyed it, the style of writing drew me into the story sufficiently enough to keep me reading until the end. I can imagine that it is a great read for lovers of zombie stories and if I were one, then the style would not make me hesitate in buying sequels.
July 13, 2015
I love other books by this author also but this book was different than others. Don't want to give anything away but I will say if you enjoy zombie, post apocalyptic, sci-fi etc then this is a great read for you to try! Trust me it's a winner!
January 13, 2016
Neat twist on the theme, some things you expect, but there are some aspects I hadn't seen before. There is a lot of language, but the whole plague taking out the world tends to bring that out. I'm glad there is another book, I want to see what happens next!
July 16, 2016
While I'm a HUGE fan of the apocalyptic genre, with a specialty in zombies, this is a bit of weak sauce. Almost every character that the protagonist meets in the first several chapters gets swept away in a tide of diseased. Oh, well.
February 21, 2019
Read 20%. Not going to finish. Deleting it. Don't like the bloody experiment.. think it is going to turn into a Zombie book ...and I DO NOT do zombies.
September 12, 2017
This story was a quick read, but it suffered from some minor continuity problems and completely fantastical leaps of convenience for the characters.
In all, the book was an easy read and kept me somewhat intrigued enough to continue on to the second book. But it was hard to shake the idea that the author had based this story originally in modern times then went back and did a sloppy reedit to make it "the future" where car insurance is still dealt with by leaving a written message on a vehicle, yet everyone uses a tablet, but for some reason newspapers still exist to float around a barren street "for effect."
In all, the book was an easy read and kept me somewhat intrigued enough to continue on to the second book. But it was hard to shake the idea that the author had based this story originally in modern times then went back and did a sloppy reedit to make it "the future" where car insurance is still dealt with by leaving a written message on a vehicle, yet everyone uses a tablet, but for some reason newspapers still exist to float around a barren street "for effect."
July 18, 2017
This is a full on, non-stop, action-packed thriller.
If you have ever seen World War Z the movie, and wondered what it would have been like to have been someone on the ground with all of the crazies, trying to escape through all of the diseased as they turned and tried to attack each other, then this is the story you want to read.
Rhys is at ground zero when the plague is released and is caught in the maelstrom as the world comes crashing down. Rhys is desperate to find his son Flynn, as well as escape from the horror that is unleashing around him.
He meets another woman Vicki, who is also trying to survive, and she reluctantly agrees to help him try and find his son, as she is terrified at what is unfolding around her, knowing that she should just get out whilst she can. Vicki knows what is going on, knows she should get as far away as possible before the world ends.
This is an incredibly brutal, and graphically intense story. As a warning to anyone that is not big on language or violence, this is not the book for you, there is a bit of language, and a lot of violence. Of course, with this type of book, the violence is a given, and the language is nothing over the top and is used in an effective way.
I really like the Author, and the language issue is just an example of this, some go over the top with it, others just don’t have any (which is just ridiculous in this type of story), but Robertson had a good blend that accounts for reality, but will also not offend the majority of people.
The desperate battle of Rhys and Vicki as they fight their way through this city under siege, trying desperately to get away from these diseased creatures that want nothing more than to rip your throat out is told with breathtaking skill. It is terrifying in its realism, but also thrilling as Rhys and Vicki climb up stairways, onto roofs, ladders, and fight for their lives, all to save a little boy.
The characters themselves are incredibly real, from the scared Father, who is not perfect, but realises today is the day he has to step up. To Vicki, a girl with secrets of her own, a past she doesn’t want revealed, but with a heart in the right place. Of course, there are thousands of diseased psycho’s ready to tear everything and everyone apart.
If you like apocalyptic scenarios – you have to read this, as it is totally brilliant, and has some good twists and variations. Overall, this is a brilliant book and an exceptional start to a series that is going to be so good, you won’t be able to put it down.
If you have ever seen World War Z the movie, and wondered what it would have been like to have been someone on the ground with all of the crazies, trying to escape through all of the diseased as they turned and tried to attack each other, then this is the story you want to read.
Rhys is at ground zero when the plague is released and is caught in the maelstrom as the world comes crashing down. Rhys is desperate to find his son Flynn, as well as escape from the horror that is unleashing around him.
He meets another woman Vicki, who is also trying to survive, and she reluctantly agrees to help him try and find his son, as she is terrified at what is unfolding around her, knowing that she should just get out whilst she can. Vicki knows what is going on, knows she should get as far away as possible before the world ends.
This is an incredibly brutal, and graphically intense story. As a warning to anyone that is not big on language or violence, this is not the book for you, there is a bit of language, and a lot of violence. Of course, with this type of book, the violence is a given, and the language is nothing over the top and is used in an effective way.
I really like the Author, and the language issue is just an example of this, some go over the top with it, others just don’t have any (which is just ridiculous in this type of story), but Robertson had a good blend that accounts for reality, but will also not offend the majority of people.
The desperate battle of Rhys and Vicki as they fight their way through this city under siege, trying desperately to get away from these diseased creatures that want nothing more than to rip your throat out is told with breathtaking skill. It is terrifying in its realism, but also thrilling as Rhys and Vicki climb up stairways, onto roofs, ladders, and fight for their lives, all to save a little boy.
The characters themselves are incredibly real, from the scared Father, who is not perfect, but realises today is the day he has to step up. To Vicki, a girl with secrets of her own, a past she doesn’t want revealed, but with a heart in the right place. Of course, there are thousands of diseased psycho’s ready to tear everything and everyone apart.
If you like apocalyptic scenarios – you have to read this, as it is totally brilliant, and has some good twists and variations. Overall, this is a brilliant book and an exceptional start to a series that is going to be so good, you won’t be able to put it down.
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