Zombie Rules Book 3 It's now two years since the zombie apocalypse changed the world. Survival is precarious for Zach Gunderson and his friends. They are encountering zombies who are evolving into something more than mindless automatons and the group dynamic is threatened by the revelation of a murderer in their midst. They handle each situation in their own special manner, but a seemingly innocent encounter with a group of Marines lead to disastrous consequences.
After being honorably discharged as a Sergeant in the United States Army, David Achord found his true calling in law enforcement. His twenty-five year career included stints with the Rutherford County Sheriff's Department and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. A lifelong Tennessee native, he is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and Cumberland University.
Zfinity is like enjoying a ride through the Disney World Haunted House - you see some things that scare you, others make you laugh. Suddenly, the floor drops out from under you, leaving you screaming while dropping through the darkness, then wondering if this is really happening.That's exactly how I felt reading this series. Survival during an apocalypse such as this changes people over time; best friends will betray you for something as simple as food and ammunition, loved ones will lie, cheat and steal from you, rapists don't suddenly stop their perverse behavior, and all human bullies want to be king of the hill.
The zombies are changing, regenerating themselves, seem to be communicating among themselves, motor skills are enhanced - they are now able to open doors and do other things previously incapable of doing. Oh, and they now have a zombie leader who can plan and execute ambushes and raids.
A contingency of Marines visit the homestead, but everything is not what it seems. They have an agenda in mind which includes Zach, Fred, Andie, Julie and the rest of the homestead, but not in the way you may think! Readers soon learn that Zach's blood is immune to the zombie virus and may be the key to ending the apocalypse - it doesn't happen in this story, but a thought for a future installment. This is where the floor suddenly falls away in the story...I was taken aback, saddened and somewhat depressed when finishing the book! Where is Janet? Where are Zach's kids? What happened to Bo and Penny? There has to be a part four in the works...too many questions unanswered to end this series.
John Podlaski, author Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel
I think it is time that I give the series “Zombie Rules” by David Achord a review of more than one sentence. So here it is with the third book in the series, Zifinity. So, it has been two years since the zombie outbreak, and Zack Gunderson, our superhero protagonist is married, with a kid and one on the way and running his little “Peaceful Dictatorship” with mixed success.
I guess this series is starting to rub at me. I am starting to find Zack’s superiority in all things a bit of a drag on the series. I found myself hoping that he would just fall flat on his face, just once. But of course, anytime a “zack plan” is unsuccessful, it is because one of his underlings, being mere mortals, failed to follow his directions. Seriously, if Mr. Achord wanted to sell a souvenir with this book, it would have to be one of those rubber wrist band things with the letters, WWZD, What Would Zack Do. And here is the thing, Mr. Zack Gunderson is a full-blown sociopath. He kills without even a hint of remorse, and although throughout the book he gives lip service to regret for the deaths in his group, his actions speak volumes about his lack of concern.
The other members in his little band of “Merry Men (and Chicks)” are complete F*ck-ups. I’m surprised they can wipe their own back ends after using the bathroom without Zack’s help. Although most of them come to him dirty, and starving, so maybe they CAN’T wipe without help.
Women. Women, Women, Girls, and Women. Apparently, David Achord suffers from a Madonna/Whore complex (This is a real thing, look it up.) Every female character in this novel suffers from his affliction. Although by this time most of the female characters have learned to shoot and defend themselves, they still fall into the traditional male/female societal roles; or thy are whores. He also brought in a gay couple, but they are so stereotypical, I have serious doubts as to whether, Mr. Achord has ever met a real gay person in his life.
This book does end with a tragic and devastating attack, but in true Zack fashion, he said he is devastated by it, but it does not stop him from
I guess I will finish this series apparently, there is only one more book, but after that I am done, even if there are more books later down the road. I just don’t like this series all that much.
In the past year and a half I have read over a hundred zombie apocalypse books. This series is by far the best of all of them. The series' major kudos goes to character development, but it never feels heavy or forced, very natural. Once in book 2, and once in book 3, I was awake until after 2 a.m. reading, and the second time I had to work in 2 hours! At the end of Book 3...well... Yes, a disaster comes. I felt as if someone had punched in the stomach when it happened. I felt angry, sad, frustrated. But mostly I just felt sick. It was as if it happened to me. Personally. In real life. That kind of storytelling doesn't happen very damn often. These three books together comprise the best story I have ever read. Ever. In any genre. Outstanding. Now give us a Book 4!
3 stars instead of one due to the first books in the series being very good reads with good character development. Somehow the author just decides that this brilliant survivor and the entire group storyline isn't worth it and just takes a big ol shit on everything and then flushes it all down with a brief 2 page epilogue. If you liked the first 2 books then don't bother with this one, Mr achord will only deliver disappointment with this one. Not because it's a bad read or poorly put together but because it's just a great big middle finger from the author to his readers.
This series, for me, had the potential to fill the void of Zombie fiction that has been missing in my life ever since having finished the Walking Dead comic. Similarly centered around a single protagonist, this series initially felt right to me. The twist of possible zombie evolution was especially unique.
However, I can no longer suffer the lackadaisical writing.
The insidious and constant barrage of sexist slights of the female gender have grinded on me ever since his seeming infatuation of describing every single female character's figure. I can appreciate the female physique as well as the next man but the series started with one particular female zombie as having "bouncing titties." Okay, maybe it's a one time thing. Nope. Is it to highlight that Zach is still a teenager? By book 3, why does he need to compare how two characters fill out a sweater? For a character that is supposedly of above average intelligence, his internal monologue comes off as moronic, rascist, sexist, and above all, unlikely. The starkest example being made clear during a standoff with four so described black panther appearing individuals. Really? What in the author's mind thinks this is reasonable? Yes, it's fiction but the first family of people of color end up with their father killed not long after being introduced. Then the second group, immediately penciled as aggressive and territorial, find themselves also killed because Zach is supposedly familiar with an obscure Swahili phrase the group of black people used before spring a trap. What rascist garbage.
Julie is also a conundrum to me. Despite being initially drawn as the 'spoiled brat' that insisted playing Xbox during the apocalypse, she is now the doting, make the coffee and dinner, zombie shooting, gangbang-with-my-boyfriend's-ex-girlfriend-after-drinking kind of wife that I am sure David Achord desperately wishes he could find. She is the least poorly developed character of these books and is merely there to see to Zach's nutritional and sexual needs. It is disgusting, cheap, and sad writing.
The final straw for me was with Andrea. She is perhaps my favorite character. Unfortunately, she suffers from PTSD due to an incestuous uncle. She is vulnerable and dealing with it as best as she can. However, the author chooses to focus on a suggested addiction to sex and all things sex. When Zach - presented with the opportunity to once again be painted as the hero and mentor he thinks he is - chooses to present Andy with a fucking vibrator for her birthday, I swore then and there that I could take no more.
I do not consider myself politically idealistic or woke, just a person that chooses to be open-minded and respectful to others. I do not care for outdated, prejudiced depictions of every character not a white male.
I am sorrowful that I spent so much time reading through these first 2.5 books only to be frustrated. I will regret not finding out what becomes of Fred whose story I found compelling. Life is just too short to be wasted reading something that makes me mad. I shall now resume my search for proper Zombie fiction.
This was absolutely bullshit. I fucking hated it. I stayed up till three in the morning reading this shit. Okay, it's not shit. It was really good. But i stayed up only to read about all my favorite characters dying. And the ending is such a cliff hanger. Like, what the fuck. Seriously? If there is anyway for David to salvage this story is to freaking bring Julie back to life and Fred and Rick and CURLY. MY GOD HE BETTER FUCKING BRING THE DOG BACK TO LIFE.
I'm literally about to cry. You can't just break a series long connection between a character and the reader like this. This is bullshit. Plus the replacement for Julie was Kelly?!?! How the hell did she become the second most important character in the story? Oh right. By killing off all the other important, loved characters. Thanks Obama. And David.
I'm going to kill a hoe. How does one end a book like the way he did? It sounded so final that it made me insecure about whether there will be a sequel. I noticed that there was. "The end" at the end of the book and i was wondering if it was just because of the new editions. So i bought the newer editions of zombie rules and z14 and they both also had the "the end" at the end of the book so that made me calm down a little. A little. It's just...i felt like it was a cliff hanger...but also a series finale.
It almost felt as if David just gave up near the end of the book and was like, "fuck this, I'ma just kill them all." It felt as if he really just didn't care anymore about the story. But then it also felt as if he set himself up for a really badass sequel with Zach going badass Rambo on the USMC dudes and saving his children...with Kelly. Or Zach could just not care (which it felt like in the journal chapter at the end) and live out the rest of his life with Kelly as his cum-dumpster.
It felt like he stopped caring at around when Chet, Tommy, Mac, and co. died. I was hella sad.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Two characters are mentioned several chapters before they appear in the book.
One character is mentioned living in the home before he is ever introduced.
Why in the bell does no one look for Z when he was kidnapped. Did they not care..think he ran away. ....got ate????
Some insite from Julie's perspective would have helped.
Too many groups added, too many characters, not enough character development. Even the characters that we had had since book one were flat in this book. No personality, no background, no reason to care
Once again, I was engrossed by the book and the pages practically turned themselves. Luckily, my Kindle battery wore out just as I finished the book...
I have listened to this series and I thought it was alright not great and not horrible just ok, but now this has evolved into the Walking Dead, but worse. But worse you mask in the walking dead tv show not the well-written comic. They killed one character usual to boost it rating which was bad, but at least you saw it this they just killed they nuked them out of existence off-screen or page we first seen this when Tommy Joe and few others in the stupidest way. Well the bridge was not good they drive crash and burned and I'm scratching my head if the bridge look shitty hasn't been maintaining in how many months or years don't drive, but character lack basic common sense and they had a corporal in the Army. So, now older men with different skills lack basic sense with the almighty Zack, and then they had some weird character shifts which didn't make much sense base on the storyline how quickly they shifted. Then the last part of the TWD B.S. was the military or the marines now I don't know why marines would be running this it's usually the Army. But what odder is there no hint the government was even kicking I mean all signs from the National Guard to the Army guys at Fort Campbell originally all pointed to they were gone, but then suddenly they appear out of nowhere and then Zack just hands over his blood. But then besides his best friend who betrays him for the reason of cliche purpose but the marines wipe all but three people which is even more cliche and off-screen again and the author leaves the most boring character alive. Kelly I mean he could have kept Julie alive but injured or captured but no she dies I mean they could have gone with Andy, but no Kelly. There is nothing consistent either as we hear the Marines had bradly which we have never seen in this point and make no logical standpoint, but then in next book, it states just armed Humvees which is it? Personally after the second book the series has went downhill as they read all the other and they have similar problems like killing characters off or no reason and we don't see it happened and even the military seem to lack basic sense in the later novel and oh yea definatly radical character mind set changes including the main one as he get a dream called plot device to change his mind which makes even more of the walking dead story line.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
George RR Martin has nothing on David Achord. Another fantastic book kept me interested the whole time . I really like how you'll be reading and just enjoying a nice smooth ride for a very long time and then out of nowhere Bam! You get hit we some crazy part of the story.
I'm not sure if it's a good thing or bad thing but I do like how when something of importance happens it doesn't get drawn out . You're kind of just reading along and then all the sudden there it is , all has changed . Everything seemed to happen so suddenly that upon writing this review I'm still in awe of what I've read.
This is such a good series and for anyone wondering if they should keep on reading I would say yes! Hello, even go back and reread some of it .
I love this series. Great characters and I really love it when the story is told through the eyes of the main character, first person. But wow did this book 3 blow my mind. I know unexpected twists and turns make for a good story but you get so attached to these characters and when something bad happens to them it's such a big let down. This author is great though. Once i start reading it's so hard to put this series down. I recommend it to anyone who loves zombies, survivalist novels and just very good story telling. Much thanks to the author , this is becoming one of my favorite series!!
I'm blowing through this series, and really growing to love the main protagonist, Zach, even though everything about him makes me think he has seriously broken. In one of my previous reviews, I called him a prospective school shooter and a psychopath. In this review I'm going to just use broken. This teen is surviving the Zombie apocalypse by everything that has beaten him down and now calling him the ANTIHERO(punisher style) that everyone needs to be in their zombie universe.
Betrayal is the worst emotion a human feel, and no doubt Zach has experienced this this book. Don't be too trusting of strangers in a zombie apocalypse...ever. I made it through without shedding tears. A young man, now an adult has the weight of trying to find his children, his bloodlines, will he find them in time?
What a book. This second installment messed with my head. I will make a rule to never read just before bedtime. The ending was so sad heartbreaking even. SPOILER BELOO
All that work and friendship burned down in minutes. I love the whole story. Hate that the author cut my heart out. Well I’m on to book 4. I don’t know if it can beat this book. So many highs and low lows in this one.
Best book of the 3 so far, loved the first 2 books but everything changes in book 3. Loved reading every minute of it, it just gets better & better !! I totally recommend these Zombie Rule books, loving them!! Can’t wait to get started on 4, 5 and 6 🥰😍
This was better. If for nothing else than the action and sadness. It doesn't compare to The Dead series by TW Brown but it's okay. I cried throughout that series. This one just made me sad but I obviously am not as invested.
I'm so mad. Book two had some cringey dialogue but book three has full out been written by someone who has never interacted with a woman. I really wanted to read the whole series. But now I hope they all die
Even if this book is as well written and entertaining as the previous one, I hated the turn it took! What the hell!? The author did near exactly the same thing as they did on « The Walking Dead » and that is why I loose interest in that series after a few seasons.
Bit of a roller coaster of character introduction then destruction. Nothing stays the same and changes are intense. Diversity is stereotypical and misogyny pervasive.