Overrun

Dead Awake #2

by Rob Ulitski

The clock is ticking...After the devastating Noxidone outbreak topples Egglemore, the city’s survivors face insurmountable odds in their search for safety. Violence spreads, society fractures, and families are torn apart as the population wakes up to a deadly new threat. With sleep as the enemy and the outbreak evolving, nowhere is safe.

Don’t go to sleep.

202 pages, Paperback

First published July 25, 2025

About the author

Rob writes visceral, concept-driven horror stories, anchored by complex characters and offbeat narratives.

Born in Portsmouth, UK, Rob received his bachelor of arts in Film Production from the University for the Creative Arts in Farnham. Having trained in filmmaking, and working as a director and producer on everything from music videos to shorts to feature-length anthology films, Rob’s official writing journey started in 2020.

When not writing, he can be found watching cheesy 90s films, baking cakes and haunting local bookstores.

Reviews

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in the six-part "Dead Awake" series is far more fast-paced than the first, it's crammed with intruiging deep secrets and mysterious new developments I for one never saw coming, and it ups the ante by turning the infected into a different kind of flesh-hungry zombie than the one we're mostly familiar with! However, the story still remains very much an absorbing survivors' saga, since we're still in the middle of getting to know the eight main characters: at least one of them is keeping some crucial information to the whole thing, while another reveal themselves to be far more sophisticated than initially thought. And, of course, noone is safe; so be prepared for several ugly moments of brutish nastiness, betrayals, last minute escapes, and gore and violence!

The variety of the large cast, from a teenage girl and her mom to a functional psychopath, a scientist with an agenda, and a kind homeless guy, complicates the story at every turn. Add the peculiar nature of the infection ravaging the people in the book -activated by sleep, a brilliant idea- and the book reads like a high concept version of The Walking Dead on speed!

However, I have a hunch this tale is not really moving over well-trodden zombie territory: there are hints of something more mysterious going on. So perhaps it'd be best if one went blind into the book: just take a leap into the unknown, exactly like most of the characters do in the story itself! You won't regret it! They probably will though lol

[Sue and her books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Egglemore's nightmare deepens as the outbreak overruns the city. Curfews crumble as twitching corpses swarm the streets, most of the population has fallen to their ravenous appetite for flesh, and sleep itself becomes a death sentence. Society shatters under the uncontrollable violence, families are torn apart and every corner hides a brutal fight for survival.

Days 2 & 3 crank up the chaos: nonstop action on every page, gruesome deaths and revelations - only slight glimpses of hope shining through the carnage. We learn more about our ragged group of survivors - what moves them, their intentions and reasons to stay alive, while the veil begins to lift on the force pulling the strings behind the outbreak.

Another visceral, relentless segment of zombie horror goodness.

[Chiara Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in the zombie series by Rob Ulitski delivers again, this time delving deeper into the different characters’ stories, whilst also expertly developing the plot more.

I often find that zombie stories can just be about the gore and focus only on the virus side with a very shallow plot, also sometimes overlooking the human side. This is what sets this series apart as not only is the plot complex, but there is a lot of character exploration and development.

In this second book the author entices the reader with a possible conspiracy, secrets and cold scientists, never revealing too much, whilst the town of Egglemore falls into chaos more and more.
I must say that I love following the parallel vicissitudes of all the characters navigating this crisis and I can’t wait to see what happens with Rowan and Alice (iykyk), after that cliffhanger!!

I suggest reading these books in order as you’d miss important information otherwise, and I also encourage you to get on this series asap! They’re not long reads at all and you’ll thank me later.

Thanks to the author for a copy and this is my honest opinion.

[Sarahsbookishthoughts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you to rob for allowing me to read an advanced copy!

The second book in the series continues on straight after the events of the first book and it dives straight into the action, this book doesn’t allow you a moment to breathe. Just as things seemed to have calmed down for a moment, BOOM, something else immediately happens.

I really loved delving further into the different characters, especially seeing how they are coping and dealing with the emerging situation. Each character has their own unique qualities and personalities that keeps the story interesting and fun. The book is also left on yet another great little cliffhanger which leaves you wanting more.

As always, the book is really well written, plenty of violence, plenty of gore. It keeps the short chapters and the fast paced nature of the first book which leaves it impossible to put down.

If you haven’t already, check out ‘Dead Awake: Collapse’ which is the first book in the series to see how it all starts! Once you get started with this series, you’ll be hooked and you will be counting down the days till the release of the next book just like I am!

[Kayley Bridgman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Awake: Overrun takes the story to the next level with faster pacing, more action, and even scarier infected. The infection being activated by sleep is still super original, and this sequel adds new twists that keep things fresh.

The pool of characters is diverse and interesting—each character has secrets, and no one feels truly safe. There are betrayals, last-minute escapes, and plenty of gore, but it never feels overdone. Having multiple characters like this may make it difficult to follow sometimes but Ulitski does an incredible job at keeping the flow going so you never really lose track of who’s perspective you’re in.

While answering some questions from the first book, it also creates so many more with deeper development beginning to unfold in front of you. I can’t wait for the next instalment, Dead Awake has me hooked with every page i don’t want to put it down!

[Jessie Raven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following on from the last book, even more disruption occurs, families are broken apart and no one is safe.

This one leaps into the action much quicker than the first of the series. Loads of twists in this one that I didn’t think would happen which was a good surprise! We are still understanding our survivors and getting to know our main characters. Several brutal moments, gore, violence, and edge of your seat escapes. This has an eerie feel to it. I don’t think this is your average zombie story and there is more to this than meets the eye. Will have to wait and see! Loving the series so far and looking forward to the next one!

[Reads_Must · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overrun
Dead Awake #2
Post-apocalyptic
Rob Ulitski
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

• ᴍᴜʟᴛɪᴘʟᴇ ᴘᴏᴠꜱ • ʀᴀᴄᴇ ᴀɢᴀɪɴꜱᴛ ᴛɪᴍᴇ • ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅ ꜰᴀᴍɪʟʏ •

This is the second book in the Dead Awake series and it was just as good as the first book.

Some new characters were introduced and they fit in well with the other POVs. I even liked Rowan, even though he's a POS, just because of how well he's written.

The pacing was good and I liked how the atmosphere was constantly tense. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I'm so curious about the roles different organisations played in the infection spreading

[Jen Ramsden · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the sequel to the first book, this picks up the fast paced action and keeps on going. The characters get more developed and nuanced, and the dangers they face are just as bad- if not worse than the first book! If I had one complaint, its how could Rob leave it on such a cliffhanger!?! I need the third book now as I'm desperate to know what happens next!

[Emily Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Egglemore is overrun with infected. A few survivors are trying to find safety. Is anywhere really safe? Pulse pounding zombie thriller.

[Sharron Joy Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The survivors are still in mortal danger, the infected are changing and seemingly unstoppable. Egglemoor has fallen to the Noxidone virus and the authorities struggle to keep it contained.

In the second book of this six book series the survivors continue to fight for their lives and the people responsible for the outbreak come out of the shadows. The infected become more organised and aggressive and the gore and violence get worse.

The dead and infected increase and lawlessness rules Egglemoor, groups of survivors form and rule by violence and fear.
The mob mentality and how people react to disaster is played out so well, you really find out who people are when survival is everything. Their basic humanity is diminished as they operate on pure instinct.

Each chapter is from the point of view of eight characters. Alice the journalist travelling to get the scoop on what is happening from Olive, daughter of the scientist, Sonia. Charles, homeless and compassionate, Rowan, a long distance lorry driver with a temper, Maggie, just wanting to protect her daughter, Claire and Todd, a teenager who has nowhere else to go. They are seemingly ordinary people in an extraordinary situation just trying to survive but they all have secrets and some of them are explosive. Excellent!