Revelation

Dead Awake #5

by Rob Ulitski

Egglemore is out of control. With the military withdrawing and any chance of survival looking increasingly unlikely, residents are forced into broken factions, doing whatever it takes to make it out alive. Lingering secrets are brought to the surface, as the survivors face their toughest challenge yet.

If you come into contact with the infected, don’t go to sleep.

Genres: Horror

196 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 20, 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]

I really like how the series is slowly leaving the typical zombie motif behind, introducing bit by bit differences which will probably determine the whole meaning of the specific kind of "infection" at issue in the books. The Dead Awake conception of "zombie" has already been fundamentally radicalized by revealing the infected as locked in a sort of lucid dreaming state (or better: a state of constant nightmare), but the last two books seem to go for something even more interesting: the infected show willing to communicate - and at least one asks to be put down! This is coupled with this volume's reveal of the real purpose of the virus, the government's atrocious mishandling of the rescue mission, the military finally giving up on Egglemore, and one important character kicking the bucket, while yet another succumbing to the infection. Lots of killings in this one! Though I personally am starting to find all the characters unlikeable: surviving has changed them so much!

The cliffhanger ending was perfect. Everything is up on the air, and we're one day from Egglemore getting napalmed to bits. Who will make it out alive?

[Sarahsbookishthoughts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Rob for an arc of this book!

Just when you think things can't any crazier, the stakes are raised even higher. The pace of the story just continues to increase, the plot escalating more and more until you reach a dramatic cliffhanger that will nicely lead you into what will be the last book of the series. This pacing is helped further by the short chapters and the multiple points of view, which is something I have thoroughly enjoyed in the series as we get to see how all different kinds of people cope with the nightmare that is unfolding before them. The intertwining point of views is again done seamlessly and with ease, making it seem like a natural and organic meeting etc rather than forced for the sake of a storyline.

If you love gore then this series is definitely a series for you. This book especially does not hold back with the violence and the explicit descriptions of brutality and savagery that are occurring on the streets and in the buildings of Egglemore.

I really cannot recommend this series enough and I'm so excited (and also a little sad) to read the final book. It has been an absolutely wild ride from the start and everyone needs to experience it for themselves.

[Jarryd Kalideen · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fine example of an author somehow, inexplicably making readers dislike characters. Due to poor writing and story telling.

Maggie, who's been a pretty good character thus far, suddenly starts blaming Rhea & Gregory for Claire's infection. When it was her idiotic, poorly raised (deaf) daughter that ran away on her own. Through the whole escapade, fat frumpy Maggie escapes every bullet. Gregory's rifle misfires, but everything she fires is just fine. Yeah nah man that's too coincidental. In my view, it's bad writing to get Maggie to blame Gregory instead of the fool of a daughter. He didn't kill Claire or harm her at all.

Sonia, after all she's done, how she's treated people - now is on a high horse who's "sick of being told what to do by men with fragile egos", and who's "doing the real work to try and actually save people's lives here." That's rich, and also badly written. Consider, her attitude at the beginning when she didn't give a hoot at all the death around her. She wanted more time, knowing thousands more would die. The supposed " fragile "man here is the one who she needs to create a cure. Oh the irony.

Maggie then becomes so dead set on murdering Gregory, she doesn't care about a cure or anything. If the author thought that she'd be getting some sympathy from the reader with the whole 'vengeful mother' nonsense, he'll be very disappointed.


Additonally, to the author - there are other words to use besides "spat". You don't have to use the same word 75 times.

[Sharron Joy Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The true horror of what the drug trials were intended for is exposed as the government prepares to pull out of Egglemore. The infected become more lucid but are still bloodthirsty and vicious. The survivors battle on, either to get revenge or escape the nightmare.

At Lifelong Laboratories Dr Sawyer puts her plan into action, to make them pay for the death of her family and save her research. Alice finally puts her journalistic talents to she hopes, good use, Todd fights for his life, Maggie is on a mission to make them all pay especially cult leader, Gregory who might just be the key to saving the infected and someone finally gets what they deserve.

This was exceptional and I read it in one sitting, pulse pounding action from the start it lives up to its title, revelation, as they come thick and fast here. So excited for the explosive finale in book 6.

This is zombies as you have never seen them before and the alternating character perspective chapters make this a fast paced and thrilling story.

[Reads_Must · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revelation
Dead Awake #5
Post-apocalyptic
Rob Ulitski
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

• ʀᴇꜱᴄᴜᴇ • ꜱᴄʜᴇᴍɪɴɢ • ᴄᴏʀʀᴜᴘᴛɪᴏɴ •

I've really enjoyed reading this series so far and I like the way the plot has progressed throughout the different books.

All of the characters have changed and grown with each book, including the bonds certain characters share.

I'm glad that Rowan got what he deserved. He was a vile man before the outbreak, but after he was bitten and carried the virus, he was even worse, and his only goal was to inflict pain.

I'm so curious about Alice and what the virus might be changing her into, or if she has some kind of immunity to it, etc.

The pacing was consistent, which helped to keep me engaged and interested.

I'm really looking forward to the next book.

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

The infection in Egglemore has reached breaking point. With the military pulling out and order collapsing, survivors are forced into desperate alliances just to stay alive. Secrets buried since the early days of the outbreak finally rise to the surface...

This fifth instalment in the Dead Awake saga keeps the tension high and the pace relentless. The story moves quickly between the chaos on the streets and the fight inside the labs. A bloody, intense ride through Egglemore’s deadly and warped reality, Revelation delivers on its name and builds perfectly toward what’s sure to be an exciting and explosive finale.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It finally amped up!

This is probably the best book in the series since book 1. We finally got some action that wasn't half a chapter, and there was a risk galore.

We finally said goodbye to Rowan (thank god) and his death was as gruesome and horrible as I hoped it would be. Todd finally got rid of his fear and fought back harder than ever before. Sonia and Maggie are both on a rampage to get to what they want without caring about anybody else, which is causing horrific consequences.

I'm excited for the last book as I really have no idea what'll happen, going to start it now.

7/10.

[Lozz Jesson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The infection of Egglemore continues.
DR Saywer is fighting her way through the company to find a cure as new information came about. Apparently someone is immune to the virus so Sonia is doing everything in her power to find out the truth.

Todd is on the hunt to find Maggie before Egglemore is no more. Will he find her? What about Claire?

Oh Lordy this book. I loved it and I’m gunna be so damn sad when it comes to an end.

[Gladys Olmo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has more mayhem. Some of the infected seem to be changing. Many of the survivors are more dangerous than the infected.