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The Remaining #5
Allegiance
This is the fifth, never-before-published, novel in the action-packed series following Special Forces Captain Lee Harden and a group of survivors struggling to survive while rebuilding an America devastated by a bacterium that has turned 90% of the population into a ravenous horde.
"Through an overwhelming storm of pain and adversity Captain Lee Harden has fought and survived. But his mission continues.
Recovering from his wounds, mental and physical, he must rally his companions at Camp Ryder and push back against the still swarming hordes of the infected that threaten to extinguish an already devastated society.
"Book 1: "The Remaining"
Book 2: "The Aftermath"
Book 3: "The Refugees"
Book 4: "The Fractured"Book 5: " The Allegiance"Book 6: " The Extinction""
"Novella 1: "The Trust"Novella 2: "The Faith"
"Through an overwhelming storm of pain and adversity Captain Lee Harden has fought and survived. But his mission continues.
Recovering from his wounds, mental and physical, he must rally his companions at Camp Ryder and push back against the still swarming hordes of the infected that threaten to extinguish an already devastated society.
"Book 1: "The Remaining"
Book 2: "The Aftermath"
Book 3: "The Refugees"
Book 4: "The Fractured"Book 5: " The Allegiance"Book 6: " The Extinction""
"Novella 1: "The Trust"Novella 2: "The Faith"
569 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 24, 2015
247 people are currently reading
1146 people want to read
About the author
D.J. Molles
45 books1,431 followersD.J. Molles became a New York Times and USA today bestselling author while working full time as a police officer. He's since traded his badge for a keyboard to produce over 20 titles. When he's not writing, he's taking steps to make his North Carolina property self-sustainable, and training to be at least half as hard to kill as Lee Harden (his most popular protagonist).
Molles also enjoys playing his guitar and drums, drawing, cooking, and “shredding that green pow” on his Onewheel.
Most nights you can find him sitting on the couch surrounded by his dogs and family, trying to stream an hour of Netflix with his really sketchy satellite internet connection.
Are you interested in becoming a writer? I've started a video series called "Lessons in Writing" which you can find on all my socials.
Follow on IG & FB @djmolles
TikTok @djmollesauthor
Molles also enjoys playing his guitar and drums, drawing, cooking, and “shredding that green pow” on his Onewheel.
Most nights you can find him sitting on the couch surrounded by his dogs and family, trying to stream an hour of Netflix with his really sketchy satellite internet connection.
Are you interested in becoming a writer? I've started a video series called "Lessons in Writing" which you can find on all my socials.
Follow on IG & FB @djmolles
TikTok @djmollesauthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
October 30, 2018
I started this series way back when it was a Kindle Deal of the Month on Amazon. The author was relatively unknown back then and it was cool to watch him going from zero to bestseller. The problem for me? I liked the beginning more. This goes for him as an indie author with the covers designed by his talented wife (and yes, he doesn't look too bad on those pictures either) as well as for the story itself.
It might be purely my own problem with such stories, especially about the zombie apocalypse, but at some point it gets too repetitive for me and I lose interest or investment in the characters. The outbreak and mad scrambling might simply be more interesting than what most writers (for movies and TV shows, too) do with the aftermath when people try to establish some form of new normalcy and bring civilisation back.
Where I was shell-shocked when Bus and the others were killed by Jerry and all who sided with him, I'm now only annoyed by all the constant backstabbing.
Lee, too, is getting on my nerves because all he does is bitching and whining in inner monologues about how he has to carry on while all he wants to do is rest. This is a special forces soldier. Granted, not a Marine (which is pointed out in a funny way in this 5th novel) but still special forces (more about that later). I also understand that "wear and tear" from his various fights and encounters with the infected have left him physically tired on top of everything else but come on. If nothing else, he could finally train the others up together with Brian, and then delegate.
And it's not just Lee. People I respected so far for how they managed the various crises are all of a sudden moping and bitching and whining or betraying their friends for no reason whatsoever. Sure, some people would lose their shit but not all and not this late into the apocalypse. I especially loathe when the old point is made again of the infected being people, too, so we shouldn't kill them. *rolls eyes* Riiiiiight.
Thus, we get a constant barrage of boo-hoo this and boo-hoo that and everyone's suffering is unique and nobody wants to take responsibility for anything.
Case in point: what they did with that one guy who had sided with Jerry and survived Angela and Lee taking back the camp. The people in the camp voted not to kill him because that would be wrong. We're talking about a sadistic murderer who also knew every secret of the camp and who could therefore have (and would have if you ask me) gone to the enemy (there are survivors who think they are "warriors of god", raping teenage girls as well as adult women to "bless them with their seed"), thus threatening the security of Camp Ryder. But they banished him from the camp - equalling a death sentence but keeping their own hands clean. *bangs head against the wall*
Then there is the dragging out of the inevitable. Like with the USMC showing up but only fiddling their thumbs. Really? Are you shitting me? With that arsenal (not just tanks but also planes) they certainly wouldn't waste any time but blast the infected into oblivion faster than you can say Presidential Election - and those sick shitheads along with them.
As for Project Hometown that nobody in the chain of command knows about (riiiiight), I was more than unpleasantly surprised how wimpy they all were. I mean, of course they are still human but soldiers trained SPECIFICALLY for such a scenario? I know that not even the best plan survives first enemy contact, but even if we only look at their "strategies" here and how some of them react to physical torture ... uhm ... while I believe that eventually every human breaks under torture, I doubt a guy like the major would break that fast and innerly freak out the way he did even before the torture started. At least I hope so.
So not much happens in this book except for various groups talking to one another, some bridges finally being blown up (most of them not even correctly), the horde coming nearer but there still not being a final battle, more talking, more inner monologues about how tortured the respective character is ...
Thus, there were only a few moments throughout this book where I had either fun or was emotionally invested at all. Namely when/how . Sadly, that is not enough though.
Unfortunately, I'm also guessing that we won't really get a resolution to the big and weird questions posed since the 4th book since I heard there will be a sort-of end to this series after book 6 but then the author will continue with kind of a spin-off (still with Lee as the MC). Meh.
Since I have this OCD regarding not DNFing a book and the inner urge to finish the series (hoping against hope for some actual and satisfying ending), I'll read book 6 today but after that, I'm done. I really don't know what happened because I used to love the series and always looked forward to the next installment.
P.S.: I kept imagining poor Deuce sitting there, watching all the humans and thinking to himself "What the fuck did I do to deserve ending up with these morons?!"
It might be purely my own problem with such stories, especially about the zombie apocalypse, but at some point it gets too repetitive for me and I lose interest or investment in the characters. The outbreak and mad scrambling might simply be more interesting than what most writers (for movies and TV shows, too) do with the aftermath when people try to establish some form of new normalcy and bring civilisation back.
Where I was shell-shocked when Bus and the others were killed by Jerry and all who sided with him, I'm now only annoyed by all the constant backstabbing.
Lee, too, is getting on my nerves because all he does is bitching and whining in inner monologues about how he has to carry on while all he wants to do is rest. This is a special forces soldier. Granted, not a Marine (which is pointed out in a funny way in this 5th novel) but still special forces (more about that later). I also understand that "wear and tear" from his various fights and encounters with the infected have left him physically tired on top of everything else but come on. If nothing else, he could finally train the others up together with Brian, and then delegate.
And it's not just Lee. People I respected so far for how they managed the various crises are all of a sudden moping and bitching and whining or betraying their friends for no reason whatsoever. Sure, some people would lose their shit but not all and not this late into the apocalypse. I especially loathe when the old point is made again of the infected being people, too, so we shouldn't kill them. *rolls eyes* Riiiiiight.
Thus, we get a constant barrage of boo-hoo this and boo-hoo that and everyone's suffering is unique and nobody wants to take responsibility for anything.
Case in point: what they did with that one guy who had sided with Jerry and survived Angela and Lee taking back the camp. The people in the camp voted not to kill him because that would be wrong. We're talking about a sadistic murderer who also knew every secret of the camp and who could therefore have (and would have if you ask me) gone to the enemy (there are survivors who think they are "warriors of god", raping teenage girls as well as adult women to "bless them with their seed"), thus threatening the security of Camp Ryder. But they banished him from the camp - equalling a death sentence but keeping their own hands clean. *bangs head against the wall*
Then there is the dragging out of the inevitable. Like with the USMC showing up but only fiddling their thumbs. Really? Are you shitting me? With that arsenal (not just tanks but also planes) they certainly wouldn't waste any time but blast the infected into oblivion faster than you can say Presidential Election - and those sick shitheads along with them.
As for Project Hometown that nobody in the chain of command knows about (riiiiight), I was more than unpleasantly surprised how wimpy they all were. I mean, of course they are still human but soldiers trained SPECIFICALLY for such a scenario? I know that not even the best plan survives first enemy contact, but even if we only look at their "strategies" here and how some of them react to physical torture ... uhm ... while I believe that eventually every human breaks under torture, I doubt a guy like the major would break that fast and innerly freak out the way he did even before the torture started. At least I hope so.
So not much happens in this book except for various groups talking to one another, some bridges finally being blown up (most of them not even correctly), the horde coming nearer but there still not being a final battle, more talking, more inner monologues about how tortured the respective character is ...
Thus, there were only a few moments throughout this book where I had either fun or was emotionally invested at all. Namely when/how . Sadly, that is not enough though.
Unfortunately, I'm also guessing that we won't really get a resolution to the big and weird questions posed since the 4th book since I heard there will be a sort-of end to this series after book 6 but then the author will continue with kind of a spin-off (still with Lee as the MC). Meh.
Since I have this OCD regarding not DNFing a book and the inner urge to finish the series (hoping against hope for some actual and satisfying ending), I'll read book 6 today but after that, I'm done. I really don't know what happened because I used to love the series and always looked forward to the next installment.
P.S.: I kept imagining poor Deuce sitting there, watching all the humans and thinking to himself "What the fuck did I do to deserve ending up with these morons?!"
February 19, 2022
'Allegiance' is another exciting edition of The Remaining series. Lee Harden has noticed a 180º shift in the personalities of the remaining humans. Both his closest confidants and the many others who have become part of Camp Ryder. They are worn out and losing a grip on their humanity - almost becoming as feral in their personalities as the "hunters" (a.k.a. zombies) they flee and fear. He has lost his patience and has no tolerance for those who do not want to carry their weight and hide from any task which puts them at risk. One of the main characters has gone off on his own after murdering (in cold blood) another key member of the group - now part of a group of hostiles, and trying to figure out a way to fit in to survive, and ultimately get away.
The ending was very exciting with a huge life and death battle against the "hunters." Looking forward to book #6.
Kudos to Christian Rummel on his consistently supreme narrative skills.
The ending was very exciting with a huge life and death battle against the "hunters." Looking forward to book #6.
Kudos to Christian Rummel on his consistently supreme narrative skills.
October 5, 2018
Mil-SF porn. Maybe light on the SF and more on the Mil-Horror, but truth is truth. It is porn. Gunporn.
At least this time we have less community-strife and concentrate the strife on military action, intra-military action, and even a bit with the tactics.
Everything else, however, is only sporadic zombie action except when we deal with mass-death stuff.
Was this enjoyable? Some. Somewhat more than the last one.
The point is, I'm enjoying my zombie action when it happens. I'm especially enjoying this particular variant on the zombie myth. Being alive, more like 28 days later, babies even. Evolving like resident evil. You know, that kind of thing is awesome. It brings me back to Night of the Living Dead series. :) So yeah, I'm still good to catch up with the series, but I can't say I'm super thrilled with all the mil-porn stuff. *sigh*
At least this time we have less community-strife and concentrate the strife on military action, intra-military action, and even a bit with the tactics.
Everything else, however, is only sporadic zombie action except when we deal with mass-death stuff.
Was this enjoyable? Some. Somewhat more than the last one.
The point is, I'm enjoying my zombie action when it happens. I'm especially enjoying this particular variant on the zombie myth. Being alive, more like 28 days later, babies even. Evolving like resident evil. You know, that kind of thing is awesome. It brings me back to Night of the Living Dead series. :) So yeah, I'm still good to catch up with the series, but I can't say I'm super thrilled with all the mil-porn stuff. *sigh*
March 9, 2015
Another awesome installment. Love this series. One of my top 3 favorite zombie series.
Unfortunately many of the other reviews are right. Unless you read the last one right before this book, or have a ultra human memory getting into the story is confusing. It took me a while to figure out who was who and what their background stories were. I think I was on chapter 10 or 11 before I could keep them straight. I feel like he needs to start these books with a "previously on The Remaining:..." recap just to catch us all up so we don't flounder through the first few chapters.
Unfortunately many of the other reviews are right. Unless you read the last one right before this book, or have a ultra human memory getting into the story is confusing. It took me a while to figure out who was who and what their background stories were. I think I was on chapter 10 or 11 before I could keep them straight. I feel like he needs to start these books with a "previously on The Remaining:..." recap just to catch us all up so we don't flounder through the first few chapters.
June 12, 2015
I dropped this book at 60%. I loved this series but this book really dragged for me. Too much politics and non zombie stuff. not enough savagery and flesh ripping!
Still love Molles though, can't wait to see what's next.
Still love Molles though, can't wait to see what's next.
April 14, 2025
FINALLY! I have been waiting so long for some answers to this series.....I didn't get any though. This series is still one of the best and I was so enthralled with the story I finished it in two days. I'm just personally disappointed that I now have to wait until July to read the final installment.
The characters and enemies and even the potential allies have all made their choices and now all stand on the sides you saw them drifting towards since the beginning and now its epic showdown time....I am jumping up and down with giddy excitement for the conclusion.....don't fail me now D. J. Molles!!!!!!!
The characters and enemies and even the potential allies have all made their choices and now all stand on the sides you saw them drifting towards since the beginning and now its epic showdown time....I am jumping up and down with giddy excitement for the conclusion.....don't fail me now D. J. Molles!!!!!!!
April 4, 2015
I'm still enjoying it but I'd like to see the series end on a high note, as in another book or two, tops. Talented writer. He should start something new.
3.5
3.5
March 8, 2015
Most of this book was more slogging through story development without a lot really happening. In the year or so between when I finished the earlier books and 'Allegiance' got published, I'd forgotten every character except Lee Harden and maybe Marie. I mean, not a lot happens in this book. When my preordered copy of 'Allegiance' finally showed up on my kindle, I was excited, I was so ready to read the action-packed conclusion to The Remaining saga. And now, it feels like I just slogged through a whole book where the author is setting the stage for another novel. NO SURPRISE, the author mentions there will be another book in the afterwords of 'Allegiance'.
All your old characters that weren't killed are back. LaRouche, and Lee Harden, and Tomlin, Angela & Marie etc. And this book basically just tries to catch us up on what all these characters are doing in their various encampments/locations. There's one or two serious action nail-biting scenes, but everything else in this book just seems to be setting up plot development for the next book.
Whatever. I've read this far. I'll get the next book.
All your old characters that weren't killed are back. LaRouche, and Lee Harden, and Tomlin, Angela & Marie etc. And this book basically just tries to catch us up on what all these characters are doing in their various encampments/locations. There's one or two serious action nail-biting scenes, but everything else in this book just seems to be setting up plot development for the next book.
Whatever. I've read this far. I'll get the next book.
May 3, 2015
I can sum this book up in three words.
Generic. Boring. Bland.
I enjoyed the first few books in this series, now it just seems as though the author is stretching things out simply for the sake of stretching things out. This entire book really has no reason whatsoever to exist. The plot and the characters are in almost the exact same place they were at the end as they were in the beginning. You could probably skip this book when the next one comes out and not even notice the difference.
Generic. Boring. Bland.
I enjoyed the first few books in this series, now it just seems as though the author is stretching things out simply for the sake of stretching things out. This entire book really has no reason whatsoever to exist. The plot and the characters are in almost the exact same place they were at the end as they were in the beginning. You could probably skip this book when the next one comes out and not even notice the difference.
September 25, 2015
It was still a great book, just the weakest entry of The Remaining series. I will admit that it did feel like quite a bit of filler and overall, the majority of the book was a bit unnecessary. That being said, there are still plenty of the trademark adrenaline pumping action sequences and naturally, plenty of our favorite characters being killed in all manner of gruesome ways. We also got to learn a few more tidbits about Harden's backstory which is always a pleasure. I honestly do not have a clue as to how Molles intends to wrap up the series in the next book but I welcome it with open arms regardless.
March 2, 2015
I wish the author had done a better job of summarizing the plot up to the start of this book.
There were so many characters, in so many different stories, that I had a hard time remembering who anyone was or what their back story was. Made the story(ies) difficult to follow and care about.
I abandoned the book 1/4 of the way through.
Maybe if I had read the series all the way through, I would have had a different opinion.
There were so many characters, in so many different stories, that I had a hard time remembering who anyone was or what their back story was. Made the story(ies) difficult to follow and care about.
I abandoned the book 1/4 of the way through.
Maybe if I had read the series all the way through, I would have had a different opinion.
March 1, 2015
Seriously love this survival series. I can't wait for the next book!
March 30, 2017
This book was kinda boring although some important plot points happened. I guess we are gearing up for war against the zombies..that are coming over the bridges near Eden. Will Lee have to face off with the President trying to kill him and keep his secret bunkers? What will happen with LaRouche? We also lost some characters :( sniff... so going into Extinction...I'm wondering who will be extinct?
July 20, 2022
Not much to say about this one as it was more of a direct continuation of the last book. Son of the deaths and changes bummed me out but that is to be expected with good writing . The pacing on this was an overall improvement from the last book though .
September 23, 2017
Great series. This one had a much darker tone to it than the others. Very enjoyable story.
April 3, 2015
This is more of a 3.5 star rating, but since Goodreads STILL doesn't give us that option, and since this wasn't the best in the series, I'm rounding down and giving it 3 stars.
Now, with that disclaimer out of the way, let's start with the good stuff:
Molles's writing has improved tremendously over the last 5 books. He was never a bad author by any means, but man, those first 2 books were rough. Full of clunky dialogue and horrendously overused cliches, plus cookie-cutter characters who made horrible choices and were hard to sympathize with. Here though, (as with the previous book), things have gotten a lot better. Sure, there's still some mistakes here and there and there are still a few instances of the previously mentioned cliches (not to mention annoying and repeated description) but for the most part, it's far a few between. The action scenes are better and the characters are more fleshed out and realistic (as much as can be in a zombie apocalypse series). And, as in number 4, the desperation and lack of anything good seeming to happen to everyone, gives this a more gritty and real feeling.
Now the bad:
This book is slow. Much like Refugees was. There's no a whole lot of action taking place in these 550 pages. Instead it's replaced with the same boring politics and same settings we were introduced to way bak in the beginning. It's like we are perpetually stuck in Camp Ryder. Of course, that's always bad, since most novels do require a central place, but c'mon, I'd really like to move beyond the 30 mile range this whole series seems to be set in. And even then, Molles could have tried to make things exciting, though it seems he chose (or the editor or publisher) to replace all that with teenage drama as an appeal to the younger audiences or something.
Then there are the multiple storylines that are going on. I'm all for those because who wants to follow one character throughout a 500+ page book, but God, they get confusing here. There's the Camp Ryder story, there's one about blowing up bridges (with 2 different groups who are basically interchangeable), one about Abe Darabie, one about Tomlin, one about the kids in the camp, you get the idea. And it's even more confusing when the characters are all basically the same person over and over again. At times I had to stop and think about who's story I was reading since all the names and plot lines were so similar.
And finally, I just wish this one could have either been tacked onto the end of Fractured or expanded with the upcoming Extinction so that the series would have one less book to read. I'm all for long series, though not when the book I'm reading seems almost entirely unnecessary. I felt this was more of the publisher's choice to eke out some more cash and get us readers to cough up another 10 bucks for the next one.
Like I said, Allegiance wasn't horrible, it was just boring. I suppose that could be because its predecessor was so much better (as there always seems to be that ONE book in a series that is the best), but whatever the reason, I was unimpressed with it. Here's to hoping that the final conclusion makes up for all the time I've spent in the series.
Now, with that disclaimer out of the way, let's start with the good stuff:
Molles's writing has improved tremendously over the last 5 books. He was never a bad author by any means, but man, those first 2 books were rough. Full of clunky dialogue and horrendously overused cliches, plus cookie-cutter characters who made horrible choices and were hard to sympathize with. Here though, (as with the previous book), things have gotten a lot better. Sure, there's still some mistakes here and there and there are still a few instances of the previously mentioned cliches (not to mention annoying and repeated description) but for the most part, it's far a few between. The action scenes are better and the characters are more fleshed out and realistic (as much as can be in a zombie apocalypse series). And, as in number 4, the desperation and lack of anything good seeming to happen to everyone, gives this a more gritty and real feeling.
Now the bad:
This book is slow. Much like Refugees was. There's no a whole lot of action taking place in these 550 pages. Instead it's replaced with the same boring politics and same settings we were introduced to way bak in the beginning. It's like we are perpetually stuck in Camp Ryder. Of course, that's always bad, since most novels do require a central place, but c'mon, I'd really like to move beyond the 30 mile range this whole series seems to be set in. And even then, Molles could have tried to make things exciting, though it seems he chose (or the editor or publisher) to replace all that with teenage drama as an appeal to the younger audiences or something.
Then there are the multiple storylines that are going on. I'm all for those because who wants to follow one character throughout a 500+ page book, but God, they get confusing here. There's the Camp Ryder story, there's one about blowing up bridges (with 2 different groups who are basically interchangeable), one about Abe Darabie, one about Tomlin, one about the kids in the camp, you get the idea. And it's even more confusing when the characters are all basically the same person over and over again. At times I had to stop and think about who's story I was reading since all the names and plot lines were so similar.
And finally, I just wish this one could have either been tacked onto the end of Fractured or expanded with the upcoming Extinction so that the series would have one less book to read. I'm all for long series, though not when the book I'm reading seems almost entirely unnecessary. I felt this was more of the publisher's choice to eke out some more cash and get us readers to cough up another 10 bucks for the next one.
Like I said, Allegiance wasn't horrible, it was just boring. I suppose that could be because its predecessor was so much better (as there always seems to be that ONE book in a series that is the best), but whatever the reason, I was unimpressed with it. Here's to hoping that the final conclusion makes up for all the time I've spent in the series.
August 11, 2015
I fear D.J. Molles waited too long between this book and the previous release coupled with the author doing a poor job in brining a recap into the first few chapters. As a consequence, the first half of the book is lost in the reader trying to piece together, from memory, the back story.
I also felt that the first half was dragged out, a lot of inconsequential filler that I suspect was an attempt to spread the ending over two books rather than one. This extended to this book not having a natural climax as was enjoyed in the previous books and instead felt like the end of a chapter rather than the end of a complete book (that at the same time supports an overarching storyline).
In saying that, the second half of this book did see a return to the action enjoyed in previous books and peaked sufficiently for me to want to quickly read the 6th and final installment.
I suspect D.J. Molles time could have been better served (as an author) focusing on this book rather than the short stories he released between book 4 and book 5 and this rating is reflective of the shortcomings that have resulted from that delay and competing priority.
Still a fantastic series despite the failing of book 5.
I also felt that the first half was dragged out, a lot of inconsequential filler that I suspect was an attempt to spread the ending over two books rather than one. This extended to this book not having a natural climax as was enjoyed in the previous books and instead felt like the end of a chapter rather than the end of a complete book (that at the same time supports an overarching storyline).
In saying that, the second half of this book did see a return to the action enjoyed in previous books and peaked sufficiently for me to want to quickly read the 6th and final installment.
I suspect D.J. Molles time could have been better served (as an author) focusing on this book rather than the short stories he released between book 4 and book 5 and this rating is reflective of the shortcomings that have resulted from that delay and competing priority.
Still a fantastic series despite the failing of book 5.
August 25, 2016
One more in the Lee Harden saga......
If you haven't read this series from the beginning, go back and start, it's worth it. There are tons of end-of-the-world-due-to-contagion series, this, and the Arisen by Michael Stephen Fuchs are my favorites, and I've tried quite a few of them. By book five, we've seen Capt. Lee Harden, part of a government back up plan called Homestead, come out of his bunker to a supremely messed up world. He fights infected, hunters (zombies with a really bad attitude), and, of course, humanity trying to cope with it all. Along the way he does what he has to do, saves many people, kills many, and generally does what he has to do. He is a hero, but relatable. He is not a Clive Cussler type of chiseled superman (although that's fun too), by book five he's scarred, hurt, and weary. Makes more sense that way, his world really sucks.
Zombie novels are my summer reads, so to speak, they're easy and fun. But that doesn't excuse them from a good plot and relatable characters, and this series has both.
Now, on to book 11 of the Arisen series then i'll circle around back to book six of this one. Zombie variety is the spice of life, y'know.......
If you haven't read this series from the beginning, go back and start, it's worth it. There are tons of end-of-the-world-due-to-contagion series, this, and the Arisen by Michael Stephen Fuchs are my favorites, and I've tried quite a few of them. By book five, we've seen Capt. Lee Harden, part of a government back up plan called Homestead, come out of his bunker to a supremely messed up world. He fights infected, hunters (zombies with a really bad attitude), and, of course, humanity trying to cope with it all. Along the way he does what he has to do, saves many people, kills many, and generally does what he has to do. He is a hero, but relatable. He is not a Clive Cussler type of chiseled superman (although that's fun too), by book five he's scarred, hurt, and weary. Makes more sense that way, his world really sucks.
Zombie novels are my summer reads, so to speak, they're easy and fun. But that doesn't excuse them from a good plot and relatable characters, and this series has both.
Now, on to book 11 of the Arisen series then i'll circle around back to book six of this one. Zombie variety is the spice of life, y'know.......
February 28, 2015
D.J. Molles you continue to not disappoint. This is the fifth book in the series The Remaining. It had tons of the pulse pounding excitement the series is known for. Our hero is not the same man that he was. He is battered both emotionally and physically and still he has to make the hard choices. He does not disappoint. There are so many plot lines all leading to a huge climax. The zombies are not as prevalent in this installment as they have been in the past. It is more a story of man kinds survival and less about one of the greatest threats out there.
I am excited for the final installment coming later this year. My only concern is if it will wrap up all the loose ends satisfactorily I understand life isn't pretty and I do not expect a magical happy ending. However with all the plot lines going on I believe that he could have easily carried over at least to more books. Just off the top of my head I see at least three different threats that need to be resolved in the next book. That is combining several threats into the category of the infected.
The Remaining: Extinction can not come soon enough.
I am excited for the final installment coming later this year. My only concern is if it will wrap up all the loose ends satisfactorily I understand life isn't pretty and I do not expect a magical happy ending. However with all the plot lines going on I believe that he could have easily carried over at least to more books. Just off the top of my head I see at least three different threats that need to be resolved in the next book. That is combining several threats into the category of the infected.
The Remaining: Extinction can not come soon enough.
March 6, 2015
2.5 stars. As far as zombie series go this is pretty cool. Unfortunately that doesn't necessarily mean the author is that talented. The inner monologues were stupid, simple and repetitive. He doesn't really have any complex or intelligent characters. It's just a bland book, culminating in a forced finale where the hero goes on a pointless (and predictable) run to save another character and is saved just in the nick of time from dying himself. Felt like a half ass effort.
November 29, 2015
Unputdownable.
March 11, 2015
Not as good as the rest
For how long this one took to be released it was disappointing. It dragged on forever with so much filler unlike all the rest.
For how long this one took to be released it was disappointing. It dragged on forever with so much filler unlike all the rest.
June 8, 2024
The series is amazing!!!
March 23, 2024
Allegiance by D.J. Molles - 5th book in the series
Challenging, dark, emotional, reflective,
sad, and tense.
Medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25 Stars
There are a few reversals in this story, that caught me off-guard, but also a few deaths that impacted my reading of this story.
Again...a multi-POV story.
One of the POVs was from one of the characters...that "seems" to have lost his way, and is NOW on the "bad guys" side. I'm not sure he even knows what he's doing. I do believe there is a redemption arc for him, but it could also be a cauthionary tale...for those who did...that ANYONE could.
There is another "sort of" reversal, but I do NOT believe in it. He's a snake...and I do NOT trust him. Nope.
Captain Lee Harden and his crew are steadfast, but not without their own struggles. Ugh. This is NOT a fun world to live in. No one will come out "the other side" of this FURY infection "uninfected" (pun intended) by this dystopian world/landscape (especially the children...ie. Sam and Abby).
I have ultimate respect for Cpt. Harden. He's such a flawed character, but one that pushes through...even though it would be easy to just "give up", but he will not (or at least has NOT, up to this point).
I'm not really sure what I want in the final book in the series. Okay, I want the main characters to all live, even the one that betrayed "who he was/is" and comes back to the light (again, pun intended...sorry, not sorry).
I want them to find enough peace in the hellish landscape to re-energize the United States principles of freedom and law.
I want Captain Lee Harden to have the good end that he deserves. Also, I want him to become the leader that he so much is, but without the war/fighting aspect...or maybe that is asking TOO much.
Loving the series...and I hope it sticks the landing.
Challenging, dark, emotional, reflective,
sad, and tense.
Medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25 Stars
There are a few reversals in this story, that caught me off-guard, but also a few deaths that impacted my reading of this story.
Again...a multi-POV story.
One of the POVs was from one of the characters...that "seems" to have lost his way, and is NOW on the "bad guys" side. I'm not sure he even knows what he's doing. I do believe there is a redemption arc for him, but it could also be a cauthionary tale...for those who did...that ANYONE could.
There is another "sort of" reversal, but I do NOT believe in it. He's a snake...and I do NOT trust him. Nope.
Captain Lee Harden and his crew are steadfast, but not without their own struggles. Ugh. This is NOT a fun world to live in. No one will come out "the other side" of this FURY infection "uninfected" (pun intended) by this dystopian world/landscape (especially the children...ie. Sam and Abby).
I have ultimate respect for Cpt. Harden. He's such a flawed character, but one that pushes through...even though it would be easy to just "give up", but he will not (or at least has NOT, up to this point).
I'm not really sure what I want in the final book in the series. Okay, I want the main characters to all live, even the one that betrayed "who he was/is" and comes back to the light (again, pun intended...sorry, not sorry).
I want them to find enough peace in the hellish landscape to re-energize the United States principles of freedom and law.
I want Captain Lee Harden to have the good end that he deserves. Also, I want him to become the leader that he so much is, but without the war/fighting aspect...or maybe that is asking TOO much.
Loving the series...and I hope it sticks the landing.
January 13, 2025
Sad to say this series has steadily gone downhill for me. I loved book 1 and the infrastructure that was laid out, setting up what was surely going to be a very different style of survival series. Where food, shelter and equipment was fairly readily available via the bunker system. Unfortunately we lose access to those early in the series and 3 books straight now have been the typical tropes. The factions that are at odds, the day-to-day struggles faced, and people making questionable moral decisions (and some just outright stupid ones) are all boilerplate zombie outbreak material.
I plan to finish the series, with one book left, and I’m really hoping it can set the ship right and give me the same “something new” feeling that book 1 gave me to draw me in in the first place. That’s not to say I haven’t enjoyed the rest of the books but they haven’t given me the same satisfaction that I came into the series expecting.
I plan to finish the series, with one book left, and I’m really hoping it can set the ship right and give me the same “something new” feeling that book 1 gave me to draw me in in the first place. That’s not to say I haven’t enjoyed the rest of the books but they haven’t given me the same satisfaction that I came into the series expecting.
August 23, 2019
It's been a while since I followed this series. DJ Molles was great when he was writing $3.99 e-books, but when he was picked up by Orbit and the price jumped to $9 each it just wasn't worth it. I was also disappointed when what was supposed to be five books became six... Was it poor planning or simply greedy publishers?
It almost felt like jumping into the middle of a series it's been so long and I was surprised by how well it stood up. At least the storyline was easy to pick up, not much happened however. We saw a little more of the inner working of the "Followers" but it was just a bunch of whining and miscues.
Most, if not all of this book could have been skipped or just tacked onto the final book.
To answer my earlier question, I think it was the publishers.
It almost felt like jumping into the middle of a series it's been so long and I was surprised by how well it stood up. At least the storyline was easy to pick up, not much happened however. We saw a little more of the inner working of the "Followers" but it was just a bunch of whining and miscues.
Most, if not all of this book could have been skipped or just tacked onto the final book.
To answer my earlier question, I think it was the publishers.
January 10, 2018
I am enthralled by this series. Captain Lee Harden and company make for riveting reading and that it doesn't feel like it could end soon but is going to makes me sad. The kind of writing D.J. brings to this is one where you feel the characters are friends of yours, people you are alongside during this fight to keep the human race alive from the hordes of the infected or the Followers. This is fast paced, intense and doesn't always follow the path of least resistance and i'm thankful for that. We see characters rise, fall, turn traitor and meet new ones along the way. This is one of the few series that I don't want to see ever end.
April 2, 2018
It had been some time between the previous books so I sadly forgot some characters and their stories. As i was reading, quite a bit came back to me and i was able to piece it together. The book had me at the edge of my seat a few times and other times I was fighting to not skip a few paragraphs or pages. I cannot pin-point why I felt it was three stars exactly - not proud of that however I just did not feel justified giving it any more. I will read the next in the series for sure. My only hope is that it is more exciting than this one which really felt like information more than action.
April 26, 2021
Sooo many loose ends!
Another phenomenal entry 8nyo the series with everything in a world gone crazy becoming more fractured and untethered. I am so excited to see how D.J. Molles begins to thread each storyline back together to either give us the "happy" or what can pass for happy, ending we all desire for Captain Harden, or watch as the world around him crumbles to dust. This series is like a damned speed addiction! Not sure if my heart rate dipped below 140 for the entire book! Keep it up!
Another phenomenal entry 8nyo the series with everything in a world gone crazy becoming more fractured and untethered. I am so excited to see how D.J. Molles begins to thread each storyline back together to either give us the "happy" or what can pass for happy, ending we all desire for Captain Harden, or watch as the world around him crumbles to dust. This series is like a damned speed addiction! Not sure if my heart rate dipped below 140 for the entire book! Keep it up!
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