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Rising #1
Gods of the Dead
THE WORLD IS A FADED MEMORY The Fever took hold of Portland first. They tried to contain it. They built barriers, brought in experts, promised cures. But the day they flew in bombers and burned Portland to the ground, the rest of the world knew the truth. There was no containing it. Soon panic spreads with the Fever, consuming everyone and everything in its path. Humanity is crumbling, the dead are rising, but out of the remnants two men will emerge. Strangers. Loners. Heroes. *This is the adult content, uncensored version of this book. There is an edited, YA version available as well.*
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 26, 2015
140 people are currently reading
641 people want to read
About the author
Tracey Ward
41 books961 followersI was born in Oregon and studied English Literature at the University of Oregon (Go Ducks!) My husband and my son are my world.
The best way to keep up on my newest releases, giveaways, and sales is to follow me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tracey...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
February 19, 2016
This was different...especially since I'm not a big fan of Zombie Apocalypse books in a male's POV...let alone 2 stories woven around each other.
Yeah...I didn't like Vin...but by the end my heart starting bleeding for him.
The author's writing was poetic and she is great at telling a story with great description that I have no problems at all transporting myself into the story.
Yeah...I didn't like Vin...but by the end my heart starting bleeding for him.
The author's writing was poetic and she is great at telling a story with great description that I have no problems at all transporting myself into the story.
June 1, 2016
I’ve really been enjoying the books that have sprung forth from the apocalyptic world created by Tracey Ward. Gods of the Dead is the first book in the third series written by Tracey Ward. The nice thing is that the three series have overlapping characters, but can each be read independently.
Gods of the Dead takes two of my favorite secondary characters from The Survival Series, Trent and Vin. We go back to the early years of the zombie outbreak, we see the start of the whole ordeal through the eyes of Trent and Vin. Having already been introduced to these characters in The Survival Series, I really enjoyed getting to see what made these two tick…tick…tick…I always found that these two made The Survival Series as strong and compelling as it is.
Tracey Ward has a knack for creating interesting characters that pull me into her books. In Gods of the Dead, I learned so much more about some characters that I thought I knew so well; the layers of Trent and Vin have begun to be pulled back. It was fun to get an early glimpse of Ryan and to meet his older brother, Kevin, as well as a brief glimpse of Joss.
The thing that will always keep me coming back to Tracey Ward’s books is her dialogue. There are few authors who can mix the serious yet sassy lines with such flair. Each character has their own distinct personality which the author showcases perfectly.
Gods of the Dead (Rising #1) is a great start to Tracey Ward’s apocalyptic world in the Pacific Northwest, a world that I will certainly be returning to again.
Gods of the Dead takes two of my favorite secondary characters from The Survival Series, Trent and Vin. We go back to the early years of the zombie outbreak, we see the start of the whole ordeal through the eyes of Trent and Vin. Having already been introduced to these characters in The Survival Series, I really enjoyed getting to see what made these two tick…tick…tick…I always found that these two made The Survival Series as strong and compelling as it is.
Tracey Ward has a knack for creating interesting characters that pull me into her books. In Gods of the Dead, I learned so much more about some characters that I thought I knew so well; the layers of Trent and Vin have begun to be pulled back. It was fun to get an early glimpse of Ryan and to meet his older brother, Kevin, as well as a brief glimpse of Joss.
The thing that will always keep me coming back to Tracey Ward’s books is her dialogue. There are few authors who can mix the serious yet sassy lines with such flair. Each character has their own distinct personality which the author showcases perfectly.
Gods of the Dead (Rising #1) is a great start to Tracey Ward’s apocalyptic world in the Pacific Northwest, a world that I will certainly be returning to again.
May 26, 2015
I am admittedly biased :)
July 20, 2018
Remember Trent and Vin? You will get a closer look at their lives in this book.
Eep, I was already sad that Survival series would be the last, but thankfully the author wrote more. This time we get a closer look at Trent and Vin from the previous series.
It took me a while to get used to Trent in the previous books/series, but eventually I liked him. So I was more than happy to see that he was one of the two lucky guys to get a POV in a brand-new series. We see how he survived when the world went to shit, the horrors that he saw (and dang, he saw some messed up stuff). That part with the farm, the message he heard of the radio. *shivers* I still wonder how that happened, given they had a fence. Did they let someone in? Or was someone already infected (as the cure changed how long it took for someone to change, then again that only applied to those who got the cure? I am unsure, maybe I missed something, but people at the farm, and Trent's dad changed pretty much instantly). How he hid in the forests, how he followed his dying dad's last advice (and how apparently he kept repeating that, to the annoyance of Ryan and Kevin when he met them). I did think it was a pretty dang stupid thing for him to go into that ship. You never know what is in there, and I am sure I would just avoid it as a ship has close quarters and you don't want to meet a deranged zombie in there.
As he meets Ryan and Kevin we see Trent change. He is still different from others due to how he was raised (plus he has some freaky eyes), but he is happy to have company, to have people to care about, to have people to protect.
Oh, and I hadn't expected it, but apparently Trent has been following/seeing Joss for years now. That is definitely interesting, including the fact he never made contact with her, he just watched her. Made sure she was OK. Even worrying at times.
Vin. Ah, my man. Sorry, I just loved this guy from the start in the previous series. Snarky, charming, annoying at times, but he also had a sweet side to him. Something that made him stand out from everyone else. We see how he did in the those days of the apocalypse. Dealing and being stuck in a gang. Stuck with a dad he cannot avoid, one he would rather see dead. We see him handle the first days when all hell breaks loose. How he had a girl he was definitely interested in. Sorry, you can't tell me that he never felt a thing for her. The way he acts around her, how he tried to protect her, that one decision he had to make that broke him further apart.
We see him work under Marlow, see him set up the Arena, but also do all sorts of other work. Stuff he isn't always happily doing, but if you have to decide between death or death I guess you just don't have a lot of choices.
I loved how he was caring for the girls. How he tried to make sure they were OK, especially one girl, Seven. A girl who is indebted and needs to have sex in order to pay the debt of her gang. Only she decided to go for the rough guys, generally the Pikes. And dang, I was just so pissed, just like Vin was, about the way they beat her up. There is playing rough during sex, and there is beating someone almost to death. :|
Vin's POV was definitely my favourite out of the two guys. I love them both, but I love Vin just a bit more. Sorry, Trent!
I have to say I am loving both characters even more. I can see and understand their motivations for the things they did in the Joss books clearer. On the one hand I wish I had read these books first, on the other hand, I am glad that I am getting the chance now to find out more about them. That we first saw them on a basic level and are now digging deeper.
The pacing wasn't always my favourite thing, but I can understand that the author can't just write about everything that happens, plus I am sure she is meaning to tie this book/series back to the Survival series.
I am happy that we saw Kevin as well. I am not too sure if I like him or not. He seems quite bossy, and his over-protectiveness was at times a bit too much. I get that he wants to protect the only family he has, but after some time, especially when your brother is 14/15 you should allow him to have some secrets and do things for himself.
I did like that he had a girl he liked, a girl he wanted to fight for.
The ending broke my heart. I could have seen it coming, but I was still hoping for something different. :(
Funnily, this is the Explicit edition, apparently there is also a YA version, but I am not entirely sure what would be changed. I mean, there was some gore (but duh, zombie book), and a few dots of sex, but to say it was enough to warrant two different versions? I don't think so. Plus why this series when there are two other series in the same vein without it?
Also *fans herself* that cover. *swoons*
All in all though, I am very happy with this book, and I can't wait to see where book 2 (which I am currently reading) will go to.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Eep, I was already sad that Survival series would be the last, but thankfully the author wrote more. This time we get a closer look at Trent and Vin from the previous series.
It took me a while to get used to Trent in the previous books/series, but eventually I liked him. So I was more than happy to see that he was one of the two lucky guys to get a POV in a brand-new series. We see how he survived when the world went to shit, the horrors that he saw (and dang, he saw some messed up stuff). That part with the farm, the message he heard of the radio. *shivers* I still wonder how that happened, given they had a fence. Did they let someone in? Or was someone already infected (as the cure changed how long it took for someone to change, then again that only applied to those who got the cure? I am unsure, maybe I missed something, but people at the farm, and Trent's dad changed pretty much instantly). How he hid in the forests, how he followed his dying dad's last advice (and how apparently he kept repeating that, to the annoyance of Ryan and Kevin when he met them). I did think it was a pretty dang stupid thing for him to go into that ship. You never know what is in there, and I am sure I would just avoid it as a ship has close quarters and you don't want to meet a deranged zombie in there.
As he meets Ryan and Kevin we see Trent change. He is still different from others due to how he was raised (plus he has some freaky eyes), but he is happy to have company, to have people to care about, to have people to protect.
Oh, and I hadn't expected it, but apparently Trent has been following/seeing Joss for years now. That is definitely interesting, including the fact he never made contact with her, he just watched her. Made sure she was OK. Even worrying at times.
Vin. Ah, my man. Sorry, I just loved this guy from the start in the previous series. Snarky, charming, annoying at times, but he also had a sweet side to him. Something that made him stand out from everyone else. We see how he did in the those days of the apocalypse. Dealing and being stuck in a gang. Stuck with a dad he cannot avoid, one he would rather see dead. We see him handle the first days when all hell breaks loose. How he had a girl he was definitely interested in. Sorry, you can't tell me that he never felt a thing for her. The way he acts around her, how he tried to protect her, that one decision he had to make that broke him further apart.
We see him work under Marlow, see him set up the Arena, but also do all sorts of other work. Stuff he isn't always happily doing, but if you have to decide between death or death I guess you just don't have a lot of choices.
I loved how he was caring for the girls. How he tried to make sure they were OK, especially one girl, Seven. A girl who is indebted and needs to have sex in order to pay the debt of her gang. Only she decided to go for the rough guys, generally the Pikes. And dang, I was just so pissed, just like Vin was, about the way they beat her up. There is playing rough during sex, and there is beating someone almost to death. :|
Vin's POV was definitely my favourite out of the two guys. I love them both, but I love Vin just a bit more. Sorry, Trent!
I have to say I am loving both characters even more. I can see and understand their motivations for the things they did in the Joss books clearer. On the one hand I wish I had read these books first, on the other hand, I am glad that I am getting the chance now to find out more about them. That we first saw them on a basic level and are now digging deeper.
The pacing wasn't always my favourite thing, but I can understand that the author can't just write about everything that happens, plus I am sure she is meaning to tie this book/series back to the Survival series.
I am happy that we saw Kevin as well. I am not too sure if I like him or not. He seems quite bossy, and his over-protectiveness was at times a bit too much. I get that he wants to protect the only family he has, but after some time, especially when your brother is 14/15 you should allow him to have some secrets and do things for himself.
I did like that he had a girl he liked, a girl he wanted to fight for.
The ending broke my heart. I could have seen it coming, but I was still hoping for something different. :(
Funnily, this is the Explicit edition, apparently there is also a YA version, but I am not entirely sure what would be changed. I mean, there was some gore (but duh, zombie book), and a few dots of sex, but to say it was enough to warrant two different versions? I don't think so. Plus why this series when there are two other series in the same vein without it?
Also *fans herself* that cover. *swoons*
All in all though, I am very happy with this book, and I can't wait to see where book 2 (which I am currently reading) will go to.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
August 25, 2016
I liked this zombie apocalypse story a lot. It's told from two points of view. Trent and Vin. They are both teens when the infection first starts. This book covers the first 7 years after the fact. They are two very different people and have absolutely nothing in common when the book begins but as it goes the struggle to survive will cause their lives to intersect. I liked them both (although Vin is not a nice person even before the zombies come) and there are a host of interesting side characters.
I thought this was really well done and I'm definitely going to read the rest of the series when they come out. There are two other series set in the same world that are complete so I'm off to read those too.
I thought this was really well done and I'm definitely going to read the rest of the series when they come out. There are two other series set in the same world that are complete so I'm off to read those too.
July 7, 2015
I LOVE ZOMBIES!
Vin and Trent! Ahhhh! I'm SO glad Tracey Ward has made this an ongoing series. I'm completely obsessed with these characters and the zombie infested world they live in. I can't wait for the next book!
Vin and Trent! Ahhhh! I'm SO glad Tracey Ward has made this an ongoing series. I'm completely obsessed with these characters and the zombie infested world they live in. I can't wait for the next book!
May 25, 2015
Got the first part of the book read and loved it! Now just waiting on the rest of it :-)
Woohoo got it!
Turns out there's 3 parts which I found out after saying that can't be the ending! Lol. I got it and will be finished today, yay :-)
Love this story! Tracey Ward really knows how to write a story that will just suck me in.
It switches pov's between Trent and Vin (both of whom we met in the Survival series). I think it could be read with out reading that series first but go ahead and do it. And read the Quarantine series before that :-)
We learn what was happening when the apocalypse hit them and the tough choices they made.
I also found out how Vin ended up with Marlow and what his fascination with the stadium was, always wondered why it was so important.
We see how Trent and Ryan ended up together with the Hyperion and what it was like when Kevin was still with them. Trent had it bad when it broke out. I felt so much for him.
There's the stories for some of the situations mentioned in the Survival series. We even see when the cannibals start although its not told why.
She even had scene with Crenshaw looking for his daughter at the Hive. At the end of Tearing Down the Wall I thought I knew who she was but now I'm not sure.
It also had humor. Sometimes I'm not sure if a scene or the dialogue was supposed to be but I was laughing.
It doesn't have a cliffhanger ending but it did leave me wanting more.
I was provided an eArc by Tracey. Thanks so much!
This review can also be found on my page The Fiction Fanatics
Woohoo got it!
Turns out there's 3 parts which I found out after saying that can't be the ending! Lol. I got it and will be finished today, yay :-)
Love this story! Tracey Ward really knows how to write a story that will just suck me in.
It switches pov's between Trent and Vin (both of whom we met in the Survival series). I think it could be read with out reading that series first but go ahead and do it. And read the Quarantine series before that :-)
We learn what was happening when the apocalypse hit them and the tough choices they made.
I also found out how Vin ended up with Marlow and what his fascination with the stadium was, always wondered why it was so important.
We see how Trent and Ryan ended up together with the Hyperion and what it was like when Kevin was still with them. Trent had it bad when it broke out. I felt so much for him.
There's the stories for some of the situations mentioned in the Survival series. We even see when the cannibals start although its not told why.
She even had scene with Crenshaw looking for his daughter at the Hive. At the end of Tearing Down the Wall I thought I knew who she was but now I'm not sure.
It also had humor. Sometimes I'm not sure if a scene or the dialogue was supposed to be but I was laughing.
It doesn't have a cliffhanger ending but it did leave me wanting more.
I was provided an eArc by Tracey. Thanks so much!
This review can also be found on my page The Fiction Fanatics
July 17, 2016
Actual rating - 3.5
January 17, 2016
I have read some of Tracey Ward's books before and always enjoyed them but I hadn't read the Survival or Quarantined series as I wasn't sure I would enjoy a zombie book, however this book was free and I absolutely love the cover so I thought I would give it a go.
I am so glad I did - I loved it! It was also a nice change from what I normally read. It was really well written and I think I read it in about a day as I was desperate to find out what would happen!
I really enjoyed reading from both Trent & Vin's point of view and seeing how they each fight to survive the fever. I wanted to give both of them a big hug at times as they seemed so lost and alone.
I did sometimes find it hard to understand the characters motives. .
I also thought that, although Trent was one of the main characters, I still don't really feel I know him that well but I think maybe that is part of his character as he is quite elusive.
I loved the supporting characters as well and .
Looking forward to the next in the series and hope it will be out soon :-)
I am so glad I did - I loved it! It was also a nice change from what I normally read. It was really well written and I think I read it in about a day as I was desperate to find out what would happen!
I really enjoyed reading from both Trent & Vin's point of view and seeing how they each fight to survive the fever. I wanted to give both of them a big hug at times as they seemed so lost and alone.
I did sometimes find it hard to understand the characters motives. .
I also thought that, although Trent was one of the main characters, I still don't really feel I know him that well but I think maybe that is part of his character as he is quite elusive.
I loved the supporting characters as well and .
Looking forward to the next in the series and hope it will be out soon :-)
April 11, 2016
I didn’t not just like this book I loved it. It was
I loved learning more about Trent and Vin, I understand now where they are coming from, why they make the choices they make.
It’s been awhile that I read the other series but from the first page I go back, I’m there and I see. This author has so much talent, the characters come alive from letters on a page, they become real persons. Persons I absolutely love and let’s not forget the zombies.
I love the cover.
September 1, 2015
4.25
Another solid gold read from Tracey Ward! Her zombie books are just the best! I've always had a soft spot for Trent so it was great to see what made him the weirdo that he is in the survival series lol. Vin was never my favorite character in the Survival series but after reading Gods of the Dead I really like him! And of course it was great to see little cameos of some of our favorites like Crenshaw :D
I can't wait for book 2 next year!
Another solid gold read from Tracey Ward! Her zombie books are just the best! I've always had a soft spot for Trent so it was great to see what made him the weirdo that he is in the survival series lol. Vin was never my favorite character in the Survival series but after reading Gods of the Dead I really like him! And of course it was great to see little cameos of some of our favorites like Crenshaw :D
I can't wait for book 2 next year!
June 16, 2015
I really love everything I've read by this author, and this book is no exception. The story is so fast paced and easy to read. And I love how the author told the story from two different points of view, skipping back and forth. I also like the jumps in time that move the story along. Very enjoyable!
July 8, 2015
Great prequel to "Writing on the Wall" series. I look forward to reading the next installment.
July 7, 2017
There’s something about the YA genre that just sucks me in. I think it’s the characters blurring the lines of their own boundaries, crossing them, and then figuring out where the new boundaries lay.
Gods of the Dead (Rising Series Book 1) hits all the right notes in this post-apocalyptic, fast-paced action story. The plot follows Vin and Trent as they’re thrust into adulthood and struggle to survive in a new world on their own terms. I love the idea of a story told from two male points of view. On the cusp of adulthood both young men lose their innocence, take risks and are forced to see the world in a totally new way. I found myself equally invested in both Vin and Trent, frantically reading through pages to get to their next chapters.
Their stories begin with the spread of the Fever and the once secure barriers crumbling around them. No one is safe and everyone is vulnerable to the zombies searching for their next human meal while powerful men fight for control. Trent’s character endures such heartache and devastation. His matra: “Go to the woods. Stay clear of people. Hide with the animals” keeps him alive but also keeps him utterly alone. Vin is also a loner, but unlike Trent, he seems to need the disconnection to survive. The relationships Vin does make are forged through his protective side and this gives readers the chance to see more than the drug-dealing fighter out for his own piece of power and control. When Vin and Trent end up in Seattle together, their paths cross and the story takes a different turn.
Although this novel is a spin-off from the Quarantined and Survival series, I wasn’t familiar with this work from the author and instead found that I could just jump into the action and enjoy the story as a standalone. For fans of these series, I’m sure they’ll relish in connecting with familiar faces. But for me, I loved meeting Trent and Vin as main characters and following their paths as they are forced into working out their own angst and emotional struggles. They grow and change the only way they know how. By surviving.
As a bonus, this YA edition also comes with two bonus books from the Quarantined series. Looks like I have a few late nights ahead of me!
Gods of the Dead (Rising Series Book 1) hits all the right notes in this post-apocalyptic, fast-paced action story. The plot follows Vin and Trent as they’re thrust into adulthood and struggle to survive in a new world on their own terms. I love the idea of a story told from two male points of view. On the cusp of adulthood both young men lose their innocence, take risks and are forced to see the world in a totally new way. I found myself equally invested in both Vin and Trent, frantically reading through pages to get to their next chapters.
Their stories begin with the spread of the Fever and the once secure barriers crumbling around them. No one is safe and everyone is vulnerable to the zombies searching for their next human meal while powerful men fight for control. Trent’s character endures such heartache and devastation. His matra: “Go to the woods. Stay clear of people. Hide with the animals” keeps him alive but also keeps him utterly alone. Vin is also a loner, but unlike Trent, he seems to need the disconnection to survive. The relationships Vin does make are forged through his protective side and this gives readers the chance to see more than the drug-dealing fighter out for his own piece of power and control. When Vin and Trent end up in Seattle together, their paths cross and the story takes a different turn.
Although this novel is a spin-off from the Quarantined and Survival series, I wasn’t familiar with this work from the author and instead found that I could just jump into the action and enjoy the story as a standalone. For fans of these series, I’m sure they’ll relish in connecting with familiar faces. But for me, I loved meeting Trent and Vin as main characters and following their paths as they are forced into working out their own angst and emotional struggles. They grow and change the only way they know how. By surviving.
As a bonus, this YA edition also comes with two bonus books from the Quarantined series. Looks like I have a few late nights ahead of me!
March 19, 2018
Great, starting book 2 right now!
This book kept me engaged from page 1. I love the characters. Tracy is a great writer, she never lets me down and this is another terrific book. Please give it a try.
This book kept me engaged from page 1. I love the characters. Tracy is a great writer, she never lets me down and this is another terrific book. Please give it a try.
April 3, 2019
Fast paced awesome
This book was great. Can’t wait to start part 2. At first I didn’t think I’ll like the characters but they grew on me and then some more. While new outlook on the apocalypse fresh new ideas. Please keep writing.
This book was great. Can’t wait to start part 2. At first I didn’t think I’ll like the characters but they grew on me and then some more. While new outlook on the apocalypse fresh new ideas. Please keep writing.
June 25, 2017
Rxcellent read. Love this series.
July 15, 2017
Love
Love the characters. Love the story line. Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love
Love the characters. Love the story line. Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love
April 15, 2019
Good
Not my favorites of the series but still fun to see the characters we meet in earlier books and learn more about them
Not my favorites of the series but still fun to see the characters we meet in earlier books and learn more about them
January 17, 2021
Love this POV
I was super excited to see books from Vin and Trent’s point of views. Did not disappoint. Moving to the next!
I was super excited to see books from Vin and Trent’s point of views. Did not disappoint. Moving to the next!
July 26, 2016
Gods of the Dead by Tracey Ward is the first book in a spin-off to her popular series Quarantined and Survival. This book follows Vin and Trent from the Survival series and bridges the time between the start of the zombie apocalypse and how they wound up in Seattle. Vin and Trent were two of my favorite side characters to the series so I was really excited when I realized they were getting their own book, which has now turned into a 3-book series.
Vin is one of those characters you’ll either love or hate. If you’ve read the Survival series, you already know a little about him and of course you have to wonder how he ended up the way he does. (I would elaborate but I don’t want to spoil the Survival series for those that haven’t read it!) This book shows you Vin’s life in a snapshot. It starts with Vin doing his job running drugs. The news is reporting about the Quarantined area in Oregon being breached and spreading. Then it hits Seattle, his home. Vin is a tough kid at the start of the series. He had a crap life and he does whatever is needed to survive. And it’s that “whatever” that makes him hard to like. He really isn’t a good guy, he does some crappy things to get by, BUT he’s also got this insanely protective side. If you happen to be someone he cares about, he will do whatever it takes to keep you safe. This is what makes you love him!
Trent breaks my heart. His life is the furtherest thing you can imagine from Vin’s yet they are eerily similar. The book opens when he is only 15. He’s been raised by his father, a doomsday prepper, in the middle of the woods, away from society. When the zombies escape quarantine, Trent winds up alone following his father’s last instructions: “Go to the woods. Stay clear of people. Hide with the animals.” It’s good advice, but it results in Trent being a loner and a little odd. Though the oddness is explained and I have to say I LOVED that the author explained it.
The plot of this book is really why I rated it 4 instead of 5 stars. Like the other related series, it’s character driven. However it’s a bit disjointed. I had a hard time staying focused and at times felt that I had skipped pages because of the time jumps (sometimes years between chapters and events). Despite this the book is still a good read. I found myself completely engrossed in their survival even though I already knew they made it, I wanted, no NEEDED, to know how. For fans of the previous series, you want to read this book! If you haven’t read the other series, no worries. It can be read as a standalone. I would recommend this for anyone that enjoys paranormal, science fiction, a little romance, and a lot of suspense.
Vin is one of those characters you’ll either love or hate. If you’ve read the Survival series, you already know a little about him and of course you have to wonder how he ended up the way he does. (I would elaborate but I don’t want to spoil the Survival series for those that haven’t read it!) This book shows you Vin’s life in a snapshot. It starts with Vin doing his job running drugs. The news is reporting about the Quarantined area in Oregon being breached and spreading. Then it hits Seattle, his home. Vin is a tough kid at the start of the series. He had a crap life and he does whatever is needed to survive. And it’s that “whatever” that makes him hard to like. He really isn’t a good guy, he does some crappy things to get by, BUT he’s also got this insanely protective side. If you happen to be someone he cares about, he will do whatever it takes to keep you safe. This is what makes you love him!
Trent breaks my heart. His life is the furtherest thing you can imagine from Vin’s yet they are eerily similar. The book opens when he is only 15. He’s been raised by his father, a doomsday prepper, in the middle of the woods, away from society. When the zombies escape quarantine, Trent winds up alone following his father’s last instructions: “Go to the woods. Stay clear of people. Hide with the animals.” It’s good advice, but it results in Trent being a loner and a little odd. Though the oddness is explained and I have to say I LOVED that the author explained it.
The plot of this book is really why I rated it 4 instead of 5 stars. Like the other related series, it’s character driven. However it’s a bit disjointed. I had a hard time staying focused and at times felt that I had skipped pages because of the time jumps (sometimes years between chapters and events). Despite this the book is still a good read. I found myself completely engrossed in their survival even though I already knew they made it, I wanted, no NEEDED, to know how. For fans of the previous series, you want to read this book! If you haven’t read the other series, no worries. It can be read as a standalone. I would recommend this for anyone that enjoys paranormal, science fiction, a little romance, and a lot of suspense.
September 8, 2015
This book was a free purchase through AMAZON.
Though I haven't read her other two series based in this world after reading Gods I am most definitely adding them to my TBR.
We find our two anti heroes Vin and Trent both just trying to live life with the hand they've both been dealt in a world that is trying to find a cure for the Fever. The Fever is a virus that has killed thousands and has a very quick onset. The story starts out with everything being contained and the World waiting anxiously for the cure.
The Government in their usual idiocy has messed up by trying to find a cure only to create a new strain of the Fever that has a longer incubation period. This allows the Fever to be carried out of quarantine and across the world.
Vin and Trent both survive the initial outbreak although they both pay for it emotionally. Both young men have a special skill set honed from living hard lives that helped them survive when all he'll broke loose.
Fast forward a couple years and they both are questioning what they survived for. Neither young man ever had it easy before the Fever but now everyday is a fight to stay alive. The infected are a problem but it's the other survivors that are the worst threat.
Who can you trust when you yourself know what it takes to stay alive? Vin values loyalty above all despite his dreams of being in charge himself. Finding people that will back him up without stabbing him in the back is proving harder than he thought.
How can you trust when everyone you loved tried to kill you? Trent has it worse seeing as he has been on his own so long he doesn't even know how to act human anymore. Even so he finds and builds a new family, but now he has to worry about keeping them safe also.
I like that the story is only told from their two points of view it keeps the flow of the story steady and you can focus on it better. The fact that both characters are flawed in so many ways brings more than just a human element to the story it brings a gritty realism. This lets you feel like these two are someone you could know in real life.
I felt like I had to keep reading to find out if Vin and Trent would be okay in the next chapter. When you become emotionally invested in a series it is always a good read. Now I just have to wait for the next book which isn't out until next year.
Though I haven't read her other two series based in this world after reading Gods I am most definitely adding them to my TBR.
We find our two anti heroes Vin and Trent both just trying to live life with the hand they've both been dealt in a world that is trying to find a cure for the Fever. The Fever is a virus that has killed thousands and has a very quick onset. The story starts out with everything being contained and the World waiting anxiously for the cure.
The Government in their usual idiocy has messed up by trying to find a cure only to create a new strain of the Fever that has a longer incubation period. This allows the Fever to be carried out of quarantine and across the world.
Vin and Trent both survive the initial outbreak although they both pay for it emotionally. Both young men have a special skill set honed from living hard lives that helped them survive when all he'll broke loose.
Fast forward a couple years and they both are questioning what they survived for. Neither young man ever had it easy before the Fever but now everyday is a fight to stay alive. The infected are a problem but it's the other survivors that are the worst threat.
Who can you trust when you yourself know what it takes to stay alive? Vin values loyalty above all despite his dreams of being in charge himself. Finding people that will back him up without stabbing him in the back is proving harder than he thought.
How can you trust when everyone you loved tried to kill you? Trent has it worse seeing as he has been on his own so long he doesn't even know how to act human anymore. Even so he finds and builds a new family, but now he has to worry about keeping them safe also.
I like that the story is only told from their two points of view it keeps the flow of the story steady and you can focus on it better. The fact that both characters are flawed in so many ways brings more than just a human element to the story it brings a gritty realism. This lets you feel like these two are someone you could know in real life.
I felt like I had to keep reading to find out if Vin and Trent would be okay in the next chapter. When you become emotionally invested in a series it is always a good read. Now I just have to wait for the next book which isn't out until next year.
January 18, 2016
Frustration overload. Yet another book following the recent trend of leaving the story unresolved - in what, I suspect either publishers or authors perceive as a "cliffhanger" that will leave readers wanting more and that leave ME thinking my copy of the book is damaged and is missing several pages.
Spoiler Alert:
This story ends with a character one of the protagonists has made a connection with being killed and the killer fleeing the scene. The final scene is this protagonist dumping the body and stating he wants to get the killer/do violence (not quoting). And then... the story is done.
Coming at the end of a story with very little discernible plot (in the classic sense of conflict, rising tension, resolution) this just made me mad. Return the book mad.
Add to this that there are two protagonists whose stories never really intersect (they are finally in the same area and capable of interacting about 90% of the way through the story) though you expect them to intersect because that's what Should happen with two protagonists in a book that is actually telling a story. Why were there two protagonists? Are their attitudes and personalities/ways of dealing with the world supposed to compliment each other, so in the interplay you get a deeper sense of each of them? I'm thinking that's the case but their stories are so disparate that the parallels don't present well.
On a positive I like the idea of the Fever. Yes, this is a watered down version of a concept that has been visited in a number of popular book and tv series recently, but it still plays okay. I actually appreciate the character development of both protagonists - but, darn it, I wish they had a better story to inhabit. It's why this isn't a one star review.
I will close with a quick rehash of my original thought which is I'm sick and tired of Story Interruptus.
Spoiler Alert:
This story ends with a character one of the protagonists has made a connection with being killed and the killer fleeing the scene. The final scene is this protagonist dumping the body and stating he wants to get the killer/do violence (not quoting). And then... the story is done.
Coming at the end of a story with very little discernible plot (in the classic sense of conflict, rising tension, resolution) this just made me mad. Return the book mad.
Add to this that there are two protagonists whose stories never really intersect (they are finally in the same area and capable of interacting about 90% of the way through the story) though you expect them to intersect because that's what Should happen with two protagonists in a book that is actually telling a story. Why were there two protagonists? Are their attitudes and personalities/ways of dealing with the world supposed to compliment each other, so in the interplay you get a deeper sense of each of them? I'm thinking that's the case but their stories are so disparate that the parallels don't present well.
On a positive I like the idea of the Fever. Yes, this is a watered down version of a concept that has been visited in a number of popular book and tv series recently, but it still plays okay. I actually appreciate the character development of both protagonists - but, darn it, I wish they had a better story to inhabit. It's why this isn't a one star review.
I will close with a quick rehash of my original thought which is I'm sick and tired of Story Interruptus.
January 31, 2017
It's a trick that won't work forever. The power will go out, the alarms will be useless, and people will get desensitized because we'll learn that the threat behind the alarms isn't real anymore, that the cops aren't coming. I should be happy that it worked and that they're running, but what I'm thinking as I watch them clear the fence and disappear back out into the night is that this is the start. This is the moment when it stops being easy, stops being about sitting around inside with Sienna and waiting for it all to pass us by, and starts being about surviving. About fighting for what's yours.
***
This book really kept my attention. But it wasn't until I was half way through, did I realize I have already met Trent. I met him in WRITING ON THE WALL, from the Survival series. Of course, I have read so many zombie books since then; it's easy for them to run together. But it was nice knowing there was a familiar face from the past, shedding new light and a different perspective on the story.
Now, GODS OF THE DEAD isn't what I normally look for in a zombie read. Don’t get me wrong, I loved how the author shared about the start of the epidemic and the chaos. But I am one of those that need a romance in my books. A zombie story is no different. But even though this one didn't have but snippets of romance here or there, I still enjoyed it as it fit this book perfectly. Also, this author has a way to her writing that you immediately become hooked.
I look forward to hopefully reading more in this series and also heading back to the Survival series so I can see what comes of Trent and Joss. Death, zombies, and learning to survive...GODS OF THE DEAD is great read!! 5 Stars!
***
This book really kept my attention. But it wasn't until I was half way through, did I realize I have already met Trent. I met him in WRITING ON THE WALL, from the Survival series. Of course, I have read so many zombie books since then; it's easy for them to run together. But it was nice knowing there was a familiar face from the past, shedding new light and a different perspective on the story.
Now, GODS OF THE DEAD isn't what I normally look for in a zombie read. Don’t get me wrong, I loved how the author shared about the start of the epidemic and the chaos. But I am one of those that need a romance in my books. A zombie story is no different. But even though this one didn't have but snippets of romance here or there, I still enjoyed it as it fit this book perfectly. Also, this author has a way to her writing that you immediately become hooked.
I look forward to hopefully reading more in this series and also heading back to the Survival series so I can see what comes of Trent and Joss. Death, zombies, and learning to survive...GODS OF THE DEAD is great read!! 5 Stars!
June 1, 2015
I love everything written by Tracey Ward, especially her post-apocalyptic zombie series (Survival and Quarantined) so of course I am giving this 5 stars!
In my opinion the Survival Series was completely amazing as it was, no additional series needed. But then I read the quarantined series which was kind of a prequel to Survival and it was perfect. Now to make it even better, Tracey took 2 characters we met in the Survival series and gave them their own series to explain where they came from and how they got to be were they were. How could I not love it???
Gods of the Dead is written in joint POV between Vin and Trent. Vin, we all knew had a great story and it definitely lived up to expectations. Vin is who you want to be with when the world around you turns to zombies! He can protect you for one, and if I had to wake up with 1 guy for the rest of my life...lets just say I wouldn't complain :) Trent had a smaller part in the survival series but was a great character to bring into Gods of the Dead. I look forward to his role in the next book, his character has grown so much in this book and him finding himself and his place makes for a great read.
I can't wait until the next book...in 2016!!! That seems so far away. In the meantime I will continue to read and love anything Tracey puts out. And just in case a zombie apocalypse should happen I am pretty sure I can survive it! Thanks Tracey:)
In my opinion the Survival Series was completely amazing as it was, no additional series needed. But then I read the quarantined series which was kind of a prequel to Survival and it was perfect. Now to make it even better, Tracey took 2 characters we met in the Survival series and gave them their own series to explain where they came from and how they got to be were they were. How could I not love it???
Gods of the Dead is written in joint POV between Vin and Trent. Vin, we all knew had a great story and it definitely lived up to expectations. Vin is who you want to be with when the world around you turns to zombies! He can protect you for one, and if I had to wake up with 1 guy for the rest of my life...lets just say I wouldn't complain :) Trent had a smaller part in the survival series but was a great character to bring into Gods of the Dead. I look forward to his role in the next book, his character has grown so much in this book and him finding himself and his place makes for a great read.
I can't wait until the next book...in 2016!!! That seems so far away. In the meantime I will continue to read and love anything Tracey puts out. And just in case a zombie apocalypse should happen I am pretty sure I can survive it! Thanks Tracey:)
September 13, 2015
I love this story, the characters and the author, Tracey Ward, who is one of my favorite authors. But almost halway through I see that this is the first in a series and the second one won't be out until 2016, the third 2017. Ok, much as I love the story I have decided I am not reading a series unless and until the entire thing is there to read. Why? Because I read a lot and by the time the second book comes out I will hardly remember the details of the first and by the time the third one comes out I will have to read the first two again. So why finish it now when I know I will be reading it again? And get the whole story, even though I have to wait until 2017, two years! So please, authors, be Netflix, write the books, lets us binge read them in our own time. It makes us love them more. If you have a series, please please write the whole thing, then release them within a couple months of each other so we don't forget them.
November 23, 2016
So I'm enjoying this world and these characters, even if I don't feel comfortable giving any of the books more than 2.5 stars.
I fell in love with Joss and her band of misfits pretty hard in the Survival series, despite the poorly plotted conflicts and the poorer editing. I didn't love the Quarantined series quite as much, but it was still mostly entertaining despite the lack of actual answers given (and again, poor editing).
With this series, we're back with characters I like quite a lot - Vin and Trent - and surprisingly the plot is thus far pretty steady. I would probably give this 3 stars with no guilt at all if it wasn't for the continued lack of editing. I'm also not sure how much I would have liked or disliked it if I didn't already have established attachment to Vin and Trent from Joss's books.
I fell in love with Joss and her band of misfits pretty hard in the Survival series, despite the poorly plotted conflicts and the poorer editing. I didn't love the Quarantined series quite as much, but it was still mostly entertaining despite the lack of actual answers given (and again, poor editing).
With this series, we're back with characters I like quite a lot - Vin and Trent - and surprisingly the plot is thus far pretty steady. I would probably give this 3 stars with no guilt at all if it wasn't for the continued lack of editing. I'm also not sure how much I would have liked or disliked it if I didn't already have established attachment to Vin and Trent from Joss's books.
June 3, 2015
You guys. GUYS! You need to read this book, this series, everything this author writes. A look into before Ward's Survival series and a year after the Quarantine series, we are given a funny, heart breaking look into the minds and experiences of Vin and Trent, my two fave sode characyers from Survival. Smart writing and dialogue.
June 7, 2015
Another great series!
I have read the two other series that take place in this same world and loved them.I was thrilled to have another to read and from a different perspective. Reading events happening to other characters from the previous series was very interesting! Great to see how they came to this world and I can't wait for the 2nd book.
I have read the two other series that take place in this same world and loved them.I was thrilled to have another to read and from a different perspective. Reading events happening to other characters from the previous series was very interesting! Great to see how they came to this world and I can't wait for the 2nd book.
September 29, 2015
I absolutely LOVED this book and the world within it. I fell in love with the characters, and I just can not wait to read the next one in this series!! I couldn't decide who I loved more Trent or Vin!! Tracey Ward has a way with words that just bring you in. You get wrapped up in her world building, and one of my favorite things about reading her books is the humor she sneaks in there too!
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