Awakening

The Hunt Chronicles #1

by J.D. Demers, Joshua Story (Narrator)

After a contagion engulfs humanity, zombies rise to feast on the few survivors that are left. But they are not the worst monsters to come from this plague. There is hope, though. Christian Hunt is immune. But how many lives will it take to bring his gift to what’s left of mankind?

Genres: Zombies, Horror, Fiction, Science Fiction, Post Apocalyptic, Audiobook, Survival

9 pages, Audible Audio

First published April 1, 2015

Reviews

[Tracy P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent! This is my first J.D. Demers book, and he does not disappoint. Excellent storyline and Joshua Story does a terrific job narrating. Definitely going to keep reading Demers work!

[T.W. Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I sat down and wrote my journal-based zombie book, I was just getting my feet wet. Admittedly, when I look back on it now, I can tell. There are some clumsy bits and awkward moments. I tended to introduce too many "background" characters and such.

THIS is the book that I wish I had written. It is a fun ride that has you shaking whatever version you have and hoping that more will fall out. (I used the audio book version, so that would be my phone getting throttled.)

J. D. Demars brings a lot of the standard zombie fare to the table, but then he mixes in some special ingredients and turns the zombie into his own beast. Also, he has the best utilization of a canine companion that I have read in the genre. he makes this pooch into an integral character in the story that you will have real feelings for in a short time.

Besides the zombies, there is a bit of that evil monster known as "man" that pops in and proves that the zombie might not be the most feared creature out there. Also, Demars makes you hate Fish. The person...not the food. (Although I suppose it is okay to hate both.) The Fish protagonist is an excellent foil for Christian (who I wanted to slap and demand that he kill Fish in his sleep on several occasions.)

Overall, this is a wonderful introduction to an author I look forward to reading more from. Considering this book only covers a month in the time line of what we are told is a year, I would say we have a lot to look forward to. The story was a smash. Did it have a few hiccups? What story doesn't? But not enough for me not to say that I loved and enjoyed this tale.

[Jason Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll give it 3 stars because the genre is a guilty pleasure. The idea that the brain has to be completely destroyed to prevent reanimation of a zombie is absurd, as are the super-human, bullet-dodging scabs. There is also to much military jargon that is then explained. The author sounds like he's trying to show off, "for those of you who don't know, Zulu is Z in the phonetic alphabet. Zombie starts with Z, so calling zombies ’zulus' is the same as calling them a Z. Now that you understand we can move on". Also, the prologue does not line up wuth the end of the story. I understand that it's a series, but don't start at the end, and then not end at the same end.

[Sherry Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read quite a few post apocalypse books and some have really stuck with me. I even find myself having nightmares or daydreaming about the what-ifs in some of the stories, yeah I’m a dreamer and get really in tune to the books I read. Just finished this book and am finding myself daydreaming about the various scenarios I could find myself in one day and if I would react like Christian or more like Fish. I’m at work so that doesn’t really make me very productive. Shhhh don’t tell.

Ok on to my review. I really like the fact that Christian was somebody people could relate to, well most of us. I have aspirations of being a badass in the time of the apocalypse but most likely my inexperience would have me behaving similar to Christian as well as making similar mistakes.

The way JD created Fish’s attitude rang true, not everybody can be a glorified hero. Ultimately he has an honorable code, even if that code is doing the unthinkable, killing those that have not yet changed even if they’re family or loved ones. Also enjoyed the banter between him and Christian.

It was an interesting concept of the two different type of zombies the Scabs and the Zulus or Dead Heads.

Overall it was a page turner which caught my interest and had me cheering for Christian from the first page. Definitely NEED to read Revelation, the second book in the series!!

Also for some reason I'm compelled, no actually I NEED to start collecting stuff in preparation for an upcoming apocalypse, I have to be prepared! Yes that makes me a preparer.

PS Thanks JD, you just might have saved my life in the upcoming zombie apocalypse. I’ll definitely be reviewing Christian and Fish’s preparations and mistakes.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soooo Amazing!!

[Chris Philbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the better zompoc novels out there. I really enjoyed the audio version, and would recommend it to my readers.

Plus J.D. is a cool cat.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Its nitty, gritty and kept my interest all the way through. Can't wait to read on in book two.

[Nick Rossi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first in a proposed series of tales, Jacob Demers’ intricate "The Hunt Chronicles: Awakening" is clearly written for those fervent fans of The Walking Dead and World War Z. Set in the obligatory apocalyptic world that is ripe for the existence of zombies, the tone of the novel reflects more of a thriller than the standard gore-infused books that comprise the undead genre.

Not different than the world around him, the hero of this story, Christian Hunt, finds himself plagued with the illness that has befallen all of mankind. Interestingly, it is not the presence of zombies that poses danger in the new post-humanity world. Christian soon becomes aware that what has consumed humanity has not afflicted him, and this knowledge is both dangerous and life-saving.

The author is patient in establishing the book’s tense atmosphere. His deliberate slow introduction of the novel’s key characters and their situations is pivotal to the emotional wrench that the story soon delves into. Demers’ clear intimate knowledge of army speak and its operations shines in various of the books passages, enthralling the reader and placing them within the world where military control is integral to survival.

In my vast reading experience (wow, that sounds pretentious), I have found the ‘zompoc’ genre repetitive and unnecessarily gruesome. What I liked about "The Hunt Chronicles: Awakening” is that the author has developed characters that are multi-dimensional and personable. They serve more of a purpose to the progression of the plot instead of simply literally bringing a horse to water. I’ll be certainly looking forward to the next book in the series so I can see how Mr. Demers continues to flesh out a world that is both compelling and terrifying.

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great addition to the Zombie genre, “The Hunt Chronicles” takes readers through one man’s experience at the start of a zombie apocalypse. I’ve read tons of zombie books, and the really great thing about this one is these aren’t your typical zombies. I won’t ruin it for you here, but it’s got two interesting twists that I really like.

The book is well written and the author does a good job of mixing action, storytelling and setting the scene. The main character is likable and he feels very real in his approach. He’s not a hero right out of the gate which makes him feel very real. The other characters are a motley crew each which their own flaws which again makes it feel as if this could actually be happening in the present.

The only thing that I didn’t like about this book is that it doesn’t tell the whole story. It sets up the next book in the series nicely but it feels a bit incomplete because there isn’t a resolution to the characters’ situation in the end. That’s a pet peeve of mine, otherwise I would have rated it 5 stars.

I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!

[Thia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is open-ended so of course there is a second one. Over all I enjoyed this book very much. I'm partial to outbreak zombie books rather than 50 years after outbreak books so this was up my alley. A canine sidekick is featured which I always enjoy, characters are a mix of retired military and every man, well fleshed out and interesting, and I am definitely in for book two. No huge new zombie ground broken here - attempts at which I am sick of as they rarely go well - but a solid entertaining story with solid writing and characters.
Great female character I hope to see more of as well!
Medium gore, mild swearing, no sexism, no animal abuse, no sex cringeworthy or otherwise (thank you to the author), and no military jargon rants or long equipment descriptions that will annoy civilians.
Very solid first book in a series.

[Karri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this book 2 minutes ago, and had to hurry here to write about how amazing this book is! This is my first zombie book, and I had no idea how exciting it could be. Or, maybe it's just the wicked fun writing style of Mr. Demers. I want to gush about the many facets of the story, and how each one gave this book depth, and emotion in a way I didn't expect.

The story is well written, exciting, tense, and gross at times. In other words, perfection! I audibly groaned when the story ended knowing it might be awhile until Volume 2 comes out. Read. This. Book.

Joshua Story (Narrator): He did a fantastic job! The voices were were distinct and consistent, making it very easy to listen to. I hope to hear more from him.

[Michael Flanagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hello my familiar friend how I have missed you. Yes the good ole Zombie Apocalypse Survivor Journal is back and it is better then ever. There is nothing wrong at all with a well executed and familiar story style.

J.D Demers gives us a glimpse of what could be the end of our protagonists story before taking us back to where it all began. There is nothing new or ground breaking in the telling of this tale and that familiarity makes it easy to sink your teeth in. The action is well paced and keeps the narrative ticking along at cracking pace.

The Hunt Chronicles is a promising start to the series. This is one I will definitely continue to read and I eagerly look forward to book two.

[Chris Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Surprise

This was an easy 5 star rated read for me. It's always fun when you take a chance and find a book you really connect with that engages the imagination...I highly recommend this book.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm hooked. I'm all in. Now my only problem is-WHEN IS BOOK #2 coming out? Whenever it is-it will be too long-I need it right now. J.D. are you listening?

[Stanley Ellertsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an AWESOME read. I found it action packed and character filled. I am waiting with baited breath for vol. 2

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent zombie book! I can't wait for book 2!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book - lots of gore and action. Some fantastic descriptions of the zombies. Also, the scab is a great addition to the genre. Love Fish and Boomer is the best!

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow start but the pace picked up

I enjoyed this book. The foreshadowing is ominous but Demers settled in to his storytelling and produced a worthy entry to the zombie genre.

[Karen Mccollin]

Interesting book I will see what book two has in store

[Pheebz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awakening Jan 3 2017
I won both book one & two in this series by the Author in the "Summer of Zombies," event back in 2015.I had an issue opening the books so just recently contacted the Author and the problem was fixed.
I am very glad I had the chance to read them both in the first week of Jan 2017
We first meet Christian Shae Hunt and his long time friend ,military brother and now College roommate David Kavanagh.
David was a planer and had been making preparations for himself in Christian in the event a catastrophic collapse would happen. Christian use to bust his chops over it. The man never went anywhere without a side arm. He loved his days in the Service, Christian on the other hand did not. He knew even back then that he was not a killing machine and spent his days in Supply office back then.
Christian had been very, very sick and couldn’t really grasp what his roommate David was telling him about what it was like out in the real world. That classes and shops had been shut down and people were getting desperate for food since there would be no more deliveries of goods for the foreseeable future, due to everyone being sick. Christian had lived on the sofa the past few days and fading in and out of sleep he wasn’t able to concentrate on nor understand what his long time buddy was telling him in part due to the fever he was sporting.
About the time Christian was feeling better, David had come in early saying classes we canceled due to illness. David looked like crap and plopped down on the sofa and coved up with the blankets that were infested with Christian’s koodies. Christian had asked if he wanted to go to pint night down at their fave bar. After not eating for several days Christian was craving some of their good food. David said Na, that he was just going to go to bed.
Christian , called the girl he liked and asked her to meet him at the bar that wasn’t far from her house,She agreed but said she wasn’t feeling well so she wouldn’t be staying long. As Christian got on the road he began to wonder if what he was seeing was what David had tried to warn him about. What should have been a short drive to the bar took over an hour to get there only to find it practically empty. Pick up the book to find out more.
J.D. Demer, did a great job with this book. His attention to detail was very well executed.He set up believable time periods and traits for the dead and their most active time of day as well as the description of the characters and the background.
His many character’s had depth and personality. I for one Loved Fish, short for Ficher. He was the grumpy, wise, knowledgeable smart ass, retired Master Sergeant, and a man of few words that didn’t seem to like anyone. Yet underneath his gruff exterior, lied a companionate man who had a fondness for Christian even though he never passed up the chance to buts his chops.
Gotta love Boomer the wonder pup. Christian had found him in whimpering under a desk he had scavenged supplys from. He didn’t want to be responsible for a dog anymore that he wanted to be killed by a zombie or scab. Christian found out pretty hang quick this partially Police trained pup, could help elongate his dwindling life span in this new world.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all know that I read post-apocalyptic, mostly-zombie fiction like it's my job. (Maybe someday it will be, assuming being a professional book reviewer pays more than asking if you want fries with that.) The beauty of bookbub is that it lets me try all of these for free, and if it's good I get the rest of the series. I run into a lot of duds that way, but sometimes I find a jewel.

It is exceptionally hard to be original in the zombie novel, since at this point I don't know if there's anything new under the sun. Everything hinges on the way you put the plot together and how well your characters hold up. And I have to say, this one checks all the boxes. He has some genuinely new and interesting ideas, and puts them together in a way that feels fresh, even though I know you could find ways to compare them to other works if you really wanted to. The plot moves at a brisk but not frenetic pace, so you're not bored but you're also not overwhelmed. The characters are well fleshed out, with flaws and strengths, and react in a way that feels very true to the situations they find themselves in.

I'm excited to read the rest of the series and see what else he has in store.

[RJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good zombie tale originating from a virus gone mad! Our boy Christian Hunt is bitten early on, but finds that he is immune. This immunity is kept secret as Christian does not trust that nervous, trigger happy survivors will wait for an explanation once his bite is exposed. He’s an ex-soldier, but not too bright in the tactics department. The story has several twists that add to the interest and uniqueness of this well-trodden genre. Major differences in this author’s version of zombies; (1) “Scab” an infected human not yet dead, but having all the traits of the zombie (2) gunshots to the brain do not necessarily cause second death of the zombie; total destruction of the brain is required (3) a zombie was observed eating/stripping the leaves off a bush (vegetarian zombies?). Christian’s antagonistic buddy and traveling companion throughout the book, Fish, is a wonderful addition to the story and makes for great ying to Christian’s yang. Christian also befriended a four-legged companion named Boomer early on that also added a needed compassionate angle. All-in-all a pretty good story, one that has me looking forward to book two.

[Brady Longmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in a pretty decent zombie apocalypse story. I found the main character to be interesting. An unlikely hero who often finds himself in situations that require him to choose between acting on his instinct to run and survive, and doing the right thing as a human being. People who like zombie fare will find plenty of the typical blood and guts, accompanied by the moaning, chomping gore that goes along with a good zombie story. But, Demers manages to throw a few twists into his world that will keep the reader guessing and thinking about possibilities that reach beyond the shuffling dead that we've all become accustomed to over the years. Be forewarned that this is a series that ends in a bit of cliffhanger. You'll have to purchase the next book in the series to see how things work out.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! The writing is very well done. The characters are realistic and likable. I greatly enjoyed that the main character isn't this perfect bad ass. He has flaws like freezing up in fear, and making stupid mistakes that he learns from. Also his insecurities resonate with me. And the dog! Totally a predicable, and overly used concept, but to me it never gets old because I love dogs, and it is a heart jerker for me. I tend to get more scared for the dogs than the people lol. I love that this dog isn't susceptible to the virus, at least it doesn't appear so. The plot is interesting and never got boring. I also absolutely love the twist on there being different types of zombies! I felt like this made it more interesting and scary. I've read quite a few zombie books and this new concept was refreshing.

[James Maxon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good entry in the vast Zombie Apocalypse genre. It reminds me more of The Undead by R.R. Haywood than The Walking Dead. Has some elements of the Video Games: The Last of Us (an immune protagonist) and Day’s Gone (some of the mechanics). The protagonist is not an expert in survival, nor super-efficient at fighting, but he has the potential to grow and an important human element to him. Written in the first-person narrative (or point of view), the protagonist is in a difficult place taking the time to write how he got there. The book ends before we catch up to where he is, which leads to the next book in the series. I felt the plot from the first book was complete and nicely introduces elements that will continue. As a fan of this genre, I for one plan on checking out the next book down the road.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awakening...

I like zombies. This book has some really mean zombies...yeah, and they are awesome!
Christian lives with his friend Dan in Florida. Dan was a grunt in the army, Christian was a supply clerk. There's some kind of bug going around but Christian doesn't know, he's been deathly ill for the past several days. He gets well, feels better but now his roommate is ill. What is going on?
I like the characters in this book. They are well thought out, and I find myself wondering, is Christian a wuss or what? He will, redeem himself...
Fish is a great character. All gnarly & mean...he adds a lot to the storyline.
This is a really a good book, lots of action, plus the scary zombies...I'm ready for the next chapter...😊

[Shawn Holman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a sucker for a good zombie novel. It has to be exciting and suspenseful. It has to be slightly different from the usual zombie fare. It has to have likable characters. This one had all of that. It's fast paced with a lot of thoughtful action - not just guns blazing constantly but how does one survive the new world. There's two types of zombies which is great because it lets the author delve into a new world with new zombie characteristics which makes the action more exciting. And the characters are likable and I was really rooting for them and caring about their relationships with each other.

[Tory · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm honestly not sure when exactly I got this book but I noticed it while scrolling through my unfinished books in my audible library, maybe it was a 2 for 1 sale or I saw it super cheap. Either way it doesn't matter when I got it I just wish I had listened to it sooner. I decided to listen to it because I've been reading other zombie books lately and I was like "why not?" I was not disappointed. I ended up staying awake the entire night last night listening to this book and I really enjoyed it. It's definitely one of the better zombie books out there. The narrator does a fantastic job as well. If you're looking for something different pick this book up for sure.

[Ebony Irby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh, this book was just ok. Christian was a pretty boring character, and I had a hard time relating to him. I do like that the author put in a “regular” army person, Supply rather than the common gun-ho Infantryman who could shoot a fly off a bees ass! LMAO, that made me chuckle!

Also, since I listened to this on Audible, the narrator paused in random places in mid sentence! That got annoying after while.

[Kate Rhoads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book immensely. It kept me engaged and seemed as if I learned something about the plot and situation with each chapter instead of a whole lot of rehashing. So much so, I went for the second book immediately. Hope I'm not disappointed, I want to see where he's taking the whole 'scab' thing.