Once Bitten, Twice Die

The Blood of the Infected #1

by Antony J. Stanton

Is the enemy of my enemy my friend, or should I totally annihilate them both?
Do you think you have read everything to do with zombies? Think again.
If you believed you knew all about vampires, you know nothing.
Do you feel ready for Armageddon? If so, you couldn't be further from the truth.

A cure for dementia has disastrously failed. Patients are left crazed, infectious and enraged. The ensuing carnage quickly spreads the disease, and civilisation is decimated.
On London’s outskirts a military base shelters some survivors. The soldiers within must battle against the infected who now roam unchallenged. Tensions are high, relationships fraught, death commonplace.
But if they thought the end of the world was bad enough, their troubles have only just begun...
An ancient menace has long existed in secret alongside humanity - a vampire clan, which has recently encountered the soldiers. Now is their time to emerge from the shadows. First though they have to overcome their own problems. They too have to fight for survival against the infected, and they violently disagree on their approach towards the humans.
Hostilities are rising. It's only a matter of time now...

Genres: Horror, Zombies, Vampires, Paranormal, Thriller

380 pages, Paperback

Published November 22, 2015

Reviews

[Jane Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book on a recommendation from a friend. Wasn't expecting to like it, but I am so glad my friend pushed me - thanks Nathan. This book is basically a thriller and was absolutely fantastic. A gripping read that does not rely on cliches. The character development was fantastic and I could almost feel as though I was a part of the story. It mixes the genres a bit, but then that's what I think it's aim was. It looks like it is a horror book, but that is not really correct, it is so much more than that. It brings a heavy dose of realism to these genre that I think has long been missing.

There is a lot going on, but I think the same can be said for any epic. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, but that is essential to the plot and the glossary at the front helps. As the book develops you start to get a feel for who the main characters are and I loved the fact that I was not being spoon-fed. This book treats the reader like an intellectual equal, not like an idiotic adolescent who needs everything spelled out.

In short it is a post-apocalyptic, human survival story in the face of adversity, zombie-like creatures... and vampires. The explanations for both zombies, and vampires was the most plausible I have ever read. I think the book will appeal to anyone who loves any of these genres. It is a gripping page-turner and I can not wait for the second in the trilogy...

[Martyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book revolves around a group of soldiers in an army base, who are seemingly the last people left standing after a medical treatment gone wrong leaves most of humanity in a zombie-like state. The story initially follows a fairly familiar path but there is a twist in the tail that I won't reveal here.

I bought the book because I know the author, but it is not the sort of book i normally read so my expectations were not too high. However the plot really drew me in and I couldn't put it down, especially towards the end. The tension is really ramped up in parts, but those parts are balanced by the slightly irreverent tone and bits of humour that keep it an easy read. Central characters are well drawn and believable, with all of them coping with the situation in different ways.

Overall a fantastic debut novel and I look forward to the next installment.

[Viktoria Faust · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humanity is done what it usually does – trying to make something good, manages to create something monstrous. What at first looked like a cure for dementia, in very short time turned out to be the new plague for human kind, the one that will probably destroy it. Infected, although still kind of human, are acting like zombies, attacking and spreading disease. And like that's not enough, other kind of monsters are coming out of the woodwork – vampires. Some of them see opportunity to became ruling race on the planet. The others see only new food on the menu.
This is well written action novel. Characters are well developed. This is more action novel then horror, although main characters are more typical for horror genre.

[Ciara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plague of human error. This Zombie apocalypse book is not quite what you would expect. In the attempts to create a miracle drug, scientists instead, by default created an uncontrollable zombie virus. Talk about bad side effects, wonder if that was in the commercial?

Now these infected humans are infecting those around them and the epidemic has spread. If that wasn't bad enough to deal with, there are more monsters coming out of nowhere and suddenly the Army base where the story takes place seems to be the last place unaffected by it all.

The story is incredibly well written and intriguing. The book is well paced, slow but not boring and all the characters are incredibly developed. It is hard to find yourself navigating which characters will become the focus of the story, but eventually, it becomes clear. I am not generally a fan of 'horror' but the truth is this is more of an action book.

Really good. I would recommend this if you're already a fan of Zombie literature. It definitely throws a new twist on it all.

Full Review: http://www.yafangirlreviews.com/2016/...

[Ramona Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

A total new approach to the zombie books combining them with Vampires. This has not been done and I am curious how it will all end. Antony expertly weaves a web around his readers. He found a novel idea on how the zombies start whilst mixing in the existence of vampires. The plot is maybe a tad on the slower side, but not really an issue. He packs a lot of information into this book.

In the beginning it was a little difficult finding out who the main characters would be that would stick with you for a while. But once it is more clear you really start to enjoy this book since now you can start to hate or love certain characters and start really getting emotionally involved.

Especially towards the end the plot thickens just to leave you with a well placed cliff hanger. I thouroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next one so I can find out what happens next.

I have received this book from the author for an honest review. (LoP, Lovers of Paranormal)

[TheVampireBookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know I love post-apocalyptic books. And you know I love vampires (duh!) so how could I resist buying the first book of a trilogy just about that. Wait a moment, did anyone say zombies? Vampires and zombies? Well, now I am genuinely intrigued because I don't remember ever reading a book with the combination of these two species. Subspecies. Whatever. You know what I mean. Let's not talk imaginative creatures' biology right now.
So, this time we arrive into postapocalyptic Britain (finally somewhere more close to reality where not many people have guns at home) where some mad rushed scientists wanted to cure dementia and winded up with crazy people instead. Due to a series of unfortunate events the "cure" got distributed all over the world and before anyone started noticing odd behaviour and realized that the disease can be spread by biting, !POOF! most people died or became zombies. There is a military base which holds its ground and scavenges for food which is good in short-term but what about later?
And the vampires? The book cover promised vampires! They are hidden. They've been hidden for centuries after all and the British clan which is closest to the military base is unsure of what to do. See, there is a fraction there. The leader wants to wait before making any decision while some feel this is the right time to finally reveal themselves and rule the world - with people as cattle.
It's a very enjoyable read given the fact that it's the author's very first book and it wouldn't even exist had he not made a bet with his friends. I mean, it's got vampires (not so much now but I hope for seeing them more in the following books), it's got survivors trying to figure out how to live while losing everyone they love, there's no time for cheesy romance, it's action packed, and there's interesting character development everyone tends to overlook until it's too late. Only if the people weren't so full of themselves, they would have prevented so much trouble. Oh yeah.

[Gavin Scovell · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's rare I ever write a review about a book, but in this case I'll make an exception to the rule.
This is a book that stays in the memory.
It's an unusual mix of horror, drama and some comedy too.
Stanton brings the horror close to home - parents become infected and all hell breaks loose. A believable infection spreads like wildfire and zombie meets blood suckers in a new exciting twist on the old genre.
Won't spoil the plot but trust me. This book will have you gripped.

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love both genres (vamps and zombs), loving the second book even more which I am currently reading, but this first novel sets the scene (not necessarily the pace) nicely! An interesting mix of characters although takes a while to get to know who's who, some heart pounding moments and the promise of some pretty intense fight scenes to come?
Over all a great first attempt, keep it up.

[Barbara Campos · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best book I read in a long time. Really well written, surprising, captivating, full of adventures and suspense. I can't wait for the volume 2 to become available. I highly recommend it.

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great fun read. Thought I'd pick up something different, and I was glad I did. Can't wait for the second in the trilogy.

[Katherine Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastical yet gruesome new take on the vampire/zombie genre, creating constant twists and turns for both the readers and characters alike. The author skillfully personifies the characters, giving each their own personalities and back stories, further accenting the dramatic irony created throughout the book; this causes the reader to internally scream for the characters to turn back. A must read for fans and skeptics of the genre alike.

[Chrystal Roe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!

This is a very unique take on the "zombie" apocalypse story. Instead of a virus it is a treatment for a disease. The afflicted do act like zombies though and are contagious. This story has a huge twist however. It seems the sick are not the only ones we need to fear. I can't wait to get the next book.

[Liam Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic first venture into the zombie/vampire genre for this new author. A thoroughly enjoyable read with a gripping story and relatable characters. Have already purchased the next installment and can't wait to get stuck in!

[Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in a trilogy and when you get to the end you’ll want to grab book two – Once Bitten Twice Live.
It is well written with an original storyline and some interesting characters.

[Natalie Darby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author of this book for giving me a copy to read in return for an honest review.

Once Bitten, Twice Die is a very cleverly written story that follows an army regiment and their families as a new medication for dementia goes wrong and begins to turn people into zombies.

I wasn’t too sure about this book when the author offered me a copy to review for him. It mixes three things that I’ve never really been keen on, zombies, vampires and army stories. There are the odd films and TV shows that I’ve watched and made an exception in this factor for (I enjoyed walking dead for a few seasons before I got bored of them just walking, I tolerated Twilight but that had a little more to do with shirtless Taylor Lautner). When I read up on this a little I agreed to give it a read because there were quite a few people who mentioned in their reviews that they didn’t tend to read that kind of thing but loved it.

I’m really sorry to say that storywise…it wasn’t my cup of tea. I didn’t manage to finish the book because I kept getting so distracted that I was finding it quite hard to follow. But that is no fault of the author at all…it’s my own fault for not reading a little more into it before agreeing to read it. There were, however, some brilliant points of this book that I couldn’t ignore.

The idea of the story was brilliant. A medication gone wrong for a disease that affects a number of families is really believable. I really enjoyed reading the beginning of the story too, where one character has the internal battle with wanting to try and help his mum get better and considering the safety of his wife and children. The outcome of that internal battle was heartbreaking for me to read and really showed the talent of this author…I don’t think there would be many zombie/vampire books that would have me close to tears, but if I was watching this in a cinema I would be blubbering like a baby.
I absolutely LOVED Antony J. Stanton’s style of writing. It is so descriptive and easy to picture what he is talking about. The way that he describes things is almost poetic, absolutely genius. You can tell by just reading a simple part of the story how much passion this author has for this book.
The characters were very well written, it’s quite obvious that Stanton has taken the time to think about each and every character as they all have their own personality and way about them.

I maybe would have found it a bit easier to follow had each chapter followed a specific character and it was obvious by naming them at the top (that might be that I’ve read a few too many chick flicks that do that…)

[Fiona Brichaut · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Several aspects of this book were original, not least the fact that it has both zombies and vampires. The explanation of why people became zombies was new and comparatively plausible so the suspension of disbelief was easy enough (yes, I read a lot of zombie novels but I still like when the author provides a reason...). I liked the fact that this is a British, not American setting. However, what I usually like about British zombie novels is that they assume that most people don't have guns, so it's not all about the weapons, like some US stories. Unfortunately, this takes place in a military setting, so there's a lot about the weapons. It loses half a star just for that (I Am NOT Into Guns).

I particularly liked that this book is reasonably well edited (that got its half star back), which came as a pleasant surprise. And it's reasonably well written (although more show, less tell wouldn't hurt), in a down-to-earth, realistic style.

So why only three stars? Well, I liked it but didn't love it. It's a bit flat in the telling and not much happens. There are a couple of good scenes, but I felt that the whole book was like a TV pilot rather than an episode. A lot of background, a lot of setting the scene, but not enough engaging action. Also, I had a hard time differentiating the characters, even down to remembering which were male and which female (using only surnames doesn't help). I didn't connect with anyone really, so didn't care much what happened to them.

And then there's the vampires. It seems that many of us are either zombie fans or vampire fans, but not both. I just don't get into vampires. I can't blame the author for that and neither should you, but if you're not already a vampire fan, this novel is unlikely to turn you. Yeah I get it that they can move fast, are strong and can climb high walls, but that just doesn't do anything for me. And so they didn't add anything to my appreciation of this story.

If you like the zombie/vampire thing, then you might like this. It's a new twist. It has potential. You might be curious to see how it plays out between the humans and the vampires as the world collapses around them. You might like the military angle.

But if you're looking for stories of ordinary people struggling to survive in an imploding world, lots of action and intense emotional highs and lows, this isn't where you'll find it.

I understand this might be made into a TV series, and if the producers can inject a bit more action and excitement into it, it may well have the makings of a good show. I hope so!

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free ebook copy from the author in exchange for an honest review, via the Goodreads group LoP.

A group of scientists are given funding to try and find a cure for Dementia, which initially seems to work. However, things take a sinister turn when the people treated with the new drug start acting strangely. Chaos breaks out when people start losing control of their anger and start attacking people, making more of these crazies. Suddenly, what was intended as a cure for a disease becomes the cause of humanity falling to its knees and fighting for survival.

I did find this book quite hard to get into, as the story progresses quite slowly. It's also based around the military, which I seem to struggle with in general, though I don't know why. I just can't seem to get into books and films that are army based.

It's told for multiple points of view, which made it difficult for me to connect with the characters. The one character I did like reading about was one of the scientists who helped create the drug. His reasons for creating it and consequently, his remorse at the outcome, gave the story compassion and realism. But, we only really got to hear from him in the first quarter of the book.

I really liked the concept of the book, with zombies and vampires. But we didn't really get to see much vamp action either. It is mainly the actions of the remaining military folk that we hear about. And sometimes, those actions had me banging my head against a wall.

I would still recommend the book to people that like this kind of thing. I just think it wasn't for me, maybe due to the army bits or that it wasn't faced paced enough for me.

Rating 2.5

[James McNally · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a well written book, and the story kept me reading, although it wasn't quite what I was expecting. The major flaw in this book was the lack of emotional connection to any one character. I would like to feel emotionally bound to at least one character, even if that character dies. The book as a whole is good and I will consider reading the sequels.

[Bob Ryan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is excellent in the pacing of the story. Horror needs time to percolate between events that adds to the danger and the threats to the characters. Mr. Stanton does this very well. I'm looking forward to the next book/

[Laura Talley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little long in some places but great concept and well written

[Liam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I approached this book very hesitantly at first, as the apocalyptic zombie genre seems very flooded nowadays, however the first few chapters had me hooked. It's a definite slow burn, much like Dmitry Glukhovsky's Metro 2033, but Stanton keeps you on the edge of your seat with his brilliantly descriptive (and gore filled) collisions with the "infected." A very strong and compelling beginning to what, I am very certain, will be a successful trilogy.

[Gregoire · Rating 1 out of 5]

désolé mais franchement je n'ai pas aimé J'ai trouvé à l'histoire un gout de déjà lu et les personnages tous semblables et manquant de profondeur Je n'ai pas arrêté de vouloir sauter des passages Je ne lirai pas les suites