Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
The zombie apocalypse like you've never seen it before.

When the zombie ocean crushes humanity, ex-Olympic athlete Robert 'Cerulean' doesn't stand a chance.
His spine is broken. His mind is broken. He lives in his mother's basement playing video games all day and all night.
He will save the world.

'Born on the 4th of July' meets the zombie apocalypse, packed with gore, twists and a whole lotta love.

A standalone novel that also continues and expands the story begun in The Last and The Lost, Books 1 and 2 of the Zombie Ocean. Burning questions from The Lost will be answered, like:

- Who took Cerulean?
- Where are they going?
- Why?

350 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 23, 2015

24 people are currently reading
116 people want to read

About the author

Michael John Grist

57 books109 followers
Michael John Grist is a British/American author and ruins photographer who lives in London, UK. He writes dark and weird science fiction and fantasy books, such as the fantasy novel Ignifer’s Rise and the SF series The Ruins Sonata.

For 11 years he lived in Tokyo exploring Japan’s modern ruins, such as abandoned theme parks, military bases, and ghost towns, gaining millions of hits on this website with his photographs and stories.

The best of these adventures are now collected in his unique travel book Into the Ruins, which thriller bestseller Barry Eisler calls, “gorgeous, haunting, stunning.”

Now Michael enjoys working out in the gym, watching TV and movies, and of course writing stories and novels. He lives in London with his wife, and works as an academic English lecturer at university.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
80 (44%)
4 stars
51 (28%)
3 stars
36 (20%)
2 stars
9 (5%)
1 star
4 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
4 reviews
May 31, 2017
The Least, by Michael John Grist, is the third book in the Zombie Ocean series. This book describes the life of Cerulean, Amo’s friend from book one. Cerulean grew up with dreams and skills to become something amazing with diving. Yet the people he hung out with and the choices those people made affected his success and future. During a dive, he slips into a coma and becomes paralyzed from the waist down. From there he has to start his life all over and begin all over. After the coma he gets the same “twinges” that Amo got. Cerulean can’t be stimulated and can only handle certain amounts of activity. Now a paraplegic, Cerulean has weak arms from inactivity and can no longer support wait so he becomes bed bound until he becomes stronger. He then meets Amo through the Deepcraft game they play together and create a deep bond. They share stories and help each other heal. Then, when Amo goes on the date and sparks the apocalypse, Cerulean begins a scramble to help Amo only to find out the zombies don’t hurt you and most of the data he collected was useless. Then he began his long journey across the whole country to realign with Amo.And throughout the journey the reader gets to see the characterization of Cerulean and the choices he makes.
Cerulean is a very caring and giving character. Throughout the book, he thought of other people and how his actions would affect them. He makes choices based on the greater good even if they cost him. Pre injury Cerulean cared for his mom and helped with anything he could being the only man in the house. He took the responsibility on by himself while trying to become someone and build a future. Then when the injury came into play, he had to stop being the provider and allow himself to be taken care of. Skipping ahead in the book to when the apocalypse starts, Cerulean already has a strong bond with Amo and spends all night doing research and finding survival tips to allow Amo to live longer. By doing this, it shows how selfless he really is. Another thing the reader can see is how he sees the best in people. Cerulean believes that Amo will help a lot of people and find the other survivors. When Cerulean meets up with Amo at the new city for civilization, Cerulean begins helping with plans and meetings to figure out how to operate the new civilization. Cerulean then takes over the role of Anna’s father and parents her until she leaves on her adventure. Cerulean is the type of character that is the group nurturer and caretaker. Then throughout the end of the story every move he makes toward other characters whether right or wrong is to protect the ones he cares about.
Cerulean is an outstandingly done character that shows the reader that no matter what hardships you are suffering there is always someone that you can help. And by helping others you are in turn helping yourself be a better person. Also sometimes doing the right thing is not always easy by necessary.
1,519 reviews28 followers
February 1, 2018
O moj boze! Tak toto je riadne namakana seria. Nechapem, preco som tak dlho cakala, aby som si precitala dalsi diel! Super, super super. Aj ked zo zaciatku som normalne mala pochybnost, ci citam dobru knihu, ale potom, ked to zacala vsetko do seba zapadat, tak som knihu nepustila z ruk.
Kniha tento x opisuje apokalypsu z pohladu Roberta. Nadejny olympijsky plavec vsak kvoli pochybnym znamostiam zle skoci do bazenu a ochrnie . Po kome sa takzo dava do kopy. Ale pomaha mu jedna pocitacova hra, cez ktoru sa zoznami s postavou Amo, ktory bol tiez v kome.
Ked zacne apokalypsa, Roberta ten virus obide, ale snazi sa , kym ho ostatni zombie nezozeru, zhromazdit info pre Ama o preziti. Je preto sokovany, ze ked sa k nemu dostane mama zombie a aj ostatni, nic mu nespravia. A preto sa rozhodne vyhladat Ama a pomoct mu s prezitim . A ze to nie je lahka uloha, je jasne, kedze je od pasa ochrnuty.
Cestou natrafi na roznych prezivsich, okrem ineho na malu Annu, ktore otec je jednym zo zombie a ona si ho adoptuje ako otca :grinning: To bolo velmi pekne.
Koniec bol znovu peckovy,nemam dalsie pokracovania, takze idem snorit po nete :innocent:
Ale ak viete ANJ a bavi vas tato tema, bavili vas Zihadla, tak hor sa do toho. Neolutujete.
372 reviews3 followers
July 1, 2017
Robert’s (Cerulean’s) backstory was as interesting and compelling as was Amo’s (The Last) and Anna’s (The Lost), but about the ¾ mark in the book, the (spoiler) reintroduction of Julio was unsettling for several reasons (no spoilers), and then there was sheer horror and heroism I could not put down.
I spent some time reviewing the plot line of the book from start-to-finish, and with confidence gave it five stars, as I had done with the first two books in the series.
“These aren’t your father’s zombies!” Michael John Grist truly knows his characters to the extent that, in the course of laying their lives, hopes, and fears bare, you can find yourself losing your ability to maintain a safe level of detachment. And that is scary.
Books #4 - #6 are already on my Kindle. Life is so, so, good!
Profile Image for Kari Bahr.
53 reviews
January 22, 2018
Good, Easy Read

I enjoyed this book. Robert was a character that you really fall for. A young man who endures a lot of heartache and still perseveres. The ending is why I gave a rating of 4 stars. I hated the ending. Otherwise a great read!
Profile Image for Jaime Andrews.
Author 2 books14 followers
April 8, 2020
Insane!!! Wow. I loved it. Of the series this was, thus far, the most disturbing. Contains a lot of hate and pain and trauma.
I don't know what to say without giving too much away.
Well written but for a few grammatical errors. Completes a circle started in The Last. Sad but amazed.
222 reviews11 followers
January 29, 2018
another amazing book by Michael John Grist. if u love zombies and the apocalypse these books are for u
Profile Image for Mark Heath.
375 reviews2 followers
May 31, 2018
An other great book in the series. It's getting intense
Profile Image for Shari Sakurai.
Author 8 books68 followers
November 6, 2016
*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review *

The Least is the third novel in Michael John Grist’s Zombie Ocean series and tells Robert ‘Cerulean’s’ story; his life before the zombie apocalypse, the aftermath and his journey to find Amo and the other survivors.

After a diving accident leaves him in a wheelchair, Robert has all but given up on life until he meets Amo. Together they help each other heal their mental and physical scars in a virtual world until the zombie apocalypse wipes out most of humanity. When Robert realises the true nature of the zombie ocean, he starts a journey across America to find Amo and other survivors.

I really enjoyed reading Robert’s story. It fits in well with the zombie ocean universe and provides much anticipated details about Robert’s life before the apocalypse. It also adds a lot to the over-arching story and Robert’s relationships with the other characters, in particular Anna and Amo and I can’t wait to read the next instalment of the series.
25 reviews
August 20, 2017
In the 3rd book ... The Least ... we meet Robert 'Cerulean', an ex-Olympic diver. He has huge problems even before the Apocalypse happens. A horrific accident puts 'Cerulean' into a coma and he wakes up to find he is paralyzed and thinks his life is basically over. He meets Amo online in a virtual Amazon-like store where he aimlessly walks around getting products. Hmmmm. Ok. But, this is really an important part of the book so don't despair! Join Cerulean as he makes his way up the coast to New York where his travels take on an apocalyptic turn!!!! He wants to 'dive' off the Empire State Bldg. Cerulean is paralyzed, in a wheelchair, despondent, and alone ..... with 7 billion zombies .... will HE survive? COULD YOU?

A zombie apocalypse story with an amazing, inspired and unexpected twist! Nothing like you've ever read before! The story, the characters, are so REAL you can easily imagine you are right there in the story with them. A page-turner you won't want to put down.

DO NOT PASS THIS UP!
Profile Image for PJ Lea.
1,064 reviews
December 12, 2015
I was thrilled to receive an ARC of this book. I stayed up until 3am reading it and it is absolutely not the least, it is the most. The most heartbreaking and thrilling book that I have read in a long time.
Robert is an amazing character, the horrific struggles that he goes through, the loss and heartache. Most of all though, his strength and love shine from the pages.
The story is harrowing, the suspense is perfectly done, with few clues as to what is going to happen next. Very graphic in places, it builds up to an amazing finale.
I loved the first two books but this one has surpassed them both.


Profile Image for Ceh131973.
554 reviews5 followers
December 23, 2015
This is the third installment in the [Zombie Ocean Series] if you have not read the first two you are missing out! [Michael John Grist] is a master of the character driven story. [The Least] tells of the event from the perspective of Robert aka Cerulean. It also give you background to Robert just as [The Lost] gave the background of Anna and [The Last] was the story of Amo. You really have to read them all! Even if zombie books aren't your thing. This is a new twist on zombies and more of a tale of humanity.

Check out Amazon for the first two books and you may find special deals just for the holidays.
Profile Image for Megan  Jarrett.
66 reviews
December 20, 2016
The worst one of the three I got for free. I'm not going to continue on this journey any longer.

NOw apparently, there are giant demons/angels living under the earth, and the zombies are protecting humanity from them. Unless you think they're angels, in which case, you're obliterating the zombies and waiting for the angel/demon to wake up and take over the world. Also it reproduces by vomiting into the mouths of humans that aren't zombies yet.

Too much weird with not enough why.
Profile Image for Katy.
23 reviews
December 14, 2015
I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this book in exchange for a review. I enjoyed it greatly. I would recommend reading the others in the series first but this is definitely a must read for sci fi fans. The end is quite shocking and will leave you wanting more. It's a very original take on zombies.
611 reviews1 follower
September 27, 2016
Great read

Really cool addition to the series. Robert's story is truly inspirational and was so exciting to read. The twists and turns of the plot keep you guessing and very focused on the story. Can't wait to start the next story in this series. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in zombie apocalypse style stories.
Profile Image for Dom.
56 reviews
April 4, 2016
Another great angle helping to flesh out this over-arcing storyline. Very engaging and a great page turner. I didn't want to put it down!
Profile Image for Jennifer.
222 reviews10 followers
Read
February 7, 2017
Book one was different
Book 2 was ?oh-kayyyyy?
Now book 3 is....What/Huh???
Profile Image for Syvannah Tewes.
109 reviews4 followers
April 14, 2017
Wow!

This is simply incredible. I never expected the ending. Cerulean's life before the coma was absolutely tragic. His life after.... well, I won't give any spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.