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Stage 3 #1
Stage 3
A Post Apocalyptic Thriller
Blindness was just the beginning.
Blindness was just the beginning.
It was only when the virus progressed to Stage 2 that the true horror emerged. Ordinary people were being turned into mindless predators, and it didn't take Mason long to figure out their prey of choice.
He thought he'd had nothing left to lose, but now he is all that stands between a young girl and a gruesome fate, and he's sworn to protect her with his very life. They'll have to be smart, they'll have to be strong, and they'll have to be every bit as ruthless as the swarm, but even as Mason and Mackenzie battle their way from one horror to the next in a desperate flight through a world gone mad, they both know that their time is running out.
The virus isn't done yet. Stage 3 is coming, and things are about to get a whole lot worse.
216 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 13, 2016
213 people are currently reading
249 people want to read
About the author
Ken Stark
14 books124 followersKEN STARK is the author of the multi-award winning, post-apocalyptic STAGE 3 Series, and the horror novels GAIA'S GAME and ARCADIA FALLS.
"If I can move a reader, I am honoured. If those words I string together resonate with the reader in some way, I am thrilled. But if one reader out of a thousand experiences an actual nightmare because of what I wrote, then I will know that I've done my job right, and you may consider me ecstatic."
"If I can move a reader, I am honoured. If those words I string together resonate with the reader in some way, I am thrilled. But if one reader out of a thousand experiences an actual nightmare because of what I wrote, then I will know that I've done my job right, and you may consider me ecstatic."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
June 30, 2023
This is a 4.5 🌟 read rounded ⬆️ to 5 🌟.
February 25, 2019
Stage 3 by Ken Stark is a horror novel about a zombie apocalypse caused by a virus of unknown origin. I am not a zombie fan, but having seen many glowing ads and reviews for this novel, I was curious and just had to check it out. I have no regrets. The writing is stellar, the plot fast - paced and compelling, and the characters engaging.
Mason Tenby awakens on a plane from an alcohol induced slumber to discover a world he could never have imagined. It seems everyone on the plane, including the pilot, has suddenly gone blind except for him. And then it gets worse. With the loss of their sight many people seemingly have gone mad, and are not only attacking others without provocation, but they are also feasting upon them.
Mason, to my mind, was a bit of a jerk in the beginning of the story. He seemed moody, reclusive, self-centered and dealt with his problems, particularly his recent break-up with his significant other, by drowning them in alcohol. But, as much of the population was being changed by the virus into mindless, cannibalistic nightmares, Mace was being changed into a better person by a 10-year-old girl who (so far) had been infected by the virus only to the point of blindness. The relationship forged between Mace and Mackenzie throughout this tale is truly the heart and soul of the novel, making it far more than just another zombie apocalypse.
I highly recommend Stage 3 to all fans of this genre, and even to others who enjoy a great story.
Mason Tenby awakens on a plane from an alcohol induced slumber to discover a world he could never have imagined. It seems everyone on the plane, including the pilot, has suddenly gone blind except for him. And then it gets worse. With the loss of their sight many people seemingly have gone mad, and are not only attacking others without provocation, but they are also feasting upon them.
Mason, to my mind, was a bit of a jerk in the beginning of the story. He seemed moody, reclusive, self-centered and dealt with his problems, particularly his recent break-up with his significant other, by drowning them in alcohol. But, as much of the population was being changed by the virus into mindless, cannibalistic nightmares, Mace was being changed into a better person by a 10-year-old girl who (so far) had been infected by the virus only to the point of blindness. The relationship forged between Mace and Mackenzie throughout this tale is truly the heart and soul of the novel, making it far more than just another zombie apocalypse.
I highly recommend Stage 3 to all fans of this genre, and even to others who enjoy a great story.
February 10, 2017
This is an edge of the seat read from its dramatic opening, through its cityscape of horrors, and on to its compelling ending. Our hero, Mason, is on the rebound and this amplifies his natural disinterest in other people. We meet him as a reluctant hero on an aircraft with blind pilots, but heroics are not his thing and he spends the next week in self-indulgent isolation. Even at this early stage, we know that something is far from right, yet Mason has to emerge before it begins to register. When he does he’s in trouble up to his neck, yet he rationalises the situation, thinking that things can’t be that bad. He quickly finds out how wrong he is.
Ken Stark then takes us on a hellish journey, at first all about Mason, but very quickly about Mackenzie – a 10 year old, sight-damaged child. Mature beyond her years, she increasingly gets into Mason’s heart. Maybe for the first time in his life, he puts himself second and commits to helping Mackenzie in her quest to be reunited with her aunt. The girl’s inherent humanity slowly forces Mason to modify his attitudes and we’re left with some real optimism for him and the girl he’s chosen to protect at all costs.
Ken handles the frequent conflict situations brilliantly with each situation having its own particular – and in the spirit of the genre – gruesome challenges. You really do wonder what can possibly go wrong next!
This is a great book, well written, and full of engrossing exploits, all heavily flavoured with the central characters’ imperative to survive whatever is thrown at them. Highly recommended read.
Ken Stark then takes us on a hellish journey, at first all about Mason, but very quickly about Mackenzie – a 10 year old, sight-damaged child. Mature beyond her years, she increasingly gets into Mason’s heart. Maybe for the first time in his life, he puts himself second and commits to helping Mackenzie in her quest to be reunited with her aunt. The girl’s inherent humanity slowly forces Mason to modify his attitudes and we’re left with some real optimism for him and the girl he’s chosen to protect at all costs.
Ken handles the frequent conflict situations brilliantly with each situation having its own particular – and in the spirit of the genre – gruesome challenges. You really do wonder what can possibly go wrong next!
This is a great book, well written, and full of engrossing exploits, all heavily flavoured with the central characters’ imperative to survive whatever is thrown at them. Highly recommended read.
July 29, 2018
Excellent book.
From start to finish, an action-packed, yet at times deeply moving, tale of survival in a world torn apart by chaos. Mase and Mack make a brilliant team, and I shall be looking for the rest of the books in this series! Great descriptive writing, great characters, more battle scenes than 300, and swift, captivating twists and turns make this an edgy, engaging read.
From start to finish, an action-packed, yet at times deeply moving, tale of survival in a world torn apart by chaos. Mase and Mack make a brilliant team, and I shall be looking for the rest of the books in this series! Great descriptive writing, great characters, more battle scenes than 300, and swift, captivating twists and turns make this an edgy, engaging read.
November 4, 2019
A great zombie apocalypse story
I was recommended this book by reviewer Leonard Tillerman, and am glad I headed his advice. Ken Stark's story is bloody, suspenseful, and endearing at the same time.
During a zombie apocalypse, big man Mason picks up blind, 10-yo Mackenzie, and suddenly finds himself in the rol of a father. Mr. Stark is very good at wording the thoughts of the big man with the little heart. You feel for him and wonder if the two are going to survive the horrors that are thrown at them. Whether they do, you'll have to find out for yourself.
I really wanted to give it five stars, but the typos kept me from doing this. A proofreader would bring this novel to top level.
I was recommended this book by reviewer Leonard Tillerman, and am glad I headed his advice. Ken Stark's story is bloody, suspenseful, and endearing at the same time.
During a zombie apocalypse, big man Mason picks up blind, 10-yo Mackenzie, and suddenly finds himself in the rol of a father. Mr. Stark is very good at wording the thoughts of the big man with the little heart. You feel for him and wonder if the two are going to survive the horrors that are thrown at them. Whether they do, you'll have to find out for yourself.
I really wanted to give it five stars, but the typos kept me from doing this. A proofreader would bring this novel to top level.
September 28, 2021
Although I am not really a zombie fan, Ken Stark writes a great tale. A virus has changed everything and makes for unlikely friends. Mason finds this out when he becomes something of a savior for a young blind girl. Take a futuristic step into a novel that will terrify you, entertain you, and make you think about what could happen in a crazy world of viruses.
January 6, 2017
"Stage 3" was recommended to me by a friend, and while it isn't my typical genre, I found myself pleasantly enthralled from the very beginning. In the middle of a zombie post apocalypse, imagine my surprise when coming across characters as normal and believable as people you might meet in your own social circle. I immediately related to the hero of the story, Mason, who had become sadly disillusioned by a recent breakup and whose growing disgust for humans was on the rise. Amid the chaos of a near plane crash and the world going completely mad around him, he is thrown into a situation where he must protect a young blind girl named Mackenzie.
As he befriends her, he agrees to help search for her aunt. In a world that is rapidly destructing, his feeling of responsibility for Mackenzie grows. In saving her, he ultimately saves himself.
I found Mr. Stark to possess an amazing ability to keep his characters real and relatable, even while being challenged with so many horrendous events. I am looking very forward to reading his next book and would be even happier to find that Mace and Mackenzie's story continues.
C.M.
As he befriends her, he agrees to help search for her aunt. In a world that is rapidly destructing, his feeling of responsibility for Mackenzie grows. In saving her, he ultimately saves himself.
I found Mr. Stark to possess an amazing ability to keep his characters real and relatable, even while being challenged with so many horrendous events. I am looking very forward to reading his next book and would be even happier to find that Mace and Mackenzie's story continues.
C.M.
January 13, 2018
Stage 3 Wow!!
I was more than amazed! This book is gripping from beginning to end. I did not know what to expect. Stage 3 kept me on the edge of my seat just the way I like it.
I was more than amazed! This book is gripping from beginning to end. I did not know what to expect. Stage 3 kept me on the edge of my seat just the way I like it.
June 6, 2017
Let me start by saying, this is the first zombie apocalyptic thriller that I've ever read. It wasn't the gruesome book cover that grabbed me after seeing it multiple times on Twitter. It was the tag line—"An apocalyptic horror story with a heart of gold"—that compelled me to read the description, then buy and read Mr. Stark's book, and I'm very glad that I branched out from my usual genres.
Stage 3 drew me in right from the start. Mason, the story's salty and unlikely hero, won me over instantly with his bitter sarcastic commentary. Flying home from a painful solo getaway that was originally intended to be a romantic trip with his ex, Mason wakes in the midst of a crisis on the plane. A mysterious burst of lightning has rendered everyone else on the plane sightless, including the pilot and co-pilot. After helping them land safely and walking away from the mayhem that he then finds outside the cockpit, Mason is done with humanity. He wants nothing more than to hole up in his apartment with his frozen pizzas and his stash of alcohol for the remainder of his sorry vacation. A news report the following day about the massive spread of an unidentifiable virus that causes blindness followed by violent erratic behavior convinces him to disconnect from the outside world entirely until it's time to return to work.
Six days later, Mason exits his apartment and enters the nightmare that his world has morphed into. The city is now overrun with bloodthirsty mindless beings who blindly chase after any uninfected human who happens to cross their path. As he struggles to comprehend what his world has become while fighting his way through the carnage, Mason happens upon an extraordinary ten year old girl who's calm in the center of this apocalyptic storm is mind boggling. Sightless and alone, Mackenzie is bound and determined to make her way through the nightmarish cityscape to find her aunt. It doesn't take long for this sweet child to capture Mason's heart and convince him to help her search for the only family she has left. Dire and hopeless as their mission is, Mason's entire purpose for living shifts. Protecting this young girl while guiding her deeper into the nightmare to search for a woman who's probably already dead is the only thing that matters to him.
Along the way, the twosome encounter other survivors—some more dangerous than the infected—and discover that as horrific as the blindness and the bloodlust that follows are, nothing compares to the third stage of the virus.
The story propels the reader from one horror to the next and keeps you on the edge of your seat till the final page but for me, the relationship between Mason and Mack was the heart of this story. Mason may have saved Mack from the mindless monsters intent on devouring her, but Mack saved Mason from his disillusioned outlook on life and general hatred of mankind.
The ending was perfect, and I look forward to reading Mr. Stark's next book.
Stage 3 drew me in right from the start. Mason, the story's salty and unlikely hero, won me over instantly with his bitter sarcastic commentary. Flying home from a painful solo getaway that was originally intended to be a romantic trip with his ex, Mason wakes in the midst of a crisis on the plane. A mysterious burst of lightning has rendered everyone else on the plane sightless, including the pilot and co-pilot. After helping them land safely and walking away from the mayhem that he then finds outside the cockpit, Mason is done with humanity. He wants nothing more than to hole up in his apartment with his frozen pizzas and his stash of alcohol for the remainder of his sorry vacation. A news report the following day about the massive spread of an unidentifiable virus that causes blindness followed by violent erratic behavior convinces him to disconnect from the outside world entirely until it's time to return to work.
Six days later, Mason exits his apartment and enters the nightmare that his world has morphed into. The city is now overrun with bloodthirsty mindless beings who blindly chase after any uninfected human who happens to cross their path. As he struggles to comprehend what his world has become while fighting his way through the carnage, Mason happens upon an extraordinary ten year old girl who's calm in the center of this apocalyptic storm is mind boggling. Sightless and alone, Mackenzie is bound and determined to make her way through the nightmarish cityscape to find her aunt. It doesn't take long for this sweet child to capture Mason's heart and convince him to help her search for the only family she has left. Dire and hopeless as their mission is, Mason's entire purpose for living shifts. Protecting this young girl while guiding her deeper into the nightmare to search for a woman who's probably already dead is the only thing that matters to him.
Along the way, the twosome encounter other survivors—some more dangerous than the infected—and discover that as horrific as the blindness and the bloodlust that follows are, nothing compares to the third stage of the virus.
The story propels the reader from one horror to the next and keeps you on the edge of your seat till the final page but for me, the relationship between Mason and Mack was the heart of this story. Mason may have saved Mack from the mindless monsters intent on devouring her, but Mack saved Mason from his disillusioned outlook on life and general hatred of mankind.
The ending was perfect, and I look forward to reading Mr. Stark's next book.
June 25, 2017
In "Stage 3" by Ken Stark, a zombie virus has hit the world with a bang and main character, Mason, a misanthrope who survives the initial pandemic by locking himself in his apartment following a horrific airplane incident finds himself surrounded. Emerging from his hideaway, unaware of the disease that has turned ninety percent of the population into zombies, Mason immediately encounters a few of the infected. He quickly adapts, destroys them and begins his search for other survivors. He encounters Mack, a young, blind girl mature for her age, who proves the theory that people who suffer a malady of a single sense, have heightened abilities in another of the five senses—or six in this case. Mack is searching for her aunt Sarah and Mason agrees to help her. But, the odds are long as the aunt, if she survived, is in a far corner of the city and in between are oceans of walking dead.
There are numerous comparisons between “Stage 3” and other zombie apocalypse tales, but it’s the dissimilarities of other zombie tales that put Ken Stark at the top of the zombie author charts. Stark’s monsters are different, a fact evident through explanation of the title approximately one-third into the story. Mason and Mack construct a believable pair of survivors whose interactions and depth of character display the human psyche at its best. Mason’s development, thanks to Mack’s maturity and insight, is a beautifully sculpted and integral part of the story that alone would be worth the read. There’s lots of gore, fighting, and a variety of bad guys (other than the zombies) that keep the action going, the plot thickening, and the pages turning. For me, the constant battles that comprised seventy to eighty percent of each chapter was a bit much; but for zombie fans that’s probably just the right amount. Stark is a master wordsmith. His insight into character development, realistic dialogue and the right amount and timing of twists that keep the reader reading are second to none. I highly recommend “Stage 3” to zombie and horror fans, but also those who enjoy a human story embedded in an action-packed apocalyptic tale.
There are numerous comparisons between “Stage 3” and other zombie apocalypse tales, but it’s the dissimilarities of other zombie tales that put Ken Stark at the top of the zombie author charts. Stark’s monsters are different, a fact evident through explanation of the title approximately one-third into the story. Mason and Mack construct a believable pair of survivors whose interactions and depth of character display the human psyche at its best. Mason’s development, thanks to Mack’s maturity and insight, is a beautifully sculpted and integral part of the story that alone would be worth the read. There’s lots of gore, fighting, and a variety of bad guys (other than the zombies) that keep the action going, the plot thickening, and the pages turning. For me, the constant battles that comprised seventy to eighty percent of each chapter was a bit much; but for zombie fans that’s probably just the right amount. Stark is a master wordsmith. His insight into character development, realistic dialogue and the right amount and timing of twists that keep the reader reading are second to none. I highly recommend “Stage 3” to zombie and horror fans, but also those who enjoy a human story embedded in an action-packed apocalyptic tale.
November 7, 2017
Mason is on his way home from a vacation he should have spent with his girlfriend. Instead of being a married man he's now single again. He slept through most of the flight and when he wakes up he notices that the other passengers and the flight attendants have gone blind. Even the pilots have lost their eyesight and as soon as the stewards know that Mason can still see he's ushered into the cockpit. Luckily planes nowadays can pretty much fly and land themselves. Mason has no clue that the flash of light in the sky will change the world forever. What would you do when the world is filled with monsters? How far would you go to survive?
Mason still has a week off from work and he chooses not to be a part of everyday life. He lurks behind closed curtains and refuses to watch television. When he finally goes outside of his apartment again he can't believe what has happened in the meantime. People have gone mad and have turned into blind savages who rip apart every living creature they can get their hands on. Mason needs to adjust fast if he wants to make it out of the city alive.
Mason isn't your typical hero. He actually doesn't really care about anyone anymore. He's cynical and is only looking out for himself, that is until he spots a young girl who is trying to escape the monsters as well. Mack is infested by the virus and is blind. She does have exceptional hearing and wants to find her aunt Sarah. Mack touches Mason's heart and he feels a strong need to keep her safe. Because of Mack I saw the real Mason and I admired him for his courage.
Stage 3 is an exceptional story about surviving in a world that has gone mad. I loved the uniqueness of the story. It's so different from the other zombie stories out there and I was glued to the pages. Ken Stark has put a lot of time in his characters and it's easy to feel close to them because of that. He makes it clear that the infected are not the only ones to look out for. Stage 3 is scary and the reason people turn into the undead made my bones chill. This story kept me on the edge of my seat and I look forward to reading more about Mason and Mack.
Mason still has a week off from work and he chooses not to be a part of everyday life. He lurks behind closed curtains and refuses to watch television. When he finally goes outside of his apartment again he can't believe what has happened in the meantime. People have gone mad and have turned into blind savages who rip apart every living creature they can get their hands on. Mason needs to adjust fast if he wants to make it out of the city alive.
Mason isn't your typical hero. He actually doesn't really care about anyone anymore. He's cynical and is only looking out for himself, that is until he spots a young girl who is trying to escape the monsters as well. Mack is infested by the virus and is blind. She does have exceptional hearing and wants to find her aunt Sarah. Mack touches Mason's heart and he feels a strong need to keep her safe. Because of Mack I saw the real Mason and I admired him for his courage.
Stage 3 is an exceptional story about surviving in a world that has gone mad. I loved the uniqueness of the story. It's so different from the other zombie stories out there and I was glued to the pages. Ken Stark has put a lot of time in his characters and it's easy to feel close to them because of that. He makes it clear that the infected are not the only ones to look out for. Stage 3 is scary and the reason people turn into the undead made my bones chill. This story kept me on the edge of my seat and I look forward to reading more about Mason and Mack.
May 2, 2018
First, the narrator was good. Not great, but a solid 4 stars.
Some of his dialogue inflections didn't quite match the descriptions (particularly in the case of Mckenzie), and I would have liked to have heard some tempo changes for mood (faster narration during tense or scary parts). But overall he did well.
Now, there are a few issues with the writing, but Ken still told a great story here.
There are some clunky phrases, some not-so-believable dialogue, some misused/incorrect words, excessive repetition, and a LOT of adverbs.
Much like Stephen King, the story makes up for all those problems.
Mason is a great character, one that I swing from identifying with too severely disliking, to loving throughout the course of the story.
But really, Mckenzie is the glue that holds the whole thing together. And she does it brilliantly. I can't help thinking there's some Clementine (from Telltale games' The Walking Dead video game) influence at work here.
My one genuine complaint when the book is the cliffhanger ending.
Of course, in the zombie apocalypse any ending is going to be a cliffhanger, but the fact that our main conflict (finding aunt Sarah) is not resolved is a problem for me as a reader.
Some of his dialogue inflections didn't quite match the descriptions (particularly in the case of Mckenzie), and I would have liked to have heard some tempo changes for mood (faster narration during tense or scary parts). But overall he did well.
Now, there are a few issues with the writing, but Ken still told a great story here.
There are some clunky phrases, some not-so-believable dialogue, some misused/incorrect words, excessive repetition, and a LOT of adverbs.
Much like Stephen King, the story makes up for all those problems.
Mason is a great character, one that I swing from identifying with too severely disliking, to loving throughout the course of the story.
But really, Mckenzie is the glue that holds the whole thing together. And she does it brilliantly. I can't help thinking there's some Clementine (from Telltale games' The Walking Dead video game) influence at work here.
My one genuine complaint when the book is the cliffhanger ending.
Of course, in the zombie apocalypse any ending is going to be a cliffhanger, but the fact that our main conflict (finding aunt Sarah) is not resolved is a problem for me as a reader.
August 24, 2022
In Stage 3, Ken Stark, presents an interesting and entertaining spin on the modern zombie scenario. Not entirely original, as its common these days to place the cause on some diabolical virus or escaped biological warfare strain, but it is well played here. The main character is a curmudgeonly man who mostly sleeps through the beginning of the outbreak. The antagonists are infected people who succumb to the virus in stages. The first is blindness, afterward they slowly decline into the the ravenous madness we all know and love. In the final step, Stage 3, they become demonic hellions with dark purposes. Here, it gets fun. Stark tells the tale well and leaves us with a satisfying conclusion but wanting more.
February 14, 2019
I really loved this book.
I loved the connection between Mason and Mack.
The story from the start to the end kept me hooked.
I loved the concept of the Zombies, they felt believable. The difference between the stages was a great idea and added spice to the fight scenes.
I’m already looking forward to the next book.
I loved the connection between Mason and Mack.
The story from the start to the end kept me hooked.
I loved the concept of the Zombies, they felt believable. The difference between the stages was a great idea and added spice to the fight scenes.
I’m already looking forward to the next book.
August 1, 2018
This book had been catching my eye for some time on twitter. I finally found the time to read it, and it was bad ass! It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time and I could not put it down! Looking forward to reading more of his books! Hell of an author!
May 25, 2021
Gruesomly wicked
Stage 3 is a gruesomly wicked zombie fest from start to terrifying end. Dramatic, fast paced, rib crunching but with a heart lifting thread of survival. For fans of the genre, this is a must.
Keep writing Ken Stark - well deserved 5 stars
Stage 3 is a gruesomly wicked zombie fest from start to terrifying end. Dramatic, fast paced, rib crunching but with a heart lifting thread of survival. For fans of the genre, this is a must.
Keep writing Ken Stark - well deserved 5 stars
July 16, 2018
Great story and my first from Ken Stark. I won't give the story away, but will tell you that I will be searching out more from this author.
May 25, 2018
I loved this book! I was looking to read a vampire romance book but bought this instead. I downloaded the sample and was hooked! You follow Mace, he wakes up in a world turned upside down by a virus and for whatever reason he is unaffected. In a very bleak hopeless situation, Mace finds hope and reason to live. Ken Stark takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions through this book, I am looking forward to reading Stage 3 Alpha!
If you like zombie books and films or like the walking dead, then you will love this. Kirkman should be worried!
I really don't want to give away spoilers, so I will end this review with, Guys, Gals, just get this, you won't regret it!
If you like zombie books and films or like the walking dead, then you will love this. Kirkman should be worried!
I really don't want to give away spoilers, so I will end this review with, Guys, Gals, just get this, you won't regret it!
November 1, 2016
This was my first apocalyptic, zombie horror read and it was an amazing good time. I liked the story’s opening and interesting way Stark introduced the main character, Mason. A lot of people have a fear of flying so it was a brilliant move on the author’s part to use this impending plane crash as the catalyst to the horror about to unleash itself on humanity. This scene also highlights Mason’s courage and cynicism and reveals a bit about his back story. Everything as Mason knows it turns horrific in the following days, and chaos erupts on his way to work. Here’s where the action begins with Mason battling the first round of flesh eating zombies. He soon learns killing them once isn’t enough. They come back. Stark’s writing made me feel like I was fighting side by side with Mason. It was a fun adventure. Then Mason meets a little girl, Mackenzie searching for her aunt. Mack as he comes to call the girl brings out Mason’s softer, caring side. He becomes like a father figure to her. She fondly calls him, Mace. It’s not long before the duo of Mace and Mack are battling zombies together in a quest to find her aunt. They meet a cast full of interesting and strange humans along the way. I loved the conclusion and fate left to Mace and Mack.
Stark takes the horror genre and blends a tale of action and suspense, friendship and a cynical man’s second chance to discover life through the enthusiasm of a young friend as they work together to survive in the midst of an apocalyptic zombie attack.
Stark takes the horror genre and blends a tale of action and suspense, friendship and a cynical man’s second chance to discover life through the enthusiasm of a young friend as they work together to survive in the midst of an apocalyptic zombie attack.
October 11, 2019
Starts with a bang, ends with a whimper
The opening to this book is very exciting, but it quickly turns into a very predictable zombies in the city tale. The main character, Mason, teems up with a 10 year old girl and within minutes they are cooing, hushing and talking sweetly to each other. I know people can become trauma bonded to each other, but being told a child is sweet doesn’t make me believe the child is sweet. I would have liked to seen Mason and Mac’s relationship develop over the day they spend together, rather than have it go from 0 to 60 upon first meeting, simply because Mac has a mop of red hair, green eyes, an angelic face and preternatural hearing.
The opening to this book is very exciting, but it quickly turns into a very predictable zombies in the city tale. The main character, Mason, teems up with a 10 year old girl and within minutes they are cooing, hushing and talking sweetly to each other. I know people can become trauma bonded to each other, but being told a child is sweet doesn’t make me believe the child is sweet. I would have liked to seen Mason and Mac’s relationship develop over the day they spend together, rather than have it go from 0 to 60 upon first meeting, simply because Mac has a mop of red hair, green eyes, an angelic face and preternatural hearing.
November 9, 2021
Spoiler.Triggering. The way the author writes about the ten year old makes me feel like he is grooming her. Too detailed on where her lips and her hands are on his body. Constantly referencing her frame l. Writes her where she is basically flirting with a would-be rapists. I really wanted to love this...also 30lb rebar 7ft long...no way he swinging that long term with zombies.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2025
Could have been a good book. But the first few words had to be taking my lords name in vain,
Praying that you receive him as your Lord and Savior ,You can write books for Christian readers, God bless you
Praying that you receive him as your Lord and Savior ,You can write books for Christian readers, God bless you
July 13, 2021
Not Your Usual Zombies
I’ve read a lot of zombie apocalypse novels, so I consider myself to be difficult to please. When it comes to this genre, I’ve seen it all. However, Stage 3 contained many unique elements that kept me on my toes. The blockbuster opening scene had me holding my breath, and the unique zombie fighting duo at the heart of this tale had me fully invested in this thrilling zombie adventure.
The opening chapter flings the reader into the middle of a life-threatening crisis. This isn’t an in medias res opening, though. From the protagonist’s viewpoint, the crisis is escalated from insignificant personal problem to huge, life-of-hundreds-of-people-sized problem over the course of a few paragraphs.
I love the opening scene of this novel. Partly because it introduces so much action at an early stage in the story, but also partly because the protagonist knows nothing about what’s happening and neither do any of the other characters. Instead of playing catch up, we learn about this situation alongside the protagonist.
By the end of the opening chapter, we have a good idea that the action is only just beginning. Strangely, though, the protagonist, despite being an otherwise intelligent man, appears oblivious to what’s happening around him.
Mason is an exceedingly proactive character. Though he appears to avoid action at every corner, as soon as things happen, he’s the one who comes up with the plans and sees them through. He also attempts to do the right thing…sometimes. and he is wonderful with Mackenzie. These traits along with the fact that he’s recently suffered a bad breakup mold him into a great example of a sympathetic character.
However, I do have one major reservation about Mason. Unless I somehow missed something, he is just an insurance salesman who works in an office and maybe goes to the gym twice or three times a week. How is it, then, that he tears around San Fransisco like a special forces operative?
Mason makes calculated decisions while engaged in hand to hand combat, uses guns like a pro, and makes tactical decisions on the fly like someone playing Call of Duty Black OPS. Usually somebody who acts like that in a novel has some kind of special forces, military, or police background to excuse their proficiency with martial arts and weapons. Nothing, that I recall, was mentioned about Mason’s background to infer he was specially prepared for the many pulse-racing scenarios he faces.
Mackenzie is, of course, my favorite character. You’d have to be heartless not to love this wonderful, 10-year-old girl. Her astounding skills, quick thinking, and acting abilities all combine to make her the most amazing child you’ve ever met. As the story progresses, she proves herself to be adorable. She also becomes Mason’s conscience, pushing him to be good even when he knows it’s the wrong thing to do.
Jenny is an elusive character that we hear a lot about and see through Mackenzie’s and Doctor Walker’s viewpoints. She sounds amazing.
This novel’s plot is a typical points-on-the-map story line common in zombie action adventures, such as like Wait For Me and Situation Z. Mason has a target destination in mind, and this is modified after meeting Mackenzie. The conflict then becomes the difficult struggle to reach the various destinations without being killed by the ravaging zombie hordes.
The urban setting of this novel is skillfully crafted with lots of interesting locations, such as a restaurant surrounded by zombies and a park where Mackenzie once watched the dogs having fun. But the real stars of the setting in this speculative adventure are the zombies.
The zombies in this “universe” are unique. Unlike zombies in all other stories, these ones have a limitation. They are blind. This limitation is interesting and enables Mason to come up with creative ways to escape their attention.
However, their blindness doesn’t make them any less terrifying. The zombies move in large numbers and vastly outnumber the surviving living folks. Evading these blind zombies is no easy task. There is also an interesting “stage” system to the zombie infection that makes these zombies especially different to those found in other zombie apocalypse stories.
This zombie book is well edited, and the third-person narration successfully shows rather than tells the story. The engaging prose quickly immersed me in Mason and Mackenzie’s world.
I became thoroughly absorbed while reading this adrenaline-pumping tale. When you read this book, Mason and Mackenzie will become the center of your universe, too. The trials they face are difficult to surmount, and the suspense is constant throughout. This zombie suspense novel deserves 5 out of 5.
I’ve read a lot of zombie apocalypse novels, so I consider myself to be difficult to please. When it comes to this genre, I’ve seen it all. However, Stage 3 contained many unique elements that kept me on my toes. The blockbuster opening scene had me holding my breath, and the unique zombie fighting duo at the heart of this tale had me fully invested in this thrilling zombie adventure.
The opening chapter flings the reader into the middle of a life-threatening crisis. This isn’t an in medias res opening, though. From the protagonist’s viewpoint, the crisis is escalated from insignificant personal problem to huge, life-of-hundreds-of-people-sized problem over the course of a few paragraphs.
I love the opening scene of this novel. Partly because it introduces so much action at an early stage in the story, but also partly because the protagonist knows nothing about what’s happening and neither do any of the other characters. Instead of playing catch up, we learn about this situation alongside the protagonist.
By the end of the opening chapter, we have a good idea that the action is only just beginning. Strangely, though, the protagonist, despite being an otherwise intelligent man, appears oblivious to what’s happening around him.
Mason is an exceedingly proactive character. Though he appears to avoid action at every corner, as soon as things happen, he’s the one who comes up with the plans and sees them through. He also attempts to do the right thing…sometimes. and he is wonderful with Mackenzie. These traits along with the fact that he’s recently suffered a bad breakup mold him into a great example of a sympathetic character.
However, I do have one major reservation about Mason. Unless I somehow missed something, he is just an insurance salesman who works in an office and maybe goes to the gym twice or three times a week. How is it, then, that he tears around San Fransisco like a special forces operative?
Mason makes calculated decisions while engaged in hand to hand combat, uses guns like a pro, and makes tactical decisions on the fly like someone playing Call of Duty Black OPS. Usually somebody who acts like that in a novel has some kind of special forces, military, or police background to excuse their proficiency with martial arts and weapons. Nothing, that I recall, was mentioned about Mason’s background to infer he was specially prepared for the many pulse-racing scenarios he faces.
Mackenzie is, of course, my favorite character. You’d have to be heartless not to love this wonderful, 10-year-old girl. Her astounding skills, quick thinking, and acting abilities all combine to make her the most amazing child you’ve ever met. As the story progresses, she proves herself to be adorable. She also becomes Mason’s conscience, pushing him to be good even when he knows it’s the wrong thing to do.
Jenny is an elusive character that we hear a lot about and see through Mackenzie’s and Doctor Walker’s viewpoints. She sounds amazing.
This novel’s plot is a typical points-on-the-map story line common in zombie action adventures, such as like Wait For Me and Situation Z. Mason has a target destination in mind, and this is modified after meeting Mackenzie. The conflict then becomes the difficult struggle to reach the various destinations without being killed by the ravaging zombie hordes.
The urban setting of this novel is skillfully crafted with lots of interesting locations, such as a restaurant surrounded by zombies and a park where Mackenzie once watched the dogs having fun. But the real stars of the setting in this speculative adventure are the zombies.
The zombies in this “universe” are unique. Unlike zombies in all other stories, these ones have a limitation. They are blind. This limitation is interesting and enables Mason to come up with creative ways to escape their attention.
However, their blindness doesn’t make them any less terrifying. The zombies move in large numbers and vastly outnumber the surviving living folks. Evading these blind zombies is no easy task. There is also an interesting “stage” system to the zombie infection that makes these zombies especially different to those found in other zombie apocalypse stories.
This zombie book is well edited, and the third-person narration successfully shows rather than tells the story. The engaging prose quickly immersed me in Mason and Mackenzie’s world.
I became thoroughly absorbed while reading this adrenaline-pumping tale. When you read this book, Mason and Mackenzie will become the center of your universe, too. The trials they face are difficult to surmount, and the suspense is constant throughout. This zombie suspense novel deserves 5 out of 5.
October 30, 2022
Somehow in this new world of the damned, dead wasn’t exactly dead.
A confirmed misanthrope with a heart of gold (more or less) fresh off a separation and a trip for two that he took - and returns from - alone. A plane full of blind people. Eventually an overwhelming wave of dead, undead, creepers, wilders and worse yet, shitty humans. We get to see Phases 1 through 3 as they unfold signalling the advent of a new but totally unidentified virus and more! Golly, it sure seemed like things were set up for a very exciting adventure! Oh and did I mention that the moral voice of reason is a 10-year old girl? In today's world that shouldn't be so surprising but it made for a decidedly odd pairing! Unique, huh? But even if you have an original angle in the zombie genre, you need to do something with it. Sigh...
(Mace) had just helped save a planeload of idiots from an ignoble death, and they thanked him by beating the hell out of each other.
In all honesty, this was a struggle and very nearly a DNF. I found "Stage 3" to be painfully dull, unnecessarily repetitive (73 times someone 'hushed'), and really without any surprises of any merit to keep my interest. The book slogs along through a series of repeatedly "far too lucky to be realistic" adventures as our few protagonists - really only 2 to be honest - make their way through an apocalyptic San Francisco. The book features scores upon scores "each and every zombie killed" details - stab this guy, punch that lady, oh look what they're wearing the nasty buggers - and I just wanted them to get on with it already! The bottom-line is just too much of the actual prose felt like unnecessary filler and made me wonder if this was at one point a novella that someone wanted expanded. And that's not counting the grocery lists of available supplies or the make and condition of untold vehicles that we had to plow through just to reach the next chapter.
The battle went on and on and on…there they huddled while the war raged on and on and on.
At the end of the day, the book struck me as being unnecessarily verbose. And though not poorly written, this kind of narration seemed definitely misplaced. Unfortunately, the book failed to maintain any kind of interesting plot to accompany the already bizarre scenarios that fighting zombies entail. It is most definitely no where even close to what I would consider to be a memorable zombie tale. Certainly nothing like the "The Girl With All the Gifts" duology by M.R. Carey or the excitement I felt by other series including Mira Grant's "Newsflesh" books or "Q Island" by Russell James.
He came to the only conclusion he could. From here on in, everyone was in this on their own.
I would stress again that we don't wind up going much of anywhere for most of the book and if research was provided on these locations, well, it probably equated to a nice afternoon walk or at very least a few rounds on a local tourist bus! And so many potentially fascinating aspects are just left dangling in the wind. For example, how is it the blind girl has such super-hearing and what seems to be a Daredevil-esque radar sense? Throughout the flight, Mack's hearing seems to be abnormally enhanced, even more than any other affected creatures. Plucky - and eventually again - very lucky little thing!
All the tragedy she’d already suffered through, … she simply had no more fucks to give.
In conclusion: I tried it for "free" via Kindle Unlimited, so no huge investment other than my time. I won't be continuing the series.
A confirmed misanthrope with a heart of gold (more or less) fresh off a separation and a trip for two that he took - and returns from - alone. A plane full of blind people. Eventually an overwhelming wave of dead, undead, creepers, wilders and worse yet, shitty humans. We get to see Phases 1 through 3 as they unfold signalling the advent of a new but totally unidentified virus and more! Golly, it sure seemed like things were set up for a very exciting adventure! Oh and did I mention that the moral voice of reason is a 10-year old girl? In today's world that shouldn't be so surprising but it made for a decidedly odd pairing! Unique, huh? But even if you have an original angle in the zombie genre, you need to do something with it. Sigh...
(Mace) had just helped save a planeload of idiots from an ignoble death, and they thanked him by beating the hell out of each other.
In all honesty, this was a struggle and very nearly a DNF. I found "Stage 3" to be painfully dull, unnecessarily repetitive (73 times someone 'hushed'), and really without any surprises of any merit to keep my interest. The book slogs along through a series of repeatedly "far too lucky to be realistic" adventures as our few protagonists - really only 2 to be honest - make their way through an apocalyptic San Francisco. The book features scores upon scores "each and every zombie killed" details - stab this guy, punch that lady, oh look what they're wearing the nasty buggers - and I just wanted them to get on with it already! The bottom-line is just too much of the actual prose felt like unnecessary filler and made me wonder if this was at one point a novella that someone wanted expanded. And that's not counting the grocery lists of available supplies or the make and condition of untold vehicles that we had to plow through just to reach the next chapter.
The battle went on and on and on…there they huddled while the war raged on and on and on.
At the end of the day, the book struck me as being unnecessarily verbose. And though not poorly written, this kind of narration seemed definitely misplaced. Unfortunately, the book failed to maintain any kind of interesting plot to accompany the already bizarre scenarios that fighting zombies entail. It is most definitely no where even close to what I would consider to be a memorable zombie tale. Certainly nothing like the "The Girl With All the Gifts" duology by M.R. Carey or the excitement I felt by other series including Mira Grant's "Newsflesh" books or "Q Island" by Russell James.
He came to the only conclusion he could. From here on in, everyone was in this on their own.
I would stress again that we don't wind up going much of anywhere for most of the book and if research was provided on these locations, well, it probably equated to a nice afternoon walk or at very least a few rounds on a local tourist bus! And so many potentially fascinating aspects are just left dangling in the wind. For example, how is it the blind girl has such super-hearing and what seems to be a Daredevil-esque radar sense? Throughout the flight, Mack's hearing seems to be abnormally enhanced, even more than any other affected creatures. Plucky - and eventually again - very lucky little thing!
All the tragedy she’d already suffered through, … she simply had no more fucks to give.
In conclusion: I tried it for "free" via Kindle Unlimited, so no huge investment other than my time. I won't be continuing the series.
June 9, 2021
I’m a huge fan of the horror genre. I especially enjoy character driven zombie stories like this one.
The story begins with the main character, Hank Mason (aka Mace), on his flight home from what should have been a couple’s retreat, but instead, he was on his own. He had one too many scotches to get over being dumped and passed out. He woke up with a terrible headache and a sense that things were not right. The big guy in the seat next to him was sobbing, and many of the passengers were yelling and fighting. Eventually, he found out that sometime during the flight while he was asleep, everyone on the plane had lost their sight, including the flight attendants and pilots.
When one of the flight attendants realized that he was the only person on the plane that wasn’t blind, she took him to the cockpit, and with direction from the blind pilots, he lands the plane safely.
Mason was suffering from a terrible hangover and decides to sit at a bar at the airport terminal. From where he sat, he could see the passengers from his flight exhibiting some strange behavior. He watched the big guy who sat next to him on the flight bite someone trying to help him. Disgusted by what he had witnessed but not really thinking much about it, he goes home.
When Mason arrives home, he continued drinking, deciding to vegetate at home for a few days. When he finally leaves his apartment—a week later—he finds the world in chaos. The city was overrun by crazed, flesh-eating creatures that were once regular people. These creatures were blind but had a heightened sense of hearing.
When Mason tries to escape the city, he runs across a ten-year-old girl named Mackenzie. She was blind, and he watched her groping the walls of a building while moving as silently as a guppy with a group of crazies following a few feet behind. He knew it would not be long before she made a little more noise, and the monsters would hear her and attack. Mason couldn’t leave her behind and rescued her, taking her under his wing from that moment on, even knowing that she was blind and might soon turn into one of them. The little girl, whom he called Mack, was searching for her aunt. Mason didn’t think it was likely that her aunt had survived out in the open by herself but decided to delay his escape out of the city to look for the girl’s aunt at the hospital where she worked. Mack and Mace developed a strong bond very quickly. They helped each other as they navigated through the city.
Ken Stark is an undeniably skillful writer, and I enjoyed the story. That being said, this was 200+ high-velocity pages of nonstop chase, fighting, near deaths, attacks . . . . It was at times exhausting for me. I could have used a little breather between some of the action, and more downtime where we could have seen Mace and Mackenzie’s relationship develop into what it became. Also, the last quarter of the book felt rushed. The ending left me wanting more, too. Despite these things, I did enjoy the book and look forward to reading more books by this author.
I recommend this book to fans of horror and zombies who enjoy a scary story that whizzes along.
The story begins with the main character, Hank Mason (aka Mace), on his flight home from what should have been a couple’s retreat, but instead, he was on his own. He had one too many scotches to get over being dumped and passed out. He woke up with a terrible headache and a sense that things were not right. The big guy in the seat next to him was sobbing, and many of the passengers were yelling and fighting. Eventually, he found out that sometime during the flight while he was asleep, everyone on the plane had lost their sight, including the flight attendants and pilots.
When one of the flight attendants realized that he was the only person on the plane that wasn’t blind, she took him to the cockpit, and with direction from the blind pilots, he lands the plane safely.
Mason was suffering from a terrible hangover and decides to sit at a bar at the airport terminal. From where he sat, he could see the passengers from his flight exhibiting some strange behavior. He watched the big guy who sat next to him on the flight bite someone trying to help him. Disgusted by what he had witnessed but not really thinking much about it, he goes home.
When Mason arrives home, he continued drinking, deciding to vegetate at home for a few days. When he finally leaves his apartment—a week later—he finds the world in chaos. The city was overrun by crazed, flesh-eating creatures that were once regular people. These creatures were blind but had a heightened sense of hearing.
When Mason tries to escape the city, he runs across a ten-year-old girl named Mackenzie. She was blind, and he watched her groping the walls of a building while moving as silently as a guppy with a group of crazies following a few feet behind. He knew it would not be long before she made a little more noise, and the monsters would hear her and attack. Mason couldn’t leave her behind and rescued her, taking her under his wing from that moment on, even knowing that she was blind and might soon turn into one of them. The little girl, whom he called Mack, was searching for her aunt. Mason didn’t think it was likely that her aunt had survived out in the open by herself but decided to delay his escape out of the city to look for the girl’s aunt at the hospital where she worked. Mack and Mace developed a strong bond very quickly. They helped each other as they navigated through the city.
Ken Stark is an undeniably skillful writer, and I enjoyed the story. That being said, this was 200+ high-velocity pages of nonstop chase, fighting, near deaths, attacks . . . . It was at times exhausting for me. I could have used a little breather between some of the action, and more downtime where we could have seen Mace and Mackenzie’s relationship develop into what it became. Also, the last quarter of the book felt rushed. The ending left me wanting more, too. Despite these things, I did enjoy the book and look forward to reading more books by this author.
I recommend this book to fans of horror and zombies who enjoy a scary story that whizzes along.
May 8, 2019
Zombie novels, eh? This genre of horror is certainly limited in its scope. We all know how the rules work with the undead, so going into a story like this one you kind of know how it’s going to play out.
And that is absolutely fine. No one reads zombie books or watches zombie movies to be amazed and surprised; we just want gore and terror soaked across the pages or screen.
Stage 3 certainly delivers on the gore front. Throughout this book are numerous zombie deaths, described in viscera-splattered detail. We know what a zombie looks like, but having the particulars of their festering bodies and resemblances to their previous lives described vividly, really brings the story to life.
But one thing a zombie story needs is a likeable protagonist who you genuinely hope survives the apocalypse. In Stage 3, you get two.
Mason is a guy down on his luck and staring down the end of a bottle, or twenty. His girlfriend recently dumped him, so he’s feeling a little crappy about himself. So what better time for a strange virus to spread throughout the city, turning its victims to animalistic, flesh-eating monsters?
During his travels he encounters a young girl of ten, Mackenzie, and the two instantly bond. It’s their story of survival that carries the book. It’s tricky to have a coherent plot in a zombie novel, as by the time the plague takes hold, everywhere is basically the same. But here, although this is true, Mason and Mackenzie’s relationship develops nearly as quickly as the undead outbreak.
When infected, humans lose their sight. This is first stage. As you can guess from the title there are two more. There are no guide dogs or white sticks to aid in their escape from the more developed monsters, so carnage and death ensues pretty soon after. This degeneration into different stages of zombies was a nice touch and gave the story some originality.
There was nothing majorly new injected into the zombi-verse here, but that wasn’t what I was reading it for. I was hungry for some gross-out deaths and salivating undead beasts, and that’s exactly what I got.
The first chapter, where strange things happen without the characters having any knowledge of what is going on, was gripping. It had humour and creepiness in equal measure. It’s hard to continue the humour through a story such as this, but Mason’s dry wit and internal monologue did provide some welcome moments to chuckle at.
This unlikely duo spend the novel on a mission to find Mackenzie’s aunt. Although it seems impossible she’ll still be alive, it provides the motivation for Mason to not give up on life, or indeed his new best friend.
I believe this is the first of a trilogy so I’m excited to delve further into Ken Stark’s undead world of necrotic depravity.
If you’re looking for a fun zombie ride then Stage 3 will most certainly deliver on that front. And who doesn’t love a bit of gory undead fun?
And that is absolutely fine. No one reads zombie books or watches zombie movies to be amazed and surprised; we just want gore and terror soaked across the pages or screen.
Stage 3 certainly delivers on the gore front. Throughout this book are numerous zombie deaths, described in viscera-splattered detail. We know what a zombie looks like, but having the particulars of their festering bodies and resemblances to their previous lives described vividly, really brings the story to life.
But one thing a zombie story needs is a likeable protagonist who you genuinely hope survives the apocalypse. In Stage 3, you get two.
Mason is a guy down on his luck and staring down the end of a bottle, or twenty. His girlfriend recently dumped him, so he’s feeling a little crappy about himself. So what better time for a strange virus to spread throughout the city, turning its victims to animalistic, flesh-eating monsters?
During his travels he encounters a young girl of ten, Mackenzie, and the two instantly bond. It’s their story of survival that carries the book. It’s tricky to have a coherent plot in a zombie novel, as by the time the plague takes hold, everywhere is basically the same. But here, although this is true, Mason and Mackenzie’s relationship develops nearly as quickly as the undead outbreak.
When infected, humans lose their sight. This is first stage. As you can guess from the title there are two more. There are no guide dogs or white sticks to aid in their escape from the more developed monsters, so carnage and death ensues pretty soon after. This degeneration into different stages of zombies was a nice touch and gave the story some originality.
There was nothing majorly new injected into the zombi-verse here, but that wasn’t what I was reading it for. I was hungry for some gross-out deaths and salivating undead beasts, and that’s exactly what I got.
The first chapter, where strange things happen without the characters having any knowledge of what is going on, was gripping. It had humour and creepiness in equal measure. It’s hard to continue the humour through a story such as this, but Mason’s dry wit and internal monologue did provide some welcome moments to chuckle at.
This unlikely duo spend the novel on a mission to find Mackenzie’s aunt. Although it seems impossible she’ll still be alive, it provides the motivation for Mason to not give up on life, or indeed his new best friend.
I believe this is the first of a trilogy so I’m excited to delve further into Ken Stark’s undead world of necrotic depravity.
If you’re looking for a fun zombie ride then Stage 3 will most certainly deliver on that front. And who doesn’t love a bit of gory undead fun?
July 10, 2017
Ken Stark found a unique way to introduce us to the protagonist and the plot of the book, and I found myself applauding him for it. He teases and taunts us with snippets of the world we’re about to be immersed into and then takes it away by secluding our protagonist. All the while, you know what will be awaiting you.
Stage 3 feels new and different from others like it. Yes, we have a virus that turns folks into monsters, but that’s where the similarities end. The protagonist isn’t the normal cliched protagonist. He’s not going to do what you’d expect, and I found it refreshing. Mr. Stark even goes so far as to give us an interesting sidekick who is constantly trying to steal the show. Most authors would shy away from introducing a child into a book like this. Children add a great deal of work and consideration, but Mr. Stark bravely takes on this challenge and does it well.
At first, I questioned whether a child would trust a stranger, let alone so quickly. As a parent, we tell ourselves our children wouldn’t trust a stranger so easily. I only had to consider the environment to see the truth. A child alone in a world of madness would reach out to any adult who treated them with kindness. For Mackenzie to find someone, anyone in a sea of monsters was miraculous enough, but a person willing to help her as well, of course, she clung to that glimmer of hope.
The child element to this story gave Mr. Stark a great way to throw a wrench in the “easy way out”. Every step of the way Mackenzie challenges Mason to do the right thing and to be a better person. I could see people wanting to leave Mackenzie behind, a save-yourself mentality, but I believe there’s plenty of people who couldn’t bear to leave a child alone in a world of death.
Please don’t get the wrong impression. Mackenzie isn’t solely used to make Mason’s world harder. Mackenzie has her own sets of strengths, and she does her fair share to keep the duo alive. I applaud Mr. Stark for making her more than just mere baggage to hold Mason back.
Mr. Stark weaves suspense, action, and character development into a horrific tale of survival and friendship. Stage 3 has a steady pace that keeps you turning pages without wearing you out. You’ll have your fingers crossed for our duo, but you’ll get some breathing room and some time to learn who they really are.
Stage 3 feels new and different from others like it. Yes, we have a virus that turns folks into monsters, but that’s where the similarities end. The protagonist isn’t the normal cliched protagonist. He’s not going to do what you’d expect, and I found it refreshing. Mr. Stark even goes so far as to give us an interesting sidekick who is constantly trying to steal the show. Most authors would shy away from introducing a child into a book like this. Children add a great deal of work and consideration, but Mr. Stark bravely takes on this challenge and does it well.
At first, I questioned whether a child would trust a stranger, let alone so quickly. As a parent, we tell ourselves our children wouldn’t trust a stranger so easily. I only had to consider the environment to see the truth. A child alone in a world of madness would reach out to any adult who treated them with kindness. For Mackenzie to find someone, anyone in a sea of monsters was miraculous enough, but a person willing to help her as well, of course, she clung to that glimmer of hope.
The child element to this story gave Mr. Stark a great way to throw a wrench in the “easy way out”. Every step of the way Mackenzie challenges Mason to do the right thing and to be a better person. I could see people wanting to leave Mackenzie behind, a save-yourself mentality, but I believe there’s plenty of people who couldn’t bear to leave a child alone in a world of death.
Please don’t get the wrong impression. Mackenzie isn’t solely used to make Mason’s world harder. Mackenzie has her own sets of strengths, and she does her fair share to keep the duo alive. I applaud Mr. Stark for making her more than just mere baggage to hold Mason back.
Mr. Stark weaves suspense, action, and character development into a horrific tale of survival and friendship. Stage 3 has a steady pace that keeps you turning pages without wearing you out. You’ll have your fingers crossed for our duo, but you’ll get some breathing room and some time to learn who they really are.
June 5, 2025
I love apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction. When it is done well, the collapse of civilisation and all that we know is captivating. In Stage 3, Ken Stark does it well.
There are a lot of Zombie stories around, but Ken manages to find that point of difference to raise his voice from the masses. Without spoiling things, the 'something' that triggers the apocalypse is intriguing and makes me eager to read further into the series to uncover exactly what has happened. This is a layer that is often missing in this genre. For me, that background mystery that bubbles just under the surface is vital, it creates a need in me to find out just what is going on.
Next, the dangers faced. Ken avoids the obvious pitfall of just creating a plague of mindless monsters, and instead weaves variation into their midst that is effective, believable, and that adds story opportunities. Some other zombie tales do this clumsily as an after thought or without context (surprise, they can now do this!), but here it is well constructed. Something tells me that there is more development to come and I am keen to explore and discover more. We also see a little of how the fall of order brings with it the fall of morality and again, this is done well. I like the way Ken shows how dark seeds hiding deep inside some people can germinate when given the right environment to do so. Again, layers. There is more than one kind of monster out there.
Finally, the characters. I love them. Mason is a dick and is great. We have all known him and have probably been him at some point. I like that we don't start with a hero, but are on a journey where we might end up with one. Mackenzie... Oh Ken, you are going to make me hurt. I can see it coming, and I love that. I am invested, great character portrayal. I am really curious about her arc.
Yes there is violence, gore and darkness of the soul, but there should be. The world has fallen, it is everyone for themselves. There is no law and order, there is just the need to survive. Oh, and there are zombies, so approach this with your eyes wide open.
All in all, great read with plot and character lines I want to learn more about.
There are a lot of Zombie stories around, but Ken manages to find that point of difference to raise his voice from the masses. Without spoiling things, the 'something' that triggers the apocalypse is intriguing and makes me eager to read further into the series to uncover exactly what has happened. This is a layer that is often missing in this genre. For me, that background mystery that bubbles just under the surface is vital, it creates a need in me to find out just what is going on.
Next, the dangers faced. Ken avoids the obvious pitfall of just creating a plague of mindless monsters, and instead weaves variation into their midst that is effective, believable, and that adds story opportunities. Some other zombie tales do this clumsily as an after thought or without context (surprise, they can now do this!), but here it is well constructed. Something tells me that there is more development to come and I am keen to explore and discover more. We also see a little of how the fall of order brings with it the fall of morality and again, this is done well. I like the way Ken shows how dark seeds hiding deep inside some people can germinate when given the right environment to do so. Again, layers. There is more than one kind of monster out there.
Finally, the characters. I love them. Mason is a dick and is great. We have all known him and have probably been him at some point. I like that we don't start with a hero, but are on a journey where we might end up with one. Mackenzie... Oh Ken, you are going to make me hurt. I can see it coming, and I love that. I am invested, great character portrayal. I am really curious about her arc.
Yes there is violence, gore and darkness of the soul, but there should be. The world has fallen, it is everyone for themselves. There is no law and order, there is just the need to survive. Oh, and there are zombies, so approach this with your eyes wide open.
All in all, great read with plot and character lines I want to learn more about.
December 25, 2021
A rip-roaring, flesh-tearing, zombie apocalypse novel, Stage 3 finds misanthropic hero, Mason, on a flight bound for San Francisco. Having boozily slept his way through much of the journey, Mason wakes to find himself the only person on the plane still blessed with the gift of sight. Including the pilot and copilot.
As the rest of the passengers and crew wail, moan and rant their way through the descent, Mason must read the dials out loud for the pilot to be able to monitor a safe landing. But that’s only the start. For the blindness quickly gives way to madness and, from that point, the true horror of the story unfolds.
With plucky, ten-year-old sidekick Mackenzie, Mason must find a way through a city filled with monsters of one kind or another to get to Mackenzie’s only living relative. But with no power, no weapons except those they can fashion from items along the way, and zero training for this situation, will the intrepid pair make it past the horde unscathed? And does Mackenzie’s recent blindness mean what Mason thinks it means? That she’ll turn out like all the others and lose her mind as well as her humanity?
An awesome story, the tension never let up. The characters were well-drawn, if rather more affectionate than seemed particularly usual in a zombie apocalypse, and the descriptions were epic.
I did get a little irked by Mason regularly shoving people “rudely”; okay, there’s no other way to shove someone but there are other words. And the extraneous apostrophes for “Stage 3’s” (sic) got a little irritating. Also, it’s been impressed upon me by my partner (who’s the daughter of a commercial pilot) that the pilot is not just a passenger with a certificate and aeroplanes cannot land themselves.
That said, these all feel like pretty small quibbles in the face of a story that blew me away.
Must read.
As the rest of the passengers and crew wail, moan and rant their way through the descent, Mason must read the dials out loud for the pilot to be able to monitor a safe landing. But that’s only the start. For the blindness quickly gives way to madness and, from that point, the true horror of the story unfolds.
With plucky, ten-year-old sidekick Mackenzie, Mason must find a way through a city filled with monsters of one kind or another to get to Mackenzie’s only living relative. But with no power, no weapons except those they can fashion from items along the way, and zero training for this situation, will the intrepid pair make it past the horde unscathed? And does Mackenzie’s recent blindness mean what Mason thinks it means? That she’ll turn out like all the others and lose her mind as well as her humanity?
An awesome story, the tension never let up. The characters were well-drawn, if rather more affectionate than seemed particularly usual in a zombie apocalypse, and the descriptions were epic.
I did get a little irked by Mason regularly shoving people “rudely”; okay, there’s no other way to shove someone but there are other words. And the extraneous apostrophes for “Stage 3’s” (sic) got a little irritating. Also, it’s been impressed upon me by my partner (who’s the daughter of a commercial pilot) that the pilot is not just a passenger with a certificate and aeroplanes cannot land themselves.
That said, these all feel like pretty small quibbles in the face of a story that blew me away.
Must read.
May 26, 2017
My Warning: Don’t read this before bed, unless you plan on being up all night huddled under the covers in fear.
I did just that. I don’t regret it at all, but still…I was terrified until the end.
I love zombies, and Ken Stark did a fantastic job of spinning his own horror story. He made Mason, an ultimately dis-likable character, likable. I’m so use to reading and watching zombie stories where the main pov character struggles to cope with the horror in front of them by cowering for the majority of the story before jumping into action and facing it head on. Mason did the opposite, and he’s smart. While he coped with loss and fear in his own way, he’s a strong character, who reacts realistically while also making quick decisions without hesitation. His redeeming qualities shine through as he protects a young blind girl, which makes him a sympathetic, caring character beneath his rough external personality and the internal conflicts he faces.
Spoiler ahead…
My only criticism: The overall point of the story is to show the ongoing struggle they face and the hope slowly slipping away from them, which is evident from how the book ends, but I was still disappointed that the characters didn’t succeed or fail in their main goal. Not meeting the goal is obviously part of the underlying theme of hope here, but still…I was left hanging, and I didn’t like it. It felt incomplete. Minus this disappointment, there were only a few places where the point of view switches in scene, which, for once, I didn’t mind so much. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was emotionally gripping with it’s fast pace. You won’t want to put it down.
I read this for my own enjoyment, and highly recommend it.
I did just that. I don’t regret it at all, but still…I was terrified until the end.
I love zombies, and Ken Stark did a fantastic job of spinning his own horror story. He made Mason, an ultimately dis-likable character, likable. I’m so use to reading and watching zombie stories where the main pov character struggles to cope with the horror in front of them by cowering for the majority of the story before jumping into action and facing it head on. Mason did the opposite, and he’s smart. While he coped with loss and fear in his own way, he’s a strong character, who reacts realistically while also making quick decisions without hesitation. His redeeming qualities shine through as he protects a young blind girl, which makes him a sympathetic, caring character beneath his rough external personality and the internal conflicts he faces.
Spoiler ahead…
My only criticism: The overall point of the story is to show the ongoing struggle they face and the hope slowly slipping away from them, which is evident from how the book ends, but I was still disappointed that the characters didn’t succeed or fail in their main goal. Not meeting the goal is obviously part of the underlying theme of hope here, but still…I was left hanging, and I didn’t like it. It felt incomplete. Minus this disappointment, there were only a few places where the point of view switches in scene, which, for once, I didn’t mind so much. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was emotionally gripping with it’s fast pace. You won’t want to put it down.
I read this for my own enjoyment, and highly recommend it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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