Cordyceps

Last Man Standing #2

by Keith Taylor

The United States has fallen. Millions have died, and millions more have fled to the refugee-swamped central states. A month after the infection arrived the east is now a dead zone, populated only by the infected and those dumb or crazy enough to stay behind and fight.

Tom Freeman is among the last to remain, and he's quickly learning that there are worse things to fear than the infected. Dark forces work to use the tragedy for their own ends, and the greatest danger may not be from those hungry to feed... but those hungry for power.

Trust no one...

Watch your back...

Don't fall asleep...

They're here.

CORDYCEPS is the second book in the terrifying post-apocalyptic Last Man Standing series.

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

151 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 6, 2016

About the author

Keith Taylor is the true identity of the million plus selling author behind the pen names Aya Fukunishi and K A Taylor, who toiled for years writing bizarrely popular romance novels while he secretly longed to return to his true calling: explosively awesome post-apocalyptic fiction.

Keith hails from the rainy suburbs of Manchester in the north of England. He lives with his wife, Otgontsetseg, and splits his time between Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and Bangkok, Thailand. He survives on a diet of meat, cheese, beer and cigarettes, and he probably shouldn't still be alive.

For news about upcoming releases, sales and various other nonsense you can follow Keith on Facebook or subscribe to his mailing list.

Reviews

[Stitching Ghost · Rating 4 out of 5]

No, no, no! I am profoundly not okay with what just happened to my man Bishop, how dare you Mr. Taylor? After I excused your vendetta against characters named Karl?

I didn't like this one as much as the first one, mostly because we followed more people, and they didn't have the same presence as Tom. I liked what Taylor tried to do with making the bad guys, for the most part quite human, I thought it was a nice touch but in my opinion the pacing suffered from the extra POVs.

3.5 rounded up.

[Tea Time With Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

2nd book in this zombie apcoloyse trilogy and continues on with a great cast of characters you get to know of all walks. The story soon twist and grows from not just dangers from the zombies but the remaining survivors. Would reccomendations

[Kaseysd · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very VERY realistic

So some liberal kid goes around getting everyone killed while being saved by everybody else. Very realistic. On top of that we get a bunch of liberal crap shoved down our throat’s. Awesome

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brutal! Thoroughly enjoyed it!

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but eventful second novel in the Last Man Standing series. Zombies, death, major conspiracy, bible bashing nutter and unsavoury characters. Great read.

Ray Smillie

[Mark Gannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

NOOOOOOOO, they killed Bishop...

So far, so good. Short and sweet. Easy to read and the action is always fast paced.

Five stars

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid

This was a very solid story, well-written and edited. I liked the mostly first person narrative and the pacing was exciting. I read the first and this second one in less than 36 hours. The characters were interesting and the real evil isn't in those that turned and no know what they're doing. Going for the 3rd book now.

[Frankie Stein · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! Like the first one “HUNGER” I could not put it down. I have gotten used to Taylor’s writing and going back and forth between characters and timelines. There are so many turns in this book while the first one was a more straight line of events. The new characters have a more developed backstory and they interact longer with Tom than previously. I am glad that we get a backstory on what happens, where the infection came from, and how to “beat” it. I was sad to see Bishop go but can’t wait to see his death avenged in VACCINE. Again, Taylor’s writing is witty and conversational. I am able to follow along and create his the vision of his world through clean writing and a gripping tale.

[Liz Mandeville · Rating 3 out of 5]

By far the most hopeless, grizzly, f-ed up post zombie apocalypse scenario I’ve read yet.

The military are either being ordered to destroy whole swaths of our country by megalomaniac leaders or they’re deserting and forming barbarous militias.

Most civilians are dead or so stupid they should be dead. There really isn’t a single person you care about or can relate to and most characters pass through the story so quickly that you sort of shrug “oh well” when their storyline gets cut.

I bought the first three books so I’m already starting book three but then I’ll have to rinse my mind with something a bit more positive and hopeful.

[D. E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A KT. SYFY. Novel (LMSB. - 2)/The Middle of the Ending/Implosion

KT. has. penned a SYFY. Novel about. The expansion of the virus that creates zombiantion. The United States has designeated into total chaos. Millions are dead or dying and the Eastern Time Zone is a dead zone. A few remain behind but they are finding that massive illness begets power for those that remain. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS

[Ken Hulse · Rating 2 out of 5]

It just didnt make the grade. I was actually disappointed because I read his "this is the way the world ends" and found it to be a really good book. That's what led me to this series. In my view it is in no way as good as the other book. It drags, contains to much implausible events and filler. I lost any empathy for the main character long ago. I couldnt finish this sequel.

[Brent Claflin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad little book series. I actually like the idea of a lead character who isn't some insane ex-special forces doomsday prepper genius. I can relate more to a regular guy who is just stuck in the middle of a rage virus outbreak. All he can do is survive. So a fun little series in a devastating scenario.

[Caroline 'relaxing with my rescue dogs' · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not for the faint hearted and there could be trigger warnings. For me I love all types of this genre and sometimes you need to listen to a gritty one. As good as the last one and the narration, oh my goodness, can listen to this narrator read out anything but his forte is this genre. He does it so well.

So much happens in this story.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read within 18 hours! Absolutely loved how gripping this book is. Don't get too attached because you never know if your favorite character will make it or not. And always remember that in the zombie apocalypse humans will be the worst enemies.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very good fast paced , I liked it. Now on to the 3rd and last one.

[Itsatushy Garland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun

Fast fun read. Good characters. What happens when a mad leader has power and no brains? Bad shit, zombies by our own government

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story continued. Still interesting.

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very corny. Dialogue is terrible and all sorts of random characters arch’s that don’t go anywhere.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced, mindless zombie fun.

[Raimundo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Predictable rehash.

Wish I could get my four bucks back. Flat characters, same lame approach to the genre. Guy doesn't know how to.read the room.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good second book in this three book series. There are a lot of plot twists and turns that keep the story interesting.

[Dan Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing follow up from the first book. The book is a real page turner and there's always something happening.

[Cherye Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2

I am still hooked on this series. It is nice to see real people struggling and fighting to stay alive or take the best option. Not a "real" zombie book but more of a government infectious disease story combo. Already downloaded book 3.

Enjoy the book as much as I..... if that is possible.

[Marco C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well deserved 5 stars

I have stopped giving 5 stars to books I review unless
A) they are excellent on their own and stand head and shoulder above the rest of the genre
B) they are part of a series that is overall worthy of 5 stars.

Otherwise, 4 stars is my max score for good books I enjoy but that lack in some department or other.

This book and the series it's part of gets a 5 stars for various reasons.
It is well written
It is original
It has compelling characters
The story is excellent.

What else would I want?
If there is a negative, it is that the stories are short. I'll simply skip the next few books until I know I can have a nice longer story to read.

Well done.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another enjoyable and action filled book! Looking forward to book 3!

[Wancket Enterprises · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 3

I hope there is going to be a book 3. The story is a little gruesome at times but it's well written. I want to see what happens next.

[Jason & Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Story!

Well written with great characters. Hard to put down and wished it had been longer. Looking forward to the next!

[Michael Tuccillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gets even better, must read!

The story picks up one month later from the event in New York. Lots of action and character development is excellent. Highly recommend.

[David W. Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written and fast moving story

Taylor did a great job in coming up with a pretty realistic story line and developing real characters! I can't wait for the next book!

[iZerreg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting! Walking Dead but in your head..

..so you set the scenes and images found in the authors words to your own imagination, score, and tempo. Book 2/3 Read the series!!