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Zapheads #1

Bone and Cinder

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A thriller set in the bestselling AFTER post-apocalyptic world.

When Mackie Dailey survives a cataclysmic solar storm that wipes out civilization and mutates others into violent killers, he seeks out the one person he cares about most.

But when he returns to a college campus looking for Allie, he discovers she is a Zaphead—nearly unrecognizable as the human he once loved. Mackie becomes caught in a power struggle among a small group of survivors who turn the campus into a stronghold against the Zaphead threat. His old nemesis, Lucas Krider, has taken charge, but Krider’s vision of a new world is just as horrifying as the extinction they all face.

Will Mackie sacrifice himself so the group has a chance to survive, or will his demons turn out to be more dangerous than the strange, rampaging creatures that nature has unleashed?

244 pages, Paperback

First published July 20, 2014

181 people are currently reading
389 people want to read

About the author

Scott Nicholson

208 books767 followers
With more than 800,000 books sold worldwide, Scott Nicholson is an international bestselling thriller writer. He won the Writers of the Future Award in 1999 and was a Stoker Award finalist in 2003. His Fear series was published by Amazon's Thomas & Mercer imprint and 47North released the supernatural thriller McFALL.

He's also published a number of supernatural, paranormal, and fantasy books and stories, including the AFTER, NEXT, and ARIZE post-apocalyptic series, as well as children's books, comics, and screenplays. His 2006 novel The Home is in development as a feature film.

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5 stars
87 (32%)
4 stars
88 (32%)
3 stars
67 (24%)
2 stars
16 (5%)
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11 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for Abi.
1,997 reviews664 followers
July 12, 2017
Actual rating - 3.5
Profile Image for BookLoversLife.
1,838 reviews9 followers
July 20, 2015
This is set in the same world as The After series and I was looking forward to reading it as I really enjoyed book one of The After. Well this is just as good as that and I'm looking forward to more set in this world.

Well the summary above pretty much sums up the plot so I'll go straight to my thoughts.

I have to say that Mackie is such an awesome character. He isn't the nicest person but you can't help but root for him. He is a recovering junkie and has done bad things, he even worked for a drug dealer and dealt but when the flare happens, he just wants to get to the one person he loves, Allie. I admired his tenacity and determination. He may have done bad things but he isn't a bad person at heart and it shows. He does what he can to help people and his love for Allie shines. Even though he is so flawed, the way the author wrote him was phenomenal, in that, as I said already, you can't help but root for him and hope he gets what he wants.

The plot was fast paced and gripping. You are brought into the heart of the story right away and the pace flowed nicely. It's not just about the Zapheads, it's a deeper look into peoples lives and how they feel about what happened. Mackie's story is equal parts intense as it is emotional. I cried a few times and my heart broke for him when he had to do a certain thing.

In all this was an intense read. It was well written and developed, the world that's been created is dark and dangerous but believable too. It will grab you and not let go.

I think out of all the books I've listened to by Scott Nicholson, this is my favourite. It conjured more emotions that any of the rest and I became invested in the characters and their story. I need to see what happens next and am really looking forward to more in this series, and indeed the world that the author has created.

Once again, Kevin Clay did an amazing job with the narration. He has a way with the characters that makes it easy to distinguish who is who. His voice is smooth and easy to listen to and he brings so much to the story. It plays out like a movie in your head!! I'm glad he narrated this as well as The After series.

*I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
Profile Image for SammieSue .
507 reviews15 followers
July 25, 2014
'I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review'

This is the first book in a spin off series from the After series.

Mackie is a junkie and works for a drug dealer. Or he did until the Solar Storm that destroyed the world. There are now three sets of people. The dead, the survivors and the Zapheads. The Zapheads are zombie like but their bites don't kill you or turn you into a Zombie, the just really hurt. Now Mackie is on his way to his old college to find his ex girlfriend Allie. He has to know that she is ok. Then he wants to find Krider. His boss, and when he finds him he intends to kill him.

When Mackie gets to the college it is to find out that Allie is a Zaphead and the girl with her had intentions to kill both him and Allie but had a change of heart. Then Krider and his goons show up wanting to take over the college and make it into a settlement with Krider as king. Krider and his minions are ruthless killers and Mackie knows that life will be hell with Krider in charge so he and some others make a plan to get rid of him. But like most things in life those plans don't go exactly as planned.

My Opinion: As with all of Scott's books I loved it. There is danger and murder and a whole bunch of craziness! It was not an easy book to put down. It may be a spin off to another series but if you haven't read the After series this one is still easy to follow along with. I can't wait to read the next book in this series! I definitely recommend reading!

'Read and Reviewed by LSK Sweetheart Reviews'
Profile Image for RJ.
2,044 reviews12 followers
July 6, 2016
A long, drawn-out story of a man searching for his girlfriend after a solar storm takes out the grid and somehow turns most of the population into crazed killers. Huh? There is of course the criminal mastermind that wants to take over what is left and our hero must stand against him as well as the crazies. They're called Zapheads; I dislike that name to no end, too juvenile. Evidently this is the first book of a series, but I don't think I'll follow up on this tale. Solid three stars for the effort.
Profile Image for Brett Grossmann.
537 reviews
October 13, 2016
Shallow character development, but you are expected to have read previous after books. No big surprises in this book. Keeps you reading with its fast pace
Profile Image for Jason Duby.
41 reviews
September 20, 2018
Scott Nicholson’s _Bone And Cinder_ novel is a standalone work in his “Zapheads” series about the world After. He has created a post-apocalyptic world in which much of the human population has been affected by a solar storm of unparalleled magnitude that has also knocked out all the electrical and technological appliances. The “Zapheads”, as they are referred to, are insane killing monsters with no sense of humanity. Unlike the typical zombies you find, though, their bites and the wounds they inflict aren’t infectious…just relentless and dangerous.

The first thing I have to say is that I applaud the way the author made this book a complete story in and of itself…it’s part of a series but a reader doesn’t need any other of the books to understand what is going on. I also love the fact that the story actually ends…there is no cliffhanger at the end trying to lure you into the next book. That fact alone makes me more likely to hunt up the other works and read them. But a better reason to read this book and presumably the others is the writing itself. The author gives us strong characters with distinctive “voices”, a good setting, action that moves at a good pace, a good number of twists and turns…and a complete tale as I mentioned earlier.

Some readers might find this world a bit too gritty and dark…one of the themes explored in the book is what kind of person can survive in a time where society breaks down. The main character is not a traditional hero…but then again the world isn’t one where the usual morality applies. Some characters aren’t as fully developed, of course, and a couple might seem like villainous stereotypes. Overall, though, this book is definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for a quick action/horror story that is consistent, short, and constructed well.

(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from Romance Authors That Rock. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)
Profile Image for John Podlaski.
Author 10 books68 followers
March 7, 2018
I must admit that I had a difficult time with this book. I haven't read any of the "After" series books and this is the first from this author. It's the story of a drug addict - former assassin (no backstory...found this out through the book description) who returns to his alma-mater and college of his girlfriend in hopes of reuniting after a severe Solar flare that destroyed all the electronics globally. Zapheads are the new walking dead; their brains fried during the event, their only ambition is to destroy everything they encounter. I had to remember that survivors don't become zapheads when bit in this storyline - it was either kill or be killed - didn't require a head-shot to die..

Upon his arrival, Mackie's girlfriend is found to be a zaphead, and his former employer had taken over the campus with a group of followers. They are heavily armed and kill without a conscience. Many of the other survivors want to rid themselves of the gang and Mackie leads the rebellion. There are some twists and turns, some of the favorite characters are suddenly killed off, and without weapons, the survivors seemingly don't have a chance of defeating these killers or protect themselves from the groups of hordes of killing machines who search them out.

Bone & Cinder does have plenty of action and in some areas a lot of repetition, but I forced myself to finish in hopes of the story getting better. I will not be reading any of the author's other series.
Profile Image for Deirdre.
7 reviews
April 2, 2024
First of all, it’s for sure a 4.5 in my mind. The story started off running with immediate action on the main characters part. He seemed unlikeable at first but as you get to know him and watch him adapt/grow he becomes a very interesting individual. There was A LOT of fighting but that is what that kind of world takes. I loved the hints and notes references to North Carolina and its surrounding culture.

MILD SPOILERS

And let me say that first twist with Allie and Kara I was just like “no way WHAT”

Did not expect the whole thing with McRae for sure. The fleshing out of Mackies team really makes you care about each character and their relation to each other.

Also gotta love the rescue team pet!
2 reviews
November 28, 2018
This series of books more closer to reality than other series that I have read thanks to the writer I recomend that everyone should read this series of novels


Very well written I recomend that everyone should read this series you will really enjoy the series I recomend to read this series
8 reviews
December 23, 2018
Not your conventional zombie .

As somebody that does not really read apocalyptic zombie style books, I was actually very entertained by this book good characters, lots of action, no superpowers. Now that I think about it I may have to up the star rating a little bit.
Profile Image for AudioBookReviewer.
949 reviews167 followers
March 8, 2016
My original Bone and Cinder audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.

Mackie Dailey returns to his alma mater – well, it would have been had he not dropped out to become a drug addict, hitman and enforcer for a drug and arms dealing bad-ass criminal named Lucas Krider.  Dailey’s drug addled mind leaves a witness to his latest hit and a solar storm to end all storms has hit the world successfully creating creatures called Zapheads with a hunger for human flesh.

Arriving back to campus Dailey encounters Allie, the witness and Krider and his gang.  Forced to go cold turkey, Dailey must prove his loyalty to Krider in order to survive and protect others at the campus as well. A driven man used to caring only about himself is now faced with having to care about others.

Bone and Cinder is not short on action.  Regardless of what happens, it seems as if Krider and his thugs come out on top.  But then again, cockroaches always survive!  When tested, Dailey proves his loyalty to his new found conviction.  He goes up against Krider and his thugs to help the other survivors live.  Of course, nothing is ever easy!

Twists and turns which made it very exciting.  The usual questions of morality and ethics draws  the reader  in.  Character development is clear and purposeful.  Plot development is smooth easily followed.  The reader cannot help but connect to Dailey – the underdog.

Kevin Clay did a good job of narrating the book.  He enunciated the words well and projected the frustration and despair of Dailey very well.

There were no issues with the production.

Audiobook was provided for review by the narrator.
Profile Image for Kathryn Theulen dailey.
71 reviews2 followers
October 14, 2015
"Mackie to the rescue "
Where does Bone and Cinder: A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
I thought this was a great Post Apocalyptic thriller. Something new and different also. The people weren't exactly zombies but something else that was very horrible to run across.

Who was your favorite character and why?
Mackie, he starts out a washed up junkie and because the girl he loves is in trouble gets his act together. He was the hero thinking of everyone else but himself throughout the entire book. It kinda made me feel like the good will win out in the end. It is also good that he knew who the truly bad guy were so he knew who to protect the good people from.

What does Kevin Clay bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
I love Kevin Clay. He is a super talent in audio books. I love listening to him bring to life a book. I have listened to several books that he has done. He always delivers the authors emotions of the story.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes and no. It is a little to long to listen to all at once but you don't want to put it down. It makes you feel like your going to miss out of something. LOL

Any additional comments?
I was provided this audio book at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast dot com
Profile Image for Kimberly Griffith.
21 reviews1 follower
July 4, 2015
No spoilers, I promise!
I received a free copy of this audio book in exchange for an honest review. Although I'm fairly new to the world of "After", I was stoked to find out that there is a companion series. I'd also like to note that you don't have to read all the "After" books before this one as it serves as a stand alone book as well.
Mackey has issues. He's done some bad stuff, has some bad habits, and that makes him a bad guy, right? Underneath all that baggage is still a good heart. He does what most of us would do in the wake of an apocalypse, and that's set out to find the person or people who mean the most. Things go right...stuff goes wrong...all in all it makes up for a good side story.
As with "After: The Shock", "Bone and Cinder: Zapheads book 1" is narrated by Kevin Clay who gives another great performance.
Profile Image for James Mullins.
Author 22 books7 followers
July 13, 2016
From the very start the story grabs you and doesn’t let go. The world imagined by Scott Nicholson departs from the normal zombie lore and explores a new take on a tired genre. Unlike some of the more creative zombie books I’ve read set in the past like Empire of the Undead, or Scourge of Byzantium Zap Heads Bone and Cinder is set in the present day but departs from normal zombie lore. Instead of a biological event starting the zombie apocalypse, it comes from the heavens. I love the fact that the world is populated with “Zaps” but that they can’t actually infect normal humans. This turns the focus to one of human struggling against hum for the fate of our souls in a treacherous and unforgiving world. Great story, I look forward to reading more stories from this author.
Profile Image for Annie.
938 reviews32 followers
July 13, 2015
** I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review **

I liked the book After, so I was excited to get this book too,it did not disappoint....We have Mackie, just trying to survive, and keep the pain of this new world dulled out...even though its not a great way to survive, Mackie is a pill addict. He goes back to his college in search of his girl, and discovers she is now a zaphead. Well he runs into some not so nice people from his past and everything gets really complicated! I liked this story, and will continue this series....if you liked After, you will like this one too....I recommend!

Thank you Audiobookblast(dot)com
Profile Image for Leslie Fisher.
810 reviews18 followers
July 27, 2016
I enjoyed this spin-off from Nicholson's "After" series. It was kind of refreshing to meet new characters and see a different setting (a college). The characters were well-written and interesting, though many were not good guys. The story is filled with action and excitement. Though I read the original series, "After," it is not necessary at all to enjoy this book. Kevin Clay narrated the Audible audio version of the book, and as always, his narration is really suited to the book. He does a great job and his voice is easy on the ear. Overall, if you like the post-apocalyptic genre or zombie-like creatures, you should give this book a try.
468 reviews3 followers
July 18, 2016
A first person thriller with fair dialogue and inner dialogue, but I could never get into the main plot. Many of the characters were not too developed but as they seem to drop like flies I suppose there is little reason for that amount of effort and it showcases what I think is the appeal of this type of story for the horror fan. I have mostly remained insulated from post-apocalyptic fiction & zombie horror and so trying to understand the appeal tried a couple of books. It's just not for me is what I learned. Perhaps unfairly I give it 3 stars.
Profile Image for David.
196 reviews
July 19, 2016
A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller

I like this book, not just because of the subject matter. But because it captures real life emotions and realistically describes the action of all the participants. This is the first book I have read by this Author and it did not disappoint, I look forward to reading some more books by this Author. To top it all it was a freebie too. Fab
Profile Image for Brandy Hope.
34 reviews8 followers
July 27, 2014
A spinnoff from the After Series...A new cast if characters with all the twists, emotions, & horror we have come to expect from Scott Nicholson, only his twisted mind could think of! I loved it!! This book was we written & I couldnt put it down!
Profile Image for LisaDianne.
12 reviews6 followers
October 15, 2014
Well, I just had a whole new genre opened up to me. I'm one of those who never thought I would enjoy this type of book. Thank goodness I listened when this was recommended to me on Facebook! Now I'm hooked! Will definitely be reading more of this authors work.
7 reviews
September 28, 2016
Enjoyable and well paced.

An apocalyptic thriller that has a different feel to many in this genre. An unusual protagonist who isn't your average formulaic do-gooder. Nicely paced and quite thought provoking...good read overall and I would recommend.
105 reviews2 followers
October 7, 2014
This is a good addition to the story line. I enjoyed the book, it seemed a little slow at first but I am think it was me.I was ditracted when I started to read it.
Profile Image for Dawn Taylor.
259 reviews
October 8, 2014
GOOD BOOK

If you like zombies and post apocalyptic stories then you have to let Scott Nicholson into your life. Awesomeness wrapped up in a Zaphead!
3,323 reviews30 followers
March 2, 2015
Bone and Cinder

I began this book with low expectations and then became attached to the flawed characters. The humanity that came through seemed very honest.
Profile Image for Todd Oliver.
697 reviews10 followers
March 23, 2017
A great side story to After the Shock! Looking forward to hearing more from this series!
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