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Omega Days #5
The Feral Road
In deserted, snowbound towns and along empty roads, the frozen dead hunt for the living. But death in winter takes many forms...
SKYE DENNISON has transformed from naïve college girl to deadly sniper, as cold and lethal as the creatures she hunts. Cut off from her friends in the Bay Area, grieving for the man she loved and lost, she has linked up with a team of Army Rangers. Fearing attachment, Skye keeps her distance, but there is a greater fear; the Omega Virus isn't finished with her, and she may well be changing into the thing she fears most...
ARMY CAPTAIN LEE SALLINGER lost men in California during a failed rescue mission. He's on foot, low on supplies and ammo, and his only mission now is to keep his remaining squad alive and get them home to Reno. He must attempt the impossible; lead his Rangers across the Sierra Nevada in the deep of winter, into the heart of a killer storm and into the teeth of a merciless enemy...
PEPPER DAVIS, country music superstar, had the world at her feet. Now she's starving, trapped on her tour bus in Donner's Pass and slowly freezing to death. Alone and afraid, she watches the dead close in through the deepening snow. She wants to survive, but that will mean summoning a courage she knows she doesn't have...
Risen from the legions of the walking dead, a cluster of fearsome Hobgoblins has formed a pack, and is stalking the small band of survivors. Led by a massive and terrifying Alpha, they will stop at nothing to bring down their prey...
SKYE DENNISON has transformed from naïve college girl to deadly sniper, as cold and lethal as the creatures she hunts. Cut off from her friends in the Bay Area, grieving for the man she loved and lost, she has linked up with a team of Army Rangers. Fearing attachment, Skye keeps her distance, but there is a greater fear; the Omega Virus isn't finished with her, and she may well be changing into the thing she fears most...
ARMY CAPTAIN LEE SALLINGER lost men in California during a failed rescue mission. He's on foot, low on supplies and ammo, and his only mission now is to keep his remaining squad alive and get them home to Reno. He must attempt the impossible; lead his Rangers across the Sierra Nevada in the deep of winter, into the heart of a killer storm and into the teeth of a merciless enemy...
PEPPER DAVIS, country music superstar, had the world at her feet. Now she's starving, trapped on her tour bus in Donner's Pass and slowly freezing to death. Alone and afraid, she watches the dead close in through the deepening snow. She wants to survive, but that will mean summoning a courage she knows she doesn't have...
Risen from the legions of the walking dead, a cluster of fearsome Hobgoblins has formed a pack, and is stalking the small band of survivors. Led by a massive and terrifying Alpha, they will stop at nothing to bring down their prey...
386 pages, Paperback
First published November 3, 2016
30 people are currently reading
243 people want to read
About the author
John L. Campbell
15 books143 followersJohn L. Campbell was born in Chicago, lived all over the U.S. and attended university in both North Carolina and New York. His novels include the zombie apocalypse series, The OMEGA DAYS Novels. All have been Amazon bestsellers, and book one, OMEGA DAYS, remained on the horror bestseller list for 17 weeks. Book five, THE FERAL ROAD, released in November 2016. In addition, Mr. Campbell is the author of two collections of horror and suspense, a novella based on actual events, and under his pen name ATTICUS WULF he released yet another novella and the supernatural/historical thriller, A JUDGE FROM SALEM.
In 2013 his short fiction piece COURAGEOUS LITTLE PHILOMENA'S WONDROUS BAIT was nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and in 2014 he served as a juror for the Bram Stoker Awards. A member of both the International Thriller Writers and the Horror Writers Association, Mr. Campbell is active on the horror and comic convention circuits, and is represented by the Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency in New York.
He resides in New York with his family, where he is continuing his work on the OMEGA DAYS series, as well as other projects.
In 2013 his short fiction piece COURAGEOUS LITTLE PHILOMENA'S WONDROUS BAIT was nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and in 2014 he served as a juror for the Bram Stoker Awards. A member of both the International Thriller Writers and the Horror Writers Association, Mr. Campbell is active on the horror and comic convention circuits, and is represented by the Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency in New York.
He resides in New York with his family, where he is continuing his work on the OMEGA DAYS series, as well as other projects.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 4, 2016
I can't even... homg.
THAT ENDING!! WTAF!!
GIMME THE NEXT BOOK RIGHT NOW... ahhhhh
oh lol.
AWESOME BOOK!!
:D
THAT ENDING!! WTAF!!
GIMME THE NEXT BOOK RIGHT NOW... ahhhhh
oh lol.
AWESOME BOOK!!
:D
January 19, 2020
Yay, new Omega Days out! God I love this series so much--and while this is the first I have given a four instead of a five--still excellent. I just wished it had cut to the rest of the group--all the other books gave at least hints at what was going on with the people split up (the folks on the ship, the rescue party to get Angie's kid, Skye's adventures)--and this one is centered pretty much solely, except for 1 paragraph, on our favorite stone cold co-ed. I was bitching the other day about my dislike for the proliferation of waify actresses in action roles and someone correctly called out the "Hunger Games" effect. I'd rather more believable casting choices or characters like the 30ish Ripley in Aliens.
The above is all rather pointless because I actually buy that 19 year old Skye does everything she has in the past books and especially in this one, as she continues to change. From the very first book when she was unlucky enough to be trapped at the college on the very first day of move in, watching her family get torn apart, and then escaping and transforming herself into remorseless sniper--Campbell has done it all very believably. I like all the main characters in a series that has a pretty large ensemble cast, and introduces a lot of new characters in this book: Pepper Davis, Grammy-winning Country Artist (sort of a Carrie Underwood stand-in) trapped on her fancy touring bus, Briggs, who also got a face-full of zombie goo and suffered the same "slow burn" as Skye, and a bunch of other Rangers that Skye fell in with while battling the hobgoblins in order to save Angie and the rest of her party.
The rest of the story is split between Skye and the Rangers trying to make it back to their secret desert base, while fighting off hobgoblins, who keep growing in number. Campbell does the hobgoblins well, eventually there are seven, and imbues them with enough personality and behind the scenes drama for them to put a nice twist that most books don't do. Looking forward to the next book though, because it looks like it will tie everyone back together again!
(Also, what the hell was up with the typesetting in this book? Hundreds, if not thousands of times, things tabbed over that shouldn't have been. Started on the first page and get increasingly worse throughout the book--actually made it hard to read at times. How did this get past quality control?)
The above is all rather pointless because I actually buy that 19 year old Skye does everything she has in the past books and especially in this one, as she continues to change. From the very first book when she was unlucky enough to be trapped at the college on the very first day of move in, watching her family get torn apart, and then escaping and transforming herself into remorseless sniper--Campbell has done it all very believably. I like all the main characters in a series that has a pretty large ensemble cast, and introduces a lot of new characters in this book: Pepper Davis, Grammy-winning Country Artist (sort of a Carrie Underwood stand-in) trapped on her fancy touring bus, Briggs, who also got a face-full of zombie goo and suffered the same "slow burn" as Skye, and a bunch of other Rangers that Skye fell in with while battling the hobgoblins in order to save Angie and the rest of her party.
The rest of the story is split between Skye and the Rangers trying to make it back to their secret desert base, while fighting off hobgoblins, who keep growing in number. Campbell does the hobgoblins well, eventually there are seven, and imbues them with enough personality and behind the scenes drama for them to put a nice twist that most books don't do. Looking forward to the next book though, because it looks like it will tie everyone back together again!
(Also, what the hell was up with the typesetting in this book? Hundreds, if not thousands of times, things tabbed over that shouldn't have been. Started on the first page and get increasingly worse throughout the book--actually made it hard to read at times. How did this get past quality control?)
January 12, 2018
THIS IS ONE BOOK YOU WON'T WANT TO PUT DOWN, ONCE IT'S STARTED...BRING ON BOOK #6.
RE-READ this book as I mistakenly didn't leave a review for it, the first time I read it. This is definitely a "Must Read Book", in one series you don't want to put down. It grabs you right from the start and does not let you go even with the last page, as you still want more. After everything Skye Dennison has been through, she doesn't believe that anything could get any worse than the horror she has lived through, since the dead started walking. But she was so very wrong, some have evolved, gotten smarter and more vicious, as a new hell, now also walks the Earth. An Alpha "Hobgoblin's" as these new threats are called, has one thing on its mind after "becoming" and that is to remove any threat to itself or its kind and that threat is Skye. 7 Rangers come across Skye and she stays with them, hoping to get to safety, but will any place be safe and will any of them make it, as the hunters become the hunted. Please Mr. John L. Campbell, I'm waiting as patiently as possible for the next book in this great Series, as I'm sure many of your other readers agree with me. Book #6 please... This Book and this Series, 5 Stars all the way!!!
RE-READ this book as I mistakenly didn't leave a review for it, the first time I read it. This is definitely a "Must Read Book", in one series you don't want to put down. It grabs you right from the start and does not let you go even with the last page, as you still want more. After everything Skye Dennison has been through, she doesn't believe that anything could get any worse than the horror she has lived through, since the dead started walking. But she was so very wrong, some have evolved, gotten smarter and more vicious, as a new hell, now also walks the Earth. An Alpha "Hobgoblin's" as these new threats are called, has one thing on its mind after "becoming" and that is to remove any threat to itself or its kind and that threat is Skye. 7 Rangers come across Skye and she stays with them, hoping to get to safety, but will any place be safe and will any of them make it, as the hunters become the hunted. Please Mr. John L. Campbell, I'm waiting as patiently as possible for the next book in this great Series, as I'm sure many of your other readers agree with me. Book #6 please... This Book and this Series, 5 Stars all the way!!!
January 3, 2024
This book was absolutely feral
December 9, 2017
John L. Campbell continues his saga with The Feral Road and does a nice job. He has left his usual cast of characters to focus on two separate characters, A country star and Skye Dennison, on of his original characters. the country singer is stranded on a bus surrounded by the undead and Skye has lnked up with Recon Rangers trying to return from a failed mission. John L. Campbell is changing his post-apocalyptic world to one of a different horror. It is a very interesting take on the genre and a nice reach instead of the same old same old the genre usually offers up. He asks the question of what happens when you have to travel a long distance and the weather turns bad when you are in the mountains of Colorado. He explores the dynamics of military platoons with the addition of outsiders and the dynamics of the loneliness of being stranded and surrounded by death.
The Feral Road is a good read and on the better side of the genre. John L. Campbell is exploring his world and expanding beyond the standard.
The Feral Road is a good read and on the better side of the genre. John L. Campbell is exploring his world and expanding beyond the standard.
January 8, 2017
In my eyes, Campbell is tied with Peter Clines with the best zombie series. However, I'm not quite as fond of Campbell as I used to be.
He still gets 4 stars because the man knows how to write. He knows how to make you care for characters without a ton of maudlin crap and he isn't afraid to kill off characters that you've invested time into.
He still gets 4 stars because the man knows how to write. He knows how to make you care for characters without a ton of maudlin crap and he isn't afraid to kill off characters that you've invested time into.
December 2, 2016
Zombies,hobgoblins, and Skye oh my
So just when you thought damn hordes of walking dead will be our end... up comes the hobgoblin. The hobgoblin twist is cool and being a leader type breeds new life. Great story, picks up Skye's story from the end of Angie and the Nimitiz. Good series to read if you're not.
So just when you thought damn hordes of walking dead will be our end... up comes the hobgoblin. The hobgoblin twist is cool and being a leader type breeds new life. Great story, picks up Skye's story from the end of Angie and the Nimitiz. Good series to read if you're not.
May 29, 2019
OMG! I can't wait for the next book to come out! Thank you, Mr. Campbell!!!
May 15, 2017
Awesome! This series is really addictive. There are a couple of scenes in this one that will really stick with me.
October 28, 2017
Wow
I have come to love this series. Particularly this book of the series. I am very much looking forward to the next book!
I have come to love this series. Particularly this book of the series. I am very much looking forward to the next book!
June 26, 2018
Yet another amazing entry the the Omega Days series!
January 11, 2019
****MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS****
Book five was ok, book four and five, in my opinion seemed to have lost it's edge. Although I must admit The Feral Road was better than Crossbones in the sense that it had more gore and action dealing with the walking dead. Reading about the small military group's journey and how they ended up findging Skye in Chico was a good way to begin The Feral Road, hearing about their back stories made me connect with the characters almost instantly. I felt that Country star Pepper Davis' story was pretty sad, seeing how one person had survive the plauge that long all on her own. It was interesting to see it play out, more so because she was just an ordinary spoiled girl, her story was sad but none the less entertaining. The part that really pulled on my hearstrings was Specialist Burke and his fear of the walking dead. When they found the train up near the Sierras, I found it hard to continue reading knowing what would lay ahead. Campbell did a great job creating a connection with the small military group that Skye traveled with, I found myself cheering them on when they succeeded and almost crying when they failed. I loved them and the bond they devopled with each other and with Skye, they became a small family. The hobglobins were as horrifying as they were in the previous book, more so actually whith the alpha creating her army to help her hunt down the living. The ending was a small twist, giving it a Dr. Frankenstien vibe but much better and more gore, while leaving the readers to their own imaginations on what happens next. Overall I give the entire series 4.5 Stars, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys the zombie genre.
Book five was ok, book four and five, in my opinion seemed to have lost it's edge. Although I must admit The Feral Road was better than Crossbones in the sense that it had more gore and action dealing with the walking dead. Reading about the small military group's journey and how they ended up findging Skye in Chico was a good way to begin The Feral Road, hearing about their back stories made me connect with the characters almost instantly. I felt that Country star Pepper Davis' story was pretty sad, seeing how one person had survive the plauge that long all on her own. It was interesting to see it play out, more so because she was just an ordinary spoiled girl, her story was sad but none the less entertaining. The part that really pulled on my hearstrings was Specialist Burke and his fear of the walking dead. When they found the train up near the Sierras, I found it hard to continue reading knowing what would lay ahead. Campbell did a great job creating a connection with the small military group that Skye traveled with, I found myself cheering them on when they succeeded and almost crying when they failed. I loved them and the bond they devopled with each other and with Skye, they became a small family. The hobglobins were as horrifying as they were in the previous book, more so actually whith the alpha creating her army to help her hunt down the living. The ending was a small twist, giving it a Dr. Frankenstien vibe but much better and more gore, while leaving the readers to their own imaginations on what happens next. Overall I give the entire series 4.5 Stars, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys the zombie genre.
July 20, 2019
****MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS****
Book five was ok, book four and five, in my opinion seemed to have lost it's edge. Although I must admit The Feral Road was better than Crossbones in the sense that it had more gore and action dealing with the walking dead. Reading about the small military group's journey and how they ended up findging Skye in Chico was a good way to begin The Feral Road, hearing about their back stories made me connect with the characters almost instantly. I felt that Country star Pepper Davis' story was pretty sad, seeing how one person had survive the plauge that long all on her own. It was interesting to see it play out, more so because she was just an ordinary spoiled girl, her story was sad but none the less entertaining. The part that really pulled on my hearstrings was Specialist Burke and his fear of the walking dead. When they found the train up near the Sierras, I found it hard to continue reading knowing what would lay ahead. Campbell did a great job creating a connection with the small military group that Skye traveled with, I found myself cheering them on when they succeeded and almost crying when they failed. I loved them and the bond they devopled with each other and with Skye, they became a small family. The hobglobins were as horrifying as they were in the previous book, more so actually whith the alpha creating her army to help her hunt down the living. The ending was a small twist, giving it a Dr. Frankenstien vibe but much better and more gore, while leaving the readers to their own imaginations on what happens next. Overall I give the entire series 4.5 Stars, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys the zombie genre.
Book five was ok, book four and five, in my opinion seemed to have lost it's edge. Although I must admit The Feral Road was better than Crossbones in the sense that it had more gore and action dealing with the walking dead. Reading about the small military group's journey and how they ended up findging Skye in Chico was a good way to begin The Feral Road, hearing about their back stories made me connect with the characters almost instantly. I felt that Country star Pepper Davis' story was pretty sad, seeing how one person had survive the plauge that long all on her own. It was interesting to see it play out, more so because she was just an ordinary spoiled girl, her story was sad but none the less entertaining. The part that really pulled on my hearstrings was Specialist Burke and his fear of the walking dead. When they found the train up near the Sierras, I found it hard to continue reading knowing what would lay ahead. Campbell did a great job creating a connection with the small military group that Skye traveled with, I found myself cheering them on when they succeeded and almost crying when they failed. I loved them and the bond they devopled with each other and with Skye, they became a small family. The hobglobins were as horrifying as they were in the previous book, more so actually whith the alpha creating her army to help her hunt down the living. The ending was a small twist, giving it a Dr. Frankenstien vibe but much better and more gore, while leaving the readers to their own imaginations on what happens next. Overall I give the entire series 4.5 Stars, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys the zombie genre.
September 17, 2017
I think this will be the last book I read in this series. It feels dragged out and doesn't feel like it has the same spark as the first two books in this series. The hobgoblin threat feels should come to a head. As it stands now, it looks like that threat will be milked out for another 2-3 books.
February 24, 2024
Winds a little far off the original course and is in process of jumping the shark. I'll probably read the next book just to finish the set but the zombie part has been largely replaced by something else and the strong characters of previous novels have become mere shells.
July 15, 2019
What a long ass read for basically the same scene over and over til the ending. But that ending might be enough for me to continue reading this series...
May 23, 2020
This series just gets better and better! I'm accomplishing very little because I can't put down the book. It's gonna be hard to find a series that matches up after I finish this one
November 18, 2023
Skye and a group of Army Rangers fight zombies and Hobgoblins while they try to survive winter in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
All the other books in this series I have given four stars but this one is a three for me. It felt a bit padded and I found myself skimming parts of paragraphs and still being able to completely follow the story. I like Skye and the way she merges with the Rangers while holding her own. The threat is ratcheted up even more with a pack of Hobgoblins. I wish the book had checked in with our other group more than just the tiny bit at the end. It looks like the 6th book might be the finale and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone back together.
All the other books in this series I have given four stars but this one is a three for me. It felt a bit padded and I found myself skimming parts of paragraphs and still being able to completely follow the story. I like Skye and the way she merges with the Rangers while holding her own. The threat is ratcheted up even more with a pack of Hobgoblins. I wish the book had checked in with our other group more than just the tiny bit at the end. It looks like the 6th book might be the finale and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone back together.
January 2, 2017
This book was back on track with the others - riveting. I didn't want to put it down. The new characters and plot introduced were nothing short of awesome. Now I have to wait for the next installment.....
January 30, 2017
Good
A good book, not great or exceptional. It feels like a segment in a longer narrative where the ending was telegraphed a mile away. The journey to get there was fun and the notion of a smart zombie is interesting.
A good book, not great or exceptional. It feels like a segment in a longer narrative where the ending was telegraphed a mile away. The journey to get there was fun and the notion of a smart zombie is interesting.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews