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Stage 3 #2
Stage 3: Alpha
The virus swept through humanity like wildfire.
Millions went blind in the first few hours, but blindness was just the beginning. It was only in Stage 2 that the real terror emerged. As the virus ate into the brain, it destroyed everything human, leaving in its wake a creature that knew only one thing; the need to feed.
And the world was torn apart.
In San Francisco, those few who remain amid the swarms measure their survival from one terrified heartbeat to the next. But for Sarah, there is reason to keep going. A pretty little girl with big green eyes and a tangled mop of curly red hair is counting on her, and she's not about to let anything in Heaven or Hell stand in her way. But those wild, ravenous things aren't the only monsters in this new world of the damned, and even as she fights her way home across a besieged city, she knows it's only going to get worse.
Millions went blind in the first few hours, but blindness was just the beginning. It was only in Stage 2 that the real terror emerged. As the virus ate into the brain, it destroyed everything human, leaving in its wake a creature that knew only one thing; the need to feed.
And the world was torn apart.
In San Francisco, those few who remain amid the swarms measure their survival from one terrified heartbeat to the next. But for Sarah, there is reason to keep going. A pretty little girl with big green eyes and a tangled mop of curly red hair is counting on her, and she's not about to let anything in Heaven or Hell stand in her way. But those wild, ravenous things aren't the only monsters in this new world of the damned, and even as she fights her way home across a besieged city, she knows it's only going to get worse.
307 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 19, 2017
35 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Ken Stark
14 books125 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 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 17, 2017
Excellent follow up, or rather continuing, story of a post apocalyptic world with dynamic characters & gruesomely detailed gory scenes. Bring on the zombies, Stark! A must read!
July 10, 2017
In Stage 3 Mason tries with all his heart to reunite his new charge, Mackenzie with her beloved Aunt Sarah. By the end of the book, we’re left wondering if there’s even an Aunt Sarah to find. I’ll admit I worried Aunt Sarah hadn’t made it out of the doomed hospital.
Stage 3: Alpha gives us a whole new cast of characters to explore, among them, Aunt Sarah. I can’t tell you how happy I was to see that the author had given Aunt Sarah the space to show us who she is. I kept waiting for Mason and Mackenzie to show up and rescue Aunt Sarah, but I quickly learned that Aunt Sarah needs no rescuing.
I felt as though Stage 3 gave us a teaser of what humanity had become, the obvious monsters and the not-so-obvious monsters. In the second installment of the series, we get a much clearer view of the wasteland they’re all living in, the hopelessness they face, the kindness of strangers, and that some monsters look just like us.
The author has a knack for character development. Each character in Stage 3: Alpha feels real. Even the truly vile humans we encounter have wants, desires, and motivations. I loved how Stark used the characters of the book to show this new world isn’t as black and white as the old one. The world has grown much grayer.
Stark’s story weaves us through a dangerous landscape without ever making us feel like the people are surviving by the grace of the author. The scenes come alive because I don’t feel like the author handed the character everything they needed in a neat and tidy, little package. Stark makes his characters work to survive. A believable plot and believable characters are what bring me back to Stark’s series.
This is my second purchase in the Stage 3 series, and it won’t be my last.
Stage 3: Alpha gives us a whole new cast of characters to explore, among them, Aunt Sarah. I can’t tell you how happy I was to see that the author had given Aunt Sarah the space to show us who she is. I kept waiting for Mason and Mackenzie to show up and rescue Aunt Sarah, but I quickly learned that Aunt Sarah needs no rescuing.
I felt as though Stage 3 gave us a teaser of what humanity had become, the obvious monsters and the not-so-obvious monsters. In the second installment of the series, we get a much clearer view of the wasteland they’re all living in, the hopelessness they face, the kindness of strangers, and that some monsters look just like us.
The author has a knack for character development. Each character in Stage 3: Alpha feels real. Even the truly vile humans we encounter have wants, desires, and motivations. I loved how Stark used the characters of the book to show this new world isn’t as black and white as the old one. The world has grown much grayer.
Stark’s story weaves us through a dangerous landscape without ever making us feel like the people are surviving by the grace of the author. The scenes come alive because I don’t feel like the author handed the character everything they needed in a neat and tidy, little package. Stark makes his characters work to survive. A believable plot and believable characters are what bring me back to Stark’s series.
This is my second purchase in the Stage 3 series, and it won’t be my last.
November 23, 2021
Ken Stark's Stage 3: Alpha: is undoubtedly one of the best zombie books I've read this year. It would win the Zombie Lover's Zombie Book Award, if that were a thing. (And if it's not a thing, someone, somewhere, should make it a thing. Just saying.)
The second part to a trilogy, it's not really necessary to read the books in order. This sequel opens the story with Sarah, a San Francisco nurse trying to survive the zombie outbreak and make it back home to find her young niece, MacKenzie, who was the star of the first book. Despite this story track dealing mainly with "Aunt Sarah," the zombie gore fest delivers rompin', stompin' gut clenching action with almost every encounter, and there are many, many gory encounters. Sarah transforms from a scared, exhausted nurse to a determined woman with sword and shotgun, ready to cleave some zombie skull.
Along the way, she encounters friend and foe, and finally, of course, MacKenzie and Mase from the first book. Stark's qualities as an author shine through, as he delivers not only action-packed sequences that leave the reader on the edge of her seat, but he also delivers realistic characters, with strengths and flaws. The secondary characters are well done - although some of them are the typical stereotype "good guy," "bad guy" personas, Stark also strives to blend the two types. Is this person a good person caught up in a bad situation forced to make bad choices, or a rough, tough guy who's trying to make amends as the world collapses? These are the types of moments, which Stark does really well, that elevate this book above the typical zombie book that oversaturates the market these days.
So, bravo, Mr. Stark! Here's to the third book, Stage 3: Bravo. May it live up to its name!
The second part to a trilogy, it's not really necessary to read the books in order. This sequel opens the story with Sarah, a San Francisco nurse trying to survive the zombie outbreak and make it back home to find her young niece, MacKenzie, who was the star of the first book. Despite this story track dealing mainly with "Aunt Sarah," the zombie gore fest delivers rompin', stompin' gut clenching action with almost every encounter, and there are many, many gory encounters. Sarah transforms from a scared, exhausted nurse to a determined woman with sword and shotgun, ready to cleave some zombie skull.
Along the way, she encounters friend and foe, and finally, of course, MacKenzie and Mase from the first book. Stark's qualities as an author shine through, as he delivers not only action-packed sequences that leave the reader on the edge of her seat, but he also delivers realistic characters, with strengths and flaws. The secondary characters are well done - although some of them are the typical stereotype "good guy," "bad guy" personas, Stark also strives to blend the two types. Is this person a good person caught up in a bad situation forced to make bad choices, or a rough, tough guy who's trying to make amends as the world collapses? These are the types of moments, which Stark does really well, that elevate this book above the typical zombie book that oversaturates the market these days.
So, bravo, Mr. Stark! Here's to the third book, Stage 3: Bravo. May it live up to its name!
January 9, 2020
This book is the second in the Stage 3 Trilogy and in my opinion, it blows the first out of the rancid, putrefying water. Last year I read the first instalment in this zombie, post-apocalyptic world and really enjoyed it.
In the first book we followed Mace and Mackenzie as the two tried to make it in this terrifying new world. All they wanted to do was find young Mackenzie’s Aunt Sarah; a task that seemed nigh on impossible, what with everyone turned into a blind, homicidal maniac with a hunger for living tissue like it was going out of fashion.
Well here we follow the aforementioned Sarah and her fight for survival. And what exactly is her driving force in this quest to live each day as it comes? That’s right, to somehow find her little niece.
It may sound cheesy, but the impossibility of these two finally meeting never seems out of the question. In fact this desire of Sarah’s to be reunited is presented so well that you’re with her every blood-stained step of the way.
Sarah was at work as a nurse when the crisis began. These zombie-type beasts were referred to as ‘Alphas’ and displayed blindness and exceptional hearing. And ravenous bellies, of course.
The book wastes no time in thrusting you right into the action. Whereas in the first book the infection was introduced as the main character, Mace, tried to work out what was going on. Here, though, the reader already knows the score, so on the very first page we see desperate survival tactics, while monsters search for their lunch, drooling and gurgling.
These alphas are no undead, though. But if you encounter them and do have the audacity to actually kill them, they become zombiefied pretty sharpish. These new beasts Sarah terms ‘Echoes’.
Many zombie novels seem to involve scene after scene of battles and killings between the survivors and the many, many antagonists. But here, yeah there was plenty of that, but the gore did seem a little less frequent than its predecessor. Perhaps there was more than I first realised, but the plot is so engrossing that that’s what kept me hooked.
Sarah turns into one serious badass, and quickly. I suppose she has to, though. Before long she’s befriended a dog, acquired a big fuck off sword, and even has a plan of action.
She finds, after hours of careful journeying through the streets and hiding where she can, an apparent safe haven. A large banner indicates this vast shopping complex is housing other survivors. Finally, she is taken in by them.
But if you’re acquainted with post-apocalyptic fiction, you’ll already know that survivors don’t tend to be the most friendly guys around. And this new ‘life’ she finds is run by a vicious dictator with no real empathy for his ‘people’. These guys are terrible, but Sarah handles them just fine.
Like I said earlier, the plot here is what brings everything together. The descriptions of the carnage outside, as well as the social dynamics and ‘politics’ inside the supposedly safe place, really put you bang in the middle of this desolate place.
But nowhere is safe with alphas and echoes swarming the streets, and before long this hideout comes under attack.
That’s as much as I’ll say about the plot, as I don’t want to give anything away. As there’s another book in this trilogy you can imagine that people from this and the previous one will survive. But there are some genuine surprises here, one being especially shocking, and not just for shock’s sake; it really feels like it could happen in this world.
There’s nothing really groundbreaking and new here, but that doesn’t matter; in fact it makes the story stronger. Instead of trying to reinvent the P-A genre, Ken Stark has woven a gripping tale with the undead as supporting artists, but the humanity ultimately driving the novel.
This is one to check out, but only after you’ve finished the previous book, duh!
Book 3 will be soon be consumed and the review will follow, like a hungry zombie stalking some crazy living guy, or something.
In the first book we followed Mace and Mackenzie as the two tried to make it in this terrifying new world. All they wanted to do was find young Mackenzie’s Aunt Sarah; a task that seemed nigh on impossible, what with everyone turned into a blind, homicidal maniac with a hunger for living tissue like it was going out of fashion.
Well here we follow the aforementioned Sarah and her fight for survival. And what exactly is her driving force in this quest to live each day as it comes? That’s right, to somehow find her little niece.
It may sound cheesy, but the impossibility of these two finally meeting never seems out of the question. In fact this desire of Sarah’s to be reunited is presented so well that you’re with her every blood-stained step of the way.
Sarah was at work as a nurse when the crisis began. These zombie-type beasts were referred to as ‘Alphas’ and displayed blindness and exceptional hearing. And ravenous bellies, of course.
The book wastes no time in thrusting you right into the action. Whereas in the first book the infection was introduced as the main character, Mace, tried to work out what was going on. Here, though, the reader already knows the score, so on the very first page we see desperate survival tactics, while monsters search for their lunch, drooling and gurgling.
These alphas are no undead, though. But if you encounter them and do have the audacity to actually kill them, they become zombiefied pretty sharpish. These new beasts Sarah terms ‘Echoes’.
Many zombie novels seem to involve scene after scene of battles and killings between the survivors and the many, many antagonists. But here, yeah there was plenty of that, but the gore did seem a little less frequent than its predecessor. Perhaps there was more than I first realised, but the plot is so engrossing that that’s what kept me hooked.
Sarah turns into one serious badass, and quickly. I suppose she has to, though. Before long she’s befriended a dog, acquired a big fuck off sword, and even has a plan of action.
She finds, after hours of careful journeying through the streets and hiding where she can, an apparent safe haven. A large banner indicates this vast shopping complex is housing other survivors. Finally, she is taken in by them.
But if you’re acquainted with post-apocalyptic fiction, you’ll already know that survivors don’t tend to be the most friendly guys around. And this new ‘life’ she finds is run by a vicious dictator with no real empathy for his ‘people’. These guys are terrible, but Sarah handles them just fine.
Like I said earlier, the plot here is what brings everything together. The descriptions of the carnage outside, as well as the social dynamics and ‘politics’ inside the supposedly safe place, really put you bang in the middle of this desolate place.
But nowhere is safe with alphas and echoes swarming the streets, and before long this hideout comes under attack.
That’s as much as I’ll say about the plot, as I don’t want to give anything away. As there’s another book in this trilogy you can imagine that people from this and the previous one will survive. But there are some genuine surprises here, one being especially shocking, and not just for shock’s sake; it really feels like it could happen in this world.
There’s nothing really groundbreaking and new here, but that doesn’t matter; in fact it makes the story stronger. Instead of trying to reinvent the P-A genre, Ken Stark has woven a gripping tale with the undead as supporting artists, but the humanity ultimately driving the novel.
This is one to check out, but only after you’ve finished the previous book, duh!
Book 3 will be soon be consumed and the review will follow, like a hungry zombie stalking some crazy living guy, or something.
October 21, 2018
I experienced a deep sigh of contentment upon reaching the last page of Ken Stark’s “Stage 3: Alpha.” The second book in the Stage 3 series concluded perfectly while leaving a tiny cliff-hanger indicative of another book in the series, but if not... just fine as is. The Stage 3 series is a zombie story unlike any of the many zombie stories heretofore. Sure, it all starts with a virus that reanimates the dead, turning them into gruesome eating machines; but there are significant differences. Stark’s zombies evolve as the story unwinds, from slow moving and mindless, to fast movers with superior instincts and skills. Through one harrowing experience to another, lead protagonist, Sarah, develops from a highly intelligent doctor to a fearsome and deadly warrior searching for her niece Mackenzie (whom she considers her daughter). Book one, “Stage 3” was all about Mackenzie and her savior/protector Mason as they mutually developed into a team in a search for Aunt Sarah. Now... it’s all about Sarah and her side of the story.
Ken Stark has a writing style that is—hard to explain. Normally, a writer will accentuate action over detail, character development over plot, intricate details over a panoramic view, or vice versa on all counts. The story will be character or plot driven, slow and detailed, or fast with only vague descriptive of geography or events. While action is absolutely key to Stark’s writing style, he manages to include everything else... character and plot development, details, conflict and resolution into one big ball of suspenseful, exciting reading. Stark is adept at maintaining a blistering, edge of your seat pace with completely believable characters and fictitious action indistinguishable from a solid sense of reality. I highly recommend “Stage 3: Alpha” and book one, “Stage 3” to all reading lovers of the horror and thriller genres. The order doesn’t matter, but you’ll regret reading one and not the other… that’s for sure.
Ken Stark has a writing style that is—hard to explain. Normally, a writer will accentuate action over detail, character development over plot, intricate details over a panoramic view, or vice versa on all counts. The story will be character or plot driven, slow and detailed, or fast with only vague descriptive of geography or events. While action is absolutely key to Stark’s writing style, he manages to include everything else... character and plot development, details, conflict and resolution into one big ball of suspenseful, exciting reading. Stark is adept at maintaining a blistering, edge of your seat pace with completely believable characters and fictitious action indistinguishable from a solid sense of reality. I highly recommend “Stage 3: Alpha” and book one, “Stage 3” to all reading lovers of the horror and thriller genres. The order doesn’t matter, but you’ll regret reading one and not the other… that’s for sure.
August 7, 2017
I just finished Ken Stark's Stage3: Alpha!
Since this is not my genre, I was pleasantly surprised after reading Stage 3, the first book in the series about a stage 3 viral outbreak that sends the world spiraling out of control and into utter chaos with zombies.
I can tell you that the second book in this series of a post apocalyptic world, does not disappoint! Mr Stark's writing has a way of making you focus as much on the lives and well-being of his characters,as the world spinning in mad circles all around them. Their survival in this crazy dog-eat-dog world they've been handed...becomes your survival.
Finally meeting Mack's beloved Aunt Sarah, was nothing short of amazing. A heroine for any story, she fights every battle that comes her way, including those for justice, in a world no longer run by laws or the just.
I enjoyed meeting many of the new characters in this book, especially Clancy - and catching up with Mack and Mace on their sojourn through this twisted maze of madness, monsters and unrelenting horrors.
Ken Stark is a gifted writer, who not only takes you to the very edge of your imagination, but reels you back in just in time to feel compassion and emphasize with his characters. I will be looking very forward to the next book in this series, along with other projects I understand have already been set into motion.
C.M. Turner
Since this is not my genre, I was pleasantly surprised after reading Stage 3, the first book in the series about a stage 3 viral outbreak that sends the world spiraling out of control and into utter chaos with zombies.
I can tell you that the second book in this series of a post apocalyptic world, does not disappoint! Mr Stark's writing has a way of making you focus as much on the lives and well-being of his characters,as the world spinning in mad circles all around them. Their survival in this crazy dog-eat-dog world they've been handed...becomes your survival.
Finally meeting Mack's beloved Aunt Sarah, was nothing short of amazing. A heroine for any story, she fights every battle that comes her way, including those for justice, in a world no longer run by laws or the just.
I enjoyed meeting many of the new characters in this book, especially Clancy - and catching up with Mack and Mace on their sojourn through this twisted maze of madness, monsters and unrelenting horrors.
Ken Stark is a gifted writer, who not only takes you to the very edge of your imagination, but reels you back in just in time to feel compassion and emphasize with his characters. I will be looking very forward to the next book in this series, along with other projects I understand have already been set into motion.
C.M. Turner
July 3, 2017
Deadly zombies and even deadlier humans...
The flesh eating zombies might put a fright into your night but thinking about your fellow citizens and what they’re capable of might scare you even more!
I really enjoy a book that makes me think. How far would you go to save someone you loved? How lethal might you become to protect what’s yours? How have we failed ourselves and others? How far would you go to survive? When do otherwise rational human beings with moral compasses and good intentions, who at one time cared for the plight of their fellow man, turn vengeful, cruel and deadly? These are only some of the questions I thought about while reading Alpha book 2 in Ken Stark’s Stage 3 series.
The story opens with Aunt Sarah, a character from Stage 3 book 1 who we haven’t yet met. She’s desperately searching for her “daughter” Mackenzie, affectionately known as Mack, in a world gone mad and overrun by zombies due to a terrible virus that has broken out. I was surprised and delighted the author chose to introduce us to Sarah, and I read on page after page waiting for her and little Mack to be reunited again. Mack is in good hands with Mason, a rugged, jaded man with a big heart who we meet in Stage 3 but none-the-less you’ll root for this “mother and child” reunion. Sarah’s fight says much about how far a mother’s love for a child goes and the things she’s willing to do and risk in the hope of finding Mack- dead or alive. She needs to know what has happened to this child. Sarah suffers a tremendous loss early on in the story that leaves her alone in a dark, cold world filled with flesh eating zombies. Then she meets Clancy, a beloved dog who is a genius in battle alongside Sarah. Hope is on the horizon when she meets a group of other humans, but all are not what they appear to be… No spoilers here friends. Grab a copy and read to find out more.
The story comes to a riveting conclusion and truly speaks to what being human, I mean really human is about- compassion, love and caring for one another in the bleakest, darkest, and deadliest of times.
The flesh eating zombies might put a fright into your night but thinking about your fellow citizens and what they’re capable of might scare you even more!
I really enjoy a book that makes me think. How far would you go to save someone you loved? How lethal might you become to protect what’s yours? How have we failed ourselves and others? How far would you go to survive? When do otherwise rational human beings with moral compasses and good intentions, who at one time cared for the plight of their fellow man, turn vengeful, cruel and deadly? These are only some of the questions I thought about while reading Alpha book 2 in Ken Stark’s Stage 3 series.
The story opens with Aunt Sarah, a character from Stage 3 book 1 who we haven’t yet met. She’s desperately searching for her “daughter” Mackenzie, affectionately known as Mack, in a world gone mad and overrun by zombies due to a terrible virus that has broken out. I was surprised and delighted the author chose to introduce us to Sarah, and I read on page after page waiting for her and little Mack to be reunited again. Mack is in good hands with Mason, a rugged, jaded man with a big heart who we meet in Stage 3 but none-the-less you’ll root for this “mother and child” reunion. Sarah’s fight says much about how far a mother’s love for a child goes and the things she’s willing to do and risk in the hope of finding Mack- dead or alive. She needs to know what has happened to this child. Sarah suffers a tremendous loss early on in the story that leaves her alone in a dark, cold world filled with flesh eating zombies. Then she meets Clancy, a beloved dog who is a genius in battle alongside Sarah. Hope is on the horizon when she meets a group of other humans, but all are not what they appear to be… No spoilers here friends. Grab a copy and read to find out more.
The story comes to a riveting conclusion and truly speaks to what being human, I mean really human is about- compassion, love and caring for one another in the bleakest, darkest, and deadliest of times.
December 31, 2019
In the second book of the Stage 3 series, we’re back in San Francisco, this time with Sarah, who’s on the hunt for her little red haired niece, Mackenzie. Time is running out for Sarah and her medical colleagues as they make the decision to flee to safer ground, but are soon overwhelmed by the zombie alphas that are wreaking havoc on the city. As they run and hide in the streets of San Francisco to try and get away from the flesh eating killers–they soon realize the odds are not in their favor. Is anyplace safe in this new world order?
The zombies are evolving, making Sarah’s quest to find her niece even more precarious and dangerous. As her battle to survive continues, she experiences the loss of friends, and the wrath of the flesh eating swarms. A brutal encounter provides her a temporary safe haven, but she soon finds the cruel militia leaders are only out to save themselves. Have decency and civility been eliminated?
Human conflict and zombie aggression make living in these times a survival of the fittest. Sarah escapes to continue her quest to find her niece, but is it a loss cause? Author Ken Stark delivers another suspense filled tale, full of twists and turns and gut wrenching decisions and actions that keep you guessing ’til the end. A thrilling read (be forewarned, there are explicit details with the zombie attacks and slayings), highly recommended!
The zombies are evolving, making Sarah’s quest to find her niece even more precarious and dangerous. As her battle to survive continues, she experiences the loss of friends, and the wrath of the flesh eating swarms. A brutal encounter provides her a temporary safe haven, but she soon finds the cruel militia leaders are only out to save themselves. Have decency and civility been eliminated?
Human conflict and zombie aggression make living in these times a survival of the fittest. Sarah escapes to continue her quest to find her niece, but is it a loss cause? Author Ken Stark delivers another suspense filled tale, full of twists and turns and gut wrenching decisions and actions that keep you guessing ’til the end. A thrilling read (be forewarned, there are explicit details with the zombie attacks and slayings), highly recommended!
February 18, 2021
Ken Stark’s Stage 3 Alpha novel is the second book of the author’s Stage 3 trilogy of books. Unfortunately, it suffered from a “sophomore slump” compared to the first book.
**Some spoilers below **
This novel focuses on Aunt Sarah – the person Mace and Mack searched for throughout the first book of the trilogy. Readers follow her journey from the medical center where she worked as a nurse to fighting her way back to her apartment to find Mack.
Sarah starts off with a group of co-workers but that group quickly devolves to Sarah running solo for a large portion of the novel. New characters, especially Sarah’s love interest Lucy, make the briefest appearances at the beginning of the book, but they’re quickly separated or killed off at a rate and ruthlessness like Game of Thrones characters.
After this point, the book suffers a slump. When Sarah runs solo in complete survival mode, the zombie hoard scenes happened so often and droned on for so long that the words turned into an alphabet soup. I found myself breezing through these pages, merely skimming through the content and no longer immersed in the story.
Another topic of the book that made me scratch my head in disbelief pertained to Clancy, her neighbor’s large dog that Sarah rescues. Almost immediately Sarah and Clancy become an invincible dynamic duo, fighting off all zombies with no fear of injury. At one point I began to wonder if Clancy was a dog or a dire wolf from Game of Thrones (who were much more vulnerable).
Ask any writer that wrote a Superman story about how difficult it is to get readers emotionally attached to a character that has no vulnerabilities. It doesn’t work. The same goes for Sarah and Clancy throughout the book.
My favorite part of the book happens when Sarah finds sanctuary with a group of criminals posing as army soldiers. Sarah nearly dies before she’s rescued and brought into the reclaimed building used as a base and safe zone.
New characters (and an old one – Dr. Lambert whom she worked with at the medical center) get introduced and Ken Stark does a fantastic job fleshing these new shady characters out. Only then did I feel a sense of dread that Sarah’s life is at risk.
Sarah’s sense of morality and her courage help her decide to help the couple dozen ‘civilians’ housed in the building guarded by the 'soldiers’. The fake soldiers are violent, despicable men. This portion of the story makes allusions to drug use, rape, violence, and more, so reader beware.
The most despicable scene of the book occurs during an escape from the secure building. Now swarmed by hoards of zombies, the ‘soldiers’ and a handful of ‘civilians’ flee on a small golf-cart type of vehicle. They’re being chased by a zombie hoard and the gap between the two is closing fast.
To survive and distract the hoard, one of the ‘soldiers’ obeys an order and grabs a crying infant from her mother and throws the baby to the hoard. I didn’t expect the book to have that type of “shock value” and I was disappointed. However, that’s where I draw the line but your line may be different. I didn’t like that happening at all.
Sarah eventually finds Mack and Mace, who is now an elite special forces type of duo. They also found Clancy the dog soon after Sarah entered the sanctuary building. The author describes Mace like he’s a huge golem-sized Jason Bourne type person, which seemed quite odd compared to how I imagined him from the first book.
All in all, I found this book disappointing, unfortunately. I don’t know if I’ll get around to reading the next book, Stage 3 Bravo, now.
**Some spoilers below **
This novel focuses on Aunt Sarah – the person Mace and Mack searched for throughout the first book of the trilogy. Readers follow her journey from the medical center where she worked as a nurse to fighting her way back to her apartment to find Mack.
Sarah starts off with a group of co-workers but that group quickly devolves to Sarah running solo for a large portion of the novel. New characters, especially Sarah’s love interest Lucy, make the briefest appearances at the beginning of the book, but they’re quickly separated or killed off at a rate and ruthlessness like Game of Thrones characters.
After this point, the book suffers a slump. When Sarah runs solo in complete survival mode, the zombie hoard scenes happened so often and droned on for so long that the words turned into an alphabet soup. I found myself breezing through these pages, merely skimming through the content and no longer immersed in the story.
Another topic of the book that made me scratch my head in disbelief pertained to Clancy, her neighbor’s large dog that Sarah rescues. Almost immediately Sarah and Clancy become an invincible dynamic duo, fighting off all zombies with no fear of injury. At one point I began to wonder if Clancy was a dog or a dire wolf from Game of Thrones (who were much more vulnerable).
Ask any writer that wrote a Superman story about how difficult it is to get readers emotionally attached to a character that has no vulnerabilities. It doesn’t work. The same goes for Sarah and Clancy throughout the book.
My favorite part of the book happens when Sarah finds sanctuary with a group of criminals posing as army soldiers. Sarah nearly dies before she’s rescued and brought into the reclaimed building used as a base and safe zone.
New characters (and an old one – Dr. Lambert whom she worked with at the medical center) get introduced and Ken Stark does a fantastic job fleshing these new shady characters out. Only then did I feel a sense of dread that Sarah’s life is at risk.
Sarah’s sense of morality and her courage help her decide to help the couple dozen ‘civilians’ housed in the building guarded by the 'soldiers’. The fake soldiers are violent, despicable men. This portion of the story makes allusions to drug use, rape, violence, and more, so reader beware.
The most despicable scene of the book occurs during an escape from the secure building. Now swarmed by hoards of zombies, the ‘soldiers’ and a handful of ‘civilians’ flee on a small golf-cart type of vehicle. They’re being chased by a zombie hoard and the gap between the two is closing fast.
To survive and distract the hoard, one of the ‘soldiers’ obeys an order and grabs a crying infant from her mother and throws the baby to the hoard. I didn’t expect the book to have that type of “shock value” and I was disappointed. However, that’s where I draw the line but your line may be different. I didn’t like that happening at all.
Sarah eventually finds Mack and Mace, who is now an elite special forces type of duo. They also found Clancy the dog soon after Sarah entered the sanctuary building. The author describes Mace like he’s a huge golem-sized Jason Bourne type person, which seemed quite odd compared to how I imagined him from the first book.
All in all, I found this book disappointing, unfortunately. I don’t know if I’ll get around to reading the next book, Stage 3 Bravo, now.
July 5, 2018
This is the next instalment to Ken Starks Stage 3. We follow Sarah, in her search for her niece Mackenzie. She becomes very good at surviving in this new world and even gets a companion and worthy teammate, Clancy. As you read you will see good people do bad things just for one more minute of precious life. Sarah soon comes to the realisation of, 'In this world, there was no more right, no more wrong, no more good and no more bad. There were just people. People doing what they had to do.' This book will have you at the edge of your seat. If zombies are your thing you will love this! If survival is your thing you will love this! If you love a story in which a strong woman does everything she can to find her child in a dangerous world full of the undead, you will love this! If you love all the above then get ready for an epic story you will not put down! Warning, this book will make you cry, it hit me right in the feels!
April 24, 2022
I couldn't finish this book. I was able to work through the previous book, but this one was somehow even more heavy than the last on repeatedly informing me that Mackenzie has a mop of red hair, green eyes and an angelic face. It has been well established by now that Sarah (and Mason) are obsessed with and motivated beyond imagination by this magical little girl. It really, really doesn't need to be repeated throughout every fight, setback, and main character's moment alone.
It also still has the issue of the author using the word "bodily," every time any character does something using their entire body. I get it, I really do, you don't need to say it every time.
It's a shame, I was intrigued by the concurrent storylines and still enjoy the unique take on zombies, but the repetitiveness of the book has worn me down.
Once again, a decent editor could have turned this all around. Incredibly redundant.
It also still has the issue of the author using the word "bodily," every time any character does something using their entire body. I get it, I really do, you don't need to say it every time.
It's a shame, I was intrigued by the concurrent storylines and still enjoy the unique take on zombies, but the repetitiveness of the book has worn me down.
Once again, a decent editor could have turned this all around. Incredibly redundant.
August 3, 2020
Addicting! I don't know why it took me over a year to read this one after the first but I wish I read it sooner! This one is even more addicting than the first one! I couldn't put it down! It made me gasp, flinch, want to vomit, and even made me cry. It's The Last of Us on steroids times ten! Read it u must!
September 22, 2021
Reunited!!
Mackenzie is finally reunited with her Aunt Sarah but the journey doesn't stop there. Sarah wants to save her friend's from the "fake soldiers" and Mack, mace, Sarah and Clancy come together as a team and continue to fight for their survival and a new challenge is set for them.
I honestly could not put this book down.
I was eager to read more.
Mackenzie is finally reunited with her Aunt Sarah but the journey doesn't stop there. Sarah wants to save her friend's from the "fake soldiers" and Mack, mace, Sarah and Clancy come together as a team and continue to fight for their survival and a new challenge is set for them.
I honestly could not put this book down.
I was eager to read more.
November 10, 2021
An emotional rollercoaster of a read, with a fast paced, action packed plot, with shocking plot twists. Memorable characters easy to relate to, my favourite was Mason and Clarence, very addictive, I can't wait for the next book. Fantastic narration by Matthew Crow, who brings the characters to life with his toe curling voice. I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
January 21, 2018
Stage 3: Alpha
Talk about a thrill ride of emotion! Words woven together to elicit a vivid story told from one single POV. I am happy that I read it and yet sad that it is over. Or is it?
Talk about a thrill ride of emotion! Words woven together to elicit a vivid story told from one single POV. I am happy that I read it and yet sad that it is over. Or is it?
December 12, 2021
Good
There are slightly too much editing errors to give a full five stars, hence the four I gave. A little more on the side of already know territory than book one, but, nonetheless, a good book, action packed and thrilling.
There are slightly too much editing errors to give a full five stars, hence the four I gave. A little more on the side of already know territory than book one, but, nonetheless, a good book, action packed and thrilling.
October 13, 2017
Great follow-up to the first volume. As before, the pace is unrelenting. Highly recommended for fans of zombie fiction.
December 24, 2017
Another brilliant read by my new favorite author.
August 22, 2018
Great read! If you are a zombie fan, this book is for you! Very well written, and I always love how he throws some humor into his stories. Great author! Highly recommend!
May 30, 2019
Genius!
Ken Stark is incredible! His books are so well written! His words keeps you invested in the story! Highly recommend!
Ken Stark is incredible! His books are so well written! His words keeps you invested in the story! Highly recommend!
June 6, 2019
Great book. Loved getting to know Sarah and her crew. I liked how Ken blended the party, can't say too much without spoilers. Top, top read. Well done Ken.
November 20, 2019
Scary good.
August 14, 2024
So glad I saw a random tweet & started this series. Forgot how much I loved a good zombie book.
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