The Harvesting Boxed Set, #1-3

by Melanie Karsak

It's all fun and games until someone ends up undead. 

New York Times bestselling author Melanie Karsak turns the zombie genre on it's head with this zombie apocalypse/urban fantasy mashup.

Read the complete series in one box set:

Book 1: The Harvesting
Just when Layla believes she might survive the zombie apocalypse, a sinister and ancient force rises from the shadows to finish mankind for good. 

Book 2: Midway
Step right up, ladies and gentlemen, for the beginning of the end. Carnie. Ride jockey. Roustabout. White trash. Tilt girl. Gypsy. Cricket has been called a lot of things, but she never thought survivor of the zombie apocalypse would be one of them.

Book 3: The Shadow Aspect
Layla and Cricket must join forces if they hope to survive the end of days. But when the world burns, mankind's shadow side rises. Do we deserve to survive?

Book 4: Witch Wood
Harm none, and be ready for zombies. In the little town of Brighton, Amelia's practice of Wicca marks her as a curiosity both at home and at school. But when modern treatments fail to make a dent in the flu outbreak sweeping the globe, those who once ridiculed her white witchcraft turn to Amelia for help.

Book 5: The Torn World
With the undead walking, vampires hunting, and kitsune closing in, everything seems lost. Layla, Cricket, and Amelia will need help if there is any hope of survival. Will they prevail in the dying world?

Bonus Read: The Clarion Call

The spirits warned Vasilisa the end was coming. Who knew her actions might save the world?

Genres: Fantasy

726 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 6, 2017

About the author

New York Times and USA Today best-selling historical fantasy author Melanie Karsak is the author of the Celtic Blood series, Steampunk Red Riding Hood, Steampunk Fairy Tales, the Road to Valhalla Series, and other works of fantasy and fiction. The author currently lives in Florida with her husband and two children.

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Reviews

[Louie the Mustache Matos · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're expecting a typical zombie apocalypse narrative you would be sadly mistaken. The Harvesting series boxed set is a fantasy/horror geeks wet dream. Uhmm. . . My apologies for that graphic picture especially since there's very little sexuality in this book. What I mean is that this series is filled with numerous horror and fantasy archetypes, a horror fantasy mash-up, if you will. There are zombies, but there are also vampires, numerous fae, and magical creatures such as witches, and more (I don't want to spoil all those surprises for you). I have to admit that I went in cold, without knowing anything other than that the series took place during the zompocalypse, but there was so much more that I was thrown by the complexity. Melanie Karsak is very skilled at knitting the disparate elements that a reader might typically say "they don't go together." But, yeah they do. I don't want to oversell the boxed set, but I think it's a good deal especially because of all the extra fantasy elements. Special note should be made about books 1.5 and 2.5 which start with an entirely new set of characters and what you might think is a totally unrelated storyline, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Those characters merge into the story at book 2 and 3 respectively almost seamlessly. This is Boxed Set #2 of 10 for my 2023 reading goal.

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I DNF'd this at 40% through the boxset, or most of the way through book 2. It actually wasn't bad and it was well written with decent characters, so why the DNF?

Well, it just felt like book 2 was rehashing the first book with a different cast. I realize that by reading the summaries, eventually the books end up "merging" and would have a more advanced plot but my interest just couldn't be held long enough to get to that point, which is a shame. Maybe sometime in the future I'll come back and revisit this to see if by reading a bit further it ends up grabbing me.

[Dixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever weaving of apocalyptic possibilities

While I enjoyed this five book series, I thought character development was a bit lacking and I definitely thought the descriptions of fight scenes and weapons use landed somewhere between obligatory and necessary. I did like how the intersection of Irish and Russian folktales were blended to lead to a wide cross-section of characters and interactions that worked together to further the unique story.

[BarbaraH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trouble Ahead

This was a thrilling series as the world ends and all we ever feared try to take over. Called back to her home by her Grandmother suddenly. She is told to prepare, but for what she doesn't know. She has special talents and must learn to use them. wisely as her Grandmother has taught her.

[ROBIN GRAVES · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new favorite author

Loved this series! Looking forward to reading more from her. Enthralling, flows easily and stayed up WAY too late at night reading. Looking for her next read now.

[Carole Afshardoost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating book

This is an amazing journey for this group of people. At the beginning of the appocolipse they have to fight zombies, then vampires and then (kitsome) dark fae. Really enjoyed this book. In parts I was tearful, other parts amused. I was sorry to finish it.

[linda brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Could not put it down, every twist and turn made you want to see more. Loved it. Would recommend to all zombie lovers

[Harry McCudden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent series. Good plots and well written books. Had to get them all.

[Kevin stackhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review for harvesting series

A cracking read sets you on a journey of survival against evil forces with the characters evolving as the series progresses well worth a read

[charlotte pedersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The walking dead, with fae ;)