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The Zombie War Battle for Britain
The Zombie War was the longest and most costly conflict that Britain has ever waged. No one knows the true figure of those who lost their lives in the long years of the war and tragically too many have lost their lives in the years of peace that have followed. Life expectancy is a shadow of what it was and many diseases and ailments that science thought it had eradicated have returned. Many of those who survived the war have since died, taking with them the stories and memories of the most devastating and important struggle that mankind has ever waged. This book is the record of those stories, an attempt to remember the actions of those who lived through this devastating conflict. From the first stages of the outbreak, to the chaos of the mass panic and finally to the death of the last Infected, it is a homage to those who saved our nation.
218 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 21, 2017
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42 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 18, 2020
This has been said by other reviewers, but it is essentially World War Z but focusing mainly on England and Scotland.
The plot is fine, if you've read World War Z then you know what to expect, from the rumours of a disease spreading to the panic, the fall of the country, and then leading up to taking the fight back to the undead - again, it's WWZ.
Even the style is the same, the author is interviewing folks after the end of the war about what they done during the war.
None of this bothered me too much as WWZ is one of my favourite books, but by doing this, it's inevitable that this will be compared to WWZ and that's a high bar to reach.
Unfortunately, it doesn't hit that bar, and one thing in particular which bothered me is the classism. The author seems to have a grudge against those on welfare payments or those of a "lower social class", portraying them all as lazy or stupid.
As an Irish person I was expecting some condescending nonsense when the story shifted to my country, but it was even more ridiculous than I expected - Ireland would never re-join the Commonwealth, no matter the situation, and I would have expected any author to know this.
Ultimately, it's ok, it's basically just more of WWZ, but not at the same quality as Max Brooks of course. I listened to the audiobook and it helped pass the time on my commutes.
The plot is fine, if you've read World War Z then you know what to expect, from the rumours of a disease spreading to the panic, the fall of the country, and then leading up to taking the fight back to the undead - again, it's WWZ.
Even the style is the same, the author is interviewing folks after the end of the war about what they done during the war.
None of this bothered me too much as WWZ is one of my favourite books, but by doing this, it's inevitable that this will be compared to WWZ and that's a high bar to reach.
Unfortunately, it doesn't hit that bar, and one thing in particular which bothered me is the classism. The author seems to have a grudge against those on welfare payments or those of a "lower social class", portraying them all as lazy or stupid.
As an Irish person I was expecting some condescending nonsense when the story shifted to my country, but it was even more ridiculous than I expected - Ireland would never re-join the Commonwealth, no matter the situation, and I would have expected any author to know this.
Ultimately, it's ok, it's basically just more of WWZ, but not at the same quality as Max Brooks of course. I listened to the audiobook and it helped pass the time on my commutes.
November 3, 2019
A complete rip off of world war z by Max brooks. Entire passages lifted changed a little and passed off as the authors own ideas. Even the sentence structure is identical. I'm surprised no-one from random House hasn't sued. If you own would war z don't bother with this.
October 26, 2019
I love a good zombie story, and although this format has already been done in World War Z, it's given a lovely local spin.
The audio version is narrated by the fantastic Aubrey Parsons who really brings some depth to all of the different characters / accounts. There was only one issue with the audio version which cut out part way through chapter 24.
There was obviously a lot of thought put into how Britain could contain the zombie apocalypse. I hope you all have your loose plans in place with your families. I know we have ;)
The audio version is narrated by the fantastic Aubrey Parsons who really brings some depth to all of the different characters / accounts. There was only one issue with the audio version which cut out part way through chapter 24.
There was obviously a lot of thought put into how Britain could contain the zombie apocalypse. I hope you all have your loose plans in place with your families. I know we have ;)
November 13, 2019
I didn't know what to expect going into this but I ended up absolutely loving it!!
The book is told from multiple point of views, a few years after the Zombie outbreak. It's told in an almost interview way. A reporter decides that he needs to make an archive of what happened and interviews people from all walks of life to get their stories, so you get a book that's rich in detail and multifaceted.
I loved the way the book was told and enjoyed every single story. We see first responders, military, cctv operator and normal people. We see the outbreak from when it happened and how each person handled it. I felt like the way it was told was so much better than having it told as normal. It felt like watching mini episodes in my head.
What made the book better for me as well was the narrator, Aubrey Parsons. He was amazing!! His array of voices was astonishing and I felt like I was listening to a full cast reading it. This is the second book I've listened that he has narrated and I'm seriously impressed. He is one to watch!!
I was given this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.
The book is told from multiple point of views, a few years after the Zombie outbreak. It's told in an almost interview way. A reporter decides that he needs to make an archive of what happened and interviews people from all walks of life to get their stories, so you get a book that's rich in detail and multifaceted.
I loved the way the book was told and enjoyed every single story. We see first responders, military, cctv operator and normal people. We see the outbreak from when it happened and how each person handled it. I felt like the way it was told was so much better than having it told as normal. It felt like watching mini episodes in my head.
What made the book better for me as well was the narrator, Aubrey Parsons. He was amazing!! His array of voices was astonishing and I felt like I was listening to a full cast reading it. This is the second book I've listened that he has narrated and I'm seriously impressed. He is one to watch!!
I was given this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.
March 23, 2018
Interesting story
Interesting story, clearly heavily influenced by Worls War Z but with a different slant of being UK focussed. Could do with some serious proof reading as lots of incorrect words being used which would not be picked up as they are spelled correctly e.g 'barley' being used instead of 'barely'. BTW Manchester is not second city, Birmingham is! Apart from these issues it was an enjoyable read.
Interesting story, clearly heavily influenced by Worls War Z but with a different slant of being UK focussed. Could do with some serious proof reading as lots of incorrect words being used which would not be picked up as they are spelled correctly e.g 'barley' being used instead of 'barely'. BTW Manchester is not second city, Birmingham is! Apart from these issues it was an enjoyable read.
August 25, 2019
The Zombie War Battle for Britain by Tom Holroyd and narrated by Aubrey Parsons is a perfect book for those craving a zombie fix or for those just venturing into the genre. The stories are sure to gratify any zombie fan and I highly recommend!
The book tells survivors accounts of the zombie war, recorded for the National Archive, five years after the end of the war. The stories take place in the UK and contain a nice variety- military, police, CCTV operator, regular folks, and more. There are sounds for the transitions to each story but stops once the story begins.
When I first started this book, I thought oh no it’s going to be a WWZ rip off, but as I listened, I found that is not the case- this book holds it’s own and is outstanding. I tried to find something I didn’t like, but I couldn’t find anything. I’m sure I’m going to get some negative votes for saying this, but here it is anyways: I liked this book better than the audible version of WWZ. Yep, for reals...
The narrator, Aubrey Parsons, did a lovely job with these. Easy to listen to voice, steady, and unique. Would listen to another book by him.
This will be a repeat listen for sure. If this author made a book for each country, I’d purchase each one. I look forward to what’s next for Tom. Whether you are new to Z’s or a seasoned Z-vet, this should be in your to listen to list.
Parental guidance/trigger warnings: death, war crimes, mass murder, mention of the New Orleans hurricane, Manson family reference, Afghanistan War mention/talk, The Killing Fields mentioned, gangs, drugs, organ trade, some swearing throughout. Possibly more I’m forgetting so think of the apocalypse and the bad things that can happen.
*I was given a free review copy of the audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. Thank you for allowing me to listen and review the book!
The book tells survivors accounts of the zombie war, recorded for the National Archive, five years after the end of the war. The stories take place in the UK and contain a nice variety- military, police, CCTV operator, regular folks, and more. There are sounds for the transitions to each story but stops once the story begins.
When I first started this book, I thought oh no it’s going to be a WWZ rip off, but as I listened, I found that is not the case- this book holds it’s own and is outstanding. I tried to find something I didn’t like, but I couldn’t find anything. I’m sure I’m going to get some negative votes for saying this, but here it is anyways: I liked this book better than the audible version of WWZ. Yep, for reals...
The narrator, Aubrey Parsons, did a lovely job with these. Easy to listen to voice, steady, and unique. Would listen to another book by him.
This will be a repeat listen for sure. If this author made a book for each country, I’d purchase each one. I look forward to what’s next for Tom. Whether you are new to Z’s or a seasoned Z-vet, this should be in your to listen to list.
Parental guidance/trigger warnings: death, war crimes, mass murder, mention of the New Orleans hurricane, Manson family reference, Afghanistan War mention/talk, The Killing Fields mentioned, gangs, drugs, organ trade, some swearing throughout. Possibly more I’m forgetting so think of the apocalypse and the bad things that can happen.
*I was given a free review copy of the audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. Thank you for allowing me to listen and review the book!
November 2, 2021
The Zombie War Battle for Britain sounds like it would be an audiobook that was TOTALLY up my ally. I can read and enjoy almost every genre of book. But fantasy and zombies hold a special place in my heart. And I did enjoy this one. But not quite as much as I thought I would. Still, not a bad book. (4 stars... duh). I loved the originality. I think I was a little confused with the characters maybe. It was hard to put my finger on what exactly put me off a tiny bit. But other than that, great book. It held my attention from start to finish. I listened the the Audible version. And it was great. The narrator was perfect for this book. I've heard him in other audio's as well and he always does a fantastic job.
This Audiobook was given to me at my request. I have provided a honest, unbiased review (As always!). Thank you for the Audiobook. Sorry It took me a little while to get to it. I have a hard time saying no to anything that looks like it even might look even a little good. I'll probably be reviewing for the rest of my life! lol. But it was extremely appreciated. <3
This Audiobook was given to me at my request. I have provided a honest, unbiased review (As always!). Thank you for the Audiobook. Sorry It took me a little while to get to it. I have a hard time saying no to anything that looks like it even might look even a little good. I'll probably be reviewing for the rest of my life! lol. But it was extremely appreciated. <3
June 27, 2025
This was a weird one to rate. It's not great, it's not bad, but is it a ripoff of World War Z? I'm not sure that's the intent, but it does come across that way. Rather than a ripoff, it seems like the story is set in the same universe as WWZ, directly mentioning names and events from WWZ, while skirting the legalities of using them. Some direct mentions are: The rabies vaccine, the Redeker plan, the Balmoral decree, the Queen staying at Windsor castle, and the fate of North Korea.
Point being, it seems more like a decent fanfic set in the same universe, rather than a direct ripoff. The biggest problem, to me, is the lack of originality. A lot of the people and the things they say seem so similar to WWZ that they feel copied. Even the figurative language they use.
But if you like WWZ and crave a little more, this is okay.
Point being, it seems more like a decent fanfic set in the same universe, rather than a direct ripoff. The biggest problem, to me, is the lack of originality. A lot of the people and the things they say seem so similar to WWZ that they feel copied. Even the figurative language they use.
But if you like WWZ and crave a little more, this is okay.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2023
This isn't really a 5* book in terms of quality, characters and plot.
It IS however a book that I, personally, really, really enjoyed.
It follows Brookes Z Wars format - and I think even its canon, but its solely about how Britain fell and then rose again....as a commonwealth superpower. It's a refreshing take on a well trodden path.
I wish it had been a bit longer. There was scope to have dozens of chapters of 'what did you do in the war daddy' stories?
There's a world wide franchise opportunity here, Max. :)
August 17, 2019
I confess this was my first zombie novel. It's told in a series of first person recollections, thus we see the war from many perspectives which combine to tell the story. The writing is superb, enhanced by excellent narration. I was totally immersed in the scenario and characters, completing the book in one, exceedingly enjoyable, session. Highly recommended, even if you're a zombie fiction newbie.
April 15, 2019
Zombie war meets the History Channel
A really refreshingly different take on the zombie apocalypse, factual in feel and told through the eyes of many different survivors. I like the way it finishes in an upbeat way - instead of the world going to pieces something rises from the ashes of the calamity.
A really refreshingly different take on the zombie apocalypse, factual in feel and told through the eyes of many different survivors. I like the way it finishes in an upbeat way - instead of the world going to pieces something rises from the ashes of the calamity.
May 3, 2019
A fantastic read for anyone who loves a good Military vs Zombie book, I enjoyed the stories as Tom Holdroyd really captured the British mentalities whilst sticking to Max Brookes original premise incredibly well, the lack of civilian stories that didnt lead to Military conscription soured the storytelling but not too much, thoroughly enjoyed the book.
September 4, 2021
Great read for a planner
I loved both the military and planning aspects of this book, however would have liked to see just a bit more about the cause of the plague. The story of the underground cleaners - the Scouts and the divers (Clankers) will haunt me from now on, I'm afraid. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
I loved both the military and planning aspects of this book, however would have liked to see just a bit more about the cause of the plague. The story of the underground cleaners - the Scouts and the divers (Clankers) will haunt me from now on, I'm afraid. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
June 29, 2025
Enjoyable only as a spin-off of World War Z.l and undermined even then as derivative. Whilst I was listening to this, I had to check that this wasn't in the official WWZ universe because, my god, is it a rip-off! A nice little read for fans of WWZ but I don't encourage anyone to read this as a standalone book. Do yourself a favour and read the original - it's much better-written, as well.
December 15, 2025
it's fascinating that this book exists? this seems like such an easy copyright lawsuit
i've never encountered a book with so many typos, it was distracting and seemed to occur nearly every other page. for a professionally released book, i really want to hope there was an OCR issue with my digital copy, that can be the only explanation.
i've never encountered a book with so many typos, it was distracting and seemed to occur nearly every other page. for a professionally released book, i really want to hope there was an OCR issue with my digital copy, that can be the only explanation.
January 26, 2018
Carbon copy
I love books and don't like to leave poor reviews. After all we all like different things. However having read world war z this book is simply a carbon copy. With the same style characters and story lines. Max Brooks solicitor must be running his hands.
I love books and don't like to leave poor reviews. After all we all like different things. However having read world war z this book is simply a carbon copy. With the same style characters and story lines. Max Brooks solicitor must be running his hands.
January 22, 2020
I received a copy of the Audible audio book in exchange for my honest review.
The story is told as series of interviews with people, military and others caught up in a worldwide disaster. it's fiction but makes you think what could happen if a pandemic did take root. very memorable
The story is told as series of interviews with people, military and others caught up in a worldwide disaster. it's fiction but makes you think what could happen if a pandemic did take root. very memorable
March 6, 2022
I loved it!It was an excellent addition to the zombie apocolypse! Aubrey Parsons was an excellent narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
April 4, 2018
A great read was as tools by the bro
Like the title says a great read i hope the author produces more like this.
WWZ meets the British isles
Like the title says a great read i hope the author produces more like this.
WWZ meets the British isles
July 1, 2018
Very interesting and entertaining
Loved this book. Should we find ourselves in a zombie apocalypse I advise our military and government to give this a read lol.
Loved this book. Should we find ourselves in a zombie apocalypse I advise our military and government to give this a read lol.
October 11, 2019
Great book
A fantastic read. Written in the same style as Max Brooks World War Z but follows the fall and rise of Britain
A fantastic read. Written in the same style as Max Brooks World War Z but follows the fall and rise of Britain
February 28, 2020
"note audiobook" it's a British world war z. brilliant story good narration. what can I say if you like zombie books this is a must
March 11, 2020
Absolutely stunning. Great premise and fresh storytelling.
Contemplating the sheer logistics of dragging a nation through a zombie outbreak makes for an engaging read.
Loved it!
Contemplating the sheer logistics of dragging a nation through a zombie outbreak makes for an engaging read.
Loved it!
April 24, 2020
Well written and thought through but not for me
September 14, 2020
World War Z copy
Carbon copy of World War Z, but very enjoyable, well written and finished in under a day. Well worth it.
Carbon copy of World War Z, but very enjoyable, well written and finished in under a day. Well worth it.
June 28, 2025
This genre has become my guilty pleasure : I enjoy good examples way more than I should. This is a very respectable addition to the style.
January 6, 2020
I love a good zombie story and there are only a couple not set in the US.
It was interesting to see how the serious Brits handle a worldwide zombie outbreak.
It was interesting to see how the serious Brits handle a worldwide zombie outbreak.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews