The Safe Haven Box Set (Books 1 to 3 in the Post-Apocalyptic Zombie Horror Series) by Christopher Artinian and narrated by Kim Bretton is where it’s at! Highly recommend this series if you are a zombie fan, new to the Artinian bandwagon (or looking for a refresher), or want one narrator for the series.
Book 1: It’s the beginning of the zombie apocalypse and Mike and his siblings learn they are not as safe in the quarantine zones at those in charge are leading everyone to believe. They make their way to their grandmother’s house in Scotland, meeting some good and some horrible people along the way. The first book is a little slow moving compared to the rest of the series- do yourself a favor and stick with it if you find yourself thinking this.
Book 2: Mike and his entourage are settling into their new location, but it’s not long before it’s under attack and things get complicated. You get zombies (descriptions are excellent), action, blood and gore, betrayal, love, family, bad guys, losses and gains, weapons, character growth, killer rats, and more. Even the minor characters add to the story all in a good way, especially Humphrey (the dog).
Book 3: The group is attempting to live a relatively normal life in Scotland until some demented folks arrive with nefarious plans. New characters are added to Mike’s group. This book has more of a focus on surviving the crazies and contains a lot of fast-paced action (don’t worry, there is Z action too). We learn a little more of Mike’s history and also get a look into Fry’s deranged mind.
The narrator, Kim Bretton, did a wonderful job. She brings the characters to life with a nice variety, has a good pace, and is easy-to-listen to. Def recommend giving her a listen.
If you enjoy a mix of character-driven and plot-driven elements, character development, characters that are not perfect or have a real person feel to them, and fast-paced action to your zombie story, this is the series for you. I love that the stories intertwine with his other series, The End of Everything. One thing is for sure, the series will continue to WOW you as it progresses.
Parental guidance/trigger warnings: The entire series takes place in the zombie apocalypse- death, torture, kidnapping for sex/forced sex work, swearing, weapons, violence, suicide, previous war mentioned, and other similar things may occur.
*I was given a free review copy of the audiobook box set at my request and have voluntarily left this review. Thank you for allowing me to listen and review the books!