What do you think?
Rate this book
The Ridden
A Gamelit Apocalypse Progression Fantasy Novel
People called them different things when they first appeared: Walkers, Cryptids, Infected, the Ridden. The most popular was also the least apt, Zombies.
Sands from across the ocean blew in and covered everything in a fine dusting of granules, as they did every year. But this year they carried with them an infectious spore that infected anything that breathed.
Animal or human, it showed no favorites and infected them all. If people were lucky, they retained the ability to think. If they weren’t, they became little more than monsters hungry for more spores.
Chris stumbled out of his cheap motel room after the worst night of his life and straight into the apocalypse.
This is not your normal zombie apocalypse story, as Chris was about to find out. It’s not the monsters he needs to worry about.
It’s the humans.
If you liked The Last of Us and World War Z, you will be sure to enjoy The Ridden.
People called them different things when they first appeared: Walkers, Cryptids, Infected, the Ridden. The most popular was also the least apt, Zombies.
Sands from across the ocean blew in and covered everything in a fine dusting of granules, as they did every year. But this year they carried with them an infectious spore that infected anything that breathed.
Animal or human, it showed no favorites and infected them all. If people were lucky, they retained the ability to think. If they weren’t, they became little more than monsters hungry for more spores.
Chris stumbled out of his cheap motel room after the worst night of his life and straight into the apocalypse.
This is not your normal zombie apocalypse story, as Chris was about to find out. It’s not the monsters he needs to worry about.
It’s the humans.
If you liked The Last of Us and World War Z, you will be sure to enjoy The Ridden.
- GenresZombies
355 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 27, 2020
73 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Joshua Kern
37 books69 followersMy name is Joshua Kern and I am an anxiety riddled individual who is trying to write for a living. I've always loved reading and the escape books provide from everyday life. I've always wanted to be a writer and have finally decided to take the plunge.I am currently writing several series that span a few different genres from GameLit, to Fantasy to even a bit of Romance.
Connect with Joshua Kern here:
As well as at:
Patreon
Twitter
I was born in a little town situated somewhere in Ohio and raised in an even smaller town some place in Colorado. I attended University for a time, where I discovered that while I enjoyed Electrical Engineering and Computer Science my true passion lay in writing. I live primarily in Colorado but have been known to move around as the need arises. When not writing, I enjoy riding motorcycles, reading anything I can get my hands on, and anime.
Connect with Joshua Kern here:
As well as at:
Patreon
I was born in a little town situated somewhere in Ohio and raised in an even smaller town some place in Colorado. I attended University for a time, where I discovered that while I enjoyed Electrical Engineering and Computer Science my true passion lay in writing. I live primarily in Colorado but have been known to move around as the need arises. When not writing, I enjoy riding motorcycles, reading anything I can get my hands on, and anime.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 12, 2022
This was a great take to the zombie apocalypse. I really liked all of the characters, but I especially loved Artemis the goldenretriever best.
November 27, 2021
Confusing
The writing in the story is a little odd. It has a lot of incomplete sentences. The story doesn’t really make sense. Sand was whipped up into the air by wind from the Sahara, and the larvae that has infected people was rehydrated as it crossed the ocean…? That’s different, which is fine. But then certain people are immune to the larvae and aren’t able to be controlled by them. And they have the larvae living in their chest instead of the neck, and the main character is able to move the larvae around to different spots in his body. The larvae will then heal the spot? Why? What purpose does it serve? The larvae also infected a dog and the dog became super intelligent because of it? Why? Then there are several of the infected people who are able to learn to control themselves. Okay? Why? The explanation was only that they were evolving. One thing that was annoying was that the book started off with half of the epilogue, and then the epilogue repeated what was already said in the beginning and then some. It was a little annoying because the beginning of the book didn’t clarify that the epilogue portion at the beginning wasn’t actually the start of the story. It wasn’t hard to figure out, but it did make it hard to get into the story. I started skimming at around the 60% mark because the story slowed down as the main character got supplies.
The story was okay, but not great. The book is described as a GameLit Apocalypse Progression novel, but I don’t think it was. It felt like just a typical zombie apocalypse story, which was disappointing.
The writing in the story is a little odd. It has a lot of incomplete sentences. The story doesn’t really make sense. Sand was whipped up into the air by wind from the Sahara, and the larvae that has infected people was rehydrated as it crossed the ocean…? That’s different, which is fine. But then certain people are immune to the larvae and aren’t able to be controlled by them. And they have the larvae living in their chest instead of the neck, and the main character is able to move the larvae around to different spots in his body. The larvae will then heal the spot? Why? What purpose does it serve? The larvae also infected a dog and the dog became super intelligent because of it? Why? Then there are several of the infected people who are able to learn to control themselves. Okay? Why? The explanation was only that they were evolving. One thing that was annoying was that the book started off with half of the epilogue, and then the epilogue repeated what was already said in the beginning and then some. It was a little annoying because the beginning of the book didn’t clarify that the epilogue portion at the beginning wasn’t actually the start of the story. It wasn’t hard to figure out, but it did make it hard to get into the story. I started skimming at around the 60% mark because the story slowed down as the main character got supplies.
The story was okay, but not great. The book is described as a GameLit Apocalypse Progression novel, but I don’t think it was. It felt like just a typical zombie apocalypse story, which was disappointing.
December 12, 2022
Stand alone
This was just an odd book that to me didn't make much sense.
The characters actions didn't make sense and their interactions felt forced and really odd.
The MC finds his ex girlfriend wondering the streets. She had been living in another state and somehow her parents made it so they lost touch. Would have had to have been some tech savvy people to do what they did.
The conversations felt flat and stilted. Like we readers are not given enough context.
I didn't make it past page 30. I had trouble connecting to the MC and the world that was built didn't make sense. Were are the wrecks and massive out of control fires? Denver has a dense population and a large airport. I'd have expected aircraft falling from the skies and the roads clogged with wrecks. Yet this guy drives around like he is out for a Sunday drive.
I just couldn't take anymore.
If you are going to write something like this you need to give it depth and think of what the world would actually go through. The author missed the mark.
.05/10
This was just an odd book that to me didn't make much sense.
The characters actions didn't make sense and their interactions felt forced and really odd.
The MC finds his ex girlfriend wondering the streets. She had been living in another state and somehow her parents made it so they lost touch. Would have had to have been some tech savvy people to do what they did.
The conversations felt flat and stilted. Like we readers are not given enough context.
I didn't make it past page 30. I had trouble connecting to the MC and the world that was built didn't make sense. Were are the wrecks and massive out of control fires? Denver has a dense population and a large airport. I'd have expected aircraft falling from the skies and the roads clogged with wrecks. Yet this guy drives around like he is out for a Sunday drive.
I just couldn't take anymore.
If you are going to write something like this you need to give it depth and think of what the world would actually go through. The author missed the mark.
.05/10
September 5, 2021
First of all I enjoyed this book. It was simple but fun and I enjoyed the progression of the characters as they got stronger by consuming spores.
That being said I personally feel this was not GameLit in any way. It didn’t have any video game-like aspects. No screens, stats, builds, magic, VR, etc. It was a post-apocalyptic, zombie, progression fantasy. Just like any fantasy, the MC gets stronger over time but that alone doesn’t make it GameLit.
That being said I personally feel this was not GameLit in any way. It didn’t have any video game-like aspects. No screens, stats, builds, magic, VR, etc. It was a post-apocalyptic, zombie, progression fantasy. Just like any fantasy, the MC gets stronger over time but that alone doesn’t make it GameLit.
June 23, 2021
An interesting story.
This book is an interesting take on the zombie apocalypse. The main characters are easy to fall in love with and as most books of this type, there is an evil survivor to try to maneuver around and survive. I like the story and the different take on the infected. The cause and the effects were interesting as well.
This book is an interesting take on the zombie apocalypse. The main characters are easy to fall in love with and as most books of this type, there is an evil survivor to try to maneuver around and survive. I like the story and the different take on the infected. The cause and the effects were interesting as well.
October 3, 2021
An interesting book
I was chatting with the author and won the book on audio. I told I would let him know what I thought.
Well I must admit I was pleasantly surprised when I finished the book. It follows a common situation, zombies. But with a different twists.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Well worth the reading!
I was chatting with the author and won the book on audio. I told I would let him know what I thought.
Well I must admit I was pleasantly surprised when I finished the book. It follows a common situation, zombies. But with a different twists.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Well worth the reading!
November 6, 2020
Great book
Great new book by Joshua Kern. A good twist on a "zombie.' Book which integrates a realistic RPG aspect. Very well edited for a brand new book too. I think I only found 3 minor errors which is great for a fresh new release!
Great new book by Joshua Kern. A good twist on a "zombie.' Book which integrates a realistic RPG aspect. Very well edited for a brand new book too. I think I only found 3 minor errors which is great for a fresh new release!
November 20, 2020
Good story
This was easy to read. Great plot, keeps you interested.
I liked the humor and action in it. And though he had become
A custom to speed. I think people should have noticed.
This was easy to read. Great plot, keeps you interested.
I liked the humor and action in it. And though he had become
A custom to speed. I think people should have noticed.
March 11, 2021
Good page turner if you love zombies
Great book, loved the vibes, think this is a better portrayal of a "zombie apocalypse" than anything else I have read in a couple years, and the progression aspect just makes it much more fun.
Great book, loved the vibes, think this is a better portrayal of a "zombie apocalypse" than anything else I have read in a couple years, and the progression aspect just makes it much more fun.
December 10, 2021
A good over all slightly different zombie end of the world! I do love these style of stories & really liked that is was different not the usual, which is good! Reasonably fast paced adventure & a fun overall read! I will look for more by this writer!
January 20, 2022
Absolutely loved
The characters were well thought out and have good personal connections. To be fair, the human on human interactions were spot on, and can definitely see how we would absolutely collapse in the face of true danger
The characters were well thought out and have good personal connections. To be fair, the human on human interactions were spot on, and can definitely see how we would absolutely collapse in the face of true danger
January 30, 2023
Very good book
I really enjoyed this book. It reads very well and I liked the main character. The only reason it got 4 stars instead of 5. It did not give any stats showing the progression. That was disappointing. Otherwise a very good read.
I really enjoyed this book. It reads very well and I liked the main character. The only reason it got 4 stars instead of 5. It did not give any stats showing the progression. That was disappointing. Otherwise a very good read.
January 30, 2023
well thought out premise could use a little more explanation
Overall I enjoyed the read and the world seemed interesting enough. Only complaint is the semi arbitrary enhancements. Can’t wait for more though!
Overall I enjoyed the read and the world seemed interesting enough. Only complaint is the semi arbitrary enhancements. Can’t wait for more though!
April 14, 2023
Unique take
Rather unique take on an old scenario, and done rather well. Comma placement is weird, but otherwise well edited and a good read. Kinda hoping there's a sequel, but even if there's not the ending sufficed
Rather unique take on an old scenario, and done rather well. Comma placement is weird, but otherwise well edited and a good read. Kinda hoping there's a sequel, but even if there's not the ending sufficed
November 11, 2020
Great read!
I like it! Definitely an interesting take on the zombie apocalypse. I like the whole being able to upgrade themselves thing.
I like it! Definitely an interesting take on the zombie apocalypse. I like the whole being able to upgrade themselves thing.
April 8, 2021
Great Addition to the zombie genre!
Perfect intro book to the world of zombies. It has a well thought out system for how they came to be and how they interact with the overall world.
Perfect intro book to the world of zombies. It has a well thought out system for how they came to be and how they interact with the overall world.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews