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The Contagium #1
Contagious
I can't give this post-apocalyptic story six stars but I wish I could! -Tamara Rose Blodgett, USA Today and NY Times bestselling author
"I wasn’t afraid of death. If I died, it would be over. My worst fear wasn’t of dying, it was of living. Living, while everyone around me had their flesh savagely torn from their bodies to be shoved into the festering and ever-hungry mouths of zombies. It terrified me, right down to my very core, to be alive while the rest of the world was dead."
During the Second Great Depression, twenty-four year old Orissa Penwell is forced to drop out of college when she is no longer able to pay for classes. Unable to find a job, she moves in with her aunt in Indianapolis. Down on her luck, Orissa doesn’t think she can go any lower.
She couldn’t be more wrong. A virus breaks out across the country, leaving the infected crazed, aggressive and very hungry.
Orissa is used to only being responsible for herself. When she finds herself a reluctant leader of a group of survivors, she must make a set aside her issues and help the others or go off alone in search of her own family and friends.
"I wasn’t afraid of death. If I died, it would be over. My worst fear wasn’t of dying, it was of living. Living, while everyone around me had their flesh savagely torn from their bodies to be shoved into the festering and ever-hungry mouths of zombies. It terrified me, right down to my very core, to be alive while the rest of the world was dead."
During the Second Great Depression, twenty-four year old Orissa Penwell is forced to drop out of college when she is no longer able to pay for classes. Unable to find a job, she moves in with her aunt in Indianapolis. Down on her luck, Orissa doesn’t think she can go any lower.
She couldn’t be more wrong. A virus breaks out across the country, leaving the infected crazed, aggressive and very hungry.
Orissa is used to only being responsible for herself. When she finds herself a reluctant leader of a group of survivors, she must make a set aside her issues and help the others or go off alone in search of her own family and friends.
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 17, 2012
103 people are currently reading
4139 people want to read
About the author
Emily Goodwin
94 books3,949 followersEmily Goodwin is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of over a dozen of romantic titles. Emily writes the kind of books she likes to read, and is a sucker for a swoon-worthy bad boy and happily ever afters.
She lives in the midwest with her husband and two daughters. When she's not writing, you can find her riding her horses, hiking, reading, or drinking wine with friends.
Emily is represented by Julie Gwinn of the Seymour Agency.
www.emilygoodwinbooks.com
facebook.com/emilygoodwinbooks
emily@emilygoodwinbooks.com
She lives in the midwest with her husband and two daughters. When she's not writing, you can find her riding her horses, hiking, reading, or drinking wine with friends.
Emily is represented by Julie Gwinn of the Seymour Agency.
www.emilygoodwinbooks.com
facebook.com/emilygoodwinbooks
emily@emilygoodwinbooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
August 25, 2017
I really didn't like anything about this book. It was a mixture of poor editing, a dreadful bitch of an MC and a plot that neither excited or entertained me. All of my dislike towards the book stems from the fact that our beloved MC heroine, Orissa, is a whiny, moaning faced, rude, obnoxious, self obsessed noron who I hated so much that I wanted to climb into the book and bite her myself.
Orissa begins our story drunk, coming in late to her worried relative's house and then ends up in hospital needing emergency surgery on her appendix. At a follow up appointment she is in the hospital waiting to be seen, moaning her head off as usual, when the zombie apocalypse breaks out. She becomes trapped in the exam room by a fire and passes out, waking in the safety of a basement with other patients and the doctor.
Is Orissa grateful to be alive? Does she thank her rescuer or ask what happened to the fire and what all the screaming was before it? No, she launches into a tirade about being imprisoned and drugged against her will, and starts screaming that the doctors are in a conspiracy to murder her. Oh if only that were true! She refuses to shut the hell up, endangering everyone, and the doctor drugs her again to the blessed relief of everyone. Pity that doesn't last. She wakes up and starts behaving like a whiny, spoiled brat, sulking about being stuck in a basement as everyone hides from the zombies. And how does she contribute? She pretends to be in pain so she can get morphine, which will be in short supply, depriving real patients who need it. Selfish little madam needs a good slap. Finally, when she decides she wants to know what is happening, she demands answers and throws her weight around.
Her next sulk occurs after she kills a couple of zombies, proving to the doctor that she never needed the drugs. Instead of saying sorry for lying, she sulks. She then throws a tantrum when the doctor, who has the patience of a saint dealing with her, admits he isn't telling everyone that food is low because he doesn't want to start a panic. She yells at him for not making an effort to find more food. Oh perhaps he was too busy getting these sick patients to a safer place in the hospital, rescuing YOU and tending to the dying, you selfish bitch! Now she decides that she should be in charge as she is so much better than everyone else and knows what to do.
In the blurb she is described as the reluctant leader. Reluctant??? She throws her weight about so much that they can't help but notice she is there! Her constant complaining and yelling, her demands that they do this and do that are obvious attempts to take over the whole show. Why anyone would want to have her as leader and follow her into danger is beyond me. As for trying to get out to find family and friends...she has friends? Are you sure???
As for the editing, we have the usual uncorrected mistakes. That I could live with but the author has no concept of what paragraphs and spacing were. There was no obvious break in pieces of action to show that time or scene was changing. I found that pretty annoying and a bit lazy. If I was releasing a book, I would read it over and over to get rid of as many mistakes as possible if I couldn't afford a proofreader. If you release something in sub standard form, readers are likely to be unimpressed. Mind you, the editing issues had no bearing at all on my rating of the book. I marked this one star based purely on my opinion of the story and Orissa.
That was it for me. I really hated this girl so much and I could not stomach any more of her whining, her smug self obsessed superiority or her bitchy attitude to everyone around her. I wish they had left her to burn or fed her to a zombie. Why authors insist of using MCs like this in their book is beyond me. I won't be risking anything else by this author.
Orissa begins our story drunk, coming in late to her worried relative's house and then ends up in hospital needing emergency surgery on her appendix. At a follow up appointment she is in the hospital waiting to be seen, moaning her head off as usual, when the zombie apocalypse breaks out. She becomes trapped in the exam room by a fire and passes out, waking in the safety of a basement with other patients and the doctor.
Is Orissa grateful to be alive? Does she thank her rescuer or ask what happened to the fire and what all the screaming was before it? No, she launches into a tirade about being imprisoned and drugged against her will, and starts screaming that the doctors are in a conspiracy to murder her. Oh if only that were true! She refuses to shut the hell up, endangering everyone, and the doctor drugs her again to the blessed relief of everyone. Pity that doesn't last. She wakes up and starts behaving like a whiny, spoiled brat, sulking about being stuck in a basement as everyone hides from the zombies. And how does she contribute? She pretends to be in pain so she can get morphine, which will be in short supply, depriving real patients who need it. Selfish little madam needs a good slap. Finally, when she decides she wants to know what is happening, she demands answers and throws her weight around.
Her next sulk occurs after she kills a couple of zombies, proving to the doctor that she never needed the drugs. Instead of saying sorry for lying, she sulks. She then throws a tantrum when the doctor, who has the patience of a saint dealing with her, admits he isn't telling everyone that food is low because he doesn't want to start a panic. She yells at him for not making an effort to find more food. Oh perhaps he was too busy getting these sick patients to a safer place in the hospital, rescuing YOU and tending to the dying, you selfish bitch! Now she decides that she should be in charge as she is so much better than everyone else and knows what to do.
In the blurb she is described as the reluctant leader. Reluctant??? She throws her weight about so much that they can't help but notice she is there! Her constant complaining and yelling, her demands that they do this and do that are obvious attempts to take over the whole show. Why anyone would want to have her as leader and follow her into danger is beyond me. As for trying to get out to find family and friends...she has friends? Are you sure???
As for the editing, we have the usual uncorrected mistakes. That I could live with but the author has no concept of what paragraphs and spacing were. There was no obvious break in pieces of action to show that time or scene was changing. I found that pretty annoying and a bit lazy. If I was releasing a book, I would read it over and over to get rid of as many mistakes as possible if I couldn't afford a proofreader. If you release something in sub standard form, readers are likely to be unimpressed. Mind you, the editing issues had no bearing at all on my rating of the book. I marked this one star based purely on my opinion of the story and Orissa.
That was it for me. I really hated this girl so much and I could not stomach any more of her whining, her smug self obsessed superiority or her bitchy attitude to everyone around her. I wish they had left her to burn or fed her to a zombie. Why authors insist of using MCs like this in their book is beyond me. I won't be risking anything else by this author.
September 9, 2012
I read reviews before buying this. I was surprised to see that with complaints about mistakes, the book wan’t updated with a new version. I give it a two for that reason. It is a shaky three in my opinion.
Orissa is a pain and is unlikable. She is selfish, bratty, and the star of her world. She selfishly leads helpless people into danger for her own ends and then is surprised when none of them have a problem with her lying. Instantly she is haled as the only one in a large group of people capable of saving them, the men included. They all tell her they are lost without her. what gets me is that it is supposed to be a contagious virus and she bleeds every chapter but never gets infected. One minute helpless at deaths door the next superwoman with everyone including armed soldiers relying on her to keep them safe. Ridiculous. This story borrows from others and is not original. It begins slowly and stays that way for the first half of the book. I put it down ten times and didn't care how long it took to finish. Halfway thru, Hayden is introduced and the story picks up. As far as the characters, none are memorable. I doubt if I will continue. Maybe if I hear better things about the next book.
Orissa is a pain and is unlikable. She is selfish, bratty, and the star of her world. She selfishly leads helpless people into danger for her own ends and then is surprised when none of them have a problem with her lying. Instantly she is haled as the only one in a large group of people capable of saving them, the men included. They all tell her they are lost without her. what gets me is that it is supposed to be a contagious virus and she bleeds every chapter but never gets infected. One minute helpless at deaths door the next superwoman with everyone including armed soldiers relying on her to keep them safe. Ridiculous. This story borrows from others and is not original. It begins slowly and stays that way for the first half of the book. I put it down ten times and didn't care how long it took to finish. Halfway thru, Hayden is introduced and the story picks up. As far as the characters, none are memorable. I doubt if I will continue. Maybe if I hear better things about the next book.
September 14, 2022
Another zombie apocalypse series for me to get through, and again, it’s not lesfic, but I love me my zombie books.
Orissa is a tough unit and she’d be awesome to have as a mate... or more, ‘cause she sounds hot heheh. I like the secondary characters that come into her life but mostly, I love that she finds her best friend. Also, Zoe... my heart for Zoe.
The love story that’s bubbling up is sweet but it’s such a slow burn, if they were lesbians they’d at least kiss by now damnit! Heheh.
Anyway, I don’t get the low ratings but I’m enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one.
Orissa is a tough unit and she’d be awesome to have as a mate... or more, ‘cause she sounds hot heheh. I like the secondary characters that come into her life but mostly, I love that she finds her best friend. Also, Zoe... my heart for Zoe.
The love story that’s bubbling up is sweet but it’s such a slow burn, if they were lesbians they’d at least kiss by now damnit! Heheh.
Anyway, I don’t get the low ratings but I’m enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2015
I was really enjoying this until the last page....I just don't want to go on to the next book if ...!! UGH
January 10, 2015
I'm not too impressed with this book, and it doesn't surprise me it's only 99 cents on Barnes and Noble. I really disliked the main character. She's all high and mighty and considered to be super smart, yet continues to make stupid decisions throughout the book. The whole "everyone is in love with her" thing doesn't really work for me. I frankly didn't care whether or not she decided to actually date one of the many guys that had a thing for her. They would go out of their way to put themselves in danger. And not to mention her fighting is incredibly vague. She's supposed to be this awesome martial artist, but the most we know that she does is just "kick to the chest". And frankly, she's usually falling from stuff and getting tackled by zombies more often than actually using her martial arts.
Another thing that I had an issue with was the whole naming thing. I mean, really? Every single main character has some fancy name? Padraic? Hayden? Orissa? Raeya? I felt like I was reading a book a preteen wrote and who was intent on using every single clever name she'd ever heard.
I don't know, this just wasn't my kind of book. There are better zombie apocalypse books out there. I have no desire to continue this series.
Another thing that I had an issue with was the whole naming thing. I mean, really? Every single main character has some fancy name? Padraic? Hayden? Orissa? Raeya? I felt like I was reading a book a preteen wrote and who was intent on using every single clever name she'd ever heard.
I don't know, this just wasn't my kind of book. There are better zombie apocalypse books out there. I have no desire to continue this series.
December 14, 2023
I could barely put this book down. -2019
I had to reread it before continuing the series because it has been so long. If you don't have the next book ready, I would wait until you have it because it ends on a cliffhanger. -2021
I had to reread it before continuing the series because it has been so long. If you don't have the next book ready, I would wait until you have it because it ends on a cliffhanger. -2021
February 25, 2012
This book took me longer than usual to read, for one simple reason. Reading zombie books before bed is not an easy task. I had to take breathers between chapters!
There were very few moments in this book that could ever be considered "slow", or "boring". You never can tell when a zombie is going to jump out from behind a tree and take a chunk out of you. I had a constant sense of foreboding, even when the characters were "safe". It was probably because of the fast pace that I had a hard time connecting with the characters for the first few chapters. That being said, once the group of survivors had settled into their lot in life, I had grown attached to them all.
The book follows Orissa, bad girl turned hardcore zombie ass kicker. I want to be her when I grow up! I'm absolutely in LOVE with Hayden (My husband should be worried). Throw in a supporting cast of the quirky best friend, various good looking marines and a hot Irish doctor? Win!
My ONLY complaint is the cliff hanger ending. How long do I have to wait for the next book?!
There were very few moments in this book that could ever be considered "slow", or "boring". You never can tell when a zombie is going to jump out from behind a tree and take a chunk out of you. I had a constant sense of foreboding, even when the characters were "safe". It was probably because of the fast pace that I had a hard time connecting with the characters for the first few chapters. That being said, once the group of survivors had settled into their lot in life, I had grown attached to them all.
The book follows Orissa, bad girl turned hardcore zombie ass kicker. I want to be her when I grow up! I'm absolutely in LOVE with Hayden (My husband should be worried). Throw in a supporting cast of the quirky best friend, various good looking marines and a hot Irish doctor? Win!
My ONLY complaint is the cliff hanger ending. How long do I have to wait for the next book?!
June 9, 2012
I can't give this post-apocalyptic story six stars but I wish I could! This is not a re-read, it's too harrowing a tale for me, but I cannot wait to read book #2! This author falls under the "Narrative-voice-I-love-to-read" category squarely. Goodwin has an almost conversational style to her writing that makes the reader feel like their intimate friend is regaling tales with the highest degree of excitement and tension available. Goodwin can also write an almost movie-like action scene. I see the blood and gore spatter, I hear the heroine's heartbeat race as she tries to escape and rescue those she should, and shouldn't.
I feel her pain.
Yes, Goodwin's that good. I "know" Orissa, I want to help her. As a reader, that's a connection that's not usually there. I read all the time and strictly for in-and-out entertainment value. But once in awhile, there's a story that feels so real you're sure it actually transpired. I love zombie tales, as a writer of four myself, so I was reading with a semi-critical eye and loved the spin she put on this post-apocalyptic work. It's so interesting with its believable war elements, the different stages of "zombieism," and the tension of survival and romantic suspense interspersed that I could not stop reading! Those readers that are bored with a single-dimension zombie tale will enjoy the following elements that are cleverly woven into Contagious: militaristic, romantic suspense, action, survivalist (think Hunger Games) and sci-fi. This is "so much" more than a zombie novel. It's a flat-out great read.
Orissa gets her appendix removed and wakes up to discover a nightmare out of a movie: a terrible contagion has been loosed on the populace for reasons yet undisclosed. While recovering she must battle to escape the immediate threat and take all those that she can save with her. Orissa has a secret though: she's a tough, highly trained fighter and survivalist. She's brave beyond compare, unflinching beyond compromise, tender near her heart and brutally honest about who she is.
Loved her.
When all hope is lost and Orissa thinks the end is near, a story arc occurs that makes the novel jump from really good to AMAZING. Period. I loved the gear switch and everything that followed.
This story flirts with being a Mature YA but should be just fine for readers 16+. I've recommended it to all four of my sons. If they can put this book down, I'll eat my hat.
I feel her pain.
Yes, Goodwin's that good. I "know" Orissa, I want to help her. As a reader, that's a connection that's not usually there. I read all the time and strictly for in-and-out entertainment value. But once in awhile, there's a story that feels so real you're sure it actually transpired. I love zombie tales, as a writer of four myself, so I was reading with a semi-critical eye and loved the spin she put on this post-apocalyptic work. It's so interesting with its believable war elements, the different stages of "zombieism," and the tension of survival and romantic suspense interspersed that I could not stop reading! Those readers that are bored with a single-dimension zombie tale will enjoy the following elements that are cleverly woven into Contagious: militaristic, romantic suspense, action, survivalist (think Hunger Games) and sci-fi. This is "so much" more than a zombie novel. It's a flat-out great read.
Orissa gets her appendix removed and wakes up to discover a nightmare out of a movie: a terrible contagion has been loosed on the populace for reasons yet undisclosed. While recovering she must battle to escape the immediate threat and take all those that she can save with her. Orissa has a secret though: she's a tough, highly trained fighter and survivalist. She's brave beyond compare, unflinching beyond compromise, tender near her heart and brutally honest about who she is.
Loved her.
When all hope is lost and Orissa thinks the end is near, a story arc occurs that makes the novel jump from really good to AMAZING. Period. I loved the gear switch and everything that followed.
This story flirts with being a Mature YA but should be just fine for readers 16+. I've recommended it to all four of my sons. If they can put this book down, I'll eat my hat.
August 19, 2020
When this started, I was far from impressed. It took a long time for me to get a decent feel for Orissa. Then it just jumps from a normal day to zombie apocalypse in one swoop. Far from gradual. Everyone just follows her around like they don't have their own ideas, family etc. It's weird. And It takes half the book to understand what she is doing. But she has a crazy amount of skills. Farming, hunting, tracking, bow/arrow, guns, hot-wiring, gas syphering, etc. The perfect knowledge for the situation made her feel unbelievable.
The love triangle was not fun and felt weird. But I also felt Orissa lied to herself on things, and Kept things from us as readers several times on many issues so it wasn't easy to read how she really felt on things. I didn't like that.
I loved Zoe's character the best. Brave, hopeful and full of life!
The writing is very simple, especially at first but the story does finally get a bit better. But at first, I had no interest in continuing the series. Then it picks up and I was curious but not hooked. Well, the ending hooks you but not in a good way. I felt it was a trap to trick you into the next book. I want to buy the next book because the first was good, not because you left me with a "WTF?!"
The love triangle was not fun and felt weird. But I also felt Orissa lied to herself on things, and Kept things from us as readers several times on many issues so it wasn't easy to read how she really felt on things. I didn't like that.
I loved Zoe's character the best. Brave, hopeful and full of life!
The writing is very simple, especially at first but the story does finally get a bit better. But at first, I had no interest in continuing the series. Then it picks up and I was curious but not hooked. Well, the ending hooks you but not in a good way. I felt it was a trap to trick you into the next book. I want to buy the next book because the first was good, not because you left me with a "WTF?!"
May 8, 2012
I fell in love with this book. With Orissa, with Hayden, with all of them. I have said it a million times, I am a sucker for a kick as heroine! Orissa is bad ass! None of the original "crew" would have survived if it wasnt for Orissa.
When they 1st ran into the government guys inside my head I am screaming NO DONT GO WITH THEM, but it turns out they werent so bad. I do not like the facility though, I think there is some shady stuff going on there. Wondering if that might come out in the next book, or if it is all in my head.
I hated that Hayden and Orissa never ever got around to expressing their feelings to one another. You are in a zombie apocalypse, if that doesnt trigger your "life is short" motto I dont know what will!! And with that ending! Will they ever?
Will I recommend this book? Yes
Will I read it again? Maybe later
Will I read next book in series? Absolutly
When they 1st ran into the government guys inside my head I am screaming NO DONT GO WITH THEM, but it turns out they werent so bad. I do not like the facility though, I think there is some shady stuff going on there. Wondering if that might come out in the next book, or if it is all in my head.
I hated that Hayden and Orissa never ever got around to expressing their feelings to one another. You are in a zombie apocalypse, if that doesnt trigger your "life is short" motto I dont know what will!! And with that ending! Will they ever?
Will I recommend this book? Yes
Will I read it again? Maybe later
Will I read next book in series? Absolutly
January 28, 2016
3.5 rating. This was an ok read. It was an odd zombie apocalyptic story. There just didn't seem to be enough people, or zombies... If there were only a few survivors, where were all the zombies? The survivors had some encounters, but not enough. Everything was a little too easy. It did keep my interest, which was good. But, that cliffhanger ending... Grrrr...
did-not-finish
August 25, 2016In the spirit of July ZOMBIEFEST
April 22, 2015
One word: NO.
By now, many of you know I love zombies with a fiery passion. Zombie movie? I'm in! Zombie TV show? I'm in! Zombie books? Pfff, of course I'm in! Aside from that, you also may know that many of the books I've read of this particular genre have disappointed me. This wasn't an exception.
Issues I had with Contagious
—Main character is a highly unlikable Mary Sue. She's not just badass, she's completely perfect. She'll risk her life for anyone, including a cat or a dog, and will always get out of the worst situations with minor injuries. Not only that but . And if that wasn't enough, we're constantly reminded by herself how good she is at firing a gun or using her crossbow or whatever the heck she does. She's always smarter (even though she takes quite stupid decisions), kinder, faster than anyone else. And, obviously, everybody adores her. Not to mention that she's hot as Hell and men fall for her like flies.
—No plot. This is just about killing some zombies, escaping from them, having troubles in said escape, someone dies or is injured in the middle, they finally do escape. Repeat that, add some useless scenes (like watching movies, superficial dialogues between characters or else) and hours of driving to random cities to search for supplies. There's nothing more than that. What's the point of the story itself? I don't know. Nothing happens at all. The only "serious" plot is the fact that they're trying to find a cure by creating a vaccine, but they know nothing about the virus itself.
—I didn't get attach to any character. I wouldn't even mind if all of them die, honestly. Even, I'm rooting for zombies. Go kill Orissa, go, go, go!
—Background. I needed more background information. I needed to know more about the Second Great Depression, about who this Samael guy is, about how everything worked in the pre-virus world.
—I rolled my eyes several times at certain scenes were characters put themselves in danger with no good reason. And the ending? Oh, come on. Cheesy at its best, with an unnecessary cliffhanger.
Do I want to continue with this series? No, not really.
By now, many of you know I love zombies with a fiery passion. Zombie movie? I'm in! Zombie TV show? I'm in! Zombie books? Pfff, of course I'm in! Aside from that, you also may know that many of the books I've read of this particular genre have disappointed me. This wasn't an exception.
Issues I had with Contagious
—Main character is a highly unlikable Mary Sue. She's not just badass, she's completely perfect. She'll risk her life for anyone, including a cat or a dog, and will always get out of the worst situations with minor injuries. Not only that but . And if that wasn't enough, we're constantly reminded by herself how good she is at firing a gun or using her crossbow or whatever the heck she does. She's always smarter (even though she takes quite stupid decisions), kinder, faster than anyone else. And, obviously, everybody adores her. Not to mention that she's hot as Hell and men fall for her like flies.
—No plot. This is just about killing some zombies, escaping from them, having troubles in said escape, someone dies or is injured in the middle, they finally do escape. Repeat that, add some useless scenes (like watching movies, superficial dialogues between characters or else) and hours of driving to random cities to search for supplies. There's nothing more than that. What's the point of the story itself? I don't know. Nothing happens at all. The only "serious" plot is the fact that they're trying to find a cure by creating a vaccine, but they know nothing about the virus itself.
—I didn't get attach to any character. I wouldn't even mind if all of them die, honestly. Even, I'm rooting for zombies. Go kill Orissa, go, go, go!
—Background. I needed more background information. I needed to know more about the Second Great Depression, about who this Samael guy is, about how everything worked in the pre-virus world.
—I rolled my eyes several times at certain scenes were characters put themselves in danger with no good reason. And the ending? Oh, come on. Cheesy at its best, with an unnecessary cliffhanger.
Do I want to continue with this series? No, not really.
April 18, 2012
At first I contemplated putting this book down because the main character was just too much of a bad a** to be believable. It was just too convenient that she had been raised by a crazy grandfather suffering from PTSD who left her in the middle of nowhere for days at a time forcing her to learn survival skills, shoot guns and become a perfect shot with a bow & arrows. She also had been in trouble as a teenager so she knew how to hot wire cars, etc. I think you can see where I'm going with this.
Anyways, against my better judgement I kept reading and I'm glad I did. Further into the book her character develops and she becomes more plausible. Love interests are introduced and finally in the last quarter of the book it gets really good. The book ended in a way that left me immediately looking up the next in the series; which unfortunately isn't out yet.
I know that despite my four star rating, almost anyone reading this review will have become disinterested, and rightly so. The book did drag on and was tedious in the beginning but the ending totally saved it. For the ending alone, I plan to read the next in the series.
For those of you who are unsure if this is something you would enjoy, I would definitely go on Amazon and read an excerpt before buying. I think those who actually finish it will enjoy it, but finishing may be a challenge for most.
Anyways, against my better judgement I kept reading and I'm glad I did. Further into the book her character develops and she becomes more plausible. Love interests are introduced and finally in the last quarter of the book it gets really good. The book ended in a way that left me immediately looking up the next in the series; which unfortunately isn't out yet.
I know that despite my four star rating, almost anyone reading this review will have become disinterested, and rightly so. The book did drag on and was tedious in the beginning but the ending totally saved it. For the ending alone, I plan to read the next in the series.
For those of you who are unsure if this is something you would enjoy, I would definitely go on Amazon and read an excerpt before buying. I think those who actually finish it will enjoy it, but finishing may be a challenge for most.
August 12, 2020
At first, I thought this was pretty standard zombie stuff and as the book progressed I found myself getting bored. Nothing really seemed to happen and our characters were stuck in a repetitive cycle (true to form perhaps for life in a pandemic). Part two shifted our focus and hinted at a bigger picture - though the potential romance love triangle was not appealing - and as we shifted to the end I was starting to get a little more invested in the story/where this might go. Sadly this came right at the end when we had the most frustrating ending ever...I guess it’s meant to make us desperate to read part two but it left me feeling cheated.
The whole zombie thing is not really my interest anyway, and yet there have been great books exploring the idea. This felt, at times, unnecessarily repetitive - there’s only so many zombie attacks you can describe without it getting a bit dull. I wanted to get a little more background to some of the characters, and I’m probably more interested in the bigger picture than their day-to-day survival.
I think this will come down to personal taste, and I’d certainly suggest people tried it...though I wouldn’t be shocked if they didn’t bother with the rest of the series.
The whole zombie thing is not really my interest anyway, and yet there have been great books exploring the idea. This felt, at times, unnecessarily repetitive - there’s only so many zombie attacks you can describe without it getting a bit dull. I wanted to get a little more background to some of the characters, and I’m probably more interested in the bigger picture than their day-to-day survival.
I think this will come down to personal taste, and I’d certainly suggest people tried it...though I wouldn’t be shocked if they didn’t bother with the rest of the series.
Read
August 28, 2022Bascially: A Supergirl, and all the males who stutter in her presence. Oh, and some zombies. Ends as NO book should: with . I have no urge to read Books 2+.
Note: I read an eBook version. It is possible that newer editions have been further edited and improved.
It's actually a fairly decent tale, if you can ignore problems with realism, and lack of research on firearms and the military. But it's dragged down by unnecessary commas, misspellings (breaks instead of brakes, etc.), some awkward sentence structure, and too-abrupt scene/location transitions.
On the plus side, there are plenty of zombies and some squishy, gory stuff. There's even a pretty touching death that I thought was well-written. The book might also make you think about being better prepared for a natural (or unnatural!) disaster.
VERDICT: 1.8 stars, rounded to 2 because it's definitely not the worst zombie/post-apoc book I've read. With some proper editing and an eye towards more realistic characters, it could be a 3+ star book.
Note: I read an eBook version. It is possible that newer editions have been further edited and improved.
It's actually a fairly decent tale, if you can ignore problems with realism, and lack of research on firearms and the military. But it's dragged down by unnecessary commas, misspellings (breaks instead of brakes, etc.), some awkward sentence structure, and too-abrupt scene/location transitions.
On the plus side, there are plenty of zombies and some squishy, gory stuff. There's even a pretty touching death that I thought was well-written. The book might also make you think about being better prepared for a natural (or unnatural!) disaster.
VERDICT: 1.8 stars, rounded to 2 because it's definitely not the worst zombie/post-apoc book I've read. With some proper editing and an eye towards more realistic characters, it could be a 3+ star book.
August 23, 2020
Orissa is in the hospital for a check up after having her appendix removed when the place gets overrun. She wakes up a few days later in the basement with other patients and doctors that survived. She becomes their leader without trying and they have to figure out how to survive in this new world full of zombies.
This was on okay book but it was pretty much the same as every other zombie story. Nothing really stood out. The main character also annoyed me a bit. They made some not very smart decisions and overall, not much really happened. The ending also wasn’t an ending. The book just stopped after a major event. I don’t mind cliffhangers if I really enjoyed the rest of the book but in this case it seems like the only thing that could make you want to read the next book. I’m not sure if I will bother yet. The story got a bit predictable. It just followed the pattern of things would be going ok then a herd of zombies would arrive. It got to be a bit predictable after a while. I’m not sure this is a book I would recommend. I think there are better zombie books out there.
This was on okay book but it was pretty much the same as every other zombie story. Nothing really stood out. The main character also annoyed me a bit. They made some not very smart decisions and overall, not much really happened. The ending also wasn’t an ending. The book just stopped after a major event. I don’t mind cliffhangers if I really enjoyed the rest of the book but in this case it seems like the only thing that could make you want to read the next book. I’m not sure if I will bother yet. The story got a bit predictable. It just followed the pattern of things would be going ok then a herd of zombies would arrive. It got to be a bit predictable after a while. I’m not sure this is a book I would recommend. I think there are better zombie books out there.
July 30, 2014
Looks like with the new release I'm going to have to re-read and write a new review huh?!
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So I will admit I was a little leery about this book with a 99 cent price tag. I haven't gotten very many cheap or free books until recently, but I'm glad I got it; because I'm a sucker for zombies. So let me tell you, this book was beyond amazing for me. Emily Goodwin has produced a very strong female lead for this series, but she is not without her flaws which in my opinion makes the heroine all the more lovable. But let's just all agree that she is flat out a zombie killing bad@ss. The zombies are described in such great detail that they made my skin crawl, so much that I can't remember the last time I was almost scared to go to bed after an evening of reading! This book was a very powerful beginning to this series.
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So I will admit I was a little leery about this book with a 99 cent price tag. I haven't gotten very many cheap or free books until recently, but I'm glad I got it; because I'm a sucker for zombies. So let me tell you, this book was beyond amazing for me. Emily Goodwin has produced a very strong female lead for this series, but she is not without her flaws which in my opinion makes the heroine all the more lovable. But let's just all agree that she is flat out a zombie killing bad@ss. The zombies are described in such great detail that they made my skin crawl, so much that I can't remember the last time I was almost scared to go to bed after an evening of reading! This book was a very powerful beginning to this series.
March 3, 2012
Ok I have found a minded spirit in a writer by the name of Emily Goodwin. I just finished the most fabulous book in a long time. Contagious (The Contagium Trilogy). She was able to tap into me a bring many and I mean many emotions. A very thrilling roller coaster ride that had me screaming out and then bawling like a big giant baby. This is first book that I got into emotionally to become fully vested since I first read Twilight books when the first came out. In my opinion she has replaced that series in my mind. Following the adventures of Orrisa as she searches for hope. She proves a woman can be jut as kick-ass as men and not have supernatural powers. Looking no drooling or the next book to come out. Recommend you read his but have kleenex on hand 50 stars not only 5.
January 18, 2012
Of course I'd give a good review, right? ;)
March 21, 2017
This is one of my favorite Zombie romance series. I recommend it to everyone. I wish there were more than three books, but the author did a great job wrapping it all up. Kudos!
February 16, 2013
I don't often give 5 star reviews but this book most definitely earned it. I really don't understand the 1, 2, and 3 stars I read before buying it. OK there were a few type-o’s. I counted 5 or 6 but woopdie-doo. No one is perfect and seriously, have you priced editors. I'm not about to pay someone 25 dollars an hour for something so trivial. This book is very, very good. I'd love to use profanity to describe it but I'm afraid my review wouldn't be left up if I did. And no to the person who claimed good reviews were being left by friends and family I'm not a friend of hers or a family member.
The cover art got my attention and the fact that it popped up in Amazon's recommended reader list. I love the color grey. Like a lot of people I read the bad reviews first and then unlike a lot of people I read the sample which really pulled me in so I bought the book. I prefer to form my own opinions and I am so glad that I did. I was worried at first because it started out reading a lot like a typical Zombie book but then it really picked up. And I mean REALLY picked up. Orissa kicks some major butt!!!! Naturally, I love a bad ass female main character. The love interest was really awesome. The soldier whose name I won't mention for fear of spoiling something reminds me a lot of my first serious boyfriend. But seriously if he gets interrupted trying to tell her he loves him I may just throw my phone!
Yes it’s another zombie book but the virus in this book is different than the others. You don't have to be dead to catch it and you don't have to die to turn. That was definitely unique. Hat's off Emily Goodwin for that one. Then there's the same thing you read in other zombie books as they search for safety. Unlike other books everyone would die without Miss Badass but unlike other books she does not wallow in guilt, blaming herself when someone dies. She’s strong, fearless, and I can't wait to get into the next one.
The cover art got my attention and the fact that it popped up in Amazon's recommended reader list. I love the color grey. Like a lot of people I read the bad reviews first and then unlike a lot of people I read the sample which really pulled me in so I bought the book. I prefer to form my own opinions and I am so glad that I did. I was worried at first because it started out reading a lot like a typical Zombie book but then it really picked up. And I mean REALLY picked up. Orissa kicks some major butt!!!! Naturally, I love a bad ass female main character. The love interest was really awesome. The soldier whose name I won't mention for fear of spoiling something reminds me a lot of my first serious boyfriend. But seriously if he gets interrupted trying to tell her he loves him I may just throw my phone!
Yes it’s another zombie book but the virus in this book is different than the others. You don't have to be dead to catch it and you don't have to die to turn. That was definitely unique. Hat's off Emily Goodwin for that one. Then there's the same thing you read in other zombie books as they search for safety. Unlike other books everyone would die without Miss Badass but unlike other books she does not wallow in guilt, blaming herself when someone dies. She’s strong, fearless, and I can't wait to get into the next one.
January 12, 2016
Just got done reading this in a day and must say I really enjoyed it. At first, after just finishing a different zombie trilogy that was awesome, I had a hard time getting into this book at first, but soon grew to like the complexity of the different characters. About half way through book I did get a little bored and it seemed to drag, but after the end of the book I feel more like it was a ploy by the author to have you feel the characters complacency with their false sense of safety. That made it much more anxious when the action jumps back at you after so much down time. Once getting to the shelter I felt story picked up more. It took me about half way into the book before I was sure I liked it. Then the rest was great and made me love the whole thing. Didn't like cliffhanger at the end, but hopefully won't have to wait much longer for next book. Overall I really think the author did a good job, I liked the story, love the mcs and will definitely read the next one. The biggest issue I had with this book was the editing. I understand grammatical errors will happen which I can overlook as far as it is just a few, but the amount in this book was borderline. The spelling was atrocious. Honestly usually that is something I can ignore, but in this case it was almost as if they forgot to use spell check. Just need a better proof reader. Did not take away from great story though.
October 7, 2014
I read this two years ago when I got my first Kindle. I loved it then and now the author, Emily Goodwin has released the third book in the series, Chaos is Contagious, so I had to reread the first two to be up on what is going on. It was a pleasure to read it again. She has re-released the first two also with new editing so if you read this please get the new release.
It is a story of a young woman, Orissa Penwell, who is just hanging out with her friends and gets caught up in the zombie apocalypse. Luckily her grandfather, whom she spent a lot of time with and lived with for a while, taught her to shoot guns and bows, to fight and to hunt and skin game. She seems to be built for what comes her way. She survives and runs into a handsome hunky ex marine who helps her find her friends in a college dorm.
She goes through some harrowing experiences and becomes quite a badass.
This was one of the very first zombie books I had ever read, but since I was a huge fan of The Walking Dead, I was up for it.
It has strong female protagonist and strong males also. I do think this is my first review of this book so here it is. If you haven't read Emily Goodwin's books before, you really should read this series.
It is a story of a young woman, Orissa Penwell, who is just hanging out with her friends and gets caught up in the zombie apocalypse. Luckily her grandfather, whom she spent a lot of time with and lived with for a while, taught her to shoot guns and bows, to fight and to hunt and skin game. She seems to be built for what comes her way. She survives and runs into a handsome hunky ex marine who helps her find her friends in a college dorm.
She goes through some harrowing experiences and becomes quite a badass.
This was one of the very first zombie books I had ever read, but since I was a huge fan of The Walking Dead, I was up for it.
It has strong female protagonist and strong males also. I do think this is my first review of this book so here it is. If you haven't read Emily Goodwin's books before, you really should read this series.
May 12, 2012
This has got to be in my top 10 favorite books, Loved the characters, storyline, everything. Took a little to get into though, I'd say at about 15% I was hooked. I loved how I didn't like Orissa to begin with, and I didn't even notice the moment I started liking her, I felt the author spent her time on character development, and made the book better for it. Loved how we are introduced to some main characters half way through book, kept the pace up and interesting. No main character is safe :'( but way to keep on the edge of your seat.
Loved the length of the book, I didn't feel as though the author was packing the story in to a little book.
All in all my favorite Zombie book alongside 'Dead Living' by Glenn Bullion.
(Although I think Contagious pulls slightly ahead, due to the fact I'm counting the days till 'Deathly Contagious' - due right after my holiday ends...).
Way to end the book though! Cliffhanger right there!
Awesome book thanks Emily Goodwin, looking into all her other work right now to pull me through till DC.
Loved the length of the book, I didn't feel as though the author was packing the story in to a little book.
All in all my favorite Zombie book alongside 'Dead Living' by Glenn Bullion.
(Although I think Contagious pulls slightly ahead, due to the fact I'm counting the days till 'Deathly Contagious' - due right after my holiday ends...).
Way to end the book though! Cliffhanger right there!
Awesome book thanks Emily Goodwin, looking into all her other work right now to pull me through till DC.
July 30, 2014
Son of a bitch...
Can I start a review that way? Because I totally just did.
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review from the author. It was also highly recommended by a blog I follow/stalk, Contagious Reads.
Anyway, I haven't really found a zombie book I've enjoyed in a while. They're all the same, pretty much. So I put off reading this one for a while.
Big mistake.
This book was awesome!
A few times a felt a bit put off because of something in the story, but it wasn't a big deal because I can't remember details on those issues. Also, the story quickly picked up every time I found something that bothered me, so it never lasted more than half a page at a time.
Highly recommend this to lovers of zombie books, and anyone who has grown tired of the genre. Because it is freaking great!
I cannot wait to start the next book. Because, holy shit... that ending!
4/5 Platypires
http://www.platypire.com/j-hooligan/c...
Can I start a review that way? Because I totally just did.
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review from the author. It was also highly recommended by a blog I follow/stalk, Contagious Reads.
Anyway, I haven't really found a zombie book I've enjoyed in a while. They're all the same, pretty much. So I put off reading this one for a while.
Big mistake.
This book was awesome!
A few times a felt a bit put off because of something in the story, but it wasn't a big deal because I can't remember details on those issues. Also, the story quickly picked up every time I found something that bothered me, so it never lasted more than half a page at a time.
Highly recommend this to lovers of zombie books, and anyone who has grown tired of the genre. Because it is freaking great!
I cannot wait to start the next book. Because, holy shit... that ending!
4/5 Platypires
http://www.platypire.com/j-hooligan/c...
January 28, 2012
This book freaked me out!!!!! This one of the better zombie stories I have read. It had just enough realism to make me not want to read it too close to bedtime for fear I would dream of zombies. Part of me thought the ending was perfect. I can not really say why without creating a huge spoiler, but I thought the ending was perfect for this kind of book. The other part of me was super excited to see there will be a sequel. I will definitely read the next installment (in the daylight hehehe). I read an arc copy, so I can not really make a statement on the editing or formatting of the final product. There were editing issues in my copy, but that is to be expected.
May 14, 2012
Very good story line. It good use more editing. So far I am enjoying the read. The characters and plot lines are well developed.
I have now finished the book and I can' wait for book two. The characters are really well developed. It's like I was getting to know them better as I read. Emily reminds me of how Dean Koontz writes. Her story line makes me feel like I am there with the characters. She is now one of my favorite authors.
I have now finished the book and I can' wait for book two. The characters are really well developed. It's like I was getting to know them better as I read. Emily reminds me of how Dean Koontz writes. Her story line makes me feel like I am there with the characters. She is now one of my favorite authors.
April 8, 2021
DNF - made it to pg 60
I had a really hard time staying interested in this one and connecting with the MC. She just doesn't seem realistic being the only one of her group that knows how to shoot a gun, use a bow and arrow, hotwire cars, siphon gas, etc.
Also the other survivors with her just seem to blindly follow her with no interest in going home to check on their own families.
The writing style with the unrealistic feel just didn't work for me with this one.
I had a really hard time staying interested in this one and connecting with the MC. She just doesn't seem realistic being the only one of her group that knows how to shoot a gun, use a bow and arrow, hotwire cars, siphon gas, etc.
Also the other survivors with her just seem to blindly follow her with no interest in going home to check on their own families.
The writing style with the unrealistic feel just didn't work for me with this one.
August 26, 2016
Such an amazing book! A very quick, easy read, and it leaves you dying for the next one to come out! Keep up the good work, Mrs Goodwin, I can't wait to read more of your work!!
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