Stage 3: Bravo

Stage 3 #3

by Ken Stark

The world went blind.
Then it went mad.
But the Virus has one more trick up its sleeve...

Solo Medalist Winner, eBook Horror - 2018 New Apple Book Awards
Solo Medalist Winner, eBook Horror - 2019 New Apple Book Awards

From the author of the post-apocalyptic, zombie horror novels, Stage 3 and Stage 3: Alpha, Stage 3: Bravo is a fast-paced, nail-biting thriller for fans of The Walking Dead, The Last of Us, and World War Z.

HANK MASON HAD NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE...
But then came Mackenzie.
And then came Sarah.
And then came the others.
Though these seven souls had somehow survived the first days of the epidemic, every minute of life in this new world came at a price.

Thrown into a relentless battle against a population turned feral on one side, and desperate men willing to do anything to stay alive on the other, the only question remaining was...

How much were they were willing to pay to survive?

Now, those precious few are in a desperate race to save one more lost soul, and time is running out. The clock started ticking the moment they pulled into that forgotten little corner of a world gone insane.

Every second brings them closer to death.
They'll have to find a way out... or die trying.

"This one’s a page turner with some brilliant insights as to what caused the deadly swarm, highly recommended!"

Genres: Zombies

335 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2021

About the author

KEN STARK is the author of the multi-award winning, post-apocalyptic STAGE 3 Series, and the horror novels GAIA'S GAME and ARCADIA FALLS.

"If I can move a reader, I am honoured. If those words I string together resonate with the reader in some way, I am thrilled. But if one reader out of a thousand experiences an actual nightmare because of what I wrote, then I will know that I've done my job right, and you may consider me ecstatic."

Reviews

[Leonard Tillerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does the power of love and friendship really know no bounds?  Something so strong and compelling that nothing can possibly stand in its way.  A noble idea is it not?  Would you personally be willing to sacrifice your very life if it meant saving your friends and loved ones from the same fate?  What if the method of your demise involved being torn apart by a horde of ravenous zombies?  If these notions have piqued your interest, then Stage 3: Bravo by author Ken Stark is an absolute must read!  It is an action packed and exhilarating novel which explores the characteristics of friendship and loyalty amidst the backdrop of a relentless zombie infestation.  Hold onto your hat for this one!

Essentially, the novel revolves around the struggles of a band of survivors led by Hank Mason- or Mace as he likes to be called.  The world as they know it has been taken over by a viral epidemic and each passing day is a life and death struggle.  If they are not ripped apart by voracious zombies, they may very well be taken out by other survivors who will do whatever it takes to continue to live.  It is against this backdrop that Mace and his team come across what seems to be a deserted college campus.  However, they soon find out that it is far from abandoned.  Not only is it overrun by insatiable zombies, but there is also another group of survivors present... and they do not seem happy to see Mace and his crew.  Nevertheless,  before any overt conflict can occur, all sides are promptly forced to retreat to safety within the complex as a zombie horde makes a bee-line towards the fresh meat.  Now trapped within the walls, the two sides must learn how to cooperate and survive together, or become zombie fodder.  What follows is the ultimate struggle for survival in this terrifying new world.  Will the two groups do what is needed and combine as one?  Or has their fate already been sealed with any chance of escape evaporated under the guise of obstinate stubbornness and the gnashing of zombie teeth!

To say that the plot of this novel is fast moving and full of action would be the understatement of the century.  The action is relentless, carefully orchestrated and entirely captivating.  There are a great mixture of battle scenes, but there is also a variety of very clever survival scenarios.  For instance, we are able to see the group creating makeshift weapons and discovering food in the most difficult of places.  All of this is wonderfully supported by the very human theme of friendship and love.  In fact, the human relationships which exist are what make the plot of this story so strong.  Without this we lose the believability and authentic elements which are so very critical to the story development.  There can be little doubt that this tale is a gripping page turner!

Another element of this novel which receives top marks is in the area of character development.  While the protagonist is obviously Mace, there are a variety of other characters who are unique, engaging and developed beautifully.  My personal favourites were Mack and Alejandra.  The author quite capably manages to allow the readers to identify, empathize and relate to the host of characters through Mace's perspective.  We are able to feel the emotions of love, happiness, anger and fear... and attribute them to the different individuals.  Not only that, but the characters experience significant growth throughout the story.  Some who are entirely "unlikeable" at the outset of the tale ended up revealing a whole different side to themselves by the end.  This is character development at its best.

Overall I simply loved this book and would give it my highest recommendation.  Be forewarned that there are a number of violent and graphic scenes (of course... what type of zombie apocalypse story dopes not have graphic scenes!).  If you are a fan of this genre you will be able to enjoy the smooth flowing writing and top-notch story telling which it contains.  An exhilarating and fascinating look at the human condition amidst a zombie infiltration!

5 out of 5 Captivating Stars for this one!  *****

[Eichin Chang-Lim · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the third book of this series, Stage 3, it seemed like there were only a few survivors left on the surface of the Earth who were not infected by the malicious virus (or possibly obtained immunity unknowingly.) The virus invaded people's brains and ate away the frontal-lobe! Yes, this series is about how humans lost their cognitive function and transformed into sightless, insatiate, carnivorous Zombies (alpha) in the apocalyptic climax.

Mr. Stark's brilliant writing skills depict the battle scenes against the alpha so vividly that it makes readers see the actions in their mind as if watching a horrendous movie. It is terrorizing and gripping. The section that explains how the virus becomes a rampage and insurgent is well executed; it's evident that the author had done a great deal of research in this area. Although there are some redundancies in the fighting scenes that slow the pace a little, it does not affect the overall strength of the plot.

In the midst of a horrific scenario, the author infuses the profound friendship, team spirits, tender love, and sacrifice, which make the characters likable and believable. In addition, as a tremendous wordsmith, he reflects the heart-wrenching sentiment of the main character, Mason's, mindset as he faces the end of the world. Allow me to share a small section from a paragraph with you.
“By tacit agreement, the very concept of after was anathema. By definition, that simple word encompassed not only every single second of life from this moment on, but every hope and every dream any of them would ever have. And just as everything before was smoke on the breeze, everything after was deception. There was no after. There was only ever a now. The exact length of time from one heart-beat to the next.”

I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of a zombie-apocalyptic tale!

[S.A. Krishnan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked it

It is a zombie/horror apocalypse story filled with gore and blood. But the characters were all uniquely different. Each of the characters were unusual which made the story even more enjoyable. Liked it.

[Lee Sewter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could things get any worse? Yes it can, just asked Mace an co. I'm looking forward to reading book 4. Stage Holy Shit. Good Job Ken, as always.

[Joni Martins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review

Basic Details:
Book Title: Stage 3: Bravo
Subtitle:
Author: Ken Stark
Genre: Horror/Zombies
Part of a series? Yes
Order in series: 3
Best read after earlier books in series? No
Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
Overall score:
I scored this book 5/5
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Short Summary of the book:
This book tells the story of a post-apocalyptic world following a virus attack. It mingles bits of love, hope, science and self-sacrifice together to result in an excellent book.
What I liked about the book:
The main characters were a guy with a colourful and perhaps illegal past, a nurse and a little girl. They banded together in their attempts for survival and gathered several other people along the way. Some survived, others were not so lucky.
What I didn’t like about the book:
I really enjoyed the book and I’m not overly keen of zombie stories.
My favourite bits in the book:
The scenes with MacKenzie and her dog.
My least favourite bits in the book:
The scenes where certain members of the group tried to betray others.
Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?
I understand this book is actually the third in the series. Despite this, it was easy to follow the book and enjoy it. I may go back and read the other two in the series too.
What books could this be compared to and why?
Compared to other zombie stories I’ve read, this one is filled with hope and love for others. Although it brings out the worst in some, it brings out a lot of good in others.
Recommendation:
In summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:

Children No
Young Adult Yes
Adult Yes

If you like zombie stories with love and hope elements this book may be the book for you.

I look forward to reading more books by this author.
Book Description by Author:
The world went blind.
Then it went mad.
But the Virus has one more trick up its sleeve...
From the author of the post-apocalyptic, zombie horror novels, Stage 3 and Stage 3: Alpha, Stage 3: Bravo is a fast-paced, nail-biting thriller for fans of The Walking Dead and World War Z.

Hank Mason had nothing left to lose.
But then came Mackenzie.
And then came Sarah.
And then came the others.
Though these seven souls had somehow survived the first days of the epidemic, every minute of life in this new world came at a price.

Thrown into a relentless battle against a population turned feral on one side, and desperate men willing to do anything to stay alive on the other, the only question remaining was...

How much were they were willing to pay to survive?

Now, those precious few are in a desperate race to save one more lost soul, and time is running out. The clock started ticking the moment they pulled into that forgotten little corner of a world gone insane.

Every second brings them closer to death.
They'll have to find a way out... or die trying.
About the Author:
I don't only write horror, but I mostly do. Why? Because humans are hard-wired to feel fear, so nothing affects us quite as much as a good scare. Besides, whether it's a community facing a zombie invasion or one man alone struggling with his inner demons, there's no better way to illuminate the very best and worst of mankind's nature than against a dark background.
I love feedback, so drop me a line at www.kenstark.ca or find me on social media and lmk what you think...

[William Blackwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unnerving and gripping examination of life in hell.

What if you suddenly found yourself in a nightmarish post-apocalyptic landscape overrun with murderous, rage-filled zombies? What if even the non-infected people you meet want to steal your supplies and kill you off? What if your dearest friends suggest killing the weakest links in your army of survivors?

Would you put your tail between your legs and run and hide? Would you give up all hope? Would you put your life on the line for those dearest to you? Or would you end their lives in the hope of preserving your own?

What about love? In a kill or be killed world, does it even exist anymore?

In Stage 3: Bravo, Ken Stark answers these tough questions in chilling fashion. With nothing left to lose, Hank Mason (Mace) leads a battle-hardened band of survivors in search of Rebecca Hansen (Becks), the love of his life. Set against the backdrop of ravenous zombies, where almost every minute of every day is a grueling and gory fight for survival, they set out on a mission to find Becks.

Through their harrowing and gruesome journey, Stark pauses the nearly non-stop action occasionally to let us into the minds of his characters, giving us glimpses of what makes them tick, and what makes them ticking time bombs.

If you’re looking for a well-written zombie apocalypse novel with plenty of action, plenty of gore, and excellent character development, stop right here.

[H.M. Holten · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Zombie Fantasy with Unusual Aspects

The biggest surprise in ‘Bravo’ was that the horror didn’t take the main stage in this Zombie postapocalyptic fantasy. It was the characters, full-blown and believable, that carried the narrative. True, there were the expected pro- and antagonist types, but none of Stark’s characters was set in stone. They lived through hell, and their personalities developed stage by stage. Stark presents his readers with love and hate, leading to misunderstandings and final acceptance. That made this an impressive read. True, there’s much blood and gore, and Stark doesn’t leave much to the readers’ imagination. Supposedly this is what the average zombie fiction reader expects. The question remains, do they expect the earnest warning against taking science too far? Do they realize — and value — the call for humanity? These were the elements that impressed me the most. An author must have skills far beyond creating a plot. If that skill blossoms, it doesn’t matter what means and effects he or she chooses to bring across a message. This is the third part of Stage 3, but the book can stand alone. Highly recommended

[Veronica Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this third installment of Author Stark’s Stage 3 drama of the undead, we are once again with Mace, Mack, Sarah, Clancy and fellow survivors as they venture out of the doomed streets of San Francisco and try to track down his ex love, Becks. The undead have multiplied and are now in the Alpha and Echo categories–deadly and on the hunt for living human flesh.

Survivors are found at the campus of Skyline. The bedraggled group’s confines are soon to be overwhelmed by the waves of undead. Will they be able to escape? Feelings from life ‘before’ and the reality of the ‘now’ affect everyone. Will they be able to put behind their feelings of doubt to save themselves from the unrelenting onslaught of the undead, or will the feelings of doubt and mistrust doom their chances for survival?

Author Stark gives takes readers on a suspense filled journey in this apocalyptic saga. This one’s a page turner with some brilliant insights as to what caused the deadly swarm, highly recommended!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

I enjoyed Stage 3: Bravo. Mace decides to look for Becks. The zombies are still evolving. Echoes follow Mace, Mack, Sarah, and the rest everywhere. Mace is smart, strong like a human wrecking ball, but will it be enough to survive. The cause of the deaths is determined and adds a new twist to eliminating zombies, and Mack's recovery. Do yourself a favor if you like this genre. Grab the first book and read this series!

[Netanella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This third and final part of the "Stage 3" zombie series unexpectedly sucked me in with its strong characters and relentless action sequences. I thought the world was over Mace, Sarah, MacKenzie, and the gang, but I was wrong. Some relentlessly gory scenes, full of taut action and breathless near misses, kept me reading past midnight last night. The sheer numbers of the zombies (both dead and undead in this series) seemed mind boggling, as did the escape routines of our heroic group as they found themselves hopelessly surrounded, only to make it out alive by the skin of their teeth. Or the zombies' teeth, for that matter. I didn't mind these fantastical escape routines with perfect aim and Bruce Lee-like hand-to-hand combat. What bothered me the most, what I felt lacked most credibility, was that Sarah was able to track down a specific issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, read the intended article, and diagnose the cause of the outbreak, all while her group is surrounded by zombie hostiles and they are fighting for their lives.

Of course, in a world of the reanimated dead and undead, this is a minor point of unbelievability and one that I can get over fairly quickly. In no way does it spoil the awesomeness that was this series, taken as a whole, and the satisfaction of the ending to the series. So, Bravo, Mr. Stark. A righteous good zombie series!

[Andrea Merchak · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world was torn apart. Is there any hope?

I read Book 3 as soon as I finished reading “Stage 3 – Alpha”, Book 2 in the series. I was eager to know what the fate of Mace, Mack, Sarah, and their “new family” would be. Everyone lived through inhuman situations, and each one of them had to deal with their losses and their hopes for some kind of future.
This time, the group goes in search of Becks, Mace’s ex-girlfriend. And again the tension is constant, and the author doesn’t spare us from graphic and extremely terrifying attacks by the zombies.
I loved the fact that Stark gifted us with the revelation of what caused the transformation of people into zombies. And something tells me that we will learn more about that in the next books in the series.
New characters come and go, and you never know who will survive until the next attack. The ending is dramatic.
Ken Stark is, without a doubt, a horror master. I can’t wait for “Stage 3: Charlie”.

[Russell . · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stark’s series only gets better and better! ‘Bravo’ picks up the action immediately and throws the reader into the dark bloody action. The main character, Mace, is brilliantly written character and keeps on evolving throughout this series. What Stark does even more sublimely, the secondary characters all have a stronger and more-developed moments throughout the novel, which lends credibility to the story itself. Needless to stay, the dialogue between Mace and the other characters become witty and engaging as they discuss rather heavy philosophical points on the survival of humanity. Beyond the grisly, wonderful zombie slaughter scenes, ‘Bravo’ is a fantastic story swimming in a world of impending chaos. What a great read!

[Veronik Durocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

The book is action packed. I mean, REALLY action packed! Not a minute of respite. It is good, but it doesn't leave a lot of place to develop characters, which I prefer. But if you like action movies, and zombies, this is for you! And there are a lot less editing errors than in the second one, which is good. I just don't understand what is keeping the author to deliver the fourth one, as it's been 3 years since that one, which is a bummer...

[Joshua Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best, most interesting!

I love this series! Riveting indeed. If you love zombie survival stories, you’ll definitely look be this twist! 👀🧟‍♂️😱 it will take hold of you and keep you reading until early next morning, for sure…

[A.L. Norton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author and have read all of his books! He never disappoints! He captures your attention from the moment you start reading until the end of the story! I hope to read more from him!

[Hailey Diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great!

This author is a mastermind! I can not get enough of his books!!! They are well written and just absolutely amazing!!!

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hellish good read. Good job.

[Inger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting

Excellent Zombie story and series. Great characters with a busy fast moving plot Lots of zombies and action. No sexual content.