Dead Spring

Refuge from the Dead #1

by A.L. Masters

A sudden outbreak of violence at a local superstore leaves an eclectic group of people stranded. The isolation from the outside world and news of the devastation forces them to band together to survive. The survivors must adapt to the new rules of the world and seek comfort where they can...while they can.

Genres: Zombies, Romance, Post Apocalyptic, Dystopia, Horror

488 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2021

About the author

A. L. Masters lives in rural America. She studied business and enjoys cooking, hiking, and photography. When she's not dealing with more mundane matters, she can be found hidden away with her laptop and a mug of coffee. She writes apocalyptic stories to satisfy her craving for adventure and disaster (without the risk of death).

Visit https://almasters.mailerpage.io/ for more information!

Reviews

[Veronik Durocher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Urgh...

I really, REALLY hate when an author doesn't identify the style of the novel like it should be. I felt scammed by that one. It's not an horror novel, it's a ROMANCE one with some zombies in it!

It will look misogynistic (and I assumed it), but some ladies should stay FAR AWAY from horror. It looks like it has been written by an aging single female who desperately need love at any price and probably compensante with cats...

I can't count the number of times I rolled my eyes, skipped pages and just plainly shouted as this story is so sugary coated that it makes me want to throw away my tablet!

Never in my life, I gave less than 4 stars. If I don't like it, I just don't say anything. As a writer myself, I know how hard it is to create. But here, I made an exception. And I hate that. That author sure knows how to write, when she doesn't write insufferable and absurd dialogues about characters who fall in love in less than 3 days, teenage-like love triangles, and such immature inanities like that!

Please, do not mislead your readers like that! It's insulting! Put a man with a big naked chess on the cover with a longing woman with her lingering hand on it and call a cat a cat: it's a formulaic love story about people eagerly looking for romantic relationships with some touch of horror here and there...

Too bad, as her other series (The salvation plagues), despite having the same formula, had way, WAY less cheesy scenes. In fact, each subsequent book was better than the previous...

[Lorrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It started off pretty good, but I wasn't a fan of the insta-love/triangle with Angie, Cam and Jim. One, two, three days into a zombie apocalypse and hooking up with someone would be the LAST thing on my mind. Angie was a damsel in distress who made some stupid decisions - I honestly found her annoying.There were some pretty brutal scenes where living men committed heinous acts against the women that were hard to read, but I think pretty believable. They had to worry about people like that as well as the zombies. I have mixed feelings with this one.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frustratingly Disastrous and An Apocalyptic Love Triangle?

It all comes down to one person to ruin it all. And I truly mean one person. Everything bad that happens to this group is due to one character’s actions, and no one ever talks about it. SPOILER: I almost stopped reading after the character did something reckless, thoughtless of the others, needless, and irresponsible that ultimately resulted in another’s death, as well as their own injuries. And there were absolutely no repercussions or reprimand for it. Never mind what happened later because of another decision they made.

I liked the supporting characters enough to keep reading, but honestly I only skimmed large chunks with the three core characters. A ridiculous love triangle tends to overwhelm the story (it’s just too heavy handed), detracting from what is otherwise a decent tale and good writing.

[Leahanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m going to read the rest of the series just to be able to keep judging the characters dumb decisions. “Let’s take our only three able bodied men on a supply mission leaving only an old woman, broken ribbed dumbass, obviously infected timebomb, and a hipster!” Stupid. But addicting, since it ended on a cliffhanger even with two epilogues I’m definitely continuing this series.

[jedioffsidetrap]

10%; attack in parking lot of a Target-like store signals beginning of zombocalypse. Ex-military gun/prepper nut perfectly positioned to be hero. Attempts characterization with chapters devoted to individuals (an old guy, a beautiful somebody—undoubtedly gun nut’s lover before half way) but they’re pretty dull cardboard cut-outs.

[Blair Stackhouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the writing overall, but the assault of women as two different storylines is a lot (and a cheap apocalypse plotline). I'm going to continue to the next book, but I'm hoping the plot catches up with the writing.

[Kit · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read :July 19, 2022
Rating : 1 Star. DNF

What a misogynistic piece of c...

I tried to get trough this but honestly I wanted them all to die painfully.
It isn't only misogynistic but they also take massively stupid decisions and I just don't want to expend more effort for this..

[Trina · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

An group of people shopping at a Walmart. They face people turning violent and eating each other. Pooling their resources they fight to find a safe place

[Janelle Fetty · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wasted time

If u want to read a sappy romance with zombies thrown in, this is for you. Disgustingly bad.
Don't e
Waste your time.

A

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Zombie book

Loved this book! Great story and one I have thought about, how would being holed up in a mega mart work during the apocalypse?!

[Isabel. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't feel sorry for Angie, she put herself in those position by being stupid.

[Pat Chromy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought the love triangle was kinda weird and the girl was so helpless she needed 2 overprotective guys looking after her.

[Murphies_law · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really not bad. I loved the different views. The plot that an apocalypse happens and nobody for ages thinks about plundering the mega market seems rather implausible. The antagonists were a too bit stereotypical for my taste. I am sad the author did not develop the character John further.