Keeper of the Dead

by Ryan Young

The undead still carry memories of the past: a phone, a wallet of family photos, an ID. After a ravaging plague has turned humanity into a race of flesh-eating monsters, remembering these victims as people falls on one man—a grieving, hopeless survivor who feels called to collect these artifacts.

Years of living in solitude grind away until Viktor discovers the ID of a woman whose photo doesn’t match the corpse that carried it. Imagining that she may still be alive, he conjures a plan to track her down by traveling thousands of miles to foster
the only thing more dangerous than the dead: HOPE.

On this mission he’ll face hordes of the infected, the horrific beast that sparked the outbreak, and an old foe from the past from whom he barely escaped with his own life.

Ryan Young’s debut novel Keeper of the Dead is an intense and binge-worthy horror thriller that will frighten, shock, and influence the very perception of your own mortality.

Genres: Horror, Fantasy

377 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 22, 2022

About the author

Ryan Young is a writer and video producer with nearly twenty years of experience in the creative industry. After graduating from the inaugural Film Bachelor's program at Full Sail University, he fell in love with writing, producing, directing, and editing. Ryan lives in Orlando, Florida with his wife and kids. When he's not writing or filming, he's reading, cooking, working out, or traveling to places with some elevation.

Reviews

[LIsa Noell "Rocking the chutzpah!" · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

[Stephanie_Reads_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Think Walking Dead meets one of your favorite high action military movies. This was intense in all the right ways. Filled with action, suspense and some horror thrown in. I am beyond impressed that this is Ryan's first book and he is surely one to watch for. I enjoyed every bit of this book (that's not something that is easily accomplished, I think we all can attest to that)

Ill try to give you a little without giving too much. Leave something for the imagination (wink wink)

We follow a man who seems to be the only survivor of some deer acquired zombie flesh eating disease (crazy I know right). He comes up with this fantastic idea to build a tree house where he keeps all the ID's of the dead he finds to one day honor them. Until, as the synopsis explains, he finds an ID and a Dead that just don't match. Now, aside from trying to keep himself alive, he must find this woman.

In his travels, he encounters many a dead and some living , which will leave him forever changed.

The ending was also heartfelt and was such a nice way to end the book, almost as if you were reading a true story in a sense. Fantastic.

I really would love to give you more detail but I don't like to give the entire book away just know this book was EXCELLENT and I highly recommend it. You all know I don't sugar coat my reviews, If I like it I'm telling ya if I don't I'm telling ya too.

Thank you Ryan for allowing me the opportunity to enjoy this before it comes out in September and I cannot wait for the next one <3

[Working Man Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keeper Of The Dead breathes life into a sub genre of horror that was sorely needed.

The main character is very relatable as he navigates a post apocalyptic world. Not sense The Road, have I been so Enthralled in a destroyed landscape. I normally do not care for a story that has flashback chapters in between the present story line. the author writes in a pace that makes it beneficial for the story. The present time story line was captivating and kept me engaged the entire time. The heartfelt moments left me pleasantly surprised.

For a debut novel this author gave me hope that zombie fiction can have emotion, tension, and heart pounding action again.

Horror ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Pacing ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fun⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4.5⭐️

[Saffron Asteria · Rating 5 out of 5]

The level of emotion I had whilst reading this book were intense. It's been a couple of months since I finished reading it and it's still on the tip of my tongue to recommend to anyone I meet.

I love an 'end of the world' type of book, and this particular story did things to me that'll last a lifetime. I cried at the end of this story. It was absolutely jam-packed with tender moments, knitted together with stress, and angst and horror and true fear. The journey that we take with Viktor is unlike any zombie-based book that I've read yet.

Young did an incredible job of taking the reader by the hand and sharing this experience with them. I'm a bit of a speed reader, and there aren't many authors that make me really savor each and every word that they lay down on those pages. Ryan Young made it easy to sink into the world he's created and fear for my life, causing me to reflect on what I might do in the same situations.

I will shout from the rooftops - this author is fabulous and this book is absolutely excellent.

I don't believe in giving ratings, but this is close to my personal idea of perfection in a book.

Bravo dude. Keep writing.

[Tabitha - · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
I was so blessed when @ryanyoungwriter reached out for me to read his book. I love horror, but I've never done zombie horror in a book. (Obviously, in movie form!)

This is very Walking Dead... with heart? Haha Not sure if that's the perfect description, but it certainly works. Young is clearly a talented writer with this novel, however, zombies just don't seem to be my *thing*. But that's okay, because I know a lot of you LOVE zombies!

If zombies are something you love, I encourage you to check this one out!

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not your average zombie story.

I’m not normally a fan of zombie books but this blurb intrigued me, promising a human connection of love and loss.
I was not let down in the slightest. This was a great story following Viktor as he navigates this new world where everyone may be an enemy, dead or alive, and still he holds onto hope.
Very well written, I highly recommend! The ending…chefs kiss.

[Brett Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic! I don't normally read in this genre, but this book had me on the edge of my seat and was responsible for several nights of diminished sleep. It's hard to believe this is Ryan Young's debut novel because of how expertly and seamlessly he transitions between two timelines in the apocalyptic world he's created. Calling this book a "Zombie book" would be doing it a huge disservice because it's so much more. In many ways, it's a survivalist book first and a zombie book second. Don't get me wrong though, there are a lot of freak'n zombies! Young paints vivid pictures throughout, not only of the carnage but of the mental state of his protagonist Viktor as he struggles to survive in a world cast into chaos before his very eyes. I was hooked from start to finish and I think you will be too!

[offbeatbookreviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Viktor is the sole survivor in a zombie plagued world , he must hunker down and learn to survive ,so to pass the time he collects the IDs of the dead he encounters, keeping vigil over the memories of their humanity, their stories. When Viktor finds an ID that doesn’t belong to the corpse carrying it, he finds hope that there may be another, living survivor.
Keeper of the Dead is a great read for anyone that loves a good zombie story or dystopian fiction. It is a solid approach to doing something original and a take on exploring a character who is more human and focused on a different goal aside from counting score in a zombie shooting gallery. I really enjoyed reading this one , it was deep,emotional, and raw, definitely recommend. There’s plenty of zombies and gore but the story itself hits home …You won’t be disappointed.
It makes you really question who the real monster is.

[Andrew Monge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keeper of the Dead by @ryanyoungwriter has numerous zombie tropes — visceral deaths, over-the-top militants, resource hunting, etc — yet also leans heavily into humanity and the folks who not only fight to survive, but also try to hold on to their past.

The story centers on Viktor, a man who gathers mementos from the bodies he comes across, hoping to somehow honor their memories. Bouncing back and forth between the early days of the plague and years after the fact, various people from his life eventually converge. A dark, bleak story at times, but not without hope throughout.

Kudos on the audiobook — one of the best I’ve heard — for incorporating music and sound effects to open/close chapters, and further enhance tense moments in the story. This can be a delicate balance, as some audiobooks have music playing too loud to hear the narrator. Not so here. It strikes all the right notes and makes a great story even better.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love zombies! Love a good zombie movie but I have struggled to find a book that I enjoy as much and I’ve tried a few - usually they all try to give a different take on things and I do think it’s a difficult genre to tackle when it comes to the written word. Keeper of The Dead takes a more traditional approach. This is very much in the vein of the earlier seasons of The Walking Dead and even hints of The Last Of Us (specifically THAT episode) so if you enjoy those, I think you will enjoy this. It is really well written, there’s a solid mix of horror, heartbreak, action and thriller. I enjoyed the ‘experience’ Viktor had in the initial stages of the outbreak but then the pace reduced dramatically and I found my attention waning - even with the dual timelines. Things do pick up again as our main character traverses through ‘who do I trust’ territory, ‘the every man for himself’ scenarios and his attempts to retain some level of humanity.

[Stefany Krantz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a harrowing tale of survival while being hunted by the dead and the living. Humanity has fallen to an unknown disease and people have turned into flesh eating monsters. The stories main character Viktor, has decided to collect ID’s and cell phones from the dead he comes across, in hopes of keeping their memories alive. Viktor is faced with many different struggles throughout his journey and one in particular in the main antagonist Tom, who you will surely come to hate.

I really enjoyed this story and the characters. The struggles you see people facing are a constant reminder of things that we are so blessed to have and how we would survive without them.

Read this and take a trip through an apocalyptic landscape with Viktor. Not for the faint of heart. 🧟‍♂️

Summary:

The undead still carry memories of the past: a phone, a wallet of family photos, an ID. After a ravaging plague has turned humanity into a race of flesh-eating monsters, remembering these victims as people falls on one man-a grieving, hopeless survivor who feels called to collect these artifacts.

Years of living in solitude grind away until Viktor discovers the ID of a woman whose photo doesn't match the corpse that carried it. Imagining that she may still be alive, he conjures a plan to track her down by traveling thousands of miles to foster the only thing more dangerous than the dead: HOPE.

On this mission he'll face hordes of the infected, the horrific beast that sparked the outbreak, and an old foe from the past from whom he barely escaped with his own life.

Available now for preorder! Drops September 22, 2022!

[M.G. Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took a while to get going, but once it did it was a great adventure.

I loved the detail of survival.

[Danielle Kaitlin (daniallreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ryan Young's debut novel, "Keeper of the Dead" deserves so much hype.

Nothing screams spooky season like a really good zombie story and Young has written the perfect read. "Keeper of the Dead" was the "different" I needed when it came to picking a book to start "horror" reading season. It was the perfect combination of scary, gory and thrill that I needed.

Yet, I never would have thought that a story about zombies could make me feel so emotional. Young really captured the isolated feelings of this dystopian world. I was gripped and invested in learning about how our main character, Viktor, could survive being surrounded by solely zombies. My favorite thing about this book was reading about all the ingenious ways people adapted and continued to live their lives in this infested world. It was extremely intriguing to understand how inventive and clever Viktor had become to continue to survive in such a secluded life. I think people reading this novel will think that Young wrote Viktor to be an extremely lucky man yet I feel that he was a highly emotional genius. His actions throughout the entire course of the story were brilliant and witty. Viktor is truly a character I will never forget.

This isn't your normal zombie story. Yes, it has your horror and gore but its so much deeper than a zombie apocalypse. It will make you think so deeply. It's outrageously witty. The characters are complex. The timeline switches will keep you invested. There are many moments that will shock you. The ending will leave you with so many emotions.

[Alana K. Drex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could you keep your humanity during a zombie apocalypse? This book follows Viktor over two timelines "Then" (when it first broke out) and "Now". It's good to have a purpose for Viktor and he has given himself the job of gathering the dead's IDs -driver's licenses, student cards, etc.

There are some pulse pounding moments, some touching ones and then a couple that will threaten to make you cry. This is my first zombie read in such a long time and it does the genre right! Bottom line: this had me wanting to read straight through, it's an amazing story!

All the stars!

Thank you Ryan Young for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[K. Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to dive right in here. Booksta friends, I have never read a debut novel that feels this little like a debut novel. It is written with writing expertise, a level of detail usually reserved for the writing elite, and the structure of a seasoned novelist. Keeper of the Dead switches every other chapter between “then” and “now” and no matter which I was reading, I found myself anxious to return to the other to see what happens next! I am not usually a huge undead fan but was fully engrossed and excited by this new take. All that technical stuff aside, I honestly cannot even describe how much I loved this book. I really connected with Viktor, the main character, who is always torn between a quick reaction and his sense of morality that sometimes leads to tough outcomes. I just finished it, sitting here at this Boise bar eating my food and this is an unfortunate truth: I just cried into my plate. Folks, I am not a public crier but this story was beautiful, tragic, celebratory, and all the other adjectives smooshed into one moment at the end. If you think you have any idea how the story goes, I promise you you’re wrong. There are twists, there are turns, there are big enough shocks that I got goosebumps and dropped my jaw. You have to read this book. Among my favorites in the indie community. Thank you Ryan for the opportunity to read this exciting book. I can’t wait to read more of your work.

[Nik Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel transcends the typical zombie narrative, offering a rich tapestry of survival and horror. As Ryan Young's debut, it sets a high bar with its dual timelines: one depicting Viktor's struggle at the dawn of a devastating apocalypse, the other following his quest years later to find a woman whose identity card he's discovered. The interweaving of these narratives is masterfully done, creating a compelling read.

The book delves into more than just physical survival; it's an exploration of human adaptation in the face of relentless adversity. One might speculate if Young himself has lived in a metaphorical treehouse, so vivid are his descriptions of survival tactics.

Viktor's psychological journey is where the true horror lies. Young provides an insightful look into the resilience of the human spirit, pushing readers to ponder their own survival instincts.

For those seeking a narrative that will keep you up past your bedtime or looking to study the art of surviving an apocalyptic scenario, "Keeper of the Dead" is essential. Be prepared for some sleepless nights.

A word to deer hunters: a particular chapter might make you reconsider your next outing. You'll understand once you read it.

[Rob Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the end of the world is punctuated by a zombie apocalypse complete with rabid zombie deer where the outbreak seemingly occurred, Victor finds himself on a quest he doesn't quite understand.

I enjoyed the back and forth between chapters for "Then" and "Now" where we get to uncover the past as we proceed into the future. This was an interesting story that had some exciting moments. Overall this story was bleak. It really made me think about how dark and terrible the end of the world could be. Zombies of course are scary but the true horror falls in how lonely and expansive the apocalypse really is. No trust in anybody, the world you grew up in and know is gone forever. You probably have zero skills necessary to survive. Do you think you'd figure it out?

This was a bit of a slow burn, which unfortunately isn't my style. There is tons of detail where sometimes it felt to be a bit too much. Overall I enjoyed this atmospheric telling of the zombie apocalypse. I thought the ending tied it all together quite well.

[Phoebe Munro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible! I absolutely loved this book and genuinely couldn’t put it down. The intensity of how the character experiences the apocalypse has been perfectly integrated with the inherent human desire for company even despite the incessant need for violence that comes with the apocalypse. Honestly everything about this book devastated me because it felt so real and raw.
I
also really like how the chapters skip between time as it keeps the reader a bit disorientated, mimicking exactly how the character himself feels, with both the experience of the beginning of the world ‘ending’ to the present desolation he is experiencing.
Ultimately this book is an experience in itself and I couldn’t recommend it enough!

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve said it before & I’ll say it again - I don’t read horror but I’m so glad I made an exception for this.

Set in two time lines, before & after a zombie breakout, following Frank & how they survive a momentous apocalypse.
I’m not really going to say anymore, forget the zombie side of things, at the end of the day it is a character driven tale. Emotional, tense & written in such a way that, in parts, my heart was pounding. What a debut!

Recommended reading especially as Halloween is on the way.

[Molly Macabre · Rating 5 out of 5]

The suspense and drama of The Walking Dead, the introspection of I Am Legend, and the mission-driven hero of 28 Days Later. This zombie read was an absolute blast. Viktor is instantly a loveable and relatable character you cannot help but root for. He strives to make the right decisions in a world where society has fallen and often has to face the consequences. Each chapter bounces between Then and Now, with a momentum that only accelerates as it barrels toward the end. Beautiful writing, vivid descriptions, and a tale that you do not want to miss out on.

[Marie Lestrange · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a fan of The Last of Us or The Road OR The Walking Dead...this book is right up your alley! I was super invested in the main character and his journey as he found artifacts of victims in the zombie apoc. Cool concept! Will definitely read more from this author! :D

[Josh Mousel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could give it a 4.5, but anyway, a very compelling story. I wasn't sure at any point what the next chapter would bring, but the end really got me a bit emotional. I was NOT expecting that. I did thoroughly enjoy the book, and will be diving into Ryan's second book soon.

[Marie Sinadjan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life had dumped me into a reading stump last October, and quite unexpectedly, this was the novel that got me out of it. An odd choice, really, given that 1) I am not a fan of zombie media, unlike my husband, and 2) I was going through something traumatic that time. Even the author (thank you, Ryan!) tried to change my mind about reading the novel given the subject matter, but somehow I found myself enjoying it. As I told him then, perhaps it's the whole "misery loves company" thing? That and, well, this was simply a well-written book!

What started out as a zombie apocalypse horror story had me in tears by the end. Not because I was terrified or grossed out by the undead; I was, but there were weren't really the highlights of the novel. They merely set the backdrop for the living human characters to take centerstage and sweep us through a thrilling but also an emotional adventure. Heck, one might even be surprised at the kind of monsters people can become when our survival is threatened.

I love the alternating now/then chapters and thought they were really clever! The storylines met just at the right point and transitioned seamlessly to the end. It's not the first time I've seen that done (Jina S. Bazzar's From Fame to Ruin did the same just as well!) and I really thought it added to the emotional impact, though I know some people find that too complicated or hard to follow.

Keeper of the Dead is a truly beautiful book that will hit you in places you don't expect.

RECOMMENDED LISTENING: "Remembrance" by Fleurie

[Life in books Ric · Rating 4 out of 5]

ⓇⒺⓋⒾⒺⓌ
Ryan Young - Keeper Of The Dead

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙮 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙩: 𝙖 𝙥𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚, 𝙖 𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙥𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙤𝙨, 𝙖𝙣 𝙄𝘿. 𝘼𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖 𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙜𝙪𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙛𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙝-𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙨 𝙖𝙨 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣—𝙖 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙨.

If you’re a fan of The a walking Dead, then you’ll love Ryan Young’s debut novel, Keeper Of The Dead.

Ryan does a fantastic job of creating an apocalyptic landscape, that is harrowing and believable.

You can’t help but feel a connection with our main character Viktor, as he comes to terms with his loses and the pain and struggle of navigating through a world no longer recognisable, that is now filled with danger.

The novel consists of a dual timeline, NOW and THEN in relatively short chapters, which at times I found myself getting confused as to which timeline it was I was reading.

Overall, Keeper Of The Dead is a very good debut novel, and Ryan Young is an author we should all be keeping an eye on

Keeper Of The Dead is now available

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I will NEVER be okay again during a CT scan. To my dismay, I unfortunately had a CT scan not long after starting this book, and let me just say I did not take my eyes off my nurse for the entirety of my scan.

Keeper of the Dead is not my typical book, but it was extremely refreshing to be pushed beyond my basic SAHM TBR (aka fantasy romance). I absolutely love how Ryan Young writes smoothly and thoroughly. At times, I felt like I was in the woods quietly, shushing my pounding heart rate. The transitions between past and present chapters were flawless; not once was I left wondering where I was in the story.

I do wish I paid more attention to trigger warnings, though. I had to step away from time to time to process parts that I found triggering.

[Katie (DeathByPaperbacks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ryan Young killed it with his debut novel!! This book was packed with suspense, emotion, and plenty of brain eating zombies. I loved the dual timelines in which the story is told. It added a lot of depth and emotion to Victor, the main protagonist, and kept things exciting throughout the book.

I already can’t wait to revisit this book again and I will definitely be on the lookout for more of Young’s work in the future.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest feedback!

I truly did not expect to love this book as much as I did- zombie/end of the world type books aren't normally my thing but I am so glad I decided to pick this one up! It had me on the edge of my seat for the entire second half. I did not see that ending coming at all and let me just say it isn't often that I find myself crying over a zombie novel

[Got Twins-Need Coffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great debut novel! It had a little bit of everything - from suspense, gore, thrills and chaos to survival and of course the ZOMBIES.