Odium Origins: Nina's Story

The Dead Saga #0.5

by Claire C. Riley

Nina wasn’t always a bitch. But surviving an apocalypse has made her that way.

It’s the end of the world, and the dead have risen. Devastation reins and destruction lives.
Mankind is holding on by bloody and desperate fingers. Death comes when you least expect it; in the quiet of the night or in the harsh light of day. It sneaks in and takes everyone and everything you ever loved, until you’re left with nothing at all. And the person standing in the aftermath is forever changed.

Even after finding a protective haven amongst the chaos, Nina learns that the worst monster is mankind itself. Hope is gone. A heart is broken and humanity is slipping away.

But for Nina, catastrophe has made her stronger. If she wants to keep breathing, she has to be. After all, being hard is the only way to survive.

Genres: Zombies, Horror, Dystopia, Post Apocalyptic, Adult, Paranormal, Fiction

176 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 4, 2015

About the author

Claire C. Riley is a USA Today and International bestselling author.

She lives in the United Kingdom with her husband, three daughters, and ridiculously naughty rescue beagle.

* Gryffindor * Targaryen * Zombie slayer *


MC ROMANCE:
Devil's Highwaymen Ride or Die Series (3 books)
The Devil's Highwaymen Nomad Series (4 books)
Tame his Beast duet (2 books)

MAFIA ROMANCE:
Deviant Prince #1
Twisted Princess #2
Royal Blood: The Brotherhood

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE/THRILLER
Beautiful Victim (standalone)
Fragments of Delores (standalone)

NA ROMANCE
WRATH #3 in the Elite Seven Series

POST-APOCALYPTIC
Odium The Dead Saga Series 8 books
Odium Origins Series 3 books
Out of the Dark (standalone)
Red Eye The Armageddon Series - co-authored with Eli Constant (3 books)
Thicker than Blood series - co-authored with Madeline Sheehan (3 books)

PARANORMAL ROMANCE
Limerence (The Obsession Series)
Twisted Magic (standalone)

ROMANCE
Shut Up & Kiss Me - Co-authored with Madeline Sheehan

HORROR
Blood Claim (standalone)

FIND ME
She can be stalked at any of the following and always welcomes any questions readers may have.

www.clairecriley.com
https://www.facebook.com/ClaireCRiley...
http://bit.ly/clairecrileyamazon/
https://twitter.com/ClaireCRiley
https://www.google.com/+ClaireCRiley
and redheadapocalypse on Instagram

Reviews

[Lo Bookfrantic · Rating 5 out of 5]

5★★★★★ Survival Stars

Genre: Dystopia/Horror/Zombie Apocalyptic
Type: Book 0.5 of The Dead Saga Series
POV: First Person - Female

“The Dead had risen. The dead walked. The undead were out there, eating my friends…The images would always be there now, burned into my mind like history written into books.”

I have been following Nina’s story since the beginning so when I found out Claire was writing what happened before the apocalypse I knew I had to read it. Little did I know how much it was going to hurt…Ok I’m lying I knew it was going to hurt. I knew somehow Nina’s past wasn’t all happy and flowers so getting to know what exactly happened to her to make her the way she is now made so much sense. It doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt because it did but I can completely understand her reason behind shutting everyone down and not letting people in. Odium 0.5 is where everything started; the story of Nina before the zombie apocalypse hit and what happened behind "those walls". I didn’t know what I was expecting behind those walls but it sure was depressing as hell. This book was dark, sometimes disturbing and uncomfortable to read; however I couldn’t put it down and devour it in one setting.

Nina was living a normal life like everyone else. A regular job; a husband she loved but somehow they’re marriage was falling apart. Routines and regular life she didn’t appreciate until the apocalypse hit. Nina loved her husband Ben but after so many years of marriage they somehow got sidetrack on material things and stuff that really didn’t mattered; she was sure that they had gotten to a point where their marriage was bound to be done. However; they found themselves appreciating what they had and realizing how much they still loved each other and that stupid fights were just that stupid. The need to survive an ugly apocalypse made her realized how much she wanted to live and make her life better and stop complaining about expensive shoes and material things that no longer mattered if you didn’t have the love of your life with you.

“It takes the end of the world for us to stop fucking arguing, eh?” he said sadly, leaning forward and pressing his forehead to mine."

Nina and Ben left their home after realizing no one was sending help and they were basically on their own. Ben’s goal was to get to his parents to a safe place; however they never made it far. Ben helped Nina stay strong; he believed in her and gave her the strength to keep going he told her to never give up and fight even if it meant leaving him behind. He made her promise that no matter what she will fight and she will survive.

“He smiled and then turned and kissed me with so much force that I nearly fell over from it.”

They found “Deaders” aka zombies on their way to safety and at one stop there was too many; only one was able to escape. Sadly; Nina lost her love, her husband and she promised she will do anything to stay alive. It was much easier said and done because when she finally reached a safe wall aka a building for survivors her world changed. She was too ashamed to try to go to Ben’s parents after what she had just witnessed so she stayed at this so called “safe wall”. At first they were getting help from the government. However as a year went by and food and government helped stopped the rules inside the walls completely changed. Everyone was starving and with nowhere to run to and no one to get help.

“There wasn’t anywhere safe anymore, and it made me wonder if there was really any point in trying to escape this madness.”

So many horrible things happened behind those “walls”; I can’t really begin to explain how much I hurt for Nina. Why she detached herself from the world after what she had to do to survive. Every time she tried to save or help someone got hurt she was utterly dead inside and she knew that the only way to survive was to shut her feelings and emotions off. That ending gutted me so much, I felt hopeless. However; thank goodness I’ve read the other books in the series and I am continuing book three because I just love Nina so much more now. This series is phenomenal a story of survival and strength when there is no hope and you feel lost.




★★★BR with my partner in crime LIZ ★★★


BOOK SERIES:


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For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:

[✰ Liz ✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

★4.5 "DARK and DEAD" Stars★.

"The dead didn't sleep, it seemed. They only killed."-Nina

Odium 0.5 grabs hold of you and doesn't let go. This Sci-Fi Thriller has action, heart, and enough heartbreak to get your blood pumping. Get your survival kit ready because this is one hell of an apocalypse!



Odium 0.5 begins with the world as it should be. Nina is just a typical young woman struggling with the daily tasks of life as she slowly watches her marriage shrivel and die. Just when it seems like the most important thing in the world is getting your favorite pair of shoes and escaping your nosey neighbor everything changes for Nina.

"Death insists on being lived."-Nina

A sickness has overtaken the world and Nina and her husband set off with a backpack, some food, and whatever they can carry. They are escaping death. Zombies.

"I need you with me, Nina. I need you to be safe."-Ben

Nina and Ben are immediately transformed from a couple on the edge of divorce to a couple who cannot hang on to each other tight enough. (Funny how an apocalypse will do that!)

"All that matters is that we're together."-Ben

"Self-preservation is an annoying trait to have, and yet, as humans, we all seem to have it instilled in us."-Nina

As Nina tries and fails to remain hopeful, every ounce of goodness is stripped away. There is no good. There is no love. There is only death. Just when you think Nina is going to curl up and die, she finds strength and presses on. When you look up perseverance in the dictionary you will see...Nina!

"I guess everyone's a selfish asshole at the end of the world."-Nina

"The world has changed. Changed so much I barely recognize it or the people within it. The world has changed and now so must I."-Nina

I simply cannot say enough about the action and suspense in this read. I was captivated by Nina's character and her choices. Told in Nina's POV, I experienced every moment right along side her. The feelings of disappointment in mankind, heartbreak over loss, disgust over the violence, and the crippling fear of death! The writing style is smoothly connected and colored with vivid description. The pacing was steady and yet, the action caused my heart to race during several scenes throughout the read. The one question on my mind which will haunt me for the rest of my life is: what would I become if this happened to me?

"Their pain. Their hunger. Their suffering. Pointless."

"Man is the devil's bastard child that is destroying this world one person at a time. The zombies are just a side act, the backdrop to our nightmare."-Nina

Overall, I highly recommend Odium 0.5 to anyone who enjoys the Sci-Fi/Thriller Genre. This is only a taste of what is to come. This was my first Claire C. Riley read and I cannot wait for more. Nina's story is one that I will follow through to the very end!

"What has the world turned into? Hell. That is what it has turned into. Hell."-Nina

***The Dead Saga Series***





For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:

[Jessica Austin Gudmundson · Rating 5 out of 5]

review to come. I loved it, and it hurts right now.

[dreamerinexile · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beginning of the walls 5 stars

Odium 0.5 is about life before the zombie apocalypse. We learn about Nina’s life before it all began. Before the infectious rotters spread their destruction and made the world fall apart with its citizens in toe.

Before the rotters, Nina’s life was normal. She went to a job she didn’t like much; came home to a husband who felt like a stranger. She missed the man she had fallen in love with, life and time had changed them into something they both detest. Something needed to give. And then something did…

… first there were those small incidences, people acting out, going crazy, and causing mayhem, the beginning of the end of all mankind. Well almost all mankind.

Ben and Nina fought against devastating odds and while doing so realized how much they still loved each other. How much they needed each other? So they embarked on a dangerous journey to find a safe haven.

What transpires next left me both hopeful and heartbroken! Claire C Riley quite literally and truthfully portrayed the human mind, both the selflessness and the ugliness. She spoke about friendship emerging from the darkest of places yet at the same time serpents conspired patiently to strike.

I fell in love with Nina’s character after reading Odium because even though she was sometimes hard and unforgiving, I knew deep down she wasn’t a bad person. This book reiterated why I loved her and made me understand her better.

Odium 0.5 was a difficult read; it was intense, disconcerting and painful. This story quietly laid bare the truth, that in a world full of zombie it’s not these dead humans you have to fear but the ones that are living and breathing like you and me.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been reading about Nina for so long now, starting with when she was behind the walls back in book 1, but never really knew what brought her to the walled city and how bad it really was there. I was so surprised by this book, I thought I knew what was going to happen in the beginning and I was so wrong. It started out totally different than what I had imagined. I do not think I could have had my hopes raised and dashed as many times in a single book as I had in this book. Every time I thought maybe there was a little hope for a while, nope, that is when people started acting like people again and ruined it for everyone. This just goes to show you, the only monsters you really have to fear are the humans.
As for all of you Nina fans, this is going to be a hard read. You will love every second of it, but it is going to gut you. It will gut you, and it will stay with you, and it just may make you a little more tolerant of your fellow humans. I am not promising anything, because they still may not be any better in the long run, but you might just remember what could happen and keep the faith a little longer.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like I should add all kinds of warnings to this book. First? Obviously, it's for a mature audience. There are tons of swears, violence, gore and mature themes. So, no kids please!

But that's not even what I mean. This book broke me. (More than Claire's books usually do...) This book delivers a bleak look at the post-apocalyptic world. This origin story is pretty much humanity's way of hitting rock bottom. Greed, depravity, starvation and desperation. Where would we draw the line, when the world as we know it sputters and dies? I'm so glad that I had read the rest of the series first, just so that I knew there was a glimmer of hope for Nina. It's no wonder she has such a tough outer shell!

I felt like going back to the beginning gave me a new level to understanding Nina's character. Her gruff demeanor makes perfect sense under the circumstances. But the best part was seeing her before the sh*t hit the fan. Her fierce nature was a part of her even then, but you could also see her warmth.

A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[San · Rating 5 out of 5]

Odium 0.5 is Nina's story before the zombie apocalypse hit and what happened behind "those walls"

Its a dark, sometimes disturbing and uncomfortable read. It's uncompromising yet shows spirit and courage. I found it showed humans at their best and at their worst and how people adapted to this new world.

Claire captured that human instinct of survival to a tee. It showed that even with a world full of zombies. The most fearful element of a broken world is humans.

Brilliantly written and a great addition to the Odium series.

[Laura Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This can be read before or after book 1 but personally, for me, I’m glad I read it after. I loved Nina in book 1 so this was a little treat for me and I got to see some of the real Nina.

This is Nina’s own story of what happened just before the zombie apocalypse outbreak started and it didn’t take me long to read and got me just a tad giddy to start book 2

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!!!

You think you have seen fear before, witnessed it for all of its glory. You think you know it, but you don’t. You couldn’t truly know what it was to fear something or someone, to feel fear’s hands clasping you by the spine, ready to drag your body apart. Not until you have witnessed a hell like we had.

What a freaking Prologue/Novella !! This one started and took off at a sprint !! I love it! I have read Riley's- Thicker than Blood series a while back and it left me completely and utterly devastated but yet, foaming at the mouth for more. I love her writing style and the ability she has to really make her characters feel real and "normal". I was in the mood for something else similar-So when I stumbled across this series- I WAS ALL FOR IT!

This book can either be read before or after book 1 of the Odium Series. Odium by definition means -
General or widespread hatred or disgust directed toward someone as a result of their actions.
synonyms:
disgust · abhorrence · repugnance · revulsion · repulsion · loathing · detestation · hatred · hate · execration · obloquy · dislike · disapproval · disapprobation · distaste ·

Which totally makes sense for this book - since its a book about the end of the world and Zombies -or what they are sometimes called in the book- Deaders. I prefer zombies but.... whatever :P



This book was the story of Nina our main character from the series. We get to see her beginnings and... well basically how everything started and went to shit - like real fast. To be honest Nina was kind of shallow at the beginning of this. After you read some of the series, her character growth is phenomenal. But for this little novella- the virus is just breaking out and we see where she and all the crazy started.

It’s the end of the world, and the dead have risen. Devastation reins and destruction lives.
Mankind is holding on by bloody and desperate fingers. Death comes when you least expect it; in the quiet of the night or in the harsh light of day. It sneaks in and takes everyone and everything you ever loved, until you’re left with nothing at all. And the person standing in the aftermath is forever changed.



I really recommend reading this book first - maybe because I did... but really- do what you want. I just loved how fast paced it was and I finished it so fast because so much was happening and I fell in love with the side characters and I just wanted more! I am totally looking forward to the rest of this series- if you have not read this author before- I HIGHLY Recommend her. Her writing is very unique, witty and just amazing!

[Melanie Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Odium 0.5 is another emotionally devastating installment in Claire C. Riley’s The Dead Saga. While all the books center around Nina, Riley really focuses on what happened before book one when she left the supposed sanctuary. As a reader, I really felt like this was a necessary addition to this series. For so long, we have been kept in the dark about how bad things really were. We were given hints, but now we really know what happened and why Nina is the way she is. This book has reminded me that sometimes the zombies in stories aren’t the worst monsters in the world.

I’m so glad Claire C. Riley finally gave us more of Nina’s back-story. I feel like I understand the character so much better now. I have followed this series from the beginning and at times found myself wishing she would shut up and quit bitching. I get it now though. While she can be somewhat annoying at times, there’s a reason for it. She has been through so much and instead of giving up, she has continued to fight. Granted, she kind of bitched about it most of the time, but I think I understand why. She’s much stronger than I initially gave her credit. Nina is definitely more of a fighter than I ever realized.

One of the things that initially drew me into this series is that when I first read Odium 1, it was the first zombie themed book that ever made me feel anything. Each book has been more and more emotional for me. This author continues to rip out my heart, chew it up, and then try to spit it back into my chest. Yes, my heart is back in my chest, but it’s definitely not in the condition it was to start with. Her writing makes me feel things that I never thought my black little heart would, or even could.

The Dead Saga is an amazing series, and Odium .5 is just one more heart-wrenching piece of the puzzle in a world we have come to love as well as fear. I recommend it to anyone who likes to become emotionally invested in a series and doesn’t mind the zombies who participate.

[Kelli Mcelreath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a tub reader and in reading this could not stop even when my water went cold. Seriously. And I was not prepared for the end. This was sooooo good. If you have read the Odium series this is a must. You finally finally get a look behind the wall with nina. How she came to be the bad ass, quirky nina. If you have NOT Read the series what the hell! But seriously this is a brilliant place to start. It will hook you and give you such an awesome series to read. In fact I am rereading Odium. My only complaint is I wish it was longer. But that's usually my wish for all books.

[Shannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy shiznet ClaireBear! This book was so intense! Nina went through so much! No wonder she's the badass she is! Loved it!

[Maribel Carnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

review to come

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Odium 0.5: Nina's Story
Series: The Dead Saga 0.5
Author: Claire c. Riley
Publisher:
Edition: Kindle
Amount of Pages: 176
Genre: Apocalypse, Zombies, Romance
Spice:   0/5 peppers

Cliffhanger: No
HEA/HFN: No
Cheating: No
Triggerwarnings: Death, Torture, Sexual Assault, Forced Prostitution
Love Triangle: No
Insta Love/ Insta Lust: No
Single Parent/Kids/Pregnancy: No

Date Read: 04-11-2022

Favorite Quote: "I lock up my goodness and switch everything off. I will become hard, and cruel if I have to. Because I made a promise to survive, no matter what it costs.

Review:
I read book 1 a long time ago but decided I wanted to give the series another try. This time I wanted to start with this prequel. I've been told it explained Nina's behavior a bit more as she was though to like in Odium 1. Anyhow I liked starting at the beginning and watching the apocalypse happen.
Some of Nina's behavior was explained more but I did notice certain things didn't fully add up with what was said in Odium 1. That said I did really enjoy this book and I hope having this background information will make me enjoy the books more than I did the first time.

Anyhow this book was a quick read and I definitely recommend everyone looking to read this series to start here. Start at the beginning, but do not expect every detail to match in the next book.
I enjoyed the action this book has and how real it all felt. Made me feel like watching a walking dead episode.

Rating:
4 stars

[Liz's Book Bucket List · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe that I almost skipped reading this story! It was so good and added so much to the overall story line. I know that it says you can either read book one or 0.5 first, but I would highly suggest to read book one first and then come back and read Nina's story. That is what I did and I think that it worked out perfectly. If you are reading this review after reading book one and wondering if you should read this book, I would say yes. You will never learn what happened to Nina's husband if you don't and this novella shows the outbreak from Nina's eyes. It added so much to the overall story.

This story was brutal. Like I had tears streaming down my face brutal. There was so much death and sadness that it actually made me feel really depressed reading it. But it was really good. It really touched me deeply considering I am both a wife and a mother. If you have read this already, you know what I am talking about.

I don't really want to talk too much about this book because even though it is really short, a lot happens in it. It shows the beginning of the outbreak, how Nina gets to the 'safe zone' and the events that lead up to her leaving. A lot more happens then was insinuated in book one. I mostly read this book to see what happened to Nina's husband because it is such a mystery in book one, but there is so much more within these pages.

I will say that this book does explain Nina's attitude. She is strong, blunt and at times, mean. But when you read this book, you will completely understand. The horror and trauma she has to withstand is unimaginable.

The ending of this book is mind blowing. Like I am pretty sure that my mouth was agape. And then I was just really, really sad. I never seen it coming and would never had thought that this book would go THERE. But I have to give Riley props for not being authentic to this world. It is brutal, horrific and deadly.

[Toni FGMAMTC · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the tale of a woman worried about pretty shoes and diets. She and her husband are always annoyed with each other. Then, the zombie apocalypse happens. Survival is all that's on her mind now. This is not a feel good book. It's not going to make you smile, but you know that when it ends, it isn't the end of the story. This is just the prequel.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never disliked Nina as I was reading the main books in the series, but I'm really glad that Claire wrote this novella so we could get her full backstory. Seeing her with Ben, when everything started and seeing ALL of what she went through up until we meet her in book one......I totally understand why she was the way she was.

[justwant2read · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit drawn out bit you got to read how Nina got to where odium started

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love finding zombie book gems.

[Georgi_Lvs_Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The dead had risen. The dead walked. The undead were out there, eating my friends and standing on my front lawn, trampling all over my flowerbeds. Goddam it!"

Fast paced, gripping, gory! Oh so gory.... Some parts were hard to stomach! But it's everything I love in a zombie/apocalypse book.

Nina and Ben... Married but are not happy anymore, on the verge of a break up when BAM... the world changes and everyone suddenly becomes something not of this world and its every man for themselves.

"Blood flowed though the streets like rivers of red rain"

I absolutely feel for Nina, she has been through hell, her life has actually become worse since the zombie apocalypse!

But she's feisty has a great sense of humour and is full of hate and revenge.

Nina is one tough woman! Absolutely love her and I can't wait to read more about her in the rest of this series.

"At the end of the world I thought the only thing to fear was the zombies..."

"But it's not. The thing we have to fear is man itself"

5*****

Bring on Odium Book 1.

[Vicki Matticks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this arc for a fair and honest review. LOVED IT! I absolutely love Claire C. Riley's writing. She takes me to so many places, makes me sigh, makes me cry, makes me feel so many emotions so deeply. I love Nina, have loved her in each Odium book, but really loved getting her back story. Can't say I can understand being caught in the world she is caught in, without having actually experienced it myself. But through this book, I do feel like I am there, and I feel like I know Nina so much better. I highly recommend this book, and any book written by Ms. Riley.

[A Book Obsessed Brit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having got myself up to date with the main books in the Odium series I was curious about these Novella's to learn more about the characters I have come to love so much. Of course I was eager to learn more about Nina, as the leading heroine of the series and has a well know bitchy persona and she really isn't a people person, yet underneath she really does have a huge heart. We get a few details here and there about her past but this novella fills in all the blanks.

Claire packed a punch, and ploughed a lot into this novella, The change in Nina was severe and I have a much better understanding of her now knowing her journey, and what a journey it is! Seeing Nina and her Husband Ben living their normal lives mere days before the world went to hell made her more relatable. Their journey to the walled city a tumultuous one, one she will never recover from, one that acts as a catalyst to change the woman she was. One Nina reaches the walled city things go from bad to worse and what she goes through was depraved, violent and nothing of the safe haven she thought she stumbled upon.

I admire that Claire does not hold back in her story telling, she tells her characters story in all it's harrowing glory and that is commendable. I am really glad this novella is out there and anyone who questions Nina as a heroine should read it. I love her anyway but I have a whole new level of respect and appreciation for her now.

[Ralph Phares · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not Bad For A Chick Apocalyptic Tale

There is great potential here for a grab-your-heart-and-rip-it-out zombie apocalyptic tale from a woman's perspective. Instead, I see mostly whining about how Nina's life isn't what she deserves, how life isn't what she wants it to be, how her husband, Ben, is such a disappointment, etc. Then, suddenly the apocalypse happens in a matter of hours and everyone is a zombie. Or, as Nina and Ben call them, "deaders" (?), and the deaders multiply exponentially, encompassing (apparently) 98% of the population. Now the struggle for survival is on! Miraculously, our intrepid duo make nice again and set out to find the "family cabin by the lake" for their fortress of solitude. The deaders thwart those plans and Nina finds protection in a makeshift fort where the real fun begins.

This wasn't the worst I've read and I'll not want to discourage anyone from continuing, but I've reached my jumping off point.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nina’s life

Odium 0.5 is our glimpse at life for Nina and Ben just before the apocalypse. Their life, relationship and their characters and ultimately life after. Life behind the walls is not quite what people expected. Governed by the Colonel. Living as a civilian with food rations, degrading jobs, life was hard but with the future in mind it was hard but hopefully worth it. But times change and after an uprising in the camp a new leader takes charge with new promises. Could life get any worse, in a nutshell, yes a lot worse, death would probably be an improvement to living this life.

[Georgina Parkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting, didnt really like the characters because they were just so unlikeable, and i think for a prequel novella it was a little much? it just felt like there was pointless parts to it, but im going to not judge that until after ive read book one, im hoping there was a point to it all? if it ends up being to show why she is the way she is itll be pointless imo because to me it never really showed a change in character at all lol. it wouldnt have been as bad if there was some growth but from the get-go shes purposefully picking fights and blaming others for her actions and it was tiring to read.

[Sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

i was in a big reading slump, and when i noticed this was the first book in the story and i had it on my kindle i just thought, i will try it out, Nina sounded like a Karen to be honest, hahah down to the rolling eyes, but she ended up growing on me, to be honest i wanted her to be braver in some parts of the story, but i definitely want to read more about her story...

i was more than half through the book when a friend of mine gave me the option to listen to the audiobook, well i started from the beginning and i must say i love the person reading the book, she really made Nina come to life

[Katie Komo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t have a true appreciation for this book until I got a couple more books into the series. Based on the description from Odium I, I was convinced (for some reason) that I wouldn’t LOVE the main character or the series. I was wrong. Nina’s origin story tells you SO much about how she became the person she is in the later novels.
If you’re a fan of zom-poc fiction & on the fence about starting the series, do yourself a favor and read it! The characters are incredibly well written and relatable, but man- Claire has a penchant for being like Game of Thrones: no one is safe.

[Christina Botchway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brutal beginning

Oh my goodness. This was brutal. I always like reading how people react at the beginning of the apocalypse. Be careful what you wish for. This was truly heartbreaking but necessary to understand Nina and how she became who she was in Odium 1 which I read first. I also now understand why she couldn’t tell her story to others in book 1. I’m still traumatized by it !

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel for Nina. She humanised the end of the world in a way that made it visceral and tragic, but also retained so much capacity to try, even until the end of the story. Putting that aside, this short story was just too long. Nina goes through three different cycles of loss with no real resolution and it's ultimately unfulfilling to experience. I know this is a set up for the next books, but it dragged in a way that made it feel like work instead of being immersive.

[Leann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gotta Love A Heroine that Loves Metallica

I have read TONS of zombie fiction and read this first as the prequel to the series. I don’t know how or why I hadn’t found this author yet. But based on the main character and the realistic portrayal of a regular woman at the end of the world, I’m gonna lose a few nights sleep over the next week or so. 😀