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The Orphans #6
Divided
The Divided Book 6 of The Orphans Series picks up directly where Civil War Book 5 left off. The action and speed of this will leave your heart pounding. Questions of who will survive?
What happened with Shaun?
What will Ellie and the others do with so many removed in such a short time?
Oh, and do not forget about The Turned because they are vicious and will make your heart hurt from fear! The series just gets better and at over a 100k is as long as Origins Book 1. Read The Divided today to see why there are over 370 reviews on the series as well as why it won Zombie Book of The Month Club!
What happened with Shaun?
What will Ellie and the others do with so many removed in such a short time?
Oh, and do not forget about The Turned because they are vicious and will make your heart hurt from fear! The series just gets better and at over a 100k is as long as Origins Book 1. Read The Divided today to see why there are over 370 reviews on the series as well as why it won Zombie Book of The Month Club!
343 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 26, 2017
80 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Mike Evans
78 books136 followersMike Evans lives in Iowa with his wife, children, and two adopted dogs Rusty and Harley Quinn. He writes with a passion to bring his characters to life, to make you fall in love with them, and then make you flip pages to find out if they’ll survive or perish. He keeps his characters realistic, there are no superheroes. There are no perfect characters in his books, everyone has their flaws much like that of life. Mike loves to write in different genres and is unafraid to try something new.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 28, 2025
A Gritty and Necessary Chapter in a Bleak Apocalypse (4/5 Stars)
Hey, Orphans fans. If you've stuck with Shaun, Ellie, and the crew through five books of relentless Turned, heartbreaking losses, and the gut-wrenching "Civil War," then Divided (The Orphans #6) is the essential, if exhausting, next chapter you need to read. Set around 15 months into the apocalypse, this installment picks up right where the internal schism left off, forcing our survivors to navigate a landscape where former allies are now the most dangerous predators. Mike Evans doubles down on the series' core strength: making you care deeply about flawed people making impossible choices in a world that offers no good answers. With a stellar 4.29-star average on Goodreads, this book proves that for its dedicated readers, the emotional investment is still paying off, even as the hope dwindles.
Key Themes
The Aftermath of Betrayal: The "civil war" wasn't just a battle; it was a fracture that redefined every relationship. This book meticulously explores the fallout of that split, focusing on the paranoia, grief, and strategic maneuvering required when your enemy knows all your tactics and weaknesses. Trust isn't just broken; it's a weapon used against you.
Moral Compromise for Survival: As resources dwindle and threats multiply, the characters are pushed to new extremes. The book asks haunting questions: How much of your humanity are you willing to trade for another day? Is it justified to become as ruthless as the Turned—or your human enemies—to protect what's left of your family?
Leadership Under Siege: Shaun's journey has always been about reluctant leadership, but here, that role is tested like never before. Leading isn't about grand plans anymore; it's about making one grim, pragmatic choice after another to keep a shrinking group alive, often sacrificing ideals in the process.
Character Analysis
The character work remains the engine of this series. By Book 6, these people feel real, which makes their suffering impactful.
Shaun and Ellie: Their bond, once the heart of the group, is strained under the weight of leadership and loss. They are harder, more tactical, and burdened by the consequences of every life they couldn't save.
The Fractured Factions: The story gives us compelling glimpses into both sides of the divide. Evans succeeds in making you understand, and even empathize with, characters on what you thought was the "wrong" side, deepening the conflict beyond simple good vs. evil.
Evolving Antagonists: The human villains are more terrifying than ever because their motivations are chillingly understandable. Meanwhile, the Turned continue to be a lurking, relentless force, a constant reminder that the human drama is playing out on the brink of extinction.
Writing Style & Pacing
Evans's prose is straightforward, visceral, and focused on propelling the plot forward. The tone is unrelentingly tense and bleak, mirroring the characters' mental state. The dialogue can sometimes feel utilitarian, serving to advance the plot or reinforce character traits, but it gets the job done.
The pacing is brisk and fraught with peril. The narrative structure effectively alternates between tense standoffs, desperate supply runs, and explosive action sequences. While some readers note that certain plot beats can feel predictable (the "on-the-road" survival challenges follow a familiar pattern for the genre), the strength lies in the emotional execution and the constant, high-stakes consequences for failure.
What I Liked/Disliked
Liked:
Emotional Continuity: The book doesn't reset the emotional stakes. The grief, anger, and trauma from previous books carry over authentically, making the character struggles feel earned and deeply engaging.
High-Stakes Consequences: Actions have permanent, devastating results. No one is safe, and victories are always pyrrhic, which maintains a gripping sense of dread.
Series Consistency: For fans, it delivers exactly what they want: more of the gritty, character-driven survival drama they signed up for, with meaningful progression in the overarching story.
Disliked:
Predictable Beats: The survival-horror formula—find shelter, lose shelter, fight enemies, repeat—can feel repetitive, with fewer genuine narrative surprises.
Diminishing Returns on Shock: After so much loss, even major character deaths can sometimes feel numbing rather than shocking, a noted hazard in long-running grimdark series.
Editing Hiccups: As with earlier entries, some readers noted minor proofreading errors that can briefly break immersion.
Conclusion & Recommendation
Final Verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. Divided is a strong, focused entry that adeptly manages the aftermath of its game-changing predecessor. It’s a testament to Evans's ability to maintain tension and reader investment deep into a series.
You should read this book if: You are caught up on The Orphans series. This is not a jumping-on point. It's a must-read for fans who are invested in the characters and need to see the consequences of the civil war play out. If you love bleak, character-driven zombie apocalypse tales where the human conflict is as tense as the zombie action, this will satisfy.
You should skip it if: You haven't read the previous five books, or if you're looking for a uplifting or revolutionary twist on the genre. This is a committed descent into a grim world.
For those who have traveled this far with the Orphans, Divided is a compelling, if harrowing, next leg of the journey. It firmly sets the stage for the conflicts to come, proving that in this apocalypse, being divided might be a fate worse than death by Turned.
Hey, Orphans fans. If you've stuck with Shaun, Ellie, and the crew through five books of relentless Turned, heartbreaking losses, and the gut-wrenching "Civil War," then Divided (The Orphans #6) is the essential, if exhausting, next chapter you need to read. Set around 15 months into the apocalypse, this installment picks up right where the internal schism left off, forcing our survivors to navigate a landscape where former allies are now the most dangerous predators. Mike Evans doubles down on the series' core strength: making you care deeply about flawed people making impossible choices in a world that offers no good answers. With a stellar 4.29-star average on Goodreads, this book proves that for its dedicated readers, the emotional investment is still paying off, even as the hope dwindles.
Key Themes
The Aftermath of Betrayal: The "civil war" wasn't just a battle; it was a fracture that redefined every relationship. This book meticulously explores the fallout of that split, focusing on the paranoia, grief, and strategic maneuvering required when your enemy knows all your tactics and weaknesses. Trust isn't just broken; it's a weapon used against you.
Moral Compromise for Survival: As resources dwindle and threats multiply, the characters are pushed to new extremes. The book asks haunting questions: How much of your humanity are you willing to trade for another day? Is it justified to become as ruthless as the Turned—or your human enemies—to protect what's left of your family?
Leadership Under Siege: Shaun's journey has always been about reluctant leadership, but here, that role is tested like never before. Leading isn't about grand plans anymore; it's about making one grim, pragmatic choice after another to keep a shrinking group alive, often sacrificing ideals in the process.
Character Analysis
The character work remains the engine of this series. By Book 6, these people feel real, which makes their suffering impactful.
Shaun and Ellie: Their bond, once the heart of the group, is strained under the weight of leadership and loss. They are harder, more tactical, and burdened by the consequences of every life they couldn't save.
The Fractured Factions: The story gives us compelling glimpses into both sides of the divide. Evans succeeds in making you understand, and even empathize with, characters on what you thought was the "wrong" side, deepening the conflict beyond simple good vs. evil.
Evolving Antagonists: The human villains are more terrifying than ever because their motivations are chillingly understandable. Meanwhile, the Turned continue to be a lurking, relentless force, a constant reminder that the human drama is playing out on the brink of extinction.
Writing Style & Pacing
Evans's prose is straightforward, visceral, and focused on propelling the plot forward. The tone is unrelentingly tense and bleak, mirroring the characters' mental state. The dialogue can sometimes feel utilitarian, serving to advance the plot or reinforce character traits, but it gets the job done.
The pacing is brisk and fraught with peril. The narrative structure effectively alternates between tense standoffs, desperate supply runs, and explosive action sequences. While some readers note that certain plot beats can feel predictable (the "on-the-road" survival challenges follow a familiar pattern for the genre), the strength lies in the emotional execution and the constant, high-stakes consequences for failure.
What I Liked/Disliked
Liked:
Emotional Continuity: The book doesn't reset the emotional stakes. The grief, anger, and trauma from previous books carry over authentically, making the character struggles feel earned and deeply engaging.
High-Stakes Consequences: Actions have permanent, devastating results. No one is safe, and victories are always pyrrhic, which maintains a gripping sense of dread.
Series Consistency: For fans, it delivers exactly what they want: more of the gritty, character-driven survival drama they signed up for, with meaningful progression in the overarching story.
Disliked:
Predictable Beats: The survival-horror formula—find shelter, lose shelter, fight enemies, repeat—can feel repetitive, with fewer genuine narrative surprises.
Diminishing Returns on Shock: After so much loss, even major character deaths can sometimes feel numbing rather than shocking, a noted hazard in long-running grimdark series.
Editing Hiccups: As with earlier entries, some readers noted minor proofreading errors that can briefly break immersion.
Conclusion & Recommendation
Final Verdict: 4 out of 5 stars. Divided is a strong, focused entry that adeptly manages the aftermath of its game-changing predecessor. It’s a testament to Evans's ability to maintain tension and reader investment deep into a series.
You should read this book if: You are caught up on The Orphans series. This is not a jumping-on point. It's a must-read for fans who are invested in the characters and need to see the consequences of the civil war play out. If you love bleak, character-driven zombie apocalypse tales where the human conflict is as tense as the zombie action, this will satisfy.
You should skip it if: You haven't read the previous five books, or if you're looking for a uplifting or revolutionary twist on the genre. This is a committed descent into a grim world.
For those who have traveled this far with the Orphans, Divided is a compelling, if harrowing, next leg of the journey. It firmly sets the stage for the conflicts to come, proving that in this apocalypse, being divided might be a fate worse than death by Turned.
June 27, 2021
Another sleepless night! This series is a hot page-turner. I've been up all night reading the last two books.
The Orphan Brigade is full-on badass zombie hunters with just a slight bad luck problem. As hard as they try, they still keep losing people. It's enough to make a priest swear! Shaun, Greg and Ellie, Clary and Aslin keep trying superhero stunts, but the best laid plans . . . you know the rest. Shaun has plans to eliminate hundreds of the Turned in one busy session. Even the Seals bought into the idea. Their group had dozens of members, still mostly teenagers, but they were coming around and training like there's no tomorrow. No tomorrow. Camp Dodge is really looking sweet! But - well, shit happens.
I really love this series! The storyline is amazing and I'm having a terrible time trying to find breaks for a little rest. But it's just too darn good to put down. I'm going to have to take a break, but like Shaun, it's hard to step away when so many need so much! His guilt over his father's part in releasing the zombie plague won't let him rest while there are so many to kill and he just has to be the one to kill them. Poor kid!
I'm just going to dive into the next book in the Orphans series. I'll sleep when the Turned have all been returned. Great characters, outstanding storyline written by a master storyteller, cliffhangers that challenge the sanity, combine to make a great read! Getcha some!
The Orphan Brigade is full-on badass zombie hunters with just a slight bad luck problem. As hard as they try, they still keep losing people. It's enough to make a priest swear! Shaun, Greg and Ellie, Clary and Aslin keep trying superhero stunts, but the best laid plans . . . you know the rest. Shaun has plans to eliminate hundreds of the Turned in one busy session. Even the Seals bought into the idea. Their group had dozens of members, still mostly teenagers, but they were coming around and training like there's no tomorrow. No tomorrow. Camp Dodge is really looking sweet! But - well, shit happens.
I really love this series! The storyline is amazing and I'm having a terrible time trying to find breaks for a little rest. But it's just too darn good to put down. I'm going to have to take a break, but like Shaun, it's hard to step away when so many need so much! His guilt over his father's part in releasing the zombie plague won't let him rest while there are so many to kill and he just has to be the one to kill them. Poor kid!
I'm just going to dive into the next book in the Orphans series. I'll sleep when the Turned have all been returned. Great characters, outstanding storyline written by a master storyteller, cliffhangers that challenge the sanity, combine to make a great read! Getcha some!
May 27, 2017
I have been a fan of this series since the beginning and I can say without a doubt it is one of the best zombie genre series I have read! From book one Origins (which I would recommend you start with so you know how everything got rolling and who the characters are), the action started and never lets up! This series takes you on a journey with a group of teens who do everything they can to survive in a crazy world over run with The Turned. They have no training and they learn what to do by the seat of their pants. The characters are well written and very believable. I have come to like so many of them along the way but learned to not get too attached. As they say…no one is safe in the zombie apocalypse and this proves true with this series which makes it more realistic and edge of your seat good. Mike Evans has created such a vivid apocalyptic story that will take you on an emotional ride that will have you cheering one minute and crying the next. This is a must read series for anyone who loves the zombie genre and should be added to everyone’s reading list!
May 30, 2017
This series just gets better and better. The group are still reeling from the betrayal that resulted in the loss of so many innocent lives. Then they are hit with more devastating news causing emotions to erupt, ending in deadly mistakes. Ellie inadvertently causes a massacre at another group of survivors camp and while being rescued the group suffer more losses while taking the rest of the survivors back to the base.
Meanwhile, Shaun is out there spreading the news of how to use blood to lure and kill The Turned and showing others how to keep safe and protect themselves. Not wanting to lose anyone else or to be responsible for anyone, he somehow ends up with 6 more people traveling with him. These new characters will have you praying for their survival as they feel like they could be friends or family.
This action packed story will put you through the wringer and an emotional roller coaster plus you'll not be ready for one OMG! cliffhanger . All I have to say is "Mike Evans, you better not make us wait too long for the next book."
Meanwhile, Shaun is out there spreading the news of how to use blood to lure and kill The Turned and showing others how to keep safe and protect themselves. Not wanting to lose anyone else or to be responsible for anyone, he somehow ends up with 6 more people traveling with him. These new characters will have you praying for their survival as they feel like they could be friends or family.
This action packed story will put you through the wringer and an emotional roller coaster plus you'll not be ready for one OMG! cliffhanger . All I have to say is "Mike Evans, you better not make us wait too long for the next book."
June 11, 2017
Great series!!!
Not your usual zombie series, but still has the Gore and lovable monsters. The characters are mostly kids who make tons of mistakes and mostly learn from them, some deadly and fatal. Nobody is.safe from harm in this series and this is.not a fairytale where all the good guys win. These Orphans learn to kick ass, lose, win, love and hate while trying to survive a different breed of flesh eater. Do yourself a favor and read the Orphans series, then do the author a favor and leave a a review. Good bad or indifferent, it's how the indie authors get the word out and learn what needs to change or stay the same..
Not your usual zombie series, but still has the Gore and lovable monsters. The characters are mostly kids who make tons of mistakes and mostly learn from them, some deadly and fatal. Nobody is.safe from harm in this series and this is.not a fairytale where all the good guys win. These Orphans learn to kick ass, lose, win, love and hate while trying to survive a different breed of flesh eater. Do yourself a favor and read the Orphans series, then do the author a favor and leave a a review. Good bad or indifferent, it's how the indie authors get the word out and learn what needs to change or stay the same..
May 30, 2017
Excellent book
This is another well written story of the survival of teens amongst the turned a.k.a. zombies! This author makes you feel compassion for the characters and the details included puts you right into the heart of the action. I will be eagerly waiting for the next one in this series! I recommend you read this series as you will not be disappointed!
This is another well written story of the survival of teens amongst the turned a.k.a. zombies! This author makes you feel compassion for the characters and the details included puts you right into the heart of the action. I will be eagerly waiting for the next one in this series! I recommend you read this series as you will not be disappointed!
November 5, 2017
Orphans 6
I really, really love this series by Mike Evans but I hate that so many of the good people get killed off. Personally, I will be happy when Shaun learns and does what he feels he has to do and get himself back to the base. Ok, Mike, I need the next book now so I hope that it is almost ready!
I really, really love this series by Mike Evans but I hate that so many of the good people get killed off. Personally, I will be happy when Shaun learns and does what he feels he has to do and get himself back to the base. Ok, Mike, I need the next book now so I hope that it is almost ready!
February 5, 2021
Action Packed
Theres a lot going on here. Some characters got caught not thinking and guess what happened next? They should've stayed home. Everybody won't make it in the apocalypse. Some people are bait and some are fighters. I like this series because the action is nonstop but I'm waiting to hear how Clary and everybody at the base is making out.
Theres a lot going on here. Some characters got caught not thinking and guess what happened next? They should've stayed home. Everybody won't make it in the apocalypse. Some people are bait and some are fighters. I like this series because the action is nonstop but I'm waiting to hear how Clary and everybody at the base is making out.
February 13, 2022
WOW, just WOW!
Mike Evans has done the Improbable, made a series get better with each book. I can't wait for the next book. The characters come to life and the reader becomes more invested in them more than any fictional character should.
I highly recommend this series and anything else written by this author.
Mike Evans has done the Improbable, made a series get better with each book. I can't wait for the next book. The characters come to life and the reader becomes more invested in them more than any fictional character should.
I highly recommend this series and anything else written by this author.
March 20, 2022
Wow!
This is one of those series that keeps you on the edge of your seat with each book! What great characters we keep meeting…and watch getting killed off. There were some great ones lost in this offering, but the most heart stopping may or may not be happening. On to the next book to find out!
This is one of those series that keeps you on the edge of your seat with each book! What great characters we keep meeting…and watch getting killed off. There were some great ones lost in this offering, but the most heart stopping may or may not be happening. On to the next book to find out!
December 16, 2017
5 Stars
The pace and action just seem to pick up in this series. I really need book 7 now, hopefully it will be released soon (Yes that is a hint Mike). Really love this series and highly recommend it to all zombie fans. Mike Evans will hook you and leave you wanting more.
October 26, 2023
Argh! Mike Evan’s is lucky I own the next book. That is a cruel way to make me read on. Lol I am definitely invested in the characters in this series. Of course, being a zombie apocalypse, we are losing some.
November 15, 2017
LOVE THIS SERIES!!!
I need more! So many questions left... Are they reunited? Does he go back or do they go looking for him?
I need more! So many questions left... Are they reunited? Does he go back or do they go looking for him?
May 10, 2018
Cool
The action in this book is Soo fast paced you won't want to put it down. Fast zombies are the scariest.
The action in this book is Soo fast paced you won't want to put it down. Fast zombies are the scariest.
October 28, 2018
Another great book
I love a book that isn't just a regurgitated story that we've already read a hundred times. I enjoy a surprise ending and this one had me wearing at Mike Evans!
I love a book that isn't just a regurgitated story that we've already read a hundred times. I enjoy a surprise ending and this one had me wearing at Mike Evans!
September 12, 2019
Really good read, was a little surprised with the sudden ending but I'm looking forward to the next instalment.
June 29, 2020
I couldn't put it down, this book gave me the chills, and eww the rats! I can't wait to start the next book!
January 5, 2021
The Orphans
The Orphans series is definitely an incredible read. I absolutely love Mike Evens’ books. He know how to keep you interested and wanting more!! Keep them coming Mike!
The Orphans series is definitely an incredible read. I absolutely love Mike Evens’ books. He know how to keep you interested and wanting more!! Keep them coming Mike!
March 22, 2022
The story continues to follow the group of young survivors. It shows their struggle with loss, love and their evolving emotions. Excellent book.
September 18, 2022
Death
Death comes for everyone both the living and the undead. It makes for an exciting ride without room for relaxation
Death comes for everyone both the living and the undead. It makes for an exciting ride without room for relaxation
May 24, 2023
The Dead Continue
Death, destruction, and lives lost highlight this book yet there is a ever small spark of hope for a better tomorrow, or next year.
Death, destruction, and lives lost highlight this book yet there is a ever small spark of hope for a better tomorrow, or next year.
September 10, 2019
This book series started really well. It was interesting and thrilling. But soon it started to repeat the same pattern: they lose people, new people come die horribly. You have no time to get to know anyone or to get attached. The zombies are a little too hardcore to make the story interesting, they are just perfect killing machines and you just wait for everyone to die. It is getting really old quite fast.
June 5, 2017
The fighting goes on, the action increases, the pace quickens. The horror, the deaths, an apocalyptic series that is terrifying, yet makes the reader want more. Awesome series.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews