David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite! discussion

Alice in Zombieland won for October's Book of the Month!

Spoilers are welcome but please hide them with spoiler tabs for those who have not read this book.

Enjoy!!! :)

I really enjoyed this whole series. Its different than what I thought it was going to be, though, just warning you. More paranormal than zombie, and romance is big in the central plot. But I still loved it! Just fun reads :)

I liked this book but didn't love it. Like Jenny said, it is a bit different and it wasn't what I expected. But the concept is pretty neat! I'm eager to see what the group thinks of this book and I think it's a fun Halloween pick!

I'm looking forward to this read! I got the series a few weeks ago for $2.99 for 3 books! Lots of my book friends seem to really like them! :)

I'm really looking forward to this one too!

I know I've got the first book - which I'll be reading once I've finnished the book I'm currently reading - and I'm pretty sure I have the second (I'd have to check to know for sure though). I'm positive I don't have the third though.

I loved this book too! Can't wait to re-read it with other people. :)

OK, so I finnished the book...

I liked it, but didn't love it.

I mean, it was a good book... Not a great one, but a good one... But I expected a bit more zombie action, much more Alice In Wonderland style strangeness, and a lot less teenage drama.

I'm all for a bit of teenage drama, but I felt the story focussed more on the teenage drama than the zombies and strangeness, and felt the strange things were more supernatural/super powers type of strange things, rather than the crazy happenings of Alice In Wonderland, if you know what I mean.

I'm still going to read the other books though. In fact, I'm currently a little over half way through book two.

And actually the 4th book comes out tomorrow!

@Victoria I was the same way. I was expecting wayyyy more zombie action and more Alice in Wonderland similarities.

Jenny wrote: "And actually the 4th book comes out tomorrow!"

Really? I thought it was Thursday? *Shrugs* Well, I pre-ordered it, anyway, and brought book three to read after I finnish book two.

Harlee wrote: "@Victoria I was the same way. I was expecting wayyyy more zombie action and more Alice in Wonderland similarities."

Glad it wasn't just me...

Victoria wrote: "Jenny wrote: "And actually the 4th book comes out tomorrow!"

Really? I thought it was Thursday? *Shrugs* Well, I pre-ordered it, anyway, and brought book three to read after I finnish book two."

Oh you know, I think you're right..I had that one mixed up in my head with A Madness so Discreet, which does release today!

Well, they do both start with "A Mad" after all. Besides, it is difficult to keep track of release dates for all the books that are coming out...

I am liking this a lot more than I thought I would!!

Finished, and I loved it!!! I'm glad this was picked for the monthly read, although I didn't vote for it, because I don't know if I would have read it right away. It was on my to-read list, but I just didn't think it was gonna be that good. I was so wrong! I love it when that happens!!!! :)

I'm glad you enjoyed it so much, Donna.

I've just finnished book three, and am about to start the new one. So far, I think the second book was the best.

Donna wrote: "Finished, and I loved it!!! I'm glad this was picked for the monthly read, although I didn't vote for it, because I don't know if I would have read it right away. It was on my to-read list, but I j..."

Oh gosh, now I'm chomping at the bit to read this one too! I already have 4 books going and another 2 I'm dying to pick up! Gaaahhhh, so many books!! I want ALL THE BOOKS!! ;-D

ME TOO KAREN!!!! I've got so many I want to read this month, but there's no way I'll get through all of them!

It's always a case of too many books, too little time, isn't it?

Yep, even for me... *sigh*

It's SO true!!! There are so many great books and new ones keep coming out, i just can't keep up!!! Not that I'm complaining, I would be really bummed out if there was nothing good to read!!! Haha!!!

Exactly Donna! Its a really good problem to have. I like it better than the alternative!

Absolutely! I mean, I enjoy re-reading my favourites, but having no choice but to re-read, because nothing new was available... Well, that would be awful!

Victoria wrote: "Absolutely! I mean, I enjoy re-reading my favourites, but having no choice but to re-read, because nothing new was available... Well, that would be awful!"

That's what I did before I got my first ereader!! I would browse my personal library for my next book and would end up reading entire series over and over again. Even that's not a bad option as I still do it occasionally. ;)

Karen wrote: "Victoria wrote: "Absolutely! I mean, I enjoy re-reading my favourites, but having no choice but to re-read, because nothing new was available... Well, that would be awful!"

That's what I did befor..."

Yeah, but doing it by choice is more fun than doing it because you have no new books to look forward to.

Victoria wrote: "Karen wrote: "Victoria wrote: "Absolutely! I mean, I enjoy re-reading my favourites, but having no choice but to re-read, because nothing new was available... Well, that would be awful!"

That's wh..."

Absolutely Victoria!! ;)

Hi there you all!
I was surprised by this book. I enjoyed it a lot. I found the zombie plot original, it is not just the typical mindless, brain-eating zombies chasing people around kind of plot. And the story around it, as well as the characters and their interactions were very entertaining. All and all, I think the series is based in a really cool idea.
I am planning to reread it because I want to have everything fresh in my mind in order to finish the last two books of the series. I have been waiting for the 4th to be out before I started the 3rd.
I absolutely loved the second book, I loved Alice and Cole's relationship.

I gave it 4.5 stars back when I read it. It's been so long now though, I was sure that this was one that I was "eh" on, but apparently not LOL

YAY! I'm so glad you both love it Penny and Sarah Jane! I think I may have to reread them all to finish reading the latest book :)

I enjoyed both this book and the next book in this series. I have the third book that I need to read.

I started this tonight. I'm still confused as to what the monsters are. I'm sure I'll find out soon. ;)

Yes, Karen, you will!

I'm halfway through and finally found out who the monsters are. :)

My next question is... What does this book have to do with Alice in Wonderland? Is that still to come?

Karen wrote: "I'm halfway through and finally found out who the monsters are. :)

My next question is... What does this book have to do with Alice in Wonderland? Is that still to come?"

Honestly? I haven't a clue! I mean, there are a few things you can say are symbols you'd associate with Alice In Wonderland, but beyond that... *Shrugs*

No, it has nothing to do with Alice in Wonderland. As Victoria said, is all symbolic.

Ok, whew, not just me then. All I've seen are "bunny" clouds.

Karen wrote: "Ok, whew, not just me then. All I've seen are "bunny" clouds."

To be honest, that's the main one.

This is why I wasn't as pleased with the book as I'd expected to be. It was a good book, but where's the Alice In Wonderland strangeness we were promised? *pouts*

Victoria wrote: "Karen wrote: "Ok, whew, not just me then. All I've seen are "bunny" clouds."

To be honest, that's the main one.

This is why I wasn't as pleased with the book as I'd expected to be. It was a good ..."

Yea, seriously, Victoria! I feel gipped!! ;)

There's some more stuff, its just very subtle. Here's a good rundown of the symbolism:

http://refractedlightreviews.com/?p=1...

And I believe there's a lot more in the sequels, but I can't remember now. But this is not a complete Alice in Wonderland retelling.

If you want a true Alice in Wonderland experience, THIS ONE is my fave series for that!

Ohhhhh, Kat is the Cheshire Cat! Didn't get that. Cute.

I still feel disappointed, personally. Yes, there are symbolic parts, but... Well... I was expecting a bit more Alice In Wonderland style strangeness. Not a retelling or anything like that, but the weirdness of things being really topsy-turvey and such.

It didn't help that I think they focussed too much on character relationships than monster fighting action, so I felt like I was reading a teen romance most of the time. There's nothing wrong with those, but that wasn't what I signed up for, you know?

I read all four books, as it happens, and think the best one - especially for Alice In Wonderland strangeness - was the second book.

So far I agree, Victoria. I hAvent read the last one yet though. I was expecting more Alive on Wonerland, too, but I did think these were really fun reads. And Gena Showalter is a paranormal romance, so I guess that makes sense as far as how much romance there is.

If you want a real wonderland book, def read Splintered!

Jenny wrote: "There's some more stuff, its just very subtle. Here's a good rundown of the symbolism:

http://refractedlightreviews.com/?p=1...

And I believe there's a lot more in the sequels, but I can't remem..."

Mine too. Loved it!

I think if you went into the book expecting an Alice in Wonderland retelling then the book was a disappointment, but I had already been told it was nothing like it. Because I didn't expect, or look for similarities, I really enjoyed the book. It's too bad that it was implied that it was a retelling.

I agree with Donna. I knew the book didn't follow the Alice in Wonderland story so I wasn't disappointed there. What's more, I am a fan of Gena Showalter so I was expecting quite a lot of romance, which is the main reason I read this book. And I am happy the romance didn't disappointed me either.

Just in case someone is interested , The Lunar Chronicles is a YA series that does follow the stories of some tales, like Cinderella and Red Ridding Hood.

LOVE The Lunar Chronicles, so maybe I was expecting just a tad bit more of the Wonderland references. This is alot more teenage angst than I expected and actually is giving me a Twilight vibe. Ha!

Karen wrote: "LOVE The Lunar Chronicles, so maybe I was expecting just a tad bit more of the Wonderland references."

Ditto!

Karen wrote: "LOVE The Lunar Chronicles, so maybe I was expecting just a tad bit more of the Wonderland references. This is alot more teenage angst than I expected and actually is giving me a Twilight vibe. Ha!"

I never read Twilight - but if it is anything like this series, I'm glad I read this one and not that one. Give me zombies any day!

The thing I did love about this series was the spiritual slant she alluded to in the whole setup. Gena Showalter had a "God" experience in her life and I think that there are the slightest hints of that in this series, if only in terminology and the general idea.

Jenny wrote: "So far I agree, Victoria. I hAvent read the last one yet though. I was expecting more Alive on Wonerland, too, but I did think these were really fun reads. And Gena Showalter is a paranormal romanc..."

I addedSplintered to my to-read list earlier.

I don't really see the similarities to Twilight, either. They both had romance, and they both had paranormal beings, and that was about it I think!

Jenny wrote: "I don't really see the similarities to Twilight, either. They both had romance, and they both had paranormal beings, and that was about it I think!"

True. Also, I personally liked Twilight more.