The Haunted Country by Jason White

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

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Rating: ★★★

 

The Haunted Country by Jason White is a look at what happens to civilization during the zombie apocalypse. The dead may be walking around, but they are the least of our young protagonists worries. The Haunted Country follows a young fifteen year old boy and his mentally handicapped sister, as they try to survive the horrors of this new world. White has created a world full of horror and heartbreak. We are shown early on that the real threat is not the walking dead, but the remnants of humanity. Our characters face off with some terrible monsters disguised as fellow survivors.

Jason White does a good job of creating a strong sibling bond with our main protagonists and does not forget to include the brooding and reluctant hero. The story is typical of many in the zombie genre, but White does not shy away from putting our young protagonists through some horrible and heartbreaking situations.

There are several critical moments in the story that will leave readers teary eyed and broken hearted. White does not waste any time getting right into the action and does a good job of keeping the reader involved in the story from the very first chapter. Every chapter and every character plays an important role in the novel's overall plot. 

The Haunted Country is a good read for zombie and apocalyptic genre fans. White digresses from many in the genre by including the realistic possibility of what a survivor would go through when trying to make it with a disabled family member. White includes all of the horror and gore many fans of the genre crave and leaves the reader satisfied. The Haunted Country is a great debut novel and a fantastic start for Jason White and I look forward to reading more from him!

Music City Macabre (The Low Lying Lands Saga, Volume 1) by Bob Williams

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

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Rating: ★★★★

 

Talk about having a bad couple of days! Music City Macabre is a unique apocalyptic story that follows our main protagonist as he experiences some crazy, deadly and downright disturbing situations. Bob Williams brings us a different take on the apocalypse and his story, Music City Macabre and the Low Lying Lands Saga is certainly going to be one heck of a ride! Williams decides to blame the apocalypse on something other than a virus or terrorist attack. He chose to use demons. And when you have one side, you just have to include the other. Williams delivers on a well thought out story with angels, demons, death, friendship and so much more. 

Music City Macabre is the storybook form of Supernatural and fans of the television show would do well to pick up this novel in-between seasons! The writing is well done and with a bit of editing and a little cleaning up, Williams will have a sure fire hit! I am looking forward to seeing how our characters continue to grow and survive this new world. 

Crossbones (Omega Days Series #4) by John L. Campbell

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

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Rating: ★★★★★

 

Crossbones is the fourth novel in John L. Campbell's Omega Days series. This story picks up with our survivors on the Nimitz and introduces a few new not-so-friendly faces. Crossbones is certainly not lacking when it comes to suspense and ultimate thrills. The characters are forced to face something even deadlier than zombies when it comes to protecting their prize, the Nimitz.  

Campbell continues to impress with his ability to tell a realistic down and dirty fight. Crossbones is filled with heartbreak, revenge, and pain. This novel will leave you chomping at your fingernails and cringing with anticipation. We continue with some of our favorites from the Omega Days series and some favorites finally meet their demise with this story. 

As a huge fan of John L. Campbell and the Omega Days series, I am impatiently waiting for the next book in this series. The ending of Crossbones will leave you counting down the days until the release of book five. Campbell is a master at telling a horrifying zombie story and tugging at your heartstrings with his characters. Keep an eye out for the next book in this series and of course my review when it comes out!

The Compounders (The Compounder Series #1) by Julie Trettel

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Rating: ★★★★

 

The Compounders is a fantastic story of love, survival, and the importance of family. Julie Trettel paints a very realistic version of a post apocalyptic America after it falls to civil unrest and the loss of governmental structure. The Compounders focuses on a man who spent a large portion of his life preparing for the worst and being ridiculed as the crazy man on the mountain. However, when America falls, it is this crazy man, his family and a select few who are free from the torment of this new society. 

Our main protagonist is a young girl coming into her own and trying to learn who she is outside of the compound. She struggles with the limits set upon her by her father and ends up getting involved in more than she bargained for. This story is a very realistic look at post apocalyptic America. It does not deal with the usual apocalyptic themes such as zombies and viruses. The Compounders is a very real version of "what if" and a look at what many consider crazy when we look at the lives of "Preppers." 

Trettel does a great job of combining love, adventure, and suspense in this book. The ending is a mix of emotions and will certainly leave the readers on the edge of their seats. This is the perfect story for fans of dystopian societies and survival stories. I can not wait for the follow up to see how our protagonist redeems herself and decides between love of an outsider and her family.

Yosemite Rising: A Zombie Novel by Julie Dawn

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

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Rating: ★★★

 

Julie Dawn's novel, Yosemite Rising, is a unique zombie tale. The plot is intriguing and has the potential of being a fantastic zombie series. I found some of the storytelling to be a bit scattered at moments, but I can still see the potential in this novel and the future series. The story takes on a unique approach with the zombie apocalypse by incorporating Native American folklore into the "origin story." Dawn has a knack for describing the setting in a realistic and accurate manner that aids in the overall reading experience. The characters were a bit hard to follow. I would have personally liked a bit more background information in regards to our main protagonists and some of the other supporting characters.

Yosemite Rising is a good read for zombie fans and is one I would recommend. I had a few moments of confusion, but the overall story is there and I look forward to the next book in the series. There are a lot of questions left unanswered and I am hopeful that the next novel will address and satisfactorily answer these plot holes.

Drifters (Omega Days Series #3) by John L. Campbell

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

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Rating: ★★★★★

 

In Drifters, the third book in the Omega Days Series, John L. Campbell shows us that there is more to fear than the walking dead. In this continuation, we are shown that sometimes the living are the real monsters. Drifters takes us on a rescue mission and a battle of wits with some of the original Omega Days survivors. Campbell is a master when it comes to describing and setting the scene for urban warfare. The battle scenes, the nail biting situations, and the character developments are done so well you'd be hard pressed to believe you are reading a work of fiction.

Drifters is the novel in the Omega Days Series that we have been waiting for. It addresses many of the original predicaments faced by our survivors. It also introduces some new and not so friendly faces. Campbell does a fantastic job showcasing the zombies and making sure you realize this is still an apocalyptic zombie novel. He also introduces the idea that the dead are not the only monsters we should be afraid of. 

Drifters is a story of fierce survival and the power of love and the lengths we will go to for our loved ones. We see some of our favorite characters take on this new world and are given the revenge we have been seeking. This book will certainly bring fans back for more and will leave everyone on the edge of their seat. The heartbreaking moments, the nonstop action, and the promise of more adventures will keep readers coming back for more of the Omega Days Series. 

Ship of the Dead (Omega Days Series #2) by John L. Campbell

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

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Rating: ★★★★★

 

Ship of the Dead is the second book in John L. Campbell's Omega Days Series. As a fan of the first novel, I knew it would be difficult to top. However, Campbell creates a fantastic urban warfare setting with this followup. The suspense is nonstop and you will certainly find yourself holding your breath on more than one occasion. Ship of the Dead takes place on an infested aircraft carrier, the only option left for our survivors. As we watch the survivors attempt to take back this ship from the dead, we are just sitting on pins and needles for something awful to happen with every turn of the page. 

The characters in this novel return from Omega Days and we see who the true leaders are and are introduced to some vile personalities that many managed to hide in the first novel. This novel took on a darker tone and we experience the loss of some beloved characters. However, others step up and you find yourself rooting for some unlikely characters. 

John L. Campbell has a talent for writing thrilling urban horror scenes. Campbell is the perfect author for fans of The Walking Dead and other novels and comics at the top of their game in the zombie genre. He does not leave out the important fact that the dead are not the only threat in this hellish new world. The ending of Ship of the Dead is one that will leave  you with your jaw on the floor and running for the next book! This is every zombie lovers ideal series!

Zombie Games: The Series (Books 1-5) by Kristen Middleton

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

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Rating: ★★★★

 

Zombie Games: The Series is a collection of five stories from Kristen Middleton. Those stories include, Origins, Running Wild, Dead Endz, Road Kill, and End Zone. Each story is very precise and does not wait to jump into the zombie action. From book one to book five, the reader is immersed in a fantastic apocalyptic story with fantastic comedic relief peppered in. 

Zombie Games is an excellent series that depicts the strong female protagonist and has some great supporting characters and villains. Each character has his or her own personality that is described and shown in depth throughout the entire series. Middleton takes the reader on a fantastic adventure and does a great job differentiating this zombie series from others in its genre. The twist thrown into the plot makes for an interesting read that keeps you in suspense from the moment Middleton hints at it. 

The overall storyline for this series made for a great, fast, and easy read. As a reader, it was enjoyable and written in a way that made for a fast paced adventure that could be completed with an enjoyable ease. The writing style is simplistic, which keeps the story from becoming confusing and long winded. This is certainly a great adventure, with some great comedic relief, for all zombie and apocalyptic genre fans to pick up and enjoy. 

Omega Days (Omega Days Series #1) by John L. Campbell

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

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Rating: ★★★★★

 

John L. Campbell has created the quintessential zombie series with his novel, Omega Days, and this is only the first novel in his Omega Days Series. Without skipping a beat, Omega Days jumps right into the zombie apocalypse with amazing adventures and some very unique characters. 

 

Campbell does an incredible job creating characters you just know you are going to love and some others you just know you are going to absolutely despise. 

Omega Days shows that it is not just the walking dead the survivors need to be afraid of, but their fellow survivors as well. The characters in this novel are not your typical apocalypse survivors. Campbell has given the title of survivor to some very unlikely individuals and he makes them true heroes and makes the overall story a more realistic adventure for the reader. 

 

Fans of The Walking Dead, Fear the Walking Dead, and The Strain will fall in love with Omega Days. This is the novel zombie aficionados have been craving! This is going to be an amazing zombie apocalypse series and one that will keep the reader involved from the very beginning.

Sanctuary: A Post-Apocalyptic Novel (The New World Series #3) by G. Michael Hopf

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Rating: ★★★★★

 

G. Michael Hopf picks up right where he left off in the third book of The New World Series. Sanctuary is a fascinating story told from the perspective of the youngest survivor, now in adulthood. I love how Hopf took the youngest and most vulnerable character and allowed her to be the one to tell the entire story. He shows how she has grown and overcome the many hardships and the terrifying journey from innocent child to survivor of the apocalypse. 

Sanctuary continues the story of each character and group we have met in The End and The Long Road. We are allowed to see how certain characters overcome some hardships that in many instances would tear down even the strongest human beings. You were left heartbroken at the end of The Long Road and upon starting Sanctuary you are hopeful that revenge and justice play a huge part in the plot of this next installment. Hopf does not disappoint and allows for some closure for certain characters. 

The best part of this series is the importance Hopf puts on the family aspect of survival. For each and every character there is nothing more important than the survival and well-being of his or her family. The writing continues to impress and creates yet another page turning adventure. The next book in this series should be quite interesting and I truly look forward to seeing how the characters grow and progress and to see how some survive the situations they have created. 

The Long Road: A Post-Apocalyptic Novel (The New World Series #2) by G. Michael Hopf

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Rating: ★★★★

G. Michael Hopf's second book in his, The New World series, is an amazing and heart-wrenching continuation of The End. By skipping the usual suspects found in post-apocalyptic novels, Hopf is able to focus on the real world possibilities that many would face in a dystopian scenario. In this series, the enemies are not brain eating zombies, but other human beings. 

After being forced out of their gated community, due to outside and inside threats, the small band of men, women and children proceed on the aptly named long road in search of sanctuary. However, nothing about this journey is proving to be easy or without confrontation. Many are lost on the long road and the biggest loss of all will make the reader reach for a box of tissues. This loss ultimately dictates the future for many characters and causes many riffs within the small group of survivors.

The Long Road is a heart breaking story for many reasons. The main being that each event and obstacle this small band of survivors encounters is very much a real possibility in a world that is no longer governed by laws or morals. 

This is an excellent book that will keep the reader enthralled until the very end. You will find yourself searching for justice in a world that no longer seems to understand the meaning of the word, and you will realize that revenge may be the only justice left in this desolate world. 

Children of Fiends by C. Chase Harwood

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

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Rating: ★★★★

This is C. Chase Harwood's follow-up to the previously reviewed Of Sudden Origin. I was very excited to see how this unique story would progress. I was not disappointed with this continuation of the Of Sudden Origin saga. Harwood continues to explore the post-apocalyptic landscape of the new USA and takes us beyond the relative security of the protective boarder set up to protect the few remaining Americans. As opposed to the previous book, this omnibus focuses on the children of the fiends. These children are the creatures of your nightmares and posses the ability to telecommunicate and control the few remaining humans and cause them to bend to their will. We meet a new set of characters as this book takes place some years after the initial outbreak.  

Overall, the writing is very easy to follow and has a page turning effect. I found myself excited to see what else could go wrong and to see just how these characters were going to escape from some of the outrageous situations they are forced in to. 

I would highly recommend this saga to any zombie loving, dystopian genre, apocalyptic fan. Harwood takes us past the stereotypical zombies and shows us what could be when you factor in the idea of the survival of the fittest and evolution. 

The Outbreak (Fyre Trilogy #1) by Tayler Wright

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Rating: ★★★★

I have to admit I was a bit leery of this book upon receiving it. I was curious as to how the story of a zombie apocalypse could be told in under 200 pages. However, once I began Tayler Wright's, The Outbreak, I could not stop. I was intrigued by the simplicity and ease of Wright's writing and the page turning way she went into this story. By skipping all of the usual build up, Wright jumped right into the action. 

My only criticism would be the lack of a background story for some of the main characters. There was a brief glimpse into the character's past, but some more background would have made the entire book a bit more entertaining. Some explanations for why the main character seemed more than prepared and a reason for her excellent marksmanship would have been very useful for the reader. 

The ending was fantastic and is not the usual ending you expect from this genre. It was a great twist that you will definitely not see coming. I can not wait to continue this trilogy and see how the characters develop after that surprise ending. 

The End: A Post-Apocalyptic Novel (The New World Series #1) by G. Michael Hopf

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Rating: ★★★

G. Michael Hopf's post-apocalyptic novel, The End, is not your average apocalypse novel. This story does not have the roaming zombies or nuclear wasteland "Mad Max" gangs. It tells the story of how a real life incident can lead to the end of the world as we all have come to know it. An EMP explosion leads the main characters to make drastic life altering decisions to help preserve what little is left of the United States and their families. As technology becomes obsolete, the true survivors make it known what is important in this new world.

The character development in this book is phenomenal and really makes you feel connected, as if they were your neighbors and not characters in a book. Human behavior during times of crisis can become quite irrational for some and for others they simply thrive on the ability to survive and take care of their own.

I gave the 3-star review for a simple reason. I am hoping the follow-up will delve deeper into the world outside and bring us a bit more action in terms of survivor versus survivor encounters. The brief glimpses of this in The End are very encouraging and I look forward to continuing this saga. 

Poxland by Bryan Cassiday

**A copy of this book was received in exchange for an HONEST review. Reviews through Novel Idea Reviews are NOT bought and every opinion is that of the reviewer and was in no way influenced by the author or in exchange for a free copy of the book.**

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Rating: ★★★★

Bryan Cassiday's Poxland is a refreshing take on the ever so popular zombie and post apocalyptic genre. By incorporating government conspiracies with the thrilling encounters of flesh eating monsters, the reader is given a complex puzzle to try and solve as he reads. Cassiday's writing style is quite easy to follow and encourages the reader to keep going until the story is finished. I would have to say my only pet peeve, which was resolved later in the books ending, would be the main character's inability to use his special ops skills to take out a relatively small group of zombies in a more efficient manner. 

Ultimately, I would recommend the Zombie Apocalypse series by Bryan Cassiday to any zombie aficionado. I look forward to continuing the journey with each of the characters.

Of Sudden Origin by C. Chase Hardwood

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Rating: ★★★★★

Of Sudden Origin by C. Chase Hardwood is one of the most unique and exciting apocalyptic books I have had the pleasure of reading in quite some time. The unique "zombies" that were portrayed in this book resemble what I have always imagined the "zombie apocalypse" to be. It is frightening, thrilling, gut wrenching and a book you will refuse to put down until the very last page. I can not wait to continue this journey with it's well developed characters and the author's page turning and adventurous writing! A must read for dystopian and zombie genre fans alike.