Short Story Review: Endurance by Ann Aquirre

E-novella / Short Story

Razorland #1.5

July 2012 from Feiwel and Friends
Kindle / Nook / Kobo

Synopsis:

When rebellion destroys the underground world in which Thimble and Stone have grown up, they take Stone’s son and try to escape the chaos. Along the way, they must evade the Freaks, beings who feed on human flesh. Leaving behind the roles of Builder and Breeder which they were assigned at birth, they wander the underground tunnels, looking for safety yet afraid to go “topside” where legend has it that the light and water will burn their skin from their bones.

Their journey takes them upward to an unimagined world of tinned food, comfortable furniture, and books. Away from their regimented society for the first time, and still facing imminent danger, Thimble and Stone acknowledge the forbidden attraction which both have denied for years. 

(from Goodreads)

My Thoughts:
Ahhh! I was so worried reading this one. What's going to happen? A nail biting tale that I was almost afraid to finish.

Endurance takes place soon after Deuce and Fade leave the enclave and tells the story of what happens to Thimble and Stone. I loved these 2 characters so it was a treat to see them again.

Having read Enclave a while ago, I have to say at first I couldn't quite remember all the details but it didn't take long for my brain to put the pieces back together. Reading about Thimble and Stone I felt like I had never left the terrifying world Aquirre created.

Extras? Yes - contains a preview of Outpost.

Will I continue the series? YES! I have Outpost and I cannot wait to get it read.

Book Review: Zombie Town by R. L. Stine

"...no matter who it's written for...R.L. Stine knows how to write suspense!"

Reading Level: Middle Grade
Publication Date: April 2012
Publisher: Amazon Childrens Publishing
Pages: 80
Series: no
Acquisition: I received a free ARC for review at BEA 2012

Summary:

This used to be such a nice, quiet town. But that was before all the zombies. When twelve-year-old Mike and his friend, Karen, go to see a horror movie called Zombie Town, the last thing they expect is for the title characters to come down off the screen and chase them through the theater. And it’s not popcorn these hungry creatures want to chomp on—it’s human brains!

Now Mike and Karen frantically try to flee through the panicked streets of their hometown before shuffling bands of zombies turn every last citizen into a ravenous flesh-eater. But if Mike thinks he’ll be safe once he reaches his house and warns Mom and Dad, he'd better think again. When the zombies say it's lunchtime, no home is safe! Zombie Town is R.L. Stine’s delightfully spooky take on the horror genre that’s infecting the world, bite by bite. (from Amazon)

My thoughts:
I know this is a story for kids and it's only like 80 pages long and took me maybe 10 minutes to read BUT it really did scare the crap out of me! Even more so because right after reading this story? I went to a movie theater, like Mike and Karen from the book. And like Mike and Karen there was no one else in the theater! So, ok, people showed up a few minutes before the movie started, but for a while it was totally creepy. I really could not get this story out of my head!

It just goes to show that no matter who it's written for, no matter how long or how short the story is, R.L. Stine knows how to write suspense! His talent to scare is off the charts fantastic!

If you have a young reader in your life that enjoys being scared, Zombie Town would be perfect for them. If you're a fan of R.L. Stine, no matter your age, Zombie Town would be perfect for you too!

As an added bonus, there is an introduction from Stine explaining where his inspiration came from - loved this!

As a huge fan of R.L. Stine, this book is another perfect addition to my growing Stine library.

Overall Rating:

5 / 5 Stars

Author's website / Goodreads / IndieBound

Book Review: Dearly, Beloved (A Zombie Novel #2) by Lia Habel

"What I found endearing in book 1, became somewhat gross as it was really hard not to focus on the fact that Bram is a a rotting corpse."

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: September 2012
Publisher: Del Rey
Pages: 496
Series: 2nd in the Zombie Novel series
Acquisition: I received a free e-galley for review from NetGalley

Summary:

Can the living coexist with the living dead?

That’s the question that has New Victorian society fiercely divided ever since the mysterious plague known as “The Laz” hit the city of New London and turned thousands into walking corpses. But while some of these zombies are mindless monsters, hungry for human flesh, others can still think, speak, reason, and control their ravenous new appetites.

Just ask Nora Dearly, the young lady of means who was nearly kidnapped by a band of sinister zombies but valiantly rescued by a dashing young man . . . of the dead variety.

Nora and her savior, the young zombie soldier Bram Griswold, fell hopelessly in love. But others feel only fear and loathing for the reanimated dead. Now, as tensions grow between pro- and anti-zombie factions, battle lines are being drawn in the streets. And though Bram is no longer in the New Victorian army, he and his ex-commando zombie comrades are determined to help keep the peace. That means taking a dangerous stand between The Changed, a radical group of sentient zombies fighting for survival, and The Murder, a masked squad of urban guerrillas hellbent on destroying the living dead. But zombies aren’t the only ones in danger: Their living allies are also in The Murder’s crosshairs, and for one vengeful zealot, Nora Dearly is the number one target.

As paranoia, prejudice, and terrorist attacks threaten to plunge the city into full-scale war, Nora’s scientist father and his team continue their desperate race to unlock the secrets of “The Laz” and find a cure. But their efforts may be doomed when a mysterious zombie appears bearing an entirely new strain of the virus—and the nation of New Victoria braces for a new wave of the apocalypse. (from Goodreads)

My thoughts:
I very much enjoyed Dearly, Departed so I had high hopes for this one. I'm very sorry to say that I was a little disappointed. I think the novelty of the world has worn out a little.

Book 1 was a dystopian, steampunk, zombie filled adventure and I loved how all these elements combined. Book 2 was still all these things but it felt much heavier. A lot more politics are involved that seemed to bog down the story.

Also, like book 1, each chapter is from a different characters point of view. I could be mistaken but in book 1 I thought we only had Bram and Nora. In Dearly, Beloved there are at least 6 different POVs - and those are only the ones I could remember. The story jumped around a lot and I very much would have preferred a standard 3rd person narrative.

And then there is the romance. What I found endearing in book 1, became somewhat gross as it was really hard not to focus on the fact that Bram is a a rotting corpse. Of course Nora could love him, as he is very lovable, but their physical interactions? Not very romantic for me, I mean, he's ROTTING.

The state of the zombie's decomposing bodies are told in graphic details. There is even one very quick scene in which Nora laments that it's ok for her and Bram to be alone in her bedroom because of course there wasn't any chance of anything sexual happening between them. I really started to think what she meant - the details of it -and it was disgusting and I couldn't look at Bram the same way again.

Final verdict:
Overall? Disappointing is the word I would have to use to describe my feelings for Dearly, Beloved. Habel has been vocal on her thoughts on the series as a whole (she would love it to be 5 or 6 books long) and knowing how she would like things to end for Nora and Bram? I'm not sure it's a story I want to continue reading.

If you enjoyed Dearly, Departed I would say to give this one a go. While I felt bogged down by the storyline, those are only my feelings. The gross factor really kicked into high gear but again, that might only be me.

Overall Rating:

3 / 5 Stars

Books A Zombie Novel aka Gone With the Respiration Series :
#1 Dearly, Departed
#2 Dearly, Beloved

Author's website / Goodreads / IndieBound

Book Review: Pale by Chris Wooding

"An unfortunately disappointing story..."

Reading Level: Middle Grade
Publication Date: September 2012
Publisher: Stoke Books
Pages: 72
Series: no
Acquisition: I received a free e-galley for review from NetGalley

Summary:

The Lazurus Serum can bring you back from the dead - but when you come back you've changed. You're a pale, an outcast. It's the last thing Jed wants, but an accident changes everything and Jed's forced to discover the true cost of living forever. This is a high interest level (11 and up) and a low reading level (4th grade). (from NetGalley)

My thoughts:
Not at all what I expected and I'm not sure that's a good thing. Very dark and morbid and not at all the kind of story I would give an 11 year old to read.

The beginning is brutal. Bullying from the point of view of the bully isn't something I enjoy reading. Overall I guess there was some lesson meant to be learned but the harsh nature of the characters overshadowed any good intentions the author may have had in my opinion.

Final verdict:
An easy read and a quick read. The writing and layout lends itself well to a young audience but the subject matter was a little too harsh for my liking.

Also, the story, or more importantly the lack of backstory was frustrating. No details, no real background on why the Lazaurs Serum was created or who's in control of it and why.

An unfortunately disappointing story and overall, not one I would recommend to young readers.

Overall Rating:

2 / 5 Stars

Author's website / Goodreads / IndieBound

Book Review: The Dead-Tossed Waves (The Forest of Hands and Teeth #2) by Carrie Ryan

**Spoiler Free**

Reading Level: Young Adult
Pub Dates: Book-March 2010 / Audio-March 2010
Length: 12 hours
Narrator: Tara Sands
Series: 2nd in a series
Acquisition: Library

Summary:

Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves. (Goodreads)

My thoughts:
I absolutely loved The Forest of Hands and Teeth so I was very excited to begin The Dead Tossed Waves. Although, not as good as book 1 in my opinion, I still very much enjoyed it. A zombie story with raw emotion driving the characters forward.

Have to say, Gabry was a little annoying. She seemed very disconnected to her world and to her life. Everything for her is so 'very' and 'never' and 'always' - she 'tries' and she 'can't' and she never really seems to DO anything. Rather, she lets circumstance guide her actions. At times she was very weak, which didn't make sense because her mother, Mary is so strong.

My general problem with Gabry? Too much 'I' - 'I need', 'I want', 'I can't', 'I won't' -- gets old fast. It was told from her point of view but still. I really wanted to see more of Mary. I loved her character in The Forest of Hands and Teeth and I didn't feel like she got enough page time in The Dead Tossed Waves. However, once Catcher and Elias come onto the scene and the action starts moving forward a little more, I really got into the story and stopped being so hard on Gabry.

Audio critique:
Not too bad but it was a little hard to distinguish Gabry's inter monologue from her spoken word. I was confused, at times, as to whether she was talking to herself or speaking out loud. Not a problem if you read the book.

Final verdict:
The Dead Tossed Waves is toted as a companion novel rather then a straight out sequel to The Forest of Hands and Teeth but I would have to disagree. While although book 2 does take place many years after book 1, the timeline is still intact, the same characters make appearances and we learn more of the overall story. So yeah, defiantly a sequel in my book. AND a good one at that!

If you enjoy zombies and dystopian novels, you'll like this series. The series ends with The Dark and Hallow Places (book 3) but I wish it didn't because I love this zombie invested world Carrie has created and I don't think I'll get tired of it any time soon.

Overall Story Rating:

4 / 5 Stars

Overall Audio Book Rating:

3.5 / 5 Stars

Pre-trilogy Short Stories
Hare Moon - available as an ebook or in Kiss Me Deadly
Flotsam and Jetsam - available in The Living Dead 2
Bougainvillea - available in Zombies vs. Unicorns
Scenic Route - available in Enthralled (September 2011)

Books in The Forest of Hands and Teeth Trilogy:
The Forest of Hands and Teeth
The Dead-Tossed Waves
The Dark and Hallow Places

Linkage Love:
Delacorte / Random House
Listening Library / Random House
Author's Website

Book Review: Dreadfully Ever After by Steve Hockensmith

Reading Level: Young Adult - Adult
Publication Date: March 22, 2011
Pages: 320
Series: sequel to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Acquisition: received for review

Summary:

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and its prequel, Dawn of the Dreadfuls, were both New York Times best sellers, with a combined 1.3 million copies in print. Now the PPZ trilogy comes to a thrilling conclusion with Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dreadfully Ever After.

The story opens with our newly married protagonists, Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy, defending their village from an army of flesh-eating “unmentionables.” But the honeymoon has barely begun when poor Mr. Darcy is nipped by a rampaging dreadful. Elizabeth knows the proper course of action is to promptly behead her husband (and then burn the corpse, just to be safe). But when she learns of a miracle antidote under development in London, she realizes there may be one last chance to save her true love—and for everyone to live happily ever after. (from Goodreads)

My thoughts:
The Bennet family is back! Now, with more zombies!

Ok, maybe not more but most defiantly, a more interesting assortment of the undead will greet you in this sequel to the now famous mash-up.  Did I love it as much as Pride and Prejudice and Zombies? Yes! Even more so!

Ever wonder what happened to Elizabeth Darcy and her sisters after Pride and Prejudice? Did you really like the idea of a zombie infested England were every day citizens such as the Bennet family has taken up the deadly arts to defend both home and country? Thought so! You must read this book then - in a word - fabulous!

I'm not kidding - I simply loved this story. Elizabeth and her sisters (save for Jane who is home safe and sound with her beloved Mr. Bingley and their hoard of children) are unexpectedly thrown into, not only a family emergency of the highest order, BUT a seedy political plot that stands a chance of ruining all of England! Dun dun dun!

Final verdict:
All the characters I had grown to love, and hate, in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies are back! More action, more mystery and more romance really made this book one of my favorite reads of 2011 so far.

Elizabeth and her sisters, Mary and Kitty, along with their father Mr. Bennet are in London. Working to save poor Mr. Darcy's life - or so they think. Throw in some ninjas, Mr. Darcy's despicable aunt, Lady Catherine and her deplorable daughter Anne and the entire city of London (complete with an uncontrollable zombie infestation) and you get a marvelous story!

If you enjoyed Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, I think you will really like this sequel. Even if you've only read the original classic, I think you might enjoy Dreadfully Ever After. The Bennet family, like you've never seen them before...with ZOMBIES - mwahahaha!

Overall Rating:

5 / 5 Stars

Books in the Series:
Dawn of the Dreadfuls (prequel)
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - my review
Dreadfully Ever After (sequel)

Linkage Love:
Quirk Books
Goodreads

Book Review: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

Reading Level: Young Adult - Adult
Publication Date: April 2009
Pages: 317
Series: 1st in the mash-up series
Acquisition: received for review

Summary:
An expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she's soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy.
What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield as Elizabeth wages war against hordes of flesh-eating undead.
Can she vanquish the spawn of Satan? And overcome the social prejudices of the class-conscious landed gentry? Complete with romance, heartbreak, swordfights, cannibalism, and thousands of rotting corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies transforms a masterpiece of world literature into something you'd actually want to read. (from Goodreads)

My thoughts:
Ok, confession time. I don't actually remember if I've ever read Pride and Prejudice before. I think I did...in school maybe? I knew the story...but maybe I saw the movie?

In any case, reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was a true pleasure. Some cringe at this classical mash-up but I, think it's fabulous! All the wonderful prose, word building, and beautifully told storyline of the true classic but WITH ZOMBIES!

For example, the original, as Jane Austen wrote it, starts like this:

"It is truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."

And now, with ZOMBIES!

"It is truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains." (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, page 7)

Ah! I love it!

Along with the addition of zombies, the characters of the Bennet sisters are altered. They are not simple girls in want of husbands but rather they are warriors. Trained in the deadly arts from a very young age, they are servants to their country and crown, helping to rid England of the unmentionable menace.

For example, in the original story, shortly after meeting Mr. Darcy for the first time and being insulted by his assessment of her, Elizabeth Bennet reacts like this:

"Mr. Darcy walked off; and Elizabeth remained with no very cordial feelings toward him. She told the story, however, with great spirit among her friends; for she had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous."

The Elizabeth in the zombified version is not so mild mannered:

"As Mr. Darcy walked off, Elizabeth felt her blood turn cold. She had never in her life been so insulted. The warrior code demanded she avenge her honour. Elizabeth reached down in her ankle, taking care not to draw attention. There, her hand met the dagger concealed beneath her dress. She meant to follow this proud Mr. Darcy outside and open his throat.  (pages 13-14)

Again - love!

Final verdict:
It really was awesome seeing Elizabeth and her sisters kick some zombie ass. And with sometimes as little effort as they would afford the tying of a shoe or the squashing of a bug.

Having no strong memories of Jane Austen's work I was very happy to discover her world, still fully intact, with all it's complex and fascinating characters but again, with a little something extra.

Die hard fans of Austen's world might not appreciate seeing their beloved classic overrun with the undead but it would be hard to deny the hard work that was put into this book. While keeping everything people love about the Bennet family's story, Seth Grahame-Smith as managed to still tell the original tale but with more action and intrigue then I would have thought possible.

I was a little skeptical at first but I have to say, I'm now a fan. I recommend this one to both fans of the original and others, like myself, who probably never got around to reading it in the first place :)

Overall Rating:

4 / 5 Stars

Books in the Series:
Dawn of the Dreadfuls (prequel)
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Dreadfully Ever After (sequel)

Linkage Love:
Quirk Books
Goodreads

Book Review: Beautiful Dead: Summer by Eden Maguire

Reading Level: Young Adult
Publication Date: March 1, 2011 (reprint)
Pages: 288
Series: 3rd in the Beautiful Dead series
Acquisition: received ARC for review

Summary:

Six months have passed since the last Ellerton teenager died, but Darina is still traumatized by the stabbing of her own beloved Phoenix. But there's work to be done as Darina must now turn her attention to the shooting of Summer Madison - the beautiful and gifted, singer-song-writer with a heart of gold. It's been nearly a year since the random shooting in a shopping mall caused Summer's meaningless death.

Summer left behind recordings of her wonderful songs and a deep sadness amongst high school friends. Now Darina must act as Summerās agent to track down the psychotic killer in a clear search for justice. With the sound of Summer's music constantly playing inside Darina's head, recalling the wonderful months when she was alive and performing her first gigs, Darina, Phoenix and the Beautiful Dead are determined to catch the crazed killer. And all the while Darinaās love for Phoenix continues to beat ... (from Goodreads)

My thoughts:
The third Ellerton teen to die was Summer Madison. Beautiful, talent Summer who everyone loves. Darina is once again partnered with the Beautiful Dead. She does it willingly. Anything to be with Pheonix for just a little longer.

The silence she is forced to keep is tearing her apart. She barely goes to school. Hardly ever sleeps or eats and yet she can never give up. Giving up means eternal damnation for those that she loves. Those that she lost.

Darina is a wreck. Nothing - and I mean NOTHING good ever happens to this girl. She literally has no reason to smile.

What a freaken roller coaster ride this book was!  Some very shocking things happen. Heart wrenchingly socking. As if loosing Pheonix wasn't bad enough! As if being at the mercy of Hunter wasn't more then any person, living or dead, should ever be forced to deal with.

Final verdict:
Oh man, I couldn't stop reading. Tragic and sad but also full of mystery and intrigue. Eden Maguire has sucked me into the world of the Beautiful Dead and like Darina, I can't and don't want to fight back.

Happy endings in this series? Some. But if you're looking for something edgier the Beautiful Dead are for you.

One more book in the series? I can't imagine a happy ending for Darina but like her, I still have hope.

Overall Rating:

5 / 5 Stars

The Beautiful Dead Series:
Jonas
Arizona
Summer
Phoenix

Linkage Love:
Sourcebooks
Goodreads