Deck Z: The Titanic: Unsinkable. Undead. by Chris Pauls & Matt Solomon

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Title: Deck Z: The Titanic: Unsinkable. Undead.

Author: Chris Pauls & Matt Solomon 

Genre: Horror

Length: 222

Published: 2012

Publisher: Chronicle Books

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Imagine being trapped aboard the doomed Titanic on an icy Atlantic. . . with the walking dead. This fast-paced thriller reimagines the historical events of the fateful Titanic voyage through the lens of zombie mayhem. Captain Edward Smith and his inner circle desperately try to contain a weaponized zombie virus smuggled on board with the 2,200 passengers sailing to New York. Faced with an exploding population of lumbering, flesh-hungry undead, Smith's team is forced into bloody hand-to-hand combat down the narrow halls of the huge steamer. In its few short days at sea, the majestic Titanic turns into a Victorian bloodbath, steaming at top speed toward a cold, blue iceberg. A creepy, tense page-turner, Deck Z will thrill zombie fans and Titanic buffs alike.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5.

This was incredible. A mysterious virus is brought aboard the Titanic, and then released by an agent sent to retrieve the vial. This mysterious virus turns people into flesh-eating zombies. While the captain is below-decks trying to contain the virus and those afflicted, the owner of the liner orders that the ship go full steam ahead for New York. Then, the ultimate tragedy strikes as the ship is unable to avoid an iceberg. 

Lovers of history and zombies will enjoy this alternate history of the Titanic.

You can purchase Deck Z: The Titanic: Unsinkable. Undead. through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Deck Z: The Titanic: Unsinkable. Undead.? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

The Dead Years Volume 10 by Jeff Olah

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Title: The Dead Years Volume 10

Author: Jeff Olah

Genre: Horror

Length: 85 pages

Published: 2014

Publisher: Independent

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Volume 10 of The Dead Years begins with the group divided. Those who realize the importance of the trip out into the world of Feeders and those just looking to survive.

Once the decision to go after the man capable of saving the world is made, all that's left is convincing those left behind to let them go.

"I have loved reading this book from the very first chapter, waiting impatiently for the next issue. It is action packed and kept me on pins and needles."
With an unknown threat waiting to rear its ugly head, the residents of Blackmore stroll unknowingly into the most devastating ambush ever.

If the events taking place at Blackmore weren't enough, the long road to bring back Eugene Lockwood proves to be just as traumatic.

"Jeff Olah has done the zombie genre well. He should be writing for the Walking Dead series. It could use his story line which I think is much better."
Help has never been so close... or so far away!

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5.

This was definitely a decent follow up. The story itself is left in a way where there is closure, but could potentially spawn more volumes. I don't know whether the author plans on continuing the story, but I would love to read more about Mason, Samantha, Randy, and the others. There's huge potential for fleshing out the final chapters of the book and giving details on what occurs after. 

You can purchase The Dead Years Volume 10 through Amazon in Kindle format. 

Have you read The Dead Years Volume 10? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Plagued: The Ironville Zombie Quarantine Retraction Experiment

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Title: Plagued: The Ironville Zombie Quarantine Retraction Experiment

Author: Better Hero Army
Series: Plagued States of America (Book #3)

Genre: Horror

Length: 300 pages

Published: 2014

Publisher: Better Hero Army

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) When a helicopter carrying presidential hopeful Senator William Jefferson crashes in the Quarantine Zone, zombie half-breed Penelope Hope is enlisted into the most unorthodox rescue team ever assembled for a mission to save the very man leading the effort to wipe out her kind from the Plagued States of America...

With the recent destruction of Biter's Hill and Biter's Island, the last remaining sanctuary for uninfected humans inside the quarantine zone stands alone against the seemingly endless zombie horde. Tom and Penelope, survivors of the destruction at Biter's Hill, have taken up residence inside the Elevated Platform Station at Biter's Bend in the hopes of rehabilitating Penelope from her half-breed zombie past. Their plans of a normal life are put on hold, however, when Army Ranger Mason Jones arrives seeking asylum from the very man rallying against him, Tom's own father. When Tom's father's helicopter crashes deep inside the quarantine zone, Tom and Penelope enlist Mason Jones and other survivors of Biter's Island on a mission to rescue him.

In this action-packed installment of the critically acclaimed Plagued States of America series, zombie half-breed Penelope Hope returns to join forces with Army Ranger Mason Jones for another edge-of-your-seat thrill ride.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

I received a free ARC copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review. 

This time the story is seen mostly through Penelope's eyes. If you remember, Penelope is the half-breed that Tom Jefferson came across in the first book. The beginning of the story is marked by Tom's father's helicopter (en route to Midamerica) crashing. With him is Dr. Kennedy, a couple of "handlers" (bodyguards), and a reporter, who does not survive the crash. Due to the storm, no one can fly anything to rescue the Senator and his team. Tom knows his father went out there to find his sister. So he gathers a team, consisting of Penelope, Hank, Mason Jones, and Dr. O'Farrell, and heads out on a train driven by the Zombie Pin-Up King, Houston. 

A lot of the story is getting to Midamerica, and the rescue of his father and the others. While at the airstrip, Tom and the others learn that there are way more half-breeds than there should be, and that his father and Dr. Kennedy were involved in something far more dangerous than they guessed. 

The story was action-packed and ended in a way that could lead to a fourth novel, while still definitely allowing closure on the story as a whole. I would not be sad to see another novel in this series, as I grew to love the characters, especially Penelope. 

You can purchase Plagued: The Ironville Zombie Quarantine Retraction Experiment through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Plagued: The Ironville Zombie Quarantine Retraction Experiment? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Plagued: The Rock Island Zombie Counteractant Experiment by Better Hero Army

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Title: Plagued: The Rock Island Zombie Counteractant Experiment

Author: Better Hero Army
Series: Plagued States of America (Book #2)

Genre: Horror

Length: 188 pages

Published: 2014

Publisher: Better Hero Army

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) When Army Ranger Lieutenant Mason Jones arrives at the Rock Island Prison Defense Facility for his tour of duty, suspicion that he is from the Inspector General's Office leaves him isolated from his fellow soldiers in a place more hostile than any war zone he has ever seen. To survive, he must turn to the manager of the facility's secret scientific zombie research lab, the only person on the island with the power to get him out alive.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. 

The second Plagued novel introduces us to Rock Island - a zombie trading center much like Biter's Hill. However, this one also boasts much more elaborate laboratories, and even more defenses. It occurs not long after the first book, and in it we follow a new character: Mason, an Army Ranger that has been assigned to Rock Island after being removed from a mental health facility by a senator. Mason has been sent to Rock Island to meet with Dr. Kennedy in secret. He does not know why. When he finds out, it's far too late. 

While at Rock Island, Mason comes across a character from the first book: Hank, who is now driving Peske's duck and has taken over his business. Hank is suspicious of Dr. Kennedy, yet still gives Mason the information he needs to contact her. Paired up with a rather disgruntled and lazy soldier to clean the cages after his previous partner is bitten and commits suicide, the unthinkable happens, and Mason's situation becomes dire. 

Mason is tough as nails, but he's also got something broken inside him. This makes him a character worth caring about. I loved this book, and definitely recommend it to everyone who loves zombies. 

You can purchase Plagued: The Rock Island Zombie Counteractant Experiment through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Plagued: The Rock Island Zombie Counteractant Experiment? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

NOS4A2 by Joe Hill

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Title: NOS4A2

Author: Joe Hill

Genre: Horror

Length: 692 pages

Published: 2013

Publisher: William Morrow

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Victoria McQueen has a secret gift for finding things: a misplaced bracelet, a missing photograph, answers to unanswerable questions. On her Raleigh Tuff Burner bike, she makes her way to a rickety covered bridge that, within moments, takes her wherever she needs to go, whether it’s across Massachusetts or across the country.

Charles Talent Manx has a way with children. He likes to take them for rides in his 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith with the NOS4A2 vanity plate. With his old car, he can slip right out of the everyday world, and onto the hidden roads that transport them to an astonishing – and terrifying – playground of amusements he calls “Christmasland.”

Then, one day, Vic goes looking for trouble—and finds Manx. That was a lifetime ago. Now Vic, the only kid to ever escape Manx’s unmitigated evil, is all grown up and desperate to forget. But Charlie Manx never stopped thinking about Victoria McQueen. He’s on the road again and he’s picked up a new passenger: Vic’s own son.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

This is one of those books that just sticks with you. I finished it last weekend and am just now getting around to writing the review, and it's still fresh in my mind as though I just read the last sentence minutes ago.

Charlie Manx is a terrifying villain. He takes children to Christmasland - a place in his mind where the children are trapped and he is able to feed off of their life forces to extend his own life. When Vic McQueen goes looking for trouble in her teens (after years of not using her own inscape), she ends up getting him arrested. 

About half of the book deals with Vic's childhood and how she gets Manx arrested. The other half of the book deals with Vic's adulthood and the downward spiral her life takes. When Manx's body disappears from the morgue, she's just beginning to get her life back on track. And then her son disappears. What follows is her harrowing journey to escape the FBI agents, who think she's responsible for her son's disappearance, and to find her son. 

What I loved best was the way the author would end a chapter part way through a sentence. The end of the sentence was the name of the next chapter. This really upped the tension and I couldn't flip the page fast enough to find out what was going on. Horror lovers will love this book. 

You can purchase NOS4A2 through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read NOS4A2? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Plagued: The Midamerica Zombie Half-Breed Experiment

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Title: Plagued: The Midamerica Zombie Half-Breed Experiment

Author: Better Hero Army
Series: Plagued States of America (Book #1)

Genre: Horror

Length: 162 pages

Published: 2013

Publisher: Better Hero Army

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) When Tom, the son of a powerful Senator, becomes stranded in the Plagued States of America while searching for his lost sister, his only hope of survival rests in the hands of a few grizzled veteran zombie hunters and a mysterious half-breed zombie woman he thinks may know where to find his sister.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

Let me preface this review by stating that I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

I'm a lover of all things zombie. I love reading new books about them, because many times the author has a completely different take on how the zombie apocalypse occurred. This one sat on my to-read list for awhile, and I'm sad that it did. The story follows Tom Jefferson, the son of a senator as he goes to Biter's Hill with his brother Gary in what feels like is the impossible task of finding their sister Larissa - who was bitten when she was eight years old. 

Biter's Hill appears to be both a tourist destination and a place where zombie hunters "de-fang" the zombies and sell them as slaves. By de-fanging the zombies (basically removing the salivary glands), they are no longer contagious, but they are still dangerous - as they will still hunt and eat humans. While there to hunt through the books to find his sister, Tom sees an oddity - a half-breed. Eventually the zombies break free of their prison and all hell breaks loose at Biter's Hill. 

Tom barely manages to escape on the duck owned by the owner of the half-breed girl with several others. Before everything went sour, Tom had managed to find the half-breed's name and information. The group makes their way to an airstrip in Midamerica, deep within the zombie territory, in order to try to contact the District - where Tom's father can and will send a rescue team. While en route, he figures out how to communicate with the half-breed and learns that the airstrip is where the half-breeds and the zombie children live. The zombie children apparently do not know how to hunt and are cared for by the half-breeds. He also figures out how the half-breeds have been created.

The story itself is pretty well written. The zombies are not rotting corpses but pale, almost albino-like, creatures that detest sunlight. They moan to draw other zombies to their prey, and they descend upon humans in hordes. I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

You can purchase Plagued: The Midamerica Zombie Half-Breed Experiment through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read Plagued: The Midamerica Zombie Half-Breed Experiment? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

The Dead Years Volume 9 by Jeff Olah

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Title: The Dead Years Volume 9

Author: Jeff Olah

Genre: Horror

Length: 83 pages

Published: 2014

Publisher: Independent

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Volume 9 of The Dead Years starts unlike any of the previous eight. We see the infection through a different set of eyes and meet two new characters.

Megan and her younger brother Sean are left to fend for themselves against the ravenous onslaught of the initial infection no one saw coming."Jeff Olah has done the zombie genre well. He should be writing for 'The Walking Dead' series. It could use his story line which I think is much better."

With little more than a few duffel bags full of supplies and two hand drawn maps, they leave home in search of salvation and a single act of kindness turns their world into a living nightmare.

Can the Human Race survive? The importance these siblings have to the continuation of civilization will come at a time when all hope appears lost.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5.

At just over 80 pages, naturally this was a very quick read. This installment in The Dead Years serial was pretty good. It starts out following two siblings on the first day of the infection as they find out what is happening and receive a mysterious phone call from their father - who they haven't seen more than twice in the last year. 

We follow them for some time, before Olah finally adds in scenes involving Mason and the other survivors from Volumes 1-8. At this point, it was pretty clear to me that Megan and Sean were headed to Blackmore via the hand-drawn map their father sent them. A great addition to the series, I can't wait to read Volume 10 next month.

You can purchase The Dead Years Volume 9 through Amazon in Kindle format. 

Have you read The Dead Years Volume 9? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

z2136 by Sean Platt & David W. Wright

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Title: z2136

Author: Sean Platt & David W. Wright

Genre: Horror

Length: 344 pages

Published: 2014

Publisher: 47North

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Several months after the events of Z 2135, Adam Lovecraft is once again following in his father’s footsteps, this time as a contestant in the infamous Darwin Games. In The State’s latest iteration of The Games, the odds of survival are slimmer than ever before, and Adam soon finds himself pairing up with an old friend of Jonah’s.

Meanwhile Ana, Liam, and Katrina’s escape from Hydrangea has not gone unnoticed, adding to their struggles to not only survive, but find Adam before it’s too late. But when they pick up some unexpected new allies during a thwarted rescue attempt, they get more than they bargained for. Now that Ana knows she could be the key to stopping the zombie plague that has brought humanity to its knees, can she trust anyone?

Questions will be answered and fates will be determined in the thrilling final installment of Sean Platt and David Wright’s series that began with Z 2134.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

This was a great wrap up to the trilogy. We get to hear the voice of a couple of the bad guys in addition to those we already know and love (or perhaps hate). As it got closer to the end, I kept wondering "how will they wrap this up, there's only 50 pages left!?!". But the action just kept coming. And while, the ending wasn't what typically happens in these dystopian universes, it was fitting and ended happily for many of our main characters. Definitely a great conclusion. 

You can purchase z2136 through Amazon in Kindle format. 

Have you read z2136? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

z2135 by Sean Platt & David W. Wright

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Title: z2135

Author: Sean Platt & David W. Wright

Genre: Horror

Length: 388 pages

Published: 2013

Publisher: 47North

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) The Darwin Games are over. The battle for survival has just begun…

The Lovecraft family is in ruins. Convict father Jonah roams The Barrens, near starvation, in search of his daughter Ana. Only the hope of seeing her again keeps him alive.

Meanwhile Ana, Liam, and Duncan have found temporary relief at a camp outside The Walls. Inside City 6, Jonah’s young son, Adam, has been co-opted by Jonah’s enemy, Chief Keller, and is being groomed as a City Watch spy.

Between the terrifying zombies roaming The Barrens—monsters created by the plague that destroyed the Old Nation—and the ruthless, manipulative government that controls everything and everyone within the City Walls, no one is safe. Z 2135 is both a frightening vision of a dystopian future and a heartening tale of family, hope, and humanity. The newest season from Sean Platt and David Wright is as captivating as it is terrifying.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

I have three words for you about this book: OH MY GOD.

That is exactly what came out of my mouth (well, aside from the curse words which I will not repeat here) when I read the final sentences of z2135. So basically this sequel has everything you could ever ask for: Danger, more danger, espionage, people turning into zombies, and finally...an ending that will have you scream in rage and want to throw your e-reader across the room. I'm going to stop writing this review now, because I literally can't keep away from the finall installment of this series. 

You can purchase z2135 through Amazon in Kindle format. 

Have you read z2135? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

z2134 by Sean Platt & David W. Wright

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Title: z2134

Author: Sean Platt & David W. Wright

Genre: Horror

Length: 296 pages

Published: 2012

Publisher: 47North

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) It is the year 2134 in a dystopian America, following a series of zombie plagues which infected and decimated much of the world’s population starting 100 years ago.

Those left, formed six walled Cities throughout the continent, all under the rule of a totalitarian government which enforces strict control over its populace.

• You must obey your government.
• You must be a good citizen.
• You must be a productive citizen.
• You must not break the law

Or The City Watch will find you and arrest you.

My Review:

I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

This is what Amazon calls a Kindle Serial. Every week, a new episode is released and updates your copy on your kindle. I bought this well after the serial was finished. (In fact the two sequels are already out and finished.)

The Goodreads description calls this The Hunger Games meets 1984 meets The Walking Dead. And I have to agree. The Darwin Games are this world's version of the Hunger Games. The Darwin Games are mostly criminals but some people do volunteer to go. The world itself is very much like Orwell's 1984 - the City rules everything, regulating things such as pastimes, how many children you can have, and what your job will be. And of course, there are zombies. But the zombies are all outside the Wall in the Barrens. 

The zombie nerd in me recognized that the TV announcer's name was Kirkman - the name of the man who created The Walking Dead. And the Darwin Games (as well as the action within them) seem to mimic a lot of the action in The Hunger Games. This was a pretty great way to pay homage to some really great stories. 

The main reason this gets four stars instead of five is that the story could have been a bit more polished. In some aspects it seemed to close to the stories that it's paying homage to, and in others it just seems that everything is too convenient. 

It ends with Jonah Lovecraft making a shocking discovery. I'm definitely ready to read the next installment, z2135.

You can purchase z2134 through Amazon in Kindle format. 

Have you read z2134? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Tales by H.P. Lovecraft

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Title: The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Tales

Author: H.P. Lovecraft

Genre: Horror, Short Stories

Length: 420 pages

Published: 1999

Publisher: Penguin Classics

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) An unparalleled selection of fiction from H. P. Lovecraft, master of the American horror tale.

Long after his death, H. P. Lovecraft continues to enthrall readers with his gripping tales of madness and cosmic terror, and his effect on modern horror fiction continues to be felt--Stephen King, Anne Rice, and Clive Barker have acknowledged his influence. His unique contribution to American literature was a melding of Poe's traditional supernaturalism with the emerging genre of science fiction. Originally appearing in pulp magazines like Weird Tales in the 1920s and 1930s, Lovecraft's work is now being regarded as the most important supernatural fiction of the twentieth century.

Lovecraft's biographer and preeminent interpreter, S. T. Joshi, has prepared this volume of eighteen stories--from the early classics like "The Outsider" and "Rats in the Wall" to his mature masterworks, "The Call of Cthulhu" and "The Shadow over Innsmouth." The first paperback to include the definitive corrected texts, The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Stories reveals the development of Lovecraft's mesmerizing narrative style, and establishes him as a canonical--and visionary--American writer.

My Review:

I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

Most of the stories in this collection can also be found in The Best of H.P. Lovecraft: Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror and the Macabre, so I was able to get through this one very quickly by just reading the new-to-me stories. These stories, once again, left chills down my spine. If you're a fan of Lovecraft or horror and you haven't read this collection or the stories contained therein, please do so. You won't be disappointed.

You can purchase The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Tales through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read The Call of Cthulhu and Other Weird Tales? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

At the Mountains of Madness and Other Tales of Terror by H.P. Lovecraft

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Title: At the Mountains of Madness and Other Tales of Terror

Author: H.P. Lovecraft

Genre: Horror, Short Stories

Length: 196 pages

Published: 1991

Publisher: Del Rey

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) A complete short novel, AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS is a tale of terror unilke any other. The Barren, windswept interior of the Antarctic plateau was lifeless--or so the expedition from Miskatonic University thought. Then they found the strange fossils of unheard-of creatures...and the carved stones tens of millions of years old...and, finally, the mind-blasting terror of the City of the Old Ones. Three additional strange tales, written as only H.P. Lovecraft can write, are also included in this macabre collection of the strange and the weird. 

My Review:

I give this book a 4 out of 5.

This collection holds only four stories, one of which (The Dreams in the Witch-House) can also be found in The Best of H.P. Lovecraft: Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror and the Macabre. My favorite story out of this collection was probably a tie between The Shunned House and The Statement of Randolph Carter. Both were equally horrifying, and the final one literally sent chills down my spine. 

The title story in the collection, At the Mountains of Madness, was good, but it was very long-winded which led me to skim some of the more boring parts. Otherwise, all in all, this is a good collection to read. Just don't read it right before bed. 

You can purchase At the Mountains of Madness and Other Tales of Terror through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read At the Mountains of Madness and Other Tales of Terror? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

The Best of H.P. Lovecraft: Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror and the Macabre by H.P. Lovecraft

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Title: The Best of H.P. Lovecraft: Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror and the Macabre

Author: H.P. Lovecraft 

Genre: Horror, Short Stories

Length: 406 pages

Published: 2002

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) This is the collection that true fans of horror fiction have been waiting for: sixteen of H.P. Lovecraft's most horrifying visions, including Lovecraft's masterpiece, THE SHADOW OUT OF TIME--the shocking revelation of the mysterious forces that hold all mankind in their fearsome grip.

My Review:

I give this book a 4 out of 5. 

This was a spine-tingling, nightmare inducing collection of short stories. The reason I give this four stars instead of five is that the stories were a little long-winded in some aspects and I could only read a story or two at a time. They were all intense, except for the last story or two in which I found my attention waning a bit. Possibly because I was trying to finish the book quickly. Definitely a must read for fans of the horror genre. Lovecraft is truly a master.

You can purchase The Best of H.P. Lovecraft: Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror and the Macabre through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. 

Have you read The Best of H.P. Lovecraft: Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror and the Macabre? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

The Dead Years Volumes 1-8 by Jeff Olah

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Title: The Dead Years Volumes 1-8

Author: Jeff Olah

Genre: Horror

Length: 596 pages

Published: 2014

Publisher: Independent

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) Volume 1 - Mason wasn't prepared when the devastation began that afternoon. No one was. He now needed to get to his family before the infection did.

Volume 2 picks up with Mason has he ventures out in hopes of obtaining the supplies needed for his family's journey out into the unknown. He soon finds out that this decision may well lead to his own demise.

Volume 3 follows Mason and the others just as Volume 2 concludes with the battle in the park. What will become of the injured members?

Volume 4 begins two weeks into the group's "Vacation" at the stadium. Feeders are no longer a worry... or are they?

Volume 5 starts with the group leaving the Stadium, Beaten and Battered heading for the beach house. Will they find their way and what awaits them?

Volume 6 picks up as the group touches down at the Blackmore Research Facility! Mason and the others fight to reunite April and her family only to find out what their fighting for has turned against them.

Volume 7 of The Dead Years picks up with the men attempting to put together the pieces of their failed rescue mission and the women trying to make sense of Justin's current condition! Mason's captures aren't leaving anything to the imagination. They are intent on inflicting massive destruction on all who oppose their directive.

Volume 8 of The Dead Years starts with a revelation. We get a glimpse of the disturbing images of those left behind and things they will do to survive, through the eyes of someone we may already know. The facilities of Blackmore walk the line between being a safe harbor for the group and a portal straight into hell.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5. 

So I'm a zombie lover. (Not like that - get your mind out of the gutter!) I love all books pertaining to zombies, and movies, too. Some of them are cheesy and a lot of them are graphic. Most are formulaic in the sense that you follow a certain number of characters, lose some, gain some new ones, fight zombies, fight other humans, lose some more characters, learn about the eveil government or corporation who started the virus causing the dead to rise, etc. 

So, while this was a fairly formulaic zombie book, I really enjoyed it. There was a lot of loss. In fact I was surprised that people were not lost sooner than Volume 3. (Sorry for the spoiler!) I'm looking forward to reading Volumes 9 and 10, but it's probably going to be awhile before I get that far. Volume 8 left off in a good place, I feel. There was a lot of closure on the events of the book, though not everything was completely wrapped up (there has to be something more to write about, after all!). There were a bunch of random typos and grammatical mistakes that I noticed but I was able to look past that to enjoy the story. Definitely worth the read for all the zombie lovers out there.

You can purchase The Dead Years Volumes 1-8 through Amazon in hard copy or Kindle format. (I have linked the author's Amazon page, as I can not find the direct link to the entire collection of Volumes 1-8 anymore. My guess is they removed the collection of all 8 volumes since I borrowed it last month.)

Have you read The Dead Years Volumes 1-8? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Deadlocked 8 by A.R. Wise

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Title: Deadlocked 8

Author: A.R. Wise
Series: Deadlocked (Book #8; Series #2)

Genre: Horror

Length: 340 pages

Published: 2014

Publisher: A.R. Wise

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) The finale of the second series of Deadlocked.

The High Rollers are ready to take revenge against the forces aligned against them. A hard and long winter has forced them into hiding, but has also given them a respite from something else… something far worse than anything they’ve battled so far.

The Noah Initiative has begun, and the land will soon be devastated by a new virus. The people lined up against the High Rollers are fighting among themselves as well, and everyone is at risk. This isn’t just a fight for survival anymore, it’s a fight to save the entire human race.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5.

First and foremost, prepare to tear up at the end. 

Second, prepare to cheer on the good guys throughout the whole book.

Third, prepare yourself to re-evaluate several times (again!) just who the good guys and bad guys are. 

Finally, enjoy the ride. All of it. This was truly the perfect ending to the series. The author did not leave anyone's fate hanging. There was closure for everyone and every plot line. I truly never expected to tear up at the end of a book about zombies. But the characters were so well written that any loss is felt deeply. I have to add that Wise did not try to come up with a miraculous recovery for a few of the characters. That would have been a cop-out and I'm really glad he stuck to his guns and didn't try to save everyone. That would not have been realistic at all. These books are definitely worth the read. 

You can purchase Deadlocked 8 through Amazon in Kindle format. 

Have you read Deadlocked 8? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.

Deadlocked 7 by A.R. Wise

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Title: Deadlocked 7

Author: A.R. Wise
Series: Deadlocked (Book #7; Series #2)

Genre: Horror

Length: 260 pages

Published: 2013

Publisher: A.R. Wise

Brief Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads) In the penultimate book of the second series of Deadlocked, the High Rollers struggle to find their way after an enormous loss. They fell into the trap of a madman and the horde is closing in even as the town burns around them. Meanwhile, Hero is dealing with his contraction of what is known as the Tempest Strain, a virus capable of infecting any mammal. He knows that if the virus gets out, it could threaten every species on the planet, and he's ready to make the ultimate sacrifice if he has to.

However, the true secret about to be uncovered is what happened in the past, back when Charles Reagan formed the High Rollers. What none of them know is just what role he unwittingly played in a war raging between two factions of the organization that released the zombie plague. Before the final page, a new enemy is revealed that changes everything and the heroes will find themselves at a crossroads they'd always hoped to avoid.

My Review:

I give this book a 5 out of 5.

Since book 5, we've been plagued with the question of "how did Reagan die?". We knew he died, but not how or why or when. Through flashbacks which are interspersed throughout the story, we finally learn how Reagan died. A lot more of the plot to kill off humanity is also revealed to us through Hero's discussions with Beatrice, and also during the flashbacks with Reagan. 

The conclusion to the book leaves behind a new enemy to face, and the loss of the help the Rollers were looking to find in destroying Jerald Scott and his army. I really can't wait to get through the final volume in this series. 

You can purchase Deadlocked 7 through Amazon in Kindle format. 

Have you read Deadlocked 7? If so, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! 

Please note: I was not compensated in any way for this review. It is strictly my opinion.